Chapter 113: The Perfect Kidnapping Operation

That evening.

The wild cat Saho, with a pouch of sleeping powder tied around his neck, slipped into Jeong Sanhak's hideout. Meanwhile, we were reviewing the operation one last time, searching for any flaws in the plan.

"Director Cha, exactly how is Saho supposed to mix the sleeping medicine into their food?" Director Om Giyeon of the National Intelligence Service asked.

"He'll hold the packets in his mouth and carefully drop them, one by one, directly into the dishes," Cha Jiham replied.

However, Director Om Giyeon immediately spotted a critical flaw.

Before anyone could eat, the food first had to be cooked. The cook would undoubtedly be busy in the kitchen. How could Saho possibly lace the food right under the cook's nose?

He voiced his concern openly.

"I instructed Saho to cut the power to the mansion first. Then, while everyone is distracted by the blackout, he'll mix the sleeping medicine into the food," Jiham explained.

"So you're taking advantage of the confusion caused by the sudden blackout... In that case, if everything goes according to plan, there really shouldn't be any problems," Om Giyeon agreed.

Having eased the director's concerns, Jiham turned to Team Leader Lee Hyeonsol.

"How effective is this sleeping medication?"

"It depends on the dosage, but on average they'll fall into a deep sleep within twenty to thirty minutes."

That would give Saho more than enough time to put to sleep—or deal with—anyone who refused to eat dinner.

"Crystal clear," Jiham nodded.

"But what if they never figure out why the electricity went out?" Lee Hyeonsol asked worriedly.

"The chances are low, but in the worst-case scenario, Saho will climb up to the breaker panel and switch the power back on himself."

"Oh, I see."

"The second time the lights go out in their hideout, that'll be our signal to storm the compound."

At that moment, Chief Secretary Kang Inhan joined the discussion.

"Couldn't we just enter through the main gate like we did during the raid on the Triad's Seoul branch?"

"We'd first have to neutralize the FBI agents conducting surveillance outside the mansion."

"Right! I'd completely forgotten about them. So what do we do?"

"The ideal scenario is for all of them to leave for the airport to meet Director Nevers."

"But won't they leave at least a few people behind to continue surveillance?"

"They most likely will. In that case, we'll deal with them ourselves."

"How?" Kang Inhan leaned forward impatiently.

"The National Intelligence Service operatives will simply put the FBI agents to sleep with tranquilizer darts."

"I understand your reasoning, Director Cha, but won't that create problems with the Americans afterward?"

"Jeong Sanhak already knows the FBI has been watching him."

"So we're going to pin everything on him?" Kang Inhan immediately understood.

"Exactly. Once the FBI agents are asleep, we can simply walk in through the main gate."

"Excellent. What about the extraction?"

"There are undoubtedly vehicles parked inside the mansion that belong to them."

Kang Inhan instantly grasped Jiham's plan.

When they extracted Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol and his entourage, they would use the vehicles already parked inside the compound.

Only then would the operation become the perfect crime.

Not everyone, however, fully understood the reasoning.

"Director, could you explain why we have to leave in their own vehicles?" Lee Hyeonsol asked.

"If these people simply disappear, the FBI's first suspicion will fall on us. But if every vehicle parked inside the compound disappears along with them, the Americans will draw a different conclusion."

"They'll assume Jeong Sanhak's group simply relocated to escape FBI surveillance," Kang Inhan finished for him. "Team Leader Lee, does it make sense now?"

"Perfectly."

"Once you've secured Jo Ilcheol and his people, take them straight to the National Intelligence Service's safe house," Jiham instructed.

"May I ask why there?" Director Om Giyeon immediately asked.

"Because officially, this kidnapping was carried out by the National Intelligence Service."

A faint smile crossed Jiham's face.

"But the operation is being carried out by Korea Investment personnel."

"Our company merely agreed to lend a helping hand after receiving a personal request from the Director."

"Haha... I can't argue with that. Thank you very much for your generosity, Director Cha."

Om Giyeon smiled sincerely.

Bzzz... Bzzz...

Right in the middle of the pleasant conversation, Lee Hyeonsol's phone vibrated.

After checking the screen, he stepped aside to answer.

A few minutes later he hurried back.

"Director, Qin Hao is still inside the mansion."

For the operation's perfect alibi, it was crucial that Qin Hao leave before the assault began.

But it was already half past seven, and for some reason the Triad's right-hand man showed no intention of leaving Jeong Sanhak's hideout.

Waiting for him to leave would be the safest option, but it might ruin the entire schedule.

"If Qin refuses to leave before we move in, we'll kidnap him together with everyone else," Jiham declared firmly.

"Understood. One more thing. Two of the four FBI agents watching the mansion have just driven away."

They had probably gone to the airport to meet Director Glenn Nevers.

"Director Om, it looks like we don't have a choice."

"Don't worry, Director Cha. My people will deal with the remaining two agents quietly and professionally," Om Giyeon said confidently.

When someone who had survived countless intelligence wars said something like that, there was no reason to doubt him.

"Good. Then let's begin."

***

Meanwhile, FBI Team Leader Walkerson and his partner Harrison sat inside an unremarkable surveillance van, eating hamburgers while carefully watching Jeong Sanhak's mansion.

"Boss, the sun's been down for ages. Why is it still so damn hot outside?" Harrison grumbled.

"You've got the air conditioner blasting at full power. What's there to complain about?" Walkerson replied.

"I'm just sick of being trapped inside this metal box. It's driving me crazy."

"Fair enough... I'm getting tired of it myself."

"By the way, maybe we should've gone to the airport to meet the Director too."

To Walkerson, Director Glenn Nevers was someone worthy of absolute respect.

Ordinarily, earning Nevers' approval would be worth almost anything.

But this time, he had different priorities.

"Keeping an eye on Jo Ilcheol is more important right now. Director Nevers will understand."

"Got it. Boss, why do you think that North Korean general came all the way here?"

"It probably has something to do with Vice Chairman Chen Zhihui's disappearance."

"You think so?"

"Qin Hao, who's inside right now, is Chen Zhihui's right-hand man."

"Ah... Now it makes sense. So what's the connection?"

"It's simple. North Korea's Reconnaissance General Bureau uses Chinese distribution channels to sell narcotics..."

He never finished.

The enormous mansion instantly sank into complete darkness.

Walkerson immediately sensed something was wrong.

The neighboring villas remained brightly illuminated.

He looked toward Harrison.

"Maybe their wiring overloaded and tripped the breaker?"

"Hmm..."

Walkerson rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

Before he could continue, however, the lights inside the mansion suddenly came back on.

"Looks like you were right. The breaker must've tripped."

Tap.

Something lightly struck the passenger-side window.

Feeling uneasy, Walkerson lowered the window to look outside.

The very next second, a silent figure emerged from the darkness, and the barrel of a pistol appeared inside the van.

Pfft! Pfft!

The two FBI agents never even realized what had happened.

Hit by tranquilizer darts fired from a suppressed pneumatic weapon, Walkerson and Harrison slumped silently into their seats and fell into a deep sleep.

***

"Excellent work."

Om Giyeon briefly praised his men before ending the call.

Jiham, who had been waiting for this moment, immediately asked,

"Director, how did it go?"

"The FBI agents watching the mansion are fast asleep."

"Whew... That's a relief."

"Just to be safe, my men drove their van about a kilometer away and abandoned it in an empty lot."

"A wise precaution. They were recording, weren't they?"

"Yes. The van was equipped with surveillance equipment monitoring the mansion."

Bzzz... Bzzz...

Kang Inhan's phone vibrated.

Recognizing the caller, he answered immediately.

After listening for a moment, he ended the call and reported,

"Director Cha, the mansion has completely lost power."

"That means Saho successfully neutralized Jo Ilcheol and his men."

"I agree. Lee Hyeonsol's team has already entered through the main gate."

"Then all we can do now is wait."

Bzzz... Bzzz...

The tense silence was broken by another call.

Kang Inhan answered instantly.

"Report, Lee."

[Chief, we've secured all the targets. They're packed up.]

"Excellent work. Get out of there as quickly as possible."

[We're ready to leave, but we've run into one unexpected problem.]

"What happened?"

[We found a small safe inside what appears to be Jeong Sanhak's room. Saho is sitting on top of it and refuses to move.]

"Hold on. I'll report it to the Director."

Kang Inhan quickly explained the situation.

Jiham took the phone himself.

"Lee, how big is the safe, and how much does it weigh?"

[About fifty by forty centimeters, roughly seventy centimeters tall. I'm not sure about the weight—we haven't tried lifting it yet.]

"If Saho refuses to leave it, there's something incredibly valuable inside. Take it with you, even if it means breaking a sweat."

[Understood, Director Cha. We'll bring it.]

At that moment, another important thought crossed Jiham's mind.

If they left behind any undeniable evidence inside Jeong Sanhak's house, it could become a disaster.

"One more thing, Lee. Destroy and dispose of every bit of food they touched."

[Already done, Director.]

"Excellent. And make it look as though they left in a hurry. Take every computer with you."

[Understood.]

"Then I'll see you at the safe house."

Click.

The moment Jiham hung up, Om Giyeon moved closer.

"Director Cha, do you really think there's something important inside that safe?"

"I'm just as certain as you are."

"So, shall we head to our safe house?"

Bzzz... Bzzz...

As if on cue, Jiham's phone vibrated once more.

The caller ID displayed Glenn Nevers.

Gesturing to Om Giyeon to show who was calling, Jiham answered.

"Director Nevers. Welcome. Have you already landed in Macau?"

[Yes, Cha. I'd like to meet with you this evening. Do you have a few minutes?]

Jiham needed to get to the National Intelligence Service's safe house immediately.

But Nevers insisted on meeting right away.

Refusing politely might only make the American suspicious.

"Weren't you exhausted by the trip?" Jiham asked carefully.

[Not so exhausted that I'd refuse a meeting with you.]

"Well, then it can't be helped. You know where we're staying, don't you?"

[Of course. I'll be there in about half an hour.]

After ending the call, Jiham briefly explained the situation to Om Giyeon.

"...It looks like I'll have to meet with him first."

"It can't be helped. Then we'll postpone inspecting the safe house until tomorrow morning," the Director sighed.

At that moment, Kang Inhan spoke again.

"Director, what if you met Director Nevers at Jeong Sanhak's mansion instead?"

Jiham thought for a moment and decided it was an excellent idea.

Nevers needed to see with his own eyes that Jo Ilcheol and his people had apparently fled the mansion in a hurry.

After quickly organizing his thoughts, Jiham called the FBI Director back.

Nevers answered almost immediately, clearly surprised by the second call.

[Cha, is there something else?]

"My people who were watching Jeong Sanhak's hideout just contacted me. It appears Jo Ilcheol and his men panicked, abandoned the mansion, and disappeared to an unknown location."

[What?!]

Nevers' shocked voice rang through the phone.

Ignoring his surprise, Jiham continued calmly.

"My people are already following them, so we'll soon learn where they're headed."

[Thank God...]

"Judging from the fact that the mansion has completely lost power, it appears no [N O V E L I G H T] one's left inside. So I suggest we meet there instead. What do you think?"

[Agreed. I'll head there immediately!]