The Prosecutor’s Office’s Proposal Chapter 189

Because his exaggerated expression was amusing, I let out a small laugh, which made Prosecutor Joo stare at me intently. It felt like I was hearing his silent question of “What’s so funny?”, so I gave a small shrug and let it go.

I had laughed because of Prosecutor Yoon Gyuho’s surprisingly brazen comment. Since he was a person who valued being recognized and promoted through high-profile cases, he seemed to have a side that loved anything profitable to a degree that felt almost sunny. Since Joo Taeson and I were people accustomed to not revealing our inner thoughts, having a conversation with someone who wore their heart on their sleeve had its own charm.

The door opened, and investigators who were late for the meeting started to trickle in. Prosecutor Yoon didn’t scold them for being late, but instead greeted them with a wide smile. In many ways, he was a person entirely different from Prosecutor Joo.

The meeting began only after most of the investigators drafted from the three different prosecutor’s offices had gathered. Our team’s Chief Investigator Kim was unable to attend due to being late. Prosecutor Joo stared fiercely at the empty chair Chief Kim had left behind, then leaned toward me. He asked quietly so as not to disrupt the meeting.

“Why can’t Chief Kim make it?”

“I think he isn’t feeling well.”

“Feeling well, my foot. It’s likely a hangover.”

His guess was correct, but I kept my mouth shut to protect my colleague in my own way. Even if he was incompetent, I needed Chief Kim’s connections. Prosecutor Joo also knew that it was thanks to Chief Kim that I had begun to mingle with other investigators, so he was suppressing what should have been two criticisms down to one. Because Prosecutor Joo’s sigh was deep, I quickly sent a text message to Chief Kim.

Chief, please get to the office quickly before the meeting ends. The Prosecutor seems to be in a bad mood.

Ok ok

Thinking he might get even angrier if he saw Chief Kim’s pathetic reply, I hid my phone completely under the report.

The meeting was closer to a briefing on previously discussed operational details and a notification of assignments. While listening to the arrest plan with my ears, I lightly scanned the operation report with my eyes.

Arrest Operation for the Suspect of the Pseudo-‘Eternal Life’ Health Beverage Scam

The word “pseudo” seemed to be attached because of the method used to sell the health beverage. While it was difficult to call it a religious organization in reality, they seemed to have promoted that one could obtain a body of eternal life through the health drink. Most people would likely be skeptical about how anyone could be fooled by the word “eternal life” and purchase the product, but people who were lonely and desperate for a healthy body had fallen for this preposterous bait. The targets of the fraud were mainly the elderly.

The explanation from the Chief Investigator of Prosecutor Yoon Gyuho’s office continued.

“The temporary residence of the primary fraud suspect, Lee Mun-cheol, has been identified as a row house located in Maeseol-dong, Danhyeon City, so we intend to execute the arrest operation this afternoon. Lee Mun-cheol is currently not leaving his residence and is living using a phone registered in his mistress’s name. Since an appointment has been set with the mistress at 3:00 PM today, the plan is to lie in wait and arrest him when he comes out.”

I was one of the investigators placed in the alley in case Lee Mun-cheol attempted to flee. It was an operation where if the mistress pressed the bell and Lee Mun-cheol opened the door, we would present the warrant and arrest him, so I didn’t think there would be any special variables.

Just as we were confirming our assigned roles one more time and receiving the meeting time and location, Prosecutor Joo asked.

“What if a situation arises where the suspect goes out before then? Do we still wait until the appointment time with the mistress?”

At his question, the Chief Investigator sitting in front turned his report and dragged out his words.

“Uh… it will depend on the situation at the scene, but since the risk of flight is reduced if we arrest him when Lee Mun-cheol is at home, we plan to catch him during the mistress’s visit regardless.”

“Is that so?”

Prosecutor Joo seemed a bit skeptical, but since it was an arrest operation for a different prosecutor’s office, he didn’t offer any more words. I knew right away what he was thinking. Because I was thinking the same thing.

There was plenty of possibility that Lee Mun-cheol would go out in the morning. Up until now, it seemed he had been lying low for fear of being arrested, but he might reveal himself due to carelessness or other needs. If it overlapped with the time the arrest team was lying in wait, it might have been better to grab him right away rather than waiting for him to enter the house.

He was a person with many prior convictions. There was every possibility that he would read the subtle air currents in the alley, realize the arrest operation, and flee. Of course, the prosecution was not personnel who performed arrests daily like the police, so it was understandable that they were seeking the safest method possible.

Joo Taeson kept wrinkling and smoothing his brow as if he didn’t like it throughout the briefing. Only Prosecutor Yoon Gyuho finished the meeting with a flushed, excited expression.

“Then, I’m counting on everyone this afternoon. Since it’s a fairly big case, let’s give it our all.”

Other investigators began to rise and leave, but Prosecutor Joo remained seated. I stayed by his side, sensing the situation, and only rose when he stood up. As everyone left the office, Prosecutor Joo tapped the door lightly with the report he had been holding rolled up and greeted Yoon Gyuho.

“Then I’ll be going.”

“Yeah. You’re coming to the arrest operation too, right?”

“That’s the plan.”

“I don’t have anything to give you. This is my case. I don’t know why you’re insisting on coming.”

I knew the reason. Because of whom he was spending his own working time on another prosecutor’s office operation. I glanced up at Joo Taeson.

“I know. But looking at how you emphasize that it’s a big case, it seems like you’re trying to grab a line and climb up if this goes well?”

“…You’re sharp.”

“I hope it goes well. It will go well.”

Prosecutor Joo left Prosecutor Yoon Gyuho’s office, leaving behind a mumble with an ambiguous nuance that I didn’t know if it was support or what. As he closed the door, through a gap where I inadvertently fixed my gaze, Yoon Gyuho shook his mobile phone at me. It seemed to mean he would get in touch, so I nodded slightly to show I understood and turned my body.

Because the prosecutors and investigators in Prosecutor Yoon Gyuho’s office use separate rooms, I could only face Joo Taeson’s true expression after passing through one more office where the investigators sat and reaching the hallway. For some reason, his expression was unusual, so my head tilted on its own.

Is he that displeased with the arrest operation? Even though it isn’t his case.

While walking side by side in the hallway, an entirely unexpected word escaped his straight lips.

“Why are you smiling at him?”

“Excuse me?”

“I asked why you’re smiling at him.”

“Me?”

Joo Taeson, whom I looked up at, was walking while gazing blankly at the hallway.

“Don’t you remember?”

“No.”

“At Yoon Gyuho.”

“…Ah.”

I barely remembered. I explained exactly why I had smiled.

“I just smiled because what Prosecutor Yoon said was funny.”

His brow narrowed even more than it had during the meeting, as if he didn’t like the answer. It might have been that he didn’t like the very situation where I found Yoon Gyuho’s words amusing.

“He’s just spouting nonsense because he’s excited about the thought of being promoted. There’s no need to smile.”

“But it was just funny….”

“Ah, of course, that’s not to say Investigator Lee isn’t a valuable talent.”

“Yes.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Yes.”

Since there was no way Joo Taeson would have said anything to belittle me in the first place, I answered briefly and in succession. But it seemed my monotonous response weighed on his mind. He paused for a moment and, while waiting for the elevator, emphasized it once more.

“That’s not what I meant. Just in case you misunderstood.”

“Yes. I know it wasn’t.”

“Are you sure? You’re so good at packaging your emotions.”

“I am sure.”

Since we were at work, I answered while observing strict etiquette. Prosecutor Joo’s gaze brushed against my cheek for a moment before falling away. It seemed he was being overly conscious because he had a history of speaking harshly to me in the past.

We got into an elevator full of people. Prosecutor Joo pressed the button for the 5th floor firmly with the tip of the report he was still holding rolled up, and with his other hand, he pulled slightly at the neck of his neatly tied tie. It seemed the air felt a bit stifling.

Fortunately, Chief Kim was at work in Room 512, busily flipping through documents. Prosecutor Joo opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, then closed it again, and dropped the report he was holding onto Chief Kim’s desk with a thud.

No wonder. I thought it was strange that the neat Joo Taeson was holding the report he needed to read rolled up. If he intended to give it to Chief Kim, it made sense that he carried it around carelessly.

“Please read the arrest operation report.”

“Yes, Prosecutor.”