Chapter 106: A New Ally
Meanwhile, Jae-hyeok was working alongside other gang members inside the D Workshop.
As he moved through the facility, he gathered various pieces of information about the Gangryonghoe.
'Let's see. Video evidence of incidents that occur inside the workshop.'
'Information on corrupt police linked to the Gangryonghoe is somewhat lacking, but I’ve managed to secure some.'
'I just need to do a bit more checking, and I’ll have to send the additional details to the upper echelons this evening.'
Just as Jae-hyeok was deeply focused on his undercover work, U Sang-gyu, who was laboring with him, asked.
"Jae-hyeok-ah. Did you hear any news about Yeong-seok? It’s Seo Yeong-seok."
Jae-hyeok recalled the moment he had spotted Yeong-seok while heading to meet his father Park Min-hyeok after rescuing reporter Go Yong-jin.
Thinking that if Yeong-seok had been entangled with Go Yong-jin at that time,
'If I let his whereabouts slip, it might put Yeong-seok in trouble.'
'For now, I’ll pretend not to know.'
And Jae-hyeok answered Sang-gyu.
"No. None. Why?"
"Sang-gyu said Yeong-seok has a place of work. It got wiped out by the Suwon branch."
"Suwon branch? Suddenly?"
Jae-hyeok was taken aback by the sudden news, but he kept his composure while speaking with Sang-gyu.
"Yeah. Manager Seo Myeong-woo personally handled it, they said?"
"For what reason?"
"I don’t know. I heard that the Yeong-seok organization got properly marked in the Suwon branch."
"Then what happened to Yeong-seok?"
"I don’t know that, so I’m asking you about his whereabouts."
At this, Jae-hyeok thought hard.
'Could it be that Yeong-seok became a target of the Gangryonghoe because of his connection with Go Yong-jin?'
'Since Go Yong-jin has dirt on politician Cha Jin-yeong associated with the Gangryonghoe,'
'Cha Jin-yeong’s side might have requested the removal of Yeong-seok, who is connected to him,'
'It could also be that Sim Gi-hwan was removed at the level of joint liability because of his connection with Yeong-seok.'
"Jae-hyeok-ah? Hey, Park Jae-hyeok."
"Yeah?"
Sang-gyu patted Jae-hyeok’s shoulder who was lost in thought and called him.
"Why are you spacing out all of a sudden?"
"Ah, well… I haven’t been sleeping well lately, so maybe."
"Need sleeping pills or something?"
"No, not to that extent."
While talking to Sang-gyu, Jae-hyeok’s mind was filled with worry for Yeong-seok.
'After work, I should investigate Yeong-seok’s whereabouts.'
At that moment, Jae-hyeok’s phone rang, so he answered.
"Yeah, Jeong-han-ah."
"Busy?"
"It’s lunchtime, so I’m resting. What about you?"
"I’m resting too. Let’s talk for a bit after work today."
"Is it about uncle’s business?"
"Yeah."
Sang-gyu stared blankly at Jae-hyeok.
"I got it. I’ll contact you after work."
After Jae-hyeok hung up, Sang-gyu asked him.
"Uncle’s business?"
"Ah, there’s an uncle I know who’s running a business…"
"Since the profits aren’t coming out, I was wondering how to help."
"Hmm, I don’t have anything to help with?"
"No."
"Even if you need help, let me know anytime."
"I’ll help as much as possible."
And Sang-gyu smiled at Jae-hyeok.
At this, Jae-hyeok showed a slightly awkward smile and answered him.
"Yeah, yeah… Thanks."
After work, at Crown Hotel Suwon Branch.
Jae-hyeok was resting on the bed for a moment.
'After that, I’ll send info from the PC room, and first, I need to find info on 'that person' from that side.'
And Jae-hyeok recalled his father Park Min-hyeok.
'Since I haven’t contacted that side directly, the probability of him being there is higher.'
At that moment, Jae-hyeok’s phone rang, and the caller was his girlfriend Alina Kim.
"Yeah, baby."
"What were you doing?"
"I just finished work and was resting."
And Jae-hyeok got up from the bed and continued the call with Alina.
"Have you been receiving good education?"
"Yeah. It’s still a long way to go."
"But I heard you were dispatched to Suwon."
"Yeah. That’s right."
"Is the work there difficult?"
"Just a little…"
"If it’s hard, I can help a bit?"
Alina knew Jae-hyeok was an undercover police.
And she could provide him with a lot of help using her influence.
But Jae-hyeok didn’t want Alina to get entangled in his mission.
"No. You should focus on your own work."
"Even so, I’m worried about oppa."
"You don’t have to worry. If I need it, I’ll definitely tell you then."
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Thinking that, Alina unconsciously showed a bitter expression.
"Yeah. You worked hard today, so rest well."
"Got it. You worked hard too, so rest well."
"I love you."
At this, Alina smiled bashfully and answered.
"Me too, I love you."
"Then I’ll contact you again next time."
"Yeah. Contact me when you have time."
After hanging up, Alina sighed.
And Robert, who saw this, asked her in English.
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Sitting on the sofa, she leaned against the backrest and asked Robert.
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And she looked at the information Robert had secured with him.
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Alina’s expression gradually hardened as she carefully examined the information about Jae-hyeok.
She knew Jae-hyeok was a secret police, but she hadn’t thought that his family was tied to a major crime in Korea.
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At this, Alina pondered for a moment and said to Robert.
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In the end, Robert could not refuse Alina’s wish.
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That evening, at some PC room.
Jae-hyeok was sending information to the police side.
'Okay. Transmission complete.'
And Jae-hyeok sent a file to Seung-cheol via computer.
A short while later, Jae-hyeok’s phone rang, so he answered.
"Have you eaten dinner?"
"I ate two portions of jjajangmyeon."
"I saw the information you sent recently."
Seung-cheol was organizing files from Jae-hyeok and other undercover agents sent to his computer in the office.
"Within a maximum of one week, based on the information secured so far, you will raid the D Workshop where you are and the A Workshop where other undercover agents are dispatched."
"After the operation ends, you will hide as much as possible while avoiding the police."
"Since you are officially dismissed from your respective positions, you will be on the Gangryonghoe organization member list."
"Yes. Understood."
"If arrested, we will use our power to,"
"Make sure you can escape as well as possible,"
"But try not to get caught as much as possible."
"Yes."
"By the way, I heard that Jeong-han, who infiltrated the entertainment, came to Suwon."
"He said he came because he had a matter to handle."
It means there is a target to handle.
"A matter… So there is a target. Information about the target?"
"We’ll meet today and talk."
"Yeah. If you find out, contact us."
"Yes. Understood."
And after hanging up, Jae-hyeok contacted Jeong-han.
"Yeah, Jeong-han-ah. Is it time now?"
"Yeah. I’ll send you my location, come there."
"Got it."
And after hanging up, Jae-hyeok turned off the computer and stood up from his seat.
A while later, at some convenience store.
Jae-hyeok met Jeong-han, and Jeong-han was at an outdoor table.
And there were soju bottles and beer cans on the table.
"Long time no see."
"How have you been?"
Jae-hyeok sat in front of Jeong-han and greeted him.
"Pretty good. But how’s your side’s business going?"
"Pretty well. I just sent info to uncle."
Jae-hyeok looked at the soju bottles and beer cans on the table and asked Jeong-han.
"But did you drink?"
"Just… It’s a day when I feel like drinking. Want to drink some too?"
"Yeah, I’ll just drink beer."
And Jae-hyeok opened a beer can in front of him and asked Jeong-han.
"But there’s one thing I want to ask. Who is the target you are in charge of?"
"Go Yong-jin, a reporter from KBC."
Instantly, Jae-hyeok’s expression hardened.
"Go Yong-jin?"
"Yeah. Apparently, he’s a scumbag who spreads false information… Apparently, there are many grudges around him…"
Jeong-han took a sip of soju in a paper cup and continued.
"Apparently, he got grudges from a pretty big place, and the bounty was 5 billion."
"How much is the payout?"
"The payout is 5 billion. 5 billion per person."
"Ah, I see?"
'Yeah, since he has info on VVIP, it makes sense that it cost that much.'
And Jae-hyeok asked Jeong-han.
"Have you found the location?"
"Not yet. So, he’s going to his in-laws’ place to find the location… Honestly, it’s a bit like that."
"Let’s say it’s okay to touch just one target. But proposing to touch the surrounding people too is a bit not right, isn’t it?"
"If they are killers, that’s how it is…"
"I’m really not a killer."
Jeong-han looked around as if someone might hear and continued.
"I’m not a real human who makes a living by killing."
"I’ve killed some people because of the operation…"
"Yeah. But that was for terrorists or criminals."
Jeong-han nodded at Jae-hyeok’s words.
"Let’s say for thorough camouflage, you can kill one or two targets."
"Sometimes, even if a real killer gets caught."
"But what crime do the surrounding people have?"
"Those who know and cooperate would be the same, but there are cases where they don’t."
And Jeong-han gulped down the soju in one go, looking frustrated.
"If… to kill one specific person,"
"If you wipe out the entire family, including infants…"
"Is that really… the right thing to do…?"
At this, Jae-hyeok silently looked at Jeong-han.
At that moment, Jae-hyeok’s phone in his pants pocket rang.
It was the cannon phone given by his father Min-hyeok.
"Jeong-han-ah. I’ll take a call for a moment."
"Yeah. Go ahead."
Jae-hyeok stood up from his seat and went to a place with little foot traffic to answer the call.
"Hello."
"Is it Jae-hyeok?"
The caller was his father Park Min-hyeok.
But Jae-hyeok still found it difficult to call him father.
"Yes. What’s the matter?"
"I have information to tell you."
"Go ahead."
"I just got a list of corrupt police associated with the Gangryonghoe."
"Only information about police in the Suwon area,"
"But with this, I can strike at the Gangryonghoe business sites in Suwon."
'Fortunately, I was lacking information on corrupt police.'
"I’ll pass it on to you."
"Thank you."
"And you, by any chance… Seo Yeong-seok, right?"
Jae-hyeok asked Min-hyeok out of concern that Yeong-seok might be there.
"I know. It’s a friend I talked to last week. Why?"
"That friend gave me information. They said their boss was killed by the Gangryonghoe and they would cooperate with us."
"Is Seo Yeong-seok safe?"
"Yeah. We’re protecting him on our side."
'Seo Yeong-seok is there? And if they showed willingness to cooperate…'
After thinking for a moment, Jae-hyeok said to Min-hyeok.
"After the business is done, can I go to that side?"
"You mean coming to us?"
"Yeah. I have something to say to Seo Yeong-seok."
'It’s not bad to reveal my identity and ask for cooperation from Yeong-seok.'