The Inspector Is Getting Promoted! [EN]: Chapter 149

Prosecutor, You’re Going Places! – Episode 150 (149/341)

The Trojan Horse (1)

“With a case like this, we’re definitely on board. Even if it wasn’t for you, Seo Jun, it’s worth digging into.”

Perhaps because the subject matter was so provocative, PD [Producer-Director] Song Jae-hoon couldn’t put down the documents, staring intently as he spoke.

I suppose it would be.

It contained more serious content than any pseudo-religion that had ever appeared on PD X-File.

“You’re okay with it too, Jae-hoon?”

“It’s not just okay; I’m eager to get this information, even if I have to beg you, Seo Jun.”

Only then did PD Song Jae-hoon smile, put down the documents, and subtly turn his gaze to Yoon Seol-ha.

“With the investigator here, it seems the plan is to attend the gathering tomorrow.”

“That’s right. However, it’s too dangerous to send Seol-ha alone. These guys are involved in sexual assault and human trafficking.”

Understanding me perfectly, PD Song Jae-hoon immediately gave the answer I wanted.

“Yes. Then, as soon as it’s light, I’ll talk to the CP [Chief Producer] and proceed with formal coverage. Of course, the initial approach will be undercover.”

He smiled and continued.

“Three PDs, including myself, will go undercover with cameras, without a VJ [Video Journalist]. It would be good if Seol-ha could disguise herself as part of the group. It’ll raise less suspicion if we go as two men and two women.”

Only then did Yoon Seol-ha look at me and ask.

“Does this mean you’re allowing me to go?”

I smirked.

“Sounds like an excellent Trojan horse.”

Three PDs and one investigator.

It might be quite dangerous if Yoon Seol-ha went alone, but it’s a different story with four people, including men.

More than anything, even if they get caught later, they won’t be able to treat them carelessly if someone from the broadcasting station is involved.

PD Song Jae-hoon instructed Yoon Seol-ha.

“If our identities are exposed, you must say you’re a PD as well. The pseudo-religion will have a strong backlash against a prosecutor.”

“Yes.”

She raised her eyebrows at me.

“For safety, I should do that.”

“I’ll tell you more about the details while preparing the equipment at the broadcasting station in the morning….”

PD Song Jae-hoon stared at me intently and asked.

“But ultimately, your goal isn’t just to destroy one religion, is it?”

“You know me too well now.”

I smirked lightly.

Since I had to explain it to him anyway, I didn’t hide it and told him everything.

“The person I’m going to use Grand Church to target is Mayor Na Kyung-joon.”

Even though the information about Grand Church came as a way to bring down Chief Prosecutor Seo Ki-woong, the ultimate goal is Mayor Na Kyung-joon.

If this goes all the way, Seo Ki-woong’s dismissal is just a secondary achievement. Sung Tae-hyun’s election as mayor of Seoul is the primary goal for now.

Considering that the video from the future text message was about the election, not Seo Ki-woong, it’s certain.

PD Song Jae-hoon nodded slowly and asked cautiously.

“When should we time the explosion of this issue?”

The main event is the Seoul mayoral election.

Even though it’s the local elections next year, there’s less than a year left.

No, it’s only a little over half a year away.

It won’t be that leisurely.

I slowly told him my plan.

“First, the initial report must be made early next year. Here, we’ll announce the bad, wrong, and problematic aspects of Grand Church without associating it with anyone else, but we must save the really big and core issues.”

“You’re considering a second report.”

“Yes. The main event is the second one. After informing the public about Grand Church through the first report, we’ll link the related people in the second report.”

That’s the best way.

If I try to link the two targeted figures with Grand Church from the first report, it might be an overreach and put me in trouble instead.

In short, the first report is a test.

If the first report on the reality of Grand Church is made through PD X-File, it’s obvious that the public will rise up to tear Grand Church apart.

However, a group as tightly knit as a pseudo-religion wouldn’t collapse with just the outcry of ordinary people.

More than anything, considering the money they make through human trafficking, prostitution, and donations, it’s safe to assume they have figures in the political world.

If there was no one backing them, they wouldn’t have been operating for years after committing such crimes.

I would have been arrested and serving time in prison before this fact even reached my ears.

More than anything, considering the informant’s words who contacted Yoon Seol-ha, even high-ranking officials at WBS [a broadcasting station] are involved with Grand Church.

In South Korean society, where the press, political, and business circles are all closely connected, I can be sure that there’s more than one or two people involved with Grand Church.

So, in the end, the standard course is that the investigation will inevitably be suspended after the first report and fizzle out.

But if I’m watching this situation, it’s a different story.

In the process of the investigation being stopped and the case being covered up, the figures in the political and media circles who had to exert their influence will inevitably reveal themselves and be caught in my eye.

After that, I’ll track them down and send them flying with the second report, naturally linking Chief Prosecutor Seo Ki-woong and Mayor Na Kyung-joon.

PD Song Jae-hoon nodded slowly after hearing the story.

“It’s going to be a long fight.”

I wrinkled my nose.

“If we persevere, the fruit will be sweet when we win.”

Yoon Seol-ha carefully opened her mouth.

“PD-nim, there’s one thing I’m worried about….”

“Tell me.”

“If WBS blocked the tip-off, isn’t there a possibility that PBC [another broadcasting station] will also try to block the report from the higher-ups before it’s even made?”

“Unlike other broadcasting stations, PD X-File at PBC operates on an independent system, but….”

PD Song Jae-hoon said cheerfully, as if there were no problems.

“Then, let’s get permission from the president, not the CP, and proceed.”

He smiled lightly and added.

“The president of PBC is from PD X-File, so there’s hardly anyone who would block the report.”

I remember hearing that.

Recently, PD X-File was investigating a member of the National Assembly from a specific district, and that person contacted the president of PBC to ask them to refrain from reporting, but even that phone call was broadcast as is, causing the assemblyman to suffer greatly.

At this point, I don’t have to worry about pressure coming in the middle and the broadcast being canceled.

“Ah, but Seo Jun.”

PD Song Jae-hoon opened his notebook and wrote something down before asking me.

“If the second report is during the local elections, are you talking about the nomination period or the actual voting period?”

“I haven’t decided on that yet.”

I haven’t actually made a decision.

To oust Mayor Na Kyung-joon, the time when the Korea Party’s nomination takes place would be the most appropriate, but considering that the future text message also involved Line No. 2 [a subway line], the nomination might not be important.

This will depend on how the situation unfolds after the future me contacts Assemblyman Jo Hyun-woong of Line No. 2.

“I’ll let you know when it’s confirmed.”

“Understood.”

He closed his notebook and asked cautiously.

“Can I ask you one more thing?”

“Yes.”

“Is Mayor Na Kyung-joon actually involved with Grand Church? If not, he’d try to distance himself from the pseudo-religion at all costs.”

It’s the same question as Yoon Seol-ha.

The answer to that is already set.

“We don’t even need an exact connection.”

“Yes?”

“Let me say again, the time to detonate is none other than the election season.”

Election season.

A time when outrageous rumors spread and false promises and negative strategies prevail.

My goal isn’t for Mayor Na Kyung-joon to go to prison, but to lose the election.

I twisted my lips as much as possible and continued.

“If we just throw a spark of suspicion, the voters will add fuel and make it burn fiercely. The exact truth doesn’t matter in an election.”

***

-Yes, Chief. I’m in front of the gathering place now.

“How many people are there?”

-So far, about 200 people have gathered, and considering the speed at which they’re gathering, the gathering will start with about 300 people.

Yoon Seol-ha carefully continued.

-And looking at the atmosphere inside, I have to return my cell phone, so there’s a high possibility that I won’t be able to contact you for about three days.

“Understood. Take the burner phone you brought with you carefully so you don’t get caught, and if any problems arise, contact me immediately.”

-I will. I’ll be back.

“Yes.”

As soon as the call ended, a yawn burst out as if waiting.

I hadn’t slept a wink all night, planning how Yoon Seol-ha and PD Song Jae-hoon would move during the 2-night, 3-day gathering, and went straight to work.

So, I was pouring with sleep, but at least the plan was neatly laid out, so I was less worried about the four people who went undercover.

I sent a text message to Han Ji-yoo, telling her that I had gone straight to work and not to worry, and went into the chief’s office.

“You’re here, Chief.”

Jo Ah-ra, the clerk who had come to work early, bowed her head and greeted me.

“Yes. Good morning.”

“Yes. Would you like a cup of coffee?”

“Sure.”

While Jo Ah-ra went to prepare coffee, I called reporter Lim Yoo-na of Political District No. 1.

As expected, she answered the phone immediately before the ringtone rang several times.

-Yes, hello. Prosecutor.

“It’s been a while. Are you available to talk?”

-Of course. Go ahead.

“It’s not that, but there’s a case that’s about to get hot, and I was wondering if you’re interested.”

Reporter Lim Yoo-na replied playfully.

-If it’s something you’re telling me, I’m interested even if it doesn’t get hot.

A smile naturally bloomed.

Reporter Lim Yoo-na now knows what I mean with just a hint.

“Have you ever heard of Grand Church?”

After thinking for a moment, reporter Lim Yoo-na made a playful voice.

-Isn’t Grand Church a dialect?

A light laugh was heard over the phone.

-I’m kidding. I’ve never heard of it.

“It’s one of the pseudo-religions. They’re very vicious guys, and it seems like they’re connected to high-ranking officials at WBS. They probably have connections with the political and business circles.”

-Then, should I look into this structure?

“Yes. I’ll send you the related materials by email.”

-Understood. I’ll contact you as soon as I find out anything related.

With those words, I ended the call.

Contacting reporter Lim Yoo-na was a kind of insurance.

I couldn’t rest assured by entrusting the big case of Grand Church only to the PD X-File team, including Yoon Seol-ha, and doing nothing. If they didn’t properly grasp the inside, there had to be someone who could grasp at least the minimum information.

However, since it’s known that reporter Park Soo-hyung is openly my person, I chose reporter Lim Yoo-na in case investigating Grand Church would lead to me being tracked down.

In short, if Yoon Seol-ha grasps the internal information, I’ve entrusted the external information to Lim Yoo-na.

Considering reporter Lim Yoo-na’s tenacity and grit, I can probably expect good results.

In the meantime, Jo Ah-ra, who had made coffee, handed me the cup.

“I prepared it black because you looked tired.”

“Thank you.”

She smiled and returned to her seat, and I closed my eyes, smelling the strong coffee.

Grand Church.

If this goes well, Sung Tae-hyun will not only become the mayor of Seoul, but also open a smooth road to the presidency.

I hope it goes well.

At that moment, while I was thinking, my pocket vibrated twice briefly.

Buzz buzz.

Wait a minute.