The Inspector Is Getting Promoted! [EN]: Chapter 297

Prosecutor, You’re Going Places! – Episode 297

Empty House (12)

***

“It’s been a while, Assemblyman.”

“Almost a month, isn’t it?”

Unlike before, Assemblyman Kwang Seok-gon bowed to me very politely.

We met in my office at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office.

He seemed impatient, fidgeting in his seat as he asked,

“So…….”

Assemblyman Kwang Seok-gon carefully broached the subject.

“Are you going to give me the proportional representation seat as you mentioned last time?”

“Well…”

I slowly raised my coffee, took a sip, and smiled faintly.

“The situation has changed a bit since then.”

His pupils widened in surprise.

“……Pardon?”

“You know the situation in the MinGuk Party [a fictional political party] now, don’t you?”

His mouth was firmly shut.

It’s true that I told Assemblyman Kwang Seok-gon that I would wait for his decision.

However, the situation has changed dramatically.

The MinGuk Party has not only lost public sentiment but also its leader.

Of course, there is some sympathy, but it’s a different story than when Seong Tae-hyun was still in power.

Giving the same conditions as before would be a loss for me.

Frankly speaking, there are plenty of other people who would align with me even if it wasn’t Assemblyman Kwang Seok-gon.

“That’s not to say I won’t give you the proportional representation seat now.”

“Then…….”

“The ranking will be pushed back a bit. I think I told you I’d give you number 11 last time, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“This time, it’ll be pushed back about three or four more places.”

“Ah…….”

A low sigh escaped from his lips.

And his gaze turned to the floor.

He must be quickly calculating in his head.

The proportional representation number I’m going to give him is 15.

If you add up the total number of proportional representation members of all parties, it’s around 50.

Considering the number of votes the DaeHan Party [another fictional political party] usually gets, number 15 is a precarious spot for election.

However, Assemblyman Kwang Seok-gon had no choice.

In the current situation, even if he clings to the MinGuk Party, he can’t be sure of getting the nomination.

In that case, it’s much more advantageous to run as a proportional representative.

The answer was already decided.

That’s why, after a long deliberation.

“I understand.”

He looked at me with a glint in his eyes.

“I’ll do as you say, Prosecutor.”

“You’ve made a good decision.”

I extended my hand to him.

Assemblyman Kwang Seok-gon reached out and grabbed my hand.

“I look forward to working with you.”

“I’m the one who should be saying that. I look forward to working with you in the future, Prosecutor.”

***

“This agenda item is the 4-year consecutive term system.”

“Ugh, again?”

The MinGuk Party lawmakers expressed their frustration with a look of disgust.

“It’s unlikely to pass anyway, so what…….”

“Even though the President has stepped down, our MinGuk Party is one body.”

Watching them, DaeHan Party leader Kim Kang-jin wore a sinister smile.

“Is that really the case?”

“Of course. Do you think we’re a party that can be easily divided?”

“We’ll see if that’s true or not.”

Kim Kang-jin raised his eyebrows and picked up the remote control.

If a filibuster is held, a roll-call vote is mandatory.

In other words, you can see which lawmaker cast which vote: yes, no, or abstain.

That’s why the MinGuk Party lawmakers, who have been united until now, haven’t even thought about betraying each other.

Everyone knows that if you find out who stabbed you in the back, you won’t be able to set foot in the MinGuk Party again.

However, Kim Kang-jin’s confident voice felt like an ominous sign.

‘What is it?’

MinGuk Party floor leader Jo Byung-gap frowned, but there was no way to confirm it right now.

He had a thought, but he shook his head and quickly dismissed it.

He believed that there wouldn’t be anyone daring enough to betray the party at this point, with only a few months left until the general election.

So, the lawmakers voted one by one.

Finally, the results of the vote appeared on the screen.

-Agenda: 4-year Consecutive Term System

-Total: 300

-Present: 300

-Yes: 180

-No: 120

-Abstain: 0

-Result: Passed

Clap clap clap clap.

Applause erupted from the DaeHan Party lawmakers as if they had been waiting for it.

“Yes!”

“Finally over!”

“Everyone worked hard!”

The DaeHan Party lawmakers jumped up from their seats and cheered.

“……What is this?”

“Why suddenly…….”

The MinGuk Party lawmakers were stunned and doubted their eyes, but the result was still passed.

Moreover, it was passed by the National Assembly Advancement Act [a law related to the operation of the National Assembly in South Korea], so there was no room for rebuttal.

“What the hell happened?”

“Did someone make a mistake in the vote?”

Floor leader Jo Byung-gap shouted with his eyes wide open.

“F, Floor Leader.”

Assemblyman Lee Cheol-min, who was next to him, urgently called him.

“What?”

He answered irritably and turned around. Lee Cheol-min was pointing to one spot on the opposite screen with his finger.

Floor leader Jo Byung-gap’s gaze followed his finger.

Sure enough, in the middle of the MinGuk Party, there was a name marked differently from the others.

-Kwang Seok-gon: Yes

“What is that bastard doing?”

Floor leader Jo Byung-gap shouted and turned his gaze to Assemblyman Kwang Seok-gon’s seat.

But then, DaeHan Party leader Kim Kang-jin was smiling brightly and approaching Assemblyman Kwang Seok-gon.

He warmly grabbed his hand and patted him on the shoulder.

“Welcome, Assemblyman Kwang. I look forward to working with you.”

Assemblyman Kwang Seok-gon ignored Floor Leader Jo Byung-gap’s gaze and bowed politely to Kim Kang-jin.

“I look forward to working with you, Leader!”

The Speaker of the National Assembly approached the microphone so that all lawmakers could hear and opened his mouth.

“The 4-year consecutive term system has been passed, and I declare that the 4-year consecutive term system will be applied from the newly unfolding 24th presidential election.”

Bang!

The sound of the gavel rang out triumphantly.

With that one strike of the gavel, the MinGuk Party lawmakers collapsed.

The passage of the 4-year consecutive term system didn’t just mean that the presidential election landscape would change.

The long battle between the DaeHan Party and the MinGuk Party.

The MinGuk Party had lost the vote on the 4-year consecutive term system, which they had risked the party’s survival on.

In other words,

The Seong Tae-hyun faction had completely collapsed.

The MinGuk Party’s leader and floor leader were as good as certain to be ousted from their positions in the next general election, even if they were elected as lawmakers.

After all, it proved that the leaders who adhered to Seong Tae-hyun’s line had been defeated.

If those who were in Seong Tae-hyun’s faction stepped down, it was only natural that those who opposed them would take over the MinGuk Party.

The MinGuk Party lawmakers who had pledged allegiance to Seong Tae-hyun had to let go of the line they were holding and move to the opposite side in order to survive.

Otherwise, it wasn’t just the general election that was the problem, but they couldn’t guarantee their future political lives.

The only person who came to mind for everyone in this place was one person.

A person who is declaring neutrality in the MinGuk Party.

And the most likely presidential candidate, a man with great power.

The current Mayor of Seoul, Shin Dong-hyun.

However, there wasn’t a single lawmaker here who didn’t know who was standing behind Shin Dong-hyun.

‘Choi Seo-joon.’

Although he had distanced himself from the MinGuk Party lawmakers, the Seong Tae-hyun faction had not only lost the war with the current DaeHan Party, but had also lost the public’s trust due to Seong Tae-hyun’s various scandals.

The only person to revive the MinGuk Party in this situation is Choi Seo-joon.

Like it or not, personal feelings didn’t matter.

In the Republic of Korea’s political arena [referring to South Korea’s political landscape].

To survive in Yeouido [the political and financial heart of Seoul, South Korea, often used metaphorically to represent the political world].

They had to find Choi Seo-joon and stick with him.

***

“Thank you, Prosecutor Choi.”

DaeHan Party leader Kim Kang-jin grabbed my hand and smiled brightly.

“It’s all thanks to you that the 4-year consecutive term system passed.”

“You’re the one who worked hard, Assemblyman.”

“What I did doesn’t matter. It would have been impossible anyway if it weren’t for you. Hahaha!”

He burst into loud laughter.

“I really owe you a big one. Tell me if you need anything later. I’ll help you with anything.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Yeah. Of course.”

Kim Kang-jin patted his chest.

“It’s my rule to always keep my word once I say it.”

“Thank you, Assemblyman.”

“You’ve worked hard…….”

He smiled broadly again and patted me on the back.

“Should we start preparing for the presidential election now?”

“Yes. I think we should. After all, the general election and the presidential election overlap…….”

“That’s right. Looking at the way the National Assembly is going now, the general election and the presidential election will be held together. The cycle is 4 years, so it will continue to be like that in the future.”

“It’s a headache because there are so many people to vote for at once, but it’s better for the people because they only have to choose once.”

“That’s right. This is something that both the ruling and opposition parties agree on, so it’s probably certain.”

“I see.”

“If it doesn’t seem like it’s going to work…….”

He raised his eyebrows.

“I’ll get your help one more time, what do you think?”

“Hahahahaha. Feel free to do so.”

Kim Kang-jin took a step back.

“By the way, it seems like it’ll be hard to join hands for a while now that we have to prepare for the presidential election.”

He opened his mouth awkwardly.

“Don’t you have to go back to the MinGuk Party?”

“Yes. I think so.”

I twisted my lips roughly.

“It’s time for the defeated soldiers who stuck with Seong Tae-hyun to return.”

I have to manage them and rebuild the MinGuk Party.

And I have to reign over it.

In the current situation, it would be more powerful to reorganize the MinGuk Party lawmakers and gather strength than to stick with the DaeHan Party.

Kim Kang-jin said slyly.

“The DaeHan Party and the MinGuk Party growl and fight, but let’s not do that, you and I.”

I nodded slyly.

“Yes. Let’s do that.”

“Then keep up the good work in the future.”

“I’ll see you in a high place, Assemblyman.”

“Okay, go in.”

I said goodbye to Kim Kang-jin and turned around.

The debt I left him with will definitely be very important later.

Bee-beep.

As soon as I left the place, I received a phone call.

The caller was MinGuk Party lawmaker Park Cheol-seong.

One of the four key figures in the Seong Tae-hyun faction.

It was the first time I had spoken to him directly since the last presidential election.

I deliberately let the ringtone ring several more times before answering the phone late.

“Yes, this is Choi Seo-joon.”

-Oh, Prosecutor Choi. It’s been a while. How have you been?

A nervous voice.

I answered leisurely.

“Yes, what’s the matter?”

-It’s nothing, but shouldn’t we have a drink together for the first time in a while?

“Haha, we should.”

I twisted my lips and added.

“I think I’ll be able to see all the MinGuk Party lawmakers soon.”

-Oh, really?

“Yes.”

Because I’m going to take over the MinGuk Party soon.

***

“Hello!”

“Oh.”

I answered simply, entrusted the valet parking to the employee, and entered the hotel.

It was the Hilton Consilience Hotel, which I hadn’t visited in a long time.

A place like the holy land of the MinGuk Party.

I hadn’t come even once in the nearly two years since Seong Tae-hyun’s presidential election.

Because I was an unwelcome guest during that time.

But today is different.

As soon as I got on the elevator, I pressed the penthouse button without hesitation.

It started to go up quickly.

The scenery of downtown Jongno [a district in Seoul, South Korea] that can be seen far away.

The downtown area that was above my eyes was now below my feet.

Ding-.

The elevator arrived at its destination.

I pulled on the collar of my suit to straighten it out.

I straightened my shoulders and raised my chin high.

And I entered the penthouse very confidently.

How many steps did I take?

“Prosecutor Choi Seo-joon has arrived!”

At the same time as one guy’s shout.

The MinGuk Party lawmakers who were sitting stood up from their seats as if they had been waiting and looked at me.

They started to give me a standing ovation.

Yes.

Praise and worship.

The return of the king.