Chapter 445: I’ve Put a Proper Leash on Him

A heavy silence fell over the scene as everyone took in the shocking sight. No one dared speak.

The corpse was in horrific condition. Several toes had been severed while the remaining ones were crushed beyond recognition.

Not only were the teeth missing but all the fingernails had been brutally ripped out.

Lee Seong-jae who’d spent years on the police force muttered that he’d rarely seen a corpse in such condition.

Even Manager Ma who’d wandered through various war zones including African civil wars furrowed his brow at the sight.

Only after some time passed could anyone finally speak.

Looking at the corpse whose face was too mangled to identify as Patrick I asked Lee Seok-min.

“Is that really Vice President Patrick?”

“Yes that’s Vice President Patrick.”

So this is how it ends. The result of carelessly approaching Seo Jae-hoon without knowing just how dangerous he was.

Lee Seong-jae let out a heavy sigh with a troubled expression and asked.

“Boss Kim who exactly was this man?”

“He was Patrick an American citizen. He was also a vice president at Goldman Sachs.”

“What? A Goldman Sachs vice president? Someone like that is now here…”

Lee Seong-jae’s face crumpled. He ran his fingers through his hair in frustration and muttered.

“This is beyond my authority to handle. It’ll likely cause diplomatic issues too…”

An American and a Goldman Sachs vice president at that had been brutally murdered in Korea.

This was absolutely not something that could be covered up no matter what.

I knew Seo Jae-hoon was crazy but he turned out to be even crazier than I expected.

I understand he wanted to frame me for his crimes but did he need to kill him so brutally?

“This situation is getting way too big.”

Lee Seong-jae pulled gloves from his suit pocket and put them on.

He approached Patrick’s body and began examining the scene while muttering to himself.

“This is more brutal than any crime scene I’ve seen in decades. The toes were cut with a saw and the crushed ones were done with a hammer… It’s even more horrific that the weapons are scattered right here.”

While Lee Seong-jae examined Patrick’s body Park Ji-hoon approached me and asked in a low voice.

“Surely Vice Chairman Seo Jae-hoon didn’t do this?”

Logically it shouldn’t be him but Seo Jae-hoon was beyond logical reasoning.

I shook my head slightly and answered.

“He probably did.”

“Why would he do something like this?”

“Because he’s insane. He’s probably been doing things like this for a while. There’s no physical evidence but there have been several mysterious disappearances. Each time Il-seong Group’s influence covered things up so he never faced any punishment. It’s natural most people wouldn’t know.”

Park Ji-hoon stared at Patrick’s corpse with disbelief and said.

“Even for a madman to do something like this…”

“While we can’t know what goes through a madman’s mind one thing’s certain. He tried to kill me and frame me for Patrick’s murder. If the General and senior hadn’t arrived on time that might have worked.”

Park Ji-hoon frowned as if he couldn’t understand my words.

“Huh I don’t get it. What would he gain from killing you?”

“If I die my influence becomes meaningless. That power only works while I’m alive.”

All the money and power I held would end with my death.

No matter how hard Han Gyeong-yeong Eva and others who helped me tried without me they’d struggle to defeat Seo Jae-hoon and Il-sung.

Of course my old friends Myeong-su and Hyeon-seong would fight to the end for the truth but I wasn’t sure about others.

“While this place isn’t owned by Seo Jae-hoon when I arrived he came up from the basement with Han Ji-ho so he must be connected somehow. Whether he killed Patrick directly or ordered it.”

“This is insane. I can’t believe he thought to kill you by mobilizing the police SWAT team. That Team Leader An must be Seo Jae-hoon’s puppet?”

“Yes he’s probably one of those Il-sung scholarship recipients.”

“Wonder if there are any in the military…”

The military… I couldn’t recall any.

While it might have made sense during the military dictatorship nowadays there wasn’t much benefit in investing in generals.

If Il-seong Group focused on military contracts it’d be different but Il-sung wasn’t involved in military-related business.

“Probably not. Most people who were close to Il-seong Group were stripped of their positions during the recent military purge. They don’t do military contracts and there’s no reason to plant people in the military now.”

Park Ji-hoon finally nodded with a slightly relieved expression.

Just then Lee Seong-jae returned after finishing his examination of Patrick’s body.

“The body’s too severely damaged. At first glance it looks like death from shock but we’ll need the National Forensic Service to properly determine the cause of death. He must have died in excruciating pain. I wonder what this guy did to deserve such treatment…”

Lee Seong-jae clicked his tongue as he removed his gloves shaking his head.

“I need to call people in.”

“Yes please do that.”

Lee Seong-jae left the basement first taking Park Ji-hoon with him.

After confirming they were out of sight I asked Lee Seok-min.

“Did you see him kill Patrick?”

“No he was already dead when I arrived. But I’m certain the Vice Chairman did it. When I followed Manager Han Ji-ho to the basement he was alone. That’s when he took off his blood-stained gloves.”

“He took off bloody gloves in front of you?”

“Yes. His clothes were also bloodstained. He changed into new clothes Han Ji-ho brought.”

He must have shown everything thinking he’d kill both Lee Seok-min and me.

Even for him this seemed too reckless. It wasn’t like Seo Jae-hoon.

“He must be getting desperate his judgment seems clouded. Where are the clothes and gloves?”

“Manager Han Ji-ho took them earlier. He must have hidden them somewhere.”

We need to secure those first when we go up. The bloodied clothes and gloves weren’t enough evidence.

If we could get DNA it’d be solid proof but I wasn’t too hopeful.

“It’s a bit weak but should be enough to implicate him. Once the media starts covering it and the police and prosecutors move it’ll be over.”

That’s when Lee Seok-min pulled out a small recorder from his pocket and held it out.

I looked at Lee Seok-min with a puzzled expression and asked.

“That’s a recorder. What is it?”

“Everything from when I arrived until now is recorded here. You can edit it as needed. While the Vice Chairman didn’t confess there should be enough circumstantial evidence.”

As expected of Lee Seok-min. To record conversations while walking into what could’ve been his death.

I took it and pressed play. Everything was recorded from when Lee Seok-min was kidnapped by Seo Jae-hoon’s men.

I fast-forwarded until Seo Jae-hoon’s voice appeared.

Finally Seo Jae-hoon’s voice came through.

I felt slightly disappointed when Seo Jae-hoon didn’t answer Lee Seok-min’s question about killing Patrick.

But my lips curled into a smile at the following words about Lee Seok-min not making it out alive and the order to bring change of clothes.

I pressed stop and smiled saying.

“This ensures he can’t escape. Just releasing the recording to the media will finish him. Manager you’ve put a proper leash on him.”

With Seo Yong-geon’s life hanging in the balance if Seo Jae-hoon’s murderous activities start coming to light Il-sung would crumble quickly.

“You might need to testify too Manager. About the previous cases that were covered up.”

While Lee Seok-min might face consequences his testimony was the most solid evidence available.

As someone who’d served as Seo Yong-geon’s secretary for decades there couldn’t be a better witness.

“I’ll handle things so you won’t have any problems just testify about everything you know. If the court requests you as a witness respond to that too.”

“…Understood.”

Lee Seok-min seemed to have fully committed to following my lead.

I led him as he nodded at my words.

“Let’s go up first. I can’t stand this stench anymore.”

After one last look at Patrick’s body I went up with Lee Seok-min.

As we emerged from the basement fresh air greeted us.

The breeze that brushed past cleared away the smell of blood clinging to our bodies.

“Hey! Answer properly! Did you know about what was in the basement? Did you or didn’t you?”

“…”

“Answer me you bastard!”

Outside was chaotic.

Lee Seong-jae who’d kicked An Hyun-soo pushed his chest with his fist as he spoke but An Hyun-soo kept his head down without answering.

“If you knew you’re an accomplice! What were you so desperate for that you’d do this? I can’t turn a blind eye even if I wanted to! Because of you the officers who came without knowing anything might all lose their badges!”

At the mention of his officers An Hyun-soo raised his head.

“The men are innocent. I brought them here. I’ll take full responsibility.”

Lee Seong-jae let out a bitter laugh in disbelief.

“You crazy bastard! ‘I’ll take full responsibility?’ What is this a movie? Are you filming a movie? Don’t talk nonsense. This isn’t something you can handle alone. An American a vice president of America’s largest investment bank is dead. You think this ends with you taking responsibility?”

After watching this for a moment I walked toward Han Ji-ho who was kneeling subdued on one side.

Seo Jae-hoon glanced my way before closing his eyes lost in thought.

I stopped in front of Han Ji-ho and he looked up.

Then looking at Lee Seok-min standing beside me he said.

“Manager you won.”

“…”

“Why can’t I be like you Manager?”

“I’m sorry. I…”

“Haha don’t talk nonsense. I made my choice and picked my side. That’s all there is to it.”

The atmosphere between them felt unusual. While I was curious now wasn’t the time to just listen.

Looking down at Han Ji-ho who let out a hollow laugh I asked.

“Enough nonsense where did you hide Seo Jae-hoon’s clothes and the gloves used to kill Patrick?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

I expected this. But hearing it still irritated me.

I let out a deep sigh and looked around.

“Fine don’t tell me. It must be somewhere around here.”

“…I killed him.”

“Sure you did. Though no one would believe you even if you say that.”

With so many eyes watching I couldn’t use forceful methods.

Besides what I held in my hand made that unnecessary.

“Lee Seok-min gave me something interesting. Know what this is?”

I pulled out the recorder from my inner pocket and waved it.

Han Ji-ho looked puzzled seeing the recorder in my hand.

I flashed a cold smile at him and pressed play.

― You knew didn’t you? What kind of person I am. Manager Han handled all the cleanup but you’re the one who blocked the media and police.

When Seo Jae-hoon’s voice came from the recorder Han Ji-ho’s eyes wavered.

As I turned my head Seo Jae-hoon was glaring at the recorder with murderous intent.

― Manager you’ll die here today.

The recording played Seo Jae-hoon saying he’d kill Lee Seok-min.

― Enough. Just bring me clothes to change into.

Seo Jae-hoon ordered Han Ji-ho to bring clothes.

― Here are the clothes to change into.

Seo Jae-hoon changed clothes here.

The recorder had captured all the evidence.

“The clothes Seo Jae-hoon changed out of must be somewhere around here. You still don’t know anything?”

“…”

Looking at Han Ji-ho who kept his mouth shut until the end I nodded.

“That’s fine. You don’t have to tell me. Everything will come out when we search anyway.”

I turned around.

Seo Jae-hoon who’d opened his eyes was staring at the recorder in my hand.

I changed direction from heading toward Lee Seong-jae and approached Seo Jae-hoon instead.

“What? Didn’t expect something like this?”

“How did this happen? When was it recorded…”

“You said it yourself didn’t you? That Manager Lee Seok-min was capable? He prepared this even while walking to his death. You’re finished now.”

A cold wind from the mountain swept between me and Seo Jae-hoon.