Prosecutor Kim Seo-Jin - Chapter 225

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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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Scorched Earth. (4)
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A long time had passed since Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun left.
Yet I remained seated in a daze, unable to touch the mountain of work spread across my desk.
I continued to sift through what I had witnessed via psychometry, methodically fitting together the puzzle pieces that crowded my mind.
“This time, we cannot afford to end it as carelessly as before.”
I licked my parched lips.
‘This time?’
Those words implied that Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun had commissioned murders in the past.
“You must do this properly.”
Recalling what followed, it seemed the previous murder contract had failed.
‘Then… who was he trying to kill?’
I narrowed my eyes and continued my reasoning.
Most people could be dealt with by Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun’s hand. Ordinary individuals would plummet into the abyss of hell with merely a point of his finger.
‘But…’
Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun could not act directly and had resorted to commissioning a murder through the Loan Shark Boss.
The figures that came to mind were Representative Baek Ki-ho and the power brokers of the Ruling Party.
Then Chairman Um’s voice suddenly echoed in my memory.
“It’s been about three or four years since we last faced each other directly, hasn’t it?”
I gripped my phone and searched the calendar, flipping through the years with quick taps.
‘Three or four years…’
My finger froze.
It was not certain.
But that time…
‘When I died.’
It overlapped with the period when Seo Jun-kyung died.
Yet Seo Jun-kyung’s death had been resolved.
What remained was Seo Jin.
The one who fell from the rooftop, was taken to the hospital, and lost his memory—or more precisely, the reason Seo Jun-kyung came into this body.
‘Could it be…?’
My face contorted.
‘Could it really be?’
Until now, I had suspected it was Kim Young-jun’s Wife’s scheme. I had thought there was some conflict and exposure between the original Seo Jin and her.
But now that assumption shattered.
The original Seo Jin, those who pushed his back and threw him from the rooftop—behind them all stood Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun.
I closed my eyes and recalled the first time I met Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun after entering this body.
Just before departing for the Dongnam District Prosecutor’s Office, when Prosecutor Kim Young-jun visited Seo Jin’s House, he observed me with sharp, dark eyes. And he asked repeatedly.
“So you really have no memory?”
“But… do you not remember the moment of the accident? Why did it happen? What occurred?”
The puzzle pieces aligned.
It seemed that Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun’s repeated insistence that I come to Seoul was all to observe me.
“Ha!”
I had believed all this time that I was observing Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun.
But I was wrong.
He had tried to understand me through Kim Yun-hwan and used Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae to scrutinize everything about me.
It was I who was being observed.
‘This is maddening.’
If the deductions I had made thus far were true, Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun was the man who had attempted to kill his nephew—the one who had seized his brother’s company and tried to swallow it whole.
I shook my head and laughed at the absurdity, then wiped my face.
Suddenly, my father Kim Jun-man seemed pitiable.
But my expression of sympathy was fleeting.
‘For what reason?’
That Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun had even ordered a murder.
There had to be some reason.
There must have been something that made Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun feel threatened.
But recalling what that was proved difficult.
Now was the time to advance forward, crossing over the minefield before me.
Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun had instructed me to destroy Chairman Um. Whether that was a trap or his true intention, I did not know.
‘But I can use it.’
When catching a big fish, one uses large bait.
Whether it was Chairman Um or Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun, I resolved to use them as bait and dismantle their cartel.
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The next day.
The briefing room at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office was packed with reporters.
The arrest of Eom Si-young from yesterday.
Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun’s press conference that followed.
A murder case from thirty years ago and the misconduct committed since.
“This is why family discipline matters. A man even mentioned as a potential presidential candidate has collapsed in an instant.”
“Will he announce his resignation?”
“Who knows. He might hold on.”
“Even if he does hold on, what difference does it make? Public trust has already hit rock bottom. It’s over.”
The reporters anticipated what Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun would say.
Most were predicting his resignation.
A Prosecutor General who should embody integrity had engaged in offshore tax evasion, illegal gifting, and even used aliases—there was no way he could survive this.
As evidence, public sentiment was rising like wildfire.
Looking at the comments on the Portal Website, nearly everyone was condemning Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun.
They’ve even dug up the fact that Kim Yun-hwan was arrested, making an issue of his entire family.
“If he doesn’t resign, he’ll get pelted to death. Everyone except his most fervent supporters has turned their backs on him, right?”
Just then, the door opened and Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun entered.
Every journalist’s gaze snapped toward Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun.
Their clamoring voices died away, and the press conference hall filled with silence.
Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun took his place at the podium.
Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun looked haggard. His eyes were bloodshot as if he hadn’t slept, and his expression was grim. He stared at the documents in his hand with hollow eyes, exhaling only sighs.
After a moment, Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun slowly raised his head.
“First… I sincerely apologize to the people for presenting myself in this manner while holding the position of Prosecutor General.”
His voice was hollow, as if layered with anguish upon anguish.
“I’m not sure how to put this into words… but what is certain is that I knew nothing of any of this.”
The journalists’ expressions turned bewildered. And they thought to themselves.
‘Is he really going to play dumb and hold his ground?’
‘His wife stashed away all that money, and he didn’t know?’
‘He was preparing to enter politics, and now it seems he’s developed dementia.’
The journalists’ eyes were openly filled with disbelief.
Just days ago, they had bowed their heads before Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun.
But now Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun’s wings were broken.
The journalists straightened their bowed heads stiffly and poised their pens, ready to strike at Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun.
Even as they did, Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun’s excuses continued.
-He had neglected his household due to his demanding public duties.
-Like the saying goes, the area beneath the lamp is darkest—he had failed to see his wife clearly.
-It was all his fault.
Then Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun held up a single sheet of paper and made it public.
“…I only learned of this fact yesterday.”
“…!”
The journalists’ eyes widened.
A paternity test.
Kim Yun-hwan was not Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun’s biological son.
At the same time, Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun’s voice trembled.
“I… I didn’t even know this.”
“…!”
“Truth be told, I wanted to hide it. I’ve raised him for over thirty years—how could I pretend not to know him now, just because he’s not my blood?”
“…!”
“But the reason I’m making this public is simple! I wanted to ask you to believe in my innocence.”
“…!”
“Going forward, I will continue to support my wife and my son. No matter what anyone says, they are my wife and… my son.”
In that moment, Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun’s eyes reddened. Soon tears began to glisten.
Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun stopped speaking and bowed his head briefly.
His shoulders trembled faintly.
Hands gripping the podium tightly to hold back tears.
The sight stirred genuine pity in those watching.
Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun was touching people’s hearts.
He was displaying the image of a devoted family man desperate to protect his household above all else.
And the reporters observing him stirred with unease.
The tide was shifting again—or rather, it had already shifted.
Every comment on the Portal Website was rallying behind Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun.
Men posted sympathetically about the pitiful situation of Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun, who had raised a cuckoo in his nest, while women left comments expressing their emotional devastation.
“…I stake my honor, earned through decades as a prosecutor, on these words. The law must be impartial to all. My wife and my son will face the consequences of their crimes. No—I will apply an even stricter standard and impose severe punishment.”
“…!”
“And I, Kim Young-jun, will serve the people with a repentant heart for the crimes my wife and son have committed. Just once more… please trust me one more time. From now on, I will show only a face without shame!”
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Seo Jin’s Office.
Seo Jin was also watching Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun’s press conference on television.
Seo Jin let out an incredulous laugh, shaking his head.
‘This bastard is truly insane.’
An ordinary person would panic upon learning their son wasn’t their biological child. They couldn’t conceive of exploiting the situation like that.
But Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun had utilized it brilliantly.
The man was a reptile—cold-blooded, viewing everything in the world as nothing but a tool for use.
Seo Jin picked up the remote and turned off the press conference.
“Is he really going to slip away like that again?”
Investigator Lee Dong-young beside him clicked his tongue in disapproval.
Seo Jin rose to his feet with a slight shrug.
“I expected it. I just couldn’t have imagined he’d do it this way.”
Seo Jin gripped his jacket and spoke.
“I’m going out for a bit.”
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At that moment, Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun, having concluded his press conference, immediately moved to his vehicle.
He got in and pressed his phone to his ear.
“I’m heading there now.”
He was calling Chairman Um.
After ending the call, Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun spoke to the driver.
“Take me to the Korean Traditional Restaurant in Hanam.”
The driver turned the wheel, and Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun fidgeted with his phone.
He was reading the comments on the article that had just been posted.
Public opinion had shifted.
Just yesterday, the voices criticizing Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun had vanished without a trace.
Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun chuckled as he slipped his phone into his pocket.
“The world is far simpler than I thought.”
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Shortly after, Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun arrived at a Korean traditional restaurant in Hanam, Gyeonggi Province.
Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun brushed dust from his jacket as he made his way to the reserved private room.
Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun slid open the door and sat directly across from Chairman Um.
Chairman Um immediately spoke.
“Yesterday I didn’t have time… Now we need to discuss the next matter. Speak freely. I’ve rented out this entire establishment for the day.”
Yesterday, we negotiated the life of Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk and the release of Eom Si-young.
This time, it was my turn to negotiate regarding Eom Seon-ju.
“Are we getting straight to business?”
“We already exchanged pleasantries yesterday. And now we’re not the kind of people who do that anymore.”
Yesterday, Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun had refrained from calling Chairman Um “father-in-law.”
It was a clear line drawn between their respective positions.
Chairman Um opened his mouth.
“What do you want?”
“As you know, I’m aiming for the next presidential election.”
“Your ambition knows no bounds. How do you plan to survive trying to satisfy all that greed?”
“I won’t live the way you have. In any case, there are five years until the next presidential election—difficult years ahead. But I’m uncertain whether you’ll still be here in five years.”
Chairman Um’s eyes narrowed. But that was all. Chairman Um was someone who had lived through Japanese colonial rule and war. His time had passed. He didn’t know when heaven would claim his life.
“And?”
“I want alimony. Alimony for a divorce. Half of your fortune. Of course, divorce papers will never actually be drawn up, so don’t worry.”
“…Half?”
“Yes.”
“Kim Young-jun!”
Chairman Um slammed his palm against the table.
But Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun remained unflinching.
“You’ve spent your entire life doing nothing but evil. Take that money and donate it. I’ll use it well.”
“You bastard!”
“If you give me half your fortune, when I become president, half of the appointment power I hold will be used by Eom Si-young. If you wish, I’ll even draw up a contract and have it notarized.”
“Do you think that makes any sense!”
Chairman Um glared at Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun with eyes full of rage.
The claim that he would give Eom Si-young half his power was obviously a lie. Even if it weren’t, it would still be a problem. Eom Si-young was no match for Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun. She would be thoroughly crushed and forced to surrender everything she possessed.
Chairman Um clenched his fists. His hands trembled violently.
But Chairman Um did not voice his refusal in that moment.
“…I’ll think about it.”
Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun’s eyes narrowed slightly. My proposal was merely a strategic move to secure favorable negotiating terms—I never actually expected to obtain it.
Yet Chairman Um nodded obediently.
Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun found something odd about this and continued to study Chairman Um’s expression.
Then Chairman Um’s lips moved.
“But I have conditions of my own.”
“Please, go ahead.”
“You’ll release Seon-ju, of course, and Yun-hwan as well. I don’t know what’s in your heart, but that child is my first grandchild. That little one….”
Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun studied Chairman Um with an impassive gaze.
The conditions were too favorable.
Simply releasing Eom Si-young, Eom Seon-ju, and Kim Yun-hwan would be worth half his fortune.
Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun did not answer. Then Chairman Um continued.
“And there’s one more thing.”
Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun let out a soft laugh as if he’d expected exactly this.
“The conditions keep multiplying.”
“In five years, if you haven’t become president, or if you break your promise, I will take your brother’s life.”
Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun furrowed his brow, and Chairman Um raised his hand, clenching and unclenching his fist as he continued.
“The corruption that occurred at Jaejeong Construction—it’s all piled up in that warehouse. If you don’t keep your promise, journalists will gather in front of that warehouse.”
Chairman Um had played his card: Kim Jun-man, Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun’s brother. Yet Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun nodded without the slightest hesitation.
“I accept.”
Chairman Um smirked.
“So you can sever your own brother’s neck? That’s what frightens me about you. You’re just like me.”
“Thank you for seeing it that way.”
“If you’ve said all you came to say, then go. You must be busy, and I’ll lose my appetite watching your face while I eat.”
“Then we’ll discuss the details later. Enjoy your meal.”
Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun rose to his feet. With a cold gaze, he bowed respectfully and left the room.
Left alone, Chairman Um burst into a bitter laugh. That laughter continued for quite some time—until Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun drove away from the parking lot.
Then a wall that had been blocking the way slid open like a sliding door, connecting to the adjacent room.
Seo Jin appeared in that adjoining room.
Chairman Um slowly turned his head. Then, looking at Seo Jin, he smiled broadly.
“You heard clearly what that bastard intends to do with your father, didn’t you?”
Seo Jin quietly set down his water glass.
Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun had told Chairman Um to destroy him.
Chairman Um was asking Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun to crush him in return.

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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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