Chapter 143
Chapter 143
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 143
Chapter Title: Cougar
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One of the executives from the Joint Investigation Headquarters asked with a bewildered expression.
"What in the world is going on?"
A police officer from the joint task force explained.
"All we know so far is that someone tried to hack into the formula for the antidote to chemical weapons."
The Joint Investigation Headquarters chief straightened his back.
"Huh? That's it?"
"Yes."
"Come on, what kind of terrorism are you imagining from just that?"
"It's not just anyone—it's a tip from Na Gang-in. Don't you think we should be cautious?"
The task force chief's expression softened.
"Oh, is that all? It's just a 'what if' intel, plain and simple. Even if it turns into a real case, the counter-terrorism division would handle it. Haha."
The task force chief's phone rang.
The call didn't last long. After it ended, he let out a hollow laugh.
"Haha. This case... it's ours now."
Another executive asked urgently.
"Wait, why? There's no solid evidence of terrorism, just an attempt to hack antidote data. Isn't this ambiguous?"
"That's exactly why they handed it to us."
"Pardon?"
"The counter-terrorism folks say there's no concrete basis beyond Na Gang-in's hunch, so it's awkward for them to take full charge. They've worked with him a lot in the past, so we're supposed to lead the investigation."
The executive protested.
"Hold on, when have we ever worked with Na Gang-in? All I remember is cleaning up after incidents blow up."
"Seems the higher-ups see it differently. They think we handle things well."
"Wow. How can they be so clueless about the field?"
The task force chief sighed.
"Sigh. If they're going to keep piling on work like this, at least give us more manpower."
The police executive spoke up.
"By the way, Chief. If this turns out to be a chemical weapons terror attack like Na Gang-in predicts..."
The task force chief turned serious.
"Don't say such frightening things."
"It absolutely shouldn't happen, but since it's Na Gang-in's warning, we have to prepare."
Another executive sighed.
"Guess that means overtime again. At this rate, I'll get kicked out of my house."
Police officer Park Soon-gi had helped Na Gang-in capture the hacker, but he wasn't in charge of the investigation.
He had other duties.
Instead, a detective from the joint task force went to the police station team handling the hacker.
The lead detective said,
"This guy's spilling everything easily, but he claims he doesn't know who hired him. Says he'll hack and sell anything for the right price—no discrimination on clients."
"Mind if I talk to him?"
"Go ahead."
After interrogating the hacker, the joint task force detective went to see Na Gang-in.
The detective smiled awkwardly.
"I really wish I didn't have to see you anymore, sir, but cases keep popping up. Here we are again."
Na Gang-in felt a twinge of guilt.
"Yeah. I didn't expect the joint task force to take this one too."
"If there was solid terror evidence, another department would handle it. Guess it's too vague, so it landed with us."
The detective explained what he'd learned from the hacker.
"He's the type who hacks anything for cash and sells it. That's why he hit the entertainment agency, and he supplied the hacking program for the laptop stolen from the university."
"To whom?"
"All he knows is 'Director Cha.' Oh, and he said you told him to look into Director Cha?"
"The situation pointed that way. Did you track down who Director Cha is?"
The detective shook his head.
"The name came up in the Lee Bora kidnapping case. The team handling that investigated thoroughly but came up empty. No one's seen Director Cha's face."
"Surely someone recorded a phone call voice?"
"The burner phones used had no recording function, and the voice was distorted by a machine. Even the guy who heard it couldn't identify anything."
"Didn't this hacker record the voice?"
"Director Cha warned him explicitly when sending the burner phone. Plus, he's a VIP client who pays well, so he didn't ignore it."
"Director Cha must have the terror intel... but we don't even know who he is."
"Afraid so."
The joint task force detective asked cautiously.
"By the way... your hunch that targeting the antidote means terrorism—is there any real basis?"
"Just a feeling it could be."
"I hope you're wrong this time, sir. A lot of folks in the task force think so too. Chemical weapons terror is just too horrific."
Na Gang-in asked just in case.
"Is the chemical weapon Yulmyeong Bio is storing for experiments being managed properly?"
"Of course. Under strict control."
International mercenary Cougar held his phone to his ear. He spoke Korean fluently.
"Hey, Director Cha. Yeah, it's me. Me and my guys made it to Korea just fine."
After a brief exchange, Cougar's face twisted.
"Huh? Your end hit a snag? What do you expect me to do about it? Look, Director Cha, let's just stick to our respective jobs."
Director Cha said a few more words. Cougar waved his hand dismissively.
"Handle your side yourself. I'm sticking to the original schedule."
After more back-and-forth, the call ended.
Cougar grumbled at his phone.
"This bastard. He screws up and now he's bossing me around?"
One of his subordinates said,
"Boss, Director Cha did provide the intel and set things up for this project..."
"He's got his own agenda, using me by feeding me info. I'm playing along knowingly. We're just using each other—no debts."
"If Director Cha failed, what about our plan?"
"We proceed as planned. You know this job's schedule can't be changed on a whim."
He tossed his phone.
"Deal with this."
His subordinate folded the phone in half, smashed it, extracted the SIM chip, and snapped that too.
"I'll scatter the pieces separately."
Another subordinate approached with a new phone.
"This is for the next contact. Power it on after moving locations."
"Later. Let's grab some food now."
"Reservation at Penelope restaurant, as ordered."
Cougar grinned.
"We'll eat there and check how Jackal got taken down."
International mercenary Cougar arrived at the underground parking lot of the building housing Penelope with three subordinates. After stepping out of the car, he scanned the lot first.
"Through that steel door over there is the emergency passage Jackal planned to use for escape. They said you could break through the wall to access it."
"Shall we check?"
"Jackal never even scoped it out. No need."
He headed upstairs to the first floor with his men.
"Jackal secured this floor first. Textbook stuff."
They went up to the second floor.
The second floor had only one cafe. Cougar entered the spacious cafe with his subordinates and sat down.
A subordinate brought coffee.
Cougar looked around the interior.
"Jackal deployed three armed soldiers here..."
He tilted his head.
"Space is wide open, and against unarmed civilians, three armed guys should've been plenty. Why'd he lose?"
Cougar took a few sips of coffee and stood up. The others hurriedly sipped theirs.
"You idiots. We here for coffee? Let's eat."
He took the stairs instead of the elevator, pausing between the fifth and sixth floors.
"Heard there was fighting here too. Odd. Not a great spot for one guy to take on multiples."
He eyed the wall. Bullet marks were repaired, but visible up close.
As he traced the marks, Cougar's expression hardened.
"What? These are from spraying bullets?"
All that was clear now were the patched holes and repainted spots.
And there were many.
He pointed them out with his finger, connecting the dots.
Something felt off.
"Against people, bullet marks don't scatter like this..."
Cougar continued up to the seventh-floor Penelope restaurant.
"Gotta eat something tasty to shake this off. What's good here?"
"Chef picks the daily menu. Whatever comes out is delicious."
"Everyone's got preferences."
"Portions are generous, variety too—skip a couple, still full."
"You punk, I said scout the restaurant, not just the food?"
"Wanted you to enjoy it, boss. Heh."
"Flattery? Keep it coming."
Seated, Cougar scanned the restaurant interior.
"Main force took this place, then sent some downstairs—that was the mistake. Concentrate firepower and defend here, it wouldn't fall easy. Leaving a skeleton crew... Hm?"
Penelope restaurant had left bullet damage from Jackal's raid unrepaired, turning it into decor. A small plaque explained the incident.
Cougar spotted it. He checked the entrance direction.
His face hardened again.
"What? They breached from the front?"
Breaching itself wasn't odd. Something else was.
"No hostages hit in this setup?"
If defended by rookies, maybe.
"Jackal's personal crew guarded here? Pros?"
Cougar stood. Pretending to head to the bathroom, he checked the outer corridor.
"Building plans show Jackal's escape vent this way..."
Like the second-floor cafe, the seventh floor was all restaurant—no other shops.
But not every inch was dining space. Next to the entrance was a corridor to the back.
Cougar moved to it.
"Final fight here..."
The battle-damaged corridor had replaced ceiling parts and repainted walls. Clues from repairs gave minimal info.
Cougar pieced together the scene from every hint.
After standing there awhile, he spoke with a pale face.
"Second floor, stairs... who the hell did Jackal fight? A monster?"
His subordinate asked cautiously.
"Bro, what now?"
Cougar replied,
"Obvious, right? Never tangle with a monster like that."
Scarlett Kelly, president of American company Omega Tech, entered via Incheon International Airport.
"Ah, been a while. Grandma's homeland, Korea."
Her friend and secretary Jessica grumbled beside her.
"Don't you come to Korea too often? Atmosphere's tense lately."
"Pfft. That's why I brought security."
They used to roam freely before, but after two big incidents, Jessica insisted on protection. This time, two Omega Tech security staff tagged along.
Scarlett stretched her arms forward.
"Food time! To that PC bang!"
Scarlett arrived at Na Gang-in's PC bang outpost.
Owner's niece Cha Eun-seo explained awkwardly.
"Oppa isn't selling food today."
"What? Why?"
"You speak Korean well."
"No, why? Doesn't Na Gang-in sell here?"
"Oppa only cooks here when the mood strikes."
"Darn. Came to surprise him without saying."
Scarlett called Na Gang-in.
"It's me. Why no food?"
- Who?
"Scarlett! You delete my number?"
- Joking. Buying out today.
"Where? I'll come."
- Hm. Dinner then.
"Dinner? I'm busy. Schedules packed in Korea. Only free now."
- Next time then...
"Where for dinner?"
Na Gang-in walked downtown. He pocketed his phone after the call.
Shin Eun-ha walked beside him and asked,
"Who was that?"
"Scarlett Kelly."