Prosecutor Kim Seo-Jin - Chapter 46

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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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You too? (1)
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A residential area not far from the District Prosecution Office.
Beep.
The door swung open with the sound.
A small villa with two rooms and a modest living room—about 500 square feet.
Lee So-hee stumbled through the entrance, a bundle clutched in her hands.
‘I’m tipsy.’
She hadn’t drunk that much, yet exhaustion weighed heavily on her.
Days of sleepless nights had taken their toll.
“…A transfer? I don’t understand.”
Lee So-hee didn’t turn on the living room lights.
She hurled the bundle onto the floor and collapsed face-first onto the sofa.
After lying there for a long while, her gaze drifted to the bundle scattered across the floor.
It was filled with documents she needed to review.
If I started work now, I could bring them with me when I came in tomorrow.
But right now, I had no desire to do anything.
The afternoon’s conversation in the District Chief’s office replayed in my mind.
When the District Chief suggested going to Seoul, I had hesitated, watching their expressions carefully.
I knew that saying yes would lead to awkward situations ahead, yet I held my tongue, unwilling to upset the District Chief and Chief Prosecutor.
Recalling that memory, I muttered to myself.
“Fool. What a fool.”
But Seo Jin was different.
The moment he heard those words, he spoke without hesitation.
“I still wish to remain in Gangwon Province.”
Not only I but the District Chief and Chief Prosecutor were taken aback.
The way he expressed his thoughts boldly without reading the room.
And yet, his ability to soften the atmosphere so as not to offend the other party.
‘I envy that about him.’
And just now.
I ran into Seo Jin at the meat restaurant and told him it seemed like he’d be going to Central Headquarters instead of Seoul.
I thought he’d be displeased to hear a transfer order different from what he expected.
The Seo Jin I’d observed until now was someone who took the initiative in everything, judging and acting on his own terms.
But his reaction was not what I anticipated.
Clearly.
‘He was looking forward to it.’
The moment he heard about Central Headquarters, he lit up as if a treasure chest had been revealed to him.
I had no idea what Seo Jin was thinking.
“I want to go too.”
Lee So-hee picked up a pillow from the sofa and buried her face in it.
She had always lived by reading the room, she thought to herself.
That’s why she wanted to live boldly like Seo Jin, pursuing the life she truly desired.
Bzzzzt.
Her phone vibrated.
With her face still buried in the pillow, Lee So-hee moved only her hand, pulling the phone from her pocket.
She shifted her gaze to check the caller ID.
—Mom.
A sigh escaped Lee So-hee’s lips.
She lifted her upper body and swept her hair back.
After biting her lower lip firmly, she brought the phone to her ear.
In the darkened living room, Lee So-hee’s voice rang out.
“I’m not going. I won’t go. But this time, it’s not up to me anymore. So tell the Assemblyman to do his best. Either keep me here or send me to the ends of the earth.”
The other end of the line fell silent.
No voice came through.
Then.
—…Will you be okay?
“Yeah.”
As Lee So-hee lowered the phone, her eyes were cold and sharp.
Her mother’s voice continued from the phone she had already set down.
—So-hee, the Assemblyman loves you…
Lee So-hee pressed the end call button firmly.
Just then, her phone vibrated again with a sharp buzz, and Lee So-hee glanced irritably at the caller ID.
—Seo Jin.
They had just parted ways moments ago.
Lee So-hee pressed the answer button and brought the phone to her ear.
“Yeah.”
—Beer to wash it down?
“What are you talking about? I’m full.”
—You said you had room for chicken. I’m outside your place, so come out.
“Hey.”
But the call had already ended.
He really does whatever he wants.
Lee So-hee pulled at her hair in exasperation and got to her feet.
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It was a pojangmacha not far from Lee So-hee’s house.
Seo Jin smiled faintly and opened his mouth.
“I don’t know the details, but I can make an educated guess.”
“…What are you guessing?”
“Why you’re still in Dongnam County.”
“What?”
Lee So-hee’s pupils trembled.
Seo Jin picked up his beer glass and opened his mouth.
“You know who my uncle is, right?”
At the sudden remark, Lee So-hee nodded.
“Chief Prosecutor Kim Young-jun.”
“Yeah, but my uncle doesn’t really like me. If I go to Seoul, he’d probably try to kill me. He hates that I’m doing better than his own son. You know how it is? A complete stranger owning a building is fine, but if your neighbor’s salary goes up by a hundred thousand won, your stomach aches.”
“So that’s why you didn’t go?”
“That’s about it.”
Seo Jin deliberately exaggerated his story.
And.
“But I suspect you’re in a similar situation?”
Lee So-hee, who had hesitated for a moment, nodded.
“…Yeah, something like that.”
“But don’t worry this time. I’ll be transferred to Central Headquarters.”
“What, are you playing fortune teller again?”
Lee So-hee laughed and picked up her beer.
Sometimes, Seo Jin had an eerie way of getting things right.
But this time, she hoped he was correct.
Seo Jin smiled faintly and opened his mouth.
“This transfer is a political matter. What do you think the District Chief’s reason for going to Seoul is?”
He’d been marked as the ruling party’s attack dog.
“But what if someone blocks it? They could, theoretically. But right now, there’s no justification for it.”
“…Justification?”
The ruling party right now is the Hanmin Party.
But the Dongnam District Prosecutor’s Office arrested Eom Il-seop, who belongs to the Hanmin Party.
“The Hanmin Party will package it for the public.”
-District Chief Jeon Dong-guk wielded his blade against us.
-But we’re bringing District Chief Jeon Dong-guk to Seoul.
-We’ll even expand his authority so he can investigate regardless of political power.
“The general election is right around the corner. Would any politician dare oppose this?”
Of course not.
This is the only time politicians pay attention to the people’s eyes.
Even if they dislike it, they have to endure it.
“No one would take such a risky move just to block the path of two newly appointed prosecutors. What’s so special about us?”
“….”
“Besides, it’s not Seoul or Gyeonggi Province—it’s the Gangwon Provincial Prosecutors’ Office.”
Lee So-hee nodded.
At still being in her twenties, understanding political relationships felt somewhat difficult for her.
Yet she had a feeling that Seo Jin’s words would actually come true.
Lee So-hee opened her mouth with a brightened mood.
“I feel better now. Great! I’ll buy the chicken today.”
“Huh?”
Lee So-hee flipped through the menu with a grin, tapping the pages.
“Order something, order something. What should I get you?”
“Wait, I’m curious about something.”
Lee So-hee looked up from the menu she’d been flipping through, her eyes asking “What? Tell me?” as she gazed at Seo Jin.
Seo Jin wanted to ask, “Why are you so cold to other men?”
Watching Lee So-hee, she was quite kind to women, but toward men, she blew a cold wind like a typhoon.
“What is it? What?”
But he didn’t ask.
It seemed Lee So-hee had her own reasons this time as well.
“…Can I order something over 20,000 won?”
Lee So-hee glared at Seo Jin.
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“The Gangwon Provincial Prosecutors’ Office is fine. Go ahead.”
At that moment, a man sat on a sofa in the darkness.
The man set down his phone and rose to his feet, then walked toward the window with heavy steps.
The man stood before the window and lowered his gaze.
Below, Seoul’s night scenery spread out.
Light flickered across the man’s face, appearing and disappearing in rhythm with the dancing illumination.
And the man gazing at the lights adorning the night exhaled a sigh and murmured.
“Lee So-hee…”
His voice carried a hint of displeasure mixed with considerable regret.
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Days later.
Lee Myung-soo, the Chief Prosecutor, entered the office and leaned against the door with his arms crossed.
And what he said was:
“Seo Jin, pack your things.”
“Yes?”
“What? Are you going to say you don’t like it this time too?”
A personnel transfer order had come down.
Seo Jin, Dongnam District Prosecutor’s Office → Gangwon District Prosecutors’ Office
Lee So-hee transferred from Dongnam District Prosecutor’s Office → Gangwon District Prosecutors’ Office
Seo Jin shook his head.
“I have to go. It’s an official order.”
Investigator Lim Jung-taek and Administrator Do Min-ji looked at Seo Jin with reluctant eyes.
Though it hadn’t been long, we’d been practically glued together for nearly twenty-four hours.
But now I was leaving.
“On one hand, it’s a shame. But on the other hand, it’s wonderful. We can finally leave on time, right?”
At Investigator Lim Jung-taek’s joke, I let out a small laugh and pulled a card from my wallet.
“Our team should have a dinner celebration today. Since you’ve all worked so hard, I’ll use the card I’ve been saving—my father’s. You know? He has plenty of money.”
“Your father’s card? Now I’m suddenly going to miss the prosecutor leaving so much.”
Administrator Do Min-ji was saying beside him, “Me too, me too.”
Prosecutor Lee Myung-soo tapped Seo Jin’s arm.
“Come here for a moment.”
Seo Jin and Prosecutor Lee Myung-soo stood in the outdoor break room.
Prosecutor Lee Myung-soo lit a cigarette and opened his mouth.
“You know I’m going too, right?”
It wasn’t just Seo Jin and Lee So-hee going to Gangwon District Prosecutors’ Office.
Prosecutor Lee Myung-soo was included as well.
“Yes, sir.”
“Don’t openly show your happiness out of consideration for the other staff members.”
“Understood.”
Quite a number of prosecutors were being transferred this time.
Some were heading to the capital region, but others were being reassigned to Gyeongsang and Jeolla provinces.
When I thought about it, it was actually absurd that nearly thirty prosecutors had been stationed in such a rural area.
But it was difficult to transfer everyone at once.
Many people were still remaining.
Like Prosecutor Lee Jae-seung from Criminal Division 1.
In any case, showing obvious delight about leaving Dongnam County would be quite rude to them.
Seo Jin nodded.
“Understood.”
“And…”
Prosecutor Lee Myung-soo tapped the ash from his cigarette and continued.
“What do you think the Central Headquarters will think of you?”
Even if Prosecutor Lee Myung-soo went to the Central Headquarters, his position wouldn’t be shaken.
He had seniority and remembered how he’d ended up in this exile in the first place.
But I was different.
In terms of rank, I was at the bottom.
In other words, I was the one who’d been demoted to Dongnam County due to insufficient ability.
My achievements were remarkable, but so remarkable that they wouldn’t believe them.
They’d likely think my seniors had pushed me forward.
That’s what they’ll think.
Lee Myung-soo’s voice continued.
“Maybe they’ll assume some incompetent nobody got into Central Headquarters through his uncle’s connections.”
“…Lee So-hee must be having a hard time too.”
“No, she’s fine.”
She’s from the same Dongnam County as everyone else.
But Lee Myung-soo said flatly that Lee So-hee would be fine.
When Seo Jin frowned, Lee Myung-soo gave him the answer in one sentence.
“She’s pretty. In terms of looks, she’s a Harvard valedictorian.”
Now it all made sense.
Lookism.
Seo Jin wasn’t exactly ugly either.
But the kindness men showed toward Lee So-hee was beyond imagination.
Just looking at Lee Jung-woo from a few days ago made it clear.
He was trying to make Lee So-hee laugh.
“Want to hear a funny story?”
“No.”
“Do you know who the square’s sibling is?”
“I have no idea.”
“A triangle. Four and three. Hahahaha.”
“Yes.”
“So you like movies?”
“No.”
“What do you like?”
“Nothing.”
If Seo Jin hadn’t stopped him, Lee Jung-woo would have been even more pathetic.
Lee Myung-soo patted Seo Jin on the back.
“Hang in there. If it gets tough, come by my office. I’ll buy you a drink.”
Seo Jin shrugged with an unbothered expression.
In truth, such looks were familiar to me.
When I was Seo Jun-kyung, I had graduated from the Korea National Open University.
People looked at me with curious eyes, as if I were a monkey in a zoo.
I always had to face the limitations of my university’s reputation.
That whispered gossip still echoes in my ears.
Compared to then, this is nothing to laugh about.
Once I demonstrate my skills and results, those looks will naturally disappear.
Seo Jin opened his mouth.
“I’m confident.”
The shell may be inexperienced, but a veteran is hidden inside.
I’ll change how they see me and seize the opportunities that Central Headquarters offers.
And that opportunity was already within my grasp.
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Using the weekend, Seo Jin was packing his belongings.
He was moving closer to Central Headquarters now.
Official housing existed, but other prosecutors had already claimed those spots, making it difficult to secure one.
‘That…’
There was no space for the medieval European-style dining tables and sofas that reflected his mother’s taste.
So this time too, he’d rented a modest apartment—around 900 square feet.
He was pulling books from the shelf and binding them tightly with cord when his younger brother called.
-What are you doing?
“Preparing for the move.”
-Isn’t it a full-service move?
A full-service move meant they handled everything.
After the move, final organization fell to him, but until then, he didn’t need to lift a finger.
“Still, I want to handle the basics myself.”
-Want help? I could be there in two hours. Haven’t seen the ocean in a while.
“No need.”
-Come on. Let me help.
“I work better alone.”
Seo Jin smiled quietly and reached toward the bookshelf.
He pulled out a few more books.
‘Huh?’
The back of the bookshelf had an open design—no backing panel.
So when he removed the books, the wall behind was fully visible.
Scribbled across it were messy notes.
‘What is this?’
Seo Jin hastily pulled out more books.
The first words he saw were…
-Kim Yun-hwan: Appears composed but is temperamental. Raised that way since childhood, so lacks patience. Hates losing to others. If I exploit this…?
These words were written by Seo Jin.
Not the current Seo Jin, but the past version of himself.
His eyes narrowed.
In that instant, the world lost its color.
His psychometry ability had awakened.

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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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