29-03. Shrimp
"Hmm."
Im Sua had said something similar before. That she sensed something off about Prosecutor Inaeun.
People often call that kind of "off" vibe science. But on the surface, Prosecutor Inaeun was the perfect embodiment of justice. And why not? She was charging straight at a force she could never hope to oppose (me).
Her track record had been the same all along. Who else but an extraordinary person could pull that off? Regardless of skill level, the mere fact that she could stand against me like this meant she wasn't your average human vessel.
But what if it was all an act?
Sometimes that happens. They pretend to be paragons of justice to inflate their value, then sell out at the highest price.
Prosecutors don't live off popularity, but it sure helps for what comes after. The classic path: "The Just Prosecutor Enters Politics." Legal professionals are already tied to the image of "justice," making the jump to politics smooth. And if you built a rep as an upright, no-nonsense prosecutor while on the job? Massive bonus points.
So if that's what she was after, Sua's intuition would be spot-on.
But that'd make her even more impressive. Fooling everyone around her perfectly for some grand scheme. And restraining herself too.
How many bribes, temptations, and offers had Prosecutor Inaeun fought off? Humans waver at the sight of a mere 50,000 won. If she'd endured all that not out of righteousness but for a bigger goal, that wasn't an ordinary human vessel either.
"You're heading to Rainbow Miracle, right?"
"Yes."
"Let's go there. She's running around so hard—time to show my face. Seems like hints and warnings aren't getting through. Or maybe, like you said, she's got ulterior motives."
"Uh... it could be dangerous, though? The investigators are furious after one of them died."
"Thirty cops? Dangerous my ass. Just stick by my side."
"That's true, but..."
What you see isn't all there is. As the owner's kin, there are always shadows tailing me, seen or unseen. If things got dicey, they'd step in. Probably...
+++
"Argh, look, whether it's Investigator Gong or Investigator Goong, I told you I don't know! How the hell am I supposed to know what happened to someone I don't even know? I'm not a damn shaman."
Emilia thumped her chest in frustration as she replied. She'd already been dealing with nonstop bullshit the past few days, stress levels maxed out, and now a prosecutor was barging in and poking around. Her mood was soaring right into the stratosphere.
Bam!
"Don't play dumb!! Jincheol definitely used implants in this underground parking lot yesterday. The records are right there— you gonna deny it?"
"Fuck! You're ganging up and pointing fingers! Hey, mister, you know who I am? Want me to hit you with a massive complaint? Huh??!! How many employees do I have? Should I sic 'em all on you one by one???"
Investigator Song, hypersensitive from his colleague's death, and Kang Emilia, stressed to the brink. Neither budged an inch. It was a powder keg ready to blow.
Swish.
"You lost five trainees about a week ago? Where are they?"
In the midst of it, Prosecutor Inaeun stayed cool as ice, all by herself.
"...Just a simple trade."
"No contract."
"We didn't give you one."
"..."
Investigator Song flared up again.
"You don't seem to get it... A cooperation order is like a partial martial law decree—it's a straight-up order. Being this uncooperative is a crime in itself!!"
"I'm not showing it for your sake? You'd be in deep shit if you saw it, prosecutors."
"For our sake?"
"Some things in this world are better left unknown. Why can't you appreciate my kind heart? I held it back specially for you guys. Don't stir up the hornet's nest—go find that Gong or Goong guy and scram. Underground parking lot, right? Where the disappearance happened? Go dig there instead of wasting my busy day."
Investigator Song groaned in rage and frustration. Words just weren't getting through. Was she doing this on purpose? Had to be. What the hell do you do with a bitch like this?
"You know Kim Donggi, right?"
"Of course. That brainless moron fuck. Because of that asshole, I... argh."
"He was your company's general affairs head until recently, but now he's gone?"
"Missing."
"Missing? This building's got a ton of disappearances lately."
"Bad feng shui, I guess. If that bugs you so much, look into some geomancy and help us move."
"..."
Prosecutor Inaeun stared silently at Emilia. Emilia glared right back without flinching.
Then.
Emilia's phone buzzed.
"Phone call. Excuse me."
She checked the screen, clicked her tongue with a "tch," turned her head away from the investigators, and picked up after three or four rings.
"Yes. What is it... Yes... Huh?"
Her face, usually all lazy arrogance, flushed with shock.
"Y-you're coming here now? To this place?"
"?!"
Her eyes quickly scanned Prosecutor Inaeun and Investigator Song. And Inaeun instinctively knew he was on the other end of that call.
In a surge of impulse that surprised even herself, she snatched Emilia's phone.
"Hey?! What the fuck are you—!!"
Inaeun pressed the stolen phone to her ear.
And then, "Hello. 'Young Master.' This is Prosecutor Inaeun of Incheon Central District Prosecutors' Office, Criminal Division 3."
Finally connected.
+++
Investigator Yu visited Incheon's biggest sexbot emporium, "Dick 'n' Pussy Paradise," with the clerk in tow.
The goal: confirm the purchase date of the sexbot from Inaeun's bedroom, secure the CCTV, and trace the payment method to ID the owner.
Checking the purchase date was easy. The model was so pricey, it was the only sale in the last two months.
"Whoa... Full custom for 520 million... More than my monthly rental apartment costs to buy outright..."
The clerk's dazed mutter drew a hearty laugh from the shop owner.
"Haha... Yeah, it's a premium price tag. But with top-tier tech, it delivers a fuck more real than the real thing."
"Selling something this expensive to a prosecutor..."
"..."
For some reason, those words grated extra hard. A sex doll made solely for Prosecutor Inaeun. Weird phrasing, but it cost a whopping 520 million won. And purchased just yesterday, August 31st.
Meaning this "Young Master" burned 520 million purely to plant it in Inaeun's place.
Clean it up nicely: "The Young Master who spent 520 million on Prosecutor Inaeun."
It itched at him. He'd never earn that in a lifetime of backbreaking work.
...What stupid thoughts. Snap out of it.
He shook it off quick. No time for distractions now.
"Sir, can we see the CCTV from that day? And the payment records too, please."
"No problem at all."
The owner cooperated readily, handing over the CCTV file and payment details.
"Trace this payment path. Find out the owner."
"Y-yes, sir!"
He left the account check to the clerk and dug into the CCTV.
This is it. August 31st, yesterday.
There—a group appeared amid the bustle. A young man at the center, flanked by two sleek women like bodyguards.
Noise?
Problem was, static and noise glitched out exactly where they were. Like they were wrapped in some undetectable wavelength.
Useless like this...
He could make out vague shapes—"man," "women"—but nothing identifiable like faces or features.
Guess we rely on the account holder.
He glanced at the clerk, who was frowning at his phone.
"Found it?"
"Y-yeah... But have you heard of 'Goryeo Enter'?"
"Goryeo... Enter...?"
"Yes... Traced the funds, nothing fancy. Straight-up payment from Goryeo Enter."
The clerk looked uneasy.
"Never heard of it, right? Goryeo Enter."
He confirmed.
"...Yeah. First time."
"Thought so? Haha. No wonder—no precautions or anything. Probably not connected to that Goryeo, right? Hahaha."
Investigator Yu nodded awkwardly. His head felt heavy, reluctant to move.
Then, his phone buzzed.
"!!!"
The DNA results pinged in. As he moved to open them, another text from the lab chief:
"???"
Cryptic as hell. Investigator Yu's heart plummeted.
Chills crawled over his skin, blood running cold.
N-no way...
With a trembling thumb, he opened the DNA results.
SUBJECT:Sexbot Sample
MATCH:Go Mu-yeol
RELATION:Grandson of Goryeo Group Chairman Go Yeong-man
STATUS:Goryeo Group Owner Family. Handle with extreme caution.
99.99% match confirmed. Immediate advisory recommended.
He dropped his phone.
"P-Prosecutor...!!"