Chapter 127 - Hann Constructions (IV)

Hyun Jung's brows were furrowed in worry. He was going through the files he had just received and the results looked worrisome.

"Is there something wrong, Sunbae?"

He looked up to see a sharp featured girl with dark brown hair standing in front of him. She was tall and her skin was tanned after staying out in the sun for long hours. Her name was Lee Eli and in her mid twenties, she was the youngest detective in their squad.

"Nothing," he said, quickly putting the files away in his desk's drawer. Eli, however, noticed the lines on Hyun Jung's face. He is definitely hiding something, she thought but did not voice it out. They had been partners in many cases and she knew her senior officer well. Over the past few weeks, he had been secretly investigating a case on his own but refused to divulge the details.

"Hyun Sunbae," Eli said. "Are you alright?"

"Yes," Hyun Jung answered. "Why do you ask?"

"You seem disturbed over the past few days," she pointed out. 

"I'm just tired," he said. "Nothing serious."

He stood up and stretched. "I'll go and get some coffee," he added with a yawn. Eli watched him striding over to the coffee machine. Even though it was not unlike Hyun Jung to stay up late to work on files, Eli suspected that he was hiding something.

Hyun Jung noticed Eli staring at him. "I'm fine, Eli," he assured her. "It's just stress. Nothing else."

Eli narrowed her eyes but did not comment. Instead, she said, "We have received a very strange report from one of our informers."

"What is it?"

"He said that there is a dispute going on between the Cartel's topguns," she stated, holding out a file. Hyun Jung took it and glanced through it. Inside were some pictures.

"That is Teppei," Eli continued. "Ziko's subordinate. Ever since Madam Lim's death, he had been looking after all of her operations. His roots had spread deep into the entertainment world. He even set up an agency of his own which masquerades as an idol training program but in reality, we suspect it's a business for flesh trade."

Hyun Jung was deep in thought. Does this have any connection to what was going to happen in Sunny Daze in a few weeks? He wondered. 

"Find out more about this agency," Hyun Jung ordered her. "Bring me each and every piece of information you can find. The background of the management, the trainees and all artists associated with it. What else did you find out?"

Eli pointed at another picture. "This is Shun Oguri," she said. "President of Hann Constructions."

Hyun Jung leaned forward. The President of Kwon Jinhyung's company?

"What about him?" he demanded.

"We suspect he is also a member of the Cartel," Eli explained. "Our reports indicate that the Kwon family and the Cartel are enemies. He was probably placed there to spy on the Kwon family and to bring Hann Constructions under the control of the Cartel. Moreover, he and Ziko along with a few other senior members of the Cartel seem to be competing amongst themselves. Not only did their activities increase but it seems that their businesses are cannibalizing each other."

"How so?"

"A few months back, Hann Constructions tried to purchase a valuable piece of land in order to make a mall but one of Ziko's dummy companies acquired it for themselves," Eli said. "Then in retaliation, Hann Constructions took over an independent idol company which Ziko was eyeing."

"It might be because the Cartel and Kwon family are rivals," Hyun Jung pointed out. "So naturally, their companies would also be rivals."

"Yes, but there is one thing which indicates that someone from within Hann Constructions is a mole," Eli revealed. "Twelve years ago, when the ex-President of Hann Constructions died in an alleged accident, Ziko's account received millions of dollars in his account. The transaction was done from a computer located in Hann Constructions. After President Jung's death, Shun Oguri, who was a mere Assistant Manager, was chosen as the new President."

….

KJ took a deep breath. He was at Mystic Entertainment's studio, writing a new song for EXOTIC. Even though CEO Ahn was dead, they would still have to run the agency. Fortunately, Mirae took over the company after CEO Ahn's demise and is running it from the shadows. 

So far, they had managed to hide CEO Ahn's death as a heart attack in order to stop people from panicking. However, business must run as usual. KJ was still the leader of EXOTIC and they must churn out new music in order for the company to survive.

He leaned against his chair, reading and re-reading the lines he just wrote.

"In the wild wild rain

I drew a painting of you

You who stood in that pink shirt

With lips smiling widely

But eyes which were distant and cold…"

He read the lyrics aloud. Even though Dasom had said they sounded beautiful, KJ could not help but think that something was missing. He crumpled up the paper in frustration and threw it into the bin.

It was so difficult to create lyrics. Ever since he had woken up from his coma, he felt as if he had lost his lyric writing ability. It frustrated him that he could not find his inspiration to write.

Yet, it was unavoidable. His mind was preoccupied with so many things. The anticipation of breaking into Hann Constructions was killing him. It felt exhilarating and yet at the same time, he was damn nervous. Even though Mirae was going to do most of the heavy lifting, he could not help but be worried.

Her mangled body still flashed before his eyes. Her lifeless green eyes as blood gushed out of her head haunted his dreams, making him feel suffocated. Sending her into Hann Constructions was suicidal but it was the only way. 

He could not enter Hann Constructions since he had no authority there. Moreover, even if he was granted access to his grandfather's room, the moles of the Cartel would no doubt report back to their leader, which will immediately alert them. Only a sneak attack was going to be effective.

The door opened. He looked up to see Ash entering the room.

"How was your shooting?" KJ asked.

"As usual," the latter groaned as he sat down. "Long hours of shooting are not my thing."

He let out a loud yawn. 

"You look tired," KJ noted. "Just take some rest."

"I will," Ash shrugged. "I'll go back to Mirae's place after this and rest."

"You guys are going strong then," KJ said, trying to maintain a casual tone. He tried very hard not to let his jealousy get in the way of his friendship with Ash. The latter, however, noticed his suppressed emotions.

"Yes," Ash replied. "But are you alright?"

"What do you mean? Of course I'm alright!"

"KJ, I've known you for ten years," Ash said. "You are not okay. You still have lingering feelings for Mirae. I can tell. The way you look at her and listen to her words...you still like her."

His tone was not accusatory. On the contrary, he was simply stating the truth. KJ knew there was no point in lying to him.

"I do," he admitted. "But I assure you, I have no intentions of working on those feelings. All I'm concentrating upon are our plan to break into Hann Constructions and our upcoming album. That's it."

Ash sighed. "It's so strange," he mused. "Two friends who fell for the same girl."

KJ smirked. "Time just wasn't on my side," he said cryptically.

Ash raised his eyebrow. "What do you mean?" he questioned. 

"Nothing," KJ replied. "Let's go through the lyrics. We have a lot to prep for." 

Ash gave him a quizzical look but KJ shrugged him off and picked up the guitar. Taking a deep breath, he began to play it.