The Inspector Is Getting Promoted! [EN]: Chapter 54

Prosecutor, You’re Going Places! – Episode 54

Planning (2)

“Then, let’s discuss the details when we meet again in three days.”

“Yes, I understand. Is there anything specific I should do in the meantime?”

I took out a notepad from my pocket containing a man’s photo and profile.

“Please investigate this man.”

Song Jae-hoon PD [Production Director] seemed to recognize him upon seeing the photo.

“Ah, this man…….”

“You know him.”

“Yes. I took a close look at him while investigating another case.”

“That man will be a target of the Judge.”

“I see.”

He carefully read the man’s profile and put it safely in his pocket.

“Is there anything else I should do?”

“Please decide on the direction of the broadcast planning. You know much more about program production than I do, PD.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“Is there anything I can help you with regarding the broadcast? Like broadcast permits…….”

“No.”

Song Jae-hoon PD shook his head.

“The press is an untouchable area, so the higher-ups don’t interfere much. The current president of PBC [Public Broadcasting Corporation] is also from the press, so there usually aren’t any issues.”

“Then there’s nothing to worry about.”

“Yes.”

We smiled and got up from our seats.

“I’ll see you in three days.”

***

“Ah, you wouldn’t know since you don’t work in the field, old man…….”

Kyung-gam [Police Rank, Senior Superintendent] Kim Hyung-seok spoke with a subtly dismissive tone.

“As you said, the initial investigation is important, but in this case, we need to find consistency with the other six cases. That’s the most crucial part of catching a serial killer.”

It seemed like if I indulged him once or twice, he’d try to overstep.

I scoffed and said,

“With all that knowledge, has the police managed to gather any evidence in the six murder cases so far?”

I noticed his lips twitching.

But soon, he regained his composure and continued,

“Hey, we came because the other cops couldn’t catch him. It’ll be different from now on. I’m telling you this in the hope that you’ll understand as we work together this time.”

I could feel Kim Hyung-seok Kyung-gam being cocky in every word he said.

I wondered what kind of backing this guy had to be so arrogant.

“Originally, prosecutors specialize in the office, and we detectives specialize in the field, right? So, I’m just letting you know…….”

Is this guy trying to treat me like a puppet?

I interrupted him, lowering my voice.

“Hey, Team Leader Kim.”

“Yes?”

“Anyone would think the police are above the prosecution.”

The atmosphere in the meeting room instantly cooled down.

The prosecutors who attended the meeting were already barely holding back, and it seemed like they exploded along with me.

Another prosecutor nearby glared and said,

“Team Leader Kim, the Judge is the one we should be fighting, not us. You haven’t forgotten that, have you?”

Only then did he smile slyly and scratch the back of his head.

“Hahaha, hey, that’s not what I meant. Don’t misunderstand.”

The prosecutor who spoke earlier exhaled uncomfortably.

It would be impossible to continue the meeting like this.

“Let’s take a 15-minute break.”

I closed my documents and got up from my seat.

As everyone got up, Team Leader Kim approached me and asked,

“What kind of method are you planning to use to investigate the case, Prosecutor?”

“A method that can catch the culprit.”

“Wow, that’s cool.”

Kim Hyung-seok Kyung-gam grinned, raised his thumb, and left the meeting room first.

As soon as he left the meeting room, some of the prosecutors who had attended the meeting approached me.

“Prosecutor Choi, that guy is being too cocky.”

“Let’s launch an internal investigation.”

I shook my head.

“I heard that guy is connected to a high-ranking prosecutor.”

“I heard that too…… Do you happen to know who it is?”

A prosecutor asked, but everyone closed their mouths.

We couldn’t move easily because we didn’t know who it was.

But we couldn’t just be defeated like this.

Many prosecutors were tricked by that obvious ploy, and the police always stole the show in joint investigations.

It couldn’t be the same this time.

Because the head of the investigation was none other than Choi Seo-joon, me.

It was time to draw the sword.

“I’ll take the lead.”

I called Yoon Seol-ha, who was watching from afar.

“Investigator.”

“Yes, Prosecutor.”

“Get a warrant for an internal investigation into Kim Hyung-seok Kyung-gam.”

“Should I start a serious internal investigation?”

“No. Just pretend to touch him.”

I twisted my lips as much as possible.

“At least I want to see the face of the guy behind him. That way, we can plan for the future.”

“Understood.”

***

Before a week had even passed since the establishment of the joint investigation headquarters, the Judge’s seventh murder occurred.

The public and the media were in an uproar, and an emergency meeting was convened at the joint investigation headquarters, but the Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Office was as quiet as ever.

“As soon as Choi Seo-joon took over, the seventh judgment occurred?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“That guy must be feeling the heat now.”

Chief Prosecutor Kim Jae-wook sat on the sofa with a satisfied smile.

“Even the great Choi Seo-joon might get hammered by the media this time.”

Chief Kang Hyun-soo of the Special Investigation Department also chimed in.

“It’s about time he came down.”

“That star prosecutor, I don’t know why they’re hyping him up so much.”

Kim Jae-wook clicked his tongue and leaned back on the sofa.

“I guess it’ll be hard to solve, right?”

“That’s right. During the six murders and attempted murders, they didn’t catch even one small piece of evidence. What’s going to be different about the seventh? It’ll be the same in the future.”

Since it was just the two of them, he didn’t hide his dirty intentions.

Joint investigation headquarters.

It was purely Kim Jae-wook’s idea to have Prosecutor Choi Seo-joon become the head of the investigation.

It was a plan to properly mess with him for not following him purely.

The position of head of the Judge case, which was attracting a lot of attention, seemed like an opportunity for a special promotion, but it was actually poison.

During the six crimes, the police didn’t even catch the outline of the culprit.

In other words, even if Choi Seo-joon was appointed as the head of the investigation, it was already a foregone conclusion that the investigation would be difficult.

The media would surely pour out expectations that he, a star prosecutor, would catch the culprit as he became the head of the investigation, and he would have no choice but to bear the burden.

But the culprit would continue to be in a state of uncertainty, and the media would pour criticism on the joint investigation headquarters, which couldn’t find his traces, and Choi Seo-joon, the head of the investigation.

It was basic that Choi Seo-joon’s image would be tarnished, and it was a bonus to smear his filmography, which had always drawn only success myths.

And if he threw a reckless move to catch the culprit, it would be a natural step for him to collapse on his own.

As long as the culprit wasn’t caught, it was the perfect situation to bring down Choi Seo-joon.

“He needs to be beaten by the media that gives him so much power to know how rough the world is.”

“That’s right, hehehe.”

Chief Prosecutor Kang Hyun-soo rubbed his hands under the table and carefully opened his mouth.

“But what if Choi Seo-joon solves the case?”

Chief Prosecutor Kim Jae-wook shook his head as if he didn’t even want to imagine it.

“There’s no way that’ll happen, right?”

“That’s right, hahaha.”

“And I heard that one of the worst cops went into this investigation headquarters?”

“Ah, are you talking about that Team Leader Kim from the Metropolitan Investigation Unit?”

“Yeah, that guy. I heard he’s picking fights with the prosecutors, calling them old men.”

“I heard. I heard that guy is on Assemblyman Park’s line, right?”

“That’s right. I heard that Deputy Chief Cha Kyung-seok is on that line?”

“Deputy Chief Cha Kyung-seok, are you talking about the Planning and Coordination Department at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office?”

“Yeah, that guy.”

Chief Prosecutor Kang Hyun-soo inhaled.

“There was a reason why Team Leader Kim was acting up.”

“That’s right. They’re keeping quiet even though they know it because they don’t want to be targeted by the Head of the Planning and Coordination Department.”

The Planning and Coordination Department of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office.

That place, called the Planning and Coordination Department, is where key personnel from the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office enter.

He’s the head of that place.

It’s true that you can’t treat him carelessly without a decent line and backing.

Kim Jae-wook was already laughing at the thought of Choi Seo-joon being at the mercy of that jerk detective.

“Choi Seo-joon doesn’t have the experience. He lacks this kind of experience. He’ll probably be too busy checking that guy to focus on the case.”

Kim Jae-wook twisted his lips with satisfaction, as if the game was already over.

“It’s perfect to watch a cop catch a prosecutor.”

***

As expected, the internal investigation into Kyung-gam Kim Hyung-seok, which I entrusted to Investigator Yoon Seol-ha, failed.

The warrant itself was rejected for various reasons.

And instead, I received a call from an unknown number.

“Yes, this is Choi Seo-joon.”

-Hey, Prosecutor Choi. This is Deputy Chief Cha Kyung-seok.

Deputy Chief Cha Kyung-seok.

A figure in the Planning and Coordination Department of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office.

As the head of the Planning and Coordination Department, which is called the power elite of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office, his power is self-explanatory.

So, that’s why the prosecutors couldn’t say anything even though he was stirring things up so much.

But I’m different.

I’m fundamentally different from those who struggled to climb up without a line and those who are holding on to connections with a strong line.

I’m not faint-hearted or incompetent enough to be intimidated by this.

“Hello, Deputy Chief.”

-Hey, I’ve heard a lot about you, Prosecutor Choi. I heard you’re very busy these days?

“Yes. I’m overly burdened with a lot of things, so I don’t have any time at all. I should have gone to the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office to say hello…….”

-Hey, what’s with the greetings? Let’s have a drink later when we see each other.

He laughed heartily and cautiously brought up the main point.

-Did our Team Leader Kim do anything to upset you?

“Team Leader Kim, you say?”

-Yeah, Team Leader Kim. I guess I should say Kyung-gam Kim Hyung-seok?

He continued with a confident voice.

-That friend is like a brother to me. He has a unique personality, so he makes enemies here and there, but he’s not a bad friend.

Brothers.

I don’t know how they became brothers, but that means Deputy Chief Cha Kyung-seok is the same type as Kyung-gam Kim Hyung-seok.

That’s why he’s taking care of him like this.

I bet Team Leader Kim is a connection that connects Deputy Chief Cha Kyung-seok with sponsors.

-Even if you were upset, I called to ask you to let it go for my sake. Well, I hope I’m not bothering you by calling so late?

His every word exudes a tone that reveals his power.

He looks like he’s dying to completely suppress me.

Anyway, the reason I launched the internal investigation this time was to find out who Kyung-gam Kim Hyung-seok’s backer was.

I’ve achieved my goal, so I’ll play along for a while.

“Yes, it’s okay.”

-Thank you for understanding.

“It’s nothing.”

Deputy Chief Cha Kyung-seok continued with satisfaction.

-I hope the next time I call, it’s not about this kind of thing, but about something good.

“I’ll try.”

-Okay. Now I know why people call you Prosecutor Choi, Prosecutor Choi! Hahahaha.

He burst into a hearty laugh and continued.

-Get along well. I like you both.

“Understood.”

-Okay, rest well. Let’s see each other sometime.

“Goodbye.”

As soon as I hung up, I started to laugh.

Head of the Planning and Coordination Department.

He’s definitely a high-ranking figure that I can’t touch.

I took a hit.

But he’s not a powerful figure that I can’t even look at.

A beautiful plan was already forming in my head.

The moment this case is over, the situation will be reversed.

Completely.

If I take a hit, it’s only natural to pay it back, right?