The Inspector Is Getting Promoted! [EN]: Chapter 26

Prosecutor, You’re Going Places! – Episode 26 (26/341)

The New World (4)

12 billion won.

It was a fortune that took forever just to carry into the house.

There’s no money as cleanly laundered as the slush funds of the wealthy.

Black money that can never be traced, as long as you don’t do something stupid like running to the bank and depositing it.

I should probably open an account in Switzerland soon.

I can’t just hide all this in the house.

Actually, it still doesn’t feel real.

I’ve been working my butt off to save a mere 100 million won, but I spent over 20 million won in a hotel in one night and received 12 billion won just for playing tug-of-war between two sides.

It feels like only yesterday that I was struggling to survive in the Gwangju District Prosecutors’ Office…

No, I don’t have time to get lost in memories.

My priority is to deliver the news to the person who needs to know.

I packed twenty bundles of 5 million won each from the apple box into a cheap bag and left the house immediately.

***

“Special Investigations Department?”

Yoon Seol-ha couldn’t hide her surprise.

“I’m sorry for making that decision, knowing what happened to you, Seol-ha.”

“It’s okay. Well, it’s a good thing if you get promoted, Prosecutor.”

Unlike her words, there was a hint of bitterness on her face.

Perhaps sensing it herself, she raised her voice.

“I thought you had something else going on, coming so late.”

“Something else?”

“Like suddenly wanting to see me?”

I knew it was a joke to lighten the mood, but it only made me feel more awkward.

“Ahem.”

I cleared my throat and got straight to the point.

“I’m sorry to ask this, but would you be willing to come with me even if I go?”

“Wasn’t that obvious?”

Yoon Seol-ha smiled brightly and continued.

“You weren’t planning to leave me behind, were you?”

“Leave you behind? I have to take both you and Ara with me.”

“That’s good.”

She didn’t seem to mind at all, even though she was lying here because of the deliberate car accident caused by Kang Hyun-soo, the chief prosecutor of the Special Investigations Department.

“By the way, I can only imagine Kang Hyun-soo’s expression when I go.”

“You slapped him, right?”

“Yes. With a loud smack.”

“Good job. Give him another one if he bothers you again.”

She wrinkled her nose and got up from her seat.

And before leaving the hospital room, I handed her the bag I had brought.

“What’s this?”

“Use it for living expenses.”

Her eyes widened as she checked the contents of the bag.

Then, she gasped and grabbed her side.

“Ouch.”

The shock seemed to have impacted her ribs.

“Take care of yourself.”

“No, Prosecutor, this is too much…”

Her face was filled with both gratitude and embarrassment.

“Tell me anytime if you’re having financial difficulties. Don’t hesitate.”

I knew that she had manipulated documents for Im Seong-jin because of money and had suffered harsh treatment as a result.

Therefore, I thought it was only natural to alleviate that burden as her superior.

She would be able to focus more on her work if her family had financial stability.

Of course, it was only possible because I had a large sum of 12 billion won in my hands, unlike usual.

“Thank you.”

I left the hospital room, leaving her behind as she bowed her head with tears in her eyes.

Now, Yoon Seol-ha is completely on my side.

***

“Were you satisfied with the gift?”

Chief Prosecutor Kang Hyun-soo asked with a sly grin.

Gift, my ass. He must have been planning to use it as leverage to control me if I slept with Han Ji-yoo.

Right now, he must be extremely curious as to why I changed rooms.

“Satisfied? It was a series of surprises.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

He nodded with a dirty smile.

“By the way, I heard you changed rooms…”

As soon as the words came out, I glared at Chief Prosecutor Kang Hyun-soo, and he made excuses as if he felt guilty.

“Don’t misunderstand. I heard it from Han Ji-yoo.”

There’s no way Han Ji-yoo would have said that.

She must have been thrilled to think she had me by the neck, but when she opened it up, there was no one caught on the hidden camera, so she must have been swallowing her frustration.

“I didn’t misunderstand.”

I answered casually, as if it were nothing.

“I thought I should splurge once in a while. I need to have a negative balance in my account to stay focused and work hard.”

“Oh, is that so.”

There was a hint of regret on his lips.

However, he didn’t even show a hint of lingering feelings.

Let’s stop testing the waters here and get straight to the point.

“I’ve been thinking about it for a while.”

I said, placing my clasped hands on the table.

“Instead of chasing after colleagues and taking them down to climb up, wouldn’t it be better to join the flow of power and enjoy a life of luxury?”

Only then did Chief Prosecutor Kang Hyun-soo’s lips curl up in satisfaction.

“You’ve thought it through.”

He reached out his hand onto the table.

His hand, which I shook, was extremely rough.

Kang Hyun-soo said with a sinister look in his eyes.

“Power may seem scary when it’s far away, but it can be so sweet when it’s close.”

“Oh, but I have a favor to ask as well.”

Kang Hyun-soo’s eyebrows twitched as if he didn’t expect it.

“I’m a little greedy.”

I explained further for him, who still didn’t understand.

“I don’t want to share anything sweet. I want to monopolize it.”

I raised my eyebrows and continued.

“Han Ji-yoo. Don’t give her to anyone else. I want to have her all to myself. That’s my condition.”

Kang Hyun-soo covered his forehead with one hand and laughed heartily.

“Looks like you were quite satisfied.”

I just shrugged my shoulders without saying a word.

“As expected, our Prosecutor Choi, no, Deputy Chief Choi, is a man.”

“If there’s one bean, you should put it in your mouth in one bite. Why would you share it?”

“That’s right. That’s what smart people think.”

His expression revealed his thoughts.

He must think that the biggest reason I was assigned to the Special Investigations Department was because he offered Han Ji-yoo to me.

If I had slept with her, who is a top star in Korea, it would have been an opportunity to feel the sweetness of power firsthand.

Thanks to that, I was able to blend into the Special Investigations Department naturally without arousing Kang Hyun-soo’s suspicion.

Finally, the real game begins.

“You’ve never been to the penthouse, have you?”

“The penthouse?”

A lewd smile appeared on his lips.

“There’s a party tonight. Let’s go and say hello.”

***

“To the Special Investigations Department?”

Chief Prosecutor Kim Seok-won asked with a serious expression.

“Is there anything to gain from going?”

“What I’ve investigated so far is just scratching the surface. You know that as well as I do, Chief Prosecutor. These guys who move so systematically can’t be touched at their headquarters anyway. They’ll cut off the tail or frame someone, they’ll do anything to get out of it.”

The Chief Prosecutor nodded as if agreeing with those words.

I showed the Chief Prosecutor information about Joo-ok Medical, along with photos and documents containing the corruption of the chief prosecutors, and reported that I would infiltrate the Special Investigations Department to root them out.

It would sound quite reasonable and attractive to the Chief Prosecutor.

A spy from the Inspection Department blowing up a big case is something that happens in movies.

Of course, I’m not infiltrating to stab them in the back as reported.

Telling the Chief Prosecutor is a kind of insurance.

If I run into unexpected problems there, I can always brush it off as infiltrating for the Inspection Department and get out of it.

However, if I adapt to the place without any problems, I can shed the Inspection Department’s guise and remain in the Special Investigations Department.

After all, no one knows about this except for the Chief Prosecutor, who has only a year and six months left until retirement.

Once that time passes, no one will think it’s strange even if I continue to stay in the Special Investigations Department.

“The Special Investigations Department even offered you the position of Deputy Chief Prosecutor?”

“Yes. After checking, it seems that the position of Deputy Chief Prosecutor in the Special Investigations Department was vacant, and I’m going into that position.”

Chief Prosecutor Kim Seok-won fiddled with his ring for a long time before opening his mouth.

“Prosecutor Choi.”

“Yes.”

“You know how hard it was for me to get to this position without me having to say it.”

He stared intently into my eyes.

“Now that I’ve reached this amazing position, shouldn’t I blow up one great case before I retire?”

“I’ll prepare it.”

“Yes, you draw a great piece of work. Don’t worry, you can always return to the Inspection Department even if things go wrong. But don’t be too careless either.”

“Of course. I’ll prepare to blow up the greatest corruption gate in history.”

“I believe in you, Prosecutor Choi.”

That’s it.

For the time being, I’ll have a lot to worry about if I want to walk a tightrope between the Special Investigations Department and Chief Prosecutor Kim Seok-won, but that’s my specialty.

Now, only interesting things are left.

***

“There’s no need to be nervous.”

“There are so many high-ranking people, so I’m getting nervous. Ahem.”

Kang Hyun-soo laughed heartily as he saw me moving my Adam’s apple and patted me on the shoulder.

“People are all the same. Just greet them politely and don’t refuse.”

That’s the most difficult thing in human relationships.

The hotel elevator went straight to the top without stopping.

Seeing that they use Dobby Hotel whenever there’s something going on in this line, it seems they have connections with the hotel staff.

Soon, we arrived at the 37th floor, the top floor of Dobby Hotel.

The 37th floor, the penthouse.

It’s said that it was completely remodeled for people related to this side, rather than for someone to live in.

As soon as I went inside, a new world unfolded before my eyes.

Numerous people were milling around to not overly exciting music.

From the heads of large entertainment agencies to Seoul city council members, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Knowledge Economy, and the Governor of Gyeonggi Province. Even the floor leader of the opposition party and the core lawmakers of the ruling party were seen laughing amicably with glasses of wine in their hands.

Moreover, in contrast to the men in suits, the women were walking around wearing clothes that exposed more than half of their bodies, and the men were grabbing the women they liked and groping them as much as they wanted.

I wasn’t surprised by the sight.

No, I was laughing instead.

A place where guys who have made a name for themselves can’t even hand out their business cards.

A place where the core figures who lead and will lead Korea gather to make an impression on each other.

The place where true power breathes.

Yes, this is the world of true kings that I have desperately dreamed of.