Chapter 317: Seo Jae-Ill (1)

After instructing the team to organize the list of advertisements pouring in for Kang Ha-Na, I quickly left the company.

Café Goindol, where Seo Jae-Ill was waiting, was less than a five-minute walk from the office.

However, I deliberately walked slowly while calling Lee Soo-Chan. "Soo-Chan, do you know anything about Prosecutor Seo Jae-Ill?"

Lee Soo-Chan answered the call and began talking about what he knew about Seo Jae-Ill.

The 35-year-old Seo Jae-Ill was known as the 'Mad Dog' of the Seoul Central District Prosecutor's Office. He was a prosecutor who led all kinds of investigations from high-profile corruption cases to everyday crimes.

He worked as if he were the one safeguarding all of society's justice, which made him a nuisance even amongst prosecutors.

Nonetheless, the fact that he was called the ace in the elite Seoul Central District Prosecutor's Office was proof of his competence.

Moreover, most gangsters didn't even dare make eye contact with him due to his enormous physique and national team-level judo skills.

Lee Soo-Chan explained that he was known as one of the few reliable prosecutors.

-That's why Eun-Gi hyung-nim chose to turn himself in to Prosecutor Seo—to avoid getting backstabbed.

"Got it. I have a rough idea of what kind of person he is."

Ending the call with Lee Soo-Chan, I learned that even my visits with Kang Eun-Gi were in the hands of Seo Jae-Ill.

The reason Seo Jae-Ill was seeking me out was likely because of the incident at the hospital where Kang Eun-Gi was attacked.

With that thought, I steeled myself and quickened my pace. After all, I didn't know when I might be implicated.

As I entered Café Goindol, a large figure immediately caught my eye. Just as Lee Soo-Chan had said, there sat a man around 190 cm tall with muscles threatening to burst out of his suit and a buzz cut.

If I hadn't known better, I might have mistaken him for a gangster.

Despite his intimidating size, he was eating honey bread piled high with whipped cream on top of an espresso. As if the honey wasn't enough, he kept adding more from a small white jar beside him.

A random thought filled my mind. '

The bear's eating honey...

'

Shaking off that fleeting thought, I took a deep breath and approached him.

After a brief greeting with Seo Jae-Ill, I took a seat.

He complimented Kang Ha-Na, saying he became a fan after watching today's music show and even offered to buy me coffee. However, I declined his offer and got straight to the point.

"Why did you want to meet me?" I asked.

Seo Jae-Ill responded casually. "I came to see you because of the incident at the hospital."

'

As I had expected.

'

Still, I feigned ignorance not knowing exactly why he sought me out. "What hospital incident?"

"Come on~ I'm just here for a friendly chat, so please cooperate. If you tell me the details of Kang Eun-Gi's attack, I'll leave right away."

"I only went to H Hospital that day because I heard that the detention center where Eun-Gi was staying often used it. I thought it might be worth checking out, but I didn't get to meet Eun-Gi that day."

"Mr. Jung Yoon-Ho, you shouldn't lie to a prosecutor."

Seo Jae-Ill smirked as he pulled out a few photos from his pocket. The photo taken at 11:15 a.m. showed me, Lee Soo-Chan, and Choi Dong-Hyuk together, visiting the hospital before getting on the elevator.

There was no issue with that. However, when I saw the next set of photos, I was at a loss for words.

From the first floor to the ninth floor, there were photos of every entrance except for the seventh floor and I was nowhere to be seen.

In other words, there was a photo of me entering the elevator but none of me exiting.

"Mr. Jung. There was no trace of you exiting on any floor except for the seventh floor where the security camera was down. You got off the elevator at 11:25 a.m. I've already confirmed that five people had entered the elevator for ten minutes, so please don't lie."

He pinpointed the one weak spot I thought I had covered—truly worthy of being called an ace prosecutor.

However, I shamelessly continued, unfazed by his remarks. "So what?"

Seo Jae-Ill looked at me incredulously. "Wow. I didn't think you were the kind of person to be this uncooperative."

"You said this isn't an official interrogation, right? I got scared for a moment and lied. Yes, I went to the seventh floor. But that's all there is to it."

"You mean to tell me that you heard your friend fighting inside the room but didn't go in?"

"I'm just an ordinary person, you know? While my younger colleagues rushed in to stop it, I stayed outside. I was too scared to move."

Seo Jae-Ill glared at me. "And you expect me to believe that?"

"Whether you believe it or not, I have nothing more to say."

"Mr. Jung, if you continue to be so uncooperative like this, I'll have no choice but to issue a formal summons for questioning."

"Then please go ahead and send a formal summons."

I was not a criminal so his options were limited.

I drank the cold glass of water on the table calmly despite the piercing gaze of Seo Jae-Ill.

***

We stared at each other in silence for a while.

Eventually, Seo Jae-Ill broke the silence first. "Look, I didn't come here to make things difficult for you, so let's cooperate a bit. Even though Kang Eun-Gi was a former gangster, he came to me on his own accord to surrender. That's why his sentence isn't too harsh. What I'm really worried about is him going back to being a gangster."

Finally, he began to reveal the real reason he sought me out.

He continued, "On top of that, neither the attacker nor Kang Eun-Gi is saying anything about this assault incident. I need some kind of lead to pursue the investigation, don't I?"

I looked straight at Seo Jae-Ill and asked, "Do you genuinely care about Eun-Gi?"

"Well, to be honest, I'm mostly pissed because someone targeted someone under my watch."

His answer was surprisingly straightforward.

Then, he added, "But! Just as much, I also want to help someone who's genuinely trying to turn his life around and live right. Once someone pays for their crimes, they deserve a chance to live a new life, don't they?"

There probably weren't many prosecutors in South Korea who would give this much consideration to a criminal's rehabilitation.

I hesitated for a moment but then realized that having an ally would be better than fighting alone against Park Sang-Gon and Choi Man-Sik.

Of course, this wouldn't come for free.

"Then when will you allow Eun-Gi's visitation? Now that I think about it, a memory that you might like just popped into my head."

Seo Jae-Ill scoffed. "Are you trying to make a deal with a prosecutor?"

"Oh... The memory that was coming back to me seems to be fading away."

Seo Jae-Ill gave me a look of disbelief. "You really have a way with words..."

"..."

"Alright! I'll arrange the visitation. Just tell me what you know."

I straightened up and responded, "First off, I don't know who the attacker is."

Seo Jae-Ill's face twisted at my words.

I quickly spoke up, worried he might start cursing at me in frustration. "But I can give you one hint."

"A hint?"

"Yes. Check the security camera footage of the abandoned factory entrance in Naegok-ri, Namyangju last Friday. I don't know the car's license plate number, but it entered around 10 a.m. and fled in a hurry around 11:20 a.m.."

"Not the hospital but Naegok-ri, Namyangju?"

"Yes. The guys who sent attackers to Eun-Gi had also kidnapped one of Eun-Gi's associates before the incident."

If he pursued the kidnappers, it would likely lead him to Choi Man-Sik. It would be good if he could catch Choi Man-Sik with this, and if not, he could at least catch some of his underlings.

Seo Jae-Ill listened to my story for a while in silence and stood up with a smile. "You've given me a hint, so I'll dig into it. But you'll need to provide a proper answer the next time we meet."

"If you follow up on the information I've provided, you'll naturally get closer to the core of the matter."

"Well, we'll see about that. And... visitation with Kang Eun-Gi will be allowed starting a week from now."

With that, Seo Jae-Ill left the café.

I returned to the company, curious about what results he would bring back.

On the way back, I bought plenty of drinks and sandwiches for the team to enjoy as a late-night snack.

***

[KBC Music Stage: First Place 'Soulfire,' Second Place 'New Beginning,' Third Place 'FLORIA'...]

['Soulfire:' A Fantastic Collaboration of Pop Music and Traditional Korean Music!]

[Kang Ha-Na Dominates the Charts with 'New Beginning' and 'Soulfire.' Emerges as the Absolute Powerhouse in Streaming!]

[Kang Ha-Na's Golden Age: The Secret to Reaching One Million MeTube Subscribers in the Shortest Time—Engagement!]

Over the weekend, Kang Ha-Na and Kim Jong-Hoon swept the top rankings for all three major broadcasting stations as well as cable music shows.

Notably, 'Soulfire' managed to take first place on KBC to everyone's surprise, and surpassed 'New Beginning' which came in second.

Kang Ha-Na outperformed Eve One even on SBC which heavily weighed broadcast scores.

As a result, even more advertising offers started pouring in for Kang Ha-Na. There were over 50 advertising offers just over the weekend alone.

Out of those, I chose the best fits and selected six only. The total value amounted to an impressive 750 million won.

Kang Ha-Na, who was filming advertisements for the first time in her life, called her mother in disbelief. "Mom, they say I got ad offers~"

-It's not some weird ad, right...?

"No, it's for chocolates and confectioneries..."

Each time Kang Ha-Na mentioned a product from a well-known company, her mother, overwhelmed with joy, started tearing up.

Soon after, Kang Ha-Na handed the phone to me as well.

-Mr. Jung! I'll never forget this kindness.

"It's nothing, ma'am. We're the ones grateful to Ha-Na for all the help she's given us."

After exchanging thanks for a while, I tried to hand the phone back to Kang Ha-Na.

At that moment, Lee Mal-Soon, a veteran singer who had come to the meeting room to congratulate Kang Ha-Na, held out her hand to me. "Team Lead Jung, let me have the phone."

"Pardon?"

"What's the matter? I just want to chat with Hyun-Ji unnie after so long."

Kang Ha-Na blinked in surprise. "Mrs. Lee, do you know my mom?"

"Ye. When I was a rookie, your mom was so kind to me."

After getting Kang Ha-Na's permission, I handed the phone to Lee Mal-Soon.

With a joyful expression, she started the call. "Hyun-Ji unnie, it's Mal-Soon! It's been a while, hasn't it? Yes, it's Mal-Soon, the cutiepie! You used to say I was cute and adored me."

Kang Ha-Na's mother, Kim Hyun-Ji, was once a copy singer of the trot superstar 'Kim Hyun-Ja.'

Lee Mal-Soon was now speaking to Kang Ha-Na's mother warmly as if she were her own sister. No one could utter a word as they were stunned by the unexpected connection between the two.

"Yeah! And I've been watching Ha-Na closely ever since she joined our company. Don't worry, Ha-Na will do well. Team Lead Jung here has been taking great care of her."

At that moment, Lee Mal-Soon put the call on speakerphone and revealed the real reason she had asked for the phone. "Team Lead Jung. If Hyun-Ji unnie decides to return to her career, can you help her?"

Though it was an unexpected question, I responded immediately. "Of course, I'd be happy to help."

Suddenly, Kang Ha-Na's mother's voice came through the speakerphone.

-B-but, at my age...

Lee Mal-Soon raised her voice in protest. "What about your age, unnie? From the sound of your voice, you've got at least another 20 years on the field! And instead of just being happy watching your daughter succeed, wouldn't it be great if we could do shows together in our later years?"

With Lee Mal-Soon's continued urging, Kang Ha-Na's mother's trembling voice could be heard.

-B-but it feels a bit too sudden...

Sensing the moment, I joined in. "If you ever feel like making a comeback, please let me know anytime! I'll personally make sure you have all the support you need!"

Kang Ha-Na's mother began to waver after repeated encouragement.

-I-I'll... think about it.

I hadn't expected this at all, but it seemed I might end up recruiting a promising trot singer. We ended the call after hearing her positive response.

At that moment, Lee Mal-Soon looked at me with a grin. "Team Lead Jung, make sure you hold on to Hyun-Ji unnie. If you manage her well, it'll be like getting your hands on a small business. You know what I mean?"

With the right song, a trot singer could generate earnings comparable to top-tier idols. I knew a good number of trot songs that could make it big.

As I was about to respond with a grateful expression, I realized why Lee Mal-Soon was so active in helping.

'

Could it be that she's doing this to help me boost my performance and become a chief?

' I wondered.

The celebrities I had supported were now returning the favor.

"Thank you, Mrs. Lee. Thanks to you, I'll have no trouble meeting my targets," I thanked her with a smile.

Lee Mal-Soon smiled and waved her hand dismissively. "There's no need for thanks. I should be the one thanking you. Thanks to Team Lead Jung, my dinner show is sold out until early next year!"

After that, Lee Mal-Soon shared stories about her relationship with Kang Ha-Na's mother before leaving the meeting room.

I asked Kang Ha-Na to try persuading her mother and then moved on to check on Yoo-Jin's situation.

The 15th and 16th episodes of

In the Name of God

continued to perform well with viewership ratings of 31.9% and 32.1% respectively.

"Miss Yoo-Jin has been promised S-class treatment for her next project

Hwaranjeon

, so handle all incoming offers according to that level from now on," I instructed my team.

"Yes, Mr. Jung!"

After giving further instructions, I wrapped up the meeting with Team Jung.

"Alright, I have to head out early for a meeting about Tae-Poong's project. Take care, everyone."

Lee Tae-Poong's

Beyond the Boundary

was finally set to premiere next week.

The distribution company had requested a meeting to schedule stage greetings for the opening week.

However, before that, I needed to meet Kang Eun-Gi.

After all, Seo Jae-Ill had pulled some strings to arrange an early meeting with him.

***

When I arrived at the detention center and requested a special visitation, Kang Eun-Gi came out with a bandage wrapped around his arm.

As soon as he saw my face, he sighed. "

Sigh.

You don't need to say anything. I already know."

"Know what?"

"It's me, isn't it? I'm that old man's son, right?"

𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

I nodded silently.

Kang Eun-Gi leaned back in his chair and stared at the ceiling, letting out another sigh. "

Sigh.

Damn it, this is fucked up..."

Even after finding out who his father was, he showed no sign of happiness. He exhaled deeply, then looked at me. "Did you tell him what I said?"

"Yes."

"Good. It's better to just keep pretending we don't know each other like before. It's easier for both of us that way."

Kang Eun-Gi's hand resting on the table was clenched so tightly it looked like the blood circulation might be cut off.

Watching him seethe with anger, I spoke calmly. "Alright. Then let's talk about something else."

Kang Eun-Gi flinched, but I deliberately changed the subject. Knowing his personality, he'd probably just dig in his heels and stubbornly refuse even more if I pressured him to meet his father.

"By the way, about Prosecutor Seo—I heard he's the ace of the Central District Prosecutor's Office and he's definitely something else, huh?" I remarked.

Kang Eun-Gi seemed like he wanted to ask more about his father, but his pride kept him from speaking up.

Just then, something unexpected came out of his mouth. "Oh, right. Yoon-Ho, Prosecutor Seo is about to get demoted."

"What? Why all of a sudden?"

"He's been digging into the kidnappers and now he's on the higher-ups' radar."

'

What? The ace of the Seoul Central District Prosecutor's Office is facing demotion just for investigating the kidnappers?

'