The Inspector Is Getting Promoted! [EN]: Chapter 30

Prosecutor, You’re Going Places! – Episode 30 (30/341)

Tracking (2)

Screech.

The large iron door opened, and Shin Yong-ho entered the visiting room.

Finding me, he sat down across the glass partition with a surprised look.

“You were supposed to come during the trial. What’s going on suddenly?”

“Ah, there’s something I wanted to ask you.”

“Ask me?”

“It’s not about the trial…”

I gestured for Shin Yong-ho to come closer, glancing at the guard behind him.

“It’s about the establishment.”

“Establishment?”

“Yeah. Have you ever heard of Paju Fairy?”

His eyes widened instantly.

Anxious about being reprimanded by the guard, he tried to hide his surprise and leaned closer to me.

“How do you know about that place?”

“I found out somehow. You know about it, right?”

“…I know it.”

I knew it.

I was certain that Shin Yong-ho would have frequented that place.

“That place is dangerous. If you go in there recklessly trying to track someone, even you might not know what could happen.”

“Don’t worry. I only have one life, so I won’t act without any precautions.”

“Hoo, okay.”

He nodded, paused for a moment in silence, and then opened his mouth.

“Remember the sex bribery list we used when we caught Im Seong-jin? The one written in that small blue notebook.”

The blue sex bribery list.

I remember.

A book that recorded everything from sexual favors to all sorts of sex-related crimes.

“We submitted the first one as evidence, but we kept the second one because it was dangerous, right?”

“Yeah, we did.”

I remember not submitting the second one because I thought Shin Yong-ho might receive a prison sentence if we revealed it.

“That should be at my house in Boseong. If you check the second notebook, there should be a note that says ‘Blue One’.”

“Blue One?”

“Yeah. That’s Paju Fairy.”

As expected, it’s not a typical establishment.

Other places had their names written as they were, but this place deliberately changed its name.

“If you look closely, there will be the madam’s phone number. It’s probably written as ‘Fairy’.”

“Fairy. Can I just call and make a reservation?”

“Yeah. If you call there, reveal your identity, and say you were introduced by Shin Yong-ho from the Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Office, they won’t be too suspicious.”

“So it’s all referral-based?”

“Yeah. You have to take them there directly or give them a call in advance…”

He looked down at his prison uniform and gave a bitter smile.

“I can’t go in this state.”

“I’ll call then.”

“Yeah. Do that.”

Shin Yong-ho leaned back and added one more thing.

“You’ll need more bullets than you think. It’s a place for high-ranking officials, so it’s stronger than you think.”

“Don’t worry.”

When I twisted my lips at him, Shin Yong-ho realized that I had found a sponsor and smirked.

Of course, he didn’t say it out loud because the guard was nearby.

He naturally changed the subject.

“So, are you coming to the trial this time?”

“Yeah, I have to. If I get probation this time, let’s have a drink outside.”

“Will soju [Korean distilled rice liquor] be enough? Buy me sake [Japanese rice wine], you punk.”

“Hahaha, don’t worry.”

“Thanks.”

“Oh, and don’t worry about getting a job when you get out.”

“Why?”

“Once this case is completely settled, you’ll probably be able to join the legal team at Juok Electronics.”

“Juok Electronics?”

Shin Yong-ho’s eyes widened.

“Yeah, it’ll be possible. I’ve already talked about it.”

I had spoken directly with Vice Chairman Lee Cheol-yong.

A large corporation’s legal team. Moreover, a parachute appointment [a job secured through connections] directly under the chairman.

If he gets in, Shin Yong-ho will definitely receive tremendous treatment comparable to the top four law firms.

He seemed touched, his eyes crinkling as he burst into a deep laugh.

“Thank you so much.”

“You need to make a spectacular comeback too. So get out of here quickly, you punk.”

“Yeah, I got it. Take care.”

“Rest up.”

***

Clink!

The glasses held by Song Hyun-seong and me clinked in the air, making a cheerful sound.

“How long has it been since we had a drink alone like this?”

“Since I moved from the Inspection Department to the Special Investigation Department, we’ve only met to smoke.”

“That’s right. We should have met more often.”

He downed his soju and picked up a piece of tuna sashimi [thinly sliced raw fish] as an appetizer.

“I can’t believe I’m getting to eat tuna sashimi thanks to having a good friend. Choi Seo-joon has come a long way.”

“Hey, I’m a deputy chief prosecutor. I’m your superior in terms of rank.”

“A guy in the Central District Prosecutor’s Office dares to mess with the Inspection Department. You might get your head chopped off in one go.”

“Go ahead and inspect me as much as you want. You won’t find a speck of dust even if you shake me.”

Song Hyun-seong and I chuckled and chatted.

“By the way, I heard you moved?”

“Yeah. I bought an apartment in Wangsimni.”

“You’re amazing. Is this why you shouldn’t get married if you want to save money?”

“Come on. I’m jealous of you for being married now. What about you, by the way?”

Song Hyun-seong shook his head in disgust.

“Don’t even mention it. I still haven’t escaped renting. Raising a kid costs so much money, it’s insane…”

“Didn’t they just enter elementary school?”

“That’s the problem. Elementary school teachers these days are so greedy. I have to bribe them even though it’s just first grade. Otherwise, they’ll pair them up with weird kids.”

“Ugh, that’s disgusting.”

“That’s the world, I guess.”

He clicked his tongue and leaned towards me, lowering his voice.

“If I hadn’t turned a blind eye to the envelopes coming in from here and there, I would have had to take out a loan.”

“Is it that bad?”

“It’s really severe.”

Song Hyun-seong sighed deeply.

“Don’t you have anything lucrative?”

“What could I have? Because of that 1.2 billion I invested last time, no one approaches me anymore.”

“Hehehe, you should have taken it.”

“Shut up, you Inspection Department guy.”

After a brief chat, we naturally transitioned to the main topic.

“How’s it going with finding a reporter?”

“Ah, right. I need to talk about that.”

He filled my soju glass and began to speak.

“I looked into it a bit, and there’s a reporter named Bae Jin-soo at a newspaper called ‘Political District No. 1’.”

If it’s ‘Political District No. 1’, it’s a media outlet that’s influential enough to be among the top three in politics.

They even have their own comprehensive channel.

“Bae Jin-soo?”

“I’ve worked with him a few times in the past, and he’s trustworthy because he keeps his mouth shut.”

If he keeps his mouth shut, that’s a huge merit.

In this industry, information leaks can easily lead to getting fired.

“But there’s one flaw…”

Song Hyun-seong said cautiously.

“He’s a bit greedy.”

“Greedy?”

That’s a bit dangerous, even if he keeps his mouth shut.

“Are you sure he won’t mess things up for money?”

“No, he’s not the type to betray you even if he’s offered a fortune. He’s a reliable person, but he sometimes tends to overdo things when he gets greedy for conditions, perks, or success.”

He wants perks but won’t betray for money.

Is he the type who lives and dies by loyalty?

“Are there no other reporters?”

“Bae Jin-soo is the limit on my end. It’s not easy to find someone trustworthy in this industry. My head could be on the line.”

The fact that he’s greedy is a bit concerning, but it can’t be helped.

Just the fact that he won’t betray is a huge merit.

“You’re sure he won’t be swayed by money?”

“No. I helped Bae’s daughter in the past, so he’ll never betray me.”

“Okay. Then I should contact Bae Jin-soo. Text me his contact information.”

“Ah, I prepared it in advance.”

He took out a document envelope from his bag and handed it to me.

Checking the contents, there was a photo of Bae Jin-soo, his affiliation, a brief profile, and contact information.

His impression isn’t bad.

The corners of his eyes are raised, so he definitely looks greedy as Song Hyun-seong said, but he doesn’t look mean.

It feels like we should go into this as business partners rather than a relationship of trust.

Buzz.

At that moment, Song Hyun-seong’s phone rang.

“Ah, I need to take this call.”

Showing me the caller ID, which read ‘Wife’, he smiled awkwardly.

I stopped him from getting up and stood up first.

“No. Take it inside. I’ll go have a smoke.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

Leaving him to answer the phone, I went outside the restaurant.

I put a cigarette in my mouth and began to examine the profile of the reporter named Bae Jin-soo in detail.

He’s been a reporter for seven years.

He’s considered a veteran in his own right, but he hasn’t been able to get promoted easily because he works at ‘Political District No. 1’, which has a strong lineup, so he’s desperate for a scoop.

Looking at the cases he’s broken so far, he’s kept the embargo and hasn’t made any major mistakes.

But it’s hard to be sure with just this.

The newspaper’s subscribers judge the article by ‘what was broken’, but for a business partner, ‘how well they hold onto what wasn’t broken’ is important.

Everything else is good, but the fact that Song Hyun-seong said he’s greedy keeps bothering me.

Greed.

It’s a truly subtle word.

The first thing that comes to mind is greed for money.

If this becomes excessive, it can be a fatal weakness.

Considering that he doesn’t betray, the extent might not be that severe, or it could be greed for success.

The desire to get a scoop.

That could actually be helpful when doing the job.

There are also various other types of greed, such as greed for women, but there are limitations to just guessing about these.

I’ll be able to figure him out when I meet him in person.

What I need to find out now is how hard he’ll work and whether he’ll be swayed when others try to bribe him with money.

I need to check that most thoroughly.

I can trust Song Hyun-seong, but I can’t be sure if I can trust the person he introduced.

I immediately took out my phone and called a police officer I knew.

-Yes, Prosecutor.

“Are you off work?”

-I’m on duty today. What’s up?

“I’d like to ask you to investigate someone. He’s a reporter for ‘Political District No. 1’, and his name is Bae Jin-soo…”

***

The next day, when I came to the office, Jo Ara, the clerk who was always calm, caught my eye as she was pacing back and forth, looking restless.

“Ara, what are you doing?”

“Ah, Prosecutor!”

As if she had been waiting, she hurriedly approached me.

“I received a call while you were away.”

“A call?”

“Yes. They said to keep the morning open two days from now…”

“Who is it?”

Jo Ara looked awkwardly at the receiver and carefully opened her mouth.

“V…”

“Yes?”

“VIP.”

Did I hear wrong?

“Did you just say VIP?”

She pursed her lips and nodded.

“Yes. The VIP called and said they would like to have a luncheon with you.”