The Inspector Is Getting Promoted! [EN]: Chapter 248

A Prosecutor’s Rise to Success! – Episode 248

Foundation (3)

At my words, Lee Doo-hyung dropped the cigarette he was holding onto the floor.

There was no way he wouldn’t know what Yeouido [the political center of South Korea, where the National Assembly is located] meant.

A member of the National Assembly.

“Are you telling me to run for… an election?”

“Yes.”

I took out a new cigarette and placed it in his mouth.

“There will be a by-election next spring. The district is Seongwang-dong.”

Even though there was discord between Sung Tae-hyun and me, Shin Dong-hyun would run in the Seoul mayoral election as planned.

As a result, the National Assembly seat in Seongwang-dong would become vacant, and the goal is for Lee Doo-hyung to fill that position.

There’s a reason why I’m sending Lee Doo-hyung to the National Assembly.

First, it’s undeniable that my influence has diminished because our line has split and become divided. To increase my power even a little, I must take over Seongwang-dong, a political district.

And second.

This is the most important thing.

Even after breaking up with Sung Tae-hyun, if I can get my person elected as a member of the National Assembly, I can prove that Choi Seo-joon is still going strong.

Only then can I attract the people from Line 2 who are contemplating, and fight on equal terms with Sung Tae-hyun.

However, perhaps because it was an unexpected situation, Lee Doo-hyung couldn’t hide his troubled expression.

“If you, Prosecutor General, are saying so, of course, I will go… But I have never thought about the political world, and I don’t have any experience, so I don’t know if I can do well.”

It wasn’t that he was uncomfortable with my opinion, but that he was genuinely worried.

I put my arm around his shoulder.

“There’s nothing to be afraid of. The political arena and the prosecution are the same. This country is smaller than you think. The people you see here will be there, and the methods won’t be much different.”

“If you help me, Prosecutor General… But can I even get elected if I go? I know Seongwang-dong is a very competitive place….”

“That’s why I’m telling you to go. The only districts where a first-term lawmaker can wield power are Jongno and Seongwang-dong.”

Expectation and anxiety were mixed on Lee Doo-hyung’s face.

If he could wear the badge [become a lawmaker], the National Assembly would be much better than the prosecution, but Seongwang-dong, of all places, is a place where the district changes every election.

That’s why he himself isn’t sure.

“To be honest, if it’s not this election, the timing for you to enter the political world will not come again.”

“Are you saying….”

I carefully brought up the story.

“Don’t misunderstand, I’m not trying to use the dead So-young. But it’s very rare for a single prosecutor to receive so much attention, sympathy, pity, and compassion, isn’t it?”

Lee Doo-hyung nodded silently.

He would know that there was no malice in my words.

In fact, Prosecutor Lee Doo-hyung was receiving pitiful glances from many people.

The sight of him struggling and weeping after his daughter, So-young, died unfairly spread through social media, and he was receiving tremendous applause and support just for overcoming the long pain and returning to the prosecution.

“If I quit less than a month after returning and jump into politics, wouldn’t people think negatively of me?”

“No, Doo-hyung.”

I lightly shook my head.

“People are simpler than you think. They are swayed by what they see on the outside and a few words spoken around them, and they hold it deep in their hearts as if it were their own thoughts.”

“…Ah.”

“You’re not quitting because you want to do politics. You really tried to return to the prosecution and live somehow, but So-young’s face kept coming to mind, making it difficult to continue.”

This was true.

I knew that Lee Doo-hyung was trying to appear as calm as possible in front of me after returning to the prosecution, but he was still struggling inside.

In fact, I knew how much he was struggling by meeting his wife, and I also knew that he had started to take an interest in children’s rights.

But I couldn’t possibly not know that he was staying by my side, assisting me, because he couldn’t leave me.

That’s why I decided that it would be better for him to work for children in the National Assembly than to be in the prosecution, and it would be good for me too.

“I’m not saying you should enter the National Assembly and become my puppet. You can do what you want to do, implement policies.”

“…Prosecutor General.”

“That’s what you can do for So-young in heaven.”

Lee Doo-hyung tried to remain calm, but his expression began to distort as he couldn’t bear it any longer.

Unable to hold back his tears, he bowed his head and wiped them away.

“Thank you. And I’m sorry.”

I hugged him silently and patted his back.

“I know how hard it must have been. I know you went to see So-young every day after work.”

“…I will go. For So-young… for my other two daughters, I will go to Yeouido.”

“Okay.”

Department Head Jang Ha-young, who was close to Lee Doo-hyung, would know what he was feeling.

That’s why she raised her head high to hold back her tears.

“Go home early today and talk to your wife.”

I handed him a handkerchief.

“I understand.”

He sniffled and wiped away his tears with the handkerchief.

“I’ll go in first.”

“Okay.”

After Lee Doo-hyung went inside the building, Department Head Jang Ha-young said with a pitiful voice.

“I don’t have children, but I can imagine how sad it must be.”

I bitterly took my eyes off his back.

“It’s dozens of times harder and more painful than you think.”

“…I see.”

She took out another cigarette with a somber face.

“Then, should I help Chief Lee with the election?”

“No, there’s someone else who will help Doo-hyung with the election.”

“Who is it?”

“A friend who can be called a specialist in elections will help. So, the Special Investigations Department doesn’t have to worry about Chief Lee separately.”

Hand of God [Ko Seong-tak’s nickname].

Ko Seong-tak will hide his appearance in the provinces and help Lee Doo-hyung’s election.

“You and I have something else to do separately.”

“What is it?”

“There are two things, which one do you want to hear first?”

Department Head Jang Ha-young pondered, blew out cigarette smoke to the side, and said.

“I’ll hear the more difficult one first.”

“The difficult one….”

I lit a new cigarette and opened my mouth.

“What do you think you have to do to capture someone’s heart?”

“Well… be loyal, take care of them every day….”

“That’s not wrong. But it’s not easy to make them your ally in a short period of time, and for sure.”

“Then what should I do?”

“People.”

I lightly twisted the corners of my lips.

“They are least guarded when they fall into the abyss. That’s when they open their hearts to the person next to them.”

“…Ah.”

“Just like you and Chief Lee are cheering me on by my side.”

Department Head Jang Ha-young’s face turned red in an instant.

It was like hearing that she, Lee Doo-hyung, and the Special Investigations Department were very important people to me.

It’s obvious, but thanks to this, Jang Ha-young’s loyalty will be further solidified.

“So, we’re going to plunge someone into the abyss.”

Department Head Jang Ha-young, who was about to put the cigarette back in her mouth, stopped her finger in surprise.

“And I’m going to save that person myself.”

She swallowed hard.

“That way, we’ll bring Park Chang-shik to our side.”

“A-Are you talking about the Minister of Justice?”

Department Head Jang Ha-young’s eyes widened.

“Yes, Park Chang-shik, the next Minister of Justice.”

I bit down on the cigarette capsule with my teeth and crushed it, saying.

“I’m going to get a hitman soon.”

“Yes.”

“That person will hit the Minister of Justice and plunge him into the swamp. And before his head sinks to the bottom, we’ll save him.”

“Ah….”

“You have to find a way to plunge him into that swamp.”

She nodded with a determined expression.

“I understand. I will definitely find his weakness.”

“Okay. And the other thing….”

I twisted the corners of my lips and asked.

“Find me a woman who can properly steal a man’s heart.”

“Is this also targeting the Minister of Justice?”

“No, someone bigger.”

I crushed the cigarette I was holding in the ashtray.

“Someone so charming that he can’t control his heart. I don’t care if she’s a regular person, a con artist, or a criminal, just find me a perfect person.”

“I understand, Prosecutor General.”

I can’t be satisfied with just robbing an empty house [a metaphor for a simple, insignificant victory].

At least I have to give Sung Tae-hyun a bomb [create a significant problem for him].

I have to go slowly.

Paving the way for the future.

One step, one step.

I have to go up very slowly to be able to cut off his head [defeat him completely].

***

“Hmm….”

After pondering alone in the study, I spun the chair around and got up from my seat to look out the window.

Soon, three letters came to mind.

-Sender: 39

-Park Chang-shik. November 29th, Namyangju Star Rock Golf Course.

-Sender: 40

-Prime Minister. July 13th, 77 Nakseongdae-ro, Gwanak-gu. Ambition.

-Sender: 40

-Photo.

The photo showed Min Ho-sun, the current head of the Seoul Northern District Prosecutors’ Office, smiling brightly in front of an office with a sign that read ‘Law Firm Min’.

These future messages all arrived at the same time when I was explaining the empty house robbery operation to Ko Seong-tak.

It would be a reasonable judgment to think that they are about the three people involved in the empty house robbery.

As evidence, Park Chang-shik, who is nominated as the Minister of Justice, and the Prime Minister, who is one of the targets of the empty house robbery, are written as the main characters of the messages.

Then the Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office will surely be taken by Min Ho-sun, the head of the Seoul Northern District Prosecutors’ Office.

Perhaps this means to use these messages to make the three people our allies.

If I use the messages along with my plan, the empty house robbery operation will surely succeed.

However, the problem is that all the information is limited.

The types of information in the messages are ‘name’, ‘date’, and ‘how to win over’, for a total of three.

However, each message only contains two pieces of information.

The remaining one piece of information is for me to find and use using my abilities.

This alone is enough.

In a tight tug-of-war, the help of even a small hand can determine the outcome.

However, what’s disappointing is that even if the new year dawns in two weeks, it’s still a long way off until the dates in the future messages.

Therefore, the first target will remain the Minister of Justice, Park Chang-shik.

Even in the future messages, it indicates the earliest date, so that would be the right choice.

First of all, I have to drop him into the abyss as planned and then save him.

It would be best to capture his heart while doing so, but if that’s not enough, I can use the future messages as a plus alpha to completely capture the Minister of Justice’s heart.

So far, the plan is proceeding smoothly.

However, in carrying out all these plans, it is necessary to check whether the most important person has definitely boarded the same boat as me.

He said that he would continue to be with me, but I have to see with my own eyes whether things will remain the same even if the situation changes.

I closed the door to the study and picked up my phone.

And after a long ringing tone, the man answered the phone.

-Yes, Prosecutor.

“It’s been a while, Assemblyman.”

Shin Dong-hyun.

The former head of the SV Group, and currently a member of the National Assembly in Seongwang-dong.

And the man who will run as the representative of the Minjuk Party in the next Seoul mayoral election.

He is an important figure who cannot be left out in the empty house robbery operation.

“Let’s meet. I have something to talk about.”