章 661: Chapter 661: Don’t Ask About the Source of Information
At my chilling warning, Jessica reluctantly pulled out all the communication devices she had on her.
She had a satellite phone, a mini camera, and even two recorders.
Not to mention several other specialized equipment that poured out.
"Are you planning to shoot a spy movie or something?"
I couldn't help but scoff at the sight, disbelief coloring my tone.
"…They told me to bring everything. They need to keep track of how this plays out."
"Why? Are they hoping to use it as leverage against me?"
"What reason would the U.S. have to turn against you, Charlie?"
"From my perspective as a weaker party, shouldn't I be concerned? For now, my interests align with the U.S., but who knows what might happen later?"
While we were talking, Manager Ma used the equipment to scan Jessica's body.
No alarms went off.
Jessica seemed to know that if more communication devices appeared, it would be problematic, which is likely why she had already surrendered everything.
"Let's sit down for now."
I gestured for her to take a seat first. Jessica hesitated before sitting across from me.
"What did we discuss so far?"
As soon as she sat down, I skipped the usual pleasantries and dove straight into the main topic.
"The reason I got involved in this…"
Before I could finish my sentence, she quickly responded.
"I'm not completely oblivious. I'm not stupid. I've opened up just enough information to be clear. That's how it had to be."
Open enough information, huh? For now, I had no choice but to trust her.
Considering John's reaction, it didn't seem like she had openly admitted getting involved in this at Grandma's request.
"Jessica, I want to trust you. There are alternatives, but I'd feel uneasy letting go of someone familiar and starting over with someone new."
"…I know."
"But will you keep disappointing me?"
Jessica met my gaze, a look of defensiveness crossing her face.
"This was beyond my control."
"I understand that. But I wanted the U.S.'s approval. That carries weight—it's also a guarantee that if things go south, I won't be held accountable, and you know that."
Jessica sighed deeply, exuding frustration.
"Charlie, you know all too well that rivalries between U.S. intelligence agencies are intense. This situation is no different. Most people aware of your abilities want to turn a blind eye, but many agencies don't share that sentiment. They believe that if things go awry, someone needs to be scapegoated."
"It's not a new issue for intelligence agencies to have hierarchy conflicts."
Jessica nodded, agreeing with me before continuing.
"That may be true, but after the rise of terrorism and the establishment of a new agency called Homeland Security, things have intensified. Furthermore, there's a new agency being formed that will take over the audit and budget oversight roles previously controlled by the CIA. The biggest opposition has come from the CIA director."
The CIA director, huh… I couldn't help but exhale sharply.
What a nuisance he must be.
"Additionally, the intel agencies under the Defense Department have also drawn a clear line, stating this matter is their jurisdiction, and civilians shouldn't interfere. They want to keep Black Bear in check."
I could fully understand why the Defense Department felt that way.
They would be wary of a private military company like Black Bear growing too powerful.
"So ultimately, if any agreements hit a snag, there was talk of shifting the blame onto Black Bear…"
"Not Black Bear, but me, right?"
Jessica didn't outright deny it.
"You are the owner of Black Bear, so it can't be helped. Individuals wielding such power, whether in the East or West, always cause problems for the state."
"Still, I've hardly ever wielded that power recklessly."
"There's a difference between hardly ever and not at all, Charlie. Take the sudden change in North Korea's regime, for instance…"
So there was another reason the U.S. was desperate to find my weakness.
The coup in North Korea meant the U.S. had amplified their view of me as a risk.
If it hadn't served their interests, they wouldn't have turned a blind eye to the issue.
Well, I could wrap my head around that.
Given that I possessed both financial and military power, it made sense that I could be a potential threat.
"I've never acted against U.S. interests."
"Even so, you're not a U.S. citizen. If you were, your treatment would be very different."
They were openly suggesting I should acquire U.S. citizenship.
But the thought never crossed my mind.
To juggle between the U.S., Russia, and China based on my interests would be a hassle if I were an American citizen.
"Haven't we settled that argument already?"
"I'm just stating the facts. It's disappointing."
"Speaking of which, I forgot, Jessica, you're a Republican, right?"
Jessica's detailed explanations made it easy to grasp the situation.
I smirked before opening my mouth again.
"Now, let me explain why I had you come all this way."
Seeing my mood darken, Jessica managed a slight smile.
"Good to know. I was curious why you summoned me all the way out here."
"For now, I don't plan to deploy mercenaries for an immediate hostage rescue operation. Let's negotiate with them first and save the rescue for a last resort."
Her face instantly fell, as if I had completely shattered her previous smile.
"…Are you suggesting we give money to the terrorists?"
"Of course not. Directly handing them money would be putting a blade to my own throat. That's not happening."
Even if I received the U.S.'s consent, giving money to terrorists was as good as signing my own death warrant.
I locked eyes with a grim Jessica.
"Please arrange a meeting with Hussein in Iraq."
"Hussein? Why do you want to meet him?"
"I know that the U.S. has already approached him, offering to spare his life as long as he halts any anti-government activities in Iraq."
"…"
The original plan was to put Hussein on trial in a U.S. court.
However, many circumstances intertwined, leading to the decision to hold the trial in Iraq, soon to be handed over to a newly established interim Iraqi government.
"Am I wrong?"
"Hah… How much do you really know, Charlie? Not many people on the planet have that information, barely a thousand. Do you have an informant among them?"
"Don't ask about the source of information."
I could clearly see Jessica working to figure things out.
She was likely trying to pinpoint my informant amid the scant few with that knowledge.
Yet, no matter how hard she looked, she'd find nothing. The source of my information was me.
"That's right. We've proposed a judicial deal to Hussein."
"Hussein probably declined it, huh?"
Jessica shrugged and nodded. It seemed she had the attitude of knowing she had nothing left to hide.
"Whatever you propose, he won't accept it. He has already made up his mind to die."
Who would want to end their own life? I raised an eyebrow, tilting my head.
"Even so, I believe in exhausting every possibility. If we can resolve this through conversation, it's the ideal choice."
"It won't be easy to meet him, though."
"That's why I asked you to come here in person."
"I can't decide that on my own."
That wasn't the purpose behind calling Jessica all the way to Baghdad.
I twisted one side of my mouth as I regarded her.
"I know that very well. Still, you can persuade them directly. Get their permission in front of me."
"…"
"Do you need time to think?"
After a moment of biting her lip in thought, Jessica stretched out her hand.
"Pass me the satellite phone."
I nodded at Manager Ma, and he brought the satellite phone, placing it in front of Jessica.
"Charlie, I can't guarantee anything."
Sometimes it's a gamble to just give it a shot. I nodded, gesturing for her to proceed.
"Let's try it for now."
I had no faith that I could persuade Hussein even if I met him.
But since I was in Iraq, I might as well see that dictator.
Taking a deep breath, Jessica picked up the satellite phone and dialed a number.
While she was on the call, I turned my head to check my watch.
'Did they say they'd get back to me within 24 hours…? About 3 hours left.'
John, now appointed as the head of National Intelligence, and Yoon Chang-ho, Korea's president, had yet to contact me.
'Should I head back like this?'
Jessica glanced at me occasionally while continuing the call, working to arrange the meeting with Hussein as I had requested.
After a while, she put down the receiver and spoke.
"They said they'll decide and contact us within an hour. But I sense conditions will be attached."
"What kind of conditions?"
Is it standard practice for the U.S. to set conditions for everything?
As I frowned, Jessica glanced at me cautiously and spoke carefully.
"Please persuade them to accept our stance as much as possible upon meeting with Hussein, Charlie."
"So you want me to turn the Iraqi dictator into your lap dog?"
My sarcasm earned Jessica's lips to tighten.
"Jessica. Even when Defense Secretary Rumsfeld himself proposed it, he was rejected. Am I somehow different?"
"But if he dies like this, Iraq will slip further into chaos."
"Knowing that, isn't the U.S. trying to hand over the transitional government to the Shiites? Especially to the hardliners among the Shiites?"
"That's for political reasons…"
Jessica muttered defensively. Watching her, I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
"The U.S. is overflowing with confidence. The belief that everything will unfold just as they envision… Rather, they are overconfident. One day, it'll get them into serious trouble."
The chaos in Iraq, the Arab Spring, and the emergence of ISIS.
The upheaval that followed was a complete disaster.
The unrest fueled by the greed of America and Europe seemed never-ending.
"What do you plan to say when you meet Hussein?"
Feeling uncomfortable with the topic, Jessica steered the conversation elsewhere.
"I'll ask the kidnappers to either persuade them or get introduced to someone who knows their whereabouts."
"…Weren't the kidnappers affiliated with Al-Qaeda?"
"They might have reluctantly become lower-tier affiliates of Al-Qaeda, but they weren't initially part of Al-Qaeda's structure. It's likely some among the Iraqi resistance made agreements with them."
Jessica nodded. However, she didn't seem to fully believe it.
"Please let me meet the kidnappers that you've captured."
"They're currently receiving treatment, so it'll be difficult to meet them. They were pretty badly injured."
"Oh my, Charlie! Did they torture them?"
"Torturing terrorists is something the U.S. also does, so why are you feigning surprise? Don't act coy in front of me, Jessica. If you still want to see them, I can arrange it."
Jessica crossed her arms, pouting.
"Yes, please make it happen. I have questions for them."
"I'll arrange a meeting only when it's confirmed with Hussein. Once their treatment is done, at least one healthy one will be handed over to the U.S. military."
I spent about an hour talking with Jessica.
Exactly an hour later, Jessica's satellite phone on the table buzzed.
Jessica shot me a glance, and I nodded, signaling her to answer.
After a brief conversation on the phone, she handed the receiver to me.
"Yes. This is Kim Mu-hyeok."
—It's John, Charlie.
John dove straight into the main topic after introducing himself.
—You want to meet Hussein?
"Yes. That's correct. I have some questions to ask him."
—Meeting him will be tricky. But if you accept our terms, we can arrange it.
"Are you asking me to persuade him to accept that absurd proposal, which promises to spare his life in exchange for quelling anti-government forces in Iraq?"
—I see you already know.
I could hear John's quiet sigh through the receiver.
"Let's at least make an effort. But he won't agree. He's a dictator who's manipulated the Middle East for too long. Do you really expect him to abandon his pride and beg the U.S. for mercy?"
—That's not what I meant…
John spent a long time stating the reasons, but I took it in one ear and let it out the other.
In the end, it was no different from telling me to survive as the U.S.'s dog.
"I assume the meeting with Hussein is greenlit. Now, let's move on to the main topic."
This was the sole reason John called.
—We will not hold you responsible for any outcomes in this operation. This is guaranteed by me and Assistant Rice.
"Alright. Can I record this?"
—…
"John, if you keep your word, this recording will never see the light of day. I need to have some leverage too."
I signaled to Manager Ma to bring me the recording device without verbally speaking.
He quickly handed me a small recorder.
I almost let out a laugh; it was the same mini recorder Jessica had brought.
"John. Please say that again. I'm recording it now."
There was no response from the other side.
"Don't tell me you're considering breaking your promise?"
—Trust me.
"I'm a businessman. I trust no one. Please reiterate your statement."
After a long pause, John eventually repeated himself.
As soon as I finished recording, I passed the device to Manager Ma.
"Thank you. Now let's successfully rescue the hostages."
I handed the phone back to Jessica, saying,
"Jessica. Please schedule a meeting with Hussein for tomorrow."
Nodding, she continued her conversation with John, and I stood up to talk to Manager Ma.
"Manager Ma, once Jessica finishes her call, please take me to where the hostages are. I have some calls to make."
As I left the room, I pulled out the satellite phone from the inside pocket of my suit.
I could no longer sit idly by, waiting for Yoon Chang-ho's call.
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