Chapter 343
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 2nd Deputy Director
The 2nd Deputy Director, responsible for domestic counterintelligence, had to meet a lot of people as part of his duties.
“Deputy Director, it’s been a while.”
“I’ve been a bit busy. Still, I had to make time to see you, Commander.”
Not only agencies like the Intelligence Command and Defense Security Command, but even surveillance of foreign diplomatic missions fell under my purview.
The 2nd Deputy Director’s scope of responsibility was that vast.
‘If sabotage happens here, it’ll fall on me.’
Under Jang Dong-yoon’s watchful eye, stirring up trouble and taking on unnecessary risks would be suicidal.
For now, staying quiet was the right move.
I quietly proceeded with the preliminary work needed for the coup.
“Information is life itself. Under no circumstances can intel from the safehouses leak out. Do you understand?”
The area I focused on was the 2nd Bureau, which managed the safehouses.
“I fully understand, Deputy Director. We’ll strengthen security protocols separately.”
The safehouses were already guarded like fortresses, but I decided to reinforce those walls even further.
In addition to bolstering the safehouse guards, I changed the internal rules to ensure no information was shared with the Secretary’s Office or any external agencies.
This was all groundwork for discreetly dealing with Jang Dong-yoon.
“And make sure executives don’t come and go from the safehouses as they please.”
Not even a single ant gets in without my permission.
If high-ranking ANSP officials were at the safehouse during the operation, it would give us a massive headache.
The 2nd Bureau Chief said he would comply with my orders.
“Yes, sir.”
There was plenty more to do besides that.
“Section Chief Eom, you need to scout some hospitals for me.”
“Hospitals?”
“I need facilities out of reach of the Defense Security Command, Intelligence Command, and foreign intelligence agencies. When an incident blows up, our company will need time to handle the cleanup. Compile a list of hospitals we can use in an emergency.”
The reason for securing the hospital list was simple.
After taking out the President and his key aides, moving the bodies to an exposed location would leak information.
Other agencies might move faster than expected.
That would leave us in Kim Jae-gyu’s shoes.
“I’ll see to it.”
Eom Ji-won said he’d secure as many hospitals as possible.
I also mobilized Park Heung-sik, the colonel who was a trusted subordinate in the media operations room.
“Director Park, I have a task for you too.”
Park Heung-sik replied in a reliable voice.
“Deputy Director, just say the word.”
“I want you to spread rumors about the Presidential Security Service in a way that doesn’t draw attention.”
“Deputy Director, messing with the Security Service could bring danger to you.”
“I’m not unaware of that. But Chief Chae struck first. I can’t just take this lying down.”
I framed it as revenge.
For a high-ranking bureaucrat who lived and died by face, retaliating after being humiliated was perfectly natural.
When I made it clear I intended to get back at the Security Service, Park Heung-sik nodded.
“If that’s what you want, Deputy Director, I’ll get started.”
“Then I’m counting on you alone for that matter.”
“Yes, sir.”
I also made moves on the 2nd Bureau executives at the safehouses.
Colonel Ki Myung-su, the Protocol Section Chief, and Colonel Han Nam-dong, the Security Section Chief, were the targets.
These were the key executives who had to seize control of the safehouse the moment the deed went down.
I paid them special attention.
“I was thinking of you and the Section Chief on my way over, so I picked up some fruit and snacks.”
“Oh, no need for that.”
“Take it home and share with your family too.”
People feel more gratitude when you look after their family than themselves.
I sent them various gifts from time to time.
It was a favor-building operation.
While doing so, I indirectly asked if they had a good grip on their staff at the safehouse.
“Yes. My subordinates follow my orders perfectly.”
“Just in case, have them do live-fire drills at the range often.”
The mention of live-fire training brought puzzled looks from the executives.
“Live-fire? We’re in the middle of the capital; there’s no need to shoot guns here.”
“There’s coups and such, right?”
“Ah.”
The recent coup attempt lent credibility to my orders.
“Your mission will be critical in an emergency. We need to prepare thoroughly.”
“You’re right, Deputy Director.”
They interpreted the live-fire training as preparation to protect the President.
Of course, my true intent was different.
‘That’s for massacring the Security Service.’
Beyond that, I meticulously refined scenarios for fall guys to take the blame for my crimes.
This work I couldn’t entrust to anyone; I handled it alone.
‘Once people realize the Security Service is a powerful agency, they’ll think differently about Chae In-seop too.’
This shift in perception was crucial.
If people saw Chae In-seop as a heavyweight who could actually challenge for power, new interpretations of his loyalty could emerge.
While preparing the groundwork internally, I sketched out operations to push forward outside the ANSP as well.
“The key to a coup is ultimately money.”
A coup without funding couldn’t be executed.
I prepared a funding operation to drive the coup plan forward.
The essence of this operation was simple.
“Use the power of authority appropriately.”
First, I placed massive short sells on the targeted Chinese company.
Why a Chinese company? Because it was listed on the Korean stock exchange.
Then, as soon as their exports to Korea arrived at Nampho, I halted import procedures under the pretext of ‘national security.’
“What kind of law is this?”
It’s right here.
Citing intel on drugs, I delayed customs clearance by two weeks.
As a result, all the goods rotted during the process.
“We’re ruined.”
Suing the Korean government might get compensation, but that was its own path to ruin.
Hwayang Confectionery’s stock plummeted in an instant.
It was blatant manipulation, but that was fine.
“The target’s a Chinese company.”
Plus, it had been routed through several shell accounts.
I laundered the profits and funneled them to Section Chief Oh’s ghost company, Daemyung Distribution.
Daemyung Distribution used the money to hire hit squads, who background-checked people who could pose risks to us.
“Relying too openly on ANSP intel would tip them off.”
That’s when we needed outside cutouts.
We used hit squads for that.
Such investigations sometimes uncovered unexpected variables.
“Deputy Director, we found a dangerous individual during the probe.”
“Who is it?”
“Lee Seok-min, Grade 4 clerk directly under the Intelligence Deputy Director.”
“Why is he dangerous?”
“He’s suspected as a Security Service plant. We confirmed contacts with their security officers.”
I see.
“Leave him be for now.”
“Pardon?”
“If we pull the plant, won’t they get suspicious?”
We could deal with him on the day of the operation.
“Deputy Director, leaving him will hinder our actions.”
The loud record player drowned out Section Chief Oh’s words.
But since we were lip-reading, it wasn’t hard to understand.
“Are you saying we should take him out now, Section Chief Oh?”
“That’s the proper way to handle it.”
Section Chief Oh hadn’t been like this at first, but once he crossed the line, he showed a ruthless side.
Or maybe he’d always been this way.
Before growing disillusioned with Jang Dong-yoon, Section Chief Oh had been a promising elite intelligence agent.
I stared into Section Chief Oh’s eyes for a long moment.
There wasn’t a hint of hesitation in them.
I reached a decision.
“Let’s do that.”
We eliminated people quietly like this.
The hit squad hired by Section Chief Oh was highly skilled.
“They don’t use drums.”
Instead, they baked porcelain with bone meal to dispose of evidence.
Very Chinese.
In fact, they were diligently selling that bone porcelain at markets.
Anyway, whether they sold bone porcelain or fed people to chickens as feed wasn’t my concern.
What mattered was their clean work.
Even when the ANSP investigated the missing Lee Seok-min, nothing turned up.
The car found at the suspected reservoir was the only trace.
‘If they can handle it like this, maybe Section Chief Oh’s right about preemptively removing threats.’
The gifts to the Security Service didn’t stop at Lee Seok-min.
Soon after, Park Heung-sik spread info on the Security Service’s capabilities.
Before long, rumors swirled about the hidden powerbroker Chae In-seop.
“Who the hell is Chae In-seop?”
“He’s the Security Service Chief.”
“Was the Security Service Chief that powerful?”
People couldn’t hide their shock at Chae In-seop’s influence.
“We knew His Excellency favored him, but I didn’t realize he was that big a deal.”
Now people knew.
Chae In-seop wasn’t just a hunting dog—he was a powerful piece that could become a player.
That perception was the most important puzzle piece for me.
Only then could I seize power and pin the blame on Chae In-seop.
I calmly assembled the puzzle pieces for the coup like that.
Now, only one thing left.
Winning Jang Dong-yoon’s favor and becoming ANSP Director.