The Inspector Is Getting Promoted! [EN]: Chapter 234

Showtime for the Prosecutor! – Episode 234

Showdown (5)

“Check the video saved on the phone, investigate the reporter’s direct supervisor and the affiliated media company to find out what route connects them to Park Jae-pil.”

As soon as I entered the prosecutor’s office, I took off my coat and gave instructions to Yoon Seol-ha.

“Contact Investigator Gong and tell him to warn Deputy Chief Prosecutor Lee Doo-hyung to prevent similar incidents from happening again.”

“Understood.”

I let out a deep sigh and sank into my chair.

I wasn’t worried about raising my voice in front of the reporter.

Since assault is a crime that cannot be prosecuted against the victim’s will [meaning the victim has to press charges], there was no way they could amplify the situation, no matter how much they wanted to blow it up.

The problem is Deputy Chief Prosecutor Lee Doo-hyung.

On the way here, I heard that his daughter’s surgery was fortunately successful and she could fully recover with time, but it’s only a matter of time before an article comes out about him shouting at the hospital.

Even though we have the reporter’s phone, we can’t legally delete or manipulate the video.

Therefore, if the assault charge doesn’t stick, the phone will eventually be returned to the reporter, and the video he took will be released through the media.

I succeeded in delaying the release of the article, but I haven’t yet come up with a countermeasure.

I need to come up with a solution to this situation before returning the phone to him.

That’s how I won’t get caught up in Park Jae-pil’s scheme.

What’s certain is that Park Jae-pil, having already been to prison once, will be even more determined and aggressive, and with the addition of the Polar Bear, they won’t easily leak evidence.

Even if we track down the two kindergarten teachers, it will be almost impossible to find a connection to Park Jae-pil unless we turn them to our side.

In the end, time is on their side.

If we can’t find the link between them, we’ll be the ones being dragged around by them as soon as the article breaks.

That can’t happen.

So, what should I do?

What can I do to grab them by the neck?

I thought about whether the kindergarten teachers might make a mistake even if Park Jae-pil doesn’t, but they’re acting on the orders of a mad dog from the start.

They will never leave a trace that Park Jae-pil was involved…

No, wait a minute.

If we interpret the fact that we can’t find any traces of them in reverse, it means they’re not showing themselves openly.

We might be able to use this to our advantage.

A vague picture began to form in my head.

If sharpened well, it could become a move that threatens the mad dog’s life.

I immediately picked up the phone.

“Call Department Head Jang Ha-young.”

-Understood.

I closed my eyes tightly after hearing the answer from Secretary Jo Ah-ra.

I began to piece together the fragments that vaguely came to mind.

What’s certain in this situation is that if we are determined and rush in, Park Jae-pil’s people won’t be able to appear near the kindergarten teachers.

If we catch their tail, the tables will turn in an instant.

We have to use this.

First of all, the problematic kindergarten teacher and the principal are boldly asserting their innocence in front of Deputy Chief Prosecutor Lee Doo-hyung, without even thinking of running away or hiding.

Even if the Western District Prosecutor’s Office is behind them, they should know that stimulating Lee Doo-hyung in that way will put them in a bad position.

Yet, they are not stopping and are stimulating Lee Doo-hyung under Park Jae-pil’s orders.

There is only one reason to explain this.

They haven’t received the promised reward from the mad dog yet.

Looking at how far they’re moving, it’s likely to be money, not other rewards.

No, it’s certain.

That’s why they’re moving like this to get it.

But what if we prevent them from receiving the money?

If we narrow the legal encirclement even further, they will surely panic.

If we use that, we might be able to reverse the situation.

No, we have to make it happen.

Knock knock.

Department Head Jang Ha-young seems to have arrived while I was drawing up the scenario.

“Come in.”

The door opened, and Jang Ha-young came inside.

“You called, Chief Prosecutor?”

I started talking when she came up to me.

“How many investigators are available right now?”

“About fifteen. Except for urgent cases due to what happened to Deputy Chief Prosecutor Lee Doo-hyung, everyone is on standby here, so more additional personnel will be reinforced.”

“You roughly know the situation Deputy Chief Prosecutor Lee Doo-hyung is in with this case, right?”

“Yes. I heard from the investigator who followed him to the hospital a little while ago.”

“Assign people to the problematic kindergarten teacher and the principal. Monitor them 24 hours a day. But, their movements must be openly revealed.”

She tilted her head and asked.

“Are you saying to move in a way that they can notice?”

“That’s right.”

I said firmly.

“But even if they notice, they must never shake us off or escape the surveillance net.”

“Understood.”

She quickly organized her thoughts and answered.

“I will assign a total of 12 people, 6 to each of them.”

“Okay. Proceed in three shifts, but make sure two people are by their side at all times. Keep the two who are monitoring separate from each other so that there are no gaps.”

That way, even if one misses something, the other will continue to track them.

“Yes. I will carry out your instructions.”

She maintained the order of command and cautiously asked.

“May I know the Chief Prosecutor’s intention?”

“It’s to prevent them from contacting the outside.”

The moment she heard those words, Prosecutor Jang Ha-young understood my intention.

“Your purpose is to make them uneasy.”

“That’s right.”

If we continue to narrow the encirclement, they will not only fail to receive compensation from Park Jae-pil, but also lose the route to contact them.

The more their breath is held, the more impatient they will become.

Even if they are veterans who have been playing in this field for a long time, ordinary people hired for this job will not be able to withstand this situation.

In that situation, if we throw them a carrot just before they self-destruct, the probability of them crossing over to our side is very high.

I twisted the corners of my mouth into a smirk.

“Move as quickly as possible.”

***

“Doo-hyung.”

As I entered the hospital room, Lee Doo-hyung, who was holding his daughter’s hand tightly, slowly turned his head.

“…Ah, Chief Prosecutor.”

It had only been half a day, but Lee Doo-hyung had become very haggard.

“Oh, sit down.”

I approached him, signaling him to sit down as he tried to get up to see me.

“How’s So-young doing?”

“Yes. She fell asleep a little while ago.”

“How’s your wife?”

“She said she’ll have to stay here for a long time, so she went home to get some clothes to change into…”

As soon as he said that, the door to the hospital room opened and Lee Doo-hyung’s wife came in.

“Chief Prosecutor, you’re here?”

She also had a very tired face.

“I’m sorry that I can’t be of comfort when you must be very worried.”

“No, I’m grateful just for you coming in person.”

After comforting her, I cautiously asked.

“Can I talk to Doo-hyung for a moment?”

“Yes. I’ll watch the child, so take your time.”

“Thank you.”

I left her and went outside the hospital with Lee Doo-hyung.

As soon as we arrived at the smoking area, he put a cigarette in his mouth, and I lit it for him myself for once.

“You’ve been through a lot.”

He couldn’t deny it and took a puff of the cigarette.

“I heard from Investigator Gong. Thank you for stopping the article from breaking earlier… Thank you.”

“It’s only natural, why are you being so formal.”

“I’m sorry. I’m a Deputy Chief Prosecutor, but I got so excited that I couldn’t distinguish between public and private matters.”

I patted him on the shoulder.

“I would have done the same.”

Lee Doo-hyung smoked one cigarette and put another one in his mouth.

He exhaled a cloud of cigarette smoke and then opened his mouth with difficulty.

“So-young woke up for a while after the surgery earlier.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. But she said she was worried about those teachers and that they were coming. I tried to refuse, but her mother said that the teachers could still reflect on their guilt for not protecting her, so she told me to let them in. I followed my wife’s words. But…”

The hand holding his cigarette began to tremble.

“The awakened So-young saw that kindergarten teacher… I don’t even want to call them teachers. She saw that bitch’s face and trembled in fear.”

Lee Doo-hyung continued in a choked voice.

“She grabbed her mother’s sleeve tightly with her little hand and buried her face in it.”

It hurts my heart just to hear it.

As a parent with children, I knew without being told how painful and guilty it is to not be able to protect your child.

“When I saw that, my heart ached so much…”

Lee Doo-hyung’s emotions welled up again, and half of his face convulsed as tears began to fall.

“When I thought about how much pain and fear that young child must have felt, my heart was so heavy.”

I just hugged him without saying a word.

Lee Doo-hyung said with a trembling voice.

“Chief Prosecutor, to be honest, right now I want to give up on promotions and everything else, find those damn bitches, and kill them.”

“I understand, Doo-hyung.”

He buried his face in my chest and began to sob.

I didn’t say anything more and just stroked his back to comfort him.

“Doo-hyung.”

He answered with difficulty, hiccuping.

“Yes, Chief Prosecutor.”

“I’ll take care of it. I know your heart well enough, and I know how resentful you are. But if you react emotionally here, you’ll be caught up in their intentions.”

“…I know.”

“Take a few days off until So-young recovers. I’ll catch all those sons of bitches and take care of them, so trust me and wait a little longer.”

Lee Doo-hyung wiped away his tears with the back of his hand.

“I will do that.”

He nodded with difficulty, exhaling.

“If I move in my current state, it will only be a burden.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

He reached out his arms, grabbed my hands, and said.

“Please catch those bastards. I really won’t have the face to see So-young anymore if things stay like this.”

“Okay. Don’t worry.”

I patted his arm with my other hand.

“I’ll make those bastards kneel down and apologize in front of you… no, in front of So-young.”