The Inspector Is Getting Promoted! [EN]: Chapter 268

Prosecutor Gong Is on the Rise (6)

It was 10 PM, well over half a day since I had met Prosecutor Gong Sang-wook.

I had grabbed a quick hamburger for dinner and was working late in my office when I heard a brisk knock.

Knock, knock.

“Come in.”

The door opened, and Chief Jang Ha-young entered. Her face was a complete mess.

She had been at work for over twelve hours, frantically working on paperwork to take over the Minister of Justice’s land speculation case from the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office.

“Did it go well?”

A bright smile spread across Chief Jang Ha-young’s tired face.

“We’ve completed the transfer. Deputy Chief Nam Min-je has been assigned to the case, and we’ve reviewed everything to ensure there are no remaining materials at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office.”

“Good work.”

With this, the land speculation case was finally entering its final stages.

All that remained was to divert public attention and quietly bury it.

“Where’s Prosecutor Gong?”

“He submitted his leave of absence to Chief Kwak Cheol-gyu of the Central Investigation Department and left. It should be processed by tomorrow morning.”

“The Supreme Prosecutors’ Office will come storming in tomorrow.”

“Yes. That’s why I told Deputy Chief Nam to take a day off.”

She raised her eyebrows and smiled brightly.

“I took one too.”

“Hahaha, well done.”

I laughed heartily and closed the documents I was reviewing.

“The prosecutors will have a hard time tomorrow.”

“It’s better if we’re not there.”

“That’s right. They know better than anyone that no matter how much they yell at the prosecutors, nothing will change without you two.”

If Chief Jang Ha-young or Deputy Chief Nam Min-je were there, they would argue for hours, but without the decision-makers present, turning the place upside down would only increase their own frustration.

“Did Deputy Chief Nam leave work?”

“He’s in his office, handling other special investigation cases besides the Minister of Justice’s. He said he has things to take care of since he can’t come to work tomorrow.”

“I see. That can’t be helped.”

I got up from my seat.

“You’ve worked hard. Chief Jang, go home and rest.”

“Understood. I’ll see you the day after tomorrow.”

“Okay.”

After Chief Jang Ha-young left, I immediately called Mudfish.

-Yes, Prosecutor.

“This side is taken care of. Bury it starting tomorrow.”

If you cover it up, even the most blazing firewood will quickly die out without oxygen.

The same goes for the media.

-Understood. I will make sure that news about the Minister of Justice disappears from the media.

Mudfish said in a sinister voice.

-You can look forward to the news tomorrow.

***

-Minister of Justice Park Chang-shik’s land speculation case transferred to the Special Investigation Department of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office…….

The article couldn’t completely disappear in just one day.

However, it was only a brief, one-line mention.

Instead, the case prepared by Mudfish was prominently featured, capturing people’s attention.

-Idol ‘Twinkle’ member Choi Ha-yeon, sex tape scandal with her manager!

-Top star Song Myung-shik, hit-and-run while drunk… Victim unconscious. What will the punishment be?

Overnight, the entire nation’s interest shifted.

It was on a different level than simple celebrity dating.

A renowned actor, considered a master of the film industry, became a hit-and-run perpetrator overnight, and an idol singer, considered the top of the third generation and enjoying immense popularity, was ruined.

It was cruel, but the effect was certain.

People hiding behind anonymity on the internet began to tear them apart like crazy.

It’s not like Mudfish created these incidents out of thin air.

According to what he told me, he had contacted reporters who had caught wind of these scoops and bribed them with money or offered them favors to delay the release until it was needed.

These were incidents that would have surfaced anyway, but he simply postponed the timing to suit us.

It wasn’t just these two incidents.

At least for the next week, similar events would continue to explode.

It was only a matter of time before the boring political stories about the Minister of Justice disappeared from the public’s interest.

And what caught my attention even more was something closer to home.

I was working in the morning when I received a text from Song Hyun-sung saying, ‘There’s something interesting to see, come to the Central District Prosecutors’ Office quickly.’ When I went to the Special Investigation Department’s office, an unexpected scene unfolded.

“You son of a bitch!”

The person yelling and getting angry was Chief Kwak Cheol-gyu of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office’s Central Investigation Department.

This was the scene I had expected.

But the person opposite him was…

“Oh, I’m a civilian now since I submitted my leave of absence. You wouldn’t want to be known as a chief prosecutor who assaulted a civilian, would you?”

It was none other than Prosecutor Gong Sang-wook.

As I felt when I first saw him, this guy was the real deal.

I told him to submit his leave of absence partly to avoid media attention, but also to hide from Chief Kwak Cheol-gyu and let his anger subside.

If he showed his face right now, he might face retaliation.

But he boldly appeared in the Special Investigation Department.

“Oh, you’re here?”

Song Hyun-sung, who had approached unnoticed, nudged my arm.

“What happened?”

“I don’t know. I came to talk to Chief Jang Ha-young about work, and this was the scene.”

It was obvious that Chief Kwak Cheol-gyu would come here.

In other words, Prosecutor Gong Sang-wook came to provoke him.

Chief Kwak Cheol-gyu put his hands on his hips, looking frustrated, and shouted.

“You bastard, why did you transfer the case to the Special Investigation Department?”

“Well, didn’t you and the director get angry at me for taking on this case? Don’t you remember?”

Prosecutor Gong Sang-wook slyly pointed to the side of his head.

“The scar from when you threw your nameplate in anger hasn’t even healed yet.”

“That was then, and this is now!”

“Oh, I thought you were burdened by this case, so I transferred it to the Special Investigation Department, which handles big cases often.”

He winked slyly.

“Since the Special Investigation Department is doing well, I thought you could suffer a little. You hate the Special Investigation Department, don’t you?”

“What?”

The eyes of the prosecutors were on Chief Kwak Cheol-gyu, making him feel uncomfortable.

“Kekekeke…….”

Song Hyun-sung was holding his stomach, trying to contain his laughter.

“That guy is talented at making people angry, isn’t he?”

“I guess so.”

It seems I’ve picked the right person.

Beyond having the guts to confront Chief Kwak Cheol-gyu, he has this level of eloquence.

The more I see him, the more I like him.

I’d like to watch this scene for an hour or two, but it shouldn’t get too noisy.

If people from other departments gather, the district attorney will come.

The interesting show is over.

I calmly walked into the Special Investigation Department and asked.

“Is there a problem?”

“…….”

Chief Kwak Cheol-gyu, who found me, glared at me and gritted his teeth.

“……No.”

“It seems like you’re disrupting work…….”

I looked at one of the prosecutors nearby and asked.

“Kim Pro [Prosecutor Kim], can you work properly with this much noise?”

“No. I couldn’t do anything because I was distracted. I need to finish it quickly… I might have to work overtime?”

Prosecutor Gong Sang-wook chimed in mischievously.

“If you work overtime, you’ll get home late, and your sleeping child will wake up. Then your wife will get angry. Of course, you’ll be stressed and won’t sleep well. Lack of sleep will reduce efficiency the next day, so you’ll work overtime again. If this vicious cycle continues, your tired wife will ask for a divorce… It seems like you’re encouraging prosecutors to get divorced?”

I chuckled and looked at Chief Kwak Cheol-gyu.

“That’s what they’re saying?”

Prosecutor Gong Sang-wook wiggled his eyebrows.

But he couldn’t get angry or argue in front of me.

Chief Park Cheol-gyu trembled and lowered his head.

“……I’m sorry.”

He said almost inaudibly and stormed out of the Special Investigation Department.

“Khahahahat!”

Song Hyun-sung finally burst into laughter.

He laughed for a while before barely managing to stop.

“I’m leaving first.”

He waved his hand and headed for the elevator.

I looked at the prosecutors in the Special Investigation Department and said.

“You’re doing well. You’re the best, Special Investigation Department.”

Then I gestured to Prosecutor Gong Sang-wook.

“Yes, Chief Prosecutor.”

He bowed and quickly approached me.

I put my hand on his shoulder and went into the conference room in the corner.

“Prosecutor Gong.”

I said with a smile.

“You seem to be an even more interesting person than I thought.”

“Thank you.”

“I told you before that it would be a waste to use your skills as a swordsman, right?”

“You did.”

“Have you decided what to do during your six-month leave of absence?”

“I haven’t decided yet.”

“Then can I give you a task?”

Instantly, Prosecutor Gong Sang-wook’s eyes blazed with fire.

“Just give me anything!”

“You know the Olympics are being held around this time next year, right?”

“Yes, I know.”

I leaned towards him and said.

“There will definitely be corruption related to the 2028 Olympics.”

“Yes. It’s been like that every year.”

“Find one corruption case related to politicians.”

It’s a test.

I’ve confirmed his guts and courage; now it’s time to check his abilities.

The corruption between Gyeonggi Governor Min Hyung-taek’s son and SV Group.

As I directly ordered it, I can be sure that this is perfectly hidden.

If Prosecutor Gong Sang-wook succeeds in finding this, it means his abilities as a prosecutor are comparable to mine.

Then, beyond the promised position of Chief of the Inspection Department…

He will fill the position of my right-hand man, which has been vacant since Lee Doo-hyung became a member of the National Assembly [South Korea’s legislative branch].

“I will definitely find it.”

His eyes began to burn fiercely.

***

-Controversy over the abuse of power by the third generation of a chaebol [family-owned conglomerate]! This time, an international disgrace due to the return of a massive European cruise ship… How long will ordinary people have to suffer?

-LX Entertainment revealed to have collectively used drugs at last year’s year-end party… Which celebrities participated in the party?

The land speculation case of the Minister of Justice, which had been heavily reported by the media, could no longer be found.

The muddy water stirred up by Mudfish created controversy after controversy, completely diverting the public’s attention within a week.

Thanks to that, Minister Park Chang-shik’s case was being quietly settled.

The documents had already been completely organized.

Of course, as ‘innocent.’

However, if we process it right now, there is a risk that it will become prey for reporters who are still watching the case with their eyes wide open, so I put it in a drawer.

The Blue House [South Korea’s executive branch] also doesn’t want to damage their image, so they are naturally not paying attention.

They knew I intervened, but they couldn’t have imagined that I designed this.

And as expected.

“Thank you, Chief Prosecutor Choi!”

Minister Park Chang-shik grabbed my hands with both of his and even hugged me tightly.

“I really survived thanks to Chief Prosecutor Choi. I don’t know how to thank you.”

“It’s nothing.”

“It’s not nothing! If it weren’t for you, I would have resigned. The Blue House seemed to want that too. I even received a call from the Chief of Staff after the spokesperson’s press conference, you know?”

“Oh, really?”

“Yes. Sung Tae-hyun, that bastard, always says ‘please take care of me’ in front of me, but when someone is misunderstood and in crisis… Ahem.”

He seemed to think that he should save his words because he was family.

I smiled brightly and said.

“You can curse him more.”

“Really?”

He raised his eyebrows and continued.

“That son of a bitch only learned how to stab people in the back…….”

Minister Park Chang-shik finally calmed down after pouring out curses on Sung Tae-hyun for a long time.

“Anyway.”

He looked at me with an apologetic expression.

“I was so rude at our first meeting, but you even helped me, so I’m really sorry. I’m grateful, but I’m also sorry and…….”

“Please don’t. It’s all in the past.”

Minister Park Chang-shik grabbed my hand again.

“What can I do for you?”

“It’s nothing. I didn’t do it expecting anything in return.”

“It’s not like that. I want to repay you.”

“You don’t have to.”

I said shamelessly without batting an eye.

“I really just wanted to help the Minister with a pure heart.”

“You’re saying that, so I’m really grateful and don’t know what to do. I feel like I have to do something, or I’ll be uncomfortable.”

“Um…….”

I pretended to be troubled as if I couldn’t win and opened my mouth.

“If you really insist, please help me when I need it in the future.”

I added slyly.

“Minister, you owe me one.”

“Okay. I owe you one.”

Minister Park Chang-shik pounded his chest as if to reassure me.

“Just tell me anytime. I’ll drop everything and run to help you.”

I answered energetically.

“Understood, Minister!”

First target, Minister of Justice.

Clear.