Chapter 166: The Visit of Uninvited Guests

In the end, we never got to have dinner at the North Korean restaurant.

By pure coincidence, the place Lee Menghong usually frequented was closed. We tried finding another North Korean restaurant, but the moment they learned we were from the South, they practically threw us out.

Caught in an awkward situation, Lee Menghong shifted uneasily before speaking apologetically.

"Chief Cha, I guess today's just not our day."

"It's fine. We'll try again another time. Why don't we head back to the hotel and have dinner there instead?"

"That sounds like the best plan. Agent Choi, let's return to the hotel."

Agent Choi Seonghun smoothly pulled the car back onto the road.

At that moment, Chief Secretary Kang Inhan, who had been quietly lost in thought, turned toward me with a curious expression.

"This place is crawling with military police and Chinese troops. How exactly are the American special forces supposed to get here?"

"They'll arrive aboard stealth submarines."

"Ah, I see!"

Kang Inhan slapped his knee.

I simply smiled before addressing Lee Menghong, who was sitting in the passenger seat.

"Tell Vice President Cayman to prepare a safe house where the special forces can stay."

"Understood."

"Still... will you actually be able to keep them under control?"

"They're proud men. There's every chance they'll refuse to follow orders. If we're going to keep them in line, we'll need an official order confirming that operational command belongs to me."

"I see. So we need an order from President Douglas?"

"Is that even possible?"

Lee Menghong turned around and stared at me in astonishment.

Without answering his question, I dialed Advisor Graff.

After several rings, his cheerful voice came through the speaker.

["Chief Cha, it's been a while!"]

"I'm glad to hear your voice as well. It's morning in Washington right now. Is this a good time to talk?"

["For calls from you, Chief Cha, I'm available twenty-four hours a day."]

"I'm relieved to hear that. Right now I'm in Dandong, China. I came here to eliminate a North Korean hacking organization and destroy a warehouse storing components for launcher production."

["Director Griffin has already briefed me."]

"Excellent. Since you're already up to speed, there's a city called Fengcheng about an hour away from here. There's a joint Chinese-Russian factory there producing kamikaze drones."

["What?! Is that true?!"]

Judging by Advisor Graff's shocked reaction, Director Griffin hadn't mentioned that part.

Since I had my own agenda, I decided to raise Griffin's standing in his eyes.

"I was just consulting Director Griffin about the best way to deal with that factory."

["Really? What did he suggest?"]

"He proposed using the American special forces stationed in Korea to destroy the facility."

["Hmm... but why would he take that kind of risk?"]

China had no shortage of kamikaze drone factories. Since I was specifically pointing to the one in Fengcheng, it was only natural for Advisor Graff to be suspicious.

"Every drone produced there is purchased exclusively by Russia. I don't think I need to explain where Russia is using them."

["Of course not."]

"Incidentally, police and military deployments around Dandong have been significantly reinforced."

I openly explained why the factory had to be wiped off the map.

"...We'll destroy the factory to draw police and military forces toward Fengcheng. On top of that, it'll strengthen America's position regarding support for Ukraine."

["I understand the first reason, but the second... how does that work?"]

"Although Korea and the United States will jointly destroy the factory, we'll pin all the blame on Ukraine. That will boost the morale of the Ukrainian people, who've been worn down by the war."

["Ah... now I understand perfectly!"]

It was finally time to reveal the real reason for my call.

"The National Intelligence Service discovered the drone factory in Fengcheng first. I believe the operation should therefore remain under the NIS's command. What do you think, Advisor Graff?"

["I completely agree with you, Chief Cha."]

"According to Director Lee Menghong, the American special forces are proud men and won't be easy to control. It would be ideal if President Douglas issued an order clearly stating that command authority belongs to Lee Menghong."

["I'll do everything I can to make sure you have that document no later than tomorrow."]

"I sincerely appreciate your help, Advisor Graff."

["Ha-ha! Think nothing of it. I'm sorry, but I'm pressed for time, so I'll have to let you go."]

Click.

After a hurried farewell, Advisor Graff ended the call first.

The moment I lowered my phone, Lee Menghong looked at me with unmistakable admiration.

"Chief Cha, I'm genuinely proud to be working with you."

"Come on... you're embarrassing me."

Flustered by the praise, I scratched the back of my head.

***

The restaurant at the Dandong Palace Hotel.

The moment we stepped through the entrance, the manager, impeccably dressed in a tailored black suit, approached us with a courteous smile.

"Chief Cha Jiham, please allow me to escort you to the VIP room."

"We don't have to eat in a private room."

"I'm simply carrying out Mr. Pan Kai's instructions. Please follow me."

We followed the manager.

The instant we entered the VIP room, the waiting staff fussed over us, politely pulling out our chairs.

As soon as we were seated, the manager respectfully spoke.

"Chief Cha, your wine and steaks are being prepared. Please wait just a moment."

"But we haven't ordered anything."

"I'm only following Mr. Pan's instructions. Please enjoy your evening."

Once the manager and the waiters had left the VIP room, Lee Menghong asked in confusion,

"Chief Cha, just who is this Pan Kai?"

"The owner of this hotel."

Bzzz—

As if on cue, the phone on the table began vibrating.

I glanced at the screen and saw Director Griffin's name.

Knowing exactly why he was calling, I answered immediately.

"It seems we're talking more than usual today, Director Griffin."

["Chief Cha, thank you so much! You really saved me!"]

"I merely helped a colleague who found himself in a difficult position."

["A colleague?"]

"Weren't you the one who said Vice President Cayman was under my command?"

["Ha-ha-ha! I suppose that's true!"]

His hearty laughter echoed through the receiver.

"Since we're already talking, I'd like to ask you for one favor."

["I'm listening. Go ahead."]

"Once the NIS agents and the American special forces destroy the kamikaze drone factory, the news needs to spread immediately. In that case, how about recording the explosion with a spy satellite?"

["That's not a difficult request at all."]

"I'm counting on you, Director."

["Leave it to me! By the way, Deputy Director James just reported that they've captured Chief Inspector Hayden alive."]

The moment Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol disappeared after sensing danger, Hayden fled to the Venezuelan city of Machiques. He had apparently been hiding on the Lucino family's opium poppy plantations, where they finally caught him.

"Outstanding work. My sincere congratulations."

["Ha-ha, thank you. We plan to round up the remaining spies very soon. As for the Gomez family and our military... tonight they'll begin liquidating the Lucino family."]

At that moment, Pan Kai's name appeared on my phone's screen.

Deciding the timing couldn't have been better, I excused myself to Director Griffin, ended the call, and answered the new one.

"Mr. Pan, I'm listening."

["Chief Cha, where are you right now?"]

"I'm in the restaurant at the Dandong Palace Hotel, but..."

I deliberately let uncertainty creep into my voice, trying to gauge what Pan Kai was thinking.

["I just arrived at the hotel."]

"Weren't you planning to come tomorrow?"

["I said 'soon,' not 'tomorrow.'"]

"Ah... that's true."

["I'm heading over as fast as I can. Just wait one minute!"]

Click.

The moment he hung up, Kang Inhan immediately bombarded me with questions.

"Why is Mr. Pan rushing over like this?"

"How should I know?"

"Hmm... something's definitely going on, but I can't figure out what."

Knock, knock, knock.

A moment later, the door to the VIP room swung open.

I'd expected only Pan Kai to arrive, but Vice Chairman Wei Chen appeared alongside him.

Beaming broadly, Wei Chen spoke while I stood there frozen.

"Chief Cha, surprised?"

"I won't lie. A little."

"Ha-ha! That's only natural. Won't you introduce me to your companions?"

"This is the director of the local travel agency Korea Tour..."

I introduced Lee Menghong and Agent Choi Seonghun to Vice Chairman Wei Chen and Mr. Pan Kai.

After exchanging greetings and taking our seats, the manager hurried into the room, slightly out of breath.

He quickly approached Wei Chen and bowed deeply.

"Vice Chairman Wei Chen, welcome to Dandong!"

"I hope my arrival hasn't caused you any inconvenience."

"Not at all!"

"Excellent. Please prepare dinner for Mr. Pan and me as well."

"Everything will be ready as quickly as possible! Please wait just a moment!"

The manager bowed once more before disappearing through the door.

Watching him leave, Wei Chen turned to Lee Menghong, who still looked completely stunned.

"Director Lee, you're probably curious about what I do."

"I won't deny it. Very much so."

"I'm the Vice Chairman of the Triad."

"What?!"

Lee Menghong and I exclaimed at the same time, though for entirely different reasons.

I was shocked that Wei Chen would reveal his identity so casually in front of strangers.

Lee Menghong, on the other hand, was simply dumbfounded.

Unable to suppress my curiosity, I immediately asked,

"You're revealing your identity this easily to people you've just met?"

"If I want to explain why I came here, I don't really have a choice."

"That makes it sound like you have a special reason for coming. Am I right?"

"Exactly. But if I tell you why right now, you might lose your appetite."

Wei Chen's answer made it abundantly clear that he had no intention of discussing serious matters before dinner.

"So you'll tell us after we eat?"

"Exactly, Chief Cha."

After answering me, Wei Chen shifted his gaze to Lee Menghong.

"Since I've shown my cards, perhaps Director Lee would be willing to tell us who he really is."

"What I do for a living...?"

Lee Menghong's voice was extremely cautious.

"I don't know whether you're aware of this, Director Lee, but Chief Cha moves among the most powerful people in the world. The fact that he's having dinner with the owner of an obscure travel agency simply doesn't make any sense."

"Hmm..."

Lee Menghong hesitated, apparently weighing the pros and cons. In the end, though, he didn't think for long.

"Vice Chairman Wei, if you promise to keep this absolutely confidential, I'll tell you."

"You have my word. Go ahead."

"I work for the government of the Republic of Korea."

"The government of the Republic of Korea...? Ah, then the National Intelligence Service."

"How did you know?!"

"I know why Chief Cha came here. I don't think I need to explain any further."

Instead of answering, Lee Menghong simply nodded.

"Aren't you curious why I've become so close to Chief Cha?"

"To be honest, I am."

"A few years ago, I was appointed as the successor to the head of the Triad. But another man who coveted the position started a rebellion. That bastard's name was Chen Zhihui..."

I was genuinely surprised.

There was absolutely no reason for Wei Chen to tell Lee Menghong the details of his long-standing conflict with Chen Zhihui. Yet he was explaining everything down to the smallest detail—if anything, in far more detail than necessary.

As I puzzled over his true intentions, he continued.

"...If it hadn't been for Chief Cha's help, the coup that bastard orchestrated would have succeeded."

"I see... so that's why."

While Lee Menghong nodded in understanding, the waiters began bringing out the dishes.

"Well then, shall we begin dinner?"