How a Salaryman Became an Underworld Boss

”I’d like to hear why you came to that conclusion.”

The voice of Commissioner General Choi Dongyeong of the National Police Agency, coming through the phone, carried unmistakable curiosity.

To prepare for any possible turn of events, I needed to plant the seed in advance.

”Commissioner General, please hear me out with the understanding that my assumptions may be wrong.”

”I’ll keep that in mind, so go ahead.”

”North Korea’s Reconnaissance General Bureau has been distributing narcotics throughout China and other regions to earn foreign currency...”

”Wait a second.”

As though he had suddenly remembered something important, Choi Dongyeong cut me off.

”Director Cha, are you saying North Korea has been supplying drugs to the Triad?”

”That’s exactly what I’m saying, Commissioner General.”

”And why do you think that?”

”First, Saho found a large safe inside Jeong Sanhak’s fortified hideout, filled to the brim with narcotics.”

”But the safe must have been locked. How did Saho know what was inside?”

”Saho had already smelled methamphetamine during the raid on the Korean branch of the Triad. To confirm my suspicion, I asked him directly whether there were drugs inside the safe, and he nodded.”

”Isn’t it also possible that Jeong Sanhak has been receiving drugs from the Triad instead?”

I had considered that possibility myself, but ultimately reached the opposite conclusion.

”Macau is completely under the Triad’s control, so they have no reason to supply narcotics to Jeong Sanhak. Besides, Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol rushed here precisely because Vice Chairman Chen Zhihui disappeared.”

”Couldn’t he have contacted the Triad leadership to tell them he was safe?”

”The National Intelligence Service agents confiscated his mobile phone, so he probably doesn’t remember the numbers by heart. Even if he does, the sudden escape and the chaos afterward left him with no opportunity to contact anyone.”

”Hmm. That’s a reasonable assumption. Any other reasons?”

”The final reason is that FBI Director Glenn Nevers is racing here at full speed.”

”What do you mean?”

”The FBI also knows perfectly well that North Korea’s Reconnaissance General Bureau is involved in narcotics trafficking.”

”I see...” Commissioner General Choi Dongyeong murmured in understanding.

”It seems Qin Hao, Vice Chairman Chen’s right-hand man, met with Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol specifically to discuss Chen Zhihui’s disappearance.”

After finishing my detailed conversation with the Commissioner General, I hung up.

Director Om Giyeon of the National Intelligence Service, who had been listening attentively the entire time, immediately spoke up.

”Director Cha, who exactly is this Qin Hao?”

”According to Commissioner General Choi, he’s Vice Chairman Chen Zhihui’s closest subordinate.”

At that moment, Chief Secretary Kang Inhan, who had clearly been wondering about something himself, joined the conversation.

”Director, what’s the real reason behind FBI Director Nevers’ visit?”

”I can’t say with absolute certainty, but it looks like he intends to take Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol back to the United States.”

Those words immediately made Director Om Giyeon tense.

Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol of the Reconnaissance General Bureau was one of the key figures in North Korea’s leadership and possessed an enormous amount of top-secret intelligence.

Om Giyeon himself had flown to Macau solely to bring Jo Ilcheol back to South Korea.

But now it turned out the Americans wanted him as well.

If they lost him right under the FBI’s nose, all of their efforts would have been for nothing, leaving Korean intelligence empty-handed.

Having decided that such an outcome absolutely could not be allowed, Om Giyeon spoke firmly.

”Director Cha, isn’t there any way to get to Jo Ilcheol before the Americans do?”

”What? Are you suggesting we kidnap him?”

”For the sake of our country’s interests, we have no choice.”

”But if we abduct him, won’t Pyongyang retaliate?”

”If we pull it off so cleanly that no one can find a flaw, ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) how would they ever know who did it?”

The problem was that Jeong Sanhak’s hideout, where Jo Ilcheol was staying, was guarded around the clock by armed Reconnaissance General Bureau operatives.

On top of that, FBI agents were already maintaining constant surveillance over the property.

How could anyone possibly carry out a silent kidnapping under those circumstances?

I asked Director Om Giyeon directly how he envisioned making it happen.

”It’ll work if we seize Jo Ilcheol the moment he steps outside.”

”But the FBI has him under constant surveillance.”

”Of course. But we’ll find a gap in their surveillance.”

”And what if he never leaves the house?”

”...”

Director Om Giyeon had no answer and fell silent.

At that moment, Lee Hyeonsol, head of the Debt Recovery Department’s team, spoke up.

”Director, we only have tonight to take Jo Ilcheol.”

I immediately understood what he meant.

FBI Director Glenn Nevers would be landing in Macau later that night.

To ensure they secured the North Korean official, he would undoubtedly bring an entire team of FBI agents with him.

Once they arrived, the surveillance around the hideout would become so airtight that slipping through would be impossible.

”I understand what you’re saying. But how do we pull this off quietly without anyone noticing?”

”If we carefully analyze the footage Saho recorded, we’ll be able to identify the blind spots. Saho goes in first and cuts the power. Then we’ll climb over the fence through the blind spots and extract the target.”

”What about the North Korean security personnel?”

”Preferably we won’t encounter them at all. But if there’s no other choice, we’ll eliminate them on the spot.”

I shook my head.

”If the mansion suddenly loses power, the guards will only become more alert and go on full combat readiness. Even if you somehow manage to sneak inside unnoticed... Vice Chairman Chen’s whereabouts are still unknown. Jo Ilcheol is undoubtedly on edge himself and probably isn’t sleeping.”

”I suppose you’re right, Director,” Lee Hyeonsol admitted after a moment’s thought.

Just then, my eyes fell on Saho, who was lying peacefully on the floor with his belly pressed against the ground.

Hmm... If I use Saho, this problem can be solved.

After quickly organizing a plan in my head, I turned back to Lee Hyeonsol.

”Can you get some powerful powdered sleeping medication?”

”No problem, but...” He hesitated, unable to understand where I was going with this.

I explained immediately.

”We’re going to put everyone inside Jeong Sanhak’s house to sleep.”

”And how exactly are we supposed to do that?”

”Saho will mix the sleeping medication into their food.”

”Do you really think that’ll work?”

”...Grrr.”

Just as expected.

Saho bared his sharp fangs and let out a low growl, expressing his displeasure.

Normally, I would have grabbed him by the scruff to teach him some manners, but tonight he had the most important mission of all.

I pulled the wild cat toward me, gently stroked his head, and answered Lee Hyeonsol’s doubts.

”Do you understand why he’s angry?”

”Of course.”

”Saho’s paws aren’t suited for carefully opening packets the way humans do. So divide the sleeping medication among several packets. But the packets themselves must be made of a special material that dissolves instantly when it comes into contact with food.”

”And what if someone refuses to eat the food?”

I already had a backup plan.

”Anyone who doesn’t eat will simply be knocked unconscious by Saho.”

”Saho? Personally?”

”One strike from his paw is more than enough to knock someone out cold.”

”Lee, Saho already has plenty of experience neutralizing high-ranking members of the Triad’s Korean branch,” Chief Secretary Kang Inhan added firmly in support of my explanation.

”I assume you no longer have any doubts about Saho’s abilities?” I asked Lee Hyeonsol.

”None at all, Director.”

I turned toward the now quiet cat.

”Hide inside their hideout. Anyone who doesn’t fall asleep from the medicine, knock them out silently. Keep watch over the situation, and once everyone’s been neutralized, cut the main power. Can you do it?”

Saho nodded confidently.

”The moment the mansion loses electricity, the teams led by Lee, Chief Jeong, and Chief Seo will immediately enter the courtyard through the blind spots along the fence.”

”Aren’t we only taking Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol?” asked National Intelligence Service Team Leader Seo Donghun in surprise.

I wagged a warning finger.

”If we kidnap only Jo Ilcheol, the entire mansion will be in an uproar by tomorrow morning. The FBI will immediately realize their target has disappeared.”

”You’re right. I hadn’t considered that. But if we start moving a whole group of people outside, the FBI agents watching the house are bound to notice. What do we do about them?”

”The FBI agents monitoring the mansion will most likely head to the airport to meet Director Nevers. If any of them remain behind, we’ll deal with them ourselves.”

”Everything’s perfectly clear now.”

After sending Seo Donghun off to prepare his men, I turned to Director Om Giyeon.

”Director, I have a task for you as well.”

”Go ahead.”

”Because of Vice Chairman Chen Zhihui’s disappearance, panic and extreme tension have taken over their hideout.”

”You want me to spread disinformation that he’s safe so they’ll let their guard down?” Om Giyeon grasped the idea instantly.

His operational instincts and experience were truly impressive.

”Exactly, Director. Can you arrange it?”

”I’ll find a way to make it happen as quickly as possible.”

”The best timing would be while Qin Hao is still inside the mansion.”

”Oh, then we don’t have much time. Let’s move.”

***

Meanwhile, tense negotiations between Jo Ilcheol and Qin Hao continued inside Jeong Sanhak’s mansion.

”There are over fifty thousand ethnic Chinese living in San Francisco’s Chinatown. Considering that, there’s a high probability Vice Chairman Chen managed to find somewhere to hide and is still alive.”

The North Korean official, however, held a different opinion.

If Vice Chairman Chen Zhihui had truly been hiding in Chinatown, he would have contacted the Triad leadership long ago.

Jo Ilcheol voiced his doubts directly.

”Hmm... Your reasoning makes sense. Then what do you think happened to the Vice Chairman?” Qin Hao asked.

”I believe Chen Zhihui has been arrested by the FBI.”

”But the FBI hasn’t made any official announcement about his arrest.”

”If I were the FBI Director, I’d keep my mouth shut too.”

Qin Hao immediately understood what the North Korean was implying.

Vice Chairman Chen Zhihui possessed an enormous amount of highly classified information about the Triad’s inner workings.

The FBI would deliberately conceal his arrest so they could quietly extract everything they knew from him and deal the organization a devastating blow.

Damn it... This couldn’t be any worse.

”It seems your concerns are justified,” Qin Hao admitted grimly.

”We need to prepare for the worst.”

Bzzz... Bzzz...

At that moment, the mobile phone lying on the table began vibrating violently.

Glancing at the screen, Qin Hao saw an unfamiliar number.

He rejected the call and put the phone back down.

But before he could continue speaking, the same number called again insistently.

Sensing something unusual, he finally answered.

”Hello?”

”Qin, it’s me.”

The familiar voice coming from the phone made Qin Hao freeze.

”Vice... Vice Chairman?!” he stammered in shock.

”Yes, it’s me. I’m glad you still recognize my voice.”

”How could I ever forget it? Where are you now?”

”I landed in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, about half an hour ago.”

”Weren’t you hiding in the United States?”

”Someone warned me just minutes before the FBI launched its operation against our organization. The moment I received the warning, I immediately fled the hotel.”

Vice Chairman Chen Zhihui briefly explained his complicated escape route from the United States through Nicaragua and Venezuela before reaching the United Arab Emirates.

”...Tonight I’ll board a local flight, and tomorrow I’ll be back home.”

”You’ve been through so much. But why didn’t you contact us sooner?”

”The people helping me escape took my phone away. Besides, the FBI was chasing me every step of the way. I simply didn’t have the opportunity to call.”

”Ah, I understand now.”

”Report to the Supreme Leader immediately that I’m alive and safe.”

”I think it would be better if you reported to the Chairman personally.”

”I’d be happy to, but I don’t have his direct number with me.”

”I’ll send you his contact information right away.”

”Excellent. I’ll wait.”

Click.

The call ended.

As though he had been waiting for exactly that moment, Jo Ilcheol immediately leaned forward.

”Mr. Qin, what’s the news?”

”It was Vice Chairman Chen! He escaped the United States successfully and will return to China tomorrow.”

”Whew... What a relief.”

Jo Ilcheol let out a long breath, wiping the sweat from his forehead.