Chapter 152: Damn It! There’s No Time!

I had expected the National Intelligence Service's safe house to be hidden somewhere in an ordinary residential neighborhood. Instead, the driver headed the minibus straight into a high-rise apartment complex.

I couldn't pretend I hadn't noticed, so I turned to NIS Director Om Giyeon.

“The safe house is inside an apartment complex?”

“You'll find out when we get there,” he answered shortly.

His tone clearly said that no matter how much I asked, I wouldn't get an explanation. Realizing that, I didn't press the matter.

The atmosphere inside the minibus immediately grew colder, but the driver remained completely unfazed as he drove into the underground parking garage. After stopping on the third basement level, an agent waiting there quickly opened the door. Following Director Om, we promptly got out of the vehicle.

Normally, elevators were located beyond two heavy fire doors connected to the emergency stairwell. Here, however, the elevator was directly behind the very first door.

As I wondered about that unusual arrangement, Om Giyeon spoke.

“The door we just came through is normally kept locked. That's why the residents of the complex don't even realize there's an elevator here.”

“You mean this elevator is used exclusively by the National Intelligence Service?”

“Exactly, Director Cha.”

Once inside the elevator, I frowned again.

The control panel had only two buttons: Basement Level 3 and Floor 51.

Noticing my confusion, Om Giyeon immediately explained,

“The apartment is on the fifty-first floor. The elevator doesn't stop anywhere else. As a matter of fact, the residents of the building don't even know a fifty-first floor exists.”

“Wouldn't people in the neighboring buildings be able to see it?”

“The complex is built on a hill, and the fifty-first floor is a concealed penthouse occupying part of the roof above the fiftieth floor. It's impossible to see from outside.”

“Ah, I understand now.”

A moment later, the elevator stopped on the fifty-first floor.

Following the agent inside, we entered the penthouse, and I couldn't help letting out a quiet sigh of amazement.

Contrary to my image of a modest safe house, an enormous living room with luxurious furnishings spread out before us—something I'd previously only seen on television.

I wonder if Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol lived in a place this luxurious back in North Korea.

While I was casually taking in the surroundings, Director Om approached Deputy Director Jo, who was standing there with a rather tense expression.

“Deputy Director Jo, these gentlemen are from the CIA...”

After brief introductions, we all settled onto the spacious sofa.

Taking a sip of a cold drink, Om Giyeon asked,

“How are the living conditions?”

“Apart from not being allowed outside, everything is excellent.”

“I'm glad to hear that. And how about you, Director Jeong?”

Jeong Sanhak, the leader of the underground syndicate, nodded, indicating that he too was satisfied.

Pleased with their answers, Director Om continued,

“You probably already know this, but the CIA, the FBI, and we engaged in an intense struggle in Macau over who would take custody of you, Deputy Director Jo. Thanks to Director Cha's brilliant strategy, we emerged victorious.”

“I have a question for Director Cha,” Jo Ilcheol said. “Will you answer it?”

I decided to remain cautious.

“Let me hear the question first. Then I'll decide whether to answer.”

“How did you manage to infiltrate our hideout? It was an impregnable fortress.”

Without Saho, we never would have captured Jo Ilcheol and his men alive.

Revealing Saho's existence would instantly satisfy his curiosity, but that was absolutely out of the question.

“It's exactly as I said in Macau,” I replied calmly.

“Director Cha, back then you claimed your agents climbed over the fence through a blind spot. But surveillance cameras completely cover the top of the fence. There are no blind spots. Furthermore, the power to our hideout was never cut, so climbing over the fence would have been impossible.”

“If there were no blind spots, then the agents never climbed over the fence.”

“Stop dodging the question and tell me the truth.”

Just as the conversation began taking a strange turn, Om Giyeon stepped in.

“Deputy Director Jo, does North Korea's Reconnaissance General Bureau use animals as spies?”

“Could it be...” Jo Ilcheol suddenly stopped, as though °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° a realization had struck him.

Director Om clearly understood what he was thinking, yet continued without hesitation.

“That's right. We use animals whose abilities rival those of humans.”

“No way. Animals like that can't possibly exist.”

“I have to agree with Deputy Director Jo,” CIA Director Eddie Griffin spoke up.

“I agree as well,” FBI Director Glenn Nevers added.

Despite everyone's skepticism, Om Giyeon remained perfectly composed, as if he knew exactly what he was talking about.

“Believe it or not, our animal operative avoided every surveillance zone, jumped over the fence, switched off the power, and disabled the facility. After that, it slipped sleeping pills into the food.”

“Are you serious?!” Griffin's eyes widened in disbelief.

“I have absolutely no reason to lie to you.”

“An extraordinary animal like that really exists?”

“Indeed. Thanks to its exceptional abilities, we were also able to capture former K&J Bio CEO Go Yeongjun without any trouble.”

“Unbelievable... Can you at least tell us what kind of animal it is?”

“That's classified information.”

Just like that, Saho had officially become a state secret.

“Well... I suppose that can't be helped,” Griffin sighed.

“I think we should end the discussion about spy animals here,” Om concluded.

“Allow me one more question,” Griffin interrupted. “Director Cha, are you closely connected to this animal?”

“No comment.”

I desperately wanted to look inside Director Om's head.

In a situation like this, no comment practically sounded like a confirmation.

Before I could complain about his answer, Griffin turned to me.

“Director Cha, what exactly is this animal capable of?”

Giving Om Giyeon a reproachful look, I answered the CIA Director.

“It understands Korean and possesses extraordinary agility.”

“And you truly can't reveal its species?”

If I said it was a wild forest cat, how would Griffin react?

“Unfortunately, I can't.”

“That's a shame. If we requested it, would you allow it to participate in one of our operations?”

As technology advanced, animals were increasingly being replaced by robots and drones for intelligence work.

Griffin certainly knew that, yet he was still eager to recruit Saho.

I carefully explained,

“Robots and drones don't understand human speech, and they're considerably less agile.”

“Hmm... That's true.”

“Now answer my question.”

“The animal only participates in operations that are absolutely necessary. Therefore, Director Griffin, I can't grant your request.”

“What if a situation arose where it was absolutely indispensable?”

Why is he so persistent?

“If three conditions are met, I might consider it.”

“And what are those conditions?”

“First, I must know the exact purpose of the operation. Second, appropriate compensation must be paid for its participation. And finally, the decision on whether it joins the mission rests solely with me.”

“Those are perfectly reasonable conditions,” Griffin agreed.

“In that case, we have no problem. Now please continue your conversation with Director Om.”

As soon as I stepped back, Om Giyeon immediately resumed speaking.

“Deputy Director Jo, Directors Griffin and Nevers have several questions for you.”

“I understand,” Jo Ilcheol replied. “But I have no intention of giving away information for free.”

As if he'd been waiting for exactly that answer, Griffin immediately responded.

“We intend to compensate you generously.”

“And specifically?”

“Director Om suggested paying you in cash. How about one million dollars per question?”

“That's a respectable amount. Go ahead and ask.”

“First of all, we want to know how many North Korean agents are operating in the United States.”

“I don't remember the exact number. But I do know one high-ranking agent.”

“Can you tell us his name?”

“The Chief Inspector of the CIA, Michael Hayden...”

“Wait!” Griffin suddenly interrupted.

Everyone looked at him in confusion.

Feeling our eyes on him, Griffin immediately asked,

“Deputy Director Jo, are you telling the truth?”

“What reason would I have to lie?”

Griffin was left speechless.

It was only natural.

The Chief Inspector was one of the highest-ranking positions in the CIA. Discovering that someone in such a position was actually a North Korean mole would leave anyone stunned.

“Can you tell us when he was recruited?”

Jo Ilcheol closed his eyes, searching through his memories.

We all waited in tense silence.

A few moments later, he opened his eyes.

“Thirteen years ago, I served as the military attaché at North Korea's embassy in Cuba. At that time, Hayden was responsible for Cuban affairs. Hoping to obtain intelligence on North Korea, he went out of his way to be friendly with me. Around then, he was also going through a divorce and needed to pay enormous alimony.”

“You tried to buy him?”

“Of course I did. But he refused.”

“Well, that's something at least. Go on.”

“He believed his divorce had happened because of his assignment in Cuba. To help him earn a promotion, I arranged for our secretary, Ri Jonghyeok, to stage a fake defection to the United States.”

“Ah... So that's why Secretary Ri's 'defection' happened,” Griffin nodded, finally understanding the real reason behind it.

“After successfully 'recruiting' the defector Ri, Hayden was promoted and returned to the United States.”

“And when did you turn him into a spy?”

“After arriving in America, Ri Jonghyeok became close to Hayden. Over time, he recruited him without much difficulty.”

“Do you know why Ri returned to North Korea?”

“Hayden leaked information that the FBI had begun investigating his activities.”

“Motherfucker...” Griffin cursed under his breath.

Hayden's betrayal had clearly struck him hard.

At that moment, FBI Director Nevers spoke up.

“Director Griffin, what do you intend to do with Hayden?”

“We'll put that bastard under constant surveillance and arrest him when the time is right.”

At that moment, Nevers noticed me shaking my head.

“Director Cha, it seems you disagree?”

I deliberately shook my head more noticeably, hoping someone would catch on.

Fortunately, Nevers did.

“I believe Hayden should be arrested immediately.”

“And why is that?”

“By now, North Korea almost certainly suspects that Deputy Director Jo has defected to another country.”

“That's very likely.”

“Pyongyang knows exactly how many agents they have inside South Korea. So they'll most likely conclude that Jo Ilcheol escaped somewhere safer—the United States.”

Griffin instantly grasped my point.

The North Koreans had almost certainly already warned Hayden that Jo Ilcheol had fled to the United States.

Once Hayden received that warning, he would either disappear underground or attempt to flee before he could be arrested.

That was exactly what I feared.

“Damn it! There's no time!” Griffin shouted.

Alarmed, he snatched up his phone and hurried toward the window.