Chapter 174: Playing with Fire

"Director Cha, what happened to Commander Kwak, the man who defected from North Korea?"

At last, Vice President Neil Cayman brought up Commander Kwak Taesu.

At this very moment, with Vice Chairman Wei Chen's assistance and my own, Commander Kwak was on his way to the Republic of Korea.

Although Vice President Cayman and Vice President George Fries were temporarily operating under my command, they were still officers of the American intelligence services.

There was no reason to reveal the truth to them.

"According to information verified by Vice Chairman Wei Chen, the state of emergency in Dandong will remain in effect for some time. Considering that, Commander Kwak has almost certainly not been captured yet."

"Director Griffin mentioned that Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol was supposed to give Commander Kwak your mobile phone number," Cayman added.

I needed to eliminate any suspicion directed at me before it had a chance to grow.

"I contacted Deputy Director Jo about that. He told me there was no way Commander Kwak could reach me."

"Why is that?"

"Both Commander Kwak and Deputy Director Jo were using mobile phones from a Chinese carrier. But Deputy Director Jo lost his Chinese phone while escaping from Macau."

"I see..." Vice President Cayman sighed regretfully.

I decided we'd talked enough about Commander Kwak.

Just as I was about to move the discussion forward, Vice President Fries spoke first.

"Director Cha, is there any chance Commander Kwak could be captured by either the North Korean or Chinese authorities?"

This wasn't the time to claim that such a thing was impossible.

To keep my answer convincing, I stroked my chin before replying.

"Commander Kwak defected on impulse, so I can't completely rule out that possibility."

"What do you mean?"

"According to Deputy Director Jo, Commander Kwak had become deeply dissatisfied with the Kim Ilsung dynasty maintaining its dictatorship into a fourth generation. Those rumors eventually reached Kim Jonghun. Realizing he was about to be purged, Commander Kwak had no choice but to flee."

"Now I understand."

"I think we've discussed Commander Kwak long enough," I said, cutting off any further questions from Fries. "His escape has already created a significant obstacle for us. I'm going to explain how we intend to overcome it. If anyone has suggestions, don't hesitate to speak."

"Understood!"

The voices of everyone in the room echoed off the conference room walls.

"Before we begin discussing ideas, I have an announcement."

"An announcement?"

"The operation to eliminate the hacker group and the operation to destroy the warehouse storing components for mobile missile launchers will both begin at two o'clock Sunday morning."

"Understood."

I turned toward Vice President Cayman.

"Before the operation begins, I need you to accomplish one task."

"Name it."

"If everything goes according to plan, we'll end up evacuating well over forty people from this area. At the moment, however, only two stealth submarines are waiting near the mouth of the Yalu River."

"I'll ask Director Griffin to assign another stealth submarine."

"While you're at it, have it sent to Dalian."

Vice President Cayman immediately understood what I was implying.

The Silver Crystal, carrying North Korean weapons, was currently docked at the Port of Dalian.

Delta Force's Bravo Team would infiltrate the Silver Crystal and destroy the containers carrying those weapons.

After completing the mission, they could board the stealth submarine directly in Dalian and return immediately to Korea.

That was why I wanted the submarine positioned there.

"It'll be done, Director Cha."

I took a sip of my drink to wet my throat before continuing.

"Which team will be responsible for destroying the North Korean weapons aboard the Silver Crystal?"

"Bravo Team will carry out that mission," Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Holland answered immediately, as though he'd been waiting for the question.

"Vice Chairman Wei Chen will provide transportation to Dalian and accommodations."

"I understand, but I have a question, Director Cha."

"Go ahead."

"At the moment, we only know that North Korean weapons are aboard the Silver Crystal."

"Director Pan Kai will identify the exact containers carrying the weapons. Triad members will also guide Delta Force into the Port of Dalian without difficulty. Finally, you'll be supplied with timed explosives to destroy the containers."

"I see. Then my question is for Director Pan Kai."

"For me?" Pan Kai asked in surprise, pointing at himself.

"You mentioned preparing timed explosives to destroy the containers. I'd like to know what type of explosive you're planning to use."

"We've prepared C-4."

"That confirms my suspicion."

"Are you saying C-4 won't be sufficient?"

"As you know, shipping containers have extremely thick steel walls. C-4 won't completely destroy what's inside them."

"What explosive should we use instead?"

"You should use Composition H6—the explosive used in large aerial bombs and torpedoes."

"I see. I'll obtain Composition H6 as quickly as possible and deliver it to you."

"We already brought Composition H6 with us, so there's no need."

"Thank you for saving us the trouble. By the way, how many charges did you bring?"

"We prepared thirty charges, just in case. However..." Lieutenant Colonel Holland deliberately left the sentence unfinished, testing Pan Kai's reaction.

Pan Kai, an experienced operator who had spent years navigating the criminal underworld, immediately understood what Holland was doing.

"Silver Crystal belongs to Eastern Shipping, a Hong Kong shipping company. And Eastern Shipping belongs to Deputy Secretary Zhang Jinan, who's protected by President Xi Jinping himself. Which brings me to my point—why don't we destroy every container aboard the Silver Crystal?"

"You mean it doesn't matter if the other containers are destroyed as well?"

"Exactly. If something happens to the Silver Crystal, Eastern Shipping will bear responsibility for all the losses."

"Ah... I understand."

At that moment, Vice Chairman Wei Chen joined the discussion.

"Lieutenant Colonel Holland, there are around six thousand containers aboard the Silver Crystal. Can thirty Composition H6 charges really destroy them all?"

"No. That's impossible."

"Hmm..."

Wei Chen stroked his chin thoughtfully.

Fortunately, he reached a conclusion quickly.

"Lieutenant Colonel Holland, could you use Composition H6 to sink the Silver Crystal itself?"

"Composition H6 is also used in naval mines, so sinking the ship wouldn't be difficult. However, the Port of Dalian is too shallow. We wouldn't be able to sink it completely while it's still docked."

"Then sink it after it sets sail!"

I couldn't agree with Wei Chen's proposal.

"Vice Chairman Wei, our objective in destroying the North Korean weapons aboard the Silver Crystal is to force the police and military units stationed here to rush to Dalian. The Silver Crystal doesn't leave port until Sunday morning."

"I know that."

"Then I'm curious why you're suggesting this."

"Because Dalian is home to one of China's naval bases. If Delta Force destroys the warships docked there, every military unit stationed here will rush to Dalian."

For a moment, I genuinely wanted to know what was going on inside Wei Chen's head.

There was only one country on Earth capable of openly attacking Chinese naval vessels.

The United States.

If Chinese warships were sunk, Beijing's first suspect would inevitably be America.

And if an investigation proved American involvement, who could guarantee it wouldn't escalate into World War III?

I firmly explained why I opposed the idea.

Vice President Cayman, however, seemed to think differently.

"Director Cha, I actually think Vice Chairman Wei Chen's idea isn't bad."

"Oh? Why's that?"

"Lately, China's newest submarines have been experiencing one sinking accident after another."

"You know the reason?"

"The Chinese Navy keeps everything classified, but all signs point to technical failures."

"Technical failures..."

What a joke.

Then again, in a country capable of manufacturing and selling entirely synthetic fake eggs, perhaps it wasn't that unbelievable.

"We could take advantage of that and sink one of China's newest submarines."

"But if we're going to disguise it as a technical malfunction, wouldn't we have to get inside the submarine?"

Cayman didn't answer.

Instead, he looked toward Lieutenant Colonel Holland.

Understanding immediately, Holland spoke.

"If the submarine is docked in port, getting inside isn't impossible."

"I can't approve an operation based on odds that uncertain. The risk is simply too high."

At that point, Secretary Kang Inhan spoke up with a related question.

"Vice Chairman Wei, would you be able to obtain Chinese-made torpedoes?"

"If I really wanted to, it wouldn't be difficult."

After hearing Wei Chen's answer, Kang turned toward Holland.

"Could the stealth submarine launch Chinese-made torpedoes?"

"If we modify the launch system slightly, yes."

"In that case, what if we fire Chinese torpedoes and sink China's newest submarine?"

"I completely support Secretary Kang's proposal."

Having offered the solution that broke the deadlock, Kang Inhan quietly stepped back.

I shook my head and continued.

"Let's assume Vice Chairman Wei obtains Chinese torpedoes and the stealth submarine can fire them. In that case, we'll revise the plan."

"Let's hear it."

Wei Chen leaned forward impatiently.

"The containers carrying North Korean weapons should contain enormous quantities of explosives. When you sink the Silver Crystal, your first priority is destroying those containers."

Lieutenant Colonel Holland immediately grasped the implication.

I intended to make it appear that the Silver Crystal had sunk because the North Korean weapons—specifically the explosives they carried—had detonated.

Holland, however, raised an objection.

"Director Cha, bombs don't explode unless their fuzes are triggered."

"I wasn't suggesting you detonate the bombs themselves."

"Then I'm afraid I don't follow."

"Let's imagine the Silver Crystal has already sunk. Eastern Shipping will naturally try to shift the blame onto North Korea by claiming the ship went down because the North Korean weapons exploded."

"Ah... now I understand."

Holland nodded.

"I'll continue. Don't sink the Silver Crystal until it's reached the open sea."

"Understood."

"Now let's discuss the operation against China's newest submarine."

"We're listening."

"Attack and sink it precisely at midnight."

Lieutenant Colonel Holland couldn't understand the reasoning.

The drive from Dandong to Dalian took roughly three and a half hours.

To force the Chinese forces stationed here to rush toward Dalian, the submarine should logically be attacked no later than ten o'clock Saturday night.

He voiced his concern.

"If the military units stationed here leave for Dalian, our objective will already have been achieved."

"Hmm... That's true."

"By the way, how many torpedoes can the stealth submarine fire?"

"It has four torpedo tubes."

"I see. Vice Chairman Wei, obtain four Chinese torpedoes."

Wei Chen tilted his head in confusion.

China's newest submarine would be sitting motionless alongside the pier.

A single torpedo would be enough to sink it.

Why, then, did Cha Jiham want four?

Carefully, he asked what the other three torpedoes were for.

"It looks like we're about to play a truly dangerous game with fire."