At the ntion that an arrest warrant would be issued, Lee Hohyeong nodded.
“Starting with Koryeo Daily, the dia will begin publishing in-depth reports on the Seo Jaehun case.”
“Mm... once the press moves, it becos burdenso for us too.”
The relationship between the police and the dia could never truly be good.
If the police failed to catch a criminal, the dia would endlessly bash them as incompetent.
“I haven’t ntioned it, but those reporters act like gods. Even if it’s a restricted area, they force their way in sohow just to take pictures...”
I chuckled as I listened to Lee Hohyeong curse at the reporters.
He said that, but the police and dia were inseparably tied together.
After all, even Lee Hohyeong often used reporters for his own benefit.
Right then, the timing was perfect—the door opened and the al was brought in. Lee Hohyeong shut his mouth when the staff entered.
The employees set various dishes on the table and placed individual stone pot rice bowls in front of each of us.
Once they finished setting the table, they backed away politely and left.
“I’ll handle the dia side. I’ll make sure the police aren’t hard in the process.”
“I know. I know, but still—it doesn’t sit well with .”
Judging by how he kept grumbling, he seed to be expecting sothing.
He wasn’t soone to use once and discard, so perhaps it would be better to keep him appeased and close.
“Let’s eat first.”
As we ate slowly, the conversation continued.
“Commissioner, you have one year left in your term, right?”
“Thirteen months, to be exact.”
At my question, Lee Hohyeong stopped moving his chopsticks and answered.
Although the Commissioner’s official term was two years, only a handful ever completed it.
Whenever any problem arose within the police force, the Commissioner was forced to resign to appease public opinion.
If he resisted, the Board of Audit and Inspection and even the Prosecutors’ Office would be mobilized to shake out every speck of dirt, leaving resignation as the only option.
“If there’s no major scandal, you should be able to finish your term even if the administration changes.”
Lee Hohyeong’s face brightened.
It was customary for a new governnt to appoint a new Commissioner.
In other words, I was promising to shield him from that. No wonder he looked relieved.
“And once you retire, shouldn’t you try on a golden badge at least once? Rest for a few years, then run for election.”
Among forr Commissioners, almost none had successfully transitioned into mbers of the National Assembly.
Because the police were in charge of dostic law enforcent, the position drew endless criticism, and it wasn’t politically appealing either.
Moreover, the general public neither cared who the Commissioner was nor rembered their nas—so earning that badge was nearly impossible.
But with my backing, things would be different.
“Really?”
“Yes. As long as nothing big happens.”
I reached for a sesa leaf, holding it by the stem.
Lee Hohyeong quickly pressed the leaf down with his chopsticks to help.
“mber of the National Assembly, huh...”
“That’s why you need to wrap this matter up cleanly. Don’t engage in any power struggle between police and prosecutors—just hand it straight over.”
“Understood. As soon as the arrest warrant is issued, I’ll transfer the case to the prosecution.”
I smiled at his prompt, obedient answer.
See? Things always go smoothly once you dangle the right bait.
“Oh, and I won’t hand over Team Leader Ahn Hyunsu to the prosecution. It wouldn’t look good if prosecutors investigated a police matter.”
Lee Hohyeong frowned and set down his chopsticks.
“Click—damn it, I never imagined that lunatic would do sothing like this.”
“I understand. Nobody saw it coming.”
“Still, I’m sorry, President Kim. The Internal Audit Team has been mobilized. They’ll dig through every speck of dust, so please wait patiently.”
“I trust you, Commissioner. Let’s continue eating.”
As he laughed while speaking of ruining a man’s life, I matched his smile across the table.
* * *
Seo Jaehun sat alone inside an interrogation room at the Gyeonggi Provincial Police Agency.
‘Where did it all go wrong?’
There hadn’t been any flaws in his plan.
Ever since he found out that Director Lee Seokmin was a traitor, he had started preparing.
Knowing the kind of man Kim Muhyuk was—the type who would never abandon soone once they were within his grasp—he used that to lure him to the mountain villa.
As planned, Kim Muhyuk ca. Everything had seed to unfold exactly as he intended.
But Kim Muhyuk had already been one step ahead.
‘Ha... I never imagined he’d mobilize the military.’
If not for the army, things might have worked. They could have.
Ahn Hyunsu was soone who could even suppress the police if Seo Jaehun gave the order.
After all, he was a long-ti protégé carefully cultivated by Seo Yonggeon.
Seo Jaehun opened his eyes, having sorted through his thoughts.
The interrogation room door opened, and the Ilseong Group’s legal team walked in.
“Vice Chairman.”
Leading a team of ten lawyers, Legal Departnt Director Jang Geunseok bowed deeply.
“Director Jang, you’re here.”
Though his official title was “Legal Departnt Director,” Jang Geunseok was implicitly treated at the level of a company president.
He had graduated top of his class from the Judicial Research and Training Institute and joined the Prosecutors’ Office instead of the courts.
That was when he caught Seo Yonggeon’s eye and beca the son-in-law of a collateral branch of Ilseong Electronics.
Supported by Ilseong Electronics, he rose to Chief of the Central Investigation Departnt. After resigning, he rebuilt the Legal Departnt using the extensive network he had cultivated within the prosecution.
As a result, Ilseong Group now boasted a legal team more impressive than most law firms.
Scanning the room, Jang Geunseok walked toward the two-way mirror.
“I know you’re in there. From this point forward, we’ll be having an important discussion with Vice Chairman Seo Jaehun. Please clear the room.”
From behind the glass, Lee Seongjae frowned.
Jang Geunseok stared straight at the mirror before turning to one of the lawyers.
“Mr. Lee.”
“Yes, Director.”
“Go control the people outside.”
“Understood.”
The lawyer who was called left the interrogation room and entered the adjacent observation room.
“I’m Lee Kiwoo from Ilseong Group’s Legal Departnt. Please go have a al while we speak with our client. I’ll contact you afterward.”
Lee Seongjae stepped forward.
“It’s been a while, Chief Prosecutor Lee Kiwoo. Or should I say Attorney Lee now?”
“Ah, Commissioner Lee Seongjae. I heard you were appointed Gyeonggi Provincial Commissioner. Congratulations.”
Lee Seongjae replied with his usual easygoing smile.
“Thank you. But I think you’re mistaken—this isn’t Ilseong Group headquarters, it’s the police agency. We have no reason to vacate this room.”
“Haha, Commissioner Lee Seongjae,” Lee Kiwoo laughed loudly before abruptly dropping his smile.
“Since when could the police eavesdrop on private discussions between a lawyer and client? Stepping out for confidentiality is customary, isn’t it? Why so uptight today? Do as you’ve always done. What are you relying on to act this bold?”
He spoke arrogantly, but Lee Seongjae only smirked.
“You still think you’re a Chief Prosecutor, don’t you?”
“What did you just—”
“Attorney Lee Kiwoo, I’m being considerate. Don’t get cocky and demand things. I can throw all your so-called customs out the window.”
Offended, Lee Kiwoo’s face flushed red.
“All of you, get out and have a al.”
“Yes, Commissioner!”
The officers in the room saluted and left.
Only two people remained—Lee Seongjae and Lee Kiwoo.
“Attorney Lee Kiwoo.”
“...Go ahead.”
“Do you think this is so kind of white-collar cri? Soone’s dead. And not just dead—an Arican was brutally murdered.”
“There’s no evidence anywhere that Vice Chairman Seo Jaehun committed the act.”
Lee Seongjae’s lips twisted into a smile.
Clinging desperately to a rotting rope—what a sight.
“If you saw the mutilated body, you wouldn’t be saying that. Don’t think you can cut off the tail so easily. It’s an in-the-act arrest. The clothes and gloves that Vice Chairman Seo was wearing were found.”
Following Kim Muhyuk’s instructions, Lee Seongjae had searched every inch of the villa.
Eventually, they discovered a hidden room inside the study.
Inside were bloodstained clothes, gloves, and several weapons.
“Attorney Lee, think carefully. If you want to get off a sinking ship, this is your chance.”
“...Are you trying to lecture ?”
The sa man who hadn’t dared et his eyes when Lee Kiwoo was Chief Prosecutor was now staring straight at him and giving advice. His voice stiffened.
“Lecture you? I’m showing you the way to live. What you choose is up to you. I’ll give you an hour—wrap it up before then.”
Leaving those words behind, Lee Seongjae walked out of the monitoring room.
Left alone, Lee Kiwoo glared at the closed door.
Before it shut completely, he had caught a glimpse of Lee Seongjae’s self-satisfied grin, and it stung.
After taking a mont to steady his emotions, Lee Kiwoo pressed the intercom and spoke into the mic.
“Vice Chairman, Director Jang. Everyone’s gone.”
At his words, Jang Geunseok nodded.
“I’ll sit in front.”
“Let’s talk alone.”
“Understood.”
Jang signaled to the lawyers with his eyes.
The roomful of attorneys bowed politely and left.
“Manager Lee will stand guard there.”
When Seo Jaehun nodded, Jang finally took a seat across from him.
“Can you tell what happened? How did you suddenly beco a murder suspect?”
Jang couldn’t easily believe the news that Seo Jaehun had been arrested as a murder suspect.
Who was Seo Jaehun? He’d lived his whole life as the crown prince of Ilseong Group.
With Chairman Seo Yonggeon incapacitated, he was effectively the group’s master.
And now, a murder suspect...
If it were true, Seo Jaehun was finished. No—Ilseong itself was finished.
“It’s a misunderstanding. A subordinate accidentally killed soone. It’s true I was there, but I didn’t kill anyone myself.”
“...I heard bloodstained clothes and gloves were found.”
“I said I was there, didn’t I? Director Jang, you don’t trust either? Aren’t we family?”
Jang fell silent.
Was he really family to this man just because he’d married into the extended family?
He found it distasteful that Seo Jaehun only invoked “family” at tis like this—but he didn’t show it.
“Vice Chairman, I believe you. But whether the court will believe you—that’s another matter.”
“Director Han Jiho will take all responsibility. He’ll say he killed the man and that I was rely present. We’ll call it an accident. That should settle it... What do you think?”
Seo Jaehun mixed informal and polite speech recklessly as he talked.
Letting out a small sigh, Jang looked at him squarely.
“You have to tell the truth. You didn’t kill anyone yourself, did you?”
“I told you I didn’t.”
“...Understood. I’ll try to block the arrest warrant first. But how were you exposed? [N O V E L I G H T] I heard even the Incheon SWAT and a 5th Corps unit were mobilized.”
“...The plan just went wrong.”
Jang knew Seo Jaehun wasn’t telling the truth.
But there was nothing he could do. As his attorney, he could only hope his client’s story would hold up.
“et with Director Lee Seokmin.”
“...Director Lee Seokmin was there too?”
“Yes. But he betrayed . So shut him up.”
“Betrayed you? Director Lee? Is that true?”
Jang asked repeatedly in shock.
Director Lee Seokmin had been the man who handled all affairs of Ilseong Group.
Why would soone like that betray him?
While Jang sat stunned, Seo Jaehun’s eyes glinted with rage.
“Yes. When I get out, I won’t leave him alive. He dared to betray ?”
“What on earth... what was he thinking?”
“You don’t need to know. Just make him keep his mouth shut. He’s done plenty of illegal things himself. Use that—threaten him, bribe him, whatever it takes.”
Seo Jaehun couldn’t allow Lee Seokmin to testify—not if he wanted to erase the evidence of their conversation.
“Understood. He’ll be transferred to the main police headquarters in Seoul by evening. I’m quite close with Commissioner Lee Hohyeong. I’ll et him and try to block the warrant.”
“I’ll count on you, Director Jang. Just stop the arrest for now. By the way, what happened with Ilseong Electronics’ shareholders’ eting today?”
Jang couldn’t bring himself to answer.
From his hesitation, Seo Jaehun could already guess the result. He nodded slowly.
“So the managent rights of Ilseong Electronics have been taken. It’s fine. I can take them back later. For now, focus on this case. And send the legal team to Han Jiho too—make sure he doesn’t say anything stupid.”
“Understood.”
For another hour, the two continued their discussion.
When the ti ca, Lee Seongjae returned.
“The main office will soon be sending a transport team for the Vice Chairman. Wrap things up.”
A short while later—
Officers from Seoul arrived and escorted Seo Jaehun to headquarters.
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