Chapter 447: Commissioner, You Have One Year Left in Your Term?

Lee Ho-hyung nodded at the mention of an arrest warrant being issued.

“Starting with Goryeo Daily, the media will conduct in-depth coverage of the Seo Jae-hoon case.”

“Hmm… When the media gets involved it puts pressure on us too.”

The police and media could never have a good relationship.

After all the media was always quick to criticize the police as incompetent when they failed to catch criminals.

“I haven’t mentioned this before but these reporters act like they own the place. Even in restricted areas they somehow push their way in to take photos…”

I chuckled as I listened to Lee Ho-hyung complain about the media reporters.

Despite his words the police and media had an inseparable bond.

Lee Ho-hyung himself frequently made use of reporters after all.

Right on cue the door opened and food was brought in. Lee Ho-hyung fell silent as the staff entered.

The staff placed various dishes on the table and finally set down stone pot rice bowls in front of each person.

After finishing setting the table the staff backed out of the room.

“I’ll handle the media side of things. I’ll make sure it doesn’t negatively impact the police.”

“I know. But I still don’t like it.”

His continued grumbling suggested he wanted something.

Since he wasn’t someone to use once and discard maybe I should keep appeasing him.

“Let’s eat first.”

We continued our conversation while eating slowly.

“Commissioner you have one year left in your term right?”

“Thirteen months to be exact.”

Lee Ho-hyung paused his chopsticks to answer my question.

While the Police Commissioner’s term was two years those who completed their full term could be counted on one hand.

When internal police issues arose they would demand the Commissioner’s resignation to appease public sentiment.

If they tried to hold on everyone from the Board of Audit to prosecutors would be mobilized to scrutinize them until they were forced to step down.

“Even with the change in administration you should be able to complete your term as long as there are no major issues.”

Lee Ho-hyung’s face brightened.

It was customary to replace the Commissioner when the administration changed.

My words essentially promised to prevent that so his relief was understandable.

“And after retirement you should try for a gold badge too right? Take a few years off then run for office.”

Almost no former Police Commissioners had successfully transitioned to becoming members of parliament.

As the head of domestic security they received too much criticism and the position didn’t carry much political weight.

The public neither cared to know nor knew who the Police Commissioner was making it difficult to win a seat.

But things would be different with my backing.

“Really?”

“Yes as long as there are no major problems.”

I reached for a sesame leaf holding the stem.

Lee Ho-hyung quickly used his chopsticks to press down on the leaf.

“Member of parliament…”

“So you need to handle this case well. Don’t get into power struggles with the prosecutors just hand it over to them right away.”

“Understood. I’ll transfer the case to prosecution as soon as the arrest warrant comes through.”

I smiled at Lee Ho-hyung’s prompt response.

Things really do get easier when you dangle some bait.

“Oh and we won’t hand over Team Leader An Hyun-soo to prosecution. It doesn’t look good having prosecutors investigate police matters.”

Lee Ho-hyung frowned and set down his chopsticks.

“Tsk I never thought that crazy bastard would do something like this.”

“I understand. No one knew.”

“Still I apologize Boss Kim. I’ve mobilized the headquarters’ audit team. We’ll scrutinize everything down to the smallest detail so please be patient.”

“I trust you Commissioner. Let’s continue eating.”

I smiled back at Lee Ho-hyung who was grinning while talking about destroying someone.

* * *

Seo Jae-hoon sat alone in an interrogation room at the Gyeonggi Police Station.

“Where did it all go wrong?”

There were no flaws in this plan.

He had planned this since learning Lee Seok-min was a traitor.

He lured Kim Mu-hyeok to the villa knowing the Kim Mu-hyeok he knew would never abandon someone who came under his protection.

As planned Kim Mu-hyeok came there and everything seemed to be proceeding according to his expectations.

But Kim Mu-hyeok was thinking one step ahead of him.

“Ha I never expected him to mobilize the military.”

If it weren’t for the military he might have had a chance.

An Hyun-soo was someone who could subdue even the police on his orders.

After all he was an Il-sung scholarship recipient that Seo Yong-geon had invested in for years.

Seo Jae-hoon who had been organizing his thoughts with eyes closed opened them.

The interrogation room door opened and Il-seong Group’s legal team members entered.

“Vice Chairman.”

Legal Team Director Jang Geun-seok who brought ten lawyers bowed his head.

“Director Jang you’re here.”

While his official title was Legal Team Director Jang Geun-seok was unofficially treated as an executive director.

He graduated top of his class from the Judicial Research and Training Institute and joined the prosecution rather than the court.

That’s when he caught Seo Yong-geon’s eye and became a son-in-law to an Il-sung Electronics branch family.

After serving as the head of the Special Investigation Division with Il-sung Electronics’ support Jang Geun-seok reformed the legal team using connections he built during his time in prosecution after retiring.

Thanks to this Il-seong Group had far more impressive lawyers than most law firms.

Jang Geun-seok looked around then walked to the one-way mirror.

“I know you’re in there. From now on we’ll be having an important conversation with Vice Chairman Seo Jae-hoon. I’d appreciate if everyone cleared the room.”

Lee Seong-jae who had been observing Seo Jae-hoon from behind the mirror frowned.

Jang Geun-seok who had been staring intently at the mirror turned to the defense team.

“Team Leader Lee.”

“Yes Director.”

“Go manage the people outside.”

“Understood.”

The summoned lawyer left the interrogation room and entered the adjacent room.

“This is Lee Gi-woo from Il-seong Group’s legal team. Please go have lunch until our conversation with our client is finished. We’ll contact you.”

Lee Seong-jae stepped forward and spoke.

“It’s been a while Chief Prosecutor Lee Gi-woo. Or should I call you Attorney now?”

“Ah Commissioner Lee Seong-jae. I heard about your appointment as Gyeonggi Police Commissioner. Congratulations.”

Lee Seong-jae made the first friendly gesture.

“Thank you. But I think you’re mistaken. This is the police station not Il-seong Group. We have no reason to leave.”

“Haha Commissioner Lee Seong-jae.”

Lee Gi-woo who had laughed loudly suddenly stopped and continued.

“Since when can police observe confidential conversations between a client and their attorney? It’s customary to give us privacy isn’t it? I don’t understand why you’re being so rigid today. What are you relying on?”

Lee Gi-woo took an overbearing stance. But Lee Seong-jae just scoffed.

“You seem to think you’re still a chief prosecutor.”

“What did you just…”

“Attorney Lee Gi-woo. We’re doing you a favor. Don’t make demands. We might just throw out all customs and precedents.”

Lee Gi-woo’s face turned red as if feeling insulted.

“All of you get out. Go get something to eat.”

“Yes Commissioner!”

The police officers in the room saluted and left.

Only Lee Seong-jae and Lee Gi-woo remained in the room.

“Attorney Lee Gi-woo.”

“…Speak.”

“Do you think this is some kind of economic crime? Someone died. And not just anyone but an American was brutally murdered.”

“There’s no evidence that Vice Chairman Seo Jae-hoon did it.”

Lee Seong-jae pulled up one corner of his mouth in a smile.

It was quite amusing watching him desperately cling to a rotten lifeline.

“You wouldn’t say that if you saw the mutilated corpse. Don’t try any half-hearted cover-ups. He was caught in the act and we found Seo Jae-hoon’s clothes and gloves.”

Lee Seong-jae had thoroughly searched the villa as Kim Mu-hyeok instructed.

They eventually discovered a hidden room in the villa’s study.

Inside they found blood-stained clothes and gloves along with various weapons.

“Attorney Lee Gi-woo. Think carefully. Now’s your chance to abandon a sinking ship.”

“…Are you trying to lecture me?”

Lee Gi-woo’s voice hardened as Lee Seong-jae who couldn’t even meet his eyes when he was a chief prosecutor now looked him straight in the eye and gave advice.

“Lecture? I’m showing you a way out. The choice is yours Attorney Lee Gi-woo. I’ll take my leave now. You have one hour. Wrap it up by then.”

Lee Seong-jae left those words and exited the recording room.

Left alone Lee Gi-woo glared at the door that closed behind Lee Seong-jae.

The triumphant smile he glimpsed on Lee Seong-jae’s face just before the door closed bothered him.

After briefly composing himself Lee Gi-woo pressed the recording room’s microphone button and spoke.

“Vice Chairman Legal Team Director. Everyone has left.”

Jang Geun-seok nodded at Lee Gi-woo’s voice.

“I’ll sit in front.”

“Let’s talk just the two of us.”

“Understood.”

Jang Geun-seok gave a look to the legal team lawyers.

The lawyers who had filled the interrogation room bowed and left.

“Team Leader Lee needs to watch that side.”

Seo Jae-hoon nodded and only then did Jang Geun-seok sit down.

“Can you explain to me what happened? How did you suddenly become a murder suspect?”

Jang Geun-seok couldn’t easily believe that Seo Jae-hoon was arrested at the scene as a murder suspect.

Who was Seo Jae-hoon? He had lived his whole life as Il-seong Group’s crown prince.

With Chairman Seo Yong-geon’s condition uncertain he was now Il-sung’s owner.

But now a murder suspect…

If this was true it was over for Seo Jae-hoon. No Il-sung was finished.

“It’s a misunderstanding. An employee below me accidentally killed someone. I was there yes but I didn’t kill anyone directly.”

“…I heard they found blood-stained clothes and gloves.”

“I told you I was there didn’t I? Director Jang you don’t trust me either? Aren’t we family?”

Jang Geun-seok kept his mouth shut.

Was he really family as Seo Yong-geon’s nephew-in-law?

Though he found Seo Jae-hoon’s mention of family only when convenient distasteful Jang Geun-seok didn’t show it.

“Vice Chairman. I believe you. But will the court believe you? That’s the issue.”

“Han Ji-ho will take all responsibility. He’ll say he did it and I was just there. That it was just an accident. What do you think Director?”

Seo Jae-hoon mixed informal and formal speech as he spoke.

Letting out a small sigh Jang Geun-seok looked at Seo Jae-hoon.

“You need to tell me the truth. You didn’t kill them directly right?”

“I told you I didn’t.”

“…Alright. I’ll try to block the arrest warrant first. But how did they discover that place? I heard they mobilized not just Incheon Police SWAT but even the 5th Corps’ direct unit.”

“…The plan just went wrong.”

Jang Geun-seok knew Seo Jae-hoon wasn’t telling the truth.

But he had no choice. As his attorney he had to believe his words were true.

“Meet with Director Lee Seok-min.”

“…Was Director Lee Seok-min there too?”

“Yes. But he betrayed me. So shut him up.”

“Betrayal? Director Lee Seok-min? Is that true?”

Jang Geun-seok repeatedly asked in surprise.

Director Lee Seok-min had handled all of Il-seong Group’s affairs.

Why would such a person betray them?

Unlike the bewildered Jang Geun-seok Seo Jae-hoon’s eyes gleamed with anger.

“Yes. When I get out I won’t let this slide. How dare he betray me?”

“Why would he… What was he thinking…”

“Director doesn’t need to know just meet him and shut him up. He’s done plenty of illegal things too. Threaten him with that or pay him off whatever it takes to silence him.”

Seo Jae-hoon needed to prevent Lee Seok-min from testifying to deny evidence of their conversation.

“Understood. You’ll be transferred to National Police Agency headquarters in Seoul this evening. Police Commissioner Lee Ho-hyung is quite close to me. I’ll meet with him and try to block the arrest warrant request.”

“I’m counting on you Director. Just block the arrest for now. By the way how did today’s Il-sung Electronics shareholders’ meeting go?”

Jang Geun-seok couldn’t bring himself to answer.

Guessing the result from his attitude Seo Jae-hoon nodded.

“So Il-sung Electronics’ management rights were transferred. That’s fine. We can take it back later. Director just focus on this matter for now. And send the legal team to Han Ji-ho too. Make sure he doesn’t say anything unnecessary.”

“Understood.”

The two continued their conversation for about an hour after that.

When time was up Lee Seong-jae came.

“Officers from headquarters will come to escort the Vice Chairman soon. Please wrap things up.”

Shortly after.

Police officers from Seoul took Seo Jae-hoon to headquarters.