The Inspector Is Getting Promoted! [EN]: Chapter 39

Prosecutor, You’re Going Places! – Episode 39 (39/341)

Recruitment (1)

“Thank you. You’ve worked so hard.”

“No, I should be the one thanking you.”

Han Jiyu bowed her head and finally smiled brightly.

“Thanks to you, Prosecutor, I got the contract from that bastard, and I didn’t have to go through such a shameful experience… I really don’t know how to thank you enough.”

“I told you last time. Just introduce me to a fellow actress.”

“Are you really asking me to introduce you?”

She widened her eyes and asked in a serious voice.

“No, I’m just kidding.”

“If you need it, just tell me. I can really introduce you.”

“No, I don’t have time to date these days because I’m working.”

Since I wasn’t serious, I brushed it off with a joke and got to the point.

“Did you bring the necklace?”

“Ah, yes.”

She handed me the emerald necklace she was wearing.

Wolhyang had finished filming once and handed it over to Bae Jinsu, who brought it saying he would copy the recorded video.

While Han Jiyu was meeting Kang Hyeonsu in person, Wolhyang wouldn’t need to use the necklace, so there wouldn’t be any gap.

Besides, after I move this video, I’ll completely delete it and hand the necklace over to Bae Jinsu, so there’s no chance of the video being leaked to the outside.

“Where did you get such a necklace?”

“It’s necessary when investigating cases.”

“Ah, like undercover investigations.”

“Something like that.”

Han Jiyu even showed me the contract along with the necklace.

The contract clearly showed the stamp of Department Head Kang Hyeonsu.

At this point, it was clear that Kang Hyeonsu couldn’t deny it any further.

“I think you can go back to your main job with peace of mind now.”

“Thank you. Really, if there’s anything you need, Prosecutor, please tell me. I’ll help you with anything I can.”

“You said that last time too. If you keep doing that, I’ll feel burdened.”

I said it with a mix of jokes, thinking she would keep thanking me if I just laughed it off.

After a not-so-long dinner, I carefully spoke.

“I think it will be difficult to see you again after today’s meal.”

“Why?”

Han Jiyu’s pupils shook as if she was embarrassed.

“If we keep meeting, Department Head Kang Hyeonsu might notice. If he finds out that you and I are still in contact, he definitely won’t stay still.”

“Ah…”

She nodded as if she understood, with a sigh.

“I see.”

Seeing her smile sadly, I felt sorry, but there was no other way.

It would be foolish to miss out on what I could have because of my personal desire to meet an actress.

Feeling sorry for no reason, I changed the subject.

“By the way, what are your plans for your next project?”

“Ah, I’m going to take a break and then… go into a movie. I’m choosing which one to go into.”

“You’re filming a movie.”

“If the premiere tickets come out… Ah, this is dangerous too.”

She gave an awkward smile.

I thought the conversation would be cut off if I stayed any longer, so I got up from my seat.

“Shall we get up now?”

“Yes.”

Han Jiyu narrowed her eyes slightly before leaving the dining room and asked.

“If we happen to see each other by chance, can we say hello?”

“I would welcome that too.”

I shook hands with her lightly and said goodbye.

***

“…Therefore, the court sentences the defendant, Shin Yongho, to two years and six months in prison, suspended for four years.”

Tang. Tang. Tang.

As the judge struck the gavel three times, Shin Yongho raised his fist high.

Although he didn’t shout out loud because there were eyes watching, his face was filled with a bright smile.

After a deep hug with his lawyer, he belatedly turned his gaze towards me.

I smiled slightly at him as our eyes met, and he responded with a hearty laugh.

Since there were so many eyes on the case, the prosecution seemed to accept the verdict cleanly, as public opinion would definitely worsen if the punishment for the whistleblower was severe.

I was waiting in one part of the courthouse, intending to have a short conversation with Shin Yongho just before he returned to the detention center, when a man approached me.

“Deputy Chief Prosecutor Choi Seojun.”

“Yes?”

When I turned around, an unexpected face was standing there.

“I’m Jeong Ilwoo, a prosecutor from the Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office’s Inspection Department.”

Prosecutor Jeong Ilwoo.

The person who had been arguing for Shin Yongho’s guilt from the prosecution’s side until just now.

“Ah, yes. You were definitely the one who took over the case when I left, right?”

“Yes, that’s right. I’m working under Prosecutor Song Hyeonseong as a trial prosecutor in the Inspection Department.”

“I see.”

“Congratulations.”

He suddenly smiled and offered a congratulatory message.

The person who had been on the opposite side until just now was congratulating me.

I felt quite strange, but I simply nodded.

“Thank you.”

“A whistleblower shouldn’t receive a prison sentence. What kind of country would that be?”

“Hahaha.”

I simply answered with a laugh.

“It’s a shame that we couldn’t work together in the Inspection Department.”

“Is that so?”

“Still, it’s an honor to see you like this.”

It’s a bit burdensome when you’re so openly flattering.

Since he came this far, I asked slyly.

“By the way, are you thinking of appealing?”

“No.”

He shook his head with a sly smile.

“I have absolutely no intention of doing that.”

“That’s a relief.”

Immediately after my answer, Jeong Ilwoo hesitated for a moment and said carefully.

“Please speak well of me to Senior Prosecutor Song Hyeonseong.”

“Yes?”

“I know you two are quite close.”

So, he came to flatter me after all.

I wondered why he kept glancing at me before the sentencing started.

At that moment, the sound of an engine roaring and a bus departing from outside was heard.

“Ah, I think the detention center bus just left.”

“I’ll see you later.”

“Yes, go carefully.”

I hurriedly greeted him and came out, but the detention center bus had already left.

I couldn’t even say goodbye because of that prosecutor.

Damn it.

Still, he’ll be out soon, so I’ll see him outside.

***

“Hey, thanks a lot, really.”

“No need to thank me.”

I poured Shin Yongho a drink, who had just come out of the detention center.

“I’m more grateful. I got to where I am thanks to you.”

“It’s your ability that got you that far. Ah, I really feel like I can stretch my legs and sleep comfortably now.”

“You’ve worked hard.”

“Euhahahat, ah, I really feel good.”

He let out a refreshing breath with a hearty laugh.

“Haaa, I feel so refreshed.”

Shin Yongho poured a glass of soju [Korean distilled spirit] into his mouth and spoke frankly.

“I really don’t even want to imagine what would have happened to me if it weren’t for you.”

“When you were at Boseong Branch?”

“Yeah. I really wanted to die back then. But now that Im Seongjin and all his cronies have been taken down, I’m really enjoying life.”

In fact, all the guys in Im Seongjin’s line either took off their clothes [resigned] or were transferred to the provinces, and some of them were on trial.

I heard that Im Seongjin, the key figure among them, had his appeal trial end a few days ago and received a prison sentence of 10 years.

People around me say he’s going to appeal to the Supreme Court, but it’s uncertain whether he actually will.

Since the sentence was quite reduced compared to the first trial, there’s talk that it might actually increase if he goes to the third trial, so I wonder if he’ll be satisfied at this point, but I don’t really care much.

Since he received a prison sentence anyway, his life as a lawyer was as good as over.

“That’s good.”

“Thank you, you bastard.”

“It’s embarrassing. Stop it, you.”

“I’m going to keep going. I’m also grateful that you ran to me as soon as I called you from Boseong Branch, and I’m grateful that you willingly listened to my request, and I’m grateful that you survived so well in the Special Investigation Department.”

“Shut up. Just drink your alcohol.”

As I picked up my glass, Shin Yongho smiled and raised his glass to clink with mine.

“Keuh.”

He emptied the soju cleanly and put a piece of tuna sashimi in his mouth.

“By the way, do you have money right now?”

“Of course. I have enough money to buy you tuna.”

Shin Yongho chuckled and continued.

“I divorced my wife. I even received alimony.”

“Ah, that lawsuit is over too?”

“Yeah. It’s been about 2 weeks.”

“You should have told me sooner.”

“I know you’re busy, how could I tell you?”

He continued comfortably as if it was nothing.

When Shin Yongho was at Boseong Branch, he told me that he found out his ex-wife was cheating on him.

While this was going on, his wife filed for divorce first, but he submitted evidence that she had cheated on him and even received alimony in return and divorced.

“Good job. If she cheated, you should definitely receive it.”

“Yeah. I’m just glad there are no children, though. It would have been a headache if there were kids.”

I refilled his glass again.

“Okay, from today, it’s Shin Yongho’s Act 2 of life. You can really start a new life, right?”

“Of course. Thanks to whom I’m also joining JooOk Electronics’ legal team, I have to live very wonderfully.”

“Shall we have another grand toast?”

“Yeah. I’ll take responsibility for today until the end. I’m going to drink until my nose is crooked [get completely drunk]. Be prepared.”

“Hahaha, good!”

I clinked glasses with him again.

***

President of the Republic of Korea, Kwon Jaecheol.

It had been almost half a month since I had a secret one-on-one meeting with him, but there was no separate contact.

I don’t know if he’s waiting for the right time or if he has no intention of contacting me at all, but all I can do is wait.

Since I know that one of the 19th, 20th, and 21st presidents will be impeached, I would rather not be contacted, but I thought I would be contacted in the near future.

“Hoo.”

After taking the last puff of my cigarette, I crushed the butt and turned my steps towards the prosecutor’s office building.

I was walking slowly inside when someone approached me with a bright voice.

“Ah, Prosecutor, you were here.”

It was Yoon Seolha.

She approached me with a black bag in her hand.

“What’s that?”

“Snacks, I was hungry.”

“Then you should have just ordered delivery.”

“No, it’s okay. I went out to get some fresh air.”

She smiled bashfully and then wiggled her eyebrows as if she remembered something.

“Ah, and that friend I told you about last time. The one from SoSeok…”

“Yes, I remember.”

“That friend came back yesterday. I was wondering if it would be okay to make an appointment around dinner tomorrow night?”

“Sounds good.”

“Yes. Then I’ll make an appointment for us to meet after work tomorrow.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

***

7:30 PM.

I had a meeting with the PD [Production Director] that Yoon Seolha introduced me to at a pub in Gangnam.

“Ah, I’m sorry. I suddenly had an emergency meeting…”

“It’s okay. I just got here too.”

He was about 30 minutes late, but he smiled brightly and held out his hand to me.

“I’m Song Jaehoon.”

“I’m Choi Seojun.”

The moment I shook hands with him and exchanged business cards.

Buzz, buzz.

Twice briefly.

A text message arrived.

PD Song Jaehoon smiled brightly and said.

“Check it. It’s okay.”

“Ah, I thought it might be work-related…”

I asked him for his understanding and immediately checked the text message.

-Sender: 60

-August 18, 2048. Sunny.

As I slowly read the text message, I couldn’t help but be surprised by the unexpected content.

This is the diary I wrote in the future?