leonardwarren Chapter 428: Kim Dong-Soos Hidden Camera (3)
Chapter 428: Kim Dong-Soos Hidden Camera (3)
Chapter 428: Kim Dong-Soo's Hidden Camera (3)
[Everyday V12]
[Date: November 11, 2022]
-1:00 p.m.: Top Entertainment Founding Ceremony.
'Why isn't it disappearing? Seo Jae-Ill... he's not the kind of fool who would fumble such a handed-over case.'
Although Kim Dong-Soo had been arrested by Seo Jae-Ill, the scheduled event still hadn't vanished.
Thinking about Kim Dong-Soo, I muttered to myself without realizing it. "His survival instincts...are insane."
Lee Soo-Chan next to me asked, "Excuse me? What did you just say?"
"Oh, nothing. Forget it."
At that moment, Seo Jae-Ill effortlessly lifted Kim Dong-Soo.
Kim Dong-Soo screamed in pain with his hands cuffed. "Aaaah! My arm... my arm... it's going to break!"
The unbothered Seo Jae-Ill handled Kim Dong-Soo roughly. "Stop exaggerating already."
Kim Dong-Soo yelled at the top of his lungs as the bear-like Seo Jae-Ill carried him to the transport vehicle. Meanwhile, Yang Tae-Min froze in the car with his face pale as a sheet as he fidgeted nervously.
I wondered, 'Could it be... because of that guy that the schedule isn't disappearing? No, that doesn't make sense.'
Kim Dong-Soo wasn't the type to share his secrets with anyone. Even in my past life, it took a long time for me to learn anything substantial about him. Considering that, Yang Tae-Min wouldn't have any idea what he had been moving.
Shortly after, Yang Tae-Min started the car and disappeared to somewhere unknown. Only then did I sit up from the reclined seat.
Lee Soo-Chan noticed my expression and asked, "Hyung-nim, is something bothering you? He's been arrested, hasn't he?"
"It's nothing major but something's bugging me a little."
The fact that the schedule still wasn't erased from the planner had started to weigh on my mind.
"I overheard your call with Prosecutor Seo earlier. It sounded like the search warrant was almost a done deal. Isn't that the case?"
"Well, yes. But..."
Lee Soo-Chan's words planted doubt in my mind.
'What happens if the search warrant doesn't go through?' I thought.
Nothing in this world was ever 100% certain. If there was one exception, it was my planner. While I didn't distrust Seo Jae-Ill, I had to prepare for the worst.
"Soo-Chan...I'm asking just in case, but...do you know anyone skilled at cracking locks or safes?"
Lee Soo-Chan tilted his head curiously. "Are you asking because you're worried prosecutor Seo Jae-Ill might not get the warrant?"
"Exactly. If that happens, I'll need to use any means necessary to protect the actresses. Do you know someone?"
I didn't want to resort to such methods, but there was a high chance Kim Dong-Soo's materials in the Apgujeong hideout could be moved elsewhere if the search warrant wasn't issued. This was the time to prepare for that possibility as delaying my decision could put the ten actresses in even greater danger.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Lee Soo-Chan nodded in agreement. "For locks, Opener is the best."
"Opener?"
"Oh, sorry. I meant Ho-Jae. He's a master at that sort of thing."
"Ho-Jae? Are you talking about Lee Ho-Jae?"
"Yes, hyung-nim. You remember him."
Lee Ho-Jae was from the disbanded Kanghan gang and someone I had known since our orphanage days. He had been remarkably handy even as a kid, and it seemed he had honed that particular talent in a specialized direction.
"Then call him right now. I'll take full responsibility."
All former members of the Kanghan gang had left their lives of crime behind, but I couldn't think of another solution this time. If the legal means to arrest Kim Dong-Soo failed, the next step would be to destroy the incriminating photos by any means necessary.
"I understand. I'll call him right away."
"I'm sorry, Soo-Chan. I keep asking you to do these things."
"Don't be. You've always said that for talent agents, their actors come first. Once they're in Reverse Entertainment, they're ours to protect."
It seemed that Lee Soo-Chan had become a proper talent agent in his own right. He picked up his phone and immediately made a call. "Hey, Ho-Jae. Bring your tools to the alley near Apgujeong K Officetel. It's time to show off your old skills. Yeah. Right now. Yoon-Ho hyung-nim is waiting, so hurry over."
While waiting for Lee Ho-Jae, I started sketching out the internal layout of Kim Dong-Soo's officetel. Knowing the precise layout was crucial for achieving our goal within the limited time we would have.
The scratch of the pen on the tablet's screen protector echoed through the car.
***
In a windowless interrogation office, Kim Dong-Soo shouted at the top of his lungs. "This is ridiculous! Arresting someone without evidence? Are you even a real prosecutor?"
Seo Jae-Ill slammed the table. "Mr. Kim Dong-Soo! There are ten victims who have testified that you filmed them without their consent. Are you seriously going to keep denying it?"
"As a prosecutor, can you even arrest someone based solely on accusations without evidence?"
Without responding, Kwak Hyun-Sung leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes, muttering something about being tired.
***
While Kim Dong-Soo and Kwak Hyun-Sung were speaking, Seo Jae-Ill received a call. "What? The warrant was denied? Why? Why would Ms. Lee Sun-Ye reject this?"
Judge Lee Sun-Ye was known for issuing warrants without hesitation in cases with many victims.
The investigator on the other end stammered.
-T-the night duty judge changed. It's now Judge Choi Sang-Pil.
"Fuck! Are you kidding me? How did he end up on duty tonight?"
-Ms. Lee Sun-Ye had to leave suddenly due to a family emergency...
Choi Sang-Pil was notoriously biased and known to be a judge who always aligned himself with the ruling party regardless of who held power.
"This is unbelievable."
Seo Jae-Ill seethed with anger. He suspected that Kwak Hyun-Sung from Taesung Law Firm had manipulated the situation, but it was only a suspicion without evidence.
The worst part was that Kim Dong-Soo would soon be released with the warrant denied. The situation had turned critical as ten victims could be in even greater danger.
Seo Jae-Ill chose the only option left to him: he picked up his phone and called Jung Yoon-Ho.
"Mr. Jung? I hate to tell you this, but the search warrant was denied."
Surprisingly, Jung Yoon-Ho responded as if he had expected this.
-Then can you keep him detained for as long as possible?
"I can't guarantee much since the warrant was denied, but I can hold him for about thirty minutes."
-That's enough time.
"What are you planning to do?"
-Apologies, but I can't tell you. Just please keep Kim Dong-Soo detained as long as you can.
Click.
As the call ended, Seo Jae-Ill felt his face flush with guilt. The only thing he could do now was delay delivering the news about the denied warrant for as long as possible.
***
Outside the Apgujeong K Officetel, I realized once again the planner was never wrong.
The detained suspect was usually released immediately when a search warrant was denied, but Seo Jae-Ill promised to stall for thirty minutes.
I resolved to infiltrate Kim Dong-Soo's hideout and retrieve the materials before he could return and move them elsewhere. With his arrest unlikely now, my priority was to protect the actresses.
I turned to Lee Ho-Jae, who was preparing for the task in the back seat, and said, "Ho-Jae, we need to grab everything inside the officetel."
Lee Ho-Jae studied the officetel's floor plan on the tablet and nodded. "Got it. How much time do we have?"
"They said they'll hold him for as long as possible, but it's unlikely we'll have more than 30 minutes."
Lee Ho-Jae frowned and fell deep in thought. "It's tight, but I'll give it my best shot."
Normally, cracking a safe required knowing the brand, type, and specifications as this could significantly reduce the time needed. However, there was no way to predict how long it would take right now.
I said, "Forget it. I'll go with you."
"What? You're coming too, hyung-nim?"
"Yeah. It'll be easier if I go with you. I've been here a few times and two people are better than one for something like this."
"Having someone familiar with the place does help."
"Great. Now hand me a set of disguise tools."
"Here you go."
I had already swapped out my suit for a large hoodie and casual pants just in case. Taking the disguise kit from Lee Ho-Jae, I got to work. I pulled on a black cap, a mask that covered my entire face, gloves, and special rubber soles designed to obscure the size and shape of my shoes.
Once my disguise was complete, I turned to Lee Ho-Jae. "We can avoid the security camera by entering through the parking lot. Let's head that way first."
"Understood, hyung-nim."
With a bag slung over my shoulder, I stepped out of the car and said, "Soo-Chan, you stay here. Keep an eye out and call me immediately if you see Kim Dong-Soo coming back."
"Got it. Just make sure you get out if time runs out. Your safety is the priority, hyung-nim."
"Alright."
The clock was ticking and we only had thirty minutes.
I headed toward the officetel with Lee Ho-Jae, determined to retrieve the hidden camera photos.