Chapter 177: Why Did He Leave?

“Director Cha, you wanted to see me?” Vice President Neil Cayman asked curiously as he sat down on the empty sofa.

“Just a little while ago, Saho recorded the inside of Politburo member Liu Peiqi's villa.”

“Oh! Really?”

Vice President Cayman's eyes lit up with excitement. He clearly couldn't wait to watch the footage.

“Let's wait for Vice President George Fries and watch it together.”

“He went out to prepare the operation to capture President Lee Hyeoksan.”

“In that case, it can't be helped. Team Leader Seo, let's watch it ourselves.”

As if he had been waiting for those words, Team One Leader Seo Donghun immediately pressed the play button on the remote.

Apparently, the recording had already been fast-forwarded beforehand, because it began with Saho jumping off the cliff. After running to the edge of the cliff where Liu Peiqi's villa stood, the cat sniffed the air before freezing and staring at a single spot on the rock face.

Realizing he'd found something, I gave an order.

“Seo Donghun, pause the video.”

Without hesitation, Team Leader Seo stopped the recording.

At once, Vice President Cayman turned to me.

“Director Cha, what's wrong?”

“I think there's a secret entrance where Saho is looking.”

“I don't see anything.”

I shook my head.

“Seo Donghun, zoom in on the area Saho is staring at.”

“Yes, sir.”

He immediately obeyed, enlarging the image with the remote.

A faint vertical line, almost invisible to the naked eye, gradually appeared on the screen.

He carefully examined the enlarged image from several angles before speaking with confidence.

“Director Cha, there's a hidden entrance built into the cliff. It's approximately three meters wide and two meters high.”

“Would an inflatable boat fit through an entrance that size?”

“A military inflatable boat is about two meters wide. Even allowing for people carrying it on both sides, there's more than enough room.”

Vice President Cayman asked skeptically,

“Director Cha, how did Saho even know there was a secret passage there?”

“Wildcats possess extraordinary eyesight, hearing, and sense of smell.”

“I understand that, but what's the chance there's another hidden exit somewhere else along the cliff?”

“I've been wondering the same thing. Seo Donghun, let's continue.”

Following the order, Seo Donghun resumed the recording.

Trying to locate additional hidden passages, Saho walked along the base of the cliff, constantly sniffing.

After finding nothing else, he began climbing upward.

I had the video paused again before turning toward Team Leader Lee Hyeonsol.

“Lee Hyeonsol, based on Saho's reconnaissance, there's only one secret exit. Prepare an operational plan for capturing alive the hackers and the North Korean Reconnaissance General Bureau operatives who try to escape through it.”

“Understood. But... do we need to capture the Reconnaissance General Bureau operatives alive as well?”

Two stealth submarines were already waiting near the mouth of the Yalu River.

Inside Liu Peiqi's villa were ten hackers and twenty elite North Korean Reconnaissance General Bureau operatives.

Delta Force's ten-man Alpha Team had already departed to destroy the kamikaze drone factory in Fengcheng.

In addition, Seo Donghun, Choson Trading President Lee Hyeoksan, and operatives from the NIS, CIA, and FBI would all need to board the stealth submarines.

However, each submarine could carry only forty people.

Lee Hyeonsol's question pointed out the obvious problem.

No matter how you looked at it, there was only one solution.

“We'll have to abandon the Reconnaissance General Bureau operatives.”

“Understood. We'll eliminate them.”

“We're not murderers. Just leave them there.”

Vice President Cayman joined the conversation.

“Director Cha, what if we put the Reconnaissance General Bureau operatives into inflatable boats and send them down the Yalu River?”

“If we do that, we risk losing our chance to frame Liu Peiqi.”

“I'm not sure I understand.”

“The Chinese authorities don't know that a North Korean hacker group is operating out of Politburo member Liu's villa. If we destroy his residence, Beijing will almost certainly try to cover it up. But if Reconnaissance General Bureau operatives are left behind, burying the scandal will become extremely difficult.”

“Ah... so if we leave them there, Liu Peiqi will be in serious trouble.”

“Exactly. Seo Donghun, continue the video.”

Team Leader Seo resumed playback.

After climbing the cliff, Saho effortlessly cleared the tall fence topped with barbed wire.

Making his way through the garden, he skillfully avoided the guard towers before heading toward the main building.

With one powerful leap, he reached the second floor and slipped through an open window.

Once inside a concealed spot, Saho removed the bags containing the ultra-miniature timed bombs from around his neck.

Taking one in his mouth, he hurried deeper into the building and placed it precisely where Seo Donghun had instructed.

Watching the cat perform more accurately than any human could, Vice President Cayman shook his head.

“Director Cha, is there any limit to what Saho can do?”

“I'd very much like to know myself.”

Buzz... Buzz...

The phone lying on Lee Hyeonsol's desk vibrated.

Checking the screen, he reported that it was one of the personnel monitoring Liu Peiqi's villa.

“I'd like to hear this as well,” I said.

Lee Hyeonsol switched to speakerphone and answered.

“Kim, Director Cha is listening too. Report.”

[A luxury sedan just left Politburo member Liu's villa.]

“Do you know who's inside?”

[Judging by the North Korean Reconnaissance General Bureau escort, it appears to be someone from their senior leadership.]

“Understood. Follow them immediately.”

[But then nobody will be left to watch the villa.]

“I'll send someone else. You concentrate on following the vehicle.”

[Understood. I'll report again as soon as they arrive.]

Click.

The moment Lee Hyeonsol hung up, Vice President Cayman immediately asked,

“Director Cha, what's happening?”

“A luxury sedan has just left Liu Peiqi's residence.”

Lee Hyeonsol briefly summarized the conversation.

“...We need to see how this develops.”

“I understand.”

Because of this unexpected development, my interest in continuing the recording vanished.

I instructed Seo Donghun to turn off the video.

Cayman asked another question.

“Director Cha, during the entire surveillance period, is that the only vehicle that entered or left the villa?”

“Yes. The first one.”

“I see. Why would such a senior North Korean Reconnaissance General Bureau official suddenly leave?”

At that moment, a perfectly plausible theory occurred to me.

“They're probably trying to capture Commander Kwak Taesu after his defection.”

“Hmm... That certainly makes sense.”

“My people are following them. We'll know soon enough.”

“I'd appreciate it if you kept me informed.”

“Of course. One more thing. The operation to destroy the kamikaze drone factory in Fengcheng has been moved forward by two hours.”

“Lieutenant Colonel John Thomas already contacted me and explained everything.”

Excellent.

That saved me a lengthy explanation.

“Since you're already aware, I won't repeat it.”

“Oh, by the way... Do you think Vice Chairman Wei Chen will actually be able to obtain the Chinese torpedoes?”

“It turns out one of the Northern Fleet's senior generals belongs to the Triad.”

“Seriously?!”

Just as expected, Cayman nearly jumped in shock.

“Wei Chen told me personally.”

“Then obtaining the torpedoes shouldn't be difficult for him.”

“I think so too.”

“May I share that news with Lieutenant Colonel Holland?”

“Do whatever you think is appropriate.”

Vice President Cayman stepped aside to make the call.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, I quietly spoke to Chief Secretary Kang.

“Send Saho's recording to the National Intelligence Service.”

Kang Inhan instantly understood my intention.

South Korea and the United States were engaged in a fierce behind-the-scenes struggle over who would obtain the hackers captured at Liu Peiqi's villa.

I expected them to split the prisoners evenly.

A thorough analysis of Saho's footage would allow South Korea to identify the most valuable targets in advance.

If everything went well, South Korea could secure five first-rate hackers.

That was exactly why I wanted the footage sent to the NIS.

“I'll do it immediately.”

“Tell Director Om Giyeon to analyze the recording as quickly as possible.”

Chief Secretary Kang removed the tiny camera containing Saho's recording from the television and disappeared into an empty bedroom.

A short while later, Vice President Cayman finished speaking with Holland and returned to the living room.

As he sat down, he looked around in confusion.

“Director Cha, where did Chief Secretary Kang go?”

Obviously, I couldn't tell him the truth.

“He said something urgent came up at work and went to take care of it.”

“Ah, I see.”

“Even if Vice Chairman Wei Chen obtains the torpedoes, they're useless without working launch tubes.”

“I've already asked Director Griffin to arrange repairs to the stealth submarine's torpedo tubes as quickly as possible.”

“Efficient as always.”

“Haha! Hearing praise from you, Director Cha, is quite satisfying.”

He really does love overacting.

Bzzz... Bzzz...

About thirty minutes later, Lee Hyeonsol's cell phone rang again.

After checking the screen, he immediately switched it to speakerphone.

“Kim, what is it?”

[The vehicle carrying the senior North Korean Reconnaissance General Bureau official has arrived at the Crown Hotel in downtown Dandong.]

“And then?”

[He immediately went upstairs with his escort.]

“Stay there. Report any suspicious activity immediately.”

Click.

The instant Lee Hyeonsol ended the call, Cayman, who had been listening intently the entire time, blurted out,

“Director Cha, what's the situation?”

“They've reported that the Reconnaissance General Bureau representative entered the Crown Hotel.”

“Could it be...”

I immediately understood why Vice President Cayman had stopped mid-sentence.

He believed Commander Kwak Taesu was hiding inside the Crown Hotel.

Heh... The game is over.

Now I simply had to turn his suspicion into absolute certainty.

“I was thinking exactly the same thing, Vice President Cayman.”

“Hmm... So he really is there...”

“Is there any way to verify whether Commander Kwak is actually staying there?”

“Probably not. He almost certainly checked in under a false name, so confirming it won't be easy.”

“It can't hurt to try. Why not give it a shot?”

“Very well. Give me a few minutes.”

Cayman stepped away once again to make a phone call.

As if he had been waiting for that moment, Chief Secretary Kang quietly asked,

“Director Cha, who do you think the senior North Korean Reconnaissance General Bureau official is meeting at the Crown Hotel?”

“How should I know?”

“Should we call Vice Chairman Wei and ask?”

It suddenly occurred to me that Wei Chen really might know.

There was a good chance the Triad had people among the Crown Hotel staff.

There was nothing to lose.

I dialed his number.

After several rings, his puzzled voice answered.

[Director Cha, has something happened?]

“Tell me, do you have people among the staff at the Crown Hotel in downtown Dandong?”

[Why do you ask?]

“About an hour ago, someone left Politburo member Liu's residence...”