Chapter 344 – Part 2 – Leading Interrogation

“Why? What’s wrong?”

Do Eun-jeong was startled by Kang Min-chan’s question.

“Did something come to mind?”

“N-no.”

The thought that the identity of the black mask might be Choi Seong-min had occurred to her, but only briefly.

Now was the time to answer the phone.

“Hello? Junior Seong-min?”

-Senior. If you have time, would you like to have lunch? Since you treated me last time, I’ll pay this time.

Do Eun-jeong was slightly flustered.

She hadn’t expected Choi Seong-min, who had been ignoring her contacts until recently, to be so proactive.

She was mentally exhausted today and thought about declining, but changed her mind.

There was something she definitely wanted to ask Choi Seong-min.

“Sure. Let’s have a meal together. Where should we meet?”

* * *

Choi Seong-min checked the time on his phone.

‘The appointment time is coming soon.’

When he raised his head, Do Eun-jeong’s house was in his view.

He was monitoring to see if there were any suspicious movements.

‘She hasn’t come out of the house.’

Do Eun-jeong had been holed up inside the house until the sun reached its zenith.

She appeared not long after that.

Click-

‘She’s coming out.’

As the appointment time approached, Do Eun-jeong appeared dressed for going out.

But she wasn’t the only one who came out of the house.

‘That person is… the organization member who played the father role back then?’

She was coming out with the middle-aged man who had deceived him.

‘Were they living together? Or are they using that house as a base?’

On the surface they looked like father and daughter, but they weren’t.

They were both from the same criminal organization.

A relationship like Team Crush members cooperating for specific purposes.

Just looking at their expressionless faces, they didn’t seem to have a personal relationship.

‘They acted like an affectionate father and daughter in front of me…’

It was annoying thinking about how they deceived him, but he decided to let it slide for now.

This wasn’t the time for that.

‘Hmm? They’re separating?’

The two exchanged some words and then headed in different directions.

‘Who should I tail?’

He could follow the man, but Do Eun-jeong was the priority right now.

‘Do Eun-jeong might meet someone along the way.’

If she knew that he had killed Song Chi-hyeon and was spreading that fact around.

Choi Seong-min would have no choice but to take appropriate measures to prevent Do Eun-jeong from spreading it further.

‘I’d probably have to kill her.’

Since he didn’t want to do that if possible, he hoped Do Eun-jeong wouldn’t stray down the wrong path.

Fortunately, Do Eun-jeong didn’t show any suspicious behavior until she arrived at the meeting place.

She didn’t encounter any other suspicious people either. She just stood at the meeting place and waited for Choi Seong-min to arrive.

‘Hmm…’

Choi Seong-min, who had been quietly watching her, approached a bit closer.

It was to read her thoughts.

‘If I just approach within 30m without being detected…’

30 meters was a shorter distance than expected.

He could be discovered if he wasn’t careful, so he needed to find cover.

Fortunately, there was a building nearby, so he watched her through its window.

What was she thinking while waiting for him? What information did she know?

-Junior Seong-min is a bit late. When will he come?

-Why did he suddenly call after no contact? I can’t figure it out no matter how much I think about it.

-But did junior Seong-min really kill Song Chi-hyeon? If I ask, will he tell me the truth?

-I’m nervous. What if junior Seong-min really is the black mask?

Choi Seong-min was surprised as he read her thoughts.

‘She knows I killed Song Chi-hyeon?’

It was just speculation, but it was still surprising to be identified as a suspect.

‘What basis does she have for thinking that?’

After reading more of her surfacing thoughts, Choi Seong-min was able to extract the reason.

‘As expected, she’s speculating it’s me based on seeing the dagger.’

Since red-glowing daggers weren’t common, it was reasonable to be suspected.

‘But if that’s all…’

Choi Seong-min, who had been watching Do Eun-jeong, started walking.

“Ah, junior Seong-min!”

Choi Seong-min approached with his usual expression and rubbed the back of his head apologetically.

“Sorry, senior. I’m a bit late, aren’t I?”

“No, I just got here too.”

‘Just got here? You’ve been waiting for 20 minutes after arriving early…’

It seemed she still had favorable feelings toward him despite ignoring her contacts.

“What should we eat first? Do you have any preferences?”

“I like everything except seafood.”

“Then choose one from Korean, Western, or Chinese cuisine.”

After such conversation, they headed to a steak restaurant in the downtown area.

“I’ll pay for the meal. Order whatever you want.”

“No, junior Seong-min. I’ll pay.”

“Huh? You treated me to food last time. So I should…”

“That was to repay you for saving me, so don’t worry about it.”

“Then what about this time?”

Suddenly, Do Eun-jeong’s thoughts were transmitted to Choi Seong-min’s mind.

-Should I ask if this is also for saving me?

She wanted to confirm whether Choi Seong-min was indeed the person who saved her.

‘That means she’s not certain yet.’

Choi Seong-min, feeling at ease, pretended not to know and called her.

“Senior Eun-jeong?”

“Ah, this time… I’m paying because I’m the senior. Usually when you’re with a junior, the senior pays. And since I owe you my life, it would weigh on my conscience to settle it with just one meal…”

“If that’s the case, I understand. Let’s have the senior pay. I can order something expensive, right?”

When the conversation got long, Choi Seong-min cut it short and chose from the menu.

Since he had a purpose, he didn’t want to waste time on pointless arguments.

After Do Eun-jeong also ordered from the menu, Choi Seong-min gradually began his leading interrogation.

First, he planned to find out about the organization member living in the same house.

“Thank you, senior. You treated me to a huge meal last time, and now you’re buying me food again.”

“Compared to what junior Seong-min did for me, it’s nothing.”

“The food your father made last time was incredibly delicious. Does he have some kind of cooking certification?”

“Not really.”

-What certification would that man have? It was all cooked by the aunt who brought it over.

‘Aunt?’

Reading her thoughts, it seemed the food was made by another organization member.

“Is your father doing well without any health problems?”

“Of course.”

-That man is full of energy.

“His name was… Do Min-chan, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

-Actually it’s Kang Min-chan though.

‘Do Min-chan was a fake name.’

Choi Seong-min continued asking questions.

“What about your mother?”

“…My mother isn’t here.”

-She passed away long ago…

Do Eun-jeong’s real mother seemed to have passed away.

“I’m sorry. I asked because I didn’t see your mother that time, but I shouldn’t have brought up…”

“No, it’s fine. It was a long time ago.”

-It’s been over 12 years…

“So you’re living alone with your father?”

“Something like that.”

-Though I’m the one staying at that house.

‘Hmm…’

They continued talking after that, but there weren’t any significant results.

Since he couldn’t ask directly, there were limits to the information he could obtain.

‘Should I just ask directly?’

While he was thinking that.

“Here’s the set you ordered.”

The food arrived.

Soon, both began cutting their steaks in silence.

Choi Seong-min occasionally glanced at her to read her thoughts.

“By the way, junior Seong-min.”

This time, Do Eun-jeong started speaking as if it was her turn to ask questions.

“Why did you suddenly ask to have a meal first?”

“Well, it’s been a while so I wanted to see your face and contacted you…”

“You’ve been ignoring my contacts since you invited me to your house that time.”

Reading her thoughts, Do Eun-jeong was more puzzled than angry.

Why had he ignored her?

‘Well, it’s natural to think I ignored her since I didn’t change my number but wasn’t reachable.’

Actually, he had ignored her.

‘I was angry that they acted like father and daughter and conducted a secret interview.’

He thought he’d never have to meet her again, but here they were entangled again.

“Junior Seong-min, be honest with me. You have another purpose for wanting to meet me, right?”

-Junior Seong-min is the black mask, right? That’s why you wanted to meet? To test my thoughts.

Do Eun-jeong’s thoughts echoed in his mind.

Choi Seong-min spoke in a quiet voice.

“Why would you think that…?”

“It’s strange for someone who was ignoring my contacts to suddenly ask to have a meal first. There’s a reason, right? That’s it, right?”

“…”

“Why aren’t you answering? If you have something to say, be honest…”

“I’ll be honest.”

Choi Seong-min’s expression became extremely serious.

Since it had come to this, it was time for a direct approach.

“I happened to see something the day senior Eun-jeong invited me to your house.”

“Huh? What?”

“The khaki jacket by the bedside, the mark with crossed blue blades on it.”

Do Eun-jeong showed a surprised expression, but only briefly.

“Th-that’s nothing…”

She tried to act nonchalant and play dumb.

Not knowing that her thoughts were being read completely.

“That’s the mark of some organization, isn’t it? A very dangerous one.”

“…”

-H-he recognized our organization’s mark?

Though she didn’t show it, Do Eun-jeong was quite surprised.

“After knowing that, I was scared to talk with senior Eun-jeong. Because I know what kind of work you do.”

He knew absolutely nothing, but it sounded like he knew everything about the organization.

“That’s why I’ve been ignoring your contacts until now. Because I was afraid of getting involved with you, senior.”

He didn’t have an ounce of fear, but Choi Seong-min’s acting was realistic.

“That person called Do Min-chan. He’s not your father, is he?”

Do Eun-jeong’s shoulders trembled.

-H-he knew everything…

Then she lowered her head.

“S-sorry. For deceiving you…”

Do Eun-jeong, who bowed her head like a sinner, confessed everything.

“That person’s name is Kang Min-chan. He’s the action leader of our organization. We live in the same house, but he’s not my father. We just acted that way.”

“Why on earth…?”

“I recommended that we accept junior Seong-min as an organization member. So they told me to create an opportunity using a meal as an excuse. They said they’d see and judge directly whether you were suitable as an organization member. That’s why we acted as father and daughter. The meal was a kind of interview.”

“Ha…”

“I’m really sorry for deceiving you…”

Do Eun-jeong was sincerely bowing her head. Her thoughts and actions matched.

“Why did you recommend me specifically?”

“Our organization needed a skilled hunter like junior Seong-min. Plus, seeing how you saved me, it seemed like our goals might align…”

“Goals align? I have no intention of joining a group that commits such crimes.”

“Crimes… you say?”

Do Eun-jeong, who had opened her eyes in surprise, nodded as if understanding.

“Right, it is crime… But I didn’t know you thought of it that way. Since you’re from commoner origins, I thought our goals would align, but I guess I misjudged you.”

“What do you mean?”

When Choi Seong-min asked as if genuinely confused, Do Eun-jeong was flustered instead.

“D-didn’t you know about our organization?”

“I only know it’s a criminal organization, but other than that…”

“Ah…”

Do Eun-jeong unconsciously covered her mouth.

-I misunderstood by myself and revealed too much information to someone who knows nothing.

Do Eun-jeong belatedly realized her mistake, but soon changed her mind.

Since it had come to this, she decided to recruit Choi Seong-min.

“Listen carefully. Our organization is…”

Do Eun-jeong stopped mid-sentence and looked around. Then she leaned her face closer as if telling him to come near and said.

“A terrorist organization.”

“What?”

Choi Seong-min was genuinely surprised.

Not just a simple criminal organization, but a terrorist organization?

“It’s not terrorism against civilians. We’re targeting the Association.”

“That means…”

Do Eun-jeong nodded with a serious face.

“That’s right. We’re rebels. Terrorists trying to bring down the unreasonable government system.”

It was surprising information even Choi Seong-min didn’t know.

“Then don’t tell me senior Eun-jeong’s organization’s final target is…”

Do Eun-jeong nodded.

“Yes. The Great Heroes are the enemies we’re targeting.”