Chapter 325: Everyone Thinks Alike

Chairman Zhen Weiliang and the others went downstairs to see Deputy Secretary Zhang Jinan off. Afterward, they returned to the reception room and continued the conversation they had left unfinished.

“Vice President Wei, why do you think Deputy Secretary Zhang ran off in such a hurry, like a dog desperate to take a shit?”

“I believe it’s because he doesn’t have enough funds to purchase the gold.”

“Hmm... That’s a reasonable assumption.”

Bzzzt!

At that moment, General Manager Pan Kai’s cell phone, which was lying on the table, vibrated briefly. After quickly checking the text message, he immediately spoke.

“It’s a message from Department Head Cha. The cargo plane sent by the U.S. government has landed at Hong Kong International Airport.”

“Is that so? Call Department Head Cha and give me the phone.”

“Yes, sir.”

After answering briefly, General Manager Pan Kai called Cha Jiham, exchanged a few words with him, then handed the phone to Chairman Zhen Weiliang.

“Department Head Cha, Deputy Secretary Zhang just left.”

[He already left?!]

Chairman Zhen Weiliang understood perfectly well why Cha Jiham sounded surprised. Once negotiations involving a gold transaction began, they normally took at least three or four hours. Yet Deputy Secretary Zhang had left only half an hour after the negotiations began, so it was only natural for him to be taken aback.

“Deputy Secretary Zhang said he was tired, but it seems he simply doesn’t have enough money to buy the gold.”

[Ah, I see what you mean. Could you tell me what you discussed with him?]

“To test his reaction, I brought up Vice Chairman Chen’s death.”

Chairman Zhen Weiliang told Cha Jiham everything he had discussed with Deputy Secretary Zhang without leaving anything out.

[...He left saying that he would come back tomorrow.]

[Then he went to raise the money he’s short on?]

As if proving that everyone thought alike, Cha Jiham had reached exactly the same conclusion as Vice President Wei Chen.

“You’re right, Department Head Cha. By the way, do you think he’ll be able to raise the remaining amount?”

[If he gives up his seat on the Standing Committee, he’ll lose far too much.]

After exchanging a few more words with Cha Jiham, Chairman Zhen Weiliang ended the call. He returned the phone to General Manager Pan Kai and gave him an order.

“Go to the airport and collect the gold sent by the U.S. government.”

***

“Department Head Cha, what did you discuss with Chairman Zhen?”

The moment the call ended, Director Griffin asked curiously.

“Deputy Secretary Zhang left in the middle of the negotiations.”

“And what was the reason for his sudden departure?”

“Chairman Zhen believes he went back because he doesn’t have enough money, given how sharply gold prices have risen.”

“That sounds reasonable. Then when will the gold negotiations resume?”

“That depends on when Deputy Secretary Zhang can raise the money he’s short on.”

Director Griffin felt uneasy. He had expected the gold transaction between Chairman Zhen and Deputy Secretary Zhang to be completed sometime today. Based on that schedule, he had planned to leave for China tomorrow afternoon.

However, the situation had come to a standstill, and now no one knew exactly when the negotiations would resume. Since there was a possibility that the deal between the two might fall through, he couldn’t simply head off to China.

After explaining his thoughts, he asked Cha Jiham what they should do.

“Deputy Secretary Zhang is clinging to his seat on the Standing Committee with everything he has, so he won’t let the gold deal fall through.”

“Then can we still leave for China tomorrow afternoon as planned?”

“I don’t see any problem with that.”

“Then that’s what we’ll do.”

Leaving Director Griffin’s words behind, Cha Jiham called Vice President Cho Myeongsu. After several rings, his puzzled voice came through.

[Department Head Cha, what’s going on at this late hour?]

“The gold transaction between Chairman Zhen and Deputy Secretary Zhang has been postponed until tomorrow.”

[Why did that happen all of a sudden?]

“I don’t know the exact reason, but it appears to be related to the rapid rise in gold prices.”

[Ah, I see what you mean.]

“The price of gold must not rise any higher than its current level.”

[That instruction I don’t understand, Department Head.]

Vice President Cho Myeongsu was in charge of the gold futures task force. Naturally, the objective he had been given was to maximize investment profits.

And now I was ordering him to freeze gold futures prices, so of course he was confused.

“If futures prices soar, spot gold prices will rise proportionally as well.”

[Of course.]

“But there’s a limit to how much money Deputy Secretary Zhang can mobilize. If we push futures prices up too much, tomorrow’s deal will definitely fall through.”

[Ah, now I understand.]

“Please convey my opinion to Korea Investment, Hangang Group, and Bongard Investment Group.”

[All right. I’m busy, so I’m hanging up.]

Click.

The impatient Vice President Cho Myeongsu hung up first.

The moment Cha Jiham lowered the phone from his ear, Director Griffin spoke.

“Well then, shall we go have a late dinner?”

***

“Chairman, what’s so urgent that you called us here first thing in the morning?”

After sitting down on an empty sofa, Vice President Wei Chen addressed Chairman Zhen.

“Deputy Secretary Zhang contacted me early this morning and suggested that we meet at eight.”

“Does that mean he managed to raise the money to purchase the gold?”

“That would be the logical assumption.”

After answering, Chairman Zhen Weiliang turned toward General Manager Pan Kai.

“Did you check the gold price?”

“I checked ten minutes ago. It’s holding at the same level as last night.”

“The same as yesterday?”

“I was curious about that too, so I asked Department Head Cha. He said that if prices rise any further, Deputy Secretary Zhang might give up on buying. To be safe, they’re holding the price down.”

Chairman Zhen nodded in understanding and continued.

“There weren’t any problems when you collected the gold at the airport last night?”

“Thanks to the cooperation of the U.S. government, everything went smoothly.”

“Good work. Don’t tell me there was fake gold mixed in with it?”

“To be safe, I inspected every single bar.”

“And what were the results of the full inspection?”

“The refinery stamped on the bars is a world-renowned Swiss company. From what I can tell, the possibility that they’re fake is essentially zero.”

Chairman Zhen frowned skeptically.

There were well-known refineries in the United States as well. Yet for some reason, the U.S. government had obtained bars produced by a Swiss refinery.

He asked General Manager Pan Kai what he thought about it.

“Department Head Cha mentioned that Director Griffin purchased the gold in Switzerland.”

“Right! So that’s what happened.”

“But how would Department Head Cha know that?”

Vice President Wei Chen seemed to have begun understanding what was going on.

Gabriel had hidden an enormous amount of dollars and diamonds inside a secret room at his villa in Switzerland. Gold bars had most likely been stored there as well.

The Swiss government had probably confiscated those hidden bars and sold some of them to the U.S. authorities.

That was why Cha Jiham knew about it.

Wei Chen explained his reasoning in detail to Chairman Zhen and General Manager Pan Kai.

“Hmm... That sounds quite convincing.”

Knock, knock, knock.

At that moment, someone knocked on the door. The reception room door opened, and the secretary who entered reported that Deputy Secretary Zhang had arrived.

Chairman Zhen nodded and told him to let the guest in.

A moment later, Deputy Secretary Zhang entered the reception room after receiving permission.

Chairman Zhen, Vice President Wei Chen, and General Manager Pan Kai rose from their sofas to greet him.

“Deputy Secretary Zhang, what brings you here so early in the morning?”

“Chairman Zhen, you know perfectly well what situation I’m in.”

“Ha-ha. It seems I asked a pointless question. Let’s sit down and talk.”

No sooner had Chairman Zhen and the others settled onto the sofas than the secretary served tea.

After taking a sip, Deputy Secretary Zhang spoke curiously.

“Chairman Zhen, why aren’t gold prices falling?”

Chairman Zhen knew perfectly well why the price wasn’t changing.

However, he had no intention of sharing that knowledge with Deputy Secretary Zhang.

“I assume it’s because buyers and sellers are locked in a fierce struggle.”

“Then if selling pressure increases, the price could fall?”

“Of course, though we can’t rule out the opposite scenario either.”

“Naturally. What is your own opinion, Chairman?”

Chairman Zhen could see straight through what Deputy Secretary Zhang was thinking.

He was probably laying the groundwork so that he could complain later if prices fell.

Right now, Politburo member Liu Peiqi was threatening his life. His days could essentially be considered numbered.

That meant he wouldn’t be around later to make complaints even if he wanted to.

Even so, just in case, Chairman Zhen decided to give an answer that would please him.

“It seems most of the profit-taking has already run its course.”

“Are you saying gold prices will rise?”

“I believe there’s a high probability of that.”

“I see. By the way, is there any chance that some fake gold might be mixed into what I’m purchasing?”

Chairman Zhen turned his head toward General Manager Pan Kai.

As though understanding his intention, Pan Kai immediately spoke.

“Deputy Secretary Zhang, we will arrange things so that you can inspect every single bar using nondestructive testing.”

“Then there shouldn’t be any problem.”

Deputy Secretary Zhang and Chairman Zhen continued smoothly negotiating the gold transaction.

Before long, once all the terms of the deal had been agreed upon, Chairman Zhen called in a lawyer and explained every detail to him.

With the assistance of Vice President Wei Chen and General Manager Pan Kai, the lawyer began drafting the contract.

While waiting for the contract to be completed, Chairman Zhen and Deputy Secretary Zhang continued their conversation.

“Deputy Secretary Zhang, where have you set up Vice Chairman Chen’s memorial altar?”

“The body is currently undergoing an autopsy. I believe we should wait for the results first.”

“I see. Have they caught the bandits who did such a thing to Vice Chairman Chen?”

“I checked with the Philippine authorities this morning. They haven’t caught them yet.”

“Perhaps you should formally protest to the Philippine government?”

Deputy Secretary Zhang desperately wanted to do exactly that.

However, Vice Chairman Chen Zhihui’s hidden identity tied his hands.

Naturally, he couldn’t tell Chairman Zhen the truth directly.

“I’m carefully looking into that matter right now.”

Chairman Zhen immediately saw through the empty excuse.

After all, he knew Vice Chairman Chen’s true identity perfectly well.

The Philippine authorities surely knew as well.

If Zhang lodged an official protest, the Philippine government would gladly seize the opportunity to strike back.

In that case, he would lose far more than he gained.

And since he wasn’t a fool, there was little chance he would make an official diplomatic protest under the current circumstances.

“Take this opportunity to show the Philippines your teeth.”

“I certainly will.”

“Now, let’s move on to another matter. How do you intend to transport the gold you’re buying from me?”

“Why are you interested in that?”

Chairman Zhen suspected that Deputy Secretary Zhang might be planning to store the gold somewhere other than Beijing.

If that guess was correct, the plan devised by Cha Jiham would need to be adjusted.

That was why he had asked.

However, he couldn’t reveal his true reason, so he gave a different explanation.

“If I were Politburo member Liu Peiqi, I would definitely have my eye on the gold you’re buying from me.”

At that moment, a chill ran down Deputy Secretary Zhang’s spine.

Politburo member Liu Peiqi also knew that he was purchasing gold from Chairman Zhen.

Given Liu Peiqi’s vicious temperament, he might very well try to seize the gold.

“I completely agree with you, Chairman Zhen.”

“How about we deliver the gold by plane to an airport near your destination, just to be safe?”

“You can do that?”

“Of course. I only ask that you cover the transportation costs, Deputy Secretary.”

“Naturally. Deliver the gold to Daxing International Airport on the outskirts of Beijing.”

“Not Beijing Capital International Airport?”

“I’ll be storing the gold at a certain location in Langfang.”

“Ah, I see.”

Just as Chairman Zhen nodded, Vice President Wei Chen spoke.

“Chairman Zhen, the contract is ready.”