Free Web NovelWhen the arrest warrant for Seo Jaehun was issued, the Ilseong Group Legal Affairs Office immediately went into emergency mode.
They had [N O V E L I G H T] to refute the evidence the prosecution had presented during the warrant review.
Before the prosecution could summon Seo Jaehun and begin their investigation, they first applied for a warrant validity review with the court.
A warrant validity review was a system in which a judge other than the one who issued the warrant conducted the questioning.
Ilseong Group mobilized all of its connections to locate a judge who would hand down a favorable ruling.
But the atmosphere was different from before.
Every judge who had once been backed by Ilseong refused the request.
Some judges did not even take their calls.
To make matters worse, Koryeo Daily devoted three full pages to reporting every detail of the suspicions surrounding Seo Jaehun.
[The Two Faces of Ilseong Group’s Crown Prince, Seo Jaehun.]
The arrest warrant for Seo Jaehun had been issued.
He had been arrested as a suspect in the murder of an American citizen, and the prosecution immediately requested an arrest warrant from the court.
The court, unusually, held the warrant review late at night, and issued the arrest warrant at dawn the following day.
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Vice Chairman Seo Jaehun had been leading Ilseong Group ever since Chairman Seo Yonggeon collapsed from a heart attack. But now that he had been arrested as a murder suspect, Ilseong Group had released no official statement whatsoever.
According to investigative findings, the prosecution had also identified Seo Jaehun as the prime suspect in two previous disappearance cases and was conducting additional investigations.
If all of these suspicions turned out to be true, outrage would be unavoidable. Our newspaper plans to cover this issue as a special feature.
As the article continued from the front page to the second page, an in-depth feature on the two disappearance cases was printed.
The third page contained an article about the impact Ilseong Group would suffer due to Seo Jaehun’s arrest.
“These insane bastards!”
A furious bellow erupted from the office of Ilseong Group’s Head of Legal Affairs.
Jang Geunseok slammed the newspaper onto the desk and cursed.
“What the hell are you people doing, letting something like this go out?”
“Director Lee Seokmin handled all the media. We were just....”
The Secretariat staff tried to explain, but Jang Geunseok did not listen.
“Pull every single advertisement we’ve placed in Koryeo Daily. Contact the other newspapers and tell them not to publish anything premature.”
“······If we sever ties with Koryeo Daily, nothing good will come of it. The Chairman worked hard to maintain a good relationship with them.”
“What the hell does that matter right now? Everything’s about to collapse! Block everything! What is the point of the Secretariat existing? Do you all want to lose your jobs?”
Jang Geunseok shouted while jabbing his finger at the Secretariat employees.
“Y-yes, sir.”
“Do not just sit around calling people. Get out there and handle it with your own two feet. If you cannot stop it, prepare to lose your jobs. Now get out!”
The Secretariat staff hurried out of the office. The Legal Affairs employees entered next.
“How about you?”
The employees’ faces were dark with gloom. Jang Geunseok rubbed his face dry and let out a sigh.
“Ha······. These bastards stuffed their pockets thanks to us, and now they ignore our calls? They think we’ll fall apart just like this?”
“Sir, is the article Koryeo Daily released true? If it is, then······.”
One employee cautiously asked.
“If it is? Is that supposed to be a question?”
“But they would not have published something like that without evidence, would they?”
“You idiot! Whether it’s true or not is irrelevant. Our job is to get the Vice Chairman out of the detention center. That is all you should be thinking about.”
Jang Geunseok’s icy rebuke made all the Legal Affairs employees bow their heads at once.
“The judge in charge of the warrant validity review will be decided soon. At the same time, gather every scrap of information about that judge.”
“Yes, sir.”
Even the Legal Affairs attorneys were trembling with unease—Ilseong Group’s atmosphere was that dire.
* * *
The American Ambassador arrived from the U.S. Embassy, accompanied by another man.
“Mr. Kim Muhyuk. We meet again.”
“Yes, Ambassador. It has been a while.”
We exchanged brief greetings and took our seats.
“Who is the gentleman beside you?”
“Ah, this is the newly appointed CIA Korea Station Chief. Station Chief Danny Williams.”
“Danny Williams, is it.”
“I am Kim Muhyuk. But why have you two come looking for me?”
I already had a good idea why, but I pretended not to know and asked.
Ambassador Hamilton spoke first.
“It is because of the death of Deputy Vice President Patrick.”
“Hmm.”
The fact that they came meant they knew I had been present at the scene.
Where the hell did that information leak from?
There were no articles, and neither the police nor the prosecution knew of my presence.
Everyone at the scene had shut their mouths.
Even if Seo Jaehun or Han Jiho mentioned me, it would be buried at the prosecution level.
“That was done by Seo Jaehun. But is there a reason you came to me?”
“We know that you were present at the scene, Mr. Kim.”
This time, I did not deny it. I nodded.
“That is correct. I went to save him, but I was too late. I had drinks with James the day before, and we agreed to work together. Then suddenly he disappeared. I tracked down where he had been taken. When I arrived, he was already a cold corpse.”
I smiled gently and spoke calmly, stating the truth exactly as it was.
“That is also the report we received.”
“Hamilton. Let me speak from here.” ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom
“Danny. Do not get ahead of yourself.”
Danny Williams cut Hamilton off.
Hamilton tried to stop him. freewebnøvel.coɱ
Clearly they were close, speaking to each other without any formality.
But no matter how high the CIA Korea Station Chief ranked, he was not on equal footing with the U.S. Ambassador.
That piqued my interest, and I studied Danny Williams.
“Hamilton. Let us each stick to our roles. An American citizen died here. From here on, this is our jurisdiction.”
“······Damn it.”
Hamilton frowned and cursed.
“Mr. Kim Muhyuk.”
Danny called to me.
“Yes. Speak.”
“We believe you influenced Patrick’s death.”
“Me?”
“Yes. Whether Seo Jaehun killed him or one of his subordinates did, our people at Langley believe you orchestrated it.”
I erased my smile and glared at Danny with cold eyes.
These bastards were testing me?
“Is that the official position of the United States?”
“No. Not officially. But our analysis suggests that possibility.”
“So it is not the official position, yet you come here and claim that I induced Patrick’s death?”
When I asked coolly, Danny let out a mocking snort.
“Listen, Mr. Kim. Do you think we do not know how you conduct your business? What reason would Seo Jaehun have to kill Deputy Vice President Patrick? Patrick came to Korea to join hands with him to keep you in check. But after meeting you, he suddenly went drinking with James Han. Then he vanished, and later was found as a cold corpse. Of course we would suspect you, would we not?”
I raised one eyebrow and glanced at Hamilton.
Judging by the twitching at the corners of his eyes, this was not a prearranged script.
“Danny, what the hell are you doing? This was not part of our discussion.”
“I told you. Stay out of this. You could be suspected too. Do you want that?”
Hamilton shut his mouth at the warning that he could become a suspect as well, but his eyes burned with anger.
“The Korean police arrested Seo Jaehun as the suspect. The prosecution and the court issued a preliminary arrest warrant based on sufficient grounds for suspicion. And yet you still suspect me?”
“You practically have the entire country of Korea in your grip, do you not? How are we supposed to trust that?”
The more we spoke, the stranger it became. This was not the behavior of someone representing the CIA.
“You do not trust it? Since when did the CIA Korea Station Chief gain the authority to dismiss Korea’s prosecutors and judiciary? Who are you? Who is ordering you to do this?”
If the actual CIA suspected me, they would not confront me directly like this.
They would quietly gather evidence behind the scenes and strike when I could not refute anything.
Only one possibility came to mind.
“You are Valletze, are you not? Is that why you came here to test me?”
As I mentioned Valletze, I watched both of their faces.
Hamilton looked bewildered, as if he had no idea what I was talking about.
But Danny was different. Just for an instant, his eyes wavered.
“I do not know what you are talking about.”
“Bullshit. They must really fear me. Sending someone in your position to Korea? You must be their man.”
Danny did not respond.
I turned to Hamilton, who was staring at Danny in confusion.
“Ambassador Hamilton.”
“Yes, Mr. Kim.”
“I am in a very foul mood right now.”
“······I apologize.”
Hamilton had done nothing wrong, but I needed to make the power dynamic clear.
“I have always been friendly toward the United States. I am sure you know that. But handling things this way? I am disappointed.”
“I am sorry. Danny is not usually like this. Something is very off today.”
“I accept your apology for now. Ambassador, do you know the name Valletze?”
Hamilton shook his head at my question.
“No. I have never heard it before.”
“Is that so? I am thinking of writing a novel. Would you like to hear it? It will be very interesting.”
“Mr. Kim.”
Danny tried to stop me.
I slowly turned my head toward him. His eyes held a faint flicker of fear.
“Why? Should I not say it?”
“······Stop.”
His reaction confirmed it—Danny was Valletze’s errand boy.
He had barked with confidence earlier, but now he tucked his tail like a frightened dog.
I curled my lips in amusement.
“How funny. Even inside the CIA, Valletze’s lackeys exist.”
Danny no longer hid his expression.
Hamilton stepped in.
“What kind of organization is Valletze that—”
“Hamilton. Do not look into it. You will get hurt.”
“What?”
“That is advice as a friend, and also a warning as the CIA Korea Station Chief. Stay out of it.”
Humiliation flashed across Hamilton’s face.
“Danny, since when was the CIA Korea Station Chief above me?”
Whether they were putting on a show or truly arguing, I could not tell.
Their squabbling in front of me was pathetic.
“What are you two doing? If you plan to embarrass yourselves like this in front of me, then leave.”
The two stopped arguing at my words. After a long exhale, I spoke again.
“Station Chief Danny. I had nothing to do with Patrick’s death. Tell your illustrious boss this: if they ever try to test me like this again, I will not sit still. If they have something to say, they should come to me directly.”
“······.”
“I thought the warning I sent before would be enough, but apparently not. If they want something else, I am willing to show it. Do not forget to deliver that message.”
After warning Danny, I turned to Hamilton.
“Ambassador. This is not the atmosphere for further conversation. I grieve Patrick’s death as well. I only tried to help him. The prosecution will uncover the truth soon enough. Let us wait until then.”
“My apologies, Mr. Kim.”
Hamilton bit his lip and lowered his head slightly.
“You may go now.”
I dismissed them.
Hamilton rose first. Danny followed.
“We will see you again.”
Hamilton offered a polite farewell. I nodded.
“Yes. I will see you next time, Ambassador.”
“We have not erased our suspicions about you. Do not forget—we will be watching you.”
Danny still tried to act tough.
I shook my head and waved him off.
“I heard you. Now get out of my sight.”
As Hamilton and Danny left, Manager Ma entered.
“Sir. Look into this Danny Williams, so-called CIA Korea Station Chief.”
“Understood.”
After giving the order, I sank deep into the sofa.
For some reason, I had the feeling I would keep clashing with Valletze.
Starting with Patrick, and now even Danny being sent to Korea—without even trying to hide it.
This meant they were truly beginning to acknowledge me as a threat.
“What should I do with these bastards······.”
