25. Caught
I couldn't refuse the mayor's summons.
“Go ahead. Joo Sung-hyun.” (1 / 680 / 6 days ago)
The current mayor of Annam City was Min Sung-bae.
His presence was almost unnervingly absent, yet he remained the city's official representative. The number of civil servants whose appointments he could influence alone exceeded two thousand, and the subsidiary agency executives he could parachute into positions numbered over fifty. A heavyweight beyond comparison to a lowly clerk like me in the City Council Office. No wonder the Han Chae-kyung couple had scrambled so desperately for the mayor's seat.
‘Why would someone like that call me specifically?’
Why would the mayor summon a single 8th-grade employee? It would have been more normal if he didn't even know my name. The only reason I could think of was the Han Chae-kyung scandal.
While my involvement hadn't been officially exposed during Han Chae-kyung's downfall, I was still human—I'd left traces. I'd sold my face to Kim Ho-chang, and Han Chae-kyung had once stormed into the office with a twisted expression to call me out.
Han Chae-kyung's ruin wasn't a bad thing for Mayor Min Sung-bae. She'd been one of his competitors for re-election.
But it didn't seem like he was calling me for friendly reasons.
Minutes later, I arrived at the 7th floor of the main building, outside the mayor's office.
“You're Joo Sung-hyun from the City Council Office, right?” (7 / 238 / 5 hours ago)
“Yes.”
“Go in. The mayor is waiting for you.”
The female secretary who let me in was presumably having sex during work hours.
A woman in her early thirties, a 6th-grade special appointment secretary. I noted her and moved on.
“Ah. Come in.”
Mayor Min Sung-bae was waiting for me inside the office.
A man in his sixties who looked vaguely familiar. Slightly overweight, about 170 cm tall, narrow shoulders with drooping eyes. His hair, however, was impressive—considering the state of his peers, it was quite a feat. He clearly knew his strengths, sporting a classic regent cut.
“You've met the Han Chae-kyung couple?”
Mayor Min Sung-bae got to the point ten minutes after I sat down.
“It's more than just an acquaintance.”
“Right. You worked with former councilor Han for three years, didn't you? Though your interactions increased sharply recently?”
“…….”
“You visited Kim Ho-chang's hospital room when he was admitted… correct?”
I had been called to the hospital and scraped Han Chae-kyung so thoroughly she was cut off. That led to Kim Ho-chang sending his wife away himself.
‘So that's why he called me. Really.’
Our mayor seemed to know I'd contributed to the Han Chae-kyung couple's downfall. Or at least believed I'd witnessed it from the sidelines.
“Joo Sung-hyun. You're young, but there was a saying back in the day: 'Even if the upper half is despicable, don't touch the lower half.' But... that's ancient history now, isn't it? Look at former councilor Han Chae-kyung. Voters won't tolerate it anymore.”
“…….”
“What!?”
“Yes, Mayor. Times have changed, it seems.”
“Still, I believe in unwritten rules. I heard there's something called Han Chae-kyung's list. It's a huge relief that it hasn't leaked.”
Mayor Min Sung-bae mentioned the list of men who'd sponsored Han Chae-kyung. While he claimed it was fortunate it hadn't leaked...
‘He wants something from me, doesn't he?’
He seemed curious whether I had even fragments of that list or had overheard anything from the Han Chae-kyung couple's meltdown. Even partial undisclosed information would be useful to him.
“Joo Sung-hyun. It seems former councilor Han Chae-kyung gave you some awkward errands... Is there anything you want to tell me?”
“Nothing.”
“I understand. It must feel burdensome. But if you're honest with me, I can protect you if things get difficult later. Nominally you're under the City Council Office, but ultimately you're my employee, and you're someone who'll do much for Annam City in the future.”
Neither coaxing nor threatening—just empty words. I let them slide.
I wasn't ignoring him because the mayor of Annam seemed worthless. If this man decided to target me, he could cause various disadvantages. A subtle hint to HR would transfer me to a remote community center, where I'd die processing complaints.
The gap between a sitting mayor and an 8th-grade civil servant was that vast.
“Joo Sung-hyun. When I worked as a party official, I had a similar experience. I accidentally learned a sitting councilor's secret. I thought, 'I don't know anything—this is something I'll carry forever, if I speak I'll die, whoever wins the political fight, I'll be sacrificed first...' But you know what? I reported honestly, got praised, and two years later, I even got the provincial assembly nomination...”
Mayor Min Sung-bae tried to persuade me with a calm tone. Be honest and feel better. I know you met Han Chae-kyung before she decided her fate. I'm just asking to confirm, no ulterior motives... That kind of nonsense.
I didn't answer again. Why would I give away information I'd worked hard to gather for free?
The mayor's retaliation didn't worry me either. I was too busy looking at the numbers floating above Min Sung-bae's head.
“Joo Sung-hyun. Is there really nothing you want to say?” (12 / 914 / 5 hours ago)
12, 914.
For his age, it was ordinary. Partner Count higher than average, Experience Count relatively low. Thin and broad sexual relationships were common among public officials, especially elected ones.
He barely ate home-cooked meals and, in fact, didn't enjoy dining out much either. Mayor Min Sung-bae looked unremarkable, and his numbers matched.
“In this day and age, silence is shit. You know that.” (12 / 914 / 5 hours ago)
But his last sex was 5 hours ago...
No. It just blinked red and changed to 6 hours ago.
‘Active, our mayor. Squeezing in sex during lunchtime.’
I'd checked Min Sung-bae's schedule before coming here. 9 AM executive meeting, 11:15 AM welfare bureau report, 12-12:50 PM lunch, then 1 PM regional press conference. The only time he could have sex was during lunch. With a packed schedule, he'd do it in his office or a side room.
“Hey, Joo Sung-hyun.” (12 / 914 / 6 hours ago)
I smiled at the mayor, who stiffened, and slowly scanned the office.
50-square-meter office. At first glance, ordinary, but thanks to Min Sung-bae's numbers, it looked different.
First, the sofa.
“A recliner sofa. Uncommon in government offices.”
“Have I ever seen such a brazen guy! The mayor is speaking.”
“Sorry. When will I ever get to see the mayor's office again?”
“Hah!”
A sofa where you could recline the backrest to lie down. There were other things that caught my eye. A high-end soundproof rug. Despite having the best view in the building, blackout blinds were installed. An adorable mini-fridge sat in one corner.
Individually, nothing seemed odd.
‘Actually, even together, it's not strange. I'm just piecing it together.’
The office was decorated entirely to the mayor's taste. If he filled it with ridiculously expensive items, the city council would curse him, but as long as the budget matched, he could decorate freely. As the top power in a mid-sized metropolitan city, he could enjoy this much luxury. True enough.
It was also optimized for office sex.
“You. What... are you trying to do?” (12 / 914 / 6 hours ago)
Our mayor lowered his voice, sensing something off.
I had no ill will toward Mayor Min Sung-bae. According to colleagues at the main building, he was mild-mannered for an Annam mayor. He didn't treat staff like shit usually.
But once suspicions formed in my head, erasing them was impossible.
Something came to mind.
“Ah, Mayor?”
“...Speak.”
“Now that I think about it, when you took office in 2022, you installed a shower room next to the side office. I remember it was a 5-square-meter temporary shower room.”
“You crazy bastard... This won't do. I'm calling your section chief right now.”
Mayor Min Sung-bae had installed a temporary shower room next to his office right after taking office. The budget was around 15 million won.
The stated purpose was overtime preparation and office environment improvement. Most civil servants didn't know this—I only knew because I worked at the city council. Of course, it wasn't a big deal. Mayors and governors installing shower booths in offices because they didn't want to go home were common.
Of course, Min Sung-bae used it for other purposes.
It felt like pieces were coming together. The subtly decorated office, the shower room, 6 hours ago...
And one more thing.
“Hey, you!” (12 / 914 / 6 hours ago)
A red stain on the conference table caught my eye.
The table itself was a typical rectangular one, veneer finish with a glossy top. But a deep-red lipstick stain was faintly smeared on it. How could a lipstick mark remain like that? There was no reason to press lips against the table for no reason.
A scenario came to mind. Lying down, being pounded from behind, pounding, holding the edge to brace, face pressed down.
Evidence collection was complete.
“Sorry, Mayor.”
“This is ridiculous. What the hell do you think you're doing...?”
“You asked about the sponsor list, right? I'll answer now.”
Instead of scolding, Min Sung-bae glared at me. He still had some hope.
But the information he wanted wouldn't come from my mouth. I didn't want to be rolled down stairs like the two with severe compound injuries recently, nor did I want to summon Han Chae-kyung from Thailand for a second round.
Instead, I could offer words that would help Mayor Min Sung-bae's career.
“Mayor. You shouldn't have sex with the female secretary in the office.”
“You...! What?” (12 / 914 / 6 hours ago)
“If you did it in a hurry, you should've erased all traces perfectly. Or... actually, you cleaned up well, but one thing remained.”
I pointed at the lipstick stain. Advice not to have sex with the female secretary on the table in a missionary-plus-doggystyle position.
Mayor Min Sung-bae's eyes began to shake rapidly. He even slammed the desk for no reason.
The female secretary he'd pounded 6 hours ago appeared right after.
“Mayor?” (7 / 238 / 6 hours ago)
Yoon Seo-young, Mayor Min Sung-bae's secretary. The woman who'd guided me earlier.
She wore a navy H-line skirt that rose 5 centimeters above the knee and high heels.
She'd taken off her shoes for sex with the mayor, of course. I repeated it so she could hear too.
“Mayor. You shouldn't have sex in the office during work hours.”
The female secretary widened her eyes, the mayor started sweating.
“Ah?” (7 / 238 / 6 hours ago)
“You... what the hell are you doing!!” (12 / 914 / 6 hours ago)
One councilor was a former sponsor girl, the mayor bastard was having sex with his secretary during lunchtime...
I couldn't tell if Annam City was particularly corrupt or if everyone lived like this. Honestly, office affairs were common, but given the situation, the feeling was different.
Anyway, since I'd given useful advice, I wanted a reward.
It just happened to be the personnel season.