Chapter 163: No Way… That Can’t Be Right?

There are no direct passenger flights from our country to Dandong, China.

That meant we had no choice but to fly through Dalian, which is about a three-and-a-half-hour drive from Dandong.

Our passenger plane spent an hour and twenty minutes in the air before landing safely at Dalian International Airport.

I had assumed entering China wouldn't present any particular difficulties, but I couldn't have been more wrong.

An unexpected situation arose during passport control.

The immigration officer, wearing a stern expression, repeatedly compared my face with the photograph in my passport before asking in broken English,

"Mr. Cha Jiham, what is the reason for your second visit to our country only ten days after your previous one?"

I had come to China to personally oversee the operation to eliminate the hackers hiding at Politburo member Liu Peiqi's villa, as well as the raid on the Choson Trading warehouse where the reactor cooling water pump was being stored.

There was no way I could reveal any of that.

"My previous trip was for business in Macau. This time I'm here as a tourist."

"There are many famous attractions in our country. Why did you choose Dalian?"

"I heard Dalian is the Pearl of the North. I wanted to see if that was really true."

"I know perfectly well you came here for another reason, but I'll pretend I didn't notice."

A bad feeling instantly flashed through my mind.

If even an immigration officer knew the true purpose of my visit to China, the entire operation could fall apart.

How could I possibly ignore that?

"What 'other reason'?"

"All Koreans who come here travel to Dandong so they can look across the Yalu River at North Korean territory."

"Phew... Thank goodness."

Letting out a silent sigh of relief, I took my passport back from the officer.

After finally making it through immigration, I headed toward the baggage claim area.

As I watched suitcases circle along the conveyor belt, Chief Secretary Kang Inhan approached with a weary expression.

"I've been to China more than ten times, but I've never seen immigration this thorough."

"Do you think... the Chinese government already knows why we're here?"

"If that were the case, they would've dragged us into the Secondary Room for additional screening long ago."

"That's true... Now that you mention it, you're right. Then why were they so strict all of a sudden?"

"How should I know?"

Chief Secretary Kang Inhan answered my foolish question with calm wisdom.

After entering the arrivals hall, we began looking for someone holding a sign that read "Korea Tour."

A man who looked to be in his forties soon approached us.

"Welcome to Dalian. I'm Lee Menghong, Director of Korea Tour."

"Pleasure to meet you. I'm from Korea Investment..."

After exchanging a few formal greetings, we followed him to the parking lot.

A luxurious sedan was already waiting with its engine running.

The driver and Director Lee helped load our suitcases into the trunk.

Director Lee took the front passenger seat, while Kang Inhan and I sat in the back.

As soon as the car pulled away, Director Lee turned around and spoke.

"Director Cha, let me introduce myself properly. I'm Team Leader Lee Menghong from the National Intelligence Service. The man driving is Agent Choi Seonghun."

"Ah, I see. So Korea Tour is one of the NIS's front companies?"

"You could put it that way. Although we genuinely do operate tours for travelers visiting Dalian."

"I understand."

"It took longer than expected for you to enter China. May I ask what happened?"

"The immigration officer asked me far too many questions."

"What kind of questions?"

"He wanted to know why I had returned to China only ten days after my last visit."

"Ah..."

Director Lee nodded as though he completely understood.

"So you know why immigration was so strict?"

"Anyone entering China must first obtain a visa. Since Director Cha applied for two visas within only ten days, the immigration officer naturally became suspicious."

"So it's nothing to worry about?"

"I believe so. Even so, let me make a quick phone call just to be safe."

Director Lee dialed someone's number.

Something felt off.

He wasn't speaking Korean.

He was speaking English.

While I wondered who he could possibly be talking to, the call came to an end.

"Director Cha, I just spoke with a CIA agent. Fortunately, no one is tailing us."

"A CIA agent?"

"Right now, CIA and FBI agents are secretly monitoring the area and providing security for us."

"Why?"

"You're the operational commander here, Director Cha. If anything happened to you, the entire operation would collapse. That's why both the CIA and FBI are protecting you."

"I see."

"I truly admire you, Director Cha."

"Hm? For what?"

Tilting my head in confusion, I asked,

"What brought that on?"

"Until recently, the American intelligence agencies looked down on the NIS. Then, at some point, they began treating us as equals. Now they even defer to us from time to time."

"I understand what you mean, but I'm not actually an NIS officer."

"Our Director personally declared that you are an honorary member of the NIS. He gave strict orders that everyone should treat you with the same respect they show him."

"He's going a little overboard. Don't take it too seriously."

"We're military men. An order is an order."

In other words:

Stop saying nonsense. It won't change anything.

"If you put it that way, I have nothing more to say."

"May I ask you one question, Director Cha?"

"Of course. As long as it isn't classified."

"Headquarters informed us that around twenty Korea Investment employees will also be arriving in China."

"If a large group of men entered together, it might attract unwanted attention from the Chinese authorities. That's why they're entering in groups of four or five."

"Ah, I understand. I'll need to meet them at the airport, so please let me know their arrival times."

"They'll make their own way to the hotel, so there's no need to trouble yourself, Director Lee."

Bzzz! Bzzz!

At that moment, the phone in my pocket vibrated.

Looking at the screen, I saw Director Griffin's name.

After excusing myself for a moment, I answered.

"Director Griffin."

"Director Cha, have you arrived in Dalian already?"

"Yes. We're on our way to Dandong."

"You may already know this, but CIA and FBI agents are providing you with covert protection. Full operational authority over both teams has been transferred directly to you."

I was practically speechless.

Command the CIA and FBI?

Who wouldn't be shocked?

Swallowing hard, I continued.

"You must be joking."

"President Douglas is taking a tremendous interest in the operation that will take place in Dandong. It was President Douglas himself who granted you command authority over the CIA and FBI agents. If any of them refuses to obey your orders, you're authorized to shoot them on the spot. No one will hold you responsible."

"...What!?"

"Please understand just how important this operation is."

"I understand."

"My phone will remain on twenty-four hours a day. If an emergency arises, call me at any time."

After ending the call, I put away my phone.

Chief Secretary Kang Inhan immediately looked at me with curiosity.

"I'm dying to know what shocked you so much just now."

"Oh, nothing much. I've just been given full command over the CIA and FBI agents—and permission to shoot anyone who refuses to obey."

"W-What did you just say?!"

Chief Secretary Kang jerked so violently that, if I exaggerated just a little, the entire car practically bounced.

"I was just as shocked when Director Griffin told me. My heart's still pounding."

"Haha. I completely understand how you feel, Director."

Ignoring Kang Inhan's reaction, I turned toward Director Lee.

"How much longer until we reach Dandong?"

"If traffic stays clear, about three and a half hours."

"I see. As soon as we arrive, arrange a meeting with the local CIA and FBI team leaders immediately."

"Yes, sir!"

Director Lee's tense reply echoed throughout the car.

***

Director Lee had assured us that, since it was a weekday, traffic wouldn't be a problem.

Unfortunately, a trailer carrying cargo overturned in an accident, delaying us by nearly two hours.

We didn't reach the hotel until around five in the evening.

The moment Agent Choi Seonghun parked the sedan at the entrance, I quickly opened the door and stepped outside.

"Ughhh..."

Stretching with both hands behind my head, I heard Director Lee speak after getting out of the car.

"Director Cha, you must be tired."

"I won't pretend otherwise."

"Then shall we postpone the meeting with the CIA and FBI until after dinner?"

"Being tired isn't a reason to postpone business."

"Understood. I'll make the arrangements. Let's meet in thirty minutes."

Listening to Director Lee's reply, I pulled my suitcase out of the trunk.

Following the bellhop's directions, I entered my room—

—and my eyes nearly popped out.

Before me was a luxurious living room so enormous it felt the size of a football field.

After thanking the bellhop with a small tip and seeing him out, I walked over to the window to admire the view.

Although the scenery was partially obscured by smog, I could still make out the landscape.

"So that's Sinuiju, across the river."

The haze made the North Korean city appear blurry.

A strange feeling stirred deep inside me, but this wasn't the time for sentimentality.

After a quick look around, I carefully inspected every corner of the suite.

It contained three bedrooms and a conference room large enough for about ten people.

"Hm... Isn't this a bit excessive for one person?"

Bzzz! Bzzz!

While I was muttering to myself, my phone vibrated again.

Taking it out, I saw Director Pan Kai calling.

I had been planning to contact him anyway, so the timing couldn't have been better.

Settling onto the large sofa, I answered.

"Director Pan Kai."

"The hotel informed me that you've checked in. How do you like your room?"

"It's more than satisfactory. Honestly, it's so luxurious that I almost feel uncomfortable staying here."

"I'm glad you like it. Please make yourself at home and enjoy everything without hesitation."

A bad feeling suddenly crept over me.

I had intended to pay the full room rate myself.

But Director Pan's tone strongly suggested that my stay would be free of charge.

Wanting to confirm my suspicion, I cautiously asked,

"So..."

"You've understood correctly, Director Cha."

"I'm sincerely grateful for your generosity, Director Pan, but I really can't accept that."

"Compared to what you've done for me, this costs next to nothing. Please don't refuse."

I had no real desire to argue with him.

After all, thanks to me, Vice Chairman Wei Chen had finally pushed his lifelong rival, Vice Chairman Chen Zhihui, over the edge.

On top of that, I had sold him the 5,150 kilograms of gold bars that had belonged to Politburo member Liu Peiqi and Vice Chairman Chen Zhihui.

He would melt the gold down, issue SKR receipts, and sell them to Chairman Zhen Weiliang.

In the process, he'd earn roughly 120 million dollars with almost no effort.

Accepting Director Pan's generosity hardly gave me a guilty conscience.

Still, agreeing immediately would make me look far too eager for a freebie, so I paused for a moment before replying,

"Thank you very much for your generosity."

"Haha, don't mention it. I'll see you soon."

The instant I heard those words, a chill ran down my spine.

Because I had absolutely no plans to meet Director Pan.

Don't tell me... No way...

Just to be safe, I cautiously asked,

"You're not planning to come here yourself, are you?"

"Haha, you're quite perceptive."

"Oh, come on..."

All I could do was let out a long groan as I stared up at the ceiling.