How a Salaryman Became an Underworld Boss

”First, we need to check whether First Deputy Director Pak Jongchon is being guarded by Chinese bodyguards.”

Vice President Fries instantly understood the implication behind Cha Jiham’s words.

First Deputy Director Pak Jongchon was a top-ranking North Korean official and one of Kim Jonghun’s favorites. The chances that such an important figure had secretly entered China were practically zero. If he had come on an official visit, the Chinese government would undoubtedly have provided him with state security.

To clarify the situation, Vice President Fries called Agent Hackerson. After speaking with him, Fries ended the call and reported to Department Director Cha Jiham.

”Director Cha, there are no Chinese personnel around the Choson Trading office.”

”Can we take that to mean First Deputy Director Pak came here without the Chinese government’s knowledge?”

”I believe so.”

”All right, then the situation is clear. Now, please listen carefully to what I’m about to say.”

”I’m listening.”

Clearly nervous, Fries leaned forward and prepared to listen.

”Relations between North Korea and China couldn’t be worse right now. First Deputy Director Pak knew that perfectly well, yet he still entered China in secret. What do you think will happen if we tip off the police that he’s holding a meeting at the Choson Trading office?”

”Naturally, the police will immediately dispatch a unit to arrest him.”

”Call President Lee Hyeoksan a minute or two before the police arrive.”

Fries seemed to be starting to grasp Cha Jiham’s plan. Once First Deputy Director Pak Jongchon learned that the police were approaching, he would try to leave the Choson Trading office in a hurry. If they blocked his escape routes and captured him together with President Lee Hyeoksan, the job would be done.

He asked Jiham what he thought of the idea.

”Your plan is only half right, Vice President Fries.”

”What did I miss?”

”First Deputy Director Pak is unlikely to have come here alone.”

”Most likely.”

”The FBI agents need to eliminate his bodyguards before the police arrive.”

”Ah, now I understand what you meant.”

At that moment, Secretary Kang Inhan, who had a question, joined the conversation.

”Vice President Fries, do you have President Lee Hyeoksan’s cell phone number?”

”I do, but...”

Fries deliberately trailed off, trying to figure out the secretary’s intentions. Kang Inhan, who had served Chairman Park Yeongil for more than forty years and had seen every trick in the book, immediately saw through his maneuver.

”And who do you intend to claim you are when you call Lee Hyeoksan?”

”Can’t I say I’m an employee of Choson Trading?”

”Every employee of Choson Trading is currently attending that meeting.”

”Hmm, I overlooked that. I’d appreciate your valuable advice, Secretary Kang.”

”The Triad must have planted its own people inside the police as well.”

Fries instantly understood what he meant. Golden Trading, owned by Vice Chairman Chen Zhihui, supplied North Korea with components for missile launchers. That made it highly likely that Chen Zhihui had planted his subordinates inside the Dandong Public Security Bureau, which had the authority to conduct inspections, well in advance. Secretary Kang was giving him a hint: if Lee Hyeoksan became suspicious, Fries could lie and claim that the caller was one of Chen Zhihui’s men.

He asked Secretary Kang whether his guess was correct.

”You’re absolutely right, Vice President Fries. If we want to take First Deputy Director Pak alive, we need to act without delay.”

”Thank you very much!”

After thanking him, Vice President Fries grabbed his phone and hurried out of the conference room. Vice President Cayman glanced after him before turning to me.

”Director Cha, how exactly did First Deputy Director Pak Jongchon get here?”

”The border on the North Korean side in Sinuiju is heavily guarded by the military, but that’s not the case here in Dandong. If someone really wants to get in, it’s not that difficult.”

”Looks like I asked a pointless question. All right, then I have another one.”

There was nothing wrong with being cautious and preparing for any unexpected situation.

”I’ll answer if I consider the question appropriate, Vice President Cayman.”

”Fair enough. As you said, relations between North Korea and China are at rock bottom right now. Then why did China agree to North Korea’s request to arrest Commander Kwak Taesu?”

I shook my head and answered.

”China didn’t do it at North Korea’s request.”

”Are you saying there was another reason?”

”He headed the Guard Command responsible for the personal security of Kim Jonghun and his family. China wants to take him alive and extract classified information about North Korea’s top leadership.”

”Hmm... That’s certainly a plausible theory. So where is he hiding?”

There was no way I could tell him that Commander Kwak Taesu had already fled to the Republic of Korea.

”According to the NIS, Commander Kwak headed toward Shenyang.”

”I see.”

No sooner had Cayman nodded than the conference room door opened and Vice President Fries walked in. Taking an empty seat, he said,

”Director Cha, First Deputy Director Pak Jongchon has four bodyguards. I just tipped off the police.”

”Now all we have to do is wait for them to dispatch a unit.”

Time passed. Suddenly, the phone lying on the table vibrated. The moment I saw the caller’s name, I answered.

”I’m listening, Director Griffin.”

[A massive explosion just occurred at the Chinese naval base in Dalian. I’d like to know what the hell happened there.]

I had planned to reduce the Chinese naval base to ruins in order to draw police and military forces away from Dandong. To that end, I had instructed Lieutenant Colonel Holland to attack the base at exactly midnight. However, the strike had occurred thirty minutes ahead of schedule, which was why the alarmed Director Griffin had called me.

”Can’t you ask Lieutenant Colonel Holland directly?”

[I’ve tried contacting him over the radio several times, but he’s not responding.]

That meant the stealth submarine carrying Lieutenant Colonel Holland was currently submerged.

”Understood. Please wait a moment.”

Click.

After hanging up, I immediately called Vice Chairman Wei Chen. The moment the line started ringing, he answered in obvious confusion.

[Director Cha? Has something happened at this late hour?]

”I’ve received information that a powerful explosion just occurred at the Chinese naval base in Dalian.”

[Where did you get that information, Director Cha?]

”There’s currently an American reconnaissance satellite over Dalian.”

[Ah, I see.]

”I’m calling to find out why you attacked the naval base ahead of schedule.”

[We haven’t attacked the base yet.]

’What? What the hell is that supposed to mean?’

”I’m not sure I understand, Vice Chairman Wei.”

[My men stole four torpedoes from the Northern Fleet’s ammunition depot. Once the base is reduced to ruins by the torpedo attack, they’ll inevitably launch an investigation and quickly discover that the torpedoes are missing.]

Now the pieces fell into place. Vice Chairman Wei Chen had simply blown up the depot to conceal the theft of the four torpedoes. I directly asked whether my guess was correct.

[You’re absolutely right, Director Cha.]

”An ammunition depot is designed to withstand almost any attack. How did you manage to destroy it?”

[My men infiltrated the depot and planted five Composition H6 charges inside.]

Composition H6 was used in large aerial bombs, torpedoes, and mines. So destroying the depot with five such charges wouldn’t have been difficult at all.

”I thought you were planning to plant the Composition H6 aboard the Silver Crystal.”

[A stealth submarine arrived later and delivered another thirty Composition H6 charges.]

Lieutenant Colonel Holland had indeed brought thirty Composition H6 charges with him. He had also claimed that thirty charges would be more than enough to send the Silver Crystal to the bottom. Yet for some reason, another twenty-five charges had been planted. I asked Wei Chen whether he knew why.

[Those twenty-five charges weren’t planted aboard the Silver Crystal.]

”Then where were they planted?”

[Lieutenant Colonel Holland said four torpedoes wouldn’t be enough to reduce the naval base to ruins.]

”Don’t tell me...”

As though Vice Chairman Wei Chen had read my mind, he continued.

[Exactly what you’re thinking. My men infiltrated the base and planted Composition H6 on the warships.]

”How many ships did they rig with explosives?”

[Three or four charges on each ship. Eight ships in total.]

My curiosity got the better of me. Wei Chen was Chinese, so he had to have at least some sense of patriotism. If Lieutenant Colonel Holland had proposed destroying Chinese warships, the normal reaction would have been to refuse. Yet Wei Chen had been more enthusiastic about it than anyone else. I cautiously asked him why.

[A few years ago, Chairman Xi Jinping declared gambling, prostitution, and drug trafficking the ”three great evils” and launched a ”war on crime.” Our Triad suffered enormous losses because of it. I’m simply taking this opportunity to get revenge on that man.]

”Now I understand.”

[The Composition H6 planted on the ships has been set to detonate at the same time as the torpedo attack.]

”I see. It would’ve been perfect if the ammunition depot had blown up at the same time.”

[Haaa...]

Wei Chen’s heavy sigh didn’t bode well. I immediately asked what was wrong.

[Those idiots working for me screwed up and set the timer for eleven thirty instead of twelve.]

”Well, that’s something...”

[The naval base is on alert now.]

”Of course it is after an ammunition depot suddenly exploded. What happens if they discover the Composition H6 on the ships?”

[The divers planted it deep underwater, directly beneath the ships’ keels, so it won’t be easy to find.]

What a relief. If they’d planted the Composition H6 inside the ships, its discovery would have been only a matter of time.

”Understood. By the way, where are the Delta Force soldiers?”

[An hour ago, they planted the Composition H6 inside the containers aboard the Silver Crystal and departed on the stealth submarine. I heard they’re about twenty kilometers away from the base now. Why do you ask?]

”I want to figure out when the submarine will launch the torpedoes.”

[I see. And when do you think that’ll be?]

”Assuming the captured Chinese torpedoes travel at forty knots, they’ll cover roughly twelve-point-three kilometers in ten minutes. Taking that into account, they’ll be launched sometime within the next ten minutes.”

[Ah, I see. Well, let’s change the subject for a moment.]

”I’m listening.”

[Politburo member Liu Peiqi claims that the robber who extorted a huge sum of money from him was Deputy Secretary Zhang Jinan.]

What kind of bullshit was that?

Team Leader Seo Donghun had repeatedly hinted to Liu Peiqi and Public Security Bureau Chief Pu Zhenghua that he was a military man. More than that, he’d implied several times that he served under Vice Chairman Tang Guochang. And yet, against all expectations, Liu Peiqi had pinned everything on someone completely different. I asked Wei Chen why Liu Peiqi had reached that conclusion.

[That bastard found it suspicious that Team Leader Seo Donghun was so openly presenting himself as Tang Guochang’s subordinate.]

”Hmm... Now that I think about it, I can see why that would raise suspicion.”

[What I’m getting at is this: is there any way we can set those two against each other and make them tear each other’s throats out?]

”I’ll give it some serious thought.”

[I have absolute faith in your abilities, Director Cha.]

After discussing a couple more details with Vice Chairman Wei Chen, I ended the call. Secretary Kang Inhan, who had clearly been waiting for that moment, immediately turned to me.

”Director, what was that about another thirty Composition H6 charges?”

”Lieutenant Colonel Holland said four torpedoes wouldn’t be enough to blow the base to pieces...”

Without hiding anything, I recounted my conversation with Vice Chairman Wei Chen.

”...Because they got the timer wrong, the ammunition depot blew up first.”

”What a shame.”

”What do you mean?”

”If we were in Dalian right now, we could’ve enjoyed a spectacular fireworks display.”