Chapter 194
Chapter 194
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 194
Chapter Title: Capturing James Park
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"Let's go by real names. Choi Jin-seong."
"Yes."
"Kim Han-cheol, Han Jin-sol, So-taek."
"Yes."
"Jin Yu-an."
"Yes."
They each raised a hand and bowed their heads at Kang Hyun's call.
"Go-hap Case 1008, are you getting drunk and partying here because James Park got arrested? Choi Jin-seong, 21 years old, listed in the indictment for one instance of marijuana use, but actually over ten during the crime period. Kim Han-cheol, 23, listed for two instances, but over ten, plus multiple encounters with ecstasy and other drugs. Han Jin-sol, So-taek, habitual marijuana users after meeting James Park overseas; clean record domestically, but it's only a matter of time before you get caught. Having fun, are we?"
Everyone flinched subtly as Kang Hyun recited their drug charges in detail.
"No, we're not. We won't anymore."
"I'm sorry."
"Jin Yu-an, you're a nineteen-year-old minor drinking and smoking in a bar, all excited. You barely dodged trouble with a negative drug test, so you'd better stop there."
"No? I'm twenty."
"Shh! You idiot, don't lie...!"
Kang Hyun let out a small sigh upon seeing one woman clamp her hand over another's mouth.
Irresponsible rich kids. What a sight they made lurking in the shadows.
And these were the ones who'd dared to drag Yoon Haneul into their mess.
"You know Yoon Haneul, right?"
"Ah, that sister."
"Have you hung out with her or not?"
"No."
"Nope."
"What's your relationship with Daniel Seo?"
"Ah, that oppa likes the sister. Prosecutor, you're not jealous just because we didn't do drugs together and rumors spread like crap, are you?"
Kang Hyun struggled to suppress his rising anger, but it wasn't easy.
"Watch your mouth. Third week last month, at the party—did you see Daniel Seo or not?"
"Yeah, I saw him."
"What was he doing?"
"No idea. He looked pissed off."
"Ah! Wasn't that when he got rejected?"
"Yeah, that's it. Daniel hyung asked Yoon Haneul for a chance once and got shot down. Heh heh."
Thwack!
As soon as the guy called Choi Jin-seong finished speaking, Kang Hyun's fist flew, slamming him to the floor.
Boom, crash!
Shatter, clang!
"Eek!"
"S-Stop it!"
Thwack, thwack, thwack!
Kang Hyun grabbed the fallen guy and punched him a few more times, glasses shattering as chaos erupted in an instant.
A tense standoff lasted for a while.
"Cough, cough."
Finally grasping the mood, the chuckling group's faces froze.
"If you want to sue for assault, go ahead. You'll each get ten years under Narcotics Control Act Article 4, Sections 1 and 2 on top of that."
"Cough, cough... S-Sorry."
"S-Sorry. Jin-seong probably said that because the mood was getting heavy."
"W-We don't know the details."
Kang Hyun brushed off his hands and stood.
"What do you mean you don't know the details?"
"Pardon?"
"I said spill it."
"W-We don't know what Daniel hyung did, and we're not involved at all."
"Where's Jack Daniel, Daniel Seo."
"Pardon?"
"Where is he."
"H-He has a few hideouts... Could be overseas."
"You want a beating too? I know he hasn't left the country. You think I don't know you know where he is?"
"N-No... Can a prosecutor do this? Ack! Cough."
In the end, Kang Hyun grabbed another guy's collar, the terrified man flailing his hands begging for mercy.
"Call him on the phone."
"Cough, cough."
A quick nod. Kang Hyun released him, and the guy gasped for air.
"Jack Daniel—contact him now. What's the number you all know?"
"****-1424."
"It's 3:50 a.m. now. If he doesn't call me by 9 a.m. today, tell him his life's over—make sure he gets it. He comes to me, he doesn't get extra punishment; you guys walk free. That's a deal."
"...Yes."
Swoosh.
Kang Hyun shoved aside the scattered glass shards on the floor and flung open the door.
"Get him to contact me by any means. If not, his life, your lives, James Park's life—done."
Click.
The door shut.
"Haa... Fuck."
"I told you, don't get tangled with Daniel hyung."
"This hurts like hell. What do I tell my dad?"
"Just call him quick. If we tell that oppa, he'll come."
The drug party friends gathered in the secret hideout, their faces pale with the first terror they'd felt in their easy world, hurriedly sought ways to summon Jack Daniel.
A warm morning at the Central District Prosecutors' Office.
A spacious room with a solid wood table and desk, shelves lined with plaques and awards. Symbols of countless victories.
It was Central District Prosecutor General Jeong Jung-heon's office. Standing there, disturbing his peace, was one man.
"Park Min-seong."
Jeong Jung-heon raised an eyebrow as he looked at him.
"I heard the suspect 'Jack Daniel' transferred from Central is having his investigation halted mid-case and sent back to us. That's why you're here, right?"
"Yes."
"You're relentless. You were always good at putting people in tough spots—didn't think you'd turn it on us."
"Show a weasel a hole in the chicken coop, and it'll snatch a bird. Isn't that natural?"
"Your rhetoric's improved since your early days. Must be from hanging around the Prosecutor General."
"It's not the Prosecutor General's orders—it's my judgment."
"That's not for you to decide. Ha ha ha."
Park Min-seong gave a wry smile and fell silent momentarily, as Jeong Jung-heon's mocking words—aimed at himself—echoed what he'd once said to Kang Hyun.
"Anyway, I win this round."
"It's not you winning—it's laying a trap to win the KW case. You fed Kim Jeong-min and even Kang Hyun to the sharks from the start."
"Jeong-min and Kang Hyun are in a bind, sure, but as I said, they showed weakness. Kang Hyun aside, Jeong-min knows what I'm thinking— he shouldn't have acted like that."
"Ha ha."
"You share some blame too, Prosecutor General. In a competitive relationship like ours..."
"Your actions have turned our cordial rivalry into one where we point blades at each other."
"..."
Jeong Jung-heon's raised eyebrow twisted menacingly.
With Jeong Jung-heon baring his true colors and laying out his intentions, he was no longer the friendly, booze-loving uncle or the caring senior to young prosecutors.
Right now, he was like a dragon. Before that aura, Park Min-seong didn't look like a mighty wolf leader—just a scrawny, lean weasel.
Yet Park Min-seong's victory loomed. He continued softly, brushing off the momentum and fury.
"It's 10:30 now. As early as 11, at latest before lunch, the Namyangju branch will halt prosecution. Records return to Central by end of day, and next week, Kang Hyun's defamation case comes our way too."
"Interesting. Here to apologize?"
"You know that's not why I'm here."
"Then?"
Park Min-seong drew a sharp breath, eyes piercing.
Half the emotion hidden behind his hostile face was guilt.
Jeong Jung-heon knew it too, but his lips stayed sealed.
"I'm here to warn you. You can't keep Kang Hyun in Namyangju anymore. I don't want to see him rise endlessly, but I don't want him crushed to the bottom either. If you want to groom him, do it quietly here at Central."
"Ha."
"It's proven. Sharp mind or not, Kang Hyun's a green rookie prosecutor without experience. Putting him at the front lines in Namyangju? You underestimated me."
"Yeah?"
"Not even against me, Kang Hyun can't touch Namyangju's old guard like Gu Ik-hwan. KW Construction is beyond him alone."
"So what?"
"As I said earlier—send Kang Hyun back to Central. Bring him here."
Park Min-seong's words dragged on.
His firm voice carried doubt now, his resolve wavering.
'...What's this feeling?'
Jeong Jung-heon's aura oddly faded, bit by bit.
His question to the finished speaker was puzzled too.
"Anything else?"
"That's it."
"...Done talking?"
"Yes?"
"I said, are you done."
"...Now it's your turn to speak, Prosecutor General. If you're negotiating with me..."
"Negotiating? Ha."
"...?"
"Negotiation. Ha ha."
"...That's unpleasant."
"Ha, ha ha. Ha ha ha. Ha ha ha ha!"
Boisterous laughter echoed through the vast Central District Prosecutors' Office.
Around then, the deep-seated emotion in Park Min-seong's chest began to leak out.
Bewilderment.
Jeong Jung-heon's unexpected reactions kept coming.
"Ha ha ha ha!"
Park Min-seong stood silently, watching Jeong Jung-heon roar with laughter, pondering.
Why.
Why no outrage, no fluster.
No sorrow, no sensing defeat and bargaining.
The lost Namyangju Criminal Division 1 Chief Park Min-seong's eyes shook without direction.
He sensed the strange turn in an instant.
"Enough with the joke!"
Prosecutor General Jeong Jung-heon shot to his feet.
He pressed the bell, summoning the secretary outside.
Ding-dong!
"You called, Prosecutor General!"
"Tell him to come in! Our guest today!"
"Yes."
Click!
'Guest...?'
Jeong Jung-heon struggled to hold back his leaking grin at Park Min-seong's confused face.
But he couldn't.
"Khk, khk, ha ha ha ha! Min-seong."
"...Why are you like this."
"Ha ha! Min-seong, my boy."
"...Yes."
"Remember your first drug case as a rookie?"
"...No."
"Ha ha ha ha! You took the case and the next day stormed the suspect's house, kicked him awake, grabbed his collar, and dragged him in! Khk khk khk..."
"Why bring that up now? What are you getting at?"
"Here!"
Clap! Jeong Jung-heon clapped his hands.
At the sound, Park Min-seong sensed it.
'Something's wrong!'
He'd come boldly to negotiate and warn, but his position didn't allow it.
All he could do now was...
"..."
Silently sense his defeat and listen to Jeong Jung-heon.
"Whether you like it or not, I'll introduce you to a friend just like you back then."
The door burst open.
It felt like Central District Prosecutors' Office's bold, fierce power pierced through.
Step, step.
Two guests.
One man entering with head bowed, trembling.
Another striding confidently with a polite expression.
Division Chief Park Min-seong stared in shock, speechless, staggering as if to collapse.
"No... way."
He bowed his head deeply, as if foreseeing his fate—contrasting Jeong Jung-heon's brightening face.
"Prosecutor General Jeong Jung-heon. Division Chief Park Min-seong."
The tall man dragging James Park by the collar smiled faintly and greeted them.
"Good morning."
Namyangju Prosecutor Kang Hyun.
He had hauled James Park by the collar into the Central District Prosecutors' Office.