The Inspector Is Getting Promoted! [EN]: Chapter 85

Prosecutor Seo Gi-woong’s Success – Episode 85

Seizure (2)

“I will make the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office the most trusted and transparent prosecutor’s office in the Republic of Korea, even cleaner and more honest. I will ensure that it is recognized for its competence, not politics.”

As Prosecutor Seo Gi-woong finished his inaugural address, thunderous applause erupted.

Seo Gi-woong’s appointment as chief prosecutor.

The fact that he, known as a modern-day paragon of integrity, has been appointed here means that from now on, promotions at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office will be based solely on merit.

However, that is the superficial story.

The behind-the-scenes maneuvering, where people trample on others to climb up, is an immutable truth.

It’s just that the unscrupulous guys who openly ride the coattails of others and get promoted despite their poor performance have disappeared to some extent.

Even that is not a small change, but it’s not enough to be considered a revolution.

I heard that, as the timing is sensitive, he has stated that he will turn a blind eye to the corruption of prosecutors up to this point but will deal with anything that happens after his appointment with an iron fist.

The act of other prosecutors taking money may not disappear, but they will take it more safely and secretly than before.

On the way back to the office after the inauguration ceremony, Prosecutor Lee Doo-hyung approached me slyly.

“The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office itself feels completely revamped.”

“That’s right.”

It wasn’t just the chief prosecutor who changed, but all the people on the front lines were replaced.

Most of the figures who had been at the forefront of the existing administration naturally lost power and shrank back as Chief Prosecutor Kim Jae-wook and Chief Kang Hyun-soo left, and new figures filled their places.

Moreover, as many prosecutors stepped down and were newly appointed with the arrival of the new year 2020, the atmosphere itself changed.

It feels like a complete overhaul.

“I heard they’re interviewing senior officials today, so you should prepare too.”

“Yes, I understand.”

I looked around and naturally lowered my voice.

“Have you checked if there are any noteworthy figures among the newly appointed prosecutors?”

“Yes. I’ve investigated them all, and…”

He glanced around and pointed with his eyes at a man with slicked-back hair on one side.

“Do you see that sly-looking guy over there?”

“The one with his hair all swept back?”

“Yes. That’s Kang Joong-shik, who was appointed as the head of the Public Security Department this time. He came up from the Busan District Prosecutors’ Office.”

“I heard that. But is there anything special about him?”

“Chief Prosecutor Park Jae-pil came up as the successor to Senior Prosecutor Kim Seok-won this time, right?”

“He did.”

“He’s like Park Jae-pil’s right-hand man.”

“Really?”

This is a case we need to address.

Park Jae-pil.

The newly appointed chief prosecutor of the Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office.

He was originally at the Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office, but he was pushed out to the provinces after competing with Kim Seok-won for the position of deputy chief prosecutor.

When pushed out like that, it’s common to just show off your power in the provinces and finish your career as a prosecutor, but Park Jae-pil actually built up his power in the provinces and succeeded in making a comeback.

And he was the chief prosecutor of the Busan District Prosecutors’ Office before finally rising to become the chief prosecutor of the Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office. A formidable figure.

Even though he has a history of being pushed out by Kim Seok-won, the fact that he has come all the way up here means that his obsession with success is comparable to mine.

But the fact that the person he brought is in the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, not the Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office, is something to watch out for.

“Is Park Jae-pil’s power the reason he was placed in the Public Security Department?”

“Yes, that’s probably the case.”

Even if Park Jae-pil placed him there, the fact that Kang Joong-shik came up from Busan to Seoul and immediately became the head of one of the three major departments of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office means that he is no ordinary person.

“They say his nickname in Busan was ‘Viper’.”

“Viper?”

“Yes. Do you remember when they rounded up the Blood Cloud Gang in Suyeong-gu, Busan, a few years ago?”

“Oh, I know.”

“They say that one of the gang members had his tongue split in two with a razor blade during the investigation.”

Suddenly, that image flashed in my mind.

“That’s a bit gruesome, isn’t it?”

“It’s not completely split into two like a real snake, and it’s said that you have to look closely to see it, so it’s not hideous.”

“That’s a relief, then.”

“Not only that, but they say that once he targets someone, he slowly erodes and harms them, like spreading poison, which is why he got the nickname ‘Viper’.”

“Anyway, he’s no ordinary guy.”

“Yes. He’s the most noteworthy guy among the newly appointed ones.”

“Okay. Who else?”

“Ah, there’s a maniac in the Criminal Affairs Department who just came in…”

***

“Deputy Chief, what about your interview? Why are you here?”

“Oh, I’m just coming back from finishing the interview.”

“Ah, I see.”

I guided him to the sofa.

“Would you like a cup of tea? Would you like coffee?”

“No tea, let’s go out and have a cigarette. My head is throbbing.”

“I understand.”

I grabbed my coat and went outside with Deputy Chief Kwon Hyung-ki and lit a cigarette.

Deputy Chief Kwon Hyung-ki opened his mouth only after taking a deep drag of his cigarette.

“The chief prosecutor is definitely no ordinary person.”

“Is it because he’s so clean?”

“No, being clean is secondary. He’s just too rigid. He has absolutely no flexibility. He’s FM [Field Manual] itself.”

“Is it that bad?”

“Yeah. It’s more than the rumors.”

“Then what about the line issue…?”

He waved his hand holding the cigarette in the air.

“Choi, don’t even bring up that kind of talk. I couldn’t even think of it.”

“I see.”

“He’s someone you shouldn’t try to sound out or touch carelessly. It looks like we’ll have to make a plan excluding Prosecutor Seo Gi-woong.”

Since the person in the important position of chief prosecutor is completely neutral, the scope of activity was bound to shrink.

Two of the four deputy chief prosecutors in the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office are in Line 1, and the other two are in Line 2, so a tense battle of nerves will continue.

Rather, internal politics will become more intense, not less.

“So, Deputy Chief, are you going to take a direction of not responding in particular?”

“I have to. I’m going to be forced to work for a while.”

At that moment, my cell phone rang.

The caller was Clerk Jo Ah-ra.

It seems that my interview was coming up and she was calling to tell me to prepare.

“Deputy Chief, I’ve been summoned from above, so I’ll go up first.”

“Okay. Talk well.”

“I understand.”

***

“Hello, I’m Choi Seo-joon, chief prosecutor of the Special Investigation Department.”

“Oh, I know you.”

Prosecutor Seo Gi-woong shook my hand lightly with a relaxed smile and immediately sat down on the sofa.

A presence that cannot be compared to the former Chief Prosecutor Kim Jae-wook.

An overwhelming atmosphere that can only be exuded by someone who has thrown away politics and lines and has risen to this point purely on merit.

I wonder if it’s just my imagination that I feel like I’m seeing Kim Seok-won in his prime.

“I’ve seen Chief Choi a lot on TV. I think you’re probably the most famous person working at the Central District Prosecutors’ Office?”

“I think I’ve just been lucky enough to get a lot of attention.”

“Luck? One or two times is luck, but if it keeps happening, it becomes skill.”

“Thank you.”

As the compliments continued, I naturally changed the subject.

“It’s an honor to work with you, Chief Prosecutor.”

“Honor?”

He chuckled and waved his hand.

“It’s all the same work, what’s so honorable about it?”

Relaxation exuded from every expression, tone, and gesture of Prosecutor Seo Gi-woong.

It is common for people who meet me, even if they are higher in rank or older than me, to either take a step back or be on guard.

Not only have I risen by cutting off the heads of corrupt people, but I also have the support of the media and public opinion, so there could be problems if I get caught doing something wrong.

However, Prosecutor Seo Gi-woong was not on guard at all, but rather revealing himself even more.

The only reason is that he has absolutely nothing to hide.

The dignity that can be exuded thanks to the fact that he has risen to the position of chief prosecutor with pure skill, without getting a speck of dust on him, as befits his nickname of a modern-day paragon of integrity.

The way to overcome this style is not to break his nose or cut off his head like Chief Kang Hyun-soo.

It’s to win him over to my side.

Of course, it won’t be easy, as befits a man who is the epitome of integrity, but he is also a person, not a machine.

There will definitely be a breakthrough.

At this time when Line 1 and Line 2 are in fierce opposition, if I can get Prosecutor Seo Gi-woong on my side, the game will be turned upside down in an instant.

I have to open the door to his heart by any means possible.

I’ve already told Yoon Seol-ha in advance, so she’ll already be moving to find the key.

Until I find a sure card, I have to move defensively, as Deputy Chief Kwon Hyung-ki said.

“Is there anything you need in the Special Investigation Department or anything you want to request from above? Anything you want the new chief prosecutor to do?”

“I’m satisfied with the current system, so I don’t have anything in particular to ask for.”

“Really?”

He shrugged and leaned back on the sofa.

“The work environment at the Central District Prosecutors’ Office must be good. Everyone I ask says they’re satisfied.”

“Oh, is that so?”

It seems that the Line 2 side is also using a similar tactic to us.

“Anyway, Chief Choi…”

I had a brief interview with him and got up from my seat.

“Okay. Come find me anytime if you need anything, and take good care of the prosecutors in your department.”

“I understand.”

“Get to work.”

“Yes. Have a good rest.”

I bowed to Prosecutor Seo Gi-woong and left the office.

As soon as I arrived in the hallway, the elevator doors opened at the right time.

Thanks to that, I made eye contact with the man inside.

Viper.

Chief Kang Joong-shik of the Public Security Department.

“Oh, aren’t you Chief Choi Seo-joon? I’m Kang Joong-shik, who came as the head of the Public Security Department.”

He greeted me in a friendly manner, speaking with a strong Busan accent.

“Ah, yes. Nice to meet you.”

The doors closed as I got into the elevator and greeted him.

“I’ve seen you a lot on TV.”

“Thank you.”

I glanced back at him and asked.

“But aren’t you going to interview the chief prosecutor?”

“Yes, that’s right. Are you also coming from interviewing the chief prosecutor?”

“Yes. But if you were going to the chief prosecutor’s office, you should have gotten off earlier.”

“Oh, is that so?”

Chief Kang Joong-shik slapped his forehead and joked.

“It’s my first time at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, so I’m not used to it yet.”

I pressed the button for the floor right below him instead.

“If you go up just one floor from here, it’ll be faster to use the stairs.”

“Oh, thank you.”

The moment he bowed and greeted me with a sly smile, I caught a glimpse of him sharply scanning me up and down through the mirror.

The word ‘Viper’ was instantly etched into my mind.

“I heard you came up from Busan.”

“Oh, has the rumor already spread that far?”

Chief Kang Joong-shik curved his eyes.

“Or do you already know because you’re in the Special Investigation Department?”

Before I could answer, the elevator doors opened.

“Then I’ll be going.”

“Have a good one.”

He bowed and headed for the stairs.

I felt anew that there were even more monsters around me.

The two people I met right away were none other than Chief Prosecutor Seo Gi-woong and Viper Kang Joong-shik.

In addition, there are plenty of guys wielding blue chains [gang members or corrupt officials].

At times like this, I need to make my position even more solid.

If I stay still, I’ll inevitably become precarious.

I changed my destination and headed for Lee Doo-hyung’s office.

“Let’s talk for a moment.”

“Yes.”

Without even having tea prepared, I immediately called him aside and spoke seriously.

“Deputy Chief Lee.”

“Yes, Chief.”

I leaned my upper body towards him and said.

“Have you found a trustworthy guy in the Special Investigation Department?”

At that moment, Lee Doo-hyung’s eyes flashed.

“Does that mean…?”

“Yes. Just like I chose you, I want you to pick one guy who you can trust and who has great skills and nurture him.”

I smiled faintly and continued.

“We need to build our own power and make the Central District Prosecutors’ Office our kingdom, don’t we?”

“That’s right.”

He nodded with a determined expression.

“I don’t need many, just one. Pick one good guy and nurture him well. So that we can keep pulling him up.”

I added seriously.

“Above all, he needs to have guts. Someone with courage, who never shrinks back in front of anyone.”

He slowly stroked his chin and replied.

“I’ll pick well so that I don’t disappoint you.”

But I slowly shook my head.

“Deputy Chief Lee.”

“Yes?”

“We’re past the level of not disappointing me now.”

I grabbed his shoulder.

“I’m asking you to find someone who can satisfy me.”

I could feel the passion boiling inside Deputy Chief Prosecutor Lee Doo-hyung.

“I understand. I’ll prepare so that you can be more than satisfied.”

“Okay, I’ll look forward to it.”