Chapter 252: An Unexpected Meeting

"Just my luck—coming on a business trip to such a beautiful country without even getting to enjoy a single day off."

Ever since we arrived in Switzerland, we had been constantly on the move, tracking Kwak Cheolhun's movements. In the process of capturing him, we managed to completely wipe out the gangs led by Antonio, Jourdain, and Manuel. Of course, seizing all the assets hidden by Gabriel, Antonio, Jourdain, and Manuel had been a pleasant bonus. And yet, without getting a proper break, we were once again on the road, heading for Zurich. That was why Chief Secretary Kang Inhan allowed himself to grumble a little.

Although I knew the chances were extremely slim, I decided to cheer him up a bit.

"Chief Kang, how about we stay in Switzerland for a couple of days and get some proper rest before returning home?"

"What about Senior Colonel No Gwangcheol and his men, who are planning to defect to our side?"

"Operative Hong Jongsu can escort them home."

"And what about Saho?"

Saho had to fly exclusively on Hangang Group's private jet.

That was precisely why Chief Secretary Kang Inhan had asked the question.

"We'll send him back first with Team Leader Seo."

"Grrr!"

The moment I said that, the wildcat sitting ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) on my lap bared his fangs and growled low in his throat. Stroking Saho's back to calm him down, I continued my conversation with the Chief Secretary.

"Looks like Saho absolutely refuses to be separated from me, Chief Kang."

"Sigh... I suppose there's nothing we can do."

"When we get some free time, maybe we can come back here for a vacation?"

"Who knows? I doubt the Department Director will ever have any free time."

"Ha-ha. Is it really that hopeless?"

At that moment, operative Hong Jongsu, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, turned around to face us.

"Director, should I book a hotel for our stay in Zurich?"

"The CIA will take care of that. They'll provide us with accommodations themselves."

"Is there really any need to accept such a favor from them?"

"Suppose Kim Juchol really is hiding gold bars in his house and we manage to seize them. Would we be able to carry and store that kind of cargo in an ordinary hotel?"

In other words, we would have to keep the gold bars in a safe house prepared by the CIA.

"Ah, I see... Are you planning to involve the CIA and the Federal Intelligence Service in the operation to seize the gold?"

"We'll only make that decision after we reconnoiter Kim Juchol's house."

"And if the operation succeeds, what will you do with the gold?"

"If the amount is small, we'll take it back home. If there are a lot of bars, we'll sell them in the United States or right here in Switzerland."

"I wonder if we'll be able to get a fair price for them under those circumstances."

"Heh-heh. Who knows."

Bzzzz—

While we were casually chatting, the phone in my hand began to vibrate. Looking at the screen, I was surprised to see Senior Colonel No Gwangcheol's name. There was no reason for him to be calling me at this hour.

I gestured for everyone to remain quiet and answered the call.

"Senior Colonel No, I'm listening."

"Director Cha, when exactly are you planning to arrive in Zurich?"

"I think we'll arrive around two in the afternoon, but..."

I deliberately trailed off, trying to figure out what he intended.

"There's someone I'd like to introduce to you."

"Can you tell me who it is?"

"It's not exactly convenient to talk about it right now. I'll explain everything once you arrive."

"All right. Where should we meet?"

"You choose the meeting place, Director Cha. The important thing is that it be as private as possible."

"Agreed. Once we decide on a location, I'll send you a message."

Click.

The moment I hung up, I turned to the Chief Secretary.

"Call Branch Chief Harrison and get the address of the safe house."

Kang Inhan immediately contacted Harrison and relayed my request. Before long, the head of the CIA's European branch sent us the exact address in a message. Without wasting any time, I forwarded the information and the scheduled meeting time to No Gwangcheol, then gave an instruction to Security Team Leader Jeong Gwangseok, who was behind the wheel.

"Team Leader Jeong, we really need to reach Zurich by two this afternoon."

"Understood. We'll make it."

After giving a brief reply, Jeong Gwangseok floored the accelerator.

"Director Cha, did something happen?"

Branch Chief Harrison asked curiously the moment we stepped out of the car.

***

"Senior Colonel No wants to introduce us to someone."

"And who could that be?"

I already had a certain guess, but since there was a chance I could be wrong, I decided not to voice it yet.

"I asked No Gwangcheol, but he chose not to tell me."

"That's extremely intriguing."

"In any case, this person absolutely must not run into Kwak Cheolhun."

"We've already moved him and Vitor Gabriel to a hotel in case something like that happens."

"Thorough as always."

"Ha-ha. Thank you for the compliment. Please, come inside."

As soon as we entered the living room and settled onto the sofas, a CIA agent served us drinks. After wetting my throat, I looked around and addressed Harrison.

"This living room seems far too spacious and luxurious for an ordinary safe house. Does this place really belong to the CIA?"

"Of course not. We temporarily borrowed this villa from Chairman Bongard."

"Chairman Bongard?"

"The moment I mentioned that we needed the house for you, Director Cha, he let us use it without the slightest hesitation."

"I see. I'll make sure to personally thank Chairman Bongard."

"Ha-ha-ha! Please do."

Branch Chief Harrison chuckled slightly before continuing.

"Director Cha, while Senior Colonel No hasn't arrived yet, I'd like to raise one matter."

"I'm listening."

"We took satellite reconnaissance images of the grounds around Kim Juchol's house. The security there is extremely tight."

"That's precisely why I asked Senior Colonel No to lure the Guard Command operatives away from the property."

"But they might refuse his invitation, mightn't they?"

Noticing the concern on Harrison's face, I decided to reassure him.

"That's possible, but first we need to establish for certain whether there are gold bars in the house. And with Saho's abilities and skills, slipping past the Guard Command personnel's vigilance won't be difficult at all."

"I'm more concerned about what we'll do after we confirm that the gold is there."

"I suggest we deal with that once it actually happens."

Knock, knock, knock.

There was a knock at the door. A CIA agent entered and handed Harrison a note. Unfolding the sheet and quickly reading the message, the Branch Chief nodded and turned to me.

"Director Cha, Senior Colonel No's car just came through the villa's main gate."

A couple of minutes later, a car stopped outside the entrance. Senior Colonel No Gwangcheol got out first, followed by an unremarkable-looking man in his forties.

"Director Cha, let me introduce Senior Colonel Cho Ilcheol of the Guard Command of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Incidentally, he's the man responsible for security at the house where Kim Juchol lives."

"It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Cha Jiham, Department Director and honorary agent of the Republic of Korea's National Intelligence Service, the CIA, and the FBI."

"It's a great honor to meet you, Director Cha."

"The man beside me is the head of the CIA's European branch..."

After the brief formal introductions, we moved into the living room. As soon as everyone took their seats, a CIA agent served drinks to No Gwangcheol and Cho Ilcheol. Senior Colonel Cho must have been extremely thirsty, because he drained his glass in one gulp, set it on the table, and addressed me.

"Director Cha, what kind of relationship do you have with Chairman Bongard?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Before coming here, I looked into it. This villa personally belongs to Chairman Bongard."

Apparently, No Gwangcheol had already briefed Cho Ilcheol about me.

Under those circumstances, there was no point in putting on airs.

"Branch Chief Harrison simply asked Chairman Bongard to lend us this villa temporarily."

"So there's no personal connection between you and Chairman Bongard?"

However, things in life rarely go exactly according to plan. Chief Secretary Kang Inhan unceremoniously cut into the conversation.

"Senior Colonel Cho, Director Cha and Chairman Bongard have a very close and trusting relationship."

"Can I trust your word on that, Chief Kang?"

"If I arrange a video call with Chairman Bongard for you right now, would that be enough to prove it?"

"No, no. That won't be necessary."

Under Chief Kang's pressure, Cho Ilcheol immediately chose to back down. Satisfied with the outcome, I turned to No Gwangcheol.

"I'm very curious why you decided to introduce me to Senior Colonel Cho Ilcheol."

"Senior Colonel Cho has also decided to defect to the South and seek asylum in Korea."

"What?!"

No matter how composed I usually was, there was no way I could hide my astonishment at that moment.

Anyone entrusted with personally escorting and protecting Kim Juchol's family had to pass the strictest possible screening based on family background.

And that went doubly so for someone of Cho Ilcheol's rank, a man who headed the entire security system protecting the residence!

When a member of North Korea's highest elite declared his intention to defect to the South, it was enough to shock anyone.

"Senior Colonel Cho, explain to Director Cha why you made this decision."

Having steered the conversation in the right direction, No Gwangcheol stepped back.

Cho Ilcheol remained silent for several moments as he gathered his thoughts. After a considerable pause, he finally spoke.

"Director Cha, do you know anything about Unit 974?"

"This is the first I've heard of it."

"Unit 974 reports directly to the leadership of the Workers' Party of Korea and is responsible for Kim Jonghun's close personal protection."

"Isn't that the Guard Command's responsibility?"

"We're responsible for official, external security. Unit 974, however, performs a special, classified mission. They stand guard inside Kim Jonghun's private offices and remain directly by his side. In fact, Unit 974's personnel are so highly classified that their names aren't even included in North Korea's general population statistics."

I thought I understood what Cho Ilcheol was getting at.

He was trying to tell me that the people closest to Kim Juchol were members of that very special unit.

To confirm my guess, I cautiously asked him about it.

"You're absolutely right, Director Cha."

"I see. Please continue."

"There's always been bitter hostility between Unit 974 and the Guard Command. We're like oil and water."

"I'm not sure I understand."

"Those arrogant bastards act unbelievably high and mighty just because they personally protect Kim Jonghun and members of his family."

"Is that so?"

"And now I'm ready to tell you why I decided to defect to South Korea."

"I'm listening."

"There are always four members of Unit 974 stationed inside Kim Juchol's house. And those bastards..."

The essence of Cho Ilcheol's long and emotional account came down to one thing: the hostility and constant clashes with those four members of Unit 974 had been the final straw that pushed him into deciding to defect to the South.

"So that's what happened..."

"Senior Colonel No mentioned that after defecting to the South, I could expect a resettlement payment and assistance in establishing myself."

"That's true, but there is one important condition."

"Would it be enough if I brought all of my subordinates over to the South as well?"

If the Guard Command personnel abandoned their posts and headed for the South, infiltrating Kim Juchol's house for reconnaissance would become child's play.

No matter how highly trained the members of Unit 974 were, there was no way they could compete with Saho in the darkness of night.

"We would be extremely grateful if you did that, but are all your subordinates really capable of making such a decision?"

"My men hate Unit 974 almost more than I do."

"I understand your position, but what about their families back in the North?"

"Director Cha, allow me to answer that question," No Gwangcheol interjected.

"I'm listening."

"When I learned that the CIA had managed to intercept Kwak Cheolhun before us, I asked Cho Ilcheol for help. He and his men quickly came to our aid. All we need to do is make it look as though Cho Ilcheol's men and mine were killed in a battle with CIA agents."

I gave Branch Chief Harrison a meaningful look.

As though reading my thoughts, he immediately played along.

"We'll officially notify the North Korean side that Senior Colonel No's men and Senior Colonel Cho's men were eliminated during an armed engagement."

"We would be eternally grateful for that."

"Ha-ha. No need to thank us."

Having played his part brilliantly, Harrison once again stepped back.

At that moment, Cho Ilcheol addressed me.

"Senior Colonel No mentioned that you're planning to infiltrate Kim Juchol's house tonight. May I ask what your objective is?"