The Osaka Gambit
"You're here?"
"Have you arrived?"
The words "You didn't have to come out" reached the tip of my tongue, but I swallowed them back. For some reason, it felt like she would be disappointed.
"Have you eaten? If not, let's have a meal together."
"If you haven't eaten, I'll prepare something right away."
"Ah, if you have, how about a light cup of tea? I've already eaten."
The consideration seemed to veer off in an odd direction, but the four of us—our trio plus her daughter—sat at the table and shared a cup of pu-erh tea. It was clean and pleasant. I could see why people in Hong Kong favored it over Americano; it had a crispness that coffee lacked.
I asked Madame Lee's daughter a few slightly meddlesome questions about how her homeschooling was going and whether she was keeping up with her studies. I checked in with Madame Lee and Secretary Ko about any difficulties they were facing or anything they needed. After some light conversation, I headed up to the third floor.
Waiting for me upstairs was the investigation file on the professor.
Name: Kang Woo-jong
Gender: Male
Education: Geochang Elementary – Geochang Middle – Hyundai High – Yonsei University (Bachelor of Pharmacy) – Yonsei University (Master of Pharmacy) – Yonsei University (Doctor of Pharmacy)
Family: Single (spouse deceased in accident)
Personality: Meticulous with himself, kind to his students. An iron fist in a velvet glove.
Other notes: Medical history present. Stage 3 liver cancer. Currently refusing chemotherapy.
So that was why his health was poor.
The next page detailed the research institute's situation. It had signed a research contract with Pfizer in the United States. If the research received approval and the facility was equipped with cGMP standards, a CMO contract would follow. A quick search confirmed that setting up such equipment required significant capital. I recalled that when we acquired the Cheonan factory last time, there had been a pharmaceutical company with that exact setup on the market—or so I thought. Kim the accountant had mentioned it wasn't actually for sale; the investment proposal had been sent to the wrong person.
With the current administration cutting R&D budgets, support programs had shrunk, and universities were providing less research funding, leading to financial strain. The file noted they were currently operating on private funds but were nearing their limit. It also contained what looked like internal information: Pfizer had already approved the ongoing research, but the professor's perfectionism had led him to pursue additional studies.
I felt a picture beginning to form. The research institute, the factory, and the sales network leading to Pfizer. They already had the item; with a little investment in land and equipment, it could work. The goal would be money laundering and securing foreign currency.
I called Secretary Ko and instructed him to research whether we could combine this with the investment deal previously discussed with Executive Director Ha to launch a viable business. His eyes lit up at the prospect of real work for once. I supposed I had been giving him nothing but errands lately.
The next day, I received a complaint from Executive Director Ha. He grumbled about why I was creating more work when he had told me to rest. I just laughed it off. He was getting paid, after all.
'GB, how have you been?' — Nakamura (39.5)
It had been a while since our Japanese gentleman reached out.
'I'm doing well.' — GB (38.3)
'How's the weather over there?' — Nakamura (39.5)
He never changed.
'The reason I'm contacting you is… well…' — Nakamura (39.5)
'Please, go ahead.' — GB (38.3)
It seemed like an embarrassing or difficult request.
'It appears some of your product has been flowing into Japan.' — Nakamura (39.5)
What was he talking about?
'I'm sorry, but could you explain?' — GB (38.3)
Nakamura's story went like this: their sales had been sluggish for the past three months. Upon investigation, they discovered product circulating in downtown Tokyo. Suspecting a foreign or rival organization had entered the city, they looked into it and traced the source to Korean tourists. With the yen exchange rate low and many travelers visiting, the goods were apparently being smuggled in among them.
'There are plenty of other organizations in Korea besides us.' — GB (38.3)
I tried to deflect at first.
'As far as I know, you're the only one in Korea capable of distributing enough volume for export.' — Nakamura (39.5)
So he had contacted me after confirming the facts. Still, this was a mistake on our part. It was a violation of territorial rights. I needed to apologize.
'It seems to have leaked from the lower ranks of the organization.' — GB (38.3)
'Because we operate in a compartmentalized structure, controlling the very bottom is difficult. I apologize.' — GB (38.3)
'It's fine. I didn't contact you to receive an apology. I was wondering if we could cooperate.' — Nakamura (39.5)
Thank goodness. He wasn't looking for a fight.
'Please, tell me more.' — GB (38.3)
The difficult part came next.
'I opposed it, but some in our organization suggested using your group. I ended up being the one to bring it up. I'm truly sorry.' — Nakamura (39.5)
'After bringing the goods in from Korea, could you distribute a large quantity in the Osaka area, get caught by the police, and then disappear?'
Where had I seen this tactic before? Using one enemy against another. A kamikaze move? But it wasn't feasible. I didn't have the infrastructure to distribute large amounts in Osaka—meaning no one there to receive the goods.
'That's too much. I heard you're already bringing in five kilograms a month to the Osaka side.' — Nakamura (39.5)
What was he talking about now? I knew far too little about my own organization. Since I didn't know, I couldn't answer. Better to keep listening.
'How much volume are you planning?' — GB (38.3)
'If it's all right, distribute about twenty kilograms and get fifty kilograms caught.' — Nakamura (39.5)
'So you just need to pin the blame on the Osaka organization?' — GB (38.3)
'Yes, that's correct.' — Nakamura (39.5)
'Even if you refuse, I'll try to persuade the organization, so please don't feel pressured.' — Nakamura (39.5)
Bullshit. Refusing would end the deal, and then they'd take revenge on our people. Pretending not to know, I brought up the most important matter—the compensation.
'We'll pay you for one hundred kilograms at market rate.' — Nakamura (39.5)
'I'll consider it.' — GB (38.3)
It didn't seem like something Secretary Ko could handle, so I contacted Executive Director Ha. He grumbled about being contacted again, but once I explained the Japanese situation, he agreed. He must have already known it was beyond Secretary Ko's level.
'I heard Sales Division 3 was handling it, but this is the first I've heard of the scale.'
Five minutes later, he called back.
'After checking, the five kilograms was an exaggeration on their part. It's closer to three kilograms going out.'
When I explained the request, he asked if it wasn't simple as long as the goods went out. Wasn't it dangerous? I countered, but he spoke too casually. Since we'd already been paid for the goods that had gone out, if we discounted them by half and pushed them through, someone would take them. After that, our people could return to Korea, and for the fifty kilograms, we could store them somewhere and report it to the police—wouldn't that work?
'Do we have volunteers?'
'I'll check with the security team.'
Less than ten minutes later, he contacted me again.
'Chief Kim and one team member volunteered. Other members offered too, but those two said it was their specialty.'
'Nakamura, I'll accept the proposal.' — GB (38.3)
'Ah… thank you.' — Nakamura (39.5)
'I have one request. Please handle only the import of the goods.' — GB (38.3)
'Of course, we can do that much.'
Whether he knew it was an unreasonable request or not, he paid a deposit—in yen.
Three days later, our two security team members departed, along with the goods. Two days after that, with help from Sales Division 3, they distributed twenty kilograms at a thirty percent discount. I had to open my wallet because the two had delivered results beyond expectations.
'GB, you're impressive. Our executives are very pleased.' — Nakamura (39.5)
'NHK News, Inomura Junichi.'
'A tragic incident has occurred in Osaka.'
'A crime believed to be the work of a local yakuza organization has taken place. For details, we'll hear from our reporter on site.'
'Hello, this is NHK reporter Aoi Renya. I'm in front of the Osaka Prefectural Police Headquarters.'
'This morning, an anonymous tip reported the discovery of a large quantity of drugs. Two officers responded to the scene.'
'Upon arrival, the officers were shocked by what they found. Please look at the evidence photos. Though some of the cargo appears damaged, the contents inside the plastic bags appear to be marijuana.'
'The responding officers documented the scene with evidence photos and requested backup to recover the items, but unfortunately, they were attacked by the perpetrators.'
'Fortunately, backup arrived quickly, preventing further casualties, but the goods have disappeared.'
'The prefectural police consider this a serious affront to public authority and will devote their full resources to the case.'
'Let's hear the police briefing.'
'Before briefing you on the incident, I would like to apologize for having to report this situation.'
'We recently confirmed that a large quantity of drugs has been circulating in Osaka. After investigating the buyers and suppliers, we have determined that yakuza organizations are closely involved.'
'Furthermore, the attackers are believed to be from the same organization. We promise to do our utmost to identify and apprehend them.'
'Once again, we apologize for causing concern regarding public safety.'