The inspector is getting promoted!

No matter how bold they are, neither Im Seong-jin nor the people connected to him would be crazy enough to openly attempt an assassination or terror attack at the Prosecutor’s Office.

The small note on the recipient’s side, saying “Inspection Division Prosecutor Choi Seo-jun,” indicates that this person knows quite a bit about the situation on our side.

Even if they don’t know that I’ve been transferred to the Inspection Division, they must know that we are collaborating with it.

I looked at Jo A-ra and asked, “If it was received in the lobby, there wouldn’t be a separate record, right?”

“Yes. Usually, quick services or deliveries aren’t recorded. The delivery person was also in civilian clothes,” she replied.

It still felt suspicious.

“Just to be sure, could you go down to the lobby and check?”

“Understood.”

After Jo A-ra went down to the lobby, I carefully opened the envelope while wearing gloves, just in case.

At that moment, my phone vibrated.

Vibrating sound

It was the characteristic vibration when receiving a message.

I put the envelope down and checked my phone first.

Sender: 29

Photo

There was no longer any doubt, so I immediately zoomed in on the photo.

The image on the screen was an ID card.

And not just any ID—it was a Prosecutor’s identification card.

At the bottom, it clearly stated Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Office, and above it was the name Yoon Seol-ha and her photo.

It looked like a high-quality scan of the front of the ID card.

I had never seen this name before.

Who is she?

Her looks were quite impressive.

But I didn’t recognize her face.

She wasn’t entirely unfamiliar, though. It felt like I had seen her in passing.

If I could see the back of the ID, I would know her affiliation and rank, but unfortunately, the photo sent was only the front.

Since I felt the vibration when I touched the envelope, I wondered if the person related to the photo was the one who sent it.

I put down my phone and opened the envelope, and a bunch of photos and documents poured out.

At a glance, it seemed like it was related to corruption.

After sorting through the documents for a while, I found a common point.

Clearly, there was evidence of bribe-taking, but the names of the people who gave and received the bribe were missing.

It was proof of corruption, but essentially, it was half-baked evidence that couldn’t be used in court.

The photos were the same.

They showed women entering hotels or motels, with the pictures taken from behind, so their faces weren’t visible.

Even so, I instantly recognized who the subject of the photos was.

Im Seong-jin.

This wasn’t about blackmail or cooperation.

Someone was definitely asking for something.

I dug through the envelope again and pulled out a note that had been hidden deep inside.

Tonight at midnight, in the Goryeosa Park, Ijeolsa

I couldn’t help but let out a small laugh.

If they want to use this half-baked evidence properly, they want me to meet with them?

Im Seong-jin’s side wouldn’t leak this kind of information.

Even if the evidence wasn’t effective, it was still suggestive enough to be traced.

This had to be from someone on the opposite side.

It was someone who wanted something from me.

If I could receive the evidence, I would be willing to meet them.

Actually, I would probably be the one to go meet them.

At that moment, the door opened, and Jo A-ra, who had gone down to the lobby, returned.

“Prosecutor, I checked, and there were no records left. I also checked the CCTV at the entrance. The motorcycle didn’t have any brand name, and I’ve confirmed the license plate. Should we track it?”

I couldn’t help but laugh.

She had checked the CCTV and the license plate without me asking.

She was definitely different from the public servants I knew at the Gwangju District Prosecutor’s Office.

Now I understood why Shin Yong-ho had said she had great sense.

“No, that’s fine. But could you confirm one person for me?”

“One person?”

I was about to show her the photo on my phone but stopped myself and spoke instead.

“It’s a woman from the Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Office.”

“Is she a prosecutor?”

“I’m not sure. It’s not definite, but she’s probably a prosecutor’s office staff member.”

If she were a prosecutor, she wouldn’t be passing on information to me this way.

So, she was likely a staff member.

While Jo A-ra didn’t have the authority to look up such information, she had worked at the Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Office before, so she could easily find out through her connections.

“Please find out if she’s a prosecutor’s office staff member. If not, check if she’s a prosecutor. Her name is Yoon Seol-ha.”

Upon hearing the name, Jo A-ra’s eyes widened, and she repeated the name.

“Yoon Seol-ha?”

“Do you know her?”

It seemed like she might be able to find her quickly.

Jo A-ra nodded.

“Yes. I know a Yoon Seol-ha who is a 7th-grade junior public official.”

Nice!

Things were getting easier than I expected.

“Please tell me everything you know.”

“She’s an investigator under Chief Prosecutor Im Seong-jin of the Economic Crime Investigation Division.”

Wait a minute, she works under Im Seong-jin?

There’s a possibility this could be a trap.

Even though the ship may be sinking, Im Seong-jin would still struggle to survive.

Wait, the Economic Crime Investigation Division? That means she worked in the same department as Jo A-ra.

She must know a lot more.

“How is her disposition?”

“I’ve heard that when she’s given a task, she will do whatever it takes to get it done. That’s why many other prosecutors are envious of her.”

She’ll do whatever it takes to get the job done.

That’s a very desirable trait for an employee.

“Does she get along with Im Seong-jin?”

“Professionally, Yoon Seol-ha is flawless, so there’s no problem with her work. But personally, I’ve heard they don’t get along well. There’s a rumor that Im Seong-jin has some kind of hold over her, and she’s being manipulated by him.”

“If she’s being manipulated…”

Jo A-ra went silent.

Considering Im Seong-jin’s personality, I didn’t need to hear more to figure it out.

He must have forced her to do things for his personal gain.

At this point, the probability is fifty-fifty.

Is she still being manipulated and doing these things, or is she helping me to break free from his control?

I’ll have to meet with her. Only by talking to her can I figure out what’s really going on.

“Is there anything else I need to know?”

Jo A-ra glanced at the scattered papers on my desk before answering.

“You should be careful not to trust her too easily.”

“Why is that?”

“As I mentioned earlier, she’ll do whatever her superiors ask her to do. She’s the kind of person who doesn’t hesitate to follow orders, so you should be careful of getting caught up in something she’s involved with.”

“She’ll do whatever her superiors ask…”

I couldn’t help but grin.

“If that’s the case, making her work for me would turn her into the best investigator.”

Jo A-ra seemed to understand my intention, a smile forming on her lips.

“This could also be a golden opportunity for Yoon Seol-ha to stop being controlled by Im Seong-jin.”

***

A small officetel in Gangseo District.

It was located quite far from the Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Office, deliberately chosen so that no one would notice the meeting.

It seemed like a place used for discreet meetings like this one.

When I entered, Prosecutor Im Joo-young was waiting for me alone.

“Hello, I’m Prosecutor Choi Seo-jun from the Gwangju District Prosecutor’s Office.”

But he smiled casually and extended his hand.

“To think, the prosecutor who’ll soon be joining the Inspection Division at the Seoul High Prosecutor’s Office is from the Gwangju District Prosecutor’s Office.”

As expected, he had already heard the news.

I bowed my head slightly and shook his hand with both of mine. He led me to the sofa.

Im Joo-young poured two hot cups of coffee himself and placed them on the table.

“Thank you.”

He took a sip from his cup before speaking.

“Your prosecutor, I heard you’ve had a hard time dealing with what my subordinates have gotten up to.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Sorry, what for? It’s only natural to do what needs to be done. If there’s a rotten branch, it should be pruned, right?”

His sly attitude.

It was a completely different atmosphere from the overwhelming presence of Deputy Chief Prosecutor Kim Seok-won.

Even though we had exchanged just a few words, I could feel his relaxed demeanor.

He definitely gave off the impression of someone in a high position, the Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul District Prosecutor’s Office.

Even though he spoke softly, I had the instinct that he was in control of the situation.

After a brief silence, he crossed his legs and asked me, “So, what exactly does Prosecutor Choi want to meet with me for?”

Not wanting to beat around the bush, I went straight to the point.

“Do you really have to spare Im Seong-jin?”

He didn’t change his expression, just took another sip from his cup.

“I can’t just throw away those who are loyal to me.”

Im Joo-young took another sip of his coffee and continued.

“But if I can’t save him, it’s better to give up. You really want to kill Im Seong-jin, don’t you?”

A smile appeared on his face.

It wasn’t a mocking smile, but one that conveyed genuine interest.

“What do you want in return?”

“Kill Im Seong-jin and spare Jo Won-hyung.”

“Jo Won-hyung?”

He made a surprised expression.

“So, that guy has teamed up with you.”

Since I had already presented my terms, there was no point in hiding anything.

“I plan to catch him. From my perspective, and from the Inspection Division’s perspective, wouldn’t it be cleaner and better to take down a Chief Prosecutor than just a Deputy Chief?”

“Are you trying to join my side by doing this?”

I had misjudged.

“I’ve already burned my bridges with Im Seong-jin. If I take in someone who chased away one of his subordinates, what would others say?”

“That’s not it. I don’t want that.”

“Then what is it?”

“It’s as I said. Please stop Im Seong-jin from using Jo Won-hyung as a pawn to escape. Jo Won-hyung has been compromised by Im Seong-jin. If we strike Im Seong-jin, Jo Won-hyung will try to die with him. If you say the word, Im Seong-jin will stop, won’t he?”

Finally, he nodded.

“So, you want me to stop Im Seong-jin from dragging Jo Won-hyung down with him?”

“Exactly.”

“That’s not too difficult. But…”

Im Joo-young put down his coffee cup and spoke.

“To make a deal, there has to be something in it for both sides. If it only benefits you, why would I bother moving?”

Now it was my turn to show my hand.

I took out a document from my pocket.

A document containing a slush fund account received from Im Seong-jin.

I knew that, if it were a standalone issue without any other related incidents, this wouldn’t be enough to pin anything on him from the Chief Prosecutor’s point of view.

This was just a setup for the card I was planning to play later.

Im Joo-young skimmed through the document, then chuckled and threw it back on the table.

“This isn’t going to catch me.”

After a brief silence, he twisted his mouth into a smirk and looked at me with sharp eyes.

“Did you come up to Seoul recently and think you’ve made it or something?”

Finally, the Chief Prosecutor revealed his claws.

If Deputy Chief Prosecutor Kim Seok-won was a tiger, then Im Joo-young was like a hawk.

A wild hawk that snatches up its prey in an instant.

“Did you think you’ve become someone just because you’ve been in Seoul for a few days?”

The tension increased, but it wasn’t as overwhelming as when I faced Kim Seok-won.

I took a deep breath and responded.

“No, I know very well that I’m still nobody.”

His brow furrowed for a moment.

“So, you’re telling me that since you have nothing to hold onto, you’re struggling to climb up? Even if you can’t take me down with this, you think you can at least leave a scratch on my career, don’t you?”

The media was closely following this case.

If we were to make a statement, whether or not there was an actual problem, the mere act of bringing it to light would leave a mark. He knew this too.

However, that meant I’d have to deal with the full extent of the Chief Prosecutor’s anger.

“I’ve heard you’re aiming for the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office. If you want to rise to such a high position, a stain like this wouldn’t be helpful, would it?”

“Do you think this little thing can leave a mark on me? You’re basically declaring war on me. You really think a lowly prosecutor like you will survive this?”

Despite his threats, I remained calm and steady in my breathing.

“There’s no one who reveals all their cards during a negotiation. Showing your hand too early means you’re willing to lose everything.”

He scoffed and placed his interlaced fingers on the table.

“You don’t have to reveal everything, but you have to give me a hint for the conversation to work.”

It was time to play the card I had prepared.

Lies only have power when they’re told in isolation.

But a lie based on a truth is a proper bluff.

I didn’t have concrete evidence, but I held a card that could threaten him.

I looked him straight in the eyes and said,

“Judicial Examination.”

For a moment, the expression on Im Joo-young’s face froze.

It quickly returned to normal, but for that brief instant, he knew I could see that his expression had faltered.

From this point on, I would be in control.