The Inspector Is Getting Promoted! [EN]: Chapter 253

A Prosecutor on the Rise – 253

Acquisition (5)

“Have you ever met the Mayor of Goyang?”

Driving, Yoon Seol-ha glanced at the rearview mirror and asked cautiously.

“I’ve met him a couple of times. But it was in a group setting, so I didn’t have a chance to talk in detail.”

The Mayor of Goyang belongs to the same Line 2 as me [referring to a political faction or affiliation].

I’ve exchanged greetings in passing, but I don’t remember having a one-on-one conversation with him.

He was one of those who climbed up the ladder by aligning himself well, without anything particularly special.

However, what worries me this time is the fact that he’s preparing to side with Sung Tae-hyun.

He’s still trying to read the room between Sung Tae-hyun and me, but the Mayor of Goyang is from the same Korea University as Sung Tae-hyun.

I’ve heard he saw him a few times at alumni gatherings before the presidential election, so there’s nothing more to say.

However, there’s still plenty of room to maneuver.

The Mayor of Goyang wasn’t powerful enough to be a major player.

After all, what’s important in land speculation is the decision of the Gyeonggi Province Governor, not the Mayor of Goyang.

Today is literally a warm-up.

Like an appetizer before a meal.

“There’s not much to worry about with the Mayor of Goyang.”

“That’s a relief.”

She slowly turned the curve and entered a narrow road.

“We’ll arrive in five minutes.”

I organized the documents I was holding and put them down.

“You’ve been working hard driving me around lately.”

“It’s nothing. It’s my job.”

Since the new year, Yoon Seol-ha has been picking me up for schedules other than commuting.

Having been at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office for a long time before being appointed as the head of the Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office, there was a lot of work to be handed over, and there were departments in the High Prosecutors’ Office that didn’t exist in the Central District Prosecutors’ Office, so it was necessary to additionally understand the work of the High Prosecutors’ Office.

I shouldn’t just skim through it with the knowledge I have.

That’s how you become a *kkondae* [*kkondae* is a Korean slang term referring to an older person who is condescending or patronizing].

Thanks to that, the workload was beyond imagination, to the point where I had to look at reports and documents in the car throughout the commute.

To make matters worse, I was trying to prepare for the empty house strategy, so even two bodies wouldn’t be enough.

While I was briefly looking in the mirror to tidy up my clothes, the car arrived at the meeting place.

“It’ll take about two hours. Please rest.”

“Understood.”

A dilapidated house in the mountains on the outskirts of Goyang.

The door was open, so I carefully entered, and Mayor of Goyang, Ahn Hyo-geun, who had arrived earlier, was warming himself in front of the fireplace.

I never thought I’d see such a fireplace in Korea.

“Nice house. Is it a villa?”

“Oh, you’ve arrived.”

He was lost in thought and didn’t even know I was there until he heard my voice. He stood up from his seat with a surprised look and greeted me.

“It’s my cousin’s place. I borrowed it for a while today.”

“I see.”

“Please, have a seat.”

After settling down in a suitable spot, the Mayor of Goyang carefully handed me a glass of alcohol and asked.

“You said you had something important to tell me…….”

A sense of burden was evident on his face.

From his perspective, as he was trying to side with Sung Tae-hyun, my visit couldn’t have been welcome.

Instead of raising my glass, I clasped my hands together and placed them on the table.

“I’ll get straight to the point.”

I lightly raised the corners of my lips.

“I think the Mayor should play in bigger waters.”

“……Pardon?”

“If you side with Sung Tae-hyun, you’ll maintain a stable life for now.”

He took a deep breath, seemingly uncomfortable.

However, he couldn’t open his mouth to refute.

He knew it himself.

With this incident, the majority of the MinGuk Party members sided with Sung Tae-hyun, but he hasn’t properly decided on his course yet.

The reason was obvious.

Even if he sided with Sung Tae-hyun, he wasn’t confident that he could break through the prominent figures in the MinGuk Party and receive higher priority.

But siding with me is too risky.

So, Ahn Hyo-geun was worried.

The most attractive offer to someone with such concerns is…

“Does the seed of kings and nobles exist separately? The Mayor shouldn’t stay here either, but go to a higher place.”

Future and possibility.

Those are the words that capture the hearts of politicians.

“Are you saying you’ll nominate me for the next…….”

He couldn’t finish his sentence.

Even if I threw a big bait, he knew that thinking about the presidency and accepting it was impossible for himself.

I smiled lightly and said.

“It’s only been three months since the local elections ended. You have to climb up step by step.”

“……That’s right.”

He’s only the Mayor of Goyang now.

He needs to spend at least 10 years here, building his career, to enter the Gyeonggi Province Governor’s office or the National Assembly, and only then can he see further.

Therefore, there was no need to promise a special position. It’s enough to help him solidify his current position.

“I’m saying I’ll provide a stepping stone. There’s no need to enter a battlefield just to find a foothold, is there?”

It means don’t take risks by siding with Sung Tae-hyun.

“To do that, you have to win the public’s hearts, but looking at the current situation…….”

His eyes showed that he was greatly shaken.

I leaned back on the backrest, feeling relaxed.

“Councilman Jo Young-seok was under investigation, wasn’t he?”

“…….”

He firmly closed his mouth.

Councilman Jo Young-seok, known as the closest aide to Mayor Ahn Hyo-geun of Goyang, is currently under investigation for election fraud.

Thanks to that, there are suspicions that the Mayor of Goyang also has problems.

“Citizens don’t want anything else. If you just take care of their livelihood, the approval rating will go up again. Frankly speaking, where are the citizens who think politicians are 100% clean?”

“That’s true, but…….”

“You know the best way to regain public sentiment, don’t you?”

I grinned slyly.

“When a new city is built, land prices rise, and new commercial districts are formed. Naturally, local tax revenue will increase, so welfare will improve. Then, even if suspicions about our politicians arise, they won’t think much of it. What’s the problem if I’m happy and full right now?”

That’s actually true.

In Korea, there are far more people who don’t get up from their seats if they are satisfied with the current situation than those who realize corruption, dig into it, and demand resignation.

The Mayor of Goyang opened his mouth after much deliberation.

“Of course, if it were possible, I wouldn’t have any worries, but building a new city is not something I can do at will…….”

At that moment, he was startled when he saw my face.

“Could it be that…….”

“Will you join me?”

I slowly reached out my hand.

I could hear his head spinning rapidly.

Well, think about it as much as you want.

After all, there’s only one conclusion you can draw.

It may be a concern to join my line instead of Sung Tae-hyun, but he couldn’t possibly not know that rejecting this offer is a foolish act.

As expected, the deliberation didn’t last long.

“Please take good care of me, Prosecutor.”

He reached out both arms and grabbed my hand.

“What can I do?”

“You can start a large-scale promotion from today. Divert the public’s attention by saying you’ll attract a new city construction project to Goyang. Through that, you can naturally clear the suspicions. And…….”

I leaned towards Ahn Hyo-geun.

“Soon, a new city construction announcement will be posted by the Gyeonggi Province Office. The Mayor should apply for the project centered around Jungsan-dong.”

“And what else should I do?”

“That’s all.”

I smiled lightly.

“I’ll take care of everything else.”

“……Really?”

“Oh, there’s one thing I’d like to ask…….”

I erased the smile from my face and said.

“Since I’ve helped you like this, please be with me in the future too.”

“Is that all?”

“Yes. You owe me one. I hope there won’t be any unfortunate events where you repay kindness with malice.”

It’s a warning to be prepared if you stab me in the back.

He swallowed and nodded, as if he understood well enough.

“Understood.”

“Yes, then…….”

I got up from my seat and regained my smile.

“Let’s meet again next time.”

***

The Mayor of Goyang is an easy pass.

It was resolved smoothly as I had initially thought.

After all, the Mayor of Goyang was inevitably in a position to benefit from the construction of a new city.

All that’s left is the Gyeonggi Province Governor.

I just need to persuade that guy.

Since the new city construction project in Gyeonggi Province follows the opinion of the governor, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport follows the governor’s opinion.

However, Gyeonggi Province Governor Min Hyung-taek is so dirty and insidious that it won’t be easy to talk to him.

Above all, he belongs to the Korea Party, not our line.

Everything depends on the negotiation with him.

“Please be careful. He’s such an unpredictable guy.”

Yoon Seol-ha looked at me worriedly.

“Besides, he even emphasized that he wanted to see you alone…….”

“It’s okay. I’ve always moved alone.”

“That’s what’s bothering me. The Gyeonggi Province Governor must know that, but I can’t guess the meaning of saying that.”

Yoon Seol-ha got out of the car with me, as if the words of the Gyeonggi Province Governor were bothering her.

“I’ll just see you to the entrance. The place is…….”

The meeting place chosen by the Gyeonggi Province Governor was unusual from the entrance.

Looking at the stairs leading to the basement, it looked like a room salon [an establishment with private rooms where patrons are entertained by hostesses] at first glance, but there was no sign attached.

It’s like it’s not a formally licensed place.

Instead of answering, I shrugged and went inside.

After undergoing identity verification by the bouncers at the entrance, I went inside and frowned.

From women wearing fusion *hanboks* [traditional Korean dresses] that revealed their figures to people wearing unique costumes such as *cheongsams* [traditional Chinese dresses], they were roaming around the room.

The women tried to approach me, but retreated when they saw Yoon Seol-ha following behind me.

“It seems like Min Hyung-taek is not a normal crazy guy.”

“It seems certain that he’ll reveal much more with strange tastes.”

It’ll probably be much worse inside.

Thanks to receiving a report from Manager Jang Ha-young that this guy is a pervert, I knew in advance, so it would have been quite difficult if I hadn’t.

Not far inside, I arrived in front of the room reserved by Min Hyung-taek.

“It may take a long time.”

“Please have a slow conversation. I’ll be waiting outside.”

Just as Yoon Seol-ha was about to bow and leave.

“Huh?”

A man came out of the bathroom, wiping his hands with a handkerchief, and his eyes were fixed on us.

It’s the first time I’ve actually met him, but I could tell at once that his face was covered with greed.

It’s Gyeonggi Province Governor, Min Hyung-taek.

“Have you arrived, Prosecutor?”

A sly smile and a greasy voice.

Then, he looked at Yoon Seol-ha next to him, and his lips were slyly torn apart.

“Wow, did the Prosecutor already make a choice?”

He wiggled his eyebrows slyly.

“No way. I heard you don’t like this kind of thing…… you just came to greet me from the entrance.”

Min Hyung-taek naturally approached Yoon Seol-ha.

“I don’t recognize your face…… are you a new face?”

Before I could stop him, his arm wrapped around Yoon Seol-ha’s shoulder.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen an office look concept.”

Min Hyung-taek’s hand, which was on Yoon Seol-ha’s shoulder, slowly moved towards her chest.

The moment I was about to step in and stop him.

“Tsk.”

Yoon Seol-ha slapped Min Hyung-taek’s hand away and approached me, wrapping her arm around mine and hugging me tightly.

“Chief Prosecutor.”

She spoke naturally in a coquettish voice.

“Are you just going to stand still while that person covets someone else’s rice cake [something that belongs to someone else]?”

When I deliberately coughed at her words, looking up at me with coquetry, Min Hyung-taek scratched the back of his head as if he had made a mistake.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know she was the Prosecutor’s lover.”

He bowed down and apologized.

First, I looked at Yoon Seol-ha and naturally responded.

“Wait outside.”

“Yes. Come quickly.”

She made a wink with a voice mixed with *aegyo* [a display of cuteness] and headed out with a haughty step.

Gyeonggi Province Governor Min Hyung-taek opened the door first and stepped aside.

“Please come in, Prosecutor.”

A sly smile reappeared on his face.

I have a feeling that today’s negotiation won’t be easy.