The Inspector Is Getting Promoted! [EN]: Chapter 336

Prosecutor, You’re Going Places! – Episode 336 (336/341)

The Election (5)

Seo Hyun-mi of the Manse Party has a 16% approval rating.

And Shin Dong-hyun’s approval rating is 35%.

Combined, they have 51%, which is 2% ahead of Choi Seo-joon.

There will be some defections during the unification process, but most of the Manse Party’s supporters are those who have antipathy towards Choi Seo-joon.

This means that the number of defectors will be very small, unlike when Kim Kang-jin of the Daehan Party withdrew his candidacy.

‘Then there’s no need for me to step down, is there?’

Greed blazed in the eyes of candidate Shin Dong-hyun.

Having experienced it firsthand, Shin Dong-hyun knows best how sweet power is.

That’s why he didn’t want to let go even more.

Shin Dong-hyun’s eyes darted around.

He couldn’t help it.

Once addicted to the drug called power, it was nearly impossible to break free from it until he let go of it… no, even after letting go.

‘There’s no need to give it to someone else.’

The Republic of Korea’s political scene, especially the presidential election, is a winner-takes-all world.

If he is elected, he can have everything.

Soon, he smirked slyly.

“I’ll meet with candidate Seo Hyun-mi myself.”

“Yes?”

The leaders of the Minguk Party couldn’t hide their surprise.

“Are you serious?”

The Manse Party is known for not unifying with other parties in the first place.

Because it is a party that fiercely protects its own political agenda.

However, the smile did not disappear from Shin Dong-hyun’s lips.

Because he clearly remembered what candidate Seo Hyun-mi said to candidate Choi Seo-joon in the last debate.

‘I ran to stop candidate Choi Seo-joon.’

If that sentiment is still valid, they may be able to unify with the Manse Party.

If that happens.

They might be able to defeat candidate Choi Seo-joon.

No, it’s definitely possible.

Shin Dong-hyun got up from his seat and instructed Chief of Staff Jin Hyun-soo.

“Contact candidate Seo Hyun-mi. Tell her to meet me right now.”

“Yes, Mr. President.”

***

“Are you not feeling well, candidate?”

Yoon Seol-ha asked cautiously.

“You don’t look good.”

“I’m fine.”

“If you’re tired, let’s stop the campaign here today and go in. The weather is gloomy and not good.”

For the first time in December, the sky was cloudy.

The weather just before it rains.

Did the sky read his mind?

Rumble- Crash!

As if waiting, thunder sounded.

And then.

Tuk-tuk.

It started to rain.

“Let’s go in. It would be a disaster if you caught a cold.”

“That’s right.”

Since even Go Joong-hyuk agreed, I didn’t insist anymore.

“Okay.”

I returned to the car with an umbrella held by the bodyguards.

I wiped the raindrops off my clothes with a handkerchief handed by Yoon Seol-ha.

“It’s past mid-December, but it’s raining instead of snowing.”

“I know. There was no rain forecast today.”

It’s not just moderate rainfall, but a storm is about to hit.

At that time, Go Joong-hyuk, who checked his cell phone, said to me as if to reassure me.

“The other candidates also returned to their campaigns urgently.”

“That’s a relief.”

“Yes. Anyway, if there’s thunder and lightning, voters won’t be walking around outside anyway. It would be better to prepare for the final debate in two days.”

“Okay. Let’s do that.”

My head throbbed.

Was it because I’ve been under too much stress due to the election campaign for the past few days?

My body was also aching and throbbing here and there.

I pressed my temples and closed my eyes, sinking into the seat, and asked.

“Is there any schedule after the current schedule?”

“No. There isn’t today.”

“What about tomorrow?”

“A campaign event with former candidate Kim Kang-jin is planned at the Bitgoeul Market in Gwangju.”

If the Seomun Market in Daegu is a stronghold for the Minguk Party, the Bitgoeul Market is the Daehan Party’s stronghold itself.

If Kim Kang-jin, the leader of the Daehan Party, also participates, it will definitely be a big help.

“What after that?”

“After campaigning at Bitgoeul Market until 5 p.m., you will immediately return to Seoul and attend candidate Shin Dong-hyun’s press conference at 9 p.m.”

Tomorrow is the day.

The day of the decisive battle for a bloodless victory [a political maneuver to win without significant opposition].

Perhaps this is the reason for this headache.

I myself was feeling extremely sensitive due to the stress and tension that things might fall apart.

“Is there anything unusual?”

“Yes. After Kim Kang-jin of the Daehan Party declared his support, Shin Dong-hyun has been meeting with Minguk Party lawmakers several times, but there are no other special movements.”

“Keep an eye on the trends just in case. Keep an eye on the leaders as well.”

“Yes, sir.”

If Shin Dong-hyun has other sly plans besides a bloodless victory, he will move out of my sight.

The most dangerous thing is unification with the Manse Party.

I knew that, but if he actually implemented it, I couldn’t stop it.

Therefore, the best I can do is to hold as many of his weaknesses as possible in case Shin Dong-hyun betrays me.

“Call Prosecutor Gong Sang-wook and tell him to come in this evening. Bring all the information you’ve collected so far without missing anything.”

“Yes, sir.”

I just hope I don’t have to use this data.

***

“I don’t know if you have time to hang out like this when there are only 8 days left until the presidential election.”

Candidate Seo Hyun-mi said, holding her teacup haughtily.

“Don’t you know that candidate Choi Seo-joon is campaigning hard at this time? His approval rating is also rising steadily. It seems like he will reach 50% tomorrow or the day after.”

Shin Dong-hyun smiled wryly.

“That’s why we met, isn’t it?”

Seo Hyun-mi was still leaning back on the sofa with her legs crossed.

“It’s a waste of time to beat around the bush, so let’s get straight to the point.”

“Good.”

Shin Dong-hyun clasped his hands together and placed them on the table.

Then, without hesitation, he stated directly.

“Let’s unify.”

Seo Hyun-mi smiled instead of answering and took another sip of tea.

Shin Dong-hyun added as if emphasizing his words.

“If the Minguk Party and the Manse Party join forces, it’s definitely worth considering.”

Seo Hyun-mi put down her teacup very slowly.

“Well.”

Then she shrugged her shoulders.

“You must know that the Manse Party has never unified in any presidential election.”

“Isn’t it necessary to break the egg to hatch a bird?”

Seo Hyun-mi smiled lightly.

“What if the inside of the egg is so warm that you don’t feel the need to go out?”

“Then the result is obvious.”

Shin Dong-hyun did not back down at all.

“You’ll be swallowed by the hunter as an egg. You and I will join hands and lose to Choi Seo-joon.”

Seo Hyun-mi was well aware of this fact.

If she or Shin Dong-hyun doesn’t make a big move here, Choi Seo-joon will be elected president.

“You know Choi Seo-joon’s personality, right? If you’ve ever crossed him, he’ll hold on to you until the end. You will definitely be retaliated against, candidate.”

She also knew this.

That’s why Seo Hyun-mi gritted her teeth and rushed in.

In contrast to what she expected, even though she thought she had found clear evidence, Choi Seo-joon slipped away like a loach [a type of fish known for being slippery and hard to catch].

As if he knew this information in advance.

“Your brother, former Prosecutor General Seo Gi-woong, was famous for being an honest official, right? But he’s the one who put him in prison. If you don’t take measures, candidate Seo Hyun-mi will suffer the same fate.”

Seo Hyun-mi slowly exhaled.

Then she stared at Shin Dong-hyun intently.

“Are you saying we should unify to escape that threat?”

“That’s not all.”

He gave a dark smile.

“Let’s screw Choi Seo-joon over. Let’s knock down the guy who has only been successful so far.”

“Hmm…”

“Let me be frank. Choi Seo-joon also proposed unification to me.”

It was an unexpected story for Seo Hyun-mi.

Her finger twitched, but Shin Dong-hyun did not notice it.

Seo Hyun-mi maintained a poker face and asked.

“So, you unified with the Daehan Party and stabbed them in the back?”

“No.”

“Then…”

“After the unification, he suggested that I make a statement of support for him.”

There was some falsehood in the timing, but overall, it was not wrong.

The surprised look did not disappear from Seo Hyun-mi’s face.

It’s a story that ordinary people can’t even imagine.

However, Choi Seo-joon implemented it.

“In fact, I was going to unify according to his wishes.”

He went to the verge of success.

“But I couldn’t go on like this. I didn’t want to be swayed by him.”

In reality, it was because he didn’t want to lose power.

The honor of being president, the treatment in other countries, the protocol beyond imagination, and the ultimate power in Korea.

Shin Dong-hyun didn’t want to let go of any of them.

“Candidate Seo, the only way to stop Choi Seo-joon is to unify the two of us. No, it’s the only way to survive.”

Candidate Seo Hyun-mi bit her lip tightly.

Shin Dong-hyun pressed even harder at the sight of her hesitating.

“Frankly speaking, if you don’t accept it, I have no choice but to follow Choi Seo-joon’s proposal.”

“…”

“That means I have no choice but to resign and declare my support for Choi Seo-joon. Then, unless Choi Seo-joon suddenly has an accident and dies, he will definitely be elected. This is an undeniable fact.”

Candidate Seo Hyun-mi closed her eyes tightly and fell into thought.

It was a proposal that she couldn’t help but worry about.

Seo Hyun-mi ran to restore the honor of her older brother, Seo Gi-woong, but now the situation has changed.

It has become a matter of her survival.

Whether to protect the identity of the Manse Party and fall into the abyss.

Or, to ignore the party’s reputation and join hands with Shin Dong-hyun to survive.

She pondered for a long time, but the conclusion that both her mind and reason chose was the same.

First, you have to survive.

That way, there will be a future, and there will be an opportunity to restore Seo Gi-woong’s honor.

Seo Hyun-mi was not a person with a firm belief enough to give up her political life for the sake of the party’s survival.

She opened her mouth in a low voice.

“We won’t necessarily be elected just because we combine.”

“I know. There will definitely be defectors due to unification. But!”

Shin Dong-hyun raised his voice.

“What’s certain is that if we go on like this, we’ll both die.”

Seo Hyun-mi nodded slowly.

She couldn’t die like this.

“Okay. I’ll do as Candidate Shin says.”

A rough smile spread across Shin Dong-hyun’s lips.

“Thank you.”

“When should I make a statement of support?”

“Tomorrow.”

Candidate Seo Hyun-mi frowned.

“Shouldn’t I have time to talk to the party members?”

However, Shin Dong-hyun shook his head firmly.

“I have a press conference prepared for tomorrow. And Choi Seo-joon ordered me to resign and declare my support at that time.”

“…”

“If you don’t declare it at tomorrow’s press conference, you’ll definitely notice something. You know that guy’s quick wit, Candidate Seo, right?”

“Hoo…”

Candidate Seo Hyun-mi nodded slowly.

“Okay. I’ll try to sort it out as quickly as possible.”

“Thank you.”

Candidate Shin Dong-hyun got up from his seat.

“Then I’ll see you at the press conference tomorrow.”