Chapter 293: Dreaming Doesn’t Hurt

The next day, in the afternoon.

We headed to Mindanao Island aboard Director Griffin's private jet.

Looking through the small window at the panorama of Manila visible through the cumulus clouds, Chief Secretary Kang Inhan turned his head and asked me,

“Minister Fernando and Director Santiago stayed behind in Manila?”

Earlier, Defense Minister Fernando and Director Santiago had said they would fly to Mindanao Island aboard Director Griffin's plane. Contrary to expectations, however, neither of them had boarded, which was why Kang Inhan asked the question with a puzzled expression.

“They left for Mindanao Island early this morning.”

“Do you know why they left so early?”

“Minister Fernando went there to personally observe the training exercises for dropping KGGB bombs from FA-50PH light attack aircraft.”

“And Director Santiago?”

“He flew out to meet with the FBI agents who are keeping Vice Chairman Chen Zhihui and Abu Sayyaf leader Carlos under surveillance.”

“I see. Will the FA-50PH light attack aircraft our country supplied to the Philippines be able to carry out the bombing mission flawlessly?”

“Chief Kang, may I answer that?”

NIS Director Om Giyeon, who had been listening to our conversation, suddenly joined in.

“Of course they can.”

“Several years ago, Abu Sayyaf seized a region called Marawi, located in the north-central part of Mindanao Island. Philippine government forces immediately surrounded Marawi and launched an operation to eliminate the group. However, because of Abu Sayyaf's fierce resistance, they were unable to achieve any meaningful results for quite some time.”

“I remember that incident. What happened afterward?”

“Once they realized Abu Sayyaf had no air-defense capabilities, the Philippine government forces decided to deploy fighter aircraft. But because of the pilots' lack of experience, erroneous bombing strikes kept occurring, claiming the lives of many innocent local residents.”

“Good grief...”

Sympathizing with the tragedy, Chief Secretary Kang Inhan let out a heavy sigh.

“When public discontent reached its limit, the Philippine government forces decided to entrust the bombing missions exclusively to the FA-50PH light attack aircraft they had just received from our country.”

“And what was the result?”

“The FA-50PHs dropped their bombs precisely on target, and the explosions wiped out Abu Sayyaf's entire leadership. Having lost their command structure, the militants who had seized Marawi fled into the jungle.”

“So the FA-50PHs turned the tide of the fighting.”

“Exactly. The success of the FA-50PH light attack aircraft was covered by media outlets around the world. After proving their effectiveness, the FA-50s were successfully exported to numerous countries.”

“So you're saying that proving a new weapon's combat capabilities in actual operations is crucial?”

“You're absolutely right, Chief Kang. That's precisely why our country is providing the Philippines with KGGB bombs free of charge.”

At that moment, Vice Chairman Wei Chen returned from the restroom, sat back down in his seat, and quietly asked,

“Leader Cha, what are Director Om and Chief Kang talking about?”

NIS Director Om Giyeon and Chief Secretary Kang Inhan had been speaking in Korean, so naturally Wei Chen couldn't understand what they were discussing.

“They were discussing the FA-50PH light attack aircraft.”

“I see. By the way, will the KGGBs be enough to completely flatten the Abu Sayyaf base?”

“The KGGB is an extremely precise GPS-guided bomb. As long as the FA-50PH pilots don't make a mistake, they'll hit the target with absolute precision.”

“All we can do is hope the FA-50PH pilots don't miss.”

“Minister Fernando is personally overseeing the FA-50PH pilots' training, so there shouldn't be any mistakes.”

“Ah, so that's why he traveled separately from us?”

“That's exactly right, Vice Chairman Wei.”

Waiting until our conversation had ended, NIS Director Om Giyeon spoke up.

“Vice Chairman Wei, how is the gold deal between Chairman Zhen Weiliang and Politburo member Liu Peiqi progressing?”

“I'm curious about that as well.”

Following Director Om Giyeon, Director Griffin joined the conversation.

Vice Chairman Wei Chen closed his eyes briefly as though gathering his thoughts before speaking.

“Director Om, how much do you know?”

“I know that Politburo member Liu is negotiating to purchase nine tons of gold bars belonging to Chairman Zhen.”

“One part of what you said needs correcting, Director Om.”

“And what would that be?”

“Chairman Zhen has decided to sell Politburo member Liu fourteen tons of gold bars.”

Politburo member Liu Peiqi had purchased 680 diamonds from Chairman Zhen Weiliang for fifteen billion dollars.

That amount included the three billion dollars he had borrowed from Vice Chairman Wei Chen.

Dreaming of securing a seat on the Standing Committee, he had presented the diamonds he purchased to Chairman Xi Jinping.

However, because of interference from me and Vice Chairman Tang Guochang, Chairman Xi Jinping had given him a severe dressing-down.

When he tried to confront Chairman Zhen Weiliang afterward, he only humiliated himself further and accomplished nothing.

To protect himself just in case, Chairman Zhen Weiliang settled the matter by buying the diamonds back for seven billion dollars.

Still unwilling to give up hope of obtaining a seat on the Standing Committee, Liu Peiqi decided to present Chairman Xi Jinping with gold.

However, with the seven billion dollars he had on hand, he could only purchase nine tons of gold.

And now it suddenly turned out that he intended to purchase a full fourteen tons from Chairman Zhen Weiliang.

Realizing that this was something I couldn't simply ignore, I addressed Vice Chairman Wei Chen.

“Vice Chairman Wei, where did Politburo member Liu get the money to purchase another five tons of gold?”

“Last Monday evening, Politburo member Liu secretly met with Xi Jinping's personal secretary, Deng Zhiping.”

“Are you saying he borrowed it from him?”

“That's the only way Politburo member Liu could have obtained the 4.5 billion dollars needed to purchase the gold bars.”

“It seems Secretary Deng Zhiping has rather impressive financial resources?”

“According to our information, he has a fortune of approximately twenty billion dollars.”

“That's an enormous sum. What collateral did Liu provide Secretary Deng Zhiping to obtain the money?”

Vice Chairman Wei Chen himself was burning with curiosity about that very question.

To purchase the diamonds, Politburo member Liu Peiqi had already borrowed three billion dollars from him, putting up all the real estate belonging to his younger brother, Director Liu Haoran, as collateral.

Therefore, on the surface, he had no collateral left to offer Secretary Deng Zhiping.

And yet he had somehow managed to borrow the enormous sum of 4.5 billion dollars from Secretary Deng Zhiping.

“I have no idea.”

At that moment, a certain possibility flashed through my mind.

I needed to check whether I was right.

“Chief Kang, please bring Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol here.”

“Wait a moment.”

Director Griffin stopped Chief Secretary Kang Inhan before he could move.

Not immediately understanding the reason, Kang Inhan stared at him questioningly.

“I think we'd better continue this conversation in the conference room rather than here.”

“Ah...”

Chief Secretary Kang Inhan nodded, finally realizing what he meant.

Together with Director Griffin, we moved to the conference room located in the rear section of the private jet.

Before long, Kang Inhan brought Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol inside.

Taking an empty chair, he addressed me with a concerned expression.

“Leader Cha, I was told you were looking for me.”

“Yes, I have an urgent question for you, Deputy Director.”

After briefly explaining to Jo Ilcheol the information I had received from Vice Chairman Wei Chen, I brought up the point I was curious about.

“...What do you think Politburo member Liu offered Secretary Deng Zhiping as collateral?”

“Could it be...”

Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol hesitated as though the same thought had occurred to him.

Naturally, I knew perfectly well what he was thinking.

“Exactly that ‘could it be.’ Can you check whether that's really the case?”

“Give me a moment.”

Jo Ilcheol picked up his phone from the table and left the conference room.

Watching him leave, Director Griffin impatiently asked me,

“Leader Cha, what's going on?”

“Our assumption may turn out to be wrong. So let's wait a little.”

“Then at least tell me this: who did Deputy Director Jo go to call?”

“Most likely Major General Lee Cheolsung, who headed the hacking organization in Dandong.”

“Ah... Now I understand.”

Some time later, Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol returned.

Sitting down in an empty seat, he spoke in a calm voice.

“Leader Cha, I just spoke with Major General Lee Cheolsung.”

“Then our guess was correct. I'm very curious to hear what you discussed.”

“Politburo member Liu approached RGB Director Kim Changho and asked him to raise the cash-out commission to forty percent.”

Politburo member Liu Peiqi converted cryptocurrency stolen through hacking attacks by the RGB into dollars, taking thirty percent of the amount as his commission.

That was what Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol was talking about now.

“And what excuse did Politburo member Liu give for demanding that the commission be raised by a full ten percent?”

“He claimed that the money was needed as an offering to Chairman Xi Jinping.”

Through hacking attacks, North Korea's RGB stole approximately three billion dollars' worth of cryptocurrency every year.

Of that amount, Politburo member Liu Peiqi took roughly nine hundred million dollars as his commission.

Raising the commission by ten percentage points would amount to three hundred million dollars.

However, Chairman Xi Jinping possessed an astronomical secret slush fund.

Why would he take such a risk for a mere three hundred million dollars?

Considering that, Politburo member Liu Peiqi had unquestionably lied to Director Kim.

“So that extra ten-percent commission will go straight into Secretary Deng Zhiping's pocket.”

“I completely agree with you on that point, Leader Cha.”

At that moment, NIS Director Om Giyeon, burning with curiosity, asked me,

“Leader Cha, did Politburo member Liu really borrow 4.5 billion dollars from Secretary Deng Zhiping?”

If Politburo member Liu paid Secretary Deng Zhiping three hundred million dollars a year, it would take fifteen years to repay the debt.

That was precisely why NIS Director Om Giyeon doubted that he had borrowed the entire 4.5 billion dollars.

“Politburo member Liu borrowed 4.5 billion dollars from Secretary Deng Zhiping, and that ten-percent exchange commission is most likely the interest on the loan.”

“That sounds quite plausible. But how does he intend to repay Secretary Deng Zhiping?”

“If he's elected to the Standing Committee, building a 4.5-billion-dollar secret slush fund won't be difficult for him.”

“Haha, he sure dreams big! Well, dreaming doesn't hurt.”

“Hahaha! You can say that again!”

Everyone in the conference room, myself included, burst into loud laughter.

When our laughter subsided, Director Griffin addressed Vice Chairman Wei Chen.

“Has the gold deal between Chairman Zhen and Politburo member Liu already been finalized?”

Vice Chairman Wei Chen shook his head and answered Director Griffin's question.

“The negotiations are still ongoing because of disagreements over the price.”

“What terms are the two sides demanding?”

“Chairman Zhen insists on a three-percent discount from the LBMA price, while Politburo member Liu is holding firm at five percent.”

“And what outcome do you think they'll ultimately reach, Vice Chairman Wei?”

“Both sides are holding extremely firm positions, so it's difficult for me to say.”

Leaving Wei Chen's answer at that, Director Griffin asked me,

“What do you think, Leader Cha?”

“Chairman Zhen is the only one who has no reason to hurry. Politburo member Liu, on the other hand, has the ground burning beneath his feet.”

Cha Jiham's answer implied that Politburo member Liu would ultimately have to give in.

Director Griffin, however, had a different opinion.

“But couldn't Politburo member Liu simply buy the gold from someone else?”

“In Hong Kong, Chairman Zhen is the only person capable of procuring fourteen tons of gold. On top of that, global gold prices are continuously rising. So Politburo member Liu will have no choice but to tuck his tail between his legs.”

“Hmm, now I understand. By the way, if Liu presents Chairman Xi with those fourteen tons of gold, will he be able to secure a seat on the Standing Committee?”

“Considering that he's already fallen out of Chairman Xi's favor, that's impossible.”

“But he's planning to present Chairman Xi with a total of twenty tons of gold.”

Vice Chairman Wei Chen spoke after me.

“To purchase another six tons of gold, Politburo member Liu would need about five billion dollars, wouldn't he?”

“He's planning to take the money from the late former Director Guo Yeongjun.”

“Hahahahaha!”

Director Griffin responded to Vice Chairman Wei Chen's witty answer with booming laughter.