Just past seven in the morning, Choi Eun Ho awoke from his sleep, his mind heavy with worries, preventing him from drifting back into slumber.
He gently pushed aside Lee Sun Mi's long legs draped across him, gazing at her closed eyes as she slept peacefully.
He hastily scribbled a few words on a sticky note, got dressed, and left the room, trying to make no noise.
As planned, his schedule was packed for the coming days. Last night's events were an unexpected detour.
Choi Eun Ho couldn't help but chuckle to himself. As a prosecutor, his resolve was surprisingly weak. Yet, who could resist such a temptation?
Stepping out, Choi Eun Ho called Park Guk Chang, instructing him to have the materials on the leader of the Chonnam Gang ready on his desk, waiting for his arrival.
He specifically emphasized that the three of them should remain in the office, awaiting his arrival, without accepting any other assignments.
He was currently on his honeymoon leave, and his legal affairs officer and investigation officers were likely to be assigned to other prosecutors to assist. But he had urgent matters to address today, requiring their presence.
Yesterday's solo visit to Lee Sun Mi's house could be considered a "seeding" exercise, albeit a fruitful one.
After careful deliberation, Choi Eun Ho decided to bring his trusted companions along on any official business trips. He could rely on his legal affairs officer, Park Guk Chang, and his two astute investigation officers.
This was out of respect for the rules of the Peninsula Prosecutor's Office. After all, not sharing the spoils with your subordinates could lead to internal whistleblowing, even potential investigations and arrests.
Choi Eun Ho shared a close bond with these three, their fates intertwined like threads woven together.
Kim Young Soon, from the prosecutor's office, was the only exception. His unwavering pursuit of justice, even at the cost of material gain, often left his own legal affairs officer hungry.
Upon arriving at the prosecutor's office, Choi Eun Ho rushed to his office. Even on weekends, many dedicated individuals toiled away.
"Loyal, Prosecutor."
As the three men rose to salute, Choi Eun Ho nodded with a smile.
Stepping into his office, he immediately opened the files on the Chonnam Gang leader, quickly and expertly reviewing them. He then summoned Park Guk Chang.
"Go to the court and retrieve a search warrant and an arrest warrant. Then, go to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency and request a team of officers. Tell them they won't be making an empty trip. If this case goes well, everyone will share the credit."
Choi Eun Ho's gaze fixated on the photograph on his desk, his voice low and resolute:
"Today, this prosecutor will personally handle the case!"
Times were different from the late 20th century. Gangsters no longer openly ran brothels and casinos. However, such underground businesses persisted in the shadows.
The prosecutor's office had enough routine work to handle. Few were willing to actively take on the thankless task of cracking down on underground casinos and nightclubs.
But Choi Eun Ho didn't shy away from such matters.
Obtaining this information was not difficult for him, thanks to his connections with the Seven Stars Society.
Choi Eun Ho had learned of a secret casino run by the Chonnam Gang – the original plan was to pay tribute to Park Jeong Won next month.
Therefore, he decided to discuss the organ trafficking operation with the leader of the Chonnam Gang today.
Killing for organs, anywhere, anytime, was a shocking, horrific crime.
Choi Eun Ho couldn't believe the Chonnam Gang could extract kidneys and leave victims unscathed. Collaborating with hospitals to sell human organs for profit – what a lucrative business!
After careful consideration, Choi Eun Ho believed this case was his chance to break free from the control of Park Jeong Won and the Seven Stars Society. But first, he needed to forge an alliance between the Chonnam Gang and the Seven Stars Society.
Today, he would leverage his position as a prosecutor and Zhang An Tae's son-in-law to enter negotiations with the Chonnam Gang.
After thorough contemplation, Choi Eun Ho predicted that his first negotiation with the Chonnam Gang would likely yield no substantial progress. In such a scenario, directly destroying the underground casino run by the Chonnam Gang and applying pressure seemed the most straightforward and effective approach.
After all, compared to those businesses, organ trafficking, while profitable, was significantly smaller in scale and growth potential.
The Chonnam Gang, too, was an organization that understood how to prioritize.
As he pondered, Choi Eun Ho flipped through the files on the Chonnam Gang. The documents revealed that the previous leader had passed away recently. The new leader, Cha Jae Jin, was barely thirty years old. He hailed from Jeju Island and came from a humble background. Cha Jae Jin had been involved in the underworld since childhood, using ruthless and decisive tactics to climb to the leadership position within the Chonnam Gang.
Choi Eun Ho found Cha Jae Jin's contact information. For these types of gang leaders, basic information was publicly available in the prosecutor's office.
Deeper insights into their operations and activities were rarely investigated due to lack of time.
He reviewed other cases, finding some indictment materials, and began reading them carefully.
He wasn't a prosecutor by profession. Relying solely on the original owner's memories to handle these matters made him feel uneasy. Choi Eun Ho felt it was more prudent to personally understand the specific procedures and content.
After a long wait of over an hour, Park Jeong Won finally appeared. Choi Eun Ho told him to attend to his own duties, then picked up his phone and called Cha Jae Jin.
On the other end, Cha Jae Jin's voice was loud and powerful: "Who is this?"
"Chairman Cha, hello. This is Choi Eun Ho," Choi Eun Ho replied politely.
"Choi... Oh, you're Zhang An Tae's son-in-law, the prosecutor?"
A hint of doubt and ill will lingered in Cha Jae Jin's tone.
"Esteemed Prosecutor, why have you graced me with your call?"
Choi Eun Ho chuckled inwardly. He was accustomed to Cha Jae Jin's affected demeanor and insincerity.
"There's something I'd like to discuss with you. Would you be free for lunch?"
"Hahaha, since the esteemed Prosecutor has extended the invitation, even if it's a banquet at the Peach Garden, I can only humbly accept your generosity," Cha Jae Jin laughed in agreement.
"Then, let's meet at..."
Choi Eun Ho provided the restaurant address and glanced at his watch.
There was still some time before noon. He could prepare briefly before heading out.
Park Guk Chang had already made a reservation at the restaurant. The legal affairs officer's role was indeed akin to a prosecutor's right-hand man, handling various tasks.
In the Peninsula, it was not uncommon for prosecutors to have dinner with gang leaders. As long as the relationship remained hidden from the public eye, there would be no in-depth investigation from colleagues. Everyone tacitly understood and maintained a certain level of understanding.
After about half an hour, Choi Eun Ho tidied his appearance and signaled for the three men outside to prepare for departure. They headed to the private room together, awaiting Cha Jae Jin's arrival. This arrangement undoubtedly demonstrated their respect for Cha Jae Jin.