Chapter 159: How About Treating Them to a Late-Night Snack?

As always, life rarely went according to plan.

That was because Lee Hyeoksan, the president of Choson Trading, had left on a business trip to Europe that very morning.

Because of the issue of capturing him, NIS Director Om Giyeon, CIA Director Griffin, and FBI Director Nevers became locked in a heated debate.

“Director Om, Europe is practically our backyard,” Griffin said.

“Director Griffin is right. I believe it'd be better to capture Lee Hyeoksan there,” Nevers agreed.

However, Director Om Giyeon held a different opinion.

“Vice Chairman Chen Zhihui's forces have been almost completely wiped out, so Choson Trading won't be able to smuggle the cooling pumps into North Korea for some time. That gives us more than enough time to capture him after he returns to China.”

“I partially agree with Director Om,” Griffin replied. “But if we capture Lee Hyeoksan in China, we'll have to take a far greater risk.”

“You were the one who proposed that we coordinate our efforts before eliminating the North Korean hacker group. Considering that, we should capture him in China,” Om Giyeon countered.

“...I only said that because I assumed he'd still be in China,” Griffin muttered.

“Regardless, I can't agree to capturing him in Europe.”

I understood perfectly why Director Om Giyeon was being so stubborn.

Just as Director Griffin had said, Europe was America's backyard. If the U.S. government captured Lee Hyeoksan there, our country would be left with nothing but regrets.

That was precisely why Om Giyeon insisted on taking him in China.

I had already figured out the NIS Director's reasoning, and pretending otherwise would have been nothing more than negligence on my part.

“I completely support Director Om's position,” I said.

“I'd like to hear your reasoning,” Director Griffin asked with a slight frown.

I wasn't the least bit intimidated.

I was confident I could convince him.

“President Lee Hyeoksan has almost certainly stored information about the components being supplied to North Korea either on his computer or on a flash drive.”

“That's highly likely.”

“If he has the laptop or flash drive with him, then there's no problem. But if he doesn't, capturing him would serve no purpose whatsoever.”

“You have a point.”

“Let's assume we're lucky and he does have the flash drive with him. Naturally, we'd be delighted and immediately destroy the warehouse storing the cooling pumps and the rest of the components.”

“Of course.”

“The real problems would begin after the warehouse is destroyed.”

“And what problems would those be?” Griffin asked in surprise.

“If the warehouse is destroyed, there's a very high probability that North Korea will learn about it within one or two hours.”

“Let's assume they do.”

“To determine why the warehouse was destroyed, North Korea will immediately dispatch an investigative team to Dandong.”

“And what if they don't?”

I shook my head.

“Choson Trading is a front company operated by North Korea's Reconnaissance General Bureau. If the warehouse of such an important organization is destroyed and they don't send an investigative team, that would be sheer negligence.”

“Hmm. That makes sense. Go on.”

“Next week we're scheduled to capture the hackers operating from Politburo member Liu Peiqi's villa. If Dandong is crawling with North Korean investigators at that time, it'll create serious complications for the operation.”

“Yeah...” Griffin murmured, nodding as he followed my reasoning.

“That is precisely why Director Om insisted on capturing President Lee only after he returned to China.”

“Chief of Staff Cha is absolutely right,” Om Giyeon added, lending even more weight to my argument.

At that moment, Director Nevers joined the discussion.

“Chief of Staff Cha, if we wait to capture President Lee in China, the operation will involve tremendous risks. Wouldn't you agree?”

“Absolutely.”

“I'm against taking that kind of risk just to capture him.”

“I don't think we need to capture him at all.”

“What do you mean?” Nevers asked in genuine confusion.

“We don't actually need to interrogate President Lee in order to learn which components North Korea is importing through Choson Trading.”

“Then how do you propose we find out?”

“All we have to do is infiltrate Choson Trading's office and examine President Lee's computer along with the employees' computers.”

“Ah... I see!”

“Even if luck isn't on our side and we fail to obtain the necessary information, only then would we actually need to capture Lee Hyeoksan.”

“But wouldn't that still involve enormous risks?”

“The risks can be reduced to a minimum.”

I carefully explained my operational plan to the three directors.

“...If we eliminate the hacker group and destroy the warehouse simultaneously, the risks will be minimal.”

“I understand what you're proposing. But who should carry out the warehouse operation?”

“My company and the CIA will eliminate the hackers, while the NIS and the FBI will handle the warehouse. What do you think?”

“I'm curious why you decided to involve the CIA in the hacker operation,” Director Om asked in a dissatisfied voice.

Exactly as expected.

I had already prepared an answer.

“Because the CIA needs to provide stealth submarines to extract the captured hackers.”

Director Om had no choice but to accept the reasoning.

Leaving him with an unhappy expression, I turned to Griffin.

“Please prepare two submarines equipped with stealth technology.”

Director Griffin couldn't understand Cha Jiham's logic.

One such submarine could carry twenty people.

There were only ten hackers they intended to capture.

One submarine was more than enough, yet Cha Jiham was asking for two.

He cautiously asked why.

“If Politburo member Liu's villa and Choson Trading's warehouse are destroyed simultaneously, Dandong will almost certainly be placed under a state of emergency.”

“Naturally.”

“In that situation, it will be extremely difficult for the NIS, CIA, and FBI operatives participating in the mission to leave China.”

In other words, I intended to evacuate everyone involved in the operation back to Korea aboard the submarines.

Griffin asked directly whether he had understood correctly.

“You're absolutely right, Director Griffin.”

“But Chief of Staff Cha, couldn't you and the Korea Investment personnel also return to Korea by submarine?”

“We'll be entering China as ordinary tourists. Once Liu's villa and the warehouse are destroyed, the Chinese authorities will almost certainly suspect our country. If we suddenly disappear, the Chinese government will have even more questions for us.”

“Very sensible. Then how do you intend to return?”

“We'll continue traveling around China as though nothing happened, avoid drawing the authorities' attention, and then quietly return home.”

“I understand.”

After finishing my conversation with Griffin, I turned toward Director Nevers.

“About thirty minutes ago, I spoke with Chairman Gomez. He said the gang that had been receiving drugs from Chief Inspector Hayden would be eliminated by the Gomez family. Please send them the gang's information as soon as possible.”

“Oh, absolutely!”

Bzzz...

The phone on the table vibrated.

A quick glance at the screen showed Vice Chairman Wei Chen's name.

Knowing exactly why he was calling, I excused myself to Director Om and the others before answering.

“Vice Chairman Wei, I'm listening.”

["Just now, Park Kicheol, the leader of the Leech Gang, departed for Korea with his men."]

“Thank you for the valuable information.”

["You're welcome. When should we take out Cho Insu and his men?"]

Cho Insu and his subordinates were supposed to be dealt with by Jeong Gwangseok's team.

Apparently, however, the Triad intended to participate as well.

I carefully asked why.

["Cho Insu has more than fifty men."]

“I see... That's quite a lot.”

["Exactly. No matter how capable Korea Investment's people are, eleven of them can't deal with fifty opponents."]

“I'm sincerely grateful for your concern, Vice Chairman Wei.”

["Compared to everything you've done for me, Chief of Staff Cha, this is nothing."]

“I can't argue with that.”

["By the way, when are you going to answer my question?"]

“Ah, right. The flight from Macau is scheduled to arrive in Korea at 5:30 tomorrow morning, our time. I think we should begin the operation at exactly that moment.”

["Understood. We'll talk again after we've finished them off."]

“Please wait a moment.”

I stopped Vice Chairman Wei Chen just as he was about to hang up.

["Chief of Staff Cha, did you need something?"]

“When I was in Macau, I heard that Director Pan Kai owns a hotel in downtown Dandong. Is that true?”

["Yes, but..."]

I immediately understood why Wei Chen had hesitated.

“The thing is, I'll be traveling to Dandong on business next week. Since I'll be there anyway, I thought it would be best to stay at Director Pan Kai's hotel.”

["I see. I'll let Director Pan know."]

“Thank you. We'll speak again later.”

The moment I hung up, Commissioner General Choi Dongyeong hurried over.

“Chief of Staff Cha, did Park Kicheol really leave for Korea?”

“Yes.”

“Just a moment.”

The Commissioner General immediately dialed someone's number.

The moment I heard him address the other party as “Superintendent Hwang,” I knew exactly who he was speaking to.

After giving a few brief instructions to Hwang Dongsok, who was in charge of organized crime investigations, he ended the call.

“I hope we'll finally wipe out those Leech Gang bastards once and for all this time.”

“We definitely will.”

Commissioner General Choi clenched his fists, completely confident.

At that moment, Director Om Giyeon spoke up, sounding somewhat concerned.

“Chief of Staff Cha, wouldn't a safe house be enough? Why do you insist on staying at a hotel?”

“We're entering China as ordinary tourists. The hotel is there in case something unexpected happens.”

“Hmm... I understand.”

“Now that the main details of the plan have been settled, I think I'll head home.”

“What do you mean by that?” Nevers interrupted before Om Giyeon could respond.

“Do I really have to stay here?”

“Of course! Lee Jonghyeok's interrogation isn't over yet.”

“Wasn't it already finished?”

“We still need to find out which gang Chief Inspector Hayden was supplying with North Korean drugs.”

“But you can learn that without me.”

“Anything could happen. Stay here until the interrogation is over.”

“Ugh... Fine!”

Director Nevers smiled faintly before turning to Om Giyeon.

“Well then, shall we continue questioning Lee Jonghyeok?”

Om Giyeon, Griffin, and Nevers headed back to the interrogation room.

As though he had been waiting for exactly that moment, Commissioner General Choi Dongyeong leaned toward me and spoke in a persuasive tone.

“Chief of Staff Cha, shouldn't our police also participate in the operations against the hackers and the destruction of Choson Trading's warehouse?”

“May I ask why you want to involve the police?”

“To be honest, compared to the NIS, the police barely have any role at all.”

“Why do you say that? You'll be taking down the Leech Gang.”

“But they're just ordinary gangsters! Besides, half of them will be eliminated by Korea Investment's personnel anyway.”

“Hmm... How about this?”

“Go on!” Choi Dongyeong urged eagerly, leaning forward.

“Lee Jonghyeok identified ten additional spies. How would you feel about conducting the investigation into them jointly with the NIS?”

“You really think that's possible? Director Om is unbelievably greedy.”

In other words, he was implying that the NIS would never share authority with the police.

“I'll speak with Director Om.”

“You really can do that?”

“Of course. Though you'll have to give up something in return.”

“What would that be?”

“It looks like we'll all be here through the night again. How about treating everyone to a late-night snack?”

“Hahaha! Deal!”

Laughing heartily, Commissioner General Choi Dongyeong reached for his phone.