Free Web Novel[Is there a dark hand controlling Myeongdong and Korea’s underworld with a single grip?]
Though my name wasn’t directly mentioned, the article clearly targeted me.
Especially regarding the bloody incident in Busan, it framed me as the one who mobilized gangsters to seize the domestic loan-sharking market, putting the blame squarely on me.
“Choi Seokhyeon, the chief editor, must be one of the Cheongpunghoe members.”
That was Grandfather’s comment after reading the article.
“The real attack on you will start now. How do you plan to respond?”
“Even if it’s quite specific, they haven’t named me directly, so I’m not planning to respond for now.”
Grandfather looked at me, slightly surprised.
“There’s no need to give the impression that I’ve been rattled and stepped forward first. But since they’ve highlighted my existence, I’m thinking of leaking a bit of information about the Cheongpunghoe through the Koryeo Daily.”
“There are plenty of Cheongpunghoe affiliates in the Koryeo Daily too. I wonder if they’ll write the article as you want.”
Koryeo Daily, Dongseong Daily, and Joongsim Daily—these three newspapers’ circulation numbers alone overwhelmed the other seven newspapers that made up Korea’s top ten.
“When it comes to shaping public opinion, we can’t do it without the Koryeo Daily.”
The internet age hadn’t fully arrived yet, and newspapers’ influence couldn’t be ignored.
The negative public opinion about the Joongwoo Group had been created entirely with the help of newspapers.
In the future, various portals and SNS would expand as sources of information, but for now, no medium could match the newspapers’ impact.
“Whether it’s by requests, threats, or bribes, I have to make sure the article comes out through the Koryeo Daily.”
“Pressure them by pulling ads from relevant companies. No matter how many Cheongpunghoe pawns are in the Koryeo Daily, their main source of income is still advertising.”
“Yes, I’ll look into all possibilities.”
Grandfather looked at me with a slightly worried face, then nodded.
“How’s your grandmother adjusting to life in Seoul? This is the safest place, yet you said you got her a separate house.”
Because of the recent traffic accident and the series of incidents in Busan, we’d brought Grandmother up to Seoul urgently.
I wanted her to stay with us in Pyeongchang-dong, but due to her strong refusal, we had no choice but to rent a house nearby and have her live there for now.
“She’s feeling quite down, as she’s used to living among ordinary neighbors. But we can’t help it for her safety. Once things settle down, I’ll bring her back to Busan.”
Leaving the study, I stopped Ha Manager, who bowed to me.
“Please pay extra attention to Grandfather’s health. He’s not looking well.”
“Yes, young master.”
It was obvious both Grandfather and Grandmother’s health was deteriorating day by day.
I was worried, but Ha Manager’s reliable response made me smile.
If only everything could go exactly as planned.
The Cheongpunghoe continued using their influence over the media to publish articles about me.
“There’s a woman named Go Miju, the granddaughter of Koryeo Daily’s Chairman Go. There are rumors she does drugs. Get photos, videos, or any evidence.”
I remembered hearing rumors about Go Miju before. She’d even been caught in a drug raid once but slipped out of the police station easily.
It would be great if we could outright buy the newspaper, but... whatever it took, I had to make sure they were firmly on my side.
“They say she mainly shows up at nightclubs or hotels in Gangnam. With Dongsu’s faction helping, it should be easy to get evidence.”
I was trying various methods myself, but the Cheongpunghoe’s pressure only grew stronger.
‘I didn’t expect them to move this aggressively.’
A few days later, the Cheongpunghoe delivered the finishing blow by mobilizing the prosecution.
“Mr. Kim Muhyuk?”
Someone called my name from behind. Before I could even turn around, my bodyguards appeared.
The man who called me flinched and froze.
Ma Manager stepped forward and asked instead.
“Who are you?”
“We’re from the Seoul District Prosecutors’ Office.”
The Seoul District Prosecutors’ Office, huh.
The prosecution was currently split into two factions.
One was led by Prosecutor General Yoon, the other by Bae Beomgyu, the chief of the Seoul District Prosecutors’ Office.
“What is this about?”
“We’d like you to come with us to the Prosecutors’ Office.”
“Do you have a warrant?”
“No. But I think it would be better for both sides if you came voluntarily.”
Ma Manager didn’t answer, looking at me instead.
I directly asked them:
“What’s the charge?”
I was curious what they planned to pin on me.
“We received a tip that you’re connected to the disappearance of Mr. Shin Seongil.”
“Shin Seongil... I don’t see how I have anything to do with him.”
“This is a voluntary accompaniment for now, but later we’ll come back with an arrest warrant. If there’s no problem, please come with us.”
Voluntary accompaniment followed by emergency arrest—the prosecution’s usual tactic.
‘What should I do?’
I already knew Bae Beomgyu was a Cheongpunghoe man.
The Seoul District Prosecutors’ Office was filled entirely with Bae’s people, making it a place where Yoon’s influence hardly reached.
After a brief thought, I nodded.
“Fine. Let’s go.”
I could refuse, but I judged it better not to give them a pretext for attack.
Besides, I was confident I’d walk out without trouble.
The prosecutors approached as if waiting for my answer.
“We’ll move separately. Don’t come too close.”
At Ma Manager’s cold tone, they flinched and stepped back, glancing nervously at what seemed to be their superior.
“Don’t worry, we’ll follow on our own. Ma Manager, let’s go too.”
“Yes.”
The prosecution’s vehicle moved first, followed by the car carrying me, heading to the Seoul District Prosecutors’ Office.
I immediately made phone calls as soon as I got in the car.
“Father-in-law, this is Kim Muhyuk. I’m on my way to the Seoul District Prosecutors’ Office. Please send people.”
― Seoul District Prosecutors’ Office? I’ll come myself.
Yoon Hyungmin didn’t ask anything else, immediately saying he’d come.
“Yes, it’ll take about 30 minutes.”
― Understood.
Next, I called Chief Justice Oh Jeongseok.
“Chief Justice, this is Kim Muhyuk. I’m heading to the Seoul District Prosecutors’ Office. They’ll probably try to get an arrest warrant for me as soon as I arrive.”
They would take me in under voluntary accompaniment, then if they couldn’t get a warrant within six hours, they’d use emergency arrest and then apply for an arrest and detention warrant with the court.
― All right, I’ll look into it.
“I’d appreciate it. I won’t forget this favor.”
― Haha, all right. Thanks to you, my house’s threshold is wearing out these days.
Chief Justice Oh had played a big role in acquiring Joongwoo. It was also thanks to him that we got an arrest warrant for Park Daeho right from the start.
As promised, I’d handed over many things to him later.
“Yes, I’ll visit once this is over.”
Lastly, I called Prosecutor General Yoon.
“Prosecutor General, it’s Muhyuk.”
― I saw the article. Are you all right?
“I’m fine. We’ve been hit once, so now it’s time to strike back. I’m on my way to the Seoul District Prosecutors’ Office.”
― What?
His voice rose on the other end.
“It’s voluntary accompaniment. Better to go in once than give them any excuse.”
― Still...
“If I refused, they’d have summoned me, and if I ignored that, they’d have applied for a warrant.”
I calmly explained that they wouldn’t get a warrant.
“For now, Chief Justice Oh’s influence will help, but we don’t know what tricks the Cheongpunghoe may have pulled on the court.”
― Hmm...
“The Seoul District Prosecutors’ Chief is the Cheongpunghoe’s puppet. He’s not on good terms with you either. Why not take this °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° chance to bring him down?”
― There are still more Cheongpunghoe shadows in the prosecution than I thought.
Yoon muttered darkly.
― The only reason I could become Prosecutor General under the last administration was that the former president wasn’t on good terms with the Cheongpunghoe. Of course, Chairman Cheon’s help was decisive.
“Then start with the audit team. The Seoul office will be digging for dirt on you as well while preparing this case. They must know about our relationship.”
― All right. Do you need my help directly?
“Why not pay a visit? Oh, and it would be great if you could bring Hyunwoo along.”
― Hahaha.
I heard Yoon laugh loudly over the receiver.
― You’re planning to show force, huh?
As expected of someone who’d reached Prosecutor General. He understood immediately without further explanation.
― We’ll make sure they get the message.
Three phone calls were enough to prepare everything.
If this failed, I was ready to bring in Han Kyungyeong and Eva to make an even bigger statement.
As I finished my calls, the Seoul District Prosecutors’ Office came into view through the window.
“Have the security team wait in the parking lot.”
“Yes.”
It was past 1 PM when we arrived.
Voluntary accompaniment couldn’t last more than six hours. Their biggest goal would be to secure an arrest warrant within that time.
If they couldn’t, they’d try the emergency arrest method, but that would be risky for them too.
Sitting in the interrogation room, I waited for Yoon Hyungmin while lost in thought.
Soon the door opened, and a young prosecutor walked in.
They must’ve sent a young prosecutor to intimidate me, just as I’d done with Chairman Park Daeho. It was so predictable that I laughed inwardly.
“Name.”
Without even greeting me, the prosecutor sat down and bluntly asked.
“Prosecutor, take it easy. You can start after my lawyer arrives.”
“Name.” freewebnøvel.com
Persistent, huh.
I crossed my arms, leaned back in my chair, and closed my eyes.
“Name.”
When I didn’t respond, he slammed the desk and started yelling.
“Hey, Kim Muhyuk! You think this is your house?”
No point wasting energy.
I slowly opened my eyes and spoke.
“Tell me, Prosecutor. Am I here as a suspect or a witness?”
“Anyone who comes in here is a suspect.”
Classic power-tripping. I didn’t feel like humoring him any further.
Shaking my head, I looked toward the window where I knew the chief prosecutor was watching.
“I know you’re watching. Stop playing games and send someone proper in. This is boring. If this keeps up, I’ll leave right now.”
At my open disregard, the young prosecutor’s face twisted.
“What did you say, you bastard!”
He shot up from his seat, but just then, the door opened, and a middle-aged man walked in.
“Lee Prosecutor. Step out.”
“Chief!”
“Enough. I’ll handle this.”
The young prosecutor glared at me with resentment.
I grinned and greeted him.
“I won’t be going far, Prosecutor.”
“Mr. Kim Muhyuk, that’s enough. This is the prosecution.”
The young prosecutor didn’t leave, standing angrily by the door, but the division chief ignored him and sat down.
“I’m Ha Seokjin, head of Criminal Division 3. You know Mr. Shin Seongil, right?”
“Yes, I do. He ran a private loan office in Myeongdong. I met him a few times.”
“Met him a few times? I don’t think it was just that. Wasn’t he one of the four office heads under Cheon Taesan in Myeongdong? I heard you took over his business.”
He spoke in a neutral tone, trying to provoke a mistake.
I shrugged without answering, so he continued.
“Shin Seongil is missing. Did you know?”
“Yes.”
“On the last day he was seen, there was a brawl between the Dongsu faction and the Baekho faction in Myeongdong. Only their substitutes were arrested. Too much of a coincidence, don’t you think?”
Of course, they had no solid evidence.
Their attempts to provoke me into slipping up only proved that.
More importantly, I never left evidence they could use to catch me.
“I heard the news, yes.”
As I answered calmly, his frustration showed, and he turned to scold the young prosecutor.
“You’re still here? Did you not hear me?”
“No, sir. I’m leaving now.”
An old trick.
Unable to vent his frustration on me, he took it out on the young prosecutor to set the tone.
But I didn’t even flinch.
The young prosecutor finally bowed his head once before leaving.
And almost immediately, the door burst open again as Yoon Hyungmin and several lawyers entered.
“Oh, Chief Ha. You’re in charge of this?”
Yoon Hyungmin, the head of Yoon & Jang, had come personally.
The division chief also stood up to greet him.
“Hello, Representative Yoon.”
“Yes. But isn’t this voluntary accompaniment? An interrogation room is a bit much, don’t you think? Did the meaning of voluntary accompaniment and emergency arrest change while I wasn’t looking? Did you know about this?”
Yoon Hyungmin asked innocently, glancing at the team of lawyers he’d brought.
I couldn’t help but smile at his performance.
< The Cheongpunghoe’s Pressure. > End
