Chapter 143: Eliminate Them Immediately!

“Director, could those three have withdrawn the money from a bank in Macau?”

“Director Cho, that's impossible.”

Commissioner General Choi Dongyeong of the National Police Agency was the first to answer Director Cho Myeongsu's question.

“And what makes you so certain?”

“To withdraw money from a bank overseas, it has to cooperate with South Korean banks. None of our banks have partnership agreements with financial institutions in Macau.”

“I see... Then perhaps... Park Kicheol has an accomplice at the airport?”

“It has been confirmed that Park Kicheol and one of his men departed through Gimhae International Airport, while the other two left the country through Incheon International Airport.”

In other words, Park Kicheol had no accomplices at the airport.

“Then perhaps Cho Insu lent them the money?”

“I tend to agree with Director Cho.”

However, unlike Director Cho Myeongsu and Commissioner General Choi Dongyeong, I had a different opinion.

“Commissioner, if you watch the video carefully, you'll notice that those three keep their distance from Park Kicheol and Cho Insu. In other words, they aren't particularly close. There's no way Cho Insu would lend such a huge amount of money without collateral.”

“Hmm... That does make sense. Director Cha, then where do you think those three got such an enormous amount of money?”

It was best to lay the groundwork first.

“Please keep in mind that this is only my personal speculation.”

“I understand. Go on.”

“Before his arrest, Park Kicheol operated underground gambling dens. After being released, he probably concluded that running that kind of business in Korea would be too difficult, so he most likely opened an illegal casino in Macau.”

“And how exactly would that work?”

“He likely recruited gamblers here in Korea and sent them to Macau.”

“But those gamblers would still have needed to take large amounts of money abroad for gambling.”

“Most likely, the gambling funds were transferred through an underground currency exchange system—a hawala network.”

Commissioner General Choi Dongyeong immediately grasped what Cha Jiham was implying.

Those three had handed over large amounts of cash to Park Kicheol while still in Korea before flying to Macau.

Once they arrived, Cho Insu, who was already in Macau, handed the money back to them after deducting his commission.

Naturally, the fee for such a service would have been substantial, but it spared them the risk of carrying enormous sums of money across the border.

“Director Cha, do you really think Park Kicheol opened an underground casino in Macau?”

“It would be easy to verify by checking his travel records.”

“That's right! Why didn't I think of that?”

Commissioner General Choi Dongyeong slapped his knee, immediately made a phone call, and after a lengthy conversation, hung up.

“Director Cha, beginning in January of last year, Park Kicheol traveled to Macau once every two weeks without fail.”

“Then my assumption was correct.”

“Cho Insu handled the Leech Gang's finances. During interrogation, Park Kicheol stated that the gang's operating capital was around twenty billion won.”

“You're saying Cho Insu fled overseas with that money?”

“Exactly. That bastard escaped to China aboard a smuggling vessel just before our operation began.”

“Which means someone in the police leaked information about the raid.”

“Well... I can't deny the obvious.”

There was an unmistakably bitter edge to Commissioner General Choi Dongyeong's voice.

No one enjoyed having the embarrassing scandals of their own organization exposed in front of others.

Sensing the growing tension in the room, Chairman Park Yeongil unexpectedly stepped in.

“Director Cha, tell me, what should we do about those bastards from the Leech Gang?”

“Since Park Kicheol has established operations in both Korea and Macau, the best approach is to eliminate both organizations simultaneously.”

“You want to ask the Triad to wipe out the Macau branch?”

I shook my head.

“The Triad won't eliminate the Leech Gang for free.”

“Of course not.”

“To deal with the Macau branch, I propose sending Security Team Leader Jeong Gwangseok.”

“Then that's what we'll do. But what do you intend to do with those they capture?”

“The ideal outcome would be extraditing them to South Korea, but we also need to prepare for the worst-case scenario.”

“Then we'll proceed while keeping the worst-case scenario in mind.”

I immediately understood what Chairman Park Yeongil meant.

He intended to physically eliminate every member of the Leech Gang operating in Macau.

Naturally, I didn't share his ruthless approach.

“Chairman, we need to handle this matter with the utmost caution.”

“You're saying there's a legal way to bring those Leech Gang bastards back to Korea?”

“South Korea and China have an extradition treaty.”

“But the Chinese government has never once handed over criminals with open arms and no questions asked.”

“Chairman Park is absolutely right.”

Commissioner General Choi Dongyeong quickly backed Chairman Park.

“Director Cha, if you have another way to bring those scum back, let's hear it.”

I calmly gathered my thoughts before answering.

“Cho Insu fled to Macau with twenty billion won. Over the past eleven years, he's most likely accumulated an even larger fortune there.”

“Let's assume that's true. Continue.”

“What if we hand over all the money confiscated from him to the Triad and ask them to arrange his transportation to Korea?”

“You're suggesting they smuggle him into the country?”

“Exactly, Chairman.”

“And the Triad would really agree to carry out such an illegal operation?”

“Money can bring even the dead back to life.”

“Excellent. Then we'll leave it to the Triad.”

Thinking everything had worked out perfectly, I continued.

“As for the Korean branch of the Leech Gang, we should move in the moment Park Kicheol sets foot back in Korea.”

“Commissioner Choi, how would you feel about personally leading the police operation against the Korean branch of the Leech Gang?”

“Thank you for giving us this opportunity!”

“No need for thanks. Secretary Kang, hand over all the information we've gathered on the Leech Gang to Commissioner Choi.”

“Yes, sir.”

Ignoring Chief Secretary Kang Inhan's reply, Chairman Park turned back to me.

“And when are we dealing with those bastards from the Scorpion Gang?”

“Vice Chairman Wei Chen conducted a thorough investigation of every gambling syndicate operating in Macau and confirmed that none of them consist of Koreans.”

“What wonderful news. Secretary Kang, eliminate the Scorpion Gang immediately.”

“Yes, sir. Understood.”

After replying crisply, Chief Secretary Kang Inhan hurried out of the Chairman's office.

Watching him leave, Commissioner General Choi Dongyeong spoke with concern.

“Chairman Park, aren't you acting a little too quickly?”

“If we want to wipe them all out without letting a single one escape, we have to move immediately.”

“Ah, now I understand what you mean.”

“I hope you don't mind if we interrogate those bastards first before handing them over to the police.”

Commissioner General Choi Dongyeong instantly caught the hidden meaning behind Chairman Park's question.

The Chairman intended to beat every last answer out of the Scorpion Gang before turning them over.

“Chairman Park, civic organizations are extremely sensitive about the rights of even the worst criminals. If you turn the Scorpion Gang into a bloody mess, it could cause a major public backlash and end up hurting us.”

“Don't worry about that. We'll handle everything ourselves.”

Since Chairman Park Yeongil himself gave that assurance, there was little left to object to.

“Very well. I'll leave everything in your hands, Chairman Park.”

Some time later, Chief Secretary Kang Inhan returned.

“Chairman, the operation to eliminate the Scorpion Gang has begun.”

“Personally oversee the operation, Secretary Kang.”

“I will. But where should we hold the captured gang members?”

Finally, it was my turn to speak.

“Chairman, what if we lock the Scorpion Gang bastards up at the National Intelligence Service safe house?”

“At the NIS safe house?”

“There may come a time when we need to conduct a face-to-face confrontation between Director Jeong Sancheol and Choi Dongcheol.”

“Hmm, that's true. Secretary Kang, contact the NIS and request their cooperation.”

“Understood!”

Chairman Park's decisive order echoed through the office.

***

From Monday through Thursday, until four in the afternoon, I was required to remain at my post at Hangang Group.

Since everything at Korea Investment had been settled, I should have returned to Hangang Group headquarters.

However, with the large-scale operation against the Scorpion Gang underway, there was no way I could simply leave.

So I had no choice but to pass the time in my office together with Chief Secretary Kang Inhan.

“Secretary Kang, how's the request for assistance from the NIS coming along?”

“Director Om Giyeon readily agreed.”

“That's a relief. And what about the operation against the Scorpion Gang?”

“All preparations have been completed. We're only waiting for the order to begin.”

“When is it scheduled to start?”

“Between nine and ten o'clock tonight.”

“Isn't that a little early?”

“To collect debts from their victims, those bastards have spread themselves all over the country. Considering the time required to transport the captured gang members back to Seoul, this is the most practical schedule.”

“We absolutely have to capture their leader, Choi Dongcheol, alive.”

“You can rest assured about that.”

Chief Secretary Kang Inhan radiated such unwavering confidence that worrying any further would have been pointless.

Bzzz—

At that moment, the phone lying on the desk vibrated.

Looking at the screen, I saw the caller was Vice Chairman Wei Chen.

Thinking the timing couldn't have been better, I answered.

“Hello, Vice Chairman Wei.”

“[Director Cha, have you had a chance to analyze the video I sent you?]”

“Of course. The man you mentioned looked familiar because he's originally from our city of Busan...”

In truth, there was no need to reveal all the information we had uncovered to Vice Chairman Wei Chen.

Nevertheless, I deliberately explained the details because I had my own plan.

“...I'm planning to send my own people to Macau to personally wipe them out.”

“[We could do that for you.]”

“And what would you demand in return?”

“I don't particularly like shifting my work onto someone else's shoulders.”

“[Very well. As you wish.]”

It was time to bring up the real reason for my call.

“I have another request, Vice Chairman Wei.”

“[I'm listening.]”

“We need to transport the captured gang members to South Korea, but we don't have a reliable way to do it.”

“[You want us to smuggle them into South Korea?]”

Just as expected, he understood immediately.

“Exactly right, Vice Chairman Wei. We'll cover every expense involved in transporting them to our country.”

“[We'll cover the expenses ourselves, but in return you'll repay me with another favor.]”

“Name your price.”

“[We've thrown every resource we have into searching for Vice Chairman Chen Zhihui. But that fox has vanished without a trace. We have no idea where he's hiding. Can you find out where his hideout is?]”

“I'm sorry, but I'm not an all-powerful god.”

“[Don't the Directors of the CIA and the FBI know where Chen Zhihui is?]”

I was nearly speechless at the audacity.

Director Griffin and Director Nevers were incredibly busy men whose every second was valuable.

Why would they know the precise whereabouts of someone like Chen Zhihui?

Of course, I didn't voice those thoughts aloud.

“I'll ask both of them, but don't expect too much.”

“[Understood. I'll look forward to good news.]”

The moment I hung up, I immediately called Director Nevers.

After several rings, his cheerful voice came through the speaker.

“[Director Cha, it seems we're thinking alike!]”

“What makes you say that?”

“[I was just about to call and tell you that Director Griffin and I are flying to Korea very soon.]”

“May I ask the reason for your visit?”

“[We've received a personal invitation from NIS Director Om Giyeon.]”

In other words, they were coming to Korea to obtain the classified intelligence possessed by Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol of North Korea's Reconnaissance General Bureau.

“Ah, now I understand.”

“[Now tell me why you called.]”

“I wanted to ask whether you have any information on Vice Chairman Chen Zhihui's whereabouts.”

“[Consider it a welcoming gift before our trip to Korea. Yesterday afternoon, he flew to the Philippines.]”

Vice Chairman Chen Zhihui had concluded a deal with Philippine insurgents to supply them with North Korean weapons.

However, after the cargo ship Golden Mariner, loaded with those very weapons, had been seized by the U.S. military in Sasebo, it became impossible to fulfill the contract.

That meant he had personally gone to the Philippines to explain the force majeure situation to the insurgents.

To confirm my suspicion, I cautiously asked Director Nevers.

“[Your assumption is absolutely correct, Director Cha.]”

“Haha. Understood. I'll see you in Korea.”

Click.

The moment I ended the call, Chief Secretary Kang Inhan immediately asked,

“Chen Zhihui fled to the Philippines?”