The inspector is getting promoted! - C19 - The Shrimp Gets Fat in a Whale Fight (3)

“So, you’re saying that Chief Prosecutor Kang Hyun-soo from the Special Investigations Division and Deputy Prosecutor Nam Woo-hyun from the Financial Crimes Division are meeting in Jian-dong for a secret transaction?”

“Yes. It’s probably not a transaction in the traditional sense, but more like an unilateral money handover. It could be in an apple box or a bag, or maybe something else entirely.”

I kept the word “money bag” hidden.

If I knew too much, it might raise suspicions with Yoon Seol-ha.

“Unfortunately, I couldn’t figure out the exact date.”

“So, you’ve only confirmed the location?”

“Yes. It will likely be after sunset, in the evening. The days have gotten longer recently, so I’d guess it’ll be after 8 PM. It’ll definitely be pitch dark, but I’m not sure of the exact time.”

“We’ll need to set up a position and stake out.”

“Yes, that’s what we’ll have to do. We need to find a spot where we can film without being noticed.”

She would figure out the location on her own without needing me to specify it.

This is Yoon Seol-ha’s area of expertise.

“It’ll probably be as soon as tonight, or at least within the next few days. Things have been a bit chaotic lately.”

Yoon Seol-ha nodded and then suddenly asked a question.

“I just want to make sure… Would it be a good idea for me to tail them?”

“That won’t work. If they notice someone tailing them, they might shake them off. Plus, Jian-dong is a redevelopment area, and there aren’t many cars around. It’d be easy to draw attention. It’s too risky.”

However, she couldn’t hide her worried expression.

“Right, but what if they change the location…?”

“That won’t happen. I’m almost 100% certain about this information.”

“100%?”

Yoon Seol-ha couldn’t hide her amazement.

“Your source must be very reliable.”

I had already mentioned in our earlier conversation that I couldn’t disclose the source, but seeing her curiosity flare up like that, it seemed like Yoon Seol-ha was just as intrigued.

I couldn’t blame her; even I, if I were on the other side, couldn’t be 100% sure that the location wouldn’t change, so I couldn’t say with certainty that it was 100%.

I simply responded with a smile, and she didn’t press further.

“Alright. Then I’ll start the stakeout tonight.”

Before she could leave, I stopped her.

“At least have dinner before you go. I’ll treat you.”

“No, I need to get there early to scout the location.”

She smiled and shook her head.

I wanted to treat her to a meal, but she waved me off.

“A sandwich will be fine for a stakeout.”

Her refusal made me feel even more guilty.

“I’ll adjust my work hours so you don’t have to rush into the High Prosecutor’s Office in the morning.”

“Thank you.”

As she opened the car door to leave, she suddenly turned back after thinking of something.

“Oh, I found something out during the investigation today.”

Yoon Seol-ha lowered her voice.

“Do you know Han Ji-yoo? She was the lead actress in the drama Kim Manager’s Rebellion recently.”

“I don’t really watch dramas these days because I’ve been so busy, but I know who Han Ji-yoo is.”

After all, she’s the woman featured as the wallpaper on my phone, so it would be hard not to know her.

“Han Ji-yoo seems to be connected to Kang Hyun-soo.”

Bzzzz

My phone vibrated.

“I don’t know if it’s a sponsorship or a real relationship, but it seems that Han Ji-yoo has met with Kang Hyun-soo secretly a few times.”

Not just any actress, but Han Ji-yoo.

“So, they met at the hotel, but the meeting was really short? About 10 minutes from entering to leaving? Unless he’s a premature ejaculator… Well, even if he is, I wonder if that’s possible. He can’t have done it fully clothed. If we dig deeper, we’ll know for sure, but it doesn’t seem like it was a typical relationship.”

Han Ji-yoo is a top star in Korea, known as one of the best actresses in the industry.

She made her debut early on and quickly climbed to the top ranks. She has been in the business for over 10 years, so she has already reached the peak of her career.

It would be hard to believe she would have any sponsor relationships now.

If it were early in her career, maybe, but 10 years ago, Kang Hyun-soo was just a prosecutor.

He couldn’t have done anything in the movie or drama industry at that time.

But now that she’s a top star, there’s no reason for her to have a sponsor.

If she’s meeting Kang Hyun-soo, and it’s not a sponsorship, there are two possible scenarios:

Either it’s an affair, or she’s being blackmailed.

Though the first possibility seems slim, I can’t be sure.

“Did you figure this out in just half a day?”

“It’s a skill.”

She shrugged her shoulders.

“I’ll look into Han Ji-yoo later.”

“No, I’ll handle it. I’ll dig into her,” Yoon Seol-ha responded with a smile.

“If I find anything else connected during the investigation, I’ll keep an eye on it.”

“Alright. And just to be safe, I’ll rent a car for the stakeout. There might be some issues, so it’s better to be prepared.”

“Yes, that’s a good idea.”

She nodded and opened the passenger door to leave.

After watching her pull out her car from the parking lot, I took out my phone.

• • • • Sender: 34

• • • • Video

Wait a second.

The sender number jumped from 30 to 34.

That’s quite a leap.

Something’s changed.

There’s definitely something behind the sender number. It wouldn’t be fluctuating like that otherwise.

I quickly played the video to check.

• • • • “Haahhh!”

I was startled.

As soon as the video played, a woman’s moan pierced my ears.

I jumped, then quickly looked around, realizing no one else was nearby.

Could it be a spam message that changed the sender number?

I put my phone down and checked the car’s black box footage, but there was no sound.

It was definitely a future message.

I calmed my chest and played the video again.

The background of the video showed a luxury hotel in Seoul.

Since Namsan Tower could be seen out the window, it was definitely identifiable.

The video played, showing a man and a woman, both naked, tangled in bed.

It was an explicit scene that would likely need to be rated 19+.

As I was wondering why such a video came through, the screen slowly zoomed in, revealing the faces of the man and woman.

I almost gasped but clenched my teeth and held it in.

It was me.

The man in the video was unmistakably me, Choi Seo-jun.

I wouldn’t have been that shocked if it had just been me in the video.

After all, it’s not that surprising for a man in his thirties like me to be in such a situation with a woman.

But the reason I was stunned was because of the identity of the woman in the video.

It was none other than Han Ji-yoo.

What the hell is this?

It’s not that I dislike it.

The problem is, why did this happen?

Could it be that Han Ji-yoo is offering me sexual favors?

I want success, but I’ve never once wanted anything like forced sexual favors.

I can swear on my heart.

If I think of it in a good light, maybe through this case, I could sever the connection between Kang Hyun-soo and Han Ji-yoo and end up falling in love with her, but… that’s an incredibly slim chance.

My head is spinning.

I was completely thrown off guard by the scene, and my judgment wasn’t normal.

Why? What could have led to such a situation?

Focus.

At that moment, the angle of the video zoomed out.

I realized the scene I was watching was being played on someone’s phone.

The screen continued to zoom out, focusing on the man holding the phone and the man sitting across from him.

The one holding the phone was Prosecutor Kang Hyun-soo from the Special Investigation Division, and sitting across from him was me.

What is going on?

Prosecutor Kang Hyun-soo, who had paused the explicit video, spoke first.

• • • • “This is a video you recorded four years ago when you joined the Special Investigation Division. Do you remember? You were probably about thirty then?”

Four years ago?

Wait a minute.

When you say “joined the Special Investigation Division,” does that mean I’m moving to the Special Investigation Division?

I, sitting across from him, answered with a stern expression.

• • • • “Did you plan this from the start?”

• • • • “Plan it? What do you mean by that? We’re all just doing this to survive. It’s just insurance, nothing more.”

Prosecutor Kang continued with a shameless expression.

• • • • “You know how dirty and underhanded this field is.”

• • • • “I know. Thanks to you, I’ve learned that very well.”

• • • • “Well, then, you already know what I’m going to say, right?”

He clasped his hands together and placed them on the table.

• • • • “You’re going to the provinces. I’ll send you somewhere close, not far, since we have some history. You’ve helped me a lot too. It’s not like you’re stripping, just taking a break in the provinces. What’s wrong with that? There are positions in the provinces too, district prosecutor, high prosecutor. You’re capable enough for that.”

• • • • “Do you think I’ll just leave so easily?”

• • • • “What are you going to do if you don’t leave?”

He sneered.

• • • • “Are you going to fight me? You know who’s backing us, right? You’re well aware. We’ve even got the president for the upcoming election. It’s DS, DS.”

DS?

Is that an abbreviation? No, is it initials?

• • • • “Do you think an ordinary prosecutor can challenge us?”

• • • • “I guess we’ll see if I can challenge you or not.”

• • • • “You don’t really think you’re being brave, do you?”

In the video, I glared fiercely at Kang Hyun-soo, but he didn’t back down.

• • • • “You think you can say that when you know what cards I have? If you’re not sure, then it’s not bravery, it’s just recklessness.”

I couldn’t respond, only clenching my fist tightly, and as I did, Kang Hyun-soo leaned toward me, speaking softly.

• • • • “Choi Bu-jang, no, Choi Seo-jun.”

He whispered sweetly… no, it was sweetness disguised as words.

• • • • “I won’t send you far. I’ll send you to Daejeon. It’s a city, not some rural place. It’s livable there. It’s not too far, and you know I’m trying to help, right?”

Kang Hyun-soo revealed a sardonic smile.

• • • • “Let’s end this on good terms. There’s no benefit in fighting.”

The video ended with that scene.

My mind was in complete chaos.

There was so much information.

I tried to replay the video to organize my thoughts, but the video, along with the message, had completely disappeared.

Was it a one-time view?

I should have paid more attention.

Damn it.

Amidst the flood of information, one thing stood out in my mind.

It wasn’t certain yet, but I had a vague idea of what the number of the sender might mean.

Before I got more confused, I had to organize the rest of the information.