The Prosecutor’s Office’s Proposal Chapter 195

We went to the Korean traditional restaurant that Prosecutor Joo had reserved. It had private rooms, making it a good place to eat while talking comfortably. It’s our usual spot, just for the two of us.

For the first course, he served the food that came in a single bowl onto my plate. The citron sauce on the salad was tart and delicious.

Even before I could pick up the tongs, Prosecutor Joo kept serving food onto my small plate, so I just had to eat. When I go to gatherings with other investigators, I have to do everything—from setting the cutlery to pouring water, grilling meat, or ordering extra side dishes—so I felt at ease. Besides, my eating pace is slow, so I couldn’t even eat my fill at other tables.

“By the way, why were you laughing earlier?”

“I’m being interrogated just for laughing.”

“I’m curious when you laugh. You don’t laugh often.”

“Don’t I laugh often these days?”

“You did. It seemed like you were only like that with me, but seeing you lately, that’s not necessarily true.”

Even though we know better than anyone that we only have each other, Prosecutor Joo was subtly wary of many people. Even those who couldn’t compete with him at all. It seemed to be a result derived from an excessive desire for control.

“I have to have some social life, too. I can’t live my whole life being ostracized.”

“…It’s not that I’m telling you not to, I’m just curious about the reason.”

“Chief Kim told a funny joke. He was talking about how the investigators’ salary is stingy.”

“He complains that the salary is stingy? Even that money is a waste on Chief Kim. It’s amazing how you put up with and get along with him when he pushes so much work onto you. If I were you, I wouldn’t even talk to him.”

“I don’t have a bad personality like you, Prosecutor.”

“You’re acting up again.”

As I shook my shoulders, laughing and chewing on the cold vegetable salad, the loud voice from the next room flew into my ears. It was a restaurant with decent soundproofing, but they were talking so loudly that it felt like they were in the same room. However, the voice sounded somewhat familiar.

“Isn’t that Prosecutor Yoon Gyuho?”

“Yeah.”

“Did you know?”

“I’ve been bothered by how noisy it was for a while now. I didn’t tell you because I was afraid you’d become conscious of it, too. It would disturb your meal.”

“It sounds like he’s drinking. Right? His voice is a bit…”

“…That’s why the prosecution gets criticized. Is the food to your liking? Should I ask for more japchae?”

“I’m fine. Since it’s a course meal, I’ll be incredibly full if more food comes out. You should eat more, too, Prosecutor. A lot of food is being left over.”

“Because I was busy taking care of someone.”

After saying that in an indifferent tone, Prosecutor Joo started putting the food he had only been serving me into his own mouth. After cleanly swallowing the food, he asked.

“I need to go see my aunt sometime this month. She said Yeong-i is coming, too. Do you want to go together?”

“Me too?”

“I have no choice during my commute, but it’s lonely driving back and forth alone without you. It would be nice if you came to the dinner, but I can’t force you to accompany me, so just wait at the apartment doing whatever you do.”

He is referring to the apartment where I took refuge and lived after being attacked by Chief Tak at the government residence. Since it’s a house owned by Prosecutor Joo, we still often use that apartment on days when we finish working late. I, too, didn’t want to be home alone on weekends. I can’t even remember how I used to spend that long time feeling lonely.

I readily nodded, thinking it would be nice to spend even a few more hours together.

“Then let’s do that. As an excuse for a drive, too.”

“Shall we stay the night and go look at the autumn foliage nearby? Before the leaves fall any more.”

“That would be great. But if your younger sibling comes, won’t they stay at that apartment?”

“I told them to sleep at my aunt’s place this time. Because I’m going to use it.”

“There’s no pretext for eating together, but staying at the apartment is fine. But by any chance, won’t your aunt think it’s strange if she sees me?”

“No, not at all. I’ll just say you’re a close colleague.”

I tilted my head and asked back.

“Then won’t she think it’s even more suspicious?”

“…You keep acting up.”

It was true that I had been acting up one after another. While I couldn’t hold back my laughter and was giggling again, Prosecutor Joo served some raw beef and put it on my plate.

Prosecutor Joo is wary of me smiling at others, but no one has ever been able to disarm me like this.

We finished our meal in a good mood and came out. Thinking it was a good thing I didn’t go to the investigators’ gathering and came with Prosecutor Joo, I put on my shoes. While Prosecutor Joo was paying, it just so happened that Prosecutor Yoon Gyuho came out of another room with the Second Deputy Chief Prosecutor. I thought they were right next to us because they were so loud, but they were in the room across the hall.

“Oh, Deputy Chief, please just stay there. I should pay!”

Yoon Gyuho heroically stopped the Deputy Chief Prosecutor and walked straight to the counter. Since he said he was scolded terribly by the Deputy Chief, it seemed he had been trying to get on his good side by drinking with him since the afternoon. Prosecutor Joo, who received his card back from the clerk, turned around with an expressionless face and greeted the Deputy Chief Prosecutor.

“Hello. It seems you’ve had a drink.”

“Oh, Pro Joo, did you eat here too? With an investigator? I would have asked you to have a drink with us if I had known you were here, that’s a shame.”

“I don’t drink alcohol while on duty.”

“You’re being stiff again. Can’t you write up a report just because you had a little to drink? It’s just a report; writing reports is something you do when you’re bored anyway.”

“One must have principles.”

At his indifferent attitude, the expression of the Second Deputy Chief Prosecutor, who had been newly appointed a few months ago, rapidly hardened. Yoon Gyuho, who received the receipt, hurriedly returned to the side of the Second Deputy Chief Prosecutor. He had gone to such lengths as having a lunch with drinking to try and make up for the botched arrest operation, but if Joo Taeson ruined the Deputy Chief’s mood, it would all be for nothing.

“Hey, Joo Taeson, why are you like this again. Deputy Chief, please ignore what Pro Joo is saying. This guy has always been arrogant. This is Chief Lee Chaeha, whom I told you about. Please greet Investigator Lee Chaeha. They work very well.”

“Oh, I see. I’ve heard a lot of praise from Pro Yoon.”

“Hello, Deputy Chief. I apologize for the late greeting. I am Investigator Lee Chaeha from Prosecutor Joo Taeson’s office.”

I bowed and accepted the handshake offered by the Deputy Chief, then bowed lightly once more.

“Chief Lee Chaeha…! I know, I know. I heard you handled the Tak Sungwoong case.”

I wondered why the Second Deputy Chief Prosecutor knew information about me. Looking back, Tak Sungwoong knew that I was my father’s son, so he was a target being watched closely along with Joo Taeson, so he couldn’t help but remember. He was even in the middle of acting like a friendly superior.

However, it was unsettling that the newly appointed Second Deputy Chief Prosecutor remembered an ordinary investigator from the First Criminal Division. While I was racking my brain, being unaccustomed to such goodwill, Yoon Gyuho quickly took the Deputy Chief Prosecutor and left the restaurant, avoiding Joo Taeson.

Joo Taeson suddenly became quiet after meeting Yoon Gyuho. He seemed lost in thought even while buying coffee, so I walked without deliberately speaking to him. The path to the branch office was covered with soft, brownish fallen leaves, and every time I stepped, there was a crisp, dry sound. He narrowed his brow seriously from time to time, and only when we reached the front gate of the branch office did he open his mouth with a cautious expression.

“Is that guy trying to take you by using some scheme?”

“Who is taking me?”

“Why are you being so oblivious? If not Yoon Gyuho, then who?”

It wasn’t that I was oblivious; I was being sincere. My eyes widened at the unexpected remark.

“Why would Prosecutor Yoon take me?”

“Am I stupid for offering a position as an investigator to Officer Lee? Taking an investigator who works fast is a basic move for a prosecutor with ambitions for success.”

“…The way you’re talking right now, Prosecutor, sounds very much like your old self.”

Sipping the takeaway coffee I bought on the way, I glanced up at Prosecutor Joo. He is endlessly affectionate and competent, but it’s a shame how much he loses out because of that sharp tone. It has improved a lot, but there were moments when he became sharp.

Prosecutor Joo offered an apology that had become naturally attached to his mouth, which didn’t quite fit him.

“Sorry. I’m not lashing out at you, Chaeha; I’m talking about Yoon Gyuho. It seems like the remark about asking me to lend him Officer Lee wasn’t just empty words.”

The last part was muttered very quietly, like he was talking to himself, but I heard it all.

“…I don’t like that you two are texting each other, either.”

“As I said again, it’s social life.”

“Your tone is stiff.”

“And I don’t want to go to Prosecutor Yoon Gyuho. Even if it’s just a guess, I’m anxious because you said that.”

“You’re anxious because you think it’s possible.”

“…Can you stop it, Prosecutor?”