The Inspector Is Getting Promoted! [EN]: Chapter 13

Prosecutor, You’re Going Places! – Episode 13

Negotiation (2)

I was in the middle of work when my phone rang.

The caller was Senior Prosecutor Kim Seok-won.

“Yes, Chief.”

– Are you busy right now?

“No, sir. What’s up?”

– Let’s talk in person. Come to my office now.

“Understood.”

A sudden summons.

Did something happen?

What if someone from the upper echelons of Im Seong-jin’s network ordered a cover-up? No, that’s unlikely.

The public is already outraged about this case.

The media is clamoring for more fuel; recklessly intervening now could backfire.

Unless it’s a VIP-level issue, it’s not easy to interfere.

It might just be unnecessary worry.

I’ll have to meet him to know what’s going on.

With a worried heart, I entered his office, and he guided me to the sofa.

“Have you eaten?”

“Not yet.”

“It’s already past 2 PM. You should eat on time. We’re doing all this to live, so you need to eat.”

“Yes, sir. I’ll go eat right after our conversation.”

“Alright.”

He nodded and continued.

“The contact with the Seoul Central District Prosecutor General that you mentioned, the location has changed.”

That must be why he called me.

Even though I’m in charge of this case, I can’t directly meet with a Prosecutor General, so Senior Prosecutor Kim Seok-won arranged the meeting.

“Where is it?”

“Hanseong Officetel [a type of multi-purpose building containing residential and commercial units], Room 304. The time remains the same, 9 PM.”

“Understood.”

“Good. Handle it well.”

“Thank you.”

As I bowed, Kim Seok-won spoke again.

“You’ve handled this case really well. If Jo Won-hyung had died, it would have been over. How did you think to tail him? They wouldn’t have leaked that information.”

I can’t tell him the truth.

He wouldn’t believe me, and it would be foolish to waste this opportunity to show off my abilities.

“It was a hunch.”

“A hunch?”

“Yes. Considering the situation, Chief Im Seong-jin should be sweating bullets, but he seemed too relaxed. It’s definitely not a lack of resources on our end, so he must be hiding something. The only thing that came to mind was that if someone took the fall, even by committing suicide, it would be easy to sway public opinion by claiming targeted investigation or prosecutorial overreach.”

Kim Seok-won exclaimed, “Hoo.”

“But it’s not a case a regular prosecutor could take the fall for, and Im Seong-jin will definitely survive, so that leaves only Jo Won-hyung, right? So, I figured as long as Jo Won-hyung doesn’t die, we’re good, so I had him tailed.”

He nodded with a satisfied smile.

“I knew I saw something in you. Instead of being stuck-up like other prosecutors, just digging for more evidence, you have an eye for elements outside the case.”

“It’s an honor.”

Kim Seok-won nodded and fell into thought.

Just as the silence began to feel awkward, he tapped the armrest and met my eyes.

“You know I value ability a lot, right?”

What does he mean all of a sudden?

I think I’ve shown enough of my abilities.

Ah, could it be?

“Prosecutor Shin Yong-ho provided a lot of information in this case, but building the rapport to receive that information is also important. And above all, the groundwork you laid was more solid than I expected, which impressed me.”

“Thank you.”

“So, how about working under me?”

Senior Prosecutor Kim Seok-won’s eyes began to gleam.

“Come to the Office of the Inspector General.”

I clenched my teeth without realizing it.

This is my chance.

The opportunity has finally come.

No one in this world would be foolish enough to miss this.

I immediately stood up and bowed deeply.

“I will work hard!”

Kim Seok-won nodded with the most satisfied smile I had ever seen.

“Yes, you must work hard.”

At his gesture to sit, I settled back onto the sofa.

“I was going to say this after this case is over, but it seems like Im Seong-jin is going to make things messy and drag it out, so I’m telling you in advance. You’ll need more authority too. The order will be issued within a few days. I’ve already prepared a spot for you in the Office of the Inspector General, so go out and get a tour from the clerk.”

“Thank you.”

“Once the transfer to the Office of the Inspector General is complete, you’ll be a co-investigator on this case, so make sure to save your friend. Shin Yong-ho is the one who got you this far.”

“Of course. I’m overwhelmed by your consideration.”

He chuckled and said.

“Go on. You’ll have a lot to prepare to meet the District Prosecutor General.”

As I stood up, he patted my shoulder with a pleased look.

“I can expect great things, right?”

“Of course. I will make sure Im Seong-jin ends up in jail.”

As I left his office, a clerk who had been waiting guided me to my office.

It was the most secluded spot in the Office of the Inspector General, but it was well-equipped.

I was just grateful that they had prepared an office for me even before the official order.

“You can start using it from today, and the rest of the staff will be assigned after the official order.”

“The rest of the staff?”

If there are others, it seems like this woman will also be in charge of me.

“Yes. This is Jo Ara, the prosecutorial clerk who will be assisting you from now on. Please take care of me.”

A clerk is a Level 9 employee.

She’ll be in charge of miscellaneous support roles.

“I’m the one who should be saying that. Please take care of me.”

She smiled brightly, shook my hand, and added a word of explanation.

“Since there are no investigators on standby, you might have to wait a bit longer, so the Chief said you could bring the investigator you were in charge of at the Gwangju District Prosecutor’s Office. What do you think?”

I’d like to, but the investigator in the Gwangju District Prosecutor’s Office is too upright, honest, and righteous.

As a prosecutor in the provinces, he has a desirable personality, but now that I’ve decided to climb the ladder, I don’t know what kind of dirty water I’ll have to deal with.

He’s not suited for doing dirty work.

I needed someone who had experience in this world and knew how to look after their own interests.

But not someone who’s too corrupt.

“No. I’ll wait for now.”

“Yes. If you have anything you need me to do, I’ll help as much as I can, even with tasks that would be done by an investigator.”

With that kind of mindset, she’s perfect.

If Jo Ara assists me, I’ll have some breathing room for a while.

I need to find someone slowly and properly until this case is over.

***

“Oh, Yong-ho.”

– Why don’t you ever call first? You need to report the investigation status regularly.

“Hahahaha, no news is good news; it’s going well, man. What’s up?”

– I finished investigating the bar exam papers you mentioned. It’s confirmed, no way to deny it.”

That means another charge has been added to Im Seong-jin’s list.

If Jo Won-hyung hands over a few more documents here, Im Seong-jin will be completely ruined.

– How should we handle it? There’s still some time left until the bar exam.

The best way is to release it on the day of the bar exam, as I said before.

Since it’s the last bar exam, the public’s attention will be focused on it, so the impact will be more than double.

If it’s combined with the Economic Crime Investigation Department’s case, Im Seong-jin will not only be demoted to a local position but will likely be stripped of his position and imprisoned.

The simplest way to create that synergy is one thing.

“I’ll try to adjust my schedule as much as possible. If we detonate the Economic Crime Investigation Department’s case and then put the finishing touch with the bar exam corruption, it’s game over.”

– Okay. I’ll send you the relevant materials by email first, so check them. Just in case, check them on your personal laptop if possible.

“Got it. Thanks for your hard work.”

– Oh, and I’m not sure, but there’s one more thing. But don’t reveal this; just keep it to yourself.

If it’s not certain, it means there are traces but no information that can be used as evidence.

To say again that there is evidence of Im Seong-jin but no trace of others means that there may be room for someone higher than Im Seong-jin to be involved.

“Tell me.”

– This bar exam leak seems to be related to the District Prosecutor General.

“The District Prosecutor General…?”

– Yes, I’m talking about Seoul Central District Prosecutor General, Im Ju-yeong.”

Nice!

I clenched my fist without realizing it.

This is the information I needed most at this point.

As expected, Shin Yong-ho’s skills from working in Seoul haven’t dulled yet.

“No one other than the District Prosecutor General?”

– I haven’t been able to confirm that yet. The District Prosecutor General is probably definitely involved. However, the problem is that there’s no evidence.”

“That’s enough.”

I heard Shin Yong-ho chuckle over the phone, and then he brought up a new topic.

– By the way, I heard you’re being transferred to the Office of the Inspector General?

I don’t know how he knows even though I didn’t tell him.

“Did you plant someone here?”

– Your clerk used to be my assistant. Jo Ara, I mean.”

No wonder.

I wonder if Senior Prosecutor Kim Seok-won deliberately created this situation.

From the Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Office to the Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office, she must also think she’s entered an interesting game.

– She’s good at her job and understands things well, unlike other clerks, so she’ll be quite helpful. Above all, she has an incredible sense. So, you don’t have to instruct her on everything; she’ll take care of it on her own.

“Okay. Thanks.”

– Get going.

I couldn’t help but feel light on my feet as I returned to my office.

It’s only natural to be happy when I have such a big card in my hand, especially since I’m meeting the Seoul Central District Prosecutor General tonight.

If I use it well, I might be able to achieve even greater results at tonight’s meeting with the District Prosecutor General.

When I arrived at the office, Jo Ara bowed.

“Ara-ssi [term of endearment, similar to ‘Ms.’], I heard you were in charge of Yong-ho?”

“Ah.”

Her face turned red in an instant.

She’s worried that I might misunderstand her for being light-mouthed because what she said immediately reached my ears.

“I thought you should know…”

“I’m not trying to say anything. I’ll have to do well if I don’t want to be compared to Yong-ho.”

“There’s no comparison.”

“I’m just kidding. Yong-ho praised Ara-ssi a lot.”

“Ah…”

I don’t think she’s light-mouthed for telling me this.