The Inspector Is Getting Promoted! [EN]: Chapter 161

“Hoo.”

I took a deep breath and calmly composed myself.

Having come this far, there’s no way Choi Gyu-hyun doesn’t know I’m involved in this case.

However, he wouldn’t know to what extent I know, or how deeply I’m involved.

I shouldn’t be seen as trying to mess with Choi Gyu-hyun, but rather as working as a prosecutor to bring the pseudo-religious group, the Grand Church, to justice.

Giving even a little leeway would allow him to exploit the gap.

It’s literally like walking a tightrope.

The opponent is Choi Gyu-hyun, who has over 30 years of political experience.

I might slip off the tightrope at any moment.

I have to be as nonchalant as possible.

I straightened my clothes and knocked on the door.

Almost as soon as the knock echoed.

The door burst open as if they had been waiting, and Choi Gyu-hyun’s secretary appeared.

“You’ve arrived, Prosecutor.”

“Ah, yes. It’s been a while, Chief Secretary Kim.”

“Please come in.”

He led me inside, then exited the room and closed the door.

Inside, Choi Gyu-hyun was sitting alone on the head seat of the sofa in the spacious room, exuding a dark atmosphere.

“Greetings, Assemblyman.”

“Sit down.”

Choi Gyu-hyun’s low, heavy voice resonated.

As I sat down next to him, trying to appear calm, he seemed displeased that I sat down without even exchanging pleasantries and asked directly.

“Prosecutor Choi, now that you’ve grown up, are you wearing a neck brace?” [referring to being controlled or restricted].

“What do you mean by that?”

I replied innocently.

“I will always remain the Assemblyman’s loyal hitman.”

“A hitman’s blade turning against its master is treason.”

He leaned his upper body towards me with sharp eyes like a wildcat.

“Did you think I wouldn’t know that you were behind the investigation into this Grand Church case?”

“It’s true that I ordered it, but…”

I retreated slightly, feigning embarrassment, and said,

“Is there any problem with that?”

He asked me, as if he couldn’t believe it.

“You don’t know that?”

“No, I don’t quite understand what you’re talking about right now.”

I continued, pretending to be open-hearted.

“It’s true that I learned about the Grand Church case and proceeded with the investigation, and it’s also true that I gave the orders. But I have no idea why the Assemblyman is saying this to me.”

Choi Gyu-hyun didn’t say anything and just stared into my eyes.

I met his gaze without looking away, and as if sensing something was off, Choi Gyu-hyun frowned and asked.

“You really don’t know why I called you here?”

“Ah, perhaps…”

I asked cautiously, as if just realizing.

“Is the Assemblyman also involved with the Grand Church?”

“You didn’t know that at all?”

He asked, half in doubt, and I gasped for air as if I couldn’t believe it.

“Heo, really?”

Assemblyman Choi Gyu-hyun looked at me suspiciously.

“Yes. Choi Gyu-seong, who is there, is my younger brother. You mean you moved without knowing that?”

“Wa, wait a minute. Are you talking about Choi Gyu-seong, who is an Elder?”

He didn’t answer and slowly nodded.

“No, that can’t be…”

Seeing the genuinely bewildered expression on my face, I could feel the resentment that had been building up in his expression disappearing and being replaced by a sense of futility.

“Choi Seo-jun, you. You released the report without even doing a thorough background check?”

“The pressure from above was so severe that I didn’t have time to pay attention to the details. I mainly investigated Pastor Shin Hyung-joo, so I didn’t properly investigate the Elders.”

“Heo heo…”

He chuckled and buried his upper body in the sofa.

“I knew there was a big backer behind it, but I never dreamed it would be related to the Assemblyman’s brother.”

I stood up abruptly from my seat with a look of mortal sin and bowed deeply.

“I’m really sorry, Assemblyman!”

Assemblyman Choi Gyu-hyun shook his hand, seemingly dumbfounded, and let out a short breath.

“It’s not like you did it on purpose, so I can’t really say anything… Just sit down for now.”

However, I didn’t straighten my bowed back.

“I will take responsibility and step down. I have committed a mortal sin.”

“I said it’s okay. Quickly straighten your back and sit down.”

Confirming the strength in his voice, I sat back down on the sofa.

“Prosecutor Choi wouldn’t lie to me…”

“Absolutely not. How could I play tricks in front of the Assemblyman?”

“Well, there’s no way Prosecutor Choi would have revealed it knowing I was involved.”

I kept a guilty expression on my face and subtly observed Choi Gyu-hyun’s expression.

Just a moment ago, there was still a suspicious look in his eyes, but when I said I had committed a mortal sin and would step down from my position as Senior Prosecutor, it seemed he had erased most of his doubts, leaving only a minimum of suspicion.

It seemed that consistently maintaining a loyal attitude towards him had helped.

Assemblyman Choi Gyu-hyun thought for a moment and then asked me.

“So, what was broadcast on TV is all the investigated content?”

“Yes.”

I lied casually.

“Most of what I and the broadcasting station had grasped was broadcast.”

“Tell me everything you know that wasn’t reported.”

“First of all, there’s the human trafficking to China…”

I mainly talked about superficial content, as if I had only scratched the surface.

After listening for a while, Assemblyman Choi Gyu-hyun’s furrowed brow gradually smoothed out, as if he had been worried for nothing.

“So, what was on is really all there is.”

“Yes. There was pressure coming in when we were about to broadcast it, so we released it urgently, and we decided to investigate further afterward.”

Assemblyman Choi Gyu-hyun nodded and then looked into my eyes, as if to confirm again, and asked.

“Anyway, can we consider that the Grand Church itself was something our Choi Seo-jun stumbled upon while working as a prosecutor?”

“Yes, really. If I had known the Assemblyman was involved, how could I have revealed it? It’s content that shakes the entire line… It’s really absurd to think that I knew and revealed it.”

“Yes, Prosecutor Choi has never done anything like this before.”

He tapped the armrest with his finger and then opened his mouth.

“So, the official investigation hasn’t started yet?”

“Yes. Until now, I’ve been moving based on intelligence I received, and we were about to officially start a cognitive investigation [an investigation initiated based on awareness of a potential crime] on our side as a result of this broadcast.”

“It hasn’t been reported to the higher-ups?”

“Yes. I had only internally designated it within the Special Investigations Department, and it hasn’t been officially assigned.”

“Then cover it up.”

He spat out the words very coldly without a moment’s hesitation.

“Pretend you didn’t hear the intelligence, pretend you didn’t even recognize the case, and ignore it.”

“Then the case won’t be closed. Surely another department will step in.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of the aftermath.”

“Are you sure you’ll be okay?”

“If Prosecutor Choi doesn’t interfere, this much is a piece of cake.”

He smirked.

“Just watch quietly.”

At that moment, Assemblyman Choi Gyu-hyun continued in a chilling voice.

“If I see even a hint of you stepping in, I’ll know you’ve really betrayed me.”

He was saying that he would overlook it this time because I didn’t know, but if the same thing happened again, he wouldn’t even listen to excuses and would punish me.

From the perspective of someone who had to stab him in the back once again, it was enough to feel a sense of dread.

However, I didn’t show it and put my hands together.

“I understand, Assemblyman. I won’t disappoint you next time.”

***

-The police have declared a large-scale investigation. A special investigation team has been formed to investigate the Grand Church, and Detective Hwang Cheong-yong, who has arrested various special crime groups, has been appointed as the head of the special investigation team. Commissioner General Jeong Guk-hyun has personally stepped forward and ordered a quick and accurate investigation into the case. In addition, this case…

Two days after meeting Choi Gyu-hyun, a report broke out that the police would be handling the case against the Grand Church.

As a result, no one in the prosecution was naturally stepping forward to handle the case.

Even if the prosecution is above the police, with the Commissioner General of the Police stepping forward and holding a press conference, it was highly likely that the prosecution stepping in would look like they were openly snatching it away.

An unspoken rule to protect the face of the Commissioner General of the Police, who was not just anyone, but had personally stepped forward.

On the surface, it seemed like it was only a matter of time before the Grand Church was caught and punished, but Choi Gyu-hyun’s true intentions were clear.

Detective Hwang Cheong-yong, the head of the special investigation team, is a person belonging to Line No. 1 [a specific faction or political alignment], and Commissioner General Jeong Guk-hyun is also a close aide of Choi Gyu-hyun.

The main purpose is to reassure the public and quell public opinion by showing the will to catch and punish the Grand Church through the media.

As time passes and the public forgets, they will try to quietly wrap up and settle the case.

If no additional reports about the Grand Church come out, it is a characteristic of crimes involving politicians to naturally follow such a path.

Knowing that PD [Producer Director] Song Jae-hoon is my man, he will naturally think that a second report is out of the question.

For now, it was a priority to refrain from acting so that Choi Gyu-hyun would not further suspect me.

Even if you take a step to cross a tightrope, you must know how to step back when a strong wind blows and wait for the wind to subside.

Since Seong Tae-hyun has started moving to change his party affiliation, there’s no point in getting caught for no reason.

I turned off the TV, where the announcer’s report was playing, and picked up the receiver.

-Yes, Chief.

“Ms. Seol-ha, did you convey the instructions to Prosecutor Jang Ha-young?”

-Yes. I just finished delivering them. He’s here with me.

“Then have both of you come to my office right away.”

-Understood.

Less than three minutes later, Yoon Seol-ha and Prosecutor Jang Ha-young entered the office with a knock.

“You called for us, Chief?”

I remained seated and asked the two standing in front of me.

“Did you see the news?”

“Yes. It seems Choi Gyu-hyun is gritting his teeth.”

“That’s right. Choi Gyu-hyun is mobilizing all the power he has. It’s only a loss for us if we clash at times like this. We need to be careful for the time being.”

I said firmly to the two of them.

“Stop all investigations into the Grand Church.”

“Yes?”

Yoon Seol-ha couldn’t hide her surprised expression, and Prosecutor Jang Ha-young cautiously asked me.

“Is the situation that bad?”

“No. Stopping it is only on the surface.”

I twisted my lips into a smirk and added.

“We must continue the investigation secretly.”

“You mean we should proceed without getting caught by Choi Gyu-hyun?”

“It shouldn’t get into the eyes of Choi Gyu-hyun, nor the police.”

We need to figure out the case without Assemblyman Choi Gyu-hyun noticing, prepare everything, and detonate it in time for the local elections to properly strike a blow.

On the surface, it may seem like we’ve given up, but we must strengthen the substance of the case investigation and grasp it without any shortcomings in order to shake Choi Gyu-hyun and remove Na Kyung-joon from the Seoul mayoral position.

After the raging storm stops, if you dart out and cross the tightrope, even if they belatedly realize I’ve moved, I can reach the other side before the wind reaches me again.

“From today onwards, the only people who know about the progress of the case are Prosecutor Jang, Investigator Yoon Seol-ha, and Prosecutor Jang’s investigator, all four of you. Other prosecutors belonging to the Special Investigations Department shouldn’t know either.”

Prosecutor Jang Ha-young’s eyes flashed and clenched his fist tightly.

Proceeding without even the Deputy Chief Prosecutor Lee Doo-hyung knowing would sound like he was trusting himself that much.

He must be thinking that this case is the final gateway to the next Deputy Chief Prosecutor position.

“Assemblyman Seong Tae-hyun is about to declare his party affiliation change this afternoon anyway, so from now on, keep in mind that we must move very carefully, as if walking on thin ice.”

Prosecutor Jang Ha-young’s eyes shone and answered resolutely.

“We will proceed secretly but greatly.”

“I’ll look forward to it.”