Chapter 120 : Falling into the Antlion Pit
Falling into the Antlion Pit
The atmosphere in the office of the Director of the National Intelligence Service was icy cold.
A traitor, not in any other organization, but within the National Intelligence Service itself.
Of course, trust within government agencies had already been shattered by the existence of the internal group called Songchon.
"If you mean a traitor... could it be Songchon?"
At this suggestion, Jin Jong-man wore a subtle expression.
"But there are a lot of suspicious points about that too. For starters, I don't even know why they were monitoring Kang In-hyuk from Taeshin."
The reason Songchon was exposed was because Kang In-hyuk himself revealed he had been followed by surveillance all the way from Switzerland to Russia.
Afterward, the Asia branch chief, Nam Chan-woo, was found dead by suicide, and as soon as Deputy Director Im Seung-hwan of the National Security Bureau disappeared, traces of Songchon emerged.
Of course, it could simply be evidence left behind in Im's rush to escape, but it was difficult to shake off a feeling of suspicion.
"We did investigate Kang In-hyuk as well, but there was nothing unusual in his history."
"Then is there only something unusual in his recent record?"
This meant everything that had happened to In-hyuk in the past year.
Choo Jae-min also found this part highly unusual.
"But there were no suspicions of insider trading or any other illegal acts. There were merely incidents of violence in self-defense and accidental manslaughter."
In-hyuk had faced death several times. Most recently, he had even suffered a terrorist attack in Vladivostok, Russia.
At that time, In-hyuk personally visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to give his statement regarding the soldier-of-fortune who tried to kill him.
Moreover, since explosives and firearms had been used, it was difficult to see the homicide as intentional, so he was able to get through the incident without much trouble.
It was then that Choo Jae-min suddenly recalled something and spoke again.
"Come to think of it, was the message trace unsuccessful?"
Last time, a request had been made to call in an expert for communications tracking.
Nothing had been shared since, but it had been awkward for Choo Jae-min to ask first, so he had just waited.
However, the look on Jin Jong-man's face was now full of worry.
"The message originator apparently routed messages through dozens of overseas servers on the dark web. And somehow... It even goes through foreign military satellites, so if you trace it the wrong way, you'll not only get caught, but might only leave traces of intrusion."
Choo Jae-min's face darkened all the more.
"Could it have been CIA or MI6?"
"Their system is completely different. And they have no reason to approach us in this way."
"So, it's not an easy place to deal with."
"On the other hand, I'm jealous."
"Pardon?"
"I don't know who made it, but if only our National Intelligence Service could use such a communications system, how great would that be?"
He meant it sincerely.
But given the current situation where friend or foe couldn't be determined, he set aside his envy and continued.
"Anyway, for now, it's hard to find a way to figure out who sent the message, so let's focus on what we can do."
"What would you like me to do?"
"Dig into Deputy General Manager Im Deok-chang and the Supreme Prosecutors' Office separately. And, assemble reliable teams to investigate Hwain Techon, Seunghwa Trading, and the Seunghwa Foundation."
"You suspect Deputy General Manager Im because of the Notex staff investigation, right?"
They were being told to thoroughly investigate everything Im Deok-chang was in charge of.
Meanwhile, the mood around Jin Jong-man grew even heavier.
"That's right. Of course, I haven't found a connection between Notex and Hwain Techon yet. For now, since the shell company has come up, we should follow it both ways. And if Notex really is involved, there's no way nothing would come up from the dead staff members."
But Im Deok-chang had already reported that he found nothing suspicious about them.
That was where Jin Jong-man's suspicions began to sprout.
"I'll move as quietly as possible."
"... Do so."
After exchanging farewells, Choo Jae-min also stepped outside.
Left alone in the office, Jin Jong-man looked again at the message displayed on his phone.
HERMIT.
As the name suggested, the other party thoroughly hid their identity, but dropped key words about situations that could become dangerous for the National Intelligence Service.
At first, he thought it might be bait for internal conflict within the agency.
But as he followed the keywords and investigated, things he hadn't known or had felt uneasy about started to come together.
...
...
At the same time.
Deputy General Manager Im Deok-chang of the Third Division, who had hurriedly returned to his office, immediately sent messages to the organization's executives from his phone.
【Code Hyottoko: National Intelligence Service, Notex shell company exposed. They plan to stir public opinion with a Supreme Prosecutors' Office investigation and prosecutorial corruption.】
This had just been decided in a meeting with Director Jin Jong-man and the deputy general managers.
Ten minutes later, Baek Ji-woong was the first to call.
[What has happened? The National Intelligence Service found the shell company?]
What was connected to their side was Hwain Techon, set up by the W&W Group.
Naturally, this unexpected turn of events posed a threat for Baek Ji-woong.
"It's exactly as you heard."
[How did they find out?]
Im Deok-chang sighed.
"Do you take the National Intelligence Service lightly?"
[Who found out?]
"The Second Deputy General Manager."
[Did that guy even have that kind of ability?]
Im Deok-chang also knew well that his ability was lacking.
It was equally mysterious to him how Shin Jin-hong had found out about the shell company.
"For now, we need to come up with a countermeasure before anything else. Was there some carelessness on the shell company side?"
The discovery of $1.4 billion in cash in Notex's cargo had triggered international suspicion.
Of course, they had arranged for the shell companies and laundering routes to avoid a trail, but erasing all traces perfectly was impossible.
[How much exactly did they find out?]
"For now, only up to the shell company. But the Second Division will keep investigating, so if there's anything left, it needs to be removed as much as possible."
If the trail eventually led all the way to Hwain Techon, it would be impossible to contain the situation.
[I already took care of everything I could. From here on, shouldn't you be the one to handle things?]
"This wouldn't have happened if you hadn't transferred funds to Notex in such a reckless way."
There was a brief silence on the line before Baek Ji-woong spoke again.
[Have you thought about the kind of personnel it takes to move that level of funds without a trace?]
At this sharp rebuttal, Im Deok-chang let out another sigh.
"I'm not trying to pick a fight right now. You can imagine how frustrated I must be... We need to solve this situation, with the National Intelligence Service digging into Notex and the Supreme Prosecutors' Office."
[It's not like I have a solution either! And I'm overwhelmed just dealing with Taeshin and KQ.]
"I'll do my best on my end to clean up anything possible. But W&W can't just sit still either. If we're not careful, this whole affair could expose the organization's outline."
The National Intelligence Service was practically at their doorstep.
Of course, Baek Ji-woong understood the situation well.
[Do your part well too. If this goes wrong, you'll have the hardest time getting out yourself.]
He had already offered up some members of the internal group Songchon to Director Jin Jong-man as a sacrifice.
And although he had pinned the blame on the now-disappeared Deputy Director Im Seung-hwan, not all doubts had been dispelled, so caution was necessary.
"If it comes to that, you should know I won't go down alone."
As soon as the call ended, a call came from Jung Yoon-ju at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office.
The reason was obvious, just like with Baek Ji-woong.
Im Deok-chang let out a long sigh and pressed the call button.
* * *
After parting ways with Chairman Baek Ji-woong, In-hyuk had just dropped Baek Si-hwan off at the station and was on his way home.
In the calm, his phone vibrated.
【NIS02: Deputy Director Im Seung-hwan of the National Security Bureau, the figure behind Songchon, has disappeared. Report related to Notex shell company. The director plans to investigate prosecutorial corruption to use as a shield. Stayed to talk with the First Deputy General Manager. Details unknown.】
It was a message from National Intelligence Service Deputy General Manager Shin Jin-hong, delivered via Ghost Link.
"Looks like things are heating up at the National Intelligence Service too."
At these muttered words, Hong Yu-geon glanced at In-hyuk in the rearview mirror.
"What kind of trouble did you stir up now?"
"I gave the list connecting Hwain Techon and Notex through a shell company to the Second Deputy General Manager."
He had intentionally let it be known through Shin Jin-hong, not the director.
That way, he would attract minimal suspicion and could close the net on Im Deok-chang.
"How much of the game have you already set up?"
"Pretty much everything important. Fortunately, even the director is moving just like I wanted."
"Aren't they suspicious?"
"Of course they are. But they can't help but bite at the bait scattered around them."
Right now, the National Intelligence Service was practically a ticking time bomb.
In such volatile circumstances, it was possible to predict what Director Jin Jong-man, with public opinion on his mind, would do next.
Of course, In-hyuk hadn't spread info about corruption to have the prosecutors take the lead on purpose...
"You're now pulling the strings of not just the prosecution, but even the National Intelligence Service? Our boss... honestly, terrifying."
"It's not 'pulling strings'—it's mutual exchange of necessary information and benefits. I just create the flow I want in that context."
Hong Yu-geon groaned.
"That's even scarier, isn't it?"
"What's wrong with a win-win?"
"Is it really a win-win? Whoever deals with the boss ends up falling into an antlion pit."
Those who began dealing with In-hyuk and Ghost Link fell into two categories.
People who only ever received information beneficial to themselves, and people who sold information for sums of money that were hard to even imagine.
Either way, dealing with the masked existence calling himself HETMIT was akin to gambling.
So Hong Yu-geon's comment wasn't wrong.
In-hyuk smiled at this.
"It's not like I'm doing this for everyone's happiness."
"This is the first time I've ever worried about my own 'ally' in my life..."
As they talked, In-hyuk's phone rang.
It was Go Mi-ah, who should be at home by now, having finished work.
[Hey~ Boss! The investigation material on the Seunghwa Foundation and Seunghwa Trading came in. Should I send the file or do you want to pick it up yourself?]
This was information In-hyuk had passed to Shin Jin-hong.
"Is there something in the file to worry about?"
Usually, she would just upload the file and send a message, so it was curious she was calling directly.
[There's something a bit suspicious.]
"I'll come get it myself, then."
He turned the car toward Go Mi-ah's workshop, arriving there about thirty minutes later.
"What's so special in what you found?"
Seunghwa Trading and the Seunghwa Foundation hadn't stood out in particular in his previous life.
When he first heard the name again, what came to mind was the restaurant "Seunghwa's Set Menu," where he used to meet with Tae Seok-ho for secret talks.
That's how common the name Seunghwa was to In-hyuk.
Go Mi-ah pushed her tablet forward.
"There's nothing special about the publicly disclosed capital flows of Seunghwa Trading."
Up to that point, there was no difference from In-hyuk's memories.
"And?"
"There was nothing special in the internal systems either, so I was just going to leave a backdoor, but I found a blocked area."
In-hyuk examined the part she had found by hacking on her tablet.
He didn't know computers as well as Go Mi-ah, but he understood the basics well enough.
"Is access completely impossible?"
"It's an offline server, so you have to connect from the inside."
"Are you sure the server is inside the building?"
"That I can't be completely sure of. It could be stored externally, with only the entry processor at the company."
The serious tone made In-hyuk grim.
He scrolled through the tablet to check on Seunghwa Trading again.
"... Hm? This capital structure is a bit strange."
His gaze lingered on the balance sheet of Seunghwa Trading, collected through Go Mi-ah's hacking.