TL: EKID
Office of the 1st Deputy Director of the National Intelligence Service of the South Korea.
Nam Won-bong, the Deputy Director overseeing the foreign division of the NIS, had been in a very foul mood lately.
The reason was none other than the newly established drug task force by the government earlier this year.
When the President, who had taken office last year, saw his approval rating continue to fall, he declared a war on drugs during a New Year’s press conference at the beginning of the year. It was a move by the President to somehow regain public support.
Since the President himself promised the public a war on drugs during the live broadcasted press conference, a drug task force under the Prime Minister’s Office was set up immediately after the press conference.
The drug task force under the Prime Minister included the Ministry of Justice overseeing the prosecution and customs, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety supervising the police, as well as the National Tax Service and the NIS.
Considering that drug distribution was part of an illegal trade network extending overseas, it was only natural for the NIS to be involved in the task force.
Up to this point, there was no problem.
The problem arose when the NIS assigned Kim Yong-won, the 2nd Deputy Director in charge of the domestic division, to the drug task force.
How could the domestic division represent the NIS in this matter?
Moreover, wasn’t Kim Yong-won, who was in charge of the domestic division, a rival of Nam Won-bong for the next NIS Director position?
Nam Won-bong felt as though he had been stabbed in the back by the NIS Director.
“He sure takes good care of his high school junior.”
Kim Yong-won, the Deputy Director for the domestic division, was a high school junior of the NIS Director. It wasn’t the first time the NIS Director favored the domestic division.
“I’m not going to let this one go.”
Nam Won-bong was also a man with a strong desire for success and competitiveness. If he were the type to just let things go for the sake of peace, he, a former Black Agent, would never have risen to the position of Deputy Director.
He immediately went to see the NIS Director.
Office of the Director of the National Intelligence Service of the South Korea.
“The prosecution, police, National Tax Service, and customs are already handling domestic affairs, so why is the NIS domestic division also participating in the drug task force? Clearly, it should be the NIS foreign division that is involved.”
Nam Won-bong strongly asserted to the NIS Director that he should be the one to join the drug task force.
Woo Deok-geun, the NIS Director, was appointed to his position solely because he had been the President’s aide. He had never dealt with NIS-related work in his life. He was an indecisive man tied to his desk.
“As you know, the drug task force is a one-time organization created because of the President’s approval rating. Why would someone like you, responsible for the heavy burden of foreign operations, want to take on such a bothersome job?”
‘Why, you ask? To get into the President’s good graces and become the next NIS Director or a member of the National Assembly. Do you think I don’t know you’re backing the domestic division?’
Nam Won-bong thought this to himself while listening to the NIS Director, who was trying to soothe him. His expression remained just as displeased as it was when he had first entered the Director’s office.
“There’s a lot of dissatisfaction in the foreign division.”
A subtle threat.
It was a strategy that worked well on desk-bound bureaucrats.
“Please understand just this once. I’ve already reported the personnel appointment to the President. Next time, I promise you’ll be my top priority.”
“You do know that I’m a former Black Agent who worked the field from the bottom up, right? In this business, there’s no such thing as next time.”
“Trust me and focus on your foreign operations. I’m asking you.”
Nam Won-bong had a lot of complaints, but this was as good as a verbal promise. If he pushed further, his relationship with the NIS Director could be damaged. That was not something Nam himself wanted.
“There aren’t many trustworthy colleagues in the field. I’ll reserve my trust in you for when a so-called ‘next time’ actually comes around.”
Nam Won-bong left the NIS Director’s office after saying that.
This incident took place in January.
Then, in March of this year, a cooperation request from the drug task force was delivered to the foreign division through the NIS Director.
There was intelligence suggesting that drugs produced in North Korea were entering Incheon via Chinese drug organizations, and they were requesting the collection of evidence through local agents in Dandong City.
“The bear does the tricks but the handler takes the money.”
Deputy Director Nam Won-bong was furious at this time too.
However, since the request came through the NIS Director, he couldn’t refuse.
“Yong-won, that bastard, knows I wouldn’t do it if he asked me directly.”
Deputy Director Nam assigned the task to Foreign Team 3, which was in charge of China.
But during the process of verifying the transaction between North Korean and Chinese drug organizations, two foreign agents were killed and one went missing.
Having lost overseas agents that he had carefully cultivated for 10 to 20 years because of work that brought no recognition, Deputy Director Nam Won-bong couldn’t be at ease.
“The more I think about it, the angrier I get.”
From that point on, just hearing the words “drug task force” made Deputy Director Nam’s blood boil.
The securephone on Nam Won-bong’s desk rang. When he pressed the button, his secretary’s voice came through.
“Team Leader Moon Dong-ryul from Foreign Team 3 is here to see you. He says it’s an urgent report.”
“Let him in.”
Team Leader Moon Dong-ryul of Foreign Team 3 entered holding a report folder and sat down on the sofa.
Usually, Team Leader Moon would briefly report while standing in front of Nam’s desk and then leave quickly. The fact that he sat on the sofa meant this was an important report.
Deputy Director Nam stood up from his chair and moved over to the sofa.
“What’s with the serious tone?”
As soon as Deputy Director Nam sat on the sofa, Team Leader Moon pulled a photograph from the report folder and placed it in front of him.
“What’s this?”
“This photo was taken by our agents when Kim Jong-un visited Beijing to meet President Xi Jinping two years ago. In the photo, you can see Kim Jong-un’s Mercedes moving through downtown Beijing, right?”
“Stop teasing and just get to the point.”
“Please take a look at the marked sedan behind it.”
There were vehicles following the Mercedes that Kim Jong-un was riding. One of them was marked with a white circle.
“It’s too small to even see.”
Deputy Director Nam stared at the car in the photo through his glasses and spoke.
“If you’re going to show a photo to an old man like me, you should at least have it printed larger. Tsk tsk.”
Unbothered by Nam’s grumbling, Team Leader Moon indifferently pulled out another photo.
“This photo was taken when Russian Minister Lavrov visited Beijing. This one also has a circled Volvo vehicle in it.”
“Enough with the buildup. Just get to the main point.”
Deputy Director Nam spoke while only glancing at the second photo.
Nam Won-bong knew well the capabilities of Team Leader Moon Dong-ryul. If a reserved man like him said this much, it meant there was something big.
Team Leader Moon pulled out another photo and placed it in front of Nam.
“This photo was taken when the Iranian Finance Minister visited Beijing. The Volvo vehicle appears here as well.”
“!”
“I believe the person in the Volvo vehicle is the head of Office 39.”
Thud.
The head of Office 39!
If Team Leader Moon’s words were true, this was no ordinary matter.
It was top-tier intelligence that even the CIA would drool over.
Team Leader Moon laid the final photo on the desk.
“This morning, the Volvo car crossed the Yalu River Bridge.”
Deputy Director Nam Won-bong, who had been leaning back in his chair, leaned forward to take a closer look at the photo.
There was indeed a Volvo car crossing the Yalu River Bridge.
“If what you’re saying is true…”
“We’ve seized the perfect opportunity to identify the head of Office 39.”
“Puhahaha, excellent. Very good.”
Deputy Director Nam burst out in hearty laughter for the first time in a while.
“Mobilize all agents in Dandong and track this person no matter what. We must confirm his identity.”
Identifying who the head of Office 39 was would mean obtaining intelligence of immense value. The United States would immediately ask the NIS to share the information.
Just the thought of it excited Deputy Director Nam.
“These days, there’s a rumor in The Company that you’re falling behind the 2nd Deputy Director.”
Deputy Director Nam’s eyes widened at Team Leader Moon’s mention of the 2nd Deputy Director.
“Who’s going around saying such nonsense?!”
Team Leader Moon smiled and continued speaking.
“Once the operation ends, I plan to leak this information to the DIA Director at the U.S. Embassy. That’ll get both the Director and you summoned by the DIA. With this one move, everyone will know who the real No. 2 of the NIS is.”
“!”
That was entirely plausible.
But to make that happen, there was still work to be done.
“Even if we photograph the person in the Volvo, it’ll take time to verify that he’s the head of Office 39.”
“I’m thinking of kidnapping him.”
“What?”
“We don’t know how long he’ll stay in Dandong. A day, maybe two? There’s no time.”
“Kidnapping…”
Deputy Director Nam Won-bong was seriously deliberating.
“If this goes wrong, it could cause a diplomatic issue with China.”
“It’s an operation worth the risk. The person in the Volvo may not be the head of Office 39. But at the very least, he’s certainly a high-ranking official within the top three of the Office 39’s hierarchy.”
That was a reasonable assumption, given he was meeting the finance ministers of Russia and Iran. He could very well be the elusive head of Office 39.
“If we carry out the operation, what’s the success rate?”
“I’d say around 20 percent.”
“You know we’re short on agents in Dandong, right?”
“Of course. I plan to send agents stationed in Dalian and Shenyang to Dandong today. The operation will be executed tomorrow.”
Deputy Director Nam didn’t hesitate for long.
If this operation succeeded, it would put in their hands the figure the United States desperately wanted. With American support, the 2nd Deputy Director who oversaw the domestic division would never be able to surpass him.
“Proceed. I’ll give you full support, so make sure the operation succeeds.”
Team Leader Moon Dong-ryul opened the report folder. He had already prepared the operation proposal.
“You really came fully prepared.”
“Time is of the essence. Hahaha.”
Deputy Director Nam signed the proposal.
He was so full of energy that one would never have guessed he’d been disgruntled for a while.
‘If this succeeds, the next NIS Director position is mine.’
Deputy Director Nam was grinning from ear to ear.
***
Dding!
A notification text came from the <Yellow Rudbeckia> site.
When logging into the site, the message inbox was marked with a ‘1’.
[Urgent, go immediately to <Forest Path Bar> to receive Dove No. 1 command, come armed and bring camera.]
That was the entire message.
I came out to the living room and went to F9 hyung.
“I got a message from The Company.”
“I just got one too.”
“Bar?”
F9 hyung nodded.
“The car photographed this morning must have been the target.”
“That’s odd. They wouldn’t normally call someone like you in.”
“Since it says to bring a camera, it must be another surveillance mission.”
I had a feeling this was related to Target No. 4.
“It says go immediately, so get ready.”
“Just a second.”
I was worried about the Brown Bear Gang locked up in the back room.
‘What if I don’t come back until tomorrow? What’ll happen to the Brown Bear Gang in that room?’
I filled a water container from beside the sink and carried it into the room where the Brown Bear Gang was held.
The thugs in the room looked terrible. Having starved all day while tied up, they all looked completely drained. They were lying tangled together in the cramped space. The room reeked of urine.
I removed the tape stuck over their mouths. Then I cut the cable ties binding their hands behind their backs and re-fastened them in front.
“Just hang in there a bit longer. If you stay quiet, I’ll let you go soon.”
The Brown Bear Gang members gulped down the water desperately.
“If you’re the kind of punks who come storming in with knives, you should be able to endure this much. Remember, you’d better act like dead mice.”
I tossed a box of instant noodles into the room and locked the door again.
‘It’d be a problem if they starved to death in my ops room.’
Meanwhile, F9 hyung had already finished getting ready. He had his gun bag slung over his shoulder and was carrying a Boston bag.
“Tsk tsk, you’re too soft.”
F9 hyung looked at me with disappointment.
I gave a shrug of my shoulders and quickly got ready to head out.
I put on a waterproof Gortex military parka that came down to my knees and strapped a backpack over it. Inside the backpack were a camera bag and a pistol.
I switched the alarm to “away” mode and locked the editing room door.
“Let’s go.”
F9 hyung and I stepped out through the fourth-floor entrance.