Chapter 184:
Dawn, Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office.
Lee Minyoung quickly scanned through the thick docunts. As soone accustod to swift work, she was working later than usual, handling not only routine tasks but also overseeing Jinseok's case.
A subordinate cautiously asked Minyoung, "Prosecutor, aren't you leaving for the day?"
"Yes. I need to look through this a bit more. You go ho first."
Even though she didn't look at him while speaking, the detective didn't feel offended at all. Having worked with Minyoung for a long ti, he knew her style well.
The subordinate glanced at his watch. It was 3:30 in the morning. The quitting ti had long passed.
"I'd like to stay and help Prosecutor as much as possible, but…"
Today, he had to leave on ti. For several days now, he hadn't been able to go ho, and his wife was probably getting anxious.
Although it was already late, if he didn't go ho today, he wouldn't be able to handle the aftermath.
"Well then, I'll head ho first."
"Yes. Good work."
Once again, she didn't look at him, but the detective didn't mind. After respectfully bowing, he left the office.
Six hours later.
"Good morning."
The detective, dragging his tired body, returned to the office.
"Welco."
As always, Lee Minyoung was the first to arrive at the office.
The detective looked at Minyoung, who greeted him, with surprised eyes.
"Could it be that she's pulling an all-nighter again?"
Minyoung's appearance hadn't changed since six hours ago. The only difference was that the pile of docunts on the right had shifted to the left.
"Prosecutor, didn't you leave work again today?"
"I went to the sauna for a mont."
Just as the detective was about to say more, Minyoung, without taking her eyes off the docunts, looked at him.
"Oh, I found quite a few connections with gangsters in the KL Entertainnt materials. So of the people we know are involved."
"Yes, it seems like clean business is hard to co by."
"I'll give you the list of nas now. We've already obtained a warrant from Judge Seo."
As Minyoung casually spoke, the detective glanced at his wristwatch.
"It's not even 10 yet, and she's got a warrant from the judge?"
That ant she had contacted the judge early in the morning.
Seeing the detective standing still, Minyoung asked, "Is there a problem?"
"Oh, no. Should we leave now?"
"Yes. But there are so rough characters, so make sure you're well-prepared before you go."
When Minyoung expressed concern for him, the detective chuckled lightly and said, "With Prosecutor Lee's warrant, who would dare to ss up?"
***
"Hyung, did you see the news yesterday? It won't affect us much, right? We had so dealings with KL Entertainnt, rember?"
Early in the morning, Park Hongwoo, a gangster, was grilling pork belly and glancing at his subordinate sitting across from him while taking a big bite of chili.
"It's okay, man. It's completely unrelated to us."
"But still…"
"Enough. Stop worrying about useless things and eat the at. It's Hanwoo beef."
"Yes."
When Park Hongwoo spoke calmly, his subordinates refrained from bringing up anything related to KL Entertainnt.
That's when it happened.
Bam!
"Co on, everyone, wake up! A friendly and affectionate letter, an ‘arrest warrant,' has arrived!"
The police, breaking in as if smashing the door, quickly occupied the office.
"What is this? What warrant? We've been quiet lately, haven't we?"
When Park Hongwoo, with a stern expression, spoke, the detective at the forefront smiled broadly.
"Hongwoo, just because it's been quiet lately doesn't an your past cris are getting sorted out."
"Hongwoo? Who are you… Oh no."
As Park Hongwoo confird the detective's face, he let out a heavy sigh.
"Why are you here again? Don't tell
Minyoung sent you again?"
"Minyoung? Is she a close friend of yours, a chief prosecutor in South Korea?"
"…"
"Anyway, listen up. Park Hongwoo, assault, aggravated fraud, procuring prostitution, extortion, and embezzlent… oh, if you go in this ti, you probably won't see the light of day again. Let's cooperate nicely, shall we?"
After hearing his charges, Park Hongwoo looked at the detective in disbelief.
"No, seriously, when did I commit those cris? I've been in and out for 15 years, and there's more left?"
"Yeah, right. But why ask
when it happened? It's your wrongdoing."
"Are you kidding
right now?"
Park Hongwoo covered his face with his hands.
If it were any other prosecutor, they might not have unearthed the hidden criminal activities as Minyoung would.
For a few seconds, Park Hongwoo, who had been scowling, extended both hands.
"Hurry up and put on the handcuffs since they have a search warrant. If we're late again and Prosecutor Lee gets angry like last ti, I'm scared."
"Wow, you're being incredibly calm."
"Just say the right things. Say you ca quietly."
"But don't worry too much. When I saw the Prosecutor's face this morning, it didn't seem like she was trying to scold you."
Park Hongwoo's expression brightened at those words.
"Oh, she ca to catch the big boss?"
"Probably."
Click.
With handcuffs on, Park Hongwoo turned to his subordinates.
For soone being arrested, he seed rather cheerful, thanks to what the detective had said last.
"Let's go."
"Yes."
Following the detective obediently, Park Hongwoo spoke to his subordinates.
"I'll be back soon. Eat so Hanwoo while I'm gone."
—
"…So, according to Prosecutor Lee, if I testify that I did these things under the request of KL Entertainnt, will she consider my other cris nonexistent? Is that right?"
Park Hongwoo spoke steadily in the interrogation room.
In front of him, Minyoung seed tired, massaging her neck and turning it from side to side.
"So, the sins will disappear? You're saying instead of 13 years of beating, it'll be reduced to only 8 years?"
"Eight years? Prosecutor, you're being too harsh. I'm cooperating so well."
"Well, didn't we call Mr. Park Hongwoo here first? Do you think the gangsters involved with KL Entertainnt are only Mr. Park Hongwoo? If you keep talking nonsense while I'm busy, I'll call in the next guys."
"…"
"Hurry up and wrap this up. What's your plan?"
Park Hongwoo sighed at Minyoung's uncompromising attitude.
"Ugh… Minyoung is disgusting. What kind of connection did we have in our past lives for this to keep happening?"
If it were any other prosecutor, Minyoung would be truly formidable, even in such circumstances.
Thinking that prolonging the ti unnecessarily might lead to a longer sentence, Park Hongwoo nodded.
"Alright. I understand. I'll do as you say, so please be lenient. I've been living decently since I got married."
"Considering your actions, I'll include parole conditions and various other things. I'll try to make the visitations as free as possible."
"Thank you. Can I stamp here?"
"Yes."
Park Hongwoo dipped his thumb in ink and stamped his fingerprint on the confession statent he had written.
After confirming the stamp, Minyoung spoke to the detective beside her.
"Thank you for your hard work. Officer, please prepare a al for Mr. Park Hongwoo and bring in the next person."
"Yes, Prosecutor."
The detective escorted Park Hongwoo out.
At that mont,
Vrrring.
A mobile phone in Minyoung's pocket rang.
‘Who could it be?'
Minyoung checked the caller ID.
[Oh Sungchan]
‘Why is this person…'
Oh Sungchan was Minyoung's senior, a forr chief prosecutor when Minyoung was a rookie prosecutor.
He had entered politics after leaving the prosecutor's office, serving three terms as a mber of the National Assembly. Currently, he works as a director at a prestigious law firm, wielding significant power.
Back when he was a prosecutor, their relationship wasn't bad.
They were seniors and juniors, so they took care of each other in various ways.
However, that didn't an they were close enough for him to contact her out of the blue.
"Yes, senior. Minyoung speaking."
After a brief hesitation, Minyoung answered the call.
[Oh, it's you, Prosecutor. Long ti no see. How have you been?]
"Yes, senior. I've been well. I hope you've been doing well too."
[Sure.]
After exchanging casual greetings, Minyoung spoke.
"I'm sorry, senior, but I'm currently in the middle of work. If it's not urgent, could I call you back later? Or I can contact you separately after I finish my work."
[Oh, you were working. Sorry for bothering you while you're busy.]
Oh Sungchan, with a light chuckle in his voice, then dropped an uncomfortable question on Minyoung.
[Is it about the KL Entertainnt case, by any chance?]
"Uh… yes. How did you know about that?"
[I just happened to hear. Anyway, cut to the chase. Can you spare so ti today? Let's grab a al.]
"Today, I'm a bit busy—"
[I know. I know you're a busy prosecutor. That's why I called you myself. I have soone I want to introduce to you.]
"Soone you want
to et?"
[Yes. It's about ti you start looking around, isn't it? It might be a useful opportunity for you. Don't avoid it, okay?]
Upon hearing Sungchan's words, Minyoung felt a sense of discomfort.
More precisely, it wasn't discomfort but rather an unwelco feeling.
‘I don't want to go.'
However, refusing a direct call from a senior, especially one with significant influence, was not an easy task.
It wasn't because Minyoung was the type to be influenced by her senior or to be cautious of his reactions.
It was solely because of the ‘power' that Oh Sungchan held.
‘If I casually refuse Oh Sungchan, it might strain my relationship with judges… and it might interfere with handling this case.'
Even though Sungchan was soone she would eventually deal with, for now, Minyoung needed to keep her intentions hidden.
After a mont of contemplation, Minyoung responded.
"I understand. Where should I go?"
[As expected! This prosecutor. I'll send you the address. Co as soon as possible. I'll be waiting.]
"Yes."
After ending the call, another detective, accompanied by another gangster, entered the interrogation room.
Unlike Park Hongwoo, the man seed quite tense.
Minyoung, looking at the docunts, spoke to the gangster.
"You're Joo Hyunchul, right?"
"Yes, yes, yes. That's ."
"You don't have to be so nervous. Depending on your cooperation, Joo Hyunchul, you might avoid prison ti. Of course, it could go the other way."
Minyoung looked directly into Joo Hyunchul's eyes as she spoke.
"Four years ago, you were in charge of the campaign funds when Oh Sungchan ran for his fourth term, right?"
"Yes, yes."
"At that ti, you received election funds from KL Entertainnt. We have evidence, but we need a clear statent for the trial. So, please tell the truth during the trial."
Minyoung showed Joo Hyunchul a thick bundle of docunts as she continued.
"Also, there's sothing else. You're aware that Oh Sungchan covered up the drug use and overseas gambling of KL Entertainnt celebrities, right? Considering you continued working under Oh Sungchan even after the election, you must be aware."
"…"
"We have all the evidence for this too. If you cooperate, I'll make sure Joo Hyunchul doesn't go to prison. What do you say? Will you cooperate?"
Minyoung had effectively sealed off all escape routes for Oh Sungchan.
After all, he was the subject of this investigation.
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