The Inspector Is Getting Promoted! [EN]: Chapter 118

Prosecutor Choi’s Success!-118

Winter (5)

-Exclusive! Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Office Prosecutor Involved in 10 Billion Won Corruption Scandal… Who is it?

-True Media has exclusively obtained information that a prosecutor-level official at the Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Office is involved in a bribery scandal worth 10 billion won [approximately $7.5 million USD]. The prosecutor is suspected of receiving bribes worth over 10 billion won from J Group, one of the top conglomerates in South Korea. It is reported that the Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Office has not yet launched a full-scale investigation into this matter. However, the prosecutor in question is not only well-known to the public but also a prominent figure representing the prosecution, having broken numerous records in the prosecutorial system. It is presumed that they are waiting to make a careful decision. … (omitted) … Just days ago, the Busan District Prosecutor’s Office bribery scandal led to the dismissal of nine prosecutors, and even trusted figures turned against them. One wonders if there is anyone in the South Korean prosecution service who is not corrupt. One might even think that former President Kwon Jae-cheol’s prosecutorial reform card was not such a bad idea after all. Hopefully, the prosecution will not quietly bury this matter but will thoroughly investigate and reveal the truth.

-Kim Min-gun, True Media Reporter

“Isn’t this a blatant attack on me?”

There are a few prosecutor-level officials in the Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Office who are known to the media besides me.

However, the average citizen cannot help but think of me upon seeing this article.

As evidence, the top three best comments are all filled with content suspecting me.

-Caledfwlch: C S J?

-Do Hyun: Han Ji-yu’s boyfriend?

-Pendragon: Could it be Choi Seo-jun? He claimed to be so clean… Wow, that’s really shocking.

The overall comments were divided between those saying it’s not certain it’s me, so let’s wait and see, and those saying it’s obvious.

Of course, there were some who mentioned other names, but there were also quite a few who hurled abuse at me without hesitation.

What’s even more infuriating in this situation is that Han Ji-yu, who is completely innocent, is also being attacked.

Ji-yu is going to have a headache because she’s caught up in this because of me.

“Choi, what’s going on with this?”

Chief Prosecutor Kwon Hyung-ki asked with a worried expression.

“Joo-ok Group is related to you, isn’t it?”

He wasn’t particularly concerned about whether it was true or not.

In this industry, even something that isn’t true can plummet if it’s well-crafted and used in a media war.

“Is there a department currently investigating this?”

“Not yet.”

He shook his head.

“If there were, I would have told you already.”

“What about the Public Security Department?”

“They haven’t moved at all. If they do, it has to go through the Inspection Department… Chief Prosecutor Park Jae-pil is the head, so if the Public Security Department is told to cooperate, it’ll be a headache.”

I thought they wouldn’t expose it because they couldn’t find any dirt on me, but it seems they’ve spread it to the media with the intention of going down together.

Perhaps Chief Prosecutor Kang Joong-sik couldn’t withstand the pressure from Chief Prosecutor Park Jae-pil and released it before he was even ready.

“Chief, please find out the atmosphere of Chief Prosecutor Seo Ki-woong and the trends in the High Prosecutors’ Office.”

“Alright.”

After Chief Prosecutor Kwon Hyung-ki left, I immediately called the direct line of the Joo-ok Group Chairman.

Of course, using Jo Ara’s phone, not mine.

Just in case Kang Joong-sik traces my phone records and catches me.

A long ringing tone.

Damn it.

Are they also out of their minds?

Just as I was about to hang up, thinking the call wouldn’t connect.

-Hello?

Chairman Lee Cheol-yong answered the phone with a cautious voice.

Since it’s his direct line, he probably doesn’t know it’s me yet because it’s an unknown number.

“Chairman, this is Choi Seo-jun.”

-Ah, Prosecutor. I was surprised because it was an unknown number.

“No, have you seen the article written by True Media?”

-Yes, I just received a report about it. What’s going on?

“It seems Chief Kang Joong-sik released it with the intention of us both dying.”

-Kang Joong-sik, are you referring to the Chief of the Public Security Department?

“That’s right.”

He seems to have some understanding of the internal structure of the prosecution.

Then the conversation will be quick.

“You know that he and I are in a competitive relationship, right?”

-Yes, I know roughly.

“It seems he’s made a move to bite me at all costs because if he can’t take me down this time, he’s the one who’s going to be out.”

-So, they haven’t found any evidence?

“Yes, that’s probably the case. However…”

I mentioned one worrying point.

“That is, if there’s no room for leaks on the Joo-ok Group side.”

-Ah…

Upon hearing that, Chairman Lee Cheol-yong let out a low sigh, as if something had come to mind.

-Recently, there was a reshuffle of the security team.

“You mean…”

-Yes, some were fired and are no longer under our control.

“Silence those guys first.”

-I understand. Please be careful too, Prosecutor.

“For the time being, if you text this number, I’ll call you back.”

-I will.”

I hung up and went straight back to the office.

Yun Seol-ha was assessing the situation and moving on her own, and Jo Ara was carrying out the instructions I gave her.

Deputy Chief Prosecutor Lee Doo-hyung said to let him know if I needed anything and immediately started playing the media.

I thought carefully again in the office.

I could be in serious trouble if I’m not careful.

I couldn’t give the viper even the slightest chance.

I had to move very carefully.

He hasn’t yet grasped the evidence of my corruption.

If he had the evidence, he wouldn’t have released an article like this in True Media, but would have cornered me by presenting the actual evidence, as he did when he crushed the Western District Prosecutor’s Office.

If luck doesn’t turn against me, this can be resolved at this level.

Then there will be no bleeding for me either.

However, for some reason, I felt like the goddess of fortune wasn’t looking at me this time.

I hope this feeling is just a hunch.

***

“Choi Seo-jun seems to have a fire under his feet.”

Chief Prosecutor Park Jae-pil said with a very pleased look.

“You made a great start. It’s been a while since you played your part.”

“Thank you.”

Chief Kang Joong-sik was smiling and greeting him on the outside, but he was sweating bullets on the inside.

He had started the game to avoid being criticized by Chief Prosecutor Park Jae-pil, but he hadn’t thought about what would happen after that.

Right now, it’s not a procedure that requires clear evidence, so he can somehow push through with a media war, but if it turns out that there’s no proper evidence after that, Choi Seo-jun will surely prove his innocence, and that means his own neck will be cut off.

“Not only us, but others have high expectations for this matter. The media is also paying attention.”

Therefore, Chief Kang Joong-sik found these compliments and expectations more than burdensome.

But he couldn’t show it.

“I will attack as much as possible so that Choi Seo-jun cannot rise again.”

“You have to do that.”

Chief Prosecutor Park Jae-pil twisted his lips.

“Seeing that even Choi Seo-jun, who used to respond immediately with a press conference if there was anything like this, can’t respond properly this time, he must have been caught properly.”

He asked Kang Joong-sik, his eyes sparkling.

“Did our Chief Kang bite him hard with his venomous fangs? Hahaha!”

Chief Kang Joong-sik didn’t answer and just forced a smile, following Chief Prosecutor Park Jae-pil.

‘Why isn’t he making a statement?’

He himself didn’t understand why he wasn’t making a statement.

Rather, Choi Seo-jun himself would know that dragging out time in this situation would not be good for him, but he couldn’t understand why he was letting it get worse.

‘Could it be that he’s letting the media pay more attention?’

He didn’t rule out that possibility.

Waiting for the right time to detonate the incident was basic for prosecutors.

‘If not, Choi Seo-jun might think that I really caught his weakness.’

So he might be judging that if he confronts rashly, I might latch onto it and attack him.

I’d rather it be the latter, but for some reason, I felt like Choi Seo-jun would be the former.

Because that’s always been the case.

Chief Kang Joong-sik had fought and lost to Choi Seo-jun several times. It wasn’t just a defeat, but a defeat while being mocked, so it wasn’t strange that he had been infected with the fear of Choi Seo-jun.

Because many people who had faced Choi Seo-jun until now had the same thoughts as Chief Kang Joong-sik.

However, the only difference was that Choi Seo-jun had actually grasped all the countermeasures against the other party at that time, but this time he hadn’t grasped the exact feeling.

That means that Choi Seo-jun also has weaknesses in this matter.

Of course, the problem was that Chief Kang Joong-sik didn’t know this fact.

Chief Prosecutor Park Jae-pil, who couldn’t know his feelings, said to him with a generous expression.

“I’ve announced to the media that the Public Security Department will be in charge, so take good care of Choi Seo-jun.”

“……Yes?”

“I’ll push you, so try to solve it properly.”

Chief Prosecutor Park Jae-pil smiled contentedly and turned to look at the computer.

“Oh, an article just came out.”

He turned the monitor towards Chief Kang Joong-sik to show him directly.

-Investigation into the corrupt prosecutor at the Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Office to be conducted in cooperation with the Public Security Department and the Inspection Department…

-The Seoul High Prosecutor’s Office Inspection Department has launched a full-scale investigation into the 10 billion won bribery case that broke out at the Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Office. As this is no ordinary case, it has been decided that not only the Inspection Department but also the Public Security Department of the Central District Prosecutor’s Office will cooperate in the investigation. … (omitted) … There are many speculations as to why the Special Investigation Department was excluded, and the prevailing opinion is that Choi Seo-jun is the corrupt prosecutor. Many eyes are on the outcome of this investigation.

-Fact Punch Reporter Ho Min-jong

Choi Seo-jun’s name was clearly stated.

Now there was really no way to deny it.

‘Damn it.’

He had dreamed of ending it with just a media war, but it was just a dream.

Since his name was mentioned, he had to defeat Choi Seo-jun.

“Do well. I have high expectations for you.”

At Chief Prosecutor Park Jae-pil’s words, Chief Kang Joong-sik bit his lip and replied.

“Thank you. I will do my best.”

***

And a few days later, Kang Joong-sik was working late in the office to dig into Choi Seo-jun’s past.

Choi Seo-jun still couldn’t figure out what weapon Chief Kang Joong-sik was holding and couldn’t easily respond, and Chief Kang Joong-sik was running day and night to find that weapon because he wasn’t holding any weapons.

A cold war-like confrontation was continuing.

Ring ring.

The loud ringtone rang.

It was the office phone, so he didn’t intend to answer it and shouted outside.

“The phone’s ringing.”

But no one answered the phone outside.

“These damn guys, did they all go out for a smoke?”

He muttered and picked up the receiver.

“Yes, this is Chief Kang Joong-sik of the Public Security Department of the Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Office.”

-Ah, is this the Public Security Department?

“Yes, it is. Please speak.”

-It’s not that, I have something to report.

“A report?”

At that moment, Chief Kang Joong-sik’s eyes sparkled.

“Is this a report related to the current corruption?”

-Yes, it is. Can I tell you now?

“Yes, please speak.”

-Ah, I actually worked in the security office of Joo-ok Group a few years ago.

‘Security office!’

Chief Kang Joong-sik’s lips twisted greatly.

The security office of Joo-ok Group is the place that takes care of the dirty work of Joo-ok Group executives along with the secretary’s office.

-At that time, I loaded money into Choi Seo-jun’s car.

‘Yes!’

Chief Kang Joong-sik clenched his fist.

Even if the sky falls, there’s a hole to escape, and I thought I was really going to die because I had made such a big deal out of it, but there’s a chance to revive like this.

‘Yeah, people don’t have to die!’

He suppressed the rising joy and said in a calm voice.

“What is the exact timing of that?”

-It was 3 years ago…