Chapter 248: Huh? This Wasn’t How It Was Supposed to Go?

“This is Senior Colonel Noh Gwangcheol, a junior colleague of Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol and Major General Jeong Sancheol, who defected to the United States.”

Branch Chief Harrison sensed that there was something behind those words. And with good reason. Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol had defected not to the United States, but to South Korea. Therefore, Cha Jiham must have had an unavoidable reason for lying. Deciding to find out the details later, he greeted Senior Colonel Noh Gwangcheol.

“Hello. I’m Gary Harrison. I work for the United States government.”

“If you work for the United States government, then you must be with the CIA.”

Branch Chief Harrison turned to look at me. Understanding what he meant, I shook my head in denial. Sensing that the atmosphere was becoming strange, Senior Colonel Noh Gwangcheol hurriedly spoke.

“Director Cha didn’t tell me anything about Branch Chief Harrison.”

“In that case, Senior Colonel Noh, how did you know my position?”

“Director Cha arranged a video call for me with FBI Director Nevers.”

“Director Cha, is what Senior Colonel Noh said true?”

“Actually, Senior Colonel Noh had doubts about my identity...”

I explained what had happened to Branch Chief Harrison in detail.

“...Based on what he heard during the video call with Director Nevers, he guessed Branch Chief Harrison’s position.”

“Ah, now I understand.”

Branch Chief Harrison nodded and resumed his conversation with Senior Colonel Noh Gwangcheol.

“Senior Colonel Noh, I’m the head of the CIA’s European branch.”

“It’s an honor to meet such an important figure.”

“Not at all. I’m merely a branch chief working under Director Cha.”

In other words, the truly important figure wasn’t him, but Cha Jiham.

“I see. Branch Chief Harrison, I have a question for you. May I ask it?”

“I’ll decide whether to answer after I hear your question. Is that all right?”

“Of course. I’m curious why you came to Switzerland together with Director Cha.”

“Hmm...”

Branch Chief Harrison hesitated as though considering his answer. Fortunately, he didn’t deliberate for long.

“Director Cha came to Switzerland for two purposes. The first was to arrest President Antonio, who supplies large quantities of drugs around the world.”

“As far as I know, drug-related investigations are handled by the FBI.”

“Director Cha is also an honorary FBI agent.”

“Hmm, I see. In that case, I’m curious about the second purpose.”

“It was to take control of Kwak Cheolhun, the only son of Commander Kwak Taesu, who fled North Korea.”

“Did Commander Kwak ask you to protect him?”

“We’re trying to take control of him in order to determine Commander Kwak’s whereabouts.”

Senior Colonel Noh Gwangcheol sensed that something was off. Commander Kwak Taesu had fled North Korea half a month ago. Kim Jonghun believed that he had taken refuge in the United States with the CIA’s help. That was precisely why they were trying to capture Kwak Cheolhun—to use him as bait to bring the fugitive back. Yet Branch Chief Harrison was claiming that Kwak Taesu was still somewhere beyond China. Noh decided to ask Harrison what he thought of his theory.

“We believe Commander Kwak Taesu crossed the Chinese border and fled into Russia.”

“Ah, I see. Have you managed to locate Kwak Cheolhun?”

‘How would Senior Colonel Noh react if he found out that Kwak Cheolhun is hiding on the second floor?’

“All we’ve managed to confirm is that he disappeared in Interlaken.”

“He disappeared? What do you mean?”

“You didn’t know?”

Branch Chief Harrison looked at Senior Colonel Noh Gwangcheol in confusion.

“If I knew, I wouldn’t be asking.”

“It seems I asked a pointless question. By any chance, did you visit Commander Kwak Taesu’s mountain house where Kwak Cheolhun had been hiding?”

“Of course I did, but there was no suitcase there.”

I finally understood why Senior Colonel Noh Gwangcheol hadn’t suspected that Kwak Cheolhun had disappeared. Antonio’s men had broken into the mountain house and taken the suitcase to get the 50,000 Swiss francs inside. Unaware of this, Senior Colonel Noh Gwangcheol had mistakenly concluded that the young man had hurriedly abandoned the hideout on his own. To correct his misunderstanding, I decided to join the conversation.

“Senior Colonel Noh, when you entered the mountain house, didn’t you notice anything strange?”

“I did, but...”

Senior Colonel Noh Gwangcheol trailed off, signaling for me to say what I had in mind.

“His personal belongings were all still inside the house. No matter how much of a hurry he was in, he would have had time to take them with him. On top of that, his cell phone signal disappeared right in Interlaken. Taking those facts into account, we concluded that he had disappeared.”

“I understand what you mean, but then why did the suitcase disappear?”

“Didn’t you see signs that the place had been ransacked when you entered the house?”

“Of course I did.”

“Kwak Cheolhun would have needed a lot of money to remain in hiding.”

“Most likely.”

“Let’s suppose he was kidnapped by gangsters. What do you think they would have done to him?”

“To take his money...”

I understood perfectly well why Senior Colonel Noh Gwangcheol didn’t finish his sentence.

“Kwak Cheolhun was probably keeping a large amount of money in that suitcase. The gangsters tortured the information out of him. Then they entered the mountain house and took only the suitcase containing the money.”

“Hmm... That’s a perfectly plausible scenario. Then where is Kwak Cheolhun himself?”

If I told him the truth, it would cause a catastrophic scandal. It was time for a well-intentioned lie.

“The gangsters took all the money Kwak Cheolhun had. What happened afterward? I don’t think I need to spell it out.”

Senior Colonel Noh Gwangcheol looked as though all his hopes had collapsed in an instant. Cha Jiham’s words implied that the gangsters had killed Kwak Cheolhun. With Kwak Cheolhun dead, there would be no avoiding an order for him to return to North Korea. And the moment he returned to the North, his life would become a road of thorns.

“Haa...”

In truth, I intended to persuade Senior Colonel Noh Gwangcheol to defect to the Republic of Korea. That was why I had agreed to meet him at Major General Jeong Sancheol’s request. I had been looking for an opportunity to steer him toward that decision when he suddenly let out a heavy sigh into the empty air. That meant there were unavoidable circumstances I didn’t know about. I concluded that if I pressed a little harder on his doubts, I could achieve my goal.

“Senior Colonel Noh, what will happen if you fail to take control of Kwak Cheolhun?”

“I’ll face severe punishment when I return to North Korea.”

“What if you don’t return?”

“My family lives in North Korea.”

In other words, he had to return if only to keep his family from suffering.

“What if we make sure your family doesn’t suffer?”

“How would you do that?”

“The method is simple. All you have to do is die.”

“Are you suggesting I commit suicide?”

“Of course not. I mean staging your death at the hands of the National Intelligence Service and the CIA.”

“Please explain.”

“You received information that the CIA had taken control of Kwak Cheolhun first. In an attempt to rescue him, you and your subordinates fought CIA agents and were killed. Once the CIA informs North Korea that it shot and killed you and your men, the matter will be closed.”

“But North Korea may demand that our bodies be returned.”

I deliberately turned toward Branch Chief Harrison. As though reading my thoughts, he answered without hesitation.

“We simply have to firmly reject North Korea’s demands.”

“I understand. Suppose we accept Director Cha’s proposal. Will we be able to choose the country where we seek asylum?”

I had no intention whatsoever of handing the spoils over to someone else.

“That’s entirely possible, but you’ll only be able to choose your country of asylum after completing your interrogation in our country.”

“There are too many spies in Korea.”

Senior Colonel Noh Gwangcheol’s answer implied that he didn’t want to go to Korea. Naturally, I had an excellent plan to persuade him, so I wasn’t worried in the slightest.

“You and your men will enter our country aboard a private jet. From the airport, you’ll be taken directly to a National Intelligence Service safe house for interrogation, so the spies won’t learn anything.”

“Can you give me some time to think about it?”

“We’re planning to return to Korea the morning after tomorrow.”

At that moment, Branch Chief Harrison joined the conversation as though unable to contain his curiosity.

“Director Cha, weren’t you planning to return tomorrow afternoon?”

Tomorrow night, Saho was supposed to scout the house where Kim Jonghun’s son lived. That was why I had postponed our departure by a day. But I couldn’t tell Branch Chief Harrison the truth, so I gave him another reason.

“I came to Switzerland on vacation, and it would be a shame to return so soon, so I pushed our departure back by a day.”

“In that case, I’ll return to the United States the morning after tomorrow as well.”

‘Huh? This wasn’t how it was supposed to go?’

“Branch Chief Harrison, aren’t you busy?”

“I received orders from Director Griffin to protect Director Cha.”

“My company employees can protect me.”

“I’m simply following Director Griffin’s orders.”

In other words, he was telling me not to even bother spouting nonsense. Now I had no choice.

“Branch Chief Harrison, do you know that Kim Jonghun has a son?”

“I’ve heard something along those lines.”

“His son’s name is Kim Juchol, and he’s thirteen years old. Kim Juchol attends an international school in Zurich.”

At that moment, something unexpected happened. Senior Colonel Noh Gwangcheol cut into the conversation in astonishment.

“Director Cha, how do you know that?”

I had obtained that information from the top-secret materials stored on Kwak Cheolhun’s laptop. The frustrating part was that I couldn’t tell him the truth.

“I’m disappointed that you doubt the National Intelligence Service’s intelligence-gathering capabilities.”

“Ah, that wasn’t what I meant at all.”

“Ha ha. I’m joking. May I continue?”

“Of course. I’m listening.”

“The National Intelligence Service obtained information that something valuable is hidden in the house where Kim Juchol lives.”

“Something valuable?”

The valuable items were gold bars, but I couldn’t tell him the truth.

“Even the National Intelligence Service doesn’t know exactly what it is. I’d like to take this opportunity to find out what’s hidden there.”

“Forgive me for being blunt, but you’d be better off abandoning that idea.”

“I’d like to hear why you think so.”

“Surveillance cameras are densely installed along the fence surrounding the house where Kim Juchol lives. Guard Command agents are stationed outside the fence, providing airtight security. And his personal bodyguards remain inside the house at all times.”

“Of course.”

Senior Colonel Noh Gwangcheol tilted his head in confusion again. Cha Jiham’s answer implied that he had a way to bypass the surveillance cameras, Guard Command agents, and bodyguards stationed inside the house. In a cautious voice, he asked what method they intended to use to avoid detection.

“We have an animal spy with incredible agility as well as phenomenal hearing, eyesight, and sense of smell. His name is Saho, and he’s intelligent enough to understand human speech.”

“Where in the world would you find an animal spy like that?”

“Everything Director Cha said is absolutely true.”

Branch Chief Harrison stepped in, completely dispelling Senior Colonel Noh Gwangcheol’s doubts. I gave him a slight nod of thanks before continuing.

“We plan to attach an ultra-miniature surveillance camera to Saho’s head and send him into Kim Juchol’s house.”

“Can Saho really carry out the mission flawlessly?”

Senior Colonel Noh Gwangcheol still didn’t believe it. There was only one way to dispel his doubts.

“Team Leader Seo, bring the video footage Saho recorded.”

“Yes, understood.”

After giving a short reply, Team Leader Seo Donghun sprang up from the sofa and rushed upstairs. Glancing after him, I resumed my conversation with Senior Colonel Noh Gwangcheol.

“That place was President Antonio’s hideout. Armed guards were stationed at the main gate, while the fence was topped with two layers of barbed wire and covered by surveillance cameras...”