The Imperial Hunter Chapter 61 - Light and Shadow (3)

After unloading its cargo and refueling, the multipurpose vessel Sapphire Express left port and rendezvoused with El Juego’s yacht near the Marieta Islands. The cargo concealed in the yacht’s shadow was transferred in full below the multipurpose vessel’s deck. The cocaine was no exception. Although our organization did not deal in narcotics, we decided to store it for the time being as it was a valuable windfall.

Now, a new morning in a secluded safe house on the quiet beach. I was listening to Suyeon detail the spoils of war.

“About 5 tons of purified cocaine, 22 million Mexican pesos and $3.8 million USD, 227 kilograms of silver, 45 kilograms of gold, 4 kilograms of platinum, 9 kilograms of palladium, plus small amounts of rhodium and bearer bonds and gems, etc. Excluding the cocaine and gems, the total current value comes to $8,227,833 USD, approximately 9.84 billion Korean won.”

It was difficult to estimate the value of the cocaine. Based on average US retail prices, among other major markets, it was a shipment worth approximately 15 trillion won, but narcotics carry great risks in handling and have high distribution costs. Besides, I had no plans to monetize it.

I asked Suyeon,

“Where is the ship headed now?”

The final hunt at the port was unscheduled. Therefore, the cargo ship’s destination after unloading would naturally differ from the original plan. As the decision maker, I had been practically comatose for three days after ending the hunt, so the person who decided the Sapphire Express’ next port of call was in effect the second-in-command, Suyeon.

Suyeon answered the question.

“Levuka Harbor in Fiji.”

Levuka was the former capital of the Republic of Fiji, a small port town on the South West Pacific. I narrowed my eyes slightly. I remembered there was an illicit maritime base there, but as it wasn’t frequently utilized, I couldn’t recall the details.

“Are the warehouses there suitable for storing the cocaine? I seem to remember a report of major damage some years ago.”

“From Typhoon Winston in 2016. Instead of repairing the original damaged facilities, plots of land on higher ground were purchased and instructions were given to construct five new camouflaged warehouses. They applied perfect seismic isolation design and withstood the great earthquake in 2018, so you may rest assured it is sturdy enough that the cocaine will not deteriorate.”

Ah, now I remember. What report I received back then, how I handled things. With my memory sharpened, I also realized there was a minor error in Suyeon’s explanation.

‘It should have been approved, not ordered.’

Even before Suyeon rose to the position of chief secretary, the former secretary already had her pegged as his successor. He said keeping his position longer would perversely make him more disloyal. He also complained he was sick of the silent burning ambition beneath him. From my perspective, the former guy fled his post-half like he was escaping.

The Levuka facility relocation was an initiative Suyeon led even back when she was already the power behind the throne. She argued that as a port of call for deep sea fishing vessels, frequent foreign ships would not arouse suspicion, that a little money could buy the powers that be, that other organizations would hesitate to establish a base there due to the frequent disasters, that with one solid investment it would be a good place to conceal goods away from the surveillance of law enforcement worldwide. This flowed into subsequent plans to reinforce bases across the South Pacific islands, also implemented under Suyeon’s leadership.

So why phrase it as an order instead of approval? She was not the type to falsely flatter. And she knew I disliked such obsequiousness.

‘Could her memory have changed?’

There were often such characters among my subordinates. Their devotion was excessive, to the point they truly believed everything they accomplished was thanks to me. This was also a form of psychological dependence. Like reason, memory was not free from the influence of emotion. Suyeon was no exception.

Reaching this thought, I realized I had unconsciously treated this girl as an exception to every rule. Even though that could never be. This was a human frailty on my part.

Suyeon, misunderstanding the prolonged silence, asked,

“Should I change the ship’s destination?”

“No.”

Shaking off my reverie, I switched topics to safer ground.

“What do you think would be the ideal use for the cocaine we acquired this time?”

“Currently there are two options.”

The ever prompt reply.

“The first is to hand it over in bulk to a certain organization as payment in kind in lieu of cash. Groups like ‘Bratsky Krug’ and ‘Yamaguchi-gumi’ would have the capacity to take on this volume.”

“Next.”

“The second is to utilize it as a tool of attack and diplomacy. As you taught, the devil-worshipping cult Order of 7 Angles’ leader Grace had an enmity on par with London’s Round Table. By gifting 5 tons of purified cocaine, we can endow them with tremendous financial power. England will suffer the triple disasters of drug addiction and increased crime rates, as well as the spread of religious terrorism.”

“…….”

The first was obvious, but the second was not.

Yes. The cocaine that fell into the hands of the Order of 7 Angles would have a tremendous explosive impact. 5 tons of high-purity cocaine could make crack to get 180 million highs, with some left over. Lowering the purity to the garbage tier could stretch it to 230 million. Processing was extremely simple too. Just add baking powder and heat it, that was the end of it. The likes of the Order of 7 Angles would surely know that easy method.

Building a cooperative system with Grace was a topic I had pondered at every chance.

Was it possible?

‘To do that I would have no choice but to expose my existence to them….’

Unless they were fools, Grace would not gratefully accept a gift without even knowing the identity of the benefactor here. She was a witch who had eluded the Round Table’s pursuit for over half a century. Objectively, she was more of a fugitive and greater warrior than I. Suddenly receiving 15 trillion won, 100 billion pounds worth of free drugs? She would naturally view it with suspicion first.

The issue was that woman’s mental state. Was her intellect sound enough for dialogue to take place? Rationality to enable conversation was a factor distinct from her capabilities as a fugitive and warrior. There was a correlation, but not necessarily a direct proportion. However, the role necessitated, by the other party was a cult leader who had led fanatics for over a century with human sacrifice as the basis.

Above all, I lacked an appropriate way to explain my existence in the first place. If I said to the Round Table’s master that a young soul got trapped in a kid’s head and depleted their magical power, resulting in their defeat, the most likely reaction from Grace would be to laugh loudly and then riddle this side with bullets and magic.

“Alright you two, it’s time to eat.”

Kyung-tae brought in a large tray with dishes and food. The main courses were Mexican-style rice with a stew of chicken simmered in spices, and the rising steam fragrant with sesame oil. Side dishes were a basket of avocados and bacon chips for topping.

The discussion with Suyeon naturally halted. We pushed the documents on the table to one side and Kyung-tae set down a cloth and arranged the tableware.

“You can look forward to it. I made it myself.”

“Yourself? What kind of dish is this?”

“It’s a chicken stew called Guisado. I found the recipe online.”

“…….”

“It’s my first time cooking Mexican, but it turned out pretty well contrary to expectations. Nothing to be ashamed of serving to you, hyungnim. Haha!”

Guisado and avocados, a menu selection true to Kyung-tae’s style.

Aside from narcotics, avocados were Mexico’s most valuable cash crop export. Mexico was the world’s number one avocado producer, with a single state, Michoacán, producing the lion’s share. And this Michoacán was the stronghold of the now defunct  Los Caballeros Templarios Cartel.

That was why Ricardo in Texas had called the fake Knights farmers. Of course, he didn’t mean the cartel itself tilled the soil. They harvested not the avocados themselves but the trucks laden with avocados and the orchards that bore fruit. This was the tax they collected following the harvest. According to Suyeon’s preliminary intelligence gathering, the net profit the Templar Knights extracted from this “green gold” reached approximately 4 billion pesos last year alone. Roughly 200 billion won in our currency.

The avocados in the basket had large pits and were in good ripened condition. Still fresh after maturation without the peel shriveling up too much. To be expected being so near the growing area. The farmers dwelling in the Knights’ territory would be able to enjoy a brief peace and happiness. Until another cartel came for them.

‘Crops like these will also become more precious in days to come.’

Being organisms, harvested crops were also subject to the effects of magical power. The plant soul sleeps within the seed. Therefore, after some more time passes, events would multiply like immortal cancer cells arising in storage facilities or seeds sprouting by taking in magical power as nutrition, and so on. I had already instructed Yeouido Kim to increase investment in food resources.

Kyung-tae scooped stew into the bowls for three servings. My portion was twice the size of the others. The amount of chicken alone looked to be one whole bird’s worth. The separately served rice was no meager amount either.

“You must eat a lot, hyungnim.”

“……What about the others?”

“Don’t worry. I made sure they’re eating and resting well. The fun in a place like this is making your own food as you like.”

“You did well.”

As the other two waited, I was the first to pick up a spoon and taste the stew. It was a little salty, but overall not bad. Maybe due to bias against his cooking skills, the plain look that resembled spicy pollack soup carried an exotic flavor and savory depth without being overpowering.

“Not bad.”

“Right?”

“You two dig in as well. Best when it’s hot.”

“Yes.”

Kyung-tae smiled happily and started eating directly from the bowl and dish. Suyeon, who had wrinkled her nose on the first bite, quietly emptied her bowl too.

After the meal, we paired the avocados with non-alcoholic sparkling wine. Couldn’t drink real liquor with so much to read and sign off on piling up.

“It’s kind of disappointing without the alcohol feeling.”

Kyung-tae’s regret as he sliced the avocado with an infantry saber. The saber was taken from the British army. Halving the fruit, Kyung-tae poked the large round pit out of the flesh with the blade tip. It popped right out with just a light tap. Running the blade vertically to score lines, he peeled off each half in turn, leaving just the green-rimmed yellow flesh. His large build concentrating hard on cutting the small fruit was amusing.

“Here, this is for you, hyung….nim?”

A dish of diced flesh already sat before me. Kyung-tae looks to Suyeon. Suyeon was calmly preparing the second fruit.

“Sigh…..”

I felt an indescribable sense of déjà vu from Kyung-tae’s pointless disappointment. It wasn’t just one or two days they would mess around like this. The one who added the flesh he cut to my dish now prepared his own share, asking,

“Hyungnim. How much longer do you plan on spoon-feeding that Admiral Martínez?”

“Spoon-feed him?”

“Isn’t that effectively what you’re doing? Aside from us, he has no avenues, even if you give him money everything has to be laundered and delivered here finished, currently the volume we can supply is limited, and it’s not like the goods are special quality or bargain prices either…. Ultimately, how much he grows depends on how much you choose to baby him.”

“Assuming that’s true, do you have a specific reason for asking?”

“Didn’t I thoroughly investigate those UNAPROP (Port Security) friends yesterday? It was during your conversation with the Admiral.”

“And?”

“Well, they’re born soldiers, those friends. You could see them clearly following the Admiral. They all stood up stiffly like fresh recruits from the training camp, with eyes twinkling brightly. Wow, it was quite impressive, wasn’t it? It wasn’t just an outward appearance.”

“Is that so…”

“Yes.”

He couldn’t have paid much attention to it, but if Kyung-tae saw it that way, it must be true. This was the quality assurance of being an admiral.

Eaten near the growing area, the avocados were slightly more oily and nutty than I remembered. The richness of the fruit and the sparkling wine’s crispness combined well.

Kyung-tae spoke up.

“I don’t mean to pry like Sister Suyeon calculating this and that, but won’t that Admiral become a reliable business partner we can count on in tough times if you raise him well? So since you’re going to raise him anyway, how about lavish early investment like you did with White Chief? Become his angel investor. Money is power in Mexico anyway.”

“I understand what you’re saying.”

In other words, make another human being like the White Chief.

My heart leaned towards trusting Kyung-tae’s sense for once. There was timing to every investment. The faster the better for leaving a strong impression.