25-03. Shrimp

After blowing the weekend away in debauchery, Monday rolled around. The date was August 31st—the last August of '76. Normally, the heat would've started to ease up by now, but in this world where global warming had gone into overdrive, it only got hotter. Especially the humidity...

"This goddamn heat is no joke."

"..."

"Can't even get anything done. It's inhuman."

"Y-yeah..."

Why the sudden rant about the heat? Because I was in a place where you couldn't help but feel it in all its raw glory.

"Look at this facility..."

I picked up the visible mic. It looked like it'd been scavenged from a dumpster—the base snapped off the second I lifted it.

"..."

Nothing to say to that.

"Toss it."

"Ah, yes, Director."

I chucked it aside and scanned the room. This so-called practice studio had only half a full-length mirror, a busted AC, and two ragged fans that looked on their last legs.

"Hey, you lot."

"...Yes?"

"You think you can practice here?"

"..."

The trainees averted their eyes and pursed their lips. Anyone could see this wasn't fit for normal practice. Hell, just standing still was tough. Sweat beaded on their skin, coating it like a sheen of water. Practice here? Might as well tell them to drop dead.

To think they'd been renting this dump as an office. What ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the hell had Goryeo Entertainment been doing before I took over as director? And what about those 100 billion won? They had actors too, right?

They really handed me pure garbage. That old bastard.

I clicked my tongue, cursing Grandpa's memory for no reason.

"This won't do. Let's go."

"Pardon? Where to?"

"Where else? Somewhere we can actually practice. We need to prep for debut—can't have them training in a shithole like this."

Sua tilted her head. This was Goryeo Entertainment's only property (on monthly rent), so she looked lost on where to go next. Tsk tsk. She still had growing to do. To become my true secretary, she needed to pick up on these things in a flash.

"...So... this place?"

"Yeah. What's wrong with it?"

"Well..."

Emilia twitched her eye as she glanced at me, then looked down.

"...Nothing, I guess."

"I saw your practice rooms last time—pretty decent. Lend us a couple for the kids. It's not like much changes. They were your trainees originally."

"True... Yes. No real change."

"While we're at it, help with their debut too."

"Pardon?"

"We haven't lined up a producer yet, no connections with composers or anything. Our girls are clueless about this stuff."

"..."

Emilia stared at me like, What kind of asshole is this? Her face screamed arrogance, like she might slap me any second. Guess the weekend freedom had made her loosen up. No good. I'd have to call her in every weekend for some management.

"...Fine. If the young master insists, what choice do I have? Yang Secretary, you heard. Help them out."

"Yes, Director..."

"Need anything else?"

"Your pussy."

"...Pardon?"

"Sua, take the girls and get them practicing. You and Eun-mi chat with her secretary about what we need—producers, whatever."

"Yes, Director."

Sua and Eun-mi smartly herded everyone out of the room. Once we were alone, Emilia eyed me, then slyly clasped her hands and bowed her head. Cute. She acted all high and mighty with her underlings around, but folded the second we were alone.

Tap tap.

I drummed my fingers on the center table. She looked at me questioningly.

"Get up here."

"...On the, desk?"

"..."

"..."

No answer, so she shoved the snacks aside and awkwardly climbed on. For the record, Emilia's outfit today was a simple camisole and short skirt. Her bare white legs were mouthwatering.

"Spread your legs and masturbate."

"Y-yes?! M-masturbate?!"

Suck. "You've been backtalking me nonstop."

"Ah... B-but masturbation is... kinda..."

"..."

I just stared, and eventually, she turned her lower body toward me. Slide. She spread her legs wide enough to take in her pussy at a glance, pulled her panties aside to bare her slit, then stroked it lightly with her slender middle finger.

"Ngh..."

"Do it right."

"O-okay..."

Squelch. She slipped her finger in gently, thrusting, while her other hand pinched and rubbed her clit.

"Ah!"

Funny thing—her expression turned me on more than the masturbation. Lips bitten, eyes shut, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠head turned aside, highlighting the elegant curve of her twisted neckline. A beauty's side profile with her neck exposed? Devastating.

Reporter Yoon Ha-young hadn't even gone to the office, circling Rainbow Miracle instead and snapping photos of anything important. Saturday, Sunday, and now day three.

"They definitely had police escorts."

No leads until yesterday, but today? Jackpot. She'd caught Ko Mu-yeol's car entering Rainbow Miracle's underground parking. The shot was blurry since it was just entering, but she could make out two police vans sandwiching a luxury sedan front and back.

"Who the hell gets police escorts like that?"

Not an investigation—those vans had heavy machine guns mounted. Even in Demonic Incheon, no one rolls police vans with MGs to probe a non-PMC company. This was protection. So who was the target?

"...Gotta be that guy from the video, right?"

Someone tied to Rainbow Miracle, important enough for police protection, visiting right now? Only one candidate.

"If I can ID the car..."

Obviously, strolling into the garage was suicide. Her info was already doxxed, warnings emailed. She'd get cut down, and probably worse.

"Ugh, but if not now, I'll never see it... Any way in?"

She couldn't just wait.

"Prosecutor Inaeun!"

She nearly jumped up cheering. It worked...! Overjoyed, she fired back.

"Oh, yeah! I'm right outside Rainbow Miracle HQ. Caught a super suspicious car."

"Escorted by two police vans with machine guns."

"Weird, right?"

"I snapped a pic, but noise makes it hard to see what's inside—just the shape."

"If only. But yeah..."

"Right?"

"Whoa, really?!"

"Thank you! Thank you, Prosecutor!"

"Ah, sorry."

"Yes! Go on in!!"

Reporter Yoon Ha-young shot up and bowed to the air. Prosecutor Inaeun hung up.

After hanging up, Prosecutor Inaeun summoned the investigator right away.

"Investigator Gong, head to Rainbow Miracle HQ immediately. The vehicle owned by the suspected mastermind behind this case is in their underground lot. Check the model, plate—everything. Here's a silhouette photo."

"...You're really starting?"

"Hurry. Time's short."

"Understood."

Gong bowed solemnly, grabbed his gear. Like Clerk Yu's admiration and mixed feelings for Inaeun, Gong truly followed her. She was the prosecution's hope, the last lifeline in this rotten country. That's why he didn't hesitate, even if it seemed life-threatening.

"...Prosecutor."

"Clerk Yu, organize all case files. And sort any tips that come into the office as they arrive."

"Prosecutor, this case is too dangerous."

Despite Yu's warning, Inaeun just reviewed documents.

"Was there ever a safe one?"

"But this...!"

Yu raised his voice briefly, then glanced around and lowered it.

"It's on another level...! Who can shut down a live broadcast in real-time, erase someone without a trace, and drag a media team leader for that? Honestly, it screams trap."

"Trap?"

"..."

Yu bit his lip in silence. So much to say, but he couldn't. Yet his concern for her pushed him over the line.

"...All the cases handed to you before were nobodies—low-stakes crap. Now suddenly this? Even a senior prosecutor might balk. Anyone can see—"

"I volunteered for this one."

"...Pardon?!"

Yu gaped. What did she just say?

"I've been waiting for a case like this."

"What..."

"The kind anyone can see is dangerous... Where digging even a little hits society's dark, shocking underbelly."

"Prosecutor..."

"Who rules this society...? I need to reach them."

"That's where my dream and purpose lie."

Her usual serious, beautiful face. But for some reason, Clerk Yu felt like she was smiling.