Original subtitles

VIETNAM, 1965

Column, halt.

It doesn't really matter what the war is for.

Someone's death becomes someone else's chance.

That's what war is.

Looks like one of the Vietcong tunnels.

Moving in.

And my role was to be that death.

Just cannon fodder for someone else's rise.

- How did it go? - It's been taken care of, sir.

And the money in the safe?

Baek will take it to you.

Clean it up right. No loose ends.

Yes, sir. Understood.

It's done.

Mr. Jang!

Man, what the hell happened here?

Mr. Jang, are you all right? Are you hurt?

-Baek Kitae didn't show, right? -No, he never got off the ship.

Well, let's start by tracking down Pyo Haksu first.

We were just about to call in backup from the nearby army base.

Search request, KCIA Agent Pyo Haksu.

- He showed up on his own. - You can't come in here!

Move, asshole. I'm with the KCIA.

- Hey! Let him through. - I said, move!

Mr. Pyo Haksu!

Come here, please.

How do you know who I am?

What's going on here?

I'm Busan District Prosecutor Jang Geonyoung.

Okay. And?

What brings the KCIA department head here?

I came to pick up the director.

- Director Hwang? - Yes, where is he?

Well, you killed him.

You're under arrest

for suspicion of Director General Hwang Gukpyeong's murder.

Cuff him.

Don't be ridiculous.

- Hey, wait. - Don't make a scene.

-Just hold on. -Come on.

No, stop! I'll do it myself.

You sure you can handle this? What do you think you're doing?

Quiet down. Let's go.

WAR OF BLOOD

Mr. Baek, you're here.

What's going on?

Prosecutors arrested Mr. Pyo

under suspicion of murdering Director Hwang.

We're waiting on the autopsy to confirm the body's really Director Hwang.

Silence the press first.

Yes, sir.

Wait, sir. There's blood on your…

I'm heading up to Seoul. Get the car ready.

Yes, sir.

Hello?

- Hey, Soyeong. - Hi, Kitae.

- Where's Daeil now? - Mr. Daeil?

He was at the lab but left to take care of something.

Why do you ask?

-Is something wrong? -Got it. I have to go.

Who was that?

It's Kitae. He's looking for you.

What for?

I have no idea.

Mr. Pyo Haksu.

Why did you kill him?

Why did you kill Hwang?

You keep crossing the line.

If you keep bulldozing ahead like that,

how will you handle the consequences later?

Just worried about you.

You killed him. Didn't you?

Did you see it?

I saw him dead, shot through the eye.

I told you. I dropped him off and went to buy cigarettes.

Go ask at the store. How many times do I have to…

So you're saying, while you were out buying cigarettes,

Hwang ended up dead?

What then?

You think I killed him

and then went out for cigarettes?

And the fire just happened to break out?

Come on, Mr. Jang. That doesn't add up.

And what motive could I have to kill him?

There's no motive.

Right.

You went to buy cigarettes, Hwang died, and the fire broke out.

Baek Kitae was with you, wasn't he?

He was with you at the temple, right?

Here it is.

Look, that's Ikeda Yuji.

Tell me, what was the KCIA

doing with the yakuza in Osaka?

That's classified. I can't tell you.

Classified, my fucking ass.

Watch your language.

I know you and Baek Kitae went to Japan

and sold meth there.

Then, you passed the money to Hwang.

You did all the work,

but the bastard reaped the cash.

That's why you and Baek Kitae killed him, isn't it?

Do you have proof? Do you?

Proof? Sure. I'll whip up a good one for you.

- Wow. - You little…

You do that.

Hey.

You like prison food? Huh?

- Jang. - Yes?

A word?

Goodness! What is it?

You should go.

- Looks like you're in trouble. Go on. - Have a smoke while I'm gone.

Geez.

BUSAN DISTRICT PROSECUTORS' OFFICE CASE RECORDS

So, Baek Kitae took over

Jo Manjae's meth business?

Yes, sir.

With Kang Daeil backing him?

That's right.

And they killed Director Hwang?

He had a gunshot wound

to the face,

through the right eye.

They shot him dead.

And set the place on fire

to wipe out the evidence.

Sir.

I'm going to

issue an arrest warrant for Baek Kitae.

If this goes wrong,

the whole prosecution blows up.

You realize that?

-Yes. -Fucking hell.

I'll make sure we get Pyo's confession.

This is the money

Director Hwang had been skimming off behind your back.

Looks like his head wasn't the only thing he was thinning out.

I believe he also had some land and buildings in his relatives' names.

I'll check and report back as soon as I can.

And this.

It's Bae Geumji's notebook.

Did you look?

Yes, sir.

I did.

And you saw my name?

I'm sorry, sir.

What do you want?

I came to ask you to please reinvest this money with me.

If you'd let me, I'm sure I can use this as seed money

and multiply the returns by many times over.

So you're saying,

you want to do business with me?

The election is less than a year away.

I heard the President needs 70 billion won

to secure another term for the good of the nation.

I'll raise it.

How can I trust you?

You don't have to trust me.

Just give me a chance to prove what I can do.

I'll show you that even if you don't trust me, you can trust my money.

I won't let you down, sir.

Go sit in that chair.

Go sit in it.

I heard Hwang went around telling everyone

you were his pick for the next director,

and he took good care of you.

And that made a lot of people jealous.

Now that…

he's dead…

shouldn't you be the one to take his place?

Come to think of it,

it's not all bad

for Baek Kitae that you're stuck in here.

Someone definitely murdered Hwang

with a gun and burned down the place…

but you were out buying cigarettes.

Do you trust Baek Kitae?

I don't know what kind of deal you made with him,

but think carefully.

You and I both know

who killed Hwang.

PROSECUTORS' OFFICE

STATEMENT

That day,

who else

was at that temple…

besides Hwang?

I want you to write down

the truth.

Do you want to rot in prison?

Baek Kitae becomes director general,

and you go to prison.

- Excuse me, sir. - Yes?

Damn it.

What's going on?

The deputy chief prosecutor ordered the release of Pyo Haksu.

Please come with us, Mr. Pyo.

God, my legs…

Mr. Seo!

Mr. Seo!

How can the prosecution hand over its investigative authority?

To the suspects, no less!

Who says you can do that?

Hey!

Get back inside.

You too. Get back inside.

DEPUTY CHIEF PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE PROSECUTOR SEO GIHO

What about you?

Who says they're suspects? You have no evidence.

You said you didn't see Baek Kitae there.

I'll arrest him on meth charges first.

I'll get Kang Daeil to talk, charge Baek with drug offenses,

and then prove the murder!

Now's the time to keep your head down.

They've even stripped our authority.

You've got to hold on to your job if you want another chance later.

That bastard killed his own boss just to push meth!

All right?

You know if we don't get him now, he'll become too big to catch!

The order came from much higher up.

You understand what I'm saying?

Well, who the hell is this higher-up?

Just watch your back for a while.

THE BLUE HOUSE REPUBLIC OF KOREA

Na's really getting under Cheon's skin today, huh?

Tell me about it.

The President favors Cheon of the Security Service

over the secretariat these days, so…

Mr. Na.

Why do you keep stirring up something that's already settled?

Didn't you hear me?

It was the President's orders.

That's what you always say.

It's getting hard to believe.

If you don't believe me, go ahead and check with him yourself.

Still, I serve him the same way you do, so how could you do that without a word--

Did you ask me before getting rid of Bae Geumji?

You've got to be joking.

- Bae Geumji? Me? - Anyway…

Keep tossing people out for no reason,

and you might be the next one to go.

All right?

You know, I'm just saying this for your own good.

Right, of course.

Since you're so concerned, I'll bear that in mind.

Oh, right.

I heard you lost one of your subordinates.

You must be devastated.

Perhaps, it's a sign

you should watch your back too, Mr. Cheon.

Yeah, you should always be careful too.

Take care of yourself.

As you know, I don't ask anyone…

before I get rid of someone.

It looks like there's a leak.

Any idea who?

Jang Geonyoung knew we went to Japan.

And what we went there for.

So what did you tell him?

Well, what else? I said it was classified.

Did he say anything else?

He was sure you're the one who killed Hwang.

How did your meeting with Cheon go?

How much…

did you tell Cheon?

What do you mean?

He looked like he knew everything.

I didn't tell him you killed Hwang.

Like we agreed,

I just said he died in a fire.

Which is true. He did die in a fire.

Well, doesn't matter.

He didn't really seem to care.

Yeah?

But how did Jang Geonyoung know?

We got a rat or what?

Did you find Baek Kitae?

He's nowhere to be found.

He hasn't been home,

and the KCIA's keeping their mouths shut.

What about the scene?

All we found were some bullet casings.

Everything burned to a crisp.

There's no evidence left.

But, sir, is it really okay for us to keep doing this here…

I mean, there's nothing left to dig into,

and if the deputy chief finds out, he'll rip into us.

What about Kang Daeil?

Any word from him?

When are the materials from Japan getting here?

We'll never make quota with what's left.

Ms. Baek.

Come on, take a break.

All right.

Hope this tastes okay.

Thank you.

Mmm…

- It's good. - Wait.

How are you so beautiful?

Oh, please!

Come on, stop.

Any word from your brother?

Who cares?

He made one lousy call and hasn't shown his face since.

What's that? Didn't you say no one else was here?

Who'd be here this late?

Sir.

Hi, Kitae.

God, speak of the devil.

Anyway, Kitae.

What are you doing here?

What are you two doing here alone? It's late.

I had to finish up the books.

Kitae.

Gosh, this isn't what it looks like.

Yeah.

Soyeong, give us the room.

- Why? - I need to talk to Daeil.

Okay.

You said you were going to Japan, but I didn't hear from you

so I was worried.

Everything okay while I was gone?

Of course, sir. Everything was fine.

So, you need to talk to me about something?

Have a seat.

Okay.

Daeil.

What do you think is the most basic virtue a person should have?

I've never really thought about it.

Then think about it now.

Loyalty?

Sure, loyalty's important.

But you know what I think?

I think it's shame.

Shame?

The people I hate most are the shameless ones.

Those who have no sense of shame at all.

They're the ones who stab you in the back.

They wag their tails in front of you,

acting like they'd do anything for you.

But when it really counts, they betray you.

They do it because they have no shame.

But if you don't have shame,

how are you any different from an animal?

Am I right?

Hey.

You got anything to say to me?

You're colluding with Jang Geonyoung, aren't you?

If you do this, we can't work together.

If you really can't trust me…

just shoot me.

Why do you look like that?

Is Director Hwang dead?

Did Baek Kitae tell you?

I can't do this anymore.

If even Hwang can be snuffed out just like that…

That's why you need to do this right,

if you don't want Baek Kitae to kill you.

If he finds out you're my mole,

you think he'll let you get away with it?

This only ends when Baek Kitae's caught.

And that's how you stay alive.

This is the last time.

When's the deal?

I need your word.

When is it?

Tonight at 10:00 p.m.,

the Mangeum will rendezvous in international waters

with a Japanese vessel loaded with meth ingredients,

according to my source.

One team will hit the Mangeum,

and the other will raid the gang's base, the meth lab, at the same time.

- Team Mangeum. - Team Mangeum!

- Team Meth Lab! - Team Meth Lab!

Now, Team Meth Lab.

This is Baek Soyeong.

She's a key figure who handles the gang's accounts.

She must be arrested on site tonight.

- Yes, sir! - Busan Prosecutors Narcotics Unit!

- We got this! - We got this!

We got this!

- We got this! - We got this!

Let's go.

All right, we're moving in.

Let's go.

These bastards. They're all hiding, huh?

♪ Ready or not, here I come! ♪

Hey, you! Over there! Don't move!

You bastard!

Get out here!

Hey! Get out here now!

- What the hell? - Get them!

Mr. Jang! Are you all right?

What are you doing? Get in there! Go!

Go! Move it!

-You damn… Hey! -Let's go!

Come here!

Hey, you! Come here!

Stand down, asshole!

Get back here!

Get back here, you bastard!

Got you now, you little shit.

You asshole, why do you keep following me?

Come on, let's go! Come on!

Fine. Let's go, jackass.

Hey, man!

That was a blank.

Now it's live rounds.

- Kim! - Yes, sir!

Round them up and find the drugs!

- You heard him! - Yes, sir!

Search for the drugs! Start searching for the drugs!

Hey, eat shit!

There!

Back off! Go!

Hey! Back off!

Back off!

Fuck.

Damn it, why do you keep following me?

Stop! Stop it!

KOOC, MENT, FUNKY STRIKE

- What? - Sir.

What is this? It's not here?

- No, it's not… - It's not?

Check deeper inside.

Damn it.

-What about here? No? -No.

Mr. Jang!

There's only stuff like this.

Is Baek Soyeong not here?

She's not here.

-Come on, open them. -Damn it.

Check this one. This one.

Damn it. These are all just watches.

Where's Kang Daeil?

Hey! You shithead.

Where's Baek Soyeong?

Who's that?

I have no idea.

I said, where's Baek Soyeong?

I don't know.

I really don't know!

Damn it!

You don't have to give me this.

I'll never…

I won't ever cross you again, sir.

If you really can't trust me…

just shoot me.

I'm sorry, sir.

Lay low for a while.

Yes, sir.

Kang Daeil.

Kang Daeil.

Finding Kang Daeil comes first!

Stake out his family's homes

and coordinate with local precincts to post officers at every terminal.

Now!

- Yes, sir! - Will do!

We're from the Inspection Division.

Everyone, hands off your desks.

Who the hell are you?

We got a tip

that the investigators here resold the drugs they seized.

What the hell are you talking about?

Look, who said that? What tip?

Senior Investigator Kim Jeongwon.

Investigator Oh Yejin, right?

Please come with us, the two of you.

Don't move an inch.

I'll be back in a minute.

Move!

Get everything.

Geez, why are you doing this?

PROSECUTOR SEO GIHO

You're shutting down the Narcotics Unit because those dealers are giving you shit?

It's the chief's orders!

So we're going to let Baek Kitae toy with the prosecution like this?

It's just until the inspection is over!

End of discussion!

Just don't come into the office, and keep your head down for a while!

I'll pull your people out of the Inspection Division somehow!

All right, fine!

I'll go pay the chief a visit

and talk to him myself!

Hey!

Oh!

Hey, get back inside.

Get back inside!

Hey.

You think I haven't tried?

The man didn't even flinch when I stood up to him and threatened to quit!

What the hell do you think you can do?

Unless you want your people to suffer more, keep your head down.

Those bastards are coming at us hard!

- But I-- - Jang.

Stop trying to bulldoze through.

Think, for God's sake.

Baek's got Chief Cheon backing him.

Who have you got?

If you're going to go after them, you've got to match their weight at least!

You complete idiot.

"The Prosecution, walking the straight path,

upholding principle!"

Hey, get back inside.

You too. Get back inside.

Hope you don't mind me calling you in while I do this.

I've got to take good care of the President,

but I never get time to hit the field.

Not at all, sir.

Don't worry about it.

I hear Chief Cheon's been meddling with prosecutorial authority?

Yes, sir.

It seems he ordered the KCIA

to investigate Director Hwang's case directly.

Go on.

The truth is,

one of our prosecutors in the Narcotics Unit

was investigating Baek Kitae,

the KCIA department head who's in charge of Hwang's case right now,

for running a meth operation.

I know it's presumptuous of me to say this to you,

but the fact that the Chief of the Presidential Security Service

- would back someone like Baek-- - Chief Cheon is

covering for a meth peddler?

OSAKA, JAPAN

Looks like I'm the last one.

I'm sorry to keep you waiting, Father.

So,

how many factories do we have left?

We've still got a couple left, but the police are watching them closely.

There's no telling how long they'll last.

Everyone says the meth trade's finished in Japan.

Even the Shibazaki clan seems to be pulling out of the business.

Finished? Hardly.

Addicts are still crawling all over Japan looking for drugs.

We just need to build a new plant in Korea,

and the problem's solved, Father.

In Korea, we can easily bring in raw materials from Hong Kong or Taiwan,

and enforcement is weak.

It's the ideal place to produce meth.

Look, just when is this new plant supposed to be built?

Chasing pipe dreams like a fool only puts the clan at risk.

The meth market grows every year,

and it's still our biggest source of funds.

Giving that up too easily

is what would put the clan at risk.

The real foolishness, don't you think?

You're forgetting your place, you Chosenjin!

How dare you!

I hope

you're not making a foolish choice.

Because giving a fool a chance is

just as foolish.

SEOUL, KOREA

Seems like you've taken quite a liking to Baek Kitae.

You forgave him for taking out Director Hwang.

He's the one who killed Hwang?

You didn't know?

I heard he died in a fire.

Am I mistaken?

Well, there was a fire, but…

You just don't care, do you?

The thing about greedy people is, they're quick to get stupid.

Doesn't matter to me who sits in that seat.

Apparently, you're the one who's taken a liking to him.

Is it because he's good-looking?

What if something happens to Baek?

Do you have an alternative?

Why?

Do you not trust him?

I don't trust people.

I trust what I hold.

And that's why you're the one who scares me most.

Baek cares a lot about his younger siblings.

Especially his brother, Baek Kihyun.

He's a Korea Military Academy graduate, just like you.

- A Military Academy graduate? - Yes.

His brother is his weak spot.

That's what concerns me.

Move to the sides!

- Hey, walk straight. - Private First Class Hong Jihwan!

I'm pushing you from behind.

Thank you. Thank you, sir!

- Really? - I've got this, sir.

The hell you do, damn commie.

Hey!

What are you doing?

Hong must've twisted his ankle, sir.

That's why he tumbled down the hill.

Please don't worry about him.

Get up.

Take off your pack.

I've got this, sir.

Take off your pack.

This is an order.

We've got a goddamn commie and a chickenshit.

-That goddamn idiot. -What a great fucking unit.

Private Hong, it's not your watch yet.

What are you doing here so early, sir?

Huh?

I was cold.

Everyone's asleep, right?

Yes, sir. They are.

Good work.

MILITARY POLICE

One, two.

One, two.

Look at this little shit. Did you just dodge?

Goddamn it.

How the hell did you let this happen?

I'm sorry, sir!

Both our jobs are on the line if we don't contain this.

-You hear me? -Yes, sir!

Keep checking on the injured until sunrise,

and if anyone else dies, report it immediately!

Yes, sir!

Damn it.

You little…

You fucking bastard.

Are you trying to screw me over?

I warned you, didn't I?

I told you to get that damn kid transferred or whatever

to keep him out of trouble.

Hey, look at this mess.

You brought this on yourself.

Get it?

PERSONAL RECORD

BAEK KIHYUN SEX: MALE

Baek Kihyun,

it's been a long time.

We haven't seen each other since graduation?

Don't cut corners just because you know me.

Do what you always do.

INVESTIGATION OFFICER NAM SANGUK

Still cocky as ever, huh?

Because you graduated top of our class?

So you think everyone's beneath you?

You're Security Command now, but you haven't changed.

Cut the smart-ass act and proceed.

There must be a reason they sent you.

Well…

I heard you testified your company commander

shot down the transfer request for Private Hong.

Is that true?

I don't make things up.

I said exactly what happened.

You know,

you really haven't changed a bit, have you?

Still condescending as fuck when you don't know shit.

Your company commander?

Apparently, his uncle's the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs,

and his father runs Myeongjung Construction.

The best way to clean up this mess

is for someone to take responsibility and step down.

But it's never going to be your commander.

That's what I'm trying to tell you.

Get it?

You know what hits me hard every single day at Security Command?

No matter how great you are,

you can't do jack on your own.

So stop acting like you're the only one with integrity and rewrite your statement.

It's not too late.

If you cooperate now, I can keep you in uniform.

Hey.

What are academy buddies for?

We should cover each other's asses, right?

So from now on, you just need to do what I tell you.

All right?

You mean you want me to take the hit instead of ruining my commander's career?

Hey.

I testified the way I did because I knew you were going to do this.

What?

I don't want to ruin my own career either.

Tell him, if he wants to use his uncle for an easy out,

he'd better rethink making me the scapegoat and handle it properly.

I'm not going down alone.

Sir!

Someone's here to see you, sir.

He's in the visiting area.

How can I believe you?

It's hard to believe, isn't it?

But you know as well as I do, Mr. Baek Kihyun.

The fact that Mr. Baek Kitae has

that much power at his age.

Well, that doesn't just happen on its own.

Your sister.

Ms. Baek Soyeong is helping him with the business.

If I arrest Baek Kitae,

your sister goes to prison,

and you, Mr. Baek Kihyun, might be forced out of the army too.

Before that happens, you should talk to her and get her to confess.

If you could have taken my brother down so easily, you wouldn't be here right now.

The fact that you even had to come to me

means you're in a tight spot, right?

So bad that you, a prosecutor, are threatening me.

You're a lot like your brother.

But there's one thing you don't know.

I'm never going to give up.

I'll make sure Baek Kitae faces the law and pays for what he's done.

Mr. Baek Kihyun!

Think carefully!

What's your plan?

How long will you let Jang Geonyoung run loose?

I heard from the prosecution's Inspection Division.

They say they can't hold his team much longer.

Okay?

If we go at him half-baked, it'll be worse than doing nothing.

So what are you thinking?

I'll handle it.

Hey, you…

Just tell me, okay?

Handle it how exactly?

Come in.

I'm sorry to interrupt, sir.

It's urgent.

What the hell are you looking at?

You telling me to leave?

Spit it out.

What is it? Just tell me.

I'm afraid there's a problem with your brother.

Security Command's launched an investigation,

and it's not looking good.

What?

Who's here? The KCIA? Baek's brother…

What are you talking about, idiot?

Well, who are you?

Stand up straight.

Back to your senses?

Yes.

Go get Baek Kihyun.

Yes, sir.

How did you hear about it?

Did you think I wouldn't find out if you kept quiet?

I can handle this on my own.

Handle it how exactly?

I said, I'll handle it on my own!

I told you.

If you're angry at reality, get stronger.

If you don't want to be looked down on, strike first.

If someone blocks your path, get rid of them.

How many times have I told you

that guys with power run the world at the end of the day?

If you're done, I'll be going now.

Stop.

You cocky little…

Your company commander will be the one forced out, not you.

Security Command will have an opening next month, so get ready.

This is power.

Got it?

I'm going to Vietnam next week.

What the hell would you go there for?

That "power" you always talk about.

I figured I'd try to earn some myself.

All you need to do is what I tell you!

I can take care of myself!

You little…

So I want you

to please just get your own act together.

PROSECUTOR JANG GEONYOUNG

Before you wreck my life and Soyeong's too.

Ms. Oh.

What are you doing out here?

Mr. Jang, where have you been?

I went to see Baek Kihyun.

Baek Kihyun?

Things must've been rough.

No, it's okay.

Appreciate the effort. Let's get inside.

Well,

why did you go to see Baek Kihyun, sir?

Thought I'd stir up Baek Kitae too.

We've got to hit back just as hard as he hit us.

So you're not giving up?

Why would I give up?

It's my job to catch criminals.

You haven't eaten yet, right? Let's eat first and get our strength back.

Where's Mr. Kim?

I'm not sure.

He said he'd be here soon.

But I think we ran out of rice.

Should I cook some ramyeon?

Shoot. We're out of ramyeon, too.

I'll run out and get some.

Oh, no. I'll go, sir.

I'll be right back.

Take care.

Oh, man.

It started raining.

I won't live as cattle.

I'll be the one with power.

I'll make the herd kneel before me,

drag down anyone more powerful than me,

and change the world in the end.

- Ms. Oh, you're here alone? - Yes.

- Where's Mr. Jang? - He went to get some ramyeon.

Hey, the water's boiling.

Man, I'm exhausted.

That's just the way it is.

The world has always been

a battlefield for the powerful.

Translated by Yoonjung Song