The Red Flag's Return
"Executive Director Ha?"
"Yes, I'm the president now, haha."
"That doesn't sound like something to laugh about. If I remember correctly, you were the one who made the delivery back then. I guess we got caught on camera."
"Actually, that's not the main topic of this meeting."
"Through this friend, we've received a proposal to trade seized goods. Turns out there's still a line left inside the police."
"I got chewed out by my senior when I traded with this person back then. 'How could you buy stolen goods like that?'"
"It's dangerous. Give up on this and get rid of the police contact too."
I had planned to drop it from the start, worried that dealing might drag Executive Director Ha into it as well.
"And when that friend got arrested, the news hammered him hard. Security and surveillance will be no joke."
"That's exactly why I'm proposing it. Everything's already set up."
?? The explanation actually made sense. When police or customs seize items, the frontline reports it and takes evidence photos. The goods are then collected at a central storage facility, usually an evidence warehouse. Once a case closes or the retention period expires, they photograph the items again before removal. Finally, the items are sent to a government-contracted incinerator, where they're photographed one last time before burning and reported to the Ministry of Justice. The police officer apparently got caught trying to pull evidence from the storage facility.
"So?"
"This time the order came from the incinerator itself."
"It looks like a good opportunity, so I brought it up. What do you think, Director Jo?"
"It seems viable to me too, which is why I've been discussing it with the chairman. The volume is quite substantial."
"From what I've looked into, there are four such facilities in the country. Once you're in, it's practically a lifetime post—people stay for years."
"They call it 3D work. Even though it's a government job, the pay grade is low."
Which means no one wants the position. It's treated like a dead-end assignment, the kind you get sent to after a demotion. I understood, but what was the actual plan? Just pay and buy the goods?
"Understood. You believe it's feasible. Let's hear the details."
"Yes, the idea is to receive the goods from the incinerator and sell them exclusively inside prisons."
"From what I've heard, quality control isn't possible."
That made sense. Last time we got lucky with premium product; they probably mixed in regular-grade stuff too.
"I think we should either promote Team Leader Yoon or separate the operation entirely so that division handles it alone."
"If it gets mixed into the existing sales network, it could damage the organization's reputation."
"But no matter how I look at it, this seems like something we could run without reporting it up the chain. Supply and demand are both locked in, and we've got people to handle it. Why not just proceed?"
"Chairman, our organization's umbrella is quite strong. They came to us because they want protection."
I suddenly felt a surge of pride.
"Confidence is good, but don't get careless."
"Yes, sir."
"Proceed with it."
"And since a business proposal has come up through proper channels, we should promote the person to a dedicated position and let them run it."
"Call it a task force. Give Team Leader Yoon—now Deputy Director Yoon—personnel authority. Let him hire whoever he needs on his own discretion."
That way the organization would stay dynamic and good opportunities would keep coming our way. I emphasized the point.
"Are we done?"
"Ah, I have something to report as well."
Director Jo had an agenda too.
"During the operation against Chief Seon, a contact on the police side who helped us just got promoted to superintendent."
When I asked for details, he explained that not only the field team that carried out the operation but also the commanding officer who oversaw it had been recognized and promoted. It felt like I'd fed my own flesh to an enemy, but since it was my choice, I had no regrets.
"And so?"
"They handed over a list of people hidden inside our organization. I was wondering what to do with it."
"Even after that investigation, there are still more?"
"Don't we need to clean house?"
"But the contact said it's tradition in their organization—new ones will just keep coming even if we remove these. He suggested we simply manage them instead."
"I agree, which is why I'm reporting it."
Executive Director Ha nodded in agreement with Director Jo.
"Let me see the list."
There were quite a few—seven names. One was even a deputy director level. The rest were one senior inspector and five assistant inspectors.
"What's this guy's deal?"
"He was part of Chief Seon's old line. Doesn't seem like a true believer—probably bought off."
"The others were deliberately planted by the police."
"Approaching them intentionally was the right move. What's the deputy director's reason? We pay well, don't we?"
"He's deep in debt—gambling debt. That's how they got to him."
"Haa… Get rid of the deputy director. Manage the rest on the list. I think he's right."
"Even with the internal affairs and IT teams working hard, the fact that people like this still slip in is impressive."
"Actually, the internal affairs team is a bit short-handed. I was thinking of putting some of the guys from sales who got injured to work there. Would that be all right?"
"No, don't just throw people anywhere."
Executive Director Ha, who had been listening, cut in.
"That's why I'm telling the chairman. What do you expect from those damaged kids?"
Whoa, no fighting. But who exactly were these injured guys?
"Tell me more about the injured friends."
"Well…"
This line of work was rough. People had no manners or conscience, so violence was routine and they often got stabbed in the back. They'd show up to deliver and find not money but clubs waiting. Or buyers would threaten them to hand over the goods. Injuries happened regularly in the process.
"Even so, they still need to make a living, so sales keeps giving them product, but because of how they look, their performance is poor."
Made sense. Who would want to buy drugs from someone with a visible disability?
"Couldn't we just send them to the welfare center factory or the farm?"
"We've already sent everyone whose aptitude matched."
Problem children…
"Do it that way, Director Jo. And make sure the organization compensates them properly as a welfare matter."
"We've already provided support, but lifelong care is difficult."
That was true.
"And where else are we short on people?"
"Every support department except the constantly expanding sales division. Ah… the farm is fine. We got word they're sufficiently staffed."
"Then contact each sales division head. Have them check if anyone can be moved to support roles and report back. Tell the support department heads to take in anyone they can use."
"Fill vacancies through internal promotions."
"Be careful with security and move forward. Anything else?"
"No, sir. Thank you for your hard work."
After spending two days and one night between the welfare center and the survival camp, returning to Seoul felt like coming home from a business trip. I could finally rest at home. Or so I thought. The world wouldn't leave me alone.
Still, given the current situation, this was a welcome face. He was a supplier, after all.
Reporter?
He launched straight into a story from two years ago, as if he hadn't had anyone to talk to all this time.
He was right. North Korea had been rattling sabers with nuclear and missile tests, heightening tensions.
Damn. I'd had a feeling something like that would happen. If they ran operations that openly, did they expect me to just roll out the red carpet and hand over cash?
I'd have to buy something, even if it was just tofu, so he wouldn't get dragged back in.
Fair enough. Since he'd handled opium before, I'd need to stock up on that too.
This guy clearly didn't know my position. Five kilos? That wouldn't even register.