Chapter 136
Chapter 136
136.
No Navigation Needed? (1)
【MH Future Security Cleared of Insider Trading Charges! The case, transferred from the Central District Prosecutors' Office to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, was dismissed and announced within a day.
Meanwhile, the Central District Prosecutors' Office, which originally handled the case, uncovered numerous bribery allegations within the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's Inspection Department, leading to the arrest of four prosecutors, including Chief Prosecutor Ahn ○○...】【Baek Shin-woo's Insight is Legal, Not Illegal! MH Future Security's CEO Baek Shin-woo is expected to acquire Baesung Distribution from DAX Investment Company, which recently moved its headquarters to Hong Kong, potentially creating the largest distribution company in Korea...】.
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The Royal Suite in Asmara, Eritrea, was far from royal, being cramped and narrow.
Kwak Chi-young, sitting on the sofa inside, frowned as he checked the Korean news on his tablet.
"Baek Shin-woo… he knows how to resolve things more aggressively than I thought."
He had heard from Ahn Sang-hye last time that he had received a three-day deadline from the Supreme Prosecutors' Office. Taking that into account, he thought he could delay the case for at least a week if he dragged it out as much as possible.
But it ended as the Supreme Prosecutors' Office had stated. Ahn Sang-hye and Roh Seung-jin, who had been leading the case, were dragged away by the Inspection Department.
"It's a real fortress. Even the hacking failed. What do you think, Agent Na Seon-hwi?"
Kwak Chi-young's gaze turned to the man standing beside him. He was Na Seon-hwi, a member of the 666 Unit and a subordinate of Oh Han-sung.
"I think it would be better to target him directly again."
"Are you suggesting an assassination?"
"……."
For them, it was the easiest and most convenient method. Baek Shin-woo had become a shield and a sword for MH Group, wielding considerable influence.
"The problem isn't just Baek Shin-woo. It's who's behind him."
"You mean because of the guys who took care of Nam In-hwang and Moon Tae-beom."
Kwak Chi-young had been investigating since the failed attempt to deal with Baek Shin-woo. In a way, one of the reasons he had offered Baek Shin-woo a deal was to find out who was behind him.
But he couldn't find even a trace, as if they had never existed in the first place.
"They're not easy opponents, not as easy as us. Maybe they're even worse than us."
"...Shouldn't we inform the higher-ups about this?"
At Na Seon-hwi's cautious question, Kwak Chi-young glared.
"Just because Oh Han-sung isn't here doesn't mean you should cross the line so hastily, does it?"
"I apologize, Branch Manager."
In fact, as he said, Kwak Chi-young hadn't reported the existence of those suspected of backing Baek Shin-woo to anyone.
The reason was simple. Depending on the scale and position of that entity, he thought he might be able to use them. If a connection could be made, he might be able to quietly approach and use them as a stepping stone to climb even higher.
"I don't look down on ambition to aim high, but you should also think about moderation. But is that guy any good?"
Kwak Chi-young's gaze turned to Ahn Deok-chil, who was standing by the door.
"His hand skills are a bit messy, but he's not bad."
"In what way?"
"He prolongs situations that could be ended quickly."
Kwak Chi-young easily understood what that meant.
"A brutal touch is a habit, I see."
"I'll make sure he handles things more cleanly."
Kwak Chi-young shook his head.
"No. Leave him be. Sometimes, being messy can be useful, rather than being too clean."
"...Understood."
Buzz― Buzz―
At that moment, Na Seon-hwi's phone vibrated with a message.
"Branch Manager. Traces is open."
"Good. I'll go too, so tell them to go straight in and hold him."
"I'll instruct the waiting personnel."
Kwak Chi-young left with his bodyguards. Traces, as he had mentioned earlier, meant "Ya Tae Akab" in Arabic. At the same time, it was the name of a shop on the outskirts of Asmara that dealt in all sorts of goods.
The distance from the hotel was about 2 km. As they moved in the waiting vehicle, the 666 Unit members who had been waiting in front of the shop surrounded the area.
"No problems, right?"
"We caught him trying to escape when he noticed us."
Kwak Chi-young smiled at the unit member's report.
"He's not completely clueless, I see."
The inside of the shop was filled with dusty, miscellaneous items. In the middle, an Arab man surrounded by 666 Unit members stared intently at Kwak Chi-young.
"English?"
"...Ok."
Kwak Chi-young sat down on the chair that Na Seon-hwi had wiped clean and brought over.
"Name?"
"...Murad."
"Good. Murad. I only want one thing. The two-man mercenary team that's using this place as a contact point. I want to meet them. Of course, I'll pay for the information."
"……?"
Ahn Deok-chil, who had been carrying a briefcase since they arrived, opened it. Inside, it was packed with stacks of $100 bills.
Kwak Chi-young took out the stacks one by one and dropped them at Murad's feet.
Thud― Thud―
A total of five stacks. Murad couldn't help but twitch at the sight.
"50,000 US dollars. Isn't that enough for one piece of information?"
After a moment of hesitation, Murad slowly opened his mouth.
"I'm sorry, but… I only pass on requests to the Hounds; I don't have direct contact with anyone. So I've never met them before."
"...Hounds? Are they called that because they're hunting dogs?"
"That's just what I call them because I don't know their name."
Kwak Chi-young continued with a deep smile.
"Well, if you're going to give requests to the Hounds, you'll contact them somehow."
"...I only tell them by satellite phone. And they don't take calls during a request. They only reply after it's over."
"Where is that satellite phone?"
After hesitating for a moment, Murad walked to the counter and took out a satellite phone from underneath it. He felt that if he didn't listen in this situation, something terrible would happen, regardless of the money.
"This is it. Unless they contact me to say the request is complete, they won't answer no matter how many times you call."
At that explanation, Kwak Chi-young had a question.
"It seems like you've tried calling them in the middle before."
"There was a request that came in during their first mission, so I contacted them then and found out."
"I have a request for you too. The amount is 2 million US dollars. Could you send them a message, at least?"
Kwak Chi-young handed over a note with a security number and pointed to the satellite phone.
"...Okay. But I can't help it if there's no reply."
"Oh, and also tell me what kind of mission they're currently carrying out. Of course, I'll add more to the amount I mentioned earlier."
With that answer, Kwak Chi-young took out 10 more $100 stacks from the money bag Ahn Deok-chil was holding and put them down.
Combined with the money he had taken out earlier, it was a total of 150,000 US dollars. About 200 million Korean won.
The money he received for being a request broker wasn't small, but it was only 10,000 to 30,000 dollars per case at best. And the turnover wasn't high either.
But with just a message and information, it was 150,000 dollars, so Murad's eyes couldn't help but shake greatly.
"...Are you really just asking me to tell you?"
"I know what you're worried about. Don't worry, that will never happen, so please tell me with peace of mind."
After a moment of hesitation, Murad sent a request message via satellite phone and said carefully.
"They're currently in Yemen."
"...Yemen?"
"They're there at the request of the government forces. They joined recently, and it's a maximum of three months."
Kwak Chi-young became serious.
The Yemeni civil war had started with a rebellion in 2014 and had now become complicated with the involvement of the international terrorist organization Al-Kashad.
"They're in a bit of a troublesome place."
"But… who are you and where are you from?"
Murad, who had been too nervous, was finally able to ask.
In response, Kwak Chi-young looked at him with calm eyes and threw in another stack of money.
"Let's just say that's for keeping your mouth shut."
"Ah, hahaha! I see. I'm sorry for asking unnecessary questions."
"Thank you for understanding."
Kwak Chi-young got up from his seat and led the 666 Unit members out.
Na Seon-hwi approached him from the side.
"Should we immediately plant an information line in Yemen?"
"Do that. Find out exactly which area they're operating in and find a location where we can make contact."
"Understood."
"But are we leaving the man inside?"
He could become someone who would leave traces of Kwak Chi-young's actions. Especially when moving secretly using forged passports, as he was this time, he had tried to handle things as cleanly as possible.
"Leave him be. On the surface, it may seem like he's willing to betray for money, but if he's someone with ulterior motives, our relationship with him could be ruined before he even contacts the Hounds."
"...I was short-sighted."
"But just in case, keep two people on him. Report immediately if he shows any suspicious behavior."
Before Kwak Chi-young could finish speaking, he saw a white limousine slowly approaching from the side of the road.
For a moment, he stood still with a deeply contorted face, and when the surrounding 666 Unit members tried to move, he said quietly.
"Everyone, don't move."
The limousine came to Kwak Chi-young's side and stopped, and the door opened.
Inside, a middle-aged Arab man with a thick beard, wearing a white Kandura and a Kufiya, got out.
"Oh, Mr. Kwak!"
"...Samir."
Unlike the welcoming middle-aged man, Kwak Chi-young had a deeply unpleasant expression.
"What brings you to this remote place?"
"...I was just wondering. I didn't expect the Arab Branch Manager, who should be in Dubai, to come here."
Samir Jiran Kurdi. He was the TSF Investment Branch Manager for the United Arab Emirates, overseeing the entire Middle East and Africa.
"You wouldn't believe me if I said I was just passing by, would you?"
Dubai to Asmara, Eritrea, was about 2,000 km away. There was no way he could have accidentally come to where Kwak Chi-young was, no matter what purpose he had in passing through such a place.
"Here?"
"Hahaha―! Just kidding, just kidding! But what brings Mr. Kwak to this remote place? You're not thinking of doing business in my area, are you… What are you trying to find?"
His words were full of nuances that he knew something.
"There's someone I'm looking for."
Samir approached Kwak Chi-young and put his arm around his shoulder.
"Oh… Is there anything I can help with? I'd like to if it's okay."
"It's already been resolved to some extent, so it's okay."
"That's a shame."
"I'm very busy, so excuse me."
"It's almost dinner time, why don't we have a meal together? I even made a reservation at the best restaurant here to eat with Mr. Kwak."
Kwak Chi-young's face had been hardening since earlier.
"I don't think my stomach would feel well if I ate now."
"Is there anything bad going on these days? Come to think of it, I heard there was a big commotion in Korea and China. The same goes for Japan."
"……."
Kwak Chi-young, who had become quiet, gritted his teeth.
At that sight, Samir slightly raised one corner of his mouth and gave a bitter smile.
"Could there be a problem with the Black Ground Project? I heard that it caused a big problem in China."
Twitch―
Kwak Chi-young's face hardened even more than before.
He thought about trying to counterattack with that, but Samir had already filled those funds in the area he was in charge of.
The scale of the defense industry, which was making money from oil-producing countries and countries at war, was beyond imagination.
"Let's have dinner next time."
In the end, Kwak Chi-young calmly removed his arm from his shoulder as much as possible and left with the 666 Unit members.