The Investigation Begins
From this moment forward, I would be hunting down evidence of the crimes committed by Lee Jae-hyuk, Executive Director of QS Delivery. In a single word: the investigation had begun. (Strictly speaking, when a private individual or group lacking formal investigative powers examines the facts of a case, the correct legal term is “inquiry.”)
Hmph. As a former prosecutor, this was work I was both familiar with and confident in. Even without the power to execute search warrants or personally arrest suspects as I once could, I now possessed authority delegated by the Central Management Division of the QS Group. That authority granted me unrestricted access to every document at QS Delivery, and my status as Chairman Kwon Byung-do’s son would make cooperation from others far easier to obtain.
After all, the most decisive piece of evidence—Lee Jae-hyuk’s corporate card transaction records—was already in my hands. With this level of authority, I might actually be able to investigate more effectively than a prosecutor. This wasn’t some petty theft; we were looking at embezzlement worth at least several hundred million won. The thought that it was my money only fueled my determination.
The foundation of any investigation is identifying the weakest link. Lee Jae-hyuk had obtained cash through card laundering at entertainment establishments, used that cash as bribes to secure contracts, pocketed the remainder, and spent company funds on employee events and congratulatory or condolence payments to expand his influence. Where was the weakest connection?
Not the client employees. They would never willingly admit that Lee Jae-hyuk had laundered money and shared it with them in exchange for contracts. If exposed, they would stand trial alongside him for breach of fiduciary duty.
Not the QS Delivery employees either. As Cha Ye-na had said, they had merely attended company dinners or received monetary gifts for personal occasions. While my identity as the chairman’s son could force them to talk, their testimony alone would be insufficient to prove Lee Jae-hyuk’s crimes. These were people close enough to him to share meals and attend family events. Pressuring them first would only alert Lee Jae-hyuk that I was targeting him, giving him time to prepare without yielding any real evidence.
While pondering where to strike first, I reviewed the case summary and immediately spotted the easiest and most effective target.
— Card laundering at entertainment establishments.
If I applied pressure there, dust would fly in bucketfuls. With the right mix of persuasion and leverage, I could secure the statements and information I needed.
The next evening, I drove my car into the district crowded with entertainment establishments. Even though foreign luxury cars were common here, the supercar I arrived in drew every eye. When I stopped at a traffic light, several touts rushed over and knocked on my window, hoping to land a wealthy customer. Since I had no intention of visiting just any establishment, I ignored them and continued on.
My destination was clear: the very place where Lee Jae-hyuk’s corporate card had been used once a week. Most of the large transactions had occurred there, making it the obvious base for his card-laundering operation. The navigation system guided me straight to the address I had already looked up, and I arrived shortly after entering the district.
After parking and walking toward the entrance, I was met by an unexpected sight. The madam, dressed in a traditional Korean robe, had come out personally to greet me. I hadn’t made a reservation, but the power of a supercar was apparently considerable. Behind her stood several other employees in similar attire.
“Welcome, sir. Are you meeting someone, or are you alone?”
Having the person I needed to see come out to greet me made things considerably easier.
“I came alone.”
“Understood. Please come inside. If you’re alone, you might feel lonely, so you can choose any of the girls here to pour your drinks, or I can call someone else for you.”
“I’d like to drink with you, Madam. What do you say?”
The reactions were immediate and divided. The madam, who understood exactly what it meant for a solo customer to ask for her specifically, frowned. The employees, who looked at least ten years younger than her, alternated glances between my supercar and the madam, their faces filled with envy.
Kids, it’s not what you think.
I followed the madam past the entrance and into a private room. Out of basic courtesy, I ordered the standard set. Soon she returned with a tray holding a bottle of whiskey, two glasses, and some fruit, which she placed before me.
“You don’t seem to be a regular, and this is our first meeting. If you came alone and specifically asked to see me first, I assume you’re not here just to enjoy yourself?”
“Correct. I appreciate how quickly you get to the point.”
“What brings you here?”
I took out the printed photograph of Lee Jae-hyuk I had prepared and handed it to her.
“You know this man, don’t you? His name is Lee Jae-hyuk.”
“He’s one of our frequent customers. I remember the face, though not the name. Is there something you’d like me to tell you about him?”
“Yes. Our records show he frequently used his card here to obtain cash. I’ve come to verify the facts.”
The madam’s carefully maintained expression twisted for a moment.
“If customers request card laundering, we accommodate them, but we don’t make any profit from it ourselves. If anything, the inflated card sales only cause us trouble with taxes and other issues.”
I had been bluffing with only circumstantial evidence before arriving, but her direct admission was a welcome gift.
“So you’re confirming that you did perform card laundering for this man?”
“We did, but it was purely as a customer service. What right do you have to come here asking questions?”
“For now, let’s just say I’m a lawyer. I’m not here about you or this establishment, so there’s no need to get defensive.”
“If this gentleman stops coming, our revenue will take a significant hit.”
She was trying to resist, so I decided it was time to make my position clear.
“Will you only lose Lee Jae-hyuk, or will you lose the entire establishment?”
“What… what did you say? Are you saying that just because you’re a lawyer, you can shut down someone else’s business?”
“Before coming here, I looked into things. Quite a few customers have woken up after drinking here to find several million—or even tens of millions—charged to their cards while they were unconscious. Should I refer this matter to the prosecution in the name of social justice?”
The madam bit down on her heavily lipsticked lips before opening them again. Oh, she’s got lipstick on her front teeth.
“What am I supposed to do if those gentlemen ordered drinks and then couldn’t remember?”
“You’re welcome to have the prosecution verify whether the charges matched the actual orders. By the way, did you know that the card Lee Jae-hyuk used here was a QS corporate card?”
“W-wait a moment. We don’t distinguish between corporate and personal cards when providing this service, but… QS Group?”
“That’s right. You may or may not know who I am, but I’m conducting an internal investigation into suspected embezzlement by Lee Jae-hyuk.”
As I said this, I turned my face fully toward her. Recognition flashed in her eyes.
“D-don’t tell me… Are you the chairman’s son who passed the bar exam at the top of your class this time?”
“Yes, that’s me. I hold no ill will toward you or this establishment. I simply want to know whether Lee Jae-hyuk embezzled company funds through this place, and if so, how much.”
Realizing I was not someone she could negotiate with, the madam let out a defeated sigh.
“You really won’t touch the establishment itself?”
“You may bear some joint responsibility for Lee Jae-hyuk’s embezzlement, but I have no desire to fight you. Let’s overlook the overcharging incidents you mentioned earlier. How does that sound?”
“Understood. We keep separate records because the amounts from card laundering aren’t actual sales. Would it be sufficient to provide the transactions for the man in that photograph?”
“Yes. That would be perfect. You understand quickly.”
A short while later, I left the establishment with the printed records of Lee Jae-hyuk’s card-laundering transactions. In addition to those documents, the entire conversation I had just had with the madam was safely recorded on the voice memo app I had activated before entering.
Back in my car, I checked the recording and glanced through the documents. The amount this deranged man had embezzled over the past few years from this single establishment alone exceeded 1.1 billion won. If he had been doing this at multiple locations, he had likely siphoned off tens of billions.
Just as I was about to start the engine, an updated verdict regarding Lee Jae-hyuk’s embezzlement case appeared before my eyes.
Order. The defendant is sentenced to four years in prison.
A clean prison sentence with no suspended execution.
With the possibility of prosecutorial non-indictment or deliberate loss of the case now eliminated, I immediately proceeded with filing the complaint. Once the complaint was accepted, Lee Jae-hyuk was placed on immediate standby duty—a disciplinary measure that effectively amounted to being one step away from dismissal, as he was required to report to work but given no actual responsibilities.
Whether because he had nothing to do at the office or because he was grasping at straws, Lee Jae-hyuk called me directly.
“This is Kwon Ho-gyun.”
— Good afternoon, Young Master. This is Lee Jae-hyuk from QS Delivery.
“We’re currently in the middle of both legal proceedings and internal disciplinary procedures. There shouldn’t be any need for you to contact me separately.”
— Well, Young Master, I’m truly sorry. Please, just hear me out once, as if you’re saving a life. I was going to hang up, but then I thought, what’s so difficult about listening for a moment?
I kept the phone to my ear a little longer.
“Go ahead. What is it?”
— I did wrong, but I didn’t use all that money just for myself. If I hadn’t secured those contracts with that money, honestly, QS Delivery wouldn’t even be able to maintain operations right now. And if I go to prison like this, what happens to my wife and children? Please, just this once, show me some leniency. I beg you, Young Master.
“What you just said would be better said to the prosecution or the court. As the defendant, you’ll be given full opportunity to exercise your right to defense.”
— Aigoo, Young Master, I’ll personally deliver the money I embezzled to you as a gesture of apology. Please, just look the other way this once, all right?
Should I have just hung up? After everything, he was now trying to make me an accomplice to embezzlement over a few paltry sums. This man really handled everything this way.
I was about to end the call when Lee Jae-hyuk said something unexpected.
— Third Young Master, no matter how bold I am, how could I have done something like this alone? I’ll tell you exactly whose orders it was.