Prosecutor Kim Seo-Jin - Chapter 76

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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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Your Face (1)
Seo Jin and Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae hurried out of the conference room.
The moment the door closed, Prosecutor Kim Young-jun unfastened his watch.
Then he placed it lightly on the table.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
Without a word, he began slapping Kim Yun-hwan across the face.
Dark bruises bloomed across Kim Yun-hwan’s cheeks, yet Prosecutor Kim Young-jun’s eyes remained cold and indifferent.
Crack! Crack!
Finally, Kim Yun-hwan crashed backward onto the floor.
His body trembling violently, he scrambled backward in his fallen state.
“Father, please.”
He pleaded desperately, but Prosecutor Kim Young-jun ignored his voice entirely.
He quietly picked up a chair and hurled it.
Crash!
Kim Yun-hwan wept uncontrollably, rubbing his palms together.
“Father, I’m sorry. I’m truly sorry.”
“Sorry? For what?”
When Kim Yun-hwan had framed Kim Tae-kyung as the Serial Killer and subjected him to interrogation bordering on torture, he had been confident.
But after taking a few blows, he was now begging with every fiber of his being.
Kim Yun-hwan wanted nothing more than for the beating to stop.
“I wanted to do well. That’s why I didn’t examine things carefully enough! I’m sorry. I’m sorry for everything.”
As Prosecutor Kim Young-jun listened to what amounted to a wailing confession, he placed a cigarette between his lips.
He lit it with his lighter and spoke.
“Did you fabricate evidence?”
“What?”
“I asked if you fabricated it.”
Kim Yun-hwan swallowed hard.
It was difficult to answer truthfully.
If he did, he might actually die.
So he kept his mouth firmly shut, but Prosecutor Kim Young-jun seized another chair.
Kim Yun-hwan’s pupils quivered, and he hastily opened his mouth.
“Yes, yes I did. I fabricated it.”
In that instant, Kim Yun-hwan sensed something had gone terribly wrong.
Anger was rising in Prosecutor Kim Young-jun’s eyes, which had been so emotionless.
Trembling violently, he watched as Prosecutor Kim Young-jun approached with heavy strides.
Then, gently caressing Kim Yun-hwan’s darkened cheek, he spoke in a tender voice.
“When will my son finally become human?”
His eyes and his voice conveyed entirely different messages.
Kim Yun-hwan found that gentle tone far more terrifying.
And without knowing what he was saying, he began spilling words as they came to mind.
“Ah, I’ll do better from now on. I really will. I won’t manipulate anything anymore….”
“Who did you work with?”
“What?”
“Answer me!”
Kim Young-jun’s voice thundered like lightning.
“Ah, Father….”
Kim Young-jun knew the truth.
Kim Yun-hwan lacked the capacity to devise scenarios alone and act with such audacity.
There had to be a loyal lackey he carried around with him.
And Kim Yun-hwan’s mouth opened.
“The, the Dongnam Police Station Detective Captain.”
“Ha….”
Kim Young-jun ran his hand across his head.
At the same moment, Kim Yun-hwan exhaled a sigh.
He thought the time for violence had ended.
As Kim Young-jun rose to his feet, Kim Yun-hwan also straightened his clothes and stood hesitantly.
“Father, I won’t disappoint you again. I’m sorry.”
Kim Young-jun was virtually assured to become the next or subsequent Prosecutor General.
In other words, he could manipulate the law itself.
It hurt, but a few blows would resolve everything.
Kim Yun-hwan had lived this way his entire life and believed it would be the same this time.
“I’ll clean up as much as I can….”
At that moment, Kim Young-jun reached out and searched through Kim Yun-hwan’s jacket inner pocket.
Kim Yun-hwan wondered what this was about but remained still.
But what Kim Young-jun pulled out was Kim Yun-hwan’s prosecutor’s identification card.
“Ah, Father?”
Kim Young-jun dropped the identification card.
And.
“The Prosecutor’s Office doesn’t suit you.”
It meant to take off his robes.
Kim Yun-hwan’s eyes widened involuntarily.
He had become a prosecutor because he wanted his father’s approval.
He had worked hard, and worked hard again.
But now he was being told to remove his robes.
“Father!”
“I’ll prevent your arrest. I don’t want to see my son dragged through the mud.”
Kim Young-jun’s voice was cold.
Kim Yun-hwan felt that further words would be futile and staggered.
And Kim Young-jun turned away mercilessly, leaving the conference room.
Kim Yun-hwan stared at Kim Young-jun’s retreating figure with vacant eyes.
And when the door slammed shut, her expression twisted as if she were about to cry.
Then, like a puppet with its strings cut, she collapsed onto the floor and began to weep.
At that moment.
Seo Jin stood in the hallway with Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae.
To be precise, they were blocking others from entering the conference room.
Between Seo Jin and Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae, there was no conversation.
In the heavy silence, only the sound of Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae’s sigh could be heard.
“Wipe it.”
It was the first words from Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae’s mouth.
When I turned my gaze, Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae was handing me a handkerchief.
“Thank you.”
As Seo Jin wiped away the flowing blood, Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae spoke again.
“I’m sorry.”
“Pardon?”
Suddenly apologizing—what was this about?
Seo Jin tilted his head at the unexpected remark.
Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae smiled bitterly and opened his mouth.
“You said something last time, didn’t you?”
-The case that Yun-hwan is handling now, something about it feels off. I can’t quite put it into words, but based on the circumstances….
Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae recalled that voice and continued.
“If only I had been more cautious after hearing what you said….”
There was only one reason for bringing up such a thing in the current situation.
‘Please don’t tell Prosecutor Kim Young-jun about what I said back then.’
Before an incident occurs, there are always signs.
Seo Jin had warned of those signs, and Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae had concealed them.
If this matter reached the ears of Prosecutor Kim Young-jun, Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae’s future would be truly grim.
Seo Jin nodded.
And he answered clearly so that Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae could be reassured.
“It’s in the past. I’ll keep my mouth shut.”
I had burdened Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae with a debt.
A debt that would have to be repaid twofold someday.
Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae knew it too, and he smiled bitterly.
“Thank you.”
“But there’s one thing I’d like to ask.”
“What is it?”
“…What’s going to happen to Yun-hwan? If there’s anything I can do to help, I’d like to.”
The chances of Kim Yun-hwan willingly standing in court were virtually zero.
Seo Jin intended to hear their plan and devise his next strategy.
But Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae let out a hollow laugh.
The man who had beaten Kim Yun-hwan was offering to help without hesitation.
“Seo Jin… it’s funny to say this, but being too kind isn’t good either.”
“They’re family. And I understand the punches. My brother wasn’t in his right mind either.”
“Tsk.”
Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae clicked his tongue and opened his mouth quietly.
“First, we need to find a scapegoat.”
One person’s life had been destroyed by the investigation agency’s reckless investigation.
But what if all of it was a lie….
“The public will be furious.”
And that fury would undoubtedly be directed at Kim Yun-hwan.
“Before that, we need to make Yun-hwan a victim too. When you think about it, it’s the police’s mistake, right?”
-Initial investigation failure.
-Coercive investigation to obtain confession.
-Professional profilers fabricating evidence.
“Do you think Yun-hwan’s traces will be found here?”
Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae spread both his hands.
A gesture meaning there was nothing.
“We’re the ones who handle the law.”
Faced with such brazen sophistry, Seo Jin responded only with a quiet smile.
‘Isn’t this something Kim Yun-hwan started?’
Yet the bastard was preparing to become a victim and slip through the legal net.
Because he had a father who was a prosecutor general.
Seo Jin glanced at Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae’s expression and carefully opened his mouth.
He was curious whether the man had any conscience at all.
“Still, shouldn’t we share responsibility for this matter?”
“Us?”
“Yes, if we just dump everything on the police, later the relationship and….”
Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae made an astonished expression.
As if he truly didn’t understand.
“Have you ever seen us apologize?”
His face was truly shameless.
Then footsteps were heard.
Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun was approaching Seo Jin and Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae.
Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun spoke as he passed the two of them.
“Seo Jin, we’ll talk later. Woo-jae, come with me.”
Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae followed in his wake.
Seo Jin watched the two figures disappear into the distance and let out the sigh he’d been holding back.
“Ha….”
Then he picked up his phone and sent a message to reporter Lee Eun-ha.
-Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun is heading your way.
When no one else was in sight, Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun opened his mouth to Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae.
“Any celebrities we can expose?”
Nothing worked better than celebrity scandals to divert public attention.
They appeared on broadcast with innocent faces, but the twist—not really a twist—was that their true selves were debauched and ugly.
Every article on the portal sites would be plastered with their names.
Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae opened his mouth as if he’d been waiting for this.
“I’ll put some pressure on PD Ui-jin from ’25 Hours’. It seems he played around with some trainees, and some of them became successful. Once that breaks, Kim Yun-hwan’s name will be buried in no time.”
Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae licked his dry lips.
Right now, whatever orders Prosecutor Kim Young-jun gave had to be carried out immediately.
If not, there was no telling what hell awaited.
Prosecutor Kim Young-jun nodded.
“Do it that way. The Dongnam Police Station Detective Captain—it seems he’s the one who corrupted Yun-hwan. Find out what he’s holding.”
The Dongnam Police Station Detective Captain had been decided as the person who would take responsibility for this incident.
Of course, he wasn’t the one who corrupted Kim Yun-hwan.
But with a single word from Prosecutor Kim Young-jun, he had to become the scapegoat.
“And Woo-jae, let’s think about your problem after this matter is resolved.”
“Understood.”
Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae resolved to wrap up this case cleanly no matter what.
A short while later.
Seo Jin was meeting with reporter Lee Eun-ha in an empty office at the Convention Center.
Reporter Lee Eun-ha stared intently at Seo Jin’s face.
“You can’t even fight, so why did you do that?”
His lips were swollen, and there were slight bruises on his cheekbones and the bridge of his nose.
Reporter Lee Eun-ha continued speaking as she pulled out ointment from her bag.
“I fall down so easily that I always carry this with me. Sigh, but when I saw it earlier, Prosecutor Kim Yun-hwan looked fine. Still, your eyes are okay. If it swelled up to this extent, on such a handsome face, really….”
It was ridiculous to say he’d deliberately taken the hit out of pride.
In situations like this, it was better to just stay quiet.
Seo Jin took the ointment from her hand and asked.
“So, did you hear it?”
“Yes.”
Reporter Lee Eun-ha clapped her hands together.
Right after parting with Prosecutor Kim Young-jun, Seo Jin had sent her a message.
So she had hidden in an office along the hallway they passed through, listening intently.
“I was pressed against the door like a cicada, you know? But they spoke so quietly that I couldn’t hear the details. What was it? The Dongnam Police Station Detective Captain? They talked about him like he was the culprit.”
That much was enough.
In Seo Jin’s mind, a panorama of what those bastards would do was already unfolding.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
“But what time works for you? The company’s in an uproar because I shot a movie. I wonder if I’m getting promoted at lightning speed. So I want to repay you—what would be good? Expensive alcohol works too. I’ll bring my corporate card.”
It was while listening to reporter Lee Eun-ha’s voice.
A vibration rang from my pocket.
When I pulled it out, it was a message from Prosecutor Kim Young-jun.
Come to my house.
I tilted my head in confusion.
‘Come to his house?’
But Kim Young-jun’s house would have Kim Yun-hwan there too.
‘What’s this about? Could it be…?’
It was unlikely, but there was a possibility that Kim Young-jun had listened to Kim Yun-hwan’s words.
After all, they were father and son.
If the son was pushed to the brink, he might give in once or twice…
‘But that’s not his personality at all.’
No matter how much Kim Young-jun was a breeding ground for corruption intertwined with power, there was a reason he had risen to that position.
He was a man with pride and conviction in the Prosecutor’s Office.
He wasn’t the type to listen to Kim Yun-hwan, who had committed fraud, chewing me out in front of me like this.
‘So what is it?’
*
*
*
Kim Young-jun sat in the study room.
Kim Yun-hwan showed no sign of presence—whether he was holed up in his room or hadn’t come at all.
Kim Young-jun put a cigarette in his mouth and spoke.
“Yun-hwan will be leaving the Prosecutor’s Office.”
“Yes, I understand.”
It was as expected.
No matter who Kim Young-jun was, it would be difficult for him to fully protect him.
Instead of being arrested, he had to bear appropriate responsibility.
The problem was that responsibility amounted to little more than resignation.
“From now on, you need to do well.”
My fist clenched beneath the table.
Finally, Kim Young-jun’s attention was beginning to focus on me.
“You’re doing well now, but from now on, you need to do even better. Taking on Yun-hwan’s share as well.”
“Understood.”
My voice lacked strength.
Pitiful enough that a stranger would notice.
I exhaled a sigh and lifted my hand to the table.
As I braced my hand against the table, that was the moment.
My psychometry ability suddenly activated.
The world drained into black and white.
Kim Young-jun sat at the table.
Cigarette butts were piled high in the ashtray, and his face was filled with deep concern.
As Kim Young-jun exhaled nothing but cigarette smoke, he slowly reached his hand toward his phone.
“It’s me. You caught the real culprit?”
He had called the newly appointed prosecutor general at the Gangwon District Prosecutors’ Office.
Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun stubbed out his cigarette and continued speaking.
“I hope our family can see this through to the end. No, I’m not asking for the case itself. I’m asking that you entrust the trial proceedings to Seo Jin. He was the one who made the initial arrest, wasn’t he? I’d like to put the spotlight on Seo Jin’s shoulders.”
The world regained its color.
Seo Jin turned slowly toward Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun.
Now it was clear what story would unfold.
He intended to restore the honor tarnished by Kim Yun-hwan’s foolish blunder through me.
The face of someone who had found his perfect chess piece.
The way he grasped Seo Jin’s hand the moment Kim Yun-hwan crumbled was almost frightening.
But it was an opportunity.
Seo Jin made the first move.
“Uncle.”
“Speak.”
“I want to resolve this case myself. I want to restore our family’s honor.”
Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun’s expression became subtle.
But only for a moment.
He slowly nodded.
“It will be difficult.”
“That’s fine.”
“You’ll need to secure a death sentence that everyone accepts. Can you do it?”
The target was Yoon Min-woo.
The goal had always been capital punishment.
I wanted to gift that insufferable face the shadow of death.
And now it was Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun’s turn to direct all media attention toward Seo Jin.

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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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