Chapter 153: That Bastard Again?

I decided to satisfy my curiosity while Director Griffin was on the phone. Since Director Nevers was still in the room, I addressed NIS Director Om Giyeon in Korean.

“Was it really necessary to reveal Saho's existence?”

“Deputy Director Jo had serious doubts about how he was captured. We had no other choice if we wanted to eliminate those doubts.”

“Chief of Staff Cha, Director Om is right,” Jo Ilcheol added, supporting Om Giyeon's explanation.

“If that's how both of you see it, then I have nothing more to say.”

“By the way, why did you push Director Griffin to arrest Chief Inspector Hayden immediately?”

“You noticed?”

“I think everyone here noticed, myself included.”

“Haha. I see. It was done so they would believe he fled to the United States rather than traveling to meet Deputy Director Jo.”

“Just as I thought.”

At that moment, Jeong Sanhak, who had been quietly sitting off to the side until now, joined the conversation.

“But will North Korea really believe that story?”

“They failed to expose Hayden as a spy for more than ten years. If he's suddenly arrested now, they'll have no choice but to believe it.”

“I certainly hope so. Still, I'd like to ask you something else. Do you know Secretary Lee Jonghyeok?”

Instead of answering, I turned toward NIS Director Om Giyeon.

As if he had read my thoughts, he immediately spoke.

“Lee Jonghyeok, who returned to North Korea from the United States, erased his identity and became Ri Jonghyeok. Five years ago, he staged another fake defection to South Korea.”

“How do you know that, Director Om?”

“Choi Dongcheol, who used to serve under Major General Jeong, told me.”

“So that's it...”

Major General Jeong Sanhak trailed off as though something had finally clicked.

Naturally, Om Giyeon immediately understood what had crossed his mind.

“Your guess is correct.”

“I thought so.”

Just as Major General Jeong nodded, Director Griffin returned.

Something was clearly wrong.

Compared to just a few minutes earlier, his face had turned as dark as thunderclouds.

Apparently I wasn't the only one who noticed, because Director Nevers immediately asked,

“Director Griffin, did something happen?”

“Haa...”

Griffin let out a heavy sigh, sat down on the sofa, and said,

“I've been informed that Chief Inspector Hayden hasn't shown up for work since yesterday.”

“You mean North Korea has already signaled him to run?” Director Nevers asked.

“Exactly, Director Nevers.”

“Shouldn't we move to arrest him immediately?”

“I've already declared an emergency within the CIA. We'll intercept him soon.”

After replying grimly, Griffin looked toward me.

“If it hadn't been for Chief of Staff Cha, we probably wouldn't have realized Hayden had disappeared until much later.”

“It's fortunate we found out now.”

“That's true. But where could he have fled?”

Director Griffin was a veteran of the intelligence world, filled with deception and covert warfare.

He undoubtedly knew far more possible escape routes than I did.

He knew that himself, yet he still asked for my opinion.

Curious about his intentions, I asked,

“Why are you interested in what I think?”

“No hidden motive. I simply wanted to know whether we arrived at the same conclusion.”

“Before I give my opinion, I'd like to hear yours first, Director.”

“I believe he'll try to reach North Korea through China.”

The CIA had already gone into emergency mode to seal Hayden's escape routes.

That meant the odds of him attempting to force his way directly into North Korea right now were extremely low.

Of course, I wasn't foolish enough to reveal every thought I had.

“That's certainly a logical assumption.”

“Now I'd like to hear your opinion, Chief of Staff Cha.”

“If I were in his position, I'd flee to Venezuela in South America.”

“Interesting. Why Venezuela?”

“Because U.S. influence there is minimal, and it's an enormous country. It has vast jungles and a population of thirty-two million people—more than enough to disappear into. If I were him, I'd lie low in Venezuela until everything settled down before making my way to North Korea.”

“Hmm... That's a very plausible scenario.”

“Since we're on the subject, I sincerely hope you'll catch him.”

“Of course. That's exactly what we intend to do.”

When the head of the world's most powerful intelligence agency made such a promise, there was little point in worrying further.

“Now you may continue your conversation with Deputy Director Jo.”

As though he had been waiting for me to finish, Director Nevers immediately spoke.

“Our country has intelligence indicating that North Korea's Reconnaissance General Bureau is responsible for cryptocurrency hacking attacks. What is your opinion, Deputy Director Jo?”

“I won't deny it.”

“We've been doing everything we can to stop North Korea's cryptocurrency thefts, yet the number of attacks keeps increasing. Can you tell us the secret?”

“Hm...”

Jo Ilcheol paused in thought.

Fortunately, the silence didn't last long.

“Director Nevers, I can't sell that information for only one million dollars.”

“Name the amount you consider fair.”

“Ten million dollars will do.”

“Agreed. We have a deal.”

“Last year, our country successfully hacked thirty-seven cryptocurrency platforms.”

Director Nevers tilted his head in surprise.

According to the FBI's intelligence, North Korea had compromised only twenty-five platforms altogether.

He immediately asked Jo Ilcheol to explain the discrepancy.

“To avoid surveillance by the United States and Western countries, we maintained a separate hacking team inside China. The Chinese team alone hacked twelve platforms and stole roughly two billion dollars.”

“Ah...”

Director Nevers nodded in understanding.

Director Griffin asked the next question.

“Why did the hacking group operating inside China steal so much more cryptocurrency than the group inside North Korea?”

“Because they didn't attack targets at random. They focused exclusively on carefully selected major platforms.”

“I see. Does the Chinese government know that North Korea is operating a hacking group inside China?”

“I can't say for certain, but I believe the chances are extremely high.”

China had officially outlawed cryptocurrency, completely banning all cryptocurrency transactions.

Under normal circumstances, the Chinese authorities shouldn't even know North Korea was conducting hacking operations from Chinese territory.

“Deputy Director Jo, why do you believe that?”

“Because that hacking group is protected by a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.”

“Can you tell us his name?”

“Politburo member Liu Peiqi.”

“That bastard again?”

Jo Ilcheol immediately sensed something unusual.

From Griffin's tone, it was obvious he already knew Liu Peiqi well.

He directly asked whether his impression was correct.

“Of course.”

“And how do you know him?”

“We've known for a long time that he's a member of the Politburo. As for his criminal activities, we only uncovered them relatively recently. Incidentally, that man has a long-standing and very deep conflict with Chief of Staff Cha.”

Jo Ilcheol immediately turned to look at me, clearly asking me to explain what kind of feud I had with Politburo member Liu.

Although he was under house arrest inside the NIS safe house and couldn't spread rumors, it was still wiser to be cautious.

“I'll tell you, but only if you promise to keep it absolutely secret.”

“I promise. Hurry up and tell me.”

“Deputy Director Jo, you know who former K&J Bio CEO Go Yeongjun is, don't you?”

“If you're referring to the man we encountered aboard the submarine, then yes.”

“That makes things easier. Eight months ago, he embezzled 1.3 billion dollars—around 1.8 trillion won—from his company and fled to China.”

“Embezzle that much money... That man clearly knew no fear.”

“Exactly. As it turned out, he used the stolen money to build guanxi with influential figures in China. One of them was Politburo member Liu Peiqi.”

I told him everything that had happened during Go Yeongjun's escape through China.

Whenever my explanation lacked details, Director Om Giyeon filled in the missing pieces.

“...With the assistance of our company's personnel and FBI agents, we removed two hundred and five gold bars, each weighing twenty-five kilograms, from Liu's villa.”

“I can only imagine the shock Liu must have experienced!”

“I didn't personally witness his reaction, but I'm sure you're right.”

“But what if he discovers Chief of Staff Cha was behind it?”

“We didn't leave a single strand of hair behind at Liu's villa. According to our latest intelligence, he firmly believes Go Yeongjun stole the gold with Vice Chairman Tang Guochang's assistance.”

“And what does Vice Chairman Tang have to do with this?” Jo Ilcheol asked in confusion.

“We believe Go Yeongjun also established connections with Tang Guochang while hiding in China. For your information, Politburo member Liu Peiqi and Vice Chairman Tang Guochang are bitter political rivals.”

“I already knew that.”

“I'm glad to hear it. Let me emphasize this once more—the fact that we emptied Liu's villa must remain an absolute secret.”

At that moment, Jo Ilcheol felt his heart sink.

The look Cha Jiham was giving him was genuinely terrifying.

“I'll take that secret to my grave. You have my word.”

“I'd appreciate that very much. I have a question about the North Korean hacking group operating in China. May I ask it?”

“Of course.”

“How many people are in the group?”

“Around ten.”

Last year alone, the hacking group operating in China had stolen two billion dollars in cryptocurrency.

Judging from that, their skill level had to be extraordinary.

“I see. And where is their base?”

“At Politburo member Liu's villa near Dandong.”

“Dandong—the city across the Yalu River from North Korea?”

“That's correct, Chief of Staff Cha.”

“Are there only hackers staying at Liu's villa?”

“Not at all. Twenty Reconnaissance General Bureau operatives also live there to supervise the hackers.”

“What does Liu receive in return for providing them with those facilities?”

“He keeps thirty percent of all the stolen cryptocurrency.”

“Isn't that an awfully high price?”

Jo Ilcheol shook his head.

“Liu is also responsible for converting the stolen cryptocurrency into U.S. dollars.”

“But cryptocurrency transactions are illegal in China.”

“The real reason the Chinese government banned cryptocurrency was to prevent wealthy citizens from converting their assets into crypto and moving them overseas. In other words, the underground cryptocurrency market is thriving.”

“The vast majority of wealthy Chinese people hold cryptocurrency assets,” Major General Jeong Sanhak added, reinforcing Jo Ilcheol's explanation.

“I see. And how are the converted dollars used?”

“Out of every hundred million dollars, eighty million is sent directly to North Korea.”

“How?”

“It's transported aboard fishing boats sent from North Korea.”

“Ah... So that's why the hacking base is located near Dandong, close to Sinuiju.”

“Not just for that reason. If anything goes wrong, it's also an ideal location for escaping back into North Korea.”

“I understand. And what happens to the remaining twenty million dollars?”

“It's used to purchase goods that North Korea needs from China and other countries.”

“Including components required for nuclear weapons and missile development?”

“I won't deny it.”

At that moment, Director Griffin, who seemed to have reached a conclusion of his own, spoke up.

“Then why don't we eliminate that hacking group in Dandong at the first opportunity?”