Even as he was being dragged away, Park Ho-yeon continued to assert his innocence.
Like most criminals, he tried to justify himself by claiming he was guiltless and nothing more than a puppet. However, based on his recent behavior, people were already convinced of his guilt. They judged that his relentless criticism of DS Telecom and his efforts to oust Jinhyuk Park from the position of President over the past several days were merely attempts to cover up his own wrongdoing. His pressure for Jinhyuk Park’s resignation had backfired, turning into a poison that struck him instead.
Kim Jae-hoon approached Jinhyuk, who was watching Park Ho-yeon being led away.
“Have you been well, President?”
“There was no need for you to come in person again, yet here you are, Deputy Chief Prosecutor.”
The last time Kim Jae-hoon had come to see Jinhyuk, he was a Chief Prosecutor. Jinhyuk had heard news of his promotion to Deputy Chief Prosecutor since then. He hadn’t expected to see him this time, but Kim Jae-hoon had personally brought the warrant once again.
Even when he was a Chief Prosecutor, his personal visits seemed excessive, but he continued the trend even with the title of Deputy Chief Prosecutor. The prosecutors and investigators following him were so numerous it looked as if the entire District Prosecutors’ Office had mobilized to investigate a major case. In an effort to impress the new Deputy Chief Prosecutor, they had rounded up not only Park Ho-yeon but also all the involved union members.
Once the surroundings were cleared, Kim Jae-hoon smiled at Jinhyuk.
“I had to come myself. That is the only way I can see you, President.”
“Welcome. Please, let’s head up.”
After confirming the situation was winding down, Jinhyuk headed to his office with Kim Jae-hoon.
“Thank you. To think you would pay such attention to a mere Deputy Chief Prosecutor like me.”
Kim Jae-hoon, wearing horn-rimmed glasses, bowed his head to Jinhyuk in a gesture of gratitude. He had been promoted from Chief Prosecutor to Deputy Chief Prosecutor, but it could not compare to Jinhyuk’s change in status. It was not common for a Deputy Chief Prosecutor to have a private meeting with the President of DS Telecom.
“Please, don’t say that. Our connection is anything but ordinary, isn’t it?”
Jinhyuk wore a relaxed expression. Although he was in a position where he could have summoned the Chief of the District Prosecutors’ Office, he did not treat the visiting Kim Jae-hoon lightly. This was because the numerical Value the man displayed showed that he was someone worth maintaining a relationship with.
Upon arriving at the office, Jinhyuk sat down and personally poured tea into the prepared cups. Kim Jae-hoon had hoped for a meeting, but the hospitality exceeded his expectations, leaving him flustered.
“I assume the matter will be resolved smoothly?”
“Are you referring to the issue with Union Leader Park Ho-yeon?”
“Yes.”
“You don’t need to worry. We’ve already completed the tracking of his accounts, so there’s no way out for him. That’s why I brought an arrest warrant. To be honest, the courts are usually reluctant to grant arrest warrants for unions. The fact that a warrant was issued indirectly signifies that he has nowhere to run.”
“It seems you have prepared extensively.”
“I received the details through your Chief of Staff and prepared thoroughly. I wanted to be ready to bring him in whenever you desired, President.”
“Hahaha. You’ve worked hard.”
“Thank you for recognizing my efforts.”
Kim Jae-hoon humbled himself before Jinhyuk as if he were a subordinate receiving praise for his performance from a superior. Jinhyuk looked down at the back of Kim Jae-hoon’s head.
If the numbers indicating his Value had not been visible, Jinhyuk certainly would not have thought well of his behavior. It was not the kind of conduct one would expect from a Deputy Chief Prosecutor. It almost seemed as if he held his own position too lightly.
However, seeing the Value numbers now, his behavior felt different. He looked like an ambitious man who could accurately gauge the power of his opponent. Because of that, Jinhyuk was able to accept his attitude naturally.
“Furthermore, it seems we can link this case with the previous one.”
“Link them? How so?”
Jinhyuk responded to Kim Jae-hoon with poise. Kim Jae-hoon smiled with his eyes, looking as if he were seeking praise.
“We have confirmed evidence that Park Ho-yeon received money from Suman Park as well.”
“Yes. I am aware of that.”
“By following the flow of funds, we can identify the source and the purpose. We need a bit more time to confirm the source, but the usage of the funds is suspicious.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. We’ve confirmed that he purchased land. He put the land under the name of his wife’s maternal uncle rather than his own. Also, after receiving the money, he accepted a result in the wage negotiations that was unilaterally beneficial to the company. Circumstances suggesting suspicious transactions keep emerging.”
“He’s an interesting man.”
“Since the quid pro quo is clear, we can likely implicate the person who provided the money as well.”
Kim Jae-hoon was indicating that Suman Park was at the end of that money trail. In the end, it meant they could bind Suman Park to this current situation and deal with him too.
“He is already on trial. Will it be alright?”
“We can proceed with a separate case. And if these additional crimes are revealed, it can influence the ongoing trial. Suman Park won’t be able to escape easily.”
Jinhyuk wanted to laugh, but he suppressed it as much as possible. It was difficult to keep the corners of his mouth from twitching. He had expected to trap Suman Park, but he hadn’t planned for this specific situation.
After investigating because the union’s interference was strange, a string of illegalities had been uncovered. And at the origin of it all was Suman Park’s name.
For Suman Park, who had been trying his best to clear his name and take off his prison garb by showing a sincere attitude, this was a bolt from the blue. Moreover, the person handling the case was someone doing his absolute best to get into Jinhyuk’s good graces. It was certain that even without Jinhyuk adding a word, the man would build a solid case on his own.
“I see. I’ll leave it in your hands.”
“I will ensure that the things you worry about, President, do not happen.”
It seemed Jinhyuk no longer needed to worry about Suman Park. It was clear that Kim Jae-hoon would dig up every hidden charge just to impress him.
Jinhyuk knew why Kim Jae-hoon was acting this way. However, even if he knew, he couldn’t let it pass without acknowledgment. One had to point things out at the right time to put the other person at ease.
“Since you are working so hard for me, Deputy Chief Prosecutor, I feel I should do something for you in return… Please, speak freely. How can I help you?”
“Oh, no. As a public official, I shouldn’t work while expecting something in return.”
Kim Jae-hoon waved his hand dismissively, but as if afraid Jinhyuk might actually drop the subject, he quickly lowered his hand and spoke with a smile.
“If you truly wish to help, could you perhaps provide me with a bit of a solid backing in the future?”
“Are you saying you want a sponsor?”
“No. A sponsor? These days, you’d be in big trouble for something like that. And I have no intention of taking such things. I am a man who values honor more than money.”
Jinhyuk discovered raw desire on Kim Jae-hoon’s constantly smiling face. Everyone had their own desires, but Kim Jae-hoon’s ambition seemed larger than most.
“Honor. Are you saying the position of Deputy Chief Prosecutor is not enough?”
“By rising to Deputy Chief Prosecutor, I became the first from the Tax Investigation Department to reach this rank in 15 years.”
“In 15 years? That sounds like it took a long time.”
“It did. It is so difficult to rise above the rank of Chief in the department I’m in that I wonder if anyone after me will ever reach the rank of Deputy or higher.”
“Isn’t the Tax Investigation Department a choice spot? I thought any place that handles money is the ‘sweet spot’ in any organization.”
At Jinhyuk’s words, Kim Jae-hoon shook his head with a bitter expression.
“In our field, it actually acts as a disadvantage. Basically, to rise above the rank of Deputy, the standard path is to head the Criminal Division or the Inspection Division. That’s the best way to build a track record and gain the support of colleagues. However, in the case of the economic-related departments I’ve been part of, one is easily subjected to suspicious glares. It is difficult to occupy a seat at the Deputy level or higher.”
“Suspicious glares?”
“Yes. Since we work with economic criminals, it becomes a daily routine to be suspected by colleagues or superiors, whether we like it or not. We undergo frequent audits as well. The Inspection Division probably knows my assets and my wife’s family’s assets more accurately than my wife does.”
Hearing Kim Jae-hoon’s words, Jinhyuk felt like testing him. He thought that would be the only way to draw out his true intentions.
“Looking at your current position, it doesn’t seem like the suspicion ends as just suspicion. Even though your work is done, you’re meeting me… and you didn’t follow me here just because you purely wanted to drink tea, did you?”
Jinhyuk spoke with a smile, but there was a sharp edge to his words. However, Kim Jae-hoon did not deny Jinhyuk’s words and accepted them naturally. Instead, he began to justify his actions by giving them meaning.
“Tips are the lifeblood for economic criminals. But to receive such tips, it’s important to hear from people in the relevant industry or the same line of work. The small fry can be caught by the investigators or new prosecutors… but to catch a big fish like former Vice Chairman Suman Park, it’s only right that I step forward personally.”
Jinhyuk nodded at Kim Jae-hoon’s explanation. The man seemed to have no shame in what he was doing. On the surface, it looked like he was kneeling before power to gain favor, but he seemed to have convinced himself that there was a valid reason for it.
“Is that why others view you poorly?”
“That suspicion is unavoidable. You probably can’t imagine how many achievements I needed to reach the rank of Deputy Chief Prosecutor. Of course, catching Suman Park was evaluated as my greatest contribution, which is how I rose to the position of Deputy.”
“It sounds almost like a word of thanks.”
“Yes, it is. I always feel grateful toward you, President.”
Jinhyuk crossed his legs as he looked at Kim Jae-hoon.
A man with a clear goal. He was someone Jinhyuk needed.
“Very well. Looking at you, Deputy Chief, it seems you aren’t satisfied with your current position.”
“Yes. I have a desire for honor. I want to rise to a higher position and wear a taller hat.”
“Exactly what are you aiming for?”
“At least a District Prosecutor. If possible, I want to reach the position of Prosecutor General.”
“Your dream is clear.”
“That’s the only way to survive.”
Jinhyuk stared intently at Kim Jae-hoon.
The man was in his mid-40s. Jinhyuk had received a report that Kim Jae-hoon had passed the bar exam earlier than his peers and had climbed the ranks without ever missing a promotion. Such a man wanted more. And he had come to Jinhyuk to explain his ambitions personally.
Jinhyuk felt a liking for Kim Jae-hoon. He preferred someone who spoke openly like this rather than someone who enjoyed the push and pull while craftily hiding their true intentions.
“So, you’re asking me to meet you and become your backer?”
“I was able to claw my way up to Deputy Chief through my achievements. But I’ve learned while being in the organization that going any higher is impossible without a line.”
“And the line you chose is me… Hmm. I’m not in the same organization, nor am I connected to political circles. I’m just a man who does business. And in terms of age, I wouldn’t even be your youngest brother’s age. Wouldn’t I be more like an older nephew? Isn’t that right?”
It was Jinhyuk, not Kim Jae-hoon, who was now engaging in the push and pull. It was because he wanted to see Kim Jae-hoon’s very bottom. Despite Jinhyuk’s attitude, Kim Jae-hoon was neither flustered nor ashamed. As if his actions were only natural, he answered Jinhyuk’s words without a hint of wavering.
“There’s no one in this country who doesn’t know that money sits above power. I have no intention of hitching myself to a political administration that might change every 5 years or 4 years. Instead, I intend to hitch myself to the money that sits above the politics that never change. And I am a person who intends to keep rising. To someone who is already at the very top, I might not be an attractive person. I feel the same. If it’s someone who can recognize my value, I think a person who is climbing to seize the top along with me is the perfect fit. In that sense, no one in this country is climbing as hard as you, President.”
Kim Jae-hoon spoke his opinion without pausing. He stopped for a moment to lift the tea in front of him and moisten his throat. Then, looking back at Jinhyuk, he continued.
“Age isn’t a problem either. In this era where ability proves everything, I don’t believe ability is undervalued because of youth, nor can one exert more than their ability just because they are older.”
“It seems you’ve been preparing exactly what to say for when you met me.”
Jinhyuk spoke with a smile, and Kim Jae-hoon smiled back as he answered.
“I won’t deny it. I practiced several times at home with my wife.”
“Hahaha. Very well. You’re quite interesting. I’ve liked you for a while now, Deputy Chief.”
“Thank you for looking upon me kindly.”
“I will help you from behind.”
“I will never forget your grace, President.”
“It’s not exactly grace. Just treat me as a comrade who is with you as we climb to the top together. Then, we will eventually arrive at the peak together.”
“Yes. I look forward to that day.”
When Jinhyuk smiled and extended his hand, Kim Jae-hoon grasped it with both of his own. And as the meeting came to an end, Kim Jae-hoon realized one thing.
‘I didn’t hear a single request for help while I was talking.’
Kim Jae-hoon had been constantly asking Jinhyuk for help, while Jinhyuk had sat in the position of choosing whether or not to be his backer. Although Jinhyuk had offered the word “comrade” at the end, from anyone’s perspective, it was a situation where Kim Jae-hoon had been the one chosen.
For about 20 years, Kim Jae-hoon had survived in the prosecution organization without ever grabbing onto a string. This was the first string he had ever grasped in his life. Although he couldn’t yet gauge the thickness of that string, he felt through the hand he held that his choice was not wrong.