The Inspector Is Getting Promoted! [EN]: Chapter 151

Prosecutor Seo Succeeds – 152

Troy Horse (3)

***

“Hello, Senior.”

“Oh, Prosecutor Seo is here?”

Minister Kim Seok-won stood up from his seat, welcoming Prosecutor Seo Gi-woong.

“We’ve been seeing each other often lately.”

“I apologize for bothering you by coming and going so frequently.”

“Hey, don’t say such things. I didn’t mean it in a bad way.”

“I was just worried that I might be disturbing you when you’re busy…”

“No, not at all. Please, sit down quickly.”

Minister Kim Seok-won smiled gently and sat in the seat of honor.

As if waiting, a staff member brought a teacup filled with coffee, placed it on the table, and then firmly closed the door to the minister’s office and left.

“How’s work these days?”

“It’s always the same.”

“If it’s the same, that’s a good thing. Aren’t we just waiting for time to pass?”

“That’s right.”

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Prosecutor Seo Gi-woong slowly brought up the main topic.

“There’s something I’ve been a little worried about lately.”

“What is it?”

“I’m starting to wonder if we’re on the right track.”

He slowly raised his teacup.

“I don’t know about other places, but the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office seems to be on the verge of collapse because the seniority culture has become a complete mess.”

“Why, what’s going on?”

“It’s because of that guy, Chief Prosecutor Choi Seo-joon.”

Kim Seok-won seemed to know what he was going to say, but he pretended not to know and listened attentively.

“According to what I hear from various sources, not only junior prosecutors and deputy chief prosecutors but also chief prosecutors from other departments and some deputy directors are visiting Choi’s office.”

“You mean they’re lining up?”

“Something like that. Frankly, when Choi Seo-joon was promoted to chief prosecutor, all the senior prosecutors in the special investigation department were transferred, weren’t they?”

“That’s right. That’s the custom.”

A custom of the prosecution service where the seniority culture is firmly established.

It is common practice for someone to resign or transfer to another workplace if someone of lower seniority is promoted above them.

In name, it is said to be for the convenience of the junior to give work instructions, but frankly, the issue of pride is a bigger factor.

“But if that guy continues at this rate, all the prosecutors at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office will be out of a job soon. Before he’s even promoted to deputy director, the chief prosecutors and deputy directors of higher seniority are all bowing their heads to him, so, geez…”

Kim Seok-won was fully expecting this scenario.

Because Choi Seo-joon was following a similar elite course to his own.

Of course, his speed and weight were unmatched.

“Is this a proper prosecution service? A deputy director going to a mere chief prosecutor and sucking up to him… Ha.”

However, Minister Kim Seok-won saw through Seo Gi-woong’s true feelings.

What he was saying on the surface seemed different from what was inside.

He put down his teacup and opened his mouth.

“Didn’t you say recently that Chief Prosecutor Choi seems to be a corrupt prosecutor?”

Corrupt prosecutor.

In short, it refers to those who take unfair advantage of their public authority by receiving bribes or kickbacks.

“Yes, that’s actually a bigger reason.”

Prosecutor Seo Gi-woong confessed without hiding anything.

“I believe that integrity is the first virtue of a prosecutor, now and always. But seeing a corrupt prosecutor like Choi Seo-joon brazenly persisting and trying to rise higher, I can’t tolerate it.”

His voice contained not only sincerity but also anger.

“If the upper stream is murky, the lower stream will also be murky. If such a guy goes up, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office will definitely become a mess.”

“So, you’re going to try to drive him out?”

“That’s not it.”

Prosecutor Seo Gi-woong said firmly.

After all, he was a person who never looked beyond the power allowed by the state.

“All I can do is prevent him from being promoted to deputy director. I’ll give him disadvantages in promotion evaluations, and when I step down, I’ll tell the next chief prosecutor.”

“Isn’t that contrary to your belief in evaluating solely based on ability?”

“Actually, it is.”

Prosecutor Seo Gi-woong also admitted that his attitude was slightly different from his usual upright demeanor.

However, considering how Choi Seo-joon had won over his wife and controlled him for the past year, it would be strange if he wasn’t angry.

He said, flashing his eyes.

“If the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office is eaten by a corrupt prosecutor, the aftermath is obvious. I don’t want to watch it being swayed by money.”

Prosecutor Seo Gi-woong glared.

“If those in power can’t overcome money, the organization collapses.”

“That’s not true.”

Kim Seok-won shook his head coldly.

“That guy Choi Seo-joon wields money, but he’s not someone who can be swayed.”

He was serious.

From what he had observed since Choi Seo-joon came to Seoul, he was not seeking wealth but rather advancement.

If he had sought wealth, he would not have been able to come this far.

Even if he resigned right now and joined a law firm, he was a person who could earn more than 10 billion won a year with his reputation and skills.

Choi Seo-joon had a firm conviction of his own, and he had never seen it waver or collapse.

So, even if Choi Seo-joon was a political prosecutor, Kim Seok-won couldn’t help but see him in a positive light.

The justice he was implementing in this dirty political arena could not be seen as wrong.

Rather, Minister Kim Seok-won rebuked Prosecutor Seo Gi-woong.

“In my opinion, it seems like you’re just upset and angry that you were manipulated for the past year without understanding anything, and you’re just trying to get revenge somehow?”

Kim Seok-won knew Seo Gi-woong’s inner thoughts.

It was obvious.

His wife, the director of the orphanage, had constantly praised Han Ji-yoo and Choi Seo-joon, which extinguished the seeds of suspicion, and his only son was a huge fan of Han Ji-yoo, so he had asked Choi Seo-joon for favors every time an album came out or at various events such as concerts, movie premieres, and drama production presentations. That must have been the beginning of him being dragged around by Choi Seo-joon.

After a long time, Prosecutor Seo Gi-woong may have vaguely realized that Choi Seo-joon was using him, but he just didn’t want to believe it and denied it.

However, when he found out that Choi Seo-joon was even using money in the investigation process, what he had been holding back must have exploded.

“…”

Prosecutor Seo Gi-woong bit his lip, having his inner thoughts exposed.

However, he couldn’t bring himself to admit it because the moment he did, the beliefs he had held for over 50 years would collapse.

“Of course, I know that you care about Chief Prosecutor Choi. That’s why I hoped you would make a proper judgment in the middle…”

Kim Seok-won gave sincere advice.

“It’s not too late now. Protect your beliefs. Old people like us can’t keep up with the trends. Even if it’s late, stay focused and just push forward with what you’ve been doing. However, if that belief changes, everything will go wrong.”

Kim Seok-won thought that Seo Gi-woong’s act of tackling Choi Seo-joon was unlike Seo Gi-woong.

If Seo Gi-woong regained his composure now, Kim Seok-won was even thinking of mediating between Seo Gi-woong and Choi Seo-joon himself.

However, Prosecutor Seo Gi-woong, whose weaknesses had already been exposed, couldn’t overcome his impetuosity and even uttered words that he shouldn’t have.

“Did you perhaps receive something from that bastard too, Senior?”

“Seo Gi-woong.”

Kim Seok-won’s calm eyes rippled with anger.

“You’re crossing the line.”

“I’m just telling you that it’s not true if it’s not.”

Prosecutor Seo Gi-woong stood up from his seat.

“It seems like today will be the last day I call you Senior. Thank you for everything so far.”

He bowed his head and left the minister’s office.

Watching Prosecutor Seo Gi-woong’s retreating figure, Minister Kim Seok-won sighed deeply.

‘Just because ink has stained a white canvas, he’s trying to tear it up…’

It was just a pity that he couldn’t think of repainting the canvas with pure white paint.

‘They say old age brings stubbornness, and that’s exactly what it is.’

Only those who have fought, like the mad dog Chief Prosecutor Park Jae-pil or the viper Chief Kang Joong-sik, know how to fight.

If he, who has always pursued integrity in a greenhouse, meets a monster like Choi Seo-joon, he will inevitably be devoured.

Choi Seo-joon is already moving.

The outcome is clear without even looking.

Minister Kim Seok-won got up from his seat and called President Kyung Dong-soo.

“Yes, Mr. President. It seems we need to find a new candidate for chief prosecutor.”

***

As soon as I arrived at the office early in the morning, I received the call I had been waiting for.

“Yes, this is Choi Seo-joon.”

-Hello, Prosecutor. This is Jung Hyung-joon. Is it a good time to talk?

“Go ahead.”

-I’m calling to report on the matter you instructed me on last time.

“Was it handled well?”

-Yes. We decided on Neulbit Construction as the construction company and finished the discussion, and we concluded by providing convenience from our side in addition to the commission. We’ve paid the advance payment to the operations team leader, and we’ve arranged to pay the amount you mentioned when the work is completely finished.

“Thank you for your hard work. So, we can move at any time?”

-That’s right. It’s possible as early as today.

“Okay. Then I’ll contact you as soon as the work is settled.”

-Yes. Goodbye.

“Okay.”

I hung up the phone and slowly placed my hand on the table.

Judging from Inspector Jung Hyung-joon’s style, he must have completely won over the construction company and the orphanage’s operations team leader.

All that’s left is for Prosecutor Jang Ha-young to bring in the guys who will be used as bait.

I guess that will take quite a while.

Not only do we have to bring in as many as 20 people, but she also has to be completely hidden behind them.

At that moment, there was a knock on the office door.

Knock knock.

“Oh, come in.”

“Hello, Chief Prosecutor.”

“Oh, Deputy Chief Prosecutor Lee is here?”

Deputy Chief Prosecutor Lee Doo-hyung greeted me politely and entered the chief prosecutor’s office.

“As you instructed, I looked into Mayor Na Kyung-joon of Seoul, and when he was the head of a volunteer organization, he colluded with detectives and took kickbacks.”

“To what extent?”

“There’s some dirt, but not to the point where it’s noticeable.”

He carefully placed the data he had gathered on my desk.

“Then analyze the data and find out if there are any other problems. We’re going to use it for the election, so weak stuff won’t do.”

“Understood.”

As soon as he bowed and left, there was another knock.

Did he leave something behind?

“Come in.”

“Hello, Chief Prosecutor.”

But it wasn’t Deputy Chief Prosecutor Lee Doo-hyung’s voice, but a woman’s voice.

When I looked up, Prosecutor Jang Ha-young was looking at me with sparkling eyes.

“Oh, Prosecutor Jang, what’s up?”

“I came to report something.”

“What is it?”

“I’ve gathered all 20 prosecutors you instructed me on last time.”

I couldn’t believe my ears.

How many days has it been since I ordered that…

I put down the documents Lee Doo-hyung had given me and looked at Prosecutor Jang Ha-young.

“You’ve already gathered them?”

“Yes. 10 in the Criminal Division, 4 in the Fair Trade Investigation Division, and 3 each in the Tax Crime Investigation Division and the Trial Division, for a total of 20.”

She smiled brightly and handed me the documents.

“Here’s a list of the prosecutors.”

When I checked the documents that Prosecutor Jang Ha-young handed me, they were full of profiles of prosecutors I had never even heard of.

The fact that I don’t know them means that they are literally incompetent and greedy guys.

I couldn’t help but be satisfied with the faster and better results than I had expected.

I smiled broadly and looked at Prosecutor Jang Ha-young.

“Prosecutor Jang, you’re more capable than I thought?”

“Thank you.”

“I’ve reevaluated you.”

Now that I’m giving her work directly, I think I know why Yoon Seol-ha recommended her.

The more I work with her, the more I like her.

“Prosecutor Jang, you must have really buckled down to hear the sound of deputy chief prosecutor [a highly sought-after promotion].”