At a point when the witness investigation wasn’t even half finished, Jaeha felt a strong revulsion toward the so-called National Assembly member bastard.
Didn’t his aide call day and night, and later even showed up out of the blue when he was getting off work. Jaeha, who already had the intense memory of Director Oh, slammed down the assemblyman’s aide who appeared suddenly from behind without delay. He must have suffered quite serious contusions.
The aide, who had shouted that he would sue, seemingly burdened by the rumor spreading that the suspect’s side made unreasonable contact with the prosecutor in charge, didn’t show his nose from the next time on.
“Hey, Assemblyman Hwang is causing a fuss even with me. I pretended not to know, but wasn’t it something that could pass nicely?”
One senior from the Special Division appeared and asked Jaeha how he was going to handle it.
“It can’t pass nicely. There are five clear cases of sexual harassment each with solid evidence, committed through abuse of power, and the victims have strong will to cooperate with the investigation.”
“Is non-indictment completely hopeless?”
“Of course.”
“What about your bag? Is there no word from there?”
“My bag? Or my back?”
“You’re making silly jokes. I mean Taeryoung.”
“They’d want it done by the law, right? If they’re a conscientious businessperson.”
He smiled thinly.
“That’s what I’m saying. I should tell them not to contact me about Assemblyman Hwang either. Oh, got it. Good work.”
“Yes. Take care.”
Soon rumors that Assemblyman Hwang was finished would spread widely within the Special Division. It would reach Taeryoung’s ears too, but. Kyungwoo said he didn’t care as long as Taeryoung wasn’t mentioned in the investigation process, so it didn’t matter to Jaeha either.
On the contrary, he just steadily built up a reputation as a young new-generation prosecutor who was determined to indict a sitting National Assembly member’s sex scandal.
“Wow, our prosecutor-nim. You photograph well, don’t you?”
“I told you, looks-wise he’s the best in the prosecutor’s office.”
Administrative Officer Lee and Section Chief Joo, who were working overtime together, were critiquing Jaeha’s photos posted on the portal. Along with them receiving attention within the Central District Prosecutors’ Office, their shoulders were full of strength these days.
“Anyway, those National Assembly member bastards. No way, just no.”
“They act according to how they look. True appearance, true spirit.”
“That’s what I’m saying.”
The sight of the employees like a comedy duo relieved some stress.
“I’ll finish the investigation within two days and indict. Everyone keep it up. Once we hand the case over to the trial prosecutor, you two can take vacation days.”
“Let’s work quickly.”
“Right.”
At Jaeha’s carrot, Section Chief Joo and Administrative Officer Lee got back into work. The office of Special Division Prosecutor Seo Jaeha on the 13th floor didn’t turn off its lights past midnight.
*
“What? Assemblyman Hwang was indicted?”
“Yes.”
Taeho slammed his desk after hearing the chief secretary’s report.
“Did Kyungrok tell them to do that?”
“That’s not it. According to contact with Deputy Manager Park, the prosecutor in charge did it arbitrarily.”
“Who’s in charge?”
“Prosecutor Seo Jaeha.”
“Seo Jaeha?”
Taeho raised his voice at the end, unable to remember. Then the chief secretary voluntarily provided information.
“He’s the prosecutor who handled former Chemical President Kim Gilsu’s traffic accident. He gave us trouble for a while with a memorandum, then suddenly went quiet.”
“That bastard again? What dragon meat did that bastard boil and eat? What incredible guts?”
Taeho, who was fuming, tapped the desk with his finger while keeping the chief secretary standing before him.
“Connect me to President Jung.”
“Yes, understood.”
Unlike other secretaries, the chief secretary picked up the intercom phone on the chairman’s desk instead of leaving and conveyed the chairman’s instructions to another secretary. After briefly hanging up and when the dial tone rang, the chief secretary personally answered, said ‘President Jung-nim. It’s the chairman,’ then handed the receiver to Taeho.
“Yeah, it’s me. Why did Assemblyman Hwang’s matter turn out like this?”
—Taeryoung’s name didn’t come up, so don’t worry.
“That’s not all of it. If Assemblyman Hwang falls, you have to think about the district going to the ruling party. What about that ruling party candidate bastard making all kinds of issues about our logistics center and chemical storage in the district?”
—He’ll receive a not guilty verdict. I’m pulling strings.
“There’s a means called non-indictment, so why take the roundabout way?”
—I’m also looking into withdrawal of indictment.
“What kind of bastard is this guy called Seo Jaeha?”
—He’s a loach from a ditch who was in the Criminal Division and recently moved to the Special Division.
“A guy like that does this bold thing? Against a three-term assemblyman and Taeryoung?”
—He has guts.
“You said he was a guy who just handled traffic cases in the Criminal Division? Who stuck that kind of guy in the Special Division and who assigned him this case? Catch that bastard first and beat the hell out of him.”
—…I’m sorry. I did the assignment.
“What?”
Taeho jumped up from his seat, seemingly truly surprised. For a moment, he thought his trusted daughter, Kyungrok, had stuck a knife in his back.
—I didn’t know he was such a reckless guy.
“How could you… Who recommended him to you… No, did you actually meet the guy in person?”
She’d been a daughter who did well like the tongue in his mouth all her life. Perhaps the shock was considerable, as his voice trembled somewhat. Over the receiver, Kyungrok also seemed to sense his reaction wasn’t ordinary and became even more serious and calm.
—I’m sorry, Father. While I was away, someone else managed prosecutor relations. I think they failed to filter him out then.
“Who stuck such a guy in the Special Division without even looking? Was it President Yoo?”
—No.
“Who!”
With the thought of killing that bastard right away, Taeho shouted. After a brief silence, a small sigh flowed over the receiver.
—It’s Kyungwoo.
A shock equal to Kyungrok’s case assignment mistake, no, even greater than that was added. Taeho, who had stood up, plopped back down in his seat.
“That bastard?”
—Yes. Please leave it to me for now. It’s not something worth the chairman stepping in for.
“He stuck someone in arbitrarily without even saying anything? Audacious bastard.”
—Dad. Please calm down a bit. I deliberately didn’t tell you because I was worried you’d be angry at Kyungwoo. You know Mom’s in a good mood these days.
At his daughter’s somewhat coquettish words, Taeho sighed deeply. Even Taeho didn’t want a household like the Arctic tundra.
Lately Jungok had been excited for no reason. It seemed like there was some good news related to Kyungwoo, but she didn’t tell Taeho at all. Since it seemed like something he shouldn’t step forward about out of curiosity if it was related to Kyungwoo, he kept quiet.
The smell of food vibrated in every corner of that big house. She suddenly busily changed the interior to match a young woman’s sensibility, which was also annoying. It was just like right before Kyungrok’s marriage. Without anything being unpleasant, the cold household felt like a house where people lived, making it much more comfortable.
Kyungrok had also pointed that out.
“Don’t make a big noise in front of your mother over this. Just put everything back in place. Don’t forget to report later.”
—Yes. I’ll do well without a hitch this time.
“Fine. Hang up.”
When the call ended, the chief secretary received the receiver and put it back in place.
“President Jung will handle this matter herself, so you can leave now.”
“Yes.”
The chief secretary bowed and stepped backward.
“Wait.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
“That guy called Seo Jaeha. Have Director Oh assign someone to him. Where he was born, where he grew up, what his parents do, whether his grandparents are alive. Women relationships, friend relationships, everything. Bring back everything down to how many pairs of underpants he has in his household.”
“Yes, understood.”
The chief secretary bowed again and swiftly left the chairman’s office. In the majestic space made of heavy mahogany furniture, only Taeho remained.
Raising his voice at Kyungwoo wasn’t the only way.
Seo Jaeha. He just needed to handle that bastard directly.
That wasn’t what bothered Taeho.
“Acting stubborn and resenting his parents as if he’d never change his whole life, insisting on cold wind, but behind our backs he does foolish things without his parents knowing. His mother begs him so desperately but he won’t even let her into the house, yet what’s so cute about him that he makes such a fuss? Outrageous brat.”
The burly hand resting on the large leather chair slowly curled. The tightly clenched fist trembled.
*
Late dawn.
Finally, after handing over the indictment-related materials to the trial prosecutor, he was completely exhausted. He didn’t even have the energy to drive, so he called a substitute driver.
Previously, he might have dozed off for a moment in the underground parking lot before going up. However, after getting hit on the back of the head by that crazy bastard before, he completely fixed that habit.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
He greeted the substitute driver and sluggishly headed toward the elevator. Even though he hadn’t drunk alcohol, his body swayed as if tension had released. The fact that tomorrow was a legal holiday was truly welcome.
‘I should sleep all day. Really sleep without doing anything.’
He resented the elevator that was slow as a worm that day and waited for the number to indicate his floor.
Ding.
As soon as the silver door opened, he headed to the entrance. He wanted to go quickly, but his legs didn’t respond as fast as his mind.
The hallway auto light had gone out, or it was dark that day. The entrance undulated, holding especially deep darkness.
‘Are my eyes loose from fatigue?’
He stopped midway and frowned. For a moment, Jaeha gripped the bag handle he was holding tightly. There was someone in front of the entrance.
“Who is it?”
He called quietly, considering it was dawn. While stepping back, he checked the emergency stairs, the neighboring entrance, and the elevator still remaining on that floor.
“Did Assemblyman Hwang send you?”
Throughout the investigation, he thoroughly felt the will of the suspect’s side to threaten his safety. But the indictment was done and the ball had already passed to the court, so he didn’t know they’d come all the way here with resentment.
“……”
Of course, there was no answer.
He racked his brain over which route had a higher survival probability if the assailant was holding a weapon. The elevator becomes the worst closed room if he presses the open button and the guy enters. What use is CCTV after dying?
The neighbor’s place is the same. Even if he knocks on the entrance to wake them, as an ordinary household, they’d call the police or security rather than rashly get involved in the outside situation. If he gets stabbed in the meantime, it’s over.
The emergency stairs were better. While clattering down, there’s room for counterattack, and because it makes a loud noise, there will be resident reports. After fleeing to another floor and buying time, even requesting cooperation from residents has some chance of success.
“Won’t you say who you are?”
The emergency stairs were close to Jaeha’s apartment entrance. While raising his voice threateningly, he advanced one step.
