The Inspector Is Getting Promoted! [EN]: Chapter 49

Prosecutor, You’re Going Places! – 49

Coincidence or Fate (1)

“I was wondering if you could help with our upcoming movie.”

“Help?”

CEO Jin Tae-yong waved his hand dismissively.

“The genre of our new project is noir, right? It’s about a battle between a prosecutor and a gangster. I’m not asking for anything complicated, just a nominal role as an advisor on legal and realism aspects.”

“Ah…”

He gave a sly smile.

“We’re not really going to bother you with a bunch of questions. Frankly, Prosecutor Choi, you’re famous as a star prosecutor, so we’d like to use your name for promotional effect…”

“Oh, so there’s no actual work involved?”

“Yes. Just occasionally show your face at company dinners and premieres. The script is already finished and verified, so you don’t have to go through any hardship.”

He didn’t seem to be hiding anything.

Just using me as a figurehead, as he said.

Just a few days ago, I was on TV again as a representative of the prosecutors, after ousting Vice Minister Park Sung-hyun for sexual harassment. He probably wants to use my name to promote the movie with phrases like ‘Enhanced Realism!’ and ‘The Epitome of Reality!’

CEO Jin Tae-yong gently rubbed his hands together in a circular motion and continued.

“The fee will be generous.”

Not a bad deal.

Fee aside, having a credit as an advisor on a movie would definitely help my career.

And it’s cool.

It’s good if the movie is a hit, and if it flops, it’ll be quietly forgotten, so I have nothing to lose.

However, I don’t need to project an easy image at my level.

“I see.”

“Yes. If you think about it and you’re okay with it…”

“I’d like to, but given my position… I need to get approval from above.”

At my slight frown, CEO Jin Tae-yong nodded repeatedly.

“Of course. We’re only asking for your help to the extent that it doesn’t interfere with your duties as a prosecutor, so please don’t feel pressured.”

“Yes.”

I smiled slightly and added a word.

“And public officials aren’t allowed to receive fees for this kind of thing.”

I picked up an appetizer with the fork I was holding and said.

“How can I accept a fee when I can’t even get a free meal like this? Haha.”

“Then there’s a good way.”

He lowered his voice and spoke slyly.

“We can process it with a side contract…”

“Uh-huh!”

I shook my head and leaned back before he could finish.

“I don’t want anything like that.”

“Ah, I’m sorry.”

CEO Jin Tae-yong quickly bowed his head as if he had made a mistake.

But he soon took out his phone and showed me a few photos from the gallery with a lecherous look in his eyes.

“These are profiles of the new actresses who just joined. If there’s anyone you like…”

“CEO Jin.”

I snatched his phone and placed it face down on the table.

“Keep it clean. I don’t want anything like that.”

Eating something like that would give me indigestion.

Those who eat knowing it will cause indigestion are worse than the starving vagrants on the street.

Knowing what to eat and what not to eat is the easiest and most accurate way to survive in this industry for a long time.

It’s funny that most guys drool over the food right in front of them and fall for it, even knowing this.

“Then how can I help you…”

CEO Jin Tae-yong mumbled, as if he couldn’t figure it out.

Of course.

The three things a man craves in life are money, women, and honor, and I already have honor as a prosecutor.

But since I don’t want money or women, he probably has no idea what I want.

I leaned forward towards him and said lightly.

“How about you just owe me a favor, CEO Jin?”

“A favor?”

“Yes. Something like you’d be willing to jump in and help me out whenever I ask.”

Only then did a smile appear on his face.

“I’m from Gyeongsang-do [a province in southeastern Korea], so my loyalty is top-notch.”

“Good to hear.”

I raised my eyebrows and said.

“Oh, of course, this is only if I get approval from above. I’m just a prosecutor, so I can’t act on my own.”

“Haha, if Prosecutor Choi says that, all the prosecutors in Korea should hang their heads in shame, shouldn’t they?”

Even though it was flattery, it made me feel good.

Instead of answering, I smiled faintly.

“I’ll check and get back to you soon.”

“Understood.”

He grinned and raised his glass.

“Shall we have a drink?”

“Sure.”

I clinked glasses with him and took a cool sip.

The slightly bitter scent of alcohol pleasantly wafted through my nose.

CEO Jin Tae-yong.

It’s time to see what kind of guts this guy, who’s the head of a pretty successful star production company, really has.

It’s fine if it ends at a reasonable level, but if he’s a decent guy, I need to keep the connection going for a long time.

When you play around in this industry, you’re bound to get entangled with the entertainment world.

There must be more than a few people among the higher-ups who are drooling over celebrities, extending their reach, or acting as sponsors to provide funds, programs, and advertisements.

To do that, they must be connected to corporations through dirty relationships.

Not only in these areas, but also in others, CEO Jin Tae-yong, who is a big name in the entertainment industry, will definitely be helpful someday.

“Were you having a good talk?”

In the meantime, PD [Production Director] Song Jae-hoon and Park Su-hyung, who had finished smoking, sat down at the table.

“Judging by your expression, it seems like you were having an interesting conversation.”

“It’s nothing much. It seems like you two were having a more interesting conversation than us?”

PD Song Jae-hoon chuckled and pointed to Park Su-hyung next to him.

“Ah, there’s a funny story.”

“What is it?”

“Apparently, a junior with the same name as this guy joined WK Daily this time.”

“Same name?”

“Yes. Fortunately, they’re in different departments. A reporter named Park Su-hyung joined the political and social affairs department. Hahaha!”

I felt dazed, as if I had been hit on the head with a hammer.

Park Su-hyung.

Reporter Park Su-hyung from the political and social affairs department.

Why did I forget about this?

In the future text, the person who wrote and sent that diary was none other than me at the age of sixty.

When I received the text, there was no mention of meeting Park Su-hyung, but I was somehow convinced that it was Park Su-hyung at WK Daily at that time.

Why didn’t I realize that was the biggest flaw?

The problem was that I was so easily fooled by the fact that he was a junior PD Song Jae-hoon knew.

I was so excited that I had found the connection to Park Su-hyung with just that.

At that moment, Park Su-hyung’s awkward smile caught my eye.

Yeah, something was strange.

To consider a pathetic guy I wouldn’t normally associate with as one of my best colleagues in my 60 years of life.

Even if I saw the future text, I’m not the kind of person who would change. I’m definitely not the type to become a philanthropist.

Park Su-hyung didn’t seem to have any complicated thoughts and chuckled as he spoke.

“I saw that guy’s face once, and his hair was full of gray. It looked like he’d be completely white-haired by the time he’s forty.”

“Hey, he’ll dye it.”

Okay, that confirms it.

The text also said that the guy, who wasn’t even 60, had white hair.

I found him now, so it’s okay.

Although I’ve come a long way, I’ve succeeded in finding the ‘real’ Park Su-hyung who will be a great help to me in the future.

I briefly doubted it when I met Park Su-hyung from the entertainment department, but I was able to realize once again that the future text only tells complete facts.

I’m sad that I wasted my time, but it’s enough that I was connected to CEO Jin Tae-yong today through Park Su-hyung from the entertainment department.

Anyway, I’ve managed to get a foot in the entertainment industry.

The last expectation I have for Park Su-hyung from the entertainment department is one thing.

To be connected to Park Su-hyung from the political and social affairs department.

That’s this guy’s last remaining value.

I naturally picked up an appetizer and asked.

“By the way, what kind of person is that Park Su-hyung from the political and social affairs department?”

“I heard he used to be in the heart of politics. He’s an experienced worker, but I don’t know the details.”

The heart of politics.

That’s where reporter Bae Jin-soo was.

Maybe meeting that reporter Park Su-hyung isn’t a coincidence, but fate.

If possible, I’m going to bring that fate forward a little more.

***

“A movie?”

Chief Prosecutor Kang Hyun-soo widened his eyes and let out a hollow laugh.

“What kind of crazy idea did you suddenly get?”

When I said I was going to be involved as a movie advisor, Kang Hyun-soo looked completely surprised, as expected.

“Prosecutor Choi, haven’t you been eating too much broadcast food [spending too much time in the media spotlight]?”

“It’s not that. I’m just going to show my face and watch because there are female celebrities in it. I heard I can watch the actresses’ faces and have a drink with them, so wouldn’t that be nice?”

Only then did Chief Kang Hyun-soo smile and nod.

“Ah, actresses are good.”

He nods as if he understands without saying more.

He couldn’t hold back the laughter that was trying to leak out and slightly raised the corners of his mouth.

That’s because Chief Kang Hyun-soo knows that I fell for Han Ji-yu and ate the forbidden fruit [had an affair].

Since he even has a fake video that he thinks is real, he probably sees Choi Seo-joon as nothing more than a lowly prosecutor who goes crazy for celebrities.

Thinking about it, it was a natural reaction.

“If that’s the case, I can take responsibility and give you the okay.”

Chief Kang Hyun-soo said arrogantly, as if he was doing me a favor.

“Can you really do that?”

“Yeah. It’s not difficult, is it? However, it’s dangerous if there’s a financial transaction involved.”

“Ah, don’t worry. I decided to go in for free. I’m going to package it as improving the prosecution’s image and getting closer to the public…”

“If that’s the case, there’s no problem at all.”

“Is it okay if I don’t report it to the chief prosecutor separately?”

“Hey, it’s okay.”

He even waved his hand and said.

“You don’t seem to be on good terms with the chief prosecutor these days. I have a lot of things to do and I see him often and I’m closer to him than others, so I’ll mention it to him.”

He’s having a hard time saying that he and the chief prosecutor are on the same line [allied].

This guy seems to have become more despicable after completely moving from my line to the allied line.

“Prosecutor Choi, you don’t have to worry. You can go right away and say okay today.”

“Ah, thank you.”

Chief Kang Hyun-soo, this guy seems to be determined to make me turn my eyes to the entertainment industry.

He probably judged that if I hang out with celebrities, I’ll be less of a threat to him.

I guess it’ll seem like I’m dancing in the palm of his hand even if I’m crouching down for the time being.

“Yeah. Don’t miss out on those opportunities and have fun. You have to have fun when you’re young. If you get married like me, you won’t be able to have fun.”

“Thank you.”

“Go. Report any changes.”

“Understood.”

Just before leaving, I carefully asked him.

“Chief, may I ask you one thing?”

“What is it?”

“Is there a reason why you moved from our line to that side?”

“Why, do you want to come too?”

He smirked and looked at me arrogantly.

“Are you upset that I put you on that line and moved over?”

“No, it’s just that I’m purely curious.”

“It’s nothing much.”

He buried his head in the chair and laughed lightly.

“The chief prosecutor is on this side. If you want to get promoted, you have to be on the same line.”

As expected, he was clinging on like a sycophant.

“I see.”

“Tell me if you want to come too.”

“No, I like it here.”

“Okay. Then go.”

“Rest well.”

I bowed to him and came out of the office.

I was worried that he might object if I met the chief prosecutor directly, but I don’t think I need to worry about it.

Things are going smoothly.

As I went down to the first floor to smoke a cigarette, I received a call from CEO Jin Tae-yong.

“Yes, this is Choi Seo-joon.”

-Ah, Prosecutor Choi. Is this a good time to call?

“Yes. I was going to call you anyway, so it worked out well.”

-Is there something good going on?

“Yes. I reported it to the higher-ups and got the okay sign.”

-Wow, the timing is perfect. Then I’ll proceed without worry.”

“Please do so.”

I took a puff of my cigarette and continued.

“By the way, what did you call about?”

-Ah, there’s a company dinner scheduled for this Friday, and I was hoping Prosecutor Choi could come and enjoy a drink with us.”

“A company dinner?”

-Yes. Of course, this is a private event, so you don’t have to split the bill 1/N [a common Korean expression for splitting the bill equally].”

At his joking words, I chuckled lightly and said.

“Understood. I don’t have any scheduled events on Friday, so it should be fine.”

-Then I’ll see you at the Keras Hotel that evening.”

“Yes.”

-Go in! [Take care!]”

Even at this time, I had no idea.

That I would meet that person at the company dinner.