Chapter 142
Chapter 142
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 142
Chapter Title: Warning
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Na Gang-in pressed the hacker hard.
"You think we're idiots? We know all about how you targeted Yulmyeong Bio for chemical weapons. You terrorist bastard."
Na Gang-in knew the hacker hadn't been after chemical weapons but the antidote treatment. Even so, he deliberately brought up chemical weapons to ramp up the pressure.
Targeting chemical weapons with a hack wasn't just a crime in Korea—it was a major felony anywhere in the world. The guy was looking at a long stretch in prison, no question.
The hacker knew it too. He desperately tried to talk his way out.
"No! I was just after the antidote info."
"Trying to squirm out with that weak bullshit?"
"It's true! Antidotes don't hurt anyone! I was just gonna look into it real quick!"
"Still lying? You kidnap a woman and steal a laptop just to 'look into it' real quick?"
"I-It's true. I just make stuff if they pay me to make it, hack if they pay me to hack. That's all."
Na Gang-in lowered his voice a notch.
"So, the kidnapping and chemical weapons?"
"I had no idea about kidnapping anyone. Chemical weapons? Even if I saw them while hunting for the antidote, I wouldn't touch 'em! I'm no terrorist!"
Na Gang-in put on a deliberately skeptical expression.
"Really?"
Park Soon-gi, who had been watching from the sidelines, was impressed inwardly.
'Wow. With acting like that, he could just be an actor. Even I know what he's doing, and it still feels real.'
Park Soon-gi was so convinced by Na Gang-in's performance that he almost bought it himself. The hacker didn't suspect a thing.
The hacker nodded vigorously.
"I'm just a freelance hacker. They pay, I hack. I never even thought about hurting anyone."
Na Gang-in asked,
"Then who hired you for the hack?"
"I don't really kn—"
"This guy's still not getting it. Detective Park, just throw him in as a terrorist? We've got plenty of evidence."
Park Soon-gi chimed in right away.
"Should we?"
Tears streamed down the hacker's face as he pleaded.
"I really don't know. Never seen his face. Cash came via courier, calls on burner phones. I'll tell you everything. Please, just spare me."
Na Gang-in gave Park Soon-gi a look.
Park Soon-gi asked the hacker,
"Can you say all that at the station too?"
"You already know everything."
"True. But we gotta get your confession on record to make things smooth."
Na Gang-in added from the side,
"Try backing out later, and we'll attach every bit of traceback data we've gathered on you. Oh, and there's some juicy stuff in there."
Na Gang-in had no idea how far the hacker's hacks went. He was just bluffing—this couldn't be his first gig.
The hacker was already broken.
"F-Fine. I'll talk. Everything."
Park Soon-gi cuffed the hacker's wrists, loaded him into the car, then quietly asked Na Gang-in outside.
"You coming along? I can pull strings to have you as a witness."
Na Gang-in shook his head.
"Nah. He's all yours—squeeze him good."
"Then the investigative team or I snag all the credit. Feels bad."
"What do I care about police brownie points as a civilian?"
"Right? Ha, haha."
"Just take him."
"I'll call when interrogation's done. Oh, and if we need more info midway, hit you up for help."
"Sure."
Park Soon-gi hesitated a moment before asking,
"By the way, that stuff you used to press him... how'd you even find out?"
He'd broken into the hacker's office earlier.
"I do some hacking defense."
"Ah, yeah. You do everything. Seriously, is there anything you can't do?"
Park Soon-gi took the hacker away.
Na Gang-in returned to his production base.
The files transferred from the hacker's computer were already on his setup.
Na Gang-in checked the copied files.
"This isn't everything from there, right?"
"Police'll take it and check. Oh, wait. When they investigate his gear, they won't traceback to us, right?"
"Earth Union tech, huh? You hate hacking, but damn good at this stuff."
"Right? Good work, so dinner out somewhere nice tonight."
"Can't just show up without a reservation—feels rude."
Owner and head chef Oh Gyu-cheol always made room for him, but doing it every time felt bad.
"Not feeling beef today. Anyway, analyze these files first. Recent stuff's here, something's gotta pop."
"Getting sassy, huh? You're analyzing, not me. Dinner might be instant noodles here."
"I'll lend you my hands and eyes—go hard."
Jeon Ji-in took control of his hands and dove into the data. Info flashed across the four large monitors, appearing and vanishing in seconds.
"Eun-ha's agency."
"Did the hacker succeed?"
College hacker An Seong-hwan was one of the PC bang trio. He'd patched SAH Entertainment before, then bumped into Na Gang-in at the underground diner that day and tagged along to the CF production meeting.
"Gonna tell Eun-ha to buy Seong-hwan a meal."
"Have Eun-ha buy for both sides. Puff Girls love good food."
Na Gang-in had another question.
"Hold up. Did the hacker target THO Entertainment too?"
THO Entertainment produced the movie Sunny Day. That's what got him into the industry.
"So the client wasn't targeting me?"
"Any successful hacks?"
"Not after specific celebs, then."
This wasn't Na Gang-in's first hacker in showbiz.
"We nabbed one targeting celebs before. Think the same client who hired that guy got this one?"
"What was that guy gonna do with all the showbiz intel?"
"That hacker confessed to targeting celeb smartphones."
"Hope police snag that client this time."
More pressing matters now.
"Focus on Yulmyeong Bio. Anything yet?"
A document popped up on the monitor.
Na Gang-in read it.
"Yep, after the XVE Gas antidote. But Yulmyeong doesn't make the chemical weapon itself, right?"
"They'd have some for testing the antidote, though?"
"They do. Animal tests mean poisoning them first."
Na Gang-in tapped the table.
"But why does he need the antidote? Not the weapon?"
"Huh? Director Cha? We know that name."
"Director Cha. Who the hell is he?"
"New lead, at least."
Na Gang-in called Park Soon-gi. He picked up gladly, updating the situation.
"You take everything to the station?"
"One more favor while they're digging."
"Check if a Director Cha's involved."
"Lee Bo-ra's kidnappers worked for Director Cha before. Their boss never saw his face either. Burner phones only. Sounds familiar."
"Master Na says so—not just anyone—so we'll look into Director Cha."
Na Gang-in hung up.
"Police'll find 'Director Cha' in the seized data eventually, but this'll light a fire. Why's he need antidote, though?"
Answer was simple.
"Someone's gonna get gassed."
But that guess had a big hole.
"Ji-in, lots of easy poisons kill people, right?"
"Yeah. Tons of ways to kill. So why chemical weapons?"
Na Gang-in pulled out his phone and called Detective Park Soon-gi.
"Chemical weapons are for killing lots of people."
Park Soon-gi answered immediately.
"Found something."
"Terrorist behind this case. Planning one."
Park Soon-gi's voice quickened.
"Chemical weapons terror."
"Why need antidote without plans to use the gas?"
"No hard proof. Just hunch, but bad one."
"Dunno. He wasn't after the weapon anyway. But he knew something to move on it."
"Hurry. No telling when it drops."
The Joint Investigation Headquarters wrapped up their new case.
The head sighed.
"Phew. Really the end now? Wrap this, we disband?"
An executive waved it off.
"Ugh, boss. Don't jinx it—scares me something else'll blow up."
"Haha, no way..."
A police exec burst into the meeting room.
"Big trouble!"
The headquarters chief shot up.
"What now?"
"Terror intel."
"Gasp! When? Where?"
"No time or place yet. Just terror threat tip."
The chief sighed in relief.
"Whew. Anti-terror handles it. Not our gig."
"Tip came from Na Gang-in."
Other execs' eyes widened.
"What? Na Gang-in?"
"Yes."
The chief slumped back down.
"Not him again..."