Chapter 26: Chapter 26

+++

“That’s the building.”

Detective Gong, who had just received a tip from reporter Yoon Hayeong that the “suspicious vehicle” was still inside, cautiously surveyed the area. It looked like any other entertainment agency building, but there was an odd atmosphere lingering around it.

“Is it just my imagination… or is there really something here?”

His current mission was to identify the make and license plate of the suspicious vehicle. While he could use the official prosecutor’s implant to scan and reveal the vehicle owner, would someone with police protection really be so careless as not to prepare for that?

For now, his objective was simple: the make and the plate number.

“... It’s going to be tough to just walk in.”

The security at Rainbow Miracle was intense. Agency buildings usually had strong security due to the celebrities they handled, but Rainbow Miracle’s was on another level.

He could reveal himself as a detective, but that would immediately expose Prosecutor Lee Na-eun’s investigation into the man known as “Young Master.”

His only options were to sneak in or wait for the Young Master’s vehicle to leave.

“Missing it would be a disaster. I’m going in.”

Exiting his car, he activated his implant. In an instant, his figure vanished, and any sounds he made were completely silenced.

August 31, 2076, 14:32:11, Miracle Road 11, Zone 3, Incheon Advanced Quarantine City. Using optical camouflage and sound suppression. Criminal Division 3, Central Prosecutor’s Office, Detective Gong Jincheol.

All activities from this point will be recorded.

Please strictly adhere to regulations.

In case of violation—,

A series of alerts scrolled across his vision. He ignored them and ran toward Rainbow Miracle.

“If only I had nanodrones, I wouldn’t have to do this myself.”

Unfortunately, as a Grade 7 civil servant, his implant was the best he could hope for, and even that was like a shackle that recorded his every move.

August 31, 2076, 14:32:15, Miracle Road 11, Zone 3, Incheon Advanced Quarantine City. Photon refraction in use. Detective Gong Jincheol.

August 31, 2076, 14:32:21, Miracle Road 11, Zone 3, Incheon Advanced Quarantine City. Neural pattern disruption in use. Detective Gong Jincheol.

August 31, 2076, 14:32:29, Miracle Road 11, Zone 3, Incheon Advanced Quarantine City. Ultrasonic disruption in use. Detective Gong Jincheol.@@novelbin@@

August 31, 2076, 14:32:59, Miracle Road 11, Zone 3, Incheon Advanced Quarantine City. Tracker cancel in use. Detective Gong Jincheol.

In just a few seconds of crossing Rainbow Miracle’s wall and heading to the underground parking lot, his automatic defense implants activated in sequence.

“What the hell, Miracle!!”

What could possibly be here to warrant such over-the-top defenses?

“No… It’s probably not Miracle that set this up, but the police protecting that guy.”

His curiosity about the identity of the so-called “Young Master” grew, alongside a creeping worry for Prosecutor Na-eun’s safety. Should they really continue this investigation against someone like this?

“Save the overthinking for later.”

Shaking his head, he stepped into the underground parking lot. It was a nondescript place, filled with the usual drab, gray cars that could be found anywhere.

“There it is.”

He spotted the car—parked across multiple spaces with police vans positioned at either end. Armed officers patrolled the area.

“They’ve positioned the vans to block the plate.”

The limousines had police vans pressed tightly against both the front and back. To see the plate, he’d need to move the vans.

“With security this tight, the CCTV is probably jammed too.”

Still, it was worth a try. He scanned for a network cable connected to the CCTV with his eye implant, attempting to disable some of the security before plugging in his own cable.

Beep, beep-beep.

He accessed the CCTV, sifting through the footage.

“Got it.”

He found clips of the “Young Master’s” car entering the Rainbow Miracle building and moving into the underground parking.

However—

“The plate’s invisible… Actually, the whole car is obscured.”

He’d suspected it, but it was still an absurd sight. License plates existed for a reason, yet here someone had blatantly circumvented the law. It was infuriating to see someone so brazen.

“Do I have to resort to that?”

Since the CCTV couldn’t confirm anything, he’d have to read the information directly. They’d likely prepared for this, but he couldn’t leave empty-handed.

Zzt.

As he activated his eye implant, his vision briefly went dark. Another implant kicked in, restoring it.

Anyone who reviewed his implant usage records might think Detective Gong Jincheol had infiltrated a military facility.

Target confirmed.

Extracting information.

Using optical camouflage and sound suppression, he positioned himself between two cars, leaving only his head exposed.

Access denied.

“... Figures.”

Bzzz.

Just then, the automatic doors linking the underground parking and the building opened, and a woman appeared.

She had her blonde hair tied in a ponytail and a striking figure that even made a man like him, on a mission, pause.

“Who is she…?”

On closer inspection, she was in a police uniform.

“Team Leader!”

“You’re out, ma’am!”

The officers around the car rushed over and saluted her. It was clear she was their superior.

The woman surveyed the area in silence, then—

Bang!

“!!!”

Without warning, she fired at Detective Gong. The bullet missed him by just a few inches.

“T-Team Leader?!”

“We’ve got a rat. Catch him!”

“!”

“W-When did…?”

“This lunatic… She shoots without warning???”

Bang! Bang!

She fired again, each shot unnervingly accurate, despite his optical camouflage and sound suppression.

“He’s an implant user. Block the parking entrance and seal the main door.”

“Roger.”

The entire parking lot was bathed in red lights as alarms blared. The whole building was probably on alert now.

“Damn it!”

The parking doors began to close.

“This is more than just a reprimand.”

Considering they were police, revealing his identity might be his only way out alive. But then Prosecutor Na-eun would be exposed.

Fight back? Out of the question. He was a detective, not a fighter, especially not against heavily armed officers with machine guns mounted on vans.

Run? No chance. He’d already been flagged for implant usage here—it was only a matter of time before the information got out.

If he hadn’t been caught, he might have been fine. Information expands through awareness, after all. No one would suddenly investigate the prosecutor’s office implant usage log without a reason.

But now that they knew there had been an intruder? They’d start searching everywhere.

“Maybe revealing my identity is the best option.”

No matter how reckless they were, they wouldn’t just kill him after finding out he was a prosecutor.

Thinking they’d fired without knowing he was with the prosecution, and choosing to kill after knowing, were very different matters.

Besides, they were public servants too. Identifying himself might at least give him a chance to gather information.

“W-Wait!”

He deactivated his implant and raised his hands.

“I’m… I’m here on official business….”

+++

I was forced to leave Emilia’s training session because of Suah’s urgent report. In a warehouse-like space, Suah and several officers surrounded a man tied to a chair with a paper bag over his head.

This bastard. How dare he interrupt my day?

“Detective Gong Jincheol from the Criminal Division 3, Central Prosecutor’s Office?”

“Y-Yes…”

Suah began the interrogation.

“Why are you here?”

“As I said, I’m on official business… But isn’t this too much? We’re both civil servants—”

“If you were on official business, you could have just announced yourself. Why sneak in with an implant? This isn’t some covert op.”

“Well… Rainbow Miracle is under investigation. They’re suspected of serious crimes, so I had to be discreet. There’s a chance they’d cover up evidence.”

It was obvious. Yoon Hayeong must’ve reported the footage to the prosecution, which somehow landed on Lee Na-eun’s desk, prompting her to send her detective here.

“Worried that announcing himself would tip off the higher-ups, huh?”

“So, your prosecutor’s name is Lee Na-eun?”

“…”

When I questioned him, he clammed up.

“Using Rainbow Miracle as an excuse, trying to investigate me… Didn’t your prosecutor recently meet with reporter Yoon Hayeong?”

“…”

I pulled up the surveillance log. Yoon had been lingering around Rainbow Miracle since Saturday afternoon, likely witnessing me entering the building.

“Prosecutor Lee Na-eun received a tip-off and started an investigation into me, and you came here based on information from Yoon Hayeong.”

“…”

He remained silent, clearly ignoring me.

“Playing mute? If you want to know who I am, it’d make sense to talk to me.”

“Release me. This is obstructing justice.”

“This is official business too. These officers are here to protect me, and you got caught snooping around me. That makes clarifying your intent their official duty. We’re conducting official business too.”

“Don’t be ridiculous! Calling this ‘official business’…!”

He erupted, seething at the mention of “official business.”

He yelled until he was hoarse, panting heavily. Annoying.

“No point in talking anymore.”

“Should I tell you?”

“... What?”

“Who I am.”

“...!!”

I approached him and yanked off the paper bag.

“!!”

“Take a good look. Know who I am?”

He shook his head slowly. Of course, he wouldn’t recognize me—I’m not a public figure.

I enunciated my name slowly for him to grasp.

“Go Mooyeol.”

“Go Moo… yeol…?”

“Yeah. My grandfather is Go Young-man.”

“…?”

For a moment, he just stared blankly, then his expression slowly turned to horror. It was like watching a slow-motion reel.

“Go… Group…?”

Horror became despair.

“Pro-Prosecutor…!”

“Your last words are boring.”

I backed away, cigarette in my mouth. Suah pressed the gun against his temple.

Bang!

Blood and brain matter sprayed.