The Inspector Is Getting Promoted! [EN]: Chapter 137

Prosecutor, You’re Going Places! – Episode 137 (137/341)

A Person Who Sees One Step Ahead (3)

“Do you happen to have any records of customers entering and exiting the establishment?”

At Yoon Seol-ha’s question, Lee Ha-yeon pondered for a moment before answering.

“Yes. I know the madam keeps a ledger. And…”

She furrowed her brow slightly and continued.

“There’s probably a CCTV at the entrance, so it might be recorded there.”

Yoon Seol-ha’s eyes sparkled.

“It records 24 hours a day, right?”

“Yes. But when the police came to check during crackdowns, I remember it only stored about 2 or 3 weeks’ worth of footage.”

“That’s not a problem.”

The corners of Yoon Seol-ha’s lips curved upward.

“It would have been deleted already, wouldn’t it?”

“It’s fine.”

Yoon Seol-ha has over 5 years of investigative experience.

She knew very well that recovering CCTV footage, once it’s been recorded and stored, was a piece of cake [very easy].

As long as they haven’t replaced the hard drive, she could find it in no time.

‘No, I have to find it even if they replaced it.’

She was dealing with none other than Senior Prosecutor Park Jae-pil.

She couldn’t know exactly what Choi Seo-jun was planning, but to prevent the senior prosecutor from escaping, she would need clear evidence.

“Oh, and I’ll be going to Fantasia with the police tomorrow.”

“Yes?”

Lee Ha-yeon’s eyes widened.

“It’s not a raid, but it’s related to the ledger and CCTV you mentioned. Please don’t tell anyone else, in case it gets leaked. Of course, we won’t be arresting any of the employees.”

“Then there’s no problem. But…”

Lee Ha-yeon cautiously opened her mouth.

“After this is over, will I be able to…”

She hesitated, then shook her head.

“Never mind.”

Yoon Seol-ha smiled brightly and stood up.

“I’ll see you tomorrow. I’ve taken up too much of your time.”

“No, it’s okay.”

Lee Ha-yeon also stood up and saw Yoon Seol-ha off.

“Be careful going back.”

“Rest well.”

After Yoon Seol-ha left, Lee Ha-yeon slowly looked around the room.

High heels, flashy clothes, sparkling accessories.

But her eyes were filled with nothing but emptiness.

***

“Ah, it really works.”

Attorney Gu Eun-ho chuckled and opened his briefcase.

What came out of his briefcase was none other than a cell phone.

“It’s the first time I’ve brought a cell phone into the attorney’s meeting room.”

In principle, cell phones are not allowed in the meeting room, but what is impossible in Korea?

With money and power, you can wield absolute power no less than a king in the Joseon Dynasty [Korean kingdom from 1392 to 1897].

Attorney Gu Eun-ho immediately called Yoon Seol-ha and handed me the phone.

After about two rings, a voice that sounded very hoarse came through.

– Yes, Attorney.

“This is Choi Seo-jun.”

– Ah, Chief!

Instantly, her voice tone rose again.

– It seems you’ve already started the meeting.

“Yes, just now. By the way, your voice sounds like you’re dying?”

– I’ve been up all night preparing things. Haha…

She laughed awkwardly and immediately started briefing.

– Last night, I met with Wol-hyang, or rather, Lee Ha-yeon…

The information I heard was better than expected.

No, it was excellent.

If things continued as they were, we would be able to capture the connection between Do Hyun-seung and Park Jae-pil.

The possibility of passing the murder-for-hire charges to Park Jae-pil increased.

“Good job. Just handle it as is.”

– But there’s one thing I’m worried about…

Yoon Seol-ha cautiously brought it up.

– I’ve finished talking with the local police and we’re going to raid the establishment tonight, but as you know, the police and establishments always have connections, right?

Connections.

In other words, they exchange money.

Illegally operating establishments sometimes slip some pocket money to a few police officers in exchange for being notified in advance when a report comes into the police station or before a regular crackdown.

This is why prostitution businesses in Korea don’t go bankrupt and remain strong.

Both the prosecution and the police know it but turn a blind eye.

– No matter how much I prepare in advance, the news will inevitably get out. If they even replace the CCTV video’s storage hard drive, I won’t be able to do anything alone, no matter how much money I throw at it.”

That was quite possible.

Before being arrested, I had taken measures to allow her to use some of the money I had, but this part was difficult to cover even with money.

“I’ll take care of that matter in advance.”

– Ah, is that possible?

Yoon Seol-ha couldn’t hide her surprise.

“You said the jurisdiction there is the Haeundae Police Station in Busan, right?”

– Yes, that’s right.

“I’ll take care of it in advance. Go without worry.”

– I understand.

“Contact me immediately if there are any additional 사항 [matters/issues].”

– Yes, I’ll handle it well.

I finished the call and immediately called Prosecutor Hong Seok-jang.

After the ringing tone went on for a while, his voice came through.

– Hello?

“Hey, Prosecutor Hong. It’s Choi Seo-jun.”

– Chief? Ah, is that the attorney’s cell phone?

“That’s right. There’s something I need to talk about.”

Until now, I had used honorifics to him because of his age, but after this bribery case, I naturally started using informal speech.

It was more comfortable for both of us to go this way in terms of the job system.

“When Prosecutor Hong was in Busan, you had some police connections, right?”

– Yes. I’m still in contact with them. It’s no exaggeration to say that I have a firm grip on this area.”

“Then do you know the people at the Haeundae Police Station in Busan well?”

– That’s exactly my area.

To have this kind of luck.

It seems that Senior Prosecutor Park Jae-pil’s luck has run out.

“Today, Investigator Yoon Seol-ha is going to raid an establishment related to my case, and it seems that there are quite a few connections with the police there.”

– Ah, is that so?

He seemed to have sensed it right away and asked cautiously.

– If it’s in the Haeundae area, is it perhaps… Fantasia?

“You know about it?”

– Yes. That’s the biggest place in Busan. Prosecutors probably frequent it a lot too.”

Judging by what he’s saying, it seems that Prosecutor Hong Seok-jang also frequented it.

“We’re going to confiscate the CCTV data storage hard drive and the ledger, but I’ll only target Senior Prosecutor Park Jae-pil and won’t touch the rest, so Prosecutor Hong should tell them in advance.”

– I understand. I’ll tell the police and the local prosecutors in advance, and then I’ll tell 계장님 [Section Chief] Yoon.

“Okay, thanks for your hard work.”

– Yes. Please take good care of yourself until the day you get out.

“I’ll be out soon, don’t worry.”

I hung up the phone and handed the cell phone back to Attorney Gu Eun-ho.

He politely reached out with both hands to receive it and cautiously asked.

“Is there anything else I can help you with?”

“No. It’s okay.”

I twisted the corners of my lips into a smirk.

“The scenario is perfect.”

Attorney Gu Eun-ho swallowed hard.

After a few seconds of silence, he came to his senses, shook his head, found his duty as a lawyer, and checked the documents.

“Ah, Prosecutor, and the suspect has requested a three-way meeting. How should we handle this?”

“A three-way meeting?”

“Yes. They need to deliver it directly to the Prosecutor, but the police are being cautious, so they contacted me. There’s no basis for doing this, so it’s okay to refuse.”

The guy who I pointed out for murder-for-hire is requesting a three-way meeting including the police.

His liver is so swollen that it’s about to burst out of his stomach [he’s incredibly audacious].

“No, tell them to do it.”

Only one corner of my lips went up on its own.

“I want to hear what that bastard has to say.”

***

“Prosecutor, you met me!”

Do Hyun-seung’s eyes flashed as if he was excited.

“We even did good things together at the bar. With those women… Ah, if I say more, I’ll get caught for prostitution too. The sentence is enough for murder-for-hire anyway.”

He was not only slick but also hid his laughter with chuckles.

“Since everything has already been revealed, what’s the point of hiding anything more? Let’s just hold hands and die together [go down together].”

I came because I was curious about what he was saying, but it’s nothing but trivial talk.

I thought there would be a message from the Senior Prosecutor, but it seems that this criminal bastard acted alone.

Tsk tsk.

That’s why he’s pathetically killing people at the behest of others.

“Hey, Do Hyun-seung.”

I asked, looking at him with disgust.

“How much are you getting paid to do this kind of thing?”

“300 million won!”

He continued, chuckling.

“The prosecutor gave me 300 million won. Thanks to that, I paid off my debts and with the women… Ooh!”

It seems there’s no more value in talking.

“Detective, that’s enough. I’m going back.”

“Ah, are you?”

The moment I was about to get up.

Suddenly, there was a knock, and a man cautiously opened the door and came in.

A police officer wearing plain clothes.

“Detective.”

Detective Na Kyung-ho frowned and turned his head.

“I told you not to let anyone in.”

“No, the thing is, the Senior Prosecutor suddenly came…”

“Are you sure you didn’t mishear?”

“No. It’s definitely the Seoul High Prosecutor. He suddenly came and wants to meet Choi Seo-jun…”

He glanced at me and added honorifics.

“He wants to meet Prosecutor Choi Seo-jun.”

This human, is he trying to make fun of me?

I allowed a three-way meeting with Do Hyun-seung, so I can certainly accept the Senior Prosecutor’s provocation.

No, rather, I want to see what his expression will be like.

“Prosecutor.”

Detective Na Kyung-ho cautiously turned his gaze towards me.

“What should we do?”

“It’s okay. Call him in. However.”

I said, looking at Do Hyun-seung next to me.

“I want to meet him one-on-one, not in a three-way meeting.”

“I understand.”

Detective Na Kyung-ho immediately cleared the interrogation room and took Do Hyun-seung out.

How much time had passed, Senior Prosecutor Park Jae-pil entered the interrogation room.

“Prosecutor Choi, it’s been a while.”

He glanced at my handcuffs and smiled slyly.

“You’re having a hard time. It’s pitiful to see.”

When I let out a hollow laugh, he continued, being slick.

“How’s the food? I heard the bean rice is good these days.”

He shrugged and continued.

“Even if it doesn’t suit you, you have to adapt, so hang in there.”

I lowered my voice and glared at him straight.

“The recording and filming are stopped anyway. Cut the useless talk.”

“Is that so?”

In an instant, Senior Prosecutor Park Jae-pil’s eyes changed completely.

“Serves you right.”

He leaned back in his chair arrogantly and crossed his legs.

“Just take off your clothes appropriately [admit your guilt and cooperate]. Then I’ll wrap it up with that [make things easier for you].”

It’s not worth responding to.

I snorted and opened my mouth.

“Senior Prosecutor.”

I leaned my upper body towards him.

“Do you think you can keep the world from knowing that you ordered Do Hyun-seung?”

“Of course, I can.”

He twisted the corners of his lips as much as possible.

“If there’s no evidence, the world won’t believe it.”

“It sounds like you’re saying there won’t be any evidence.”

“Of course, I can.”

Senior Prosecutor Park Jae-pil raised his eyes with a smug expression.

“Do you think I would have started a fight with you leaving behind such evidence that could grab my neck?”

“…”

“Chief Choi, rot for about 10 years and come out. If I’m still active then, I’ll make a position for you. Hahaha.”

His arrogant laughter echoed in the interrogation room.