Prosecutor Kim Seo-Jin - Chapter 67

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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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On My Side? (2)
Jo Woo-jae’s sudden invitation for drinks.
Seo Jin nodded.
“…I understand. When would be convenient?”
-Friday okay? I have business in your area over the weekend.
“Yes, that works.”
The call ended there.
But my thoughts deepened.
I tapped the documents I’d been reviewing with my finger, searching my memory.
‘Jo Woo-jae?’
A man from a third-rate university who’d drifted through provincial posts.
He caught the eye of Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun and entered central power, and rumor had it he’d pocketed tens of billions just assisting him.
The kind of man who wouldn’t hesitate to play dead if Kim Young-jun ordered it.
But he shouldn’t be underestimated.
Having clawed his way up from the bottom, he had sharp instincts and wouldn’t hesitate to wade through mud.
And the reason every blade I’d wielded at Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun when I was Prosecutor Seo Jun-kyung had been blocked was because of Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae.
‘So that bastard is coming to see me?’
I couldn’t fathom the reason.
If the Agung Kiln remains case had ended in failure, he would have come to offer false condolences and pushed me under Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun, but now it’s a success.
‘What is it?’
After thinking for a moment, I shook my head.
‘It doesn’t matter.’
In the past, I was thoroughly crushed.
I was alone and had no power.
But my father is Kim Jun-man, CEO of Jaejeong Construction, and my uncle is Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun.
Even weighed against Kim Yun-hwan, my credentials wouldn’t lose.
Whatever the opponent’s intentions….
“…I can use this.”
*
*
*
-The Gangwon District Prosecutors’ Office Director Jo Yong-jun announced he would step down from his position, taking responsibility for recent events….
Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae was driving toward Gangwon Province while listening to the radio.
He bit his lip.
‘Kim Seo-jin….’
Though he was going to meet him under orders from Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun, Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae found Seo Jin ominous.
‘Nothing has gone right since that bastard got involved.’
Kim Yun-hwan, who used to dismiss Seo Jin, got blindsided and exiled.
Of course, Kim Yun-hwan acting recklessly on his own was the biggest problem, but the uneasy feeling was unavoidable.
And that bastard’s luck.
‘That’s what worries me most.’
Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae exhaled a long sigh as he parked in front of the restaurant.
An upscale establishment used for formal meetings—the place Seo Jin had reserved.
‘Damn, just as you’d expect from someone born with a silver spoon.’
Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae recalled his previous encounter with Seo Jin.
The impression he’d formed was singular.
-A spoiled brat drowning in money.
Arrogant and self-centered.
That was all there was to it.
The complete opposite of Kim Yun-hwan, who was ingratiating and warm.
Which meant meeting with Seo Jin might be even more unpleasant.
Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae clicked his tongue and opened the car door.
But then.
“You’ve arrived?”
Seo Jin stood before him.
Unlike before, he bowed at a perfect ninety-degree angle in greeting.
Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae narrowed his eyes.
‘What’s this?’
A courteous demeanor entirely at odds with his expectations.
‘I heard his personality changed after the incident….’
Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae decided to test him.
To see if he’d truly changed, or if there was some ulterior motive at play.
“Why pick such an unnecessarily expensive place? A glass of soju with some pork rinds would do just fine.”
When a carefully prepared meal gets overturned, a person’s true nature invariably surfaces.
But this time too, the outcome defied his expectations.
Seo Jin’s expression turned genuinely apologetic.
“I’m terribly sorry. Since you mentioned coming all this way, I did my research—looked through blogs and YouTube videos. But they all said this place had the best food, so…. Should I look into a pork rinds place right now instead?”
“Never mind. Let’s go in.”
Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae ended the conversation and headed toward the restaurant.
And Seo Jin watched his retreating figure with a quiet smile.
I already understood Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae and knew his nature well.
The inferiority complex of someone from a provincial university.
He could never escape the feeling of being looked down upon.
That’s why he was susceptible to those who treated him with respect.
I stood beside him and opened my mouth with an even warmer tone.
“You drove here—are you okay with alcohol?”
“I told you, I came because I have business tomorrow. I’ll sleep here. I’ve booked a hotel.”
“That’s a relief. I’ve already ordered wine.”
“Good.”
His mood seemed to have improved slightly.
But I cannot afford to let my guard down.
The man is Jo Woo-jae.
A moment later.
Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae accepted the wine and spoke.
“The Prosecutor General has been quite complimentary.”
He was undoubtedly throwing household items around, lamenting how his plans had fallen apart, yet here he was spinning a tale that even an elementary school child wouldn’t believe.
But Seo Jin feigned ignorance and opened his mouth.
“Really? Thank you.”
“How are you adjusting to life here?”
“There’s certainly much to be desired.”
Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae laughed.
“Just endure it until next year. You’re heading up to Seoul, aren’t you?”
“The Prosecutor General did mention something like that, but I suppose we’ll see when the time comes.”
“If the Prosecutor General says so, then that’s how it is.”
Glass after glass of wine went down.
The flattery continued.
“How many cases have you already cracked?”
“When you come to Seoul, you’ll be working under me. Just keep doing what you’re doing now.”
“Then I’ll guarantee your position for you.”
But Seo Jin did not relax his vigilance.
This was Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae’s specialty.
Putting someone on an airplane and making them crash without their knowledge.
As the alcohol flowed, Seo Jin sharpened his mind and studied Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae’s expression.
And it was when two bottles of wine had been emptied.
Time to hear the real reason for this meeting.
Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae opened his mouth.
“You know Kim Yun-hwan went to Dongnam County, right?”
“Yes, I’ve heard.”
“He seems to be having a hard time there. He took on an unsolved case?”
“…An unsolved case?”
I knew, but I blinked as if I didn’t.
Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae drank his wine and continued.
“Right, you know Chief Prosecutor Lee Jae-seung? He’s apparently needling him—’Seo Jin solved it, so why can’t you?’ Pathetic bastard. So here’s the thing: couldn’t you help him out a bit?”
After Seo Jin resolved the Agungyi Remains case, Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun began to wonder.
‘Can Kim Yun-hwan keep Seo Jin on a leash?’
So Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun was testing Seo Jin.
To see how far he would go.
Seo Jin had anticipated this.
But for now, I held back.
It would be strange for me to volunteer help based on my experience—that would only raise suspicion.
Even a stone bridge must be tapped a hundred times before crossing it in front of those bastards.
“The thing is, it’s difficult for me to commute to Dongnam from my position.”
“Weekends are fine though, aren’t they?”
“Ah, if it’s just that, I can help. But will Kim Yun-hwan listen to me?”
“Don’t worry. I’ll talk to him properly. He’ll be desperate enough to grasp at straws.”
Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae chuckled softly.
His expression suggested everything had gone exactly as planned.
But Seo Jin’s acceptance wasn’t to help Kim Yun-hwan.
I would pretend to help while watching him carefully.
And the moment he did something insane.
‘I’ll crush him.’
This time, I intended to throw him in prison.
With that, Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae’s business was concluded.
Now it was my time.
After more wine had been poured, I asked carefully.
“By the way, Chief Prosecutor.”
“Yes?”
“Would it be alright if I contacted you when I face difficulties in the future?”
Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae, who had been sipping wine, froze and looked at me.
“Contact me?”
“I’d like to get your advice.”
Contacting him wasn’t difficult.
I had his phone number and just needed to press the call button.
But saying it like this….
‘This bastard….’
Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae saw that Seo Jin wanted to build connections in Seoul.
A man from a prestigious family, exiled to the provinces, had become soft and pliable.
And he thought he understood why.
‘Is he worried about after Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun leaves the Prosecution Service?’
Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun’s career at the Prosecution Service wouldn’t last much longer.
Even after he left, his influence would remain, but for how long was uncertain.
But Seo Jin was just beginning.
It was enough reason to worry about the time after the Prosecutor General’s umbrella disappeared.
‘So you’re trying to secure my line?’
Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae smiled slightly.
Being around someone like Seo Jin didn’t seem so bad.
Good family background and real talent.
Unexpectedly, he was even affable.
Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae extended his glass.
“Alright, next time I’ll buy the drinks.”
Seo Jin smiled broadly and raised his glass with both hands.
“Thank you.”
For now, this would suffice.
Lowering his guard was enough.
Strangling a neck was something best done slowly.
Breaking a politician’s neck in the arena of power—that was the executive secretary’s role.
Severing the Prosecutor General’s neck would fall to Jo Woo-jae, the Chief Prosecutor.
“Get in!”
The substitute driver arrived, and Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae waved goodbye as he departed for the hotel.
Once the vehicle disappeared into the distance, Seo Jin slowly straightened his posture.
His expression was entirely different from when he’d been with Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae.
His eyes had turned cold, fixed on the departing vehicle with predatory intensity.
Then he slowly raised his phone to his ear.
The person on the other end was Do Gwang-hyun, who had laundered the funds for him.
-Oh my, what brings you to call at this hour?
“Chuncheon Suite Hotel, vehicle number 0924.”
-Pardon? Why are you asking about that all of a sudden?
Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae had said he had business in Chuncheon.
It was obvious he’d come to buy land.
Land that would soon be developed.
“Find out what land he’s buying and tail him. It’s going to skyrocket.”
-…You’re telling me to go to Chuncheon right now?
“Yeah. Consider it done and hang up.”
-Wait, sir?
The general election had ended.
The elected representatives needed to recover the funds they’d poured into the campaign.
The easiest method was development with a respectable pretext.
Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae was the kind of man who had an uncanny knack for picking up on such information.
*
*
*
“Did you come here to mess with me?”
The next day, Seo Jin came to meet Kim Yun-hwan.
But from the start, his attitude was hostile.
He’d recklessly taken the Prosecutor General’s son’s murder case and bungled the investigation, and now he was blaming Seo Jin for it.
‘Selfish bastard.’
Seo Jin couldn’t just let it slide either.
If he wanted to make the man trust him, he had to address this once and for all.
“Why are you making that face? Is it my fault you came here? If you’d given me a heads-up, things wouldn’t have gotten this bad!”
“Damn it. So I’m the one who stepped in shit! That’s enough. Get out.”
“I wouldn’t have come if Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae hadn’t asked me to.”
At the mention of a trustworthy name, Kim Yun-hwan’s eyes widened.
“What? Chief Prosecutor?”
“Yeah.”
Seo Jin brushed past Kim Yun-hwan and stepped inside.
A 39-pyeong apartment.
Spacious enough to feel burdensome for a single occupant.
But there was nothing particularly striking about it.
The only curiosity was the stack of documents piled on his desk.
Kim Yun-hwan, following behind, pressed further.
“Hey, Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae asked you to help?”
“Yeah. He said since we’re blood relatives, we should stick together and support each other. That’s the only way to survive in Seoul where you lose your nose the moment you close your eyes.”
Kim Yun-hwan let out a short laugh.
He’d assumed Seo Jin was desperate to move up to Seoul.
Otherwise, there was no reason to show up and help someone who’d even stolen his case.
‘So that’s what this is about?’
Meanwhile, Seo Jin headed toward Kim Yun-hwan’s desk.
He’d meant to look at the documents, but the madman had brought out evidence.
The school uniform the victim had been wearing at the time.
Seo Jin pointed at the uniform and tilted his head.
“Why did you bring this out?”
“If you’re going to nag, get out. Otherwise, shut up and help.”
Kim Yun-hwan spoke forcefully at first.
But his thoughts were different.
He was worried that if Seo Jin really left, what would he do?
He wanted to use Seo Jin’s ability—the man who’d solved cold cases multiple times.
“Sigh… I want to leave too. But if I want an easier life in Seoul, I have no choice.”
Seo Jin shifted his gaze back to the desk.
He flipped open the notebook organizing the case, and suddenly Kim Yun-hwan lunged at him.
He snatched the notebook away, baring his teeth savagely.
“Why are you looking at this, you bastard!”
An incomprehensibly sensitive reaction.
But in that brief moment, Seo Jin saw it through psychometry.
It was exactly as I’d suspected.
I’d expected it, but the reality was far too shocking.
‘This lunatic. Is he really planning to fabricate evidence?’

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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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