NIS Agent Reincarnated as a Genius Actor - Chapter 138

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 138. Pitbull and Jeon Ki-hoon

 

“Hah, damn it. Another miss today.”

 

 

 

Reporter Oh Seung-hwan let out a deep sigh while tapping his innocent desk with his fingers.

 

 

 

Oh Seung-hwan had poured out harsh criticism with a speculative article containing doubts about ‘Ryu Yeon-woo’s Acting Ability’ on the day “Master Plan” was released.

 

 

 

However, as days passed, Ryu Yeon-woo’s popularity and recognition as an actor only continued to rise, and his problematic article became a constant source of ridicule.

 

 

 

Whenever it seemed like it might be forgotten, posts would appear on communities with screenshots of his article about Ryu Yeon-woo, sarcastically mocking Reporter Oh with titles like ‘Typical Peninsula Reporter’s Foresight.’

 

 

 

But he couldn’t even argue back.

 

The young actor who had even won the Golden Bear Award at the Berlin Film Festival and was breaking his career high in real-time was no longer someone Oh Seung-hwan could dare to touch.

 

 

 

After that, he failed his promotion review and was even overtaken in rank by a junior who had joined three years later than him, making him seriously consider whether he should quit his job.

 

 

 

Ding─.

 

 

 

Just then, a new message appeared on the anonymous tip channel that Reporter Oh had set up.

 

 

 

“Hmm?”

 

 

 

Oh Seung-hwan’s eyes widened as he clicked on the message.

 

 

 

“What’s this? Isn’t this Jeon Ki-hoon?”

 

“What? What is it?”

 

 

 

Whirr─.

 

 

 

When a junior reporter from the next seat rolled over on his office chair, Oh Seung-hwan hastily closed the message.

 

 

 

“What the hell. Get lost, you bastard.”

 

“What’s going on, senior?”

 

 

 

Oh Seung-hwan frowned at his junior who was hovering around, seemingly having caught the scent of an exclusive story.

 

 

 

“Tsk. Not going? Don’t even think about getting a taste. Your tongue will get cut off. I’m ready to bite anyone these days.”

 

“Ah, fine. I’m going.”

 

 

 

The colleague reporter raised both hands and returned to his seat, seeing Oh Seung-hwan glaring at him.

 

Oh Seung-hwan watched him, then quietly opened the message from the tip channel.

 

 

 

The tip channel contained a message along with a photo of Jeon Ki-hoon holding something that was mosaic-blurred.

 

 

 

– Anonymous A: Reporter Oh Seung-hwan. I believe you immediately recognized this as something big upon seeing it. If you follow just a few requirements, I will help you exclusively report what could be one of the top five scoops of this year.

 

 

 

Oh Seung-hwan’s heart pounded violently as soon as he read the message.

 

 

 

‘This is a must-have even if I can’t digest it. I absolutely have to bite.’

 

 

 

Oh Seung-hwan began typing rapidly.

 

 

 

– Reporter Oh Seung-hwan: Of course! What do I need to do?

 

 

 

Shortly after Oh Seung-hwan sent his message, a reply came back quickly.

 

 

 

– Anonymous A: Please report the attached materials to the Seoul Northern District Prosecutors’ Office Criminal Division 3. Wouldn’t it be much more beneficial for you to write a confirmed article after an investigation proceeds rather than just speculative articles?

 

 

 

Reporter Oh Seung-hwan internally cheered as he read the message.

 

In journalism, there are cases like this.

 

 

 

When the incident is already fully prepared, but they only want post-coverage.

 

Of course, from a reporter’s perspective, it’s literally just placing a spoon on a fully prepared table.

 

 

 

‘Hehehe. What a windfall.’

 

 

 

Oh Seung-hwan, grinning from ear to ear, typed rapidly.

 

In cases like this, the best approach is to move quickly as instructed without asking questions.

 

 

 

Whether it was a scoop or not, determining its authenticity could wait until after seeing the attachment the anonymous tipster would send.

 

 

 

– Reporter Oh Seung-hwan: Understood. I will report as you instructed.

 

 

 

As soon as he sent the reply, an attachment was transmitted.

 

 

 

Oh Seung-hwan looked around once, then quietly double-clicked the attached file.

 

 

 

‘Wow!’

 

 

 

He could immediately understand what kind of incident this was just by looking.

 

 

 

‘…This is huge. Jeon Ki-hoon with drugs?’

 

 

 

There were several clear shots of him looking around nervously while putting a plastic bag containing white powder into a paper shopping bag.

 

 

 

He put all the attached materials on a USB and hurriedly got up from his seat.

 

 

 

‘I don’t know how long it would take if I submit online. And since they asked me to report to Criminal Division 3, I should go in person.’

 

 

 

As Reporter Oh Seung-hwan hurried to leave the office, his junior reporter called out.

 

 

 

“Oh senior! Where are you going!”

 

 

 

But Oh Seung-hwan didn’t even acknowledge him and walked briskly past.

 

The junior shook his head watching Oh Seung-hwan leave the office like that.

 

 

 

“Damn. He must have caught something pretty big. I’m jealous.”

 

 

 

***

 

 

 

– Han Hae-woon: Oh Seung-hwan has made his move.

 

– Good work. Did you put the leash on him properly?

 

– Han Hae-woon: Yes. I threatened him that if he reveals even a little about how he obtained the information, there won’t be any more scoops for him.

 

 

 

Yeon-woo smiled with satisfaction as he read the message.

 

 

 

He had no intention of exposing himself and Han Hae-woon even by a hair’s breadth in this matter.

 

 

 

Since Baeksol had put considerable effort into playing this drug card, there was a high possibility they would investigate if things went wrong.

 

 

 

This had to appear as if a reporter hungry for a scoop had accidentally discovered it while digging into Jeon Ki-hoon’s background.

 

 

 

Even if reporter Oh Seung-hwan went around blabbing about it, there wouldn’t be much of a problem since they had contacted him through an anonymous tip via a secure channel.

 

 

 

He recalled the question Han Hae-woon had asked him when they were planning.

 

 

 

‘But, Team Leader. What if those guys harm that reporter?’

 

 

 

To that question, Yeon-woo had firmly shaken his head and answered.

 

 

 

‘No, those guys will never touch civilians. That’s not for reasons like a sense of justice. Simply put, there’s no money in it.’

 

 

 

They were definitely not the type to be motivated by revenge or anger.

 

Their motivation for action was simple.

 

 

 

Is there money in it, or is it an element that could threaten them long-term?

 

Those were the only two factors.

 

 

 

Reporter Oh Seung-hwan didn’t fall into either category.

 

 

 

‘The risk they’d have to consider to eliminate a civilian domestically would be much greater than the benefit gained from removing the reporter. Plus, he’s a member of the press.’

 

 

 

Of course, that wasn’t the only reason for choosing reporter Oh Seung-hwan.

 

 

 

As they continued to clash with Baeksol like this, there would surely come a time when they’d need a reporter they could directly control.

 

 

 

If they gradually trained reporter Oh Seung-hwan by putting the leash of scoops on him from now on, ‘the media’ could become a sufficiently good weapon.

 

 

 

And after some time had passed, another message came from Han Hae-woon.

 

 

 

– Han Hae-woon: Oh Seung-hwan has made the report. Moving on to the next plan.

 

– Got it. You need to send someone reliable.

 

– Han Hae-woon: This person’s nickname is Pitbull. Once he bites, he never lets go. And he’s the most trustworthy prosecutor I know.

 

 

 

***

 

 

 

In movies and dramas, prosecutors confidently walk up with search and seizure warrants, show them, and begin their investigation.

 

 

 

But that’s just a device for dramatic effect – in reality, it’s extremely rare for prosecutors to personally conduct search investigations.

 

 

 

Usually, police officers or prosecution investigators go instead.

 

 

 

However, Prosecutor Kwon, known as ‘Pitbull,’ was exceptionally present at the scene himself.

 

An investigator approached him and whispered.

 

 

 

“Prosecutor. We found a syringe at the house, but there are no drugs to be seen anywhere. The suspect insists he has it because he’s diabetic and needs to inject insulin.”

 

 

 

Prosecutor Kwon chuckled at the investigator’s words.

 

 

 

“They all have the same repertoire.”

 

 

 

There are special syringes made specifically for insulin, yet drug suspects always made excuses like that.

 

 

 

‘Nothing came out of the house… Then it must be in the car.’

 

 

 

Since the tip they received was a photograph presumably showing something being taken out of a trunk, they naturally checked the trunk first upon arrival.

 

 

 

But all that was in the open trunk were numerous new sneakers, and when they opened the space containing the spare tire, nothing came out except emergency tools.

 

 

 

“Hmm…”

 

 

 

While Prosecutor Kwon was pondering, the suspect Jeon Ki-hoon came down to the parking lot.

 

 

 

“Look here, Prosecutor. I don’t know what nonsense you heard from where, but if you continue like this, I can’t just stand by either.”

 

“…You can’t just stand by?”

 

 

 

With a completely distorted expression and trembling hands, Jeon Ki-hoon glared at Prosecutor Kwon.

 

 

 

“You turn my house into a mess and treat someone like a drug criminal. I have people I can contact too.”

 

 

 

Jeon Ki-hoon knew well that the person called ‘Director Joo’ who supplied him with drugs was a powerful figure who could instantly get rid of a mere prosecutor like the one in front of him.

 

 

 

He was just holding back because he was a bit afraid to contact him first.

 

 

 

Seeing the prosecutor and investigators who had no intention of leaving even after searching through his house and car, Jeon Ki-hoon reluctantly decided to pick up his smartphone and make the call.

 

 

 

At that moment, Prosecutor Kwon quickly approached Jeon Ki-hoon’s car trunk again.

 

 

 

“Haven’t you already searched it several times? I’m telling you there’s nothing there!”

 

 

 

Prosecutor Kwon extended his hand to stop Jeon Ki-hoon, who was approaching with his face red from rising anger.

 

 

 

“Wait. Something’s strange about this car?”

 

 

 

Prosecutor Kwon carefully observed the roofline extending from the car’s roof to the taillights and the trunk’s line.

 

 

 

“The height doesn’t match.”

 

 

 

The height of the trunk’s inner wall and the car’s roofline were different.

 

The trunk’s interior material side was lower in height and didn’t align with the overall line.

 

 

 

Thud thud─.

 

 

 

Prosecutor Kwon tapped the upper part of the trunk with his fist.

 

 

 

“Bring the crowbar.”

 

 

 

Perhaps sensing danger from Prosecutor Kwon’s words, Jeon Ki-hoon urgently approached.

 

 

 

“H-hey! Do you know how much that car costs! If even a little damage is done, your salary won’t even come close to covering it!”

 

 

 

As the investigators held him back, Jeon Ki-hoon struggled desperately to prevent them from touching the trunk.

 

 

 

Regardless, Prosecutor Kwon received the metal pry bar that an investigator had brought.

 

Seeing how desperately he was making a fuss, it seemed they had definitely hit the mark.

 

 

 

A tool normally used during forced executions to forcibly open doors when suspects refuse to cooperate.

 

 

 

With it, Prosecutor Kwon stabbed between the trunk’s interior materials and pulled hard using the leverage.

 

 

 

Crack─.

 

 

 

It definitely wasn’t a sound that could come from automobile interior materials.

 

The sound of some wooden structure breaking.

 

 

 

And with that sound, a gap in the upper part of the trunk opened, and a plastic bag containing white powder dropped out with a thud.

 

 

 

A safe built into the car trunk.

 

There seemed to be another way to open this space, but Prosecutor Kwon had ruthlessly torn it open with the metal pry bar, and it had hit the mark.

 

 

 

“Hidden away like a damn rat. Arrest that person.”

 

“Yes!”

 

 

 

The investigators quickly approached and put handcuffs on the panicked Jeon Ki-hoon’s wrists.

 

 

 

“Mr. Jeon Ki-hoon. You have the right to remain silent, and anything you say can be used against you in court. You also have the right to an attorney, and you can have your attorney speak for you when being questioned.”

 

 

 

Prosecutor Kwon looked at Jeon Ki-hoon with contemptuous eyes as if looking at an insect, slowly approaching while reciting the Miranda rights.

 

 

 

“And if you cannot afford an attorney, a public defender will be appointed for you. Do you acknowledge that you have these rights?”

 

“Y-yes?”

 

 

 

Looking at the flustered Jeon Ki-hoon whose face had turned bright red as he asked back, Prosecutor Kwon pointed to the smartphone with indifferent eyes.

 

 

 

“You just answered ‘yes,’ didn’t you? Seems like you acknowledged it. And try making that phone call. I’m really curious how your higher-ups plan to get out of this.”

 

 

 

Jeon Ki-hoon’s face was instantly colored with panic, and like a carp, he couldn’t say anything and just opened and closed his mouth blankly.

 

 

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