The Inspector Is Getting Promoted! [EN]: Chapter 37

Prosecutor, You’re Going Places! – Episode 37

The Net of Heaven (4)

“How have you been?”

Lee Cheol-yong, the Vice Chairman I met after a long time, looked noticeably brighter.

His rival and younger brother, Vice Chairman Lee Cheol-gi, had been arrested, allowing him to completely take over Juok Group.

“I’m always busy chasing after criminals. You, Vice Chairman, look radiant.”

“Hahaha, it’s all thanks to you, Prosecutor.”

He laughed heartily and added,

“My inauguration as Chairman is next month. Would you like an invitation?”

“No need. There’s no point in me showing my face. It’s not good for either of us to attract media attention.”

“I thought you’d say that.”

He looked around the place, expressing admiration.

“Quite a nice officetel [a studio apartment often used as an office]. Do you live here?”

“No. It’s just a place I use to meet people.”

“You’re always so thorough.”

“I was able to set it up thanks to the Vice Chairman’s help.”

Lee Cheol-yong smiled faintly.

“Anyway, what did you want to see me about?”

I immediately got down to business.

“I need an actor.”

“An actor?”

“Yes. Not an actor to take the blame, but a real actor to film nude scenes.”

“Hmm.”

He stroked his chin and asked cautiously,

“May I ask what this is about?”

“Do you know Kang Hyun-soo, Kim Joo-cheol, and Nam Woo-hyun?”

“Of course. Aren’t they all senior prosecutors at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office?”

“That’s right.”

Lee Cheol-yong stroked his chin, looking intrigued.

“Something’s up.”

“Those guys have joined hands with SL Group.”

“SL Group?”

The usually gentle expression on his face instantly turned sour.

Juok Group considered SL Group not just a rival, but an enemy to be overthrown.

“Hmph.”

Lee Cheol-yong suppressed his anger and sank into the sofa.

“I gave them plenty of money because they were so eager, but they dared to stab me in the back like that.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll take them all down.”

At those words, Lee Cheol-yong’s eyes lit up, and he sat up straight.

“Can you really do that?”

“Yes. I need an actor for that.”

“Just say the word.”

“Senior Prosecutor Kang Hyun-soo is desperately trying to get a video of me receiving sexual favors. I’m going to use this against him and pass him a video of an actor disguised as me.”

“So, you mean…”

I handed him a memo with my body measurements and Han Ji-yoo’s body measurements.

“Get me a video of a man and a woman who fit these measurements having sex. Of course, their faces shouldn’t be visible. And most importantly…”

The part that absolutely couldn’t cause any problems.

“It has to be legal.”

“Don’t worry about that. There are plenty of people who would do it if you give them money. If they love each other, have a relationship, and film it with consent, it’s legal.”

He confidently folded the memo carefully and put it in his pocket.

“The video might be released to the public.”

“Their faces won’t be revealed, right?”

He twisted his lips.

“A week will be enough.”

A week.

It seems there’s nothing you can’t do with money in Korea.

Looking at his trustworthy expression, I didn’t think there was anything to worry about.

“Until I make my move, treat those three as usual. It’s okay if the amount of money you give them decreases, but you can’t let them become suspicious.”

“Of course.”

He reached out his hand to shake mine.

“Thank you.”

I smiled and took his hand.

It was a necessary step for my plan, but delivering it this way would make Vice Chairman Lee Cheol-yong feel like he had received a great favor from me.

It was no different from putting him in my debt.

Lee Cheol-yong twisted his lips and said sincerely,

“May our partnership last a long time.”

“That’s always what I hope for.”

***

September.

The rainy season that had moved north was pushed down by the Siberian High [a large semi-permanent anticyclone], causing a prolonged autumn rainy season.

The rain, which had been falling for days, was pouring down relentlessly, constantly battering the windows.

Unlike the heavy rain, the worries in my head were not easily resolved.

“Haa.”

“Prosecutor.”

Before I knew it, Yoon Seol-ha handed me a warm canned coffee.

“Here, have this.”

“Ah, thank you. I’ll enjoy it.”

“Why the sigh?”

“I have a lot on my mind.”

The ongoing cases were gradually being resolved, but there was another problem.

After the Paju hostess bar case, if I let go of Reporter Bae Jin-soo, I wouldn’t have anyone left in the media.

Using Bae Jin-soo against my will would be too risky.

I had to find someone to replace Bae Jin-soo, but I didn’t have many connections to make that happen.

I could easily get someone through Lee Cheol-yong, but that reporter would obviously be a dog of Juok Group.

I couldn’t easily trust those guys.

I couldn’t ask Song Hyun-sung again because of Bae Jin-soo, and Shin Yong-ho was facing his final trial, so I felt bad asking him for anything.

“Tell me about it.”

Yoon Seol-ha opened the canned coffee, took a sip, and said playfully,

“Who knows, maybe I can help? Sometimes when I look at cases, I feel like I should have been a police officer. I feel so smart.”

“It’s not about a case.”

I smiled lightly.

“I need to find a reliable contact in the media, but it’s not easy. There are so many people around me just waiting to get an exclusive on me.”

“The media… I know a really trustworthy friend.”

In that moment, my ears perked up.

“Really?”

“Yes. She’s been my friend since high school, and she’s really great. We have slightly different personalities. She’s like a warrior for justice. She can’t stand injustice.”

She might be a bit picky, but there are endless things you can do with someone like that.

“Then, could you introduce me to her?”

“Yes. But weren’t you looking for a reporter?”

“Wasn’t she in the media?”

“She’s a PD [Producer-Director]. She works at PBC Broadcasting, you know? She’s the PD for that program, .”

If it was , it was a righteous program that dug into all sorts of injustices in the world and exposed them to the public.

A PD from would have far more influence than an ordinary reporter.

I might be able to catch a big fish in an unexpected place.

“Could you arrange a meeting?”

“It’s not difficult. In fact, she might want to meet you, Prosecutor.”

Yoon Seol-ha clapped her hands and said,

“Oh, instead of just talking about it, I’ll call her right now.”

“I’d appreciate that.”

“Wait a moment.”

She took out her phone and moved to the back.

A PD from .

I’d have to meet her to know for sure, but if what Yoon Seol-ha said was true, she could definitely be someone who could help me.

A righteous PD and a star prosecutor who uncovers and destroys corruption.

Isn’t that a perfect combination?

I could already hear the cheers of the people in my ears.

After a while, Yoon Seol-ha approached with a bright expression.

“She’s currently overseas on assignment and will be back in Korea in about ten days. Is that okay with you?”

“Of course.”

“Okay. Then I’ll set a date.”

She smiled and put her phone back to her ear.

***

“This is the video you requested.”

The man in the suit handed me an envelope containing a USB drive.

“As you requested, the quality isn’t great, and the faces aren’t visible at all.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“It’s nothing. Please contact me if you need anything else.”

Lee Cheol-yong’s chief of staff handed me his business card.

“Thank you.”

I thought the conversation would end there, but his chief of staff cautiously opened his mouth.

“And the Vice Chairman asked me to ask you something, if you don’t mind…”

“Go ahead.”

“Is there a reason why you’re single…?”

“I’m not gay. I just haven’t found a partner yet.”

“Ah, I see.”

He breathed a sigh of relief and continued,

“The Vice Chairman said that since you’re planning to climb high, you’ll need the power of your in-laws to some extent. He was wondering if you’re thinking about getting married, and if you need it, he can introduce you to some pretty good families.”

The chief of staff listed a few options as if he was appealing to me.

“From chaebol [large family-owned industrial conglomerate] families to political families to legal families, just tell us what you want, and we’ll do everything we can…”

As I listened to him, I was so dumbfounded that I unconsciously started pushing my left cheek with my tongue.

Look at this?

Lee Cheol-yong, that guy has some audacious thoughts.

I swallowed that thought and calmly managed my expression as I neatly refused.

“Tell him I’m fine. I’m still more comfortable alone.”

“Understood. If I’ve offended you…”

“No, it’s okay, so you don’t have to worry. You can go back now.”

“Yes, take care.”

He bowed and left my officetel.

As soon as I was alone, I burst out laughing.

“Ha.”

Arranging a marriage.

Anyone who saw it might think he was trying to support me properly, but this was a clear overreach.

There’s no way I wouldn’t notice that he was trying to introduce me to a woman from a family he could influence so that he could keep me under his control.

Lee Cheol-yong, this guy isn’t just a good person.

Having grown up in a chaebol family and being confirmed to take the position of chairman, he probably isn’t used to standing on equal footing with anyone.

Even so, I can’t allow him to put me under his control.

We’re holding hands firmly on the surface, but this is definitely a time of reconnaissance to confirm each other’s capabilities.

Of course, even if I realized his intentions, the relationship wouldn’t break or waver right away.

Rather, it’s become clear that he wants to be with me for a long time.

We’ll be holding hands firmly for at least a few years out of mutual need.

The problem is what comes next.

The 12 billion won I received from him is a double-edged sword that threatens both him and me, so there’s no way it will be a problem, but anything that happens after that has the potential to inflict fatal damage on each other.

I think I need to have a weakness of this guy in my hands.

There’s no one harder to take down than the head of a chaebol family.

That’s why I need to have a very secure leash.

A leash like the net of heaven (天網) [a Chinese proverb referring to inevitable justice] that he can never escape from.

There’s no easy person in this world.

But the biggest problem is that it’s more fun.

I crossed my legs and took a deep breath of the aroma of the wine in my glass.

I wonder what kind of things will unfold if I go higher, and what kind of people will be waiting for me.