Prosecutor Kim Seo-Jin - Chapter 170

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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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Preparation (1)
“…An article?”
-You haven’t seen it yet? There was an article mentioning the prosecutor’s family relationships. I’m not sure if you’re aware, but our congressman has been viewing the prosecutor favorably. He checked the article this morning and got angry. He ordered it taken down immediately….
I didn’t need to hear more to understand the entire situation.
The article was written by Congressman Baek’s Office.
Give poison, then give medicine. Creating a desperate situation and then resolving it—a hero complex designed to exert influence.
The problem was….
‘Why?’
Seo Jin was an ordinary prosecutor.
Someone at Congressman Baek’s level wouldn’t normally concern himself with such a person.
But seeing him stoop to such childish tactics.
‘Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun?’
There was only one answer—his real target was Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun.
If he could win over my nephew Seo Jin and keep him close, he could create numerous advantageous situations in his confrontation with Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun.
“…Thank you.”
I tried to end the call.
But he added one more thing.
-If you face any difficult situations in the future, I’ll be happy to help. Don’t worry.
I lowered my phone and laughed hollowly.
Now I understood why someone of Congressman Baek’s stature would resort to such childish tricks.
‘…In the future?’
This was a declaration of war—a threat that worse things could happen, so I should bend to his will.
‘This won’t do.’
I ran my hand through my hair.
‘I’ll have to return the favor in kind.’
*
*
*
“Have you eaten?”
“Yes.”
Upon arriving at the office, I sat down immediately.
Investigator Lee Dong-young placed a red ginseng drink on my desk, regarding me with concern.
“Take care of your health while you work. Health comes first.”
“Of course.”
“The two people I cherished most…. Anyway, make sure you eat regularly.”
Every time Investigator Lee Dong-young saw me, his thoughts drifted to Seo Jun-kyung and his wife who had gone before us.
I resembled both of them.
Like Seo Jun-kyung, I feared no power, and like his wife, I worked tirelessly day and night.
That was what worried him.
Because the end of those two hardworking people had been devastating.
Seo Jun-kyung died from false accusations, and his wife’s health deteriorated.
I no longer wanted to witness the people I cherished departing before me.
Seo Jin understood the depth of Lee Dong-young’s heart.
He smiled faintly and twisted open the cap of a ginseng drink bottle.
“I’ll enjoy this.”
Seo Jin murmured to himself, “This time, I won’t get hurt,” and drained the beverage in one gulp.
Afterward, he opened his laptop.
He needed to find the maliciously written articles.
But there were none.
They had acted swiftly, and just as Congressman Baek’s aide had mentioned, every article they had posted had vanished without a trace.
‘Then….’
Seo Jin accessed the homepage of Kuko News, the outlet that had written the articles.
Unbelievable gossip entertainment articles adorned the front page.
It was crude, plain and simple.
‘The address is….’
Gangdong-gu, Seoul.
Seo Jin immediately searched for that address.
But then.
‘A soho office?’
A soho office was a place where one could conduct business using only a registered address without maintaining a physical presence.
‘Probably….’
Even if I went there, it would be difficult to meet anyone from Kuko News.
They likely registered the address and operated from somewhere else entirely.
It was a telltale sign of guilty parties.
‘Look at these bastards….’
Seo Jin smirked slightly.
He had never intended to take revenge on Kuko News directly.
But he wanted to recreate their methods in kind.
‘Exactly the same….’
Congressman Baek’s side had provoked first.
To remain passive would be to fall into their trap.
Returning a small gift in equal measure was the way of the world—and a mechanism to confuse them.
Seo Jin slowly picked up his phone.
The call was directed toward Lee Eun-ha.
“I’d like to meet with you briefly.”
-Yes! I’m in Seocho-dong right now. I’ll be there soon.
Lee Eun-ha’s spirited voice came through.
*
*
*
Seo Jin was meeting with Lee Eun-ha at the Coffee Shop in Front of District Prosecutors’ Office.
I slid an iced Americano across the table toward her and asked.
“There’s a media company called Kuko News. Do you happen to know it?”
“Kuko News?”
At my question, Lee Eun-ha tilted her head in confusion.
She dealt with current affairs—it was clear she didn’t know about entertainment gossip tabloids.
Then.
“Hold on. Let me look into it.”
Lee Eun-ha picked up her phone and called someone, firing off a question without preamble.
“Do you know Kuko News? You don’t? Your journalism career’s over? Damn… this ba….”
Lee Eun-ha, about to curse, caught my eye and softened her language.
“This ba… Yeah, ask Team Leader Lee Se too.”
-What? Team Leader Lee Se? Who’s that….
“Hang up. Find out and call me back. You’ve got ten minutes.”
After ending the call, Lee Eun-ha laughed sheepishly.
“Team Leader Lee Se is someone with extensive connections. You’ll hear back soon.”
It wasn’t even five minutes later.
Lee Eun-ha’s junior called back.
Kuko News—a place created by gathering Jirashi employees.
A place that publishes fabricated articles for advertising fees.
“So it’s basically a scam outfit. They humiliate journalists left and right, but since it’s a ghost company with no real substance, it’ll be hard to pin down. But why? Is there something?”
Seo Jin always brought breaking news.
Lee Eun-ha perked up her ears, wondering what it was this time, but my voice remained measured.
“No, nothing like that. I was just curious what they do.”
“Ah….”
“By the way, could I meet a reporter from a similar company?”
“Similar?”
“If possible, somewhere even more covert would be ideal.”
Lee Eun-ha, lost in thought as her eyes darted about, suddenly clapped her hands and spoke.
“I know just the place!”
*
*
*
The next day.
Seo Jin sat with Lee Eun-ha at a coffee shop in front of the city hall in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province.
As I moved to the table with my coffee, people glanced sideways and whispered among themselves.
“That’s him, right?”
“Yeah. Why’d he come here?”
“Wow, no way….”
I shook my head.
As people began to recognize me, the inconveniences multiplied.
From my actions to my speech patterns, I couldn’t fathom how celebrities managed their lives.
And then it happened.
“Excuse me….”
Someone approached my table.
Judging by the way they pulled out their phone, they were about to ask for a photo together.
I wasn’t even a celebrity.
But they must have gathered their courage to approach.
I offered my warmest smile.
“You’re Lee Eun-ha, the reporter, aren’t you?”
“Yes?”
“I’m really a fan of yours. Would you mind taking a photo with me?”
Looking more carefully, I realized all eyes were on Lee Eun-ha.
‘She’s not even a celebrity with an inflated ego.’
Seo Jin chuckled softly and brought the straw to his lips.
He watched as Lee Eun-ha took photos with the people around her.
Seeing her stand beside strangers and do her absolute best to take good photos, I thought—she’s a true professional.
Shortly after, the people left.
Seo Jin began discussing with Lee Eun-ha the reason they had come here.
“There’s someone operating out of this Officetel. They used to work on political Jirashi, and they’ve also worked at our company before… Plus, their business addresses are scattered all over the place, so it’ll be difficult to track them down.”
Seo Jin waved his hand dismissively.
The past wasn’t necessary. What mattered was the present.
“So what are they doing now?”
“Paparazzi work. It’s a small operation. I heard it’s a new venture, so they’re struggling to make even a million won a month?”
“That’s good.”
“Should I call them now?”
“Yes. But… when they arrive, would it be alright if I spoke with them alone?”
“What?”
Lee Eun-ha blinked.
After coming all this way, it felt odd to be kept in the dark.
But then again.
She quickly nodded in agreement.
Assuming Seo Jin had his reasons.
“Of course. I’ll step away from now on. Besides, I already know what the prosecutor looks like anyway. That’s fine, right?”
Lee Eun-ha picked up her coffee and moved to another seat.
Far enough away that voices wouldn’t carry between us.
Seo Jin brought his coffee to his lips, wondering what kind of person would appear.
‘A paparazzi operator, monthly earnings of a million won, someone who hides their address and keeps it secret.’
This person operated entirely beneath the surface.
Judging by how they dug up others’ personal information to make money, they were someone who lurked in the shadows, greedily pursuing profit.
It struck Seo Jin’s fancy.
“Prosecutor Seo Jin?”
Then a man stood before me.
I had expected a rougher appearance from someone specializing in paparazzi and Jirashi, but it was the complete opposite.
Early forties.
Crisp white shirt and a neat appearance.
“I’m Sung Dae-jun. Lee Eun-ha introduced me.”
After a brief exchange of greetings, Sung Dae-jun sat across from me.
He glanced at Lee Eun-ha, who sat a short distance away, and opened his mouth.
“It seems you have something important to discuss?”
“I’ll be direct with you.”
“…What is it?”
“I want to tarnish the reputation of a high-ranking congressman. Is that possible?”
*
*
*
At that moment.
Congressman Baek’s Office.
Congressman Baek Ki-ho was tying his necktie while looking in the mirror.
“…Congressman, forgive me, but what are your thoughts?”
At the aide’s question, Congressman Baek Ki-ho turned his head, his eyes conveying ‘What are you talking about?’
The aide was someone who had spent a long time with Congressman Baek Ki-ho.
Yet those emotionless eyes never became familiar to him.
It was improper to speak that way to one’s superior, but if a psychopath stood before you, that would be exactly the look in their eyes.
The aide couldn’t hide his tension and opened his mouth again.
“Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun has declared he will summon Congressman Yeo Dong-soo in a closed session. There’s a risk it could reach us as well….”
Congressman Baek Ki-ho chuckled softly and spoke in a leisurely voice.
“Don’t worry about Kim Young-jun. That man shares the same weakness as I do. He’ll lower his blade in the end.”
“Yes? What do you mean by…?”
“Such things exist. Don’t try to know more.”
Congressman Baek Ki-ho spoke with a smile, but his voice carried dread.
The aide swallowed hard without realizing it.
Congressman Baek Ki-ho had said all he needed to say and turned his body to move forward.
It was time to leave now.
The aide followed quickly and asked urgently.
“Then, then why are you concerned about Prosecutor Seo Jin?”
“Prosecutor Seo Jin?”
Congressman Baek Ki-ho’s steps came to an abrupt halt. He smiled faintly and gazed at the aide slowly.
“Do you know the saying that if a prosecutor is willing to shed his robes, anyone can be brought down?”
“…!”
“That man is dangerous. He’s the type who would charge at me even knowing his uncle would get hurt. A moth drawn to flames without thinking ahead—that’s what he is. He’s insane.”
“…!”
“So I’m watching. Deciding whether to bring him to our side or crush him before he grows. You’ve been by my side through all this time, yet you still don’t understand my thinking?”
The aide nodded.
Not entirely, but he was beginning to grasp why Congressman Baek paid such attention to Seo Jin.
“So that’s why you intimidated him through Jirashi media.”
“Intimidated him?”
“Wasn’t that it?”
Congressman Baek looked at his aide with bewilderment, then burst into loud laughter.
He continued speaking as he strode out of the office.
“The man who charged alone into a pseudo-religious cult. The man who’s caught multiple murderers. You think a few articles would scare someone like that? I’m testing Seo Jin right now.”
“…Pardon?”
“If he cowers at this level or loses control of his emotions and bares his fangs, then he’s not worth my attention. But if he surprises me…. Then I’ll have to take him, by any means necessary.”
The aide blinked.
Just moments ago, he thought he understood Congressman Baek’s thinking, but now he didn’t.
‘What is he saying?’
Not tucking his tail or baring his fangs, but surprising him instead.
And taking him by any means necessary.
‘Sigh….’
The aide shook his head.
But one thing was certain.
Congressman Baek had never failed to obtain what he wanted.
Power, money, women, and even people.
He believed this time would be no different.
“Please get in.”
The aide opened the vehicle door.
The eyes of Congressman Baek, seated in the back, turned cold.
‘Seo Jin….’
How many times had Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun mentioned him.
If that cold-blooded man acknowledged him to that degree, there had to be something there.
And the Seo Jin he’d been observing all this time clearly had value to exploit.

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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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