By Zephyria 
“Haha, please don’t worry. We will do everything in our power to help. Our Chairman is not one to ever forget a favor. I believe Assemblyman Choi knows this, which is why he sought us out. Haha.”
The recorded voice belonged to Director Shim of Guyoung Construction. He was Chairman Shim’s younger brother, his right-hand man, and a rising power within the company. However, the person he was speaking with was not Assemblyman Bae, but Assemblyman Choi. Having met him in person before, Hee-shin remembered the voice clearly.
However, the audio file didn’t leave clear evidence of money changing hands. There were dozens of files related to Guyoung Construction involving people other than Assemblyman Choi. The counterparts varied from local government officials to prominent members of the National Assembly. He couldn’t even fathom just how much money these bastards had been spraying around.
As he listened to them in order, a sense of fatigue began to wash over him.
Most of the content was already in the evidence, and as he kept skipping through, he eventually reached the final file. After pouring and drinking a glass of cold water, he connected the USB labeled with Im Gyeong’s name to the computer. There were only two audio files. The dates were the day he first met Im Gyeong, and ten days later.
Taking a deep breath, he clicked the first file. A voice that sounded like Assemblyman Bae’s chief aide played.
—It’s been a while.
The two exchanged brief pleasantries, suggesting they had met before, and engaged in trivial conversation. Then, the aide subtly brought up the main point.
—Did you like the gift we sent?
—I don’t care for paintings. My mother likes artwork more than I do.
—I heard you’re leaving for Japan next week. If you tell us your preferences, we’ll take as much care as possible on our end.
—Forget the gifts. What about the figurehead?
—I’ve recruited someone. There’s a friend of mine, Jo Cheol-woong, whom I’m close with—like brothers.
—Ah, the one related to my aunt?
—You knew?
—Well, it just happened. But will he be alright?
—What exactly are you worried about?
—I’m wondering if a man who can’t even keep his pants zipped can keep his mouth shut.
Aide Nam Gil-young explained how useful Chief Prosecutor Jo Cheol-woong was. He mentioned that the current Chief Prosecutor of the Central District Prosecutors’ Office was very close with Assemblyman Bae, so he could provide sufficient backing.
—Fine. Let’s give it a try.
With that, the first conversation ended.
Then he listened to the second file, and this time, the conversation was even shorter.
—I’d like to put someone else in the lead.
—Not Jo Cheol-woong?
—If possible, someone with a decent face, someone the media would love to talk about. That way, the public’s attention will be drawn to them.
—Do you have someone in mind?
A brief silence followed. Listening with bated breath, Hee-shin turned the volume up to the maximum. It sounded like the aide had said something… He listened to that section repeatedly, but he couldn’t make out what was being said.
—Is he an acquaintance?
—We crossed paths here last week. He even gave me his business card personally.
Kang Hee-shin thought deeply. The scene of him grabbing that bastard’s hair and slamming his head onto the table on the day they first met flashed through his mind. He had thrown a business card at him. He couldn’t forget the face of the man smiling as he stared at it. But even as he listened, he hoped it wasn’t true.
—Can a mere prosecutor handle this?
—For starters, he’s overflowing with fighting spirit. The way he flops around like a freshly caught live fish is exactly my style. He’s also handsome, so people will like him. He seems like a good choice to use as a pawn and then discard.
—Understood. Then I’ll put my trust in President Im.
After that, some trivial conversation followed. The aide talked about his time studying in Japan, the food he ate, the tendencies of the Assemblyman he served, and the future direction of politics. And so on. But none of it registered in Hee-shin’s ears. He listened until the end, but only one thing remained.
Figurehead. Pawn.
He retraced everything that had happened with that man, one by one. Where did it start? Was meeting him at Yoon Se-na’s family home not a coincidence? Helping him find the blackmailer, his curiosity about him, introducing him to Chairman Yoon—was it all a calculated move?
As he felt a sense of vertigo, he heard someone approaching from outside. He hurriedly closed the file and pulled out the earphones. A moment later, Chief Oh entered, yawning loudly. Since it was earlier than usual, her eyes widened in surprise.
“What’s this, Prosecutor? When did you get here? Or did you stay up all night again?”
He treated Chief Oh as if nothing were wrong. However, the voice he had just heard was playing on a loop in his head. For now, it was certain that Chief Prosecutor Jo Cheol-woong knew about this. Was that why he had been so desperate to take the case?
—He’s related to my aunt, right?
Yoon Se-na’s aunt, whom he met at the anniversary ceremony; the necklace she was wearing; the photo of the necklace left on Jo Cheol-woong’s computer. None of it might be a coincidence. If so, how far had Chief Prosecutor Jo been involved?
What did they plan to do if Assemblyman Bae was indicted as is? The first thing that came to mind was evidence fabrication. If even a single circumstance emerged in court suggesting that evidence had been fabricated, the remaining real evidence would also be called into question. And Chief Prosecutor Jo was in a position where he could fabricate evidence at any time.
And then there was the other one: the Financial Director, the witness. He couldn’t ignore the possibility that the man might recant his testimony at the last minute. What if the Financial Director claimed that the person who took the money was Assemblyman Choi, not Assemblyman Bae? What if he changed his statement to say the investigation team knew about it?
Jang Seon-woo, who participated in the investigation, would be mentioned, and his father, Prosecutor General Jang, would take a massive hit. Regardless of the truth, public opinion would spiral to the worst possible level. Assemblyman Bae could bring down his greatest rivals, Assemblyman Choi and Prosecutor General Jang, without getting a single drop of blood on his own hands. Moreover, if he could eliminate Assemblyman Yang—Assemblyman Choi’s best friend and a powerful presidential candidate—wouldn’t that be the ultimate bet?
As the feeling of dizziness returned, his stomach churned.
“Are you okay?”
He saw Chief Oh’s face looking at him with concern. How far could he trust anyone? Could he trust Chief Oh? What about Assistant Baek Young-mi? Park Tae-min? Could Park Tae-min’s recent friendliness have had another motive?
“Prosecutor, your face…”
“I’m sorry. Just a moment.”
Ultimately, unable to bear it, he stepped outside and rushed to the restroom. As soon as he entered a stall and grabbed the toilet, he threw up. Since all he had consumed was cold water and a cup of coffee, eventually only gastric juices came up. Even after he managed to stand up, go outside, and wash his face, his vision remained blurry.
Was this finally the result of insomnia, or was it because of that recording?
As he leaned against the wall catching his breath, Park Tae-min entered and flinched.
“Whoa, you scared me. What’s up, man? Why are you standing there like that?”
Park Tae-min knew that his brother had died. Could he have been the one to deliver the information to Im Gyeong? Now that his nerves were frayed, everything was starting to seem suspicious.
“Sunbae…”
“Yeah?”
“Do you know Im Gyeong?”
“Huh?” Park Tae-min asked who that was with a stupid expression. He didn’t even have the leisure to determine if it was a lie. The moment he stepped away to leave, his vision swayed, and he collapsed forward.
“Hey! Kang Hee-shin! Wake up, man! An ambulance! Someone call an ambulance!”
He could hear Park Tae-min’s urgent voice. Though he often did annoying things, he thought that, at the very least, he hoped this man wouldn’t betray him. That was his last memory.
When he opened his eyes, he saw a white ceiling, then a nurse, and then… his mother? Startled, he sat up abruptly without realizing it. Was he dreaming? Why was his mother here? Before he could hide his confusion, she checked his complexion.
“Hee-shin. Are you okay? Look at me. Do you recognize me? Are you awake now?”
“How… how did you get here?”
He immediately checked his condition. He was in a hospital, wearing patient clothes. He remembered vomiting in the restroom and meeting Park Tae-min, but after that, the film had been cut. His mother held her son’s hand, on the verge of tears. She said she had called him, but a 119 paramedic answered, and she felt like her heart was collapsing. She said she took a taxi and rushed here as soon as she heard.
“The doctor said it was overwork. He said it almost became a serious matter.”
His mother finally burst into tears. As he tried to pull his hand away, the door opened and Yoon Se-na rushed in. “Oppa!” He let go of his mother’s hand first. Then, after wiping away her tears, she took a step back.
“What happened!”
Yoon Se-na didn’t even think to put down her handbag. She said she had gone to the Prosecutors’ Office to have lunch with him today and heard the news. She asked why on earth he worked so much. Then, noticing his mother beside him, she looked slightly flustered.
An awkward current flowed between the two women. How should he introduce her? The person I’m going to marry? The mother who gave birth to me? He hated the moment where he had to agonize over such a simple introduction. Meanwhile, his mother cautiously spoke up.
“Who is she? A girlfriend?”
Yoon Se-na gave a hesitant greeting. “Hello.” At that, his mother smiled shyly.
“I, I’m Hee-shin’s… re, relative… I just stopped by because I heard he was hurt. Don’t mind me, you two talk. I have something urgent, so I must go now…”
Then, looking at her son, she mouthed the words, I’m going. She looked back once more at the door before leaving. His mother was gone, but Yoon Se-na must have noticed. That the woman was Kang Hee-shin’s mother.
“Oppa, that person just now—”
“Hold on.”
Hee-shin pulled out his IV, got off the bed, and hurriedly left the hospital room. In the distance, he saw his mother’s retreating figure. He strode over and called out to her. When she turned around, the area around her eyes was red. Only now could he see her face properly. A face wrinkled from nursing and early morning work, hair turned white from dyeing at some point, an old skirt bought who-knows-when, shoes with worn-out toes…
Even seeing that, his words came out bluntly.
“…Do you have money for the fare?”
“Yes. Mommy has money. Hurry back inside.”
He fumbled through his patient gown pocket to give her some money, then realized. Damn it. He should have brought his wallet. In the meantime, he spotted a man appearing in the distance carrying a fruit basket. A handsome man, striking enough to turn a plain hospital corridor into a fashion runway.
He strode toward the man who was waving at him. Then, without warning, he reached into the man’s pocket and pulled out his wallet. “Lend me some money.” Leaving a bewildered Im Gyeong behind, he returned to his mother and pulled her arm. “Let’s go. I’ll get you a taxi.”