Chapter 121: Who Knows?

After a long phone conversation with Commissioner General Choi Dongyeong of the National Police Agency and several other officials, I went downstairs to the first floor. There, NIS Director Om Giyeon was talking with Chief Secretary Kang Inhan.

After giving Director Om a respectful bow, I sat down on an empty sofa and asked,

“Director, what brings you here so early in the morning?”

“CIA Director Griffin and FBI Director Glenn Nevers are on their way here. They want to meet with us.”

“Really? Did you ask them why?”

“They said they'd explain once they arrived. By the way, you look exhausted. Did something happen overnight?”

“Well... Chairman Park and everyone else practically drained the life out of me over the phone first thing this morning, so I'm completely worn out.”

I briefly explained my conversation with President Cho Myeongsu and the other executives.

“...They bombarded me with questions. By the time I answered them all, I was nearly dead.”

“Haha. I see.”

“Director, haven't you reported everything that's happened here to the President?”

“The operation to bring Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol of North Korea's Reconnaissance General Bureau into our country is still underway.”

In other words, in case the operation ended in the worst possible way, they had deliberately chosen not to report anything to President Cho Seokchin.

“And here I was, talking without knowing any of that.”

“Don't worry about it. Someone had to report it.”

“Hearing you say that makes me feel a little better. By the way, Senior Specialist Lee really wanted you to personally escort Jo Ilcheol's group.”

“I was already planning to return home aboard the submarine.”

“I see. Where is it now?”

“It should arrive in Macau no later than tomorrow. What about you, Team Leader Cha? When are you planning to head back?”

“Since the fugitive former CEO of K&J Bio, Go Yeongjun, still hasn't been captured, our mission isn't over yet.”

“Ah, right. Do you think you'll be able to take him alive?”

If I enlisted the Triad's help, our chances of capturing Go Yeongjun would increase significantly. But that meant first meeting either Supreme Leader Gui Tao or Vice Chairman Wei Chen. Since there was no guarantee that meeting would even happen, it was better to keep my mouth shut.

“I'm still considering a plan.”

Knock, knock, knock.

At that moment, Security Team Leader Jeong Gwangseok opened the front door, stepped inside, and announced the guests' arrival.

We went outside to greet them. CIA Director Griffin and FBI Director Glenn Nevers had just entered the garden with their aides. NIS Director Om Giyeon stepped forward to welcome them.

“Director Griffin, Director Nevers, welcome.”

“You should have waited inside. Why come all the way out here?”

“How could we possibly do that? The morning sun is already getting hot. Please, come inside.”

We entered the living room and took our seats on the sofas. The waiting staff promptly served drinks. After taking a sip to wet his throat, Director Om addressed Griffin.

“It looks like last night went well.”

“Haha. Is it really that obvious?”

“It certainly is. Please tell us what happened.”

“We're currently conducting a complete inspection of the containers aboard the cargo ship Golden Mariner. We discovered fifty Chinese nationals and forty-five Russian nationals hiding inside two of them.”

So the fifty Chinese and forty-five Russians had all been illegal immigrants.

“And which country were they trying to enter illegally?”

“The Golden Mariner's first destination was the Japanese port of Fukuoka. According to the captain, for the past three years they've been transporting Chinese and Russian illegal immigrants into Japan roughly once every six months.”

“If the Japanese government learns about this, they certainly won't stay quiet.”

“Very likely.”

“Is there anything else I should know?”

“The captain managed to report the ship's seizure to company headquarters. Our agents were surveilling the headquarters of Eastern Shipping. Around four this morning, Deputy Secretary Zhang Jinan arrived there, and he's still inside.”

“They must be discussing how to respond.”

Bzzz...

At that moment, Director Griffin's phone vibrated on the table. After glancing at the screen, he apologized to Director Om and answered.

“Agent Harrison, what do you have?”

“Vice Chairman Chen Zhihui has just arrived at Eastern Shipping headquarters.”

“Just as I expected.”

“I can't keep both Chen Zhihui and Zhang Jinan under surveillance by myself.”

“I'll send reinforcements. Hang tight.”

Click.

After ending the call, Griffin turned to Director Om.

“They've reported that Vice Chairman Chen Zhihui has appeared at Eastern Shipping headquarters. I'll have to fly to Hong Kong personally to oversee the surveillance.”

At that instant, Om Giyeon barely managed to suppress his delight.

What incredible luck!

Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol and his men were currently hiding inside his residence. Because of that, CIA and FBI agents had been watching the property around the clock. Smuggling the North Koreans out and transporting them safely to South Korea under that kind of surveillance would have been extraordinarily difficult.

Director Om had been desperately trying to think of a way to divert the Americans' attention.

Now, by sheer luck, they were leaving for Hong Kong on their own because of Chen Zhihui.

Naturally, he couldn't allow any of that joy to show on his face.

“If you have to leave, then by all means go. But I trust our agreement still stands.”

Griffin immediately understood Director Om's meaning.

The American intelligence agencies had received valuable information from South Korea that North Korean weapons were aboard the Golden Mariner. A generous reward had been promised in return for that intelligence.

“What kind of compensation would you like?”

“It would be rude to demand payment from someone who's in such a hurry. Let's discuss the matter properly once you've finished your business.”

“I sincerely appreciate your understanding, Director Om.”

“There's no need to thank me. You have work to do, so I won't keep you any longer.”

We escorted Directors Griffin and Nevers outside before returning to the living room to resume our interrupted conversation.

“Whew... It feels like having a rotten tooth pulled. What a relief.”

“Team Leader Cha, Griffin and Nevers are anything but fools.”

Director Om's words meant that the CIA and FBI would still leave some agents behind to watch the residence.

To confirm my suspicion, I cautiously asked,

“So they'll leave some people behind?”

“You're right, Team Leader Cha. At least two or three agents.”

“And we'll still be able to get Jo Ilcheol's group back to Korea right under their noses?”

“We can deal with two or three agents with our eyes closed, so stop worrying.”

Seeing Director Om so confident, there was no reason to doubt him any further.

“Understood. Since you're already here, stay for breakfast.”

“Haha. I was just getting hungry.”

After breakfast, Om Giyeon took his men and left my residence.

I gathered Chief Secretary Kang Inhan, Security Team Leader Jeong Gwangseok, Team Leader Seo Donghun, and Team Leader Lee Hyeonsol in the living room.

“Our objective in Macau is to eliminate the scam syndicate and capture the fugitive former head of K&J Bio, Go Yeongjun. The gambling syndicate has effectively been dismantled. From this point on, all our efforts will focus on capturing Go Yeongjun. If anyone has any good ideas, don't hesitate to speak.”

“Macau is completely controlled by the Triad. What about approaching their Supreme Leader Gui Tao and asking for assistance?”

Great minds really do think alike.

Chief Secretary Kang Inhan had voiced exactly the same idea that had been on my mind.

“I've been thinking the same thing. That's why I already obtained the phone numbers of Supreme Leader Gui Tao and Vice Chairman Wei Chen.”

“Then why not just call them?”

“I tried both numbers this morning, but neither answered.”

At that moment, Team Leader Lee Hyeonsol spoke up.

“Team Leader, there's a hotel nearby called Macau Palace. I've heard it belongs to Vice Chairman Wei Chen.”

I immediately called NIS Director Om Giyeon, relayed what Lee Hyeonsol had said, and asked him a favor.

“...Could you verify that with Qin Hao?”

“I'll ask Qin Hao. Give me a moment.”

A short while later, Director Om called back.

“The Macau Palace Hotel belongs to a man named Pan Kai. He's Vice Chairman Wei Chen's brother-in-law.”

“What a relief.”

“Qin Hao said that if you want to meet Mr. Pan Kai, he can arrange it.”

“Please thank Qin Hao for me.”

“Haha. Certainly. I'll contact you again shortly.”

Click.

After hanging up, I turned toward Lee Hyeonsol.

“If it weren't for you, Team Leader Lee, we'd have been taking the long way around for quite some time.”

“So my information was correct?”

“Yes. Macau Palace really does belong to Wei Chen's brother-in-law.”

Bzzz...

Some time later, the phone in my hand vibrated again.

Already knowing who it was, I answered immediately.

“Yes, Director.”

“The meeting with Mr. Pan Kai has been arranged for an hour from now. We'll meet in the lobby of the Palace Hotel.”

“You're coming too?”

“Go Yeongjun didn't only harm Korea Investment.”

“That makes sense. Then I'll see you there.”

The moment I ended the call, Kang Inhan spoke.

“Director Om is a rather curious man, wouldn't you say?”

“I agree, Chief Secretary Kang. Team Leader Seo, get ready to head out.”

“Me too?”

Seo Donghun clearly hadn't expected that and pointed at himself in surprise.

“Out of everyone here, you're the only one who speaks Chinese.”

“Ah... I see,” Seo Donghun replied, immediately understanding my intention.

***

Macau Palace Hotel

The moment we stepped through the entrance, NIS Director Om Giyeon waved to signal where he was. I walked over at once.

“Director, have you been waiting long?”

“I just got here. Give me a minute.”

Om Giyeon dialed someone's number. The moment I heard him say, “Mr. Pan Kai,” I immediately understood who he was speaking with.

After a brief conversation, he hung up and turned toward me.

“He said he'll send an employee to escort us. He asked us to wait a little.”

Before long, a young woman whose beauty rivaled that of a movie star approached us.

Smiling sweetly at Om Giyeon, she addressed him in flawless English.

“Mr. Om Giyeon?”

“Yes, that's me...”

“Mr. Pan Kai sent me to escort you. Please follow me.”

The Macau Palace Hotel was magnificent, clearly rising well above thirty-five stories.

I had assumed the chairman's office would be on the top floor, but the secretary pressed the button for the eighth floor instead.

Unable to suppress my curiosity, I asked,

“Does Mr. Pan Kai receive guests in his private suite?”

The instant the words left my mouth, I felt I had made a mistake.

The young woman looked directly at me before answering in an unusually soft, almost seductive voice.

Apparently, the lingering effects of the herbal tranquilizer that had permeated my body had awakened some hidden instinct in her.

“Not at all. The Chairman's office is located on the eighth floor.”

“Ah, I see.”

“If you're curious, I'd be happy to explain why his office is there.”

In truth, there was no real need to ask.

I already knew how obsessed the Chinese were with the number eight.

The sensible thing would have been to decline her offer.

But then I changed my mind.

Who knows?

“I'd be delighted to hear it.”

“The Chairman has his private residence on the eighth floor.”

As powerful as the number eight's symbolism might be, making your personal home right in the middle of a hotel was certainly unconventional.

“I see. That's quite original.”

As I nodded in understanding, the elevator stopped on the eighth floor.

Following the secretary, we entered the chairman's office, where a heavily built man was already waiting for us.

Director Om took the lead and greeted him in English.

“Mr. Pan Kai, it's a pleasure to meet you. I run a small company in Korea...”

After a rather lengthy exchange of introductions, we finally sat down on the sofa he had offered us.

Then something rather strange happened.

The secretary who had escorted us casually sat down beside us on one of the empty seats without the slightest hesitation.

Noticing the increasingly awkward atmosphere, Pan Kai hurried to explain.

“Mr. Om, this young lady is my niece, Wei Fei.”

Thus, in a single moment, the true identity of the stunning beauty who looked like a movie star was revealed.