The Inspector Is Getting Promoted! [EN]: Chapter 80

When a Tiger Shows Its Teeth (1)

“It’s been a while, Reporter Park, PD Song. How have you both been?”

“Great, thanks to you.”

Reporter Park Soo-hyung smiled contentedly.

“Thanks to you, Seo-joon, it looks like I’ll be taking home the Reporter of the Year award at WK Daily this year.”

“Oh, congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

He smoothed his hair and turned his gaze to PD Song Jae-hoon.

“How about you, Jae-hoon? The response to the ‘Judge’ case must have been incredible, right?”

“Of course. I got called in by the president of the broadcasting station and received praise.”

“Ah, I heard the current president of PBC [a broadcasting company] is also an alumnus?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

PD Song Jae-hoon chuckled and then fixed his gaze on me.

“More than that, Han Ji-yoo has been on fire lately. Isn’t that the best thing for you, Seo-joon?”

“Hahaha, not at all.”

After a long time, we started by exchanging compliments.

Early December.

A conversation fitting for the end of the year.

After chatting for a while, Reporter Park Soo-hyung naturally asked me.

“Seo-joon, I heard you’re getting promoted to Senior Prosecutor early next year, is that right?”

I was wondering when he’d bring it up, but the topic came up naturally.

I cleared my throat and leaned towards the center of the table.

“Jae-hoon and Soo-hyung, could you possibly help me out one more time?”

“If it’s a request from you, Seo-joon, we’ll do anything to help.”

“There’s a case that would be perfect for capping off the year.”

The two men’s eyes gleamed at the word “case.”

What sets us three apart is that this is more appealing than drinking and having fun.

“There’s been a slight problem with my promotion to Senior Prosecutor this time.”

“A problem?”

“Even to outsiders like us, it seems like you should be the one getting promoted this year.”

“This place isn’t just about performance.”

I crinkled my nose as if disappointed.

“I thought I would be promoted too, but it seems the Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office is trying to block my promotion.”

Reporter Park Soo-hyung furrowed his brow.

“Even so, isn’t that an abuse of power?”

“Calm down.”

I glanced around and lowered my voice.

“So, after looking into it, I discovered something problematic about that Chief Prosecutor, Kim Jae-wook.”

The two men’s backs straightened at the word “problem.”

“Could it be…?”

“Yes. I want you two to expose it.”

PD Song Jae-hoon stroked his chin and exclaimed.

“Wow, if you keep helping us like this…”

“No, we’re always helping each other. And I can’t expose this case myself.”

Although it’s a significant flaw for Chief Prosecutor Kim Jae-wook, this case would have a better impact if it were exposed through the media rather than by a prosecutor from the Special Investigations Department.

More than a matter of corruption, it was closer to a moral issue, so if I stepped in, I might be accused of overstepping my bounds.

“How can we help you?”

“Well, first, I’d like you two to do an interview…”

***

On the way home after meeting with the two, I received a call from a familiar number.

“Hello, this is Choi Seo-joon.”

-Hello, Prosecutor. I’m sorry for calling so late. Do you have a moment to talk?

“It’s fine. Go ahead.”

The caller was Reporter Im Yoo-na from Political District No. 1.

Since the downfall of Chief Kang Hyun-soo through the Wolhyang case, I’ve established a good relationship with Political District No. 1 and have been in regular contact.

This was much better for me.

If all the scoops related to me were released through Reporter Park Soo-hyung, even ordinary people might suspect some kind of relationship.

I planned to pass on some cases to Reporter Im Yoo-na to report within reasonable limits.

-Actually, I’m calling to ask you something. It might be a sensitive question, is that okay?

“I’ll cut it off if I think it’s a problem.”

-Yes, thank you.

She asked cautiously.

-I heard that the Senior Prosecutor of the Special Investigations Department is coming from the Western District Prosecutors’ Office. I was wondering if that’s true.

I was genuinely surprised.

Not because it was a sensitive question, but because she knew this fact.

I didn’t expect her to find out this news before Reporter Park Soo-hyung.

Her information network is quite impressive.

I knew Reporter Im Yoo-na was no ordinary person while working together on the Kang Hyun-soo case, but I didn’t expect this level.

Since she already knew that it was the Western District Prosecutors’ Office, there was no need to hide it, so I told her the truth.

“Yes. As it stands now, it seems that Han Tae-min, the Senior Prosecutor of the Public Investigation Department of the Western District Prosecutors’ Office, will be coming up.”

-Ah, that’s really a shame.

She swallowed a bitter sigh and continued.

-I don’t know how to comfort you…

“No, nothing is confirmed yet.”

At that moment, the tone of her voice changed.

-Are you perhaps preparing something?

“No comment. It’s a very sensitive time.”

-Ah.

She seemed to hesitate for a moment.

-Then, would it be okay if I supported you in my own way?

“Support?”

-Yes. I’ll help you a little without affecting the overall trend.”

“I’d appreciate that.”

-Okay. Let’s meet once before the end of the year.

“Let’s do that.”

-Have a good dream.

“You too.”

After hanging up, I felt strangely expectant.

Support.

It felt like it would be a great help.

***

-The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, seemingly the most transparent prosecution in history. But the inside is rotting…

-December 2019, this newspaper has obtained information about the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, which is being evaluated as the most transparent prosecution in the country, as well as in history. The story is about the Special Investigations Department, which is becoming the biggest topic. Everyone is expecting Choi Seo-joon, the Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Special Investigations Department, to be promoted to the next Senior Prosecutor, but it seems the Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office has a different idea. He is trying to promote Han Tae-min, the Senior Prosecutor of the Seoul Western District Prosecutors’ Office, to the next Senior Prosecutor position in the Special Investigations Department. According to an insider, Choi Seo-joon should be promoted in terms of performance and ability, but it is speculated that he was pushed back in promotion because he did not get on the so-called “line” [political connections]. The reality is that ability is buried and politics rises above it. Is this really the right thing to do in a country ruled by law, the Republic of Korea? If getting on the right line is a shortcut to promotion and success rather than doing a good job, who would want to work hard? We send applause and support to clean people, including Prosecutor Choi Seo-joon, who are silently doing their jobs even in this situation.

-Former Minister of Health and Welfare, Yoo Seong-hyun

The article appeared in the opinion column of Political District No. 1.

It must have been Im Yoo-na who used her influence.

I figured she asked Yoo Seong-hyun to contribute, and it was published in the newspaper’s opinion column.

It’s Yoo Seong-hyun, who is appearing on TV and working as a writer, not just anyone.

As there are many people who support him, the effect will not be small.

Of course, that wasn’t all.

An additional article came out from the entertainment department, which I didn’t expect.

An article that makes Han Ji-yoo’s fans interested in Choi Seo-joon’s whereabouts.

It was also an article by Wang Spatch, who has a lot of power in the entertainment department, so it definitely attracted a lot of attention.

Thanks to that, Yoo Seong-hyun’s opinion piece was naturally posted on the Internet, and as traffic increased, it was exposed on portal sites, attracting people’s attention.

Her connections were better than I thought, and her ability to get things done was extraordinary.

She was much more capable than I knew.

It’s hard to find a reporter of this caliber, so it wasn’t for nothing that Political District No. 1 introduced her to me as an ace.

It became necessary to get closer to Reporter Im Yoo-na.

She was a reporter who worked in a style that was quite different from Park Soo-hyung, so if she joined hands with me, it would definitely create a synergy effect for each other.

If a media war broke out, it seemed like she would be a very reliable ally.

At that time, I received a call from Reporter Park Soo-hyung.

“Hello, this is Choi Seo-joon.”

-Seo-joon, I got the interview.”

The moment I heard that, I clenched my fist.

“How did you get the interview? I didn’t think the school would easily allow it since they’re high school students.”

-Ah, these kids were at a vocational training school. Since they were known as bullies, I slipped them a carton of cigarettes each, and they were very enthusiastic about the interview.”

“Wow, cigarettes for 2nd year high school students.”

-They all smoke anyway, what’s the big deal? Hahaha.”

He joked and continued.

-It was exactly as you said, Seo-joon. Chief Prosecutor Kim Jae-wook, that guy seems to have called in gangsters.”

“Yes. They’re probably from the Wangsimni Fire Ant gang.”

-I succeeded in getting a completely sensational interview regarding that fact. Since they’re high school students, they definitely don’t have a filter when they speak.”

“Then it would be ambiguous to write that interview right away, wouldn’t it?”

-So, I’m going to pass this on to Jae-hoon’s broadcasting station to hit it hard on the broadcast, and I’ll poke at it as you said.”

“Thank you.”

-Okay. Take care, the article will be up in an hour.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

-Yes.”

After hanging up, a smile automatically appeared on my face.

If he got the interview, it’s certain.

The weakness of Chief Prosecutor Kim Jae-wook that Lee Doo-hyung dug up.

It was about his son.

Chief Prosecutor Kim Jae-wook took gangsters to threaten the friends who bullied his son.

It wasn’t in the distant past, but a hot topic that happened this spring.

I understand a father’s heart for his son, but you can’t bring gangsters into a children’s fight.

Time passed quickly, and 10 minutes before the article that Reporter Park Soo-hyung mentioned was posted.

I headed to the Chief Prosecutor’s office.

Chief Prosecutor Kim Jae-wook, who brought me inside, smiled slyly and guided me to the sofa.

“Sit down.”

“Yes.”

He crossed his legs arrogantly and asked me.

“What brings our Choi Pro to me?”

“I heard you’re bringing up Han Tae-min from the Western District Prosecutors’ Office.”

“Oh, that’s how it is. Did you talk to Senior Prosecutor Han? He said he was going to see Choi Pro.”

“Chief Prosecutor.”

I cooled my voice.

“What good is it for you to go against me like this?”

He picked his ear as if he wasn’t interested in the story.

“Don’t make a mistake and go nicely. If you miss this, you’ll become my enemy.”

“A mistake?”

Chief Prosecutor Kim Jae-wook chuckled.

“It seems like the top and bottom have changed between you and me. Shouldn’t a Deputy Chief Prosecutor hide like a rat in front of the Chief Prosecutor?”

He clapped his hands as if he had forgotten.

“Ah, that’s right. Choi Pro wasn’t a rat, but a tiger cub.”

It seems he heard the story I told Chief Kang Hyun-soo.

He smiled mockingly and glared at me.

“But you know, if a tiger cub and a full-grown wild leopard fight, who wins?”

Chief Prosecutor Kim Jae-wook smiled viciously, revealing his teeth.

“It’s a leopard. Leopards know very well that they have to take down tigers when they are cubs.”

“Chief Prosecutor.”

I snorted and said.

“Even if it’s a cub, a tiger is still a tiger.”

I raised my chin towards him.

“That leopard will be complacent and not even know that the tiger has shown its teeth, and will be bitten and fall out in one bite.”