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“You did well. Really well. But please, never joke about something like this again. It’s not just any matter—it’s about your mother.”
“I understand. I won’t do it again.”
He could feel the small hand gripping his collar tightening with emotion.
“So how did you find me? There’s no way your father would’ve just helped you out of goodwill.”
“It wasn’t Father—it was my older brother who helped.”
Joo-Hyuk recounted to Sena the conversation he’d had with Joo-Ho.
“I see. He’s someone we should be grateful to.”
“Yes.”
And someone he felt sorry for, too.
Joo-Hyuk’s heart grew heavy with gratitude, guilt, and a sense of compassion he had never felt before toward his brother.
“You’ll return KMS as well, right?”
Though her voice was muffled, Sena clearly asked the question.
“Of course.”
“The things I said to you that day… they weren’t sincere.”
“I know. My words weren’t sincere either—like when I said no one cared about the truth.”
“Ah, naturally.”
She didn’t ask what he meant by “naturally.” Yet, she buried her face in his chest and giggled softly.
---
Prosecutor Lee Shin-Hak lowered the blinds of his office window, blocking out the view. A man referred to as the office manager placed two vending machine coffees on the table in front of Joo-Hyuk and Prosecutor Lee, then quietly slipped out of the room.
“I apologize for calling you here despite your busy schedule.”
“It’s fine.”
If summoned by the prosecution during an investigation, there was no choice but to comply. Besides, contrary to Prosecutor Lee’s words, Joo-Hyuk wasn’t particularly busy. Since KMS had been taken out of his hands, he had more time than he knew what to do with.
The atmosphere in the prosecutor’s office was eerily calm compared to the barrage of questions and camera flashes he had faced at the photo line. It didn’t even feel like he was there for an investigation.
“There are eyes watching from the outside, so we need to at least go through the motions of conducting an investigation.”
Prosecutor Lee continued speaking in a tone completely different from his demeanor during the raid on KMS.
“When you say ‘go through the motions,’ does that mean you’ve called me here just as a formality?”
“Well, I skimmed through the materials we seized last time, and frankly, there’s nothing substantial to charge you with. Plus, there was a special directive from the Chief Prosecutor.”
Though Prosecutor Lee spoke nonchalantly, Joo-Hyuk didn’t miss the slight smirk that tugged at the corner of his mouth as he raised the coffee cup to his lips.
So he’s mocking me. The hypocrisy of journalists pretending to be noble while secretly making dirty deals with prosecutors was almost laughable.
It was such an embarrassing thought that Joo-Hyuk found himself at a loss for words.
“What happens next?”
“In a short while, the investigation will conclude with no charges filed.”
“And my father…?”
“Your father’s case is a bit more complicated due to the numerous allegations against him, but rest assured, those above us will handle it. Us regular prosecutors just follow orders from higher-ups.”
Instead of grimacing, Joo-Hyuk subtly furrowed his brow to conceal his emotions.
It didn’t sit right with him that his father would escape scrutiny from the prosecution. Unlike KMS, Chairman Choi’s businesses were riddled with shady dealings.
“Why not conduct a proper investigation into KMS?”
“Huh?”
Prosecutor Lee stared at Joo-Hyuk, dumbfounded by his suggestion.
“As you said, KMS hasn’t committed any wrongdoing based on the charges presented by the prosecution. So instead of going through the motions, why not conduct a thorough investigation?”
“Why? Does it feel like deceiving the public?”
“I’m suggesting this because I want to feel righteous in my own eyes.”
There was no reason to back down like this. Why should he let things slide?
Though Chairman Choi had told him to stay quiet, Joo-Hyuk couldn’t help but question whether that was truly in his best interest. Perhaps Chairman Choi wanted him to remain passive for his own protection.
“May I offer you some advice?”
Prosecutor Lee, now placing his empty paper cup on the table, asked earnestly. When Joo-Hyuk nodded slowly, Lee gave a faint smile.
“Now isn’t the time to assert your pride.”
“...Do you think I’m doing this out of pride?”
“Whether it’s pride or a desire for justice, none of that matters. Earlier, I said I skimmed through the materials, but to be honest, we haven’t found anything substantial to charge KMS with. However…”
“However?”
“Regardless of why Chairman Choi wants a fair investigation, if he interferes with the plans of those above him, that confident demeanor of his will soon disappear.”
Suddenly, Joo-Hyuk recalled something the Chief Prosecutor had said during their recent meeting.
“Chairman Choi. It seems you still don’t fully understand how this world works. I have the ability to fabricate charges where none exist. With just a tweak of a single word, I can bring you to ruin.”
How could these people speak such words without a shred of shame?
“There’s no need for a proper investigation since there are no charges to begin with. The case will simply be closed as ‘no charges.’ Do you understand?”
Though Prosecutor Lee’s tone was gentle, it was firm. His demeanor made it clear he expected only a specific response. After a brief pause, Joo-Hyuk nodded.
“I understand.”
“Good. Now, what should we have for lunch? There’s a great seollongtang place nearby.”
True to form, Prosecutor Lee wasn’t planning to let Joo-Hyuk leave just yet. He asked about lunch, and Joo-Hyuk agreed to have seollongtang as suggested.
As Prosecutor Lee called the office manager back in to order lunch, Joo-Hyuk rose from his seat and walked over to the window.
“Be careful not to get photographed.”
Prosecutor Lee’s casual voice drifted from behind him.
Joo-Hyuk gently parted the blinds with his finger and leaned close to the wall, peering down below. Most of the reporters who had greeted him earlier were still there.
It seemed they were waiting to interview him again once he emerged.
“Still, it seems none of them left KMS, right?”
“Yes.”
Now that he thought about it, it was strange that not a single journalist from KMS had shown up for such a major scoop.
Was it Seol-Yoo’s doing?
Even if Seol-Yoo had intervened to stop them, the situation left a bitter taste in his mouth.
How had things come to this?
Suddenly, an idea occurred to him.
“Prosecutor, may I make a suggestion?”
“A suggestion?”
“It might not sit well with you, but it’s not a bad idea.”
Intrigued, Prosecutor Lee leaned forward toward Joo-Hyuk.
“I have grounds to investigate the Chief Prosecutor.”
This passive approach was getting tiresome.
“What?”
“There’s a recording of him threatening me—saying he could fabricate charges where none exist.”
“Don’t say such nonsense. The Chief Prosecutor wouldn’t say something like that to just anyone…”
“To me, he did.”
Joo-Hyuk smirked, and Prosecutor Lee frowned deeply, scratching his forehead with his finger.
“As far as I know, Prosecutor Lee, you’re aligned with the former Chief Prosecutor who was recently forced out in disgrace. Rumor has it that this whole situation was orchestrated by the current Chief Prosecutor.”
“Hmm…”
Prosecutor Lee neither confirmed nor denied it.
“Doesn’t the picture start to come together?”
At Joo-Hyuk’s meaningful question, Prosecutor Lee’s expression turned grave as he leaned back deeply into the sofa.
---
“This is so frustrating.”
Seol-Yoo slammed a folder onto the desk in irritation.
After opposing the reappointment of Joo-Hyuk as CEO at the emergency board meeting, she stormed into her office fuming.
“The prosecution already announced no charges for public opinion manipulation or political conspiracy. What more do they want?”
“What more do they want?” Joo-Hyuk asked.
At his question, Seol-Yoo’s face scrunched up even further.
“Your father. They say they need to see the investigation into your father fully resolved. After all, the rumors about him that had been whispered for years have now come to light.”
It was exactly what Joo-Hyuk had expected.
People who had long disapproved of Chairman Choi being Joo-Hyuk’s father were behind this push to remove him from the CEO position.
They had warned this would happen someday, insisting that KMS needed a “clean slate” figurehead to represent the company.
This was their retaliation for not having someone they could control in the CEO seat when they provided their investment.
“And the next CEO?”
“For now, I’ve agreed to stay on as acting CEO until further notice. That person Chairman Cho sent—Kang Seung-Joo or whatever his name is.”
“Mm.”
“I met him, and honestly, he gave me the creeps. He seems obsessed with ratings.”
Seol-Yoo shuddered visibly as she spoke.
“You told them he wasn’t acceptable?”
“I did. Chairman Cho looked like he wanted to chew me out, but he held back.”
“I’ll contact Chairman Cho separately.”
“Please, do.”
“I’m working on a way to bring you back. Just bear with it a little longer.”
If anyone else were in charge, Joo-Hyuk might not feel comfortable leaving KMS. But since it was Seol-Yoo, he trusted her to hold the fort while he stepped away. He couldn’t stand the thought of those who forced him out bringing in someone to recklessly shake things up at KMS.
“How much longer is ‘a little longer’? You’re needed here right now.”
“Still, we’re not handing KMS over completely to those old foxes. All charges have been cleared. Public opinion is still divided, but…”
“Right. Trust has been lost.”
“The only thing to do is rebuild that trust.”
“Rebuild it? Easier said than done. How do we even begin? Should I sue Reporter Seo for defamation?”
“Do you think that will change anything?”
Though his heart burned with frustration, Joo-Hyuk had spent a lot of time reflecting at home. After everything returned to its original state, how could he regain the trust of those who had turned away?
Then he remembered Sena’s words.
“It wasn’t true, was it? Didn’t you once dream of being a journalist who spoke the truth?”
She had asked him that on the day she left.
Hadn’t he once dreamed of being a journalist who pursued the truth?
She had reminded him of the book The Path of a Truth-Seeking Journalist that she had pulled from the bookshelf—and the words he had spoken to her then.
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