Chapter 341 The Mastermind Behind the Scenes
"The IZONE matter involves the suspect, the Professor, and his situation is so egregious that the higher-ups have issued a death order: IZONE must disband this year," Jiang Shu said, feigning helplessness.
"How can that be?" Liu Zhimin immediately became agitated. "That was the fans' behavior. What does it have to do with IZONE? How can they do this?"
"Idols pay for fans' actions; it's an unwritten rule in the idol industry," Jiang Shu said, looking at Liu Zhimin, who was even more agitated than Zhang Yuanying, the person directly involved. A hint of confusion flashed in his eyes.
Although these two sisters have a good relationship, when did it become this good?
"Besides, I'm also collecting information on the masterminds behind this rumor. I won't let them off the hook," Jiang Shu comforted her.
Although the disbandment of IVE and IZONE was orchestrated by him, to prevent similar incidents from happening again in the future, he needed to give those companies a stern warning after this incident to make them think twice.
But IZONE still had to go.
Jiang Shu's comfort didn't provide a very good explanation, but if you asked Liu Zhimin to say anything more, she wouldn't know what to say.
"Did you come here specifically for the IZONE matter?" Jiang Shu asked Liu Zhimin.
"Yes, I saw that the situation wasn't quite right, so I came to ask," Liu Zhimin nodded.
Jiang Shu looked at Liu Zhimin, then at Zhang Yuanying.
Liu Zhimin's visit was probably also at the behest of Bae Joo-hyun, just like what she said earlier; it didn't seem like something her own mind could come up with.
It seems that many groups within the industry are concerned about IZONE's impending fate, mirroring IVE's, and everyone feels insecure.
It looks like the follow-up plan needs some adjustments.
Jiang Shu thought of this and looked at the two of them.
"You two go out first; I still have some things to deal with."
"I..."
"Yes."
Before Liu Zhimin could speak again, Zhang Yuanying had already bowed to Jiang Shu and exited the office.
"Hey, wait for me!" Liu Zhimin called out to Yuan Ying, then glared at Jiang Shu and quickly followed the departing Zhang Yuanying.
Jiang Shu watched their retreating figures and picked up the phone on the desk.
...
On the fourth day after the slave room case was made public, Chief Prosecutor Choi Minxiu, head of the Seoul District Prosecutor's Office Criminal Division 1 special investigation team handling the case, publicly stated that "the Professor" had been apprehended and was undergoing overnight interrogation. Progress would be announced to the public once made.
As soon as this news broke, the entire internet erupted.
Discussions about IZONE and the Professor once again surged in the forums, and inside Seoul's No. 1 Detention Center, in the interrogation room...
"The Professor" was bound to his chair by handcuffs and leg shackles. Two meters across from him sat Chief Prosecutor Choi Minxiu in uniform. Behind Dr. Choi Min-soo, special police officers from the police agency stood to one side, vigilantly watching "the Professor," who appeared harmless.
Dr. Choi Min-soo raised a hand to push up his gold-rimmed glasses, looking at the man who resembled a two-dimensional otaku. His other hand gently tapped the table, drawing the other party's attention.
"Don't struggle anymore. Once you're in here, you can't get out. You might as well confess everything early and strive for a reduced sentence."
A sneer appeared on the Professor's face.
"I've already told you my demands. Unless you agree to them, I won't confess."
"Du Mingxiu, you should be clear that we cannot allow a criminal suspect like you to be interviewed by the media," Dr. Choi Min-soo said calmly, looking at the Professor, Du Mingxiu.
"Then it seems we have nothing to talk about," Du Mingxiu said, looking unconcerned.
The police officer behind Dr. Choi Min-soo frowned, leaned down, and whispered in Dr. Choi Min-soo's ear: "Prosecutor-nim, should we use harsh methods?"
They had already used torture, but considering the impact, they hadn't resorted to harsh methods. However, this guy, despite looking harmless, was a tough nut to crack and hadn't confessed.
"No, this case has too much public attention. Using harsh methods would leave obvious traces," Dr. Choi Min-soo shook his head and refused.
But this reason was difficult to convince the police officer.
"But..."
Dr. Choi Min-soo looked up at the police officer, his eyes under his glasses revealing a dangerous expression.
"Are you questioning my investigative capabilities?"
Cold sweat immediately broke out on the police officer's forehead.
The person in front of him was the chief prosecutor most likely to be promoted to deputy head of the Criminal Division 1. A prosecutor is one rank higher than an official; in their police system, that would be the level of a district head, three ranks higher than him.
"Sorry, Prosecutor-nim! I misspoke!"
"Get out," Dr. Choi Min-soo said coldly.
"Yes!" The police officer quickly bowed and, with a look of panic, exited the interrogation room.
After the police officer left the interrogation room, Dr. Choi Min-soo stood up.
Du Mingxiu wasn't afraid of him and just watched Dr. Choi Min-soo.
Dr. Choi Min-soo reached out and turned off the recording equipment, then came and stood in front of Du Mingxiu.
"Want to resort to violence?" Du Mingxiu said with a cold laugh.
Dr. Choi Min-soo chuckled softly.
"Chairman Jiang asked me to say hello to you."
The smile on Du Mingxiu's face froze.
That afternoon, Chief Prosecutor Choi Minxiu, head of the special investigation team, accepted a media interview and revealed a big piece of news.
【According to our interrogation of the Professor, Du Mingxiu, we discovered that there is another mastermind behind him. Combining existing clues and interrogation results, we have made some progress, and it is suspected to be one of the pillar companies in the K-pop industry.】
As soon as this news broke, the Three Greats instantly became the target of public suspicion.
It is well known that if only one K-pop pillar company is mentioned, everyone implicitly assumes DM Entertainment.
But if it's multiple companies, then it's the Big Four.
And the "one of the K-pop pillar companies" that Dr. Choi Min-soo mentioned could only be the Three Greats.
Although IZONE was deeply embroiled in public opinion, there's no way DM Entertainment would create a slave room to destroy its own flagship girl group. They're not crazy, are they?
So it's absolutely impossible for it to be DM Entertainment.
That leaves only the other three companies.
Among them, YG is the most suspicious.
The public knows very little information. They are unaware of Jiang Shu's relationship with S.M, but S.M and JYP both have collaborations with DM Entertainment. In the public's simple view, companies that collaborate are allies, and allies don't betray allies.
And it's well-known that Jiang Shu has a conflict with YG. With the Three Greats' identity unknown, public suspicion would naturally focus on YG.
And in fact, the public did think so.
Currently known:
One, prosecutors do not lie.
Two, DM Entertainment would not sabotage itself.
Three, YG and DM have a conflict.
Four, S.M and JYP have collaborations with DM.
Five, the mastermind is one of the K-pop pillar companies, meaning one of the Big Four.
Considering all this information, who could this mastermind company be?
So hard to guess.