Prosecutor Kim Seo-Jin - Chapter 226

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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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Gathered (1)
Chairman Um rose with his hands clasped behind his back and walked toward me with heavy, deliberate steps.
“Now do you understand why I called you?”
“….”
“Kim Young-jun is greedy. He’s the type to devour everything. Left unchecked, he’ll consume everything around him—me, you, and even your father.”
I had received Chairman Um’s call this morning. He had summoned me here to sow the seeds of discord.
Chairman Um continued speaking.
“That bastard is wary of me. So he’s monitoring my every move. My driver, our household staff—they may all be in Kim Young-jun’s pocket. The same goes for your father’s company. Every key position is filled with Kim Young-jun’s people.”
“….”
“Will you join hands with me to stop Kim Young-jun’s greed? If it’s you, he won’t suspect. He’ll overlook you and leave you be.”
I slowly turned my gaze to meet Chairman Um’s eyes. The moment our eyes locked, his voice continued.
“That way, I survive and your father survives.”
Chairman Um waited for my response.
But what came from my lips was a question.
“There’s something I’d like to ask you.”
“Go ahead.”
“A few years ago, I was attacked by thugs and injured. Someone pushed me from a high place, and I fell.”
“…!”
In that instant, Chairman Um’s pupils trembled. They quickly steadied, but I didn’t miss that fleeting moment. I continued to study his expression as I pressed on with my question.
“Was my uncle involved in that incident?”
A direct accusation cast into the air.
A faint smile appeared and vanished at the corners of Chairman Um’s wrinkled mouth.
“Well… I’ve heard stories about that. But how would an old man sitting in his room playing Go know anything about such things?”
A lie wrapped in denial.
Chairman Um was a man who had trampled others his entire life—a true serpent in human form.
‘Kim Young-jun and Chairman Um… a vile old man and a ruthless bastard.’
I recalled the situation from moments ago.
When Chairman Um had me sit in the adjacent room while he spoke with Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun.
There was no mention of a contract killing against Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk in their conversation.
The moment Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun sat down, Chairman Um immediately shifted the topic with, “Now we should discuss what comes next?”
‘Both of them….’
Neither wanted to suffer any loss. They both withdrew from the front lines and were using me to peek at their cards.
They were trying to gain advantage by using me.
‘I’ll let myself be used.’
I decided to comply with their intentions. And I planned to move between both sides, checking what cards each held in their hands.
“What do I need to do?”
The moment I answered, a broad smile spread across Chairman Um’s face.
“It’s simple. I’ll contact you again. I’ll soon find something that can take down Kim Young-jun in one blow.”
“And my role is….”
“To bring it to me.”
“It’s not difficult.”
“Thank you.”
I brushed the dust from my hands and rose from my seat. Then I turned to face Chairman Um and spoke.
“If that’s all, I should be heading back.”
“I’m sorry for keeping you when you’re so busy with state affairs.”
I bowed slowly, then turned and left the room.
After I departed, Chairman Um chuckled softly and clasped his hands behind his back. Then he shuffled back toward the table laden with food.
Seated once more, Chairman Um picked at the vegetables while tilting his head thoughtfully.
“What exactly did that boy know about Kim Young-jun?”
*
*
*
I emerged into the Parking Lot and opened my car door. Then I slowly turned my gaze back toward the Korean Traditional Restaurant I had just left.
The roof tiles were elegant, but I wasn’t looking at them. My mind was on Chairman Um inside.
‘He said he didn’t know?’
When I asked if Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun had orchestrated the attack on me, Chairman Um claimed ignorance.
‘But that’s a lie.’
If Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun had commissioned it, then Chairman Um himself was the one who carried it out.
Continuing my thoughts, I shook my head.
‘It’s still just a hypothesis.’
I wasn’t certain yet.
When thinking becomes narrow, action inevitably breeds error. Now was the time to keep all possibilities open and wide.
*
*
*
That night.
Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk pulled his vehicle up in front of a Shopping Complex.
Getting out and surveying the building, Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk’s brow furrowed.
“Why would he call me to a place like this?”
A Shopping Complex with stalled construction, a banner in red letters fluttering that read “Lien Enforcement in Progress.” Depending on one’s perspective, it looked downright ominous.
Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk pulled out his phone, found my contact, and pressed the call button.
“I put it in the GPS and came, but… is this the right place?”
-When you ask like that, it seems like it must be. Come up to the Rooftop. The Elevator isn’t operational, so use the stairs.
Hearing my voice, Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk’s eyes darted about.
Scrap materials scattered across the ground, and torn fabric scraps fluttered in the wind. The shadows they cast looked menacing.
“Hey! I’m fine with gangsters and all that, but this place is actually scary, you know? I’m not here for a haunted house experience…. Can’t you come down?”
-The night view is beautiful, so hurry up.
Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk irritably ended the call, muttering “This bastard thinks his senior is a fool,” before stepping into the Shopping Complex.
“Ugh!”
This Shopping Complex was one that Shin Ji-yeon of Shinma Group had purchased.
Positioned on a hill, it offered a clear view of approaching vehicles, and with all the surrounding CCTV cameras disabled, it was a place with ironclad security.
But Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk, unaware of these facts, saw only a dimly lit space.
As Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk climbed the stairs, he continued to grumble. Occasionally, when cobwebs brushed against his face, he shrieked in alarm. Thus, Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk reached the rooftop.
“Damn it… next time, let’s meet somewhere normal. I really hate places like this. It’s horrible.”
Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk brushed the cobwebs from his clothes and lifted his gaze. But it wasn’t just Seo Jin standing there.
Five people stood in the darkness, including Seo Jin.
Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk narrowed his eyes and asked.
“…Who are these people?”
“You might recognize some faces, but let me introduce them again. This is my colleague Lee So-hee. This is reporter Lee Eun-ha, and this is Sung Doo-jun, the representative of Jirashi. Finally, these are my friends who help with my work—Do Gwang-hyun and Jang Seok-min.”
I intended to operate with them like a criminal organization.
So that if one person was caught, the others wouldn’t be implicated.
But the situation had changed.
Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun was holding a knife to Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk’s throat.
Reporter Lee Eun-ha was writing dangerous articles without hesitation at my request.
Lee So-hee was gradually uncovering the corruption of Congressman Baek Ki-ho.
It wouldn’t be strange if anyone died at any moment.
“Jang?”
At my words, Jang Seok-min stepped forward. He bowed his head to everyone, then exhaled a long sigh. Then, with an awkward smile, he spoke.
“My heart shrinks when I stand before prosecutors. Until recently I was a thug, but now I’ve turned over a new leaf and run a security company. I’m Jang Seok-min.”
I picked up from there.
“His business will provide security for everyone here. We’ll move as carefully as possible, but there may be times when it’s inconvenient. But please bear with it. Just until this situation is resolved.”
Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk laughed playfully.
“I’m fine with it.”
I chuckled and tossed a canned beer to Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk, saying.
“You’re in the most danger, sir. You absolutely have to accept this.”
Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk didn’t refuse further. He had faced Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun directly and met his gaze. He was already feeling the shadow cast over him.
As Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk opened the canned beer and brought it to his lips, I spoke.
“Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun and Congressman Baek Ki-ho. Those two are our targets.”
“….”
“When this is over, Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk will be exiled, and I might lose my position. Lee So-hee too….”
Lee So-hee shrugged her shoulders.
“I’ll lose mine as well.”
A prosecutor exists to deliver justice to the guilty.
Yet three prosecutors were prepared to sacrifice their careers to catch these beasts—Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun and Congressman Baek Ki-ho. The reason? They had offended the powerful.
It was a situation where they should be praised but instead would lose everything. A bitter smile crossed my face.
But I couldn’t remain despondent. I clapped my hands together and turned my attention to Sung Doo-jun.
“From now on, any information that Lee So-hee, Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk, and I uncover—anything that could shake our targets—I’ll pass to you, Sung Doo-jun.”
Sung Doo-jun would receive the information, turn it into Jirashi, and spread it across online communities.
Major media outlets could be manipulated by the powerful, but Jirashi and independent broadcasts were different. The more they were suppressed, the more they seemed like truth to the people. They could emit a strong scent of something being hidden by the powerful. I intended to exploit that psychology.
My gaze shifted to reporter Lee Eun-ha.
“Reporter Lee Eun-ha, please find stories suitable for major media outlets and continue fanning the flames so public opinion catches fire.”
“Understood.”
As I listened to Lee Eun-ha’s response, I turned toward Do Gwang-hyun.
“If you need funding, contact Manager Do. I’ll provide whatever amount is necessary.”
Do Gwang-hyun stepped forward and bowed his head.
“I’m Do Gwang-hyun.”
*
*
*
Everyone had left.
Only I and Do Gwang-hyun remained on the rooftop.
Do Gwang-hyun gazed at the sprawling night cityscape below and spoke.
“The view is incredible. When did you discover a place like this?”
“Remember what I promised? That I’d destroy it.”
“What?”
“Private Equity Fund Poible.”
Do Gwang-hyun’s eyes widened. Only his pupils shifted toward me.
Then I brought the canned beer to my lips and continued.
“That promise… I think I can keep it now.”
“A promise?”
Do Gwang-hyun recalled when he first met me.
At that time, I had said:
“I know. The reason your parents passed away. Why you crawled through the gutter to make money. Private Equity Fund Poible—the corporate restructuring specialist. I don’t like those bastards either. I want to destroy them. But to fight them, I need money. I was hoping you could help with that.”
I remembered that promise. I turned toward Do Gwang-hyun and handed him a piece of paper.
“I got it from Kim Young-jun.”
“…!”
Do Gwang-hyun’s eyes widened as he examined the paper in his hands.
“This is…”
“Private Equity Fund Poible… the hunter that devours each company. Behind it are Chairman Um and Japanese capital. Poible is just the body. If we crush Chairman Um and the Japanese capital, we decapitate the head. The body won’t move again. And…”
Do Gwang-hyun shifted his gaze as he listened to my voice. He met my eyes and smiled quietly.
“…You’re saying we should take that money for ourselves, aren’t you?”
I smiled faintly and held out the canned beer as if to toast.
“That’s what revenge is. If that money goes to the state… the congressman will just pocket it, right? Eat and drink with it. That can’t happen. I’m a person in need.”
Do Gwang-hyun chuckled and clinked his beer against mine. After taking a sip, he tossed the can into a nearby trash bin and spoke.
“If we succeed, we’re talking trillions of won…”

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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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