Chapter 20: The Royal Secret Inspector Arrives

Jun, the leader of Revive, recalled his last private meeting.

Actually, calling it ‘private’ was a stretch, as several wealthy ladies were also present.

The so-called sponsors.

‘I had to serve them drinks all night long and even act cute for them.’

The suggestive touching was an added bonus. After doing that all night, he went straight to the practice room the next day without a wink of sleep.

‘……Still, I’m really working hard.’

From his teens until now, in his mid-twenties. He had worked like a madman, sacrificing sleep. The moment he signed the exclusive contract with his parents was still the highlight of his life.

― You guys are the next debut group.

The CEO’s encouragement was the fuel that replaced his sleep. He had endured everything believing those words. If he could just debut, he was willing to sell his soul to the devil. Even today, he had come prepared to serve drinks or anything else…….

“You, get out.”

Today’s private meeting was…… far more cruel than Jun had anticipated.

“What? Get…… get out?”

“Do you want me to use professional terminology?”

CEO Bang Ki-chul continued with an expressionless face.

“This is a notice of contract termination.”

“Th-then our debut…….”

“Our? Oh, that’s obviously happening. Do you know how much money has been poured into Revive?”

As he spoke, CEO Bang’s eyes were fixed precisely on Jun.

“You’re the only one leaving.”

“……!”

“Still, you should be grateful that I’m telling you this face-to-face. Usually, I just notify people over the phone and call it a day.”

Jun forced his trembling legs to hold firm.

“Why…… just me……!”

“Are you asking because you really don’t know? You’re a nuisance to the other kids. Just your very existence.”

“!”

Jun bit his lip.

“Frankly, what do you have going for you? Looks? Nothing exceptional. Singing? Just average. Dancing? Barely passable. And it’s not like you have any talent or color of your own, like songwriting or composing.”

“…….”

“Everything is mediocre. Colorless, odorless, personality-less, talentless, and tasteless! I made you the leader because you’re older, but now even that age has become a fatal flaw. You’re already twenty-six, aren’t you? By the time you debut and perform a bit, you’ll be thirty. Right?”

Each word flew like a dagger and pierced Jun’s heart.

“Go ahead, try to convince me. Give me a reason why the company should keep carrying you.”

Slowly.

The strength in his clenched fists eventually faded.

“Let me at least…… say goodbye to the other members before I leave.”

“No.”

CEO Bang cut him off flatly.

“My kindness ends with this face-to-face notification.”

“…….”

“If you understand, get out of the building right now. The staff downstairs will pack your things and mail them to you.”

***

It had been a while since I returned to the office. As I walked down the hallway, I encountered many familiar faces.

“Oh! Prosecutor Baek Seo-jun……?”

“Shh.”

The investigator who tried to greet me was stopped by another employee. Pretending not to see. Pretending not to hear. That was the proper manual for employees dealing with a ‘disloyal element’ of the organization. However.

“Hello, Prosecutor.”

“We’re rooting for you.”

“I respect you. Hang in there.”

Not all employees were like that. The so-called ‘awake’ ones. Some principled prosecutors even pressed drinks into my hands, sending silent waves of support.

And finally, when I reached my destination.

“Well, look who it is. Isn’t this our apostle of justice, Prosecutor Baek Seo-jun?”

There, I met my former superior, who was being as sarcastic as ever.

“Hello, Chief.”

“I’m not doing so well because of a certain someone.”

“……Chief.”

At my low voice, Chief Prosecutor Kang Dae-ho flinched.

“Why are you calling me, you crazy bastard?”

“There’s a saying. Even a heaven-like general is just the middle-aged man next door once he’s discharged.”

“Wow…… look at this guy. The prosecution’s hierarchy has gone to the dogs. Are you telling me not to touch you because you’re a civilian now? Are you never going to work in this field again?”

Actually, I did have that in mind. But at the very least, I should maintain etiquette toward my former superior. So, I just gave a bright smile without saying a word.

“Don’t smile. I might start liking you.”

I purposely smiled even more brightly.

“Ugh, seriously. What are you even doing these days? I haven’t heard anything about you getting a job at a law firm.”

“I’m just resting.”

“Do you know how disappointed I was after you caused that accident? How can you not even give me a single call? Do you know how hard I worked to cover for you!”

“The result was being demoted to the Gangwon District Office, though.”

Stunned, Chief Prosecutor Kang Dae-ho let out a sigh.

“I heard you submitted your resignation as soon as you got there.”

“Still, it was a decision I made because I wanted to.”

“Don’t be like that. Why don’t you just rest in Gangwon-do for a few years and then come back?”

“Will you call me back, Chief?”

“Ugh…… otherwise, go to the National Assembly! You did something righteous in your own way, so it’s good for your image.”

I shook my head. Crawl into a hell worse than this by selling someone’s wrongful death just to wear a gold badge? I hated that even more.

“I’m saying this because your talent is a waste! Your talent! You know, right? The internal inspection on you has probably started by now. Your resignation can only be processed after that’s finished.”

With those words, Chief Prosecutor Kang Dae-ho slowly rose from his seat.

“Nobody knows this, but actually, the Prosecutor General and I are very close. If I explain it well, I can have it handled as sick leave for you.”

“Chief.”

“Yeah. Why. Are you interested?”

“That’s not a decision for my sake, is it?”

“!”

Chief Prosecutor Kang Dae-ho’s eyes widened.

“Since the media already knows everything, you’re doing this because it’s a burden to either process my resignation or punish me.”

“…….”

As expected, there was no reply.

“I have three conditions.”

“……I raised a tiger cub. Seriously, this is why it’s a headache to make an enemy out of someone smart.”

Chief Prosecutor Kang Dae-ho let out a groan.

“First, regardless of what the organization says, I have no intention of letting this case be buried.”

“You’ve already woven it together and indicted them so well that it’s realistically impossible to do that anyway.”

“I’m also making it clear that I won’t provide any additional statements as the former person in charge. Don’t expect statements like ‘I made a wrong judgment’ or ‘The police are innocent.’”

Chief Prosecutor Kang Dae-ho sighed.

“And?”

“Second, public interest fades over time. Don’t even think about using that tactic on me.”

“……You certainly learned well.”

“You don’t think I only dug into Actor Lee Ji-hoon’s case while indicting the ‘leaks’, do you? Like you said, Chief, I learned from the best.”

I looked Chief Prosecutor Kang Dae-ho straight in the eye.

“I have no intention of exhuming cases that are already closed, but if you escalate things any further, I’ll blow those up one by one.”

“What are you, some kind of Pandora’s box?”

“You taught me this too, Chief. Prepare perfectly before you commit. Let things ferment. And then, set off the bomb at the most perfect timing.”

“So, look at you, the elite top student, you brat!”

Chief Prosecutor Kang Dae-ho trembled as if he was about to throw his nameplate.

“Third. Since I’m the one who caused the incident, make sure no one else gets hurt because of it.”

“A guy who cares so much about his people went and did something like that?”

“I had to do what needed to be done.”

Even after saying that, I didn’t avert my gaze.

“What now! You said there were three conditions!”

“That was that.”

“Don’t make me laugh. Even if you say more, I’m not listening!”

“Chief.”

“No. I won’t listen. Go back!”

“What about my retirement gift?”

Chief Prosecutor Kang Dae-ho looked flabbergasted.

“Anyone would think you’re reaching your mandatory retirement age. Hey. Are you leaving on good terms? And what kind of retirement gift for someone on sick leave?”

“You’re going to give it to me, right?”

“Sigh.”

Eventually, Chief Prosecutor Kang Dae-ho thumped his chest.

“You’re going to be the death of me.”

***

“The kids? Were they very surprised?”

“Yes. It was very sudden news. I explained to them that Jae-jun had to leave due to family circumstances, but……”

“It doesn’t matter. Time is the only medicine. Just make sure Jae-jun doesn’t say anything unnecessary.”

“You don’t have to worry about that. I heard Jae-jun’s family is ordinary, so they wouldn’t do anything to lose money.”

Only then did CEO Bang Ki-chul nod.

“Then, is it finally Revive’s perfect debut?”

From the beginning, CEO Bang Ki-chul had envisioned a four-member group. In the process, he increased competitiveness by dropping the mediocre ones one by one. Jae-jun was the final dropout.

“Oh, by the way. You should start heading down to the lobby.”

“Yes? Why all of a sudden……?”

“That crazy bastard who sent me the preliminary injunction. I’m supposed to meet him in about ten minutes.”

“!”

Team Leader Bae Young-jun’s eyes widened.

“You mean CEO Shin Hye-seo’s representative? That person is coming to the company in person?”

“Yeah. He said he’d come here himself.”

CEO Bang Ki-chul let out a low chuckle.

“Who do I think I am? He acts tough over the phone, but he must be nervous about actually meeting me. So isn’t he trying to make a good first impression?”

Suddenly, CEO Bang Ki-chul stopped laughing.

“……Of course, that doesn’t mean I have even a grain of intention to go easy on him.”

***

When I arrived at the meeting spot, Seok-gu was already there waiting for me.

“Did you finish saying goodbye to your old comrades-in-arms?”

“More or less.”

“Did you get anything out of it?”

“Yeah. I received a very nice gift.”

Seeing my smile, Seok-gu smiled back.

“CEO Bang Ki-chul. As expected, he seems to have a pretty dirty background?”

“Just by looking at his actions, he’s a blatant thug. But this is the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office; there’s no way there isn’t at least one case being kept on ice.”

“Then, shall we head straight in?”

We immediately entered the building.

“Welcome.”

As we stepped inside, an employee immediately approached us.

“The CEO is waiting for you.”

“Yes. Please lead the way.”

Being an entertainment company, the security was thorough. Thanks to the employee’s guidance, however, we quickly reached our destination on the top floor.

“But they say even a dog has the advantage in its own yard. Is it right for us to come here?”

I let out a chuckle at Seok-gu’s whisper. As he said, I was the one who insisted on coming here. There was something I had to pay back.

“That is the CEO’s office. If you wait a moment, I will announce your visit…….”

I immediately stopped the employee who was about to knock.

“Oh. I’ll open the door myself.”

“……Excuse me?”

I looked back at Seok-gu instead of the employee.

“Do you remember the employee CEO Bang Ki-chul sent?”

“The one named Manager Cha who supposedly got arrested?”

“Yeah. As soon as he arrived, he started kicking my front door and shouting, ‘The Royal Secret Inspector is here!’”

Seok-gu immediately looked flabbergasted. The employee in front of us froze.

“He…… did something that crazy? And at your house?”

“Yeah.”

“But why are you bringing that up all of a sudden…… wait. You don’t mean!?”

I gave a meaningful smile. As expected of an old friend, he was quick on the uptake.

“Hey, hey, hey!”

Seok-gu quickly looked around. It seemed the CEO wasn’t the only one using the top floor, as there were at least a dozen employees in sight.

“Please, refrain from that.”

“No.”

“What are you trying to do! If you copy an idiot, you become an idiot too! Don’t you know that?”

At the word ‘idiot’ that finally burst out, the employee’s face contorted bizarrely.

“Didn’t you say once that a mad dog is the cure for a mad dog?”

Seok-gu looked like he was at a loss for words.

“I said I don’t like drawing people’s attention!”

“As long as I don’t break or damage anything, I won’t be booked for property damage. That’s actually what CEO Bang Ki-chul’s employee did.”

“I know the law too, you brat!”

“Then I’m doing it?”

“Oh, please……!”

BOOM!

“The Royal Secret Inspector is here!”

“Aaaaah!”

As the office door swung wide open, Seok-gu screamed. He looked as if he wanted to find a mouse hole and hide in it immediately.

“What, what did I do in my past life to deserve this!”