Chapter 171: What Did You Say?!

I couldn't blindly trust Commander Kwak Taesu's words.

If this was a trap meant to harm me, everything could end in the worst possible way.

"Better safe than sorry."

Without wasting a second, I called NIS Director Om Giyeon.

Something felt off.

It was the middle of the night in Korea—already past two in the morning.

I expected the phone to ring several times before anyone answered.

Instead, the moment the call connected, his voice came through the speaker.

"Managing Director Cha, I'm listening."

"Director Om, you're still awake?"

"There's been an emergency in North Korea. We've been called into an emergency meeting."

I immediately understood what kind of "emergency" he meant.

Director Om Giyeon had also received intelligence that Commander Kwak Taesu had defected from North Korea.

Wanting to confirm my suspicion, I asked directly.

"How did Managing Director Cha find out about it?"

"Commander Kwak just called me himself and asked for my help."

"What did you say?!"

Director Om Giyeon's voice rang out with undisguised shock.

"He got my phone number from Deputy Director Jo. Please verify immediately whether that's true."

"I'll contact you again as soon as I know. Please wait."

Click.

Clearly pressed for time, Director Om Giyeon hung up first.

As if he'd been waiting for exactly that moment, Chief Secretary Kang Inhan immediately turned to me.

"Managing Director Cha, what's the situation?"

"Commander Kwak Taesu, the commander of North Korea's Guard Command, has defected."

"What did you say?!"

Everyone present, including Chief Secretary Kang Inhan, froze in shock.

They all knew perfectly well how important Commander Kwak Taesu's position was.

"Commander Kwak said Dandong is swarming with police and soldiers. He asked us to pick him up."

"Could... this be a trap?"

As if voicing everyone's thoughts, Chief Secretary Kang Inhan expressed serious doubt.

"The same thought crossed my mind. That's why I want Deputy Director Jo to confirm everything."

"Ah, now I understand what you're planning."

"It may take quite a while to reach Deputy Director Jo. Rather than waste time, Director Lee should head to Commander Kwak's hiding place immediately."

"Director Lee, wait a moment."

However, Team Leader Seo Donghun stopped Director Lee Menghong, who sat back down on the sofa.

I looked at Seo Donghun, trying to understand his intention.

"Managing Director, what if we take Saho with us, just in case the worst happens?"

I immediately understood what he meant.

He wanted Saho to scout the area around Commander Kwak Taesu's hiding place.

Since I'd already seen through his idea, there was no reason to pretend otherwise.

"That would be the best approach."

"Director Lee hasn't built a rapport with Saho yet, so I'll go with them."

In the end, Director Lee Menghong, Team Leader Seo Donghun, and Saho left to rescue Commander Kwak Taesu.

No sooner had they departed than my phone vibrated.

Seeing the caller's name, I answered immediately.

"Director Om, I'm listening."

"Managing Director Cha, Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol is here with me. I'll hand him the phone."

Judging from the echo in Director Om Giyeon's voice, the call was on speaker.

A moment later, Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol spoke.

"Managing Director Cha, Commander Kwak Taesu is my childhood friend."

"Yes. Commander Kwak mentioned that."

"I see. He has always deeply resented the fact that the Kim Ilsung dynasty has remained in power for three generations. Then Kim Jonghun publicly declared his intention to extend the dictatorship into a fourth generation. When he began putting his ten-year-old daughter in the spotlight, Kwak's dissatisfaction finally reached its limit. But..."

As if emphasizing the importance of what came next, Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol paused before continuing.

"Information leaked. Rumors reached Kim Jonghun that Commander Kwak opposed the hereditary transfer of power."

"I see..."

"From that moment on, he began preparing his escape from North Korea. Then yesterday morning, he suddenly called me."

Ordinary mobile phones in North Korea couldn't make international calls.

Yet somehow Commander Kwak Taesu had managed to contact Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol.

Curious, I carefully asked how that had been possible.

"The border regions of North Korea are covered by Chinese cellular towers. If you have a Chinese mobile phone, calls can go through. Both Commander Kwak and I have one."

"Now I understand. Please continue."

"Commander Kwak asked whether I'd successfully escaped to the United States. Just to be safe, I told him yes. Then he admitted he also intended to flee North Korea and seek asylum in America."

"And what did you tell him?"

"I said I managed to reach the United States thanks to Managing Director Cha. I also told him you were currently on a business trip in Dandong and that he should contact you."

That finally explained how Commander Kwak Taesu had obtained my phone number.

"Commander Kwak contacted me about half an hour ago."

"Did he manage to escape North Korea safely?"

There was unmistakable anxiety in Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol's voice.

"Yes. According to him, the escape was successful. However, Dandong is completely filled with police and military personnel, so he's hiding and can't move."

"It seems North Korea leaked news of his escape to China."

"That's our conclusion as well. NIS operatives have already gone to extract him."

"I see... Managing Director Cha, please do everything you can to help him leave China safely."

At that moment, Director Om Giyeon joined the conversation again.

"Managing Director Cha, Commander Kwak's defection from North Korea is an absolute state secret."

"But the CIA already knows that a high-ranking North Korean official has defected."

"Naturally. Even so, we're going to feign complete ignorance and deny everything."

My head immediately started aching.

My original plan had been to put Commander Kwak Taesu aboard the stealth submarine and bring him back to our country.

But if we did that, the CIA would inevitably learn of his existence.

And naturally, they'd do everything possible to persuade him to defect to the United States instead.

Even so, Director Om Giyeon intended to conceal the fact that he had defected.

I couldn't help asking why.

"But Commander Kwak himself wants political asylum in the United States."

"Ah... now I understand what you're getting at."

"We have to bring him to our country without letting the CIA discover anything."

The question How? nearly escaped my lips, but I forced myself to hold it back.

"I'll start thinking of a solution immediately."

"I have absolute faith in your abilities, Managing Director Cha."

"If there's one thing you're unmatched at, it's believing in me."

After speaking a little longer with Director Om Giyeon, I ended the call.

Without delay, I called Director Lee Menghong and briefly explained my conversation with Director Om Giyeon and Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol.

"...The CIA must never find out we've secured Commander Kwak. Under the circumstances, it would be best to take him to a safe house."

"But we don't have a prepared safe house right now. What should we do?"

"Then we have no choice. Bring him to the hotel where we're staying, but use the freight elevator from the third basement level just in case."

"Understood."

"And don't bring Commander Kwak to my suite. Take him to Chief Secretary Kang's suite instead."

"Is there a reason for that?"

Director Lee Menghong's voice became noticeably cautious.

"Vice Presidents Neil Cayman and George Fries are constantly coming to my room. It's too risky."

"Ah! Right, they're here too. I completely overlooked that."

"It's fine. If anything goes wrong during Commander Kwak's extraction, contact me immediately."

"Yes, understood. See you at the hotel."

Click.

The moment I hung up, Chief Secretary Kang Inhan, who had been listening carefully, cautiously asked,

"Managing Director Cha, how are you planning to get Commander Kwak back to our country?"

"...Sigh."

A heavy sigh escaped my chest, filling the entire living room.

***

"Hello. My name is Cha Jiham. I work for Korea Investment and the Hangang Group."

Commander Kwak Taesu barely managed to suppress a disappointed sigh.

Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol had repeatedly praised Cha Jiham as an extraordinarily capable man.

Yet the young man standing before him looked barely older than someone in his early twenties.

Still, he kept those thoughts to himself.

"It's a pleasure to meet you. As I mentioned on the phone, I'm Kwak Taesu, Commander of the Guard Command of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Since we've finally met, let's shake hands."

"Of course."

As he grasped Cha Jiham's outstretched right hand, Commander Kwak Taesu was genuinely surprised.

In North Korea, he possessed such overwhelming authority that a single word from him could decide anyone's fate.

Naturally, anyone who knew who he was would inevitably tremble before him.

Yet the hand Cha Jiham extended didn't tremble in the slightest.

There could only be one explanation.

The young man wasn't afraid of him at all.

"Managing Director Cha, do you understand who I am?"

Commander Kwak Taesu clearly expected me to lose my nerve.

That was why he'd asked such a pointless question.

"If I didn't, I wouldn't have risked bringing you here."

"You understand what I really meant."

It was time to take Commander Kwak Taesu down a notch.

"You may not believe me, but I meet with NIS Director Om Giyeon on a regular basis."

"Can I believe what you're saying, Managing Director Cha?"

"If you doubt me, call Deputy Director Jo yourself and ask him."

"...Very well. I understand."

"You've had a long journey. Please, have a seat so we can talk."

Once we were seated on the sofa, Team Leader Seo Donghun handed drinks to everyone present.

Commander Kwak Taesu was obviously parched. He emptied his glass in one gulp.

After escaping North Korea with his life hanging by a thread, he had been under unimaginable stress.

Under those circumstances, how could he calmly stop for even a sip of water?

I picked up the unopened drink in front of me and spoke.

"Commander Kwak, would you like mine as well?"

"I wouldn't refuse."

Taking my drink, Commander Kwak Taesu drained it to the last drop.

He set the empty bottle on the table before continuing.

"That's much better. My thirst is finally gone."

"I'm glad to hear it. I heard there was a firefight during your escape from North Korea."

"How do you know that?"

Team Leader Seo Donghun had told me.

But telling the truth would inevitably bring up the stealth submarine.

This was one of those moments when a harmless lie was necessary.

"The CIA already knew that a senior North Korean official had defected."

"You have connections inside the CIA?"

To earn Commander Kwak Taesu's trust, it wouldn't hurt to embellish things a little.

"Let's just say it wouldn't be difficult for me to ask Director Griffin what he had for breakfast today."

"Haha... unbelievable!"

Commander Kwak Taesu let out a disbelieving laugh, his face full of skepticism.

I needed to eliminate his doubts completely.

Bzzz...

At that exact moment, the phone lying on the table vibrated.

Glancing at the screen, I saw that Director Griffin was calling.

Thinking the timing couldn't have been better, I switched the call to speakerphone and answered.

"Director Griffin, I'm listening."

"Managing Director Cha, you're still awake?"

Director Griffin sounded genuinely surprised.

"Dandong is on high alert. How could I possibly sleep?"

"Then does Managing Director Cha know why Dandong has gone on high alert?"

"Vice President Neil Cayman informed me."

"I see. Would you like me to tell you which senior North Korean official has defected?"

"I wonder how shocked Director Griffin would be if he knew Commander Kwak Taesu was sitting right in front of me."

"Do I even need to ask?"

"Try not to be too surprised. The man who defected is the head of the organization responsible for protecting Kim Jonghun's family."

"What did you say?!"

I did my best to sound utterly shocked, making sure Director Griffin wouldn't suspect a thing.