Chapter 47: The Gold Necklace Brought by Meowy

We leisurely continued our conversation while waiting for Meowy, who had infiltrated the Korean branch of the Chinese Triad.

“Director Cha, do you think Meowy will be able to safely sneak into their hideout?” Chief Secretary Kang Inhan asked.

An ordinary stray cat could jump about three meters high. But Meowy, who had consumed the unique herbal tranquilizer pill, could leap nearly five meters vertically and up to ten meters horizontally. Jumping over the walls surrounding the Triad's Korean branch would be effortless for him. To ease Kang Inhan's concerns, I carefully explained the animal's physical capabilities.

“In that case, there shouldn't be any problems. But how will Meowy deal with the two guard dogs?”

“He'll simply avoid them and keep his distance. Even if they notice him, they'll just think he's an ordinary stray cat.”

“I see. Still, for him to get inside their hideout, some door must be open, right?”

“If Meowy had failed to get in, Team Leader Jeong would have contacted me long ago.”

“Hm, now that I think about it, you're right.”

Knock, knock, knock.

Just as Kang Inhan nodded in agreement, someone knocked, and the office door opened. Chairman Park Yeongil and Korea Investment Venture Fund Director Cho Myeongjeong walked in. Neither of us had expected them, so we quickly rose to greet them.

“Chairman Park, what brings you here so late?”

“I heard that you planned to stay up all night, so I hurried over. Come, let's sit and talk.”

After giving Chairman Park Yeongil the seat of honor, I waited for him to settle onto the sofa. The old man got straight to the point.

“Director Cha, give me a quick briefing. What's the situation?”

“Last night, Li Jiahan appeared near my house to monitor my younger sister.”

I reported everything that had happened during the previous night without leaving anything out. Because Chairman Park constantly interrupted with questions, the briefing stretched on endlessly like taffy melting in the summer heat.

“Director Cha, what's the name of the news outlet that sold information to Li Jiahan?”

“I was told it's called Today News.”

“Director Cho, how long will you need?” Chairman Park asked, referring to gathering information on Today News.

Cho Myeongjeong answered without hesitation.

“At the latest, I'll finish by this afternoon.”

“Do it.”

After his brief exchange with Cho Myeongjeong, Chairman Park turned back to me.

“Continue. Tell me what you learned from Li Jiahan.”

“We confirmed that the police officers handling the hit-and-run case accepted bribes from him.”

“And that bastard obviously had a good reason to bribe the police?”

“The witnesses remembered the make of the sports car Chen Shao was driving. Since only around ten such cars were imported into the country, the police could have caught him easily if they had devoted themselves to the investigation.”

“Those sons of bitches!” Chairman Park cursed richly, expressing all of our outrage. “Director Cho, find out exactly which officers accepted bribes from Li Jiahan.”

“Yes, sir. I'll handle it.”

Ignoring Cho Myeongjeong's answer, Chairman Park continued.

“Did you find out why that bastard Chen Shao fled the scene?”

“It has been confirmed that he is the only son of Chen Zhihui, the vice chairman of the Triad and the organization's second-in-command. Vice Chairman Chen controls South Korea, Japan, the Philippines...”

I relayed everything we had extracted from Li Jiahan in full detail. Naturally, wherever my information was lacking, Chief Secretary Kang Inhan supplemented it with his own.

“...To expand their influence, they distribute methamphetamine to local gangs.”

“Ah, so that's it. I was wondering why drugs had flooded the streets lately, and it turns out they're responsible. Did you obtain a list of the gangs receiving methamphetamine from the Triad?”

“Chen Shao personally oversees those deliveries.”

“So if we capture Chen Shao alive, we'll obtain the list of those gangs.”

“That's what we think as well, Chairman.”

“Hm...”

Chairman Park's voice trailed off. He sank into thought, lightly tapping the armrest with his fingertips.

The three of us sat quietly, careful not to disturb him.

After a few minutes, the old man stopped and broke the silence.

“Secretary Kang, when do you plan to wipe out the entire Triad operation in one stroke?”

“Chen Shao gathers the executives every Sunday morning, so tonight is our only chance.”

“Time is short. How are preparations progressing?”

“At the moment, we've deployed Meowy to scout the inside of their hideout.”

“We attached a miniature camera to Meowy's body,” I added for Chairman Park's benefit.

“And there aren't any problems?”

“Meowy is a sacred animal. He's very different from ordinary stray cats.”

“Hm, perhaps. But can he flawlessly carry out such a difficult mission?”

“He has already proven himself many times, so you don't need to worry.”

“Good. When did you send him in?”

“Around one in the morning. It's been roughly an hour.”

“Then we should hear something soon.”

Bzzzz.

The moment Chairman Park finished speaking, Kang Inhan's phone vibrated.

After checking the screen at lightning speed and informing Chairman Park that it was Team Leader Jeong Gwangseok calling, he answered.

After exchanging a few brief words, he hung up and reported.

“Chairman Park, Meowy has just safely escaped from the Triad hideout.”

“Really? What a relief.”

“However, they've reported that Meowy came back wearing a gold necklace.”

“A gold necklace? What nonsense is this?”

“I don't fully understand the situation myself. Shall we hear Team Leader Jeong's report in person?”

Knock, knock, knock.

About twenty minutes later, someone knocked, and Jeong Gwangseok entered together with Meowy.

The cat immediately jumped into my arms and rubbed himself against me.

After patting his head affectionately in praise, my gaze shifted to the gold necklace hanging around his neck.

Something about it seemed strange.

A small pendant hung from the chain, and it suspiciously resembled a USB flash drive.

Just to be sure, I asked the cat:

“And where exactly did you get this necklace?”

Meowy turned his head toward the camera Jeong Gwangseok was holding.

Immediately understanding the meaning behind the gesture, I spoke to the security team leader.

“Prepare everything so we can watch the footage.”

Jeong Gwangseok sprang from the sofa and rushed out.

A minute later, he returned with a cable, connected the camera to the television mounted on the wall, switched it on with the remote, and started the recording.

Footage of Meowy skillfully leaping over the wall of the Triad compound appeared on the screen.

I decided to examine the cat's movements later. Right now, there was something more urgent.

“Team Leader Jeong, I'd like to skip ahead to the part where Meowy finds the necklace.”

“Yes, sir.”

Jeong Gwangseok fast-forwarded with the remote.

Eventually, footage of a room Meowy had entered appeared.

“Team Leader Jeong, normal speed from here.”

He restored the playback speed.

Since the camera had been attached to Meowy's head, we had to infer his actions from the angle.

The cat jumped onto a desk and looked at a laptop displaying some kind of spreadsheet written in Chinese.

Naturally, the only things I could make out were phone numbers.

Then, suddenly, the necklace pendant entered the frame.

It had been plugged directly into the laptop's USB port.

Chairman Park Yeongil turned to me in astonishment.

“Director Cha, so the pendant isn't jewelry at all, but a flash drive?”

“Yes.”

“Good heavens...”

While Chairman Park marveled, the video showed Meowy deftly pulling the pendant from the laptop with one paw.

Then, grunting slightly, he somehow managed to put the necklace around his own neck.

Realizing we'd seen enough, Jeong Gwangseok stopped the recording.

Taking this as an incredible stroke of luck, I turned to Kang Inhan.

“Secretary Kang, do we have employees fluent in Chinese?”

“Of course. But they've already gone home after work. Shall I call them in?”

At that moment, Li Jiahan's face flashed through my mind.

“No. I just thought of a better option. Team Leader Jeong, where's Li Jiahan?”

“I'll bring him immediately.”

Understanding my intentions, Jeong Gwangseok leaped to his feet and left.

Watching him go, Chairman Park Yeongil asked:

“Director Cha, do you think something truly important is stored on that flash drive?”

“Judging by its weight, the necklace should weigh around five hundred grams. I checked gold prices on my phone. It's worth roughly fifty million won. I believe only Chen Shao could afford something this expensive.”

“What if it's fake gold?”

I had expected that question and already had an answer prepared.

“But the laptop visible in the footage is an ultra-modern model worth well over ten million won. And the furniture decorating the office is all top quality.”

“So you're certain it's real gold?”

“That's the conclusion I'm leaning toward.”

At that moment, Cho Myeongjeong, clearly curious, spoke up.

“Director Cha, whose office do you think Meowy entered?”

“I suspect it belongs to Chen Shao, but we need to confirm it.”

“Certainly. Still, what was that spreadsheet on the laptop?”

“The phone numbers listed there were South Korean numbers.”

“No way...” Cho Myeongjeong stopped mid-sentence, as though a sudden idea had struck him. Fortunately, he didn't ponder long. “Director Cha, could that be the list of gangs receiving methamphetamine from the Triad?”

“I certainly hope so.”

Ten minutes later, the door opened.

Jeong Gwangseok and one of the guards brought in Li Jiahan, whose hands were tightly bound with rope.

After seating him on the empty sofa, I held up the gold chain.

“Have you seen this necklace before?”

Li Jiahan stared at it.

His eyes widened in genuine shock.

“H-how... How did you get it?!”

“You don't need to know.”

“......”

He shut his mouth.

“Answer me. Who does this necklace belong to?”

“It's... Master Chen Shao's.”

My guess had been absolutely correct.

“Tell me what's stored on the flash drive.”

“Master Chen Shao guards it like his life. I only know part of its contents.”

“Tell me what you know.”

“It contains information on customers we supply with methamphetamine.”

“Just as I thought. Anything else?”

“That's all I know.”

“Well, can't be helped. What happens if Chen Shao discovers the necklace is missing?”

“He lost it once last autumn. He found it eventually, but he turned the entire house upside down while searching.”

Urgency began rising inside me.

If Chen Shao realized the necklace had disappeared, he'd undoubtedly throw the entire compound into chaos.

His subordinates would go on high alert, and our plan to eliminate the Korean branch of the Triad could fall apart.

I absolutely could not allow that.

“Guards, take Li Jiahan back to the safe house.”

“Yes, Director Cha.”

Once the guards escorted him out, I immediately ordered Jeong Gwangseok:

“Copy everything on that flash drive as quickly as possible.”

“Yes, sir.”

While he carried out the order, I turned to Meowy and spoke gently.

“Buddy, I'm really sorry, but could you make one more trip to their hideout?”

As expected, Meowy firmly shook his head.

But if we gave up now, everything would be wasted.

“I'll add another kilogram of premium marbled beef.”

Thankfully, the offer worked perfectly.

Meowy immediately sprang toward Jeong Gwangseok, grabbed his pant leg with his teeth, and insistently dragged him toward the exit.

We watched the scene in undisguised astonishment.

Once Jeong Gwangseok and the cat had left the office, I turned to Chief Secretary Kang Inhan.

“It would be ideal if we could wipe out those gangs at the same time we eliminate the Korean branch of the Triad. Secretary Kang, can we pull that off?”

“Easy,” Kang Inhan replied confidently and firmly.