Prosecutor Kim Seo-Jin - Chapter 16

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Being Competent (6)
Everyone was energized by the atmosphere.
But Shin Jong-seung’s face had turned ashen.
Shin Jong-seung clenched his fists, veins bulging at his temples.
‘Of all times!’
The Dongnam District Prosecutors’ Office had been quiet until now.
The prosecutors lacked drive and had been trudging through each day like defeated soldiers.
But that was about to change.
A Special Investigation Team would soon be formed, and Lee Jae-hwan’s crimes would undoubtedly be exposed in full.
The Dongnam District Prosecutors’ Office was ready to launch celebratory fireworks.
The problem was that I wouldn’t be there to witness it.
I had to leave for Seoul without even touching a spoon at this lavish feast.
What made it worse was that Seo Jin would be standing in my place.
‘A briefing and an interview too?’
And it was the District Prosecutor’s orders.
No matter how remote this posting was, the power wielded by a District Prosecutor couldn’t be ignored.
Shin Jong-seung’s eyes darkened with jealousy.
“Travel safely.”
In the interrogation room after Lee Myung-soo had left, Lee So-hee’s voice reached Shin Jong-seung’s ears.
Shin Jong-seung shifted his gaze toward Lee So-hee.
“…Travel safely?”
“Things will be chaotic tomorrow. I’m saying goodbye early. Safe travels. You’ve worked hard all this time.”
“What about you? Aren’t you going? You’re transferring to the central office too, aren’t you?”
According to the scheduled personnel reassignment, Shin Jong-seung was assigned to Seoul, while Lee So-hee was assigned to Gangwon District Prosecutors’ Office.
But Lee So-hee shook her head.
“No. I’m staying here.”
“…Staying?”
“Yes, that’s how it turned out.”
Lee So-hee brushed past Shin Jong-seung.
Shin Jong-seung hurriedly opened his laptop and checked the personnel reassignment order.
And his pupils trembled.
Not long ago, formal reassignment orders had been issued to the trainee prosecutors.
Shin Jong-seung was assigned to Seoul as planned, but Lee So-hee was to remain at the Dongnam District Prosecutors’ Office.
‘What is this?’
Shin Jong-seung’s gaze quickly fixed on Lee So-hee’s retreating figure.
Even if the preliminary reassignment hadn’t been finalized, he’d heard about it just days before the official announcement.
It was 99.99% certain to remain unchanged.
But Lee So-hee’s orders had changed.
Without backing from someone at the level of a Prosecutor General, such a thing would be impossible.
‘How did she manage this?’
Shin Jong-seung had taken an interest in Lee So-hee.
So he’d looked into her family background once.
But there wasn’t much to find.
A home in Gyeonggi Province where she lived alone with her mother—her father was absent.
The apartment was around 250 square meters, valued in the 300 million won range.
That was all there was.
‘There’s no way she has backing, right?’
No, even if she did have backing, that would be even stranger.
‘Using backing to stay in Dongnam County? No, if she had those grades and backing, shouldn’t she be on the elite track?’
Lee So-hee’s academic record was exceptional.
Once her probation ended, she could enter the fast lane to success without any difficulty.
But she’d deviated from that path, and he’d assumed it was because she lacked backing….
‘None of this makes sense.’
Shin Jong-seung was confused.
And as the door closed, he found himself alone.
*
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*
The next day, in the office of Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae at Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office.
Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae, with his catfish-like face, was the right hand of Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun.
Sitting on the sofa, Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae turned his head at the knock—tap tap tap.
Kim Yun-hwan, the son of Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun, entered and bowed respectfully.
Kim Yun-hwan was quite handsome.
Fair skin, dark eyebrows—anyone would call him a beauty.
Seeing him, Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae waved his hand.
“Never mind. Be comfortable when it’s just us.”
Kim Yun-hwan smiled faintly and sat across from him, whereupon Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae picked up the remote and pressed the power button.
The television screen displayed the briefing room of Dongnam District Prosecutors’ Office, with a large caption below reading “Breaking News: Dongnam County Yoo A-sung Murder Case Perpetrator Arrested After 10 Years.”
“Dongnam County—that’s where that bastard is, isn’t it?”
“He apparently solved that one too.”
Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae paused.
Then he slowly turned his head to look at Kim Yun-hwan.
“Didn’t that bastard also solve the sister murder case?”
“Yes.”
“And this too? Wasn’t he supposed to be your hunting dog?”
Kim Yun-hwan nodded, and Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae grinned wickedly, put a cigarette in his mouth, and continued speaking.
“Yun-hwan, there’s something you need to teach when you walk a dog. It shouldn’t get ahead of its master. You pull the leash to apply the brakes, or beat it with a stick—either way, you need to break the habit. Otherwise, you’ll have problems later.”
“I’m observing the situation for now.”
Kim Yun-hwan was smiling quietly.
Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae, observing that expression intently, nodded.
“Fair point.”
He was still young, but he was his father’s son.
Seeing how Prosecutor Kim Young-jun had trained his older brother Kim Jun-man, there wasn’t much to worry about.
“Well, that’s something we can work on gradually. Anyway, the reason I called you up here is because you need to pay close attention to that.”
Senior Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae pointed at the television screen with his hand and continued speaking.
“The one doing the briefing today—he’s the main attraction. A man destined for sweet success.”
“….”
“It’s a case drawing national attention. I bet they’ve been fighting tooth and nail all night over who gets to handle it.”
Kim Yun-hwan, who had been lost in thought for a moment, stroked his chin and opened his mouth.
“Surely he’s not the one doing it?”
“Absolutely not. What kind of place is Dongnam County? It’s an exile—a place of exile. How many young prosecutors are desperate to escape and breathe Seoul air? But an opportunity has come. If he gets his face on the news and briefs on the first, second, and third cases, the chief prosecutors at each district office will be fighting to recruit him as a figurehead. And he’d pass up that chance? Yun-hwan, people simply aren’t that considerate.”
“I suppose not.”
“Would you hand over such an opportunity to some junior colleague? Or would you take it yourself?”
“So what you’re saying is, Seo Jin did a good deed for someone else?”
“Yes.”
“That’s what I thought too.”
Kim Yun-hwan smiled slightly.
Just then, the murmuring voices of reporters on the television fell silent.
The briefing was finally beginning.
Both Kim Yun-hwan and Senior Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae’s attention fixed on the television.
Senior Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae exhaled cigarette smoke, while Kim Yun-hwan licked his dry lips.
And soon both their eyes widened in shock.
The figure on the screen was Seo Jin.
-Good afternoon. I am Prosecutor Seo Jin from the Dongnam District Prosecutors’ Office.
Senior Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae’s movements froze entirely.
He forgot to tap the cigarette ash and sat in a daze before stammering out words.
“H-how did he…?”
A junior colleague—and not even a fully-fledged one—conducting the briefing? It was unthinkable.
“Are the Dongnam District people insane? Have they lost their minds? Why would they hand the briefing to some young punk like that!”
Meanwhile, flashes erupted from the television and the shutter sounds of cameras rang out loudly.
But Seo Jin remained unshaken, beginning his explanation of the case in a calm voice.
-First, I would like to apologize to the bereaved families and the public for our failure to resolve this case for such a long time. Now I will brief you on the progress of the investigation into the Yoo A-sung murder case that occurred ten years ago.
Kim Yun-hwan took out his phone and accessed a portal site.
He immediately checked the real-time search rankings.
The media had already seized control of the narrative.
9th place: Dongnam County Murder Case
8th place: Prosecution Briefing
5th place: Who is the Murderer?
4th place: Prosecutor Seo Jin
1st place: Yoo A-sung
Kim Yun-hwan’s hands trembled uncontrollably.
This time, I checked social media.
But it was brief.
Kim Yun-hwan squeezed his eyes shut.
He couldn’t bear to see more.
Social media was flooded with posts about the Yoo A-sung murder case.
-So Yoo A-sung was the first, and he’s killed nine people total, sexually assaulted twenty-two?
-There could be more, so they’re forming a Special Investigation Team, right?
-Release his face! A serial killer doesn’t deserve privacy!
-But how did they not catch him all this time? Don’t you know who lives next door?
-Who pays attention to who lives next door? You just live your life if nothing happens to you.
-Wait, Prosecutor Seo Jin? He’s handsome. Looks like a real prosecutor lol
-Obviously they put him on the briefing because of his looks.
-No way. I saw an exclusive interview article—a detective from Dongnam Police Station chased the suspect for ten years, and Prosecutor Seo Jin took over and wrapped it up in one go.
-A collaboration between police and prosecution.
-If it really was one go, Prosecutor Seo Jin’s got serious skills lol
-That’s why he’s briefing. This trash should never breathe fresh air again….
*
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Meanwhile, in the briefing room at Dongnam District Prosecutors’ Office.
“…I will do my utmost to uncover the truth without a single falsehood.”
My briefing had ended.
As I stepped down from the podium and bowed my head, camera flashes erupted more intensely.
Reporters raised their hands without exception.
“How will the Special Investigation Team be composed?”
“It will consist of approximately sixty members, including prosecutors, investigators, and police officers.”
“We heard you personally apprehended the suspect. What gave you the certainty?”
After the briefing ended, I walked down the corridor.
Prosecutors passing by patted my back as they went.
Some even added words of encouragement.
Their eyes were all warm.
They had all felt the winds of change blowing through Dongnam District Prosecutors’ Office.
And they knew that wind was beginning with me.
Looking at my phone, I saw ten missed calls.
Among them, one stood out—my father.
-I saw the briefing! Hahahaha!
I had appeared on television and given the briefing as the lead.
My father seemed overjoyed.
My mother’s voice came from beside him.
-Let me try switching too.
-Wait, wait a moment….
Listening to the two of them bickering, Seo Jin opened his mouth.
“You just need to press the speakerphone button.”
-Ah.
Only then did his father, now understanding how to use the speakerphone, laugh sheepishly and speak.
-I’m busy right now printing out the article about you and all the comments, busy busy.
His father’s voice was brimming with pride.
Then his mother’s voice came through.
-Your father’s been making a fuss about buying every newspaper with your name in it. Such a fuss. But looking at you, it seems like you’ve been up all night—aren’t you tired? And you said you went out and caught the criminal yourself? You’re not hurt anywhere?
“No. I’m fine, really.”
The greatest joy of being reborn was receiving unconditional love.
Seo Jin spoke, his words carrying both gratitude and guilt.
“Don’t worry. Once the case is wrapped up, I’ll come home and show you I’m perfectly fine.”
Continuing the call with his father, Seo Jin left the lobby of the District Prosecution Office.
He had promised to meet Lee Jung-woo briefly at the Parking Lot.
But….
‘Huh?’
For reasons he couldn’t fathom—why they were here, why they were still here—dozens of reporters were waiting for Seo Jin.
And they rushed toward him.
“Prosecutor Seo Jin! Is it true you also solved the sister murder case from before? Do you have any know-how for solving difficult cases?”
“There’s quite a lot of interest in Prosecutor Seo Jin right now, isn’t there? Could you give us just a brief comment?”
“Prosecutor Seo Jin!”
Seo Jin was swarmed by reporters. His parents, unaware of the situation, suddenly spoke urgently through the phone.
-Seo Jin! What’s happening! Seo Jin!
And far off, Lee Jung-woo was giggling as he filmed the scene on his phone.
After filming for a while, Lee Jung-woo put his phone away and muttered softly.
“Go far in your career.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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