Chapter 140: The Dead Tell No Tales

“So, Director Om, how did such an unfortunate accident happen to President Go Yeongjun?”

With obvious curiosity, Chairman Park Yeongil looked toward NIS Director Om Giyeon.

“We placed President Go Yeongjun in the executive officer's cabin so he wouldn't encounter Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol or his men. However, on Saturday evening he claimed he was anxious and nervous and demanded alcohol.”

“Well, would you look at that! Even as a captured prisoner, he was demanding liquor...”

Chairman Park Yeongil let out a deep sigh, unable to hide his amazement.

Director Om paused briefly, as if acknowledging the sentiment, before continuing.

“I gave him some strong liquor to help calm his nerves.”

“And what happened after that?”

“After getting drunk, he fell asleep. Early the next morning, he woke up and headed for the restroom. Unfortunately, that was where he came face to face with Deputy Director Jo.”

“And what did you do?”

“We immediately separated them and convened an emergency meeting.”

Chairman Park Yeongil tilted his head thoughtfully.

President Go Yeongjun and Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol had only crossed paths briefly outside the restroom.

Moreover, Go Yeongjun had been dead drunk.

There was every chance he wouldn't even remember seeing Deputy Director Jo.

He voiced his thoughts to Director Om.

“As luck would have it, Deputy Director Jo was wearing his North Korean military uniform.”

“There was a reason for that?”

“He wore it to emphasize that he was a military officer defecting to our country.”

“Hm... I see. Go on.”

“Just like you, Chairman Park, everyone at the meeting believed President Go wouldn't remember him. But Captain Kim Jeongseok raised a concern none of us had considered.”

“And what exactly did Captain Kim say?”

Chairman Park Yeongil urged Director Om to continue, his impatience evident.

“Captain Kim pointed out that the press already knew President Go had embezzled company funds and fled to China. If he were extradited to Korea, reporters would eventually discover that he had arrived aboard a submarine.”

“Hm... That's certainly possible.”

“And Captain Kim noted that President Go might reveal that he encountered Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol aboard the submarine.”

“Of course, that possibility can't be ruled out, but he was drunk.”

“Once he sobered up, we carefully sounded him out, and it turned out he clearly remembered seeing a man in a North Korean military uniform.”

“Oh my...”

“Captain Kim also explained a far more serious problem.”

“There's more?” Chairman Park Yeongil asked, shaking his head in surprise.

“No matter the circumstances, our submarine entered Chinese territorial waters. If the Chinese government learns about it, they won't simply overlook it.”

“......”

In an instant, the NIS safe house fell into complete silence.

Everyone understood exactly how serious the consequences could be.

After a long moment, Director Om spoke heavily.

“The only way to resolve the problem Captain Kim raised without leaving loose ends was to eliminate President Go. So, with a heavy heart—as though cutting off the head of my most beloved disciple—we buried him in the depths of the Pacific Ocean.”

“I fully support Director Om's decision.”

“I agree as well.”

Following Chairman Park Yeongil, everyone else unanimously expressed their support for Director Om Giyeon's decisive action.

Jiham felt a faint sense of regret.

But spilled water could never be gathered again.

Noticing his expression, Secretary Lee Jihun looked at him curiously.

“Director Cha, it seems you have a different opinion. Am I right?”

“If Director Om had to stain his hands with blood anyway, it would have been wiser to leave him in China.”

“If we'd left him in China, wouldn't that have complicated matters even further?”

“If we had handed him over to Vice Chairman Wei Chen, he would have quietly taken care of him.”

“Isn't there a chance Vice Chairman Wei might have kept him alive?”

“He knows we emptied Politburo member Liu Peiqi's country villa. He also knows he himself purchased the gold bars that belonged to Liu. To destroy the evidence, he would have gotten rid of President Go regardless.”

“Hm... That's true.”

Ignoring Secretary Lee Jihun's remark, Jiham turned to Director Om.

“Director Om, is there any chance President Go Yeongjun's body could resurface?”

“None whatsoever.”

Director Om answered with complete confidence.

There was no reason to worry further.

“I understand.”

“How should we officially handle President Go's death?”

“I think we should present it as though he's still a fugitive.”

Commissioner General Choi Dongyeong didn't quite understand Jiham's answer.

If President Go Yeongjun remained a fugitive, how would they explain the return of the 1.8 trillion won?

He asked directly.

“All we need to announce is that President Go repented out of guilt and returned the embezzled funds. However, we shouldn't claim he returned the full 1.8 trillion won.”

“Is there a reason?”

“He needs enough money to remain in hiding.”

“That's true. We could announce that he returned 1.75 trillion won.”

“Absolutely not.”

Jiham's firm refusal left Commissioner General Choi puzzled.

After all, fifty billion won was an unimaginably enormous sum.

Yet Jiham apparently considered it far too little.

“So what do you suggest?”

“President Go had guanxi with Politburo member Liu Peiqi. Therefore, Liu knows exactly how much he stole and how much he spent while living as a fugitive. If we announce that he returned 1.75 trillion won, there's a high probability Liu will become suspicious.”

“That makes sense. Then we'll announce he returned 1.7 trillion won.”

At that moment, Chairman Yoon Jongu indicated he wished to speak.

“Director Cha, don't you think the explanation that President Go suddenly returned 1.7 trillion won sounds rather forced?”

“Exactly! I was thinking the same thing.”

Chairman Park Yeongil enthusiastically agreed.

Hm... I see.

After organizing his thoughts, Jiham answered.

“In that case, how about this?”

“Let's hear it.”

“President Go felt tremendous pressure as the police investigation continued closing in on him...”

Commissioner General Choi Dongyeong seized on the suggestion like someone receiving an unexpected gift.

The case involving President Go Yeongjun's embezzlement and flight to China had dominated headlines nationwide.

The police had poured every effort into capturing him but had achieved virtually nothing.

Meanwhile, Korea Investment had located and captured him alive in Macau before they could.

Unfortunately, he had died in an accident while being transported back to Korea.

Choi Dongyeong had been deeply frustrated by the situation.

Then Jiham proposed this brilliant solution.

If the plan succeeded, all the credit would belong to the police.

While he was marveling at the idea, Jiham finished his explanation.

“...I believe it would be best to hold a press conference.”

“Is there really a need to make such a public spectacle of it?”

Doubt was evident in Commissioner General Choi Dongyeong's voice.

Naturally, Jiham wasn't concerned in the slightest.

He was certain he could convince him.

“I suggested the press conference with Politburo member Liu Peiqi in mind.”

“With him in mind?”

“He undoubtedly considers President Go Yeongjun one of the prime suspects behind the theft of the ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) gold bars from his country villa.”

“That's only natural.”

At that moment, another excellent idea flashed through Jiham's mind.

After quickly organizing it, he continued.

“Why don't we take this opportunity to make President Go the sole culprit?”

“How?”

“Announce to the media that he returned two trillion won, including the embezzled company funds and accumulated interest.”

Commissioner General Choi Dongyeong immediately grasped Jiham's intention.

Politburo member Liu Peiqi knew exactly how much President Go had stolen.

If the media announced that two trillion won had been returned, Liu would naturally conclude that President Go had been the one who stole the gold as well.

And the accused was now resting at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean.

“Ah... Now I understand what you're getting at.”

Chairman Park Yeongil suddenly interjected.

“Director Cha, you're saying the dead tell no tales?”

“Exactly, Chairman.”

“Commissioner Choi, hold the press conference exactly as Director Cha proposed.”

With that, Chairman Park Yeongil settled the matter once and for all.

***

Click! Click!

The moment Commissioner General Choi Dongyeong entered the press conference hall, countless camera shutters began firing nonstop.

Maintaining a stern expression, he endured a brief photo session before taking his seat.

The moderator standing at the podium switched on the microphone.

“We will now begin the press conference of Commissioner General Choi Dongyeong of the National Police Agency.”

At once, Commissioner General Choi Dongyeong rose and walked to the center of the room.

Facing the cameras, he gave a polite bow before stepping behind the podium and turning on the microphone.

“Good afternoon, citizens. I am Choi Dongyeong, Commissioner General responsible for our 130,000-member police force. I have called this press conference to announce new developments in the case involving K&J Bio President Go Yeongjun's embezzlement of company funds eight months ago.”

As though they had been waiting for exactly that moment, dozens of reporters raised their hands simultaneously.

Commissioner General Choi pointed toward one of them.

“I'm Ju Yeongjin from Korea Daily. Have you succeeded in arresting President Go Yeongjun, who fled to China?”

“Unfortunately, no.”

“Then why call this press conference?”

“You'll understand if you listen to everything I have to say. After receiving information that President Go had fled to China, we formed a special pursuit team. During the investigation, we discovered that several days ago he had relocated to a hideout in Macau.”

In reality, it had been Korea Investment's debt recovery team, led by Lee Hyeonsol, that tracked down President Go.

Nevertheless, Commissioner General Choi Dongyeong calmly lied without batting an eye, following the plan agreed upon with Chairman Park Yeongil.

“What happened next?”

“The pursuit team immediately flew to Macau to capture President Go and launched a search operation. During the operation, we received a phone call yesterday morning.”

“From whom?”

“From President Go Yeongjun himself.”

“What?!”

The spacious press conference hall instantly erupted into chaos.

None of the reporters had expected the fugitive president to contact them voluntarily.

Commissioner General Choi quietly observed the uproar for a moment, seemingly enjoying the reaction.

Once the room settled down somewhat, he continued.

“Feeling the pressure of the pursuit, President Go Yeongjun asked us to give him some time and promised to surrender.”

“And what did you say?”

“I regarded it as nothing more than an attempt to buy time for another escape and firmly refused. To prove he was sincere, he offered to repay two trillion won.”

“But didn't he embezzle approximately 1.8 trillion won?”

“That question occurred to me as well. When I asked him, he explained that the remaining amount represented accumulated interest. Yesterday afternoon, just as he promised, he transferred the full two trillion won.”

“How did he manage to come up with an additional two hundred billion won?”

Commissioner General Choi Dongyeong knew this was the crucial moment.

Everything depended on his answer.

“President Go Yeongjun said he earned a great deal of money through gold trading.”

“Even while on the run, he was able to trade gold freely?”

“He also stated that he had a powerful, high-ranking patron in China backing him.”

“I see. What happened after that?”

“Last night, we raided his hideout. Unfortunately, he had already covered his tracks and escaped.”

“What a shame...”

Disappointed sighs spread throughout the hall.

Satisfied that the objective had been achieved, Commissioner General Choi Dongyeong concluded the press conference.

“No matter what it takes, we will capture President Go Yeongjun.”