The Inspector Is Getting Promoted! [EN]: Chapter 249

Solicitation (1)

“So, you’re still at home?”

Stepping out of the study, Han Jiyu was deep in a phone call.

“Really? So, you’ll be living separately in the current house and then moving into the Blue House [the South Korean presidential residence] with the kids in a couple of months.”

“I’m heading out for a bit.”

As I spoke, putting on my coat, Han Jiyu, startled, lowered her phone.

“Ah…….”

She must have been talking to Han Jisu.

Han Jiyu probably feels awkward contacting her sister.

But even if there are issues between Sung Taehyun and me, that’s separate from the bond between sisters.

Knowing Han Jisu’s personality, she wouldn’t interfere in Sung Taehyun’s affairs, nor is she particularly interested in politics, so I have no intention of blaming her.

This matter was solely for Sung Taehyun and me to resolve.

“You can talk. You don’t have to be self-conscious around me.”

“……Okay.”

Han Jiyu awkwardly held up her phone, said, ‘Just a moment,’ and asked me,

“Where are you going?”

“Just meeting someone. Go to sleep first.”

“Okay. Don’t be too late.”

“Rest well.”

Leaving Han Jiyu behind, I immediately left the house and headed to the parking lot.

Sung Taehyun and I may be related through marriage, but now we’re worse than strangers.

I have to take him down to survive.

Shaking my head to clear my thoughts of Han Jiyu and Han Jisu, I pressed the accelerator.

I need to calmly sort things out.

I’ve been moving busily since the day Sung Taehyun stabbed me in the back, so I need to be even more careful.

If I rush and make a mistake, everything will be for naught.

The nominee for Prime Minister has not yet been announced.

Most likely, it will be Representative Park Hyungtae of the Minsuk Party [a fictional political party].

Given the current political situation, choosing him would be the best option.

However, the messages about the Prime Minister and Min Hoseon, who is to become the Deputy Chief Prosecutor, all point to later.

Contacting them first would likely backfire.

I need to take it slow.

Once I’m appointed as the Seoul High Prosecutor, I can hold out for at least two years.

There’s no need to be impatient.

Like being unaware of getting wet in a drizzle.

I need to erode them drop by drop.

***

“I’ve heard the general situation.”

Shin Donghyun filled my glass with a look of sympathy.

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

There was no need to explain the current situation to him.

As someone already belonging to the Second Faction, Shin Donghyun knew how things were unfolding.

“If you’ve come here worried about my loyalty, you needn’t be.”

He looked straight at me, his eyes gleaming.

“Didn’t I tell you? I will be with you no matter what, Prosecutor.”

“Thank you, Assemblyman.”

“I will help you as much as I can from the side. The driving force behind SV Group’s rise to the top is loyalty. You might think businessmen only pursue self-interest, but I never turn my back on people.”

“If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask. I will support you as much as possible.”

There was not a hint of falsehood in Shin Donghyun’s voice and eyes.

It must be because I had helped him several times when he was in trouble and hadn’t forgotten to take his hand.

I can trust him enough.

“There are a few things I need to ask of you.”

“Tell me.”

“Do you know a friend named Go Seongtak?”

“Go Seongtak…….”

He frowned and searched his memory. Then, as if he remembered,

“Are you talking about the man with thick eyebrows and the nickname… Hand of God?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

I took out his photo and showed it to him, saying,

“I need a hospital to perform surgery so that he can become a new person.”

Shin Donghyun slowly stroked his chin.

“You’re going to use him again.”

“Yes. I need airtight security, so I’m asking for a favor from SV Group’s hospital foundation.”

He fiddled with his glass, hesitated, and then shook his head.

“Then Korea is dangerous. It’s safer to go abroad.”

“But I can’t erase the records of smuggling him overseas on my own. Sung Taehyun will definitely notice.”

After pondering for a moment, Shin Donghyun lightly curved his lips.

“Next week, my son will be going to Japan on a business trip on a private plane.”

He raised his eyebrows.

“Of course, he can receive special treatment. He can travel without a passport.”

If I can go abroad without leaving any evidence, the security would be several times safer than in Korea.

And if Shin Donghyun guarantees it, it’s certain.

“Then, I’ll ask for your help.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll handle it without anyone knowing.”

Shin Donghyun gave a reassuring smile and raised his glass.

I lightly clinked glasses with him and poured the liquor into my mouth.

“It seems like you had more to ask…….”

“Ah, it’s about the faction.”

I put down my glass and lowered my voice to continue.

“We need to win over the congressmen included in the Second Faction.”

As a result of the last general election, out of the 300 congressmen, including regional and proportional representatives, the Daehan Party [a fictional political party] secured 120 seats, the Minsuk Party 151 seats, the Mansae Party [a fictional political party] 23 seats, and independent lawmakers filled 6 seats.

Among these, there will be some changes if we exclude those whose votes were invalidated due to election fraud, those who resigned voluntarily, and those whose positions became vacant due to crimes, but what is certain is that the Minsuk Party holds an overwhelming advantage.

This will not change significantly even if by-elections are held.

Generally, the vacant seats resulting from by-elections tend to be filled by members of the same party.

“Of course, Sung Taehyun has already secured the party leader and floor leader positions in the Minsuk Party, so it won’t be easy. But we can’t afford to lose all the congressmen like this.”

Shin Donghyun slowly nodded.

The current Second Faction is splitting into two structures.

One is the politicians centered around Sung Taehyun.

The other is the prosecutors and businessmen centered around me.

However, it couldn’t be completely split.

The two must coexist, or they will become half-baked factions.

They are mutually exclusive, but like magnets where the N pole and S pole must coexist even if they are split and split again.

Therefore, as time passes, some prosecutors and businessmen will mix into Sung Taehyun’s group, and some politicians will mix into my group.

There is no point in having a faction if the two are constantly at each other’s throats.

That’s why we need to minimize the outflow of personnel while attracting as many politicians as possible to my side.

And the most suitable person to bring in other politicians is Shin Donghyun.

Although he is an honorary chairman, he is still the real power behind SV Group and a strong candidate for the next Seoul mayor in the Minsuk Party.

His influence will have a strong effect on many people.

“We need to gather at least 31 congressmen.”

“31 people?”

“Yes. Since you will become the mayor of Seoul, we need 31 people excluding yourself.”

The reason is simple.

To pass a bill in the National Assembly, the consent of a majority is required.

But what if I gather 31 congressmen from the Minsuk Party?

Then we will hold the casting vote.

The Daehan Party has 120 seats, the Mansae Party has 23 seats, independents have 6 seats, and Sung Taehyun has 120 seats in the Minsuk Party, while I have 31 seats.

No matter how much the Daehan Party gathers the Mansae Party and independents, they cannot reach a majority without the consent of the Minsuk Party.

Conversely, even if Sung Taehyun holds 120 seats, the bills that the Daehan Party does not easily agree to cannot reach a majority even if they gather the Mansae Party and independents.

In this situation, the decision-making power is transferred to us.

If necessary, the 120 seats of the Daehan Party and my 31 seats can be combined to reach a majority and pressure Sung Taehyun’s side.

Of course, in special cases where the National Assembly Advancement Act applies, the consent of 3/5 or more of the congressmen is required, but such cases are impossible with the power of only one side anyway, so pass.

For this reason, it is very important to bring 31 seats from the Second Faction to check Sung Taehyun.

Shin Donghyun tilted his glass, calculated the number of seats, immediately understood, and nodded.

“……I see.”

“It could change with the by-elections, so it’s at least 31 people. The more congressmen, the better.”

“I already have 14 congressmen who follow me. I will try to move quickly for the rest.”

“Yes. And Sung Taehyun’s side will definitely put a strong contender in the party primary who will be your rival in the Seoul mayoral election, so be careful.”

“I understand.”

“If there are any ambiguous congressmen, tell me immediately. We will gather information and deliver it to you.”

“I’ll contact you.”

Sung Taehyun will soon realize that Shin Donghyun is on my side.

Then there will definitely be checks.

He must endure that and be elected as the mayor of Seoul, and he must win over 31 congressmen.

Only by meeting all these conditions can he be in a position to fight Sung Taehyun on equal terms.

I have to make it happen no matter what.

That’s how I can reach the top.

***

“Then, go in carefully.”

“Yes. I’ll contact you again.”

I clinked glasses with Shin Donghyun until late past midnight and barely finished the meeting.

As I was saying goodbye to him and trying to put him in the car.

“Oh, Uncle!”

A familiar voice came from behind.

Shin Donghyun turned around and smiled brightly, reaching out his hand.

“Oh, who is this? Isn’t this our nephew?”

Nephew?

I wondered if I had misheard, but the person who was greeting Shin Donghyun happily was none other than Shin Yongho.

Shin Yongho smiled at me, who didn’t know what was going on, and explained in a small voice.

“SV Group Chairman’s name is ‘Shin Wonho,’ right? He and I share the same character in our names.”

“Ah!”

“If you count the kinship, he’s exactly like a great-uncle. Our Goryeong Shin clan [a Korean clan name] is so small that we’re very close.”

Shin Donghyun laughed heartily and looked back and forth between me and Shin Yongho.

“How do you two know each other?”

Shin Yongho smiled kindly and replied.

“Ah, we’ve been old friends since high school.”

“Really? What a coincidence. I didn’t know our prosecutor and Yongho were friends.”

Apparently, he only knew the changed name, so he didn’t know.

“Actually, this friend is Shin Yongho. He used to be with the prosecution together.”

If he’s a politician, he can’t not know the story between Prosecutor Shin Yongho and Choi Seojun.

Sure enough.

“Oh, is that so?”

Shin Donghyun’s eyes widened, who had been drinking.

“This isn’t a coincidence, it’s fate. Instead of this, let’s have a drink together later.”

“Yes, we should.”

“I have more reason to listen to our prosecutor’s requests more diligently.”

He laughed loudly and patted Shin Yongho’s back.

“Then I’ll go first, so our prosecutor and our nephew should go in quickly too.”

“Yes, go in.”

“Go carefully.”

After sending Shin Donghyun away first, Shin Yongho gestured to smoke a cigarette with his hand and pointed to the back.

After moving the location, he put a cigarette in his mouth and opened it.

“He likes me quite a bit, so he’ll definitely help me diligently. I don’t know what it is.”

“Yeah, that’s good.”

“That’s right…….”

Shin Yongho frowned and spat out profanity.

“What the hell is going on?”

Instead of answering, I chuckled.

“Did that bastard Sung Taehyun stab you in the back?”

“You could say that.”

“That son of a bitch who’s related by marriage…… Ugh, I don’t know if he has the face to see his wife and sister-in-law.”

“Even now, my wife is talking to her sister, and she’s being self-conscious.”

“Of course. If it were me, I would have smashed the phone so she couldn’t talk.”

I can understand Shin Yongho’s anger to some extent.

The election funds invested to get Sung Taehyun elected in this election were enormous.

And that huge amount of money disappeared into thin air in an instant.

I smiled bitterly and took a drag of my cigarette.

“By the way, what brings you here?”

“I couldn’t stand being angry because of this. So I asked Representative Park Hyungtae to meet me.”

“Minsuk Party leader Park Hyungtae?”

“Yeah. I delivered the election funds through that guy. I called him to say something and argue with him.”

“So, is Representative Park Hyungtae inside now?”

“I guess so.”

At that moment, the corners of my lips twisted roughly.

“It’s good because I had something to say anyway.”

I met my prey faster than I thought.

“Can I go in too?”