Chapter 213: What! It’s Already Over?

Director Lee Menghong, upon entering the safe house of China’s Ministry of State Security, first apologized to Director Tang Chao.

“All I can do is sincerely apologize to you, Director Tang.”

“I’m prepared to die, so don’t worry about it and shoot.”

With those words, Director Tang Chao handed Director Lee Menghong the Russian pistol he had been holding.

Director Lee Menghong nodded, and Agent Choi Seonghun handed Director Tang Chao a thick book.

Understanding Director Lee Menghong’s intention, Tang Chao pressed the hefty volume against his abdomen.

At that very moment, Director Lee Menghong fired the pistol directly into the book without hesitation.

“Urgh!”

Shot in the abdomen, Director Tang Chao let out a short cry and collapsed onto his back.

Looking at him sympathetically, Director Lee Menghong addressed Director Pan Kai.

“Director Pan, take care of Director Tang.”

“I’ll make sure he survives, so don’t worry, Director Lee.”

“We’ll trust you, Director Pan. Team Leader Lee, collect Minister Peng Yuxiang’s personal belongings and thoroughly clean up the area so that no evidence is left behind.”

“Yes, we’ll take care of everything.”

Team Leader Lee Hyeonsol answered briefly and crisply.

***

At the same time.

We were chatting idly, trying to suppress our growing anxiety.

Burning with impatience, NIS Director Om Giyeon took a sip of mineral water and addressed me.

“Department Chief Cha, when exactly will the operation begin?”

“Everything depends entirely on when Minister Peng Yuxiang goes to the restroom.”

Cha Jiham had instructed Director Tang Chao in advance to slip an extremely powerful sleeping drug into Minister Peng Yuxiang’s glass.

That was precisely the detail he was referring to now.

“What if Minister Peng doesn’t go to the restroom and the drinking session simply ends?”

“That possibility exists, but Director Tang will create the right opportunity one way or another.”

Bzzzt.

At that moment, the phone in Chief Secretary Kang Inhan’s hand vibrated.

As if he already knew who was calling, he switched on the speakerphone and answered.

“Team Leader Lee, has the operation begun?”

[The operation is already over. We’ve taken Minister Peng Yuxiang out of the safe house.]

“What! It’s already over?”

[Director Tang slipped the extremely powerful sleeping drug into Minister Peng Yuxiang’s glass earlier than planned.]

“I see. Report the results.”

[Director Pan Kai will clean up the scene and then take Director Tang to the hospital.]

At that very moment, Vice Chairman Wei Chen sprang up from the sofa and hurried into the study.

Obviously, he intended to call Director Pan Kai and find out about Director Tang Chao’s condition.

Chief Secretary Kang Inhan glanced after him and continued his conversation with Team Leader Lee Hyeonsol.

“Don’t let your guard down until you’ve put Minister Peng Yuxiang aboard the passenger ferry.”

[I’ll handle it perfectly, but it looks like we may have to modify the operation slightly.]

“What’s the reason?”

[Now that the ban on passenger ferry traffic has been lifted, a huge crowd of passengers could gather at the Port of Dandong from dawn onward. If they slow us down or see us, things will get complicated. I think it would be better to board right now.]

“I’ll get approval from Department Chief Cha. Wait a moment.”

Click.

Chief Secretary Kang Inhan ended the call and turned to me.

“Department Chief, what do you think of Team Leader Lee’s suggestion?”

“I agree with him. Let’s ask Vice Chairman Wei Chen.”

A moment later, Vice Chairman Wei Chen returned from the study.

As soon as he sat down on the sofa, I asked:

“Vice Chairman Wei, how is Director Tang?”

“He’s bleeding heavily from the wound in his abdomen and has lost consciousness. They’re taking him to the hospital now.”

“Did they report it to the police?”

“They reported it immediately after Director Lee and Minister Peng Yuxiang left the safe house.”

“I understand. I have an urgent request for you.”

“Tell me quickly. What is it?”

“The thing is, now that the restriction on ferry traffic has been lifted...”

I explained in detail the conversation between Chief Secretary Kang Inhan and Team Leader Lee Hyeonsol.

“...So it would be better to put him aboard the ferry right now.”

“Give me a second.”

Vice Chairman Wei Chen immediately dialed someone and began negotiating.

During the conversation, he asked for Team Leader Lee Hyeonsol’s phone number.

Chief Secretary Kang Inhan promptly recited it.

After speaking with the other person for quite a while, Vice Chairman Wei ended the call.

“Department Chief Cha, the person I just spoke to is the president of the passenger ferry company. He personally agreed to escort Team Leader Lee Hyeonsol’s group and get them aboard the ship.”

“Ah, so that’s why you asked for Team Leader Lee’s phone number?”

“Exactly. Chief Secretary Kang, call him back immediately.”

Chief Secretary Kang Inhan dialed Lee Hyeonsol’s number, quickly exchanged a few words with him, and hung up.

“Department Chief, I need to go to the Port of Dandong.”

“Is that really necessary?”

“Team Leader Lee and his men left their suitcases here.”

“Hmm, I hadn’t thought of that. Hurry and go.”

Chief Secretary Kang Inhan immediately rose from the sofa, opened the front door, and rushed outside.

Now only NIS Director Om Giyeon, Vice Chairman Wei Chen, and I remained in the living room.

“Department Chief Cha, it looks like we’ll have to stay up all night again today. How about ordering a late-night snack through room service?”

Perhaps because the operation had not yet been completely concluded, I didn’t feel hungry at all.

Still, it would have been rude to ignore Vice Chairman Wei Chen’s suggestion.

“Do whatever you prefer, Vice Chairman Wei.”

Bzzzt.

While we waited for the food we had ordered, the phone in my hand came to life.

I glanced at the screen in a flash. Chief Secretary Kang Inhan was calling.

“Chief Secretary Kang, did you meet Team Leader Lee?”

[I met him ten minutes ago. With the help of Vice Chairman Wei Chen’s friend, they boarded the ferry safely.]

“You did an excellent job.”

[Oh, it was nothing. I’m starving. Could you order something from room service?]

“Of course. I’ll order portions for Director Lee Menghong and Agent Choi Seonghun as well.”

[Ha-ha! Understood. I’ll fly back at lightning speed.]

Click.

As soon as I hung up, NIS Director Om Giyeon asked me:

“Department Chief Cha, did they board safely?”

“Exactly as you said, Director.”

“Phew...”

NIS Director Om Giyeon, who had been sitting on pins and needles the entire time, finally relaxed and let out a sigh of relief.

“Vice Chairman Wei, Chief Secretary Kang says he’s dying of hunger.”

“Ha-ha-ha! Understood.”

With a good-natured laugh, Vice Chairman Wei Chen picked up the phone.

About thirty minutes later, the food we had ordered arrived.

Around the same time, Chief Secretary Kang Inhan returned with Director Lee Menghong and Agent Choi Seonghun.

We moved into the dining room and, while having our late-night meal, began going over every detail of the operation.

“Director Lee, what if the president of the ferry company recognizes Minister Peng Yuxiang?”

“We were worried about that too, so we packed him into a huge suitcase.”

“In that case, there shouldn’t be any problem.”

“Department Chief Cha, how about rewarding the president of the ferry company for helping us?”

As though he had been waiting for that exact moment, Vice Chairman Wei Chen jumped into the conversation.

“I’ll take care of everything myself, so don’t worry about it, Department Chief Cha.”

“I’m incredibly grateful to you every time, Vice Chairman Wei.”

“Compared to what I’ve received from you, Department Chief Cha, this is only a drop in the ocean.”

“Ha-ha. If you put it that way, I have nothing to say.”

“Still, shouldn’t we call Colonel General Tang Guochang?”

I desperately wanted to dial his number myself, but not yet.

“I think it would be better to call after we learn the outcome of Director Tang Chao’s surgery.”

“Ah, right! I completely forgot about him. I hope his life isn’t in danger.”

At that point, Director Lee Menghong spoke up, indicating that he had something to add.

“Department Chief Cha, before firing, we pressed a thick book against Director Tang’s abdomen, so his internal organs shouldn’t be too badly damaged.”

“Can we take that to mean his life isn’t in danger?”

“I can’t guarantee it, but it definitely increases his chances of survival.”

Chief Secretary Kang Inhan sensed the need to ease the heavy, tense atmosphere.

“Director Om, how about giving Director Lee Menghong and Agent Choi Seonghun a reward?”

“I’ve already planned a substantial bonus for both of them.”

“Thank you, Director!”

The loud voices of Director Lee Menghong and Agent Choi Seonghun echoed throughout the dining room.

***

Morning arrived, but because we had still received no word about the outcome of Director Tang Chao’s surgery, the entire night had passed without sleep.

Picking up his phone and checking the time, NIS Director Om Giyeon addressed Vice Chairman Wei Chen.

“What time did Director Tang’s emergency surgery begin?”

“They started at one in the morning, so it’s already been six hours.”

“They started the surgery that quickly?”

Vice Chairman Wei Chen fully understood why NIS Director Om Giyeon was surprised.

Director Tang Chao had been brought to the hospital around midnight.

The fact that they had begun operating on him only an hour later was indeed surprising.

“In our country, the influence and authority of the MSS exceed anything imaginable. On top of that, Director Tang is one of the highest-ranking officials in the organization.”

“Ah, I see.”

Bzzzt.

While NIS Director Om Giyeon nodded, Chief Secretary Kang Inhan’s phone rang.

After checking the screen, he switched the call to speakerphone and answered.

“Team Leader Lee, what happened?”

[Chief Secretary, the passenger ferry we’re on has just departed.]

“I see. You understand that you can’t let your guard down until you arrive at the Port of Incheon, right?”

[Of course. See you back home.]

Click.

As soon as Chief Secretary Kang Inhan ended the call, Vice Chairman Wei Chen spoke.

“Now all that remains is to wait for the results of Director Tang’s surgery.”

Bzzzt.

About thirty minutes later, Vice Chairman Wei Chen’s phone rang.

As if he already knew who was calling, he answered without hesitation.

After exchanging a couple of short sentences with the caller, he hung up and relayed the contents of the conversation.

“Department Chief Cha, the surgery just ended.”

“What were the results?”

“Fortunately, his life is not in danger.”

“Phew...”

Letting out a slight sigh of relief, I picked up my phone and dialed Colonel General Tang Guochang.

After several rings, his puzzled voice came through.

[Department Chief Cha, what happened this early in the morning?]

“Colonel General Tang, we successfully abducted Minister Peng Yuxiang.”

[What are you talking about?!]

I had assumed Director Tang Chao had informed Colonel General Tang Guochang about the plan to abduct Minister Peng Yuxiang.

That was why I had blurted it out without a second thought.

But judging by his extreme surprise, he clearly knew absolutely nothing about it.

“Didn’t Director Tang report it to you?”

[This is the first I’m hearing of it.]

“We decided to abduct Minister Peng yesterday evening.”

I began explaining the details of the operation to abduct Minister Peng Yuxiang to Colonel General Tang Guochang.

But because he kept firing endless questions at me, my explanation stretched out as long and tedious as caramel sagging under the summer sun.

[Department Chief Cha, was it really necessary to inflict such a serious wound on Director Tang?]

“If we hadn’t, there was a high probability that suspicion would have fallen directly on Director Tang.”

[Hmm... That makes sense. What is Director Tang’s condition now?]

“His emergency surgery just ended, and it has been confirmed that his life is not in danger.”

[Phew, what a relief. I assume the abducted Minister Peng Yuxiang was taken away by an American submarine?]

Colonel General Tang Guochang was convinced that the abducted Minister Peng Yuxiang would be transported by an American submarine.

“The United States did not participate in the operation to abduct Minister Peng.”

[Then how exactly do you plan to transport Minister Peng Yuxiang to Korea?]

“He is already aboard a passenger ferry bound for the Port of Incheon.”

[Ah, so that’s why you asked me to lift the military operations zone designation?]

“You’re absolutely right, Colonel General Tang.”

[Still, what if one of the passengers sees Minister Peng?]

“He has been placed in a VIP cabin, and as an extra precaution, we packed him inside a huge suitcase.”

[But what if he gets stuffy and demands to be let out?]

“He was given an extremely powerful sleeping drug, so he’ll sleep soundly for almost twenty-four hours.”

After talking with Colonel General Tang Guochang for a little longer about various matters, I ended the call.

At that very moment, NIS Director Om Giyeon praised me.

“Department Chief Cha, you’ve done tremendous work.”

“Not at all.”

“How about we have breakfast to celebrate the successful completion of the operation?”