The Inspector Is Getting Promoted! [EN]: Chapter 3

A Prosecutor’s Success! – 3 (1)

Internal Whistleblower (1)

“Climb all the way to the top and become king. That’s my last request.”

King.

Anyone hearing that might scoff and dismiss it as child’s play, but Shin Yong-ho was speaking seriously.

“You can climb if you catch Im Seong-jin.”

It didn’t take me long to reach a decision.

To fulfill the wish of my one and only best friend.

And for myself.

I can’t stay stuck in the provinces forever.

True power.

To taste it, I need to go to Seoul.

Dealing with petty cases like assault or drunk driving will only leave me as a junior prosecutor for life.

Let’s climb.

I want to feel that so-called power too, damn it.

“What do I need to do?”

***

Bribery is basic, and there’s an overflow of dirty deeds that can’t even be spoken of, including cover-up investigations and sexual favors.

The guys who commit all sorts of crimes are exactly Im Seong-jin’s people.

It’s a bitter truth, but Shin Yong-ho also enjoyed all of that.

Surprised?

Not at all.

In this world, it’s strange *not* to do such things.

Frankly, among the heads of the prosecution or those who have a say in politics, there isn’t a single one who wouldn’t have dust flying if you shook them [meaning, everyone has something to hide].

This is a clear fact I can guarantee.

The important thing is whether you get caught or not.

If you get caught, you take off your clothes [lose your position], and if you don’t, you rise through the ranks and ascend to their so-called world.

In short, you become king.

The evidence Shin Yong-ho handed over was undeniable and clear.

It was a nuclear bomb that could blow away not only Im Seong-jin’s line but also the Economic Crimes Investigation Department he belonged to.

I don’t have the slightest intention of simply handing this over to my superior and going through the formal steps.

Because it’s obvious that the higher-ups will end up stealing the credit, or it will fall into the hands of Im Seong-jin’s people and become neither here nor there.

The most important thing is how to detonate this information.

It needs to be done in a way that doesn’t cause procedural problems and allows me to build credit.

It’s not just about getting my name on it; I need to be at the heart of this case to climb to the top.

I need to move after setting up a perfect plan.

“Should we hold a press conference?”

I rejected Shin Yong-ho’s suggestion sharply.

“No way, man. If the report breaks, those bastards will cut their tails [sacrifice someone to protect themselves] and get away with it for sure.”

Tail-cutting.

Protecting the upper echelons from harm by having a subordinate take responsibility and step down.

“…I see.”

He nodded, clenching his fist.

Shin Yong-ho himself was a victim who was cut off as that tail.

In fact, it’s not easy for a fellow prosecutor to strike at another prosecutor.

It’s even more so for a junior prosecutor like me to attack those high-level monsters.

In short, I have to be prepared to die and finish all the preparations perfectly before I can even try to face them.

Shin Yong-ho scratched his head and sighed.

“No matter how I think about it, the only thing that comes to mind is the Office of the Inspector General.”

“Let’s keep that as a last resort. Im Seong-jin is good prey for the Office of the Inspector General, but we don’t know what might happen.”

It’s the easiest method, but there’s one reason why I don’t prioritize the Office of the Inspector General.

There are those who are full of a sense of justice, but there are more who are thirsty for their own success.

That’s why they can make striking at their colleagues their job.

If I hand this case over to them, they will surely become bloodshot in their eyes to make themselves the center of the case.

That shouldn’t happen.

Also, if, in the process, it gets delivered to someone within Im Seong-jin’s reach, that’s the end, the end.

Even if I collaborate with the Office of the Inspector General, I must act after a perfect design so that Shin Yong-ho and I can be at the center of the case while definitely taking down Im Seong-jin’s people.

After racking our brains for a long time, Shin Yong-ho suggested an idea.

“Should we contact Professor Jung Jae-won?”

Professor Jung Jae-won.

A professor who was in charge of us at Korea University, full of a sense of justice, and who has walked the path of fostering future generations for the future of Korea rather than success.

A great person who spared no advice as our mentor for four years.

Most of all, what’s trustworthy is that, as far as we know, it’s hard to find someone more righteous than that professor.

As he is still working as a professor at Korea University Law School, he may be able to give us accurate judgment and advice for us in this situation.

“Should we?”

“I think that professor would roll up his sleeves and offer a solution.”

“Yeah, let’s just ask him. If it seems okay, we’ll proceed that way, and if not, we’ll think about it again.”

Vibration, vibration.

No sooner had I finished speaking than my phone vibrated.

“I’ll find the professor’s number.”

“Okay.”

I left him, who went into the room to find Professor Jung Jae-won’s phone number, and took out my phone in the living room.

-Sender: 29

-Video

Another text.

That text of unknown origin.

Despite my suspicion, my hand played the video as if drawn by something.

The first screen showed an article.

A newspaper article that you can often see.

But the headline made it impossible to take my eyes off it.

-Serious Prosecutor Corruption, Long-Standing Issues Exploded!

-It has been revealed that Prosecutor Shin Yong-ho (currently affiliated with Boseong Branch), who worked in the Economic Crimes Investigation Department of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, committed serious prosecutorial corruption. Prosecutor Shin Yong-ho engaged in abuse of power that a prosecutor should never do, such as receiving bribes from local dignitaries and political figures, providing sexual favors, covering up investigations, and engaging in abuse of power. The appalling reality is that the prosecution, which should be a cane for the people [a source of justice and support], is wielding that cane at the people and filling their own pockets. ……(Omitted)…… Prosecutor Im Seong-jin expressed regret that he had to uncover the corruption of his subordinate prosecutor with his own hands, but said that it was unavoidable for the sake of the correct order of the prosecutor’s office. The public gave him respect and applause, and Prosecutor Shin Yong-ho is currently missing.

-Reporter Kang Yu-won, Political District 1

What is this?

No sooner had I finished reading the article than the screen zoomed out and two men came into the frame, and I could confirm that the article that had just been shown on the screen was a newspaper article held by one of them.

-Thank you.

-Be careful. It almost became dangerous.

Although it was dark, I could clearly distinguish their faces.

The man sitting on the right, holding the newspaper article, was Chief Prosecutor Im Seong-jin, whom I had seen several times through articles and news.

The man sitting on the left had more gray hair than I remembered, but I could definitely recognize him as Professor Jung Jae-won.

How are these two meeting?

-I didn’t think that guy would do such a thing. I’m glad the story leaked to the professor, so we could strike first.

Professor Jung Jae-won twisted his lips and replied.

-You are the most outstanding and successful student among the students I have raised. You shouldn’t collapse so futilely.

-Thank you for thinking of me.

-We have to help each other. We can’t let a loach [troublemaker] stir up trouble and cover us with muddy water, can we?

-That’s right. No matter how much a salmon swims upstream, it can’t change the flow of the river.

Im Seong-jin smiled and took out an envelope from his briefcase and handed it to him on the table.

-This is the data related to your daughter’s exam that you mentioned last time. Please take good care of it without making it obvious.

-As expected of you. I asked just in case, but you managed to get this.

-Aren’t the examiners all our people? We help each other. Isn’t mutual aid a word made to be used at times like this?

-That’s right, mutual aid.

Professor Jung Jae-won put the documents in his bag with a satisfied expression and got up from his seat.

-Ah, Professor.

Im Seong-jin took out a card key that he had put in his pocket and put it in Professor Jung Jae-won’s pocket.

-I’ve prepared a fresh, young, and shapely girl for you.

Only then did Professor Jung Jae-won take out the lewd smile he had been hiding and nodded.

-As expected, you know what’s what.

The video ended with Professor Jung Jae-won’s words.

What the hell?

Has it already broken out?

No, I haven’t even brought up the story with Professor Jung Jae-won yet.

Besides, here they’re saying Shin Yong-ho is missing.

Could it be that helping Shin Yong-ho’s internal whistleblowing has already spread outside and they sent this to threaten me?

A threat to make Shin Yong-ho disappear?

That can’t be. I heard this story on Friday evening, and it’s only Sunday now.

Damn it, are they watching from somewhere?

I didn’t want to show Shin Yong-ho this text because I was worried he would worry if he found out, but this is a fact I can’t keep to myself.

“Yong-ho, what’s going on?”

“What is it?”

I approached him and played the video on my phone to show him.

“I think someone knows about this and sent it. Check it out.”

But Shin Yong-ho tilted his head as he looked at the phone.

“What are you asking me to check?”

“There’s a video there. It came in a text.”

“Text? What text? I only see the background screen right now.”