Chapter 161: Curiosity Is a Disease Too

Thanks to the grand "operation" carried out by Vice Chairman Wei Chen, the police launched their operation against the Leech Gang an hour ahead of schedule.

Although the operation began unexpectedly, the gang had been under constant surveillance, making their elimination relatively easy.

Leech Gang boss Park Kicheol and his gambling associates were arrested the very moment they stepped onto the grounds of Gimhae International Airport. The police suffered no casualties whatsoever.

That afternoon.

Director of the National Intelligence Service Om Giyeon, Commissioner General Choi Dongyeong of the National Police Agency, and I were summoned by President Cho Seokchin.

Although the meeting had been arranged to report on everything that had happened over the past two days, the discussion focused primarily on future operations.

“Mr. President, based on the information obtained from Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol, we intend to eliminate the North Korean hacker group.”

“He has provided our country with incredibly valuable intelligence.”

“He certainly has. Incidentally, the operation against the hackers will be carried out by Korea Investment personnel.”

“Is there a compelling reason to involve Korea Investment?”

Director Om Giyeon had anticipated that question from President Cho Seokchin and had prepared a convincing explanation.

“We decided to involve Korea Investment for two reasons.”

“Let's hear them.”

“The hackers' base, located inside Politburo member Liu Peiqi's villa, is essentially an impregnable fortress. Without Saho's assistance, infiltrating it would be impossible.”

“In that case, wouldn't it be enough to send only Chief of Staff Cha and Saho?”

“The hackers' base is guarded by twenty elite Reconnaissance General Bureau operatives armed to the teeth. A large number of NIS personnel will be needed to neutralize them.”

“I suppose that's true.”

“If more than twenty NIS agents enter China at the same time, China's Ministry of State Security will undoubtedly become highly suspicious.”

“Really?”

Director Om Giyeon felt it was necessary to change President Cho Seokchin's skeptical attitude.

“Absolutely. We intend to enter China using forged identities, but every possible risk must be taken into account.”

“Give me an example so I can better understand.”

“We cannot guarantee that there aren't Chinese spies operating inside the NIS.”

“Hmm. Do you really think that's possible?”

“Among the spies recruited by Lee Jonghyeok were senior government officials and aides to National Assembly members.”

“What are you saying?!”

President Cho Seokchin reacted with obvious shock.

As though he had expected exactly that response, Director Om Giyeon continued with an entirely composed expression.

“The police and the NIS are conducting a confidential investigation into them, and the evidence continues to pile up. Given that, we cannot rule out the possibility that North Korean spies have secretly infiltrated the NIS as well.”

“If there really are Chinese or North Korean agents inside the NIS, our country could find itself in the worst possible situation.”

To support Director Om Giyeon, Commissioner General Choi Dongyeong joined the conversation.

“If that's the case, then this really is serious. But can Korea Investment's personnel truly handle Reconnaissance General Bureau operatives?”

“Korea Investment employs many former NIS agents, police officers, and special forces personnel. On top of that, Chief of Staff Cha's operational plan is flawless, so they'll deal with them without difficulty.”

“Can I place my complete trust in Chief of Staff Cha?”

The last of President Cho Seokchin's doubts needed to be erased.

“To the same extent that you trust me, Mr. President, I'll devote every effort to completely destroying the North Korean hacker organization.”

“I understand. By the way, what do you intend to do with the hackers themselves?”

“We'll capture every one of them alive and bring them back to our country.”

President Cho Seokchin couldn't understand Cha Jiham's answer at all.

If Korea Investment attacked Liu Peiqi's villa, where the hackers were based, there was no way North Korea and China would simply stand by.

North Korea would immediately dispatch an investigative team to Dandong.

At North Korea's request, China would undoubtedly seal off its airports and ports to prevent anyone from escaping.

Under those circumstances, how could they possibly transport the hackers back to Korea?

He asked Cha Jiham directly.

“Liu Peiqi's villa stands on a coastal cliff. As a last resort, there's a secret passage leading to a concealed inflatable boat they intended to use to escape to Sinuiju in North Korea. We plan to turn that escape route against them by loading the captured hackers onto the boat and sending them out to open sea.”

I paused briefly to catch my breath before continuing.

“Two stealth submarines dispatched by the U.S. military will be waiting in international waters. We'll transfer the hackers onto the submarines and return to our country.”

“Ah... so that's the plan.”

At that moment, Presidential Chief of Staff Lee Jihun spoke up as though something had occurred to him.

“Chief of Staff Cha, surely the United States won't help us for nothing.”

I deliberately turned toward Director Om Giyeon.

Understanding my intention, he immediately answered.

“Director Griffin and Director Nevers hope to take the hackers to the United States.”

“Why are they so eager to get them?”

“More than twelve thousand hackers operate under North Korea's Reconnaissance General Bureau. Compared to that, there are only ten stationed at Liu Peiqi's villa.”

“So they're after their hacking expertise?”

“Exactly, Chief of Staff.”

“And you're planning to hand them over to the Americans?”

Director Om Giyeon shook his head.

“Korea Investment personnel will be capturing the hackers. Therefore, all rights to them belong to our country.”

“But if we keep them all ourselves, won't the United States protest?”

“In the worst-case scenario, we're prepared to let the United States have about half.”

“That seems like the best solution. But what if the hackers we keep turn out to be less skilled than the ones we hand over?”

“Their skill levels are roughly the same.”

“Even so, what if there's still a difference?”

I completely agreed with Chief of Staff Lee Jihun's concern.

Fortunately, I already had a solution.

“Chief of Staff, may I offer a suggestion?”

“Of course. Go ahead.”

“Before launching the operation against the hackers...”

After listening to Cha Jiham's explanation, Chief of Staff Lee Jihun sighed with relief.

If the plan worked as intended, they would be able to assess the hackers' actual abilities in advance.

After giving it a moment's thought, Jiham finished explaining.

“...The NIS should analyze the information as quickly as possible.”

“You don't need to worry about that.”

Since Director Om Giyeon sounded so confident, there was no point asking further questions.

“Based on the verified information, the NIS will select whichever specialists it wants.”

“Haha. I understand what you mean.”

“That's all I have to say.”

As soon as I finished, Director Om Giyeon resumed his report.

“Mr. President, I'll now report the information obtained during Lee Jonghyeok's interrogation.”

“Go ahead.”

“Lee Jonghyeok operated an automotive parts factory in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province. The components manufactured there were coolant pumps used in ballistic missile Transporter Erector Launchers, or TELs.”

“Is that true?!”

Just as expected.

President Cho Seokchin was once again utterly astonished.

“It is. Lee Jonghyeok exported every one of those pumps to Choson Trading in Dandong, China. Incidentally, Choson Trading is a front company operated by North Korea's Reconnaissance General Bureau.”

Director Om Giyeon reported everything Lee Jonghyeok had revealed without omitting a single detail.

Naturally, whenever there were gaps in his explanation, Commissioner General Choi Dongyeong and I supplemented them.

“...To prevent North Korea from using those components to assemble TELs, we intend to destroy their warehouse.”

“Of course. That's exactly what should be done. Will Korea Investment handle that operation as well?”

“No. It has been decided that the warehouse will be destroyed jointly by the NIS and the FBI.”

“Why involve the FBI?”

“Lee Hyeoksan, the president of Choson Trading, is currently on a business trip in Europe. Director Griffin and Director Nevers planned to arrest him there. They claimed Europe was America's backyard, but in reality they intended to destroy the warehouse without informing us and exclude our country from the operation entirely.”

President Cho Seokchin tilted his head in confusion.

If the United States destroyed Choson Trading's warehouse, South Korea would essentially reap all the benefits without dirtying its own hands.

Director Om Giyeon surely understood that, yet he still insisted on taking part in the operation.

The President asked for his opinion.

“We were the first to obtain intelligence proving that North Korea was smuggling TEL components through Choson Trading. If we hand the operation over to the United States, it will amount to admitting our own incompetence.”

“Ah! I hadn't even thought of it that way. Please forgive my oversight.”

“Not at all.”

Bzzz— Bzzz—

At that moment, the phone in my pocket vibrated.

Taking it out, I saw Vice Chairman Wei Chen's name on the screen.

Since answering a call in front of the President was impossible, I was about to send a standard reply.

But as always, life rarely follows the script.

President Cho Seokchin looked at me with burning curiosity.

“Chief of Staff Cha, who's calling you?”

“Vice Chairman Wei Chen, the second-highest-ranking member of the Triad.”

“We'll remain quiet, so put him on speaker.”

Curiosity really is a disease.

Agreeing, I switched the call to speakerphone.

“Go ahead, Vice Chairman Wei.”

[Chief of Staff Cha, have you just woken up?]

I had stayed awake all night and only managed to drag myself home around eight in the morning.

After two consecutive sleepless nights, I had fallen asleep the instant my head touched the pillow.

However, President Cho Seokchin's summons forced me to get up after only four hours of sleep and come here.

Naturally, Vice Chairman Wei Chen didn't know any of that and assumed I had only just woken up.

Nor could I tell him I was sitting beside President Cho Seokchin.

“Yes, I just got up.”

[Have you received any report from Team Leader Jeong Gwangseok regarding Cho Insu's capture?]

“Nothing significant.”

[I see. During Cho Insu's interrogation, we discovered that his assets amount to no less than 150 million dollars.]

The police had dismantled the Leech Gang eleven years ago.

Back then, Cho Insu, who had served as the boss's deputy, escaped to Macau with twenty billion won.

And yet, over those eleven years, he had somehow increased his fortune nearly tenfold.

Just how many of our fellow countrymen has Cho Insu managed to swindle over the past eleven years?

“That's quite a fortune.”

[Indeed. We found 135 million dollars in cash and another 15 million dollars' worth of real estate. What would you recommend we do with the seized assets?]

Vice Chairman Wei Chen undoubtedly already knew exactly what should be done with the confiscated property.

The fact that he was asking me meant only one thing.

He had an ulterior motive.

Of course, I had a fairly good idea what he was getting at.

“Transfer the cash to the account I'll designate. As for the real estate, do whatever you think is appropriate, Vice Chairman Wei.”

[You truly don't mind?]

What false modesty.

“Not at all. By the way, how do you intend to transport Cho Insu's group back to our country?”

[We're planning to use a charter flight.]

“Ah! Excellent idea.”

[Haha. We'll deliver them to Korea within three or four days.]

“I'll be waiting.”

[Now, let's change the subject for a moment. When are you planning to leave for Dandong?]

The operation to eliminate the hackers at Liu Peiqi's villa had been scheduled for dawn the following Sunday.

I intended to arrive in China three or four days earlier to make preparations.

“Around next Wednesday.”

[Understood. I'll pass that information on to Director Pan Kai.]

After exchanging a few more words with Vice Chairman Wei Chen, I ended the call.

President Cho Seokchin, who had clearly been waiting for that moment, immediately turned toward me with eyes full of curiosity.

“Chief of Staff Cha, who exactly is this Cho Insu?”

I deliberately turned my head toward Commissioner General Choi Dongyeong, giving him the opportunity to answer.

Understanding the gesture, he spoke calmly.

“Mr. President, there used to be a criminal organization operating in Busan known as the Leech Gang. Its leader was a man named Park Kicheol...”