activa-t Chapter 327: Damage (2)
Chapter 327: Damage (2)
Chapter 327: Damage (2)
I asked Seo Jae-Ill about the identity of the person leading the investigators again. "The man at the front is the prosecutor who's part of Assemblyman Park Sang-Gon's camp?"
-Yes, that's Go Jin-Taek. He's from the Eastern District Prosecutors' Office. He's aiming for a seat in the National Assembly, so he's aligned himself with Assemblyman Park Sang-Gon.
The investigation into Park Sang-Gon's slush funds was currently being handled by the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office. However, even Seo Jae-Ill didn't understand why the Eastern District Prosecutors' Office was involved.
-I'll look into the situation quickly and get back to you.
"Understood. Also, try contacting Mr. Choi Eun-Tae."
-That's... something I need to think about.
"You should reach out while you still can. You don't want to regret it later. The other side won't hesitate to use any means necessary."
-I'll call you later.
Seo Jae-Ill hesitated for a moment before hanging up.
'Is this the power of the ruling party leader?' I wondered.
I finally realized the true strength of the person I was up against.
"Well... I didn't expect you to go down easily," I muttered under my breath.1
Though the opponent was formidable, I had no intention of giving up just like that. I headed straight to the president's office to report on the unfolding situation.
***
Despite being aware of the ongoing search and seizure at Actor Division 3, Kang Gam-Chan sat calmly on the sofa inside the president's office on the seventh floor.
On the flip side, Kang Ji-Yung and Jung Soo-Hyuk who were seated nearby appeared a bit tense.
After bowing and greeting them, I told them about my conversation with Seo Jae-Ill and how the search was more serious than it seemed.
"Does this mean another prosecutor is trying to cover this up?"
"Yes. Considering that Prosecutor Go Jin-Taek is aligned with Assemblyman Park Sang-Gon, it's certainly a possibility."
Jung Soo-Hyuk furrowed his eyebrows. "So we don't know where the fallout will land."
Worried about the potential ramifications, Jung Soo-Hyuk decided to quickly head to the Finance Division.
However, before he could leave the room, Go Jin-Taek suddenly barged in with a loud thud.
Go Jin-Taek held up a warrant and made the cold announcement. "We're from the Eastern District Prosecutors' Office. We ask for your cooperation."
Kang Gam-Chan stood up and asked, "Cooperation, huh... To what extent do you need us to cooperate?"
Go Jin-Taek smirked and directed the two investigators who had accompanied him. "Seize everything!"
"Yes, sir!"
The two investigators unfolded blue boxes to start collecting documents.
At that moment, Kang Ji-Yung shot up from her seat and raised her voice. "Sir! What do you mean seize everything? How are we supposed to work then?"
"What? Are we supposed to go easy on criminals?" Go Jin-Taek barked back.
Kang Ji-Yung's frustration grew. "What did you say? Criminals?"
Go Jin-Taek spoke as if it was entirely our fault. "Well, what else do you call people who bring money to influential political figures?"
Realizing there was no other option, Kang Gam-Chan tried to calm Kang Ji-Yung down.
Nonetheless, we couldn't just sit back and accept this. If it was true that Park Sang-Gon had sent Go Jin-Taek, it could escalate into a problem for the entire company.
I stood in front of them and said, "First, please show us the warrant. Isn't it the law to properly present it before conducting a seizure?"
Recently, the scope of search warrants had become more stringent and limited. As such, I couldn't believe that the warrant included the president's office for actions committed by Kang Myung-Gil.
When I blocked the investigators, Go Jin-Taek looked at me with a visibly annoyed expression. "What is it now? Who are you?"
"I'm Jung Yoon-Ho, Team Lead of Actor Division 2."
Go Jin-Taek scoffed. "It looks like you've watched some courtroom dramas, but reality is different from drama. Move aside while I'm asking nicely."
"I request once again: please show us the warrant first!" I demanded.
The moment I saw Go Jin-Taek's brows furrow, I felt more certain of my suspicion.
I quickly added, "If you refuse to show the warrant, we'll file a lawsuit for illegal search."
Go Jin-Taek fumed for a moment before reluctantly handing me the paper. "Here! Look! But do you even know what you're looking at?"
He must have thought that I wouldn't understand since I was just a talent agent, but I had been through three search and seizure warrants in my past life.
Upon closely reading the warrant that Go Jin-Taek produced, the scope of search was limited to Hoop Entertainment's Finance Division and Actor Division 3 just as I suspected.
I smirked and nodded. "I can see that the president's office is not within the scope of the warrant."
Go Jin-Taek gave me a once-over and chuckled. "Ha. You're a real nuisance. Fine, hold on a moment."
Go Jin-Taek picked up his phone as if it was no big deal. "Hey, it's me. What's the status of the additional warrant for the president's office?"
I frowned. 'No wonder he seemed so confident.'
It looked like he had already arranged to extend the search to Kang Gam-Chan before coming. However, since the warrant wasn't issued yet, this search was still illegal.
As I was about to argue the procedural issues, I noticed Go Jin-Taek's face darkening during his phone call. "What? Who said that? Damn it!"
The moment I saw the call end with swearing, I knew immediately that he hadn't secured the warrant.
"Who? Seo Jae-Ill from the Central District? Fuck..." Go Jin-Taek cursed.
I looked straight into Go Jin-Taek's wavering eyes and spoke. "Why don't you come back when you get the warrant, sir?"
Grind!
Grinding his teeth, Go Jin-Taek glared at me fiercely. "You little bastard. We'll meet again."
Then Go Jin-Taek stormed out with the prosecutors who had accompanied him.
"Phew..." I let out a sigh without even realizing it.
Kang Gam-Chan approached and patted my shoulder, complimenting my handling of the situation. "Since when did you know how to read a warrant?"
As Choi Man-Sik's anger subsided a little, Ju Ho-Sung, who had been watching cautiously, finally asked. "Sir... what happens to Mr. Park now?"
"Why? Are you afraid my future father-in-law will go down like this?"
Ju Ho-Sung swallowed nervously. "No...I was just wondering what we should do moving forward."
Choi Man-Sik took a long drink and then spoke to the two men. "Aide Yoo has been in the game for years and he won't be shaken by something like this. He's planning to take all the blame and say it was a solo act."
As Kim Dong-Soo and Ju Ho-Sung let out a relieved sigh, Choi Man-Sik continued. "That's that for my future father-in-law, but it won't have a small impact on us either. Our old man called an emergency shareholders' meeting today and it looks like they'll be discussing your dismissal, Chief Kim. They'll probably say you were involved as well."
Kim Dong-Soo's face turned pale. "M-Mr. Choi, please help me."
When Kim Dong-Soo clasped his hands together and pleaded, Choi Man-Sik waved him off. "Don't worry. I can't stop the disciplinary action, but I'll make sure you don't get fired."
"Th-thank you."
"But!"
"But?"
"Next time, you'll have to take the fall instead of Team Lead Kang no matter what it is. Agreed?"
It was implied that Kim Dong-Soo would have to cover for any future mistakes made by Choi Man-Sik as well, but Kim Dong-Soo nodded. After all, there was no other way to survive in this situation.
"I'll do as you say."
Choi Man-Sik then turned to Ju Ho-Sung. "And Team Lead Ju. Since Chief Kim will be sidelined for a while, you'll need to take extra care of Actor Division 3."
"Yes, Mr. Choi. But..."
"What now?"
"Is this really okay? No one will believe that Team Lead Kang did this alone."
Choi Man-Sik smirked. "Who said he did it alone?"
"S-surely not..."
"That's right. There's someone we've kept around for times like this, remember?"
Ju Ho-Sung asked with a shocked expression. "M-Mr. Lee Gi-Cheol?"
"Exactly. When I offered him a billion won before coming here, he agreed without hesitation. Anyway, we've been hit hard this time. So everyone should keep their heads down for now. Got it?"
"Yes, sir..."
Just then, Ju Ho-Sung asked with a worried look. "But with Mr. Lee stepping down, there won't be any executive-level members left from the Suhyaejong line. Are you just going to watch that happen?"
Choi Man-Sik smirked. "Don't worry. I've got someone useful though he's not from the Suhyaejong line. He should be joining us shortly."
At that moment, the door creaked open and a man appeared.
"Oh, you're here just in time. We were just talking about you..."
When Choi Man-Sik raised his hand in greeting, Kim Dong-Soo and Ju Ho-Sung were left speechless.
The man who walked through the door was someone both of them knew well.
***
While the company was in chaos due to the large-scale audit, Kang Gam-Chan had left to attend a shareholders' meeting.
After the meeting ended, Kang Gam-Chan immediately called me and asked me to go to Choi Eun-Tae's residence in Myeong-dong.
Even though Team Jung was being audited as well, I headed straight to Choi Eun-Tae's house since there was nothing for them to worry about.
When I entered the room, I found Choi Eun-Tae and Kang Gam-Chan with regretful expressions and asked, "Why do you both look like this?"
Choi Eun-Tae spoke with a stern face. "I am too ashamed to meet you, Team Lead Jung."
"I'm sorry?"
Kang Gam-Chan chimed in from the side. "Director Lee Gi-Cheol took the fall. He claimed he ordered Team Lead Kang to make the payments."
'No wonder the schedule to establish Top Entertainment hadn't disappeared from the planner,' I realized.
"So Director Lee Gi-Cheol is taking all the blame and going to prison?"
"Yes."
"Then what about Chief Kim Dong-Soo? Is he going to get away without any punishment?"
"Not exactly."
Lee Gi-Cheol and Kang Myung-Gil were set to be fired, while Kim Dong-Soo would receive a three-month suspension.
"But that's the best we can do for now. There's no evidence, and President Choi Man-Sik as well as the other shareholders opposed further action."
Of course, Choi Man-Sik wouldn't stand by and watch his right-hand men be cut off.
"Oh, and Chief Bang Sang-Yung will be promoted to Director to replace Director Lee Gi-Cheol. Just a heads-up."
I tilted my head. "Mr. Bang as Director?"
I was surprised to think that Bang Sang-Yung would join hands with the Suhyaejong line. Bang Sang-Yung, who had once asked me to join his line, saw this as an opportunity and made his move.
Even Choi Eun-Tae had no grounds to oppose pushing Bang Sang-Yung forward. After all, he wasn't from the Suhyaejong line and his performance in the company was exceptional.
As I let out a hollow laugh in disbelief, Choi Eun-Tae tried to console me. "Don't be too disappointed though. We are preparing a large-scale offensive against Assemblyman Park . Even if the aide accepted the money, who in the world would believe that? Just wait a little longer. I've already made all the necessary moves..."
At that moment, there was a loud thumping on the wooden floor followed by a low voice from outside the door.
"Mr. Choi. It's me, Yung-Ho."
It was Choi Yung-Ho, Choi Eun-Tae's right-hand man and the president of Daeheung Savings Bank.
"Yes. Come on in."
The door swung open and Choi Yung-Ho entered with a grave expression. "Things have gotten complicated with Assemblyman Park's side."
"What do you mean by that all of a sudden?"
Choi Yung-Ho sighed deeply and explained. "Aide Yoo Sang-Gi... hanged himself in the detention center."
It was becoming increasingly clear that we were up against the ruling party leader.