The Inspector Is Getting Promoted! [EN]: Chapter 195

The Double-Edged Sword (1)

January 2025.

The new year of Eulsa arrived.

Line 2, aiming to refresh its atmosphere for the new year, moved its base from the VIP room, which was always on the 3rd basement floor, to a penthouse on the 45th floor of the same hotel.

The layout wasn’t much different from the VIP room on the 3rd basement floor, but the floor-to-ceiling glass windows offered a rather excellent view, reflecting the nightscape of Jongno [a major district in Seoul, South Korea].

Of course, the windows were heavily tinted, so there was no worry of being seen from the outside, but the clear view outwards made it feel quite open.

Considering that the Blue House [the executive office and official residence of the President of South Korea] and Gyeongbokgung Palace [the largest of Seoul’s Five Grand Palaces] are visible in the distance, it seems even better than the Dobby Hotel.

“It seems like I’m seeing you often these days.”

Assemblyman Seong Tae-hyun greeted me with a welcoming smile.

“Yes, I have some free time, so I come here often.”

That was true, as this was already the third time this week that I had shown my face at the Line.

It was partly because the urgent matter of Mirs Aviation had been completely resolved, but there was another reason why I had to come so often.

Namely, funds.

The money in my possession was slowly starting to run out.

I didn’t need to worry about anyone other than CEO Shin Dong-hyun in this by-election, so it wasn’t immediately urgent, but the presidential election was just around the corner.

The presidential election in April was only about 100 days away.

Even at any other time, the presidential election is a period when everyone is shaken, swayed by money, and countless conflicts begin to arise.

Now is the time to solidify relationships with those who are holding hands, by distributing funds and information, or to make empty promises in preparation for winning the next election.

However, even amidst all those events, Choi Gyu-hyun is still firmly positioned as the leading presidential candidate of the Korea Party, and his support base among the people is also firmly established.

It was a time full of danger that my people would be swayed by his influence.

To prevent that, I needed money.

Even if it’s someone directly connected to me, there’s nothing more effective than money for people who are holding hands through someone else.

That’s why I was showing my face at the Line and looking for people to open up the insufficient funding.

“Then, I hope you have a pleasant time today, Prosecutor.”

“You too, Mayor.”

I exchanged light greetings with Seong Tae-hyun and headed in different directions.

I had no intention of asking him for money at all.

The Hand of God is still working.

I shouldn’t give Seong Tae-hyun any room to take control from me.

I moved to a corner, took a sip of wine, and slowly surveyed the banquet hall.

As the presidential election approached, politicians, businessmen, and heads of numerous organizations gathered, filling the space with hustle and bustle.

I had to find someone among them who could be my source of funding.

Someone with ambition, but without greed.

Someone who would never mention my name even if problems arose.

In short, someone who could give me money without any strings attached.

But easier said than done, it was difficult to find such a person.

That’s why I had been anxiously coming to the Line for the past few days.

I still had some time until the by-election, but I needed to secure funds by March before it started.

Once the election campaign starts, I’ll have to move busily with the funds.

Therefore, I need to finish making contact within this January and coordinate within February.

That’s my goal.

How long had I been carefully examining the entrepreneurs with the feeling of opening my hawk eyes?

Suddenly, a man approached me.

“Hello, Prosecutor.”

“Yes.”

I lightly acknowledged the greeting and stared straight into his eyes.

As if he understood that I meant to reveal his identity, the man took out a business card from his pocket and handed it to me.

“Ah, I’m James Kim, CEO of Queen Investment.”

The business card he handed me accurately introduced him in English as James Kim, CEO of ‘Queen Investment’.

Queen Investment.

In Korean, it can be interpreted as Queen Investment Company.

It is one of the investment firms that is becoming a hot topic in the stock market these days.

The company is headquartered in the United States, but I only remembered that it deals with minor stocks, unlike the stocks generally traded in Korea.

I also saw this in the newspaper, so I don’t know the details, but the fact that this man is here at the Hill Consience Hotel proves that it is not an ordinary company.

I put the business card in my pocket and asked him.

“Nice to meet you.”

“Yes.”

I thought he would just say hello and leave, so I didn’t think much of it, but James Kim seemed to have a different idea.

Instead of moving on, he took a step closer to me with a glass of wine.

“If you’re not busy, I’d like to talk for a moment… Would that be okay?”

“I don’t think an investment firm would have anything to say to me.”

Seeing my indifferent attitude, James Kim cut to the chase, as if he thought subtlety wouldn’t work.

“I want to invest in you, Prosecutor.”

“Invest?”

“Yes.”

His eyes sparkled.

“Especially considering this presidential election, I think you might find it tempting, Prosecutor.”

James Kim waggled his eyebrows slyly.

Well, if he heard from someone else that I’ve been appearing at the Line frequently since December, he could probably guess that much.

Anyway, I was even more curious because he was the first person to rush in without looking back.

“Let’s hear it then.”

I pointed to the sofa in front of me with my chin.

James Kim obediently sat down there, and I sat on the window frame behind him.

Of course, I was looking down at him.

In addition, not sitting properly was an expression of my willingness to get up at any time if I wasn’t interested.

This level of taking the lead against a newbie is natural.

James Kim seemed used to it, and opened his mouth as if it were nothing.

“I would like to scout you as a model for our investment firm.”

I couldn’t help but let out a snort.

“You know that a prosecutor is a public official, right?”

“Of course.”

He joked.

“Even if I’ve been abroad, I’m still Korean. Of course, I’m an American citizen.”

“Then you know that a prosecutor can’t be a model.”

“That’s right.”

“If you know that, then there’s no need to talk anymore.”

Just as I was about to get up.

“4 billion won as a pure contract fee. 1 billion won per month for advertising fees. 6 months advance payment.”

James Kim raised his head and smiled brightly.

“Wouldn’t this be enough to have a conversation with you again, Prosecutor?”

He was saying that he would pay a whopping 10 billion won [approximately $7.5 million USD].

He’s a human who knows how to talk.

But there’s no need to be easily dragged along.

“It’s not about the money, I can’t be a model.”

When I moved two steps to the side, he opened his mouth again and explained.

“We will scout Han Ji-yu [the protagonist’s wife]. And we will indirectly use you as a model. Legally, of course, and even to the general public, it won’t be thought of as an advertising model.”

“You should have said that sooner.”

I raised the corners of my mouth and sat back on the window frame.

James Kim smiled faintly.

“Of course, Han Ji-yu will be officially scouted as an advertising model for our company. In that regard, we will contract based on Han Ji-yu’s usual model fee so that no problems arise at all.”

I crossed my arms and stared at him intently.

James Kim explained without the slightest hesitation.

“We will film an advertisement for Han Ji-yu and mention through interviews that her husband is also investing in Queen Investment and using it to manage his finances. This content will be spread through various channels such as the Internet and women’s magazines. In addition, we will expose it through rumors about the disclosure of transaction details.”

“10 billion won for such a model fee……”

It’s a huge offer.

In six months, the presidential election will be over, and SV Group, where CEO Shin Dong-hyun is, will be stabilized, so the funding will be opened up.

It could be a solid stepping stone to overcome the current anxiety and connect to Shin Dong-hyun.

It was very tempting.

That’s why I couldn’t help but be suspicious.

“It’s just a prosecutor, not someone else.”

I crossed my arms and leaned against the window.

“I don’t know how big Queen Invest is, but investing 10 billion won in someone like me is not credible at all, is it?”

If I deny that there is a reason here, I will immediately end the conversation.

If that’s the case, then eating this money is as good as being guaranteed to get indigestion.

“Hey, Prosecutor, you’re too quick-witted.”

He twisted the corners of his mouth slyly.

“It’s the presidential election.”

James Kim glanced around and leaned his upper body towards me.

“If the Min Guk Party wins the presidential election this time, please give us just one crumb.”

“I don’t like vague things.”

“Are you aware that the stocks that we, Queen Investment, deal with are minor?”

“Roughly.”

He opened his mouth seriously.

“The stocks we deal with are mainly penny stocks and delisted stocks. Penny stocks are fine, but it is very difficult to relist delisted stocks. We just want you to ease the regulations related to that a little bit.”

That was the purpose.

Listening to him, I remembered something I had forgotten from what I saw in the newspaper.

The social perception of Queen Investment is not good.

It is also called a gangster investment firm.

The fact that it is a company headquartered in the United States means that there is little information disclosed domestically, and secondly, it sells delisted stocks to make profits, which, frankly speaking, is the act of selling scraps of paper for money.

It is a kind of deception that deceives those who dream of a fortune with appropriately plausible words, such as inventing a certain technology or machine and applying for a patent in the United States, or developing a new drug and waiting for approval from the FDA [Food and Drug Administration], the US Food and Drug Administration.

Some people see it as fraud, but strictly speaking, it is legal.

It’s not difficult to get a patent; anyone can apply for a patent right now.

But if delisted stocks are relisted, it’s more than a jackpot, it’s making a fortune.

In this situation, regulations on relisting are eased?

Queen Investment will literally hit the upper limit.

The work they have been doing will be recognized, and it is obvious that they will sweep up all kinds of money.

Considering that, 10 billion won would seem like pocket change.

If he has these intentions, his offer is not bad.

However, the problem is if Assemblyman Jo Hyun-woong loses in the presidential election and Choi Gyu-hyun is elected.

Queen Investment will still remain a gangster investment firm, and there will be people who have antipathy towards me for indirectly promoting Queen Investment.

Queen Investment will definitely use Han Ji-yu and me as promotional models.

It may not be the majority, but it won’t be a number to ignore.

If there is even one extremely difficult person among them, it could become a headache.

It would be a kind of double-edged sword.

At that moment.

Buzz buzz.

Suddenly, my cell phone vibrated.

Even briefly, twice.

I had a feeling that I had to check it for some reason.

“Just a moment.”

I asked for his understanding and immediately took out my cell phone.

-Sender: 37