The Inspector Is Getting Promoted! [EN]: Chapter 81

When a Tiger Shows Its Teeth (2)

“Since you’ve thrown away your last chance, I can’t exactly stop you.”

“Chance, my ass.”

He was about to continue his sarcastic rant when—

Buzz, buzz.

His phone vibrated.

*Probably a text from reporter Park Su-hyeong saying the article went live,* I thought.

I shrugged, feigning nonchalance.

“Oh, what ever shall I do?”

Chief Prosecutor Kim Jae-wook glared at me, a silent *what are you talking about?* etched on his face.

“The hunt has already begun.”

I chuckled, offering a parting shot.

“Try to run well, Mr. Deer.”

Winking, I turned and walked out of his office.

Kim Jae-wook, still unaware of the true storm brewing, let out a conceited laugh. I took it in one ear and let it out the other.

As I descended the stairs, I checked my phone. Sure enough, a text from Park Su-hyeong with a link to the published article.

Then, another vibration.

Another text.

-From: Reporter Park Su-hyeong

-Ah, just in case, I’m also sending the interview transcripts of those bullies. Please check them.

-1 attached file

I tapped the attached file, expecting a recording, but a video started playing instead.

*He must have brought a camera, intending to hand it over to PD [Production Director] Song Jae-hoon,* I realized.

The video showed two high school students sitting across from reporter Park Su-hyeong.

-Recording starts.

The interview began with Park Su-hyeong’s voice.

-Yes.

-You don’t have to be nervous. Make yourselves comfortable.

He eased into the story.

-How did it happen?

-To be honest, I did playfully hit him sometimes. I also told him to buy me stuff when he went to the cafeteria. I always gave him the money, though. If bread cost a thousand won [approximately one US dollar], I gave him a thousand won. I borrowed sometimes when I didn’t have any, though.

A typical bully’s interview.

*He calls it a joke, but the victim experiences it as harassment,* I thought.

-Well, about a month later, I was skipping evening self-study and going to a PC cafe [internet cafe] when suddenly gangsters grabbed me in an alley.

-Gangsters?

-Yes. You know, those guys who wear suits and have buzz-cut hair.

-I know.

-I followed them, and they told me to stop bothering Chan-woo or they would teach me a lesson.

*Chan-woo is Chief Prosecutor Kim Jae-wook’s son,* I noted. *They found the right interviewees.*

-I was so scared that I ran home instead of going to the PC cafe.

-Were you hit?

-Yes. I got slapped a couple of times, and they grabbed my hair and shook me.

-You were slapped?

Listening to Park Su-hyeong’s excited voice, I could practically see him smirking.

-He tapped my cheek. It wasn’t a hard slap, but it was as good as being hit, except he didn’t punch me.

-Did you report it?

-No. How could I report it? I was afraid of retaliation, so I didn’t even talk to Chan-woo from the next day.

-Ah, I see.

After that, there were no other significant revelations.

Just stories about how Kim Chan-woo seemed to receive special treatment at school.

Then, something caught my ear.

-Oh, right. I was forced to come to this vocational training school because of him.

-Forced to come?

I recognized the unique tone Park Su-hyeong used when he smelled a scoop.

He swallowed hard and asked.

-Can you tell me more about it?

-I didn’t want to come here, but the homeroom teacher called my parents and told them I had to be sent here no matter what. I knew he always favored Chan-woo, but I guess he kicked me out because I had a history of bullying him.

Then, his friend interjected.

-Hey, but it’s not certain that he sent you here, right?

-It’s a reasonable suspicion. It was certain that Chan-woo was loved by the teachers. He hated me the most before that. So, wouldn’t it be the teacher who sent me?

-Is that so?

-Anyway, so…

Before the video ended, a smirk spread across my face.

The interview content was explosive.

I understood why reporter Park Su-hyeong was so excited on the phone.

The friend’s interjection introduced a sliver of doubt about Kim Chan-woo’s direct involvement, but with skillful editing, it could be spun to implicate Chief Prosecutor Kim Jae-wook.

*It’s just a suspicion now, but it will become a fact after editing,* I thought.

The same went for the story about the gangsters.

*Thanks to this interview, things will be much easier,* I realized.

Currently, the article Park Su-hyeong had uploaded lacked all this juicy content.

It only grabbed attention with the headline: ‘Shocking! Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Office Chief Prosecutor Revealed to Have Threatened His Son’s Friend Using an Acquaintance!’ But the actual content omitted any mention of organized crime or anything concrete.

*He’s deliberately creating the impression of insufficient evidence, waiting for Chief Prosecutor Kim Jae-wook to respond first,* I surmised. *When he offers some explanation, PD Song Jae-hoon, who is already prepared, will strike into that gap.*

Kim Jae-wook would be overwhelmed.

***

-President Min, I heard an article was published this time?

Chief Prosecutor Kim Jae-wook’s voice was sharp.

-I’ve done so much for WK Ilbo [a fictional newspaper]…

“Hahaha, I’m sorry.”

President Min Byeong-jun of WK Ilbo, on the other end of the line, laughed awkwardly.

“This article wasn’t approved by me. It seems like the people below handled it on their own.”

-The whole country is in an uproar because of the impeachment right now. Shouldn’t we be careful?

“I’m sorry. I’ll make sure to tell them firmly not to do any additional reporting.”

-Yes. I’ll take it that way.

“I’ll buy you a big drink soon to ease your mind.”

-I understand for now.

He added a warning.

-President Min, don’t forget that I still have that old case in my hands.

“Hey, we agreed not to bring up that story.”

Chief Prosecutor Kim Jae-wook replied sharply.

-This case shouldn’t have been broken either.

“Okay, I understand. Then let’s see each other once this situation is resolved.”

-Yes. I’ll contact you.

“Okay.”

As soon as the call ended, President Min Byeong-jun frowned and put down his phone.

*He’s still clinging to something that happened seven years ago?*

He resented the fact that Kim Jae-wook still held that pre-presidency indiscretion over his head.

However, the statute of limitations still had three years to run.

It was the reason he had no choice but to yield to Chief Prosecutor Kim Jae-wook.

He nervously picked up the receiver.

“Tell reporter Park Su-hyeong from the political and social affairs department to come in.”

A moment later, Park Su-hyeong entered after a knock.

“Reporter Park.”

“Yes, President.”

“I heard you stirred up Chief Prosecutor Kim Jae-wook this time?”

“Ah, that’s…”

“That’s the end of that report, right?”

“No. Additionally…”

Before he could continue, President Min Byeong-jun waved his hand.

“Don’t do any more. It’s not good to stir him up unnecessarily. I heard the article was weak and will die down quickly.”

Reporter Park Su-hyeong grew anxious.

*If reporting is prohibited here, I won’t be able to release the really important and delicious article that can sink Chief Prosecutor Kim Jae-wook,* he thought.

He said, a glint in his eyes.

“But this isn’t going to end here. The special investigation department will be stepping in soon.”

“Special investigation department?”

President Min Byeong-jun’s eyes flashed.

“Wait a minute, is Choi Seo-jun going in?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Is that so?”

Instantly, a shining breakthrough came to his mind.

*Then, could we just settle it here?*

It was an opportunity to escape from the tiresome threat of embezzlement.

President Min Byeong-jun’s lips twisted.

“Then prepare a follow-up report. But don’t publish it until I give the sign.”

Reporter Park Su-hyeong bowed his head, as if he had been waiting for this.

“I understand.”

***

Chief Prosecutor Kim Jae-wook issued a sincere apology.

Since this case was not an official prosecution announcement, the apology was posted on his personal SNS, not through a press conference.

The post began with a photo of Chief Prosecutor Kim Jae-wook bowing his head solemnly.

-I’m sorry, citizens. I would like to apologize first for causing so much concern. I am writing this because I think an explanation is needed for this case. This spring, I was sitting at the breakfast table with my family when I noticed a scar on my son’s face. When I asked him about the details, I heard that he was being bullied by his friends. As a parent, how could I stand still when I learned that my son was suffering from bullies? I asked a younger acquaintance to talk to my son’s friends and ask them not to bully him, but it seems that it was exaggerated and spread as a threat. I should have considered that it could be a threat for adults to go to high school students, but my thinking was short. If you ask about the right and wrong of this matter, I am 100 times wrong. But as a parent with a child, it was unavoidable. I thought it would be better for me to sacrifice myself than to see my son being beaten. Citizens, please think from the perspective of a parent with a child…

After reading the entire apology, I let out a hollow laugh.

*It was written as an apology, but it was closer to an appeal,* I thought. *He was explaining his actions, admitting wrongdoing, but pleading for understanding as a parent.*

As expected, comments were pouring in, expressing sympathy for Chief Prosecutor Kim Jae-wook.

-cherry132: Ah, if bullies are really harassing them, I would do that too…

-A Pumpkin TT: Maybe that’s the wise thing to do. It would break my heart to just watch.

-dhkdtlqflwhswkf: It’s better than your child committing suicide… But should a chief prosecutor do that?

-Black Diamond: Honestly, it’s okay to do that to bullies. I was bullied when I was young, so I know how hard it is.

-Pollack Roe Conan: I acknowledge it if it’s a bully. It’s understandable.

Reading the post alone, this reaction was understandable.

The most crucial detail—that the “younger acquaintance” Chief Prosecutor Kim Jae-wook mobilized was a member of organized crime—was missing.

Reporter Park Su-hyeong had deliberately omitted that content, allowing Kim Jae-wook to manage the situation so easily.

Predictably, Chief Prosecutor Kim Jae-wook called me immediately.

“Yes, this is Choi Seo-jun.”

-Choi Pro, it’s not over yet, is it?

His voice dripped with mockery.

-I’d be disappointed if you called this a hunt or a tiger.”

“Of course not, Chief Prosecutor.”

*The call was to taunt me, but his real purpose was to gauge my next move,* I suspected.

*Well, I can certainly show him that.*

This case was a media war, pure and simple.

And I, fully prepared, couldn’t afford to lose.

“Chief Prosecutor, I met Deputy Chief Prosecutor Im Ju-yeong at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office a while ago.”

Even as I spoke, a chuckle escaped my lips.

“He said that to take down someone, you have to take down the person right above him. But Chief Prosecutor, you used organized crime members, so you went too far.”

He fell silent, realization dawning.

*He must have assumed I was unaware of his involvement with organized crime,* I thought.

“Would I have boldly stepped in with something that could be resolved with just an apology?”

However, he feigned composure.

-Is that the end?

“Chief Prosecutor.”

I lowered my voice.

“This time, you will really regret not promoting me to chief prosecutor.”

-I’ll look forward to it.

As soon as I hung up, I sent a text message.

-To: PD Song Jae-hoon

-Please broadcast the prepared broadcast right away.