Chapter 80
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: Spy (4)
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Two more weeks had passed. Though I still hadn't secured any clear evidence, there was one fact I'd learned.
There was one guy who followed Shin Ju-tae around devotedly.
'His name was Kim Jong-won, right?'
Shin Ju-tae seemed to trust the guy immensely as well, and it looked like he handled pretty much all of Shin Ju-tae's work for him.
I remembered checking the guy's Status Window too. His Unique Trait was nothing special, but his Title wasn't great.
'Two weeks have gone by... and no real results.'
I'd planned to keep surveillance for a full month, but with two weeks passed and nothing to show for it, I was starting to feel uneasy.
'...What if the spy isn't Shin Ju-tae?'
If Shin Ju-tae wasn't the spy, then all this effort would be for nothing.
'Damn it. If you're gonna show me the records from the first round, at least show me the whole thing...'
I was pissed that the records had cut off midway, forcing me into all this trouble. If I'd at least known the spy's name, the investigation would've been a breeze.
'Yun Yeon seems to be looking into it on her own, but no results there either.'
It couldn't be helped for her. She wasn't incompetent. With no way to pinpoint the spy, she couldn't deploy her underlings. That left her investigating alone.
And outsourcing to an intel clan or another firm wasn't an option either—it would've required sharing clan secrets.
'In the end, it all falls on me.'
For now, I'd recovered the chimera. Time to check today's footage.
'Shit... please let there be something worthwhile.'
I immediately ordered the chimera to play back the recording.
'Skip the useless parts.'
After fast-forwarding through several meaningless bits, finally, a crucial conversation started playing.
"Brother, so... what do you plan to do about that matter?"
It was the voice of the lackey who trailed after Shin Ju-tae.
"We'll take it slow. Yun Yeon, that bitch, is full of suspicions."
"Once you wrap up this job cleanly... won't you get promoted to the executive ranks?"
'...Executives? Is this bastard talking about the Lawless Clan's executives?'
From the context, it didn't seem like he meant the Myth Clan's leadership positions.
"The odds are pretty good, yeah. But my goal was never a position in the first place."
"I know."
"Remember this. Once the operation starts, we absolutely have to capture Yun Yeon alive."
'Ha...'
"More importantly... when does the operation start? The guys are chomping at the bit. I heard there's a whole truckload who can't sleep from excitement."
"Still a ways off. At least three weeks. They're still hammering out the details, so wait."
'Three weeks. Looks like they haven't finalized the plan yet.'
"By the way, Brother. About that rookie chick hanging around the clan this time—what's her deal? I heard rumors she's in a relationship with Yun Yeon..."
"Shut your mouth, you punk."
"...Sorry, Brother. I misspoke."
"Relationship my ass. Shit, that rookie bitch is just here on business, that's all. If it were true... I'd rip her limbs off and kill her."
'Talking tough, huh? We'll see who ends up torn limb from limb, you or me.'
With the evidence secured, it wouldn't be me crossing the River Styx—it'd be this bastard.
"Yes... Anyway, doesn't that mean you'll get to meet the Chief this time? If you rack up merits like this, it seems plenty possible."
'Chief.'
It was only natural for such an unexpected topic to grab my attention. I focused intently on the conversation.
"Could be. I've only met two of the executives so far, so that'd be nice."
Their leader seemed like an extremely cautious type. The fact that even an executive like Shin Ju-tae had never seen his face was pretty shocking.
'...We don't even know his name?'
Uncovering info on their Chief would be ideal, if possible.
"I think you've got a real shot, Brother. The Chief will definitely acknowledge you."
"Kid, your flattery..."
Unfortunately, that was the end of the useful info. Nothing meaningful came after.
Still, this was plenty of harvest.
I could always interrogate them for more later, so this was more than enough for now—hell, it was a huge win.
'Gotta discuss this with Yun Yeon first.'
There might be more spies beyond these two, but interrogation would reveal everything anyway.
I headed straight to Yun Yeon's office, where she was buried in work.
"What is it?"
"I figured out who the spy is."
"...Sit down first. Let's talk sitting."
I took a seat as she said and got right to it, no beating around the bush.
"Just like we suspected, Shin Ju-tae is the spy. Oh, and that Kim Jong-won guy who follows him around—he's a spy too."
Yun Yeon listened, her face clouding over with a complicated mix of emotions. He was a trusted subordinate she'd known for years, so the betrayal must've hit hard.
"...Ha."
Understanding her feelings, I waited patiently for her to compose herself.
"...You have proof, right?"
"Of course. Listen to this first."
I started playing the chimera's recording for her.
As Yun Yeon listened, her face hardened. When that key part hit, she clenched her fist, unable to contain her rage.
"Remember this. Once the operation starts, we absolutely have to capture Yun Yeon alive."
"More importantly... when does the operation start? The guys are chomping at the bit... I heard there's a whole truckload who can't sleep from excitement."
"Still a ways off. At least three weeks. They're still hammering out the details, so wait."
"This... fucking bastard..."
The taunting tone toward her personally had Yun Yeon spitting curses. From her expression, she was barely holding back her fury born of betrayal.
'No wonder she's pissed.'
A trusted subordinate she'd known for years turns out to be a Lawless Clan spy with sleazy intentions toward her? It'd be weirder if she wasn't furious.
Curious how long they'd known each other, I asked carefully.
"...How long have you known him?"
"...Over two years. It's been four years since I joined here, and Shin Ju-tae was a member from when I formed the clan."
'Damn...'
I didn't know when he'd started colluding with the Lawless Clan, but according to her, he could've been spying for up to two years.
'Ballsy fucker.'
I had to respect him in a twisted way. This level of guts was practically spilling out of his gut.
"So... these two are the spies, then?"
"Hard to say for sure. There might be more... We'll find out under interrogation."
"......"
At first, Yun Yeon's emotions were pure anger and betrayal. Now, it was self-recrimination. She seemed to be blaming herself for poor clan management.
'Does she think she's incompetent?'
I got her feelings, but she wasn't incompetent. Even I hadn't spotted it properly in the first round, showing how thoroughly they'd hidden it.
If I hadn't seen the records in the library, this round would've played out just like the first.
"...No need to blame yourself. They hid it meticulously, so it would've been hard to notice."
Yun Yeon gave a wry smile at my consolation.
"...Save the comfort. It's still my fault for not managing the clan properly."
It was just polite words anyway, in case she spiraled too hard. Yun Yeon would probably grow from this.
"What now?"
"Obviously... drag them in and interrogate."
Finishing her words, she called in her adjutant waiting outside and issued orders.
"Park Seo-hwa."
"Yes, Sis? You called?"
"Bring Shin Ju-tae and Kim Jong-won. Quietly."
"...Got it."
Sensing something off from Yun Yeon's expression, the woman—who seemed to be her adjutant—left the office promptly.
Soon after, she returned with Shin Ju-tae and Kim Jong-won in tow.
"...You wanted to see us."
I nearly burst out laughing at Shin Ju-tae's expression but held it in.
'Yeah, how could you not be nervous with that guilt hanging over you?'
Being summoned alone with his lackey? It was natural for him to sense something was up.
The atmosphere itself screamed wrongness. He had to feel it.
Kim Jong-won next to him looked anxious too, picking up on the weird vibe.
Yun Yeon stayed silent for a beat before speaking quietly.
"...Park Seo-hwa, wait outside for now."
"Yes, Sis."
As Yun Yeon sent her adjutant out, Shin Ju-tae's eyes flickered subtly.
"...May I ask why you've called us? And why is Eternity Clan's Lee Yun-seong here...?"
'Sigh... control your face, punk.'
"...Why do you think I called you?"
To Yun Yeon's counter, he feigned calm and answered. Her unusual demeanor must've had his mind racing.
"Is there... some task for us? Give the order, and we'll follow it. If it's a commission..."
'Pfft...'
Desperately trying to dodge the worst-case scenario in his head.
"Not a commission, so relax."
"Then...?"
"You know better than anyone why I called you."
At Yun Yeon's words, both their faces stiffened instantly.
"....What do you mean by that...?"
Drag—
Yun Yeon rose from her chair and walked between the two frozen men. Passing them, she turned her back and spoke.
"Do I really have to say it out loud?"
"...I genuinely have no idea what you're talking about. Did I make some mistake?"
"Ha..."
Shin Ju-tae's denial left Yun Yeon dumbfounded. Even I was inwardly applauding his shamelessness—no further explanation needed.
No one had a face that thick.
'Come to think of it, his Title was something like Stage Actor.'
He must've been an actor or performer back on Earth. Just looking at his face, you could mistake him for someone truly clueless—his acting was that good.
But to me, who knew everything, the whole scene was hilarious. Yun Yeon probably felt the same.
It was like a cop with ironclad evidence grilling the perp, only for the perp to play dumb.
In other words, it was damn hard not to laugh.
'Puhaha... moron.'
The net was closed, evidence airtight, and here he was pretending ignorance. I couldn't help sneering.
In the end, a chuckle slipped out.
"Ha, hahaha!"
Annoyed by my laugh, Shin Ju-tae's lackey shot me a menacing glare.
"....Why are you laughing, Mr. Lee Yun-seong?"
'Is he dumb, or just blind to the situation?'
Shin Ju-tae shot his lackey a look, but the idiot didn't catch it.
"Ah... You'll find out once you hear this."
'Why I'm laughing? You'll know soon enough.'