Chapter 3

"Congratulations on your promotion, Prosecutor! - Chapter 3 (3/341)

Whistleblower (1)

'Go all the way to the top and become the king. That's my last request.'

King (王).

To anyone else, it might sound like a child's game, but Shin Yong-ho was speaking seriously.

'If you catch Im Sung-jin, you can rise.'

I didn't take long to make my decision.

To clear my only close friend's name.

And for myself.

I can't stay stuck in the provinces forever.

True power.

To taste it, I need to go to Seoul.

Handling petty cases like assault or drunk driving will only leave me as a low-level prosecutor for life.

Let's rise.

I want to feel that power, damn it.

'What do I need to do?'

***

Bribery is a given, and there's no shortage of favoritism in investigations, sexual favors, and other unspeakable acts.

Literally, the Im Sung-jin line engages in every conceivable crime.

To put it bluntly, Shin Yong-ho also enjoyed all of these.

Surprised?

Not at all.

In this world, it's strange not to engage in such behavior.

Frankly, there isn't a single person in the upper echelons of the prosecution or politics who is completely clean.

This is a fact I can vouch for.

The important thing is whether it gets exposed or not.

If you get caught, you're out. If you don't, you rise to the top, so to speak.

In other words, you become the king.

The evidence Shin Yong-ho provided was undeniable.

It was a nuclear bomb that could take down not only the Im Sung-jin line but also the Economic Crime Investigation Department he belonged to.

I have no intention of passing this on to my superior and following the proper procedures.

If I do, it will either be taken over by the higher-ups or fall into the hands of the Im Sung-jin line, leaving me in a bind.

The most important thing is how to expose this information.

I need to do it in a way that doesn't create procedural issues and allows me to take credit.

Not just to get my name on the record, but to be at the core of the case to rise to the top.

I need to set up the perfect scenario before I move.

'Shall we hold a press conference?'

I firmly rejected Shin Yong-ho's suggestion.

'No way. If the news breaks, they'll cut their losses and escape.'

Cutting their losses.

This means that one of the subordinates takes the blame to protect the higher-ups.

'...You're right.'

He clenched his fist and nodded.

Shin Yong-ho himself was a victim of such a cut.

Actually, it's not easy for a prosecutor to go after another prosecutor.

Especially for a low-level prosecutor like me to take on such high-level monsters.

I need to be fully prepared and ready to die to even stand a chance.

Shin Yong-ho scratched his head and sighed.

'No matter how I think about it, the only thing that comes to mind is the Inspection Department.'

'Keep that as a last resort. While the Im Sung-jin line would be a good target for the Inspection Department, it's unpredictable.'

It's the easiest option, but there's one reason I don't want to go to the Inspection Department first.

While there are some with a strong sense of justice, there are more who are thirsty for success.

This is why they can make attacking their own colleagues part of their job.

If I hand this over to them, they will undoubtedly try to put me at the center of the case.

That can't happen.

Moreover, if the information somehow reaches someone with influence in the Im Sung-jin line, it's over.

Even if we collaborate with the Inspection Department, we need to ensure that Shin Yong-ho and I are at the center of the case while taking down the Im Sung-jin line.

After a long discussion, Shin Yong-ho suggested an idea.

'Shall we contact Professor Jung Jae-won?'

Professor Jung Jae-won.

A professor at Korea University who was our mentor, known for his strong sense of justice and dedication to nurturing the future of Korea rather than personal success.

A great person who provided us with invaluable advice throughout our four years.

Most importantly, it's hard to find someone more just than Professor Jung Jae-won.

Still a professor at Korea University, he might provide us with accurate judgment and advice in this situation.

'Shall we?'

'If it's Professor Jung Jae-won, he'll surely step in and provide a solution.'

'Yeah, let's ask him. If it seems okay, we'll proceed; if not, we'll think again.'

Buzz, buzz.

As soon as I finished speaking, my phone vibrated.

'I'll find Professor Jung Jae-won's number.'

'Okay.'

I took out my phone in the living room while he went to find the professor's number.

-Sender: 29

-Video

Another text message.

A mysterious message.

Despite my suspicions, my hand was drawn to play the video.

The first screen showed a news article.

A common newspaper article.

But the headline was eye-catching.

- Serious prosecutor corruption, long-buried issues finally come to light!

- It has been revealed that Prosecutor Shin Yong-ho (currently assigned to Boseong District Court, formerly of the Seoul Central District Court's Economic Crime Investigation Department) engaged in serious corruption, including accepting bribes from local figures and political figures, sexual favors, favoritism in investigations, and abuse of power. The prosecutor, who should be the people's protector, has been revealed to be using the people's trust to enrich themselves. ... (Excerpt) ... Prosecutor Im Sung-jin, who personally exposed the corruption of his subordinate, expressed regret but stated that it was necessary for the proper order of the prosecution. The public applauded him, and Prosecutor Shin Yong-ho is currently missing.

- Political correspondent Kang Yu-won

What is this?

As soon as I finished reading the article, the screen zoomed out, and two men appeared in the frame. I could see that the article on the screen was a newspaper held by one of them.

-Thank you.

-Be careful. It was almost dangerous.

The faces of the two men were clearly visible, despite the dim lighting.

The man on the right, holding the newspaper, was none other than Chief Prosecutor Im Sung-jin, whom I had seen several times in the news.

The man on the left, with more gray hair than I remembered, was clearly Professor Jung Jae-won.

How did they meet?

-I never thought he would do such things. It's fortunate that I could act first after hearing about it from you, Professor.

Professor Jung Jae-won twisted his lips in response.

-You are my most outstanding and successful student. I can't let you fall so tragically.

-Thank you for your consideration.

-We need to help each other. We can't let one mudfish stir up the mud for all of us.

-That's true. No matter how hard a salmon swims upstream, it can't change the flow of the river.

Im Sung-jin smiled and took out an envelope, placing it on the table.

-Here are the materials for your daughter's exam, as you requested. Please handle it discreetly.

-As expected of you. I asked you just in case, and you managed to get it.

-Aren't the examiners all on our side? We help each other. That's what the word 'mutual aid' is for.

-That's right, mutual aid.

Professor Jung Jae-won put the documents in his bag with a satisfied look and stood up.

-Professor.

Im Sung-jin took a card key from his pocket and placed it in Professor Jung Jae-won's pocket.

-I've prepared a young, attractive girl for you.

Only then did Professor Jung Jae-won reveal a hidden sinister smile and nod.

-As expected, you know your stuff.

The video ended with Professor Jung Jae-won's words.

What is this?

Has it already been exposed?

No, I haven't even mentioned it to Professor Jung Jae-won yet.

Moreover, the message says Shin Yong-ho is missing.

Could it be that my help with Shin Yong-ho's whistleblowing has already leaked, and this is a threat to intimidate me?

A threat to make Shin Yong-ho disappear?

That can't be. I only heard about this on Friday evening, and it's only Sunday now.

Damn, is someone watching me?

I didn't want to show Shin Yong-ho this message because I was worried he would worry, but this is something I can't keep to myself.

"Yong-ho, what's going on here?"

"What is it?"

I approached him and played the video on my phone.

"This seems to be from someone who knows. Check it out."

However, Shin Yong-ho looked at the phone and tilted his head.

"What am I supposed to check?"

"There's a video here. It came in a text message."

"Text message? What text message? I can only see the home screen."