Prosecutor Kim Seo-Jin - Chapter 83

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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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Making a Beggar (1)
The traffic light changed, and Kim Young-jun and Jo Woo-jae approached with measured steps.
Kim Young-jun, standing before me, slowly opened his mouth.
“Were you in the middle of dinner?”
“Ah, yes.”
Kim Young-jun smiled quietly and adjusted my collar.
Then he tapped my arm and spoke.
“Well done.”
The Prosecutor’s Office’s prestige, which had plummeted over the Yoon Min-woo case, had recovered somewhat.
Kim Yun-hwan’s name wasn’t even being mentioned anymore.
Kim Young-jun would be satisfied.
But something felt odd.
This wasn’t the kind of person who would come all this way just to offer praise.
If he had been that warm-hearted, Kim Yun-hwan wouldn’t have gone so far astray.
My eyes filled with questions as I looked at him.
“I was just passing by. I had something to discuss with your prosecutor general anyway.”
….
“Our nephew—we need to bring him to Seoul now.”
The alcohol seemed to evaporate from my system instantly.
Transfer orders for ordinary prosecutors typically come around once every two years.
In other words, my transfer was exceptional.
Kim Young-jun had met with Yeo Jun-hyuk to handle that matter.
And these words meant everything had gone smoothly.
As I stood there dazed, Jo Woo-jae, standing beside me, opened his mouth.
“You can be happy about this.”
“Ah, thank you so much!”
I bowed deeply.
Now it was Seoul.
There had been several opportunities before, but I had refused them all for one reason.
—I wanted to enter with confidence.
Now there was no reason to refuse.
I had solved the Kang-chi and unsolved cases back-to-back, and this time I had restored the Prosecutor’s Office’s honor.
There would be no cold stares about being the prosecutor general’s nephew when I went to Seoul.
Besides, Kim Yun-hwan was gone.
I wouldn’t waste my life as his supporting actor.
“Drink moderately and head back.”
Kim Young-jun patted my back and turned away.
The two of them left, and I bowed once more toward their retreating figures.
The remaining months ahead.
After this year passed and the new year began, the official transfer order would come down.
‘There’s still work to be done until then….’
I straightened my back slowly.
My gaze shifted toward Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae.
‘Jo Woo-jae….’
The smile that had been on my face moments ago vanished without a trace.
With sharp eyes, I consumed the back of Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae’s figure.
‘I’ll be busy from now on.’
*
*
*
“I’ve transferred Seo Jin to Seoul. He’ll be coming home next year.”
A few days later, on the weekend.
Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun suddenly visited Kim Jun-man, Seo Jin’s Father.
Though the visit was unexpected, Kim Jun-man welcomed him warmly.
“Thank you. It’s all thanks to you.”
“What are you saying? His resume was impressive. Seo Jin did well.”
“We should have a drink.”
Kim Jun-man led Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun to the reception room overlooking the Han River.
He picked up a bottle of wine and opened his mouth.
“How about this? They say it’s quite good.”
But Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun, rolling up his shirt sleeves, shook his head.
“No, how about we have some soju instead?”
“Soju?”
“Yes.”
Kim Jun-man tilted his head in confusion.
Since achieving social success, they had never sat side by side drinking soju.
He had maintained propriety by drinking wine, and when he wanted to get drunk, he turned to whiskey.
Soju was a memory from their impoverished days.
But today, Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun’s expression didn’t look good.
Though it had been a while since seeing his younger brother, he seemed somehow melancholic.
Kim Jun-man nodded readily.
“All right. Let’s have some.”
Shortly after, the housekeeper moved busily about, and the table became laden with food.
And in an instant, two bottles of soju were completely emptied.
When they had reached a certain level of intoxication, Kim Jun-man tilted the soju bottle and asked carefully.
“But is something wrong?”
“I sent Yun-hwan to America.”
“When?”
“Today.”
“Sigh… you could have at least mentioned it.”
“Enough. The guy’s a fugitive—why would you spread rumors about him?”
Kim Young-jun drained his soju in one long gulp.
He stared at the empty glass and continued.
“It broke my heart sending him to America, but when I saw him at the airport holding his mother’s hand and crying like that… I got angry. A grown man acting like that—I wondered if I’d raised him wrong.”
Kim Young-jun laughed bitterly.
“Sorry. You’re the only one I can say this to.”
At his brother’s words, Kim Jun-man exhaled heavily and brought the soju glass to his lips.
Kim Young-jun’s voice continued.
“Yumi’s doing well, but I don’t understand what’s wrong with Yun-hwan.”
Yumi was Kim Young-jun’s second child, the same age as Seo Jin.
She was currently working as a resident at a university hospital.
Kim Young-jun set down his soju glass with a sharp clink and spoke.
“Damn it. The problem is the one who’s struggling.”
All Kim Jun-man could do was quietly listen to his brother’s voice and refill his glass.
A few more rounds of drinks passed between them.
Kim Young-jun refilled Kim Jun-man’s glass and opened his mouth.
“Brother. Seo Jin is a prosecutor. And I’m not exaggerating—there’s no one better suited to that profession than him. I’ll pave the way for his future.”
“….”
“Jin-young wants to open a restaurant, right? That suits him. He’s always liked taking care of others and cooking since he was young.”
Kim Jun-man’s eyes shifted toward Kim Young-jun.
He wondered what his brother was getting at, suddenly bringing up Seo Jin and Jin-young.
“Who are you going to pass the company to?”
Kim Jun-man’s eyes narrowed.
Seo Jin was a prosecutor, Jin-young was pursuing cooking, and Kim Young-jun’s daughter Yumi was walking the path of medicine.
That left only one child.
‘Ah….’
Now he understood why his brother had suggested drinking soju.
At that moment, Seo Jin was walking through an alley in Seocho-dong.
His destination was a bar in the basement.
When he opened the door and stepped inside, the atmosphere was unexpectedly modern, unlike the exterior.
Seo Jin acknowledged the bartender’s greeting and shifted his gaze.
There was only one customer—Jo Woo-jae, seated at the bar and on a phone call.
“What? The seller’s backing out? You said you’d add a few more units? This is ridiculous—a speculator got involved.”
Seo Jin approached and sat beside him.
Jo Woo-jae sensed his presence and turned his head toward Seo Jin.
He gestured apologetically with his hand and continued the call.
“Fine, send all the inventory you have. I’ll purchase it even if I have to take out a bank loan. Got it. Contact me as soon as you find out more.”
Jo Woo-jae ended the call and spoke.
“Sorry about that. An important call.”
An important call my ass—it was about the land in Chuncheon.
Jo Woo-jae had obtained information that the land would be developed, and he was gathering whatever he could get his hands on.
“But what’s the occasion? Suddenly asking to meet.”
“I wanted to express my gratitude.”
In the meantime, the bartender set a glass down in front of me.
Jo Woo-jae filled my glass and opened his mouth.
“Did you come after seeing Yun-hwan leave?”
“Leave?”
“You didn’t know? He went to America today.”
I didn’t know.
I had anticipated he would flee, but I hadn’t expected him to move this quickly.
“Ah, I didn’t know.”
“Well, he’s the type to move quietly whenever possible….”
Thanks to Chief Prosecutor Kim Young-jun’s discreet maneuvering, Kim Yun-hwan was able to escape to America.
But it didn’t matter.
I could simply bring him back.
He might think he’s escaped by boarding a plane, but the crime of fabricating evidence is just beginning now.
Since I intended to block everything, even Chief Prosecutor Kim Young-jun would find it difficult to protect him.
I was already looking forward to seeing him fall apart.
“Oh, did you know? Yun-hwan might even join Jaejeong Construction.”
“What?”
“Your father is getting on in years now, isn’t he? But there’s no successor. Wouldn’t Yun-hwan be perfect?”
I wondered what nonsense this was.
Keeping my mouth shut and listening intently, Jo Woo-jae continued speaking as he raised his glass.
“Yun-hwan has such a free spirit. But do you think he could become a lawyer?”
Jo Woo-jae brought the glass to his lips while stealing a glance at my expression.
He had deliberately brought up this topic.
“Woo-jae, go to the provinces.”
Even now, Chief Prosecutor Kim Young-jun’s cold voice echoed in my ears.
The position Chief Prosecutor Kim Young-jun had designated was Chief Prosecutor of a provincial branch office with only four prosecutors—a perfect demotion.
“Chief Prosecutor! I will ensure this never happens again!”
Only after kneeling and begging desperately did Chief Prosecutor Kim Young-jun say this.
“Do better from now on. This is your last chance.”
When you think about it, it was all because of Kim Yun-hwan’s rampage.
Jo Woo-jae bore no fault.
Yet he had to abandon his pride, and he came to understand that he could be discarded at any moment.
‘After all that loyalty….’
Jo Woo-jae unknowingly bit his lip.
He had even knelt down unjustly, and he wanted to throw down some kind of bomb.
Jo Woo-jae licked his dry lips and continued speaking.
“It seems I didn’t know, so I’ve said something unnecessary.”
“No, it’s fine. It’s something I’ll find out anyway.”
“Right? And family handling it is better than some untrustworthy professional manager. Kim Yun-hwan will do it carefully and well.”
Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae had expected Seo Jin to frown.
Family is bound by blood, but before management rights and money, that blood turns to poison and they become enemies.
But Seo Jin’s reaction was unexpected.
He raised his glass with a genuine, radiant smile.
“Of course. We’re family.”
“…Right?”
Seo Jin began to anticipate something else.
Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun had tried to make Kim Yun-hwan the core of the Prosecutor’s Office.
But he failed.
Now he’s trying to make Kim Yun-hwan the representative of Jaejeong Construction.
But that will fail too.
‘Kim Yun-hwan as representative?’
I had no intention of letting that happen.
The place suited for Kim Yun-hwan isn’t an executive office—it’s a solitary cell in prison.
That’s where he needs to do some serious life reflection.
I was curious how Prosecutor General Kim Young-jun’s expression would change at that moment.
Seo Jin drank his liquor and set the glass down.
Then, moving only his eyes slowly, he looked toward Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae.
The man was grinning, his lips glistening.
The way he carelessly brought up such matters showed he looked down on Seo Jin.
He clearly thought he could toy with me whenever he pleased.
‘This won’t do.’
Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae, throwing shit into other people’s families—I need to teach this bastard a lesson.
After parting with Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae, Seo Jin put his phone to his ear.
It was Do Gwang-hyun.
-It’s a traditional tavern. I’ve been waiting for you, and my throat was so parched I’ve been moistening it with makgeolli.
Shortly after, Seo Jin sat across from Do Gwang-hyun.
Do Gwang-hyun tore off a piece of pajeon and placed it on Seo Jin’s plate, then opened his mouth.
“My goodness, what task are you calling me for today?”
“Remember that land you bought in Chuncheon?”
Previously, Seo Jin had ordered Do Gwang-hyun to tail Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae.
And Do Gwang-hyun had followed the land Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae owned and purchased it.
Do Gwang-hyun’s expression brightened.
“The world really does run on information. That land is skyrocketing. I’ve already made tens of billions—I can’t even count it. Puhahahaha!”
If you know government policies in advance, making money is easier than swimming while holding onto land.
“Speculators have caught the scent, and land that went for 80,000 won is now listed at 150,000 won—they’re swarming like packs of dogs. There’s no inventory left. It’s all evaporated.”
“Start selling gradually.”
“Pardon?”
Do Gwang-hyun’s cheerful laughter died abruptly.
His eyes searched for confirmation—had he really heard that correctly?
“Sell it? Really?”
“Yes.”
“Prosecutor? It’s just started climbing, you know? I think it’ll easily reach 200,000 won from here.”
“Sell it.”
“Tens of billions are flowing in and out!”
Do Gwang-hyun’s excitement surged.
His throat parched, he gulped down the makgeolli in desperate swallows.
“Think about it again!”
Seo Jin shook his head.
Money was merely a weapon for warfare, nothing more.
And I had already made my decision.
Seo Jin placed his phone on the table, accessed the messenger app, and pressed firmly on Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae’s profile.
A greasy face appeared on the screen.
“Sell everything to this man. Scout out real estate in Wonju, fragment the ownership across multiple names—make absolutely certain he never catches on. Can you do it?”
Do Gwang-hyun stared intently at Chief Prosecutor Jo Woo-jae’s profile.
“Even if the prosecutor general himself came, he wouldn’t find it. But that’s not the issue—are you really selling it?”
“Yes. I’m going to crash that land’s value.”
“What?”
“Every speculator who touched that land will become a pauper. So sell it.”

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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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