Chapter 339: The Professor and the Obsessed Fan
Jiang Shu expressionlessly browsed the contents of the document Qin Zhen had sent, the contents of which could only be described as “shocking.”
After IZONE reached the top, their popularity reached an unprecedented peak, becoming unrivaled for a time. But as long as one is a public figure, it is inevitable to have anti-fans.
An American-Korean IZONE fan, dissatisfied with these anti-fans slandering IZONE members, screened these anti-fans and, through coercion and inducement, enslaved a portion of those with good physical appearances among them. On a special platform he established, he divided each victim into various secret chat rooms, using these enslaved victims (many of whom were minors) as objects of sexual servitude, and sharing illegally filmed sexual videos and photos within the rooms.
Following investigations by the prosecutor and the Police Agency, most of the people involved in the case have been arrested, but the founder, the mastermind codenamed “Professor,” is still at large.
To apprehend “Professor,” the prosecutor chose to make this matter public, launching a nationwide manhunt for “Professor.”
This was another sex slavery case after the Nth Room case, but the timing of its exposure…
“It’s too much of a coincidence! The timing of this incident being exposed is too coincidental; it just happens to intersect with the current rhythm IZONE is experiencing. Could there be YG’s shadow behind this?” Qin Zhen voiced his conjecture.
“No, Yang Hyun-suk doesn’t have the capability to remotely control the prosecutors handling such cases,” Jiang Shu shook his head and said.
It was indeed a coincidence, but the reason would not be what Qin Zhen speculated; the greater possibility was that the bonds had played a role.
The negative effects of twelve stars. fantasy fairy tale did not include these, but that did not mean that negative news about IZONE would not appear.
The core of this game was eight characters:
What has been will be again.
Scandals that occurred with each group in reality would, with high probability, be replicated in this world, especially important scandals that affected the group’s development process. These would appear even without the negative effects of bonds.
Just like Lee Ji-eun’s accidental photo leak, at first Jiang Shu thought it was Lee Ji-eun’s little trick, but later he gradually realized that this might precisely be the world’s self-correction.
And now, with IZONE on the verge of disbanding, the slave room incident, which was the fuse for IZONE’s disbandment in reality, being replicated again did not seem so unacceptable.
“Can Liu Qi contact Professor?” Jiang Shu asked Qin Zhen.
“Not sure, but we can try,” Qin Zhen was startled, then replied.
“Do it quickly. Eugene, if my prediction is not wrong, the prosecutor will come looking for me soon,” Jiang Shu shook his head and said.
“Looking for you?” Qin Zhen looked at Jiang Shu, puzzled.
“Professor is an obsessed fan of IZONE. With him missing, the best way to find him is to start with his weakness.”
Upon hearing this, Qin Zhen suddenly understood. In that case, the prosecutor indeed had a motive to come looking for them.
“I’ll go find Liu Qi right away!”
“Mm, be quick!”
…
In fact, it was as Jiang Shu had expected; in the afternoon of the day the news broke, the prosecuting attorney arrived at DM Entertainment with police officers.
“Hello, Chairman Jiang, I am Dr. Choi Min-soo, the chief prosecutor of Criminal Division One, handling the Professor case.” The man, dressed in a well-fitting uniform, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, and with a refined and scholarly appearance, smiled as he greeted Jiang Shu’s previous body.
Jiang Shu did not put on airs; after Dr. Choi Min-soo bowed, he rose and returned the bow.
“I understand Prosecutor Choi’s purpose in coming. We at DM Entertainment will fully cooperate with the prosecution’s investigation.”
Seeing Jiang Shu so amenable, Dr. Choi Min-soo also slightly breathed a sigh of relief.
Before coming, the division chief had repeatedly cautioned him not to adopt a tough stance towards Jiang Shu. This gentleman was the supreme authority of the Tax Service, and he was also a highly influential foreign national. One mishandling could escalate into an international dispute.
Prosecutors in Seoul were indeed lawless, but highly influential foreign nationals could be said to be from beyond the heavens.
“Chairman Jiang, please rest assured, we only need IZONE’s cooperation and will not do anything detrimental to the artists,” Dr. Choi Min-soo also gave his assurance.
If others give you face, you should also respect them.
“Prosecutor Choi is thoughtful,” Jiang Shu smiled and nodded, glancing at the police officers and prosecutor’s assistants behind Dr. Choi Min-soo, then looked at Dr. Choi Min-soo with some hesitation.
Seeing this, Dr. Choi Min-soo immediately understood that Jiang Shu had something to say to him behind closed doors.
“Min-young, you all go out first. I will discuss the specific matters with Chairman Jiang.”
“Yes.” The few bowed to the two, then exited the office.
After they left, Jiang Shu smiled and looked at Dr. Choi Min-soo.
“The Deputy Chief position of the District Prosecutor’s Office, Division One, seems to still be vacant.”
Upon hearing this, Dr. Choi Min-soo reached out and pushed his gold-rimmed glasses up, the eyes behind the glasses flickering with an uncertain light.
More than half an hour later, the tightly closed office door opened, and Jiang Shu and Dr. Choi Min-soo walked out one after another.
“Then, I thank Chairman Jiang for your cooperation,” Dr. Choi Min-soo smiled and bowed to Jiang Shu.
“Cooperating with the prosecutor’s investigation is the duty of every person residing in Seoul,” Jiang Shu also smiled and slightly bowed.
“Then we shall take our leave. The case waits for no one.”
“Mm, Prosecutor Choi, take care.”
Dr. Choi Min-soo quickly left with his people. Qin Zhen, who had been waiting outside the door for a long time, saw this and came to Jiang Shu’s side.
Jiang Shu retracted his gaze, looked at Qin Zhen, turned and walked into the office, with Qin Zhen following closely behind.
“Liu Qi has already told Professor our demands.” As soon as the office door closed, Qin Zhen spoke.
“Professor is indeed an obsessed fan of IZONE; he even agreed to such a request.”
Qin Zhen had an “I don’t understand” expression. He didn’t follow celebrities, so of course, he didn’t understand why such a person would go to such lengths for their idol.
“He certainly lives up to his title as a fan,” Jiang Shu chuckled, clearly in a very good mood.
“However, Professor said that if we don’t treat IZONE well, he will retract his confession,” Qin Zhen added.
“It doesn’t matter,” Jiang Shu said indifferently. Once he agreed to this, he would have no chance to retract his confession.
“Where is Professor now?”
“Still in Seoul, at his secret base. Do we need to tell the prosecution?”
“Why would we tell the prosecution? We don’t know where he is,” Jiang Shu looked at Qin Zhen strangely and said.
Qin Zhen was startled, then reacted.
“I understand.”
“You go busy yourself,” Jiang Shu waved his hand and said.
“Yes.” Qin Zhen nodded to Jiang Shu, then exited the office.
After Qin Zhen left, Jiang Shu took out his phone and dialed a number he hadn’t contacted in a long time.