The Inspector Is Getting Promoted! [EN]: Chapter 310

Sword Dance (5)

“I just sent the email.”

Yoon Seol-ha anonymously sent the tip to Choi Young-man, a reporter at Hanwhae Daily.

From the numerous photos taken at prosecution events in the past, she selected one showing only Yoon Seol-ha and me, mosaicked it, and attached it to a message saying she wanted to meet in person to discuss providing the photo.

Since the article wasn’t based on actual facts, the tips he was receiving probably weren’t very useful.

In that situation, a photo close to being solid evidence, offered with a promise to meet in person, was bound to be enticing.

That meant she would be asking for compensation for the tip, which would assure him that the information was valuable.

“Let me know when you get a reply.”

“Yes. The reporter is desperate, so it won’t take long.”

***

The prediction was spot on.

A reply arrived from the reporter while we were clearing the table after dinner.

“Chief Prosecutor, he agreed to our proposed location and time. He says he’ll be there.”

“I’ll go myself.”

“Understood. And…”

Yoon Seol-ha carefully opened her mouth.

“I’ve been thinking about it on the way here, and I think it would be better for me to step down.”

“Pardon?”

I frowned at the unexpected words, and she continued, avoiding my gaze.

“Even if it’s revealed that it’s not an affair, once the suspicion has been raised, I’ll continue to be viewed with suspicion. You’re aiming for bigger things, and it would be better if you didn’t get misunderstood by being seen with me…”

She wasn’t wrong.

Having decided to prepare for the presidential election, I needed to be free from all suspicion until the actual election.

If the plan for an unopposed entry failed, other parties might create false evidence to keep me in check during the presidential election.

More than anything, Yoon Seol-ha could help me enough even without being officially involved.

However, I couldn’t prevent her power and authority from diminishing.

Therefore, I didn’t want her to step down because of an affair that hadn’t even happened.

It felt like flinching because of a wriggling earthworm.

At that moment, a firm voice came from behind.

“Don’t do that.”

The speaker was Han Ji-yoo.

“I came out because I heard the sound of dishes being cleared…”

She closed the door she had come through and continued.

“It’s one thing if it were someone else, but since I, your wife, am okay with it, there’s no need to do that. And more than anything…”

Han Ji-yoo placed her hand on my shoulder and said.

“My husband will have a hard time without Seol-ha. I know better than anyone that he relies on her.”

Yoon Seol-ha bit her lip, seemingly touched, and lowered her head.

“Please stay by his side. I’m asking you.”

I was grateful that Han Ji-yoo was saying this.

Even if she trusted me, it must have been a difficult decision.

With her saying this, it wasn’t easy for Yoon Seol-ha to refuse.

Perhaps it was thanks to Han Ji-yoo’s persuasion.

After thinking carefully, Yoon Seol-ha soon came to a conclusion.

“Understood.”

She lifted her head and smiled brightly.

“I’ll be right by your side until you achieve your dream, Chief Prosecutor.”

“Thank you, Seol-ha.”

Han Ji-yoo smiled brightly and clasped Yoon Seol-ha’s hands together.

“Please continue to take good care of him.”

***

“Is that him?”

Yoon Seol-ha checked the tablet PC and nodded at my question.

“Yes, that’s him.”

Choi Young-man, the Hanwhae Daily reporter who published the affair article with Yoon Seol-ha.

At the cafe I had suggested, he was sitting alone, drinking coffee, with a camera on the table as if to announce that he was a reporter.

I waited about 30 minutes past the appointed time before leisurely entering the cafe.

Of course, I wore a hat pulled low and a mask so that I wouldn’t be recognized.

Then, without hesitation, I sat down opposite him.

As expected, he adjusted his posture and asked.

“Excuse me, are you the one who sent the tip by email…”

Instead of answering, I took off my mask and raised my hat slightly.

At the same time, Choi Young-man’s eyes widened.

“H-Huh…”

“Is it so surprising that I came here?”

“…”

Choi Young-man’s Adam’s apple bobbed.

But his mouth remained firmly shut.

“You can’t even speak properly to my face, yet you write such false articles?”

Then, his hand fidgeted on the table.

I smirked and kicked his hand under the table with my foot.

As expected, the recorder in Choi Young-man’s hand fell to the floor.

“Were you going to record this too?”

“…”

I picked up the recorder, removed the memory chip, and continued.

“You shouldn’t write articles like that. That’s why other reporters get called trash and get cursed at, isn’t it?”

“I, I received an anonymous tip and did a legitimate…”

I cut him off.

“Don’t you know that writing false articles like that can lead to defamation and obstruction of official duties?”

“The coverage for the public’s right to know and freedom of the press is…”

“Hey, reporter.”

I made a cold expression and leaned towards him.

“Don’t you think I know the law better than you?”

“…”

Choi Young-man’s mouth closed again, like he had swallowed honey [meaning he was speechless].

I erased my expression again and smiled gently.

“You’ll post a correction article, right?”

Choi Young-man only had one option to choose.

He nodded hastily.

“Thank you. And…”

I continued.

“Tell me who tipped you off. Then I won’t hold you legally responsible.”

This was the main purpose.

Choi Young-man waved both hands as if he could never tell.

“That’s to protect the informant’s identity…”

I cut him off.

“Min Hyung-taek, right?”

Instantly, his flinch was obvious.

Bingo.

“What did Min Hyung-taek say when he gave it to you?”

Choi Young-man messed up his hair as if he was ruined.

“I’m really going to die if this gets out…”

“Are you afraid of a guy who’s been arrested and is in jail? Or are you afraid of me, the Chief Prosecutor?”

“…”

He bit his lip tightly before opening his mouth.

“He said he saw it himself, so write the article… then more tips would come in on their own…”

“So, have you received any useful tips now?”

“There was nothing of value.”

“Understood.”

That’s enough.

There’s no more information I can get from him.

I threw the recorder, with the memory chip removed, back at him and got up from my seat.

“There’s no way there would be tips. Because I’ve never actually had an affair.”

His eyes began to shake.

He seemed to be starting to get confused about whether it was true or false.

“Post the correction article by the end of today.”

“…Understood.”

I turned my back on him and left the cafe.

Then, I returned to the car parked and immediately picked up my phone.

-Yes, Chief Prosecutor.

“Hey, Chief Gong. How’s the investigation into Min Hyung-taek going?”

-A guilty verdict is practically certain. However, the lineup of lawyers he hired is quite something…

“Don’t tell me you’re getting weak on me?”

-Of course not!

“Don’t hand it over to the trial department, participate in the trial yourself.”

I roughly raised the corners of my mouth.

“Maximum sentence. Can I expect that?”

Chief Gong Sang-wook replied in a determined voice.

-Just leave it to me, Chief Prosecutor!

***

As Choi Young-man published the correction article, the affair rumors naturally died down.

This was largely due to Han Ji-yoo posting on social media that the rumors of my affair were ridiculous, and the fact that no evidence of the affair had surfaced.

It couldn’t be helped.

There was no way evidence would come out since it wasn’t true in the first place.

It didn’t stop there.

As the case of Min Hyung-taek proceeded and it became known that Chief Gong Sang-wook was directly in charge of the trial, the legal team that had been defending Min Hyung-taek collectively resigned.

It couldn’t be helped.

No matter how much they were lawyers, it was clear that they had an inseparable relationship with the prosecution.

If they clashed with Chief Gong Sang-wook, the Chief Prosecutor’s right-hand man, they would inevitably suffer losses, whether they won or lost, regardless of the outcome.

Above all, they were also wary because of the critical public opinion of Min Hyung-taek.

Thanks to this, the maximum sentence was handed down in the first trial.

Of course, we would have to watch the second trial as Min Hyung-taek’s side appealed, but the result would be obvious.

Since Chief Gong Sang-wook, who had received direct orders from me, was determined to fight tooth and nail, there was no way he wouldn’t get a proper sentence.

It was highly likely that both the appeal and the final appeal would be rejected.

As a result, the story that ‘If you mess with Choi Seo-joon, you won’t even be able to pick up your bones’ began to spread naturally not only in the prosecution but also in the political world.

Because the bloodbath that started with the prosecution reform was significant.

Thanks to that, in early 2030, just one year after I became Chief Prosecutor.

It became difficult to find people in the Sung Tae-hyun line in the legal and political worlds.

Of course, there were still hostile forces remaining in the political world, but they were unable to show their teeth.

There was no need for me to identify and wield the sword against even those people.

“Time flies so fast.”

I chuckled even after saying it.

I never thought these words would come out of my mouth.

Yoon Seol-ha took a sip of coffee and nodded.

“It does. It’s only a year left… It feels strange.”

The term of the Chief Prosecutor is a maximum of two years.

Unless the law was amended, I couldn’t remain as Chief Prosecutor any longer.

In fact, even so, as the closest aide to the president and having risen to the position of Chief Prosecutor, there were many options.

There was also the option of moving to the Minister of Justice immediately after retiring as Chief Prosecutor.

There was also the option of returning as a minister after a short break, hoping for Shin Dong-hyun’s re-election, and the possibility of jumping into politics altogether was open.

But my goal was always an unopposed entry.

There weren’t many best-case scenarios for that.

More than anything, Shin Dong-hyun’s approval rating had fallen sharply in the past year.

“The possibility of Shin Dong-hyun’s re-election is very low.”

“Then…”

“Yes. Immediately after his term ends, I will declare my candidacy.”

The 25th presidential election, which will unfold in December 2032.

That’s when the game will be decided.

“Are you not thinking of serving as Minister of Justice?”

“I intend to do so.”

This is the conclusion I came to after a long deliberation.

If I asked Shin Dong-hyun, I might be able to become the Minister of Justice, but the Choi Seo-joon that is etched in the minds of the people is a ‘prosecutor,’ not a ‘minister.’

From the people’s perspective, a minister is a symbol of the upper class.

It could rather break the friendly image of the current People’s Prosecutor.

What I need to gain now is not power, but ‘the support of the people.’

“Because it’s time to start working to seize the presidency.”

Thus, the conclusion I came to.

“I’m going to prepare to become a lawyer.”

The first step for an unopposed entry.

Not an ordinary lawyer affiliated with a law firm.

A human rights lawyer for the poor, the needy, and the marginalized in society.

I roughly twisted the corners of my mouth.

“For the common people. No, I’m going to become a lawyer to win over the hearts of the common people.”

I can already hear it.