How a Salaryman Became an Underworld Boss

“Who are you?”

National Intelligence Service Director Om Giyeon was wearing a different special disguise mask from the one he had used during the trip to Macau. On top of that, his platform shoes made him look about ten centimeters taller. When he greeted Vice Chairman Wei Chen in this completely altered appearance, Wei Chen naturally asked the question with a bewildered expression.

“I’m Om Giyeon, Director of the National Intelligence Service.”

“Oh, is that really you, Director Om?”

Vice Chairman Wei Chen’s eyes widened as though he were genuinely astonished.

“Haha. That’s right.”

“I never would have guessed it was you, Director Om.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment on the quality of my disguise. Allow me to introduce my companions. This man is the Director of the CIA...”

NIS Director Om Giyeon introduced Director Griffin and Director Nevers to Vice Chairman Wei Chen and President Pan Kai one by one. After exchanging greetings, we moved into the living room and began a more serious conversation.

“The U.S. government is extremely grateful to you, Vice Chairman Wei.”

Vice Chairman Wei Chen had mobilized members of the Triad and destroyed the Chinese naval base in Dalian. Director Griffin was now expressing his gratitude for that.

“I’ve already received compensation from the U.S. government for destroying the naval base.”

“According to our estimates, the direct material damage caused by the destruction of the base amounts to approximately seven and a half billion dollars. Once the indirect losses are included, the total easily exceeds ten billion dollars.”

“Indirect losses?”

“The sinking of eight warships and four submarines has created enormous problems for the Chinese military in patrolling its maritime borders. More importantly, it has seriously disrupted their plans to invade Taiwan.”

Vice Chairman Wei Chen tilted his head in confusion. In terms of the sheer number of warships and submarines, the Chinese Navy surpassed even the Americans, who prided themselves on possessing the world’s strongest military. And yet the sinking of a mere eight warships and four submarines had disrupted their plans to seize Taiwan? Deeply skeptical, he directly asked Director Griffin how that was possible.

“For the Chinese Navy to seize Taiwan, they would need to conduct an amphibious landing. The vessels that transport troops and military equipment are amphibious assault ships, and two of China’s newest amphibious assault ships happened to be docked at the Dalian base.”

“Ah, now I understand what you mean.”

Vice Chairman Wei Chen nodded and continued.

“Director Griffin, Director Nevers, I have a favor to ask.”

“We’re listening.”

“Vice Chairman Tang Guochang believes I’m merely a businessman who owns a hotel chain.”

In other words, he was asking them to conceal his true identity from Vice Chairman Tang Guochang.

“You don’t have to worry about that.”

“I’m counting on you.”

“Consider it done. By the way, what do you plan to do with the two billion dollars you received from our country as compensation?”

“I already spent it buying a golden Buddha statue from Department Head Cha.”

At that moment, Director Griffin, NIS Director Om Giyeon, and Director Nevers all turned their eyes toward me. I gave Vice Chairman Wei Chen a reproachful look before slowly beginning to explain.

“There was a one-meter-thirty-tall golden Buddha statue on display at Politburo member Liu Peiqi’s villa in Dandong. After it was brought here and appraised, we discovered that it was made of pure gold and weighed two thousand five hundred and twenty kilograms, so I sold it to Vice Chairman Wei.”

I then explained in detail how the golden Buddha statue was supposed to make its way into Vice Chairman Tang Guochang’s hands.

“...President Du Zhiguo plans to have a new Buddha statue made and present it to Vice Chairman Tang as a gift.”

“Does he have a reason to curry favor with Vice Chairman Tang to that extent?”

“The Chinese military is planning to replace its military vehicles with electric vehicles.”

“You mean he’s bribing Vice Chairman Tang so that BYG Auto will be selected?”

“You’re absolutely right, Director Griffin. Vice Chairman Tang doesn’t know the statue’s true origin.”

Director Griffin tilted his head in confusion. Cha Jiham was trying to pit Vice Chairman Tang Guochang against Politburo member Liu Peiqi. Logically, if Vice Chairman Tang Guochang learned that the golden Buddha statue he had received had come from Liu Peiqi’s villa, he should only be delighted. Yet for some reason, Cha Jiham intended to conceal that fact thoroughly. In a cautious tone, he asked why.

“Vice Chairman Tang Guochang believes Vice Chairman Wei Chen obtained the statue for him.”

“Ah, I see.”

“Meanwhile, Politburo member Liu Peiqi believes Deputy Secretary Zhang Jinan stole the statue from his villa.”

“Why would he think that?”

It felt as though the situation was spiraling further and further out of control, but every one of these seeds had been planted by me personally.

“Did you watch the recording of Liu Peiqi’s interrogation after he was captured?”

“Of course.”

“Originally, our plan was to pit Vice Chairman Tang Guochang against Politburo member Liu Peiqi. That’s why we planted the idea in Liu Peiqi’s head that Vice Chairman Tang was the one who stole the gold bars from his villa at Director Go Yeongjun’s request. But an unexpected complication arose.”

“What kind of complication?” Director Griffin asked, unable to hide his curiosity.

“Politburo member Liu Peiqi decided that our hints had been fabricated and reached the mistaken conclusion that Director Go Yeongjun and Deputy Secretary Zhang Jinan were accomplices.”

“To be honest, we thought it looked staged too.”

“So it wasn’t just my imagination.”

“And what happened after that?”

“Eastern Shipping suffered enormous losses because of the sinking of the Silver Crystal. Liu Peiqi is convinced that Deputy Secretary Zhang stole the statue from his villa to cover those losses.”

“Hmm... That’s actually a fairly logical misunderstanding on his part.”

“Vice Chairman Tang is extremely interested in the feud between Deputy Secretary Zhang and Liu Peiqi. I’d like the CIA to keep an eye on their conflict.”

“We wouldn’t mind monitoring them ourselves, but doing so inside China won’t be easy.”

I had expected that answer from Director Griffin, so I had already prepared a reasonable solution.

“What if we ask Vice Chairman Wei?”

“Me?” Vice Chairman Wei Chen asked in surprise, pointing at himself.

“Triad members operate throughout China. If you mobilize them, keeping Deputy Secretary Zhang Jinan and Politburo member Liu Peiqi under surveillance shouldn’t be difficult.”

“Ah, now I understand what you’re getting at.”

“The CIA will cover the cost of their services. Isn’t that right, Director Griffin?”

“Of course.”

The entire reason I was bringing the CIA and the Triad together was Director Griffin’s aversion to direct dealings with Vice Chairman Wei Chen.

‘I wonder if the two of them understand my true intentions.’

“Vice Chairman Wei, you heard Director Griffin’s answer, didn’t you?”

“Of course I did.”

“Gather as much valuable intelligence as possible so the money doesn’t go to waste.”

“Hahaha. Understood.”

At that moment, Director Nevers joined the conversation, indicating that he had something to add.

“Vice Chairman Wei, could we compensate you with something other than money?”

“Do you have an alternative to money?”

“As you know, our country is the largest drug market in the world. We use every means available to cut off the supply, but we still don’t have enough manpower. What I’m getting at is this: what if the Triad took charge of supplying drugs to our country?”

“What are you saying?!”

Vice Chairman Wei Chen feigned profound astonishment, bordering on shock.

“In exchange for the right to supply drugs to our country, we have two conditions.”

“I’m listening.”

“First, the Triad must prevent other criminal organizations from bringing drugs into our country.”

Vice Chairman Wei Chen couldn’t accept Director Nevers’s proposal unconditionally. There were hundreds of criminal syndicates supplying drugs to the American market. They weren’t God, so how could they possibly control such a vast horde? He frankly explained his concerns to Director Nevers.

“Then how about this?”

“What do you have in mind?”

“Cut off the supply routes of organizations based on the Asian continent.”

“We can shut out the major criminal syndicates. But tracking down every small gang selling drugs under the table would be practically impossible.”

“Deal. We’ll modify the condition. You only need to block the major syndicates.”

“Agreed. What’s the second condition?”

“The FBI will regulate the volume of drugs supplied to our country.”

“You mean the FBI will determine how much we’re allowed to supply?”

“Exactly. If you exceed the limit we set, the deal will be terminated immediately.”

“Of course. That goes without saying.”

At that point, hotel owner Pan Kai joined the conversation with a question of his own.

“Director Nevers, if you limit the amount we can supply, won’t that simply line the pockets of organizations from other continents?”

“Would you like me to tell you how the Triad can secure permission to supply a sufficient volume of drugs?”

“Please, tell me!”

“Gather as much information as possible on Liu Peiqi and Deputy Secretary Zhang so the CIA won’t regret the money it spends on you.”

The idea of using Triad gangsters to monitor Politburo member Liu Peiqi and Deputy Secretary Zhang Jinan had been mine. Yet Director Nevers now intended to obtain the intelligence they gathered directly from Vice Chairman Wei Chen. If that happened, all my hard work would go to waste while someone else skimmed off the cream. I couldn’t allow that, so I hurriedly intervened.

“Director Nevers, technically, I’m the one who came up with this idea.”

“Don’t worry. We’ll share all the intelligence obtained from monitoring Liu Peiqi and Deputy Secretary Zhang with the National Intelligence Service.”

“Hahaha. Deal.”

Bzzz...

While we exchanged awkward chuckles, a phone on the table began vibrating. I picked it up and glanced at the screen. Vice Chairman Tang Guochang’s name was displayed. After excusing myself to everyone present, I immediately answered the call.

“Vice Chairman Tang, I’m listening.”

[Department Head Cha, has President Douglas’s special envoy arrived yet?]

“He arrived two hours ago. They’re currently resting at President Du Zhiguo’s villa.”

[I see. I’m heading to President Du’s villa right now.]

The meeting between Vice Chairman Tang Guochang and Director Griffin had been scheduled for the afternoon. Yet for some reason, he was in such a hurry that he intended to come immediately. In a cautious tone, I asked why he was rushing.

[I can’t wait any longer to meet Director Griffin.]

I could tell there was another reason behind his haste, but I didn’t press him. I would learn all the details within an hour anyway.

“Haha. Understood. We’ll be waiting.”

Click.

The moment I put down the phone, NIS Director Om Giyeon asked curiously,

“Department Head Cha, why is Vice Chairman Tang suddenly in such a hurry?”

“That’s just his personality. Once he makes up his mind about something, he charges straight ahead like a bulldozer.”

“Does that mean he’s decided to put his grand ambition into action?”

“Department Head Cha, what grand ambition are you talking about?”

Vice Chairman Wei Chen’s question came before I could answer.

After meeting Director Griffin, he had planned to return to Macau. Director Griffin’s meeting with Vice Chairman Tang Guochang was originally supposed to take place in the afternoon, after Wei Chen had already left. For that reason, I hadn’t told Vice Chairman Wei Chen about Tang Guochang’s grand plans.

The fewer people who knew a secret, the longer it remained a secret.

But now Director Griffin’s meeting with Vice Chairman Tang Guochang had suddenly been moved forward, and it would be tactless to send Wei Chen packing back to Macau. Since things had turned out this way, I decided to lay my cards on the table.

“Vice Chairman Tang dreams of rising to the pinnacle of power and becoming the nation’s supreme leader.”

“W-what...?”

Vice Chairman Wei Chen stammered badly, genuinely stunned by what he had heard.

“I believe no one can stop a person from dreaming.”

“I agree with you, Department Head Cha, but can Vice Chairman Tang really make that dream a reality?”

“I’ll answer with a famous saying: dreams come true.”

Vice Chairman Wei Chen concluded that Vice Chairman Tang Guochang had a high chance of successfully carrying out a coup. After all, he had powerful allies behind him in the form of Cha Jiham, the Republic of Korea, and the United States, all prepared to provide him with comprehensive support.

“Well, either way, I understand.”

“Vice Chairman Wei, you also need to actively help Vice Chairman Tang achieve his dream.”

“That goes without saying.”

Vice Chairman Wei Chen displayed greater confidence than ever before.