Chapter 134
Chapter 134
What Have I Done?
“Should we part ways here?”
“Great work, everyone!”
“Honestly, it wasn’t much work.”
Someone’s comment made everyone burst into laughter. The faces of ‘The Imperial Seal’ team were glowing, their expressions bright. They had returned on Yu Geon-min’s private jet, so they didn’t feel any fatigue from the flight.
“We had a great time, thanks to you, Yeon-seo.”
“I hope we can work on the same project again.”
“Me too!”
“Get home safe!”
Yu Yeon-seo gave a slight nod to their farewells.
“Young Master.”
As he exited the terminal, Im Seung-hyeon was already waiting for him.
“Did you enjoy your vacation? There were a lot of articles about it.”
“Yes.”
Though I was dragged all over the place to take those pictures. Yu Yeon-seo nodded, his face weary. Even after the luxurious travel program prepared by Yu Geon-min ended, ‘The Imperial Seal’ team didn’t return to their respective lodgings. They gathered in a spacious suite, talking and playing games all night.
‘Ah, I’m tired.’
To be honest, it was fun. It was the first time he had spent days surrounded by so many people, just hanging out like this. His skin had tanned a little because of it, but since he was so pale before, he actually looked better now.
‘So that’s what Kim I-jun meant...’
Moreover, expending so much energy had significantly reduced the frequency of the hallucinations and auditory illusions that plagued him. Kim I-jun’s question back then, asking if he still hated being alone, hadn’t been for nothing.
‘So, do I need someone with me all the time?’
But that would be a hassle. He frowned.
“So, what’s the status of the investigation?”
“I’ll explain the details at your home. With the Senior Managing Director.”
“Hasn’t my brother heard yet?”
“He’s been incredibly busy.”
Lee Tae-gyeom, who was following behind with Yu Yeon-seo’s luggage, hesitated.
“Then I can just go separately, right?”
“No, you come to my place too.”
“Why?”
The more people there are to boss around, the better.
“You’re back?”
“Anyone would think this is your house.”
Yu Yeon-seo gave a small smile at his brother, who had come out to greet him. He felt his body relax as he looked around his spacious, now-familiar home. Resting at the resort was nice, but home was truly the best.
“Father was happy when he saw the pictures.”
“Were there that many?”
“I think he even made an account... Anyway, make sure you call him today.”
“I will.”
No matter how rich someone was, would they really make such a fuss for their son and his colleagues? Honestly, it had been burdensome and annoying at first, but since he did end up having a good time, he knew he had to call to make sure his father didn’t get upset.
As he went inside, he saw Baek Seo-jun sprawled on the sofa. He waved a limp hand.
“Have a good trip?”
“What about the investigation?”
“Hey, not even a proper greeting? What’s the rush?”
Baek Seo-jun sat up. The dark circles under his eyes suggested he’d been tired out by work. However, Yu Yeon-seo wasn’t considerate enough to ask about it. Baek Seo-jun didn’t mention it either.
“I had a good trip. Happy now?”
“It looked like you had more than a good trip—it was an amazing one, from what I saw in the articles.”
“If you know, why ask? But what exactly was posted that’s causing all this?”
Curious, he turned on his phone. He didn’t even need to search. Just looking at the entertainment news, most of the articles were about ‘The Imperial Seal’s’ reward vacation.
[‘The Imperial Seal’ Cast and Crew Share a Relay of Photos from Their Luxury Reward Vacation]
[Yu Yeon-seo’s Reward Vacation Photos ‘A Hot Topic’—Toned Physique and Bright Smiles with Colleagues]
[Searches for ‘Hyun-Seo Couple’ Skyrocket After Yu Yeon-seo & Shin Ye-won’s Vacation Photos]
[Vice Chairman Yu Geon-min, Sponsor of ‘The Imperial Seal’s’ Reward Vacation, Opens Social Media Account... First Post is, of Course, Bragging About His Son]
└ OMG I’m gonna choke, there’s so much content
└ Wow, I’m so jealousㅠㅠ
└ At this point, let’s get the Hyun-Seo couple married with kids for season 2 of The Imperial Seal
└└ Let’s gooo
There were even photos that made Yu Yeon-seo, who had been on the trip, wonder, “When did we take this?” It seemed everyone had been competing to take pictures and post them on their personal social media or online communities. Whether it was because of that or not, the articles about his past controversies had vanished.
“If I knew this would happen, I should’ve stuck with you instead of being a detective...”
“Want to come along as my manager?”
“That sounds good.”
“But you’ll have to carry luggage like this.”
“Never mind.”
Yu Yeon-seo watched the conversation between Baek Seo-jun and Lee Tae-gyeom with his arms crossed. When did those two get so close?
“So, the investigation results?”
“Have a seat.”
Yu Yeon-seo quickly sat down across from Baek Seo-jun. Everyone waited for Baek Seo-jun to speak. Lee Tae-gyeom sat awkwardly, wondering if he was even supposed to be hearing this.
“I’ll tell you what I heard from Mr. Choi Nam-yun’s daughter, Choi Mi-ri, at the funeral.”
Baek Seo-jun and Im Seung-hyeon recalled the events of that day.
[Did the deceased act strangely before his death?]
[Like what?]
[Did he suddenly start going somewhere frequently, or was he in contact with anyone suspicious?]
Choi Mi-ri still had to receive outpatient treatment. So, to be prepared for any potential emergencies, she said she spent a lot of time with her father. Lost in thought, Choi Mi-ri suddenly lifted her head.
[Ah! Recently, my father seemed to have an argument with someone on the phone.]
[Do you know what they were talking about?]
[Um... I think he said something like, ‘You said it would be fine,‘ and ‘What are you going to do about it now?’... Thinking about it, it does seem suspicious.]
[Do you remember what day that was?]
[Uh... just a moment.]
She scrolled through her phone, checking if she had a conversation record with a friend from that day, and then stated the date. Hearing it, Yu Yeon-seo’s brow furrowed.
“That day...”
“Was the day that strange person sent the letter to your agency.”
“That’s quite a coincidence.”
“Which means there’s a high chance it’s not a coincidence, right?”
Yu Yeon-seo nodded. Yu Eun-ho, who had been listening silently beside him, spoke up.
“Did you go to the hospital he was admitted to?”
“It had already closed down, so we couldn’t find any records.”
Im Seung-hyeon answered instead. The two brothers clicked their tongues in disappointment at the same time.
“To sum it up so far, Choi Nam-yun did something that day because he needed his daughter’s surgery money. Together with that psycho who sent the weird letter.”
“Did any of his old colleagues visit the funeral?”
The faint clue was slowly taking shape. Something surged within him, but Yu Yeon-seo calmly listened to Baek Seo-jun’s story for now.
[You know that Mr. Choi Nam-yun worked as a security guard at Juseong’s Chairman Yu Chang-ho’s residence, right?]
[Yes, I know. My father once got me Lee Hui-seo’s autograph.]
[Speaking of which... do you remember that day? The day Lee Hui-seo died.]
Choi Mi-ri’s answer came quickly.
[I remember because I was having surgery then.]
[Oh? Wait a minute, then... your father would have been with you, right? As your guardian.]
[Yes. When I woke up from the anesthesia and turned on the TV, every channel was reporting her death, so I remember.]
Baek Seo-jun and Im Seung-hyeon looked at each other. His absence that day meant he didn’t commit the murder himself. Did he contribute in some other way? Choi Mi-ri added that her father had submitted his resignation right after that.
That was in the records Park Jeong-ho had provided. It said he resigned to take care of his sick daughter.
[The funeral home is very quiet. It seems his colleagues from back then didn’t come.]
[Come to think of it... someone said something to me yesterday.]
Just yesterday? Im Seung-hyeon raised an eyebrow. The person had apparently asked suspicious questions, like if her father had left anything behind. Baek Seo-jun narrowed his eyes.
[What did you do?]
[Honestly, I couldn’t trust him. He didn’t even show me an ID like you did, detective.]
[You did the right thing. Don’t trust anyone from now on.]
At Baek Seo-jun’s low voice, Choi Mi-ri swallowed hard. Talking with them made her realize the suspicious points one by one. As she became convinced that her father had indeed been murdered, tears welled up in her eyes.
Im Seung-hyeon handed her a tissue and waited for her to calm down before taking out his phone and showing her a video. It was CCTV footage of the man who had delivered the strange letter to the agency.
[Was it a person like this? He has a scar on his right ear...]
[I can’t tell from this. The quality is too blurry... I can’t really see the scar either.]
[Would it be alright if we went to your home and investigated? If your father really did leave something behind, it could be evidence.]
Choi Mi-ri pressed her lips together, looking back and forth between Baek Seo-jun and Im Seung-hyeon.
Baek Seo-jun looked intimidating, but his identity was confirmed. And the man next to him, Im Seung-hyeon, had such a trustworthy face. A clean-cut face, like a news anchor’s. He looked like someone who wouldn’t do anything wrong.
After a moment of thought, Choi Mi-ri nodded.
“Here’s the crucial piece of evidence. I wonder what was so secret that we found it after tearing down the ceiling.”
“...A diary?”
“Yeah, look at this part first.”
Baek Seo-jun unfolded a small, folded page. May 12th, 1999.
[They said the surgery fee was prepaid. I’m saved! Mi-ri will be okay now.]
[Lee Hui-seo committed suicide? Of all days?]
[No way.]
[It must be a coincidence.]
[I believed him when he said he was just taking the day off.]
[No way.]
[What have I done?]
“And the very last page of the diary.”
[That bastard contacted me. I found this diary, just in case.]
[I’m glad I kept a diary. For the sake of a truth that might be needed.]
[I leave this behind as an act of atonement.]
Unable to look any further, Yu Yeon-seo let out a small groan and turned his head away. He looked unstable, but since they had started, they had to finish.
“From the earlier entries, it seems Choi Nam-yun... was paid to swap places with that psycho for the day.”
“And that psycho killed Mom?”
“He probably resigned in a hurry, using his daughter’s illness as an excuse in case it became a problem.”
Yu Eun-ho, who was also feeling a surge of emotions, let out a deep sigh. Then, he looked at his younger brother sitting next to him and composed himself.
“Yeon-seo.”
“......Huh?”
“Unclench your fists.”
His brother’s fists were clenched so tightly they were about to draw blood. Im Seung-hyeon stood up and brought over a first-aid kit.
Baek Seo-jun silently watched Yu Yeon-seo, who had offered his hand, and Yu Eun-ho, who was seething with quiet rage.
“For now, this is important evidence, so I’ll keep it. Looking at you two right now, giving it to you would be a bad idea.”
“...Alright.”
“If you’re grateful, buy me a drink sometime.”
His business concluded, Baek Seo-jun stood up abruptly. Im Seung-hyeon, who had finished treating Yu Yeon-seo’s hand, and Lee Tae-gyeom, who was still dazed by what he had just heard, also stood up.
“We’ve only identified one person, so let’s not make any rash moves. Chuseok is next week, right?”
He was telling them not to give the slightest hint to the culprit who had bribed Choi Nam-yun and ordered the murder, allowing that psycho to enter the residence.
“I’m leaving.”
“Uh... I’ll get going too.”
After the three left, only silence filled the living room. Yu Yeon-seo staggered into his room. Yu Eun-ho didn’t stop him. He had also just heard the shocking truth and wasn’t in the right mind to take care of his brother.
Locking the door, Yu Yeon-seo slowly slid down against it.
“What is this...”
Slumped on the floor, he clutched his head.
Choi Nam-yun wasn’t the direct killer, but he had contributed to the murder. But did Choi Nam-yun have malicious intent? He just wanted to save his daughter. He wasn’t unfamiliar with that kind of desperation. But did he have to understand that desperation? He was a victim too, wasn’t he?
Then was Choi Nam-yun innocent? That wasn’t right either. Why did he keep his mouth shut all this time, knowing something was suspicious? He wanted to know the reason, but Choi Nam-yun was already dead.
Moreover, while Choi Nam-yun’s diary could be important evidence, it didn’t point to the direct culprit. He had finally found a clue, only to be back at square one. So who should he resent now? He couldn’t think straight.
“Hah...”
His breath quickened, and something white flickered at the edge of his vision. A high-pitched ringing filled his ears, and someone whispered in his ear. Because of you. It’s all because of you.
<Master.>
Beta, sensing the change in his body, called out to him in a worried tone. But his ragged breathing wouldn’t calm down.
“Heok...”
<Master. Please calm down.>
Just as Yu Yeon-seo was about to descend into a full-blown panic, his phone suddenly rang in his pocket.
[Father]
Father. The moment he saw those words, he felt his body calm down, as if by a lie. He stared into the empty air. The form that had been tormenting him was gone, as if it had never been there.