The Inspector Is Getting Promoted! [EN]: Chapter 284

Prosecutor, You’re Going Places! – 284

The Spy Begins to Shine (4)

After that, I took leave with Minister Hwang Seon-hyeong on weekdays and met him at the golf course a couple more times.

I did it on purpose.

To make sure the news reached the Prime Minister through the caddies.

As expected, on the way home after the second meeting, I received a call from Prime Minister Park Hyeong-tae.

-It’s been a while since we talked, Prosecutor Choi.

“Yes, it has. It’s been a long time.”

-Sorry to call you so suddenly, but… could we possibly meet?

A subtle smile crept across my face.

However, since he couldn’t see it during the call, I didn’t hide my amusement.

“Ah, well….”

I don’t have time.

Only time to meet you.

“I’m afraid I’m a little busy this month, as I have a string of appointments lined up.”

-Is that so?

Prime Minister Park Hyeong-tae’s voice was thick with regret.

But only for a moment.

-Then, would it be okay if I visited the High Prosecutors’ Office directly? It doesn’t seem too far from Jongno…

“That’s….”

-Right? A little *burdensome*, isn’t it? [The Prime Minister uses the word ‘burdensome’ (부담스럽지?) in Korean, hinting at the potential inconvenience or imposition of his visit.]

I held back the laughter that was about to burst out, going beyond just smiling.

Not long ago, he said it would be difficult to stay close because I had joined Sung Tae-hyun’s line, but now he’s the one calling me first and asking to meet.

This is why I can’t quit politics.

I asked cautiously.

“Do you have something to discuss?”

-It’s nothing else…

Prime Minister Park Hyeong-tae hesitated before opening his mouth.

-There’s someone I’d like to be introduced to, so I wanted to ask for a favor.

“Ah, you don’t mean Minister Hwang Seon-hyeong, do you?”

-……

Immediate silence followed.

Unable to hold back my laughter, I muted the microphone and burst into laughter.

It’s going very well.

A picture is being created where the *binjipteol-i* [empty house raid – a metaphor for taking advantage of a power vacuum] cannot fail.

“Hoo.”

I took a breath to calm my laughter and turned the microphone back on.

“It would be a little difficult with the Minister. I am close to the Minister, but…”

Subtly showing off.

“Given the situation, I’ve heard several times that the Minister is having a hard time.”

Pretending to refuse outright.

“Unless there’s something else to justify it….”

Even leaving room for possibilities.

This is enough.

-Ah, is that so?

“Yes. But I’m driving right now, so would it be okay if we talked again later?”

-Okay, let’s do that. I’ll contact you again.

“Okay. Goodbye.”

I hung up the phone and smirked again.

I need to make the Prime Minister beg.

That way, my role will feel bigger.

I was a little tough, but thanks to my experience in the 2nd line, I know that Prime Minister Park Hyeong-tae will never stop at this point.

He’ll definitely try something else.

Then, I can subtly give in.

And using that as an opportunity to build a friendship, complete the trust through future texts, and then carry out the *binjipteol-i*.

Everything is going smoothly.

***

A bar in Cheongdam-dong, Seoul.

Creak.

The person who entered the room was Ha Jin-il, the head of the Legal Research and Training Institute.

It was an appointment made in advance in Jincheon.

“Have you arrived?”

As I was about to get up, he gestured.

“Don’t get up. I’m going to sit down too.”

He greeted me amiably and sat down directly opposite me.

“Has it only been two weeks since we last saw each other?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“But I’m so glad to see you.”

“Hahaha, thank you.”

I filled his glass and asked.

“This place has good grilled black cod, so I ordered that first. Is that okay?”

“Yes, that’s good. It’s the best with alcohol.”

Director Ha Jin-il quickly toasted and emptied his glass in an instant.

“By the way, you look unwell today?”

He looked at my face with concern and asked.

“I hope I didn’t call you out when you’re tired?”

“Ah, not at all.”

I waved my hand.

“I got enough sleep, but I’ve been having a headache lately….”

“What is it? Tell me. I’ll help as much as I can if it’s something I can help with.”

“Um….”

I pretended to hesitate whether to speak or not, then shook my head.

“No, it’s nothing.”

“Speak comfortably. Were we not close enough to talk about such things?”

Director Ha Jin-il showed a hint of disappointment, so I strongly denied it.

“It’s not that….”

I continued cautiously.

“I feel like I’m causing trouble for you.”

“What is it? Tell me. And what trouble are you talking about between us? I’ve benefited so much from you.”

He frowned and added.

“If you don’t tell me when you’re having a hard time, I’ll be sad?”

With this attitude, it’s enough to talk.

I cautiously brought up the story.

“I’ve been getting calls from the Prime Minister lately.”

As expected, his brow furrowed.

“From Prime Minister Park Hyeong-tae?”

“Yes.”

I put the glass to my mouth and emptied it, looking serious.

“But because of this bill, he keeps asking me to introduce him to Minister Hwang Seon-hyeong.”

“Heo….”

It was the Blue House that told Director Ha Jin-il to write his resignation.

It’s only natural that he would have negative feelings towards the Prime Minister, who could be seen as Sung Tae-hyun’s shadow.

After confirming that his face had become serious, I naturally continued.

“To be honest, I don’t have good feelings for the Prime Minister either.”

“Then you should refuse.”

“Yes. I refused, but the requests keep coming. And above all….”

I raised my head, my eyes flashing, and said.

“I want to get revenge on that Prime Minister.”

“Revenge?”

Director Ha Jin-il’s eyes were filled with curiosity.

“Yes. I want to use him to the fullest and then dump him.”

“Wouldn’t that be possible?”

“But in order to do that, Minister Hwang Seon-hyeong needs to help me… The Minister also has negative feelings towards the Prime Minister, and I don’t have enough of a relationship to ask for a favor, so it’s hard to bring it up.”

“That’s right.”

Director Ha Jin-il was lost in thought.

He must be wondering whether to step in himself.

I didn’t urge him.

The desire to see the Prime Minister frustrated would be similar to that of Minister Hwang Seon-hyeong.

As expected, before long, Director Ha Jin-il seemed to have made up his mind and raised his head with strength in his eyes.

“Can I hear the plan?”

“How to screw that bastard over?”

“That’s right. If the plan is feasible and you’re okay with it, I’ll persuade Seon-hyeong to help you.”

“No. I don’t want you to go through so much trouble….”

“No. Frankly speaking, it’s true that I also have antipathy towards the Prime Minister. So if you step up, it would be like you’re taking revenge for me, which would be great.”

Nice.

This is the best reaction I expected.

“In that case….”

I checked that the door was closed and lowered my voice.

“Please don’t leak this to the outside.”

He replied in a determined voice.

“I understand.”

I slowly opened my mouth.

“In the middle of this year, I’m going to detonate a big incident. At the center of that….”

I revealed part of the *binjipteol-i* operation to him.

I can trust Director Ha Jin-il enough.

More than anything, I need to tell him this in order to move Minister Hwang Seon-hyeong through him.

After listening to the plan step by step, Director Ha Jin-il’s eyes widened.

“Is that really possible?”

“Yes, of course. It’s definitely possible through legal procedures.”

He stroked his chin with a serious expression and said.

“But you need a total of three people to do that. Even if we include the Prime Minister, what about the other two….”

I smirked.

“I’ve already finished talking to Minister of Justice Park Chang-sik and Deputy Prosecutor General Min Ho-seon.”

“…Already?”

“Yes.”

“Heo….”

He let out a low sigh.

“It seems you are more than I thought.”

“Thank you.”

Director Ha Jin-il fell into thought again.

However, two of the three have already been secured.

If he moves, he can screw over the Prime Minister enough.

The moment I get promoted to Deputy Prosecutor General through the *binjipteol-i* operation, it’s obvious that Sung Tae-hyun will explode with anger and kick out Park Hyeong-tae, who was the Prime Minister.

Of course, I don’t need to tell him how things will change due to what happens after that.

Even if I don’t say more, he’ll know that the moment I become Deputy Prosecutor General, I’ll be fighting Sung Tae-hyun properly.

After a long period of contemplation, Director Ha Jin-il slowly nodded.

“I’ll help too.”

That’s right, there’s no reason for him to back out.

“I’ll persuade Minister Hwang Seon-hyeong.”

“Are you really going to do that for me?”

“Instead, promise me. That you will definitely make that operation a success.”

I widened my eyes and replied.

“I will definitely do that.”

***

Perhaps because they were old friends, Minister Hwang Seon-hyeong easily accepted Director Ha Jin-il’s proposal.

After exchanging a few calls with me, we waited for the timing for the Prime Minister to make another proposal and decided to accept it.

And three days after the first call.

An unexpected person appeared on the way home from work.

“Prosecutor.”

Even very confidently, in the parking lot of the Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office on the way home from work, where all sides were open.

“It’s been a while.”

“…What?”

I frowned.

I couldn’t help but be flustered.

The man in front of me was none other than the Hand of God, Go Seong-tak.

Thinking that there might be people watching, I hurriedly put him in the car.

I grabbed the passenger seat where Go Seong-tak was sitting and snapped.

“What’s going on?”

I asked in an unpleasant tone.

“What are you doing coming all the way here, as if someone might see you… no, what are you doing coming here so confidently?”

I kept snapping at him.

“The operation isn’t over yet. If you suddenly do something like this….”

A sense of unease suddenly covered my whole body.

“Wait a minute. Did you get caught?”

If he got caught, everything I’ve built up so far would be for nothing.

But at that moment.

The Hand of God’s lips twisted roughly.

“Keuheuheuhe….”

He let out a low laugh.

“Prosecutor.”

“….”

“Do you think I would have been caught?”

He continued slyly.

“I was sent by the Prime Minister.”

“No way….”

“Yes, that’s right.”

He smiled brightly as if to reassure me.

“He said that if he called directly, I would refuse, so he sent me to make you introduce Minister Hwang Seon-hyeong, and to persuade you instead.”

The moment I heard the explanation, the anxiety disappeared in an instant and a smile of relief appeared.

That is to say.

Evidence that the Prime Minister firmly believes in Go Seong-tak. No, Go Joong-hyeok.

He succeeded in completely capturing the heart of Prime Minister Park Hyeong-tae.

In addition, it means that our *binjipteol-i* operation is also going very smoothly.

“So don’t panic. Everything is going very smoothly.”

Soon, our eyes met.

And we both burst into laughter, without knowing who started first.