Chapter 115: There’s a Perfect Way to Do It!

FBI Director Glenn Nevers and CIA Director Eddie Griffin carefully inspected the inside of the mansion under our guidance.

Naturally, the two of them kept asking questions whenever they came across something they found suspicious. We knew the answers perfectly well, but just to be safe, we continued playing dumb and pretended not to understand anything.

After thoroughly examining the house, we gathered in the living room to resume the conversation we had left unfinished.

"Director Om, isn't Macau completely under the Triad's control?" Griffin asked.

"I believed so as well, however..." NIS Director Om Giyeon deliberately trailed off, intentionally leaving the sentence unfinished to gauge the CIA director's true intentions.

"I'm simply curious how North Korea had the nerve to distribute drugs and weapons here."

"We believe North Korea wasn't distributing them directly. They merely supplied everything to the Triad."

"And you have solid grounds for reaching that conclusion?"

"This afternoon, Qin Hao, the closest confidant of Vice Chairman Chen Zhihui, met here with Jo Ilcheol, the Deputy Director of North Korea's Reconnaissance General Bureau. If either Seoul or Pyongyang were distributing weapons directly, there would have been no reason for those two to meet."

However, FBI Director Nevers had a different opinion.

"Director Om, if North Korea had been supplying drugs and weapons to China through the Triad, we would already know about it. But today is the first time I've ever heard they're supplying weapons."

"Hmm... I see. Team Leader Cha, what do you think about Director Nevers' opinion?"

In truth, a certain possibility had already crossed my mind. But since my guess could very well be wrong, I needed to lay the groundwork first.

"Please keep in mind that this is nothing more than my personal speculation."

"That's fine. Speak freely."

"It appears North Korea only recently decided to begin supplying weapons and chose the Triad as its partner."

"Go on."

"They most likely wanted to gauge China's reaction, so they secretly brought in a shipment of weapons as a trial run and were about to hand it over to the Triad. That's why the FBI hadn't had time to detect it."

"Hmm, that's a reasonable assumption," Nevers agreed.

At that moment, CIA Director Griffin, who apparently had his own thoughts on the matter, joined the conversation.

"Team Leader Cha, China is extremely sensitive about North Korean weapons being smuggled in. They punish arms dealers with extraordinary severity because of it. The Triad leadership can't possibly be unaware of that. So why would they take such a risk?"

"Drugs are easy to manufacture, so that market has long since become an oversaturated red ocean. Weapons, on the other hand, are subject to extremely strict controls, making the arms trade a virtually untouched blue ocean with almost no competitors."

"Ah... I see."

Griffin nodded in understanding, accepting my reasoning.

"I'm going to verify whether my hypothesis is correct."

"And how do you intend to do that?"

I had planned to personally interrogate Qin Hao, who had already been captured and was being held at the NIS safe house. But if he immediately told the complete truth, it could trigger an international scandal of unprecedented proportions. So I had prepared another, more indirect approach.

"During the cleanup of the Triad's Korean branch, we captured Chen Shao, the only son of Vice Chairman Chen Zhihui, alive. He had a flash drive containing the Triad's most highly classified secrets."

"Are you saying that flash drive might contain information about the weapons trade as well?"

"The chances are extremely high."

"If it does, would you be willing to share the results of your investigation with us?"

"I'll need to discuss it with Commissioner General Choi Dongyeong of the National Police Agency first. After that, I'll give you my answer."

"Tell Commissioner Choi that we're prepared to pay handsomely for that information."

'Oh, he's clever.'

"I'll pass your message on to Commissioner Choi."

"I'll be looking forward to good news."

Bzzz... Bzzz...

Just then, the phone in FBI Director Nevers' hand vibrated. After checking the caller ID, he excused himself and answered.

"Report. Quickly."

[It's confirmed that Team Leader Walkerson and Agent Harrison were hit with tranquilizer darts. Also, the surveillance camera installed inside the van has disappeared.]

"It must have been taken by the attackers?"

[That's our conclusion as well.]

"Listen. Did they leave any fingerprints on the steering wheel or the door handles?"

[Looks like they were wearing gloves. We didn't find anything.]

"Then it can't be helped. Bring both of them to the safe house."

Click.

In a foul mood, Nevers ended the call unilaterally. As though he had been waiting for precisely that moment, Griffin turned toward him.

"Why did Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol leave the FBI agents alive?"

The question had been weighing heavily on Nevers' mind as well. Had he been in Jo Ilcheol's position, he would have eliminated Walkerson and Harrison without hesitation. To commit the perfect crime, he would have simply sunk the van into the ocean with both of them inside. Yet the North Korean intelligence officer had inexplicably shown mercy.

"I have no idea."

"Director Om, what do you think?" Griffin shifted his gaze toward the head of South Korea's intelligence service.

Since the NIS and the FBI cooperated closely in many areas, the Korean operatives had never intended to kill the Americans. They had merely put them to sleep with tranquilizers. But Director Om Giyeon couldn't reveal the truth even if someone held a knife to his throat. Forcing his brain to work at full speed, he quickly came up with a convincing lie.

"Jo Ilcheol knew perfectly well the FBI was monitoring him. He spared them only because he realized that if the agents disappeared, he would immediately become the prime suspect."

"Besides, he had to abandon his hideout in a hurry, so he may simply have run out of time," I added, helping Director Om.

"That makes perfect sense," Griffin agreed.

"It's getting very late. Shall we continue the rest of our discussions tomorrow?" Nevers suggested.

"We're meeting again tomorrow?"

"We still have to open that enormous safe on the third floor."

"Ah, that's right! With everything that's happened, it completely slipped my mind..."

"Considering the time it will take for our specialist to fly in from Korea, I suggest we meet again tomorrow afternoon."

"Excellent idea. Until tomorrow, then."

Director Nevers and Director Griffin left Jeong Sanhak's hideout together with their agents.

After seeing them off, we gathered in the living room once again. Director Om Giyeon let out a long sigh of relief before collapsing heavily onto the sofa.

"Whew..."

"Director, you worked incredibly hard."

"Team Leader Cha, you and the Korea Investment staff did all the real work. We merely cleaned up after you."

"Haha. Is that so?"

Chuckling softly, I dialed Commissioner General Choi Dongyeong's number.

After several rings, a sleepy, hoarse voice answered.

[...Team Leader Cha, it's already past midnight. What's happened?]

At that moment, I silently cursed myself. I had completely forgotten about the time difference between Korea and Macau.

"Commissioner Choi, I apologize for calling so late."

[If you're calling, then it must be important. Go ahead.]

"Two hours ago, we carried out a lightning operation and captured Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol of North Korea's Reconnaissance General Bureau."

[What?!]

Commissioner General Choi Dongyeong shouted so loudly that everyone in the living room flinched in surprise.

"Commissioner, do you really have to shout like that?"

[I was just... far too surprised. My apologies.]

"Haha, I was only joking."

[I'm dying to know how you managed to capture Jo Ilcheol.]

"Director Om suggested intercepting him before the CIA and FBI could get to him."

[I knew about the FBI, but what does the CIA have to do with this?]

"Director Griffin personally came here with CIA operatives."

[Seriously?]

"Absolutely. More importantly, we successfully captured both Jo Ilcheol and all of his subordinates."

[Won't that cause problems later?]

I needed to calm the anxious police commissioner.

"Only a handful of people know we have them."

[All right. Understood.]

"In Jeong Sanhak's hideout, we found dozens of assault rifles and tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition, all manufactured in North Korea. Please check whether the flash drive seized from the Triad contains any records of weapons transactions between North Korea and the Chinese syndicate."

[I'll look into it immediately and contact you as soon as I have the results.]

As soon as I ended the call, Director Om Giyeon looked at me in confusion.

"We can get that information directly from Qin Hao without any difficulty. Why go through Seoul?"

"I have plans for him as well, but first I need to verify something."

"I see. Shall we go interrogate Jo Ilcheol, then?"

I shook my head.

"Jo Ilcheol is still under the effects of the tranquilizer. He won't wake up for another couple of hours."

"We can wake him by force."

"If we want to transport him to Korea without complications, it's important that we treat him with proper respect. Besides, the CIA and FBI may be watching us. If we suddenly leave the hotel in the middle of the night and head for the safe house instead, it'll only arouse suspicion."

"Hmm. That's true."

"I'll return to the hotel tonight and visit the safe house tomorrow morning."

"That would probably be for the best."

"But do you really have a reliable plan to move Jo Ilcheol into Korea without anyone noticing?"

Every time Director Om thought about that problem, his head began to throb. There were countless ways to transport Jo Ilcheol alone to Korea, but every single one required eliminating all of his men. It might be acceptable for the greater good, but quietly wiping out a group of more than ten people in Macau without attracting attention was no easy task. He honestly explained the situation to Cha Jiham.

"...So we desperately need a solution."

"What if we brought both Jo Ilcheol and all of his men to Korea together?" I suggested.

"I'd love to, but I don't have suitable transportation for that many people."

"Actually, there is one way."

"Tell me!" Director Om pleaded impatiently, leaning forward.

"I think we should request assistance from the Navy."

"That's it! There's a perfect way to do it!" Director Om Giyeon exclaimed, slapping his knee as realization struck him.

"But for my plan to work, we'll have to move very quickly."

"Damn it, we don't have any time to waste!" Director Om hurriedly grabbed his phone, silently cursing himself for not thinking of it sooner.

***

FBI Safe House.

Directors Nevers and Griffin sat with grave expressions, not even having changed out of the clothes they had traveled in.

"Director Griffin, what's your impression of Team Leader Cha Jiham after working with him?"

"I can now clearly understand why Chairman Clark Bongard, Chairman Gomez, and Chairman Hudson all think so highly of him."

"I'm glad you've realized that. I trust you understand what I'm getting at?"

Nevers' meaning was unmistakable. Under no circumstances should they damage their relationship with Cha Jiham or wound his pride.

"I'm not an idiot," Griffin replied sharply.

Satisfied that the warning had been delivered, Nevers changed the subject.

"Let's leave unpleasant matters aside. Did anything strike you as odd while we were inspecting Jeong Sanhak's hideout?"

"Odd? What do you mean?"

"Think back to Jeong Sanhak's room on the second floor. There was a very obvious mark in the corner, roughly fifty by fifty centimeters."

"Hmm... Now that you mention it, I do remember something like that."

"I believe there was a safe there. What do you think?"

"I agree with you, Director Nevers."

"So where did it go?"

"Jeong Sanhak certainly wouldn't have carried it away himself. Don't tell me..."

Nevers understood perfectly why Griffin had stopped mid-sentence.

"Exactly. We reached the same conclusion."

"Why would the Korean intelligence service secretly remove a safe?"

"They most likely believed it contained something of extraordinary value."

"That certainly sounds plausible."

"Team Leader Cha and Director Om are definitely hiding something from us."

"But what could it be...?"

Bzzz...

At that moment, Nevers' phone vibrated on the table. Glancing at the number, he answered immediately.

"What is it?"

[Team Leader Cha and Director Om have both returned to their respective hotels.]

Cha Jiham's prediction had proven accurate down to the smallest detail.