189 – 189. Counterattack and Negotiation (1)
Han Yeo-reum looked over the list that Ahn Su-ho confidently passed over. In the memo, which was a list of Seong Yu-jin’s (and Yeo-il’s) crimes, there were some things she vaguely knew about, and some absurd things that made it hard to believe that this was real.
‘It’s like bribery of councilors or smuggling of hunter equipment. Even so……. How on earth did you find out that director Jang Han-soo was engaging in illegal prostitution through Uijeongbu, a pedophilia, or that one of the officers of the Winter Alliance was a spy for the Rising Corps?’
Strictly speaking, Ahn Su-ho did not find out about these facts, but he already knew them. Through the contents of the original work itself or the setting collections written outside of the work.
He was sincere in his work called , And he knew more about the world of Than anyone else, except for the author, Cheonma of Pleasure.
However, all he knows is the ‘fact’ mentioned in that way.
Ahn Su-ho’s memo did not say how he found out those facts. As I said earlier, he didn’t find out the information, he only knew it by reading it.
Because of this, in Han Yeoreum’s eyes, his memo was like a half-length answer sheet with only the answer thrown in, omitting the solution process. It is natural to feel suspicious.
“You said everything you wrote here is true, right? How did you find out?”
“It is difficult to tell you how.”
“Yes, what. Maybe you found out in a way that’s hard to tell. But do you have concrete evidence that these crime lists are true?”
“No. Not right now.”
“Yes?”
At those words, the midsummer’s wrinkles deepened. She asks as if it is difficult to understand.
“There is no physical evidence, and I cannot tell you how I found out the information. But are you asking me to believe these things now?”
“I know that this is an unreasonable demand. But everything written there is unmistakably true. ………… Maybe.”
I was proud that his memories were accurate, but there could be some differences from the original. Midsummer shook her head at the three words ‘maybe’ timidly added just in case.
“I know you are not a nonsense person. But it is unreasonable to believe this list without any evidence.”
“I know that too. So, I’m going to start looking for evidence.”
“…… What else do you mean by that?”
My head was pounding at the sight of Ahn Su-ho, who had been talking nonsense since earlier in mid-summer. Even so, being as polite as possible was because, as mentioned earlier, she believed that An Su-ho was not the type to talk nonsense.
Even that belief was on the verge of collapsing.
“As I said before, the criminal facts in the memo are all true. It’s true, but there’s no proof. Only then will it be impossible to blackmail Seong Yu-jin or Yeo-il with this list.”
“Of course it is. Without evidence, this is just a claim, no matter how true it may be. Even if Mr. Ahn Su-ho reports these things to the media, they will treat them as absurd nonsense from a delusional patient.”
“But it is true anyway. In other words, as long as you have the evidence, you are a good bargaining chip.”
“How are you going to find the evidence?”
“Illyana Faust.”
Midsummer’s expression froze at the name Ahn Suho suddenly brought up. It was the name of someone she knew well.
That’s right, the relationship between Midsummer and An Su-ho began when she asked Illyana to investigate An Su-ho’s background.
“He is the most talented detective I know. She should be able to easily find evidence of these crimes. Heading on the ground when you don’t even know what the problem is, and inferring the solution to a problem you already know the answer to. Of the two, of course, the latter is the easier one.”
“In other words, instead of digging into the crimes of Yeo-il, you assume that these crimes actually happened and dig up their traces?”
“I guess so.”
“I understand what you mean. I see…….”
Midsummer pressed her throbbing temples and read her notes once again. The more she read, the more she couldn’t understand An Su-ho’s actions.
“…… Why on earth do you have to go around in circles like this? Aren’t you already holding evidence of these crimes?”
The crimes written in the memo were extremely sensitive.
Guild executives suspected of espionage for an anti-government group, illegal prostitution, human experimentation and human trafficking related to multi-ability research banned by the state.
A powerful paddle that can completely overturn the fate of Winter Alliance or Yeoil if even one explodes.
So, of course, those crimes would have been done in secret under tight security, and only a few people inside the Winter Alliance or Yeoil would have known about it.
By the way.
“Again, there is no evidence I can show you right now.”
But then, how the hell did Ahn Su-ho find out about these things?
‘It’s not some kind of seonmudang. It makes no sense to be convinced that these crimes took place without physical evidence. That means…………. Ahn Su-ho is not without evidence. You can’t tell me the evidence.’
There is no evidence to show right now. It could be interpreted in a slightly different way than simply saying that there is no evidence. I mean, there is evidence, but I can’t show it.
For example, it is necessary to protect the identity of the insider who informed Ahn Su-ho of the crime, so he can’t show evidence inevitably. Or, if you submit the evidence you have, it will lead to Ahn Su-ho’s own disadvantage.
There were plenty of so-called “Evidence that cannot be revealed” In this world. That’s why Ahn Su-ho is trying to find new evidence. Midsummer thought so.
‘It is true that there are many uncertainties in many ways, but if what this person is saying is really true… ….’
Various criminal records related to the Winter Alliance and Yeoil’s leadership.
If this is the truth without a single lie, as he said, its value is indescribably high. Ahn Su-ho seemed to be planning to use this hand simply as a negotiating card with Seong Yu-jin, but Midsummer had a slightly different idea.
‘If I do well, I might be able to control the leaders of the crime-related Yeo-il, or even the Yeo-il itself.’
To do so, it was imperative to find evidence to support this memo. And, as Ahn Su-ho said, Illyana Faust, one of the best detectives in the world, would be the perfect person to take on the task.
‘There is little risk in case of failure, and huge returns in case of success. It’s not a bad story. No, from my point of view, there is absolutely no reason to refuse.’
One thing. I was curious about why Ahn Su-ho denied that there was obvious evidence, but I decided to cover that part for now.
I didn’t even need to know right now, and not digging into it would help my relationship with him go smoothly.
“…… Great. Let’s entrust this matter to Illyana Faust. Based on the memo you gave me, investigate the corruption and crimes between Sung Eugene and Yeo Il. Can I tell you that?”
“If you do, thank you. As for her commissioned reward, I will talk to her separately from her side-“
“All right. I pay the fee. Instead, if all of this information turns out to be true, please make this information freely available to me.”
“Are you trying to blackmail me for an extra day?”
“It would be foolish not to use a useful card when it came into your hand.”
“Good. You do.”
Having received Ahn Su-ho’s consent, Han Yeo-reum put his memo in his pocket.
“I will contact Illyana right away. If possible, it would be beneficial for you to strike first before Seong Yu-jin moves.”
After her words, Midsummer held up a coffee cup with one hand while operating her smart phone with the other. However, the glass was empty because she continued to drink while exchanging conversations.
‘It’s late, but there’s still a lot left to say…….’
Even if the countermeasures against Seong Yu-jin were settled with this case, we had to talk about how he would come out from now on, mobilizing the police and the media. Thinking so, Han Yeo-reum asked Ahn Su-ho.
“Would you like another cup of coffee? I think the story will be a bit longer.”
At that question, Suho Ahn softly nodded his head. With the bittersweet aroma of coffee, the conversation between the two continued until late at night.
Two weeks later.
Green House Guard Special Countermeasures Division Team 2 Team Leader’s Office.
“…… Ahn Soo-ho. What the hell is going on right now?”
Min Chae-ryeong muttered as she glared at the PDF file floating on her laptop screen. Light dark circles were sitting around her eyes, which had been overworked in many ways.
“This email just arrived, is this from you?”
-Yes. The mail I sent is correct. The ID is a disposable account.
“Yes. That’s why I must have called at such a good timing. Seriously, I wondered what he was up to after being stuck in a corner of the countryside for two weeks…….”
Min Chaeryeong bit off a piece of chocolate candy that was rolling on the table and ate it. She had a habit of eating chocolate whenever her stress piled up.
However, her expression didn’t look too bad right away. There were definitely deep wrinkles between her eyebrows, but for some reason, a faint smile was creeping up at the corner of her mouth.
“Let me ask you directly. Is all this true?”
-That’s true. Verification has already been completed.
“You are crazy, really? How the hell did you figure all this out? Do you have any connections to the Yeo-il leadership like you did during the dawn?”
-I can’t answer that. Because that information power is my lifeline. You said that at the job interview, right?
“Yes, it was. What about trade secrets? If I hadn’t picked you because of those words, I wouldn’t be suffering like this right now.”
– I know. That’s why I sent you a gift like this.
“A gift?”
Min Chae-ryeong looked at her PDF file with a smile. The file contained half of the list of crimes between Sung Yu-jin and Yeo-il, which Ahn Soo-ho had completed through Illyana’s verification over the past two weeks. That wasn’t all of the list of crimes Ahn Su-ho remembered, but the rest were still unverified.
However, even half of that was already a good enough negotiation card and blackmail material.
‘Bribery of directors, arms smuggling, prostitution, s*xual entertainment, involvement in business interests, and even spying for the dawn. You asked a very savage question, really.’
Did Ahn Su-ho call this a gift? If so, is this information given to you for free?
At the moment Min Chaeryeong thought so, Ahn Suho over the phone added briefly.
-I will give the information to the team leader. First of all, these are things that have been verified in my line, but if you are uneasy, it is okay for the team leader to investigate further. Instead… ….
“Instead?”
-I want you to listen to my one request. It’s not a very difficult request.
“For people who say that, no one asks for an easy favor. So? What is a request?”
-Please meet Sung Eugene instead of me. And please tell me Take her hands off her primordial silver. Leave me alone Then the facts of these crimes will not be revealed to the public.
The reason Seong Yu-jin wants the primordial silver is to advance her multi-ability research.
And Sung Yu-jin and Yeo-il are researching multiple abilities banned by the state, but it must be because it is directly related to the interests of the company in the end.
That’s why Ahn Su-ho made a deal. In order to get his comfort and ownership of the primordial silver from them, using information that would cause enormous damage the moment he was released as blackmail material.
-That’s all my terms. Other conditions are up to the manager.
“As long as you’re safe, you’re telling me to take care of the rest, right?”
-That’s right. That kind of thing is the manager’s specialty.
“There’s nothing I can’t say to my boss… ….”
But.
After adding that, Min Chae-ryeong responded by chewing on another piece of her chocolate candy.
“You are right. This is not my specialty.”
At the same time, her signature snake-like smile appeared on her lips.
It was the first sincere smile Ahn Su-ho had since going down to Pohang.