All Park Sung Jin had ever wanted was to be a soldier, like his father and grandfather before him. Following the plan he was sure would work out, he registered to the military academy right after high school. As expected, he passed all his classes in flying colors, always the top of his class, be it in theoretical strategy or on physical activities. He was number one in his year, and he intended to have a military career as brilliant as his studying years.

However, the day after his graduation ceremony, as he was getting ready to come home to Busan, he was called by his Dean, and got the surprise of his life.

His application to enter the Army officially had been refused. The shock he was experiencing nearly killed him.

“But......it’s been the tradition in the academy that the top three graduates can choose on which academy he would like to join! What – has the rules changed? Did I make a mistake?”

“Not at all. On the contrary, your qualifications surpassed all the top graduates of the past five years, therefore, you are hired by NIS”

“Excuse me, what did you just—“

“The National Intelligence Service will hire you. This is not an option, this is an order. I have here an official letter signed by the Minister of Defense himself”

Sung Jin was speechless.

“Why would—“

“The Minister has decided to launch the Operation Five program”

“Yes?”

“NIS decides that to face the ever-changing world, they need a team of youth who are good in their fields, versatile, and would guard this nation according to the needs of the recent time. You are ordered to recruit four more young experts. One in forensics, one in computer science, one in undercover operations, and another one in weaponry. NIS would decide who you would recruit, and all of them would be between 20-25 years old. You will be leading the team, and together you will solve any cases the police couldn’t solve”

It was a lot to take in, so Sung Jin didn’t made any comments except, “Are there really people who are experts in those field under 25 years old, Sir?”

“Are you doubting the country’s ability to choose the right person?”

“Certainly not, Sir. I apologize”

“Good. You are given a week holiday as your graduation gift. Your salary will be ten times higher than the recruits for the army, and so will theirs. You are not allowed to tell anyone else about your new profession. You are allowed only to tell that you’ll be working for the police, not the army, and definitely not NIS”

Sung Jin sat still, trying to digest the fate he never thought he would face.

“I suggest for you to work hard, respect the country, and make the academy proud”

“Understood, Sir” Sung Jin said, saluting his dean.

***********************************************

A month passed in which Sung Jin signed an official contract with NIS, and had a special training under the intelligence service. Once done, he was immediately assigned to start recruiting his team.

The first one he was assigned to recruit was the forensic expert. Kim Won Pil might only be 23 years old, but he’s a genius. He accelerated in school and finished high school very early, got his medical degree when he was 20, and graduated with the highest score his faculty had ever witnessed from Forensic Studies. He’s been applying for the position of Seoul’s police forensic expert, but did not pass the interview, since the head of the recruitment wanted someone who was more mature and stable.

Sung Jin understood why the head of recruitment for Seoul Forensics refused to hire Kim Won Pil. He didn’t think a forensic expert should look or behave like Kim Won Pil would.

Upset with the fact that he couldn’t be recruited in his dream job, Won Pil stayed at home for a year and only played games day and night.

He still lived with his parents, and sort of bounced down the stairs when he appeared.

“I need to take you out and have a meal outside” Sung Jin informed, as Won Pil’s mother eyed him with interest.

“Jeongmal chesuhamnida. I’m not gay. You can’t take me out” Won Pil said with utmost seriousness before he bowed low and sprinted back to the stairs.

“Wait, it’s not what I’m here for! Kim Won Pil-ssi, please come back! I’m from the police!”

“Omo! Has he broken any laws? Are you arresting him?” Won Pil’s mother asked, scared.

“No, no, it’s not that. I’m offering him a job”

Hearing the word “police” and “job”, Won Pil ran back downstairs, “Are you hiring me for forensics? Am I going to be able to dissect dead bodies now???”

“Yes, and yes, in the future”

“I’m in” Won Pil declared cheerfully.

“We need to talk first”

“We are talking now?”

“But you need to know the details”

“I don’t care how much you’re going to pay me. If I can be with dead bodies, I’m in”

Not knowing what else to do, Sung Jin said in a low voice so only Won Pil could hear.

“NIS is the one offering you the job”

“Omo, daebak!” he exclaimed, super impressed.

“So can you be nice and go out to my car right now so we can talk properly?”

“Sure!”

**********************************************

“I’ll be in a team of young experts, solving cases that the police couldn’t, living together in a penthouse with other four guys, including you? The pay is awesome and a penthouse? You’re not trying to trick me to join male ion, aren’t you, Sung Jin-ssi? Because although I need a job, I still have my principles”

Sung Jin felt a migraine coming up.

“You’re holding the contract in your hands. This is not ion”

“I’m in!”

“Can you kindly read the contract first carefully before signing?”

“What for? It sounds awesome!”

“Please let me do my job properly and read the contract thoroughly”

“Okay!” Won Pil said, giving him a finger heart that made him cringe, the proceeded to read the twenty pages of contract.

Thirty minutes later, Won Pil announced, “I’m still in!”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes”

“Have you really read and understood everything carefully?”

“Excuse me, I’m sure you know my academic record. I’m not an idiot. I’m as faaaar away from an idiot as I could be. Can I sign now?”

“Yes”

Won Pil ran back to his house and got his official stamp. He then returned to the car and signed the paper with flourish, before stamping it proudly.

“Yayyyyyyyyyy!!! Dead bodies, I’m coming!!!”

*********************************************************

The day after Won Pil signed his contract, he was ordered to move into the penthouse with Sung Jin. The place was huge, with a swimming pool of its own, a library full with everything they needed to know about their future missions, a room filled with several computers, another room full with various clothes, and another one full with all sorts of weapons. There were two bedrooms. One with two single beds on it, and the other was a spacious one with three single beds on it.

“Let’s sleep together!” Won Pil suggested over-cheerfully.

“Excuse me???” Sung Jin asked, shocked out of his wits.

“Um......that is.......I’m a scaredy-cat. I’m afraid of the dark and new places. So please keep me company. If Hyung doesn’t mind.......”

The “Hyung” felt wrong. Sung Jin felt this weirdo should call him Sunbaenim, but he relented. He already knew the next room was for the other recruits anyway.

“Ahrasseo. But I’m warning you, I’m a very light sleeper, so you better not be noisy”

“Ay, ay, Boss!” Won Pill saluted.

If he wasn’t wearing a tiger-patterned jacket, it would’ve been more convincing.

***********************************************

Their next mission was to hire the weaponry expert of the group. He would be a Yoon Do Woon, who was still studying in the police academy. Sung Jin’s notes said that Yoon Do Woon was a good sniper, never missing a target at all. He’s also the first in his class in close combat, using knives and swords, and always passed as the first one who can detonate a ticking bomb.

He was afraid Won Pil would dress in something outrageous, but he appeared in a black suit, making him looked like a real scholar.

“This is my “meeting a sniper” get up, Hyung. I look decent, right?”

“Not bad” Sung Jin approved, as they entered his car (lent by the NIS) and drove to the Police Academy.

With all his awesome achievements, they expected to find someone who looked menacing and mean. It was shocking when Yoon Do Woon appeared with a 15 year old face.

“Annyeonghaseyo, Yoon Do Woon imnida” he said, with a ridiculously deep voice. His face and voice somehow didn’t match. He looked like a maknae anyone would want to protect. Could he really be a sniper.

“The Dean said I must shoot some targets in front of Sunbaenim-deul”

They were currently at the shooting practice room, a long, high ceilinged room in which they had to enter with the fingerprint of the building’s security.

“Shall I start now, Sunbaenim?” Do Woon asked, behaving very formally.

The target, shaping in a human torso and head, flew in front of them from different directions. For the farthest range, as instructed before by his dean, Do Woon shot with a rifle. The medium ones, he shot with a revolver. The closer ones, he attacked with knives, throwing what looked like a dozen to them. Each range gave him ten moving targets from different positions. For the farthest ones, he used a bow.

In all 40 shots, he managed to always aim between the forehead of the target.

Won Pil had shown various shocked expressions. From gaping, biting his fingers, and eyes widening. Sung Jin, on the other hand, went into a frozen state.

Even he didn’t pass that well in his weaponry classes.

He had never seen anything like it before, and finally understood why NIS wanted to hire this kid for them.

“Was that alright, Sunbaenim-deul?”

“Yoon Do Woon-ssi, my name is Kim Won Pil, and I’ve never broken any laws in my life. Please never try to kill me” Won Pil begged sincerely, of which the younger one reacted with a confused, “Ye???”

“Yoon Do Woon-ssi, what would you feel about working early? You don’t have to finish your education here, but you will have a special graduation certificate if you’re willing to join our team”

“What team?”

Over lunch at an exclusive Korean restaurant, Sung Jin explained that they were hired by NIS. The salary and the living condition sounded too amazing for Do Woon, so he said he would like to ask his Dean too, afraid this was all a scam.

Hearing that, Sung Jin called the Police Academy’s Dean, greeting him with a password code given to him by the head of NIS himself, which meant the person speaking it must be granted anything he needed, even when it meant an audience with the President.

The Dean had been notified about the program Do Woon was going to be recruited, and immediately spoke to Do Woon that he must accept, that it was an order, and that his position would be something his school mates would be love to take, if they were even offered.

Hearing that from his Dean, Do Woon agreed. He then sat silently reading the contract from the beginning to the end before signing and stamped it. So that was why he was asked to bring his official stamp.

He had his doubts, but it was gone when he arrived at the penthouse and saw the weaponry room, where it was filled with the best weapons he could ever hoped for.

Sung Jin found that Won Pil and Do Woon got on famously. Won Pil often threw random jokes, and Do Woon could understand the jokes, and played together. Since they had nothing to do, Won Pil showed Do Woon his Gundam collections, and Do Woon was all “whoah.....daebak.......”

It’s hard to believe that one was a forensic expert, and the other was a sniper.

****************************************************

Their next mission was to hire a Kang Young Hyun, a student in Acting and was said to be able to be anyone perfectly. Sung Jin, Won Pil and Do Woon sat on his musical theatre show at the university and was quite impressed with his voice and acting. Then afterwards, they had a formal meeting, in which Kang Young Hyun, as ordered by his Dean, appeared in three different characters. The campus’s stylists helped him, and he became a rich heir, a grandfather, and a girl.

It’s amazing how he spoke, moved and behaved like each of his role. He became his role and was so convincing until they were silent for some time as they sat together at the faculty’s dean meeting room.

When Young Hyun heard that he was going to be hired as NIS’s spy, he was excited. Sung Jin and Do Woon were wearing their formal uniforms, so he believed them instantly. There was no hesitancy, since his Dean already informed Young Hyun that “some government officials were there to offer you for a job as a civil servant”.

It was way cooler than he though, and he accepted after reading the contract carefully.

When Young Hyun finished moving his stuffs to the penthouse and found out he would sleep in a spacious room with Do Woon and another team member they hadn’t hired yet, he said they should all call him Young K. It’s the name he always used in his stage performances.

Sung Jin found out that despite a huge appetite, Young Hyun had no strange habits, of which he was really, really grateful.

**************************************************

Hiring their final member was expected excitedly by all of them. However, when Sung Jin said they would hire their last member on the Seoul’s City Prison, they were all very shocked.

“Are we going to work with a prisoner?”

“Apparently so”

“Did he murder someone?” Won Pil asked hopefully.

“Of course not, are you crazy? He’s a hacker. NIS caught him because he was hacking NIS’s database, to the point that he was able to see the data of the NIS’s Director and his secretary”

“Are they having an affair?” Won Pil asked again.

“I have no idea” Sung Jin answered.

“But he’s not a Korean citizen. He’s American” Young Hyun said, as they were having breakfast in their dining room.

“He was going to hack the country’s secret missions data. NIS thought he was a spy from US. But apparently he’s just a Computer Science graduate from MIT, coming here to visit his grandmother, and was feeling bored”

“Aigoo......I can’t speak English” Do Woon said, concerned.

“Wow, a foreigner from MIT. Aigoo. I thought it’s clear that I’m the smartest here. I’m gonna have a competitor” Won Pil commented, looking depressed at the end.

“Would he want to work with us?” Young K wondered.

“He better say yes, or else the country will charge him with a heavy sentence”

****************************************************

When Park Jae Hyung entered the room assigned for prisoners to meet their relatives, he sat down in front of the four guys, looking surprised and confused.

“Who are you?” he asked in English.

“We’re from NIS” Young K answered, also in English.

“It’s really useful to have someone who studied in Canada before” Won Pil whispered to Do Woon.

Jae looked at them all critically, feeling no fear and wondered why the people who was supposed to announced his charge were four. They were too many. And too young also.

“You’re all too young to be NIS”

“Can you speak in Korean?” Sung Jin asked.

“Yes, but not fluently” Jae switched into Korean.

Their conversation then was run in two languages, sometimes Young K translated for them to make all the points understood.

“You’ve done a horrible crime, breaking into our database like that”

“I’m sorry. I was bored. I told everyone that I haven’t shared it to anyone, and I haven’t even read it. I know nothing of your secrets. You even already confiscate my laptop”

“You haven’t shared our data to outsiders, but it doesn’t mean that you won’t in the future”

“I don’t live by selling any countries’ secrets. I make applications and games to live”

“We know that”

“Good. Then what will you charge me with? It won’t be anything serious, right? Anything longer than a year in prison is too much”

“Park Jae Hyung-ssi, we have all the right to give you a death sentence”

Color was drained from the tall man’s face. “But—“

“You’ve broken the data on all our secret missions around the globe. It’s only natural that we charge you with a death sentence”

“Why is this becoming so scary?” Do Woon asked Won Pil.

“So,” Sung Jin continued in his most formal tone, “It’s either the death sentence, or you work for us?”

“.............excuse me???”

“You’re a Korean”

“I’m an American Citizen”

“But your parents are Korean and many of your relatives are Koreans. How about fighting for the good cause as a special NIS team member?”

He was then given a folder of official papers in English, which was apparently the contract he had to sign.

“If I refuse –“

“It’s a death sentence” Sung Jin concluded.

“Can I have a trial?”

“Of course, but it would be a closed one. All our judges love the country, so a hacker who hacked NIS’s classified data is normal to be sentenced severely, even death”

“.........this is blackmail”

“It will be fun, you know” Young K suddenly spoke.

Jae turned to him sceptically.

“Yeah. We’ll be a special team, living together to solve difficult cases”

“We’ll be detectives” Won Pil said carefully in English.

“Please, I don’t want you to die” Do Woon said sincerely, shocking Jae even more.

“These are your team member?” Jae asked Sung Jin.

“You’re right”

“They’re all too nice to be spies”

“Thank you for saying I’m nice” Won Pil said, reaching out a hand to Jae and though confused, Jae shook his hand.

“I’ll consider if you give me a laptop right now, and your ID numbers. I want to check your identities”

Sung Jin left the room and came back carrying a laptop, before he gave Jae his ID card. Young K, Won Pil and Do Woon also gave him theirs.

After some intense typing for a minute, Jae opened for tabs and then stared at them all.

“You’re the top graduate in the military academy” he said to Sung Jin.

“You’re studying acting in Dong Guk University” he said to Young K.

“You’re a.........graduate in Forensic studies already. A doctor and a forensic graduate. But you’re 23?”

“Accelerated studies” Won Pil replied, “I’m a bit smart”

“You’re not smart. You’re a genius. Your GPA is the perfect score”

“Thank you, you flatter me” Won Pil said, offering a handshake again, of which Jae accepted, since he didn’t know what else to do.

“And you are......still studying in the police academy. Your scores is the highest in weaponry”

“That’s true. But I don’t think you can find it in my academy’s website”

“I hacked your faculty’s dean PC”

“Oh.......” Do Woon mumbled in awe. “You’re incredible”

“You’re all telling me the truth” Jae said in a wondering tone. “Is it really a death sentence or working for Korea?”

“The salary and penthouse is awesome” Young K added.

“Penthouse?”

“The place where we will live together” Won Pil added.

“There’s a room ready with the best computers in our place. It’s for you” Young K continued.

“You like hacking, right? Do it for Korea”

“................where do I sign?”

*************************************************

And so, the team was complete.

Jae moved in, seeing the penthouse, and immediately fell in love with all the shiny computers that was for him in the computer room.

“What’s the catch?” Jae asked to Sung Jin in English.

“What do you mean?” Young K asked.

“We live in a penthouse, we are given high salary. We are asked to do a job according to our expertise. It’s an awesome life. What’s the catch? Are Koreans this generous?”

As if answering Jae’s question, the front door’s lock beeped and in came a formal looking gentleman and his secretary.

They were eating ramyeon and Sung Jin nearly choked seeing the person, before running to salute him formally.

“I am NIS’s Director. I see that the team is already complete”

They all walked and bowed to him. The director then asked them all to sit at the sitting room.

Inwardly, it was confusing. Why would the director of NIS came to them? Weren’t they just a team of new recruits?

“Are you checking whether I’m the real NIS director or not?” the director asked Jae, who just subtly took the picture of the director with his phone.

Caught in the end, Jae bowed and apologized.

“Be my guess, check my credentials”

The result was of course correct. He’s the real director.

“You are officially NIS agents from now on. You won’t join official ceremony like any other civil servants, because you’re undercover agents, no one in NIS are supposed to see you, except when it’s strictly necessary. Now, if you are indeed as intelligent as your achievements so far, you would wonder what’s the real price for this job”

“There are two prices. Your utmost secrecy, in which you cannot share about your job or what you discover during your duties to anyone except me and those who I declare are the ones you must contact. It means not telling this to your parents, siblings, or even in the future, your wives. We will create another career identity for all of you”

“The second price is, we want your ultimate sacrifice. You will start with a light case. And if you manage to resolve it, we will give you more serious cases, where the nation’s safety would be at hand, and you might get hurt or even killed. If you die, we will never acknowledge that you died in a  mission for the country. It will be fabricated as an accident. When you are asked to murder someone, you must do so with the faith that you are doing it for this country. It is possible, but it won’t be often, because you are hired to solve cases, not to be mercenaries”

“There is no resigning from this job. It is for life. Your utmost loyalty to the nation is requested, even to the situation where if we find out there’s anyone of you who leak classified data to other parties without permission, you must kill the person, even though you live together”

“NIS decides that this program of giving the best facilities for adults in early twenties could be a good way to get the best service for the country. We have always used the utmost discipline and authorities before, and many of the agents felt too restricted, and ending up committing suicide or betraying us, in which we have to put an end to their lives. We are hoping that with giving more liberties to young individuals who are experts in their fields, we could get good results and loyalty”

“So you are an experiment. You need to prove that you deserve it. Please work with dedication. The country will give you whatever you want in return. You will be given your first mission right after this. But before that, I will say three more things”

“One. Please be a good team and support each other, like brothers would. Two, before we give you your first mission, if there is anyone who wants to back off, this is the only time that you can do it. Third, any questions?”

The five young men said nothing, only glancing at each other.

Secretly, they thought that if the others would go on, I would too.

No one said they wanted to back away, so the director stood up.

“I’m glad with your decisions. Good luck on your mission, be strong, and we will be eternally grateful to you. I have another urgent meeting that I must attend. Meanwhile, one of my secretaries, Bae Ju Hyun-ssi, will brief you on your first case. I bid you good day”

The five men stood up and bowed to the director.

Once the front door was closed, Bae Ju Hyun the TV in the sitting room, and plug a USB stick.

“Good afternoon, Gentlemen. I will now brief you on your first case. Please pay close attention"

 

*****************************************************************************************

Author's Note:

It's been ages since I began to want writing detective stories. I've been postponing it because I have lots of unfinished Yongseo stories in my Livejournal (as ladylia257) and ....... detective stories are hard to write. But the craving has escalated, so I gathered my courage. My ambition is to write five cases, but for now I'll focus on writing at least one decent case. A real case where you'll enjoy reading it. I'm still not sure whether I'll write a real detective one where you have several suspects to choose, or just make it an investigation story, but I'll do my best. 

Their cases will be dark, and I'm warning you, I'm good in breaking hearts (my readers in LJ will now, hahah). But above all, there will be friendship.

Wish me lots of inspiration, please!