“Excuse me?”
Kangjun silently raised his index finger and curled it toward himself. What does that mean, come closer? When Seoyoung hesitantly leaned toward him, Kangjun slightly pressed his shoulder against hers. With one hand covering his mouth, he drew close to her ear.
“I left a number on your phone.”
When his low, husky voice and breath touched her ear, Seoyoung stopped breathing in surprise. The words hitting her ear were clear, but her brain couldn’t quite keep up.
“Call that number a little while after I go in.”
“Whose… number is it?”
“Just tell them exactly what’s happening.”
His breath brushed her earlobe again, almost like a whisper. Seoyoung instinctively shrank her head slightly. It was a tense moment, and she felt annoyed that he wasn’t giving her a proper answer. The unexpectedly close proximity also grated on her nerves. At that moment, the car took a curve and tilted to one side. For an instant, Seoyoung’s ear pressed against his lips.
“Ah!”
Trying to pull away quickly as if burned, she lost her balance instead. Kangjun removed the hand covering his mouth and reflexively pulled her opposite shoulder. Her swaying body stopped against his shoulder, and Seoyoung froze. His hand tightly gripped her shoulder.
“Keep it confidential.”
“Understood.”
Seoyoung answered stiffly. Unlike him, who remained unfazed by the unavoidable contact, Seoyoung found this moment extremely irritating. Ahem, ahem. Only when the investigator cleared his throat did Kangjun slowly release her.
“Don’t cry. That would be bothersome.”
“Yes, CEO…”
Seoyoung barely managed to answer, relieved at the restored distance. Then, feeling foolish for her reaction, she quickly composed herself.
“That won’t happen.”
Kangjun smirked at Seoyoung’s resolute demeanor.
“Good girl. Wait patiently. I’ll buy you ice cream when I come out.”
Kangjun whispered, closing his eyes and tilting his head back. Watching him remain so detached, Seoyoung felt momentarily dazed, as if she’d been hit hard on the back of her head. He hadn’t been considering his pitiful new secretary. This entire situation revolving around him was just one big amusement. She felt like a child being good for ice cream. Unaware of this, she heard someone clicking their tongue in front of her. Kangjun’s lips remained leisurely curved.
***
It was nearly eleven-thirty. Seoyoung, who had been constantly checking the time, quietly opened her phone screen.
“010-XXXX-XXXX”
The number Kangjun had left earlier was displayed. As if reminding her not to forget what he’d said, he had mimicked making a phone call with his fingers before calmly disappearing into the investigation room.
He’d said to call shortly after, but how long exactly was “shortly”? Also, who was this person, and what should she say? She considered calling So Yujung to ask, but quickly abandoned the idea. She couldn’t be sure who was included in his confidentiality request.
After hesitating, Seoyoung made the call. The ringtone sounded twice, three times before the call connected.
– Hello?
A low, deep male voice was heard. He sounded quite older, but not like an ordinary person—there was strength in his voice. Seoyoung spoke calmly.
“Hello. I’m calling from Bantech, CEO Sa Kangjun’s secretary.”
– Sa’s secretary?
“Yes.”
– You don’t sound like Director So.
Given that he knew So Yujung, he seemed to be someone close to Sa Kangjun.
“I’m Yoo Seoyoung, who started today. I’m calling now on the CEO’s instructions.”
– What?
The man chuckled as if Seoyoung’s response was absurd. After a moment of silence and an annoyed sigh, he seemed displeased. Seoyoung was tense, worried he might hang up, but fortunately, the man spoke again.
– Well, well. He gives my number to some newbie who started today?
“Well… the situation is not ideal.”
Seoyoung hastily explained their circumstances. The person on the other end seemed to grasp something and took a different tone than before. The fact that he hadn’t immediately hung up despite his displeasure suggested he carried significant weight.
– So what’s the matter?
“The CEO is currently at the Central District Prosecutors’ Office. He received a sudden summons notice this morning.”
– A summons?
“Yes. He told me to call you. To share the situation.”
– These damn bastards. I told him to let it go.
Rough muttering erupted from the other end. Just from his manner of speaking, it was clear he was a person in a high position. After displaying displeasure as if his pride had been hurt, he asked in a puzzled tone.
– Still, he shouldn’t need my help?
“Excuse me? Ah, that…”
– Alright, I understand. I’ll check right away.
“Thank you.”
Phew. Seoyoung hung up with relief. She felt a brief respite, as if she had completed a difficult assignment. Then she suddenly became curious. If Kangjun could really get out on his own, why did he tell her to call this person?
“Yoo Seoyoung-ssi?”
Seoyoung snapped out of her thoughts at someone’s call. Standing before her was the prosecution investigator who had been in the passenger seat of the escort vehicle just moments ago.
“We didn’t get to properly introduce ourselves earlier. I’m Park Haesik.”
The man extended a business card as he introduced himself. Seoyoung silently accepted it.
Park Haesik. Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office Investigator. Criminal Division 3, Defense Industry Investigation Team.
“Yes, but what do you need from me?”
Seoyoung slowly raised her head and asked.
“If you don’t mind, let’s go upstairs for coffee.”
“Coffee?”
Seoyoung frowned at the inappropriate suggestion. He probably wasn’t flirting with her because he found her attractive, so there must be another purpose beneath the surface. Seoyoung tried to appear composed while hiding her tension.
“Let’s do that.”
The investigator stopped in front of a door marked “Restricted Access.” When he swiped his card, there was a click, and the door opened.
“Please come in.”
Following his guidance, Seoyoung stepped inside. The sealed room was slightly dark, with a long table in the center and a large monitor covering an entire wall.
Another person was sitting at the end of the table. He silently nodded at Seoyoung and sat down. White shirt and wrinkled jacket. He was a middle-aged man with a gaunt impression, but his eyes were alive with experience.
“This gentleman is from our cooperating agency.”
Park Haesik introduced the man but didn’t reveal his name. Seoyoung momentarily wondered which agency was cooperating with the prosecution, but Park Haesik soon diverted her attention.
“Please, sit down.”
Park Haesik pulled out a chair for Seoyoung, facing the monitor. Though reluctant, Seoyoung obediently took a seat.
“Let’s watch this first.”
Park Haesik said cryptically as he pressed the remote. The black monitor brightened, showing footage from an interrogation room.
CEO?
Sa Kangjun could be seen sitting leisurely in the video. Across the desk, a prosecutor was flipping through documents. Though there was no sound, the tense atmosphere was palpable.
“Watch carefully. See what kind of person your boss is.”
At Park Haesik’s words, a chill ran down Seoyoung’s spine.
***
“Jung Yongjin is dead. You know that, right?”
“I know. I even sent a wreath.”
The corner of Sa Kangjun’s mouth slowly curved upward. Leaning back against the chair, he lightly tapped the armrest with his fingertips. He looked just like a villain from a crime drama. Of course, he would somehow make himself the protagonist.
“A person died, yet you seem too calm.”
“Should I wail instead?”
Neither provocation nor intimidation seemed to affect Sa Kangjun at all.
The prosecutor’s expression momentarily hardened. Unaware of the sweat forming on his forehead, he continued his questioning.
“We checked with the hospital and found he was shot. Twice.”
“There was an unfortunate accident in the laboratory. I find it regrettable.”
“Fatal accidents are subject to criminal punishment, yet there wasn’t even a shift in the investigation?”
“As you already know, it’s classified as a top military secret. We followed all procedures diligently in our report, and reached a settlement with the bereaved family. Is there a problem?”
Kangjun smiled gently as he tilted his head. Not a hint of wavering could be seen in his eyes, attitude, or voice. The prosecutor deliberately straightened his back and pulled out an envelope. From it emerged a document of unknown origin.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
