The Inspector Is Getting Promoted! [EN]: Chapter 287

Empty House (2)

“Here’s the list of lawmakers you requested.”

Yoon Seol-ha handed me a report containing information on lawmakers affiliated with the People’s Party.

Even with just a brief profile, it was over four pages long.

“How many in total?”

“Twenty-one.”

“More than I thought.”

I had instructed her to investigate those who were aligned with Seong Tae-hyun but had the least influence within the party, mainly first-term or second-term lawmakers.

From among them, I would narrow it down to those who might not even receive a nomination in the next general election.

“Please, have a seat.”

“Yes.”

Yoon Seol-ha and I spent a considerable amount of time in the office, sorting through the lawmakers’ profiles.

“There’s a lawmaker named Park Cho-hyun?”

A familiar name I’d heard somewhere before.

However, I couldn’t recall her face at all.

I knew the key lawmakers, but even for me, it was impossible to know all 300 of them.

“Yes, she’s a lawmaker who was elected in a by-election two years ago. She used to be an announcer for PBC [Peace Broadcasting Corporation]… the one with the brown hair and elegant appearance without double eyelids…”

“Ah, I think I know who you mean.”

I remembered her as a former announcer who had jumped into politics at a fairly young age, surprising many people.

“It was strange that she received the People’s Party nomination in Ulsan…”

“According to my sources, she has something going on with Congressman Jo Byeong-gap.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, I’m quite certain.”

Well, that would explain how she received the nomination in Ulsan, which is one of the People’s Party’s strongholds.

Moreover, Congressman Jo Byeong-gap is currently the floor leader of the People’s Party.

If she received the nomination due to an affair with him, then her nomination in the next general election would be as good as confirmed.

“Then let’s pass on her.”

“Understood.”

I crossed out Park Cho-hyun’s name on the report.

Yoon Seol-ha hesitated for a moment before speaking.

“Prosecutor, would you mind turning to the last page?”

Instead of answering, I turned the report to the last page.

“If you look at the very bottom, there’s Congressman Gwang Seok-gon. Could you take a look at him?”

“Yes.”

As I slowly examined the content, I tilted my head in confusion.

“He was elected in Gangwon Province?”

“That’s right. He was elected in the regular general election and is a first-term lawmaker.”

Yoon Seol-ha’s eyes sparkled as she continued.

“The district that Congressman Gwang Seok-gon was elected in is the same district that Congressman Kim Cheol-gi ran in.”

At that moment, I understood why Yoon Seol-ha had told me to look at this profile.

Gangwon Province should be considered a stronghold of the Manse Party.

It’s the only place among the many provinces where the Manse Party can exert significant power.

However, that doesn’t mean that lawmakers from the Korea Party or the People’s Party can’t get elected there.

Out of the ten seats allocated to Gangwon Province, the Manse Party usually takes seven or eight, but the remaining two or three are often taken by the Korea Party and the People’s Party.

However, Samcheok City, Congressman Gwang Seok-gon’s district, is one of the Manse Party’s strongholds.

In other words, even if the Korea Party or the People’s Party nominates a candidate, there’s almost no chance of them getting elected.

However, an unexpected event occurred last year.

Congressman Kim Cheol-gi, who had been nominated by the Manse Party and ran in the election, was arrested mid-campaign for violating election laws, and his eligibility to run was revoked even before the official vote.

As a result, the Korea Party and the People’s Party fought fiercely, and in the end, Gwang Seok-gon, the People’s Party candidate, was elected.

Frankly speaking, the fact that both the Korea Party and the People’s Party nominated candidates in Samcheok City meant that they were throwing away a card rather than expecting to win.

However, the situation changed strangely when he was elected.

The luckiest person was Gwang Seok-gon himself.

A man who should have been working under another lawmaker was now being called a congressman and strutting around with pride.

Of course, that doesn’t mean that a smooth path lies ahead for him.

The party leadership couldn’t possibly be unaware of the circumstances of his election, so his power within the People’s Party is very limited.

His chances of being elected in the next general election are also very slim.

To put this situation in prosecutorial terms:

A crime occurs only when there is a motive and the situation is right.

Congressman Gwang Seok-gon is in a situation where he would be willing to come over if I made him an offer.

“Is Congressman Gwang attending the regular National Assembly session?”

“Yes, he went to Gyeonggi Province on business three days ago and rushed back when the People’s Party called him.”

Three days ago was the day the Korea Party tried to pass the bill in a sneak attack.

As one of the weakest among the first-term lawmakers, he must have rushed over faster than anyone else when the party called him.

“Besides Congressman Gwang Seok-gon, who else is a possibility?”

“Well, if you look at the second page…”

I looked at the profiles and situations of several lawmakers that Yoon Seol-ha pointed out, but as of now, there was no one in a more desperate situation than Congressman Gwang Seok-gon.

After nearly three hours of discussion, the person I ultimately chose was:

“Let’s go with Congressman Gwang Seok-gon.”

“Understood. Shall I arrange a meeting right away?”

“Yes. Contact him as soon as possible. Of course, unofficially.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll deliver the message discreetly.”

***

Several days later, on July 9th.

Congressman Gwang Seok-gon cautiously accepted my offer to meet, on the condition that it wasn’t disclosed to the People’s Party.

That was fine with me.

It would be detrimental to me if my contact with him reached the ears of the People’s Party.

A bar in Bangbae-dong [a district in Seoul known for its upscale residential areas and quiet atmosphere].

Congressman Gwang Seok-gon, seemingly conscious of the attention, wore a mask and a hat pulled down low, and entered the room with his head bowed.

“Hello, Prosecutor.”

“Nice to meet you.”

I shook his hand and sat down.

“Feel free to relax. Politicians rarely come here.”

“Oh, is that so?”

“Yes. Celebrities come here more often, so security is better maintained.”

“I did feel that the atmosphere was a bit different.”

A place that Han Ji-yu had told me about.

I decided to meet here because there was no chance of running into politicians.

“Let’s have a drink first.”

“Yes.”

He respectfully received the glass with both hands.

A first-term lawmaker in his late 30s would normally have a high sense of self-importance and act arrogantly when meeting a prosecutor, but perhaps because he had been playing in the lower leagues, he seemed to know his place well.

I emptied the first glass cleanly and slowly opened my mouth.

“How is the regular National Assembly session going?”

“I’m just moving according to what the higher-ups say.”

Congressman Gwang Seok-gon was being humble.

“As a first-term lawmaker, I’m just learning how things work.”

I didn’t want to drag it out.

So, since the topic came up, I went straight to the point.

“Speaking of which, the next general election isn’t far off, is it?”

“That’s right. The election is right after the regular National Assembly session.”

“Are you preparing for it?”

“Yes, well… in my own way…”

I looked him straight in the eye and asked.

“Do you think you can get elected?”

“…”

Congressman Gwang Seok-gon’s mouth was firmly shut.

He probably wasn’t sure either.

It’s not a district where you get elected just by receiving the nomination.

Moreover, frankly speaking, he probably wasn’t even sure if he would receive the nomination.

He forced a smile and said.

“Still, isn’t it my job to try to get elected?”

As expected of a congressman, he slipped out smoothly.

“That’s right. You’re right.”

I smiled warmly and refilled Congressman Gwang Seok-gon’s glass.

At the same time, I opened my mouth again.

“The fact that you came all the way here means that you don’t have any aversion to me, is that right?”

For a moment, he paused and put down his glass.

He must be contemplating.

Whatever choice he makes in the future, he’s currently aligned with the Seong Tae-hyun line.

However, he wouldn’t be able to completely deny my words.

If he did, he wouldn’t have come to this meeting in the first place.

Instead, he would have informed the party leadership or Seong Tae-hyun’s side.

“It would be a lie to say no.”

Congressman Gwang Seok-gon nodded slowly, looking at his glass.

“But that doesn’t mean I came here to switch to the Prosecutor’s line.”

I didn’t expect him to come over so easily.

It was enough that there was room for negotiation.

“Then can I assume that it depends on what kind of offer I make here?”

He kept his mouth shut.

That must be a silent affirmation.

I smiled and leaned towards him.

“What if I solve the problem that you’re most concerned about?”

Instantly, an earthquake occurred in Congressman Gwang Seok-gon’s pupils.

Confirming that, I didn’t give him time to think and pressed on.

“You don’t want to give up that congressman’s badge on your chest, do you?”

As the saying goes, the more you taste power, the less you want to hand it over to someone else.

Even if it’s family.

Among the countless kings in history, there are many who didn’t want to hand over power to their children and held onto it until they died.

“I can’t promise you forever, but I’ll guarantee that badge for the next four years.”

His Adam’s apple bobbed.

However, after closing his eyes and thinking deeply, he looked straight at me and asked.

“What do you want from me?”

Good.

It wouldn’t be interesting if he came over so easily.

If that were the case, Korea Party leader Congressman Kim Kang-jin wouldn’t have asked me for this favor in the first place.

“One vote.”

I took a Yukjeon [savory Korean pancake made with thinly sliced beef] and placed it on his plate.

“I just need your one vote.”

Then Congressman Gwang Seok-gon immediately caught on.

“…The four-year term extension.”

I responded with a smile instead of an answer.

After a brief moment of contemplation, he opened his mouth again.

“The moment I cast that one vote, I’ll have no place in the People’s Party.”

“Is the People’s Party the only party in Yeouido [the political and financial heart of Seoul, where the National Assembly is located]?”

Instantly, Congressman Gwang Seok-gon’s arm trembled.

“Move over to the Korea Party.”

I continued smoothly.

“Knowing the right time to move is also a political skill.”

“But even if I receive the nomination in Samcheok, my chances of getting elected are extremely low… And I can’t exactly take over a Jeolla Province party that’s already occupied by other lawmakers, can I?”

“That’s right.”

I nodded once and then.

“It’s the same no matter which district you go to. But I told you I’d guarantee that badge, didn’t I?”

“Wait a minute.”

He frowned as if he couldn’t believe it.

“Are you saying…?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

I twisted my lips roughly.

“I’ll give you a proportional representation seat.”

The authority of the party leader that Congressman Kim Kang-jin had allowed.

To pass the four-year term extension, investing a high number in the proportional representation list would be worth it, so he would agree.

“That doesn’t mean I can guarantee you until the next general election. But I’m guaranteeing you for this election. You know the difference between a first-term and second-term lawmaker better than I do, don’t you?”

Congressman Gwang Seok-gon clutched his head and fell into serious contemplation.

A very attractive offer that he couldn’t refuse.

Of course, there’s a difference between a district seat and a proportional representation seat, but in his position, he couldn’t afford to be picky.

However, given the situation, it wouldn’t be easy to accept such an offer so readily.

His contemplation grew longer.

After a long period of silence, he opened his mouth with difficulty.

“I’m sorry, but can I think about it a little more?”

“Yes, that’s fine.”

I smiled warmly.

“However…”

I immediately erased my smile and said sternly.

“I can’t give you much time.”

“How long do I have to decide?”

“The sooner, the better.”

I added one more word.

“If you’re really struggling to decide, you can tell me after you see Seong Tae-hyun collapse.”

“…Excuse me?”

His eyes widened.

Congressman Gwang Seok-gon thought that he had to reveal his intentions by the end of the regular National Assembly session at the latest.

But what I said meant that Seong Tae-hyun, who was only in his second year of his term, would collapse in just three months.

“What do you mean by that…?”

But I didn’t give him the answer he wanted.

“I’ll be waiting for your answer.”

With those words, I got up from my seat.

Let him contemplate as much as he wants.

Because the conclusion that Congressman Gwang Seok-gon will reach is.

To stick with me.