The Inspector Is Getting Promoted! [EN]: Chapter 225

Prosecutor, You’re Going Places! – Episode 225 (225/341)

Cause and Effect (1)

“Kim Bu-won, age 26. Originally from Geoje Island, he attended Huiyeon University for a year before dropping out. After his military service, he has been working as an MD [Merchandiser] at clubs.”

Deputy Chief Prosecutor Jang Ha-young briefed me while sitting next to me.

“This is the basic information sent by Prosecutor Nam Min-je. I have additional findings from my investigation…”

She continued, flipping through the tablet PC screen.

“Immediately after the Thunderbolt incident surfaced in the media, he used the money he had saved in his account, along with additional funds, to purchase a bar in Geoje Island.”

“Source of the additional funds?”

“According to our investigation, it doesn’t include bank loans or loans from third-tier financial institutions. He hasn’t been in contact with his parents for a long time, so there’s no source of funds from them.”

“Amount?”

“Tracing the missing money backward, it seems he received around 50 million won [approximately $37,000 USD].”

The answer was clear.

Even if he earned money through other means while working as a club MD, it’s not easy for an ordinary person to hide 50 million won.

If such a large sum of money suddenly appeared, the answer is obvious.

Kim Bu-won knows something about this case, and KM Group paid him money to keep his mouth shut.

Deputy Chief Prosecutor Jang Ha-young carefully turned off the tablet PC screen and opened her mouth.

“He seems hesitant to testify because he used this money.”

“He must also be worried about retaliation from KM Group.”

“That’s right.”

Considering this situation, even if he came all the way to Seoul, he might return to Geoje Island without revealing the truth if things go wrong.

Even if he doesn’t talk here, he won’t lose anything.

So, the outcome depends on how I persuade him.

I need to talk to him calmly so he can open up.

“Where is Prosecutor Nam Min-je now?”

“He landed at Gimpo Airport a little while ago, so he should arrive within 30 minutes.”

“That’s soon. We should go and wait for him first.”

I said, looking at the driver’s seat.

“Investigator Park, please hurry a bit.”

“Understood.”

***

A luxury hotel in Gwanghwamun [a major business and historical district in Seoul].

After waiting for a while in the premier room, the door opened, and Kim Bu-won and Prosecutor Nam Min-je arrived.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Choi Seo-joon.”

“Ah…”

Kim Bu-won, upon seeing me, let out a short exclamation and bowed his head.

“Hello.”

“Please, sit down.”

“Yes.”

I guided him to a seat and said to the prosecutors,

“Could you give us some privacy?”

“Please contact us when you’re done.”

Prosecutor Nam Min-je and Deputy Chief Prosecutor Jang Ha-young nodded and left the room.

Kim Bu-won muttered, ‘That’s a relief,’ but he still couldn’t shake off the uneasy feeling in his heart, and his expression was filled with worry.

“Have a cup of tea.”

I personally brewed green tea and handed it to him.

“Thank you.”

“You don’t have to be so nervous.”

I leaned back on the sofa with a friendly smile.

“I won’t rush you, so please speak when you feel comfortable.”

Kim Bu-won nodded silently.

How much time had passed?

He opened his mouth only after almost emptying his teacup.

“I was so anxious on the way here, wondering if it might be…”

“Are you worried that someone from KM Group might be watching?”

“Yes. I was worried that they might have sent someone to test whether I would keep the secret or not.”

“It’s okay now. We’ll have someone from our side accompany you when you go out for the time being, so you don’t have to worry about that.”

“Thank you. Really.”

Kim Bu-won put down his teacup and opened his mouth.

“Actually, I wasn’t planning to say anything. But Prosecutor Nam told me that the situation is quite bad.”

It seems Prosecutor Nam Min-je exaggerated to persuade him.

I had no intention of correcting him.

The more urgent he seems, the more likely Kim Bu-won will open his mouth.

I should agree with him.

“Ah, yes. That’s right.”

“I heard that if things continue as they are, neither the fake perpetrator nor the real culprit will be punished…”

“That’s right.”

I nodded with a miserable expression.

“There is a perpetrator, but if we can’t identify one person, it’s impossible to punish anyone.”

I carefully added.

“In a real case, in the Itaewon homicide case [a famous unsolved murder case in Seoul], Edward Lee and Arthur John Patterson were named as suspects, but one of them is definitely the culprit. However, because one person could not be identified, both were found not guilty.”

Of course, the Itaewon homicide case was successfully reinvestigated after 10 years, and the real culprit, who had fled to the United States, was arrested and sentenced to 20 years in prison.

However, I shouldn’t tell this story to shake his heart even more.

“Moreover, in the Hollister Mansion murders in the United States, it was certain that one of the two suspects was the culprit, but because one person could not be identified, both were acquitted.”

I dropped my head in despair and continued.

“It’s the same this time. Heinous crimes like aggravated rape cannot be punished without clear evidence.”

I even shook my fist in agony.

“The victim exists, and we know that Hong Tae-min is the real culprit, but the fact that we can’t punish him makes me feel so ashamed and miserable as a prosecutor…”

At that moment, Kim Bu-won carefully asked.

“Prosecutor, did you just say Hong Tae-min?”

“Yes. The vice president of KM Group, Hong Tae-min, is likely the real culprit. No, I’m sure of it.”

When I carefully raised my head, I saw Kim Bu-won biting his lip.

He was seriously contemplating.

If I nudge him a little more here, he will definitely open his mouth.

I clutched my chest with a feeling of regret.

“I’m so sorry to the victim. They must be much angrier and more upset than I am, but I can’t help…”

After letting out a deep sigh, I continued.

“If there was evidence… no, even a small hint, we could somehow punish the culprit…”

At that moment.

Kim Bu-won, as if he had made up his mind, resolutely raised his head.

“Prosecutor.”

He continued in a determined voice.

“I’ll tell you.”

“Really?”

Only then did I carefully meet his eyes.

“Yes. But please, Prosecutor, realize justice.”

Yes!

“Prove that money isn’t everything in South Korea. Bring the hammer of justice down on those criminals.”

“I will.”

I answered firmly.

“I promise, in the name of Choi Seo-joon, I will catch those guys and throw them in jail.”

Belief filled Kim Bu-won’s eyes.

“I’m so relieved that there are clean and capable people like you, Prosecutor. You’re a national hero.”

“You flatter me.”

“I mean it.”

He smiled lightly and began to tell his story in earnest.

“So, on the day of the incident, I received an order from my team leader. And…”

***

“Take this service to VIP room number 3.”

Kim Bu-won, who received the bottle of liquor, asked with a surprised expression.

“This?”

However, the team leader frowned and got angry.

“Can’t you see I’m busy? Don’t ask questions.”

“Yes, I’m sorry.”

“The people there are VIPs among VIPs, so don’t upset them. Just deliver the liquor and come out.”

“Understood.”

Kim Bu-won nodded and left the staff room with the liquor carefully held in his arms.

Doubt continued to fill his mind as he headed to the VIP room.

‘They’re giving a 30-year-old Ballantine’s as a service?’

The 30-year-old Ballantine’s is one of the three most expensive liquors at Thunderbolt.

The selling price alone was a whopping 3 million won [approximately $2,200 USD].

But they’re giving it as a service, so Kim Bu-won couldn’t help but widen his eyes.

‘It seems like they’re among the top VIPs?’

Somehow, curiosity swelled.

‘Should I take a look at who it is?’

He thought he could get a decent tip if he was in charge of this table, but he soon dismissed the idea.

VIP room number 3 is the team leader’s responsibility.

The team leader was so busy that Kim Bu-won was just bringing the service, but usually, the team leader took care of it.

Before long, he arrived at his destination.

“Hoo.”

He took a short breath and knocked on the door.

Knock knock.

Then, he immediately went in, smiling brightly, and held out the 30-year-old Ballantine’s in his arms.

“The team leader is giving this as a service…”

“What?”

A man in his 40s shouted irritably.

“Why are you coming in without permission!”

“No, this is directly from our team leader…”

“Guard!”

He shouted outside.

“Didn’t I tell you not to let anyone in!”

The guard, who had been away for a while, hurriedly ran from behind.

“I’m sorry. I had to go to the bathroom urgently…”

“Take him out quickly.”

“Ah, this liquor first…”

Kim Bu-won carefully handed the 30-year-old Ballantine’s whiskey to the man in his 40s.

But then.

As he took another step to hand over the liquor, he found two men and women entangled in the corner.

The man was busy lowering his pants while holding a cell phone at a strange angle in one hand, and the woman was sprawled out, drunk.

In fact, at first glance, Kim Bu-won tried not to take it seriously.

Seeing so-called ‘passed out’ people in the club’s VIP room was not uncommon.

But something was strange.

‘It doesn’t seem like she’s just drunk…’

Rather than just being drunk, the woman was completely limp and slumped on the chair as if she was collapsing.

Moreover, the man next to her didn’t even know that Kim Bu-won had come in.

‘Is she drugged?’

Looking at the man’s eyes slightly turning over, it seemed like he was drugged, but he wasn’t sure.

But that was only for a moment.

Thwack!

The guard, who came in late, grabbed Kim Bu-won’s arm and dragged him out of the VIP room.

***

“That’s all I saw.”

These crazy bastards.

Not only did they drug the victim with GHB [gamma-hydroxybutyrate, a central nervous system depressant often used as a date rape drug], but they were also drugged themselves.

This guy, just by listening, it’s clear he’s done this more than once or twice.

After this blew up, they probably gave money to shut him up.

I took out Heo Seung-geon’s photo from my pocket and showed it to him.

“Is this the man who kicked Kim Bu-won out?”

“Ah, yes. That’s right.”

“Then…”

This time, I took out Hong Tae-min’s photo and showed it to him.

“Is this the man who was entangled with the woman?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

There’s no way to deny it.

This is 100 percent.

“Ah, and.”

Kim Bu-won pointed to Director Heo Seung-geon’s photo and said.

“This person gave me money. As a fee to keep my mouth shut. He said he would give me 50 million won and told me to go down to the countryside for two years.”

Hearing that, the corners of my mouth twisted on their own.

Now all the pieces are falling into place.

If I get a little more here…

Wait a minute.

One of the facts Kim Bu-won mentioned flashed through my mind.

“You said Hong Tae-min was holding a cell phone?”

“Yes. At a strange angle…”

He tilted his head and added.

“Yes. It felt like he was filming a video with one hand.”

Instantly, I clenched my fist without realizing it.

I found it.

Evidence.