Chapter 312: I’m Still Hungry

Early the next morning, after finishing all preparations, I boarded Director Griffin’s private plane and headed to Manila for an audience with President Gonzalez.

As soon as we landed at the Air Force base north of Manila, we immediately made our way to the Presidential Palace. Naturally, President Gonzalez gave all of us a very warm welcome.

Director Santiago reported to President Gonzalez on everything that had happened on Mindanao. Whenever his explanation lacked detail, Defense Minister Fernando and I added our own explanations. However, because so many major incidents had occurred, the report seemed to drag on endlessly.

“...If it hadn’t been for Saho, we wouldn’t have been able to find the gold bars Carlos had hidden.”

President Gonzalez looked warmly at Saho, who was sitting in my arms, and spoke.

“Chief Cha, what kind of reward should we give Saho?”

Just as I was about to answer President Gonzalez’s question, NIS Director Om Giyeon lightly kicked me under the table.

I subtly signaled that I understood the hint and answered the president.

“Saho is an elite animal operative serving in the National Intelligence Service.”

“You mean I should discuss Saho’s reward with Director Om?”

“That’s correct, Mr. President.”

Everyone present, including President Gonzalez, turned to NIS Director Om Giyeon.

He gave the answer he had prepared for just such an occasion.

“You could say Saho is the only top-tier animal operative in the entire world.”

“I completely agree with you on that, Director Om.”

“I hope you’ll take into account that Saho is officially part of the NIS.”

President Gonzalez started to feel a headache coming on.

Saho had played the decisive role in capturing Carlos alive while he was hiding in the cave. Because Carlos had been taken alive, they had managed to find the five tons of gold bars hidden in his secret chamber.

President Gonzalez had therefore been planning to reward Saho with the finest-quality beef.

But NIS Director Om Giyeon had just gone out of his way to emphasize that Saho belonged to the NIS.

The problem was that there was nothing he could say to refute Director Om’s argument.

“Director Om, tell me exactly what reward you want.”

“I’ll present all of our requests together later.”

“You mean there are other rewards you intend to ask for as well?”

“Of course. If not for Chief Cha’s idea, Abu Sayyaf would never have been destroyed. And if not for Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol, we would never have captured the three North Korean submarines and sixty missiles.”

“Ah... I hadn’t thought of that.”

“Perhaps we should finish hearing the report on what happened on Mindanao first?”

“Let’s do that. Director Santiago, continue your report.”

“Yes, understood.”

After answering briefly, Director Santiago continued.

“In addition to the five tons of gold, Carlos had hidden four billion dollars offshore. He also owned around two billion dollars’ worth of real estate in our country, the United States, and other regions.”

“Good grief, he really hid quite a fortune.”

“The four billion dollars held offshore has already been returned to the national treasury. However, transferring the real estate back to the state will take a long time.”

“Of course. By the way, what are you planning to do with Carlos now that he’s been arrested?”

“He is a spiritual leader among the Muslims living on Mindanao. Nothing good will come of it if they learn he’s still alive.”

The meaning behind Director Santiago’s answer was unmistakable.

Carlos was to be quietly eliminated.

“I understand. Eliminate Carlos.”

“Yes, sir.”

“And what do you plan to do about the drug distribution network?”

Just thinking about that problem made Director Santiago’s head ache.

According to the information he had, there were 125 groups receiving drugs from Carlos.

Since there were far too many gangs, he had suggested to Police Chief Angelo that the National Bureau of Investigation and the police work together to eliminate them.

But Angelo had rejected the suggestion outright.

“I spoke with Chief Angelo, and he insists that the police will eliminate the drug distribution networks on their own.”

“And what is your opinion, Director Santiago?”

“To eliminate the drug networks in one sweep, we have to move quickly.”

“That’s obvious.”

“There are too many gangs involved in drug distribution. The police alone won’t have enough manpower.”

“Chief Angelo must understand that. So why is he opposed?”

“He’s an extremely greedy man.”

“So he wants all the credit for himself. How do we break his stubbornness?”

Deciding that this was the right moment, I quickly joined the conversation.

“President Gonzalez, may I give my opinion?”

“Of course! Say whatever you like.”

“I believe the police should be completely excluded if you want to wipe out the drug distribution networks.”

“What exactly do you mean?”

“The drug traffickers have almost certainly planted informants inside the police. There’s a high probability that information will leak before the operation even begins.”

“Mr. President, I agree with Chief Cha’s opinion.”

Director Santiago spoke up, as if reinforcing the credibility of my answer.

“But if we exclude the police, won’t it be impossible to destroy all the distribution networks?”

“President Douglas mobilized everyone for a rapid crackdown on the drug networks, without distinguishing between the police, FBI, and military.”

President Gonzalez turned toward Director Nevers.

Understanding what the president wanted, Director Nevers immediately spoke.

“Chief Cha is right.”

“I see. Chief Cha, continue.”

“There aren’t as many drug distribution networks in the Philippines as there are in the United States, so the military and NBI alone should be more than enough.”

“I understand what you’re saying, but won’t Chief Angelo rebel against the decision?”

“So far, the Philippine police have contributed absolutely nothing to Carlos’s capture.”

“Hmm...”

President Gonzalez stroked his chin and fell into thought, leaving his sentence unfinished.

I sat there calmly because I already knew what decision he was going to make.

After quite a long time, he finally spoke as if he had made up his mind.

“Have the NBI and the military take responsibility for completely wiping out the drug gangs.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Understood!”

Director Santiago and Defense Minister Fernando’s loud voices echoed through the reception hall.

Satisfied with the outcome, President Gonzalez curved his lips into a faint smile and continued.

“Director Santiago, is there anything else you need to report to me?”

“The press will soon learn that Abu Sayyaf has been destroyed. I’d like you to impose a media embargo until we finish eliminating the drug distribution networks.”

“Chief Secretary Andres, did you hear what Director Santiago said?”

“Of course.”

President Gonzalez moistened his throat with mineral water and then turned to NIS Director Om Giyeon.

“Now then, tell me exactly what reward you want.”

NIS Director Om Giyeon needed to leave himself some room just in case.

“President Gonzalez, please hear me out while keeping in mind that my request may sound excessive.”

“I’ll keep that in mind, so hurry up and say it.”

“We would like our country to receive the contract for the submarine procurement project being pursued by the Philippine government.”

At that moment, Defense Minister Fernando joined the conversation, clearly having something to add.

“President Gonzalez, the submarines our country intends to purchase are three vessels with a submerged displacement of 1,800 tons. The Republic of Korea possesses all the necessary capabilities to build submarines of that class.”

“I see. How much does one submarine cost to build?”

“Approximately 350 million dollars.”

“Then all three would cost 1.05 billion dollars. But don’t we lack the budget?”

“Our country seized four billion dollars and five tons of gold from Carlos.”

“Ha ha ha ha!”

President Gonzalez burst into booming laughter, delighted that the problem had resolved itself.

Once his laughter subsided, Defense Minister Fernando continued.

“Mr. President, six submarines still won’t be enough to cover the West Philippine Sea.”

“Our country is planning to buy three submarines. Where did six come from?”

“We already have the three Romeo-class submarines seized from North Korea.”

“That’s right! We do have those!”

“With that in mind, I have a proposal. How about increasing our Korean submarine purchase to five vessels?”

“Didn’t you just say we now have enough budget?”

President Gonzalez’s reply already sounded like agreement.

“I sincerely thank you for your decision, Mr. President.”

“Ha ha ha. There’s no need to thank me.”

President Gonzalez chuckled and turned to NIS Director Om Giyeon.

“Director Om, are you satisfied now?”

“I’ll answer with the phrase, ‘I’m Still Hungry.’”

“Hmm. Then tell me what other reward you want.”

“The FA-50PH light combat aircraft achieved an outstanding combat result this time by leveling the Abu Sayyaf base.”

“I completely agree with you on that, Director Om.”

“Minister Fernando said additional FA-50PH light combat aircraft need to be purchased in order to cover the entire territory of the Philippines.”

“Mr. President, I did indeed say that.”

Following NIS Director Om Giyeon’s words, Defense Minister Fernando spoke up.

“Minister Fernando, exactly how many FA-50PH light combat aircraft should we purchase?”

“To operate the FA-50PH fleet reliably, we should buy at least twelve.”

“If we purchase twelve, how much budget will we need?”

“They cost around fifty million dollars each, so six hundred million dollars in total.”

“That’s not as much as I expected. Let’s purchase them immediately.”

“Ha ha. Understood.”

“Director Om, are you still hungry?”

There was a joking tone in President Gonzalez’s voice.

“I’m not quite full yet.”

“Ha ha, I surrender. Tell me what reward you want.”

“We would like to receive video footage showing the FA-50PH aircraft bombing the Abu Sayyaf base. We would also ask you to actively publicize the outstanding performance of the KGGB bombs around the world.”

“That request is hardly worth mentioning. We’ll gladly do it.”

“Ha ha. Thank you.”

“By the way, is Saho’s gift included in that list?”

“Chief Cha will tell you personally what Saho wants.”

I found myself in an awkward position.

We had already secured every reward our country wanted from the Philippine government.

Yet NIS Director Om Giyeon had made it sound as though Saho had a separate reward in mind.

On the other hand, I couldn’t simply overturn the table he had so carefully set.

‘Ah, whatever. I’ll just go for it.’

“President Gonzalez, Saho caught a cobra here and ate it with great appetite. So I have a request. Could you send Saho five cobras once every six months?”

“That’s not a particularly difficult request. I’ll personally take responsibility for sending Saho five cobras.”

“Thank you. Now I’d like to discuss compensation for the crew members who were aboard the North Korean submarines.”

“Hasn’t the Republic of Korea already settled the payment issue?”

I shook my head and answered President Gonzalez’s question.

“Their citizenship is not South Korean. They’re North Korean.”

“Ah, I see. Then what compensation should we give them?”

“If not for Deputy Director Jo, they would have sunk the submarines.”

“For that, I am sincerely grateful to Deputy Director Jo.”

“When Deputy Director Jo persuaded them, he offered to sell the submarines, missiles, and launchers to the Philippine government.”

President Gonzalez seemed to understand Cha Jiham’s intention.

He was now asking the Philippines to purchase the three submarines, along with the sixty missiles and their launchers.

Since his country had already intended to pay for them anyway, there was no reason to refuse the request.

“How much should our country pay as compensation?”

“The Romeo-class submarines were built more than fifty years ago, but their capabilities have been significantly upgraded. Taking that into account, we’re asking for one hundred million dollars per submarine.”

“Deal. How much should we pay for the missiles and launchers?”

“It has been confirmed that Vice Chairman Chen Zhihui signed a five-hundred-million-dollar contract with the North Korean authorities.”

“Surely...”

President Gonzalez trailed off as if something had occurred to him.

Naturally, I knew exactly what he was thinking.

“I’m a man with a conscience.”

“May I take that to mean you’re willing to offer a discount?”

“Of course. How about an even two hundred million dollars?”

“I accept Chief Cha’s proposal.”

And just like that, without much difficulty, the moment arrived when the three submarines, sixty missiles, and launchers were sold to the Philippine government.