Chapter 37: Chapter 37

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"Goryeo Entertainment doesn't have much going on. They're a new company, and they only recently acquired their trainees. They don't have the means to engage in any sex-for-favors activities."

"I agree."

Prosecutor Lee Na-eun concluded her assessment of Goryeo Entertainment, following her review of Rainbow Miracle.

Both agencies were cleared of suspicion. There was no evidence of any crimes related to sex-for-favors or anything of that nature.

The other prosecutors nodded in agreement as they packed up their documents.

“I thought she was all rigid and by-the-book… but she’s actually not so bad.”

“She’s not that strange, you know? A little stubborn, maybe. But she has this unique vibe. I like it.”

“She’s beautiful.”

The 15 prosecutors working with Lee Na-eun had developed a certain fondness for her over the past few days. Among them were some corrupt prosecutors and others who had once disliked her for her solitary, righteous demeanor. Yet, they eventually came to admire her passion and integrity.

Though she was rigid, insisting solely on justice, there was a certain brilliance to her actions. Even the corrupt prosecutors felt a swell of pride watching her shine.

“It’s okay to have at least one prosecutor like this, right…?”

Though she might pose a threat to their lives, her admirable resolve was something they respected.

Yes. This is what it means to be a prosecutor. She embodied the very essence of the role that society had entrusted to her.

A textbook example of a model prosecutor, they felt proud to have even worked alongside her for a brief moment.

This admiration wasn’t limited to the prosecutors alone. Journalists, technicians, and other external figures assigned to the special task force also admired her excellence.

During a brief break, while everyone else took the opportunity to catch up on sleep, Reporter Yoon Hayeong approached Lee Na-eun with a cup of coffee.

"Prosecutor, you're really amazing."

"...?"

Lee Na-eun tilted her head, prompting a faint smile from Reporter Yoon Hayeong as she took a sip of her iced Americano.

"Despite everything that’s happened, you're still here, fighting for justice."

"Ah."

Lee Na-eun glanced at her left arm. It was immobilized with a stiff cast.

Although she hadn’t been injured, it would have seemed suspicious if she had emerged unscathed while four of her team members had died. So she had Suah shoot her left arm, staging a minor injury.

“It hurt terribly… but in a strange way, I liked it.”

Thinking back on it, she gave a faint smile, which Yoon Hayeong noted with admiration.

"Honestly, I’m wavering. I wonder if this is right, if this path I’m on is the right one."

To Lee Na-eun’s surprise, Yoon Hayeong was expressing doubts. Although she was by no means weak in her abilities, she hadn’t shown such hesitation before.

"It’s surprising to hear that from one of the most dedicated reporters on our team."

"That’s exactly why I’m working so hard—to forget. I don’t want to see the part of me that’s hesitating."

"Why are you wavering?"

"Because of me… our team leader ended up like that. And I was too ashamed to face him, so I ignored him like a child."

"I see."

"But he forgave me. He called me and asked why I wasn’t coming in. Asked if my dreams were really that small. To be honest, I was really scared when you offered me a position on the special prosecutor's team."

"But you joined anyway."

"…Because someone had to do it. And seeing you made me feel that this was something I couldn’t just leave to others. I wanted to be by your side… to work with you."@@novelbin@@

Lee Na-eun smiled faintly. She began to feel a surge of excitement and satisfaction, thinking about how this woman would react when she finally learned the truth. She had a sudden urge to smile as widely as possible.

But she held back.

"Thank you. Hearing that gives me strength as well."

"It’s funny, isn’t it? I came in determined, and now here I am, wavering."

"It’s not funny at all. We all waver."

"Really? You too, Prosecutor?"

Reporter Yoon Hayeong, who had been looking down self-deprecatingly, looked up at her.

"Everyone hesitates at times. We’re all afraid and uncertain. But we believe that, at the end of the road, there’s a better society waiting for us."

"Prosecutor…!"

"You’re looking for that man, aren’t you? The 'Young Master' from the video."

"Yes… I am. I want to find him and bring him to justice."

"Let’s work together. I’ll…"

Lee Na-eun had to stifle a laugh.

"I’ll make sure to bring him to you."

"Yes!"

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A phone call came in. The caller ID displayed an unexpected name.

Ko Hayan.

Go Mooyeol’s cousin and one of the people he had the worst relationship with. She had declined a dinner invitation earlier, so why would she be calling now?

“She wouldn’t do this for something so trivial.”

The reason she loathed him wasn’t all that complicated. They had once been close; she had looked after him when he was an orphan. But during his adolescence, he had developed an inappropriate fixation on her and eventually crossed a line.

He had mixed his semen into the orange juice she was drinking. And instead of getting away with it, he was caught red-handed.

“Completely irredeemable. Good riddance.”

Naturally, their relationship soured, and they became estranged siblings.

"Hello, Noona."

She didn’t bother with small talk and got straight to the point.

"Did you do this?"

It was clear what she was referring to.

"...I apologize for any unintended consequences. It wasn’t my intention."

"You…."

She was silent.

It occurred to him that the scandal must have hurt her immensely. As a major player in the advertising world, the fallout must have affected her profoundly. Although she could legally recover her losses, she was still a victim.

“So, does this make me worse than the teenage Mooyeol who spiked her drink?”

Judging by the money involved, the scales were tipped far more severely now.

"Don’t forget what I told you. I have priority over your ads."

"...Thank you."

"And stop dragging our family’s reputation through the mud. It’s embarrassing to even show my face because of you."

"Excuse me?"

"Because of you, I can’t even hold my head up."

Then, she abruptly hung up.

“What? Stop dragging us down? Is that her idea of an insult?”

He figured out her meaning later that evening. He had been with a trainee when Suah came in to report.

"Master, there’s an AV parked outside our building…."

"...?"

He followed her outside. There, in front of their office building, an AV was parked, taking up two lanes of the eight-lane road.

A sharply dressed man bowed as he approached them.

"Greetings, Young Master."

"What’s this?"

"Ms. Ko Hayan sent this for you. She suggested you use an AV instead of a regular vehicle from now on."

"…."

Ah… she was telling him not to drive, after all.

"I don’t need any other messages?"

"No, this is all she asked me to deliver."

"Very well. I’ll let her know I got the message."

"Understood. Wishing you well, then."

The man bowed and walked off down the street.

He called Hayan Noona, but she didn’t answer.

“Don’t call. I’m busy.”

She sent a quick text message in response. He thanked her in return, but she left him on read.

"Wow! An AV…! Getting one as a family gift outside of my birthday? Truly the perks of being chaebol…."

Suah was far more excited than he was as she looked over the AV. He gave her a playful smack on the backside.

"Eek!"

"Stop bouncing around."

"Aww… aren’t you happy, Director? You got an AV for free!"

"I am."

"Wow… you don’t sound happy at all."

"Just go park it on the roof."

"Yes, sir!"

He had chosen a building with a landing pad just in case he ever needed to acquire an AV. That had been a smart move, considering how otherwise they’d be blocking two lanes indefinitely.

He didn’t mind inconveniencing others, but he didn’t want Goryeo Entertainment to face backlash because of it.

Whirr.

The AV’s door closed, and it took off. Cars that had been maneuvering around it finally resumed their normal lanes.

“Now that I have an AV, I can travel farther afield.”

He’d limited his trips to Incheon and the metropolitan area due to the time and effort required by a car, but now he had much more flexibility.

As he watched the AV rise, he called Hyun-joo.

"Yes, Master."

"You’re getting along with Reporter Yoon Hayeong, right?"

"...Yes. She avoided me at first, but now she’s cooperating well."

"Get her to leak the list of agencies cleared of charges, subtly."

"...Would she actually do it?"

"Who’s the reason you’re now in my pocket?"

"…."

"Have her post it somewhere anonymously, pretending to be a drunk insider. Then, she’ll delete it right after posting. It’ll seem genuine."