70. Mess Around and Die
Of course, revenge against me is a problem just for attempting it. Given the absurd level of discrimination between direct and side family lines at the main house, the entire line that tried it might end up in ruins. They'd know that too, so it made sense that someone might interfere like this.
Or maybe the main house got involved?
I considered the low possibility. Or simply, someone who witnessed my murder got eliminated. Of course, if that were the case, I'd have gotten some report by now.
"No reports from Prestige, right?"
"Ah... yes. Nothing besides the inquiries about the drugs."
"Then probably not them..."
I drew a tentative conclusion.
1. The culprit who killed the Chief Prosecutor planned to kill me too.
2. Someone else killed the Chief Prosecutor to warn those thinking like '1'.
Roughly those two possibilities. Digging deeper would just give me a headache.
So, Why am I even thinking about this? They should just hand it over to me.
I decided to stop. Figuring out 1 and 2 was enough—what more did I need? I wasn't a detective.
Just crush both sides, and whoever confesses first, go with that. And even if it was 2, it harmed me, so punishment was inevitable anyway.
If they targeted me, I'll make them pay.
"Eun-mi, secure the Prosecutors' Office DB and find out who the killer is. Check for any hacking traces too."
"Yes, Young Master."
"Sua, stay in touch with Prestige, compile any related reports that come in, and pull info on Jeon Seong-hyeon's family—who they are, what they do."
"Yes, Master."
+++
Do Eun-ju exploded in rage watching the breaking news.
"Who?! Who the fuck did this?!"
She wasn't mourning the Chief Prosecutor's death, obviously. He hadn't directly killed her son, but he'd been there and done nothing—so to her, he was as good as the murderer.
But her fury stemmed from this making it even harder to kill Ko Mu-yeol.
After throwing her tantrum, she calmed down with deep breaths. Her anger froze cold, her mind sharpening.
She summoned her two sons.
"Was it you?"
"Pardon?"
"The ones behind the Chief Prosecutor's murder."
Do Eun-ju turned. Her sons flinched.
"W-what do you mean, Mother?"
"You called us so suddenly..."
"..."
Eun-ju stared silently at her sons. They showed no sign of confessing.
"Not you?"
"Isn't it Ko Mu-yeol?"
"What?"
"The Chief Prosecutor witnessed his murder. No reason to keep him alive."
Do Eun-ju shot back incredulously.
"That's for regular people. You think those who rule this country from the clouds give a shit about that?"
"But even as direct line, Ko Mu-yeol just kicked his drug habit. We don't even know if he really did. Meaning his judgment's still off. He might've remembered the Chief Prosecutor's position later and taken him out just in case. Or it could've been a pleasure kill."
"...Pleasure kill?"
"The guy who killed our Seong-hyeon over some bullshit reason. Why wouldn't he kill a Chief Prosecutor? Perfect excuse too—he was a witness."
"..."
It grew more absurd by the second.
"No. There's no one else but you."
"Mother!"
"Why suspect us??"
"Killing the Chief Prosecutor would make him heighten his guard, and you'd think I'd lay low seeing that."
"..."
"Seong-hyeon's death is tragic, but I don't wanna die with him. Isn't that it?"
"..."
Under her conviction-filled gaze, the brothers stopped retreating. They just stared back at their mother.
"Mother."
"You gonna kill us too for Seong-hyeon's revenge?!"
Do Eun-ju closed her eyes, biting her lip as if swallowing the words.
"You're next after Seong-hyeon anyway. You think that bastard will let us live?"
"We're innocent. No reason to kill us. If you hadn't planned to kill him, we wouldn't have gone this far."
"Just stay put, Mother. We'll handle it."
"Haa..."
Do Eun-ju clutched her head in frustration.
Handle it? How? Her son was already dead. What else besides revenge? What results could they achieve? An apology from Ko Mu-yeol? That wouldn't soothe anything, and it was impossible. A promise never to do it again? Same shit.
So what results could they pull? All she wanted was his death.
Otherwise, beg? Go to her son's killer and plead to spare the rest?! A mother?!
"...No. I can't."
"Mother!!"
She yelled in exasperation.
"To him, you already have more than enough reasons to die! Why don't you get that?!"
"What are you talking about?"
"Why should we die?!"
"Because you can seek revenge!"
"...!"
"Why would they let you live, not knowing when you'll stab them in the back? Those who swap parts like machine components—think they'll spare you, us?? To them, we're already 'people who must die.' Get your heads straight!!"
"M-Mother..."
They were marked already. He'd kill them to avoid harm—or even hassle.
So the options were set.
"You stay put. No—get out of the country. I'll handle it."
+++
Ko Mu-yeol's murder of Jeon Seong-hyeon, followed by the Chief Prosecutor's killing, was huge gossip among the other side branches too.
Especially furious was Min Ji-ah, married to Do Eun-ju's brother Do Nam-ju. Among the many side branches, she was one of the few with shared blood, giving her unusual pride in Goryeo Group—and equal fear of the direct line.
"You can't even manage your family?"
"D-Darling... it's..."
"If those lunatics rampage and it hits me and our kids, how will you take responsibility?"
"If anything, it's your sister's fault more than our young master—"
Slap!
The merciless slap whipped his head around. His lip split, blood trickling.
"You lost your mind? Blaming me now?!"
"No, that's not—"
"Need everyone dead to wise up? Huh??!!"
The spacious room shook with her bellow. Do Nam-ju squeezed his eyes shut.
"Me, our cute kids, and you!! All dead to get it through your skull?!!"
"D-Darling..."
"Go. Beat your sister and nephew half to death, lock 'em up, whatever—just make sure they can't do shit. Don't come back till it's done, got it??"
"O-okay, darling. D-don't yell..."
Do Nam-ju slunk out, clutching his fragile heart comically.
Watching him go, Min Ji-ah pounded her chest in frustration.
"Fuck. So annoying."
Bzzz.
Her phone rang then.
- Go Min-young
"...!"
Seeing the caller's name, her heart nearly stopped. She gulped. Her mouth dried up, heartbeat thundering endlessly—like construction materials crashing down.
She picked up the phone reverently with both hands and knelt.
Not that the other side could see, but it eased her mind.
"V-V-V-Vice President...! M-Min Ji-ah, p-pick—picking up."
Silence stretched. It felt eternal.
"Do I have to call you myself?"
"S-s-s-sorry! I'll handle it swiftly. Yes."
"How?"
"M-my husband just left. He's most scared of me, so he'll handle my family fine! Beat 'em senseless or lock 'em up!"
Go Min-young's voice returned ice-cold.
"That'll do it?"
"...Pardon?"
"Those whose sons died have lost it—what won't they do? Handle it the surest way."
"Ah..."
The call ended.
Min Ji-ah stayed kneeling long after, then rose. She steeled her briefly faltering resolve, about to call her husband—but stopped.
Her unreliable but affectionate husband could never cut off or kill his own sister.
Click.
She pressed the button on her desk.
"Send Secretary Lee in."
Soon, the large door opened. A man entered, bowing deeply.
"You called?"
"Daijin Group's affiliates look like their stocks will tank soon. Prep cash."
"...Yes, understood."
He bowed meaningfully once more and left.
Min Ji-ah muttered at the empty doorway.
"Why mess around? When your son's dead, live like you're dead too."