The Inspector Is Getting Promoted! [EN]: Chapter 90

A Rising Star Prosecutor – Episode 90

Submergence (5)

-The news predicted the presidential race would include two candidates from the Great Korea Party, three from the People’s Party, and one from the Mansei Party, totaling six from the three major parties. The approval ratings for each candidate are as follows…

I watched the news and slowly sank into thought.

As expected, the Great Korea Party’s approval ratings were terrible.

Although the party primaries haven’t taken place yet, the combined approval ratings of the three People’s Party candidates already exceeded a majority.

In contrast, the Great Korea Party’s approval ratings barely exceeded 20% even when combined.

Of course, anything could happen before the actual vote, and there would be many people hiding their support for the Great Korea Party, like the “Shy Trump” voters in 2017, so you never know until you see the results.

However, it wouldn’t be wrong to say they’ve already lost their initial momentum.

“Is this going to be okay?”

Having checked the approval ratings, Yoon Seol-ha asked cautiously.

“Since you, Prosecutor, are also outwardly supporting the Great Korea Party…”

“That’s why what you and I, Investigator, dig up this time is so important.”

We needed to find something that could benefit the People’s Party in any way possible.

“Among the People’s Party primary candidates, Kyung Dong-soo is the most promising, right?”

“Do Joon-chul and Kyung Dong-soo are in a close race, within the margin of error, but Do Joon-chul is slightly ahead.”

If it’s within the margin of error, the result is obvious.

The 2nd Line [a faction within the People’s Party] supported Kyung Dong-soo, so the party itself would try to push him.

When the party primaries actually take place, Kyung Dong-soo will win by an overwhelming margin.

“How long until the People’s Party primary?”

“Three weeks.”

We need to find something that could threaten Do Joon-chul within three weeks…

“I heard Do Joon-chul’s younger brother runs a business.”

“That’s right. He operates a pipe factory called Mienes.”

“From what I’ve gathered, the pipe factory was established right after Do Joon-chul was elected as a member of the National Assembly. Is that correct?”

“Yes, that’s probably right.”

“Then, take a close look at that company’s accounting books. Check the funds that Do Joon-chul and his younger brother have been using.”

“Understood.”

Yoon Seol-ha nodded and immediately left the office.

Kyung Dong-soo.

Once he’s elected as the representative of the People’s Party, it will be difficult to join hands with him.

The Great Korea Party, which has maintained its ruling party status for over 10 years, is shaking more than ever before.

If he’s confirmed as a presidential candidate, the hyena pack that has been watching and waiting to see where to align themselves will wag their tails at Kyung Dong-soo like ghosts.

I need to give them a firm conviction beforehand.

Above all, since Prime Minister Choi Gyu-hyun has chosen Nam Moon-seok of the Great Korea Party as the representative of the 1st Line [another faction], if I move too late, it will look like I’m also watching and switching sides.

Just then, the phone rang.

The caller was Gong Seok-min, the president of Hanul Investment & Securities.

Why is this guy calling me all of a sudden?

After last year’s stock manipulation case, there was no contact for a while, and then he sent a New Year’s greeting message a while ago, and that was it.

I closed the office door tightly and answered the phone.

“Yes, this is Choi Seo-joon.”

-Ah, Prosecutor. Long time no see. How have you been?

“Yes, I’ve been well. How about you, President Gong?”

-I’m always the same.

Gong Seok-min started talking with his characteristic affable personality.

-By the way, I heard you were promoted to Senior Prosecutor. I should have contacted you sooner, but I’m sorry I’m late. Congratulations.

“Oh, thank you.”

-You’re still in the Special Investigations Department, right?

“Yes, that’s right.”

-Ah, I see.

As I gave a suitable response, not knowing what else to say, he naturally brought up the purpose of his call.

-Actually, I was wondering if you’d have time to meet up and talk. I’ve acquired a good bottle of liquor this time. How about we have a drink together?

The moment he said that, Gong Seok-min’s intentions were clear in my mind.

He’s either going to convey the words of his father-in-law, Assemblyman Hwang Cheol-yong, or attend with him directly.

What’s more important is that he’s suggesting we meet separately, not at the Dobby Hotel’s penthouse.

And the fact that he specifically mentioned acquiring a good bottle of liquor means the meeting place is his home.

In other words, he wants to meet secretly.

If I draw a conclusion about all of this, Assemblyman Hwang Cheol-yong is trying to support someone who opposes Nam Moon-seok, whom Choi Gyu-hyun has decided on.

I readily accepted.

“I’d be happy to. How about tonight?”

-Tonight?

He seemed a little flustered, as if he hadn’t expected to meet so soon, but he readily replied.

-Great. Would you mind meeting at my personal officetel [a building with individual units used as both office and living space]?

“Yes, no problem.”

-Okay. I’ll text you the address.

“See you later.”

-Goodbye.

***

Gong Seok-min carefully unwrapped a very luxurious package and took out a bottle of whiskey.

“This is a 50-year-old whiskey brewed in Scotland, and it’s a liquor you can’t buy even with money.”

“Is that so?”

It looked luxurious at first glance.

Thanks to the natural shaking as it was taken out of the box, gold flakes floated to the top, showing off a brilliant appearance.

And thanks to the moderately bright lighting reflecting off it, the liquor even felt elegant.

I had a gut feeling that it was worth at least 10 million won [approximately $7,500 USD].

He carefully organized the packaging and stood up.

“Would you like it on the rocks, or straight?”

“Straight, please.”

“Yes.”

He took out two on-the-rocks glasses and two straight glasses.

The on-the-rocks glasses were empty, without ice.

Gong Seok-min brought a glass water bottle from the side and said.

“This isn’t a residential space, so there are no water glasses. If you need water…”

“Yes. The on-the-rocks glasses are enough.”

He smiled and opened the 50-year-old whiskey.

The rich aroma that spread out immediately upon opening.

It was a completely different level of luxury from the chemical smell emanating from cheap liquor.

He carefully filled the straight glass and handed it to me.

After taking a simple sip, he started the conversation first.

“There’s a lot of talk about the presidential election this time.”

“That’s right. There’s also an impeachment on the line, and the general election is coming up soon, isn’t it?”

“That’s right. I’m glad the Constitutional Court decided to postpone the general election. Otherwise, it would have been really hard to handle this chaos. The political situation is so chaotic…”

The general election has always been held in April, but this time, the timing was changed to the fall, six months later, because of the current situation.

If it wasn’t changed, there would be a time when the general election and the presidential election overlapped every 20 years, and especially this time, the president was impeached, so the Constitutional Court made a decision based on the judgment that the center of the country could be shaken if the National Assembly was completely replaced at once.

Thanks to that, the current members of the National Assembly were lucky enough to have their terms extended by six months.

As such, this year’s presidential election is bound to become even more important because of the general election.

Depending on who the new president is, the position and momentum of each party will change during those six months.

“Still, Assemblyman Hwang doesn’t have to worry about the general election, does he?”

“Well, that’s true, but… the important thing is the presidential election.”

Gong Seok-min wrinkled his nose and continued.

I cautiously threw out a topic to look into his true intentions.

“It would be good if Nam Moon-seok, whom our line has chosen, is elected.”

“Ah.”

He quietly turned the hand holding the glass and slowly turned his gaze to me.

“You, Prosecutor, are supporting Nam Moon-seok of the Great Korea Party, right?”

I nodded casually.

“Because he’s the person chosen by the line.”

“I see.”

Gong Seok-min was silent for a moment before changing the subject.

“Oh, by the way, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office this time…”

I was puzzled by the sudden change of subject, but I decided to wait a little longer.

However, there was no sign of getting to the main point even after a long time.

It seemed like we would just be exchanging drinks like this, so I brought up the story first.

“What kind of picture is Assemblyman Hwang drawing?”

He glanced at me and carefully put down his glass.

“I don’t know exactly either.”

He doesn’t know?

That can’t be.

There’s no way he called me here just to have a drink and talk about how the world is turning.

He’s blatantly hiding it.

It’s pathetic that he doesn’t realize that the act of hiding itself reveals that Assemblyman Hwang Cheol-yong is having second thoughts.

Judging from this, it seems that he didn’t prepare as much as he did for the previous case, but only heard an order from Assemblyman Hwang Cheol-yong to check my intentions once and immediately arranged the meeting.

Did he think of me as a prosecutor who only thinks about money because I received so much money while working on the stock manipulation case?

If that’s the case, it’s quite insulting.

“From what I can see, my father-in-law seems to be looking at the big picture as he is in the position of floor leader of the People’s Party, even though he is in the line.”

That means he’s also getting involved with the People’s Party, as I expected.

However, he shook his hand as soon as he finished speaking, overturning what he had said.

“But this is just my personal opinion, and what’s certain is that my father-in-law is keeping all possibilities open. He said that he will listen and pay attention to any stories around him.”

He rubbed his hands and carefully asked again.

“Are you, Prosecutor, 100% following Prime Minister Choi Gyu-hyun, or do you have other thoughts…”

I couldn’t help but laugh at his question.

I thought he would convey Assemblyman Hwang’s intentions or suggestions because it was a 1:1 meeting, but instead, he kept avoiding answering and going around in circles.

It became clear.

This isn’t a gamble, but a probe to test the waters.

I would have overturned the table right away as usual, but this time it’s different.

I was also trying to get involved with both sides, not just pushing Prime Minister Choi Gyu-hyun entirely.

If Assemblyman Hwang Cheol-yong helps with this matter, I can definitely and stably join hands with the People’s Party candidate, Kyung Dong-soo.

However, I have no intention of continuing to watch this attitude of testing the waters.

How dare you test me in front of me?

I decided to show him that he and I are on different levels.

I spoke in a cold voice.

“President Gong.”

“Yes, Prosecutor.”

“I know that Assemblyman Hwang Cheol-yong is having second thoughts, but it’s not polite to try to test me like this.”

Gong Seok-min’s face was instantly filled with embarrassment as his inner thoughts were discovered.

“Ah, that’s not…”

I had no intention of listening to his next words, and there was no need to.

I pushed the straight glass aside on the spot and poured whiskey into the on-the-rocks glass without ice.

Gong Seok-min’s eyes widened as he didn’t know my intentions, but I poured the whiskey into my mouth at once without giving him a chance to ask.

The scent of whiskey filled my mouth.

As I swallowed it, I felt like my throat was burning.

“P-Prosecutor?”

Gong Seok-min called me in a flustered voice, but I finally succeeded in completely swallowing the whiskey beyond my throat.

Then, I put the glass I was holding down on the table with a bang!

“I think I’ve had enough to drink.”

I said with murderous intent in my voice.

“Now, stop testing the waters and tell Assemblyman Hwang to come out.”

I said fiercely to him, who was swallowing his saliva in embarrassment.

“It’s too unpleasant to be tested like this.”