If You Act Cocky, You're Dead
'First things first, I need to confirm if this Jeon Seong-hyeon guy is really a side branch member.'
The beginning of everything. Know your enemy properly. If I look into it and he's not even Goryeo Group's side branch? Then I don't need to bother with him anymore. I'll just make my presence known moderately, and if he still acts up, I'll slice his throat clean off. Send Seol or something casual like that.
But if he is side branch? Then I'll send a more direct warning. Make it clear I'm 'direct line'. If he knows his place and backs off, I can let it slide with something as lenient as 'judgment by law'—considering he's Goryeo side branch. Basically, tell him to comply with the special prosecutor. That alone should let him use his connections to wriggle out with a suspended sentence or whatever. That's me being ridiculously merciful. Might ding my reputation a bit.
But if I warn him and he doesn't back down? That's straight-up ignoring me. Obviously, punishment follows.
'From the Chuseok reactions, side branch are basically treated like servants...'
Not just your average side branch—the spouses of direct line, like my aunts' husbands, were treated like pack mules. The gap between direct and side branch is so vast it's like heaven and earth. So even if things go south and I end up killing a side branch, the fallout won't be that huge.
'If he bucks, just kill him.'
Luckily, I've got Baekseol. If we're talking pure personal manpower or cash, he'd probably have more as presumed side branch, but does he really have knight-level assets? Doubt it. And even if Baekseol can't handle it, no big deal. I can just ask other direct line for help. My sisters... or aunts... They'd probably handle a rebellious side branch without me asking, right? From Chuseok vibes, yeah.
No direct line gets dissed by side branch. Even if I have to borrow power, punishment is certain.
"Sua. Check if there's a 'Jeon Seong-hyeon' among our side branch."
"Yes, Master."
"And... go through Prestige to the Incheon Chief Prosecutor. Tell them to keep the special prosecution going."
"Understood."
Honestly, feels like overkill to get this hands-on, but since he might be side branch, better do it right.
+++
Inaeun ended the call and returned to the special prosecution office. Everyone was in disarray, frozen in indecision.
"Finish your meals and let's head out."
"Um... Prosecutor."
One team member—a reporter from a different outlet than Yun Ha-young—asked cautiously.
"Is it... okay to keep going? Rumors say the special prosecution's getting disbanded..."
All eyes turned to her, like they'd all been waiting for that question.
Prosecutor Inaeun answered nonchalantly.
"The special prosecution won't be disbanded."
"Pardon? What do you mean? Did the Chief Prosecutor say that?"
"Not exactly, but it will be that way."
"What..."
"And even if it gets disbanded, that's not now, right? We have to finish the job. Dig up one more thing. If anything, we need to move faster now."
"...! R-Right."
The reporter nodded, impressed, and packed up. But not everyone felt the same.
"Prosecutor."
A man approached in the hallway—one of the prosecutors assigned under her.
"Shouldn't we fold here?"
"..."
"The High Prosecutor's intent is suspicious, but the pretext is solid. The excessive executions at Dream First. It hasn't hit the media hard yet, but if word gets to the public, disbandment will snowball. No one could stop it."
"No one... could stop it?"
Inaeun turned with an odd expression. It was provocative enough to rile the man.
"We've already ID'd 151 deaths, with estimates of 20-30 more. If that leaks, disbandment's inevitable, and you'll bear the blame. High Prosecutor's trying to wrap it before then."
"So, disbanding protects me?"
"Not just that, but yeah, it's part of it. You know what I mean."
Outsiders might not sense it, but prosecutors knew: this disbandment pressure was an 'order' from way above prosecution.
"We've got plenty of results. Best to bow out gracefully now."
Inaeun flashed her signature enigmatic smile.
"You said 'no one'? Lucky for us, I know someone far beyond that 'no one'."
"Pardon?"
"No need to worry about disbandment."
The man sighed in frustration.
"Prosecutor, that's—"
"That's enough chat. Time's short. Pressure hit right after we probed Melodaine. The real backers might be shredding evidence now. We grab that."
"Prosecutor...!"
Inaeun walked off down the hall.
+++
Late afternoon. Incheon High Prosecutor's Office decided to continue the special prosecution.
The Chief's call after Prestige's contact, but insiders found it shocking. And for one man, it sparked fury.
BAM!!
Jeon Seong-hyeon slammed his desk upon hearing special prosecutors raided Melodaine's CEO.
"Why the fuck is the special prosecution still rampaging? Didn't I make it clear? Disband them! You think I'll go to that shithole for questioning? Me??!!"
"W-We... sorry, sir. We passed the message, but today they're not listening at a—"
An ashtray flew. It arced heavily, smashing his head.
"Guh!!"
Blood sprayed. He staggered but quickly steadied.
"Did I say kill the prosecutor? Or make the Chief kneel? Just disband the special team. Why aren't they listening? Since when do they act so bold?"
The manager wiped blood with a handkerchief, barely replying.
"S-Someone else... is pushing to continue..."
"Who? Anything more important than me, Goryeo blood? Who's pulling this?"
"They won't say. Prosecutors have pride..."
"Pride my ass!!"
Jeon Seong-hyeon couldn't fathom it. Prosecutors always toed the line before. Anything touching him got no charges or pinned elsewhere. Never reached him.
But now? Special team brazenly digging his dirt. Hammering Melodaine—his limb handing women and dirty work.
"S-Suspect in mind!!"
"Who."
"Goryeo Entertainment."
Seong-hyeon frowned.
"Goryeo Enter? That scumbag's?"
"Y-Yes."
"Why?"
"Well..."
"There must be a reason. What ties Goryeo Enter to keeping special prosecution alive?"
"..."
Seong-hyeon sat, breathing deep to contain rage. From blazing to eerily calm.
"Sure?"
"No proof, but timing fits. Seems like they're signaling through articles."
Seong-hyeon snatched the panel, skimmed midway, sighed, tossed it.
"This is an 'order'? They're just scared shitless themselves."
"..."
"Need it tattooed: 'Keep special prosecution going'? This is just 'We're cleared~ squeaky clean~' ad. You call that an order? Wow."
He laughed in disbelief.
"Prosecutors are such pussies. Scared to be lawyers?"
"...Can't ignore it. They're hammering 'special prosecution' nonstop."
"Sigh..."
He rolled his tongue, puffing one cheek—his tic when things stalled.
"They really wanna keep it going?"
"Seems so."
"That guy's just popping his happy pills. Why butt in?"
Seong-hyeon shook his head.
"Fine. Side branch me'll handle it. Young master's wishes for special prosecution to continue."
"Then...?"
"If disband fails... replace 'em. Just need special prosecution ongoing. Right? Goryeo Enter wants that too, whatever reason. Not targeting me."
"R-Right..."
"Who? Inaeun?"
"Incheon Central District Prosecutors' Office, Criminal Division 3, Prosecutor Inaeun."
"Gimme."
Manager grabbed the tossed panel, pulled new screen, handed it.
Seong-hyeon took it, eyes widening. "!!"
"W-What's wrong, sir?"
"..."
Did something go wrong? Another ashtray? Manager tensed.
Nah. Just...
"...She's way too hot???"
Prosecutor Inaeun was just that stunning.