Chapter 230: Your Pet Was a Cat?

The situation was getting downright crazy.

To track the movements of the missing Kwak Cheolhun, we needed to head to Interlaken.

However, Branch Chief Harrison apparently had no intention of letting us go and didn’t even seem inclined to get his butt off the sofa.

To feel out what he was thinking, I casually started a conversation.

“Branch Chief Harrison, since the entry procedures for Switzerland are complete, I think we’ll head to the hotel now.”

“Director Griffin instructed me to personally escort you, Managing Director Cha.”

We were in a situation where we needed to meet up with Saho, who was waiting outside the airport, as quickly as possible.

If Harrison came with us, he would inevitably learn about Saho’s existence.

And it was obvious that he would report the cat to Director Griffin.

If that happened, Director Griffin would immediately figure out the true purpose of my trip to Switzerland.

That was precisely why I had been trying to send Branch Chief Harrison away.

“I’m very grateful for your kindness, Branch Chief Harrison, but I came to Switzerland on vacation.”

“That’s exactly why I want to take care of you.”

“What do you mean?”

“We have an obligation to protect you from any danger, Managing Director Cha.”

“I already have people to protect me. I have more than enough personnel with me.”

Bzzzt—

At that moment, the phone in Harrison’s hand vibrated.

After glancing at the screen, he excused himself, indicating that it was an important call, and stepped aside.

Deciding that the moment had come, I addressed Agent Hong Jongsu in Korean.

“Agent Hong, contact the person waiting in the arrivals area and tell him to meet us in Interlaken.”

“Consider it done.”

After giving a brief reply, Hong Jongsu stepped away and began dialing a number.

A short while later, Harrison finished his call and returned to the sofa.

“Branch Chief Harrison, you don’t look so good. Did something happen?”

“I received word from headquarters. North Korean embassy personnel from various European countries are converging on Switzerland en masse.”

The North Korean embassy personnel had undoubtedly come here to capture Kwak Cheolhun.

I needed to find out how much Harrison knew about his disappearance.

“Do you know why they’re gathering here?”

“Commander Kwak Taesu’s only son, whose father defected from North Korea, attends the University of Bern. We believe they intend to capture him and take him back to the North.”

As expected of the world’s most powerful intelligence organization, the CIA also knew about Kwak Cheolhun’s existence.

“Hmm... In that case, I’ll have to adjust my strategy.”

“Shouldn’t you protect Commander Kwak’s only son to prevent the worst from happening?”

“That’s why we came to Switzerland with our agents, but he disappeared without a trace.”

“Could North Korean embassy personnel have already intercepted him?”

“According to our intelligence, they haven’t captured him yet.”

Bzzzt—

The phone in Harrison’s hand vibrated briefly again.

He quickly read the message that had just arrived.

“Managing Director Cha, your luggage and that of your party has already been loaded into the car. We can head to the hotel now.”

***

“Managing Director Cha, did something happen?”

As soon as we left the parking lot, I asked the driver to stop the limousine for a moment.

Harrison immediately asked why, clearly puzzled.

Since there was no longer any point in hiding Saho, I decided to tell him the truth.

“When I came to Switzerland, I brought my pet with me.”

“But you didn’t leave the private jet with any animal.”

“My pet didn’t go through quarantine inspection, so I let him out while we were on our way to the apron.”

“I’m not quite sure what you mean.”

“I’ll have a chance to explain the details to you later.”

With that, I got out of the limousine and saw Saho racing toward me from the distance.

Before I could even mentally prepare myself, Saho leaped straight into my arms.

I stroked his head to thank him for a job well done, then climbed back into the car.

As though he had been waiting for this very moment, the stunned Harrison spoke up.

“Your pet was a cat?”

“I wonder how Harrison would react if he found out that Saho is a wild forest cat.”

“What, is there something wrong with keeping a cat as a pet?”

“That’s not what I mean... It’s just that the runway is an enormous distance from here. I’m amazed he managed to find you on his own.”

“He’s special. Well then, let’s go.”

Escorted by Harrison, we arrived at a hotel in central Zurich.

With his help, check-in went off without a hitch. After promising to pick us up in the morning, he left with his CIA agents.

Once we reached our room, I immediately gathered Chief Secretary Kang Inhan, the three team leaders, and Agent Hong Jongsu to discuss our next course of action.

“It looks like Branch Chief Harrison has latched onto us like a leech. What should we do?”

“How about the two of us stay here and enjoy our vacation while Saho and Team Leader Seo Donghun head to Interlaken and join the NIS agents waiting there?”

Then something unexpected happened.

Saho, who had been lying calmly sprawled on his belly on the floor until then, shook his head in protest.

Chief Secretary Kang Inhan immediately addressed him sternly.

“You understand the situation yourself, don’t you?”

But Saho stubbornly continued shaking his head.

Perhaps because of the herbal sedative medicine prepared by the late Monk Beopjin, Saho had developed an unbelievably stubborn personality.

Once he dug his heels in, no one but me could change his mind.

We had no choice but to abandon Plan A and move on to Plan B.

“Secretary Kang, Harrison will undoubtedly report Saho’s existence to Director Griffin.”

“Most likely.”

“And then Director Griffin will start looking at us suspiciously. How about we tell Harrison ourselves why we came to Switzerland?”

“Would that really be wise?”

Deep concern could be heard in Kang Inhan’s voice.

However, I had already prepared an appropriate plan, so I wasn’t worried in the slightest.

“We don’t have to reveal the whole truth. We just need to embellish it a little.”

“How exactly?”

“We’ll tell him that we also knew about Kwak Cheolhun...”

***

Meanwhile.

Just as I had expected, Branch Chief Harrison was on the phone with Director Griffin.

“Managing Director Cha brought a cat with completely black fur.”

[That’s not a cat. It’s a wild forest cat. His name is Saho.]

“What?! He keeps a wild cat at home?”

[Saho isn’t merely a pet. He’s a highly trained animal spy.]

“Could it be...”

Harrison trailed off as though something had just occurred to him.

[Exactly. Managing Director Cha definitely came to Switzerland to find the missing Kwak Cheolhun.]

“So my suspicions were correct. But there’s one thing I can’t understand.”

[What is it?]

“He intends to find Kwak Cheolhun with Saho’s help... Is that really possible?”

[You know what happened in China, don’t you?]

“Of course I do.”

[Saho infiltrated Politburo member Liu Peiqi’s impregnable villa and planted a time bomb there. He possesses phenomenal abilities.]

“Is that true?”

[Why would I lie to you?]

“...My apologies.”

Harrison immediately apologized at Director Griffin’s stern tone.

[You understand what will happen if Kwak Cheolhun falls into North Korean hands, don’t you?]

“Of course.”

[Do everything you can to help Managing Director Cha get to him first.]

Harrison found that strange.

After all, he himself had brought his people to Switzerland for precisely the same purpose—to secure Kwak Cheolhun.

Yet Director Griffin was ordering him to yield.

Unable to contain himself, he cautiously asked why.

[Managing Director Cha and we are in the same boat. Why should we get into a bloody fight among ourselves?]

“But we could receive help from Managing Director Cha himself...”

[Ha ha ha!]

Director Griffin suddenly burst out laughing.

Not understanding what was so funny, Harrison silently waited for him to calm down.

[You’re aware of the recent events in China, Russia, and North Korea, aren’t you?]

“I’m fully informed.”

[Managing Director Cha planned all those operations in all three countries. Why would someone of his stature need to help us?]

“Ah...”

Harrison faltered, finally realizing the scale of the man he was dealing with.

***

The time difference between Switzerland and the Republic of Korea is eight hours, though daylight saving time reduces it to seven.

Perhaps because of the change in time zones, I automatically woke up at seven in the morning.

After getting dressed and leaving the bedroom, I saw Chief Secretary Kang Inhan playing with Saho.

The moment Saho noticed me, he ran over and jumped into my arms.

Stroking his fur, I sat down on an empty sofa.

“Secretary Kang, when did you wake up?”

“The time difference woke me up an hour ago.”

“Aren’t you tired?”

“I slept a lot on the plane on the way to Switzerland, so I barely feel tired.”

Brrrr—

At that moment, the phone lying on the table vibrated with an incoming call.

Picking it up and glancing at the screen, I saw the name of NIS Director Om Giyeon.

Agent Hong Jongsu had clearly already reported the events of the previous night to him.

“Director Om, I’m listening.”

[Managing Director Cha, I heard Branch Chief Harrison met you right at the airport?]

“That’s how it turned out.”

[He’ll probably stick to you like a leech. How are you planning to proceed?]

“According to our information, the CIA has also thrown everything it has into finding Kwak Cheolhun. I don’t think working together with them would be such a bad idea.”

[Does that mean you intend to share the information we obtained with the CIA?]

The NIS’s information had come directly from Commander Kwak Taesu.

If we leaked it to Harrison, there was no telling how the situation might develop.

That was why Director Om’s voice was filled with concern.

“I have no intention of revealing any confidential information.”

[Then there’s no problem.]

“Did any new information come in while I was traveling?”

[We’ve confirmed that the North Korean embassy personnel converging on Switzerland are operatives from the Reconnaissance General Bureau. They’re being led by Senior Colonel No Gwangcheol, a direct subordinate of Major General Jeong Sancheol.]

At that moment, a brilliant idea flashed through my mind.

Quickly forming a clear plan, I continued my conversation with NIS Director Om.

“Director Om, can we get Senior Colonel No’s contact information?”

[We can try, but...]

“I want to meet him.”

[Ah...]

Director Om Giyeon hesitated, apparently having figured out what I was planning.

“How quickly can you get Senior Colonel No’s number?”

[I’ll get on it right now.]

After ending the call with NIS Director Om, I put down the phone.

Chief Secretary Kang Inhan immediately asked curiously,

“Managing Director, who is this Senior Colonel No?”

Ding-dong.

The doorbell rang at the perfect moment.

After peering through the peephole, Kang Inhan reported,

“Managing Director, Branch Chief Harrison is here.”

“Looks like he’s been restless since first thing in the morning. Hurry up and let him in.”

“Ha ha ha. Right away.”

A moment later, Kang Inhan escorted Harrison into the living room.

I rose from the sofa to greet our guest.

“Branch Chief Harrison, what brings you here so early?”

“I came to invite you to breakfast, Managing Director Cha.”

“I see. I don’t really feel like going out. How about we order food directly to the room?”

“Whatever you prefer.”

“Secretary Kang, order some premium raw beef for Saho.”

“Yes, I’ll take care of it.”

After giving a brief reply, Kang Inhan picked up the phone to place the order.

Watching him, Harrison asked in surprise,

“Managing Director Cha, doesn’t Saho eat dry cat food?”

“Saho won’t even touch pet food or cooked food.”

“Ah, I see.”

Harrison nodded understandingly, accepting the oddity.