How a Salaryman Became an Underworld Boss

”We’re willing to take only 5%.”

The Griffin I knew was exceptionally greedy. Through the combined efforts of Korea Investment, the NIS, the CIA, and the FIS, twelve tons and 750 kilograms of gold bars had been seized from Kim Juchol’s house. I’d expected him to demand at least a quarter—25%.

Contrary to my expectations, however, the CIA Director modestly asked for just 5%. My hand was practically itching to seal the deal immediately, but my conscience wouldn’t let me simply accept such a modest proposal.

”Director Griffin, isn’t that too little?”

”I understand perfectly well where those funds will be going,” he replied.

The NIS, CIA, FBI, and the defecting hackers were preparing for a massive cyberwar against North Korea. An operation of that scale required enormous resources. If the proceeds from selling the gold bars were placed at the disposal of the cybersecurity task force, it would give us far more freedom to operate. Griffin understood that, which was why he’d asked for the bare minimum. Now that I’d figured out his intentions, there was no reason to refuse.

”All right. The CIA gets 5%. What share does the FIS expect to receive?”

Director Jean-Philippe nearly had a stroke. Deep down, he’d also been hoping for 25%. But if the CIA, which had played a key role, was asking for a modest one-twentieth, how could he make an excessive demand?

”It pains me, but we’ll also limit ourselves to 5%,” Jean-Philippe ground out.

Without fully understanding Griffin’s motives, the FIS Director had been forced to lower his expectations. I wanted to seize on his words without delay, but basic decency won out.

”Director Jean-Philippe, are you absolutely serious?”

”I’m not in the habit of making empty promises.”

”Well, if that’s what you want. We accept your terms.”

”By the way, what do you intend to do with the remaining gold?”

As though he’d been waiting for that exact moment, Griffin immediately jumped into the conversation.

”Director Cha, the United States is prepared to buy the entire remainder.”

”France is also interested in purchasing it,” Jean-Philippe immediately countered.

I understood their enthusiasm perfectly well. With the unstable international situation, gold prices were climbing rapidly. Holding onto the precious metal promised enormous investment returns. When it came to money, I could give anyone a run for their money, but this time I decided to rein in my greed. Transporting nearly eleven and a half tons of gold to Korea was simply impractical. Besides, during this business trip to Switzerland alone, I’d already accumulated more than a hundred billion dollars in cash, sixteen billion in bonds, and another five billion in diamonds.

”That’s reasonable. We’ll sell the gold to whichever side offers the better price.”

”The United States is prepared to purchase the bars at a 2% discount from the current LBMA price,” Griffin declared.

At that moment, Jean-Philippe began seething inside. Griffin’s offer sounded utterly absurd to him.

”Director Griffin, do you seriously consider a 2% discount from the LBMA price reasonable?!”

”I’m sure Director Cha will agree that even 2% is generous. Isn’t that right, Director Cha?”

Griffin deftly tossed the hot potato into my lap and stepped aside.

After quickly considering how to deal with the increasingly agitated FIS Director, I spoke unhurriedly.

”Director Jean-Philippe, what discount were you planning to offer?”

”I believe a 10% discount from the LBMA price would be perfectly reasonable.”

Jean-Philippe’s reasoning became clear to me. He’d mistakenly assumed that I was distributing the gold seized from Kim Juchol as a private individual. In transactions between private parties, a discount of 5–8% was considered normal. On top of that, our gold lacked SKR certificates confirming responsible safekeeping, and the fact that the bars had come from Kim Juchol’s house created serious vulnerabilities regarding their provenance. Hence his proposed 10% discount. Naturally, I had no intention of accepting that.

To make his position explicit, I asked him directly, and Jean-Philippe nodded.

”Your assumptions are absolutely correct, Director Cha.”

”But you’re only half right.”

”And where am I mistaken?”

”I’m not distributing the gold as a private individual.”

”But you represent Korea Investment! Doesn’t that make this a private transaction?”

I shook my head.

”I’m an honorary agent of Korea’s National Intelligence Service. Therefore, I’m receiving the gold on behalf of a government agency.”

”That sounds like an excuse,” Jean-Philippe grumbled.

I had to make the situation perfectly clear.

”If I were acting as a private individual, I’d have to give the NIS a share. But I haven’t.”

”Ahem!”

The FIS Director coughed, unable to come up with a suitable rebuttal.

”May I take it that we’ve reached an understanding?”

”I suppose so,” he muttered reluctantly.

”As you know, in intergovernmental gold transactions, the customary discount from LBMA prices is 2–3%.”

”I’m aware of that. But what we have here is seized gold without SKR certificates!”

”Which is precisely why Director Griffin offered a 2% discount.”

”What are you getting at?”

”Gold prices are rising right now. Investing in this asset promises high returns.”

At that moment, Griffin, who had been carefully following our exchange, joined the conversation again.

”Director Jean-Philippe, thanks to Director Cha, we were able to seize Gabriel’s hidden assets and add 73.5 billion dollars in cash and 10 billion in bonds to the treasury. Without him, the treasury would never have seen that money. My proposed discount is merely a gesture of gratitude toward Director Cha.”

”So you reduced the discount out of gratitude?”

”Exactly.”

”Hmm...”

Jean-Philippe thoughtfully rubbed his chin.

We remained silent, giving him time to weigh all the arguments. Finally, having reached a decision, he broke the silence.

”Director Griffin, how about this?”

”I’m listening.”

”Let the United States and France split the NIS’s share equally between them.”

”Not a bad idea. What price should we set?”

Jean-Philippe turned his gaze toward me. Seeing through his maneuver, I spoke first.

”How about a 2% discount from the LBMA price?”

”I’m in,” Griffin immediately agreed.

”I agree as well,” Jean-Philippe said with a nod.

The gold sale was successfully concluded.

Chief Secretary Kang Inhan, European Branch Chief Harrison, and an FIS agent named Hum Melt went to the study to draw up the documents. While the formalities were being handled, we passed the time talking. Suddenly, as though he’d remembered something important, Griffin turned to me.

”Director Cha, was Jang Gukcheol’s laptop the only thing inside the safe in the basement?”

”Commander Jang mentioned that there were various documents in there as well.”

”Did you ask what they contained?”

”I didn’t think they were important, so I didn’t ask.”

”We have plenty of time. Why don’t we check the papers?”

”That’s reasonable. Agent Hong, would you do us a favor?”

”Yes, sir.”

Hong Jongsu snapped out his reply and hurried down to the basement.

Before long, he returned to the living room carrying a bulky paper bag and placed it on the table. I pulled out one of the document envelopes and removed a transparent plastic folder, but unfortunately, the heading was in French.

Noticing my confusion, Jean-Philippe asked,

”Director Cha, what is it?”

”It’s all in French. I can’t read it.”

”French is my native language. Give it to me.”

I handed him the folder. Jean-Philippe quickly skimmed through its contents and said,

”These are ownership documents for a vineyard in the Burgundy region, along with related paperwork.”

Jang Gukcheol had mentioned that Kim Jonghun owned real estate throughout Europe through proxies. Apparently, the safe contained the title deeds to those properties.

”Whose name is the vineyard registered under?” I asked curiously.

”The registered owner is a woman named Hyeon Songja.”

”A woman named Hyeon Songja is in the same hospital as Kim Juchol. Incidentally, she’s his biological aunt.”

”How do you know that?” Jean-Philippe asked in surprise, since I’d omitted that minor detail during the interrogation conducted in Korean.

”Commander Jang told me.”

”I see. If you have any other useful information, share it.”

”Kim Jonghun owns around thirty properties throughout Europe. And all thirty are registered in Hyeon Songja’s name.”

”Why didn’t you tell us immediately about assets on that scale?”

”We don’t have Hyeon Songja under our control, so there was no point discussing the documents before detaining her.”

”You’re overlooking something, Director Cha. Those properties can be seized without her direct involvement.”

”How?”

”If the properties were purchased with legitimate funds, seizure would be impossible. But if the money was derived from criminal activity, the assets can be confiscated.”

”I see what you mean.”

Turning toward Griffin, Jean-Philippe asked,

”What should we do?”

Griffin immediately understood the implication. Verifying whether Hyeon Songja’s income was legitimate would be simple enough—all they had to do was question her personally at the hospital. However, she was being guarded by North Koreans.

”North Korea is convinced that we looted Kim Juchol’s house and took the gold,” I interjected. ”If we approach Hyeon Songja under the pretext of investigating the incident, it’ll create unnecessary risks.”

”Hmm, but that’s a perfectly logical pretext,” Griffin objected.

I saw things differently. North Korea had lost 12.75 tons of gold, Kim Juchol had been beaten up, thirty-five Reconnaissance General Bureau and Guard Command special forces soldiers had been eliminated, and four Unit 974 soldiers were in captivity. Pyongyang was like a disturbed hornet’s nest right now, ready to start a war.

”Director Cha, we only want to question her as a witness,” Griffin tried to reassure me.

”Exactly,” Jean-Philippe agreed.

Despite my warnings, their position remained unwavering. There was no point trying to persuade people who had already made up their minds, so I simply nodded and backed down.

”If Director Jean-Philippe appears there personally, it’ll cause a scandal. It would be better to have the police approach her through official channels.”

”Of course. That’s exactly what we’ll do,” Jean-Philippe agreed with an energetic nod.