Chapter 319: The Scheme Finally Revealed

In the end, things unfolded exactly as I had expected.

“Vice Chairman Wei, there’s only one reason Director Pu’s subordinates would be tailing Deputy Secretary Zhang Jinan, isn’t there?”

[I was thinking the same thing, Director Cha. What do you think will happen from here?]

“Politburo Member Liu will wait until Deputy Secretary Zhang purchases Chairman Zhen Weiliang’s gold.”

[You mean that bastard intends to seize by force the six tons of gold Deputy Secretary Zhang plans to buy from Chairman Zhen as well?]

“If I were Politburo Member Liu, that’s exactly what I would do.”

[Shouldn’t we give Deputy Secretary Zhang a hint so he can prepare, just in case?]

At this crucial point, my thinking differed from Vice Chairman Wei Chen’s.

“For Vice Chairman Tang Guochang’s coup to succeed, both Politburo Member Liu and Deputy Secretary Zhang need to be eliminated.”

[It sounds like you’re saying we shouldn’t help Deputy Secretary Zhang. Am I understanding you correctly?]

“You’re absolutely right, Vice Chairman Wei.”

[But if we do that, won’t it increase Politburo Member Liu’s chances of becoming a Standing Committee member?]

“As I’ve told you repeatedly, he will never get that Standing Committee seat.”

[Understood. By the way, are you really planning to just let that bastard take Deputy Secretary Zhang’s gold?]

“Why would I do that?”

[Looks like my guess was right again. I’d very much like to hear what clever plan you have in mind.]

I already had an idea for how to crush Politburo Member Liu Peiqi’s treacherous scheme, but it wasn’t perfect.

So I planned to explain it to everyone and hear their opinions.

After sharing my thoughts with Vice Chairman Wei Chen, I asked him to visit Korea.

[I’d like to visit Korea myself, but I don’t have a visa.]

“I’ll take care of the visa issue.”

[In that case, I have no reason to refuse a trip to Korea.]

“Good. Please wait a little.”

Click.

As soon as I ended the call, I immediately dialed NIS Director Om Giyeon.

After several rings, his puzzled voice came through.

[Director Cha, what happened at this late hour?]

“Director Om, it’s been confirmed that Politburo Member Liu Peiqi hasn’t given up on a Standing Committee seat.”

[Are you saying he managed to secure the funds needed to purchase Chairman Zhen Weiliang’s six tons of gold?]

“No. He intends to seize Deputy Secretary Zhang Jinan’s gold by force.”

[What did you say?!]

NIS Director Om Giyeon’s voice thundered over the phone as if he were genuinely shocked.

“Vice Chairman Wei contacted me a little while ago.”

[Tell me through what channel you obtained this information.]

“I spoke with Chairman Zhen on the phone this morning.”

I gave NIS Director Om Giyeon a detailed account of my conversations with Chairman Zhen Weiliang and Vice Chairman Wei Chen.

“...Some time ago, Director Pu Zhenghua’s subordinates began tailing Deputy Secretary Zhang Jinan.”

[Hmm. In that case, the possibility of a robbery is extremely high...]

“I invited Vice Chairman Wei Chen to Korea so we could discuss countermeasures, but he doesn’t have a visa.”

[I’ll take care of the visa issue myself, so you don’t need to worry about it, Director Cha.]

“I’m counting on you, Director. I’ll hang up now.”

[Wait a moment.]

NIS Director Om Giyeon stopped me just as I was about to end the call.

“Is there something else you need to tell me?”

[When you mentioned visa-free entry, were you thinking that you might be able to visit China yourself?]

“I won’t deny it.”

[We can coordinate everything from Korea. Is there really any need for you to personally go to China, Director Cha?]

“Unexpected circumstances could arise when Politburo Member Liu forcibly takes Deputy Secretary Zhang’s gold. If that happens, the problem will have to be dealt with on-site.”

[Now I understand what you mean. Visa-free entry is scheduled to begin early next month.]

“Is there any way to get a visa sooner?”

[If you submit the application tomorrow morning, I’ll make arrangements so it’s issued within twenty-four hours.]

“Understood.”

Click.

After ending the call, I gave Chief Secretary Kang Inhan an order.

“We need to apply for entry visas to China tomorrow morning.”

“How many people are you planning to take with you?”

“I think about five, including you, Chief Kang, should be enough.”

“Five is too few. Let’s make it ten.”

“Do that. And tell Vice Chairman Wei that Director Om is handling the visa issue.”

Chief Secretary Kang Inhan called Vice Chairman Wei Chen and relayed my message.

“Director Cha, Vice Chairman Wei asked me to convey his thanks.”

“Ha ha ha. Understood.”

With a faint chuckle, I turned to Vice President Cho Myeongsu.

“Would you like me to tell you how to maximize the return on our gold investment?”

“Of course! Tell me quickly.”

“You need to buy gold futures as soon as possible.”

There was an implicit meaning in Cha Jiham’s words: complete the purchase of the gold futures immediately.

“I understand what you’re getting at.”

“Keep in mind that under no circumstances can other investors suspect anything.”

“You have absolutely nothing to worry about on that front.”

Vice President Cho Myeongsu was one of Chairman Park Yeongil’s trusted men.

If someone who had Chairman Park’s complete trust was this confident, was there any reason for me to worry?

“I’m leaving it entirely in your hands, Vice President Cho.”

“Do that. I’m in a hurry, so I’ll be going.”

Vice President Cho Myeongsu abruptly rose from the sofa and hurried outside.

Chief Secretary Kang Inhan glanced after him before turning to me.

“Director Cha, shouldn’t we start wrapping things up as well so the other executives can go home?”

***

“Why are you so late?”

Mother opened the front door and asked anxiously.

“There was a lot going on at work. By the way, where’s Saho?”

“He ran off to the mountain behind the house. He’s busy catching chipmunks.”

“I see. I’m going upstairs to get some rest.”

Just then, hearing footsteps, Cha Hyeonji came down from the second floor and spoke in an exaggeratedly sweet voice.

“Oppa~ You’re home.”

“What’s with that tone?”

“Geez, you’re so dry and cold. No wonder you still don’t have a girlfriend.”

“I told you, I don’t have a girlfriend because I’m too busy.”

“Sure. As they say, the guilty dog barks first. That fits you perfectly.”

Grandfather and Grandmother, who lived in the countryside, were also highly interested in my marriage.

Naturally, Mother was extremely concerned about it as well.

I felt the need to change the subject before Mother joined in.

“Hyeonji, I’ve got some great news. Want to hear it?”

“Could it be... Oppa, you decided to put in a good word for me?”

“Sorry, but no.”

“Then what?”

Cha Hyeonji’s voice instantly turned rough with disappointment.

“They increased the number of new hires from one hundred to two hundred.”

“Whether it’s one hundred or two hundred, there isn’t much difference.”

A total of 10,500 people had applied for jobs at KBH Investment.

So even with the hiring quota raised to two hundred, it still didn’t offer much of an advantage.

That was why Cha Hyeonji didn’t react with much enthusiasm.

I saw it differently.

“The competition dropped from one in a hundred to one in fifty, and you’re saying that’s nothing?”

I answered indifferently and went up to the third floor.

After taking a refreshing shower, I came out into the bedroom and found Saho lying on the bed, though I had no idea when he had returned.

I slapped Saho lightly on the rump.

“Go wash up. Now.”

Whoosh—

Just as Saho waddled toward the bathroom, my phone vibrated on the bed.

I checked the screen and saw that CIA Director Griffin was calling.

I had something to discuss with him anyway, so I figured the timing was perfect and answered.

“Director Griffin, I’m listening.”

[Director Cha, I just spoke with Vice President Cayman.]

Director Griffin was referring to the CIA “black agent” currently operating in Beijing.

To confirm whether my guess was correct, I asked him directly.

“You mean Neil Cayman?”

[That’s right, Director Cha.]

“Can you tell me what you and Vice President Cayman discussed?”

[He went to the bar of a hotel in central Beijing to have a drink with an acquaintance and happened to spot Director Liu Haoran and Director Pu Zhenghua drinking together.]

“Do you know what they were talking about?”

[They were speaking quietly, so he couldn’t hear them. However, some Triad members he recognized were sitting at a nearby table. Can you explain what’s happening right now?]

“The Triad members are keeping Director Liu and Director Pu under surveillance.”

[Why are they watching Director Pu?]

“Politburo Member Liu Peiqi is planning to seize someone’s gold by force.”

I told Director Griffin everything that was happening in China without holding anything back.

“...Director Liu asked Director Pu to take the gold by force.”

[Well, that’s outright daylight robbery. Whose gold is Director Liu after?]

“Director Pu’s subordinates are currently tailing Deputy Secretary Zhang Jinan.”

[What did you say?!]

Director Griffin’s reaction was exactly the same as NIS Director Om Giyeon’s.

“Vice Chairman Wei Chen is coming to Korea tomorrow so we can discuss countermeasures.”

[Understood. I’m very busy, so I’ll hang up for now.]

Click.

Director Griffin unilaterally ended the call.

“Good grief. Director Griffin will probably fly to Korea tomorrow too.”

***

Director Liu Haoran and Public Security Bureau Chief Pu Zhenghua continued drinking as they chatted leisurely.

“Director Liu, approximately how much gold does Deputy Secretary Zhang have?”

“I don’t know the exact amount, but from what I’ve heard, around fifteen tons.”

“That’s quite a lot. But if he keeps the gold in a bank vault, we won’t be able to take it.”

Director Liu Haoran had been worried about the same thing.

Bank vault security was extremely tight, so no matter how much they wanted to, they couldn’t simply seize the gold by force.

That was why he had first used every connection at his disposal to find out whether Deputy Secretary Zhang Jinan kept the gold at a bank.

Fortunately, he did not keep it in a bank vault.

“It’s been confirmed that Deputy Secretary Zhang stores the gold somewhere other than a bank.”

“That’s good news.”

“We should be able to find out exactly where he’s hiding it very soon.”

“How?”

“He’s going to purchase six tons of gold from Chairman Zhen.”

Public Security Bureau Chief Pu Zhenghua immediately understood what Director Liu Haoran meant.

Deputy Secretary Zhang Jinan was surely keeping the gold he already possessed somewhere in Beijing.

Once he purchased Chairman Zhen Weiliang’s gold, he would immediately transport it to that storage location.

In other words, all they had to do was follow him, and discovering where the gold was stored would be surprisingly easy.

Wanting to confirm whether his deduction was correct, Pu Zhenghua cautiously asked,

“So that’s what you’re planning?”

“Your guess is correct, Director Pu.”

“And when does Deputy Secretary Zhang plan to buy Chairman Zhen’s gold?”

“No matter how long he drags it out, it’ll happen sometime this week.”

Public Security Bureau Chief Pu Zhenghua nodded and raised his glass to his lips.

After draining it in one gulp, he set the empty glass down and asked meaningfully,

“Director Liu, what if we use this opportunity to eliminate Deputy Secretary Zhang Jinan as well?”

At that moment, the suggestion sounded extremely tempting to Director Liu Haoran.

Politburo Member Liu Peiqi and Deputy Secretary Zhang Jinan were bitter enemies locked in a fierce struggle over a Standing Committee seat.

If Deputy Secretary Zhang were eliminated, securing the Standing Committee position would become much easier.

As an added bonus, they would no longer have to offer President Xi Jinping as much as twenty tons of gold.

Given the situation, there was not a single reason for him to reject Director Pu Zhenghua’s proposal.

“Excellent. Let’s use the opportunity to get rid of Deputy Secretary Zhang as well.”

“Ha ha. Understood. Now, let’s talk about something else.”

“I’m listening.”

“If I carry out your request flawlessly, Director Liu, what reward will I receive?”

In truth, Director Liu Haoran intended to get rid of Director Pu Zhenghua as soon as he had fulfilled his role.

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

But he had absolutely no intention of telling Pu that.

“My brother said he would give you two rewards, Director Pu.”

“I’m all ears.”

“First, he promised to transfer you to the position of Public Security Bureau Chief overseeing all of Beijing. Second, he’ll give you a portion of Deputy Secretary Zhang’s gold—two tons.”

At that moment, something unexpected happened.

Public Security Bureau Chief Pu Zhenghua abruptly rose from his seat and bowed respectfully to Director Liu Haoran.

“Director Liu, I will serve Politburo Member Liu with absolute loyalty!”

“Ha ha ha! Understood. Now sit back down.”

With a satisfied grin, Director Liu Haoran raised his glass to his lips.