Chapter 88
Chapter 88
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: The Leash Changes Hands
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“……!!”
Was it because he’d used Psychometry a whopping five times in such a short period?
Beeeeep—!
A sharp ringing pierced his mind, and bile rose in his throat.
It felt like shards of glass stabbing into his brain.
‘I can’t use it more than five times.’
He could still endure it for now.
But from here on out, he couldn’t recklessly use Psychometry five more times.
“Whew….”
Lee Dae-hyuk let out a shallow sigh and desperately suppressed the pain while managing his expression.
“Please, both of you, have a seat.”
Lee Dae-hyuk sat first and gestured for the two men to sit.
“Yes.”
“…Yes.”
Reporter Bae and Detective Yoon Dong-chul glanced at each other warily before taking their seats.
Lee Dae-hyuk deliberately flashed them a sinister smile.
After peering into their inner thoughts with Psychometry, a laugh had escaped him without realizing it.
‘Lee Dae-hwan’s got quite the pack of dogs. Just like Chairman Yoo Jae-man.’
Reporter Bae and Detective Yoon Dong-chul—both dogs raised by Lee Dae-hwan.
Today, these dogs had come to bite his throat on their master’s orders.
But.
‘From today, they’re mine.’
“So, how did you two find your way here?”
Lee Dae-hyuk asked them coolly.
“…….”
“…….”
Reporter Bae and Detective Yoon Dong-chul just stared at each other, unable to give any answer.
They couldn’t very well say, ‘Lee Dae-hwan ordered us to come take you down….’
As the two sat there like mimes who’d eaten honey, Kim Il-jung prodded them from the side.
“Dae-hyuk, stop wasting time and get to the point. I’m busy.”
“Oh, right. Straight to business, then.”
Lee Dae-hyuk crossed his arms and stared them down.
“Detective Yoon. Reporter Bae?”
“Yes.”
“Yes.”
“I know both of you are on Big Bro Dae-hwan’s payroll. Reporter Bae, you got yours just a few days ago, right?”
“…….”
Had Kim Il-jung already heard some from Lee Dae-hyuk?
He silently glared at the two men.
But in contrast.
“…….”
“…….”
Terrified by Kim Il-jung’s intimidating gaze, Reporter Bae and Detective Yoon Dong-chul just hung their heads.
Even amid this, Lee Dae-hyuk kept talking.
“And I know you came here to take me down as payment for that.”
“……!!! ”
“……!!! ”
Reporter Bae and Detective Yoon Dong-chul gasped in shock.
Just as they’d feared, the information had leaked.
‘Fuck! Which bastard!’
‘One slip of the tongue, and I’m walking right into a trap. Can’t mess up now.’
With a prosecutor right there.
One wrong word, and they’d be digging their own graves.
After a brief exchange of glances, Reporter Bae and Detective Yoon Dong-chul spoke up in turn.
“What are you talking about? A reporter wouldn’t do that.”
“Is that how you talk to a detective? Got proof?”
“Proof? Of course. Handbag, five million won in cash. We’ve got photos on our side.”
It was Lee Dae-hyuk’s bluff.
As if he’d had time to take pictures.
But.
“……!!”
“……!!! ”
Reporter Bae and Detective Yoon Dong-chul were so stunned that they didn’t even demand to see the photos—they just gaped.
Watching them, Lee Dae-hyuk continued to steer the conversation.
“But don’t worry, no need to panic. I’m here to help you both.”
“……?!!”
“……?!”
At the words “help you,” Reporter Bae and Detective Yoon Dong-chul’s jaws dropped.
“W-what do you mean? I don’t quite…”
Lee Dae-hyuk opened his mouth under their intense stares.
“You two don’t necessarily have to trap me, right? Reporter Bae, wouldn’t a scoop be better? And Detective Yoon, wouldn’t catching a drug dealer who supplies celebrities and chaebol heirs be a bigger win?”
In response to Lee Dae-hyuk’s question, Reporter Bae and Detective Yoon Dong-chul replied in turn.
“Trap? I don’t know what you mean…, but sure, a scoop would be great…”
“I’m not sure what you’re getting at. But if there’s a criminal like you say, of course we’d have to catch him. However…”
Lee Dae-hyuk sneered as they fidgeted and trailed off.
‘They’re scared.’
Naturally, the one they feared wasn’t him—it was Lee Dae-hwan.
“Is it because of Big Bro Dae-hwan?”
“!!”
“!!”
Lee Dae-hyuk deliberately mentioned Lee Dae-hwan.
Reporter Bae and Detective Yoon Dong-chul turned back into mimes.
From their position, they had no good answer to his question.
But Lee Dae-hyuk knew their silence was as good as a yes.
“I can’t help with that. Big Bro’s a bit tough for me too.”
Lee Dae-hyuk spoke honestly.
As if he could take down Lee Dae-hwan right now.
But he had a solid backer right beside him.
“By the way.”
“…….”
“…….”
“You know who Prosecutor Kim Il-jung here is, right? If he gets mad, he’s scarier than Big Bro Dae-hwan. Anyone he doesn’t like? He’ll make sure they end up in prison, no matter what.”
“Hey, prosecutors in Korea don’t—”
Kim Il-jung started to object but shut his mouth.
‘Just go with it.’
It was Lee Dae-hyuk’s cue with his eyes.
A warning to intimidate Reporter Bae and Detective Yoon Dong-chul.
Kim Il-jung knew a little show was needed to ‘use’ these two.
Finally, he sighed and spoke.
“…do that often. Unless you want to get dragged to prison right now, choose.”
After a pause, Kim Il-jung put on a fierce scowl and glared.
“Me? Or Lee Dae-hwan?”
Reporter Bae and Detective Yoon Dong-chul shuddered at the question.
Humans fear the immediate threat more than future repercussions.
After a quick glance, Detective Yoon Dong-chul and Reporter Bae asked in turn.
“What do we have to do?”
“Just say the word… and we’ll do it.”
Pleased with their responses?
Lee Dae-hyuk smiled in satisfaction, his eyes gleaming.
“Detective Yoon Dong-chul, tomorrow at this time, arrest Gold Moon’s CEO Kim Hyun-seung.”
“Pardon?”
“Charges: drug distribution, procuring prostitution, embezzlement, etc. Prosecutor Kim Il-jung here will issue the warrant.”
“Um… but we need evidence…”
Lee Dae-hyuk picked up a beer bottle from the table.
“The evidence is right here. And there’s someone who’ll testify about its source and stand as a witness. Ms. Im Seo-ran, you can come out now.”
Creeeak—!!!
At Lee Dae-hyuk’s call, the bedroom door opened, and Im Seo-ran stepped out.
“……?!!”
Detective Yoon Dong-chul and Reporter Bae’s eyes widened at the sudden appearance of the woman.
Lee Dae-hyuk spoke to them in a serious tone.
“She’s the witness I mentioned. Evidence and a witness. That should be enough for a story, right?”
“Yes? Oh, yes… more than enough.”
Reporter Bae answered in a hesitant voice.
Having heard that, Lee Dae-hyuk clapped his hands together.
“Alright, I’ve laid out the plan. Move in 24 hours as discussed. Do it right, and I’ll try to forget any personal grudges.”
“…….”
“…….”
Even with Lee Dae-hyuk’s gentle tone, Reporter Bae and Detective Yoon Dong-chul trembled in fear.
Their leash had simply changed hands.
A foreboding sense that harsher servitude awaited them.
***
Time passed.
With Reporter Bae and Detective Yoon Dong-chul off on their tasks, only Prosecutor Kim Il-jung, Im Seo-ran, and Lee Dae-hyuk remained in the hotel room.
Each was lost in thought.
Im Seo-ran stood there, watching the two men.
Kim Il-jung glared at Lee Dae-hyuk with clear displeasure.
“How about it? Like your gift?”
Lee Dae-hyuk grinned, meeting Kim Il-jung’s eyes.
“…Miss, go to the room.”
Unable to hold back, Kim Il-jung beckoned Im Seo-ran.
He had business to discuss with Lee Dae-hyuk alone.
“Yes.”
‘I want to go home…’
Im Seo-ran barely swallowed the words and stood.
She knew why Lee Dae-hyuk and Kim Il-jung were keeping her around.
She was a witness.
If Kim Hyun-seung learned she’d not only failed the ‘operation’ but betrayed him from the stand, he wouldn’t let it slide.
So, Lee Dae-hyuk’s plan was to entrust her protection to Prosecutor Kim Il-jung for 24 hours.
‘Not a plan… an order. Damn it, Im Seo-ran, you pathetic woman….’
Im Seo-ran lamented her fate as she entered the room.
Creeeak—! Click—!
With the door shut, Kim Il-jung got to the point.
“Gift, my ass. Hey.”
“Yes, hyung.”
“Were you always such a bastard?”
“What do you mean?”
“Were you always this slimy? What’s the difference between you and Lee Dae-hwan?”
“A big difference. He’s the strong one. I’m the weak one.”
Lee Dae-hyuk played innocent, and Kim Il-jung clutched his throbbing forehead.
“Don’t pull that emotional crap. I know you’re not that weak.”
“I’ve just gotten a bit smart from all the cold shoulders. Help your poor little brother out like this.”
Lee Dae-hyuk kept dodging with a smirk, and Kim Il-jung’s face flushed red.
“You little shit, haa….”
Honestly, irritation surged again, but… no other way.
If they followed Lee Dae-hyuk’s plan this time, they could nail that trash Kim Hyun-seung.
Still, one question needed clearing first.
“Fine, all good. Just one thing. Why wait a day? We could grab him now. What if he destroys the evidence?”
“No need to worry. To him, that evidence is insurance.”
“Insurance?”
Evidence as insurance?
Kim Il-jung couldn’t follow.
Frustrated by Kim Il-jung’s confusion, Lee Dae-hyuk frowned slightly.
“CCTV footage, ledgers, that stuff. Gotta have it to beg clients for help if the cops or prosecutors come knocking.”
Lee Dae-hyuk knew criminals’ psychology well.
They trusted no one—not allies, not clients.
No trust among lawbreakers.
So they created insurance.
‘Insurance that sometimes becomes a trap.’
Lee Dae-hyuk planned to use that trap properly this time.
For that, he needed one day.
“Preparing the warrant and paperwork takes time anyway, doesn’t it?”
“What are you really after?”
Kim Il-jung didn’t fully trust Lee Dae-hyuk.
He knew everything he’d done had turned out for the good.
Still, Lee Dae-hyuk reeked of criminal.
A cold, chilling viper scent.
Lee Dae-hyuk knew Kim Il-jung suspected him.
‘Not full allies or friends yet, nor enemies.’
So instead of revealing his true intentions.
“A just society? A drug-free clean Korea?”
He dodged with a smirk and a joke.
“…….”
Kim Il-jung naturally didn’t buy it.
But what could he do?
Couldn’t grab him by the collar and demand answers.
“…Fine. I’ll play along for now. Tomorrow at this time, we raid Gold Moon.”
“Got it. I’ll handle my part before then.”
Lee Dae-hyuk smiled brightly, and Kim Il-jung called for Im Seo-ran.
“Miss, let’s go!”
“…Yes.”
Creeeak—!!
Im Seo-ran emerged, bowing her head.
Pathetic and miserable, but what choice did she have?
For now, she had to follow their lead.
“See ya.”
Kim Il-jung left those words and took Im Seo-ran out of the room.
Slam—!!
Alone now, Lee Dae-hyuk sprawled on the sofa.
“Haa. Haa… Training won’t fix this, huh? Ugh….”
Tension released, drowsiness flooded in.
His energy was spent.
But he couldn’t sleep here.
After a brief rest to recover, Lee Dae-hyuk left the room.
***
The next day at noon.
Walking to meet his next helper after Kim Il-jung, Lee Dae-hyuk found himself smiling unwittingly.
Last night.
Something truly fun and beautiful had happened.
‘Evidence to the cops, witness to the prosecutor…. Perfect police-prosecutor cooperation.’
The beer bottle with drugs inside had been bagged by Detective Yoon Dong-chul and tightly sealed away.
Reporter Bae was surely prepping his scoop.
If they moved as planned, Kim Hyun-seung was prison-bound, and Gold Moon would shut down.
Before that, he had to steal their trap.
.
.
.
It was Christmas Eve, but White Storm was deathly quiet.
Eve, too, had no special plans and was greeting her first guest of the day.
“No days off?”
Eve shrugged at Lee Dae-hyuk’s question from across the table.
“Thanks to guys like you, Mr. Lee, no rest for me. Seems the same for you. The chaebol son looks awfully busy.”
“Chaebol son isn’t my job. Gotta work to eat.”
Eve frowned at Lee Dae-hyuk’s banter.
The more she thought, the more fascinating he was.
A dangerous, chilling man.
Yet always facing others with a smile.
Like staring at a massive tree.
A giant tree that would embrace everything in its shade.
‘Can’t judge him.’
She’d bribed his bodyguard for basic info.
But no key report yet to pin down Lee Dae-hyuk.
She’d have to trust her instincts on this giant.
After much thought, Eve asked Lee Dae-hyuk.
“You didn’t come just to see me. What’s the purpose?”
“You know about Gold Moon Club, right?”
Eve scowled at his counterquestion.
“You go there? Hmm. Didn’t peg you for that.”
“So you do know.”
Lee Dae-hyuk liked her reaction.
Eve pouted at his words.
“I hate junkies on principle. But why bring up Gold Moon out of nowhere?”
Eve’s eyes sparkled.
She’d instinctively caught the scent of money.
And as expected.
Lee Dae-hyuk made his request.
“Got a job for you. Manager, can you snag Gold Moon’s CCTV footage?”