Chapter 120: The Story of Last Night

"Can you really seize the Golden Mariner?"

FBI Director Glenn Nevers understood perfectly what lay behind Cha Jiham's question.

To detain a vessel sailing on the high seas, there had to be solid evidence that it was engaged in illegal activity. Of course, that didn't apply to pirates who couldn't care less about international law, but in this case the law required an inspection before anything else could be done. That legal technicality was exactly what Cha Jiham was referring to.

"Under Article 110 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, there is what's known as the right of visit. Even on the high seas, if there are reasonable grounds for suspicion, we have the authority to stop and inspect a vessel. Since North Korea is under strict UN sanctions prohibiting arms exports, we have more than enough legal grounds to conduct a search."

"But what if the captain of the Golden Mariner protests and refuses to comply?"

"If the vessel refuses to obey or attempts to flee, it will be sunk."

"Then there won't be any problems. But won't the Chinese government protest?"

The Golden Mariner was a cargo ship owned by the Hong Kong company Eastern Shipping. Moreover, its real owner was Zhang Jinan, Deputy Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, effectively the second-highest-ranking official in the agency. It would have been stranger if Beijing remained silent.

"I'm actually hoping they make a fuss."

"...What?"

"We have undeniable evidence that Eastern Shipping has been smuggling North Korean weapons and narcotics. Besides, every nation is obligated to abide by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea."

"Contrary to your concerns, the Chinese government won't dare say a word."

CIA Director Eddie Griffin joined the conversation, picking up exactly where the FBI director had left off.

"I'm not sure I follow your reasoning, Director Griffin."

"The company that purchased the North Korean weapons is Golden Trading, and its president happens to be Deputy Secretary Zhang Jinan's brother-in-law. The moment the Golden Mariner is seized, the fact that it was transporting prohibited cargo will immediately become public knowledge. At that point, the Chinese prosecutors will have no choice but to investigate the connection between Eastern Shipping and Golden Trading."

"So you're saying Zhang Jinan will do everything in his power to bury the incident?"

"If he wants to keep his head attached to his shoulders, he'll have no choice but to sweep the entire matter under the rug."

"Now I understand."

"To speed up the inspection as much as possible, we'd really appreciate the container numbers or the seal codes."

No sooner had the CIA director finished speaking than Chief Secretary Kang Inhan quickly dialed Team Leader Seo Donghun, gave a brief instruction, and hung up.

A short while later, his phone vibrated.

After checking the message, the secretary immediately turned toward the CIA director.

"Give me your number. I'll send you the container numbers and seal codes."

"That'll take unnecessary time. Would you mind just handing me your phone?"

Without saying a word, Kang Inhan held out his phone.

Director Griffin quickly entered the necessary information and forwarded everything to his people before returning it.

"You've done us a tremendous favor. Thank you."

"No need to thank me."

Bzzz!

At that moment, the CIA director's phone vibrated violently.

He answered immediately, clearly knowing exactly who was calling.

"Brown, did you receive my message?"

"[Yes, Director.]"

"When will the ship be intercepted?"

"[The U.S. Forces Japan command has assured us they'll intercept it in approximately three to four hours.]"

"Excellent. Keep me informed of any developments."

Click!

After hanging up, Eddie Griffin turned toward NIS Director Om Giyeon.

"The Golden Mariner is expected to be secured sometime between nine and ten o'clock tonight."

"That's good news. Since we have some time, how about dinner?"

"Haha, perfect timing. I'm starving."

***

The CIA director had said the ship would be intercepted no later than ten that evening.

But the hands of the clock had already passed eleven, and his phone still remained silent.

A heavy silence settled over the spacious reception room.

Finally, unable to bear the tension any longer, FBI Director Nevers broke the silence.

"Director Griffin, perhaps you should call Brown?"

"He's not at the scene himself. I doubt he knows any more than we do."

"That's true..."

Bzzz!

The silence was finally shattered as the CIA director's phone came to life.

Glancing at the screen, he answered in a flash.

"Brown, what's the result?"

"[It has just been confirmed. Containers filled with North Korean weapons have been found aboard the Golden Mariner.]"

"Whew..."

The CIA director let out a deep sigh of relief.

"What caused the delay?"

"[The captain insisted for more than an hour that the ship wasn't carrying any contraband. On top of that, the containers filled with weapons were buried beneath other cargo in the hold, so locating them took considerable time.]"

"I see. That explains it. What happens next?"

"[The vessel will be towed to Sasebo, where the U.S. military base in Japan is located.]"

At that moment, Director Griffin noticed Cha Jiham tilting his head thoughtfully.

He couldn't ignore it.

"Managing Director Cha, is something bothering you?"

"Shouldn't the captain of the Golden Mariner have immediately reported the inspection to his superiors?"

"One moment. Brown, did you hear Chief Cha's question?"

"[Yes, Director. Before the operation began, we completely jammed every radio frequency and took control of all the ship's communication systems. The vessel is now entirely under the control of the U.S. military.]"

In other words, the captain had never gotten the chance to report anything to Beijing.

"I understand. Anything else?"

"[The captain behaved extremely nervously throughout the search.]"

"So he definitely knew what those containers contained?"

"[That's my conclusion as well, Director.]"

After exchanging a few more words, Eddie Griffin ended the call and carefully relayed everything to us.

"...The ship is expected to arrive at the port of Sasebo tomorrow at dawn."

"It's a tremendous relief that the situation never escalated into an armed confrontation," NIS Director Om Giyeon remarked.

The CIA director nodded before turning back to me.

"The captain of the Golden Mariner never managed to send any distress signal."

"The game has already been decided. I think it'll actually be better if we notify his superiors ourselves."

"Ahahaha! You want to rub salt into Zhang Jinan's wounds?"

Director Griffin's insight surpassed that of an ordinary person.

"Exactly."

"Haha, excellent. Just a moment."

"When you speak with Brown again, give him one more instruction."

"What instruction?"

"I find the captain's behavior highly suspicious."

"...Don't tell me..."

I understood perfectly why the CIA director stopped himself halfway through.

"There are two thousand seven hundred containers aboard the Golden Mariner. There's a good chance that, besides the North Korean weapons, other contraband is hidden among them."

"What makes you think that?"

"First, the ship belongs to a Hong Kong company. Second, I'm deeply troubled by the fact that it departed from Vladivostok, Russia."

"Hmm..."

The CIA director rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

Fortunately, it took him less than a minute to reach a decision.

He immediately called Brown again and passed along my suggestion.

"...Report to me the moment you crack the captain."

Click!

After putting away his phone, Griffin looked at me.

"Managing Director Cha, you heard my order, didn't you?"

"Yes."

"If they find more illegal cargo on that rust bucket, dinner's on me. I'll treat you to something spectacular."

"I'll hold you to that."

"Well then, it's getting late. We should head back to the hotel."

And so that incredibly long day finally came to an end.

***

Ring! Ring! Ring!

The phone beside my pillow burst into loud ringing.

I reached for it and glanced at the screen.

It was President Cho Myeongsu.

An early morning call from him could only mean one thing.

Something unexpected had happened.

I quickly sat upright in bed, cleared the sleep from my throat, and answered.

"I'm listening, President Cho."

"[Mr. Cha, I'm currently here with Chairman Park, Presidential Chief of Staff Lee Jihun, and Commissioner General Choi Dongyeong. You're on speakerphone.]"

"But it's only six-thirty in the morning."

"[It's already seven-thirty in Korea.]"

"Ah, right. I completely forgot about the time difference. Why are all of you gathered together this early?"

"[The leadership wants to know exactly what happened in Macau.]"

Since Kang Inhan was Chairman Park Yeongil's right-hand man, he was undoubtedly reporting everything that happened there on a regular basis.

Likewise, NIS Director Om Giyeon was certainly keeping Presidential Chief of Staff Lee Jihun informed.

I cautiously asked Cho Myeongsu whether they already knew anything.

"[Neither the Chairman nor Mr. Lee has contacted their people in Macau.]"

"I understand. Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol of North Korea's Reconnaissance General Bureau and all of his men have been captured alive. They've agreed to defect to our country. A submarine is already on its way to retrieve them."

I briefly summarized the key points of the Macau operation for Cho Myeongsu.

However, thanks to his endless stream of follow-up questions, the conversation stretched on like taffy in the summer heat.

"[Mr. Cha, I'm curious. Why did you decide to grant Major General Jeong Sanhak a pardon?]"

"What he did—emptying our citizens' pockets through underground casinos—deserves severe condemnation. However, he fully admitted his crimes and promised to return every stolen penny to the victims, with interest."

"[But that would require an enormous amount of money.]"

"He has five ten-kilogram gold bars hidden away. Selling them will more than cover the compensation."

"[I see. Then what about the Scorpion Gang that worked with him?]"

"He doesn't personally know the gang leader, but he maintained contact with one of their members named Choi Dongcheol."

I briefly explained the relationship between Jeong Sanhak and Choi Dongcheol.

"...As it turns out, Jeong Sanhak drunkenly copied a promissory note. He had no idea the Scorpion Gang would use it to terrorize debtors."

"[So that's what happened.]"

"Do you have every one of those gang members under surveillance?"

"[The police and the NIS are maintaining continuous joint surveillance.]"

"Stay ready. The slightest excuse is enough—we're wiping that gang out completely."

"[It'll be done.]"

"If Commissioner Choi is there, please hand him the phone."

A moment later, Commissioner General Choi Dongyeong's interested voice came through the speaker.

"[Cha Jiham, do you need something from me?]"

"I need the direct phone numbers for either Supreme Leader Gui Tao or his deputy, Wei Chen."

"[I can get them, but what do you need them for?]"

Triad operatives had spread throughout Macau.

It wasn't surprising that their intelligence network was rumored to surpass even that of the Chinese intelligence services.

I intended to use their network to track down the fugitive former president of K&J Bio, Go Yeongjun.

But since the Triad might not know where he was hiding either, there was no reason to reveal my entire plan just yet.

"I want to take this opportunity to finish off Vice Chairman Chen Zhihui once and for all."

"[Understood. I'll send you the numbers immediately.]"

"I'll be waiting."

"[Now I'd like to hear what happened last night.]"

"Last night?"

"[I heard the U.S. military in Japan intercepted the cargo ship Golden Mariner carrying North Korean weapons.]"

"Oh, damn..."

The words escaped my lips as I stared helplessly at the ceiling.