Chapter 247: A Difficult Situation

Kwak Cheolhun absolutely could not come face-to-face with Senior Colonel Noh Gwangcheol.

So I hurriedly sent him and Vitor Gabriel up to the second floor.

Team Leader Lee Hyeonsol and his employees were standing by at the main gate, preparing to receive Senior Colonel Noh Gwangcheol. Meanwhile, we passed the time waiting for his arrival by exchanging a few words.

“Chief, when do you think Senior Colonel Noh will arrive?”

“Considering he’s coming here by taxi, it should take about ten to fifteen minutes.”

After finishing my brief exchange with Chief Secretary Kang Inhan, I turned to Agent Hong Jongsu.

“Have you analyzed the classified materials stored on Kwak Cheolhun’s laptop yet?”

“I haven’t had the chance because the CIA agents and the Swiss Federal Intelligence Service have been watching us constantly.”

“But they aren’t here now.”

The implication in Cha Jiham’s words was clear: analyze the flash drive containing the downloaded classified data right now.

Agent Hong Jongsu promptly nodded, hurried up to the second floor, and soon returned to the living room with the laptop and flash drive. Sitting down on the sofa, he turned on the device and inserted the flash drive into the port. After opening the classified files stored on it, he turned the screen toward me. Understanding his intention, I quickly skimmed through the documents displayed on the screen.

Then my eyes suddenly stopped on a piece of information that took my breath away.

Chief Secretary Kang Inhan, who had been carefully watching my reaction, immediately leaned forward.

“Chief, what kind of information could surprise you that much?”

“Information about Kim Jonghun’s son.”

“What?!”

Everyone in the living room gasped in astonishment, their mouths falling open. Understanding the reason for their shock, I quickly continued.

“Kim Jonghun has one son and two daughters. His son is thirteen years old and currently attends an international school in Zurich, Switzerland.”

“Then why did Kim Jonghun put forward his ten-year-old daughter as his successor?”

“The boy’s mother isn’t his lawful wife.”

“Hmm, I see... Is there still a possibility that his son could become his successor?”

“According to the classified documents, it’s possible if he divorces his official wife.”

“Ah, now I understand what you mean.”

Without responding to Chief Secretary Kang Inhan’s remark, I continued delving into the contents of the flash drive. Before long, I came across information about secret financial assets Kim Jonghun had hidden overseas.

‘Hmm... So that’s how it is?’

Once again noticing the change in my expression, Chief Secretary Kang Inhan spoke up.

“Chief, I’m extremely curious about what you found.”

“There’s a possibility that Kim Jonghun hid gold bars in the house where his son lives.”

“Gold bars?”

“Commander Kwak Taesu mentioned that during one of his drinking sessions with Kim Jonghun, Kim let something slip about his slush funds. He said he had hidden a huge quantity of gold bars in his son’s house in Zurich. However, he was dead drunk at the time, so there’s no telling how accurate that information is.”

“Team Leader Seo, bring Saho.”

“Yes, sir!”

Team Leader Seo Donghun sprang up from the sofa as though he had instantly caught on to Chief Secretary Kang Inhan’s idea. He went into the bedroom, picked Saho up, and returned to hand him over to Kang Inhan.

Chief Secretary Kang Inhan stroked Saho’s head and spoke to him in a soft, coaxing voice.

“Saho, wouldn’t you like to go hunting?”

“...Meoow?”

Saho tilted his head in confusion, clearly not understanding where this was going.

“If you do me a favor, I’ll let you hunt to your heart’s content.”

“...Meoow?”

“You need to go into a house I point out and check whether there are any gold bars hidden inside.”

As though agreeing, Saho nodded and jumped down to the floor. Then, as if there were no time to waste, he grabbed Kang Inhan’s pant leg in his teeth and tugged it toward the front door.

Chief Secretary Kang Inhan looked down at the cat with a kindly smile.

“You can do the favor tomorrow, so today you can just have fun hunting.”

Before he had even finished speaking, Saho shot outside through the open window with incredible speed. We could only silently watch him go.

“Chief, how about we stay in Zurich tomorrow?”

I immediately saw through Chief Secretary Kang Inhan’s scheme. He wanted to get his hands on the gold bars hidden in Kim Jonghun’s son’s house.

“Is it really worth taking that kind of risk?”

“Commander Kwak Taesu and Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol will need a considerable amount of money to wage cyberwarfare against North Korea. Why not provide them with a war chest?”

“Hmm, that’s not a bad idea. Let’s check Kim Jonghun’s son’s house first and then decide.”

“Ha ha ha! Agreed.”

Bzzzt...

While Chief Secretary Kang Inhan was savoring the success of his persuasion, Team Leader Jeong Gwangseok’s phone briefly vibrated. After quickly checking the message, he reported,

“Chief, we’ve just received word from the gate. Senior Colonel Noh Gwangcheol has arrived.”

Before we could put away the laptop and head outside, a car pulled up in front of the house and stopped. A man in his forties with stern, strong-willed features stepped out of the car after Team Leader Lee Hyeonsol.

“Senior Colonel Noh, this is Cha Jiham, Chief and honorary agent of the Republic of Korea’s National Intelligence Service, the CIA, and the FBI.”

“Chief Cha Jiham, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Senior Colonel Noh Gwangcheol of the Reconnaissance General Bureau of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.”

“Hello. I’m Cha Jiham. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Allow me to introduce my companions. This is...”

After the brief introductions were over, we moved into the living room. Once everyone had taken their seats, a Korea Investment employee served drinks to match the number of guests.

Senior Colonel Noh Gwangcheol, visibly nervous, took a sip of his drink, set the glass down, and addressed me.

“Chief Cha, what exactly are the duties of an honorary agent?”

By nature, I didn’t like putting on airs. However, to gain Senior Colonel Noh Gwangcheol’s trust, I would have to bluff a little.

“I have the authority to command all field agents, with the exception of the Director of the NIS, the Director of the CIA, and the Director of the FBI.”

“Not only the National Intelligence Service, but the American intelligence agencies as well? Can I really believe you, Chief Cha?”

Senior Colonel Noh Gwangcheol’s question was filled with blatant distrust: ‘Don’t try to pull the wool over my eyes.’

There was only one way to dispel his doubts: make a video call to NIS Director Om Giyeon or someone of similar standing. I wasn’t particularly eager to do that, but there was no other choice.

“Do you know what the Director of the FBI looks like?”

“It wouldn’t be difficult to find out with an internet search.”

“Look him up right now.”

“You... intend to video call the FBI Director?”

“I can’t think of any other way to dispel your doubts.”

I expected Senior Colonel Noh Gwangcheol to back down after that.

No such luck. Wishful thinking.

He actually took out his phone, went online, and carefully studied Director Nevers’s appearance. Realizing there was no way out now, I dialed Nevers.

After several rings, his voice came through.

[Chief Cha, I’m listening.]

“I’m currently meeting with Senior Colonel Noh Gwangcheol, the head of the DPRK Reconnaissance General Bureau team tracking Kwak Cheolhun.”

I explained the situation to Director Nevers in detail.

“...I’d like to ask you to help dispel Senior Colonel Noh’s doubts.”

[What do you need me to do?]

“Could you speak with Senior Colonel Noh over video call?”

[That’s an easy request. No problem. Give me a second.]

Click!

Director Nevers hung up so he could call me back by video. A moment later, my phone rang. After exchanging a few words with him, I handed the phone to Senior Colonel Noh Gwangcheol.

With an extremely tense expression, he accepted the video call.

“Director Nevers, I’m Senior Colonel Noh Gwangcheol of the Reconnaissance General Bureau of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.”

[I’m sorry we have to meet through a screen rather than in person.]

“That’s quite all right. I don’t mind.”

[Excellent. I’ve been told you had some doubts regarding Chief Cha’s status. I can confirm that Chief Cha is indeed an honorary agent of both the FBI and CIA. He has the authority to command all field agents with the exception of myself and Director Griffin.]

“I see...”

[And let me add one more thing. Even President Douglas treats Chief Cha with the utmost respect and a certain degree of wariness.]

Senior Colonel Noh Gwangcheol simply could not believe it. President Douglas was the leader of the most powerful country in the world. Why would he be wary of Cha Jiham, who wasn’t even an American citizen?

Carefully, Noh Gwangcheol asked what had led to such a state of affairs.

[In our country, the president is elected by vote. You know that, don’t you, Senior Colonel Noh?]

“Of course.”

[There’s a joke that money is what elects our president, because presidential campaigns require enormous sums. And President Douglas’s biggest sponsor is Chairman Bongard of Bongard Investment Group, the richest man in the world. Incidentally, he happens to be a very close friend of Chief Cha.]

“Ah, now I understand what you mean.”

[There’s one more thing. President Douglas’s approval ratings have soared to unprecedented heights precisely because of Chief Cha’s help.]

“May I ask what kind of help he provided?”

[The assistance was so extensive that listing everything one by one would take far too long.]

As befitted an FBI Director hardened by years of experience, Nevers effortlessly sidestepped the sensitive question.

“Well, then I won’t press the matter.”

[Have your doubts about Chief Cha been dispelled now?]

“Yes. Director Nevers’s words are convincing.”

[Excellent. Please hand the phone back to Chief Cha.]

Taking the phone back from Senior Colonel Noh Gwangcheol, I continued speaking with Director Nevers.

“Was there something you wanted to tell me?”

[I reported to President Douglas that you captured Director Antonio.]

“I wasn’t the one who captured him. The CIA and Swiss Federal Intelligence Service agents did.”

[They merely acted under your direction, like pieces on a chessboard.]

“Good grief. When you put it like that, I don’t even know what to say.”

[President Douglas is also extremely pleased about the seizure of such enormous criminal proceeds.]

The United States had received its share of the assets confiscated from Gabriel, Director Antonio, and Director Jourdain: 64.5 billion dollars in cash and 10 billion dollars in bonds. It was an enormous haul, so President Douglas’s delight was perfectly understandable.

Deciding to squeeze as much benefit as possible out of the situation, I resolved to raise my own value a little more.

“Director Nevers, what you’ve seized so far is only a drop in the ocean.”

[I’m not quite sure what you mean, Chief Cha.]

“The materials I sent you contain information about the gangs Director Antonio and Director Jourdain supplied with drugs. If you take those organizations down, you could seize an enormous amount of assets.”

[Oh, I see!]

“Just don’t forget who obtained that information in the first place.”

[I assume the Republic of Korea will be receiving a share of the spoils as well?]

Director Nevers’s instincts had long since become razor-sharp.

“I sincerely appreciate your generosity, Director Nevers.”

[Ha ha ha! Don’t mention it.]

After discussing a few other minor matters with Director Nevers, I ended the video call.

Senior Colonel Noh Gwangcheol then addressed me hesitantly.

“Please forgive me, Chief Cha, for doubting your status.”

I could have continued putting on airs to completely knock the arrogance out of him. But there was no need to overdo it. Better was the enemy of good.

“I completely understand how you feel, Senior Colonel Noh, so don’t worry about it.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

“Well then, shall we get down to business?”

Bzzzt...

At that moment, the phone in Team Leader Lee Hyeonsol’s hand briefly vibrated. After quickly reading the message, he reported,

“Chief, we’ve received word from the gate. CIA European Branch Chief Harrison has returned with his subordinates.”

This put me in a difficult situation.

Branch Chief Harrison had left right after lunch to arrange for the captured Director Antonio, his men, and Director Jourdain to be sent to the United States. I had expected him to return late in the evening, but he had come back much earlier.

And I was currently holding confidential talks with Senior Colonel Noh Gwangcheol. I couldn’t exactly tell the American to go take a walk outside!

“Let them in.”