The Inspector Is Getting Promoted! [EN]: Chapter 99

Prosecutor Jung, You’re Moving Up in the World! – Episode 99

Wings (2)

“The Busan District Prosecutors’ Office?”

“Yes. Regarding your assignment to a regional office, I will arrange for you to go to the Busan District Prosecutors’ Office.”

At the mention of the Busan District Prosecutors’ Office, Prosecutor Jung Hyun-woo gritted his teeth.

It was none other than Chief Prosecutor Kang Joong-shik, the viper from the Busan District Prosecutors’ Office, who had plunged his smooth career as a prosecutor into the abyss.

While Prosecutor Jung Hyun-woo being a useful person was important, the biggest reason I decided to take him under my wing was because I was dissatisfied with the Viper.

I had heard about the Chief Prosecutor leading the Viper, Park Jae-pil, from Kim Seok-won, and when I met the Viper in person, the look in his eyes made it clear that he was a person who would invade my territory.

I had to have a means to keep him in check.

“You know that the Viper is currently Chief Prosecutor Park Jae-pil’s right-hand man, don’t you?”

“I heard about it recently. I also heard that they are both from the Busan District Prosecutors’ Office.”

“That’s right. If you go to the Busan District Prosecutors’ Office now, there will still be people from Park Jae-pil who haven’t come up to Seoul yet.”

At those words, Prosecutor Jung Hyun-woo’s eyes sparkled.

“I should prepare materials to cut off their heads in preparation for them coming up.”

“That’s the basics.”

Leaning my upper body towards him, I lowered my voice.

“At the same time, get close to those people and live as if you’re on the same side.”

“Chief, are you saying…….”

“That’s right.”

I twisted the corners of my lips.

“I’m telling you to become a spy.”

His pupils shook greatly.

He was in a position where he couldn’t refuse, but he couldn’t hide his worries.

“I was bitten by the Viper and demoted from here. Is it possible to get close to that group?”

“You have no choice.”

“Yes?”

“Prosecutor Jung, you have to come up with the weaknesses of the Viper and Park Jae-pil from the Busan District Prosecutors’ Office.”

“……Ah.”

Only then did he catch my meaning.

To be precise, it didn’t mean that he should unconditionally become a spy.

However, in order to get the weaknesses of the Viper and Chief Prosecutor Park Jae-pil, it was impossible without getting close to Park Jae-pil’s people who remained in the Busan District Prosecutors’ Office.

Whether Prosecutor Jung Hyun-woo acted as if he had succumbed to the Viper, used his sociability, or used money, it was none of my business.

The goal was to bring back the weaknesses of the Viper and Chief Prosecutor Park Jae-pil by any means necessary.

That would be the only way to prove Prosecutor Jung Hyun-woo’s ability.

People who are good at their jobs and capable are everywhere.

I also know that everyone is struggling to get into my good graces.

However, I had no intention of bringing in just ‘anyone’.

Among them, I needed someone who was outstanding and could do what I said.

If he couldn’t do what I wanted, I wouldn’t even consider accepting him, let alone sympathizing with him.

“The easiest way to do what you said, Chief, is to blend in with them.”

“That’s right.”

I wrinkled my nose and said.

“I know it won’t be easy. But…….”

As I trailed off, Jung Hyun-woo continued the sentence for me.

“There is a line of people who want to work with you, Chief.”

He looked me straight in the eye and said.

“In order to be chosen from among them, you have to prove your ability.”

He caught my meaning exactly.

He’s halfway there just by doing this.

I nodded in satisfaction.

“That’s right.”

“I’ll do whatever it takes.”

“One year.”

I fastened the buckle of my suit jacket and got up from my seat.

“Just suffer for one year. If you succeed, you’ll be able to come up to the Central District Prosecutors’ Office, not the Western District Prosecutors’ Office, in a year.”

His eyes sparkled as if he had been waiting for it.

Coming to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, not the Seoul Western District Prosecutors’ Office, was a completely different matter.

Going to the Busan District Prosecutors’ Office was not a fall into the abyss, but rather a bending of the knees to gain momentum.

This one year would be a very important time to decide whether he would continue to live as a prosecutor or open a law firm.

“I will do my best not to disappoint you, Chief.”

I smiled and shook my head at him, who was bowing his head again.

“There will be no disappointment.”

I said, looking at Jung Hyun-woo, who was widening his eyes.

“If you fail, my meeting with you will never have happened.”

Gulp.

I heard Jung Hyun-woo swallow.

Also, I felt the tension rising on his face in an instant.

The next year will be a tightrope walk for him.

If he completes it, he will be in Choi Seo-joon’s line [under his direct influence and protection].

If he falls, he will fall into the fire [face severe consequences].

Everything is entirely in his hands.

“Good luck.”

After placing my hand lightly on his shoulder, I moved my steps.

***

“That guy keeps talking a lot.”

“I know. I guess he’s done a lot wrong.”

“It seems like he’s on the news more often than not.”

Han Ji-yu stopped her chopsticks and spoke.

“But if he’s the Minister of Justice, isn’t he related to you, Oppa [term used by a younger woman to address an older brother or male friend]?”

“I guess so.”

The person on TV was Hong Hyung-joo, who was appointed as the Minister of Justice in the Gyeong Dong-soo Cabinet.

He was one of the most talked-about people in the Gyeong Dong-soo Cabinet from the time of the confirmation hearing before his official appointment.

There were many rumors, but he finally succeeded in taking the position of minister, so I thought it was settled, but this time, there is another suspicion that his daughter was admitted to law school illegally.

“I don’t think that person is qualified to be a minister.”

At that time, Director Lee Young-mi sat next to us with a cup of coffee.

The place where we are eating is the dining room of Somangwon, the orphanage which she runs.

The children had finished their meals and went up first, and we, who came to volunteer, were sitting with the staff, watching the TV news and eating.

“Director, aren’t you eating?”

“I ate a lot of snacks earlier, so I’m not very hungry. Eat a lot, everyone.”

Her tone was dripping with kindness and affection.

Unlike the beginning, it seems that even the walls of her heart, which had been built up little by little, have been torn down, and Director Lee Young-mi treats us kindly as if she were treating her own nephews and nieces.

“Should I give you some more side dishes? There’s a little bit of pork left.”

“Ah, it’s okay. I’m full.”

“Tell me if you need anything.”

“Yes, thank you.”

She turned her gaze back to the TV.

After chatting for a while, the staff got up from their seats first, and Director Lee Young-mi whispered.

“The baby’s father seems to have a lot of complaints about the Minister of Justice.”

“Really?”

“Yes. He said that the minister did too many bad things? According to what the baby’s father found out, there are so many things that are not only on TV. He was saying that if all of this is revealed, it will be really noisy…….”

She was talking, but she seemed to be aware of the staff who wouldn’t have heard, so she finished with a light smile.

“Ah, this story is a secret between us.”

“Of course, don’t worry.”

I hid my happy heart and smiled as if to say don’t worry.

If she’s telling us this kind of story, she must have told Chief Prosecutor Seo Gi-woong a lot about me and Han Ji-yu.

I don’t have any worries about Chief Prosecutor Seo Gi-woong anymore.

However, when trying to win someone over, you shouldn’t end at a moderate level, but go all the way to the end and completely capture them.

That’s why I threw the strong move that I had planned in advance.

“Ah, Director. There’s one more thing I want to tell you…….”

“Please tell me.”

After checking that there was no one around, I carefully continued.

“It’s not that, I’m going to donate a little more.”

“Oh, no.”

She refused, waving her hand.

“I’m grateful for the previous donation, and it’s enough.”

“No. This time, it’s not me, it’s Ji-yu who’s going to do it.”

Han Ji-yu smiled kindly as if she had been waiting for it.

“Yes. After volunteering a few times, I wanted to help the children.”

“Still…….”

“This is not for Somangwon specifically, but it’s a decision made with the hope that the children will grow up in a better environment.”

As she spoke softly, Director Lee Young-mi grabbed Han Ji-yu’s hand as if she was moved.

“Thank you so much.”

Director Lee Young-mi’s eyes were filled with emotion.

***

On the way back home after volunteering.

Han Ji-yu, who was fiddling with her cell phone, turned her head towards me as if she had remembered something and asked.

“Ah, that’s right. Oppa, what happened to what I asked you about back then?”

“What?”

“The trip. You said we should go with our family.”

“Ah, I asked my parents, but they said they’re too busy with work these days, so it’ll be difficult.”

“That’s too bad. Should we postpone it until later?”

Looking at her eyes, it seems like she really wants to go on a trip.

“We can do that, or how about this time, only I attend from our family, and next time I prepare the trip?”

“Oh, that’s a good idea.”

She clapped her hands and welcomed it.

“Then I’ll tell my parents that too.”

“Okay. When was the trip date?”

“The end of August would be good. That’s when my dad’s on vacation.”

“I’ll prepare to take a day off on that day.”

“Okay.”

Han Ji-yu nodded vigorously.

“Ah, it’s going to be so much fun. It’s been a long time since I’ve been on a trip with my family.”

“I hope I’m not making you uncomfortable by joining you?”

“No. I’m glad you’re coming with me.”

She hummed a song and checked the calendar, then made a surprised noise, ‘Huh?’

“Oppa’s birthday is really soon.”

“Next Tuesday, right?”

“Yes. At that time, keep your time completely free.”

“Hahaha, I got it. But you have a recording on Tuesday. Are you okay?”

“Of course. I’ve already cleared my schedule.”

She smiled brightly and held my right hand tightly.

***

August 18, 2020.

The day I turned 31 years old.

Perhaps because I was thirty-two years old [Korean age, where you are a year older at birth and age up on January 1st], I thought I didn’t care about my birthday.

However, perhaps because I was in the position of a chief prosecutor, I was surprised that people knew my birthday and congratulated me wherever I went.

When I went to work in the morning, I was really touched to see Jo Ara and Yoon Seol-ha preparing a cake and waiting for me in advance.

Around the time I was about to leave work, I came back home, leaving behind the subordinate employees who were shouting that we should have a company dinner on a day like today.

Because I had a promise with Han Ji-yu.

When I entered the house, a very large box was placed in the middle of the living room, wrapped in packaging.

It seemed like she was going to give me a very nice gift, and the scale of the box was no joke.

Imagining what was inside, I carefully lifted the lid of the box.

“Ta-da!”

Han Ji-yu revealed herself from inside the box, making a lively sound effect with her mouth.

With a big ribbon on her head.

As soon as I saw her, a big smile filled my face.

“How long have you been waiting?”

“I just went in. I know when you get off work, Oppa.”

She handed me the end of the ribbon on her head and said.

“Oppa, a gift.”