How a Salaryman Became an Underworld Boss

Director Tang Chao could hardly believe his own eyes and ears.

The man standing in front of him had introduced himself as NIS Director Om Giyeon, but it was difficult to believe.

“Are you really Director Om?”

“I’m wearing a special mask and shoes that increase my height.”

“...I see. And I’m extremely curious why you came to our country at the risk of your life.”

NIS Director Om Giyeon deliberately shifted his gaze toward Cha Jiham.

Instantly understanding his intention, I gave a slight nod of agreement.

“I came here to support Vice Chairman Tang Guochang.”

“Ah, now I understand what this is about.”

Taking advantage of the opportunity, I introduced Vice Chairman Wei Chen, Director Pan Kai, and the others to Director Tang Chao.

After the brief introductions were over, we sat down at the table and got down to business.

“Department Chief Cha, now tell me exactly how you intend to abduct Minister Peng Yuxiang.”

“Before we continue, I have a question. Where is Minister Peng Yuxiang staying?”

“At a safe house owned by the Ministry of State Security.”

At that very moment, my temples began to throb.

The entire plan had been drawn up under the assumption that Minister Peng Yuxiang would be staying at a hotel.

But asking Director Tang Chao to move him to a hotel was impossible.

Forcing my brain to work at full speed, I came up with countermeasures and continued talking with Director Tang Chao.

“Tell me about the location of the safe house and its security.”

“It’s an upscale mansion on a cliff right by the coast. Surveillance cameras are installed all along the perimeter fence. There are five people inside, including Minister Peng himself, and all of them are armed with automatic rifles.”

“Are there any other houses nearby?”

“There’s a small settlement of several luxury villas about fifty meters away.”

“I see. One last question: does Minister Peng like to drink?”

“He can’t live without alcohol.”

What a relief.

If Minister Peng Yuxiang didn’t drink, my plan would have gone straight to hell.

“Now I’ll explain the plan to abduct Minister Peng. If you have any questions along the way, don’t hesitate to ask. Director Pan Kai, prepare a powerful sleeping drug.”

“Understood.”

After answering briefly, Director Pan Kai immediately stood up, opened the VIP room door, and left.

“Director Tang, you’ll take the sleeping drug Director Pan obtains, return to the safe house, and invite Minister Peng to have a drink.”

“You want me to slip the sleeping drug into his glass while we’re drinking?”

“Exactly. As soon as Minister Peng falls asleep, cut the power to the house and gather the MSS personnel under the pretext of finding the cause of the blackout.”

Director Tang Chao seemed to understand Cha Jiham’s plan.

He wanted the MSS personnel gathered inside the house so that it would be easier for the NIS agents to climb over the fence.

However, Tang Chao himself had another idea.

“Department Chief Cha, what if I simply eliminate all the MSS personnel?”

“What?! But they’re your subordinates!”

“For Vice Chairman Tang to accomplish his great undertaking, a few sacrifices are unavoidable.”

“Hearing you say that takes a load off my mind. Director Lee, obtain a Russian-made pistol and hand it over to Director Tang.”

Director Lee Menghong frowned in confusion.

He had expected Jiham to order him to give Director Tang Chao a North Korean pistol.

But contrary to his expectations, he had demanded a Russian weapon.

In a cautious tone, he asked why they were trying to pin everything on Russia.

“Because of the destruction of the kamikaze drone factory in Fengcheng, Russia can’t receive its drones. Because of that, it has accumulated serious grievances against China.”

“You plan to pin the blame on Deputy Defense Minister Dmitriev?”

“You’re right, Director Lee, but even if the investigators don’t fall for it, it doesn’t matter.”

“What do you mean?”

“When Minister Peng disappears, relations between China and Russia will inevitably cool on their own.”

“Ah, now I understand.”

Leaving Director Lee Menghong’s answer aside, I continued instructing Director Tang Chao.

“Director Tang, eliminate the MSS personnel using the Russian pistol provided by Director Lee. Once you’ve dealt with all of them, open the gate.”

“I’ll do that.”

“Director Lee, you’ll enter the safe house together with NIS agents and our company personnel. Then take the pistol from Director Tang.”

Director Lee Menghong immediately understood Cha Jiham’s intention.

If Director Tang Chao remained completely unharmed, suspicion would immediately fall on him.

That was why he had been ordered to wound Director Tang Chao with the Russian pistol.

As though he had read his thoughts, Director Tang Chao spoke first.

“Director Lee, if you shoot me in the arm or leg, it’ll arouse suspicion. Shoot me in the abdomen.”

“What are you talking about?! You could die from that!”

“As long as the bullet doesn’t hit my heart, I won’t die immediately. I’m prepared to risk death as long as Vice Chairman Tang can achieve his great goal.”

Director Lee Menghong said nothing and looked at me.

Understanding his hesitation, I didn’t delay.

“Director Lee, do as Director Tang asks.”

“Yes, Department Chief Cha.”

“Vice Chairman Wei, the moment the NIS agents and our employees are leaving the safe house, you’ll call the police.”

Vice Chairman Wei Chen immediately grasped Cha Jiham’s logic.

He was saying this so the police would get the wounded Director Tang Chao to a hospital as quickly as possible.

But Wei Chen himself had an entirely different plan.

“Our police take too long to respond to calls. In the worst-case scenario, wouldn’t it be better for us to take Director Tang to the hospital ourselves?”

‘Hmm... That really would be better, but...’

“Imagine I’m a police officer and give me your alibi.”

“We were driving past the safe house when we saw a group of people running out of it. Sensing something was wrong, we rushed inside and found people bleeding on the floor. We immediately called the police and drove the survivor to the hospital. How does that sound?”

“There’s a high probability the police will check the identity of whoever made the report.”

“If we use someone with an absolutely spotless record, there won’t be any problem.”

I accepted Vice Chairman Wei Chen’s proposal and focused on creating a flawless alibi.

“Now I’ll explain how we’ll transport the abducted Minister Peng Yuxiang back to our country.”

“Aren’t we sending him by submarine provided by the U.S. military?”

Shaking my head, I answered NIS Director Om Giyeon’s question.

“The United States didn’t contribute a damn thing to abducting Minister Peng. Why should we ask for their help?”

“Then how do you plan to bring Minister Peng back to our country?”

“I think we should put him on the passenger ferry that runs from the Port of Dandong to the Port of Incheon.”

NIS Director Om Giyeon instantly understood Cha Jiham’s plan.

He intended to use the same method they had used during Commander Kwak Taesu’s escape.

Just as he was about to confirm his guess, Director Tang Chao spoke with concern.

“Department Chief Cha, isn’t that too dangerous?”

“Vice Chairman Wei has a close relationship with the president of the ferry company.”

“Director Tang, I’ll take responsibility for getting Minister Peng aboard the ferry, so don’t worry.”

As if reinforcing my words with his own reliability, Vice Chairman Wei Chen immediately joined the conversation.

“I’m placing my full trust in you, Vice Chairman Wei.”

“Ha-ha. Excellent. Now continue, Department Chief Cha.”

Vice Chairman Wei Chen stepped back from the conversation, and I took the floor again.

“When Minister Peng disappears, the MSS and the police will launch a joint investigation, and you, Director Tang, will be questioned as a witness.”

“Naturally.”

“Testify that the attackers looked Russian.”

“I understand.”

“If anyone has questions about the plan we’ve discussed, ask them now.”

“I don’t have any particular questions.”

“Same here, like Director Om...”

After receiving everyone’s agreement, I added:

“Well then, shall we have dinner?”

***

Late at night.

After finishing dinner with us, Director Tang Chao returned to the safe house.

We gathered in my hotel room and talked leisurely.

“Department Chief, won’t Director Griffin make a fuss?”

Director Griffin believed the operation to abduct Minister Peng Yuxiang was scheduled for tomorrow evening.

That was why he and Director Nevers had gone to Shenyang to track down the fugitive Commander Kwak Taesu.

However, unlike Chief Secretary Kang Inhan, I had a completely different view.

“The Americans will get Minister Peng without lifting a finger, so he won’t be angry.”

“But isn’t Minister Peng going to remain with us?”

“He has far more valuable information for the United States than for our country. The best approach is to extract any intelligence relevant to us first, then sell him to the Americans for a high price.”

“Ah, now I understand.”

At that moment, NIS Director Om Giyeon, who had a question, joined the conversation.

“Department Chief Cha, the Chinese military has declared the Shandong Peninsula and the waters north of the NLL a military operations zone. Will the ferry even be able to pass through?”

“I asked Vice Chairman Tang Guochang to lift the military operations zone designation. I was told it will be canceled starting at midnight tonight.”

“In that case, there won’t be any problem.”

Bzzzt.

The phone in my hand vibrated briefly.

Knowing who the sender was, I checked the message in a flash.

“Director Tang Chao and Minister Peng Yuxiang have just sat down to drink.”

***

Minister Peng Yuxiang and Director Tang Chao sat over drinks, chatting casually.

“Minister, when are you planning to meet Deputy Minister Dmitriev?”

“I should meet him tomorrow afternoon.”

“Not tomorrow morning?”

“You know perfectly well what the ‘manmandi’ strategy is.”

In other words, they were using delaying tactics in order to sell Russia the kamikaze drones at an inflated price.

“Deputy Minister Dmitriev must be shaking in his boots from anxiety. I can practically see it.”

“Ha-ha-ha!”

Minister Peng Yuxiang burst into loud, satisfied laughter.

When his laughter died down, Director Tang Chao continued.

“This afternoon, Vice Chairman Tang Guochang had an audience with the Chairman.”

“Really? And what was the result of their meeting?”

“I heard the Chairman expressed renewed confidence in Vice Chairman Tang.”

“Hmm...”

Minister Peng Yuxiang hesitated, frowned, picked up his glass, and drained it in one gulp.

Director Tang Chao understood perfectly well why he was displeased.

Like Vice Chairman Tang Guochang, he was aiming for a seat on the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee.

‘Minister Peng, your fate has already been decided.’

With a completely expressionless face, Director Tang Chao filled the empty glass he had set down on the table all the way to the brim.

As they quietly continued drinking, the Minister rose from his seat, apparently intending to go to the restroom.

Realizing the moment had come, Director Tang Chao quickly pulled the extremely powerful sleeping drug from his pocket and slipped it into the glass.

A moment later, Minister Peng returned from the restroom, picked up the glass, and emptied it in one gulp.

“Minister, if you drink that fast, you’ll get drunk quickly.”

“You know how well I can hold my liquor. Come on, pour me another.”

As time passed, Minister Peng Yuxiang began swaying heavily, as though he really had become drunk.

Director Tang Chao addressed him with a puzzled expression.

“Minister, what’s wrong?”

“...Strange, I’m so sleepy...”

Minister Peng Yuxiang didn’t finish speaking. His head fell back against the chair, and he slipped into sleep.

Director Tang Chao stood up, grabbed him by the hair, and knocked him sideways.

With a dull “Boom!” he crashed to the floor like a felled log.

Opening the front door, Director Tang Chao stepped outside and ordered the MSS personnel on duty:

“The Minister seems to have had too much to drink. Carry him to the bedroom on the second floor.”

After waiting for the MSS personnel to enter the living room, Director Tang Chao pulled a pistol from inside his clothes and squeezed the trigger.

Pfft, pfft, pfft!

The MSS personnel didn’t even have time to dodge before the bullets struck them down on the spot.

“Ha-ha-ha. A fine night to die.”

Muttering those words under his breath, Director Tang Chao lowered the switch on the electrical panel.