The Inspector Is Getting Promoted! [EN]: Chapter 34

Prosecutor, You’re Going Places! – Episode 34 (34/341)

Heaven’s Net (1)

On my way home from work, I received a call from Detective Jeong Hyeong-jun.

“Yes, Detective Jeong.”

– Prosecutor, the guy contacted me and said the work you requested is finished.

“Oh, really?”

– Yes. He said the quality is so good that you’ll be very satisfied. You can look forward to it.

“That’s great. Would it be alright to go now? It’s quite late…….”

– This guy is just starting to get active around this time, so he’ll probably welcome it.

“Ah, I see. Then could you let him know I’m leaving now?”

– Alright. Are you on your way home now?

“Yes. I just left the parking lot. I’m planning to stop by on my way.”

– That’s perfect then. Alright, I’ll contact him right away.

“Thank you.”

– Have a good evening.

As soon as I hung up, I turned the car around and headed to the technician’s hideout.

***

“Hoo.”

I couldn’t help but let out an exclamation.

On the surface, it just looked like a necklace with an emerald embedded in it.

It looked the same from every angle.

To me, it looked exactly the same as when I handed it over to him, so I couldn’t even tell he had worked on it.

“How is it?”

“It’s not just good, it’s excellent.”

The guy curled up the corners of his mouth as if satisfied with my reaction.

“My skills are among the best in this industry.”

“What’s the video quality like?”

“Needless to say. It’s much better than a smartphone camera. I spent almost all the initial payment on the lens.”

*If only he could keep his mouth shut,* I thought.

I took out an envelope containing a stack of 50,000 won bills [approximately $40 USD] from my inside pocket and handed it to him.

“Good work.”

“Thank you.”

“How do I watch the video and check the files?”

“Ah, if you touch the part that locks the necklace, you’ll feel a button on the seam…….”

He briefly explained how to film and use the necklace.

“How long can it record for?”

“It can record for at least 6 hours in terms of capacity, so you don’t have to worry.”

That’s more than enough.

With a satisfied smile, I put the two necklaces in my pocket and went outside.

***

– You are near your destination, 500m ahead.

As the navigation’s voice sounded, Reporter Bae Jin-soo unbuckled his seatbelt and leaned forward to check the surroundings.

“I think it’s here?”

I thought it would be in a somewhat secluded place since it was shrouded in mystery, but contrary to expectations, Paju’s ‘Yojung’ [a high-end, exclusive establishment] was located in a residential area.

Of course, it was a high-end residential area, so each house had very high walls.

The ‘Yojung’ was no exception.

The high walls, more than twice the height of a person, were covered in ivy and other vines, creating a natural harmony with the bricks.

It felt like a ‘Yojung’ from the old days.

The only difference from other houses was that the site was very large.

As we continued straight, the entrance to the ‘Yojung’ began to appear.

There, three men in suits were wearing in-ear headphones and waiting, one of whom held out his hand and signaled us to stop.

Slowly stepping on the brake, I instructed Reporter Bae Jin-soo.

“Reporter, you know that you shouldn’t operate any recording devices or filming equipment, right?”

“Of course. I left everything behind today and only brought my phone.”

“Good job.”

I unplugged the black box and added.

“I’ll explain everything related to the operation.”

“Then I…….”

“Yes. Just proceed with the negotiation.”

“Alright.”

Slowly stepping on the brake, I gently stopped the car, and one of the men in suits approached the driver’s seat.

Lowering the window, he asked politely in a soft voice.

“What is your name?”

“Choi Seo-joon. I have a reservation for 9 o’clock.”

“Please wait a moment.”

The man bowed politely and headed back to the gate.

Then, he spoke with someone inside, nodded, and returned to me.

“Your reservation has been confirmed. You may enter.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the man carefully opened the driver’s seat door and bowed.

I entrusted him with valet parking, and Reporter Bae Jin-soo and I headed to the gate.

One of the men in suits politely bowed and opened the gate.

“Welcome.”

The moment I stepped inside.

I almost gasped aloud without realizing it.

The colorful lanterns caught my eye first, and the beautiful trees and grass harmonized like a Joseon Dynasty Seowon [a private Confucian academy], and finally, the gracefully extending tiled roof of the Hanok [traditional Korean house] building completed the scene.

This was the place where the leading figures in politics held secret meetings.

It was amazing that citizens were completely unaware that such a place existed in the metropolitan area.

“This way.”

A woman in an elegant Hanbok [traditional Korean dress] and a ‘Jeonmo’ [traditional Korean hat] naturally guided us.

Reporter Bae Jin-soo couldn’t hide his admiration and followed behind me with a clenched fist.

Lights were on in various rooms of the large Hanok.

Even though shadows flickered, not a single sound leaked out.

Considering that people usually have a lively time in such places, the soundproofing must be excellent.

Well, if even a single word leaked out in a place like this, who knows what would happen.

Following the woman’s guidance, we entered a room, and a much wider interior than I had imagined came into view.

As if proving Shin Yong-ho’s words that it was an enormous amount of money, the table was filled with delicacies from land and sea, and as soon as we sat down, a dozen women entered the room.

Their beauty was beyond words. It couldn’t even be compared to the ‘Ten-Pro’ [top 10%] in Gangnam [an affluent district in Seoul, known for its upscale entertainment].

Women with appearances that seemed not just pretty but noble.

I could immediately understand why Shin Yong-ho frequented this place.

They were so dignified that I didn’t think of them as women who sold their bodies like in other establishments.

The dozen women all had their hair neatly styled and wore colorful hairpins, and what caught my eye the most was the Hanbok they were wearing.

Unlike traditional Hanbok, it was completely modified, and it was a dress that strongly stimulated men’s eyes.

It must have been the result of reflecting the tastes of the noblemen who came here.

*Those old men’s tastes,* I thought.

Since Bae Jin-soo was choosing a woman, he began to scan the women with a serious look.

In order not to arouse suspicion, he decided to act as if he had just come to have fun at first.

While he was contemplating, a woman in a black Hanbok entered through the door.

A slender figure with fair skin.

I could tell at a glance that she was Wolhyang, whom I had seen in the message.

However, she was different from what I had seen in the video.

An overwhelming beauty that surpassed even celebrities.

I immediately realized why Kang Hyun-soo chose her every time.

She naturally came to my side and carefully sat down.

“I am Wolhyang.”

I tried to maintain my composure as much as possible despite her eye-catching appearance.

I was here to work, not to have fun.

While she was greeting me, Bae Jin-soo finished his choice, and the drinking party began in earnest.

First, Wolhyang carefully opened her mouth.

“I don’t think I’ve seen you before.”

She must have been asking how I had designated her when it was our first meeting.

“An acquaintance told me. They said you have excellent beauty and good table manners.”

“I see.”

Wolhyang smiled gracefully, covering her mouth with her hand.

At that moment, Reporter Bae Jin-soo naturally wiggled his butt and offered me a drink.

“Prosecutor, please have a drink. I’ll pour it for you.”

“Sure.”

I took the glass and received his drink, and in return, I filled his glass as well.

A warmly heated drink.

*Is it ‘Jeongjong’ [refined rice wine]?* I wondered.

As I took a sip, a clean taste lingered in my mouth.

It’s ‘Cheongju’ [clear rice wine].

As the alcohol went down, Reporter Bae Jin-soo enjoyed the party itself, groping the woman’s body as if he had been here several times.

*It’s quite natural for acting. Does he frequent places like this usually?* I mused.

“Ah, Prosecutor, you were really amazing this time. You even went to the Blue House.”

I felt Wolhyang carefully turn her eyes to check my face at those words.

She seemed to recognize my face, as she had encountered many high-ranking people in this field.

“Hey, it’s nothing great. I just went to receive an award.”

“That’s what’s great.”

Reporter Bae Jin-soo kept praising me.

“You’re the only prosecutor who had a one-on-one meeting with the current president, aren’t you?”

“Haha.”

I smiled embarrassedly.

“Ah, I heard you had a luncheon with the president and had a one-on-one meeting. Could you tell me what you talked about?”

“It was nothing special. He just thanked me for working for the country.”

“Ah, I see.”

He nodded and slowly picked up a piece of food on the table and began to eat it.

After that, we had conversations that prosecutors and reporters would have, such as the political situation and the current state of affairs, as if water was flowing.

Of course, we didn’t talk about anything related to our information.

When the atmosphere was ripe to some extent, we carried out the script we had prepared.

“By the way, Prosecutor.”

“Yes?”

“You said earlier that there was nothing special when you had a one-on-one meeting with the president, right?”

“I did.”

“Don’t be like that between us.”

Bae Jin-soo wiggled his eyebrows slyly.

“Can’t you tell me what you talked about?”

“There was nothing special.”

“Hey, don’t be like that. Where’s the secret between us when we’ve seen everything?”

“Hmm.”

I showed an uncomfortable expression, but Bae Jin-soo kept urging me, acting oblivious.

“Ah, please tell me. Would I report it or write an article about it?”

“Let’s stop talking about that.”

“Hey, what do you mean stop…….”

The woman next to Wolhyang and Bae Jin-soo felt the atmosphere becoming increasingly tense and closed her mouth.

However, Bae Jin-soo continued to ask me about the one-on-one meeting, and I glared at him coldly, completely turning serious.

“Reporter Bae Jin-soo.”

I spoke in a cynical tone, unlike before.

“Is it okay to bring up that incident during the Four Rivers Project?”

Bang!

Bae Jin-soo slammed the table and shouted as if protesting.

“What the hell! We agreed to completely end that story, didn’t we? Why are you bringing it up again!”

His face flushed red, and he breathed heavily.

However, I didn’t bat an eye and spoke as if possessed by a cold-blooded person.

“That’s why I’m telling you to watch your mouth.”

Bae Jin-soo completely turned serious and said to the women.

“……Everyone, get out.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the two women tried to get up from their seats.

However, I looked at Wolhyang and said.

“You stay seated.”

A chilling atmosphere as if walking on thin ice.

In the midst of the cold silence, Wolhyang sat back down next to me, and the woman next to Bae Jin-soo left the seat.

All the situations were created.

There was no need to act anymore.

“Hoo.”

I took a deep breath and swept my hair back, shaking off all the energy I had been acting with.

Immediately after that, I turned to Wolhyang with a serious face and opened my mouth.

“Ms. Wolhyang.”

Surprised by the sudden mention of her name, she gasped and answered.

“Yes?”

“Let’s make a deal.”