A gleaming luxury sedan came to a stop at a traffic light in the middle of a busy main street.
“Hmm.”
The travel time was taking longer than expected. Kyungwoo slightly moved his hand resting on his crossed legs.
Through the darkly tinted car window, a familiar street came into view. The old downtown, which had shed the grime of time through endless redevelopment, was still unpleasant. Just two blocks around the corner, that damned hotel still existed.
“Should I take a different route even if it takes longer?”
“Do that.”
Choi Dohyun, who served as both driver and bodyguard, accurately gauged Kyungwoo’s state of mind.
Despite being a skilled graduate of the Security Studies Department with excellent grades, she had been repeatedly rejected at job interviews simply because she was a woman, until Kyungwoo hired her with exceptional conditions. Since then, Choi Dohyun followed Kyungwoo wherever he went.
Vroooom.
With a quiet engine sound, the luxury car turned into a narrow side street.
As they moved away from the uncomfortable space, Kyungwoo’s thoughts returned to their proper track.
Seo Jaeha.
Prosecutor, Criminal Division 5, Central District Prosecutors’ Office.
S University graduate. Honorably discharged as sergeant.
Self-employed parents alive, younger brother working at a company.
Currently no girlfriend.
Nothing particularly noteworthy.
Reputation within the prosecution: Unlike his striking appearance, quiet and introverted personality. Meticulous work handling. Doesn’t stand out at all work-wise. Rotated through branch offices before being brought to the Central District Prosecutors’ Office when Chief Prosecutor Lee Byungdo transferred there.
He was an ordinary prosecutor—neither particularly marginalized nor central. The only notably conspicuous thing about him was his excellent appearance, like a mix between an athlete and an actor.
Handsome prosecutor.
That was the phrase that identified Seo Jaeha.
—With looks like that, he should at least catch the daughter of some good family to make connections. Looking at how he stubbornly refuses even though matchmaking offers keep coming one after another, either his standards are very high. No, no. In my view, he’s stupid. He’s timid and naive, so he’s not cut out to make it big.
The District Prosecutors’ Office Chief had introduced Jaeha to Kyungwoo like that. He had also guaranteed that the Kim Gilsu case would be resolved easily.
But why was a matter that should have been handled in a week being delayed for over two weeks?
When he pointed this out, the District Chief’s embarrassment was evident even over the phone. He seemed both mortified at losing face before Kyungwoo and furious at being disrespected by that greenhorn subordinate.
The District Chief was a trustworthy person. However, this was a serious matter, and they had already wasted a lot of time.
As time passed, his father, Chairman Jung Taeho, grew increasingly displeased, and distrust began to show in the eyes that looked at Kyungwoo.
It was an ominous sign.
Just moments ago, Seo Jaeha, who had taken Kyungwoo’s call, had come across extremely evasive. His cautious attitude of pretending not to know even after the name was revealed was infuriatingly careful.
—I’m not sure why I would need to meet and talk with Jung Kyungwoo-ssi. And how did you get my number?
The Kim Gilsu case had been mentioned quite frequently even in political circles. Although the PR team was working hard, it was difficult to completely block all the countless third-rate media outlets.
Therefore, Seo Jaeha couldn’t possibly be unaware of Taeryoung, Jung Taeho, and Jung Kyungwoo.
—It would be difficult to make time. If you really must meet, come to our office sometime. The Central District Prosecutors’ Office. You know the way, right? Well then.
The damn bastard had come across arrogantly. He remained unmoved even by the District Chief’s direct pressure.
‘Some vermin is being annoying.’
Kyungwoo firmly suppressed his twisted feelings.
His favorite car entered the parking lot of an unremarkable, common building. Choi Dohyun, who had gotten out of the driver’s seat, quickly walked around and opened the door.
“I’ll be back soon. Wait here.”
“Yes.”
Jung Kyungwoo, who had buttoned up his jacket that had been left open, entered the building that reeked of dry concrete smell.
Seo Jaeha’s office was on the 7th floor. He passed through a hospital-like dank corridor and stood before a plain door. After confirming ‘Prosecutor Seo Jaeha’ written on the nameplate, he knocked.
“Yes.”
When he opened the door and entered, two employees stared directly at Kyungwoo.
A male employee who appeared to be older silently asked, ‘Who are you?’ Meanwhile, the gaze of the young female employee returned to her monitor. It was an attitude as arrogant as the superior they served.
“I’m here to see Prosecutor Seo Jaeha.”
“Who shall I say is here?”
To the male employee who asked without even standing up, Kyungwoo gave a faint, businesslike smile.
“I’ll tell him myself.”
“If you don’t state who you are, it will be difficult to meet him.”
“Is it over there?”
Instead of answering, Kyungwoo headed toward the prosecutor’s office on his own. Then the man finally lifted his rear and stood up. At the same time, the woman frowned and picked up the intercom.
“Wait a moment! You can’t just barge in!”
He opened the inner door. The man sitting behind a desk buried in all kinds of documents was just picking up the intercom.
Wearing a perfectly fitted suit, Seo Jaeha’s tall stature was evident even while sitting due to his arm length and bent torso. He really did look like he had played sports. If one had to guess the sport, volleyball?
“Prosecutor Seo Jaeha-nim?”
“Yes.”
A low, smooth yet firm voice answered. Naturally, he assumed it was an answer directed at him.
“I’m Jung Kyungwoo, who called earlier.”
The silhouette of the man’s shoulders with his back to the window twitched.
“Prosecutor-nim, there’s a visitor.”
At that moment, the female employee’s voice was heard from behind. Seo Jaeha returned his gaze to the documents as he spoke.
“Ah, I told you to come sometime, so why the rush to come today? Anyway, I’m too busy right now to see you, please tell him that.”
“Yes, understood. Section Chief Joo, did you hear that?”
“Visitor, please make a proper appointment next time before coming.”
Section Chief Joo lightly grabbed Kyungwoo’s arm and pulled.
‘What kind of dog-like behavior is this?’
It was the first time in his life he had received such humiliating treatment. A mere prosecutor? How dare he?
It was so shocking that his mouth wouldn’t even open. He just widened his eyes and stared directly at Seo Jaeha.
Click.
A cheap highlighter was fitted between the long fingers of Seo Jaeha as he put down the receiver.
Swish. Swish. Flip. Swoosh.
He concentrated on the documents again, drawing lines, whether Kyungwoo was there or not. It was beyond absurd—it was outrageous.
“Hey, Prosecutor Seo Jaeha-nim.”
The reason he held back crude words wasn’t out of respect for Seo Jaeha, but because it felt wasteful to spend emotions getting worked up over someone like that.
“Section Chief Joo, please tidy up the office.”
At those words, the Section Chief forcibly dragged Kyungwoo out. Coming alone to handle things quietly had been a mistake. If Choi Dohyun had been there, he wouldn’t have been pushed around by such measly force.
“If he says he’ll wait, at least make him a cup of coffee.”
“Yes.”
At Jaeha’s words, his gaze still fixed on the documents, the female employee jumped up and went to the water dispenser. She stared directly at Kyungwoo while shaking out a long yellow vinyl.
“Should I make it thick like porridge? Or thin like soup?”
The corners of her mouth trembled faintly. Kyungwoo roughly shook off the Section Chief’s hand gripping his arm.
Swoosh. Swoosh. Flip. Flip.
Glug glug glug.
As the administrative officer filled the paper cup with water, bubbles escaped from the dispenser making a loud noise.
Click.
Finally, as the Section Chief opened the door, the humiliating show reached its climax.
Jung Kyungwoo said toward Seo Jaeha.
“I won’t forget what happened today. Well then.”
With those final words, Kyungwoo left the prosecutor’s office.
Without even waiting for the elevator, he quickly headed downstairs through the staircase right next to it.
When he roughly pushed through the glass entrance door, Choi Dohyun quickly brought the car close and opened the door.
“How did things…”
“Fucking son of a bitch.”
Her question was blocked and disappeared by the cold curse. Kyungwoo took out his mobile phone and pressed a speed dial number. It connected directly to the secretary’s office.
“Director Oh, let’s meet today.”
Choi Dohyun, who had gotten in the car, kept her mouth shut and fastened her seatbelt. Soon the black car disappeared back into the city.
*
A week passed without incident after Jung Kyungwoo’s visit. The Kim Gilsu case remained buried with no particular progress as expected.
Taeryoung had desperately blocked the media, and reports about the Kim Gilsu case had almost disappeared. Mentions disappeared from political circles as well, and by the time all talk of Taeryoung had completely vanished from the internet except for a few communities.
“Chaebols really are scary. To think a memorandum could be buried like this.”
“It seems like it’ll pass quietly. Otherwise, our office would have already been turned upside down by now. The Chief Prosecutor and Deputy Chief are quiet too. I casually asked the administrative officer over there, and they said there’s been no mention of our prosecutor-nim.”
The Section Chief and administrative officer, who had been actively involved in making Jung Kyungwoo eat his words as Jaeha intended, were now worried that the aftermath might strike since things were too quiet.
“But our prosecutor-nim is really something. I thought he was quiet and had no particular ambitions, but he has pride.”
“Right. Even if they’re a chaebol, you can’t just barge into a prosecutor’s office like that. Who does he think he is? Honestly, it was satisfying.”
“Exactly. That’s what makes him manly. A prosecutor should have conviction like that.”
The Section Chief and administrative officer seemed to have forgotten that the door connecting to Jaeha’s personal space was open. Jaeha let out a low snort.
Pride. Of course he had it. But that wasn’t all there was to it. The Section Chief and administrative officer didn’t know that yet. No, there wasn’t a single person in the world who knew.
Jaeha was waiting. For the opportunity when today’s small grain of sand would grow larger and larger inside the greedy oyster over a long time, becoming a pearl and coming to him.
