How a Salaryman Became an Underworld Boss

As we exchanged toasts and leisurely drank, Vice Chairman Wei Chen suddenly brought up an unexpected subject.

”Secretary Kang, what exactly did you put in our hotel’s underground vault?”

Chief Secretary Kang Inhan turned to me.

Catching his silent question, I gave a slight nod, indicating that he could reveal it.

”Nothing special. We deposited some diamonds for safekeeping.”

”But there are secure safes in the rooms too, aren’t there?”

”Of course. But there are simply too many gemstones.”

”How many?”

”Six hundred and eighty-five in total.”

”...!”

Except for Kang Inhan and me, everyone present practically dropped their jaws. They understood perfectly well just how enormous that quantity was. After some time, the stunned Vice Chairman Wei Chen turned to me.

”Director Cha, how did you come into possession of so many diamonds?”

I was under no obligation to explain to Wei Chen how I’d acquired the gemstones. However, considering that I would need his help in the future, I decided to be open about it.

”Vice Chairman Wei, are you familiar with Gabriel, who headed a major drug cartel in Colombia?”

”How could I not know him?”

”Then this will be easier to explain. He converted part of his drug proceeds into diamonds and hid them at his villa in Interlaken, Switzerland. We got lucky and managed to find the hiding place.”

”I suppose Saho was the one who found the hidden stones.”

As expected, Vice Chairman Wei Chen’s intuition was on an entirely different level from that of ordinary people.

”I won’t deny it.”

”Still, didn’t the United States and Switzerland covet those diamonds?”

”Gabriel also kept cash and U.S. government bonds at the villa. In exchange for handing those assets over to the two countries, we kept all the diamonds.”

Wei Chen desperately wanted to know the exact amount of cash and government bonds Gabriel had left behind. But realizing that Cha Jiham wouldn’t give him a direct answer anyway, he suppressed his curiosity.

”I see. And how much are they worth?”

”An appraisal commissioned by the Swiss government confirmed their value at seven billion dollars.”

Wei Chen sensed that something didn’t add up.

Kang Inhan had mentioned 685 diamonds. A simple calculation meant the average value of each stone exceeded ten million dollars. Just how many diamonds worth more than that even existed in the world?

He directly asked Cha Jiham what he thought about it.

”Among the stones we took are 335 fancy-colored diamonds. In addition, more than a hundred of them weigh over 200 to 300 carats.”

”Ah, in that case, a seven-billion-dollar valuation is more than justified. Who are you planning to sell them to?”

”We originally intended to sell them to Chairman Zhen Weiliang, but now I think we should wait and see how things develop.”

Wei Chen immediately caught the implication behind the answer.

He assumed Cha Jiham was worried that Zhen Weiliang might try to drive down the price. Vice Chairman Wei himself, however, saw things differently.

”Among those capable of buying such an enormous batch, Chairman Zhen is the only one.”

”We had a verbal agreement to sell them for six billion dollars.”

”In that case, there’s no reason not to go through with the deal with him, is there?”

”I think there may be a buyer willing to pay more.”

”A buyer? Who?”

In truth, I’d chosen Politburo member Liu Peiqi as the ultimate destination for this deal. However, there were still plenty of obstacles to overcome before the agreement could be concluded, so it was better to keep my mouth shut.

”I’ll reveal it when we meet Chairman Zhen Weiliang.”

”Very well. It’s a deal.”

”We’ve been drinking for quite a while. Isn’t it about time we called it a night?”

”I was just about to suggest the same thing.”

The moment Vice Chairman Wei Chen and President Pan Kai left, Kang Inhan immediately began questioning me.

”Director Cha, who exactly are you planning to sell the gemstones to?”

”Chairman Zhen.”

”But didn’t you just say you might sell them to someone else?”

”Chairman Zhen will buy the diamonds from us and then resell them to that person.”

”I see... And who exactly do you have in mind?”

”Hehe.”

Instead of answering, I merely gave a faint grin.

***

Ring-ring-ring.

A pleasant melody came from the phone lying beside my pillow.

Feeling around for it and glancing at the screen, I saw the name of North Korean Reconnaissance General Bureau Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol. A call from him at this hour could only mean one thing—something unexpected had happened.

I quickly sat up in bed, cleared my throat to shake off the drowsiness, and answered.

”Deputy Director Jo, I’m listening.”

”Director Cha, am I calling too early?”

I checked the clock. It was already past 6:30 in the morning.

”It’s 7:30 in Korea right now, so it’s fine.”

”That’s good. Late last night, one of my subordinates in North Korea contacted me. Three 1,830-ton Romeo-class submarines carrying North Korean missiles have departed Nampo Port.”

”They’re heading for Mindanao in the Philippines?”

”That’s right.”

”Do we know exactly how many missiles were loaded onto the Romeo-class submarines?”

”Exactly sixty, including the launchers.”

I’d expected Vice Chairman Chen Zhihui to supply Abu Sayyaf with around twenty North Korean missiles. Contrary to my expectations, however, the involvement of three Romeo-class submarines meant they were delivering sixty of them.

”That’s quite a lot.”

”I think so too.”

”What kind of missiles is North Korea supplying to the militants?”

”Various models. If those weapons fall into their hands, the Philippines will suffer a devastating blow.”

”That will never happen.”

”I’m counting entirely on you, Director Cha.”

”You can rest assured. By the way, is Major General Lee Cheolseung with you?”

”One moment.”

A moment later, Lee Cheolseung’s voice came through the speaker.

”Director Cha, did you want to discuss something?”

”How is the attempt to seize the cryptocurrency belonging to Politburo member Liu Peiqi progressing?”

”We’re doing everything we can to crack the password.”

”It would be best if we could seize it before he manages to exchange the cryptocurrency for dollars or yuan.”

”May I ask why there’s such a hurry?”

”Li Hunin, a former member of the Standing Committee of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee, recently died suddenly of a heart attack.”

I openly recounted the details of my conversation with CIA Director Griffin to Lee Cheolseung.

”...He’s planning to give Chairman Xi Jinping an enormous bribe so he can take the vacant seat on the Standing Committee.”

”Ah, now I understand what you’re getting at. We’ll speed things up as much as humanly possible.”

After finishing my conversation with Major General Lee Cheolseung, I called Director Griffin and passed along the information I’d received from Jo Ilcheol.

”...Shouldn’t we arrange surveillance of the submarines just in case?”

”There’s absolutely no need for that,” Griffin replied with dismissive confidence.

I decided it wouldn’t hurt to prod his vigilance a little.

”Director Griffin, being too complacent could result in you losing track of the North Korean submarines.”

”The Romeo-class submarines are more than fifty years old. They’re ancient pieces of junk. Because of their extremely poor technical capabilities, they have to surface every two or three days to run their generators and recharge their batteries.”

”Is that so?”

”Besides, their route from Nampo Port to Mindanao is completely predictable. It’ll be more than enough for us to pick them up once they enter Philippine territorial waters.”

”Understood. How long will it take them to reach Mindanao?”

”Considering how decrepit those vessels are, at least half a month.”

”Longer than I expected.”

”And that’s assuming nothing breaks down along the way. Now, let’s discuss something else.”

”What?”

I deliberately paused, trying to read Griffin’s true thoughts.

”You said you’d create circumstances where Liu Peiqi could barely manage to squeeze his way onto the Standing Committee, didn’t you?”

”Ah, that? I have an idea, but I’m not sure yet whether it’ll work.”

”What’s the difficulty?”

”Liu Peiqi needs to swallow the bait I throw him.”

”And do you have a plan to make him take the bait without hesitation?”

Of course I had a plan, but I saw no reason to share it with Griffin prematurely.

”I was just about to put some thought into that.”

”My phone is open twenty-four hours a day. If you need any help, call me anytime.”

”Will do.”

Click.

After ending the call, I changed into casual clothes and left the bedroom. The next moment, I almost doubted my own eyes.

Kang Inhan, Lee Menghong, and Seo Donghun were sitting on the sofas in the living room.

Taking the main seat, I asked the Chief Secretary in bewilderment,

”How did you get into my suite?”

Kang Inhan pulled an electronic key card from his pocket.

”I have a duplicate in case of an emergency.”

”You could’ve warned me beforehand. Then I wouldn’t have been so surprised.”

”My apologies. We heard your phone ringing in the bedroom just now.”

Trying to smooth over the awkwardness, Kang Inhan abruptly changed the subject.

”Was that Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol calling you?”

I openly told Kang Inhan and the others about my conversations with Jo Ilcheol and Griffin.

”...If nothing breaks down, the voyage will take about half a month.”

”Shouldn’t we inform the Philippine government?”

”There’s still plenty of time. We can notify them without rushing.”

”And what should we do about the three North Korean submarines?”

”I think we should consult with the Philippine side first.”

”I wonder if Vice Chairman Chen Zhihui realizes the submarines are already being watched?”

* * *

At that same time.

Vice Chairman Chen Zhihui was negotiating with Carlos, the leader of Abu Sayyaf.

”Late last night, three submarines carrying missiles and launchers departed North Korea.”

”Excellent! When will they arrive here?”

”The North Korean side estimates two weeks.”

”Two whole weeks?!”

”To avoid attracting the attention of South Korea and the United States, they’ll have to travel with heightened secrecy.”

”I see. But you’re certain they won’t be detected along the way?”

That question worried Chen Zhihui as well. The submarines transporting the cargo were, in truth, little more than scrap metal. However, he had no intention whatsoever of sharing his concerns with Carlos.

”Finding a submarine in the depths of the ocean is harder than finding a coin on a sandy beach. So put your fears out of your mind.”

”Your words reassure me, Vice Chairman Chen.”

”Now that the vessels are underway, transfer payment for the missiles.”

The sinking of the Silver Crystal had been blamed on the detonation of North Korean weapons. Chen Zhihui had promised to fully compensate Deputy Secretary Zhang Jinan for the losses. To raise the necessary money, he had pressured Carlos into ordering an enormous shipment of missiles. The agreement was simple: payment would be made as soon as the submarines departed a North Korean port. And now Carlos was suddenly backing out?

”You’re violating our agreement!”

”You have no right to reproach me, Vice Chairman Chen.”

”And why is that?!”

”I’ve already transferred payment for weapons to you in advance twice. Both times, I received nothing. You’ve failed twice in a row. After that, how can I be certain the missiles will even reach their destination?”

”Ahem!...”

Chen Zhihui could only grit his teeth. He had absolutely nothing he could say in response.