Chapter 364: It’s Not Time Yet

Despite his advanced age, Chairman Yoon Jongu was an extremely curious man.

It was as clear as day that if his curiosity wasn't satisfied, he wouldn't leave me alone afterward.

He knew perfectly well what was happening in China.

Therefore, there was absolutely no reason to hide the details from him.

"Chairman Zhen Weiliang is helping Vice Chairman Tang successfully carry out the coup d'état."

"I already know that."

Chairman Yoon Jongu's response made it perfectly clear: stop wasting time with idle chatter and get to the point.

"Chairman Zhen has decided to spread a rumor concerning Chairman Xi."

"What kind of rumor? Hurry up and tell me."

"A rumor that an astronomical sum was stolen from Chairman Xi's secret funds, and that he also took out enormous loans from eleven banks, invested the money in gold futures, and suffered colossal losses."

"Xi must have been absolutely beside himself with rage when he heard that!"

"According to Vice Chairman Tang, he smashed every piece of furniture in his office."

"Ha-ha-ha!"

Chairman Yoon Jongu burst into loud, hearty laughter, clearly delighted by the news.

Naturally, everyone else present, except me, joined in the laughter.

However, right in the middle of the merriment, Chairman Yoon Jongu suddenly stopped laughing, as though he had remembered something important, and turned to me.

"Department Head Cha, the internet is under the complete control of the Ministry of State Security and the police. Will it really be possible to spread this rumor?"

"Hackers can break through the firewalls installed on the main servers of internet portals."

"Hackers?.. Are you saying that National Intelligence Service operatives will be used to spread rumors about Chairman Xi?"

"Director Om suggested that option, but I opposed it."

"And why did you refuse?"

"Once the rumor spreads widely, the MSS and the police will raise an enormous fuss trying to catch those responsible."

In other words, I had opposed the idea because the NIS operatives could be exposed by China's MSS and police.

"That makes sense. So who are you planning to use?"

"We've decided to bring in hackers who defected from North Korea."

"But there are only about ten of them. Can they really break through the firewall?"

"They're the most elite hackers from North Korea's Reconnaissance General Bureau. Besides, they have extensive experience and sophisticated techniques for stealing cryptocurrency, which is practically impossible to hack."

"I see. But what if the MSS and the police still discover that they're responsible?"

"Even if they sniff out the truth, we can always blame everything on North Korean schemes."

"Am I to understand that you've already prepared a plan of action for that possibility?"

"You're absolutely right, Chairman Yoon."

"Hmm... In that case, there shouldn't be any problems. Well then, shall we go have dinner?"

***

"You're late again today?"

My mother opened the front door for me and spoke with a worried expression.

"I was held up having dinner with Chairman Yoon. Where's Saho?"

"Have you ever seen Saho staying home at this hour of the night?"

That meant the cat had gone hunting chipmunks on the hill behind the house again.

"That's true... I completely forgot."

"Before you go upstairs to your room, can we talk for a moment?"

"Of course. What did you want to ask?"

"Why has Hyeonji been so irritable lately, snapping at both you and us?"

Originally, we had planned to recruit two hundred new employees for the KBH Investment project.

However, things had turned out such that more than ten thousand candidates had submitted applications.

Among them, three thousand held master's or doctoral degrees from prestigious foreign universities.

Cha Hyeonji, on the other hand, was merely an undergraduate pursuing a bachelor's degree at Korea's top university.

If personal qualities were set aside and everything was judged purely on paper, she was at a clear disadvantage.

Nevertheless, Cha Hyeonji had shown incredible determination and managed to pass both the first and second rounds of document screening.

Of course, there were some complications behind this that I hadn't yet had time to investigate.

"She's just nervous and worried, so don't pay too much attention to it."

"That's exactly what I'm talking about... Couldn't you use your connections to help her a little?"

Previously, I had made it perfectly clear to Director Heo Yeongjin and Deputy Manager Woo Changhun that Cha Hyeonji would participate in the open recruitment process on equal terms with everyone else.

Therefore, if I interfered in the hiring process, I would be violating the principle of fairness.

Telling my mother the truth would only upset her and earn me a barrage of reproaches.

This was truly one of those moments when a little white lie was necessary.

"Hyeonji managed to pass the document screening precisely because I helped her."

"Ah, so that's how it is."

In reality, I hadn't interfered with the document screening in the slightest.

The reason Cha Hyeonji had passed the first and second rounds was that Director Heo Yeongjin had personally lent her a hand.

That was why I could answer my mother with such confidence.

"If I start pulling strings and putting pressure on people again, I'll only lose face in front of my subordinates."

"Well, if you put it that way, I suppose there's nothing more I can say."

"Hyeonji has both ability and luck, so I'm sure she'll pass."

At that moment, hearing my footsteps, Cha Hyeonji came down from the second floor and called out to me.

"Oppa, you're back?"

"Yeah. How's your interview preparation going?"

"I'm preparing little by little, but I have absolutely no idea what questions the interviewers might ask."

There was an unmistakable hint in Cha Hyeonji's words: she was hoping I would give her at least some clues about the interview.

Naturally, I could easily obtain a list of questions for her, but I had firmly decided not to do so.

If I flatly refused, my sister would be offended, one hundred percent guaranteed.

So I decided to give her a subtle hint about the decision I had made.

"Hyeonji, would you like me to tell you how to get into our company without even going through an interview?"

"Don't tell me..."

I understood perfectly well why Cha Hyeonji had left her sentence unfinished.

"Sorry, but it's not at all what you're thinking."

"Then what is it?"

There was a distinctly sharp edge to Cha Hyeonji's voice, which was filled with obvious disappointment.

I was about to teach my sister a lesson for speaking to me in that tone, but I exercised patience and restrained myself.

After all, she was nervous and worried too, which was why she was reacting this way.

"There's been an additional procedure introduced before the interview."

"What kind of procedure?"

"I can't reveal the details. Just pay close attention to global economic trends."

"I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about."

"You'll understand soon enough. If you want to work at our company, just make sure you remember what I said."

I gave Cha Hyeonji a little encouragement by patting her on the shoulder, then went up to the third floor.

Bzzzt!

The moment I opened the door and stepped into my room, the phone in my hand vibrated.

Glancing at the screen, I saw that NIS Director Om Giyeon was calling.

I had been meaning to contact him myself, so his call couldn't have come at a better time.

Sitting down on the edge of my bed, I pressed the answer button.

"I'm listening, Director Om."

[Department Head Cha, I've heard rumors that Hangang Group is sending a private jet to bring Chief of Staff Holes here?]

"That's correct, but who told you about it?"

[I had dinner with Chief of Staff Lee.]

In other words, Lee Jihun had told him.

"I see."

[Now, let me tell you why I called.]

"I'm all ears."

[An hour ago, the hackers under Major General Lee Cheolseung successfully broke through the firewalls on the main servers of China's internet portals.]

"So they managed it after all. Please convey my gratitude to General Lee for his excellent work."

[Ha-ha! I'll be sure to tell him.]

"Still, are you certain there won't be any problems?"

[They routed the traffic through a chain of more than twenty countries, so the MSS and the police will never be able to trace them.]

If NIS Director Om Giyeon himself was giving such assurances, all I could do was trust him.

"I understand. So when will the rumor spread by Chairman Zhen reach the whole of China?"

[They only started the operation a short while ago, so the rumor should spread throughout the country by tomorrow morning at the latest.]

At that very moment, a troubling thought flashed through my mind.

Vice Chairman Tang Guochang had recently brought MSS Minister He Lifei over to his side.

Once Chairman Xi Jinping received a report that the main servers of the internet portals had been hacked, he certainly wouldn't leave the minister alone.

If that happened, the operation to destroy North Korea's secret nuclear weapons storage facility could fall apart.

I couldn't allow such an outcome, so I continued my conversation with NIS Director Om Giyeon.

"Director Om, have you managed to obtain information about the high-ranking officers serving at North Korea's nuclear weapons storage facility?"

[I've already asked Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol and Commander Kwak Taesu for help.]

"How soon will we be able to get that information?"

[The way you're talking makes it sound as though we need to obtain it as quickly as possible. Am I right?]

"You're absolutely right, Director."

[And I'm very curious to know why you're in such a hurry.]

"Because the hackers broke through the firewalls on the main servers of the internet portals..."

I explained in detail to NIS Director Om Giyeon what kind of trouble Minister He Lifei might now face.

"...We need to help him before he gets into trouble."

[I understand what you mean. I'm swamped with work right now, so I'll hang up.]

Click.

No sooner had the conversation ended than Saho jumped into my room through the open window.

Upon noticing me, the cat flinched in surprise, instantly turned around, and tried to leap back out the window.

"Get over here right now, and don't make me ask twice!"

***

The next day.

After arriving at work, I summoned Human Resources Director Heo Yeongjin to my office.

"Director Heo, how is the recruitment of experienced and new employees progressing?"

"After the first and second rounds of document screening, we've narrowed the candidates down to two thousand five hundred experienced applicants and one thousand new specialists. Based on the interview results, we plan to select eight hundred experienced employees and two hundred newcomers."

"If we interview one thousand candidates for entry-level positions, how long will it take?"

"We're planning to interview one hundred people a day."

"So, excluding Saturdays and Sundays, it'll take two weeks?"

"That's absolutely correct, Department Head."

The time had come to tell Director Heo Yeongjin what I had in mind.

"Director Heo, what if we drastically shortened the interview process for new employees?"

"But if we do as you suggest, the interviews will become nothing more than a box-ticking exercise and a superficial formality."

"I didn't mean that we should shorten the actual interview time."

"I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean."

"I'm proposing that we test the actual abilities of the people who passed the document screening..."

As he listened to Cha Jiham's explanation, Director Heo Yeongjin found himself nodding along.

If the idea were put into practice, it would be possible to assess the applicants' potential clearly and accurately.

Moreover, it would offer the enormous advantage of significantly reducing the time required to conduct interviews.

While he was sincerely admiring such a brilliant idea, their discussion drew to a close.

"...What do you think of my idea?"

"I wholeheartedly support your proposal! I'll do my best to organize everything as quickly as possible."

"Excellent. Now, let's change the subject for a moment."

"I'm listening."

"Director Heo, you used your influence to help my sister pass the document screening, didn't you?"

"Ah... No, of course not!"

My suspicions had been confirmed one hundred percent.

"Director Heo, then why are you stammering?"

"Ahem, ahem! Goodness, it isn't even summer yet, so why is it so hot in here?"

Frantically fanning himself with his hands, Director Heo Yeongjin hurried out of my office and made a run for it.

"Heh-heh-heh."

While I was chuckling quietly to myself, the door opened and Chief Secretary Kang Inhan entered my office.

He gave me a slight bow, then asked with a puzzled expression,

"Department Head, did you reprimand Director Heo?"

"Why would I? He just tried to lie to me and got caught immediately."

"And what did Director Heo lie about?"

"Ha-ha. I'm sorry, but I can't disclose that. Anyway, what brings you here?"

"A short while ago, the Chairman spoke with Chairman Zhen over the phone. Chairman Zhen happily reported that the rumors about Chairman Xi were spreading rapidly. Our Chairman instructed me to find out exactly what had happened."

"The hackers under Major General Lee Cheolseung successfully carried out the operation."

"Ah, so that's what happened."

Chief Secretary Kang Inhan nodded knowingly, finally understanding what was going on.

"Once these rumors reach Chairman Xi's ears, we're in for quite an interesting spectacle."

"Indeed. Without a doubt."

Bzzzt!

At that moment, the phone lying on my desk vibrated. Glancing at the screen, I saw NIS Director Om Giyeon's name.

The reason for his call was obvious, so I answered without delay.

"I'm listening, Director Om."

[Department Head Cha, I've obtained the list of generals and officers serving at North Korea's nuclear weapons storage facility.]

"Excellent news. Please convey my gratitude to Deputy Director Jo and Commander Kwak for their efforts."

[Ha-ha! I'll be sure to tell them. Should I forward the list to Vice Chairman Tang?]

"It's not time yet."

[But weren't you the one saying just yesterday that we were running out of time?]

"For an abscess to burst easily, you have to wait until it's fully ripe."

[I'm not quite sure what you're getting at, Department Head Cha.]

"It's Vice Chairman Tang who's currently cornered and desperate. Yet he still hasn't sent me an SOS."

[Ah...]

NIS Director Om Giyeon drew out the sound reluctantly, finally realizing my true intentions.