Chapter 136: I Will Cover It Up

TL: Aniea

“…I really can’t believe this.”

“…Indeed.”

Middle-aged men with graying hair exchanged looks with expressions of dismay.

The two were respectively the Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul District and the Chief of Police, and had long been close acquaintances.

They had always been careful not to meet privately like this, wary that people might suspect the prosecution and police were getting too chummy.

But today, the two had no choice but to gather in one place. It was a matter so grave that neither side could simply let it pass.

“CEO Kim Eun-ha. A hidden victim in the Kim Hee-tae serial murder case? You do understand this isn’t something we can just laugh off as a joke, right?”

“Of course, Chief Prosecutor.”

Sitting across from them, Kim Eun-ha faced them with a calm smile lingering on her lips the entire time.

Seeing this, the two men, who had initially not thought highly of her, straightened up in their seats.

Because Kim Eun-ha wasn’t sitting here merely as the heir of Mirae Group.

Everyone here no, perhaps the entire Republic of Korea, could be affected by the enormous bomb she had brought with her.

“If this truth comes to light, the distrust towards the prosecution and police, already worsened by recent events, will reach its peak.”

“And the damage wouldn’t be limited to just us. It would certainly impact the Korean economy as well.”

“I’m aware. I also know there’s a high chance that the backlash could land on me, for bringing up this case in the first place.”

“Then why on earth…?”

The two looked at Kim Eun-ha with eyes full of incomprehension, and for a moment, she couldn't hide her expression either.

But only for a moment.

She quickly composed herself and continued.

“I have no intention of causing a fuss or harm without reason. That’s precisely why I invited you two here today.”

“I’ve heard bits and pieces. Your boyfriend… ahem. Not sure if that’s the right term. Anyway, I heard this Kang Woo-ju fellow did something?”

“He cleared the injustice suffered by an entire family.”

“.......”

She merely smiled at the mention of “boyfriend”, but when the phrase “did something” came up, she corrected it with a stern face.

The two men didn’t show it outwardly but inwardly grunted. Frankly, they had underestimated her due to her young age.

‘…So she intends not to give them a single opening.’

What Kim Eun-ha just said wasn’t simply to defend Kang Woo-ju.

The Police Chief had tried to lightly take the lead with the phrase “did something”, but she firmly drew the line.

‘The Chairman must be troubled right now.’

Complaints had already been growing louder in various places. That the Mirae Group people were getting out of hand.

Unlike the second-generation heirs whom the Chairman had directly overseen, the third-generation chaebol members affiliated with Mirae Group were nothing but reckless fools, drugs, illegal prostitution, you name it.

‘…Among the third-generation, there’s no one who compares. Even the second-generation heirs who were born decades earlier and laid the foundation are said to be feeling threatened.’

‘…We can’t afford to be careless.’

The Chief Prosecutor and Police Chief glanced sideways, subtly observing each other. Realizing their thoughts aligned, they swallowed their sighs.

“Of course, that’s a remarkable achievement. Sadly, though, we have no choice but to prioritize the greater good. I’m sure you understand, CEO Kim?”

“Certainly.”

“And yet, you still called us here. That must mean you have a plan. We’re listening, so go ahead and speak freely.”

“.......”

Their words said one thing, but their bodies were more honest. Both men leaned back with arms crossed.

A stance that said no matter what she said, they were bound to take it negatively.

Still, Kim Eun-ha slowly raised the corners of her mouth, unfazed.

“This case will be covered up.”

“Hmm? What do you mean…?”

“No, then why…?”

“To be precise, only from the public.”

“......!!”

An unexpected statement from Kim Eun-ha.

The two men’s eyes widened in surprise.

"Name: Park Ga-eul. Age at the time of disappearance: 17. Last seen after getting into a major fight with her parents over her test scores and leaving home."

"......."

"It was initially classified as a simple runaway, so the response was delayed. Since it was a remote area, the number of nearby CCTVs or security cameras was extremely low. Honestly, I had a hard time digging up the data."

"......"

***

When Kang Woo-ju returned in just one day and began listing off the information, Kim Hee-tae’s expression became complicated.

Of course, he already knew that Kang Woo-ju was skilled enough to meet a death row inmate whenever he wanted, but

He never expected that just by dropping a single name, Kang Woo-ju would uncover so many leads about someone who had gone missing years ago.

‘…Where the hell did he get these photos?’

If all Kang Woo-ju had done was spew plausible words, Kim Hee-tae wouldn’t have been so surprised.

However, the photos now spread across the desk vividly captured Park Ga-eul’s final moments before her disappearance.

It had already been years since her disappearance, and there was no way CCTV footage or black box recordings could still exist. It was a mystery how he had found them.

"Do I really need to explain even that to you?"

"......."

Unable to suppress his curiosity, he asked directly, only to receive this arrogant reply.

But Kim Hee-tae couldn’t argue back. Naturally, there was no reason Kang Woo-ju had to explain his methods.

Rather, his trust in Kang Woo-ju’s abilities only deepened. This guy, he might actually be able to fulfill his dream on his behalf.

"…But judging by the fact that you came to see me, you haven’t managed to find the piece yet, have you?"

"Correct."

Kang Woo-ju admitted that fact without hesitation. Kim Hee-tae felt both immense relief and growing pride in himself.

It was a moment of validation, that even someone as remarkable as this couldn’t uncover a perfect crime.

Kim Hee-tae didn’t bother to hide this feeling. With a sincere smile on his lips, he spoke.

"Now we can finally have a proper conversation."

"I hope we don’t drag this out too long. Unlike someone being fed for life by the state, I happen to be quite busy."

"Don’t be so cold. For me, just having a conversation with another person is a rare occasion. I don’t intend to just suck the marrow and throw the bone away, you know?"

"Tell me what you want."

"First of all, I’d like to fill my stomach."

Thanks to the monkeys outside yammering about human rights and whatnot, even prison rice tastes decent now.

Still, it couldn't compare to outside food like chicken or pizza. Naturally, Kim Hee-tae had long forgotten the taste of such things.

Among them, cola in particular.

Of course, it couldn’t quite match the thrill of creating a piece, but the sharp, fizzy sensation was something he missed to the point of tears.

"They said it’ll be delivered soon."

"…Even seeing it with my own eyes, I can’t believe it."

After receiving Kim Hee-tae’s request, Kang Woo-ju made a phone call on his cell phone.

In less than thirty seconds of conversation through the receiver, his wish was granted.

It felt like ordering delivery food from outside. And in truth, the actual situation wasn’t far off. But considering he was a death row inmate, it was hard to believe.

"Tell me your next condition."

"Can’t I eat first?"

"......."

"Alright, alright. Damn."

Kang Woo-ju’s chilling gaze made even a fellow psychopath flinch. In response, Kim Hee-tae raised both hands in surrender.

Indeed, Kang Woo-ju was on a different level from the other idiots. Trying to gain the upper hand with clumsy push and pull was impossible.

"Can you get me out of here?"

"That’s impossible."

"Even you?"

"Yeah."

"I see."

They exchanged a few dry words.

Kim Hee-tae himself hadn't expected much. It was a question he threw out with the tiniest sliver of hope. So he nodded without any lingering regret.

"I’d like to take a look at your pieces someday too."

"Rejected."

"…Hey. Don’t you think you’re being too picky? I feel like I’ve already made a lot of concessions here. The least you could do is show me that."

"You’re asking me to share my pieces with a moron who couldn’t resist his own vanity and gave up his perfect crime? Do you honestly think that makes any sense?"

"……."

At Kang Woo-ju’s scathing criticism, Kim Hee-tae had nothing to say, even with ten mouths. He himself knew this situation made no sense.

Still, he thought this was a fairly reasonable request. But being rejected so flatly once again, he began to wonder if he could get anything more out of him.

“Then let’s do this.”

“......?”

While the silence dragged on, perhaps wanting to save time, it was Kang Woo-ju who first made a proposal.

Facing an unfamiliar situation, Kim Hee-tae tilted his head with an intrigued expression, but Kang Woo-ju spoke without the slightest interest.

“I’ll give you ‘a bit of freedom.’”

“A bit of freedom? What does that mean?”

“Even I can’t fully get you out of prison. But I can allow a brief escape that no one knows about.”

“......!!”

Kim Hee-tae’s eyes widened. Though Kang Woo-ju spoke of it as if it were nothing, there was no mistaking what that “brief escape” implied.

“Of course, it won’t be the romantic situation you’re imagining. Think of it more like on-site documentation. You will guide me to the piece yourself.”

“...Is that really possible?”

“Whether you believe it or not is your choice. Just remember, I’m not someone with enough time to sit around exchanging jokes with you.”

“Heh. The world’s gone insane.”

Momentarily at a loss for words, Kim Hee-tae let out a hollow laugh without realizing it.

Would the monkeys out there know? That a man even crazier than himself was walking around society wearing a human mask.

‘...Interesting.’

With that level of power, it would be possible to erase even a perfectly normal person from the world without leaving a single trace.

How many lives had the guy standing in front of him taken?

‘Definitely more than ten.’

Just the shimmering air around Kang Woo-ju made it obvious. Half in jest, but the shadows of death clearly swirled around him.

The resentment and screams of victims echoing around Kang Woo-ju seemed to reach even Kim Hee-tae’s ears.

A hundred. Or a thousand.

Maybe even more.

For someone with that kind of power, there were plenty whose heads could be taken off with just a whisper, even if he didn’t get his own hands dirty.

Kim Hee-tae wasn’t a blockheaded fool who counted only physical murders.

Sometimes, it was the non-physical deaths that brought far greater despair and screams.

‘...Perfect. Absolutely perfect!’

With that thought, Kim Hee-tae’s body burned with excitement, almost unbearably so.

Even the doubt that had long lingered in a corner of his mind dispersed like smoke. He decided to trust Kang Woo-ju completely.

Not just because of his ability, Kang Woo-ju’s gaze, his tone, and the atmosphere around him gave off a sense of familiarity. The smell of someone of his kind.

“When do we depart?”

“I’ll be back in a week.”

“Later than I expected.”

“It’s abnormally fast.”

A smirk.

Watching Kang Woo-ju get up without a trace of hesitation as always, Kim Hee-tae quietly held back a laugh.

*****

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