The Inspector Is Getting Promoted! [EN]: Chapter 18

The Whale Fight Benefits the Shrimp (2)

The answer was obvious.

Chief Prosecutor Kang Hyun-soo would receive three bags, hand one each to the chiefs of the Financial Crime Division and the Economic Crime Investigation Division, and pocket one himself as a commission.

Still, this much was within the realm of deduction for anyone who knew Kang Hyun-soo was involved with Joo-ok Medical.

The problem was not just piecing it together with deduction and puzzles, but digging up concrete evidence.

Only then could it be used to blackmail, receive money, or expose, in any way.

Especially in South Korea, where legal evidence is paramount.

Buzz, buzz.

Another text message.

I hurriedly picked up my phone.

-From: Song Hyun-sung

-Wanna grab a smoke?

Damn it.

I was needlessly surprised.

Should I clear my head for a bit?

When I went down to the first floor, Song Hyun-sung was already there behind the building, smoking.

“You’re here?”

“You could just smoke in the designated area, why do you always call me out to the corner?”

“It’s stuffy there. And my clothes smell like smoke.”

“The cigarette smell from your mouth is the worst.”

“That’s true.”

He chuckled and nodded, then suddenly asked.

“By the way, what happened to Yong-ho?”

“He’s preparing for the second trial. It’ll take a few more months, but he’ll probably get a suspended sentence this time.”

“Wow, Choi Seo-joon is really capable.”

“Is it my ability? It’s all thanks to the Chief Prosecutor’s help.”

“That’s good, man. I felt uneasy about Yong-ho after completely handing it over to you, but now you can slowly let it go.”

“Yeah, man. Once Yong-ho’s matter is settled, you should buy him a meal.”

“Of course. I’ll treat him to a nice tuna course. You come too. I’ll cover the second round, you pay for the room.”

“Hahahaha, you sly bastard. Even the first and second rounds combined would be cheaper than the room.”

Song Hyun-sung laughed and put out his cigarette.

I gestured for him to go up, waiting for me to finish my cigarette.

“Go up first. I’ll have one more and come up.”

“Alright. Take your time.”

After he left, I was lost in thought.

The text message.

It had been six months since I last heard from her after Yoon Seol-ha’s ID last winter, and suddenly it arrived.

Is the text message a hint that it could be cut off at any time?

I’ve never abused it or thought carelessly, so it’s probably not a threat or warning.

If not, could it be that the text messages only arrive under special conditions?

At first, I thought the number of the sender was a special sign, but after seeing it continue to come as 29, I thought it was meaningless.

But this time it’s 30.

It’s probably not a countdown, but I can’t quite figure it out yet.

I’ll need to receive a few more text messages to know.

I crushed the second cigarette I lit in a row and went back to the office.

Let’s go back to the content of the text message.

Chief Prosecutor Kang Hyun-soo of the Special Investigation Department delivers money bags to the chief prosecutors of the Financial Crime Division and the Economic Crime Investigation Division.

And the two of them are covering up all attacks on Joo-ok Medical in return for that money.

By the way, even though the Economic Crime Investigation Division was replaced due to corruption, a new guy is already committing corruption again.

Is it inevitable once you get to that position?

I thought it would be different since Chief Prosecutor Lim Joo-young directly promoted them, but it’s still the same.

Anyway, the most contradictory thing here is that they skipped the Deputy Chief Prosecutor.

Lim Joo-young can’t intervene due to the situation, but both the Economic Crime Investigation Division and the Financial Crime Division are under the First Deputy Chief Prosecutor.

But instead of the First Deputy Chief Prosecutor, Chief Kang Hyun-soo of the Special Investigation Department is managing them.

There’s no way someone who has risen to the position of Deputy Chief Prosecutor would be ostracized, so why did this structure happen?

My head started to throb.

I just smoked a cigarette, but I’m craving nicotine again.

At the Gwangju District Prosecutors’ Office, I used to smoke in the office with the window open, but that’s unthinkable here.

I suppressed the urge to smoke and pressed my temples.

Skipping the Deputy Chief Prosecutor, huh.

Why did they skip the Deputy Chief Prosecutor?

It’s possible that Chief Prosecutor Kang Hyun-soo of the Special Investigation Department has a personal connection with Joo-ok Medical.

However, that doesn’t mean he would deliver bribes instead of the Deputy Chief Prosecutor.

No matter how much the chief prosecutor is in charge, he still has to follow the orders of the Deputy Chief Prosecutor.

Unless he’s so confident that he won’t get fired, he wouldn’t move so recklessly.

The current Deputy Chief Prosecutor was promoted and appointed at the beginning of this year.

Even so, there’s no way he wouldn’t have taken control of the department by now, as we’re entering summer.

He’s not someone who got promoted at lightning speed, so he wouldn’t be checked or ignored by the two departments due to seniority.

I can’t understand it at all.

Did they think they wouldn’t get caught if the Special Investigation Department secretly handed it over?

No, even so, the Deputy Chief Prosecutor has the right to order an investigation.

But the fact that they stopped the investigation means they knew about the bribe…

Wait a minute!

Maybe they didn’t skip him.

What if Kang Hyun-soo is connected to the First Deputy Chief Prosecutor?

That’s not a skip, it’s ignoring it.

Unlike the two chief prosecutors who received money from Chief Prosecutor Kang Hyun-soo, the First Deputy Chief Prosecutor likely received money directly from Joo-ok Medical.

No, it’s certain.

Joo-ok Medical wouldn’t have only tried bribery once or twice, so they wouldn’t have done it this way.

Yes, that’s how it should be.

Otherwise, there’s no reason for Joo-ok Medical to take the risk of ignoring the First Deputy Chief Prosecutor in the first place.

Okay, that’s settled.

The throbbing headache disappeared in an instant.

The best move I can make right now is just one thing.

To directly capture the scene of Chief Prosecutor Kang Hyun-soo handing money to Chief Prosecutor Nam Woo-hyun.

It would be ideal if I could film Won Jong-seo, the First Deputy Chief Prosecutor, receiving money from Joo-ok Medical, but wanting that without any information is greedy.

I need to digest the information I have first.

First, the location of the photo from the text message.

I wrote down the signs on sticky notes and called the clerk sitting on one side of the office.

“Ms. Ara.”

“Yes?”

“Do you know anything about corporate structure or that kind of thing?”

“I can grasp the basics.”

“Then you know that the eldest son and the second son are competing in the Joo-ok Group’s succession, right?”

“Yes.”

“Divide and identify the affiliates held by the eldest son and the affiliates held by the second son.”

“I understand.”

It’s not a difficult task, so she’ll be able to do it.

There are quite a few affiliates, which is annoying, but it’s information that you can easily find with an internet search if you just spend the time.

“And one more thing.”

“Yes.”

I handed her the sticky note with the sign names and location characteristics.

“Find out where these signs are located. As quickly as possible.”

“I understand.”

There are related phone numbers, but as a result of my search, they are all non-existent numbers or numbers that are not searched on the Internet.

I’ll probably have to find out through the phone book or 114 [Korean directory assistance].

Still, I should be able to find out in about half a day.

***

“Jian-dong?”

“Yes.”

“How did you find it?”

“I searched the navigation system for the phone number, checked the address, and checked the road view on the Internet.”

Jo Ara pointed to her monitor.

“If you look here, you can see the two signs written on the sticky note side by side, right? I think it’s probably 99% correct.”

Because the photo I saw in the text message was dark, I couldn’t distinguish it by color, but looking at the font and atmosphere of the sign, it’s certain.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“It’s nothing. Would you like a cup of coffee?”

“Yes, that would be nice.”

I drank a cup of iced coffee that Jo Ara brought and slowly fell into thought.

Jian-dong is an hour away from the Seoul District Prosecutors’ Office.

Did they go all the way there to secretly exchange transactions?

The redevelopment complex in Jian-dong is only half of it. The rest is more famous for its many magnificent traditional Korean houses [hanoks].

I wouldn’t have gone to Jian-dong to see the traditional Korean houses.

The end of work is approaching.

I don’t know if there will be anything special in Jian-dong today, but I have to go there first.

I immediately called Yoon Seol-ha and briefly told her about the situation.

“…So I got information about the secret transaction scene between the two. I think we can cover up the account investigation that was in progress. If we capture this properly, we won’t need the account.”

-I see. But is that information reliable? There might be misunderstandings if we go there for nothing, so the source…

“I can’t reveal the source, but the information is reliable.”

-Then how about I go instead?

“You, Ms. Seol-ha?”

-Yes. It would be quite difficult if the prosecutor went directly and got caught. Besides, you’re not familiar with tailing [following someone discreetly].”

“Then let’s go together.”

-No. It’s easier to go alone. I’ll take a picture of the scene and send it to you right away.”

Indeed, if I, who am clumsy at tailing, go with her, it might be cumbersome to have a burden and movement will be uncomfortable.

Yoon Seol-ha’s idea was right.

I have to leave this to an expert.

“Yes. Then let’s do that. I think it would be better to meet and talk first, where are you?”

-I’m in the Dongjak-gu area right now. I’ll go to the High Prosecutors’ Office within 30 minutes.”

“No. You have to go to Jian-dong, so I’ll go there. Please send me the address where you are.”

-Okay.”