The Inspector Is Getting Promoted! [EN]: Chapter 91

Prosecutor, You’re Going Places! – Episode 91

Submersion (6)

Flustered by the unexpected situation, Gong Seok-min swallowed hard.

I didn’t stop there and poured another shot of whiskey into the rocks glass.

“Prosecutor, if you drink any more, it’s really dangerous.”

He urgently reached out and took the whiskey bottle from me.

“I’ll call my father-in-law right now, so please wait a moment.”

As I stared at him intently, he took out his phone and pleaded.

“I’m serious.”

He even took out the ashtray from under the table and placed it on top.

“Just have a cigarette. I’ll be right back after contacting him.”

Now we’re talking.

I nodded silently, and he hurriedly called Congressman Hwang Cheol-yong and went into a private room.

As soon as Gong Seok-min disappeared from sight, the alcohol hit me all at once.

It wasn’t just any alcohol, but 40-degree whiskey in that big rocks glass, straight without ice, so it would be strange if I didn’t get drunk.

The glass was quite large, about 350ml to 400ml.

But I couldn’t afford to get drunk.

I felt like I would really get drunk if I just stayed still, so I got up and headed for the window.

As I opened the window, the cold wind wrapped around my face, blowing away some of the alcohol.

Gong Seok-min seemed to understand well enough, so now all that was left was Hwang Cheol-yong.

Knowing his personality, he would rush here immediately, even at this late hour.

No, even if it wasn’t him, no one would stay put in this situation.

If I displeased him even a little and told Choi Gyu-hyun the truth, he would be taken care of by Choi Gyu-hyun, regardless of who ran for president.

I lit a cigarette and took a deep drag.

At that moment, ping—my head spun and I instantly felt the alcohol rush in.

Damn it.

Did I overdo it?

If I had known this would happen, I would have bought a hangover drink before coming.

But the situation had already occurred, and I couldn’t turn back.

I had no choice but to endure with my willpower.

Even if I couldn’t stop the alcohol from rising, I just had to avoid being completely consumed by it.

As I stubbed out the cigarette I had only taken one puff from, the door opened and CEO Gong Seok-min returned.

“Prosecutor, my father-in-law says he’s coming here now. He said it will take about 15 minutes, so could you please wait a little longer?”

“I suppose I can.”

Fifteen minutes.

With my current condition, I might get drunk within that time.

The problem is after Congressman Hwang Cheol-yong arrives.

I need to maintain this mental state even after he comes.

I had to end the conversation as quickly and briefly as possible, so I started to create a conversation scenario with him in my head.

Perhaps because I was focusing on holding onto my sanity, or because my brow was furrowed, CEO Gong Seok-min didn’t even dare to talk to me, and stood next to me anxiously, watching my every move.

After a while, exactly 15 minutes later.

Congressman Hwang Cheol-yong arrived.

Seeing that he was wearing casual clothing, it seemed he had thrown on whatever he could find at home in a hurry.

“Hello, Congressman.”

“Oh, Chief Choi.”

He patted me on the shoulder as if he felt sorry.

“I think my son-in-law made a mistake because he’s not good at speaking. Please understand.”

“Now that you’ve come yourself, Congressman, it’s okay.”

As I opened my mouth and started talking, the alcohol started to rush up again.

I widened my eyes to regain my senses.

The moment I widened my eyes, I noticed Congressman Hwang Cheol-yong flinching.

It seemed he had taken my actions differently, but I didn’t have the leeway to consider that.

“CEO Gong and I have talked a lot about the introduction, so let’s get straight to the point.”

I put one arm on my knee and leaned forward.

“Who are you thinking of supporting?”

Instead of answering, he carefully asked.

“Can you promise me just one thing?”

“Please speak.”

“Whatever conversation takes place today, it won’t reach the Prime Minister’s ears.”

Perhaps because of the alcohol, I became a little more daring.

“I’ll think about it.”

He showed a troubled expression, but there was no solution.

Because in this situation, I had the upper hand.

“Do you perhaps have someone else in mind?”

Like attracts like, Congressman Hwang Cheol-yong also tried to hear my answer first.

I said again with a serious face.

“I asked who you were thinking of.”

“Ah.”

Only then did Congressman Hwang Cheol-yong clear his throat and answer.

“I’m thinking of Kyung Dong-soo from the People’s Party.”

Kyung Dong-soo.

A key figure within the People’s Party.

Since the main figures within the party have chosen him, Congressman Hwang Cheol-yong must be trying to get on the bandwagon.

Perhaps because I was flushed with alcohol, I blurted out more boldly than usual.

“So what kind of proposal are you trying to make to me by calling me to this meeting?”

My face started to burn because of the alcohol.

Congressman Hwang Cheol-yong and CEO Gong Seok-min in front of me must have grasped the atmosphere to some extent, but no matter what, my eyes were wide open.

I hadn’t been completely overcome by alcohol yet.

Hwang Cheol-yong thought for a moment, then carefully answered.

“Let’s join hands with Kyung Dong-soo together.”

“Betraying Prime Minister Choi Gyu-hyun?”

“The word ‘betrayal’ sounds a bit dangerous, but it’s not 100% wrong.”

He continued slowly.

“I want to have a foot in both camps. I don’t want to abandon our line, but if I just support Nam Moon-seok of the Korea Party as the Prime Minister says and sit still, my position in the People’s Party will become too precarious.”

I spat out my thoughts without filtering them.

“Can I understand that to mean that you will secretly help Kyung Dong-soo get elected president without the Prime Minister’s knowledge?”

“Cough.”

He coughed, perhaps embarrassed by revealing his intentions so nakedly, but that didn’t change the fact.

“…That’s right.”

It was the same thought as me.

Even if they hadn’t approached me first, I was also thinking of sticking with Kyung Dong-soo.

But there was no need to tell them that fact first.

Congressman Hwang Cheol-yong and CEO Gong Seok-min approached me because they thought I had a means to threaten them, but also couldn’t help but be helpful.

There was no need to tell them my inner thoughts and put myself in the same position as them.

I pretended to consider it and then slowly asked.

“What kind of result will I get after helping?”

I raised my hand first towards Gong Seok-min, who was about to say something, and said a word.

“Ah, I’m saying this just in case, but this matter has nothing to do with money.”

Gong Seok-min, who was about to open his mouth, closed his mouth and took a deep breath.

Congressman Hwang Cheol-yong looked at me with a serious look.

“If you just put a foot in this camp, Kyung Dong-soo won’t forget Chief Choi even if he becomes president.”

“That’s obvious.”

I crossed my legs and leaned back on the sofa.

“I’m asking what Congressman Hwang can do for me, not Kyung Dong-soo.”

At those words, Congressman Hwang Cheol-yong let out a hollow laugh as if he had been hit hard.

He nodded and then stared at me intently.

Then he proposed in a very serious tone.

“No matter what problems arise later, if there’s anything I can do to help, I’ll help you even if it costs me my position as a congressman.”

“You’re saying you’ll step forward when I’m in crisis.”

“That’s right.”

“Hmm.”

I asked with a playful tone.

“Are you trying to settle this with just a promise without any evidence?”

This time, Congressman Hwang Cheol-yong didn’t back down and smiled.

“Isn’t this world originally like that?”

Very materialistic.

That’s why it’s even better.

If this matter fails, he will also be in a precarious situation, so he can’t demand anything concrete in return.

If he is 건재 [in good standing] and I am 건재 [in good standing], this promise will definitely be fulfilled.

Since there is no chance that the human being Choi Seo-joon will collapse, there will come a day when I will receive help from Congressman Hwang Cheol-yong.

I twisted the corners of my mouth and reached out to him.

“Good.”

“Good, Chief Choi.”

He grabbed my hand with satisfaction.

“I like that our Chief Choi is so cool.”

“First, I’ll move individually. I’ll prepare to pass the data to Kyung Dong-soo through you, Congressman, when it’s obtained.”

“Good. Then I’ll contact you as soon as there are any special changes in the party situation.”

“I understand.”

After finishing those words, I got up from my seat.

Perhaps because I had finished talking, the tension was released and the alcohol started to overwhelm my head in an instant.

I closed my eyes tightly and swallowed.

I can’t get drunk here.

Steadying my staggering body, I stopped in place and slowly turned my gaze to Gong Seok-min and said.

“CEO Gong.”

“Yes?”

He was startled and turned to look at me when I suddenly called him.

“Please call a designated driver [a service where someone drives your car for you]. If I go like this, it looks like it’ll be on the front page of tomorrow’s newspaper.”

“Yes, I’ll call right away.”

At that time, Congressman Hwang Cheol-yong waved his hand.

“Don’t do that, I’ll call our driver Kim, so take that. Wouldn’t that be more comfortable?”

“No. I think a designated driver will be more comfortable.”

It was obvious that I wouldn’t be able to hold out until his personal driver came.

While Gong Seok-min was making a phone call, I poured cold water into the rocks glass and drank it in gulps to sober up even a little.

But the scent of whiskey still lingered in my mouth.

Ah, damn it.

It was the lingering scent left in the glass I poured the whiskey into.

“By the way, Chief Choi is…”

Congressman Hwang Cheol-yong called me and said something, but I couldn’t concentrate on what he was saying because of the intoxication.

But after saying a few words, he laughed heartily, so it seemed like it wasn’t important.

While I was thinking it was fortunate, Gong Seok-min approached.

“The designated driver happens to be near here, so he’ll arrive in 3 minutes. Let’s go down right away.”

“Yes.”

I headed straight for the entrance.

Gong Seok-min and Hwang Cheol-yong were about to come out to see me off.

I deliberately strained my brow to make my eyes look clear and said.

“I’ll go alone. Don’t come out.”

“Are you okay?”

“Yes, see you later.”

Perhaps because I strained my brow, they didn’t ask twice and backed away.

I immediately took the elevator down to the parking lot, and soon I was able to meet the designated driver.

The moment I told him my home address and got into the back seat.

The tension was completely released and I was overcome by the alcohol.

That was the last film in my memory.

***

I woke up the next day in bed.

I clearly remember getting into the car driven by the designated driver, but I don’t remember anything after that.

Just in case, I checked my body, but fortunately, there was nothing wrong.

It seemed like there were no special problems.

Relieved, I got out of bed.

I was so drunk that I even lost my film [memory], but I didn’t have a headache at all.

Is this the power of Western liquor?

Still, because I poured alcohol into my empty stomach, I felt a bit of heartburn, so I moderately tore open a ramen bag.

I boiled a bag of ramen and turned on the TV in the living room.

And the moment I saw the screen, I couldn’t help but be flustered.

-This is a breaking news report. Allegations have been raised that People’s Party candidate Kyung Dong-soo illegally registered [falsely reported address] his children and had them admitted to specialized high schools [schools with a specific focus, like science or foreign languages] as special cases. Currently, Kyung Dong-soo’s two sons are enrolled in A Science High School and S Foreign Language High School……

An article tearing down Kyung Dong-soo.

I thought about whether it was candidate Do Jun-cheol of the People’s Party, but his only daughter is studying abroad in the United States.

If this kind of article breaks out, the backlash that blows on Do Jun-cheol will not be small either.

Then there is only one conclusion.

Choi Gyu-hyun.

Prime Minister Choi Gyu-hyun, this human being, has already started to move.