The Inspector Is Getting Promoted! [EN]: Chapter 41

It wasn’t difficult to bring up Sung Tae-hyun’s cousin.

After a little digging, I found out that he wasn’t just an average prosecutor working in the provinces; he was actually doing quite well, producing decent results.

From Sung Tae-hyun’s perspective, it would have been ideal to bring him directly to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office. However, even bringing him to the same district office would draw attention, so he had him transferred to the Seoul Western District Prosecutors’ Office, which was relatively far away.

Of course, a deputy chief prosecutor in the special investigation department doesn’t typically have that kind of influence over personnel matters, but in this world, anything is possible.

Chief Prosecutor Lim Joo-young, who was scheduled to be appointed as the Deputy Prosecutor General of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office next month, generously arranged this as a final favor before leaving the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office.

Thanks to that, my relationship with Sung Tae-hyun became even stronger, and we decided to have a drink together with his cousin next week.

Everything is going smoothly.

***

“It’s been a while, Chief Prosecutor.”

“Long time no see.”

Chief Prosecutor Kim Seok-won of the Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office, whom I hadn’t seen in a while, looked much better than before.

He immediately led me to the sofa.

“I heard you’re adjusting very well in the special investigation department.”

“Yes. It seems I’ve successfully infiltrated.”

Chief Prosecutor Kim Seok-won asked with a sharp look.

“Is the matter we discussed going well?”

The matter we discussed.

He was talking about my plan to completely dismantle the corruption in the special investigation department, including Chief Kang Hyun-soo.

I answered confidently.

“Yes. It’s going very smoothly.”

There was no lie in this statement.

Of course, I have no intention of returning to the inspection department after this case is over, but it’s true that I’m slowly achieving my goal of gathering enough evidence to get Chief Kang Hyun-soo and the other three chief prosecutors fired.

In fact, by the time I reveal it, whether I return to the inspection department or not will be of no concern to Chief Prosecutor Kim Seok-won.

Because it will be just before the end of his term.

“How long will it take?”

As expected, that’s the question.

“As early as next year.”

“Next year, huh…”

He raised the corner of his mouth and asked.

“I’ll be able to see it before my term ends, right?”

At first glance, it might seem like he’s asking with a smile, but it was very threatening.

He was telling me to make it explode within his term to enhance his reputation.

There was no need to deny it.

I had no intention of dragging it out either.

“Yes. Don’t worry.”

“Good.”

Only then did Chief Prosecutor Kim Seok-won release the heavy atmosphere and nod his head with satisfaction.

“I always trust Prosecutor Choi, but I don’t know when I’ll be leaving, hahaha.”

He lightened the mood with a trivial joke.

We have less interaction now that I’ve gone to the Central District Prosecutors’ Office, but I still felt grateful to Chief Prosecutor Kim Seok-won, who helped me and looked after me as I moved up here.

So, I decided to humor him and placed my clasped hands on the table, saying,

“The repercussions will be much greater than with Chief Im Seong-jin.”

At those words, Kim Seok-won looked at me with an interested gaze.

“How much?”

“At least three chief prosecutors.”

I twisted the corner of my mouth as I spoke…

“Heo [an exclamation of surprise].”

Chief Prosecutor Kim Seok-won let out an exclamation of satisfaction.

He licked his lips greedily, as if he had discovered a tempting prey, just like when he first saw me.

“My expectations are high, Prosecutor Choi. No, Deputy Chief Choi.”

“I won’t disappoint you.”

Kim Seok-won and I exchanged a thrilling gaze in the air.

***

“Ah, this is Deputy Chief Prosecutor Choi Seo-joon.”

“I’m Choi Seo-joon.”

“This is WK Daily’s reporter Park Soo-hyung.”

“Hello, I’m Park Soo-hyung.”

He reached out his hand to me with a welcoming face.

My first impression wasn’t good or bad.

Just another reporter I’ve always seen.

It was a bit disappointing that his hair was completely black, unlike what was mentioned in the diary, but it would be even stranger if his hair was already white at the young age of thirty.

“I’ve seen you a lot on TV. Aren’t you really the top prosecutor in Korea?”

“You flatter me.”

I waved my hand and also said something flattering.

“I’ve also seen a few of your articles, reporter. You take very good pictures.”

“Oh, all I do is chase after celebrities.”

He said modestly, but it was true, so I couldn’t really deny it.

Instead, I subtly changed the subject.

“You’re in the entertainment department now, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

He even nodded his head.

“I’ve been an entertainment reporter since I joined the company. I’ve always liked celebrities, and it’s easier to work here. Even if I just sit still, there are plenty of things to write about. It’s not difficult to cover stories either.”

Park Soo-hyung smiled and explained things that I didn’t even ask about.

“I just take a few pictures, scribble some words, and the celebrity’s fandom automatically increases the number of views, so I don’t have to worry about anything. And if I’m short on performance, I just put a provocative title and put together a bunch of things, and I have no problem making a living, hahaha.”

I barely managed to hold back a sigh as I listened.

I can’t believe I’m going to be best friends with this kind of person for 30 years.

I can’t believe it.

Even before I knew about the messages, I wouldn’t have even thought about becoming friends with someone like him.

I don’t have a good feeling about this from the start.

“I’ll go to the restroom for a moment.”

“Yes, take your time.”

Taking advantage of the fact that PD [Production Director] Song Jae-hoon was away, I asked Park Soo-hyung seriously.

“As a reporter, aren’t you ambitious to break a big story or something?”

As soon as he heard the question, he waved his hand.

“Oh, I don’t have such great ambitions. Wang Spatch [likely a reference to a news outlet known for scoops] will handle the scoops, and we’ll just take the provocative titles and increase the traffic.”

Reporter Park Soo-hyung said frankly, as if he had no ambition.

“What’s so special about it? It’s best to live like everyone else.”

“Ah, then maybe you’re not interested in the political or social affairs departments…”

Before I could finish speaking, he shook his head, looking disgusted.

“I don’t like those headache-inducing fields. I realized that it didn’t suit me when I went to college and studied that kind of stuff, so I came to the entertainment department to obsess over celebrities, hehehe.”

What’s wrong with this guy?

He has no interest in scoops or big stories, let alone the political and social affairs departments.

I would suspect if this was the right person if the future message was a picture or video, so I could at least guess his face, but there was no room for that.

The message clearly said that I liked his firefly-like personality and straightforwardness, but there’s almost none of that.

No, there’s none at all.

This person is pursuing ordinariness from the depths of his heart.

But the message clearly said it was WK Daily’s reporter Park Soo-hyung.

According to my research, Park Soo-hyung is the only reporter with that name at WK Daily.

Just in case, I asked him directly.

“By the way, I feel like I’ve heard the name Park Soo-hyung somewhere… Have you ever met someone with the same name?”

“Oh, it’s a common name, but I haven’t met anyone with the same last name yet.”

He said it himself, so it must be true.

In the end, it’s this man.

Then, does he need an opportunity to open his eyes or change his mindset to correct his attitude?

And is it my job to put that in Park Soo-hyung’s hands?

No.

That can’t be.

Even if I saw the message, I wouldn’t do such a laborious thing, and even if this kind of person had an opportunity, it would be difficult to encounter something that would completely change 30 years of his life.

Let’s think coldly.

If there was no future message, I wouldn’t even give this pathetic reporter information, let alone pay attention to him in the first place.

Even if we met, it would be a relationship that ends with one meeting.

I have the ability to change the future through the present by seeing the future message, but I can’t make the impossible possible.

In the end, I have to doubt Park Soo-hyung… no, the future message.

This is a reasonable doubt.

Until now, it has always given me certain facts and blind help, but there’s no guarantee that I won’t be backstabbed at least once.

But the problem is, if I doubt reporter Park Soo-hyung, I have to doubt PD Song Jae-hoon as well.

Suddenly, my head starts to ache.

I thought I could solve the questions I had while reading the articles and gain a reliable ally by meeting reporter Park Soo-hyung, but instead, I feel like I’ve received a complicated puzzle.

This is not something that can be concluded in just one day.

I need to meet him a little more and make a judgment.

I know that PD Song Jae-hoon is a good person, so I should stay close to him and maintain a friendly relationship, but I should keep a distance from reporter Park Soo-hyung and watch him.

I should throw bait so that the relationship doesn’t break, but not deepen it.

If you don’t test the stepping stones before crossing, they may collapse.

I have to doubt everything.

***

Wednesday, November 28, a few days before winter.

The first snow began to fall from the sky.

It was the coldest day of the year, but the white snow covered the whole world, making it look warm.

On the streets, some stores were already playing Christmas carols, and some places were preparing Christmas tree decorations.

On the way to work, I heard on the radio that Han Ji-yoo was going to be in a new movie.

I check the news every day in case there’s any news that could lead to President Kwon Jae-cheol’s impeachment, but there’s no sign of it.

The vacancy created by Chief Prosecutor Lim Joo-young’s entry into the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office was filled by a man from President Kwon Jae-cheol’s line.

He was a strong figure in the Daejeon High Prosecutors’ Office, but rumors say that he has quite a few dirty secrets.

As he is from a different line, he is still just testing the waters, watching carefully.

Around noon that day, I received a call from Bae Jin-soo.

-Prosecutor, I just got a call from Wol-hyang, and she said that Chief Kang Hyun-soo and three other chief prosecutors and the vice president of SL Group came and went this morning.

As soon as I heard those words, I closed my eyes tightly.

Finally, today is the day.

Today is the day of the tragedy I saw in the future video.

“Ah, is that so?”

-Yes. Wol-hyang said that she’s taking the day off today, so she’s going to sleep in and meet me around 11 PM.

11 PM.

It’s a dark night, just like I saw in the message.

I asked casually so that he wouldn’t suspect anything.

“Are you contacting her at the same place you always meet?”

-Unless something special happens, that’s what I plan to do. There’s no place as deserted as that place near Wol-hyang’s house.

“I understand. If anything happens or the meeting place changes, let me know.”

-Yes, have a good day. I’ll contact you as soon as I receive the video.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

I hung up the phone and strengthened my resolve.

I can’t make even a small mistake today.

So that Bae Jin-soo doesn’t notice.

But I have to save Wol-hyang so that her life is not in danger.

If Wol-hyang dies and it turns out that Bae Jin-soo is her murderer, my life will be in danger in an instant because I’m involved with him.

I have to protect her.

The scenario is drawn in my head.

I’ve completed the preliminary investigation without any shortcomings.

All plans are perfect.

Today is the turning point of this case.