The Inspector Is Getting Promoted! [EN]: Chapter 198

Prosecutor, You’re Going Places! – Episode 198 (198/341)

Trust in This Business (1)

-Name: Jang Young-soon. Age: 71. Changed her name to ‘Jang Mi-yeon’ through a court application and uses the name Jang Soon-ok for external activities.

“Why does this person use so many names?”

Choi Seo-jun chuckled at Shin Yong-ho’s complaint.

-If you twist the name twice, everyone will think her real name is Jang Mi-yeon and investigate that, right? But since everything comes back clean, they’ll believe it. The alias is used to be discovered on purpose, but the real one they’re trying to hide is Jang Young-soon.

“Well, Jang Young-soon is quite a famous name.”

-Anyway, I’ve sent you the relevant information by email, so take a look.

“I already checked it all before coming.”

-Good job.

“Okay, I’ll call you again when I’m done.”

-I’m counting on you.

“Alright.”

Hanging up, Shin Yong-ho straightened his clothes and immediately entered the large building.

Queen Investment, occupying the entire 21st to 23rd floors of a high-rise building in Gangnam [a wealthy district in Seoul].

As soon as he entered, he was guided by an employee and arrived at the CEO’s office with a free pass.

“Hello, CEO Kim.”

“Have you arrived?”

James Kim stood up from his seat with a welcoming face and extended his hand.

“I’m James Kim.”

“Shin Seong-ho,” Shin Yong-ho said, nonchalantly using his new name, and shook hands with James Kim.

“Please, sit down. What would you like to drink?”

“Ah, no need for tea…”

He settled into his seat and leaned his upper body towards the other man.

“Let’s get straight to the point.”

“It seems President Shin has urgent business,” James Kim said, without a change in his expression despite Shin Yong-ho’s rudeness, and instead brought up the main topic first.

“You want to invest in our company?”

“Yes,” Shin Yong-ho replied with a straight face.

“But I want to discuss this directly with the CEO, not with someone lower down.”

For a moment, a look of bewilderment crossed James Kim’s face.

“I am the CEO. What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about Madam Jang Soon-ok.”

At that name, James Kim’s brow furrowed harshly.

“Who sent you?”

His voice dropped low.

However, Shin Yong-ho replied without a change in expression.

“Let’s talk about that with the CEO.”

James Kim clenched his fist tightly but couldn’t open his mouth any further.

Knowing about Madam Jang Soon-ok meant he was well aware of the company’s internal affairs.

In the end, he stood up from his seat.

“Wait here a moment.”

“Take your time.”

James Kim left Shin Yong-ho alone in the CEO’s office.

Shin Yong-ho, assuming he was going to call Madam Jang Soon-ok directly, relaxed into the sofa.

From what he had gathered, Queen Investment was a real, functioning company.

It wasn’t just a company created by Choi Gyu-hyun to deceive Choi Seo-jun.

However, the connection with the headquarters in the United States didn’t seem strong.

It was as if, in a word, they had the same name on the outside but were operating completely differently on the inside.

As evidence, most of the company’s shareholders were foreigners, but all were Koreans with black hair.

In short, the money was only circulating domestically.

If the real owner was Queen Investment in the United States, it wouldn’t be like this.

That’s why he needed to find out what Jang Soon-ok… no, Jang Young-soon’s purpose was in approaching Choi Seo-jun.

About fifteen minutes passed, and James Kim returned to the CEO’s office with a weary look.

“Did you wait long?”

“Not at all. Will I be able to meet the real CEO?”

“Follow me.”

James Kim took Shin Seong-ho onto the elevator.

They arrived at the 24th floor.

It wasn’t a floor that Queen Investment officially used, but James Kim didn’t hesitate in his steps.

Proof that this was where they usually operated.

‘This reeks something fishy.’

Shin Yong-ho slowly examined the interior of the 24th floor as he followed James Kim.

And they arrived at an office at the innermost part, with no nameplate.

James Kim knocked lightly twice and entered.

Inside the office, Jang Young-soon, sitting in the seat of honor on the sofa, greeted Shin Yong-ho with a teacup in her hand.

“Welcome.”

“Hello, I’m Shin Seong-ho.”

“I’m Jang Soon-ok.”

Instead of telling him to sit, she gestured towards the sofa.

Shin Yong-ho naturally sat down, and James Kim took a seat across from him.

‘I almost didn’t recognize her.’

That was Shin Yong-ho’s first impression of Jang Young-soon.

Her face was quite different from the one in the materials that had been prominently featured in newspapers during the military regime.

If he had met her without knowing she was Jang Young-soon, he wouldn’t have suspected a thing.

She had gotten some work done with Botox and fillers, but she couldn’t beat time, and her wrinkles were quite deep.

‘That’s why she changed her name twice.’

As long as she didn’t reveal she was Jang Young-soon, she would have used the alias Jang Soon-ok and her real name Jang Mi-yeon to dispel the suspicions of others.

Jang Young-soon looked at Shin Yong-ho without losing her composure and asked,

“How did Mr. Shin Seong-ho know about me?”

“I’d like to speak with you alone.”

Jang Young-soon looked at James Kim and said,

“You can go now.”

“…Yes.”

James Kim bit his lip and went outside.

“Are you ready to talk now?”

Shin Yong-ho smiled brightly.

“I heard you’re meeting Choi Seo-jun tomorrow.”

“Is that so?”

It was a provocative comment, but Jang Young-soon didn’t show any surprise at all.

As befitting someone with the title of the century’s greatest con artist, she maintained an excellent poker face.

Shin Yong-ho continued.

“I just came from meeting Choi Seo-jun.”

“You didn’t come here to tell me what kind of person Prosecutor Choi is…”

She leisurely raised her teacup.

“Let’s get to the point. I don’t like it when people beat around the bush; it makes me think they’re trying to scam me.”

Shin Yong-ho barely managed to hold back a laugh.

‘A con artist trying to get the upper hand.’

Shin Yong-ho, a former prosecutor, also knew that saying that would reduce the suspicion that the speaker was trying to scam someone.

He lightly swept back his hair and opened his mouth.

“Assemblyman Choi Gyu-hyun instructed you to meet Prosecutor Choi Seo-jun. I also know that Madam Jang Soon-ok is planning to meet Choi Seo-jun under Assemblyman Choi Gyu-hyun’s instructions.”

“I don’t think that’s a reason for us to meet.”

“Our Madam Jang Soon-ok only wants to hear the key points, even in the main topic.”

She nodded lightly, meaning yes.

Shin Yong-ho spread his palms as if he had lost and said,

“I came because I was wondering if Choi Gyu-hyun is trustworthy. What are you trusting in to move forward?”

“I wonder.”

Jang Young-soon looked at Shin Yong-ho’s eyes for the first time.

“We businessmen want something concrete, but politicians try to give us something intangible. Isn’t that the reason why politicians and businessmen are divided?”

A vague answer that didn’t fit the question.

She absolutely wouldn’t try to reveal her information.

Shin Yong-ho could also understand Jang Young-soon’s intentions to some extent.

Since he had come so suddenly, she probably thought he had more information than she did and was trying to be as careful as possible.

If he dragged it out any longer, not only would there be no results, but the possibility of suspicion would increase.

Originally, he was going to talk about her prison life to ease her wariness, but that was impossible in the current situation.

Thinking that there was no hope if he continued like this, Shin Yong-ho decided to make a gamble.

“I’ll reveal my hand first.”

First, he laid the bait.

“Here’s my business card.”

He handed Jang Young-soon his real business card.

Of course, he was operating as Shin Seong-ho, so there was no room for Jang Young-soon to suspect.

“And I agreed to hand over 5 billion won to Choi Seo-jun after the election.”

Only then did interest spark in Jang Young-soon’s eyes.

“Then what are you trusting in to work with Assemblyman Choi Gyu-hyun, Mr. Shin?”

Shin Yong-ho grinned slyly.

“Isn’t it polite to give and take one at a time?”

Jang Young-soon chuckled.

“I agreed to hand over 10 billion won. As indirect advertising expenses. I was going to demand policies after Jo Hyun-woong was elected, but…”

She didn’t finish her sentence, but Shin Yong-ho could tell that it was because there was no chance of him being elected anyway.

“Then will you tell me what you were trusting in to work with Assemblyman Choi Gyu-hyun?”

At Jang Young-soon’s question, Shin Yong-ho made his gamble, hoping it would work.

“Since I’m also a businessman, I agreed to receive something concrete.”

He raised his finger and pointed to the floor.

To be exact, the floor below.

“I agreed to take over Queen Investment.”

At that moment, the wrinkles on Jang Young-soon’s face deepened to an unprecedented degree.

To the point where it wasn’t just a frown, but a contortion.

‘Nice!’

Shin Yong-ho cheered inwardly.

It seemed that Choi Seo-jun’s guess had hit the mark perfectly.

As a result of the meeting to discuss what the reward for this case would be, Choi Seo-jun had pushed for handing over Queen Investment to Jang Young-soon.

Looking at Jang Young-soon’s expression, he could tell that he had guessed correctly without even asking.

Shin Yong-ho opened his mouth with an expression that he was also in trouble.

“It seems that we’ve both been deceived by Choi Gyu-hyun.”

“…It seems so.”

It was the moment when Jang Young-soon’s trust in Choi Gyu-hyun was shattered.

He couldn’t be satisfied and stop here.

He had to push harder.

He had to make her believe in him before she investigated him and realized that he was actually Choi Seo-jun’s man.

“Is CEO James Kim trustworthy?”

“He’s someone that Choi Gyu-hyun’s side attached to me.”

Another home run!

“He might be in danger too.”

“…I think so.”

“Don’t tell him for now. If you tell him about my identity and it gets to Choi Gyu-hyun, we could both be in trouble.”

“Yes. I’ll tell James Kim not to say anything about Mr. Shin Seong-ho for now.”

“Thank you.”

He continued in a serious voice.

“If we stay like this, there’s a high chance that we’ll both be abandoned after being used.”

Shin Yong-ho continued, pretending to be urgent.

“We need to make a move in tomorrow’s meeting with Choi Seo-jun.”

“Make a move?”

“Yes.”

He added, his eyes sparkling.

“Let’s change our allegiance to the more trustworthy side.”

The corners of Shin Yong-ho’s lips twisted slightly.

***

-Hey, Seo-jun.

“Did it go well?”

I asked him with half expectation and half worry.

-Who do you think I am?

Shin Yong-ho said in a very confident voice.

-I’ve coaxed her well, so all you have to do is win her over tomorrow. From what I see, this old woman thinks she’s been backstabbed by Choi Gyu-hyun, so it won’t be difficult.

“Good job. You’re the best, Shin Yong-ho.”

-Of course, who do you think I am?

“Hahaha, you’ve worked hard. Thank you.”

-No. We have to keep watching until it’s completely over, so don’t let your guard down either.

“Okay, I understand. Get some rest.”

-You too.

As I finished the call with him, a smile naturally spread across my face.

If things go well with Jang Young-soon tomorrow, I’ll be able to send the bomb that Choi Gyu-hyun sent back to him.

I will make it happen.