After a weekend of indulgence, Monday arrived. The date was August 31st, the last day of August in the year 2076. Typically, the heat would have subsided by this point, but due to extreme global warming, it was only getting hotter, especially the humidity.

    "This heat is unbearable."

    "...Yes, it is."

    "I can hardly get anything done. It''s inhumane."

    "Y-yes..."

    Why was I talking about the heat all of a sudden? Because I was in a place where I could feel it acutely.

    "Look at this setup..."

    I picked up the microphone, and as soon as I did, the bottom fell off.

    "...."

    There were no words.

    "Throw it away."

    "Oh, yes, sir."

    I tossed it aside and looked around the room. This so-called practice room had only half of a full-length mirror, a broken air conditioner, and two flimsy fans.

    "Hey, you all."

    "Yes?"

    "Can you practice here?"

    "..."

    The trainees avoided eye contact, pressing their lips together. It was obvious that this place wasn’t suitable for proper training. Just standing still in here was unbearable. The trainees were already coated in sweat. Practicing here? That would be a death sentence. I couldn’t believe that this building had been contracted as the company office before I took over. What had the former management of Goryeo Entertainment been doing?

    "Absolute trash..." I clicked my tongue as I recalled my grandfather’s face in my mind.

    "This won’t do. Let’s go."

    "Go? Where to?"

    "Where do you think? To a place where we can actually practice. We can’t prepare for a debut in a place like this."

    Soo-ah tilted her head, not quite catching on. Goryeo Entertainment only had this one property on lease. Where else could we go? Tsk. She still had a lot to learn. If she wanted to become a real assistant, she’d need to pick up on these things quickly.

    +++

    "So...here?"

    "Yeah. Is there a problem?"

    "Well... no."

    Emilia glanced at me, almost glaring, before lowering her gaze.

    "I noticed when I was here last time, you have a decent practice space. Let the girls borrow it. They used to be your trainees, after all."

    "Yes, that’s true. Nothing’s really changed..."

    "Since we''re at it, how about helping with their debut too?"

    "Excuse me?"

    "We haven’t found a producer yet, and we’re still working on connecting with composers. The girls don’t know much about the industry."

    Emilia looked at me as if I were some strange creature, like she was just itching to punch me. Clearly, she was feeling bold after a weekend of freedom. I’d need to bring her in for regular management on weekends as well.

    "Understood. If that’s what you want, we’ll do it. Secretary Yang, you heard him, right? Help them out."

    "Yes, ma’am..."

    "Is there anything else you need?"

    "Your pussy."

    "...What?"

    "Soo-ah, take the girls and start their practice. You and Eun-mi can speak with the secretary and pick up on what we’ll need."

    "Yes, sir."

    "I’ve been assigned the case."

    "Prosecutor Lee Na-eun!"

    Ha-young almost screamed in excitement. It had worked...! She quickly replied.

    "Is it true? You really got assigned this case?"

    "Yes. They seemed all too eager to hand it over. They might be looking forward to seeing a video of me being raped next. Or maybe they’d prefer to take part themselves."

    "Ah... be careful, Prosecutor. I know it’s not my place, but..."

    -Bzzz.

    This time it was a call.

    "Yes, Prosecutor."

    "Any other information you’ve gathered? Send it over."

    "I do! I’m in front of Rainbow Miracle’s headquarters, and I’ve spotted a suspicious vehicle."

    "A suspicious vehicle?"

    "It was being escorted by two police vans with mounted machine guns."

    "Interesting... a visit to Rainbow Miracle, with police escort, at this timing?"

    "It’s strange, isn’t it?"

    "Very."

    "I took a picture, but it’s not very clear... It seems like there’s some kind of interference."

    "Of course, they wouldn’t let it be captured so easily."

    "I wish I could go in and see it for myself..."

    "You can’t. Not with your identity exposed."

    "Right, of course."

    "I’ll ask an investigator to check it out."

    "Really?!"

    "Of course. It’s my case now."

    "Thank you, Prosecutor!"

    "Try not to call me ‘Prosecutor’ so openly. It could cause issues."

    "Ah, my apologies."

    "Let me know if you uncover anything else."

    "Yes, will do!"

    Ha-young straightened up, saluting the empty air. As Prosecutor Lee Na-eun ended the call, she promptly called for an investigator.

    "Officer Gong, head to Rainbow Miracle’s headquarters immediately. There’s a vehicle we suspect belongs to our person of interest parked there. Check its details. Here’s a silhouette photo for reference."

    "You’re really starting this, aren’t you?"

    "Go quickly. There’s no time."

    "Understood."

    Investigator Gong prepared to leave. Just as Clerk Yoo respected Prosecutor Lee Na-eun, Officer Gong held deep admiration for her. She was the last hope in this rotten prosecution office, the last lifeline of this corrupt country. And so he didn’t hesitate.

    "Please be careful with this case, Prosecutor."

    "Clerk Yoo, organize the case materials, and keep an eye out for any additional tips that might come in."

    "Prosecutor, this case is too dangerous."

    Despite Clerk Yoo’s warning, Prosecutor Lee Na-eun continued examining the files.

    "Which case isn’t dangerous?"

    "But this one...!" Clerk Yoo raised his voice, then lowered it as he glanced around.

    "It’s on a different level...! How could anyone stop a live broadcast, erase someone’s existence, and then summon a team leader from a media outlet to do this...? It all seems like a trap."

    "A trap?"

    "..."

    Clerk Yoo bit his lip, struggling with the words he couldn’t bring himself to say. But for the sake of Prosecutor Lee Na-eun, he finally crossed the line.

    "Think about the cases assigned to you. All of them were trivial...no, completely unworthy. Now suddenly, you’re assigned this? It’s obviously—"

    "I requested this case myself."

    "...What?!"

    Clerk Yoo was shocked. What had he just heard?

    "I’ve been waiting for a case like this."

    "What do you mean...?"

    "A case that’s undeniably dangerous, one that would bring me face-to-face with the dark, unsettling corners of society."

    "Prosecutor..."

    "I need to know who controls this society. That’s where my dream and purpose lie."

    She looked as serious as ever, beautiful as always. But Clerk Yoo couldn’t shake the feeling that, for some reason, she was smiling.