Chapter 116: The Decisive Word

"Deputy Director, please wake up."

Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol of North Korea's Reconnaissance General Bureau slowly opened his eyes as someone shook him awake.

"...What's going on? Why are you making such a fuss first thing in the morning?"

"The thing is... this isn't our residence."

"What?!"

Jo Ilcheol roared like a clap of thunder and shot upright in bed.

He quickly looked around before tilting his head in confusion and asking Jeong Sanhak, the head of the underground syndicate,

"But couldn't I have simply slept in a different room?"

"There isn't a single room in our residence with an interior like this. More importantly, the door is locked from the outside."

"Don't tell me..."

Jeong Sanhak immediately understood why Jo Ilcheol had stopped mid-sentence.

"Your suspicion is absolutely correct. We've definitely been kidnapped."

Jo Ilcheol found Jeong Sanhak's words difficult to believe.

The entire perimeter of their residence was covered with surveillance cameras. On top of that, elite armed personnel from the Reconnaissance General Bureau guarded the grounds around the clock. Under those circumstances, how could anyone possibly break in and kidnap them in broad daylight?

He asked Jeong Sanhak what he thought.

"I believe they got in during the power outage."

"But it was confirmed that the electricity went out because the circuit breakers tripped."

"..."

Jeong Sanhak apparently had no rebuttal and remained silent.

Jo Ilcheol wasn't finished.

"Fine. Let's say they climbed over the wall while the power was out. But how the hell did they get past the guards in the courtyard and make their way into the house?"

"...I don't know. But the fact that we've been kidnapped is undeniable."

Knock. Knock. Knock.

At that moment, someone knocked, and the door opened.

"O-Oh...!"

The instant he recognized the man who entered, Jo Ilcheol jumped up from the bed and began stammering violently.

He had every reason to.

Standing before him was NIS Director Om Giyeon.

"Deputy Director Jo, you know who I am, don't you?"

Still stunned, Jo Ilcheol silently nodded instead of answering.

"As you've probably already guessed, it was we who brought your group here."

"...How in the world did you manage that?"

"This isn't really the place to discuss it. We'll wait outside, so take your time getting ready and come out."

Jo Ilcheol could only stare silently at Director Om Giyeon's retreating back.

***

"I'm curious how Jo Ilcheol reacted."

I spoke to Director Om Giyeon as soon as he sat down on the sofa.

"He started stammering badly after seeing someone he never expected to meet."

"Then my prediction was correct."

"By the way, have you heard anything from Commissioner General Choi Dongyeong?"

Director Om Giyeon was referring to the dozens of assault rifles and tens of thousands of live rounds discovered in Jeong Sanhak's hideout.

"There wasn't any information related to weapons trafficking on the flash drive seized from Chen Shao."

"Then what exactly are those rifles and ammunition that were hidden in Director Jeong's hideout?"

A certain theory had been circling in my mind.

But until I confirmed whether it was correct, it was better to keep it to myself.

"We'll know everything once we interrogate Director Jeong."

"He's an elite Reconnaissance General Bureau operative. There's a very high chance he'll keep his mouth shut until the very end."

At that moment, Chief Secretary Kang Inhan decided to voice his opinion.

"Director Om, there's no defense against brute force. No one can withstand torture."

"We once captured a colonel from North Korea's Reconnaissance General Bureau alive. During the interrogation, he bit off his own tongue. If we push Director Jeong into a corner, there's a good chance he'll do exactly the same."

Silencing Kang Inhan, Director Om Giyeon turned back to me.

"Team Leader Cha, if we're going to make Director Jeong talk, we'll need a different approach."

"I've been thinking about an appropriate method."

"Would you care to share it?"

Before we could continue, the door opened.

Jo Ilcheol and Jeong Sanhak walked out of the room, naturally bringing our conversation to an end.

The two men strode confidently toward the sofas as though they had already agreed to maintain their composure. We stood to greet them.

After briefly glancing at me and the intimidating Kang Inhan, Jo Ilcheol turned expressionlessly toward Director Om Giyeon.

"Who are these people?"

Director Om had anticipated the question and had already coordinated the story with Cha Jiham.

"This is Chief Secretary Kang Inhan, a senior executive of the National Intelligence Service. And this is Agent Cha Jiham, the man who planned the entire operation to bring you here, Deputy Director Jo."

"I see."

"Shall we sit down and talk?"

Once everyone had taken their seats, an intelligence agent who had been waiting nearby served drinks.

Apparently thirsty, Jo Ilcheol emptied his glass in one gulp before placing it on the table with a thud.

He spoke first.

"Director Om, I'm still extremely curious how you managed to bring us here."

"Agent Cha will answer that."

Director Om Giyeon elegantly handed the conversation over to me.

"First of all, I'd like to point out that we're fully aware of the true nature of Korea Trading, the company run by Director Jeong."

"What?!"

Jeong Sanhak spoke faster than anyone else.

In reality, the National Intelligence Service had known nothing about Korea Trading's true purpose. Everything had been uncovered by pure coincidence while we were tracking the scammers who had framed former restaurant owner Jang Seokcho.

Naturally, I had no intention of admitting that.

"I don't appreciate you underestimating our intelligence service."

"Ahem...!"

Unable to respond, Jeong Sanhak merely let out an awkward cough.

After giving him a cold look, I turned toward Jo Ilcheol.

"Before I explain why you were brought here, Deputy Director Jo, there's something you need to know."

"And what would that be?"

"Not long ago, our police completely dismantled the Triad's Korean branch and captured Chen Shao, the only son of Vice Chairman Chen Zhihui, alive."

"What does that have to do with me?"

Just as expected, Jo Ilcheol remained completely indifferent.

Fortunately, I still held all the cards.

"In order to bring Chen Shao back to China, Vice Chairman Chen Zhihui entered our country under the false identity of Director Wu Weiliang. We monitored him from the moment he crossed the border, and during the surveillance a situation arose that required him to travel to the United States."

I paused briefly before continuing.

"After obtaining that information, the FBI launched an operation to arrest him. However, right before the assault began, someone leaked information to him, allowing him to escape the United States by the narrowest of margins."

The person who had tipped off Vice Chairman Chen Zhihui had actually been Commissioner General Choi Dongyeong. Meanwhile, NIS agents had secretly escorted him all the way to Nicaragua in exchange for an enormous payment.

'I wonder how Deputy Director Jo would react if he ever learned that.'

"At the same time the FBI attempted to capture Vice Chairman Chen Zhihui, they completely wiped out the Triad's American branch."

"I understand. Go on."

"We were convinced that someone from North Korea would come to discuss Chen Zhihui's disappearance. That's why we placed Director Jeong Sanhak under close surveillance."

The fact that Jo Ilcheol had flown into Macau had also been discovered purely by chance while monitoring Jeong Sanhak.

But realizing the truth would only complicate matters, I mixed my explanation with a carefully controlled lie.

Naturally, Jo Ilcheol never suspected it.

"And during that surveillance, we observed Director Jeong picking you up at the airport."

Jo Ilcheol glared fiercely at Jeong Sanhak, the man who had ultimately caused their failure.

Then he spoke flatly.

"I understand the situation. Continue."

"Unfortunately, Deputy Director Jo, the FBI also detected your arrival."

"Damn it..."

Jo Ilcheol let out a heavy sigh as he stared blankly into space.

"FBI Director Glenn Nevers has already arrived together with his agents. I believe you understand his intentions, so I don't need to explain them."

"I do."

"Since we couldn't allow you to fall into the FBI's hands, we launched our own operation. As you can see, it was a complete success."

"But our residence was under extremely tight security. How exactly did you get inside?"

The one who had infiltrated Jeong Sanhak's hideout was Saho.

If I told the truth, the entire story would fall apart.

It was the perfect moment for a necessary lie.

"When Director Jeong left with his men to pick you up at the airport, one of our agents used a blind spot to climb over the wall. After entering the mansion, he hid in the basement. Last night, he simply shut off the circuit breakers."

"So it wasn't a power failure caused by an overloaded electrical system?"

"Exactly. While the house was in darkness, he mixed sleeping pills into the food that was prepared for your table."

Jo Ilcheol desperately recalled the previous evening.

Not long °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° after he had started drinking with Qin Hao and the others, he had become overwhelmingly sleepy.

Now it all made sense.

The southern operative had drugged their food.

Still, one question continued bothering him.

"But some of my men never touched the food or the alcohol."

"The NIS agent personally knocked them unconscious."

"You're saying my men weren't killed?"

"Of course not. Every one of them is alive and well, locked in the basement."

"Whew... Thank goodness. And a single agent subdued my entire security detail?"

The Reconnaissance General Bureau operatives had actually been defeated by Saho.

Since that couldn't be revealed, I answered only in vague terms, which naturally raised fresh suspicions.

"Our agent was operating with absolute focus, while your men had let their guard down. Is that outcome really so surprising?"

"Ah..."

Apparently having finally found an explanation he could accept, Jo Ilcheol nodded in understanding.

"That's all I have to say. From here on, you should speak with Director Om Giyeon."

Director Om Giyeon gave me an appreciative pat on the shoulder before taking over.

"We intend to bring your entire group to South Korea."

"I'm sorry, but I can't go to the South."

"May I ask why?"

"If I defect, every member of my family still back home will be executed immediately."

"We guarantee that the fact you fled to our country will remain secret forever."

"And you think that's actually possible?"

Jo Ilcheol's voice was filled with open distrust.

Naturally, Director Om Giyeon understood exactly where that skepticism came from.

"I assume you're worried about Northern spies operating in the South. You don't need to be."

"How can I not worry?"

"Three years ago, Deputy Commander Choi Cheolgyeo of the Guard Command disappeared without a trace. Do you remember that incident?"

"Don't tell me..."

A realization flashed across Jo Ilcheol's face, and he stopped mid-sentence.

"Exactly what you're thinking. The Deputy Commander requested asylum through our embassy in China. We secretly entered North Korean territory and evacuated him safely. However..."

Director Om Giyeon deliberately paused for dramatic effect before continuing.

"The number of people who know he's living in the South is extraordinarily small."

"You're saying you'd hide me the same way?"

"Exactly."

"Hmm..."

Jo Ilcheol fell into deep thought, slowly stroking his chin.

We remained silent, giving him plenty of time to think everything through.

After a long while, he finally spoke with firm resolve.

"No matter what, I cannot betray my homeland."

Director Om Giyeon didn't flinch in the slightest.

He still had one final trump card capable of turning the entire game around.

"What if information that North Korea has been supplying the Triad with drugs and weapons were to accidentally reach the Chinese government? What do you think would happen to you then, Deputy Director Jo?"

"..."

Fully aware of the fate awaiting him under such circumstances, Jo Ilcheol slowly closed his eyes and fell silent.

"If I were in your position, I certainly wouldn't choose to walk back into the jaws of death."