The Departnt of Holand Security.
Jessica entered the Secretary’s office of the massive agency that oversaw all information in the United States.
Michael Chertoff, the Secretary, was sitting in his chair reading docunts. He lifted his head and smiled at Jessica.
“Oh, Jessica. What’s going on? What made you cancel your entire schedule and rush in like this?”
“Secretary, it’s really urgent.”
Seeing Jessica’s expression stiffened so rigidly, Michael ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) burst out laughing loudly.
“Haha. It’s the first ti I’ve ever seen Jessica, the fad DHS elite, this anxious. All right, let’s hear it.”
Closing the docunts he had been reading, Michael stood up and sat down on the sofa in the center of his office, gesturing with his hand.
“Don’t just stand there, sit and report.”
Jessica lowered her head slightly and sat down.
“Shall I get you a cup of coffee?”
“No. It’s too urgent for that.”
“What’s going on? What, is soone predicting a terrorist attack inside the country?”
“No. Not dostic. I’ve obtained information about a terrorist attack targeting the UN Iraq branch. We are still verifying it, but it’s almost certain.”
Michael’s face, which had been smiling the whole ti, hardened. He leaned forward from where he had been comfortably reclining.
“What? The UN Iraq branch? Which bastards? No one in their right mind would attack the UN. Who are they?”
“We’re still confirming. But the source of the information is not soone who would say nonsense. I believe it’s almost certain.”
Michael stroked his chin with a grave expression.
“Who gave you the information?”
“Charlie.”
“I see. He provided decisive intelligence about the last terrorist case too. Thanks to that, a major incident was prevented.”
“Yes, that’s correct. It was back when the forr Secretary was still here, but we received a great deal of help.”
At the ntion of the forr Secretary, Michael frowned.
“Tom Ridge, that bastard should’ve at least told about that before stepping down. There’s nothing about him I like.”
Knowing the rough relationship between the two, Jessica didn’t say more and only smiled awkwardly. Michael cleared his throat.
“That’s not what’s important right now. If the information ca from him, it must be credible.”
“Yes. Nothing he has given us has ever been wrong. I believe this information is accurate as well.”
“A terrorist attack on the UN Iraq branch would be a nightmare for us too. Investigate it thoroughly.”
“Of course. More importantly...”
Jessica trailed off, hesitating. Michael looked puzzled.
“That’s not like you. Why pause? Don’t tell there’s sothing even bigger?”
“When Charlie passed the information along, he made a request. But it’s sothing beyond my authority. I need your help.”
“There’s sothing you can’t do? What is it?”
“He requested dossiers on forr Chinese President Jiang Zemin and Minister of Public Security Zhou Yongkang.”
“What?”
Michael’s jaw dropped. It was clear why Jessica had hesitated earlier.
“We’ve already organized what we have inside DHS. But the CIA refused our cooperation request. Secretary, please intervene directly and obtain the files.”
“Wait, wait. So you’re telling Charlie wants that information, and you want to pressure the CIA to hand over those materials? Is that what this is?”
“...Yes.”
Michael’s face flushed red.
“Do you even understand how politically burdenso that is? No matter who you are, there are lines you must not cross.”
“Cutting ties with him would be a bigger loss.”
“And what the hell is so important about that man?”
Jessica bit her lip once and answered.
“The owner of Black Bear. The owner of Dream High Investnt. The major shareholder of key corporations in the United States. Just those facts alone make maintaining good relations politically and strategically beneficial.”
“...The owner of Black Bear?”
“Yes. He is the real owner. He doesn’t interfere with Black Bear’s business or pro-governnt activities, but the ownership itself is unchanged.”
Michael pondered deeply, then pressed the phone next to him.
— Yes, Secretary.
“Bring the dossiers on Black Bear, and on Charlie. Everything you have.”
— Understood.
He didn’t want to rely on Jessica’s words alone. He intended to confirm everything through objective docunts.
After hanging up, Michael asked Jessica:
“How did I not know about such a person?”
“Because you weren’t trying to know. He’s also a special managent subject at the White House.”
“...Did Tom know?”
“Secretary Ridge was President Bush’s friend. And you’re aware Dream High contributed heavily to Bush’s election.”
“Well, yes, I knew that...”
Michael felt irritated, as if he’d been left out of important information.
“From now on, report anything about him directly to .”
“Understood. Then... what should we do about this issue?”
“What else? You ca to determined, didn’t you? I’ll handle the CIA. Have them collect the data and deliver it.”
“Thank you, Secretary.”
Michael sighed, but Jessica smiled brightly.
“This is for the national interest, so we have no choice. We must prevent the UN Iraq branch attack.”
“Yes. Understood.”
“Then go. I’ll tell them to deliver everything to you within two hours.”
After Jessica left, Michael picked up the phone again.
“Get the Director of the CIA.”
— Understood.
A short ti later, it was only natural that Michael would personally request the CIA Director to hand over the materials concerning Zhou Yongkang and Jiang Zemin.
* * *
When I received Hao Xun’s call, I left the hotel.
As soon as I got into the car, Chief Ma handed the dossier on Zhou Yongkang.
“This ca from Black Bear Headquarters. Information on Zhou Yongkang.”
“Oh, as expected of DHS’s elite. I told them to deliver it within a day, but to think it’s actually in my hands in just one day.”
Smiling, I accepted the docunts from Chief Ma and opened them.
“How long will it take?”
“About an hour.”
“Tell when we arrive.”
“Understood.”
Chief Ma signaled with his eyes to the employee in the driver’s seat, and the vehicle began to move.
I opened the thick envelope and pulled out the papers inside.
The information was more detailed than expected. Zhou Yongkang’s borrowed-na accounts were all clearly listed.
“As expected.”
The United States had already obtained the accounts Zhou Yongkang set up while working at the Petroleum Corporation.
I separated only the pages containing the account information.
“Chief.”
“Yes, Boss.”
“Dig into these accounts thoroughly. Find out who the real owner is, where the money flows.”
“Understood.”
After handing the account list to Chief Ma, I continued reading the docunts.
I organized the information in my head one piece at a ti.
So Zhou Yongkang was Jiang Zemin’s money keeper. He even skimd off money behind Jiang Zemin’s back. The important part is whether Jiang Zemin knows.
Clashing directly with Jiang Zemin was troubleso even for . It would be easier if Jiang Zemin abandoned Zhou Yongkang, but their relationship seed too solid for that.
Jessica’s materials stated that Jiang Zemin had conceded a great deal to Hu Jintao in order to place Zhou Yongkang as Minister of Public Security.
If he had sacrificed that much, it wouldn’t be easy to drive a wedge between them.
“Boss, we’re almost there.”
Chief Ma’s voice pulled out of my thoughts.
The ocean ca into view outside the window.
“This is the place where they were going to kidnap and take Ji-yeong.”
“Yes, so I’ve heard.”
It was a dock in Nansha District, Guangzhou City. Other than the stacks of shipping containers, there wasn’t much to see.
At the entrance of the dock, Nansha Mariti Safety Bureau employees stopped us.
Chief Ma stepped out and ntioned Hao Xun’s na. The guards contacted soone over the radio and soon let us through.
We passed the mountains of containers and arrived at the warehouse at the farthest end.
“We’ve arrived. Please wait a mont.”
Chief Ma got out first and checked the surroundings.
Black Bear rcenaries from Russia and Korea quickly secured the periter, and Chief Ma entered the designated location.
A mont later, he returned with Hao Xun.
Hao Xun flinched upon seeing the rcenaries, then regained his composure.
When I got out of the car and he confird it was , Hao Xun hurried toward .
“President, you’re here.”
“The Vice Boss handles things quickly. I like that.”
“It wasn’t difficult. Unless all forr 14K mbers gathered, work like this is better done with fewer people knowing.”
I nodded.
“You said you’ve caught both the boss and the deputy boss?”
“Yes. But as I ntioned before, things are turning a bit strange.”
“Tell while we walk.”
Hao Xun glanced sideways at the rcenaries.
“Are you planning to go to war, bringing this many people?”
“It’s a kind of insurance. You may need to pull out. Unless you have so concern?”
“N-no, nothing like that.”
“If you’re not planning anything strange, then there is nothing to worry about.”
“No such plans.”
I laughed lightly, as if it had been a joke, and continued walking.
“Zhou Weihua had absolutely no idea about this incident.”
“You believe that? You’re more naïve than I expected.”
“If it’s the Zhou Weihua I know, he isn’t the type to do sothing like this. Do you know how cowardly he is? If anything, he’s overly timid. He’s not the sort to create enemies by stepping forward. He only cares about the casino business.”
How carefree.
“They say you can know the depths of a river a thousand feet deep, but not the depths of a person one foot deep. Don’t assu that’s all there is. Nothing is certain. Do you have any basis for thinking that?”
“I separated Zhou Weihua and Gao Jun and questioned them individually. Gao Jun claims Zhou Weihua ordered it, and Zhou Weihua claims he never ordered anything.”
“Well, both could just be clinging to life.”
With a displeased look, Hao Xun continued.
“To be honest, I don’t even understand how Gao Jun ended up joining 14K.”
“Why? Who is he?”
“There is a man called Liu Han, the head of a triad based in Sichuan. Gao Jun is friends with Liu Han’s younger brother, Liu Wei.”
We entered the warehouse as he explained.
Inside, people were kneeling, while others stood over them threateningly with hatchets and large knives. It was chaotic.
“But for Gao Jun to leave Sichuan and co all the way to Guangdong is strange. And suddenly appearing as a 14K deputy boss is even stranger.”
Liu Han...
Thinking I was listening attentively, Hao Xun continued even more proactively.
“Through another channel, I learned that the deputy boss position was arranged separately between Wan Kwok-koi and Liu Han. I suspect Liu Han moved to seize control of the entertainnt industry.”
“Liu Han... he’s the chairman of Hanlong Group, right?”
“Yes. You knew?”
“Roughly.”
How could I not?
When Zhou Yongkang was Secretary of the Sichuan Provincial Committee, his eldest son ford ties with them, becoming their backing.
I knew this because, ten years later, Zhou Yongkang’s downfall was triggered by his illicit connections with them.
“For now, let’s et Zhou Weihua.”
“Understood.”
I entered the office inside the warehouse with Hao Xun.
A man sat slumped, his face covered in blood.
At the sound of the door opening, Zhou Weihua lifted his head. The mont he saw Hao Xun, he nearly crawled over and clung to his leg.
“Vice Boss! I really don’t know anything! Why would I do sothing like this? I know how Boss Wan Kwok-koi was arrested! I’ve never done such a thing!”
Hao Xun kicked him away as if looking at an insect.
“Shut up. The one holding your life isn’t , but this man.”
At those words, Zhou Weihua looked up at in confusion.
“Nice to et you under these circumstances.”
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