The Inspector Is Getting Promoted! [EN]: Chapter 187

Prosecutor, You’re Going Places! – 187 (187/341)

Behind the Scenes (2)

“Well, fancy seeing you here.”

I raised my eyebrows mockingly at Kim Yun-geun, former Managing Director, before settling into my chair.

Unlike his usual tailored suits, he was wearing a drab prison uniform.

He was even handcuffed for the prosecutor’s visit.

“I don’t know if I should say this since it’s our first meeting… but you look awful. Your face is filthy.”

Kim Yun-geun grimaced, his face contorted in disgust, and looked away.

“Hey, are we not even on speaking terms?”

But he ignored me, instead spitting phlegm on the floor.

“Looks like our Managing Director is new to the detention center and doesn’t understand the situation.”

I took off my watch and stood up.

Then, without hesitation, I slapped him across the face.

Smack-!

“Outside, you might get away with that, but this is my territory. Where do you think you are, acting like that?”

Perhaps it was the first time he had ever experienced such humiliation, Kim Yun-geun was speechless, more stunned than hurt by the slap.

“Get a grip, you bastard.”

I kicked him in the shin with my boot.

“Agh!”

He screamed, rubbing his leg, and jumped up.

“How dare you lay a hand on me…”

Before Kim Yun-geun could finish, I kicked him in the stomach.

He couldn’t even scream, just let out a muffled groan as he rolled on the floor.

I leisurely approached him, squatted down, and scoffed.

“Can’t you tell the difference? You’re in jail right now.”

But Kim Yun-geun didn’t seem to want to give up, glaring at me venomously.

“Do you think I’ll let this go when I get out? This is abuse of power and assault!”

His pathetic threat made me burst out laughing.

“Hey, Mr. Kim.”

He looked up at me, his eyes filled with panic.

“Do you think you can get out of here?”

Kim Yun-geun was momentarily speechless.

“You can’t. Haven’t you seen the news?”

I kindly recited the figures for him.

“So far, 136 people have been rescued. 40 are dead. 12 are missing.”

It was unlikely that the missing would be found alive.

“Your arrogant behavior in the control room caused the deaths of over 50 people. Their families and friends are suffering unimaginable pain. No, they’re still suffering. And you’re complaining about a few slaps and threatening to sue?”

Kim Yun-geun gritted his teeth.

“Those who were meant to die were destined to die. I wasn’t even at my seat, and I’m still alive, aren’t I?”

His ridiculous words made me grab him by the collar.

“Still haven’t come to your senses.”

I slapped him across the face again.

He kept trying to resist, so I didn’t stop hitting him until he shut his mouth. No, until he couldn’t open it.

Soon, Kim Yun-geun’s cheek was swollen and red, and his lips were torn and bleeding.

Yet, I felt no guilt.

“If you had gone to Jingok Port or the temporary shelter even once, you wouldn’t be saying that.”

According to the reports I received from the prosecutors, he hadn’t gone there even once.

He was too busy playing the victim in a VIP hospital room.

“You should rot in jail for the rest of your life.”

Then, he suddenly started laughing like a madman.

“Hehehe…”

Kim Yun-geun uttered something strange.

“Will that really happen?”

His confident voice made me feel uneasy.

“You’re just a public official. Why do you think the Coast Guard stopped searching for the plane?”

I frowned involuntarily, and Kim Yun-geun began to chuckle.

“You’ve never fought a chaebol [family-owned conglomerate] properly, have you?”

“…”

“Don’t underestimate the chaebols of Korea, you lowly commoner.”

At that moment.

Vibration.

My phone vibrated in my pocket.

“Even if you have God behind you, I’ll send you to prison, so don’t worry.”

I threw him back onto the floor and stood up.

I took out my phone and checked it, and a sense of foreboding washed over me.

The caller was none other than President Kyung Dong-soo.

“You just stay there and reflect on your actions.”

I turned my back on Kim Yun-geun, walked outside, and answered the phone.

“Yes, this is Choi Seo-joon.”

–This is Kyung Dong-soo. Is it a good time to talk?

“Yes, Mr. President. Please go ahead.”

–It’s about the black box recording that was released, leading to the arrest and investigation of everyone involved… Is the black box reliable?

“I can guarantee it 100%. Of course, they might argue that the black box was obtained without permission, so it can’t be used as evidence, but it’s clear that it was done for the public good, so it should be admissible.”

–I see…

I could sense the weight in Kyung Dong-soo’s voice.

“What’s wrong?”

–Could you please not push so hard on the Mirus Airlines case?

Kyung Dong-soo pleaded.

–This is my last favor as president.

Damn it.

My bad feeling was right.

“How much did you take from Mirus Airlines?”

–It’s hard to say.

He continued in a miserable voice.

–I’m sorry. I didn’t think you would go after Mirus Airlines so aggressively…

My head started to throb.

I had suspected something was up when the Coast Guard stopped searching for the crashed plane, but it was because Kyung Dong-soo had taken money from Mirus Airlines.

Everything was completely messed up.

Our interests were completely opposed.

If I listened to Kyung Dong-soo, my position would be difficult.

But if I refused, Kyung Dong-soo would be in unspeakable trouble.

Mirus Airlines had already bribed him, and they wouldn’t stand still if he betrayed them.

Even if Kyung Dong-soo was a lame duck [an official in the final period of their term], we had helped each other out several times in the past.

I couldn’t just abandon him now that we were on opposite sides.

Besides, even if he stepped down as president, his influence as a former president could be helpful someday, so I couldn’t just ignore his crisis.

Damn it.

I was completely stuck in a quagmire.

–I understand your position, Prosecutor. You’re working with CEO Shin Dong-hyun, and if this happens, your entire department will be ruined…

President Kyung Dong-soo said earnestly.

–I only have six months left in office. After six months, I can live comfortably as a former president for the rest of my life. I can help you then, too. But if there’s a problem because of this…

I knew.

The public’s attention was focused on this, and if I made a mistake, I could even be impeached.

It hadn’t even been 10 years since President Kwon Jae-cheol was impeached.

The word “impeachment” was not far from the minds of the citizens.

That made it even more dangerous.

I should have talked to Kyung Dong-soo sooner.

But we were hoping for opposite outcomes, so we didn’t have time to contact each other, and that’s how it ended up like this.

“If you wanted to cover it up, you should have done it before the black box was released.”

–I know. That’s why I’m asking you this favor, even though I’m ashamed to do so, Prosecutor.”

“Haa…”

I couldn’t help but sigh.

I took a step back for now.

But I couldn’t let Mirus Airlines off scot-free.

That was something I couldn’t do, even if Kyung Dong-soo asked me, or even if Han Ji-yu came to me.

“I’ll do my best for the key executives, including the chairman of Mirus. But not Kim Yun-geun.”

He asked in a worried voice.

–Would it be difficult?

“I can’t compromise on that. No matter how dangerous it is for you, Mr. President, if that guy gets released, I won’t be able to show my face. No, my identity as a prosecutor will collapse.”

–Please reconsider one more time. I might get caught up in it too…

“What the FUCK!”

I couldn’t help but curse.

“How much did you take?”

–I’m sorry.

After a moment of silence, he asked cautiously.

–Then, can we just reduce Kim Yun-geun’s sentence a little…

“Hoo…”

I sighed deeply and answered with difficulty.

“I’ll think about it.”

–Thank you, Prosecutor.

“I’m hanging up.”

With those words, I unilaterally ended the call.

Yun Seol-ha, who had been guarding the room across the hall, carefully opened the door and came in, probably having heard me raise my voice.

“Chief Prosecutor, is something wrong…”

But her words didn’t register because of the rising anger.

“Damn it!”

I couldn’t hold back and threw my phone against the wall.

Still not relieved, I punched the wall with my fist.

Cleaning up other people’s messes is what I hate the most.

But the fact that I couldn’t ignore Kyung Dong-soo’s request because he had helped me when I was in trouble was suffocating me.

I felt like I was going to lose it if I stayed here, so I needed to go outside.

I said to Yun Seol-ha, who was shrinking in front of me.

“Investigator, I’m going out for some air. Make sure Kim Yun-geun doesn’t do anything stupid.”

“Ah, understood.”

I passed Yun Seol-ha, who was cowering, and went outside.

***

I couldn’t sleep until after midnight because my head was so messed up.

One thought led to another, and I was trapped in a web of thoughts.

Should I abandon Kyung Dong-soo?

I’ve already sucked him dry.

Even if I betrayed him now…

No.

I can’t do that.

Even if I’m blinded by ambition, if I abandon my humanity like that, I’ll become a monster, not a human.

I have to keep the minimum line that I’ve set for myself.

But letting Mirus Airlines off with a light sentence means that they won’t be held responsible for this tragedy.

That was something I couldn’t tolerate as Choi Seo-joon, not just as a prosecutor, it would be more than just a scratch on my pride.

I couldn’t let the guy who caused nearly 200 casualties and then spouted nonsense about how those who were meant to die were destined to die breathe the air of the world again.

It was the first time I had ever resented Kyung Dong-soo so much.

Then, I got a call from reporter Park Soo-hyung.

I shook my head to clear my thoughts and answered the phone.

“Yes, this is Choi Seo-joon.”

–Ah, Seo-joon. We’re in big trouble!

A desperate voice came over the phone.

–I just got a tip and I have to publish an article…

He took a breath and said.

–It’s a tip about bribery involving a VIP.

“Could it be Mirus Airlines?”

He sounded surprised at my question.

–Did you know?

“I found out today. It’s being written by Soo-hyung himself?”

–No. It’s our chief political reporter, and he received a tip and even secured evidence, so I can’t refuse to allow it.

Reporter Park Soo-hyung was the head of the political desk at WK Daily.

But no matter how much of a head he was, it was impossible to stop an article of this magnitude. At least the bureau chief or the president would have to come to control it.

“How long can you delay it?”

–I have to break it by tomorrow morning at the latest.

There were only a few hours left.

“What exactly is the content?”

–Mirus Airlines gave a bribe for something, and it seems to have gone to the VIP through the chief of staff.

“The details of the request aren’t clear?”

–Yes. But looking at the current situation…

It would be revealed soon enough without him saying it.

This was a goner.

Kyung Dong-soo would have no choice but to be kicked out.

Then, should I abandon Kyung Dong-soo?

However, if this article breaks just a few hours after I received the call, he might misunderstand that I betrayed him.