The Inspector Is Getting Promoted! [EN]: Chapter 340

Prosecutor, You’re Going Places! – Episode 340 (340/341)

Election (9)

#1 MinGuk Party, Shin Dong-hyun: 49.3%

#4 Independent, Choi Seo-joon: 50.7%

The numbers shifted significantly.

Even though it was a heated battle, both Shin Dong-hyun and I were vying for the presidential election. Since there weren’t any major scandals eroding my approval ratings, this change was quite substantial.

My remarks from the TV interview, selectively edited and shared online, became a trending topic, which seemed to have a significant impact.

Furthermore, filing a complaint against Shin Dong-hyun appeared to greatly influence public opinion.

Of course, these numbers could still be overturned.

Even with these exit poll results, the actual outcome could be the opposite.

However, the continuous rise in my approval ratings was undeniable.

All I had to do was maintain this momentum.

Now, only three days remained.

It was time to utilize every possible strategy.

***

-Olympic star Choi Seung-ho shows his support for Choi Seo-joon with a ‘V’ for victory [using four fingers]!

-Han Sia from Blind Mission posts ‘Fighting, Prosecutor Choi Seo-joon!’ on social media!

-Superstar Im Seo-joon supports a politician for the first time! International fans are curious about Choi Seo-joon…

-Black Diamond subtly shows four fingers. Turns out Black Diamond is also a Choi Seo-joon fan!

-Han Ji-yu supports her husband’s campaign! Retired, but her beauty still shines…

Han Ji-yu’s connections also rallied to my side.

Although some were hesitant to express their political views, fortunately, Choi Seo-joon himself didn’t represent a specific party or political ideology. Therefore, most of the celebrities she knew expressed their support on social media.

It wasn’t just social media posts.

Some celebrities even volunteered to help with the campaign, claiming to be genuine fans.

This led to the unusual spectacle of live performances instead of pre-recorded tracks for the campaign song.

The impact of these celebrities was immense.

Online, some of their fans even declared their switch in support.

Moreover, a celebrity’s involvement in the campaign would even stop those who weren’t voters or who supported Shin Dong-hyun, making them listen to my message.

All of this was possible because my wife was Han Ji-yu.

And that wasn’t all.

Lim Jeong-hwan, who won a gold medal in judo at the 2032 Summer Olympics, also publicly supported me.

He had been unfairly excluded from the national team selection due to Kim Kang-jin’s favoritism towards his son, and he was deeply grateful that I had rectified the situation. He had always remained politically neutral, but now he openly declared his support.

Including him, I was receiving a small measure of repayment from those I had helped and supported in the past.

That’s why I must be elected and repay them.

I have to.

***

Two days before the election.

#1 MinGuk Party, Shin Dong-hyun: 49.5%

#4 Independent, Choi Seo-joon: 50.5%

The gap narrowed slightly.

Only a 1% difference.

“Are you alright, Candidate?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

My voice sounded hoarse without me realizing it.

“Your voice is completely gone. Perhaps you should cancel the next event…”

“I’ll go. No, I have to go.”

If I spoke forcefully at the campaign rally, I could mask my hoarse voice and campaign effectively.

The difference between Shin Dong-hyun and me was almost negligible.

Only two days left. If I could increase the vote share even slightly, I had to keep going.

I could collapse after winning.

“Get me some medicine on the way.”

“Understood.”

***

Finally, the day before the election.

A blackout period where approval ratings are not released.

The so-called ‘blackout’ period began.

Was that the reason? The headache that had disappeared returned.

Even more intensely than before.

“Candidate, at this election site…”

“Is what you’re about to say important?”

“It’s about the market vendors’ leanings.”

“Then can you write it down on the tablet and give it to me? I can’t listen because my head is pounding.”

“Ah, yes.”

It wasn’t an act; it was real.

Just walking quietly made my skull throb.

Campaigning exposed me to loud noises, making it feel like someone was constantly hitting my head.

My voice was hoarse, and my headache was worsening.

I couldn’t sleep properly, so my eyes were sore.

Even the side of my stomach, where I had been hit by a stray bullet from the police in the past, was tingling.

I was practically a walking infirmary.

But I only had to endure for one more day.

I couldn’t campaign tomorrow even if I wanted to.

I had to do it while I still could.

That way, I wouldn’t regret it.

No matter what, I shouldn’t leave any regrets.

I have to do my best while I can.

That’s my motto.

Tap tap.

I opened my eyes to the sensation of someone tapping my shoulder, and Yoon Seol-ha carefully handed me the tablet PC.

“Thank you.”

She smiled instead of speaking, considerate of my condition.

Her eyes looked sad, perhaps out of sympathy, but I pretended not to notice.

Most of the market vendors were in their 50s and 60s.

The most common age for their children would be in their late 20s.

It would be better to appeal to them with policies related to their children’s future and marriage rather than education.

While I was organizing my thoughts, the car slowly stopped.

“We’ve arrived, Candidate.”

“Okay.”

I closed my eyes and took a slow, deep breath.

Then.

“Ahem!”

I cleared my sore throat.

And got out of the car.

“Oh, Prosecutor Choi!”

“It’s Prosecutor Choi Seo-joon!”

“The candidate came all the way here?”

The vendors greeted me warmly, as if they had been waiting.

I had no intention of disappointing them.

I shouted energetically, as if my voice wasn’t hoarse at all.

“Hello, everyone!”

And very cheerfully.

“I’m Choi Seo-joon, number 4!”

I bowed with a bright smile.

“Please support me!”

***

“Yes. I’ve released everything.”

Prosecutor Gong Sang-wook released all the cases he had prepared.

Without missing a single one.

“Good job, Chief Gong.”

Prosecutor Gong Sang-wook did his best in this presidential election.

“How are the prosecutors in the special investigation department?”

“According to Chief Jang Ha-young, it’s not good. They seem to be trying to force confessions through oppressive and fabricated investigations.”

Shin Dong-hyun doesn’t know his limits.

As my complexion worsened, Gong Sang-wook carefully added.

“But it doesn’t seem unbearable.”

“Tell them to endure a little longer. I’ll take care of it myself once this presidential election is over.”

“Yes. The prosecutors will believe it. I have no doubt either.”

I slowly nodded and asked.

“Can you summarize everything once more tomorrow morning and release a press release?”

Voters who are hesitating right before the election might see it and change their minds.

Prosecutor Gong Sang-wook patted his chest as if to say not to worry.

“Of course. Leave it to me.”

“Thank you. Please work hard for one more day tomorrow.”

“Don’t worry, Candidate.”

Prosecutor Gong Sang-wook smiled and bowed.

***

“Candidate, your article is out.”

-Seo Hyun-mi Fan Club ‘Night Fog’ Declares Withdrawal of Support for Shin Dong-hyun. The Ideal They Envisioned is Different from the MinGuk Party…

I sighed in relief after seeing the article title.

“That’s good.”

The largest general member gathering among the supporters of the Manse Party [a fictional political party].

The number of members isn’t exceptionally large, but this one article can create a negative image of Shin Dong-hyun among Seo Hyun-mi’s fans.

To achieve this, the election campaign staff lobbied for three days and nights, and they succeeded in changing their minds just before the election.

“There is a lot of controversy about this in the Manse Party community. It seems that it will affect the vote tomorrow.”

“That’s a relief. Tell Chief Kim that he worked hard.”

“Understood.”

“Then is there nothing more to wait for?”

“Yes, that’s right. Everything is finished.”

“Okay.”

I slowly nodded.

“I’ve done everything I can.”

“You’ve really worked hard.”

“Seol-ha has worked hard too.”

I calmly got up from my seat.

“I should go home. I need to rest.”

***

“You’ve worked hard.”

Han Ji-yu patted my back.

It had been a long time since I had returned home.

I had been busy sleeping in the election headquarters, campaigning, and strategizing for the past few days.

The headache had become even worse.

However, Han Ji-yu’s voice didn’t resonate unpleasantly in my skull.

“Do you want to eat dinner?”

“No, I don’t really want to eat.”

“I’ll make you a glass of juice. Drink that at least. You’ve lost too much weight.”

“Okay.”

“Go wash up and come out quickly.”

“Okay.”

I went into the bathroom and soaked my whole body in warm water.

Only then did the headache seem to subside little by little.

However, it wasn’t enough to make the throbbing disappear.

It must be nervous tension.

It was natural since it was the day before the presidential election.

Those who started as basic council members and rose to 6-term or 7-term congressmen must have had this experience in every election.

I respected them anew.

Swaaaaaa-.

Was it because my body was relaxing?

The sound of the shower, which had sounded unpleasant just 10 minutes ago, gradually became familiar.

Fortunately, the tension seemed to be easing little by little.

Was that why?

The thought of the election began to surface in my mind again.

It’s finally tomorrow.

I worked in the prosecution for 17 years for this.

And I volunteered as a lawyer for 2 years.

The time to be rewarded for the efforts I’ve made for nearly 20 years is tomorrow’s presidential election.

Some say that everything doesn’t collapse just because you fail once, but that’s not the case in the South Korean political arena, at least.

Once you lose, you just fall into the abyss.

Especially this presidential election even more so.

I’m fighting Shin Dong-hyun with my life on the line.

In the end, it’s a matter of surviving or dying.

I must survive.

My head started throbbing again.

I shook my head to clear my thoughts and focused on washing my body.

***

After finishing my shower, Han Ji-yu handed me a carefully prepared juice.

“What kind of juice is it?”

“I mixed tangerines, apples, yuzu [a citrus fruit], and a little honey. It’ll be good for you.”

I took a sip.

It was sour but sweet, and it went down smoothly.

“I heard from Seol-ha that you haven’t eaten a single meal today?”

“Yeah. My throat hurts so I can’t eat.”

“Is this okay?”

“Yeah. It’s perfect.”

I finished the remaining juice in one go.

Han Ji-yu took the cup from me and said.

“I put an electric blanket on the bed, so spread out the blanket and lie down.”

“Okay.”

Was it because I was exhausted?

Without saying more, I burrowed into the bed as Han Ji-yu told me to.

It was warm and cozy, enveloping my whole body.

Soon, Han Ji-yu also turned off the lights and came into the blanket.

“You’ve really worked hard.”

She hugged me warmly.

“No matter what the outcome, I’ll always be on your side. And I’ll love you forever.”

“Thank you.”

I held Han Ji-yu tightly in my arms.

I’ve done everything I can.

All that’s left is to humbly await the results.

And I.

I will surely win.

As soon as I had that thought.

I fell asleep.