How a Salaryman Became an Underworld Boss

”We’re going to destroy the factory using the kamikaze drones.”

Only then did Lee Menghong begin to understand Cha Jiham’s true intentions. He intended to seize the kamikaze drones and use them to destroy the facility. Naturally, that meant someone first had to learn how to operate them.

As though voicing the thoughts everyone else shared, Neil Cayman spoke first.

”Director Cha, is there really any need to take such a risk by capturing the drones at the factory itself?”

There was an obvious implication behind Vice President Cayman’s question.

Why not simply use drones from somewhere else?

”I considered that as well, Mr. Cayman, and reached the same conclusion you did. However, there are two problems.”

”And what are they? I’d like to hear them.”

Instead of answering immediately, I first turned to Lee Menghong.

”What kind of security surrounds the kamikaze drone factory?”

”Fengcheng sits in a basin completely surrounded by mountains. Anti-air defense systems are densely deployed on the peaks of all the major mountains around the city.”

Leaving Lee Menghong’s explanation without comment, I turned back to the American.

”If we launch kamikaze drones from outside Fengcheng, the air defense systems will detect them immediately.”

”Then why not launch them from somewhere inside the city?”

”That’s certainly an option, but it doesn’t solve the second problem.”

”And what’s that?”

”Once the factory is reduced to rubble, China and Russia will inevitably dispatch a joint investigative team. Their experts will determine exactly what type of drone destroyed the facility. If they discover that outside models were used, things could become very complicated.”

”Hm... That makes sense.”

Neil Cayman nodded in agreement.

Seeing that my reasoning had convinced him, I continued.

”If we’re going to commit the perfect crime, the best approach is to capture the factory’s own drones and use them to blow up the factory.”

”I understand your reasoning. But what if we fail to capture the drones?”

I deliberately looked toward Lee Menghong.

Understanding the hint immediately, he picked up the explanation.

”As I mentioned earlier, security at the factory itself is surprisingly lax. During working hours, the warehouse storing the finished drones always keeps its doors open. Taking several drones won’t be difficult.”

Despite Lee Menghong’s detailed explanation, Cayman still looked unconvinced.

”Mr. Lee, do you know the specifications of those kamikaze drones?”

”They’re one meter long with a wingspan of one meter thirty. They weigh about fifteen kilograms. With the wings folded, they’re only about fifty centimeters wide.”

”Fortunately, they’re neither too large nor too heavy. How many would we need to completely destroy the factory?”

”It’s a massive facility. We’d need at least twenty.”

”But if we remove twenty drones from the warehouse all at once, wouldn’t that immediately attract attention? Especially if we’re stealing them during working hours.”

Lee Menghong glanced at me, silently asking for help.

After considering my answer for a moment, I addressed Cayman.

”We’ll only take one drone in advance. That won’t attract any attention.”

”Only one?”

”We’ll need time to thoroughly study the manual and learn how to operate it.”

”Hm... I hadn’t thought of that. Then when do you plan to take the other nineteen?”

”The night before the operation.”

”But the warehouse will be locked at night. Surely the alarm system will be active.”

”If we cut power to the entire factory, the alarm won’t function. As for the warehouse doors, we’ll simply force them open by whatever means necessary. Mr. Lee, can you handle that?”

”Without any problem.”

Encouraged by Lee Menghong’s confidence, I continued outlining the operation.

”Now let’s go over the details, assuming the objective is the complete destruction of the factory. If anyone has questions, don’t hesitate to ask.”

”Understood.”

”Mr. Lee, by tomorrow evening you must obtain one kamikaze drone from the factory. Learn to operate it as quickly as possible and train the personnel who’ll participate in the raid.”

At that moment, Cayman raised his hand again.

”Director Cha, I’m truly sorry, but our team is simply too small to participate in the assault on the factory.”

”Our FBI team has to decline for the same reason,” George Fries added.

”Don’t worry. The factory will be destroyed by National Intelligence Service operatives and employees from our company.”

”But won’t the Korea Investment personnel be needed for the hacker elimination operation?” Fries asked in surprise.

Rather than answering him directly, I turned toward Chief Secretary Kang Inhan.

”Kang Inhan, call Jeong Gwangseok in Macau. Tell him to gather his men and fly here immediately.”

”Understood.”

After a brief reply, Kang Inhan stood up with his phone and stepped into the adjoining room.

Watching him leave, I explained things to the Americans.

”Our company’s personnel are all former NIS officers, police officers, and special forces operators. They have more than enough experience to carry out the mission.”

”I understand. But when exactly do you plan to strike the factory?”

”We’ll synchronize it with the operation to eliminate the hackers and destroy the warehouse storing the mobile launcher components. To draw the police and military away toward Fengcheng, the attack on the drone factory must begin exactly three hours earlier. Mr. Lee, keep that in mind while making preparations.”

”Understood.”

”I assume we don’t need to discuss how you’ll cut the power or break into the finished goods warehouse.”

”Of course not. We’ll handle it perfectly.”

”One more thing. Once the assault begins, one of the drones must record the explosion.”

Lee Menghong immediately understood the hidden meaning.

Jiham intended to upload footage of the factory’s destruction to social media.

That alone would guarantee that the police and military stationed around Dandong rushed toward Fengcheng.

Wanting to confirm his assumption, he looked at me.

I nodded.

”That’s right, Mr. Lee. That’s exactly why.”

”Then what if we livestream the footage?”

I shook my head.

”In that case, the assault team would have a much harder time withdrawing safely.”

”Ah... Right. I didn’t think of that.”

”We’ll upload the footage only after the team has successfully left Fengcheng. That’ll be more than enough.”

”Understood.”

After finishing with Lee Menghong, I turned back to Cayman.

”Once the drone factory is blown up, both China and Russia will make an enormous fuss.”

”Without question.”

”I want to pin the entire sabotage operation on Ukraine. Can we make that happen?”

”Oh, absolutely. That won’t be a problem at all.”

Just then, Kang Inhan returned to the room and sat back down on the sofa.

”Director, Team Leader Jeong and his men will fly out tomorrow morning.”

”Do we need to meet them at Dalian Airport?”

”I told them to make their own way here.”

”Understood. I’m starting to get hungry... Shall we have dinner?”

As though he’d been waiting for the opportunity, Lee Menghong immediately made a suggestion.

”Director Cha, there are quite a few North Korean restaurants here. How about we have dinner at one of them?”

”I don’t mind. What do you think, Mr. Cayman? Mr. Fries?”

”We’d love to try North Korean cuisine, but unfortunately we can’t join you.”

”Oh? Why not?”

”We’re under close surveillance by the Chinese authorities. If Beijing learns we’ve come here, it’ll create serious problems.”

”Ah... I see.”

”Besides, having dinner with South Korean citizens at a North Korean restaurant would attract unnecessary attention. We’ll just order room service instead. Enjoy your meal.”

***

As Agent Choi Seonghun started the car, I asked Lee Menghong,

”Why are Cayman and Fries being so cautious?”

”I’m not entirely sure, but I suspect it has something to do with China’s anti-espionage law.”

Their caution immediately made sense.

China had recently tightened its laws governing foreign nationals.

If Cayman and Fries, who were officially supposed to be in Beijing, suddenly appeared here, Beijing would immediately begin investigating.

And having dinner with South Koreans at a North Korean restaurant would be practically handing Chinese counterintelligence a lead.

”I understand.”

”They’re both undercover CIA and FBI agents. They have every reason to be extremely careful.”

”That makes sense.”

Bzzz...

The smartphone in my hand vibrated.

Looking at the screen, I saw Eddie Griffin’s name.

After apologizing to Lee Menghong, I answered.

”Director Griffin.”

”Director Cha, Cayman just informed me that he met with you.”

Something felt off.

As the Director of the CIA, Griffin was usually calm and composed.

But this time there was unmistakable irritation in his voice.

”Director Griffin, did something happen? You sound rather upset.”

”That Cayman is driving me crazy.”

”What did he do?”

”We had absolutely no idea that China and Russia were jointly operating a kamikaze drone factory in Fengcheng! U.S. intelligence completely missed a target like that!”

”Well... these things happen.”

”But South Korea’s National Intelligence Service knew about it!”

The CIA prided itself on being the world’s greatest intelligence agency.

Learning that South Korea’s NIS—an organization Langley had always considered a tier below—had better intelligence than the CIA left Griffin absolutely furious.

”I really don’t have anything to say to that.”

”But what infuriates me most is that my people simply washed their hands of the operation and refused to participate in destroying the factory!”

”But your CIA team here really is small, isn’t it?”

”There are over twenty-five thousand American troops stationed in South Korea! Plenty of elite special forces among them! They could’ve deployed them, but instead they chickened out and tucked their tails between their legs! How am I supposed to react to that?!”

The furious CIA Director clearly needed to calm down.

”Can you really bring in military special forces?”

”Without any problem.”

”Hm...”

I deliberately paused for a moment before continuing.

”If you agree to three conditions, I’ll allow your people to participate.”

”Let’s hear them.”

Just as expected, Griffin’s voice became noticeably more eager.

”First, I want fifteen special forces operators here no later than tomorrow evening. Most importantly, the Chinese authorities must never learn they’ve arrived.”

”You don’t have to worry about that.”

”Second, command of the factory destruction operation remains with the National Intelligence Service.”

”Naturally.”

”And finally, if any of the special forces refuse to obey orders from the NIS commander, we reserve the right to eliminate them on the spot without any complaints from your side afterward.”

”Any commander has the right to execute a subordinate for refusing orders during combat.”

”In that case, let’s consider it settled.”

After ending the call with Eddie Griffin, I put away my phone.

Lee Menghong immediately looked at me with obvious dissatisfaction.

”Director Cha, why are we involving American special forces in destroying the factory?”

”I don’t particularly like the idea either. But I agreed because of one important detail.”

”What detail?”

”We’re planning to blame the destruction of the factory on Ukraine. However, our NIS operatives and Korea Investment personnel have noticeably smaller builds than Europeans. We need physically fit operatives with Slavic or Western features.”

”Ah, I see! Now I understand.”

Turning toward the Chief Secretary, I gave my next order.

”Kang Inhan, cancel the recall. Call Jeong Gwangseok and tell him to keep his team in Macau for the time being.”