The Inspector Is Getting Promoted! [EN]: Chapter 303

Baaang-!

The car horn blared loudly from behind, jolting me out of my reverie.

I looked up, checked the green light, and stepped on the accelerator.

“Haa.”

Anxiety kept creeping in, preventing me from fully focusing.

The closer I got to the Hill Consilience Hotel, the more tension enveloped me.

I knew the reason why.

Seong Tae-hyun.

I thought I had forgotten everything, but it seemed to remain as trauma in my mind.

Throughout the election period, his face intermittently surfaced in my thoughts, so I couldn’t deny it.

Frankly speaking, it’s not just him.

With the single-minded goal of reaching the top, I had climbed to this point, repeatedly trampling on countless people, bringing them down, and casting them into the abyss.

The increasing anxiety and tension were emotions I had to bear.

These feelings weren’t just from today.

It had been quite a while.

I had simply been ignoring them.

The path I’ve walked so far is a tightrope walk itself.

I can’t afford to relax even for a moment, and I must never rest assured until I reach the end.

That’s the nature of the South Korean political arena.

Let’s get a grip.

There’s still a mountain of work to do.

Clap! Clap!

I slapped my cheeks to wake myself up.

While repeatedly telling myself, ‘This time, there won’t be any problems,’ and ‘Shin Dong-hyun will be different,’ I arrived at the Hill Consilience Hotel.

From the entrance, familiar license plates occasionally caught my eye.

Thanks to the hotel being entirely reserved for us, with even regular guests being restricted today for the sake of the victory celebration.

I left the car to the valet and immediately got on the elevator.

Just as the doors were about to close.

“Just a moment!”

A woman hurriedly reached out and jumped into the elevator.

I pressed the open button, and she bowed her head as she got on.

“Thank you.”

“Ah, yes.”

The woman glanced at me.

“You’re Prosecutor Choi Seo-jun, right?”

“Yes.”

I recognized her as Representative Park Cho-hyun.

A figure who had been elected in Ulsan, a stronghold of the MinGuk Party, in the general election held alongside today’s presidential election.

Was she a two-term representative now?

However, she wasn’t someone to pay attention to.

According to Yoon Seol-ha’s information, she had an affair with Floor Leader Jo Byeong-gap and received the nomination because of it.

Frankly speaking, she was a negligible figure with a similar standing to Representative Kwak Seok-gon, whom we had handed over to the Daehan Party last time.

I gave a brief, curt response and tried to ignore her.

“Is there anything you need?”

Instead of answering, I turned my head.

“I was wondering if there’s anything I can help you with.”

She looked at me with seductive eyes and unbuttoned one of her blouse buttons.

Her collarbone and exposed skin were blatantly revealed.

I frowned and shook my head.

Unbelievable.

It was as if she was implying that she didn’t get here thanks to Floor Leader Jo Byeong-gap.

I turned my head straight and said firmly.

“My wife is Han Ji-yu.”

“Ah, that’s right.”

Park Cho-hyun clapped her hands and feigned ignorance.

“I made a mistake.”

“A big one.”

“I hope there will be a chance for me to make up for my mistake sometime.”

She took out a sticky note from her hand and slipped it into my pocket.

“This is my direct number. Please feel free to contact me whenever you’re comfortable. I’ll come anytime.”

Floor Leader Jo Byeong-gap’s sweet spot was fading, so she meant to cling to me now.

“Haa.”

I let out a deep sigh and took out the sticky note from my pocket.

Then, without even looking at it, I tore it to shreds on the spot and dropped it on the floor.

I opened my mouth in a very cold voice towards her, who was flustered.

“Representative Park.”

“…Yes?”

“Do you know why I nominated you this time?”

“About that…”

“I did it out of pity, pity. I was worried that if you did all sorts of fox-like acts for that old man Jo Byeong-gap and barely made it up here, only to lose your badge in a year, you’d be stuck in a corner crying.”

It was true.

To be precise, it was for Floor Leader Jo Byeong-gap.

To keep him distracted by Park Cho-hyun, so they could play around and he wouldn’t dare to challenge me, content with his current position.

“But where are you sticking your dirty feet?”

Representative Park Cho-hyun’s eyes began to tremble fiercely with shame.

“If you’ve come to Yeouido [the political and financial heart of Seoul, often used as a metonym for South Korean politics], do politics. Don’t try to climb up by serving drinks under others.”

“…”

“Are you upset?”

She bit her lip with her teeth and answered.

“…No.”

“That’s how it should be. If you’re upset, you should be more successful than me. Right?”

Just then, the elevator arrived at the penthouse, and I smiled and took a step towards the outside.

After getting out of the elevator first, I turned around and looked straight at her.

“Ah, right.”

Representative Park Cho-hyun stopped as she was about to get off.

“You can’t come here from today.”

“…Yes?”

“Because I don’t want to see you.”

“What does that…”

With those words, I turned around and walked towards the penthouse.

“Prosecutor, you’re already here?”

“It’s been a while, Prosecutor!”

Several veteran lawmakers greeted me politely, and the guards guarding the entrance blocked Park Cho-hyun from entering and sent her down.

I raised my hand, greeted the lawmakers inside the penthouse, closed my eyes, and took a deep breath.

The tension was instantly relieved because of that ridiculous woman.

The anxiety disappeared, and a relaxed smile appeared on my face.

That’s right.

Let’s act leisurely and boldly.

That’s what’s like Choi Seo-jun.

“Good evening, lawmakers!”

Only the lawmakers who were elected in today’s general election alongside the presidential election were standing in this penthouse.

Even though the population is large, the vote counting for the presidential election takes longer than the National Assembly election, so the results of the general election were almost out.

The lawmakers who ran elections in the provinces are hurriedly getting into their cars and heading to Seoul after their victory speeches.

Perhaps by the time Shin Dong-hyun returns from Gwanghwamun [a major public square in Seoul, often used for large gatherings and celebrations], all the lawmakers from the MinGuk Party will be gathered here.

“Today, everyone is the main character. Congratulations.”

I raised my champagne glass high.

“So, shall we enjoy it?”

***

It was late, past 3 a.m.

Some of the lawmakers were heavily drunk, but my mind was clearer than anyone else’s, clearer than ever before.

Because there was still something to confirm.

And finally.

“President Shin Dong-hyun has arrived!”

With a resounding shout, the attention of everyone in the penthouse was focused.

The 24th President of South Korea.

Shin Dong-hyun approached the center of the penthouse with a dignified stride, step by step.

Despite being over seventy years old, Shin Dong-hyun looked more vibrant and energetic than ever.

Mixed in with the lawmakers, I also applauded and stood up, and Shin Dong-hyun stepped onto the table in the center without hesitation.

-Thank you, everyone.

“Shin Dong-hyun! Shin Dong-hyun!”

Everyone began to chant his name.

He was the one who had taken the new throne of South Korea.

Today, everyone elected in the general election may be the main character, but Shin Dong-hyun is the main character for the next four years.

That was an undeniable fact.

He held the microphone with a friendly smile like a kind neighborhood grandfather.

-I’ve given enough words of gratitude in Gwanghwamun, so I’ll get straight to the point here.

Shin Dong-hyun continued speaking without hesitation.

-First, Professor Hwang Seong-gu will be responsible for revitalizing South Korea’s fisheries, as well as ports and marine leisure tourism.

The Minister of Oceans and Fisheries is Hwang Seong-gu.

-Next, Policy Officer Kang Hwa-jun will be responsible for South Korea’s diplomacy alongside me. Former Chairman Park Seon-tae will be responsible for the health of the people…

The Minister of Foreign Affairs is Kang Hwa-jun, and the Minister of Health and Welfare is Park Seon-tae.

There was no hesitation in Shin Dong-hyun’s voice.

Many ministers were introduced, and finally, the moment I had been waiting for arrived.

-And finally, the person who will lead South Korea’s prosecution service, protect the people from criminals, and strive to fulfill its role as a rule-of-law state is…

The Prosecutor General.

I swallowed hard without realizing it.

Soon, Shin Dong-hyun’s gaze turned to me.

He smiled brightly and shouted loudly.

-Prosecutor Choi Seo-jun! As much as all the people want and expect from Prosecutor Choi Seo-jun, I have no doubt that he will do well.

That’s it.

Finally.

I finally made it to this position.

There was no unexpected turn of events like with Seong Tae-hyun.

The Prosecutor General.

The ultimate boss of the prosecution service, the pinnacle.

The Prosecutor General, who holds the power to control and command all prosecutors in South Korea.

I finally made that position mine.

“Congratulations!”

“As expected, it’s Prosecutor Choi!”

Applause and congratulations pierced my ears from around me, but I gently closed my eyes.

It was a new feeling.

Since I first became a prosecutor…

No, since I first thought about becoming a prosecutor, I had dreamed of becoming the Prosecutor General.

And also the youngest Prosecutor General in history.

South Korea’s prosecution service is in my hands.

The prosecutor of prosecutors.

The flower of the prosecution service.

The prosecutor’s dream.

It’s the Prosecutor General.

Shin Dong-hyun didn’t stop there and added a word.

-Also, I would like to take this opportunity to once again sincerely thank Prosecutor Choi Seo-jun for helping me enter the political world.

Only then did I open my closed eyes and smile brightly.

A smile that blooms with such emotion, containing all the happiness in the world, a smile that one might only make once in a lifetime.

A smile that I could confidently say was even better than that of the Great Gatsby.

“The pleasure is all mine, Mr. President.”

I made eye contact with Shin Dong-hyun and expressed my gratitude to the lawmakers next to me.

“Thank you, lawmakers.”

“Now all that’s left is to command the prosecution service!”

“We must implement a more just rule of law.”

I said softly.

“I look forward to working with you in the future.”

***

January 2029.

I received a new appointment in the new year, and the place I went to work was.

The Supreme Prosecutors’ Office.

I had clearly gone to work as a Deputy Prosecutor just the day before yesterday, but today the feeling was completely different.

I got out at the entrance of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office, straightened my broad shoulders, and walked step by step.

Because my title was different from today.

“Hello, General!”

I raised my hand and gave a simple greeting to those who were bowing, and then got on the elevator and headed to the highest floor.

When I got off there, the first words that caught my eye were.

‘Prosecutor General’s Office.’

Yoon Seol-ha was waiting at the entrance.

“Welcome, General.”

“Good morning, Ms. Seol-ha.”

I went through the door she opened, into the Prosecutor General’s office that I had always admired and longed for.

And in front of it, the nameplate with the seven shining letters ‘Prosecutor General Choi Seo-jun.’

As promised during my days as a Deputy Prosecutor, Yoon Seol-ha seemed to have prepared it in advance.

“Thank you. It’s wonderful.”

“I’m glad you like it.”

I took off my coat.

Unbuttoned one of the buttons on my suit jacket.

I sat down behind the large nameplate.

From today onwards, I am beyond Prosecutor Choi Seo-jun.

It’s Prosecutor General Choi Seo-jun.

Success (出世) [Shusse in Japanese, often used in Korean to denote career advancement or success] that I had been hoping and wishing for.

I finally achieved it.

I want to shout to the guys who laughed at my dream of becoming the General.

‘The prosecutor has made it!’

However, Choi Seo-jun as a human being will not stop here.

From now on.

I’m going to make history.