Chapter 111: Shouldn’t You Earn Your Meal?

"Full already? Then it's time to earn that meal, don't you think?"

As though he understood every word, Saho nodded obediently.

Jiham decided to ease into the subject first. If he simply dumped the mission on the cat without any buildup, Saho might actually get offended.

"You know we're too big to sneak into enemy territory in broad daylight. But you're small and agile, so it'll be easy for you. Your mission is to infiltrate the mansion and record everything happening inside. Can you do that?"

Saho nodded firmly.

Jiham took out his phone, pulled up a photograph of Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol of North Korea's Reconnaissance General Bureau, and showed it to the cat.

"Record everything this man does. But if you sense any danger, abandon the mission immediately and leave."

"...Meow?"

Saho tilted his head as if asking, Really? I can do that?

To make sure the mission went perfectly, Jiham decided to thoroughly butter up his furry partner.

"Don't forget. You're part of my family, and you're very precious to me."

Something unexpected happened.

It seemed every trace of Saho's dissatisfaction instantly vanished. In one leap, he jumped straight into Jiham's arms.

As he gently stroked the cat's head, Jiham continued,

"So let's not make this harder than it needs to be. Finish the job quickly, then we'll all relax afterward. Deal?"

Apparently eager to get started, Saho jumped down and immediately grabbed Team Leader Jeong Gwangseok's pant leg with his teeth.

But Jiham wasn't about to send him off just yet.

"Team Leader Jeong, we're not the only ones monitoring Jeong Sancheol's headquarters. The FBI is watching it too. It'll be a problem if they spot Saho."

"So what should we do?"

"The headquarters is close enough. Let Saho begin the mission directly from here."

"What if someone notices the camera attached to his head?"

"Saho will stick to back alleys and deserted areas. Isn't that right, Saho?"

The cat nodded enthusiastically.

Watching the entire exchange, Director Om Giyeon shook his head in amazement.

"Director Cha... Saho truly is a sacred animal. A genuinely wise beast."

"I won't deny that. Team Leader Jeong, take Saho outside."

"Yes, sir."

Jeong Gwangseok gave a sharp salute, picked Saho up, and left the room.

As soon as they were gone, Om Giyeon asked worriedly,

"Director Cha, do you think everything will go smoothly?"

Bzzz!

Before Jiham could answer, Team Leader Lee Hyeonsol's phone rang.

After glancing at the screen, he immediately reported,

"Director, it's one of our surveillance operatives watching Jeong Sancheol's headquarters."

"Excellent. Answer it immediately."

Lee Hyeonsol accepted the call without delay.

After exchanging a few words with his subordinate, he hung up and reported,

"Director, a luxury executive sedan just arrived at Jeong Sancheol's headquarters."

"Did they identify who was inside?"

"The vehicle drove straight into the underground garage, so they couldn't see the passenger. But they managed to photograph the license plate."

Jiham turned toward Om Giyeon.

"Can we identify the owner from the plate?"

"In Korea, it'd take only a few seconds. But this is China. It'll require considerably more time."

Lee Hyeonsol spoke up.

"Director, should we ask the FBI to help?"

"They're already watching the house themselves. I don't think we need to trouble them with that."

"You're right. I didn't think that through."

"Send the plate number to Director Om immediately."

"Right away!" Lee Hyeonsol answered loudly.

The atmosphere inside the room grew increasingly tense.

Time seemed to crawl.

Om Giyeon kept glancing at his wristwatch.

"Director Cha, when do you think Saho will return?"

The straight-line distance between their temporary residence and Jeong Sancheol's headquarters was only about three hundred meters.

Given Saho's speed, a round trip should have taken no more than a couple of minutes.

But since he had to move secretly while avoiding people, the journey naturally took much longer.

There was also the time needed to infiltrate the mansion and record everything.

"I think we should allow about an hour."

"It's already been around fifty minutes. He should be back soon."

"Most likely. By the way, have you identified whoever arrived at Jeong Sancheol's headquarters?"

"We've used every channel available, but we've come up empty."

Knock! Knock! Knock!

Urgent knocking echoed through the room before Jeong Gwangseok burst into the living room.

"Director! Saho's back!"

The moment he finished speaking, Saho himself dashed inside and leaped directly onto Jiham's chest.

Jiham gently rubbed the cat's head.

"Excellent work. Nobody noticed you, did they?"

Saho proudly lifted his chin before nodding.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Jiham turned toward the others.

"Lee Hyeonsol, prepare everything to review the recording. Team Leader Jeong, give Saho a bath and feed him all the beef he can eat."

A few minutes later, Lee Hyeonsol connected the miniature camera to the television with a cable and pressed play.

The screen immediately filled with first-person footage from Saho's perspective.

Knowing there was no point wasting time watching the trip through the streets, Lee Hyeonsol fast-forwarded until Saho vaulted over the high wall surrounding Jeong Sancheol's residence.

The video resumed at normal speed.

A spacious garden appeared on screen, with armed guards stationed throughout the grounds.

Seeing this, Om Giyeon spoke immediately.

"Lee, pause it."

Lee Hyeonsol stopped the video.

"Lee Hyeonsol... Doesn't something seem strange?"

The team leader instantly understood what the intelligence director meant.

There were six armed guards standing in the garden.

Not one of them was Chinese.

Earlier reports had stated that Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol had arrived with only three escorts.

"All seven North Korean employees officially assigned to the trading company are actually members of the Reconnaissance General Bureau," Lee Hyeonsol explained.

"But how did those bastards obtain so many weapons?"

"They most likely smuggled them through the North Korean Embassy."

"That certainly sounds like something they'd do. All right. Continue."

Lee Hyeonsol resumed playback.

Skillfully avoiding the patrols, Saho silently slipped along the mansion walls.

After reaching the rear of the building, where security was noticeably lighter, the cat launched himself upward with one incredible leap, landing effortlessly on the second-floor balcony.

Watching the footage, Om Giyeon's jaw slowly dropped.

"Incredible... He jumped as though gravity simply doesn't exist. How high can he actually jump?"

"Ordinary wildcats can manage around three meters, but Saho underwent rigorous training under the late Monk Popchin. Five meters is nothing for him."

In reality, Saho's extraordinary jumping ability came from the miraculous herbal medicine.

But Jiham had to maintain the cover story.

"I see. Then reaching the second floor really isn't an obstacle for him."

While they talked, the video continued.

Saho slipped through a partially opened window before quietly making his way downstairs to the first floor.

Three men were seated on the sofas in the living room.

Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol.

Jeong Sancheol.

And an unfamiliar Asian man.

Around them stood expressionless bodyguards.

Because of the tight security surrounding them, Saho chose not to approach any closer, instead hiding quietly in a corner.

Everyone desperately wished they could hear what the three men were discussing.

Unfortunately, the camera recorded only video.

Almost voicing Jiham's own thoughts, Om Giyeon sighed.

"It's a shame we can't hear their conversation."

"I agree, Director."

"I wonder what they're discussing."

At that moment, Jiham stared more closely at the screen.

Something clicked inside his mind.

"Stop the recording."

Om Giyeon turned toward him.

"Director Cha? Is something wrong?"

"The Chinese man sitting beside the North Korean general... His face looks very familiar."

"Really? Where could you have seen him?"

Instead of answering, Jiham immediately called Commissioner General Choi Dongyeong.

After several rings, the commissioner answered energetically.

"Director Cha! Did you arrive safely in Macau?"

"Yes. We got here about two hours ago."

"I doubt you're calling just to ask how I'm doing. Tell me what happened."

"Saho just returned from Jeong Sancheol's headquarters with video footage."

Jiham briefly summarized what they'd seen before getting to the point.

"...The man negotiating with the North Korean delegation appears to be a high-ranking member of the Chinese Triad."

"What?!" came simultaneously from Commissioner Choi over the phone and Director Om Giyeon sitting beside him.

Understanding Om Giyeon's shock, Jiham ignored it and continued speaking with the commissioner.

"At this point it's only a suspicion. I need photographs and information on the Triad's leadership. Can you send them?"

"I can't send classified material by email. There's too much risk of interception."

The commissioner was absolutely right.

There was no arguing with that.

Hmm... Then what should we do?

Suddenly, Jiham had an idea.

He gestured for Jeong Gwangseok to take a high-quality screenshot of the unknown Chinese man's face and send it to Choi Dongyeong's phone.

Then he resumed the conversation.

"Commissioner, do you understand what I'm thinking?"

"Of course. I'm waiting for the photo. Send it immediately."

After exchanging a few more words, Jiham ended the call.

By then, Jeong Gwangseok had already forwarded the screenshot.

No sooner had Jiham lowered his phone than Om Giyeon hurried over.

"Director Cha, are you certain he's a Triad member?"

"As I told the commissioner, I'm not completely certain yet. But if that's true... then this situation has become far more serious. Let's continue watching."

They resumed the recording.

Before long, something strange happened.

Saho entered a room on the third floor.

Suddenly, he let out a low, furious growl.

Slowly approaching a massive safe standing in the corner, he growled even louder, clearly becoming agitated.

Realizing there had to be an important clue here, Jiham shouted,

"Bring Saho here!"

Half a minute later, the cat was back in the living room.

He shot straight toward the television, stared fixedly at the image of the safe still displayed on the screen, and growled fiercely once again.

Judging by his intense reaction, something extremely important was hidden inside.

An idea suddenly flashed through Jiham's mind.

"Saho... Are there drugs inside that safe?"

The instant he heard the word, Saho let out a short affirmative growl before nodding vigorously.

Om Giyeon immediately asked in astonishment,

"But how would Saho know what drugs smell like?"

"When we destroyed the Triad's Korean branch, Saho was the one who found their hidden drug laboratory. The smell must have stayed in his memory."

"Incredible... His memory is really that extraordinary?"

"Well, he's no ordinary cat," Jiham replied with a smile.

"I suppose I can't argue with that."

Bzzz!

While Om Giyeon was still shaking his head in amazement, Jiham's phone vibrated again.

Seeing the caller's name, he answered immediately.

"Commissioner Choi."

"Director Cha, we've confirmed his identity. The man in the photograph is Qin Hao, Vice Chairman Chen Zhihui's right-hand man and trusted confidant."

"Just as I suspected. My guess was correct."

"But what the hell is Chen Zhihui's right-hand man doing meeting with a North Korean general?"

"I think the answer is written all over their faces. Did you notice how grim all three of them looked?"

"Could it be..." The commissioner trailed off, unable to finish the thought.

Jiham immediately understood what Choi Dongyeong was thinking and answered without hesitation.

"Exactly. Your 'could it be' hit the nail on the head."