Chapter 80
The video's contents were a spectacle beyond words—no need for lengthy descriptions. Even from the brief glimpse in his previous life, Cha Juhan had known it was no ordinary sex tape, but he hadn't anticipated this level of depravity.
As Kim Yeonjun had said, the setting looked like a hotel or residence. It was a total mess, making precise judgment impossible, but there was no sense of everyday living. The footage didn't just assault the eyes—it scrambled the ears too. Relentless fast-beat music blared nonstop, overlaid with raucous shouts, chatter, and laughter. By rough count, there were at least ten people crammed into that video.
What struck Cha Juhan as the most malicious touch was that every single face in the video had been mosaicked—except for Kim Yeonjun's. Even his naked body was fully exposed. The cameraperson, clearly thrilled, occasionally whooped in excitement, waving a hand to egg them on.
Surrounded by sloppily dressed women, Kim Yeonjun didn't look in his right mind, just as he'd claimed. The way he was struck with various tools resembled torture more than anything. His only reactions were groans. He let out an occasional "Heh heh heh" chuckle, which was one reason Cha Juhan doubted his sanity. It was too extreme to chalk up to mere drunkenness.
He was engaging in sex acts, sure, but the Kim Yeonjun inside them was suffering. His face grinned—likely from the drugs—but he didn't look like he was enjoying it one bit. This was too violent to call a sex video. With not a shred of Kim Yeonjun's will in those acts, it qualified as sexual assault. Drug-induced sexual assault, no less. In other words, a snuff film.
"This isn't just drunken stupor—it looks like he was drugged."
Kang Minjae, who had watched the entire video alongside him, shared the same view. It wasn't a tough guess. Among the netizens who'd seen it, some had speculated about drugs. To be fair, more insisted that someone who enjoyed such acts could react that way sober, to heighten the pleasure. Still, plenty believed Kim Yeonjun must have taken drugs during the acts to amplify the ecstasy.
"That's what I think too."
Kim Yeonjun had probably thought the same. No matter how blacked out from booze he got, he'd know his limits for self-destruction. And he'd surely seen the drug comments. Hadn't he admitted to checking them in the early days?
His silence on drugs with them likely stemmed from denial—even that much was too horrific to accept. Today's talk had revealed his avoidant tendencies clearly enough.
"The one holding the camera—that's probably the culprit, right? Their laughter was pretty loud."
"Noise and music drowned out the laughs pretty well."
"Yeah. The quality's not great anyway... But they get right up in Kim Yeonjun's face, zooming on his features and body. Feels like they filmed it from the start intending to release it. Not for fun—definitely premeditated."
"More like they staged it to look like fun. Like a wild party they're all loving. As if capturing one day out of many such bashes. Making it seem like Kim Yeonjun was reveling in his out-of-it state."
Other details in the video were too blurry from poor quality and lighting to make out. But the camera work screamed intent to identify Kim Yeonjun specifically. He'd hoped to glean clues from window reflections or objects in the room, but even that failed. Shot in dim stand lights and indirect glow, the footage was even worse.
"Catching this one's gonna take real police grit."
Cha Juhan crossed his arms at Kang Minjae's words. In his past life, Kim Yeonjun ended up granting Go Jin-a the negotiated divorce she wanted. He'd never heard of the video's distributor being caught, during or after. Oh Yanghun, ever tuned into the world's underbelly, had said nothing either—probably true.
Yangjin Group, his in-laws, might have leaned on the police subtly. Whether the perpetrators were his wife's family, rival firms, or grudge-holding acquaintances, Yangjin wouldn't want Kim Yeonjun painted as a pitiful victim. Exposing the discarded son-in-law as innocent would backfire, inviting accusations of abandoning him at the first scandal. Doubts about going that far were fair, but Cha Juhan saw it differently.
Go Sang-gyeong, chairman of the Yangjin Group—seventh-largest conglomerate—without that kind of pull? His rank in business circles would be a joke.
"Balcony's in the video, glass on the table. Not zero reflections—if the quality were better, we'd have the filmer's silhouette at least."
"In 2009, with tech this advanced, and this crap quality? Maybe they intentionally degraded it. As long as Kim Yeonjun's face is clear—and close-ups make that identifiable even blurry—why risk uploading identifiable details and getting caught?"
Cha Juhan almost quipped that in a few years, dramas would let you count the leads' pores, and 2009 cams weren't advanced enough for tech debates. Anyway, the video's quality was abysmal even by 2009 standards. He nodded slowly.
The filmer's laugh and hand were the only clues, but noise and blur ruined them too.
"Kim Yeonjun's laser-focused on finding the filmer, but can't narrow it down. Means the video alone doesn't give him a solid suspect."
"Probably. Still, worth asking. And we should dig into those inferiority-complex acquaintances too. Bet there are tons. Life throws rivals your way—then one weds into chaebol royalty, lands a corporate director gig? Eyes would roll."
Like Cha Juhan eyed Yangjin most, Kang Minjae suspected acquaintances foremost. Differing views weren't bad—better broad than narrow.
"Oh, right—the seafood spot he ran before marriage."
"Yeah."
"Partnered with a hyung he knew, right?"
"Yep."
"Start there."
No special reason needed for grudges between people, but filming and leaking something this vicious? No ordinary beef. High odds it stemmed from money. Brothers turn enemies over cash daily. Unpaid loans spark it, but business breeds it most. Partners clash over direction at minimum—resentments build, turning allies to foes. Add inferiority? Perfect storm, the bad kind.
"Yeah, makes sense."
Kang Minjae nodded, grasping the implication.
"Can't conclude pre-meeting. Check if he's got that guy's contact from Kim Yeonjun."
"But if we ask and they lie—deny grudge when they have one?"
"That's why investigate first."
"Got it. Oh, and just thought—check his romantic entanglements too. Seven years married, sure, but pre-wedding ex might hold a grudge. Ditched her for a chaebol heiress?"
Investigation started with fitting "storytelling," but Kang Minjae's imagination sprawled beyond.
"No buzz on exes, but no harm checking."
"Alright, reschedule with Kim Yeonjun. Need deeper dives on acquaintances."
"Not right away. Saw his state today."
Kang Minjae agreed. They'd urged psychiatric consult for victim proof—he'd visit soon. Current Kim Yeonjun couldn't list suspects coherently. Back-to-back meets would leave him flailing after lawyer hypotheticals. Cha Juhan had seen it plenty as prosecutor, now lawyer—victims' plights were inevitable, but investigators' headaches too.
"True. Grill the partner by phone first. Meet once stabilized, probe acquaintances. Anything you couldn't confirm, I'll ask too."
Two lawyers tag-teaming calls annoyed clients, even if for their case. But meaningful info from Kim Yeonjun now? Tough. He wasn't supplying leads—Cha Juhan had to steer, post-investigation.
"Nothing yet." He raised his phone in reply.
"Yep. Oh, and we gotta tap Taesik's resources this time."
At Kang Minjae's words, Cha Juhan flashed the screen—Jang Taesik's number, freshly entered. He'd been about to use his Jang Taesik card anyway.