The Regressed Vault Keeper Took It All

Chapter 13: It’s Not a Request, It’s a Deal

A few days before I was dragged to the KCIA.

I had somewhat anticipated this situation and met Yang Sobo alone in his office.

“I don’t plan to go to the Myeongdong office for the time being.”

At my words, Yang Sobo looked at me with an intrigued gaze.

“I’m being tailed. Most likely by the Korean Central Intelligence Agency. I believe it’s because of the Han Jeonju matter.”

“My network also reported something similar. But didn’t you say that no trace could be found?”

“Yes. It will be nearly impossible for them to find solid evidence.”

I answered confidently as Yang Sobo frowned.

“But those people can move without evidence. That’s why my plan is…”

I revealed my plan to Yang Sobo.

I would deliberately act suspicious to draw their attention and, eventually, voluntarily let myself get dragged into the KCIA.

“If they follow me for days without gaining anything, they’ll eventually arrest me. They’ll probably drag me to the underground of the KCIA, and through me, they’ll try to get to you or find some leverage.”

“You plan to voluntarily get dragged into the KCIA?”

Surprise was in Yang Sobo’s voice.

“It’s something I’ll have to face sooner or later. It’s better now than after the Daijeongju operation blows up.”

“Do you have the confidence to withstand torture?”

I slightly raised the corner of my lips.

“I’ll use the second sponsorship you promised me. If I get taken by the KCIA, you must immediately use your connections to get me out. Always have people near me so that the moment I’m taken, you’ll know.”

“...Do you even realize how much of a burden that would be on me?”

Yang Sobo’s voice sank low.

For him too, stepping into the KCIA’s affairs was no small burden.

“I do. That’s why I’m saying I’ll use the second sponsorship.”

I looked straight into his eyes and waited for his decision.

Even though I mentioned sponsorship, Yang Sobo didn’t readily answer.

Instead, he stared at me for a long time.

Finally, he let out a long sigh and opened his mouth.

“...Fine, we’ll do it that way. But remember this. This will count as your second sponsorship.”

“Thank you, Teacher.”

I secretly let out a sigh of relief.

Without Yang Sobo’s power, this plan couldn’t even be attempted.

The baited fishing rod had been cast.

Now all that was left was to wait for the KCIA to bite into that tempting bait.

---

I couldn’t help but be shocked when I saw the man enter the underground interrogation room of the KCIA.

‘No Gi-tae moved personally?’

No Gi-tae.

He was the 3rd Deputy Director of the KCIA, the man who handled everything in the shadow economy—smuggling, black markets, Chinese capital, criminal organizations.

‘So Yang Sobo had enough influence to move No Gi-tae.’

No Gi-tae was a man who neither cared for power nor organizational logic—a lone wolf.

For Yang Sobo to move even such a man.

That gave me much to think about.

At No Gi-tae’s roar, Section Chief Choi Min-jun and the two agents turned pale.

They immediately snapped to attention and saluted.

“Loyalty!”

Without even acknowledging their salute, No Gi-tae strode forward and slapped the section chief across the face.

Slaaap—his rough palm smacked the thin skin, making a cracking sound that echoed like a drum.

The blow was so strong that Section Chief Choi staggered.

But he had no choice but to take it helplessly.

After several blows, his face was swollen red, and his lips were split.

“You bastard! Who gave you permission to drag people around as you please?”

Even after beating him, his anger didn’t subside.

No Gi-tae growled furiously.

“For the sake of an investigation…”

Section Chief Choi tried to explain, but No Gi-tae cut him off.

“Hey, Choi Min-jun! You son of a bitch!”

No Gi-tae kicked him in the shin.

Thud—the sound of his shoe striking bone rang chillingly.

“Ugh!”

Finally, Section Chief Choi lost his posture and let out a short groan.

“You want to die? Investigation? To hell with your investigation. Don’t you know Yang Sobo falls under my jurisdiction? Who the hell are you to cross into my turf? Are you my superior?”

“N-no, sir!”

“Then what? Hey, who the hell do you think you are? Just because Director Kang favors you a bit these days, you think you can cross the line?”

No Gi-tae casually brought up even the KCIA Director.

“Who was it? Who ordered you? Director Lee? Or Deputy Bae? Or was it Director Kang? Which bastard was it?”

“I-it was my own decision!”

“Your own decision? Your oown decision?”

No Gi-tae dragged out the words as if dumbfounded.

Grinding his teeth with a sharp sound, he let out a hollow laugh.

“Wow, these lunatics. You just tossed your ranks aside, huh?”

Pressing his finger hard against Section Chief Choi’s forehead, No Gi-tae snarled viciously.

“Is this why we had a revolution? Is this what we fought for? Didn’t we revolt to make the country prosperous? And this is what you’re doing now?”

“A legitimate…”

“Legitimate, my ass! Bullshit!”

No Gi-tae cut him off again.

But Section Chief Choi stubbornly opened his mouth.

“Yang Sobo disrupted our operation…”

“Disrupted? Good, you said it yourself. Then bring me proof of that disruption. Right now. In front of me.”

Section Chief Choi clamped his mouth shut.

“You don’t have it, right? Because…”

With a scoff, No Gi-tae glanced down at me on the floor.

“…you dragged in a beggar just to fabricate evidence? You bastards think people are idiots?”

No Gi-tae crooked his finger at the two agents.

Nervously, they stepped forward.

“Hey! You two, tell me. Do you have proof?”

The agents kept their mouths tightly shut.

Flames flared in No Gi-tae’s eyes at their silence.

“No answer? Discipline’s in ruins. Fine, then let’s all die here today.”

No Gi-tae ripped off his coat and was about to throw punches at the agents when—

“Hey! No Gi-tae!”

A man burst in through the open door and stopped him.

It was Deputy Director Bae Yeong-gu, the direct superior of Lee Seong-gyu.

He was also the man overseeing this entire political matter.

“What the hell are you doing to our staff?”

Bae Yeong-gu asked in displeasure.

But No Gi-tae was unrestrained.

“Staff? Bullshit! Everyone should stick to their own turf. They come after my food bowl, and I’m supposed to just sit still? So, what, you want this to end today once and for all?”

Bae Yeong-gu let out a deep sigh and furrowed his brow.

“Isn’t it about time you dropped that thug-like way of speaking?”

“Bullshit. Drop it my ass. You keep acting all noble if you want. I’ll stick to who I am.”

Bae Yeong-gu shook his head, dismissing him.

He turned to Section Chief Choi instead.

“Enough. What’s going on here?”

Glancing at No Gi-tae, Section Chief Choi finally answered.

“Something went wrong during the operation…”

He gave only a brief summary, leaving out the details.

“And so? You dragged in that beggar, so why is Deputy Director No here blowing his top?”

“That’s because… this man is currently under the protection of Yang Sobo.”

“Didn’t you say he was just a beggar? Then why is he under Yang Sobo’s protection? Where’s Lee Seong-gyu? Just how the hell are you people handling things?”

Bae Yeong-gu shouted irritably.

“I’m sorry.”

Section Chief Choi bowed his head.

“Release him at once! Yang Sobo is clearly Deputy Director No’s responsibility. If you people do this, you’re spitting in his face.”

“I’m sorry.”

“You should be apologizing to Deputy Director No, not me!”

Bae Yeong-gu snapped.

Section Chief Choi bowed deeply toward No Gi-tae.

“I’m sorry, sir. I’ve committed a grave crime.”

Staring with displeasure at the apologizing section chief, No Gi-tae turned and shouted at me, still sitting on the floor.

“Hey! Put your clothes on and follow me.”

At his command, I picked up the clothes strewn on the ground and put them on, silently rejoicing inside.

‘Just as planned. I didn’t expect No Gi-tae himself to step in, but that actually works better.’

Eventually, I would have to meet him anyway.

Because I had something he wanted.

I left the interrogation room with No Gi-tae.

As we walked down the corridor, he asked:

“Hey, what the hell are you?”

“Sir?”

“What, are you Yang Sobo’s hidden son or something?”

“No, sir.”

No Gi-tae stopped walking and studied my face carefully.

“You do kind of look alike.”

“I assure you, I’m not.”

“Hmph… So you’re not even blood, yet Yang Sobo begged me to release you? The great Yang Sobo?”

His sharp eyes scanned me up and down before he turned and resumed walking.

All the way to his office in the main building, countless people saluted him.

But he only half-acknowledged their greetings, striding briskly forward.

‘Even back then, he acted like some thug.’

He was an ex-field soldier, the type whose body moved before his head did.

A man who had joined the KCIA of his own will because he wanted to personally handle the underworld, underground funds, and gangs.

‘And in the end, he’d be taken out by Jeong Tae-soo.’

When No Gi-tae pushed open the door to his office, Zhang Wei was waiting on the sofa.

“Zhang Wei, this the guy?”

At his question, Zhang Wei nodded.

“Tell Master Yang this. The debt from today will be repaid in full someday.”

“Yes. I’ll deliver the message.”

Only then did No Gi-tae nod with satisfaction.

He placed a hand on my shoulder and asked Zhang Wei:

“By the way, are you sure he’s not Yang Sobo’s secret son? Master Yang isn’t the type to ask me for this kind of favor.”

Zhang Wei said nothing.

No Gi-tae raised an eyebrow.

In the end, I answered instead.

“It’s not a favor. It’s a deal.”

“Favor, deal, same difference. Tch. Take him away.”

No Gi-tae pulled his hand off my shoulder and stepped aside.

Zhang Wei came forward and checked me over.

“You don’t seem badly hurt.”

“Yes, thanks to his timely intervention.”

“Then let’s go. The Master is waiting.”

Zhang Wei walked ahead.

But my business wasn’t finished yet.

“Deputy Director.”

No Gi-tae, who had already lost interest in me and was about to sit on the sofa, tilted his head at my call.

“What is it? You got something to say?”

“Park Geon-sik. I know where he is.”

At the moment I said that name, No Gi-tae froze.

Slowly, he turned his head toward me.

His eyes changed instantly—a complicated mix of fury, murderous intent, and the faintest glimmer of hope.

“What did you say?”

His voice was low and heavy.

“He’s been going by the name Sakamoto Kenji and is preparing to stow away.”

Sakamoto Kenji—the Japanese name of Park Geon-sik.

At that, No Gi-tae shot to his feet.

He stormed forward and grabbed my shoulders, his grip so crushing it felt like my arms might tear off.

“Is that true? That half-breed bastard… he was alive? You’re not lying, are you?”

“Yes. I heard he plans to leave for Japan through Busan next week.”

“Busan… Busan, huh. And how the hell would a beggar like you know that?”

The anticipation in his eyes quickly turned back into suspicion.

“I overheard smugglers talking while I was begging. They said this Park Geon-sik, or Sakamoto, couldn’t stay in Korea any longer and would leave for good to Japan.”

I calmly covered the truth of my past memory with a false source.

No Gi-tae glared at me, growling.

“If this is a lie, I’ll tear you limb from limb.”

“With your ability, sir, you’ll quickly be able to confirm the truth of what I said.”

I met his eyes without flinching.

Park Geon-sik, or Sakamoto Kenji—the man No Gi-tae wanted to capture more than anyone else.

His personal target for revenge.

The information I’d given him was bait he couldn’t refuse.

No—he had to bite.

Because it could be the key to resolving his long-cherished grudge.

No Gi-tae stared at me for a long time, thoughts clearly swirling in his mind.

Finally, he released my shoulders and stepped back.

“...Fine.”

“Then I’ll take my leave.”

I bowed politely to him and turned to follow Zhang Wei out of the office.

Just as my hand closed on the doorknob, his cold voice cut through from behind.

“But how did you know I was looking for that bastard?”

His sharp gaze felt like it was piercing the back of my skull.

Calmly, I let go of the doorknob and turned back.

Showing any panic here would be fatal.

What I needed to do now was extinguish his suspicion completely.

“I overheard those smugglers mention your name. They said the scariest man chasing Park Geon-sik was Deputy Director No. When I heard your name in the interrogation room earlier, it reminded me of that conversation, so I mentioned it just in case.”

The best way to deceive was to mix a little truth into the lie.

By bringing up something he might have plausibly heard, I made the story flow naturally.

No Gi-tae stared at me intently.

His eyes still flickered with suspicion and calculation, but he didn’t press further.

“...Fine. You may go.”

As the door closed, I caught one last glimpse of his conflicted, restless eyes.

Now, he would mobilize all his resources to confirm my information.

And once he became obsessed with capturing Park Geon-sik, he’d have no attention left for anything else.

“How did you know?”

Zhang Wei asked from the passenger seat, looking at me through the rear-view mirror, suspicion thick in his voice.

“Exactly as I said earlier.”

“You… you really are a strange one, you know that?”

Zhang Wei let out a wry laugh.

I only answered with a smile.

The car carried us down from Namsan.

Watching the scenery blur past outside the window, I smirked coldly inside.

‘Park Geon-sik was Jeong Tae-soo’s informant in Japan.’

If No Gi-tae captured Park Geon-sik, Jeong Tae-soo would lose one of his most important sources.

I was already looking forward to seeing how his face would change.