Chapter 5

Prosecutor, you're on the rise! - Chapter 5 (5/341)

Whistleblower (3)

After a fortnight of brainstorming with Shin Yong-ho, we finally decided that our ultimate destination would be the Inspection Department. It was the safest and most reliable method.

However, we needed a foolproof mechanism to prevent others from stealing the credit or leaking information to Im Sung-jin. The most critical issue was finding a trustworthy person and determining the subsequent procedures.

What would be the safest method? Who in the Inspection Department could be trusted?

I was sitting in my office, racking my brain, when my phone vibrated.

Buzz, buzz.

A short double vibration, the unique signal for an incoming text message.

- Sender: 29

- Photo

I thought it had been quiet for a while, but now I was receiving another mysterious message.

When I zoomed in on the photo, I saw two men shaking hands. The man in the photo was none other than me. The man shaking hands with me was Song Hyun-seong, a college friend from the law department at Korea University.

I wondered if it was an old photo, but the face in the photo clearly showed it was taken within the past year. I hadn't seen Song Hyun-seong since graduation. I heard he passed the bar exam while I was in the military, but that was all I knew. We were quite close in college, but naturally drifted apart over time.

This photo couldn't have been taken in reality. If no one took it, how could I see it?

What on earth is going on?

Considering the series of messages I've received, they seem to be providing me with answers and insights into the future. It's absurd that I, who usually don't believe in ghosts or superstitions, am thinking this way, but there's no other explanation.

I'm going crazy. How can I explain this?

Wait, could this be something only I can see?

"Investigator."

"Yes?"

The investigator, who was looking at some documents, raised his head and looked at me. I showed him the photo on my phone.

"Can you see this?"

He smiled and ran his hand through his hair.

"Come on, do you think I can't recognize it?"

What? He recognized the person in the photo?

Could it be that Yong-ho was playing a prank on me?

If that's the case, everything makes sense.

But then, the investigator said something unexpected.

"It's Han Ji-yu."

Huh?

"I may be bald, but I'm still part of the new generation. I know my celebrities."

"Han Ji-yu?"

"Yes. Isn't that Han Ji-yu in your wallpaper?"

Damn. My phone wallpaper was Han Ji-yu.

I was surprised. I thought he saw the photo.

Just to be sure, I checked my phone again, but the photo was still there.

He really can't see it.

To confirm, I held my phone and approached him, showing him the screen simultaneously.

"Does this look like Han Ji-yu to you?"

To me, it still looked like a photo of me and Song Hyun-seong shaking hands.

The investigator tilted his head and replied.

"Yes. Is it not Han Ji-yu? They look exactly the same."

"It is."

"Haha, I was worried I might have been wrong. Want a cup of coffee?"

"Sure."

I took the coffee the investigator made and went outside to think.

No one is playing a prank on me.

Unless that someone is a god.

Out of curiosity, I searched the internet for "receiving mysterious messages," but the only response was to block spam, so I closed the window.

This can't happen to anyone else.

Do these messages really show me future events or tell me what I need to do?

My head is spinning again.

Damn.

Song Hyun-seong.

Should I meet Song Hyun-seong, who appeared in the photo?

There's no other choice.

It's better to take action than to sit here and speculate.

I searched my phone contacts and found Song Hyun-seong's number. I called him, and soon his voice came through.

- Oh, Seo Jun, what's up?

Song Hyun-seong's voice was filled with warmth, something I hadn't heard in a long time.

"Is there something wrong? How are you doing?"

- I'm good. I heard you passed the bar exam and became a prosecutor. Where are you working now?

"I'm at the Gwangju District Prosecutor's Office. Where are you?"

- I'm in Seoul. At the Seoul High Prosecutor's Office.

My heart skipped a beat.

The Seoul High Prosecutor's Office?

No way.

I calmed my nerves and asked in a steady voice.

"The Seoul High Prosecutor's Office. That's a great place. Which department are you in?"

- You might not like it... I'm in the Inspection Department. I was in Busan until last year and moved up this year.

Crazy.

Really the Inspection Department?

I had been thinking about how to set up a plan involving the Inspection Department just before receiving the message.

Is it reading my thoughts?

I held my aching head and continued.

"The Inspection Department, you're on the rise. Congratulations."

- Thanks. Come up sometime. Let's have a drink.

"Sure. Are you free today?"

- What?

"I'm coming up today. Let's meet."

- You're crazy, as always.

"Are you free, or not?"

- Yeah, sure. But aren't you working today? I'm in the office now.

"I'll just say I'm on an external assignment. I'm leaving now. See you later. Send me the address."

- Hey, aren't you in Gwangju...

I hung up before he could finish and went back to my office.

I put on my coat, and the investigator, surprised, asked.

"Prosecutor, where are you going?"

"I have an external assignment today. I'll probably be out tomorrow as well."

"Really?"

"Please handle the external assignments for me. Thank you. Good luck."

After asking the investigator to take care of things, I went outside and drove to the airport.

***

On the plane to Seoul and in the taxi, the message kept coming to mind.

What is the nature of this message, and why is it being sent to me?

No matter how I think about it, it seems supernatural.

Well, this is a fact that won't have an answer.

No, thinking about it won't help, so I'll stop worrying.

The best I can do is use the information when I receive it.

However, I shouldn't trust it completely.

I can't trust it yet.

It's better to be fully prepared.

When I entered the office Song Hyun-seong had texted me, I found him working on documents.

Despite not seeing him for years, he looked the same.

"Song Hyun-seong!"

He recognized me immediately and came over with open arms.

"It's been a while."

"How have you been?"

He extended his hand, and as I shook it, the image from the photo flashed in my mind.

Wait, that tie.

The green tie Song Hyun-seong was wearing had a red stain, just like in the photo.

"I've been good. What brings you here suddenly?"

"It's a long story."

I casually asked if the stain was always there.

"By the way, what's that on your tie?"

"Oh, this? I spilled some jjampong on it during lunch."

He scratched his head, embarrassed.

"It's a designer tie... I'll have to take it to the dry cleaner."

The stain wasn't there before and was made today.

If he takes it to the dry cleaner, it must have been made today.

This is insane.

If the world isn't crazy, I can't understand this.

I tried to hide my surprise and looked around, noticing the documents scattered on his desk.

"What case is this?"

"Ah, it seems one of the deputy chief prosecutors at the Southern District Prosecutor's Office has a sponsor."

"Do you mean money or a woman?"

"Usually money. You know the Jae-hyung Group? They won a steel project in China, and it seems they prevented other groups from bidding. They were caught by a financial investigation, and in exchange for a bribe, they made a deal."

"He must have taken a lot. He'll probably be fired soon, right?"

"Not just fired, he'll face criminal charges. The situation is sensitive because of the recent bribery scandals."

"Right. Didn't that deputy chief prosecutor cause a stir? As a deputy chief, he must have been furious."

"He's the one who made the department look bad, and I heard the chief prosecutor is furious."

While we were talking, an official brought us some tea, and we sat on the sofa to continue our conversation.

"The Seo Jun I know doesn't just drop by like this."

Song Hyun-seong put down his teacup and asked.

"What's going on?"

"Close the blinds."

"You're always so meticulous."

He grumbled but got up to close the blinds.

Once we were completely isolated, I spoke.

"Do you want a promotion?"

"Of course, but..."

Song Hyun-seong stopped and looked at me seriously.

"You're asking a big favor."

"You're quick to catch on, which makes it easy to talk to you."

I took out a copy of the evidence of Im Sung-jin's corruption, which I had prepared in advance, and handed it to him. I had removed any information that could identify the culprit.

He quickly scanned the document and let out a bitter laugh.

"He's really taken a lot. It's amazing he hasn't been caught yet."

Song Hyun-seong handed the document back to me and asked.

"Who is it?"

"It's hard to say."

I carefully checked the document for any missing parts and put it away.

"A high-ranking official."

"How high?"

"It's the season for deputy chief prosecutor appointments."

I smiled, and he grabbed my shoulder, surprised.

"Are you serious?"

"Yeah, one of them."

"A deputy chief prosecutor with that level of corruption... It won't just be him; the entire department will be ruined."

"Completely. The deputy chief and the regular prosecutors will all be affected."

"Who is it?"