Perfect Mission Chapter 24 - Wolf and Gorilla (2) 

Chapter 24 – Wolf and Gorilla (2)

Should he be happy or disappointed? The secret stash buried underground was a bit of a letdown. He thought he’d find important things like guns, but the musty, damp smell that hit him when he lifted the metal plate was the real anticlimax.

‘This bastard was planning to flee the country.’

Mortar was probably testing the waters. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have hoarded gold bars. Gold had universal value and could be exchanged for currency anywhere, but in Korea, ownership could be complicated, especially when the source was unclear. Any jewelry store would ask for ID if you tried to sell a significant amount of gold, let alone gold bars.

‘So, do I just leave it?’

That didn’t make sense either. Even if it was hard to dispose of, the gold bars in front of him were worth billions.

For now, Junho took three 1kg gold bars and put them in his sports bag. Anything more would be difficult to handle, and even if he could, he’d have trouble storing the cash.

He noticed something dark stacked next to the gold bars. Upon closer inspection, he saw that it was C-4 plastic explosives.

“You crazy bastard, what were you planning to blow up…”

There was a considerable amount, enough to take out a few people. He took three blocks of C-4, about 1.5kg, and put them in his bag.

Junho climbed out of the pit and frantically brushed off any insects that might have clung to him. He closed the metal plate. The broken lock was a slight concern, but he covered the plate with dirt and debris. If someone found it now, he’d just have to accept it as fate. Then, another idea popped into his head.

‘Why don’t I just hand it over?’

He could just hand it over as is and get half the price. It was the perfect solution. And he had someone in mind who would take it. They wouldn’t be able to refuse, especially with the C-4.

Junho opened the plate again, went back inside, and took a picture of the gold and explosives, making sure to get a good shot. He then came out and cleaned up the scene.

Suddenly in a good mood, Junho decided to be satisfied with what he had and left through the metal gate, starting his long walk back to the city.

“I need to get a car as soon as I turn eighteen.”

Getting around was a pain. He was tired of taking taxis everywhere. The solution was simple: get rich quick.

“I wish someone would give me a mission.”

After walking for thirty minutes, he finally reached the city, and it took another thirty minutes to hail a taxi. As he was heading back to Seoul, he received a text from Yoon Gyeongsik.

[I’ve looked into it. There aren’t many companies in that building, but there’s one with an unclear business description: Hanil Technology. It was established the year before last, and the CEO is Chinese. I’ll attach the details.]

The fact that the CEO was Chinese confirmed Junho’s suspicion. He opened the attachment, and the CEO’s name was 王伟 (Wang Wei).

‘Wang Wei? I’ve heard that name before… where?’

It was familiar, but he couldn’t place it. Then, he suddenly thought of Brussels, Belgium.

‘Wind Wolf! That bald bastard!’

He remembered. Codenamed Wind Wolf (风狼), he had once secretly helped an assassin he was supposed to be targeting escape. Wind Wolf probably still didn’t know that Gorilla was involved in that operation, but Jo Gyeongcheol remembered. Wind Wolf’s name was on a list of Russian secret agents, and crucially, Jo Gyeongcheol had once put a hole in his shoulder.

To think he’d run into a Chinese agent he’d encountered overseas, right here in Korea. He’d wondered who Mortar was working for, and Wind Wolf made sense. With Wind Wolf’s reputation, Mortar would be out of his league.

Knowing who his opponent was, Junho felt a little lighter. Even back in Belgium, Wind Wolf was no match for Gorilla. Even though he was now Kang Junho, he wasn’t afraid. With each real-life experience, his confidence grew. But he wasn’t going to get complacent. He wouldn’t repeat Jo Gyeongcheol’s mistake.

Exhausted, Junho sent an email with the attached photos to the person who would be receiving the gold and then closed his eyes in the taxi.

 

***

 

Director Kim Cheolsoo had Hyesun brought into the interrogation room. She looked brighter, and he’d been told she’d gained some weight. Hyesun, who would soon be given a new identity and released from the NIS, sat there with a slightly tense expression.

“How are you? Physically, emotionally.”

“I’m fine.”

Director Kim Cheolsoo frowned slightly.

“You’re fine?”

If anyone else had said they were fine, he would have taken it at face value. But coming from Hyesun, it wasn’t a simple answer, and he couldn’t just let it go.

“Is that strange?”

“Not strange, just… curious.”

“…”

“I heard you’re going to school. What will you do after you graduate?”

“I’m thinking about it. Why?”

“Hmm… If you don’t have any specific plans, how about applying to our agency?”

Hyesun nodded vaguely.

“I’ll think about it.”

Director Kim Cheolsoo looked down for a moment, then met Hyesun’s eyes.

“Did your father meet anyone before he died?”

“I don’t know. My dad and I weren’t that close.”

“You seemed pretty shaken up for someone who wasn’t close.”

“…”

“Anyone visit your house?”

“Yes, but I never saw their faces. My dad wouldn’t let me out of my room when he had guests.”

“Do you know who killed your father?”

“No. I want to know too.”

After a brief pause, Director Kim asked,

“When did you first meet Gorilla?”

“That day was the first time.”

“I was under the impression that Goblin and Gorilla were close. You’re telling me that was the first time you met?”

Hyesun’s gaze, which had been steady until now, wavered.

“I really don’t know. I saw him for the first time that day.”

“Did your father collect gold?”

“Not that I know of. If he had, he would have told me at the last minute. We had a little time to talk.”

Director Kim Cheolsoo nodded and stood up.

“Don’t avoid our calls when you leave. It’ll be easier for you if you follow our instructions, even if it’s a hassle.”

“I know.”

“Good.”

Director Kim Cheolsoo left the interrogation room. Assistant Manager Yoo Hyeri, who had been watching from behind the one-way mirror, immediately came out.

“What should we do?”

Director Kim Cheolsoo recalled the email he’d received last night.

[I want to sell about 50kg of gold bars and 3kg of C-4, which I acquired by chance, for 2 billion won. If you agree, I’ll provide the payment method and the location of the gold and explosives.]

“It’s highly unlikely that this belonged to Goblin, so we have to take it. Send an email saying we accept.”

The gold bars, worth nearly five billion won, were significant, but not their top priority. If the offer had been for the gold alone, they would have refused. Regardless of profit or loss, engaging in a financial transaction with a potential criminal was unacceptable for the NIS. Moreover, even if the gold was recovered, it wasn’t guaranteed to supplement their operational funds.

But the C-4 was a different story. If it fell into the hands of another agent and was used for a terrorist attack in Seoul, the consequences would be unimaginable. Preventing a terrorist attack for two billion won was a good deal. He had questioned Hyesun to see if Goblin might have hidden other explosives.

“Yes, sir.”

“And just in case, search Goblin’s hideout again. We might find something.”

“Yes, sir.”

Assistant Manager Yoo Hyeri immediately sent a reply to Gorilla. About five minutes later, another email arrived.

“Director, Gorilla changed the account.”

Assistant Manager Yoo showed him the email.

[I’m changing the payment method. I will receive payment in Bitcoin, not cash. The wallet address is 1A1zP1eP5QGef… Please make four transactions of 500 million won each, with at least a six-hour interval between each transaction. After all transactions are complete and I receive a confirmation email, I will provide the location of the gold and explosives.]

“What a joke. Ask him what happens if he’s lying.”

“Yes, sir.”

She sent the email, and a reply came back in less than a minute.

[If I’m lying, I will personally deliver the right hand of Kim Junghyun, the economic attaché at the North Korean embassy in France. If you refuse, this C-4 will be in the hands of another agent within 18 hours. I trust you’ll make a wise decision.]

“What should we do?”

Director Kim Cheolsoo, frowning, waved his hand at Assistant Manager Yoo Hyeri.

“Do it, do it!”