Chapter 114: The Game Is Already Over

When we entered Jeong Sanhak's hideout, an unexpected scene greeted us.

Team Leader Lee Hyeonsol, Team Leader Jeong Gwangseok, and their men were already waiting inside.

Not understanding how they had ended up here, I turned to Lee Hyeonsol.

"What happened?"

"There were too many of us. Not everyone could fit into the vehicles."

"Right, that makes sense. We'll have to take that into account next time. How did everything go?"

"Team Leader Seo Donghun has already taken Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol and his entourage to the National Intelligence Service's safe house. We stayed behind to make sure we hadn't overlooked anything important."

"I see. Under no circumstances can the FBI suspect that we were the ones who kidnapped Deputy Director Jo's group."

"We've taken every necessary precaution, so you don't need to worry."

Since Lee Hyeonsol himself had once served in intelligence, all I could do was trust his judgment.

"Good. Is there anything else we should know?"

"We found Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol and Director Qin Hao inside the dining room. Both of them were completely drunk."

Apparently, after hearing that Vice Chairman Chen Zhihui was alive, they had celebrated with complete peace of mind.

"I see. How many people didn't touch the food with the sleeping medicine?"

"Only five."

Which meant Saho had personally dealt with those five.

"Give Saho plenty of beef. He worked hard putting those bastards to sleep."

"Haha. Will do."

"Just to be safe, I'll ask anyway. No one managed to escape from this hideout, right?"

"I was curious myself, so I asked Saho. He shook his head. No one got away."

"What a relief. Continue your report."

"In the basement, we found several dozen assault rifles and tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition. All of North Korean manufacture."

Only seven Reconnaissance General Bureau operatives, including Jeong Sanhak, officially worked at Korea Trading.

There was absolutely no reason for them to keep that much weaponry.

I asked Lee Hyeonsol what he thought.

"North Korea's Reconnaissance General Bureau also engages in weapons smuggling."

"You mean Jeong Sanhak was supplying North Korean weapons to the Chinese Triad through Korea Trading?"

"My thoughts are exactly the same as yours, Director."

At that moment, Director Om Giyeon of the National Intelligence Service, who clearly had something to add, joined the conversation.

"Team Leader Lee, Director Cha has already informed FBI Director Nevers that Korea Investment personnel are tracking Deputy Director Jo. Prepare a flawless alibi so he won't suspect a thing."

"Understood."

"Now let's head up to the third floor, where the safe is."

Standing before the massive safe on the third floor, I felt a slight sense of frustration.

Jeong Sanhak was already in our custody, so obtaining the combination was only a matter of time.

But according to our official version of events, the criminals had already abandoned the hideout and fled.

Under those circumstances, even if we forced the code out of him, we couldn't openly use it to open the safe.

Apparently, I wasn't the only one thinking that.

Director Om Giyeon spoke regretfully.

"Director Cha, I assume this safe contains more than just narcotics?"

"In the Triad's Korean branch safe, we found not only drugs but also an enormous amount of cash."

"Hmm... I see."

Ignoring Om Giyeon's remark, I turned to Lee Hyeonsol.

"How much did that smaller safe from Jeong Sanhak's room weigh?"

"Judging by the fact that four men could barely lift it, at least a hundred kilograms."

Portable safes normally weighed between thirty and sixty kilograms.

Assuming the safe itself weighed around fifty, whatever was inside had to weigh at least that much as well.

"What could possibly be inside that's so heavy?"

"The only valuable thing I can think of that ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) weighs that much would be gold bars."

"If you're right, Team Leader Lee, that's quite a jackpot."

Just then, Team Leader Jeong Gwangseok hurried upstairs, slightly out of breath.

"Director, Director Nevers has arrived."

"He has? Let's go downstairs."

After descending to the first floor, we froze in confusion once again.

Director Nevers wasn't there.

Instead, a completely unfamiliar man stood waiting for us.

"Meeting you here, Director Cha, is quite exciting."

"...Are you really Director Nevers?"

"I'm wearing a special mask."

At that moment, it became clear why the FBI Director had been so confident that he could enter China without difficulty.

"It never even crossed my mind that you'd be using a disguise."

"Haha. Really? The man standing beside me is CIA Director Eddie Griffin."

"What?!"

No matter how composed I usually was, I couldn't hide my surprise.

The Director of the CIA—a key figure in the world of espionage—had personally come into the enemy's hideout.

How could anyone not be shocked?

"Don't worry. Director Griffin is wearing a mask as well."

"Ah, I see. It's a pleasure to meet you. I..."

Director Om Giyeon, Chief Secretary Kang Inhan, and I greeted the CIA Director before taking our seats.

"Director Griffin, I'm curious. What made you take such a risk and come to Macau personally?"

"To find out why Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol came here."

I immediately realized Griffin was lying.

Given the CIA's capabilities, they had undoubtedly known the real reason for Jo Ilcheol's visit long ago.

Without question, Griffin had come for only one reason—to take the North Korean general back to the United States.

Haha... Director Griffin. The game is already over.

"I understand."

The CIA Director ignored my remark and turned to Om Giyeon.

"And I'd like to know why the Director of South Korea's National Intelligence Service rushed to Macau."

"For exactly the same reason you and Director Nevers did."

"Since you put it that way, I have nothing further to add."

"Haha. Exactly."

Having neatly silenced the CIA Director, Om Giyeon fell meaningfully silent and left the initiative to me.

"What about you, Director Cha? Why are you here?"

I decided there was no point hiding the obvious.

"There's a company called K&J Bio that caused our fund enormous financial losses. We received information that its CEO is hiding in Macau. In addition, I intend to eliminate the scam syndicate that caused great suffering to someone close to me."

"Are you saying the leader of that syndicate is Jeong Sanhak of North Korea's Reconnaissance General Bureau?"

"That's correct, Director Griffin."

"And do you know why he established illegal gambling operations here?"

"At first I thought it was purely to earn foreign currency. But I've changed my mind."

"And what conclusion did you reach?"

"In the basement, we found dozens of assault rifles and tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition..."

"Is that true?!"

Griffin interrupted me before I could finish, genuine astonishment appearing on his face.

His reaction was understandable, but his manners still left something to be desired.

"If you doubt my words, you're welcome to go downstairs and see for yourself."

"Ahem... My apologies."

Hearing the steel in my voice, the CIA Director coughed awkwardly and apologized.

Since he had backed down, pressing the issue further would have been ungentlemanly.

"I accept your apology. To continue: on the third floor we discovered an enormous safe, and I have every reason to believe it contains narcotics."

"What makes you think that?"

"The distinct smell of methamphetamine is clearly noticeable on the third floor."

"I see. Is there any way to open the safe?"

Instead of answering, I looked toward Chief Secretary Kang Inhan.

He immediately understood the signal.

"Director Griffin, our company employs a first-class specialist in this sort of work."

Naturally, it was a complete fabrication.

Kang Inhan lied so calmly only because he was absolutely certain we would interrogate Jeong Sanhak and force the combination out of him.

Of course, Director Nevers knew nothing about that.

"What good fortune. Could you bring him here?"

"It's already too late today. We'll contact him tomorrow."

"We'll cover all of his expenses."

Griffin was transparent as glass.

He was clearly hoping to get his hands on whatever was inside the safe.

It was time to put an end to that idea once and for all.

"Director Griffin, I think you've forgotten one thing. We were the first to secure this hideout."

Sensing the atmosphere growing tense, Director Nevers quickly stepped in to smooth things over.

"Director Cha, I assure you Director Griffin meant no ill intent."

"Very well. I'll take your word for it, Director Nevers."

"Still, where did Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol and his men disappear to?"

This was the critical moment.

Everything that followed depended on my answer.

"It appears they realized both we and the FBI were watching them, so they hastily abandoned this hideout and relocated."

"But how could they have discovered the surveillance?"

"I believe your agents made a mistake somewhere and exposed themselves."

"That's a rather insulting accusation."

There was a dangerous edge to Nevers' voice.

Fortunately, the people standing behind me were powerful enough that I wasn't the least bit concerned.

"If you doubt me, try contacting the agents who were watching this place."

The FBI Director nodded.

The operative standing behind him immediately pulled out a phone and made the call.

A minute later he reported with a puzzled expression.

"Team Leader Walkerson and Agent Harrison aren't answering."

"Find out where they are. Now."

"Wait."

My voice stopped the operative just as he reached the doorway.

He turned to me in confusion.

"The FBI surveillance van is currently sitting in an empty lot about one kilometer from here."

"And why would it be there?"

"Allow me to explain."

Lee Hyeonsol stepped forward to perform the story we had prepared.

"Go ahead."

"We were conducting surveillance about thirty meters away from your team's position. At one point we saw someone quietly approach the FBI van and toss a small pebble at the passenger-side window."

Lee Hyeonsol paused briefly before continuing.

"Your agent became suspicious and lowered the window. At that exact moment, the unknown individual opened fire with a pistol. He then climbed into the van and drove away. Realizing the situation was serious, we began following him covertly."

"And then?"

"The attacker abandoned the van in an empty lot before running back toward Jeong Sanhak's hideout."

"So you're saying Reconnaissance General Bureau personnel shot my agents?"

In reality, it had been South Korean intelligence operatives who had fired at the FBI agents.

But to preserve the cover story, Lee Hyeonsol had to keep lying.

"We never saw the attacker's face, so I can't say for certain. But the possibility is extremely high."

"I see. Continue."

"We rushed to the van to check on your agents. They were sleeping very soundly."

"Our people were hit with tranquilizer darts?"

"If you have another explanation, I'd be happy to hear it."

"I apologize if my question sounded accusatory."

Nevers immediately apologized to Lee Hyeonsol for his tone.

"Don't worry about it. I stayed behind to watch over your agents while my partner drove back toward Jeong Sanhak's hideout. He called me on the way."

"What did he report?"

"He reported that the vehicles carrying Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol and the others had just left the compound."

"I see."

"I immediately informed the Director and came here as fast as I could."

Bzzz!

At that moment, Lee Hyeonsol's phone vibrated.

After glancing at the screen, he stepped aside to answer it.

A couple of minutes later he returned and hurried over to me.

"Director, we've lost Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol's group."

It was time to play my part in Lee Hyeonsol's performance.

"How did that happen?"

"Their vehicle left the city and crossed the border into mainland China."

"...Well. There's nothing we can do about that."

And just like that, Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol had passed completely and irreversibly into the hands of South Korea's National Intelligence Service.