Prosecutor Kim Seo-Jin - Chapter 243

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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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Cutting Throats (9)
-I’m heading out for lunch.
At Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk’s composed voice, Kim Young-jun’s eyes blazed red. He felt utterly toyed with by a mere prosecutor whom he could crush to death at any moment. But Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk didn’t stop there.
-Well….
Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk didn’t wait for Kim Young-jun to finish. He simply hung up the phone. Silence filled the other end of the line.
Kim Young-jun’s body trembled with fury. From his clenched jaw came a sound like a groan.
“What are you hiding in Wonju….”
Wonju—where his parents had passed away, and where Seo Jin had intended to go before falling from the apartment rooftop. And now Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk was heading there.
“What the hell is there!”
Kim Young-jun didn’t know what lay in that place. He only suspected there was a blade capable of cutting his throat.
All this time, he’d tried desperately to discover what it was, but Park Jung-gil had kept his mouth sealed even under threats and inducements.
‘Damn….’
Kim Young-jun squeezed his eyes shut. A storm was bearing down on him now. If past incidents were dragged into the light, it would spiral beyond control. His dream of reaching the pinnacle of the world could crumble.
Kim Young-jun opened his eyes. This was it. There was no time for anger. He had to move now.
Kim Young-jun turned and walked toward the office door.
‘Actually, this is fortunate.’
Kim Young-jun decided to think positively. If he pursued Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk, he could discover the true nature of what had been aimed at his throat. Then he could eliminate one of the blades threatening him.
‘That’s right. I’ve faced crises like this countless times.’
He’d clawed his way up from nothing. Along the way, he’d eliminated countless rivals, extorted many, and crushed others beneath power and money. Such crises had always been present. And Kim Young-jun had always emerged victorious.
‘This time will be no different.’
Kim Young-jun yanked open the office door with such force it slammed with a loud bang, then strode out.
*
*
*
Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk’s car was parked on the roadside. Police were visible ahead.
“We received a report.”
At the officer’s words, Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk ran his hand through his hair and opened his mouth.
“I’m sorry, but I think there’s been a misunderstanding. This is the third time I’ve been stopped?”
“Yes, I understand. Please show me your ID.”
Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk’s car had been reported as a stolen vehicle. Police appeared at every turn, obstructing his movement.
It was obvious who was behind this. High-ranking police officials connected to Kim Young-jun were moving. They were keeping Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk detained while tracking his route.
As the saying goes, even rotten fish is still fish—and Kim Young-jun was the head of South Korea’s Prosecution Service. Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk exhaled a sigh and produced his ID.
“Satisfied?”
“Ah, my apologies.”
Accepting the officer’s apology, Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk pressed the accelerator again. Looking at the now-clear road, he muttered to himself.
“How petty.”
*
*
*
At that moment, Kim Young-jun was driving his car personally.
He’s heading to Wonju, they say.
“Thank you.”
Kim Young-jun tracked Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk’s movements through the police and pursued him. In the process, he became certain of several things.
‘As expected, it was Chairman Um.’
The police didn’t just monitor Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk—they stopped all vehicles moving in the same direction. Among them were numerous thugs who’d operated in Seoul.
They were Jang Seok-min’s subordinates. They were caught by the police. Though they hadn’t committed any current crimes, their past sins left them unable to resist state authority.
‘Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk doesn’t have the clout to move thugs. Chairman Um was behind it.’
Kim Young-jun restricted the thugs’ movements, then checked the Special Prosecution Team’s activities. They all remained in Seoul.
‘He’s alone.’
A cruel smile played at the corners of Kim Young-jun’s mouth. The simplest way to resolve a problem caused by a person is to remove that person. In other words, kill them. Killing someone who stands alone isn’t difficult.
Moreover, Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk was heading to Gangwon Province. Just beyond the city limits, there were plenty of places suitable for burying a body. Unless a landslide occurred, it would remain buried there for eternity.
Kim Young-jun let out a sinister chuckle and picked up his phone.
“Do we have anyone near Wonju?”
Rain fell in drops, tapping against the vehicle’s windows.
*
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*
Shortly after, Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk parked his car while speaking with Seo Jin.
“Wow, there’s a house in a place like this?”
-You’re a bit late, aren’t you?
“The Director General caught the scent. The police kept stopping me….”
Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk stepped out of the car. He slowly turned his gaze. Before him stood an old rural house situated halfway down a narrow lane barely wide enough for a single vehicle. No other houses surrounded it. Only this dwelling stood out, isolated and peculiar.
Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk approached the house. The yard was overgrown with weeds, suggesting it hadn’t been maintained.
“If kids doing abandoned house exploration knew about this place, they’d definitely come here.”
The atmosphere was that desolate.
“You know I hate places like this….”
Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk grumbled, pushed through the weeds, and walked forward. He saw a sign reading “Private Property—No Trespassing” but paid no attention and entered anyway. He headed straight for the house.
-If the door is locked, you can break it.
Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk passed through the yard and reached the entrance. He grabbed the doorknob and pulled, but it was indeed locked. He looked around, thinking it would be easier to break a window and climb through.
“By the way, Jang Seok-min—when are his people arriving? They said they’d come….”
-I’m not sure. They should arrive soon.
“And you?”
-I’m almost there too.
Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk picked up a stone and moved toward the window. He threw it hard, and with a sharp crash, the glass shattered. He reached through the broken window and opened the door.
After climbing through the window into the house, Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk headed to the second floor as Seo Jin instructed.
-He said it’s inside the restroom’s ventilation fan.
Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk entered the restroom and shook his head at the sight of the ventilation fan.
“I’ll need a screwdriver. Hold on, let me hang up for a moment.”
Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk ended the call and put his phone away. He stepped out of the restroom and began searching for something he could use as a screwdriver.
Then he heard a car stop outside. Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk walked to the window and peered out. Men in worn clothes were getting out of a van. Watching them, he muttered to himself.
“Damn it….”
*
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I exhaled sharply and pressed down hard on the accelerator. I’d aimed to arrive at the same time as Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk, but there was too much to prepare, so I was running a bit late.
‘Jang Seok-min didn’t show?’
Jang Seok-min was supposed to guard Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk along with his subordinates. But his absence meant something had gone wrong.
While stopped at a red light, I opened the glove compartment and grabbed a burner phone. Then I found Jang Seok-min’s contact and pressed the call button. After a few rings, his voice came through.
-Hello?
“Just answer. Can you talk right now?”
-Ah… I got caught by a traffic stop. They’re holding me up, picking a fight over something pointless… But I’m heading there now, so I’ll arrive soon.
Unease churned violently in my chest. The psychometry I’d witnessed at the nursing home last night came flooding back. The image of me being thrown from an apartment rooftop overlapped with Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk’s face.
Kim Young-jun had no qualms about killing people for his own success and to cover his own sins.
If Jang Seok-min and his men were delayed, that ominous premonition could become reality.
I couldn’t contact the police. Right now, I couldn’t trust anyone.
‘This can’t happen.’
I ignored the red light and floored the accelerator. The car roared. The light drizzle that had been falling transformed into a downpour, and my vehicle tore through it at full speed.
About thirty minutes later, I arrived at that house.
“…!”
I could see Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk’s car, an unfamiliar van, and Kim Young-jun’s sedan. I ran toward the house. Pushing through the overgrown grass, I entered.
A silence so oppressive it was suffocating filled the space. Inside, I headed for the second floor. Still no one. Only scattered furniture bore witness to the struggle that had taken place here.
“Where… where is he… where!”
With desperate urgency, I touched various surfaces throughout the house, hoping psychometry would manifest. But it didn’t appear.
I rushed back outside. The steady rain continued, and footprints were visible on the mountain path.
‘Please!’
I ran up the mountain path.
*
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*
It was a place with a dizzying steep slope. Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk retreated hesitantly backward. But he couldn’t go any further. One more step and he would plummet. And that fall would certainly mean death.
Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk exhaled tensely and furrowed his brow. Then he slowly turned his gaze forward.
“Ha….”
Shabby-dressed men came into view. And before them, Kim Young-jun approached under an umbrella, extending his hand.
“Ji-hyuk… The statute of limitations has already passed anyway. Holding onto it is useless. It only brings me shame.”
“Shame? You killed our parents—that’s shame? You’re truly insane.”
Kim Young-jun shook his head and placed a cigarette between his lips. His voice remained gentle.
“Not insane—just greedy. You can’t call that wrong. But do you really think the Special Prosecution Team can touch me? Just because some corruption surfaced, will people supporting Baek Ki-ho turn away? I’ll keep climbing. Just as always, exactly the same.”
Kim Young-jun exhaled cigarette smoke and stepped closer to Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk. He wiggled his extended hand and spoke in a low voice.
“So bring it. Take it and hold my hand. I’ll raise you.”
“…!”
“You can’t catch me right now. Grow a bit more, then try to catch me.”
A faint smile played across Kim Young-jun’s lips as he observed Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk’s oppressed expression. Kim Young-jun’s voice continued.
“Bending isn’t a matter of pride. It’s merely stepping back for a moment. I acknowledge you. I’ll keep my promise to nurture you….”
In that instant, doubt filled Kim Young-jun’s eyes. Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk was in a desperate situation. Yet he was laughing like a madman, utterly delighted—the kind of laughter that would have him clutching his stomach if this were a room.
As Kim Young-jun tilted his head in confusion, Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk swept his wet hair back and opened his mouth.
“You’re finished.”
“…!”
Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyuk raised his finger, pointing behind Kim Young-jun. Kim Young-jun’s gaze slowly turned toward the prosecutor’s finger. And in an instant, his composed eyes twisted in shock.
“…Kim, Seo Jin?”
Seo Jin stood there. The burly men who had come with him filled the space beside him.

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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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