‘First things first, I need to confirm if this Jeon Seong-hyun guy is really part of the extended family.’

Knowing your enemy is the beginning of any strategy.

If I investigate and find out he isn’t even connected to Go-Ryeo Group? Then he’s not worth my attention. I’ll make a minor show of presence, and if he still dares to step out of line, I’ll end him—probably by sending Seol-i his way.

But if he is an extended family member? Then he’ll get a more direct warning. I’ll reveal myself as the legitimate heir.

If he takes the hint and backs down, I might let him off with a slap on the wrist—merely the “judgment of law.” Which, in this case, just means encouraging him to comply with the special investigation.

He’d probably use his connections to escape with probation, but that’d be a huge concession on my part, even if it dents his pride.

If he ignores my warning, though? Then that’s outright defiance. A punishment would be inevitable.

Reflecting on Chuseok, it was clear the extended family members were treated as little more than servants.

Not just any relatives, either—even the husbands of my aunts, technically direct family through marriage, were treated like porters. The divide between direct descendants and the extended family was so vast it might as well be heaven and earth.

In such a family, even if things escalated and I had to eliminate him, the consequences would likely be minimal.

If he defies me, I’ll simply kill him.

Fortunately, I have Baek Seol.

While he might have more resources and money as an extended family member (or so he claims), he probably doesn’t have anything remotely close to a knight-level guard. That’s unlikely.

Even if Baek Seol can’t handle it, I could always ask for help from my direct relatives—maybe my sisters... or aunts...

Considering how they responded during Chuseok, I doubt they’d let an extended family member’s insolence slide.

There’s no scenario where a direct descendant tolerates disrespect from an extended family member. I’d borrow whatever power I need to make sure punishment is served.

“Soo-ah, check if we have any relative by the name of ‘Jeon Seong-hyun.’”

“Yes, Master.”

“And pass a message through Prestige to the chief prosecutor at Incheon District. Tell him to keep the special investigation going.”

“Understood.”

Honestly, it feels extreme to step in so directly, but considering this guy could be part of the extended family, I should take this seriously.

+++

Lee Na-eun, after ending the call, returned to the special investigation office. The air was tense; everyone seemed stuck, unable to decide what to do next.

“Let’s finish lunch and head out immediately.”

“Uh... Prosecutor?”

One of the team members, a reporter from a media outlet different from Yoon Ha-young’s, cautiously asked,

“Are we... really okay to keep going? There’s talk of the special investigation shutting down...”

All eyes turned to her, as if everyone had been waiting for someone to ask.

Prosecutor Lee Na-eun replied nonchalantly,

“The special investigation won’t be shut down.”

“Pardon? What do you mean? Did the Chief Prosecutor say that?”

“Not exactly, but it will stay open.”

“I don’t understand...”

“And even if it were to shut down, it’s not happening now, is it? We still have work to finish, and we should be moving faster, especially with rumors like these.”

“...! I-I see.”

The reporter nodded in admiration and packed up her things.

But now?

This special investigation was audaciously exposing all his dirty laundry. They were intensely scrutinizing Melodine, the company that had long been his accomplice in supplying women and handling all his shady dealings.

“There’s one place we suspect.”

“Where.”

“Go-Ryeo Entertainment.”

Seong-hyun’s brow furrowed.

“Go-Ryeo Entertainment? That brat’s company?”

“...Yes, sir.”

“Why?”

“Well...”

“Surely, there must be a reason. What does keeping the investigation open have to do with Go-Ryeo Entertainment?”

“....”

Taking a deep breath, Seong-hyun calmed himself and settled into his chair, his temper dissipating as quickly as it had flared.

“Are you sure?”

“There’s no evidence yet, but given the timing, it’s plausible. It’s almost as if they’re sending a message through these articles.”

Seong-hyun snatched the tablet from the manager, glanced through a few paragraphs, and tossed it aside with a sigh.

“This is their so-called message? Are they just paranoid?”

“....”

“To give a real order, you’d say, ‘Continue the investigation,’ and hammer it into their skulls. This is just some ‘We were exonerated; we’re squeaky clean’ nonsense for public display. And they’re interpreting it as an order? Wow.”

Seong-hyun laughed bitterly.

“These prosecutors are scaredy-cats. They must’ve chosen the profession out of fear.”

“But can we really ignore it? They keep chanting about the investigation.”

“Ugh...”

He rolled his tongue inside his cheek, a habit he had when things weren’t going his way.

“They’re dead set on continuing the investigation?”

“It seems that way.”

“Why doesn’t that man stick to his usual vice and keep out of this?”

Seong-hyun shook his head.

“Fine. I’ll let it slide as an extended family member. It seems the Young Master wants the investigation to continue.”

“So...?”

“If the investigation can’t be stopped, then we’ll just replace it. The important thing is that the investigation continues, right? Go-Ryeo Entertainment probably just wants the investigation to keep going, whatever the reason. It’s not like they’re targeting me specifically.”

“That... that’s correct...”

“And who is this? Lee Na-eun?”

“She’s a prosecutor in the Criminal Division 3 of the Incheon District Prosecutor’s Office.”

“Give it to me.”

Manager Lee quickly retrieved the tablet Seong-hyun had discarded, opened a new screen, and handed it over. Taking the tablet, Seong-hyun...

“!!”

...widened his eyes.

“Sir...? Is something wrong?”

“....”

Was something wrong?

Manager Lee, nervous that another ashtray might come flying, braced himself.

Fortunately, that wasn’t the case.

It was just...

“...She’s stunningly beautiful.”

Lee Na-eun was simply too attractive.