Chapter 110: Aren’t You Hungry?

The Hangang Group private jet spent three hours and forty minutes in the air before landing safely at Macau International Airport.

Following our instructions, the pilot briefly stopped the aircraft on its way to the parking stand.

The moment the hatch opened, Saho shot outside like a bolt of lightning.

National Intelligence Service Director Om Giyeon, who witnessed the scene, couldn't believe his own eyes.

The drop from the aircraft door to the concrete runway was roughly five meters.

Despite leaping from that height, Saho landed as lightly as if it were nothing at all before dashing off into the distance.

With obvious concern in his voice, Om Giyeon turned to Cha Jiham.

"Saho won't get hurt, will he?"

An ordinary wildcat could only jump about three meters, but Saho, after consuming the unique herbal tranquilizer, could easily clear five. There was virtually no chance he would be injured.

Of course, Director Om Giyeon couldn't know anything about the medicine or its miraculous effects. If I told him the truth, he might even demand that Saho be dissected for research.

So I gave him the most believable explanation I could.

"The late Monk Popchin trained Saho using a special method. He won't get hurt."

"Then I'm relieved. But will he really be able to find us?"

"I'm not much of a gambler, Director, but if you'd like to make a wager, I'm willing to accept."

"So you're absolutely certain he'll come back?"

"Without a doubt. By the way, will you have any trouble entering Macau yourselves?"

"Well then, Director Cha, I'm willing to take that bet as well."

Om Giyeon sounded so confident that there was no point asking further questions.

"I never make bets unless I'm certain I'll win."

"Haha. A sensible philosophy. Let's change the subject. Why do you think Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol of North Korea's Reconnaissance General Bureau came to Macau?"

I actually had a theory.

But voicing it now would have been unwise. There was always the possibility I was wrong, so it was better to keep quiet.

"I think something serious happened here, and he came personally to deal with the aftermath."

"Interesting. What makes you think that?"

"I reached that conclusion by combining his sudden appearance in Macau with the extremely grim expression on his face."

"Hmm... That actually makes sense."

While Director Om Giyeon and I continued talking, the aircraft finally reached its parking stand.

After quickly clearing immigration, we stepped into the arrivals area.

A man in his forties immediately hurried toward us before bowing at a perfect ninety-degree angle.

"Welcome, Director Cha Jiham. I'm Team Leader Lee Hyeonsol from Korea Investment's Debt Recovery Department. I've been tracking K&J Bio's fugitive president, Go Yeongjun."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Team Leader Lee. Let me introduce National Intelligence Service Director Om Giyeon."

"...What?!"

Lee Hyeonsol's face instantly filled with genuine shock, bordering on panic.

Seeing his reaction, Chief Secretary Kang Inhan quickly stepped in.

"Lee, we're not alone. Pull yourself together."

"...My apologies. I simply wasn't expecting this."

Kang Inhan turned toward the intelligence director.

"Team Leader Lee is a former member of your agency."

"Ah... That explains why he was so surprised to see me."

"Exactly."

"It's good to meet you, Lee. The world really is a small place."

Once the somewhat awkward introductions were over, we headed toward the terminal exit.

As we crossed the parking lot, something happened that made everyone freeze.

Out of nowhere, Saho came sprinting over and landed squarely in my arms with a perfectly timed leap.

Om Giyeon and Lee Hyeonsol stared at the cat in stunned silence.

I gently rubbed Saho's head in praise.

"Good job. You made it here without any trouble?"

Saho purred contentedly before nodding.

The astonished intelligence director asked,

"Director Cha... Does Saho actually understand human speech?"

"Yes. Monk Popchin trained him exceptionally well."

"Incredible."

"A miracle, isn't it? Team Leader Lee, it's hot outside. Let's head to the car."

"Right away!" Lee Hyeonsol answered quickly before leading the way.

Waiting in the parking lot were a luxury executive sedan and a large bus.

Director Om Giyeon, Chief Secretary Kang Inhan, Saho, and I took the back seat of the sedan, while Lee Hyeonsol sat beside the driver.

Team Leader Jeong Gwangseok, his twenty security personnel, and the National Intelligence Service operatives boarded the bus.

As soon as the sedan started moving, Lee Hyeonsol turned around.

"Director Cha, I've rented a private mansion for us. I hope it meets your approval."

"Of course. That's an excellent choice. But will everyone fit?"

"If Director Om and all of his people stay there as well, it may become a little crowded."

I looked toward Om Giyeon expectantly.

As though reading my thoughts, he answered immediately.

"Don't worry about us. We've already prepared our own safe house."

"Then that solves the problem."

Director Om turned toward Lee Hyeonsol.

"Lee, I have a few questions."

"I'll answer everything I know, Director."

"When exactly did Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol arrive in Macau?"

"Yesterday afternoon. My men observed Jeong Sancheol meeting him at the airport."

So he'd arrived yesterday.

"Did he come alone?"

"He was accompanied by three bodyguards."

"I see. Is there anything else I should know?"

"Late last night, Jo Ilcheol got heavily drunk at a bar. Witnesses reported that he repeatedly shouted at the top of his lungs and completely lost his temper."

"Was he berating Jeong Sancheol?"

"No. There was nothing like that."

That confirmed my suspicion.

The deputy director's visit to Macau had nothing to do with the scam syndicate.

"I understand. Where is he now?"

"He's been inside Jeong Sancheol's headquarters continuously since last night."

"And where is this headquarters located?"

"About three hundred meters from our mansion in a straight line."

"Oh? So you deliberately rented a place nearby to make surveillance easier?"

"Exactly, Director."

"Can we drive past Jeong Sancheol's house on the way? I'd like to see it."

"Certainly. I'll instruct the driver."

About twenty minutes later, the car slowed beside the road.

Lee Hyeonsol pointed toward one of the buildings.

"Director, that three-story mansion is Jeong Sancheol's headquarters."

Om Giyeon carefully studied the building before asking another question.

"How's the security?"

"Surveillance cameras are installed every two to three meters along the entire perimeter fence. We still don't know what's happening inside the mansion itself because we haven't been able to get close."

"Have you determined how many people are inside?"

"Based on those entering and leaving, we've counted around eleven people, but that's only an estimate."

"Would it be possible to infiltrate the property?"

"Yes, provided the surveillance cameras are disabled first."

"Hmm... Easier said than done."

At that moment, Kang Inhan joined the conversation.

"Disabling the cameras is actually the easiest part."

"And how exactly do you intend to do that?"

"Saho will sneak onto the property and switch off the main breaker inside the electrical panel."

"You think a cat can do something like that?"

"When we raided the Chinese Triad's headquarters in Seoul, Saho did exactly that."

"I see..."

"We shouldn't remain parked here too long," Kang Inhan added. "The guards will become suspicious. We should discuss the details once we reach the mansion."

"I agree," Om Giyeon nodded.

At his signal, the driver pulled away.

Just as Lee Hyeonsol had said, our mansion stood very close to the enemy's base.

The moment we stepped out of the car and entered the courtyard, my eyes widened.

The place was enormous.

Lee Hyeonsol hurried to explain.

"We needed enough space to comfortably accommodate more than forty people, so we had to rent a larger property."

"I understand. Let's go inside."

The mansion consisted of three above-ground floors and one basement level.

My room and Kang Inhan's were on the third floor.

The moment I entered mine, I froze again.

Beyond the enormous panoramic windows stretched a dazzling blue ocean. White yachts drifted lazily across the calm water.

"...Beautiful. It's like a painting."

Unfortunately, there was no time to admire the scenery.

Om Giyeon was already waiting for me downstairs in the living room.

I turned toward Saho, who had already sprawled comfortably across the enormous bed.

"Come on. Let's go downstairs."

The cat lazily shook his head, making it clear he had no intention of moving.

Honestly, I wanted to let him rest too.

But an important mission awaited him.

"Aren't you hungry?"

The moment those words left my mouth, Saho immediately came to life.

When we reached the first floor, Director Om was already talking with Kang Inhan, Jeong Gwangseok, and Seo Donghun.

Seeing Saho and me, Om Giyeon smiled awkwardly.

"I was just listening to Chief Secretary Kang describe how you cleared out the Triad's headquarters in Seongbuk-dong."

"Didn't Commissioner General Choi Dongyeong tell you about it?"

"He only gave me a general overview, so I didn't know the full story."

"I see. Team Leader Jeong, feed Saho some beef. Let him eat as much as he wants."

Jeong Gwangseok immediately understood why I'd emphasized the words as much as he wants.

Saho was about ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) to undertake an extremely important mission.

It was obvious what I had in mind.

"Understood, Director Cha."

Jeong Gwangseok led the cat toward the kitchen.

I immediately turned back to Om Giyeon.

"Do your people have miniature surveillance cameras with them?"

"You want to attach one to Saho and send him to scout Jeong Sancheol's headquarters?"

The National Intelligence Service director clearly hadn't reached his position by accident.

The instant I mentioned a camera, he'd already figured out the entire operation.

"Exactly, Director."

"Do you really think he won't be noticed?"

"Saho managed to infiltrate both the Chinese Embassy and the Triad's headquarters without being detected, and security there was much tighter than around these scammers."

"But those operations took place at night. It's broad daylight now."

"He entered the Chinese Embassy during the day."

"...Then I have no further objections."

Om Giyeon immediately ordered one of his operatives to retrieve a camera.

The man sprang to his feet and hurried outside.

Watching him leave, the intelligence director turned to Kang Inhan.

"Still... How did Saho manage to find and switch off the Triad's electrical breaker?"

"Before the operation, we showed him what an electrical panel looked like. During his very first reconnaissance mission, he came back with detailed photographs of it."

"Remarkable. That cat truly is a sacred animal."

Bzzz—

At that moment, my phone vibrated on the table.

The screen displayed the name of FBI Director Glenn Nevers.

After apologizing to everyone present, I answered the call.

"Director Nevers."

["Director Cha, have you already arrived in Macau?"]

"Yes. We landed about an hour ago. We're resting at the mansion now."

["May I ask where you're staying?"]

"We rented a large private house since we traveled with a sizable group. It's very close to Jeong Sancheol's headquarters."

["Ah... So that's it..."] Nevers replied in a strangely meaningful tone.

"Did something happen?"

["As it happens, we've established our own command post not far from there. My advance team just reported spotting your group in the area. Everything makes sense now."]

"I understand."

["They also informed me that your National Intelligence Service Director, Om Giyeon, came with you. Why?"]

"We intend to find out why Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol of North Korea's Reconnaissance General Bureau came to Macau."

["Then my suspicions were correct. And I assume you already have a plan for getting close to them?"]

"Heh."

Instead of answering, I simply let out a quiet, knowing chuckle into the phone.