Chapter 135
Chapter 135
135.
An Inevitable Swing and a Miss
Shinwoo arrived in front of the Central District Prosecutor's Office.
Reporters, having somehow gotten wind of the situation, were gathered in front of the prosecutor's office building, just like last time.
"Mr. Baek Shin-woo! Is it true that you succeeded in your investments through insider trading?"
"A word, please!"
"What kind of conversation did you have with the prosecution last time?"
Questions poured out from all directions. It was all just suspicion, and even though there wasn't a single piece of solid evidence, the questions seemed to be targeting MH Future Security.
Surrounded by his bodyguards, Shinwoo walked silently, then suddenly turned around, his eyes flashing sharply.
The reporters who met his gaze seemed overwhelmed and quickly shut their mouths.
"The prosecution said they launched an investigation into me based on a public interest report, and in the process, they are unilaterally claiming that I succeeded in stock investments through insider trading."
"What was your response to that claim, Mr. Baek?"
"What evidence did the prosecution present?"
"Was there a Search Warrant issued?"
As questions flooded in again, Shinwoo raised his index finger to his lips, as if to silence them.
The atmosphere among the reporters focused on Shinwoo could not help but become quiet again.
"I assure you that there was no impropriety in my business dealings. If there was any reason to take issue, it would be that I had the foresight to see further ahead than anyone else."
With that, Shinwoo went straight into the prosecutor's office.
He was able to reach the prosecutor's office with the guidance of the clerk who had been waiting in the lobby.
"The lawyer who came with you last time didn't accompany you?"
Roh Seung-jin, who entered after Shinwoo, asked him.
"Something came up, so I dismissed him. More importantly, the prosecution conducted a Search and Seizure, so you must have found some evidence, right? I even unlocked the data for you because you said you needed it."
At that moment, Roh Seung-jin's brow twitched.
He had given Ahn Sang-hye, the Chief Prosecutor, only three days. Today was the last day of that period.
During that time, Roh Seung-jin had stayed up all night checking the data secured through the Search and Seizure, but he had not yet found anything that could be considered evidence.
"...You seem very confident. I guess you've hidden it very well."
"I didn't hide anything in particular. I showed you everything, so isn't it that you couldn't find what you needed there?"
It would be difficult for anyone to find a loophole in MH Future Security's data. Jang Man-soo had prepared thoroughly, and the really important data had not even been passed on to the prosecution due to LEUCO.
"Don't you understand the situation?"
"I understand it more than enough."
Roh Seung-jin glared at Shinwoo as if he wanted to kill him, then chuckled.
"Do you really think we haven't found anything?"
"Show m—"
Vibration― Vibration―
At that moment, Shinwoo's cell phone rang in his pocket, and a message arrived. Shinwoo, who had been in the middle of speaking, checked the message and smiled.
"Is there something good going on?"
At Roh Seung-jin's sarcastic question, Shinwoo nodded.
"Yes. It's good news."
"Did you at least get rid of the evidence?"
"No. It's because something I've been waiting for is about to be resolved."
Knock, knock―
As the office door was knocked on, the clerk sitting on one side opened the door.
In front of the door stood men in black suits with identification cards around their necks that read "Supreme Prosecutors' Office, Inspection Department."
"We're from the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, Inspection Department. Prosecutor Roh Seung-jin, we need you to come with us."
Roh Seung-jin, who had been sitting at his desk with his back to the window, was startled and stood up awkwardly.
"Huh? Why does the Supreme Prosecutors' Office need me...?"
"It's on suspicion of bribery. A warrant for your arrest has also been issued, so I would appreciate it if you didn't make a fuss."
The inspector from the Supreme Prosecutors' Office took out the arrest warrant from his pocket and handed it over.
Roh Seung-jin could not help but frown when he saw his name written on it.
"Bribery? What are you talking about?"
"Three years ago, you received two luxury officetels in Cheongdam-dong under your cousin's name in exchange for covering up the hit-and-run case of Cheonsu Construction's Cheon Minhyun, right? There are other cases as well. We've secured the evidence, so don't try to deny it."
In an instant, the color drained from Roh Seung-jin's face.
In the meantime, the investigators who accompanied the inspectors approached Roh Seung-jin.
"Let's go."
"N-No!"
At that moment, Roh Seung-jin remembered what Shinwoo had said after receiving the message on his cell phone.
【It's because something I've been waiting for is about to be resolved.】
"You, you! You bastard!"
At his shout, Shinwoo shrugged his shoulders.
In the end, Roh Seung-jin was dragged away by the inspectors and investigators.
Shinwoo watched the situation and made eye contact with the clerk under Roh Seung-jin.
"Should I just stay here?"
"Yes? Ah... that's..."
An unprecedented situation had occurred in which the prosecutor in charge of the case was dragged away by the Inspection Department during the investigation of a suspect.
It was difficult for a mere clerk to decide what to do with Shinwoo in such a situation.
"Could you ask the Chief Prosecutor? I'm very busy."
"Just a moment... please wait."
With that, the clerk went straight outside and returned shortly after.
"Can I go?"
"I think you can."
"Thank you for your trouble."
Shinwoo was about to leave with Meian and Mark, who were waiting outside. In the meantime, Chief Prosecutor Ahn Sang-hye, surrounded by men in black suits, approached from the opposite hallway.
As the distance became close, Ahn Sang-hye stared at Shinwoo with sharp eyes. Like Roh Seung-jin, she had been caught by the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, Inspection Department.
Then, they had no choice but to get on the same elevator going down.
As the atmosphere flowed heavily and quietly, Ahn Sang-hye turned her back to Shinwoo and asked.
"Could it be that this... Mr. Baek Shin-woo, did you orchestrate this?"
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about the situation with me and Prosecutor Roh Seung-jin right now."
Shinwoo looked at Ahn Sang-hye's reflection in the mirror on the right.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"...Are you saying that sincerely?"
Ahn Sang-hye had just caught a glimpse of Shinwoo's slightly smiling face in the mirror.
"What power do I have to create something like this?"
Frankly, even Ahn Sang-hye herself didn't understand even after she brought it up. In this case, there were three more Central District Prosecutors who were arrested by the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, Inspection Department, besides the two of them.
They were all caught for bribery through companies or individuals.
Ahn Sang-hye investigated Baek Shin-woo before approving the Search and Seizure Warrant for MH Future Security. There was nothing there that showed Shinwoo had the connections and power to create a situation like this.
In the meantime, the elevator arrived on the first floor.
"Let's go."
In the end, Ahn Sang-hye could not say anything and was led out by the inspectors from the Supreme Prosecutors' Office.
Shinwoo stopped briefly in the lobby. Prosecutors caught by the Inspection Department came out of other elevators and walked away.
The reporters who had been waiting for Shinwoo outside were in an unusual atmosphere and rushed towards them.
"I heard that the Central District Prosecutors received bribes from corporate sponsors! Is that true?"
"According to the reports, it's not just one or two people! Is there a specific broker?"
"Chief Prosecutor Ahn Sang-hye! A word, please!"
The reporters flocked to Ahn Sang-hye, who had just left.
Seeing that, Shinwoo's bitter smile deepened.
Mark Freeman, who was watching the situation with him, asked cautiously.
"Did you really create this situation, sir?"
He didn't understand the conversation between Shinwoo and Ahn Sang-hye in the elevator earlier.
But even he thought the timing was too perfect.
"Why do you think so?"
Mark Freeman had also guarded many economic and political figures while working as a mercenary at FEROX. In the process, he roughly knew how those with wealth and power moved.
Therefore, it was quite unusual for the prosecutors in charge, including his fellow prosecutors, to be dragged away by the Inspection Department while being investigated by the prosecution.
"Because I thought it would be a difficult situation unless someone deliberately orchestrated it."
Shinwoo turned his head slightly and looked at Mark Freeman.
"If I did it, would it be a problem for Mark to do his bodyguard work?"
"...That's not it."
At his answer, Shinwoo looked at the chaotic situation in front of the Central District Prosecutor's Office.
"It's more chaotic than I thought. At this point, the prosecution won't be able to pay more attention to our case. Well, there's nothing to nitpick about anyway."
"I guess it was you, sir."
What had happened now was only possible with multifaceted investigations and manpower. However, Shinwoo had been under protection all along and had never shown any strange movements.
Moreover, it didn't take long. Only three days had passed since the Search and Seizure Warrant had been issued.
It was unbelievable that he could do something like this in such a short period of time.
"It was something that suddenly became necessary."
"You're amazing."
As Mark's exclamation continued, Meian poked her head out.
"What are you two talking about in English?"
Shinwoo and Mark had been talking in English since earlier.
"If you're curious, you can learn English too."
At this, Meian frowned.
"Tch―!"
"There's also a free English education club run by the company, so you can try attending."
"I don't like studying..."
"Then keep not understanding."
As he said that, Shinwoo took out his cell phone at the vibration he felt in his pocket. A message sent by Jang Man-soo had arrived.
【Emergency Clear.】
"...What?"
It was the content he sent when he completed a mission.
At this, Shinwoo made a call to WAVE CHAT.
[Oh, Captain! Did you finish the investigation neatly?]
"Thanks to you. I got a lot of help this time too. But what do you mean by completed?"
The two spoke in Code.
[Hackers invaded the server.]
"What? So what happened?"
[That's...]
Jang Man-soo explained all the series of situations.
Shinwoo was able to listen to everything, nodding his head.
"I'm glad it was handled well. I'll hear the rest when I get back. And thank you for handling things here so well. It was resolved well thanks to you."
[It just so happened that the Central District Prosecutor's Office was a perfect fit. It was originally something that was going to happen next year, though.]
The bribery case of the Central District Prosecutors, including Chief Prosecutor Ahn Sang-hye, was supposed to happen in the future, as Jang Man-soo said.
Of course, it was not difficult to expose the bribery, which was already in progress.
"You passed on the evidence without a trace, right?"
[I did it with a public interest report that the Central District Prosecutor's Office likes. I clearly passed on the route of the bribery evidence that was received as property under a borrowed name, so there won't be any problems. Honestly, if they can't take it even after I've done that much, they're idiots.]
"The Supreme Prosecutors' Office, Inspection Department will take it well unless they're idiots. It'll be difficult to quietly clean it up because the public opinion has been moved."
[Information that will continue to shake public opinion will be released periodically.]
Shinwoo smiled.
"You're really going to have a hard time."
[Am I having a hard time? LEUCO is having a hard time. The LEUCO AI algorithm uploads information and comments.]
"LEUCO handles things to that extent?"
Until now, he had only thought of LEUCO as a master key that could infect numerous computers and extract the necessary information.
As Shinwoo asked in slight surprise, Jang Man-soo explained in a triumphant voice.
[I did an upgrade that I couldn't do before. I'll explain it in more detail when you come to the company.]
"Okay. I'm leaving the Central District Prosecutor's Office now, so let's see each other there."
Shinwoo finished the call, confirmed that the vehicle from the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, Inspection Department had disappeared, and walked away.
At the same time, the reporters who had failed to get an interview with the Inspection Department and Ahn Sang-hye discovered Shinwoo and flocked to him like wolves.
"I heard that the Central District Prosecutors received bribes from corporate sponsors! Is that true?"
"According to the news reports, it's not just one or two people! Is there a specific broker?"
"Chief Prosecutor Ahn Sang-hye! A word, please!"
The reporters flocked to Ahn Sang-hye, who had just left.
Seeing that, Shinwoo's bitter smile deepened.