Chapter 168: Washington Accord (2)

I caught my breath for a moment and then pressed the call button.

-It has been a long time.

“What is the matter?”

-Wow. I am truly disappointed.

Prosecutor Son Yu-jin’s voice was chilly.

My gaze looked at my own face reflected in the airport window.

I chuckled without realizing it and spoke.

“I am sorry. Did you catch that person?”

-I caught him, but he is not opening his mouth even if he dies.

“He is not opening his mouth? Well, I expected it would be like that.”

Not a single fluctuation of emotion could be found in my voice.

The sound of paper rustling was heard from beyond the receiver.

After that, Prosecutor Son Yu-jin’s voice flowed out.

-His name is Byun Do-shik. Fifty-two years old and has worked as the manager in charge of the piping line at Yeongnam Marine Industry for fifteen years. This person is precisely the one responsible for the J&T Marine Tech piping supply issue that became a problem.

Excitement about catching a clue was permeated in Son Yu-jin’s manner of speaking.

She was always like that.

When she discovered a clue to a case, her voice became lively, and when there was progress in the investigation, her words became fast.

I was silent for a moment and then asked calmly.

“What was his state when you caught him?”

-Ah, that is the thing.

Son Yu-jin acted as if she were a person trying to convey the vividness of the scene as if she were in a hurry.

-Traces of running away were evident. For a few days on the day he was caught, whether he was unable to wash, his beard was bushy and there was a stench.

The sound of her catching her breath for a moment was heard.

I waited while looking beyond the window glass with an expressionless face as before.

-This is not simply the appearance of a person who is scared.

Son Yu-jin’s voice became a level higher.

She continued speaking with a tone full of conviction.

-He says he will die if he opens his mouth and remains stubborn while keeping it shut tightly. I have been eating the prosecutor’s rice for ten years, but this is the first time I have seen such eyes…. No matter how much I coax him while sitting him in the interrogation room, he only drops his head and does not say a single word. He even gave up the right to meet with counsel. He does not even say to give him a sip of water. He is like a person who has completely given up. Even as you think about it, there seems to be something, does there not?

I nodded my head.

Of course, Prosecutor Son Yu-jin could not see that appearance.

“Do you have a sense of who ordered it?”

My question was cold yet sunken.

-There is no definite proof yet, but there is a clue.

Son Yu-jin’s voice became even higher with excitement.

-The night before Byun Do-shik went into hiding. He received a total of three calls from an unidentified number. The call times are about 47 seconds, 1 minute 13 seconds, and 2 minutes 5 seconds, respectively. It was not a Yeongnam Marine Industry internal number. It is not the J&T Marine Tech side’s number either. They contacted him with an untraceable pre-paid phone. Does this not smell very fishy? Hohoho.

I narrowed my eyes.

“Since Byun Do-shik disappeared immediately after receiving those calls, it is indeed suspicious.”

-That is right!

Son Yu-jin’s voice changed even more passionately.

It was as if more power surged when my analysis confirmed her intuition.

-It is clear that someone tried to eliminate him or threatened to make him shut his mouth. So there is something I want to ask of you, Representative Lim. You have more materials that you secured from Yeongnam Marine Industry, do you not?

Her voice overflowed with a strong will to reveal the truth.

Respecting her passion, I answered concisely.

“I will organize and send them.”

My answer was brief and clear without any unnecessary explanation.

-As expected, I like you because communication works.

Son Yu-jin spoke while being delighted.

-Send every single one without missing anything. Because clues are sometimes discovered in things you did not think were clues. Ah, and if Byun Do-shik shuts his mouth until the end, I will apply the blade in order starting from Yeongnam Marine Industry to J&T Marine Tech. You know that cannot be helped, do you not?

Her voice was firm.

A sense of mission as a prosecutor was imbued in her voice.

A smile brushed past my mouth, although it was brief.

“I ask you to do that gently. If Yeongnam Marine Industry becomes noisy, there might be a disruption to the business we are proceeding with.”

-I do not want to go that far either. Anyway, send the documents.

“I will instruct it right away.”

The call ended.

I put my cell phone in my pocket and spoke toward Advisor Hong Jang-gun.

“I hear Byun Do-shik has been caught.”

As soon as my words ended, the surroundings became quiet for a moment.

To the point where it stuck clearly in the ears even amidst the unique noise of the airport.

Advisor Hong Jang-gun reacted first.

“You say he was really caught?”

His eyes widened to that extent.

“We finally landed one guy. Wow, he was caught faster than I thought.”

Choi Seo-jun, who was moving together beside us, hesitated in his steps for a moment.

He spoke while revealing his surprise intact on his face.

“If it is Byun Do-shik, it is that person from Yeongnam Marine Industry, right? I thought it would not be easy to catch him since they said he disappeared without a trace, but he was caught more easily than expected.”

He took a breath and shook his head shortly.

“If only he opens his mouth, everything will be solved… the problem is that he does not open that mouth.”

Secretary Cho Hana also looked at me while making an expression as if she were surprised for a moment.

“It is truly a relief that he was caught. I was worried that the entire certification schedule would be delayed because of that person.”

I continued speaking calmly.

“According to Prosecutor Son, he is keeping his mouth shut completely. There seems to be something indeed.”

Hong Jang-gun nodded his head while crossing his arms.

“Representative, in that case, are we… using that material from the Republic of Cyprus?”

My eyes flashed a bit sharply.

“That is right. Advisor, you form a team and send the things you secured in Cyprus… send them all to Prosecutor Son’s side. Even if Byun Do-shik does not speak, the materials will speak.”

Secretary Cho Hana immediately turned on her tablet and answered.

She was very quick-witted.

“I will instruct it right away.”

Her hands moved quickly.

A chat window popped up, and after finding Lawyer Shin Ji-hyeon’s name in the list, she left a message immediately.

[Lawyer Shin Ji-hyeon]

[Please deliver the materials to Prosecutor Son Yu-jin immediately. All documents related to the Republic of Cyprus. Including the tracked version of the link between Yeongnam Marine Industry and J&T Marine Tech. It is urgent.]

Once the transmission was complete, Cho Hana raised her head and said quietly.

“I sent it. The lawyer says she will check and deliver it immediately.”

I nodded my head shortly.

“Good. Now we have done everything we should do. Prosecutor Son will dig into it on her own.”

At that time, the driver who had come out beforehand approached the three people and spoke.

“Representative, the vehicle is ready.”

The party passed through the airport automatic doors and walked out into the outside where the night wind brushed by.

General Hong said while lightly rolling his shoulders.

“I should organize the situation again as soon as we return to the hotel. It seems something even bigger will be behind this.”

Choi Seo-jun spoke while letting out a groan.

“Is it not always like that? There is no such thing as ending easily.”

I moved my steps without a word.

My eyes were already looking for the next piece of the complex puzzle.

The car door opened, and everyone got into the car.

As the door closed, the noisy sound of the airport decreased markedly.

Choi Seo-jun said while fastening his safety belt.

“Representative, it takes about twenty minutes to get to the hotel.”

“I should rest for a moment.”

I saw the lights passing by through the window.

In the meantime, news flowed automatically from the screen inside the vehicle.

While breaking news from the U.S. was pouring out, major South Korean broadcasting stations were also covering the news of the President’s visit to the U.S. in real-time.

[President’s visit to the U.S. Successes in Korea-U.S. economic cooperation one after another….]

The anchor’s voice flowed from the screen.

“In particular, the fact that Representative Lim Hyunjun of HJ Partners and Acting Chairperson Lim Hye-seon of Taeseong Group accompanied and achieved great results this time is receiving the most attention.”

General Hong muttered quietly while looking up at the screen.

“Representative, it will be an uproar when you go to Korea.”

Choi Seo-jun chuckled and laughed.

“Already on the internet, the Representative’s name is at the top of the search terms. The scene where the President directly asked for a handshake at the White House is continuing to circulate.”

However, my expression did not change in the slightest.

I was quietly lost in thought without taking my eyes off the news.

At that time, a single subtitle that popped up small at the bottom of the screen caught Secretary Cho Hana’s attention.

[<Breaking News> Condition of Chairman Lim Man-seok, who was hospitalized in the Taeseong Hospital VIP ward, has improved.]

Cho Hana opened her mouth.

“It seems it has already become known that the Chairman has woken up.”

I answered while shaking my head.

“It was probably leaked on purpose.”

General Hong asked while making a somewhat surprised expression.

“Are you saying he is being discharged already?”

I slowly turned my gaze.

“It seems that is likely the case. Since my aunt also went to Korea.”

A silence flowed in the car for a moment.

General Hong opened his mouth while breaking the atmosphere.

“Now a big commotion will also arise within Taeseong. Since the Chairman has returned.”

At General Hong’s words, the gazes in the car turned toward me at the same time.

I did not answer for a moment.

The city lights passing by the window brushed past my face.

A bitter trace spread across my face.

“It would be a relief if it is only a commotion.”

Cho Hana and Choi Seo-jun heard those words and raised their heads at the same time.

I continued speaking while keeping my gaze outside.

“Taeseong is more complicated than you think right now. Someone will move anxiously just because of the fact that the Chairman has returned.”

Choi Seo-jun asked cautiously.

“Representative, are you worried?”

I gave a slight smile.

They all were guessing what I was thinking.

“I am very worried.”

A silence flowed for a moment.

Then I let the words out as if speaking to myself.

“I hope it passes without any major incident….”

The atmosphere in the car slowly became heavy.

General Hong, Choi Seo-jun, and Cho Hana also knew the meaning of those words well.

I turned my gaze again and looked at the screen.

[Chairman Lim Man-seok’s condition improved.]

My gaze looking at that already knew that the wave approaching in the future was not light at all.

I let out a small sigh.

“I do not know what kind of thing will break out again inside Taeseong. I merely hope that everyone will be safe….”

The car ran silently toward the hotel.

My gaze sank deep.

***

At the time of going to work, the Taeseong Construction lobby was busy as usual.

The appearance of employees in suits quickly tagging their card keys and getting into the elevators followed.

However, Lim Do-hyun, heading toward the President's office, had a much stiffer expression than usual.

Traces of tossing and turning all night were evident.

His back was drenched with cold sweat.

“Haa….”

He closed and opened his eyes for a moment.

Soon, Lim Hye-seon returns to Korea.

If that happens, there is no way she will leave him alone.

Countless thoughts dug into his head without rest.

The elevator door opened.

He moved his steps toward the side where the President's office was located while forcing himself to maintain composure.

At that time, someone from the secretary's office saw him and ran over in a hurry.

His face was completely pale.

Lim Do-hyun’s heart sank, but his expression looked like nothing was wrong.

“What is it that you are in such a hurry?”

The secretary shoved a tablet forward without even being able to catch his breath properly.

“You… you must see this. Just now, the news….”

Lim Do-hyun took the tablet.

However, even before seeing the screen, an ominous feeling was already rising up his neck.

[<Breaking News> Chairman Lim Man-seok, who was hospitalized in the Taeseong Hospital VIP ward, condition improved.]

The front of his eyes became dizzy and lightheadedness occurred.

Hardly any voice came out.

“…What?!”