Chapter 457: Let Me Meet Manager Lee Seok-min

Jeong Tae-hoon and Jang Geun-seok were arguing in front of the interrogation room.

When I stepped out they both stopped and turned to look at me.

Jang Geun-seok called out to me immediately.

“Mr. Kim Mu-hyeok!”

Jang Geun-seok tried to walk past Jeong Tae-hoon but Tae-hoon blocked his path.

Irritated by Jeong Tae-hoon acting like my bodyguard Jang Geun-seok stopped and glared at him.

“Step aside. It’s all over now.”

“Yes sir.”

Following the order Jeong Tae-hoon took a step to the side.

Jang Geun-seok approached me with furrowed brows clearly displeased with the situation.

At the same time Manager Ma emerged from the recording room.

“Mr. Kim Mu-hyeok! What do you think you’re doing?”

“I came for a cross-examination since you and Han Ji-ho are trying to frame me as the culprit. Do I need your permission for that too?”

“What did you say?”

Jang Geun-seok raised his voice.

“But do you have time for this right now? Your ass must be on fire. Or am I the only one who thinks so?”

Ignoring my sarcasm Jang Geun-seok bit his lip as if remembering why he came.

He glared at Jeong Tae-hoon and spoke.

“Deputy Prosecutor Jeong Tae-hoon. I’ll be raising an issue about this. This won’t go unaddressed.”

“Do as you please. Go ahead inside.”

Jeong Tae-hoon replied casually while cleaning his ear.

Jang Geun-seok’s face twisted as he opened the interrogation room door and went inside.

“Thanks for your work. Must have been awkward dealing with him.”

When I smiled and spoke to Jeong Tae-hoon he waved his hands dismissively.

“Not at all. He used to act all high and mighty as my senior but thanks to you sir I can deal with him without worrying about appearances.”

I nodded and turned toward Manager Ma.

“Nothing was recorded or filmed while you were inside. No one entered the recording room.”

As expected of Manager Ma. He must have blocked all attempts at recording.

I turned back to Jeong Tae-hoon and said.

“Deputy Prosecutor I won’t be coming to meet Seo Jae-hoon anymore. I trust you’ll handle everything properly.”

“Yes! Please trust me. I’ll make sure he has no way to escape.”

Jeong Tae-hoon answered like a fresh recruit at attention and I responded with a smile.

“Ah by the way… Han Ji-ho is asking to meet you sir.”

“Han Ji-ho?”

“Yes. He kept insisting you were behind everything and asked for a cross-examination.”

I already knew about that.

“But today he’s asking to meet you even without a cross-examination.”

“Il-seong Group’s legal team is all over him right?”

“Yes. They say it’s for his defense but it’s more accurate to call it surveillance.”

“Is he giving statements directly?”

“Yes. He’s making statements with his own mouth.”

I wondered if there was any reason for me to meet Han Ji-ho.

The deliberation was brief. There wasn’t much to gain from meeting him.

“I don’t think there’s any reason to meet.”

“Understood. I’ll reject his request.”

“Instead let Lee Seok-min meet him. Since he personally trained him Lee Seok-min would be better at swaying him.”

It would be better if Lee Seok-min could persuade him rather than having him parrot my name in court like a broken record.

If persuasion failed well that couldn’t be helped.

“Then shall we wrap this up? Are you very busy? Why don’t you come to my office for some tea?”

Jeong Tae-hoon offered but I checked my watch and declined.

“I have an appointment so I’m afraid I can’t.”

He looked disappointed but I smiled and said.

“Let’s have a meal together next time instead. You’re filing charges today right?”

“Yes. Today is the last day of legal detention. If we don’t file charges we have to release him.”

“Keep summoning and harassing him even after the indictment.”

“Understood. I’ll block attorney visits too. We won’t let him have an easy time in detention.”

Jeong Tae-hoon immediately understood what I meant.

It’s really convenient having someone sharp and competent by your side.

“Good. And I’ll send you information about the detention center director. I suspect he might be taking bribes from Seo Jae-hoon to provide special treatment.”

“Understood.”

“I’ll send the documents through someone later. I should get going now.”

“I’ll escort you to the entrance.”

I shook my head. He was too valuable to just use as a deputy prosecutor I needed to manage him carefully.

“It wouldn’t look good to others. You need to manage your career now and excessive protocol could become an issue later.”

“Then I’ll at least escort you to the elevator.”

I nodded not wanting to disappoint him by refusing this too. Jeong Tae-hoon escorted me to the elevator.

“Have a safe trip.”

Jeong Tae-hoon remained bowed until the elevator doors closed.

The doors shut and the elevator slowly began its descent.

“He’s an interesting person isn’t he? Though he can be a bit excessive.”

“Yes. But will this be alright?”

I chuckled at Manager Ma’s careful question.

“It’s fine. Not killing him already shows great restraint on my part.”

Manager Ma had been concerned about the assault on Seo Jae-hoon in the interrogation room.

After my response Manager Ma didn’t ask anything more.

The elevator had reached the first floor and other people got on.

I walked through the crowd and left the prosecutor’s office.

* * *

Lee Seok-min arrived at the Seoul District Prosecutors’ Office after receiving the call.

“Welcome Manager Lee.”

Jeong Tae-hoon greeted him in the deputy prosecutor’s office and they had coffee while talking.

“So you’re asking me to persuade Han Ji-ho?”

“Yes. Though we have sufficient evidence his constant mentions of the boss could cause problems later. This isn’t some petty criminal case it’s Vice Chairman Seo Jae-hoon’s trial. It’s bound to draw public attention.”

Lee Seok-min set down his coffee cup with a troubled expression.

“I can meet him but I’m not sure about persuading him. I taught him that absolute loyalty to one’s master is fundamental.”

“Nothing is absolute Manager Lee. You yourself are working with someone else now.”

“…”

Lee Seok-min’s expression hardened. Jeong Tae-hoon hastily added.

“I didn’t mean that as a jab. I’m in the same boat. I know that Chairman Seo Yong-geon was your master and you couldn’t just let Seo Jae-hoon get away with what he did to him.”

“…I’ll try to persuade him anyway. But don’t expect too much.”

Lee Seok-min spoke in a stiff voice as he stood up.

“I’ll guide you.”

Lee Seok-min moved to the interrogation room with Jeong Tae-hoon where Han Ji-ho was being held.

Inside were Han Ji-ho Il-seong Group’s legal team attorneys and Prosecutor Kim Min-wook who was interrogating Han Ji-ho.

When Jeong Tae-hoon entered Kim Min-wook stood and bowed.

“Deputy Prosecutor.”

“It’s fine. How’s it going?”

Jeong Tae-hoon waved off the greeting and asked Kim Min-wook.

Kim Min-wook furrowed his brows unable to answer.

“I see. Go down to the first floor with the recording room staff and have some coffee.”

“Understood.”

Kim Min-wook left the interrogation room and Lee Seok-min spoke.

“You all step out too.”

“We can’t do that.”

“Don’t you know who I am?”

“We do. But the legal director told us never to leave Director Han Ji-ho alone.”

Lee Seok-min sighed deeply at their stubborn response.

“I understand. But can you handle the consequences? Who knows when Il-seong Group’s ownership might change?”

A cold silence fell over the interrogation room.

“With your credentials any firm would want to hire you. But if he decides to interfere you won’t be able to join any law firm in Korea.”

“Manager Lee…”

“I don’t want you getting caught in the crossfire between the big shots. Just go down and get something to eat for an hour.”

The two attorneys exchanged glances.

“…Alright. One hour only.”

“Thank you. I won’t forget this.”

After all the attorneys left Lee Seok-min spoke again.

“Deputy Prosecutor please step out too.”

“…Me too?”

“Yes. We need privacy. Stop all recording and filming too. Otherwise I won’t do this.”

“But.”

“Deputy Prosecutor. Don’t you trust me?”

Jeong Tae-hoon barely held back what he really wanted to say.

He couldn’t believe Lee Seok-min would betray Il-seong Group.

But he couldn’t say that out loud.

“No. I trust you.”

“Then please give us privacy.”

“…Alright.”

After much hesitation Jeong Tae-hoon left the interrogation room with a displeased expression.

After he left and the door closed Lee Seok-min sat across from Han Ji-ho.

“How’s detention treating you?”

“Why did you come?”

“Well I wonder why? I didn’t really need to come but I wanted to see your face at least.”

There was guilt written on Lee Seok-min’s face.

“Don’t look at me like that.”

“I’m sorry.”

“You don’t need to be sorry.”

“No I am sorry. I feel like I taught you wrong. Director Han. You need to survive at least. Tell them everything Seo Jae-hoon did. Then they’ll arrange for you to serve just three years. Don’t worry about your family I’ll take responsibility for them okay?”

Han Ji-ho’s eyes wavered slightly. Lee Seok-min didn’t miss this.

“Your daughter just turned one this year right? Come to think of it I was too busy to attend her first birthday celebration.”

“Manager Lee. Let’s leave family out of this.”

Han Ji-ho spoke through gritted teeth but Lee Seok-min just shook his head.

“Am I that kind of person? I’m just worried. Who’s going to take care of your family when the vice chairman goes down like this?”

“…”

“So take my hand. I’ll help you move abroad after you’re released. Trust me. Would I abandon you? I personally trained you I should take responsibility.”

Han Ji-ho picked up another cigarette with trembling hands.

Lee Seok-min continued trying to persuade Han Ji-ho.

And Jeong Tae-hoon was watching all of this from the recording room.

“I might trust others but Lee Seok-min I can’t trust you.”

A thick smile spread across Jeong Tae-hoon’s lips.

Han Ji-ho picked up another cigarette with trembling hands.

Lee Seok-min continued trying to persuade Han Ji-ho.

And Jeong Tae-hoon was watching all of this from the recording room.

“I might trust others but Lee Seok-min I can’t trust you.”

A thick smile spread across Jeong Tae-hoon’s lips.

Han Ji-ho picked up another cigarette with trembling hands.

Lee Seok-min continued trying to persuade Han Ji-ho.

And Jeong Tae-hoon was watching all of this from the recording room.

“I might trust others but Lee Seok-min I can’t trust you.”

A thick smile spread across Jeong Tae-hoon’s lips.

“…Don’t look at me with those eyes.”

“I’m sorry.”

“There’s no need to be sorry.”

“No I am. I think I taught you wrong. Director Han you should at least live. Tell them everything Seo Jae-hoon did. Then they’ll arrange for you to serve just three years. Don’t worry about your family I’ll take responsibility for them okay?”

Han Ji-ho’s eyes wavered slightly. Lee Seok-min didn’t miss this.

“Your daughter just turned one this year right? Come to think of it I was too busy to attend her first birthday celebration.”

“Manager Lee. Let’s leave family out of this.”

Han Ji-ho spoke through gritted teeth but Lee Seok-min just shook his head.

“Am I that kind of person? I’m just worried. Who’s going to take care of your family when the vice chairman goes down like this?”

“…”

“So take my hand. I’ll help you move abroad after you’re released. Trust me. Would I abandon you? I personally trained you I should take responsibility.”

Han Ji-ho picked up another cigarette with trembling hands.

Lee Seok-min continued trying to persuade Han Ji-ho.

And Jeong Tae-hoon was watching all of this from the recording room.

“I might trust others but Lee Seok-min I can’t trust you.”

A thick smile spread across Jeong Tae-hoon’s lips.