Regardless, it was difficult to avoid punishment.

Despairing, Seon-gyu sobbed, burying his face in his hands.

“You also contributed to taking Hae-joo, right?”

“……I made a mistake. Since I became a reporter, I learned from Reporter Choi that it had to be done that way.”

Do-jun sipped his water.

Internally, he struggled to suppress the desire to pour filth on Seon-gyu.

“Everyone makes mistakes.”

“…….”

“But you have to face the consequences. If you cooperate this time, I might give you some leniency.”

“Really?”

“I can’t prevent you from crossing the red line in your registry, though.”

Seon-gyu, in agony, grabbed his head.

Quitting his job had left him in despair, and he was being pushed further into it.

“The last time I spoke with Reporter Choi was the day before yesterday.”

Finally opening up, Seon-gyu said, ending a long struggle.

Do-jun instructed Director Song to order a bottle of soju.

Pouring soju into an empty glass, he pushed it toward Seon-gyu.

“Drink.”

Without any snacks, Seon-gyu downed the soju and made a face.

Coldly watching him, Do-jun began the real questioning.

“Where is Choi In-ho?”

“He seemed to be moving around here and there, but it looked like he was under someone’s protection.”

“Protection?”

“According to Reporter Choi, he’s preparing for the final showdown.”

“Who’s protecting Choi In-ho?”
Do-jun had an idea of who it might be, but he didn’t express it outright.

Seon-gyu’s response came slowly, as if to suppress the rising anger.

“It seems that Chairman Yoo’s confidant approached not long ago.”

It was Han Jin-tae.

Even without looking, Do-jun’s eyes sparkled with madness at the obvious intention.

“Why would they need a journalist who has already become a failure?”

“Some time ago, someone anonymously posted an article.”

“Yeah.”

“They plan to choose the weakest person using that as an excuse. And they want to defeat them, especially using Reporter Choi.”

It had to be stopped before the worst moment unfolded.

Before the person they spoke of as the weakest, Hae-joo, became the victim.

“It seems like they were aiming for a big move to cover up the current chaos in GN.”

“That’s what they want from Hae-joo?”

Just facing Do-jun, Seon-gyu, overwhelmed with fear, swallowed dryly.

Even breathing became difficult, and he groaned.

“I don’t know the details.”

“Tell me straight. Or else, you’ll also be thrown in as an accomplice.”

“Me?”

“Saying that you secretly contacted Choi In-ho means exchanging information. Naturally, that makes you an accomplice.”

The whites of Seon-gyu’s eyes turned red.

As if left alone in the fire, he closed his eyes tightly when the smoke stung.

“What do you want from me?”

“Everything you know.”

Seon-gyu, who had opened his eyes again, focused his blurred gaze.

There was no determination visible in his pupils, making him pitiful.

“Reporter Choi said they needed information from Ms. Hae-joo. Kept pestering me, saying to call next time and turned off the phone.”

“Why do they need information from Hae-joo?”

Tears gathered in Seon-gyu’s eyes, and his lips, which were moistened by them, trembled fiercely.

Not long after realizing Choi In-ho’s intention, Do-jun got up and left.

Jin-tae found Choi In-ho, who had barely escaped after being caught by Do-jun.

Choi In-ho, known as Chairman Yoo’s right-hand man, recognized him instantly and emerged from hiding.

“You’ve been through a lot.”

“Cut the nonsense and tell me why you came.”

“How about trying a proper project with us?”

“A project?”

“If it succeeds, I’ll give you 1 billion in cash.”

“1 billion?”

“It won’t be disappointing.”

“Why are you making such an offer to someone like me, who’s not even a current journalist?”

“Isn’t Reporter Choi an expert in that actress?”

“That actress… You mean Hae-joo?”

Jin-tae’s proposal was quite tempting.

While giving them what they wanted, Choi In-ho could also release his pent-up frustration.

Moreover, 1 billion could provide a chance for a comeback in the future.

Negotiations on the street reached an agreement.

That day, Jin-tae provided Choi In-ho with a suitable studio apartment.

“Shall we talk about what GN wants in detail?”

“Create a scandal that can turn the world upside down.”

“A scandal that suits the top actress in Korea?”

“Yes.”

“Is there anything else besides that?”

What they wanted was to plunge Hae-joo’s life into ruin.

And if they could involve Do-jun as well, it would be even better.

However, there was still a problem.
No matter how inflated the article is, there had to be some basis.

“No time. Hurry up.”

Han Jin-tae occasionally came to pressure Choi In-ho.

In response, Choi In-ho contacted Seon-gyu, who had been recently laid off from the company.

However, he failed to obtain the desired information.

“Is there anything usable in the interview data?”

A man who used to live in the same neighborhood as Hae-joo, whom Choi In-ho had met while investigating Hae-joo, suddenly brought up a story about Yura.