Chapter 306: Do It That Way

Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol of the Reconnaissance General Bureau explained in detail how submarine commander Choi Dongcheol should conduct himself. Choi Dongcheol repeatedly asked questions to clarify anything he didn't understand, so the thorough briefing dragged on for nearly half an hour.

"...If you do it that way, our superiors won't suspect a thing."

"I understand everything."

Commander Choi Dongcheol gave a brief reply, picked up his phone, and dialed a number. As though he had been waiting for the call, the person on the other end answered after the very first ring. A sharp, irritated voice came through the speaker.

[Commander Choi, why are you only contacting me now?]

"An emergency arose yesterday evening, so I couldn't call."

[An emergency?]

"Yes, sir. Vice Chairman Chen Zhihui has been detained by Philippine intelligence."

[What?!]

The man shouted so loudly that his voice rang throughout his office, allowing everyone around him to hear every word. Choi Dongcheol waited a moment before hearing a suspicious, bewildered question.

[Commander Choi, is what you just said true?]

"I tried to contact Vice Chairman Chen yesterday evening to arrange a meeting, but his phone was switched off."

[His battery might simply have run out.]

"He's never switched off his phone before."

[Hmm... That's a fair point. But how do you know he was actually arrested?]

Commander Choi Dongcheol had anticipated this question. Jo Ilcheol had prepared a flawless cover story for him in advance.

"I know an agent named Bruno from Philippine intelligence. I contacted him just in case, and he confirmed that they arrested Vice Chairman Chen along with Carlos."

[Do you have any proof of their arrest?]

"Philippine intelligence recorded the arrests on video. Agent Bruno forwarded the footage to me."

[Send me that video immediately.]

Click.

The man abruptly hung up without warning. Wasting no time, Choi Dongcheol quickly tapped several buttons on his screen and forwarded the recording.

About five minutes later, the phone in his hand vibrated. Knowing who was calling, he answered with lightning speed.

"Formation Commander, I'm listening."

[Commander Choi, how did Vice Chairman Chen end up getting caught by Philippine intelligence?]

"I was curious about that myself, so I questioned Agent Bruno."

Choi Dongcheol reported everything exactly as Jo Ilcheol had instructed him. Naturally, he didn't breathe a word about any details that could work against them.

"...According to him, they released sleeping gas into the cave and then carried out the arrest."

[Ah, so that's why Chen and Carlos didn't put up any resistance.]

"You're absolutely right, Comrade Commander. As soon as we received that information from Agent Bruno, we submerged. That's why I couldn't contact you sooner."

[Well, it seems that was the right decision.]

Choi Dongcheol inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. The man had swallowed the bait completely and believed his lies. Considering this a tremendous stroke of luck, the commander continued.

"Vice Chairman Chen's arrest has created a problem. We can't deliver the missiles and launchers."

[Then return home. What's the problem?]

"We'd gladly do that, but we've completely run out of fuel."

[Damn it, that is a problem... Hmm...]

The man on the other end hesitated, clearly thinking something over. Commander Choi waited silently for him to reach a decision.

After a while, the formation commander's voice came through again.

[Commander Choi, is there no way to obtain fuel locally?]

Choi Dongcheol was secretly delighted. Jo Ilcheol had anticipated this question too. Recalling the answer prepared for him, the commander replied.

"We've already made inquiries about purchasing fuel. But for some reason, Philippine troops have been stationed at every port on Mindanao Island."

[Listen... Could the Philippine government have found out that our country is supplying missiles to Abu Sayyaf?]

Choi Dongcheol realized that this was the crucial moment. How the situation developed would depend on his answer.

"I discreetly asked Agent Bruno about that, just in case. He claims they don't know yet. But according to him, it's only a matter of time."

[Only a matter of time?]

"Vice Chairman Chen and Carlos are in Philippine intelligence's custody, after all."

[Ah! Damn it, I'd completely forgotten about that!]

"In light of this, I have a proposal. What if we scuttle the submarines?"

[What the hell are you talking about?!]

A cry of genuine, profound shock burst from the speaker.

"At present, it's the only way to cover our tracks and destroy the evidence."

[But is there really an absolute need to sink the submarines?]

"I'm not sure I understand what you mean, Comrade Commander."

[If the Filipinos raise the sunken submarines from the seabed, they'll immediately know who they belonged to, won't they?]

On this point, Choi Dongcheol agreed with the man.

They were currently on the surface in the Bohol Sea, where the water was relatively shallow. If they simply scuttled the submarines here, the Philippine government could easily raise them if it wished.

But he had a prepared answer for this possibility as well.

"Comrade Commander, we anticipated that scenario and moved to an area where the water is more than two thousand meters deep. It's so deep there that even if they wanted to raise the submarines, they wouldn't be able to."

[If that's the case, that changes things... But what are you planning to do yourselves?]

"We'll remain aboard the submarines and go down with them."

[Phew... Is there really no other way?]

"If we fall into the hands of Philippine intelligence, the consequences will be catastrophic. At present, going down with the submarines is the best choice."

[Hmm...]

The man fell silent again, weighing the risks. Choi Dongcheol knew perfectly well what decision he would reach, so he waited calmly.

Finally, after a prolonged pause, the formation commander spoke in a firm voice.

[It can't be helped. Do it that way.]

"Please take care of our families and make sure they want for nothing."

[Don't worry. I'll do everything I can to look after your family and the families of your subordinates.]

"Thank you. We'll be waiting for you in the next world."

Click.

The moment Choi Dongcheol hung up, Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol addressed him.

"Well? How did it go?"

"Exactly as you said it would, Comrade Deputy Director."

"Ha ha ha! Excellent."

Jo Ilcheol laughed with satisfaction. When his laughter subsided, Executive Officer Kim Jincheol cautiously asked,

"Comrade Deputy Director, is it really all right not to scuttle the submarines?"

"The Philippine government has decided to keep the capture of the submarines strictly classified."

"Why did they make that decision?"

"The Philippine Navy plans to put the captured submarines into service and use them in its confrontation with China."

"Ah, now I understand."

Executive Officer Kim Jincheol nodded in understanding and stepped back.

At that moment, Commander Choi Dongcheol asked Jo Ilcheol a question.

"What should we do next?"

"You'll stay here and teach the Philippine sailors how to operate these submarines."

"And what will happen to us afterward?"

"Not a single rumor that you're alive can reach the North, so you'll have to stay together."

"Hmm... That makes sense."

"I intend to give you the opportunity to live in whichever country you choose."

"In that case, would we be able to live in the United States?"

There were more than 150 officers and sailors aboard the three submarines. If the entire group defected to South Korea, it would be impossible to guarantee that no information would leak out.

Jo Ilcheol had taken that into account, so he decided to accommodate Choi Dongcheol's request.

"I just told you that you could. The only thing is, you won't be leaving right away."

"We'll do everything we can to ensure that the Philippine Navy learns to operate the submarines proficiently as quickly as possible."

"Agreed."

At that moment, Major General Jeong Sancheol addressed Commander Seo Hunthae, who was sitting across from him at a small table.

"Commander Seo, why do you look so gloomy?"

"I'm worried about my family back in the North."

"You died along with your submarines, so your relatives have nothing to fear."

"My family has no source of income."

"Then send them some money. What's the problem?"

"I'd gladly do that, but I have neither the money nor any way to transfer it."

"Hmm... That really is a difficult situation. Hold on a second."

Major General Jeong Sancheol picked up the phone from the table and called Cha Jiham. The call had barely connected when someone answered on the other end.

[General Jeong, how are things going?]

"The Deputy Director has met with the commanders and officers of all three submarines."

Jeong Sancheol briefly recounted the substance of the conversation to Cha Jiham, then explained Commander Seo Hunthae's problem in detail.

"...Commander Seo has absolutely no money to send to his family."

[No money? What do you mean?]

"I'm not sure I understand what you're getting at, Chief Cha."

[I'm not planning to hand over three submarines to the Philippine government for free.]

"You mean you're planning to sell them to the Philippines?"

[Of course! What's more, I plan to sell them the missiles and launchers as well.]

"But the Filipinos don't have that kind of money, do they?"

[Last night, during Chen and Carlos's arrest, we seized two hundred and fifty million dollars in cash. Carlos amassed an enormous fortune supplying drugs throughout the Philippines. If we confiscate all his assets, there'll be more than enough money to purchase the three submarines and the missile systems.]

"Ha ha! Now I understand what you have in mind. I'll call you back a little later."

Click.

After ending the call, Major General Jeong Sancheol gave Jo Ilcheol a detailed account of his conversation with Cha Jiham.

"...He intends to sell the submarines, missiles, and launchers to the Philippine government."

"Hmm... Excellent idea."

Meanwhile, Commander Seo Hunthae curiously asked Jo Ilcheol,

"Comrade Deputy Director, who exactly is this Chief Cha Jiham?"

"You're far too curious."

Jo Ilcheol's answer carried an unmistakable warning: he shouldn't pry into Cha Jiham's identity.

"I'm sorry, Comrade Deputy Director. Please pretend I never asked."

"That's more like it."

"Then may I ask another question? How much do you think Chief Cha will sell the three submarines and the rest of the weapons to the Filipinos for?"

"I can't say exactly, but no less than three hundred million dollars."

"...That's an enormous sum."

"Ha ha, you think so? I intend to distribute that money among you."

"What?!"

The officers, along with Commander Seo, froze in speechless shock.

Jo Ilcheol understood their feelings perfectly. Who wouldn't be astonished to hear that three hundred million dollars was going to be divided among them?

"There are about 150 of you, so that works out to roughly two million dollars per person."

At that point, Commander Choi Dongcheol asked permission to speak.

"Comrade Deputy Director, is it really possible to transfer such an enormous sum to our families in the North?"

The Triad was currently working to bring order to the network of brokers who handled money transfers to North Korea.

In addition, Jo Ilcheol and Commander Kwak Taesu were establishing their own channels to deliver money directly to their people in the North, bypassing intermediaries.

Transferring three hundred million dollars was therefore only a matter of time. However, for security reasons, he couldn't reveal the details.

"You may not know all the details, but an enormous number of people have fled the North. Many of them regularly send part of their earnings to the relatives they left behind."

"We'll discuss exactly how the transfers will be carried out separately, a little later," Major General Jeong Sancheol added after Jo Ilcheol.

"Understood."

"And while we're on the subject, from this moment on, you're strictly forbidden from using any means of communication, including mobile phones. You understand why, don't you?"

Choi Dongcheol immediately grasped the implication of Jeong Sancheol's question.

If the contents of their conversation with Jo Ilcheol leaked out and reached Pyongyang, an enormous scandal would erupt.

That was precisely what Jeong Sancheol was warning them about.

"Of course we understand."

"Now return to your submarines and bring the rest of your men over."

"Yes, sir!"

The officers answered in loud, crisp voices.