The Inspector Is Getting Promoted! [EN]: Chapter 157

Climbing the Tightrope (2)

“Would you mind if we took a quick break? I need to make a call.”

“Take your time.”

I left them and stepped outside to call Kyung Dong-soo directly.

After a brief ringing, I heard his voice.

-It’s been a while, Prosecutor Choi.

“How have you been, Mr. President?”

-Always the same. Happy New Year.

“I hope the New Year brings you good fortune as well, Mr. President.”

-Thank you. Have you had dinner?

“I’m in the middle of a meal, but I wanted to ask you something. Is now a good time to talk?”

-Yes, go ahead.

“I was wondering if you could introduce me to someone in your network [political allies or connections].”

He asked with a concerned tone.

-Is there a problem with your current network?

“I think I might cause one.”

Kyung Dong-soo hesitated for a moment before speaking.

-Sounds like a big case.

“Yes. I’m investigating a pseudo-religion, and it turns out the head of Line No. 1 is behind it.”

-Are you referring to Assemblyman Choi Gyu-hyun?

“That’s right. It’s a pretty significant issue, likely to cause quite a stir even in the Blue House [the presidential office], so I don’t think it’ll be resolved quietly.”

-If it’s a problematic pseudo-religion, it should be eradicated. Contact me anytime you need anything.”

“Thank you.”

-And to answer your question, of course, I can connect you. Even without my introduction, any network would welcome a prosecutor like you with open arms.

“When might I be able to make contact…?”

-It’s the beginning of the year, so everyone’s probably busy. Is it urgent?

“The sooner, the better. It’s scheduled to be broadcast on TV within a few days.”

-Hmm…

After a moment of contemplation, he slowly opened his mouth.

-I’ll arrange for you to meet as soon as possible. You should receive a call from my chief of staff or someone from the network soon.

“Understood. Thank you.”

-Choi Gyu-hyun is no ordinary man. Be careful. It might become difficult to handle even at my level.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

-Alright. Go back in and let’s meet up when things settle down.

“Sounds good. Have a pleasant evening.”

Kyung Dong-soo ended the call there.

So, he’s going to connect me, which should make contacting Line No. 2 easier.

The details will have to be discussed directly with Line No. 2.

To do that, it’s essential to know more about the Gran Church accurately.

I returned to the restaurant and began listening to Yoon Seol-ha and PD [Production Director] Song Jae-hoon’s detailed accounts of the Gran Church.

***

The Free Plaza, the Threshing Ground, and human trafficking disguised as emigration to the promised land of Eretz Hemdah [a Hebrew term meaning “land of desire,” often used in a religious context], and exploitation under the guise of donations.

Just revealing these three facts to the world would be shocking enough.

But the more important issue is that Choi Gyu-hyun is behind them, and he’s likely not the only one.

Those forces probably have a tight grip on various media outlets and possess enormous wealth.

PD Song Jae-hoon said that he had received severe pressure from above when he decided to report on this case.

If the head of the broadcasting station hadn’t come from PD X-File [a hypothetical or actual investigative journalism program], the report itself might have been impossible, which says it all.

The broadcast date was repeatedly postponed and brought forward, eventually being set for mid to late January, so we had to be fully prepared by then.

All of this was to get Sung Tae-hyun elected as the Mayor of Seoul.

The day after hearing about the Gran Church from Yoon Seol-ha and PD Song Jae-hoon, I met Sung Tae-hyun and explained the Gran Church to him.

Sung Tae-hyun slowly nodded as he listened.

“So, they’re using the Gran Church to frame and oust Mayor Na Kyung-joon and take the mayoral seat.”

“That’s right. If he’s linked to a pseudo-religion like this, citizens won’t vote for Na Kyung-joon unless they’re fools.”

“That’s a relief.”

He let out a sigh of relief.

“Actually, Mayor Na Kyung-joon’s approval ratings have been steadily rising, so I was worried about how to overcome that.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. But with this, I should be able to win the nomination overwhelmingly.”

I shook my head at the relieved Sung Tae-hyun.

“It’s not about the nomination.”

“What?”

He fidgeted, looking flustered.

“If it’s not about the nomination…”

“We’re going to expose the Gran Church during the main election season.”

For a moment, Sung Tae-hyun frowned, as if he didn’t understand.

“Have you chosen someone else for the Seoul mayoral position?”

“No. Of course not.”

I immediately denied it.

“I’m going with Sung Tae-hyun. But…”

I reached out and flicked the National Assembly badge on his lapel.

“The affiliation of this badge will change.”

Sung Tae-hyun couldn’t hide his bewilderment.

“You mean I’m going to the People’s Party.”

“That’s right. As long as Choi Gyu-hyun is there, we can’t expose this case under the banner of the Great Korea Party.”

He said with a worried voice.

“But will the People’s Party nominate me?”

“Once you confirm, I’ll go to Line No. 2 and talk to them. We have to get the nomination no matter what.”

“Changing party affiliation…”

As expected, he began to contemplate seriously.

More than anything, going to the People’s Party, not just any other party, would be like abandoning one’s family and going to one’s enemy.

Moreover, changing party affiliation was a different matter from giving up his National Assembly seat.

If he simply remained in the Great Korea Party and lost the Seoul mayoral nomination, he could somehow get nominated and run for National Assembly again, but moving to the People’s Party and failing to win the Seoul mayoral election would make it impossible to return to the National Assembly.

In other words, it could be his last move in politics.

If he succeeds, the path to the presidency opens up, but if he fails, he falls straight into the abyss.

Therefore, I couldn’t simply force my thoughts on Sung Tae-hyun.

He had to be fully aware of the risks to understand how serious and important this was.

So, I honestly told him my assessment of the current situation.

“In short, it’s like walking a tightrope. You’ll gain a lot if you succeed, but you’ll lose everything you have now if you fail.”

I even added my feelings.

“I’d like to encourage you to join me, but I can’t force your fate.”

He took a very slow breath.

And after exhaling a long breath, he opened his mouth.

“Isn’t that what walking a tightrope is all about?”

Assemblyman Sung Tae-hyun straightened his shoulders as if he had made a decision.

“A clown always walks the tightrope dangerously and precariously, but if he makes it to the end, he receives applause and cheers.”

“So…”

“I’ll follow your lead, Prosecutor. I was born a man, so I should at least hear the title of ‘Your Excellency’ once. If I’m afraid of losing what I have in my hands, I’m not presidential material.”

A smile naturally spread across my face at his answer.

As expected, his ambition is on a different level from ordinary people.

Or should I say he’s bold?

A scope that can’t be satisfied with being a National Assembly member.

I think this is the best presidential material I’ve ever seen.

I held back the laughter that was about to burst out and asked.

“What about political ideology? Progressivism and conservatism are completely opposite.”

His face was full of confidence.

“You don’t have to worry about that.”

Assemblyman Sung Tae-hyun twisted his lips.

“Isn’t adapting to any situation what a true politician does?”

I couldn’t hold back my laughter this time.

“I think I have a good eye for presidential material.”

“Of course. From Kyung Dong-soo to me, Sung Tae-hyun, you’ve chosen well, haven’t you?”

He joked and leaned back on the sofa.

But he soon asked worriedly.

“By the way, can you handle Assemblyman Choi Gyu-hyun?”

“I have to. If I’ve decided to make you president, I’ll have to face him sooner or later.”

I decided to endure facing him.

Sung Tae-hyun isn’t an ordinary politician, but a person who will become president.

No matter how powerful Choi Gyu-hyun is, I can’t abandon a sure-fire future president just because I’m afraid of facing him, can I?

As I told Sung Tae-hyun, I had to face him someday, and that time has come.

But even while making these plans, there was a worry in my heart.

This is also because of the future text.

In the past, I had received a text from ‘Sender: 37’ that read, ‘Republic of Korea 21st Presidential Election. Great Korea Party Final Candidate Choi Gyu-hyun.’

Of course, Sung Tae-hyun is aiming for the 22nd presidential election, so he wasn’t a competitor, but in other words, Choi Gyu-hyun is still going strong until the 21st presidential election.

Otherwise, he couldn’t have become the Great Korea Party’s final presidential candidate.

If that future doesn’t change, I’ll definitely face hardships in this election.

Fortunately, the future text can be changed at any time by my choices.

Just like Reporter Bae Jin-soo became the deceased instead of Wolhyang in the past.

As long as Sung Tae-hyun follows my scenario, what I can do is set.

To prevent the future where Choi Gyu-hyun becomes the 21st Great Korea Party candidate from being realized, and to ensure that the future where Sung Tae-hyun can be elected as the 22nd president arrives.

I have to protect the future I want.

***

Two weeks before the Gran Church report.

While researching the connections of the Gran Church with Yoon Seol-ha, I received a call from an unknown number.

“Hello, this is Choi Seo-joon.”

-Hello, Prosecutor. This is Gu Ji-won.

Gu Ji-won.

The President’s Chief of Staff, who practically handles Kyung Dong-soo’s work.

-I’m calling because I have something urgent to tell you.

It must be about contacting Line No. 2.

I got up from my seat and said to Yoon Seol-ha.

“Take a break for a moment.”

“Then I’ll go to the restroom.”

She left so that I could comfortably take the call without having to go outside.

After Yoon Seol-ha left, I put the phone back to my ear.

“Yes, go ahead.”

-The President says that the preparations for what you discussed last time are complete.

Judging by the way he’s talking, Chief of Staff Gu Ji-won doesn’t seem to know the details.

-However, the other party has squeezed out time from their busy schedule, so they need to meet tonight. They’re asking if that’s okay, what should I say?

“I can go.”

There was no need to hesitate.

Even if I had a prior engagement, I had to cancel it and go.

-Understood. If you go to Chaplin in Gangnam at 7 PM tonight, you’ll be guided.

Chaplin?

Judging by the taste, it seems like someone a bit older…

“Is it possible to know who I’m meeting?”

-It’s Assemblyman Jo Hyun-woong.

The moment I heard that name, I cheered inwardly.

Assemblyman Jo Hyun-woong.

The person who was laughing heartily with Sung Tae-hyun and me in the future text video.

When I asked Kyung Dong-soo to meet with Line No. 2, I certainly didn’t mention Assemblyman Jo Hyun-woong’s name.