The Inspector Is Getting Promoted! [EN]: Chapter 24

New World (2)

“You’re saying you’ll help me?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

I had to be sure.

He might just be saying it to smooth things over.

“You and I both know that covering this up isn’t worth a lifetime commitment.”

“I never promised a lifetime.”

He regained his composure.

“If our interests align and we have the capabilities, we go together. Of course, assuming neither of us collapses.”

A chaebol [a large South Korean business conglomerate], an absolute power.

In Korea, he was unshakeable.

I could feel the aura emanating from that confidence.

Indeed, a chaebol is a chaebol.

Of course, there was no need to be intimidated.

We were both in a position where we needed each other.

At least at this table, there was no superior or inferior.

And I, too, was confident that I would never collapse.

“I don’t think I’ll fall. As long as Juok Group is strong, we can go together for life.”

“That’s what I expect. That’s why I’m saying this. I don’t make this offer to just anyone.”

He looked at the empty seat where Kang Hyun-soo had been sitting.

“The prosecutor’s office in our country is corrupt. Everyone I’ve met only looks at my wallet and bows. Most of them are only thinking about how to take money from my pocket to fill their own bellies, what to do to please me, and how to become my close aide.”

He withdrew his pathetic gaze from Kang Hyun-soo’s empty seat and looked at me, speaking almost like a confession.

“Actually, I’ve been investigating you for the past few days. I even had you followed.”

I knew I was being followed, but I didn’t know I was being investigated.

But I answered calmly.

“I knew.”

Lee Cheol-yong couldn’t hide his surprise.

“You are indeed impressive.”

“So, did your investigation turn up anything?”

“Yes. You’re different from the other prosecutors. Most prosecutors are obsessed with trivial things. They have the power to destroy a company, but they’re happy to put a leash on themselves for a luxury watch, a handbag, or a small amount of money. But Prosecutor Choi, you don’t do that.”

My rejection of the 200 million Kang Hyun-soo offered must have made an impact.

“Most importantly, unlike them, you have ambition. I liked that you were trying to achieve your ambition with your own ability, rather than bowing to someone and trying to get scraps. Above all, your ability is outstanding enough to support that ambition, which is even more of a merit.”

He likes me, huh?

That doesn’t sound very pleasant.

It means he’s evaluating me.

“Become my man. Then I’ll help you reach your desired goal.”

“Your man? I can’t stand being under anyone. I especially avoid being evaluated by others.”

As soon as I said that, he seemed to realize his mistake and immediately corrected himself.

“Ah, I apologize if that sounded offensive. Let me rephrase that. Join hands with me.”

Of course, he didn’t actually reach out his hand.

Instead, he asked something else.

“How much did Cheolgi give you?”

Instead of asking what information I gave, he asked how much I received.

It felt like being hit by a fastball right in the body.

I struggled to hide my admiration for Lee Cheol-yong’s boldness.

This is the true face of a chaebol.

Was that why he came himself instead of sending his chief of staff?

Anyway, he’s an amazing person.

No wonder Juok Group is leaning towards the eldest son.

“That’s a trade secret.”

“I’ll give you five times whatever it was.”

The money I received from Vice Chairman Lee Cheol-gi was 1.2 billion.

Five times that is a whopping 6 billion.

Even if you win the lottery, you might not get 1 billion, but just for standing in line, you get 6 billion.

When the water you play in changes, the fish around you also change.

“Five times.”

I was so surprised by the large amount that I muttered to myself, but Lee Cheol-yong seemed to misunderstand that I said it was too little, and he raised the amount again.

“I’ll give you ten times.”

“Hahaha.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at the unrealistic amount.

“I thought you said just a moment ago that you saw me as someone who doesn’t chase after money.”

“There’s a difference between chasing after it and just receiving it. Is there anyone on Earth who would dislike their pockets getting full?”

A sly smile appeared on his lips.

The experience of his late 40s.

The fighting spirit he had used to survive the bloody battles in the chaebol family for so long was evident on his face.

“Can you handle ten boxes [slang for 10 billion won]?”

I casually threw out the amount, but he answered calmly.

“What else would someone who plays with money have besides money? Consider it a down payment and use it comfortably. Today is just the beginning.”

There was no sign of regret on his face.

He didn’t even look like someone who had just spent 10 billion, no, 12 billion.

I struggled to suppress the urge to investigate how much slush fund he had.

Instead of giving a positive answer, I picked up my fork and knife.

“I don’t have to worry about getting my head chopped off by the Kim Young-ran Act [an anti-corruption law in South Korea] today.”

I cut the steak and put it in my mouth.

It tasted like it was made from Hanwoo veal [premium Korean beef], melting in my mouth.

After swallowing it, I put down my fork, and Vice Chairman Lee Cheol-yong reached out his hand.

“I look forward to working with you.”

I finally shook hands with him.

“Your car will be heavy on the way home.”

His face was filled with both ease and satisfaction.

After shaking hands, he immediately got up from his seat.

“I’m sorry, but I have a night schedule, so I have to get going.”

“I’ll get up too.”

“No. Department Head Kang Hyun-soo will be coming in, so please enjoy your meal. Kang said he has a separate gift prepared for you, Prosecutor Choi, so it would be good if you received it before you leave.”

“A gift?”

“Yes. I don’t know what it is either. Kang is a friend who likes secrets.”

Looking at his face, he really didn’t seem to know what the gift was.

Could it be related to Yoon Seol-ha?

“Have a good time.”

“Yes.”

Just before we bowed to each other and he was about to leave, I stopped him again.

“Vice Chairman.”

“Yes, Prosecutor.”

“Watch the news in two days. I’ll give you a gift too.”

“A gift?”

“Yes, look forward to it. You’ll know when you see the news.”

A curious smile appeared on his face.

“The greater the anticipation for a gift, the greater the joy when you receive it.”

“Go in.”

“Yes.”

Not long after he left, Department Head Kang Hyun-soo came in with a bright smile.

“Wow, Prosecutor Choi, you’re very wise. Changing your judgment according to the situation is the mark of a true intellectual.”

You stupid bastard.

I didn’t change my judgment according to the situation; I made the decision from the beginning.

And I changed the flow of the game to make it happen as I thought.

How can such a guy be a department head? It’s pathetic.

If it had been this guy instead of Deputy Department Head Park Seung-soo who was above me, I would have been able to snatch the department head position within three years, surpassing the ranks.

It’s just a shame.

Hiding my emotions, I cut the steak.

“Let’s eat.”

“Okay. The food here is excellent. I’m always amazed every time I come.”

Sometimes, huh?

I don’t know if this guy is coming at his own expense, to receive hospitality, or to make secret deals like today.

He’s such a dirty human being who lives by taking money, so how can I know?

“You’ve also chosen your line well. You’ll see when you come under me, but our line is very…”

Kang Hyun-soo’s words began to grate on my ears.

This guy seems to be mistaken that I’ve gone under him.

“Department Head.”

I interrupted him.

“I joined hands with Vice Chairman Lee Cheol-yong, not with you.”

“What?”

Kang Hyun-soo’s brow furrowed.

But I continued without paying attention.

“I can release the photos at any time before I cross over.”

“You think I’ll just die quietly? I can die with you as a water ghost [a vengeful spirit]!”

I said coldly to him, who was threatening me.

“Do you think you can do that?”

“……”

He gritted his teeth.

He can’t.

He absolutely can’t.

If he kills me as a water ghost, he has to unconditionally drag the vice chairman in with him.

But besides what I know, he must have received a tremendous amount from Lee Cheol-yong, so there’s no way Lee Cheol-yong would just stand by and take it.

By joining hands with Lee Cheol-yong just now, my background has naturally been created.

“Start by understanding the situation. Do you still think I’m under you?”

I could see the anger rising from the bottom of Kang Hyun-soo’s heart, but he suppressed it and calmed down.

No matter how well he rode the line to get to where he is, he’s still the head of the special investigation department.

As if proving that he didn’t just get there by riding the line, he immediately made a decision and asked me.

“What do you want?”

“I don’t know.”

“……”

After a brief silence, he opened his mouth.

“The deputy department head position in the special investigation department is vacant.”

Wait a minute.

Is today the day that becomes the reason I moved to the special investigation department as the deputy department head in the future text?

The sender of the text was 34, and my current age is thirty.

I’ve been in the deputy department head position for 4 years, so it’s the perfect timing.

But the problem is that I’ll be abandoned in 4 years.

There’s no way I would have been taken advantage of by this transparent Kang Hyun-soo.

Something must have gone wrong at the top.

There’s a good chance that I was caught with a weakness, as I saw in the text.

Because he would have had a stronger position than me in the line connected to Juok Group.

Kang Hyun-soo said as if he was doing me a favor.

“If I move up to the chief prosecutor position after you come, I promise to hand over the department head position to you intact.”

The deputy department head position in the special investigation department.

It’s one of the three major positions in the Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Office, and it’s a promotion to a higher position than now.

Even if I stay in the audit department, the deputy department head position is not guaranteed.

It’s a situation where I have to compete for the position.

Seeing that I was hesitant, he began to persuade me sweetly.

“Of course, you know that you’re in the high prosecutor’s line. But you know, the high prosecutor’s position is a retirement course. That high prosecutor is upright and firm, so he doesn’t lobby the higher-ups. In two years, he’s not going into the government, but literally retiring. Then who is in your line?”

Kang Hyun-soo’s words were direct and blatant.

And they were right.

Even if I get to the deputy department head position somehow, if the high prosecutor retires in two years, at best, my line will be Park Seung-soo, who is scheduled to become a department head.

Even if I join hands with Vice Chairman Lee Cheol-yong, I can’t use my power unless I go higher.

I’m confident that I won’t collapse, but that’s not enough.

It’s not just about having money, you have to grab a line.

“If the chief prosecutor goes to the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office this time, our line will take over not only the Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Office but also the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office. Promotion is only a matter of time, you know?”

The deputy department head position in the special investigation department.

“If you’re worried about that Im Sung-jin guy, you don’t have to worry. No one treats a guy who’s fallen out of this world.”

I’m not worried about that at all.

Chief Prosecutor Im Joo-young, who was Im Sung-jin’s direct line, said that himself and tried to recruit me.

“I’ll think about it.”

Only then did a smile spread across Kang Hyun-soo’s lips.

“Okay. Think positively and don’t be too late. The deputy department head position won’t be vacant forever.”

The future text told me that I would do something that would get me caught by him and have my weaknesses exposed.

But if I know this in advance and pay attention, there won’t be a problem.

It’s stupid to get caught even though you know.

Rather, if I go into the special investigation department and collect data, there will be room for a counterattack.

It might be easier to drive Kang Hyun-soo out of the crisis and rise to the position of department head in the special investigation department.

As I was finishing my meal, I put down my knife and asked.

“I heard you prepared a gift.”

“Ah, that’s right. I almost forgot because I was talking so passionately.”

He gave a sly smile and took something out of his pocket.

He immediately got up from his seat and put it in my chest pocket.

“Have a good time.”

Then he patted me on the shoulder and left first.

What is it?

After he left, I got up from my seat and checked my pocket, and it turned out to be a card key.

And it’s a card key for this Dobby Hotel.

36th floor, right below the penthouse on the top floor.

It’s probably a luxury room.

Considering that he said to have a good time, it’s probably that.

If you avoid it, you’ll end up being chased.

You have to grab their weaknesses first and shake them.

You have to go up.

I’m not going to enjoy myself; I’m going to grab Kang Hyun-soo’s leash.

There will definitely be a gap.