The Inspector Is Getting Promoted! [EN]: Chapter 168

Prosecutor, You’re Going Places! – Episode 169 (168/341)

Marionette (7)

God’s Hand, Go Seong-tak, let out a deep sigh and addressed me with polite language and courtesy.

“Wouldn’t it be better to move to a different location? There are quite a few people watching us.”

“No. I already ordered the coffee; it would be a waste to leave it,” I said playfully.

He gritted his teeth and lifted the coffee cup. It was still steaming.

Go Seong-tak downed the Americano in one go without hesitation.

It had been brewed just a few minutes before he arrived, so it wasn’t scalding, but it was still hot.

He slammed the empty cup on the table with a thud.

“Let’s move.”

*Yeah, you need that much resolve.*

I took a slow sip of my coffee and then stood up.

“Let’s go in my car.”

Go Seong-tak followed me without a word, and we headed to the underground parking lot.

He finally spoke after getting into the passenger seat.

“You seem to be quite skilled at winning people over. I can’t believe they’d go for that amount of money.”

He didn’t try to hide anything, assuming I already knew about his generous offer.

*He’s probably trying to show me he’s aware of the situation and thinking strategically.*

But I had no intention of backing down in this battle of wits.

“I’ve been saying this since earlier, but you need to make eye contact to have a conversation. Are you going to take off your hat?”

Go Seong-tak’s facial muscles twitched for a moment, but he obediently removed his hat and placed it on his lap.

The first thing I noticed was the distinct scar near the corner of his left eye.

It didn’t look like a burn, and considering his years in the criminal underworld, I assumed it was a battle scar.

I smiled with satisfaction.

“Now we can have a proper conversation.”

I smirked and continued, “I don’t know who you’ve dealt with in the past, but don’t think you can treat Choi Seo-jun like those small-time players.”

I looked him straight in the eye.

“If the people around me were easily swayed by money, I wouldn’t have gotten to where I am today.”

However, Go Seong-tak met my gaze, unwavering.

“I wonder if others besides Yoon Seol-ha would say the same?”

I lowered my voice, laced with cynicism, and asked, “Are you sure you want to make me an enemy?”

“Yes.”

He answered confidently.

“Do you think I’m acting alone? Once you find out who’s backing me, Choi Seo-jun will also…”

“Choi Gyu-hyun.”

I cut him off.

“Did you think I didn’t know Choi Gyu-hyun ordered this?”

He was visibly taken aback, but unlike his previous expressions, he maintained a poker face.

*At least he won’t reveal anything about figures who shouldn’t be exposed, like the client.*

But I pressed him further.

“Should I tell you that I even know you approached Assemblyman Seong Tae-hyun before you confess?”

Only after I mentioned that name did Go Seong-tak realize he couldn’t deny it any longer and admitted it.

“You’re more perceptive than I thought.”

“Perceptive? I knew everything.”

I scoffed and continued, “Did you think I wouldn’t know if Investigator Yoon Seol-ha didn’t tell me?”

This time, he couldn’t hide his reaction, and his brow furrowed.

“NIS [National Intelligence Service], National Cyber Security Center. Lives in Domian Apartment in Seongbuk-dong. His two children are studying abroad in California, and his wife is there with them to take care of them. In other words, you’re a *기러기 아빠* (goose dad) [a Korean term for a father who works in Korea while his wife and children live abroad for educational purposes]. There are two reasons why you’re called God’s Hand. You probably already know this without me having to explain it.”

I smiled nonchalantly and added, “If that’s not enough, should I list your sponsor relationships before you surrender willingly?”

Only then did Go Seong-tak acknowledge his defeat and gave a weak smile.

“It’s not a sponsor, it’s an affair.”

“Either way, it’s still a big deal if it gets to your family in America.”

*There’s no weakness more certain than family.*

In the end, he seemed to realize he couldn’t win and let out a candid breath.

“What do you want?”

Go Seong-tak looked me straight in the eye and asked, “Someone like you, Prosecutor, probably doesn’t need money… and you probably don’t want to keep clashing with me like this.”

“There’s more than one way to win people over, not just persuading them with money like someone else.”

*Taking an overwhelming advantage and then reaching out. That’s the surest way to prevent betrayal.*

Go Seong-tak’s face showed relief, as if he realized I didn’t harbor any animosity towards him.

I smiled lightly and said, “There’s only one thing I want. The downfall of Choi Gyu-hyun.”

Only after hearing those words did Go Seong-tak nod his head as if he understood.

“So you didn’t break up with Seong Tae-hyun after all.”

“Of course. I’m not someone who gets easily backstabbed.”

“Even if you join forces with me, it doesn’t mean you’ll have a 100% chance of winning. As you know, as long as Choi Gyu-hyun is standing, it won’t be easy to defeat Na Kyung-jun in the Seoul mayoral election.”

“That part is no problem at all.”

I said firmly.

“Seong Tae-hyun will be elected as the mayor of Seoul.”

“Is there something I don’t know?”

“I’m not someone who moves without a chance of winning.”

“Then why do you want to work with me?”

“I’m drawing a big picture.”

I stretched out both hands forward.

“Do you think we would have turned our backs on Choi Gyu-hyun and jumped into this fight just to take the Seoul mayoral seat?”

At that moment, Go Seong-tak’s eyes sparkled.

“The presidency.”

“Bingo.”

I raised my eyebrows and looked at Go Seong-tak.

“I want you and I to be on the same team, not enemies. That’s why I’m opening up everything and going forward.”

“If you’re willing to open up all the cards, you must think highly of me.”

I wasn’t planning on opening up everything, but I agreed for now.

“It’s my way to go straight when I like something.”

He put his hands together and closed his eyes.

“The presidency…”

Go Seong-tak slowly pondered.

After thinking for a while, he opened his mouth calmly.

“If Seong Tae-hyun gets the presidency, you’ll become the Prosecutor General, right?”

I wrinkled my nose.

“Maybe more than that.”

Go Seong-tak raised the corners of his mouth as if he liked it.

“I don’t have great ambition.”

He tilted his head and said.

“Since I’m in the National Intelligence Service now, maybe just the top of that?”

A person who has been in the dark becomes the head of the National Intelligence Service.

*He says he doesn’t have ambition? He’s very greedy.*

“Wouldn’t that depend on what you do in the future?”

His nostrils flared.

“Okay.”

Go Seong-tak twisted his lips and asked.

“What should I do?”

“For now, just flatter Choi Gyu-hyun. Pretend to join hands with him.”

This offer was not bad for Go Seong-tak at all.

He could weigh his options between Choi Gyu-hyun and me, and if the situation leaned to one side, he could betray the other.

Most importantly, the act of weighing itself would be helpful to me.

*Weighing means that he would have no choice but to hide my cards from Choi Gyu-hyun.*

Of course, once the situation is settled, God’s Hand will have no choice but to stick with me.

As long as I help, Seong Tae-hyun’s election as mayor of Seoul is certain.

“Then I shouldn’t report our meeting to Assemblyman Choi Gyu-hyun.”

“No. He already knows.”

“Already?”

“Yes. Don’t turn your head, just listen.”

I continued to look at Go Seong-tak and said, “If you skip about four cars behind me, there’s a black sedan parked. Those are the people Choi Gyu-hyun has assigned.”

“Ah, I see.”

“Tell Choi Gyu-hyun the truth up until you met me. That you were investigating Seong Tae-hyun and found out about me. But after that, say what I tell you.”

He glanced at the car of the person Choi Gyu-hyun sent and stared at my eyes.

“Choi Seo-jun is trying to use Seong Tae-hyun. So…”

I told Go Seong-tak my plan in detail.

In short, it was to make Go Seong-tak a double agent.

He would report to Choi Gyu-hyun that ‘Choi Seo-jun asked Seong Tae-hyun to do some construction.’

Of course, Choi Gyu-hyun would think I was resentful, but he would pretend not to know, and he would have no choice but to keep Go Seong-tak by Seong Tae-hyun’s side under the pretext of deceiving me.

However, in reality, it’s not about doing construction, but about making it *look* like Choi Gyu-hyun’s plan is in progress.

That way, Choi Gyu-hyun would feel relieved.

Of course, Seong Tae-hyun, who already knows all the plans, would not be fooled.

However, he will act as if the construction with Seong Tae-hyun is progressing very successfully, so if I drive out Na Kyung-jun, Choi Gyu-hyun will try to elect Seong Tae-hyun as a backup plan.

That way, he can control the mayor of Seoul like a puppet.

But in reality, Seong Tae-hyun, including me and Go Seong-tak, are all working together.

He’s helping me without even knowing it.

In the end, only Choi Gyu-hyun will be fooled after the election.

He exclaimed admiration after hearing the detailed plan.

“Choi Gyu-hyun will have no choice but to fall for it.”

“That’s right. If we go this way, Choi Gyu-hyun will think that I have no idea who’s behind you.”

“That’s right. He’ll think he’s always one step ahead.”

In short, it’s about deliberately leaking that he contacted me.

By doing so, he will fall into the arrogance of thinking that he has grasped all of Choi Seo-jun’s schemes. As a result, he will be trapped in the frame of complacency and will not even think about broadening his horizons.

Go Seong-tak let out a laugh mixed with pure admiration.

“How do you think and move even on these parts?”

“Well.”

*Thanks to the future text.*

“Is it a hunch?”

Go Seong-tak nodded his head several times.

Then, after organizing the plan in his head for a long time, he carefully opened his mouth.

“I personally have one question.”

“Please speak.”

“Didn’t you have any suspicion… no, worry that I would stab you in the back and tell Choi Gyu-hyun about this plan?”

“Of course.”

I twisted the corners of my mouth.

“The very fact that you’re asking this means you’re going to take my hand.”

He smiled lightly.

“I see.”

I know that Go Seong-tak is moving under Choi Gyu-hyun’s unilateral orders.

However, I have gained an advantage in the conversation with him and offered to stand on an equal footing by reaching out.

Besides, the plan to win is perfect.

There’s no reason to refuse my offer.

If he stabs me in the back in this situation?

That would mean he’s an ignorant fool who can’t tell right from wrong.

There’s no way I would have been close to such a lacking guy in the future.

I finished that calculation the moment I saw his face through the future text.

“In the end, Choi Gyu-hyun will be the marionette.”

Go Seong-tak said with an interesting smile.

“That human will dance as you want him to.”

“That’s right. He won’t know he’s being manipulated until we reveal it even after the election.”

The corners of my mouth twisted naturally.

“A puppet doll can’t lift its head on its own.”

He will never be able to discover my devil’s hand stretched out over his head.