Chapter 3

*Pfft*

The woman's light laugh broke the silence in the room, drawing curious glances from everyone present.

Under the gaze of the four men, the woman remained composed, maintaining her noble and elegant demeanor. She looked at Prosecutor Park Kook-Quan and smiled, "Alright, Uncle Park, if you keep up your stern prosecutor act, those two young guys over there might not be able to take it."

Park Kook-Quan's thick eyebrows furrowed slightly, and he feigned displeasure, "You're always causing trouble." Then, he cast a sharp glance at Kim Yun-Ho and said, "Do you still want to investigate me now?"

Kim Yun-Ho lowered his head and gave a bitter laugh. Investigate? A mere trainee prosecutor investigating the top prosecutor? That would be like an old man taking arsenic because he's tired of living.

He never imagined that the final surprise in their 'exam' for the five trainee prosecutors would be the prosecutor himself. Why would a big shot like you come here instead of staying in your office?

Kim Yun-Ho was frustrated, but was Park Kook-Quan any less so?

He had heard that a batch of highly qualified trainee prosecutors had joined his jurisdiction, and out of curiosity, he decided to be the surprise element and test them personally. However, the outcome was far from what he had expected, almost putting him in an awkward position.

This guy, Kim Yun-Ho, not only contradicted him face-to-face but also wanted to investigate him. If he hadn't called Luo Wen-Shan, letting him investigate would have been a real embarrassment. A prosecutor being investigated by a trainee prosecutor—imagine the ridicule from the other old-timers!

With his identity exposed, he had to maintain his authority as the prosecutor in front of his subordinates, creating a tense atmosphere. Fortunately, the woman was adept at handling such situations, deftly breaking the deadlock and giving everyone a way out.

Park Kook-Quan put aside his frustration and got to the point, "Trainee Prosecutor Kim Yun-Ho?"

Kim Yun-Ho replied, "Yes, Prosecutor."

Park Kook-Quan glanced at the stopwatch in his hand and praised, "In every batch of trainee prosecutors' simulation exam, there is a final surprise. Congratulations, with a time of 6 minutes and 28 seconds, you have broken the record for the shortest time in the history of the Seoul Gangnam District Prosecutors' Office."

Kim Yun-Ho didn't respond, unsure of how to reply. He was still unclear about Park Kook-Quan's true attitude. Was the conflict from earlier really over?

Shin Dong-Hae, standing behind him, laughed loudly, his joy evident.

This guy, can't you be a bit more modest and humble?

Park Kook-Quan ignored their actions, tossed the stopwatch aside, and smiled, "Don't be nervous. You didn't know my identity, so I won't blame you. Tell me, how did you find me, the final surprise, so quickly?"

With the crisis averted, Kim Yun-Ho relaxed a bit, organized his thoughts, and answered, "At the time, I didn't know the final surprise was you."

Seeing everyone's attention on him, he began to recount the secrets of the 'anti-prostitution' operation: "From the moment I received the order, I noticed something was off.

First, there was no unified command. Instead of an experienced prosecutor leading the operation, the five trainee prosecutors were left to act independently, with unclear roles and responsibilities, leading to low efficiency and a high risk of suspects escaping.

Second, there were not enough personnel. Although many police officers were on the scene, their task was to secure the exits and control the crowd, not to assist us in the operation. It seemed like the police were there to protect us, the five trainee prosecutors, rather than to conduct the raid.

Therefore, I concluded that this 'anti-prostitution' operation was not a real one but a simulation exercise for us trainee prosecutors."

Pausing to let his words sink in, he waited for a response.

Sure enough, Park Kook-Quan nodded in approval and asked, "Your analysis is spot on. This was indeed a simulation. However, did you consider organizing the other four trainee prosecutors to complete the operation together? Remember, in major cases, prosecutors must be on the scene to direct the police in capturing fugitives. Coordination and organizational skills are also part of the evaluation."

Kim Yun-Ho smiled slightly, somewhat helplessly, "I did consider it, but it was difficult. Each of us is an elite, with our own pride. With equal status, no one had the authority to lead, making it hard to choose a leader. A team with internal instability would be full of vulnerabilities, so I decided to act alone."

Park Kook-Quan, viewing the issue from a higher perspective, and Kim Yun-Ho, from a lower one, had different philosophies, but neither was necessarily wrong.

Park Kook-Quan didn't press the issue, acknowledging Kim Yun-Ho's response with a nod, signaling him to continue.

Kim Yun-Ho pursed his lips and continued, "Since it was a simulation, there had to be a scoring system. My goal from the start was to find the final surprise. So, I wasn't interested in the 'small fry' on the first floor and went straight to the second floor with my assistant."

Luo Wen-Shan, who had been silent, couldn't help but interject, "This nightclub has five floors. Why did you choose the second floor as your target? Usually, suspects choose the top floor to avoid disturbance and prevent their whereabouts from being exposed."

Within five minutes of the operation starting, he had received a notification from Kim Yun-Ho to prepare for the possibility of suspects on the second floor escaping through the windows. At the time, he was shocked and couldn't understand how Kim Yun-Ho had identified the target floor so quickly.

Kim Yun-Ho smiled confidently in response, "It's simple. After entering, my first target was the manager. I found a floor plan of the nightclub on his computer.

There are four elevators, each leading to floors 2 through 5. Therefore, the concern about disturbance and exposure was not a factor. The suspects on floors 2, 3, 4, and 5 were equally likely.

Putting myself in the suspect's shoes, if I were in the same situation, would I choose the second floor or the fifth floor?

The answer is simple: I would choose the second floor because it's easier to escape through the windows. I observed that the back alley of the nightclub is lined with low buildings, making it convenient for suspects to jump from the second floor."

Luo Wen-Shan was enlightened by Kim Yun-Ho's analysis. The logic was simple, but arriving at the correct conclusion required keen observation. Kim Yun-Ho had clearly done an excellent job.

The noble woman, who had been silent, looked at Kim Yun-Ho with a hint of curiosity, thinking: So, this guy found the surprise not by luck but by skill.

Seeing Park Kook-Quan nod slightly, Kim Yun-Ho continued, "After reaching the second floor, I initially suspected the final surprise suspect was there. I then requested Chief Prosecutor Luo Wen-Shan to provide support to prevent the suspect from escaping through the windows and had my assistant start the announcements.

The other rooms were in chaos, with suspects panicking and losing their composure, but this room was unusually quiet. So, I followed the trail and found it. *Cough*... I won't go into the details after that."

Luo Wen-Shan and the woman exchanged amused glances, understanding the reason for Kim Yun-Ho's embarrassment.

Park Kook-Quan, however, looked unusually serious and harshly criticized, "Short-sighted! To achieve a high score in your evaluation, you acted entirely out of short-sightedness! I can imagine that if you become a prosecutor, you will resort to any means to achieve your goals in the future!"

"Those involved in prostitution and drug use are mere 'small fry' to you. You ignored them during the operation. Is this what your teacher taught you?" Park Kook-Quan slammed the table and stood up in anger.

"Fairness, truth, justice, human rights, and integrity—these five principles are the ironclad rules for prosecutors. 'Fairness' is the first principle, not just a catchy phrase. It means treating all cases, big and small, equally. How can you, of all people, ignore the principle of 'fairness'?"

The previously harmonious atmosphere suddenly turned tense as Park Kook-Quan's anger filled the room, making it hard to breathe.

Others might not understand why Park Kook-Quan was so angry, but as an experienced prosecutor, Luo Wen-Shan knew his superior very well.

Park Kook-Quan placed great importance on 'fairness,' demanding that his prosecutors treat all cases equally, regardless of their size. He detested those who ignored small cases and ordinary victims to focus on high-profile cases for their own performance.

Kim Yun-Ho was unlucky, having just joined the Gangnam District Prosecutors' Office and not knowing his superior's temperament, he had inadvertently provoked him.

Luo Wen-Shan, who had a favorable view of the young Kim Yun-Ho, didn't want him to be prejudiced against by Park Kook-Quan. Just as he was about to speak up, Kim Yun-Ho preempted him, defending himself.

Kim Yun-Ho, stubborn as ever, believed that some things could be compromised, but matters of principle were non-negotiable, even with his superior.

He spoke firmly, "Yes, I acted out of short-sightedness. But I don't think I did anything wrong. Human nature is inherently evil. Catching a batch of people involved in prostitution today, they will likely return to their ways after a few days in custody. As for the drug suspects, with the police surrounding the place, a simple blood test would catch every one of them. What's wrong with leaving them to catch a bigger criminal?"

Kim Yun-Ho straightened his back, meeting Park Kook-Quan's sharp gaze, and said, "In a complex environment, choices must be made. Focusing on minor offenses while pursuing major ones is my version of 'fairness,' which you call 'short-sightedness.'"

Damn! This is bad! Who would have thought the usually mild-mannered Kim Yun-Ho could be so stubborn.

Shin Dong-Hae urgently tugged at Kim Yun-Ho's sleeve, signaling him to calm down.

Kim Yun-Ho ignored Shin Dong-Hae's gesture, maintaining eye contact with Park Kook-Quan. He didn't regret his 'impulsiveness.' Everyone has their own principles and style, and he wouldn't compromise his integrity to become a yes-man.

His name is Kim Yun-Ho, not a lapdog.

As for offending Park Kook-Quan, he was prepared for the consequences, ready to face whatever came his way.

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