The Inspector Is Getting Promoted! [EN]: Chapter 252

Solicitation (4)

Land speculation.

It’s a way to increase wealth that, as they say, only the rich get to monopolize.

Some call it gambling with money, but frankly, there’s little risk of losing money.

Because in the Seoul metropolitan area, land prices don’t easily fall unless there’s a major crisis.

Moreover, buying land without any information doesn’t even count as speculation.

You need information about favorable developments, money to buy the land, and connections to get out of trouble if caught—all three must be in place to properly speculate.

As the Minister of Justice, it goes without saying that Park Chang-sik had all of that.

According to Chief Jang Ha-young’s report, he purchased over 1,000 square meters of land in Goyang City a year ago.

Since then, the land has been in a restricted development zone, so there’s no worry about the land price rising. Except for a two-story building, it’s practically barren.

The purchase price at the time was 7 billion won, and the market price hasn’t changed since.

According to Park Chang-sik’s aides, he bought the land to live there with his family after retirement, using it as a garden and a place for his grandchildren and their dogs to run around.

I will target this place.

Of course, buying land designated as a green belt [an area of open land around a city, on which building is restricted] means there’s almost no speculative purpose.

That’s why Park Chang-sik bought this land.

However, just because the purpose isn’t speculation doesn’t mean Park Chang-sik is innocent.

Regardless of the original purpose, if the land price rises shortly after buying it, it raises suspicion of speculation.

Especially if the person who bought the land is a high-ranking official, the public will be convinced, not just suspicious.

“Chief Jang.”

“Yes, Chief Prosecutor.”

“Arrange a meeting with the Governor of Gyeonggi Province. I’ll contact the Mayor of Goyang directly.”

“Understood.”

She bowed and left the room.

Real estate speculation.

If the land price doesn’t rise, I’ll make it rise myself.

Then, even if he doesn’t want it, it will become speculation, not an investment.

It’s time to slowly tighten the noose around the Minister of Justice’s neck.

***

“Greetings, Chief Prosecutor!”

A man with rimless rectangular glasses greeted me energetically.

“Nice to meet you, Prosecutor Gong.”

“It’s an honor to meet you.”

He shook my hands and bowed deeply.

This man, who greeted me politely, is Prosecutor Gong Sang-wook from the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office’s Central Investigation Department.

In other words, the hitman to take down Minister Park Chang-sik.

With thick eyebrows and sharp eyes, his face reveals boldness.

At a glance, I could tell that this guy is capable enough to make a name for himself even without me.

A decent talent I’ve seen in a while.

Prosecutor Park Ki-won, who scouted Gong Sang-wook, put his hand on his shoulder and said,

“This friend is the best I know when it comes to courage.”

Meaning he’s perfectly optimized to be a hitman.

“Is that so?”

I smiled contentedly and sat down.

“Men need to have guts to do great things.”

“Thank you!”

“You guys sit too.”

“Yes.”

I crossed my legs and leaned back.

“You know I don’t like dragging things out, right?”

Gong Sang-wook swallowed hard with wide eyes.

I stared intently at his face.

Since Prosecutor Park Ki-won, who is more skilled than anyone at handling people, scouted him, there’s no need to worry about trust.

The problem is whether this guy can do the daring things I want him to do.

The fact that he came to Park Ki-won himself and said he wanted to be in my line already tells me he’s no ordinary guy.

Even knowing that I was promoted from the Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Office to the High Prosecutors’ Office, getting on this line is practically a gamble.

Yet, the fact that he came at once without testing the waters here and there shows that he has guts.

Moreover, the fact that he doesn’t tremble in front of me, even though he’s nervous, is enough for him to play the role of a hitman.

However, I need to test his courage.

“Prosecutor Park.”

Prosecutor Park Ki-won, receiving my gaze, bowed and stood up.

After he left, leaving us alone, Gong Sang-wook still showed nervousness, but he didn’t tremble.

I took out a cigarette and put it in my mouth.

After exhaling a deep breath of smoke, I looked at him and opened my mouth.

“Prosecutor Gong.”

“Yes, Chief Prosecutor.”

“The fact that you’re not in Sung Tae-hyun’s line but attached to me means you have ambition, right?”

His Adam’s apple bobbed.

A silent affirmation.

“In the current situation, attaching yourself to me is impossible unless you’re somewhat crazy.”

That was true.

He wasn’t originally on my path, and he was on the elite course of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office’s Central Investigation Department.

I leaned towards him.

“How far do you want to go?”

Instantly, Gong Sang-wook’s eyes lit up.

“I want to become the Prosecutor General.”

There was no hesitation in his answer.

He’s different from the riffraff who would say something like, ‘I’m the Chief Prosecutor’s right-hand man’ to score points with me.

This guy is the real deal.

That’s why he’s not taking the safe and comfortable path.

He’s attached to me because it’s risky, but he can get promoted quickly.

I put down the cigarette and ran my hand through my hair.

The moment I saw his face, I couldn’t help but laugh inside.

“Arrogant.”

“……Yes?”

“And very cocky.”

He seemed to think he had made a mistake, showing signs of embarrassment.

“That’s why I like it so much.”

Only then did excitement bloom on Prosecutor Gong Sang-wook’s face.

It was like seeing myself in the past.

I took out a burner phone [a cheap, prepaid cell phone used for temporary or illicit purposes] from my pocket and placed it on the table.

“There’s only one contact saved. Just answer the calls from there.”

“Yes.”

“I’ve already told Chief Jang Ha-young in advance, so don’t contact her separately until you get instructions.”

“Understood.”

“And Prosecutor Gong, you.”

I looked straight at him and smirked.

“It seems like a waste to just use you as a hitman.”

Prosecutor Gong Sang-wook’s fingers, which were on the armrest, slowly curled into a tight fist.

“If this goes well…….”

His eyes filled with determination.

“Let’s work together sometime.”

***

“Did you do Pilates today too?”

-Yeah. The new instructor is really good. Thanks to her, I’m improving quickly. It feels like I’ve learned more effectively in the past few days than everything I’ve learned so far. My body is sore all over…….

Han Ji-soo’s body was bound to have muscle pain.

Kim Na-na wasn’t properly teaching Pilates; she was learning intensively from different instructors every day and teaching her, so her posture couldn’t be perfect.

That’s why she was experiencing pain.

However, from Han Ji-soo’s perspective, her body was reacting, so it seemed effective, especially since her credentials were impressive.

“That’s good. Are the twins and our princess doing well?”

-All three of them just fell asleep.

“I wish they would all come in soon.”

-It won’t be long. Just be patient.

Han Ji-soo subtly revealed her inner thoughts.

-Oh, right. There’s no trainer at the Blue House [the executive residence and principal workplace of the President of South Korea] to manage your health, is there?

“No. Not yet…… Are you that fond of the current Pilates instructor?”

Han Ji-soo replied with a light laugh.

-It would be great if our President could take care of his health too.

“Then I’ll look into that person. If they’re good, I can assign them as our exclusive trainer.”

-Thank you.

“Well, I’m going into a meeting now.”

-A meeting at this hour? It’s past 9 PM.

“Yeah. It’s the New Year and the beginning of my term, so I’m very busy.”

-Call me when you’re done. Don’t overwork yourself.

“It might be late. Go to sleep first.”

-Okay. Fighting!

Sung Tae-hyun finished the call and entered the conference room.

Park Hyung-tae, the Prime Minister-designate, was looking at his phone before unfolding his documents again.

“Did the call go well?”

“Yes.”

He smiled lightly and closed the documents on his desk.

“Let’s wrap up today’s meeting here.”

“Shall we?”

Assemblyman Park Hyung-tae also organized his documents and stood up.

“Then, would you like to have a drink?”

When Assemblyman Park Hyung-tae asked, mimicking the gesture of tilting a glass, Sung Tae-hyun sighed and shook his head.

“Oh, no thanks.”

“It seems like you haven’t touched alcohol much since you were elected.”

“Drinking should be accompanied by music and women, but that’s not possible at the Blue House.”

“Ah, that’s true.”

It was impossible to bring such women into the Blue House, let alone the office.

But the President couldn’t just go to a room salon [an exclusive hostess bar].

Sung Tae-hyun fiddled with the nameplate that read ‘President Sung Tae-hyun’ and said,

“This position is great, but that’s a shame.”

“Those who wear the crown must bear its weight, don’t they?”

“I’m confident in taking care of the people’s livelihood.”

Sung Tae-hyun put his hands in his pants pockets.

“There’s no way to soothe my loneliness.”

“The First Lady will be coming in a month, won’t she?”

“How can a man be satisfied with just one woman?”

“That’s true.”

The two looked at each other and burst into hearty laughter.

Assemblyman Park Hyung-tae asked with sparkling eyes.

“Then, shall I prepare something soon?”

“Do you have any ideas?”

“I’ll find a talented friend among the secretaries.”

“As expected of Assemblyman…… no, our Prime Minister.”

Sung Tae-hyun smiled slyly and put his hand on Assemblyman Park Hyung-tae’s shoulder.

“Finish the hearing quickly and come to my side.”

“I will give my all. Mr. President.”

***

“Who?”

Governor Min Hyung-taek of Gyeonggi Province tilted his head and asked his secretary.

“It’s Choi Seo-joon. Currently the Chief of the Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office…….”

“Yes. I was just asking to make sure I heard correctly.”

He took a breath and spun his chair around.

“Why would that guy want to meet me?”

“I don’t know. Maybe he has some scheme?”

“Even if he has a scheme, there’s a limit. There hasn’t been any reason for him to contact me until now.”

Governor Min Hyung-taek of Gyeonggi Province had no idea why Choi Seo-joon wanted to meet him.

Above all, he was a person who was loyal to the Daehan Party to the core.

Requesting contact secretly through his direct secretary, especially when the presidential election hadn’t been over for long, was bound to look suspicious.

“Besides, isn’t that guy a lame duck now? He didn’t even get promoted to Prosecutor General this time.”

“Shall I tell him you won’t meet him, then?”

“You idiot, you can’t do that.”

Min Hyung-taek slapped the back of his secretary’s head.

“Who knows, he might be helpful to me? Billions and billions of won go back and forth with every move that guy makes. I don’t know if I’ll work with him or not, but I need to know what’s going on.”

He knew that money naturally followed when a big shot like Choi Seo-joon moved.

Governor Min Hyung-taek of Gyeonggi Province was a calculating person who looked after his own interests more than anyone else.

Once he smelled money, there was no reason to refuse.

“Tell him to meet me. But don’t bring any small fries, just one-on-one.”

“Understood.”

“Secretary Kim, keep your mouth shut. Don’t tell Driver Oh either. I’ll drive myself.”

“Yes. Then I’ll set a date for sometime next week.”

“Okay.”

Min Hyung-taek’s eyes sparkled greedily.