Chapter 21: The Fifth Fan

From the very beginning, we clearly divided our roles.

I would make a “scene” at the start.

Then, Seok-gu would take the baton and lead the actual negotiations.

“Make way for the Royal Secret Inspector!”

So, I was simply being faithful to my mission.

Of course,

“W-what on earth is this!”

The reaction of the agency employees watching was as if they were looking at a total madman.

“Hello, CEO.”

At my bright greeting, the man who appeared to be the CEO frowned while remaining seated.

“What are you?”

“You were kind enough to send an escort, and now you’re pretending not to know me?”

“……This guy really is a psycho.”

Only then did CEO Bang Ki-cheol stand up from his seat.

“Hey. I’m going to beat you half to death anyway, but I’m asking because I’m genuinely curious. What exactly are you relying on to act like this?”

“So, are you not going to go through with the share trade?”

“…….”

CEO Bang Ki-cheol fell silent.

“The aftermath once the deal is over…….”

“Ah, hold on. I don’t really have a hobby for being threatened. Though it might be a different story if it were the other way around.”

“……Crazy bastard.”

“So, I’ll start with my story first.”

I looked CEO Bang Ki-cheol straight in the eye.

“Project M.”

“!”

In an instant, Bang Ki-cheol’s pupils dilated significantly.

“The rapper Harvey, who brings in massive profits for the company. It must have felt like a waste to have such a goose that lays golden eggs stop all activities for at least a year and a half, right?”

“You…… what are you talking about…….”

“Oh, come on. Why pretend you don’t know? The company partnered with specific hospitals to systematically aid in military service evasion.”

Bang Ki-cheol’s face had already completely hardened.

Before more nonsense or insults could come out, I immediately kept talking.

I didn’t have the slightest intention of coming all this way just to hear curses to my face.

“The first link is the Barum Neuropsychiatric Clinic. There, Harvey built a long-term treatment history for various mental illnesses, such as panic disorder and depression. All under someone’s instructions.”

“Keep the fiction to a reasonable level, will you?”

“Yes, I’m sure you’d say that. Just listen for a bit.”

I waved my hand dismissively as if I knew everything.

“The second link is the Hanbit Radiology Clinic. Someone who thought mental illness records alone were too weak manipulated an MRI with a diagnosis of ‘progressive lumbar disc herniation.’ By overlaying a template onto the PACS image, they made it look as if Harvey had actually injured his back.”

“…….”

“And then, that same someone paid that hospital anywhere from several million to tens of millions of won every month under the guise of ‘mental care consulting for affiliated artists and trainees.’ Naturally, using a corporate card. Thanks to that, Harvey received an exemption grade during his re-examination…… and here’s the question.”

I held up one finger and smiled brightly.

“Who is that ‘someone’?”

“…….”

Bang Ki-cheol, who had been silent for a moment, let out a smirk.

“It seems you’ve put quite a bit of effort into investigating my family?”

However, surprisingly, he didn’t lose his composure until the end.

“But what can I do? I don’t know anything about that.”

“You’re not denying it, then?”

“Shall I teach you an important life lesson?”

Bang Ki-cheol bared his teeth and laughed.

“Making existing sins disappear and creating sins that don’t exist. That’s what we call ‘power,’ kid.”

“Oh…….”

“Even if what you’re saying is true, a minor mistake by Harvey? That’s nothing to me.”

His speech was quite cunning.

I knew exactly what guys like him were thinking.

‘Even if the worst happens, he’ll just cut off the tail or try to pin it on someone else.’

But the thing is.

“Then, how about drugs?”

“Drugs? Hahahaha! It’s so cliché I can’t help but laugh.”

Bang Ki-cheol stopped laughing abruptly and snarled.

“Why? Because he’s a celebrity, you think he must be on drugs, so you’re trying to test the waters? Did you perhaps look up articles about Lee Ji-hoon or something?”

He looked quite confident.

With that kind of reaction, he was at least certain he could prove his innocence regarding the ‘administration’ of drugs.

However.

‘Even so, I was called the mad dog of the Prosecutor’s Office. Did you really think I’d come here with a simple drug use case?’

My inner thoughts must have shown on my face.

“You, why are you suddenly grinning?”

“You made a deal, didn’t you?”

“Crazy man. I told you, I don’t deal drugs…….”

“Not a drug deal, but a deal with the police. To cover up the drug use of your idols. Not to mention the entertainment provided, and even creating other additional performance metrics for them.”

“……!”

For the first time, Bang Ki-cheol’s expression changed drastically.

“Should I recite it in more detail?”

I didn’t even need to look at the documents.

I had already skimmed through them, and as for the practical experience, it was all already in my head.

“The places where simple users are most active are anonymous spaces like random chats or Telegram. They look for people using slang like ‘ice.’ For them, drugs and sex are a package deal. Since a single dose goes for about 180,000 won these days, it’s a win-win. The man provides the drugs, and the woman pays with her body.”

“…….”

“‘Someone’ must have scouted that woman—specifically, an actress—and attempted to negotiate with the police. To create the performance metrics I mentioned earlier. And the police would have arrested the drug offenders in the act, right before they injected themselves, so they couldn’t possibly deny it. Also with the help of that ‘someone’ who has such a strong sense of civic duty.”

In reality, this was a method used by investigative agencies to inflate their performance numbers.

Whenever a mid-level distributor of a drug organization was caught, the junkies would always try to strike this kind of deal.

They’d promise to hand over several others if the investigator would consider their reflective attitude and help with a discretionary reduction of the sentence.

“You probably recruited bar girls for the women, right? Most of them would agree if you just gave them enough money as ‘hazard pay.'”

It’s a simple task of just sending a signal right after the person takes out the syringe.

They can certainly handle a little risk.

I was told that if someone refuses a deal, the first thing to check is if the money is insufficient.

For the record, this isn’t illegal from the police’s perspective either.

Maybe it’s a loophole, but not illegal.

‘While leaking information has a clear legal provision like the crime of disclosing investigative facts, there’s nothing for this.’

For reference, there are two types of sting operations.

First, the opportunity-providing sting operation.

Let’s take a simple example.

A drunk person is passed out on the street.

The police don’t step in immediately but wait in ambush nearby.

And the moment a thief tries to snatch the wallet from the drunk’s pocket.

― You are being arrested in the act for theft from an incapacitated person. You have the right to an attorney, blah blah blah.

Apprehended.

Of course, according to legal precedents, this is legal.

Even if the police hadn’t been lying in wait, the thief would have stolen the wallet anyway.

Second is the intent-inducing sting operation.

The prosecution uses special activity funds to provide the suspect with drug purchase money.

Then, they pressure them to cooperate with the investigation.

After that, if the suspect actually goes through with the drug purchase and the prosecution backstabs them like a coward?

Naturally, this is illegal.

Since if it weren’t for the prosecution, they wouldn’t have bought the drugs in the first place.

‘Then what about this case?’

It’s clearly the former.

In other words, it’s legal.

Why?

Because regardless of what anyone says, the junkie would have already used the drugs they had to find an accomplice and have sex.

But the thing is.

“The guys who were supposed to be arrested. Like J-Ren, Sian, Leon from Prop Entertainment…… wow, there are so many. If you made a deal to quietly ‘release’ them, that becomes a separate issue, doesn’t it?”

“…….”

“Then again, rather than just letting the case fade away into nothing, throwing them other drug offenders would be less risky for the police too. Right?”

*Shudder.*

Bang Ki-cheol had long since lost his words.

*Snap!*

At the same time, the pencil that had been spinning leisurely in his hand snapped in half.

As if it were representing his state of mind.

“If this breaks, overturning the entire company will be child’s play. The prosecution will view all of Prop Entertainment as a drug den.”

“…….”

“Ah! The police will probably be the first ones to come at you with fire in their eyes. They’ll need to survive too. I heard the police are incredibly good at cutting off their own tails.”

“…….”

As expected, there was no answer.

Well, this should be enough for my role as the setup man.

Now that the source has been leaked to me, the prosecution will actually start a full-scale investigation soon.

Information like this tends to rot if you just let it sit.

The only difference is whether you make it a loud mess by ‘leaking’ it or handle it quietly.

“I think I’ve done my part, so I’ll leave the rest to you. I have something urgent to attend to.”

“It’s finally my turn.”

Seok-gu grinned and placed his briefcase on the table.

“Now, shall we talk about our deal in earnest?”

“……You…….”

Despite this, Bang Ki-cheol’s eyes were still fixed on me.

“……Who the hell are you? No matter how I look at it, you don’t seem like Shin Hye-seo’s lackey or an assassin sent by a competitor……?”

“Oh, him?”

Instead of me, Seok-gu replied with a grin.

“Just a mad dog who’s lived in this neighborhood for a long time.”

***

When I arrived near the cafe, the designated meeting spot.

“Senior!”

Seo Yi-re, who had been waiting in front of the door, ran over with a delighted face.

“Whoops.”

I subtly took a step to the side.

“Hey!”

Seo Yi-re, who was about to hug me, flared up.

“It’s been a while, let me hug you once!”

“No.”

“Can’t I just like you!”

“No.”

“You’re really annoying.”

“Go back.”

No, she can’t go back yet.

“Here, a gift that will be helpful to you.”

I immediately held out a USB.

At the same time, Seo Yi-re’s face became quite serious.

“What exactly is in here?”

“Didn’t you find it strange too? Even though he wasn’t caught in the act, the police suddenly proceeded with a drug investigation into a top Korean actor.”

Seo Yi-re nodded.

“Of course, I thought it was strange.”

“Actor Lee Ji-hoon was being blackmailed.”

“What? Blackmailed?”

“Yeah. It’s a common tactic these days. Using someone’s fame to extort money.”

“Wait. Then……?”

“Right. That blackmailer went to a reporter first instead of the police. Because they knew better than anyone that it would be more fatal for a celebrity.”

Seo Yi-re’s face gradually grew grave.

“The reporter who heard the tip went to the police. Because the risk of writing an article based only on a simple tip-off was too high. Once the case was formally registered with the police, the risk would decrease significantly. And after that…….”

“The police collaborated with the reporter to leak the information? To make Actor Lee Ji-hoon, who was booked as a suspect, feel psychological pressure himself.”

“Exactly.”

After a small sigh, I continued.

“That USB contains detailed information about how Actor Lee Ji-hoon was blackmailed. Even the informant’s Telegram contact with the reporter. Down to how that source was leaked to the police. You’ll see the details when you look for yourself.”

“But who is the informant?”

“Actor Lee Ji-hoon’s mistress.”

“……Ah…….”

Seo Yi-re let out a lament.

“I don’t intend to weigh who did better or argue about right or wrong here. The dead have no voice, so we may never know the truth. However.”

My gaze sank deep.

“The one who did wrong must be punished without exception. That is a prosecutor’s mission.”

“…….”

After remaining silent for a long time, Seo Yi-re finally raised her right hand.

A posture as if she were taking an oath.

‘At this moment, I step forward into the glorious office of a prosecutor of the Republic of Korea, receiving the call of the nation and its people.’

Seeing that, the Prosecutor’s Oath involuntarily echoed within me.

‘As a representative of the public interest, I must establish justice and human rights. I have been entrusted with the heavy mission of protecting my neighbors and community from crime.’

I am a courageous prosecutor who clears away the darkness of injustice.

A warm prosecutor who looks after the powerless and marginalized.

A fair prosecutor who follows only the truth.

As a righteous prosecutor who is even stricter with myself.

From the beginning.

To the end.

I will serve the people and the nation with all my heart and soul.

‘I firmly pledge this on my honor.’

***

The rooftop of a high-rise building.

Before Jae-jun’s eyes, the city’s brilliant neon signs were visible at a single glance.

‘I wanted to stand on stage under a spotlight that shines like that…….’

Now, that hope had vanished.

Without a single shred of possibility left.

Of course, there might be a place somewhere that would take a trainee who was getting older…… but his mental state couldn’t hold out anymore.

‘Should I die?’

Slowly.

Just as Jae-jun was about to step onto the precarious railing.

“Wouldn’t it be unfair?”

“!”

“If I were you, I don’t think I could die just because of how much I’ve put in until now.”

Jae-jun whipped his head around with a startled expression.

“Would you like to listen to my story for a moment? Since you’ve already made up your mind to die anyway.”

It was a young man.

*Thud.*

As if he had no intention of coming any closer.

He raised both hands and sat down on the cement floor as if it were nothing.

“The food at my house is really delicious. To the point where everyone recognizes it without exception.”

“……Pardon……?”

What was this?

This sudden flow of conversation.

“Even if you die, wouldn’t it be a bit less unfair if you went after eating the most delicious meal in the world until you were full? There’s a saying that even a ghost that died after eating looks better.”

What kind of nonsense was he……

……But why was it?

The reason his mouth wouldn’t easily open.

‘……It’s strange.’

Was it because he agreed with that nonsense?

Or…… was it because he really felt his life was unfair?

“It really is a waste.”

“……?”

“In my eyes, you look much brighter than those neon signs down there, Jae-jun.”

“!”

Belatedly regaining his senses, Jae-jun opened his mouth stumblingly.

“W-who are you?”

“I am…….”

Baek Seo-jun smiled faintly.

“Jae-jun’s 5th fan.”