After finishing the trial, Ha In entered the empty office and sat down at her desk.

On the desk, documents related to the Cheonha Group were piled up like a tower.

People would sigh deeply, wondering when they would finish reviewing all these documents, but Ha In was glad to be able to openly examine the Cheonha Group.

As Ha In mapped out the direction of the investigation in her mind, she thought of Je Guk at the end of it.

If he stepped up, it would have a ripple effect that would make all this meticulous preparation seem insignificant.

She wanted to roll up her sleeves and grab hold of Je Guk right away, but she had to be cautious.

That was also the reason why she did not refuse to investigate together with Gang Jun.

Until she had a definite sword in hand, she had to proceed with the work secretly without coming to the forefront.

She also considered the possibility that Hyun Baek Hap would try to harm her in any way once she became aware of Ha In’s existence.

“Sunbae.”

At the sound of Gang Jun calling, Ha In came to her senses and looked up.

“Ah, sorry. Did I startle you?”

“No. I was just thinking for a moment.”

“As you said, Sunbae-nim, the Cheonha Group is raising their defense level. Very thoroughly.”

Gang Jun had been looking for clues, but everywhere he went, things were really tidied up neatly.

“The key people involved have all disappeared, citing overseas business trips as the reason. I’m going to try to find more people who can give statements.”

They were surrounded by walls on all sides. But Ha In thought it was rather fortunate.

She hoped that at the end of Gang Jun knocking on all the places he could, he would feel there was no way out.

“You must be working hard. Please try a little harder.”

Ha In did not provide any particular way out. When Gang Jun had no options left, she was planning to bring up the matter of summoning Director Lee Je Guk for investigation.

Three days passed from then.

Gang Jun came to Ha In, deflated. Ha In quietly waited to see what Gang Jun would say. The conclusion was that it was difficult to find clues.

“Sunbae, what should we do? I think we underestimated the Cheonha Group.”

Ha In pretended to ponder with a serious expression. She already had a plan, but Gang Jun had to be kept in the dark.

“Choi-geum, then what about this? It’s not an easy method though.”

“Is there… a way? What is it?”

At the mention of a method, Gang Jun’s eyes sparkled.

“It’s summoning Director Lee Je Guk.”

At Ha In’s words, Gang Jun flinched and did not even blink.

Summoning Director Lee Je Guk, it could sound absurd to Gang Jun.

“Summoning Director Lee Je Guk…”

Gang Jun stopped what he was about to say and became serious. Ha In waited with bated breath to see what answer Gang Jun would give.

“But Sunbae, is that possible?”

“It will be difficult, but it’s not impossible. If we can find better witnesses or persons of reference, that would be good too.”

While outwardly saying that, Ha In inwardly hoped that Gang Jun would move according to her intentions.

Ha In had already examined and investigated all the measures Gang Jun could think of. She was convinced that summoning Je Guk was the best method.

In order to solve this case in the desired direction, Je Guk’s cooperation was necessary, which Gang Jun must have felt with his own skin.

“I’ll give it a try.”

It was the answer Ha In had hoped for.

“I will prepare the grounds for summoning.”

* * *

The prosecution notified Je Guk of the summons investigation.

Je Guk had not predicted that the prosecution’s arrow would be aimed at him, so he was not prepared in advance.

Je Guk sat at the conference table with the legal affairs director, head to head, to figure out what he had missed.

The legal affairs director explained the situation and said it was no big deal, but Je Guk still could not make a judgment.

In the midst of this, it also had to be clarified whether the legal affairs director would side with the chairman’s office, the director’s office, or move according to his beliefs.

It was unthinkable to be backstabbed by someone inside the Cheonha Group.

“Director-nim, it is sufficient to respond in writing. You don’t have to be too scared.”

“Who says I’m having a meeting with you, Director-nim, because I’m afraid of the prosecution?”

Je Guk, who did not like the legal affairs director’s consolation, showed an uncomfortable look.

“I never asked you to reassure me. There must be a reason why the prosecution is calling me.”

“Well…”

The legal affairs director trailed off.

“Alright, let’s go. We’ll know when we go.”

When Je Guk said he would respond to the summons investigation, the legal affairs director was taken aback.

“Director-nim, you’re going to attend?”

It was not something to be frightened of in advance, as the prosecution had not even indicted Je Guk.

If he was curious about why the prosecution summoned Je Guk instead of Hyun Baek Hap, he could just go and see.

And he thought he had to go in person to find out what the prosecution had in their hands.

“The chairman’s office will strongly object.”

“They didn’t summon the chairman, they summoned me, so I’ll handle it myself.”

Even at Je Guk’s words, the legal affairs director’s expression was gloomy. Je Guk wondered if the legal affairs director was reacting knowing the seriousness of this matter.

Je Guk handed the legal affairs director a file that summarized the contents he had grasped so far. The legal affairs director carefully examined the contents.

“Since I do not have the eyes of a legal professional, I will point out the strange things I noticed with the eyes of a businessman. On this day, there were stock price fluctuations that were not predicted. Noticeably, several times.”

Je Guk pointed out the suspicious circumstances one by one. The legal affairs director could not even meet Je Guk’s eyes.

“Unfortunately, this data did not come from the legal affairs office, but through my executive secretary. Did you know about this content?”

“I apologize. I didn’t know in such detail.”

Je Guk closed his eyes tightly and opened them to suppress the surging emotions.

The legal affairs office was at the very front line of the war declared by the prosecution. But Je Guk could not understand how they let him present this data first.

“Since when did the legal affairs office work like this? Do I have to study law now?”

“I apologize.”

“What hurts my pride is not the summons that the prosecution boldly sent out.”

The legal affairs director avoided Je Guk’s eyes with an expression that said he had nothing to say even if he had a mouth.

“I am so angry that our Cheonha Group failed to predict the prosecution’s moves in advance, and that I was caught off guard.”

Je Guk was really saying this out of frustration.

He looked at the legal affairs director. The legal affairs director dropped his head and looked at a loss for what to do.

“I apologize.”

“It’s because I’ve never had a knife stuck in my back. Not even once by my own people.”

Je Guk’s attitude was colder than ever.

“If there’s something you’re hiding, tell me now.”

There was a brief silence in the director’s office.

Je Guk did not break that silence. Even if it was broken, he intended to let the legal affairs director break it. It was not an answer to be obtained by pressuring.

Je Guk needed the legal affairs director’s sincere pondering and genuine answer rather than an answer that would immediately reassure him.

After much deliberation, the legal affairs director spoke his mind.

“Actually, not all information is being disclosed to our legal affairs office either.”

Je Guk flinched at the legal affairs director’s answer. There was no reason for the legal affairs director to lie to Je Guk about this.

“Under the chairman’s office’s instructions, all data must be approved by the chairman’s office before being delivered to the legal affairs office. The legal affairs office must report immediately to the chairman’s office whenever there are changes.”

It was truly bitter that Je Guk trusted the words of the legal affairs director, an employee, more than his father.

Je Guk was increasingly convinced of why Chairman Lee was so sensitive about this case.

“Why are you telling me this only now?”

“I thought the chairman would put the Cheonha Group first.”

It meant that trust in the chairman had been broken. The legal affairs director’s answer needed no further explanation.

His wise answer made Je Guk feel ashamed. He was a person who moved according to his beliefs, not siding with this side or that side.

He was right. At this moment, the one who should be most concerned about and worrying for the company was the chairman.

But far from worrying, he was dancing to Hyun Baek Hap’s tune, blinded by her.

Je Guk felt ashamed to face the employees working together.

The legal affairs director, whom he had called to lighten his burden in the face of the challenges before him, made Je Guk’s shoulders even heavier with his words.

It was a moment when he reconfirmed that Chairman Lee was not doing his part.

In order to restore the trust lost inside and outside the company due to the Cheonha Group’s legal risks, it was best to attend the summons investigation with confidence.

“I will attend the summons investigation.”

The legal affairs director did not show the same reaction as before, as if accepting Je Guk’s intention.

“I will report to the chairman’s office, so don’t worry and please prepare.”

With those words, Je Guk headed straight to the chairman’s office.

* * *

Ha In, who had finished reporting to the chief prosecutor’s office and returned, stood alone in the empty office.

She felt like her insides were burning because it had not yet been decided whether to summon Director Lee Je Guk for investigation.

“Sunbae, the legal affairs office of the Cheonha Group called.”

Gang Jun said as he entered the office, as if delivering a telegram. Ha In turned to face him with wide eyes.

Please, it had to be good news. She was nervous inside. She was secretly anxious that the Cheonha Group side would refuse the summons investigation and say they would respond in writing.

“They say they will attend. Sooner than expected.”

Only then did Ha In let out a breath. She quickly took steps toward her seat for fear that her trembling would be noticed.

“Ah, I see. Good work.”

She said in a bland tone and expression as she put down the file in her hand, but Ha In was so nervous that she felt dizzy.

Ha In sat down at her desk, pretending to be nonchalant, and put her hands on the laptop keyboard, pressing down on her heart.

Just because Je Guk said he would come, it didn’t mean everything was over, and he hadn’t really come yet, so it hadn’t even started.

The goal of this summons investigation was to create a rift in the trust between Je Guk and Chairman Lee.

No matter how much Ha In tried to take Je Guk’s hand and pull him, if Chairman Lee held Je Guk’s ankle, things would not go as she intended.

“Choi-geum, I’ll write the questionnaire for the summons investigation.”

Through the questions, Ha In intended to leak facts that would hurt Je Guk.

She felt sorry for Gang Jun, but in this summons investigation, she had to drive a wedge between Je Guk and Chairman Lee.