The Inspector Is Getting Promoted! [EN]: Chapter 202

Prosecutor, You’re Going Places! – Episode 202 (202/341)

Trust in This Industry (5)

-Queen Investment’s Backer is Actually a Fraud?

-The Fraud of the Century, Jang Young-soon! Confesses Her Conscience… Will Do an Interview.

-Jang Young-soon Says: In Reality, I’m a Puppet of Politicians…

-South Korea Headed for Rock Bottom. Is the South Korean Political Scene Truly a Hotbed of Corruption?

Amidst the intense focus on the presidential election, the front page of the news was completely covered with new content.

This was because Jang Young-soon made a shocking revelation through a certain STC media outlet.

She declared that she was the backer of Queen Investment, and behind her were a presidential candidate and a powerful figure in the South Korean prosecution system.

She also revealed that an arrest warrant had been issued, and the police were tracking her down.

Reporters used their connections to confirm the facts, sensed that something significant was happening, and interest began to pour in rapidly.

To make matters even more interesting, she announced that she would hold a press conference to bear all of this and reveal the truth, so the media and the public had no choice but to focus their attention.

I didn’t think Jang Young-soon would back down so easily, but I was taken aback because I didn’t expect her to escalate things to this extent.

I wasn’t the only one reacting this way.

Looking at the movements of the election camp, Choi Gyu-hyun was also showing signs of panic.

It seemed they thought things would be wrapped up once Jang Young-soon was arrested.

As the time for Jang Young-soon’s announced press conference approached, I felt a sense of unease.

I tried to remain calm, but I couldn’t help but get up and pace around the office.

“Are you alright?”

Yoon Seol-ha came into the Deputy Director’s office with a cup of tea, looking concerned, but I couldn’t bring myself to drink it.

“It doesn’t seem like Jang Young-soon will just let this go.”

She cautiously nodded.

“Perhaps she’s determined to go all the way…”

“Yes. I think we need to brace ourselves. Jang Young-soon received something from us, so she’ll never try to end this halfway.”

Suddenly, the future text ‘Double-Edged Sword, Jang Young-soon’ flashed through my mind.

Was this what it meant?

If she escalated things to this extent, it meant that Jang Young-soon was prepared to lose everything when she attended the press conference.

In that case, her blade would be aimed at both Choi Gyu-hyun and me.

It’s certain that Choi Gyu-hyun will be hit hard by this.

Considering that it’s the election period, he’ll suffer much greater damage than I will.

Thinking about that, receiving money from Jang Young-soon was definitely not a wrong thing to do.

If I hadn’t joined hands with her, Choi Gyu-hyun would still be alive and well.

No, I should see it as something I did well.

However, this is only the case if I can safely get out of this swamp.

If I fall into this deep pit, it would be no different than digging my own grave.

I must survive.

At that moment, the TV screen changed, and the scene of the press conference began to be broadcast.

-Yes, hello. This is PBC breaking news.

As the announcer’s voice was heard, Yoon Seol-ha and I sat down on the sofa and fixed our eyes on the TV.

-The screen you are currently watching is the press conference venue designated by Jang Young-soon, who claims to be the backer of Queen Investment, to reveal everything, but she has not yet appeared.

Did she run away?

A disturbing thought flashed through my mind.

She might have drawn people’s attention to create a sense of crisis and then secretly contacted Choi Gyu-hyun to join hands again.

That would be the worst thing that could happen.

Because I might end up taking all the blame alone.

At that moment, a man wearing a hat pulled low over his eyes appeared at the press conference.

He walked leisurely and went up to the place prepared for Jang Young-soon.

Considering that he wasn’t stopped along the way, he probably wasn’t a stranger.

-Who are you?

The man opened his mouth with a nervous look in response to the reporter’s question.

-I was told to deliver this…

He awkwardly started speaking and connected a USB to the laptop.

Reporters and even the announcer were surprised and made startled noises.

Soon, Jang Young-soon’s face was projected on the laptop screen, and her video began to play.

-Hello, this is Jang Young-soon.

It was definitely her.

The angle seemed to prove that it was neither manipulated nor forcibly filmed.

-I thought it was right to meet you in person and speak to you, but I knew that the moment I entered the press conference hall, I would be arrested by the police and taken to jail without saying a word, so I’m conveying my voice in this way.

Yoon Seol-ha, who was watching from the side, crossed her arms and said,

“Wouldn’t it have been better to upload it to the internet? Oh, is it because she doesn’t know how due to her age?”

“Rather than that, it’s because gathering reporters in person and dropping the bomb like this creates much more buzz, so she’s using that.”

I refocused on the screen.

-After being released from prison last September, I decided to live with a repentant heart, volunteering and living with a righteous mind. However, just two months after I came out into society, I was called by a politician. That person is…

She paused for a moment before opening her mouth.

-Choi Gyu-hyun, the current presidential candidate of the Korea Party.

In an instant, a barrage of camera flashes erupted.

-He told me. He would give me Queen Investment, so I should approach a prosecutor and offer a bribe. If I did that, he said he would help me regain my position.

Jang Young-soon shook her head.

-I refused. I had deeply repented in prison and decided not to do bad things.

She pounded her chest with her fist as if frustrated.

-Then he threatened me. With his power, he could make someone like me rot in prison for the rest of my life.

As expected of a con artist, seeing her embellish the story so plausibly, I thought her speaking skills were no joke.

I knew it wasn’t true, but seeing her even put on a crying face, I was about to get immersed in it.

That’s why I was even more anxious.

Because the sparks would definitely fly to me.

-So I eventually accepted. And as he instructed…

She looked straight ahead and continued.

-I gave a bribe to Choi Seo-joon, the Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office.

Damn it.

What was coming had come.

I frowned and focused on the screen.

-While offering him a bribe of 10 billion won, I asked him to please help me escape from Choi Gyu-hyun’s clutches, but he only took the money and then wiped his mouth clean.

She pretended to tremble and continued.

-If politicians who commit illegal acts to eliminate their competitors through such threats and corrupt prosecutors can walk around with their heads held high, will justice ever prevail?

Jang Young-soon said a few more words appealing to the public before finishing her story.

-The evidence will be shown directly by the man.

The man who brought the USB awkwardly played a recording file.

The content of Choi Gyu-hyun’s instructions was recorded.

At the same time, photo data was released.

A scene of bringing a carrier containing 10 billion won worth of gift certificates and handing it to me.

Fortunately, there was no concrete evidence of what was inside the carrier.

However, Jang Young-soon glared and said.

-I will reveal secondary evidence at the next press conference.

Wait a minute, there’s more evidence?

-People of the Republic of Korea, please help ensure that justice prevails in South Korea.

With those words, her video ended.

At that moment, a reporter raised his hand and asked the man.

-What is your relationship with Jang Young-soon, the person who brought the USB?

-Ah, I’m an employee of a errand center [a service that performs various tasks for clients]. I was paid to bring it here, that’s all.

However, the police took him away.

They will investigate his connection with Jang Young-soon, but since there will be no suspicion, he will be released soon.

I picked up the remote control and turned off the TV.

Secondary evidence…

I don’t know what evidence is left about Choi Gyu-hyun, but the evidence about me must be something that proves that what was in the carrier was gift certificates.

She claims that the money she handed over was 10 billion won, but it can be refuted that it is absurd to say that only one carrier was handed over.

It’s impossible, so Jang Young-soon can lie.

However, if there is secondary evidence, the story is different.

If I refuted it for the above reasons and there was even a video of putting gift certificates in the carrier, my words would end up backfiring.

Because if I break the other person’s claim by saying it’s impossible, but then prove that it’s possible, it becomes self-contradictory.

That would make the situation quite difficult.

It’s natural to lose public sentiment because receiving bribes is no longer just a suspicion, and a concrete investigation will begin.

Choi Gyu-hyun will also be hit hard, but I will also suffer as much damage as him.

I didn’t know that Jang Young-soon would go this far, risking her life, even though he was backing her.

Was it because I took her too lightly, thinking of her as an old woman?

If I’m not careful, this could go beyond Choi Gyu-hyun going down the drain and even ruin me.

“Deputy Director, this is just my personal opinion, but…”

Yoon Seol-ha carefully opened her mouth.

“Wouldn’t it be a good idea to contact Choi Gyu-hyun?”

“Choi Gyu-hyun?”

“Yes. Maybe we can come up with a countermeasure together…”

At that moment, a brilliant idea flashed through my mind.

The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

It’s undeniable that Choi Gyu-hyun and I hate each other enough to want to kill each other, but if we can’t overcome this situation, we won’t be able to go to the next level, let alone keep each other in check.

There’s enough room to join hands.

And I came up with a good idea to stop Jang Young-soon.

“Yoon Seol-ha.”

“Yes, Deputy Director.”

“Spread rumors to the reporters. Say that Jang Young-soon was trying to commit fraud by running Queen Investment, but a problem arose, so she took the money and ran away. So, as the prosecution’s net was closing in, she’s deliberately lying to divert attention. Make it sound like that.”

“Understood.”

She bowed and left the office.

And I immediately called Choi Gyu-hyun on my cell phone.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

The signal kept ringing, but he didn’t answer the phone easily.

He must be wondering whether to answer or not.

But eventually, just before the call was about to be disconnected, Choi Gyu-hyun answered the phone.

-What’s the matter?

A prickly voice.

He wouldn’t be too happy to hear from me.

“It’s been a while, Assemblyman.”

-You wouldn’t be calling just to say hello… Looking at it now, you must be feeling uneasy too, so don’t beat around the bush and get straight to the point.

“That’s what I want.”

I smiled and said.

“Let’s join hands.”

-Me, with you?

He scoffed.

-I’d rather go into the fire alone than go with you…

“Listen, Choi Gyu-hyun.”

I interrupted him with a serious expression.

“If you don’t join hands with me now, we’ll both be defeated individually. Can you withstand the Democratic Party, the Manse Party [likely a minor political party], and the media tearing you apart?”

Even though Choi Gyu-hyun has a hot-tempered and eccentric personality, he is a veteran politician.

Even if he resents and hates me, he’s not the kind of person who would ruin things because of childish stubbornness.

As expected, he let out a deep sigh and asked.

-Is there a way?

“There is.”

I continued as if it were obvious.

“We use Jang Young-soon’s past record and biggest weakness.”

-Are you talking about her being a con artist?

“That’s right. Based on that, we use media play to lower Jang Young-soon’s credibility.”

-The script is coming out.

He let out a snort as if he liked it.

-A con artist who deceived the world is trying to deceive the public again by telling lies at a press conference.