Jack copied the spyware program onto a tablet and handed it to Jang Tae-soo.
After making sure his family was settled in, he headed out—
The Wolff Brothers had just messaged him.
Their boat had docked.
But when Jack arrived—
He was speechless.
The two men walked toward him—
Dressed in full U.S. Navy officer uniforms.
Jack stared.
"This is the fishing boat you were talking about?"
He pointed at the ship docked in the harbor.
A massive cargo vessel.
Easily 10,000 tons in displacement.
Its hull was painted with the name of the ship—
Right next to the "USNS" prefix.
Braxton grinned, patting Jack's shoulder.
"What? I said small ship. Didn't say anything about fishing."
"This one belongs to the Military Sealift Command. It's just a transport vessel—technically small for a cargo ship."
Braxton looked the part of a Navy officer.
Until he opened his mouth.
Meanwhile, Chris—stone-faced as always—seemed way more convincing.
Jack sighed.
"Is it really fine for you guys to impersonate Navy officers?"
Braxton pointed at the ship's hull.
"See the USNS?"
"Only ships marked with USS are active-duty warships."
"USNS means it's a Navy auxiliary vessel."
"Only the captain and a few officers are actual civilians in the Navy. The rest? Just hired merchant mariners."
"Our friend Captain Thompson is one of them. Relax."
Chris added,
"The ship's docking for three days before heading back to the U.S."
"If you're not done by then—"
"We'll figure something else out."
Jack mentally calculated.
If they couldn't find the drugs in time—
Tomorrow night, the Taiwanese gang would start hunting Zhou Xingzhe.
Three days was plenty.
In most places, two guys in Navy uniforms would stand out.
But in Korea—
Especially Incheon Port?
Totally normal.
Jack even saw several uniformed U.S. Navy sailors saluting the two men.
Most of them seemed in a rush.
Probably sailors desperate to hit the town after being stuck at sea.
Jack found a hotel, got them checked in, and handed them two phones.
Then he rushed off.
Ma Seok-do had just called.
Hwang Dong-gyun's missing boss—
Detective Jeong from the Northern Police Drug Unit—
His body had been found.
—
Jack arrived at the Incheon hospital morgue.
Ma Seok-do stood outside, face grim.
Hwang Dong-gyun, eyes red, clenched a photograph—
His hands shaking.
"A fisherman found his body washed ashore. Called the cops."
Hwang's voice cracked.
Jack took the photo.
Jeong's body had been wrapped in plastic, tightly bound with ropes.
Weights were strapped to his head, waist, and feet—
Then he was dumped into the sea.
It should've been a solid body disposal method.
But something went wrong.
Maybe gas buildup caused the plastic to bloat.
Maybe the knots weren't tight enough.
Either way—
One of the weights had detached.
His corpse floated to the surface.
Jack sighed.
"Don't wait for forensics. I'll check the body myself."
He suited up, stepping inside.
Hwang Dong-gyun tried to say something—
But just choked up.
After an hour, Jack stepped out, stripping off the stinking biohazard suit.
Hwang looked at him, desperate for answers.
Jack asked,
"When exactly did he go missing?"
Hwang swallowed.
"Six days ago. At night."
Jack nodded.
"Then he was killed that same night."
"His body has extensive bruising—he was beaten severely."
"Jaw? Shattered."
"Skull? Fractured."
"They caved his face in."
Jack paused.
Then, in a softer voice,
"But that's not what killed him."
"He drowned."
"They threw him in the sea alive."
Hwang collapsed to the floor.
He buried his head in his knees.
Sobbing.
"His wife… his kids…"
"They're both under ten…"
Ma Seok-do clenched his jaw.
His muscles tensed—
He growled a curse under his breath.
—
"We can't rely on the law to take him down."
Ma Seok-do slammed the car door.
His face dark.
Jack held up his phone.
"No need to rush."
"He's already planning his escape."
Ma Seok-do exhaled sharply—
Like a bull about to charge.
"These bastards don't fear anything."
"They even kill their own."
"If this were America, he'd be gunned down on the spot, right?"
Jack tilted his head.
"Last guy I ran into?"
"Shot himself. Right in front of me."
Ma Seok-do froze.
Then—
He grumbled, shaking his head.
"Korea doesn't have the death penalty."
"Even if he kills someone, he'll be out in ten, twenty years."
"This bastard won't off himself."
Jack studied his face.
Then asked, slowly,
"…You serious?"
Ma Seok-do nodded.
"Absolutely."
Then—he hesitated.
"...But, uh—"
"Can we keep some of the money?"
Jack raised an eyebrow.
Money?
They hadn't even gotten the cash yet.
Then he realized.
"You mean for Jeong's family?"
Ma Seok-do looked awkward.
"Just enough to make sure his kids grow up safe."
Jack grinned.
They shook hands.
"Deal."
"From now on—"
"We're really friends."
—
Late at night.
A beam of light flickered in a dark room.
Rustling.
Then—
A phone vibrated.
A hushed voice answered.
"Boss, I'm still looking."
"Find those drugs. If we don't deliver tomorrow—"
"Those Taiwanese bastards won't let us live."
"I know. If I have to tear down every wall, I will find them."
The call ended.
Minutes later—
The flashlight flicked back on.
Then—
Loud banging.
Someone was breaking down the walls.
A hundred meters away—
Jack's BMW sat parked among the street's cars.
Engine off.
Invisible.
He removed his Bluetooth earpiece.
Smirked.
"Told you."
"He's losing his mind."
"Zhou Xingzhe's men are desperately searching for those drugs."
Ma Seok-do hunkered low in the seat.
Peering at the Japanese-style house.
"So this is Ichida-gumi's Korean branch?"
"His office?"
Jack nodded.
"I checked it out earlier today."
"Looks like a massacre happened inside."
"Blood everywhere—walls, floors."
"Last night, those Japanese hitmen must've cleared out this place first."
"Then they went after Ichida at the hotel."
Ma Seok-do frowned.
"If so many people died…"
"Why the hell isn't there police tape?"
______
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