The Inspector Is Getting Promoted! [EN]: Chapter 40

Prosecutor, You’re Going Places! – Episode 40 (40/341)

Recruitment (2)

-From: 60

-August 18, 2048. Sunny.

-Today, just one year shy of my sixtieth birthday, I met up with two old friends privately for the first time in a long while.

The friends I hadn’t seen in nearly three years had, as expected, become hunched-over, wiry old men. Seriously, you guys need to take care of yourselves.

Song Jaehoon, who married early, already has grandchildren. Fraternal twins of different genders, a grandson and a granddaughter, made him dance with joy, or so he says.

He was promoted to president of PBC [Public Broadcasting Corporation] earlier this year, so it’s truly a double celebration.

And now, as they’re doing a special shoot to commemorate their 40th anniversary this year, he’s asking me to appear.

This is complete lobbying… no, if I don’t show up, he said he won’t leave my house, so is it blackmail?

Since he brought wine with gold flakes in it, I decided to give him an interview.

Park Suhyung, who isn’t even 60 yet, already has a completely white head of hair.

Despite being a journalist, he caught a late-life bug and not only started a broadcasting station, but ended up as the main anchor for the 9 o’clock news on the station he founded.

Crazy bastard. I don’t know why he’s doing that after all the trouble I went through to get his ABS [Another Broadcasting System] broadcasting station included in the terrestrial network.

But that crazy side is Suhyung’s charm.

That’s how I became friends with him when he was at WK Daily.

A moth-to-a-flame style of rushing in without hesitation is definitely a major strength for a journalist.

The two most trustworthy guys in the world.

I think I’ve made it this far thanks to these guys.

I wish I could see them more often, but age and status sadly prevent that.

Ah, my wife is calling.

I should wrap it up here.

After reading the message, I almost burst out laughing.

“I’m really sorry, but could I take a quick phone call?”

“Ah, yes. Take your time. I’ll go ahead and order. Is there anything you’d like to eat?”

“No, I’ll eat anything except shellfish.”

“Yes, please go ahead.”

I bowed to him and went outside.

As soon as I got outside, I put my phone to my ear, even though I wasn’t calling anyone, and burst into laughter.

“Hahahahahaha!”

People around me stared, but they assumed I was on a call and didn’t pay much attention.

Such a message.

I couldn’t help but laugh.

I covered my face with one hand and continued to release the laughter that erupted from within until it subsided.

This is an opportunity given to me by God.

Content that I can trust Song Jaehoon PD [Production Director] and Park Suhyung without a doubt.

Song Jaehoon PD is the guy who will become the next president of PBC, and Park Suhyung, whom I haven’t met yet, is the guy who will start ABS broadcasting station and become its president.

And these two will become my closest friends.

It’s telling me who my collaborators will be.

That’s not all.

The content that I helped Park Suhyung’s ABS get included in the terrestrial network.

That means I reigned as one of the most powerful people in this country.

I could become the president, or a hidden eminence [a person of great influence or prestige who is not widely known].

I don’t know exactly what it is, but what’s certain is that I will have the power of the Republic of Korea’s number one, or something close to it.

I can keep going like this.

As long as I don’t fall, I can climb all the way to the top.

As I said with Shin Yongho, I can become the king of this world.

Of course, at the age of 60, I have to live as much as I have lived so far.

I don’t know what will unfold in the meantime.

I may fall someday, but as long as I don’t collapse, I will definitely have a chance.

Isn’t life more wonderful because I don’t know the process?

What a beautiful future this is.

My fist clenched with rising elation.

I just have to not make mistakes.

Then I will be at the top in 30 years.

“Hoo.”

I took a long breath and barely erased the laughter.

I lowered the corners of my mouth that had gone up and put on a natural expression as usual before going back into the pub.

Sitting down at the table, I apologized to Song Jaehoon PD again.

“Ah, I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s okay. You work for the country, so of course work is more important.”

He smiled understandingly, and just then, the food we had ordered and two glasses of beer were brought to the table.

“It looks like the meal is here.”

“As an apology for being late, I’ll pay for the meal, so please eat as much as you like.”

“Hahaha, then I won’t refuse.”

He laughed heartily and picked up his beer glass.

The clinking of the glasses and the cool gulp were so refreshing.

Was it because of the taste of the beer, or because of the message?

Well, it doesn’t matter.

“Kyah, the beer here is really cold.”

“Right? I come here whenever I come to Gangnam [a wealthy district in Seoul] because of the beer.”

Song Jaehoon PD said with a bright smile.

He seems to have a cool personality, so I think we’ll get along well.

“I heard you’ve known Seolha since high school.”

“Ah, yes. That’s right. We’re high school classmates.”

He smiled and added a word.

“Also, ex-girlfriend.”

“Ex-girlfriend?”

“Yes. We dated like a teenage fling in high school. Now we’re 100% friends. We don’t have any feelings for each other beyond that.”

Yun Seolha.

I knew she was cool, but she was cooler than I thought.

The same goes for Song Jaehoon PD in front of me.

“Ah, I guess Seolha didn’t tell you that story.”

“No. That’s the first time I’ve heard that.”

“That’s possible. I got dumped after dating for three days, hahahaha!”

That’s not even dating, it’s just a fling.

Maybe Yun Seolha isn’t cool, but Song Jaehoon PD is just a funny guy.

“Anyway, I’m really a fan of you, Prosecutor. You’re amazing.”

“Oh, you flatter me. I’m the fan.”

“Oh, really?”

His eyes twinkled.

“Which episode…”

I could tell enough even though we hadn’t exchanged many words.

He’s definitely going to be my man.

***

WK Daily.

I accessed the media company where Park Suhyung worked as a reporter before starting ABS broadcasting station, searched for the person, and found one.

However, there was one serious problem.

The Park Suhyung I found was not in the political or social affairs department. Not even the economic department, which is closely related to him, but the entertainment department.

A reporter who chases after celebrities and takes pictures of them on their way to work.

Why?

I couldn’t understand it at all.

I couldn’t understand how I would become friends with an entertainment guy in the first place, and I couldn’t even imagine such a pathetic guy who writes such pathetic articles rising to the position of president of a broadcasting station.

I couldn’t find any passion, enthusiasm, or proactiveness as a reporter in Park Suhyung’s articles.

All of his articles were just regurgitating internet community reactions without any scarcity, or chasing after celebrities.

I might have given him a high rating if he had dug up a celebrity scandal, but he didn’t seem interested in any scoops that any reporter would be greedy for.

I also suspected that he might be a gold spoon [born into wealth] with a lot of wealth, but his parents were ordinary farmers.

Will his perspective be opened after meeting me?

I couldn’t be sure about that.

The future message has never been wrong.

So, after investigating him to some extent, I was able to figure out one reason why we became friends.

The answer was held by Song Jaehoon PD.

“Ah, Suhyung? I know him. He’s my junior in college.”

He bridged the gap.

“Shall we meet up next week?”

***

Before meeting Park Suhyung, I met someone more important first.

Seong Taehyun.

The man who will become the 22nd President of the Republic of Korea.

“It’s nice to see you after a long time.”

“I’m grateful that you remember me.”

I smiled slyly and shook hands with him.

“How have you been?”

“Ah, I’m dying.”

He groaned.

“These days, they’re strangling me with people’s livelihoods, prices, and whatnot, but isn’t that something I can’t handle on my own?”

“Oh, you’re going through a lot.”

“Well, it’s all something I have to handle, so I can’t help it.”

He smiled lightly and led me to the sofa.

“Anyway, what brings you here?”

I pondered over this answer for a long time.

If I came because I had something special, it would seem like I met him because I needed him, and if I went without any reason, he might suspect that I was plotting something.

That’s because my image in the media so far has been to crack down on and imprison those involved in all kinds of corruption, so he would think he was being suspected for no reason.

After a long deliberation, the conclusion was simple.

“I came to say hello to the assemblyman and get to know him.”

I said honestly.

Perhaps because it was an unexpected answer, Assemblyman Seong Taehyun burst into laughter.

“I’m grateful that you’re paying attention to an insignificant first-term assemblyman.”

“No. In my opinion, Assemblyman Seong will be a great man.”

“A great man?”

“Yes. So I came to get to know you before that.”

“I don’t know if that will really happen, but I feel good for now.”

“I have an eye for people.”

While naturally leading the conversation with stories about his party, stories inside the prosecution, and other important but unimportant stories, Seong Taehyun suddenly asked me.

“By the way, Prosecutor, don’t you have any plans to get married? You’re good at what you do and you have a handsome face, but you’re not married. I hear people around you say they want to have you as their son-in-law.”

“I’m grateful, but I still want to focus on my work.”

He clasped his hands together and his eyes lit up.

“You’re thinking of going to a higher place.”

I smiled and replied.

“I don’t want to be held back by a decent in-law family for no reason.”

Seong Taehyun nodded and buried himself in the sofa.

“I think you’re right. It’s better to have a family with nothing to offer than to have a headache because of your in-laws. That’s why I’m going to choose someone based on their personality, not their family, next time.”

“Do you have any thoughts of remarrying, Assemblyman?”

“I do. Even though we weren’t on good terms, there’s a big difference between having a wife and not having one.”

“I see.”

“Of course, the single life is fun, but I can’t just enjoy it because I’m almost forty.”

Listening to the story, I carefully asked.

“Is there anyone you want to remarry? Someone in the legal profession, or in the media…”

“I don’t need anything else. I just need someone with a pretty face, a good personality, and be diligent.”

Seong Taehyun continued with a confident face.

“I think I can do the rest with my own ability.”

What a great attitude.

Is this what it takes to become president?

From the current president, Kwon Jaecheol, to Seong Taehyun, they all had a deep-seated confidence that made them shine.

Finishing the conversation, I casually threw out a story.

“Please tell me if you need anything. I’ll help you in every way.”

Hearing those words, Seong Taehyun had a strange expression, unlike before.

Then, he carefully got up, closed the blinds of the glass window connecting the outer office, and slowly sat down.

He leaned his upper body towards me and carefully asked.

“Can I ask you seriously?”

“Of course.”

“I have a cousin who I’m really close to who’s rotting in the Busan District Prosecutors’ Office. I’d like him to get a taste of Seoul, if possible…”

It’s not like he’s committing corruption, it’s just a matter of bringing someone up from the provinces.

Seong Taehyun will bring him into the line, and all I have to do is bring him to Seoul.

It’s not like I’m exerting influence, I’m just choosing him.

This doesn’t even count as corruption.

I suspected that he was testing the waters with such an easy task, but looking at Seong Taehyun’s expression, that wasn’t the case.

That must mean that he has nothing else to ask for besides this.

That also meant that he had a lot.

I chose an answer that gave certainty beyond affirmation.

“You owe me one.”

Seong Taehyun smiled and reached out to me.

“Let’s go for a long time.”

“That’s a nice thing to hear.”