Chapter 63: Chapter 63

‘First things first, I need to confirm if this Jeon Seong-hyun guy is really part of the extended family.’

Knowing your enemy is the beginning of any strategy.

If I investigate and find out he isn’t even connected to Go-Ryeo Group? Then he’s not worth my attention. I’ll make a minor show of presence, and if he still dares to step out of line, I’ll end him—probably by sending Seol-i his way.

But if he is an extended family member? Then he’ll get a more direct warning. I’ll reveal myself as the legitimate heir.

If he takes the hint and backs down, I might let him off with a slap on the wrist—merely the “judgment of law.” Which, in this case, just means encouraging him to comply with the special investigation.

He’d probably use his connections to escape with probation, but that’d be a huge concession on my part, even if it dents his pride.

If he ignores my warning, though? Then that’s outright defiance. A punishment would be inevitable.

Reflecting on Chuseok, it was clear the extended family members were treated as little more than servants.

Not just any relatives, either—even the husbands of my aunts, technically direct family through marriage, were treated like porters. The divide between direct descendants and the extended family was so vast it might as well be heaven and earth.

In such a family, even if things escalated and I had to eliminate him, the consequences would likely be minimal.

If he defies me, I’ll simply kill him.

Fortunately, I have Baek Seol.

While he might have more resources and money as an extended family member (or so he claims), he probably doesn’t have anything remotely close to a knight-level guard. That’s unlikely.

Even if Baek Seol can’t handle it, I could always ask for help from my direct relatives—maybe my sisters… or aunts…

Considering how they responded during Chuseok, I doubt they’d let an extended family member’s insolence slide.

There’s no scenario where a direct descendant tolerates disrespect from an extended family member. I’d borrow whatever power I need to make sure punishment is served.

“Soo-ah, check if we have any relative by the name of ‘Jeon Seong-hyun.’”

“Yes, Master.”

“And pass a message through Prestige to the chief prosecutor at Incheon District. Tell him to keep the special investigation going.”

“Understood.”

Honestly, it feels extreme to step in so directly, but considering this guy could be part of the extended family, I should take this seriously.

+++

Lee Na-eun, after ending the call, returned to the special investigation office. The air was tense; everyone seemed stuck, unable to decide what to do next.

“Let’s finish lunch and head out immediately.”

“Uh… Prosecutor?”

One of the team members, a reporter from a media outlet different from Yoon Ha-young’s, cautiously asked,

“Are we… really okay to keep going? There’s talk of the special investigation shutting down…”

All eyes turned to her, as if everyone had been waiting for someone to ask.

Prosecutor Lee Na-eun replied nonchalantly,

“The special investigation won’t be shut down.”

“Pardon? What do you mean? Did the Chief Prosecutor say that?”

“Not exactly, but it will stay open.”

“I don’t understand…”

“And even if it were to shut down, it’s not happening now, is it? We still have work to finish, and we should be moving faster, especially with rumors like these.”

“…! I-I see.”

The reporter nodded in admiration and packed up her things.

However, not everyone shared her resolve.

“Prosecutor Lee,” a man from the team called out to her in the hallway. He was one of the prosecutors assigned to the special investigation under her lead.

“Shouldn’t we drop it at this point?”

“….”

“The initial motive of the investigation might be unclear, but the justification is sound. There was excessive force during Dream First’s case. It hasn’t caught the media’s eye yet, but if the public learns the truth, the investigation will accelerate toward dissolution, and no one could stop it.”

“No one could stop it?” Lee Na-eun turned to him with a peculiar look, one that bordered on challenging, and the man flinched slightly.

“Over 151 confirmed deaths so far, with projections suggesting 20 to 30 more may emerge. If that goes public, the investigation’s dissolution would be inevitable, and you’d bear considerable responsibility, Prosecutor Lee. The Chief Prosecutor is trying to wrap it up to protect you.”

“So, you’re saying the investigation’s dissolution is to protect me?”

“Not exactly, but that might be part of the aim. You know what I mean.”

Although external appointees to the investigation didn’t seem to sense it, those from within the prosecution had an inkling—this pressure to dissolve the investigation was an indirect “order” from a level above the prosecution.

“We’ve already made substantial gains. The best course would be to withdraw gracefully.”

Lee Na-eun smiled faintly, that mysterious expression unique to her.

“You said no one could stop it, right? Well, I happen to know someone who defies that ‘no one’ category.”

“Excuse me?”

“There’s no need to worry about this investigation being dissolved.”

The male prosecutor sighed, exasperated.

“Prosecutor Lee, that’s—”

“This conversation ends here. We don’t have time to spare. Pressure started the moment we began investigating Melodine. Right now, their true backers are likely busy erasing evidence. We need to catch them.”

“Prosecutor!”

Without further words, Lee Na-eun walked down the hallway.

+++

Late afternoon.

The Incheon District Prosecutor’s Office finally decided to continue the investigation. The decision, influenced by a call from Prestige, surprised many within the office.

And for some, it sparked intense anger.

Bang!

After receiving news that the investigation team had raided Melodine, Jeon Seong-hyun slammed his desk.

“Why is the investigation still going on?! Was my message unclear? Shut down the investigation! Do they expect me to endure an investigation in that dank place? Me?!”

“I-I’m sorry, sir. I conveyed your wishes clearly, but today they refused to listen—”

A heavy ashtray flew across the room, arching perfectly and striking Manager Lee’s head.

“Argh!”

Blood spurted, but he barely staggered, quickly regaining his balance.

“Did I tell you to kill the prosecutor or make the Chief Prosecutor kneel? I simply told you to shut down the investigation. Why are they being so obstinate? Since when have they gotten so stiff-necked?”

Dabbing at the blood with a handkerchief, Manager Lee managed a reply,

“It seems… another party is pushing for the investigation to continue…”

“Who? What could possibly outrank my word as a descendant of Go-Ryeo Group? Who’s behind this?”

“They… haven’t revealed their identity. Prosecutors tend to have a lot of pride…”

“Pride, my ass!” Seong-hyun was utterly baffled.

Until now, the prosecution had been meticulously toeing the line. Anything remotely linked to him would be brushed aside with “insufficient evidence” or pinned on a scapegoat. He’d never been touched.

But now?

This special investigation was audaciously exposing all his dirty laundry. They were intensely scrutinizing Melodine, the company that had long been his accomplice in supplying women and handling all his shady dealings.

“There’s one place we suspect.”

“Where.”

“Go-Ryeo Entertainment.”

Seong-hyun’s brow furrowed.@@novelbin@@

“Go-Ryeo Entertainment? That brat’s company?”

“…Yes, sir.”

“Why?”

“Well…”

“Surely, there must be a reason. What does keeping the investigation open have to do with Go-Ryeo Entertainment?”

“….”

Taking a deep breath, Seong-hyun calmed himself and settled into his chair, his temper dissipating as quickly as it had flared.

“Are you sure?”

“There’s no evidence yet, but given the timing, it’s plausible. It’s almost as if they’re sending a message through these articles.”

Seong-hyun snatched the tablet from the manager, glanced through a few paragraphs, and tossed it aside with a sigh.

“This is their so-called message? Are they just paranoid?”

“….”

“To give a real order, you’d say, ‘Continue the investigation,’ and hammer it into their skulls. This is just some ‘We were exonerated; we’re squeaky clean’ nonsense for public display. And they’re interpreting it as an order? Wow.”

Seong-hyun laughed bitterly.

“These prosecutors are scaredy-cats. They must’ve chosen the profession out of fear.”

“But can we really ignore it? They keep chanting about the investigation.”

“Ugh…”

He rolled his tongue inside his cheek, a habit he had when things weren’t going his way.

“They’re dead set on continuing the investigation?”

“It seems that way.”

“Why doesn’t that man stick to his usual vice and keep out of this?”

Seong-hyun shook his head.

“Fine. I’ll let it slide as an extended family member. It seems the Young Master wants the investigation to continue.”

“So…?”

“If the investigation can’t be stopped, then we’ll just replace it. The important thing is that the investigation continues, right? Go-Ryeo Entertainment probably just wants the investigation to keep going, whatever the reason. It’s not like they’re targeting me specifically.”

“That… that’s correct…”

“And who is this? Lee Na-eun?”

“She’s a prosecutor in the Criminal Division 3 of the Incheon District Prosecutor’s Office.”

“Give it to me.”

Manager Lee quickly retrieved the tablet Seong-hyun had discarded, opened a new screen, and handed it over. Taking the tablet, Seong-hyun…

“!!”

…widened his eyes.

“Sir…? Is something wrong?”

“….”

Was something wrong?

Manager Lee, nervous that another ashtray might come flying, braced himself.

Fortunately, that wasn’t the case.

It was just…

“…She’s stunningly beautiful.”

Lee Na-eun was simply too attractive.