Chapter 214: Naturally, That’s Exactly What We Should Do

"What exactly is Director Om's objective?"

Director Griffin was also utterly puzzled by the matter.

To abduct Minister of State Security Peng Yuxiang, they absolutely had to go to Dandong. Yet NIS Director Om Giyeon had repeatedly insisted that they must not go there under any circumstances. On top of that, he had asked them not to send the stealth submarine to Dandong. When asked why, he had replied that he would personally come to Shenyang and explain everything.

Director Griffin shook his head in confusion and answered Director Nevers's question.

"I have no idea."

"Could it be... Minister Peng himself is heading to Shenyang?"

"But didn't he go to Dandong to meet Deputy Defense Minister Dmitriev?"

"They could have met yesterday afternoon, and Minister Peng could have left for here this morning."

"Hmm... that's entirely possible. In that case, what would be the purpose of his visit here?"

"The Ministry of State Security is currently throwing everything it has into intercepting the fugitive Commander Kwak Taesu."

"Could it be..."

Director Nevers immediately understood why Griffin had trailed off halfway through his sentence.

"Your guess is correct. It seems the Ministry of State Security has also obtained information that Commander Kwak is hiding here."

"I understand what you're getting at, but where exactly is he hiding?"

Just thinking about it made Director Nevers's heart feel heavy.

Shenyang covered three times the area of New York, and the metropolis had a population of more than nine million. Finding Commander Kwak Taesu in such an enormous city would be no easy task.

"How would I know?"

"What if Commander Kwak isn't even in the city?"

"What makes you think that?"

"This place is practically crawling with intelligence operatives from the United States, Korea, China, and North Korea, all eager to capture him. There's no way he doesn't know that."

"In that case, where could he have moved his hideout?"

"The fastest way for him to leave Chinese territory would be to cross into Russia."

"You're saying he may have relocated to one of the northern cities?"

"That's what I'm inclined to believe. But we can discuss that later. For now, we'd better think about how we're going to abduct Minister Peng Yuxiang."

Director Nevers once again felt a tightness in his chest.

To safely evacuate Minister Peng, they needed to get him aboard the stealth submarine. But the main problem was that Shenyang was far from the coast. If they encountered a checkpoint or an ID inspection while transporting the prisoner to the sea, it would trigger an enormous international scandal. Yet they could no longer back out and abandon the abduction either. Unless Peng Yuxiang was neutralized, Vice Chairman Tang Guochang's coup was doomed to fail.

"Instead of sitting here guessing, why don't we ask Leader Cha? Maybe he has an idea?"

"You think he'll pull a rabbit out of a hat?"

Ding!

The moment Director Griffin voiced his skepticism, the doorbell rang.

A CIA agent looked through the peephole and hurriedly reported that NIS Director Om Giyeon had arrived with his group.

"Perfect timing. Hurry up and open the door."

When the CIA agent escorted Director Om and his companions into the room, Director Griffin rose to greet them.

"Welcome."

"I hope we haven't come too early?"

"Haha, not at all! Please, have a seat."

Once everyone had settled onto the sofas, the CIA agent served drinks to everyone present.

Director Griffin took a sip and asked NIS Director Om curiously,

"Judging by how quickly you got here, did you contact us after you had already arrived in Shenyang?"

"No. I called you just as we were leaving Dandong."

"And you're already here?!"

"High-speed trains run between Dandong and Shenyang. The trip takes only about an hour and ten minutes."

"Ah, I see. Then what brings you here?"

"We came here so we could fly home from Shenyang International Airport."

Director Griffin became even more confused. They hadn't even abducted Minister Peng yet, so why were they suddenly in such a hurry to return to Korea?

Noticing his bewilderment, Director Om said in a restrained tone,

"Minister Peng was successfully abducted last night..."

"What?!"

Startled, Griffin rudely interrupted the NIS Director.

Om Giyeon frowned and looked at him with obvious displeasure. Realizing his mistake, Griffin immediately hurried to apologize.

"I'm sorry. I was simply so surprised that I interrupted you, Director Om. Please accept my apologies."

"I accept your apology, Director Griffin."

"Thank you. I won't interrupt again. Please tell us how you managed to capture Minister Peng."

"Within the Ministry of State Security, the International Intelligence Department is headed by Director Tang Chao, Vice Chairman Tang Guochang's second cousin once removed. He accompanied Minister Peng to Dandong for his meeting with Deputy Defense Minister Dmitriev."

In a calm and even voice, NIS Director Om Giyeon recounted the sequence of events that had unfolded from yesterday through the night.

Whenever he left out any details, Vice Chairman Wei Chen and I supplied the necessary explanations. Even so, Directors Griffin and Nevers kept firing questions at us without pause, and time flew by before we knew it.

"Leader Cha, if Director Tang Chao was left unharmed, wouldn't the Ministry of State Security and the police suspect him of treason?"

As if proving that people tended to think alike, Director Griffin voiced the same concern that Tang Chao himself had raised earlier.

"Director Tang understood that perfectly well himself, so he asked us to shoot him in the stomach with a pistol and seriously wound him."

"But he could have died!"

"He showed unwavering resolve, saying that he was prepared to give his life as long as Vice Chairman Tang could take the throne."

"That's remarkable loyalty. How is he now?"

"After an emergency operation that lasted more than six hours, the bullet was removed from his abdomen. His life is no longer in danger."

"That's a relief. And what about the abducted Minister Peng himself?"

I could have freely answered Griffin's question, but with a certain consideration in mind, I decided to hand the initiative to Vice Chairman Wei Chen.

"Vice Chairman Wei will tell you about that."

Griffin and Nevers immediately turned their gazes toward Wei Chen.

The Triad Vice Chairman instantly saw through my intention: I was giving him an opportunity to score points with Director Nevers so that, in the future, he could legally—if that was even the right word—supply large quantities of drugs to the United States.

Giving me an almost imperceptible gesture of thanks, Wei Chen began speaking at an unhurried pace.

"Fortunately, the owner of the shipping company that operates between Dandong and Incheon is an old friend of mine. I asked him for a favor and arranged for Minister Peng Yuxiang and Team Leader Lee Hyeonsol to board a passenger ship."

"What if your friend recognizes Minister Peng?"

"I only asked him to let six Korean citizens board the ship."

"Besides, Minister Peng was stuffed into a huge travel suitcase, so there was no way anyone could recognize him," I added after Wei Chen.

"In that case, there shouldn't be any problems."

"If it hadn't been for Vice Chairman Wei's help, we wouldn't have been able to transport Minister Peng to our country."

Director Nevers immediately understood what I was getting at. The statement carried an obvious implication: if the Americans wanted to take Peng Yuxiang to the United States, they would have to pay substantial compensation to both Korea and the Triad.

Having understood the hint, he did not pretend otherwise.

"Leader Cha, what compensation will be required for you to hand Minister Peng over to the United States?"

"As for Korea's compensation, discuss that with Director Om."

As though he had been waiting for precisely that opening, NIS Director Om Giyeon joined the conversation.

"Director Nevers, how about we discuss compensation for our country a little later?"

"Is there a particular reason?"

"Minister Peng possesses an enormous amount of classified information concerning South Korea."

Director Om intended to have the NIS interrogate Peng Yuxiang first and only then hand him over to the United States. Naturally, Nevers was not thrilled by that prospect.

"Director Om, why don't we interrogate Minister Peng together?"

"I'll report your proposal to President Cho Seokchin and give you an answer later."

"I'll hope for a favorable decision."

"Agreed. Now you can discuss the details with Vice Chairman Wei Chen."

Director Om smoothly stepped into the background, yielding the floor to Wei Chen.

"Director Nevers, I'll state our terms for compensation."

"I'm listening."

"Regarding drug shipments to the United States, we want to sign an official contract with the FBI."

"No problem. The contract will be signed."

"Thank you. Now for the second condition. In order for me to take complete control of the Triad, I need to eliminate Vice Chairman Chen Zhihui."

"You want us to eliminate him?"

Wei Chen shook his head in objection.

"I'll skin that bastard myself. All I need from the FBI is regular intelligence on his movements."

"That's a simple request. We'll provide you with the information."

"Thank you for the prompt response. And lastly, compensate my men for the expenses incurred while taking part in Minister Peng's abduction."

"Of course. Would one hundred million dollars be satisfactory?"

"How much?!" Wei Chen exclaimed, feigning utter astonishment.

"Your first two conditions were so natural that it's difficult to even call them compensation. That's why I want to generously reward the Triad members for their work."

"I understand your generosity, but... that's far too much money for the job."

"Then shall we reduce the payment to ten million?"

"......"

Wei Chen immediately fell silent, pretending that this arrangement was completely unacceptable to him.

"Vice Chairman Wei, may I take your silence as agreement with my original offer?"

"My heartfelt thanks for your generosity, Director Nevers."

Just as the atmosphere in the room became completely warm and relaxed, Director Griffin joined the conversation again.

"Leader Cha, did Minister Peng meet Deputy Defense Minister Dmitriev yesterday afternoon?"

"I checked with Director Tang Chao. The meeting was scheduled for today."

"I can imagine how shocked Deputy Minister Dmitriev must be right now."

Bzzzz.

At that moment, the phone lying on the table vibrated. Glancing at the screen, I saw Vice Chairman Tang Guochang's name. After excusing myself to everyone present, I answered the call.

"Yes, Vice Chairman Tang."

[Leader Cha, where are you right now?]

Something was wrong. There was unmistakable panic in Tang Guochang's voice.

"Did something happen?"

[News of Minister Peng Yuxiang's disappearance has reached Chairman Xi Jinping! Chairman Xi has declared a state of emergency in Dandong and ordered every exit and transportation route sealed off!]

"We anticipated that possibility and urgently relocated to Shenyang."

[Phew...]

A shuddering sigh of relief came through the speaker.

"Just to be safe, we're flying back to Korea on a regular commercial flight this afternoon."

[Then everything should go smoothly.]

"By the way, is there any news about Director Tang Chao?"

[He was transferred to intensive care under medical supervision. He underwent surgery, and his life is no longer in danger.]

"That's excellent news. The first phase of the operation has ended in complete success, so put everything you have into making sure the second phase goes just as flawlessly."

[I'll do everything I can.]

The moment the call ended, Director Griffin, who had been waiting with his ears perked up, immediately leaned closer.

"Leader Cha, what's this second phase?"

Since Griffin needed to know the details anyway, I decided to bring him up to speed.

"Director Griffin, you know that Vice Chairman Tang Guochang personally met with Chairman Xi Jinping, correct?"

"Of course."

"He reported to Xi Jinping that North Korea was behind the destruction of the naval base and proposed launching a retaliatory strike. But Chairman Xi went even further. He ordered them to pulverize not only North Korean facilities, but also the Port of Vladivostok, along with the warships and submarines docked there."

"Whoa..."

Director Griffin let out a heavy sigh, instantly calculating the consequences of such a move.

"How about the United States provide Vice Chairman Tang with maximum support to ensure the second phase succeeds flawlessly?"

"Absolutely! Naturally, we'll do everything in our power."

Griffin clenched his fists, his entire demeanor radiating absolute confidence in their success.