Prosecutor Kim Seo-Jin - Chapter 27

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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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A Person Without a Tell (2)
I lifted my gaze toward Woo Jin-wook, the chief aide.
It was time to move past pleasantries and get to the heart of the matter.
Until I could read his true intentions through psychometry, I had planned to position Eom Il-seop, the assemblyman from Dongnam County, in Songpa-gu.
Woo Jin-wook’s role had been nothing more than close combat—direct political maneuvering.
But now that role had changed.
‘I’m switching my cards.’
Assemblyman Eom Il-seop had the advantage of being vulnerable to corruption charges—a noose that could be tightened at will.
But that same advantage could become poison.
Assemblyman Eom Il-seop had survived the murky world of politics for so long that he had accumulated countless enemies.
Somewhere, someone was likely keeping a dossier of Eom Il-seop’s misdeeds.
After investing so much effort in grooming him, it would be a catastrophic loss if he were suddenly targeted and destroyed from the shadows.
‘But then again.’
Woo Jin-wook was exceptionally talented and genuinely likable.
Moreover, he was young.
That was what appealed to me most.
His electoral strategy was flawless as well.
With my assistance, he could easily turn the tide.
“Chief Aide, I’ll ask you directly. What is your goal?”
“My goal? You mean personally?”
“Yes.”
Woo Jin-wook smiled faintly.
“Well, I suppose it would be to serve our assemblyman well and perhaps visit the Blue House someday. But why do you ask?”
I didn’t answer, simply observing Woo Jin-wook in silence.
He tilted his head, puzzled. “What is it? Why aren’t you saying anything?”
“What’s wrong? Why aren’t you saying anything?”
After waiting a moment, Woo Jin-wook resumed eating.
Only then did I speak.
“Is that truly your goal?”
Something in my tone—a hint of disappointment—made Woo Jin-wook’s movements freeze.
Only his eyes shifted toward me, his expression growing uncomfortable as he replied.
“Is sending the assemblyman I serve to the Blue House too modest an ambition? Would you be satisfied only if I aimed for the White House instead? But even changing my nationality wouldn’t qualify me for that.”
“I wasn’t asking about Assemblyman Cho Seon-bong’s ambitions. I was asking about your personal goals.”
“My personal goals?”
“Yes.”
A flash of raw ambition flickered across Woo Jin-wook’s eyes.
But it was brief.
He shook his head, his expression returning to its usual weary composure as he looked at me.
“Young prosecutor, men like us don’t have personal dreams. Our joy comes from witnessing the success of the assemblyman we serve.”
Woo Jin-wook set down his chopsticks with a soft tap and continued speaking.
“I’ve satisfied your appetite and said all there is to say. May I take my leave now?”
“I’d like to support your personal ambitions, Chief of Staff.”
Through psychometry, I glimpsed the depths of his desires.
Though I’d spoken casually, Chief of Staff Woo Jin-wook would have understood perfectly.
The evidence lay in the sudden sharpness of his gaze.
“…Personal ambitions?”
“Yes.”
“What is this man saying right now!”
“Allow me to reintroduce myself. I’m Kim Seo-jin, son of Kim Jun-man, CEO of Jaejeong Construction.”
Chief of Staff Woo Jin-wook’s eyes faltered.
Jaejeong Construction—a company hovering between 20th and 23rd place in contracting rankings.
Recently, they’d sold out apartments on prime real estate in the new city district, experiencing rapid growth.
Many predicted they’d become a major brand within years.
“…Jaejeong Construction?”
“Forgive me, but I’ve done some research on you, Chief of Staff.”
Chief of Staff Woo Jin-wook’s eyes sharpened.
Yet I spoke without hesitation.
“I heard you’ve handled everything from local affairs to policy matters. But Assemblyman Cho Seon-bong says he’ll hand the district over to Chief of Staff Lee Sang-ju.”
Chief of Staff Lee Sang-ju accepts bribes.
With that money, he buys drinks for Assemblyman Cho Seon-bong and flatters him.
It’s well-known that when Assemblyman Cho Seon-bong’s daughter went abroad to study, he gifted her first-class airplane tickets.
Meanwhile, Chief of Staff Woo Jin-wook worked quietly, without complaint.
But his efforts went unrecognized.
The notion that quiet work brings recognition is nonsense.
The one who offers one more gift is the one who gets favored.
Chief of Staff Woo Jin-wook knew this too.
That’s why he was considering leaving Songpa District for somewhere else.
Chief of Staff Woo Jin-wook’s voice turned fierce.
“And?”
“I want to help you achieve your goals, Chief of Staff.”
“Help?”
“You’re the one who’s polished Songpa District for decades. So why are you trying to go elsewhere?”
“What?”
I said nothing more.
I simply gazed at Chief of Staff Woo Jin-wook.
Chief of Staff Woo Jin-wook scratched his disheveled hair vigorously, then waved his hand dismissively.
“Leave.”
But I didn’t budge.
“I said leave!”
Finally, Chief of Staff Woo Jin-wook erupted, slamming the table repeatedly with a thunderous crash.
“Get out!”
This time, I didn’t move either.
I knew that Woo Jin-wook’s anger wasn’t genuine.
If he’d truly been displeased with this situation, he would have stood up and left first.
But he remained seated.
‘He must be suspicious of this situation.’
I understood Woo Jin-wook’s state of mind perfectly.
He was confused right now.
-A young prosecutor asked to meet with him.
-Suddenly claims to be the son of a construction company.
-Out of nowhere, offers support for his political ambitions.
An absurd sequence of events had unfolded.
He was likely worried this was some juvenile test of loyalty orchestrated by Assemblyman Cho Seon-bong.
And so Woo Jin-wook’s voice fell silent.
When quiet filled the space that had been so tense, I picked up my glass and refilled his.
Then I stood and bowed slightly.
“I’ll await your call.”
“Wait a moment.”
At the sound of Woo Jin-wook’s voice, I stopped.
“Yes?”
“What’s your reason?”
“My reason?”
“In politics, the most frightening thing is kindness without expectation. What’s your reason for wanting to help me? Let’s hear it.”
I smiled slightly.
“You’re young, sir. And so am I. I had the feeling we could work together for a long time ahead.”
Woo Jin-wook’s eyebrows twitched.
My reason was clear.
Now there was only one thing left to wonder.
“Why did you choose me?”
“Because I think you’ll win. That’s all.”
Woo Jin-wook said nothing as I left the room.
He simply sat there with his eyes wide open.
And when the sliding door closed with a soft click, Woo Jin-wook stared at the glass in front of him.
‘Kim Seo-jin?’
At first, I thought he’d come seeking connections because he was fortunate enough to have good parents and become a prosecutor.
Sometimes there were prosecutors who became reckless, thinking the world held no fear for them.
But this man was no fool.
He peered into people’s hearts like a demon.
Desire, ambition, greed.
What politician didn’t possess these things?
That yearning everyone carried when they first entered this world.
I had kept it buried, waiting for the day it would finally arrive.
Even as I endured humiliation from Cho Seon-bong, even as junior council members called me a pushover, I had hidden it perfectly—yet this young man saw right through me.
As if I had been stripped bare.
Woo Jin-wook’s hand lingered on the glass that Seo Jin had just set down.
He drained it in one gulp, then set the empty glass down with a sharp clink.
Intensity flashed across Woo Jin-wook’s eyes.
He needed to observe this meeting with Seo Jin a bit longer—to determine whether it was an opportunity or a trap.
And if it was an opportunity, he would also need to decide whether to bring down Cho Seon-bong now or wait.
‘So… he’s asking me to betray him?’
*
*
*
Seo Jin turned his head.
The Korean Traditional Restaurant came into view.
‘Woo Jin-wook…’
Good-natured and capable.
He genuinely works for his constituents.
A perfectly decent politician.
But the moment one steps into the political arena, dust—large and small—inevitably clings to you.
I intend to be the one who applies that dust myself.
‘Once I make him mine…’
He would be the finest general under my command.
Seo Jin slowly turned his body.
‘Don’t drag this out. Decide by the end of today.’
*
*
*
“Where have you been?”
Inside the National Assemblyman’s Office of Cho Seon-bong.
As Woo Jin-wook had just arrived, Lee Sang-ju, who was sitting on the sofa, smiled quietly and spoke.
“Today’s the day the assemblyman is making his rounds through the district. You forgot?”
I knew well enough.
After all, Woo Jin-wook had arranged the entire district schedule.
Besides, there was still an hour to spare.
Lee Sang-ju gestured toward Cho Seon-bong’s office with his chin and continued.
“The assemblyman asked earlier where you’d gone.”
“And?”
“I told him you were out handling city council business. So if he asks, just play it cool and explain it well.”
“Thanks.”
“What are you talking about? We’re friends.”
Lee Sang-ju tapped Woo Jin-wook’s shoulder lightly.
Though he rubbed his palms together toward Cho Seon-bong and made excuses, Lee Sang-ju’s nature was genuinely good-natured.
‘That’s probably why he shows favoritism.’
Woo Jin-wook loosened his necktie and headed toward his desk.
His mind remained turbulent.
The voice of that man Seo Jin continued to echo in his ears.
“I’ll wait for your call.”
Woo Jin-wook sat down and pressed the power button on his laptop.
He searched for Prosecutor Seo Jin and found related articles.
It wasn’t difficult.
His name appeared here and there, mentioned as having solved recent unsolved cases, and there were occasional articles about him being the son of Kim Jun-man, CEO of Jaejeong Construction.
Woo Jin-wook squeezed his eyes shut.
There was no lie in what Seo Jin had said.
Now only Woo Jin-wook’s choice remained.
-Listen to the young man’s words and fight valiantly.
-No, betrayal is not an option.
-Let’s go somewhere else.
Then Cho Seon-bong’s voice rang out.
“Lee Sang-ju!”
Lee Sang-ju, who had been sitting on the sofa, jumped to his feet.
He headed toward Cho Seon-bong’s office and mouthed the words.
“You smell like alcohol. Go gargle in the bathroom or something.”
“Ah, thanks.”
Woo Jin-wook smiled bitterly as he watched Lee Sang-ju leave.
When he imagined what would follow if he committed betrayal, Lee Sang-ju came to mind.
The two men were the same age and entered politics at the same time.
They had struggled together and shared drinks.
He was a friend who always encouraged and supported him.
But if Cho Seon-bong fell and Woo Jin-wook took his place, Lee Sang-ju would have nowhere to go.
Even if he asked them to work together, Lee Sang-ju would certainly refuse out of pride.
At the very least, he didn’t want to watch Lee Sang-ju be ruined.
As Woo Jin-wook continued his thoughts, his aide stood before him.
“Chief of Staff.”
“Huh? What is it?”
“I need to go down to the first floor for a moment.”
“Ah, sure.”
The aide hurried out, and the intern manning the office also left, saying he was going to the bathroom.
Woo Jin-wook suddenly became the person responsible for answering the phone.
Sitting with his arms crossed, he suddenly wondered what Cho Seon-bong and Lee Sang-ju were discussing inside.
It was the smell of alcohol.
I hadn’t drunk much, but the intoxication had still crept in.
Woo Jin-wook leaned his ear closer to the door.
Lee Sang-ju’s voice came through.
“Ha ha, it seems Woo Jin-wook had some drinks at lunch. I could smell it, heh heh.”
At the same time, Cho Seon-bong’s irritated voice followed.
“…He drank alcohol?”
“Assemblyman, please don’t be angry. Having a drink or two while managing the district is only natural, isn’t it?”
“That crazy bastard! Really, I should just cut him loose.”
“Assemblyman! There was even an article about you being a National Assemblyman who gets along well with his staff. The comments say you have a great personality. So… just use him until this general election. Use him as a figurehead and then discard him.”
“Do you know of any decent candidates who could serve as chief of staff?”
“Have you heard of her? There’s Cha Sung-eun.”
Cha Sung-eun, whom Lee Sang-ju was recommending.
She was Lee Sang-ju’s mistress.
He was cutting out a colleague he’d worked with for decades just to be with a mere mistress.
Woo Jin-wook’s face hardened into stone.
I knew Cho Seon-bong’s temperament well enough.
But I never expected to be backstabbed by Lee Sang-ju, someone I’d shared both bitter and sweet moments with.
It felt like being struck repeatedly with a hammer.
‘Was I a fool?’
That was the only thought that came to mind.
I wanted to burst through the door right now, spew out my rage, and tear Lee Sang-ju’s face apart.
Just then, the phone on the desk vibrated with a soft buzz.
Woo Jin-wook shifted his gaze to his phone.
The caller ID showed Kim Seo-jin.
Woo Jin-wook brought the phone to his ear.
-Have you had time to think things through?
“Yes.”
-From the sound of your voice, it seems you’ve made a favorable decision.
“I’m not sure.”
-There’s something I didn’t mention before.
“What is it?”
-Artillery shells are prepared. One will be aimed at Cho Seon-bong, and the other…
“The other one?”
-…will land on Lee Sang-ju’s house. I hope this helps with your decision. So you won’t be hearing any accusations of being a traitor. Naturally, that position will become yours.
Woo Jin-wook’s pupils shifted toward Cho Seon-bong’s office.
Through the small window, I could see the irritating faces of Lee Sang-ju and Cho Seon-bong.
They were chuckling away.
I could almost hear their voices.
“He’s an idiot, an idiot! Puhahahaha!”
Woo Jin-wook glared at them, then quietly spoke into his phone.
“I’ll do it. Please help me.”

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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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