Goblin Library - Chapter 184

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 184

Following the method the Administrator had explained, I accessed the site and clicked through various options until a download button appeared.
Seeing it, Jang Ma-ru exited the site. Instead, he remotely accessed a different computer.
On the monitor, alongside the computer screen, footage from a surveillance camera showing an empty room also appeared.
The small studio apartment lacked even basic appliances like a refrigerator.
With neither keyboard nor monitor, only the bare computer tower sat there, its power indicated solely by the light glowing from the unit itself.
After glancing at the room, Jang Ma-ru remotely accessed the Administrator’s site.
Jang Ma-ru had no intention of carelessly downloading a program created by a hacker directly onto his main computer.
It could contain hacking tools, or worse, location-tracking software.
To prepare for such contingencies, he had rented a studio apartment in a remote province and set up a computer there.
Accessing the site remotely, Jang Ma-ru clicked the download button.
The download completed quickly.
Opening the downloaded file, photographs and detailed information about the incidents began to appear.
If the contents of the memory card were ledgers, this was an operational file.

Lim Sung-un, examining the operational file, murmured to himself.
“They’ve structured their criminal plans like corporate proposals.”
“Indeed.”
Jang Ma-ru nodded and spoke.
“Looking here, The One’s criminal organization is divided into four teams: Planning, Personnel, Operations, and Administration. The Planning Team designs crimes and operations, then the Personnel Team recruits the necessary personnel for those operations. The Operations Team executes the plan, and the Administration Team manages the required funds.”
At Jang Ma-ru’s explanation, Lim Sung-un looked at the file and shook his head with a hollow expression.
“So it wasn’t just a labor dispatch office.”
“Exactly. As you can see here, they don’t just plan operations and dispatch appropriate personnel—they even have backup teams prepared in case something goes wrong.”
[Their operational planning capability exceeds that of major corporations’ planning divisions.]
At the Administrator’s words, Lim Sung-un nodded.
“The criminal revenue figures are substantial.”
[That’s correct.]
The Administrator, responding to Lim Sung-un’s remark, paused before speaking again.
[But… am I supposed to be here alone?]
At the Administrator’s words, Lim Sung-un looked at Jang Ma-ru. Responding to that gaze, Jang Ma-ru spoke.
“As you understand, we’re not confining you there—we’re protecting you. That’s why we haven’t stationed anyone.”
[I need someone to protect me, not just surveil me.]
“Don’t worry. If anything happens, someone will come to help you.”
[Someone to help me? There’s no one nearby, and this place is in the mountains?]
“Exactly why it’s difficult to approach your location without being familiar with the mountains. It’s safe, so don’t worry.”
[Sigh… I understand.]
Hearing the Administrator’s sigh, Lim Sung-un looked at the monitor and spoke.
『There’s no physical evidence, then.』
[There was nothing about physical evidence in the computer. That’s why I couldn’t access it.]
『You don’t know where it is either?』
[The information I could access was only what was stored in the computer.]
『But looking at the files, I see criminal records among the target investigation details… What does this mean?』
[Since I didn’t ask The One’s people directly or copy information from them, I don’t know either. But it does seem strange. Looking at it, there’s not a single target without a criminal record.]
『Hmm….』
Lim Sung-un nodded, thinking about whether they were limiting their crime targets to ex-convicts.
『I understand.』
[Um, but didn’t you say you’d send me to Hong Kong once The One is dealt with? No matter how I think about it, it seems like it’ll take quite a while. Can’t it be sooner?]
『Unless you’re willing to risk being noticed and fly out from the airport, you’ll need to stow away. And The One would know the smuggling routes better than we do. Moving now is dangerous.』
[That’s… true.]
Stowing away was illegal. So the criminal organization The One would know and be more skilled at it.
[I understand.]
『Then rest comfortably there.』
Lim Sung-un gave Jang Ma-ru a look, and he tapped away at the keyboard.
Clack!
The communication with the Administrator was cut off.
『It seems there’s nothing more to gain from the Administrator.』
『That appears to be the case.』
Jang Ma-ru continued, watching the monitor.
『There are limits to what a hacker can obtain.』
Then he looked at Choi Tae-sik.
『The Administrator doesn’t have an accomplice like Tae-sik hyung.』
Lim Sung-un nodded at Jang Ma-ru’s words and spoke.
『Hye-eun, how’s the atmosphere at the Study Hall Dormitory?』
[It’s just quiet. Oh! There is a new Administrator sitting in the Management Office though.]
『That’s all? No gangs coming and tearing the place apart?』
[I went up to the Rooftop pretending to smoke earlier and overheard people talking. Strange people came and searched the Administrator’s room. After that, there’s been nothing unusual.]
『They’re not interrogating the exam prep students or anything?』
[No. It’s so quiet it’s actually strange.]
At Lee Hye-eun’s words, Lim Sung-un thought for a moment before speaking.
『I’ll send Tae-sik. Meet up at Noryangjin Station 3 and come back.』
[Now?]
『Yes. Now.』
[Won’t it look suspicious if I leave right away?]
『It doesn’t matter. With how you look now, no one will think of Hye-eun.』
[Got it. Then maybe I’ll clean the room first.]
At Lee Hye-eun’s words, Jang Ma-ru asked.
『Why clean when you’re leaving?』
[There are my fingerprints in that hotel room. I need to get rid of them.]
『The CIA has all sorts of gadgets—there’s a spray you can use on your fingers that prevents fingerprints from being left behind. I should pick up a few bottles.』
[Something like that actually exists?]
『Those guys make everything. It’s a bit pricey, but I’ll get a few as a gift for you, noona.』
[But where do you even buy stuff like that?]
『There’s a black market.』
『Choi Tae-sik, bring Hye-eun with you.』
『Understood.』
As Choi Tae-sik stood and left the safe house, Lim Sung-un paused in thought before speaking.
『There’s more to do than I expected.』
At Lim Sung-un’s words, Jang Ma-ru nodded.
『You’re just one person, hyung, but there are so many cases. How are we supposed to handle all of this?』
Lim Sung-un shook his head.
『That’s not the real issue.』
『Then what is?』
『There’s nothing here connecting Lee Gang-hyuk to The One.』
『Ah….』
Jang Ma-ru typed on the keyboard, eyes fixed on the monitor. 『You’re right… there’s nothing related to Lee Gang-hyuk. And The One doesn’t even have his shares. There’s no connection at all.』
『Exactly.』
Lim Sung-un studied the documents on the monitor before speaking.
『Catching Lee Gang-hyuk is more important than taking down The One. If he’s still around, they’ll just rebuild the same company under a different name.』
『But hyung.』
At Jang Ma-ru’s call, Lim Sung-un looked at him.
『Wouldn’t catching Lee Gang-hyuk not actually solve the problem?』
Lim Sung-un smacked his lips and looked back at the monitor.
『You’re right. Even if I throw Lee Gang-hyuk in prison… since it’s a criminal organization born in prison, it’s only a matter of time before they rebuild. It won’t be difficult at all.』
『Exactly. This doesn’t seem like something that can be solved just by locking him up.』
[You’re right. Even if that Lee Gang-hyuk guy goes to prison, he’ll just rebuild the organization… No, wait.]
Lee Hye-eun cut herself off abruptly, and Lim Sung-un asked.
『What else is there?』
[The moment he enters prison, he’ll be plotting revenge.]
『But he doesn’t know who we are.』
At Jang Ma-ru’s words, Lee Hye-eun spoke.
[Not now, he doesn’t.]
After a brief silence, Lee Hye-eun continued.
[You said it yourself. No matter how strong the firewall is, it’s only a matter of time before it gets breached.』
『So our information will eventually be exposed.』
[Exactly. If we dig into them, they’ll find out about us. And since the Administrator has gone missing, they’ll sell information there too… Eventually, they’ll know.』
Lee Hye-eun spoke gravely while Lim Sung-un listened silently. Finally, he opened his mouth.
Lim Sung-un, who had been quietly listening to Lee Hye-eun speak seriously, opened his mouth.
『I understand what you’re worried about. But… you don’t need to think about it so seriously.』
[Not a serious matter?]
Frustrated, Hye-eun forgot that Sung-un had offered to speak formally and dropped the honorifics.
[Weren’t you just talking about this seriously?]
Sung-un shook his head at Hye-eun’s words.
『What I’m seriously concerned about is that Lee Gang-hyuk can continue running a criminal organization from inside the Prison, not that he’ll seek revenge against us.』
[Why aren’t you worried about that?]
At Hye-eun’s bewildered question, Sung-un spoke.
『There’s never been anyone like Lee Gang-hyuk who ran a criminal organization from within the Prison System, but we’ve primarily dealt with conglomerates and powerful figures. They didn’t fail to retaliate against us because they lacked power. If they had money and influence in society even while imprisoned, they would have sought revenge—or rather, they would have if they could.』
[Ah… right. You did lock up conglomerates too.]
『Not just conglomerates. We imprisoned gang bosses, National Assembly members—everyone.』
[So… those people couldn’t do anything to you?]
『Exactly. I can’t say we’re one hundred percent safe… but at minimum, you’re all safe until something happens to me.』
[Why?]
『Because you’re hidden and I’m exposed. And most of the people we imprisoned harbor grudges against me. Because I’m the one who put them away.』
『That’s right. And no matter how powerful Lee Gang-hyuk is, he’s still weaker than a conglomerate.』
Even if Lee Gang-hyuk ran a criminal enterprise, it would only ever be a small to mid-sized operation. The scale of resources—money or manpower—he could mobilize was incomparable to a conglomerate.
[Maru’s right about that. The methods available to conglomerate heirs are far more vicious and powerful than The One.』
At Choi Tae-sik’s words, Hye-eun, who had been silent for a moment, sighed.
[Fine. Then I won’t worry about retaliation.]
[At minimum, I won’t let you face it alone. Don’t worry about that.]
[That sounds like you’re saying we’ll die together. I’m not sure if I should feel reassured hearing that.]
[You should be reassured. I’ll take the blade for you—ten times, a hundred times if needed.』
[Then you’ll die.]
At Hye-eun’s words, Choi Tae-sik let out a soft laugh.
[Rather than watch my people die….]
When Choi Tae-sik’s words trailed off, Sung-un spoke.
『There’s no need for this conversation to go that far. We just need to keep doing what we’ve been doing. And protect each other.』
At Sung-un’s words, Choi Tae-sik spoke.
[But hyung.]
『Go ahead.』
[There is something concerning, just as Hye-eun said. Whether Lee Gang-hyuk is outside or inside the Prison System, he’ll continue building an organization and committing crimes. Moreover, Lee Gang-hyuk knows how to live like a king inside prison. It’s possible the Prison System might actually be more convenient for his operations than society.』
『Yes, that’s the right assessment.』
Sung-un tapped the table lightly with his finger as he spoke.
『Most of the crimes committed by those we’ve dealt with were personal offenses. Assault, drunk driving, drugs… people trying to cover it up with their own power and money. That’s why it was harder for them to commit crimes once imprisoned.』
Of course, they could still influence the outside from within prison, but that was unavoidable.
My work was to imprison them and make them pay for their crimes.
Any crimes that occurred after that could be dealt with again at that time.
But… Lee Gang-hyuk was different.
This man commits crimes whether inside or outside. So prison wasn’t the answer.
“What should I do…?”
Choi Tae-sik, who had been silent for a moment at Lim Sung-un’s quiet murmur, spoke up.
[Hyung, I will… take care of it.]
At the word “take care of,” Lim Sung-un shook his head.
“If ‘take care of’ means killing him, then stop. We gathered to make the bad guy pay for his crimes. We didn’t gather to kill him.”
[But sending him to prison won’t solve anything, will it?]
“If there’s no solution and you kill him once… there will inevitably be a second time, a third time.”
After a brief silence, Lim Sung-un spoke.
“I’ll think of a way, hyung.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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