The Prosecutor’s Office’s Proposal Chapter 197

“That’s what I’m saying! You’re doing it again. You’ll only realize that there are many people who like you, Officer Lee, if you go out and meet people. They say it’s a problem that you only work all the time!”

Because Clerk No teased me with a playful expression, I just ended up laughing awkwardly again. Since I feel most at ease when I’m working, I don’t even know if it’s truly a problem.

Perhaps it’s fortunate that the person I live with is also a workaholic, so our frequencies match.

Thinking that, I zoomed in on the scene photo that Na Dae-ho had sent. Compared to the photos taken by the police, the surrounding environment and the items in the handcart were captured much more clearly.

It seems the police didn’t know during the initial investigation that the case of the grandmother stealing waste paper would be sent to the prosecution with a recommendation for indictment. Both the photos and the initial investigation records were shoddy. It was that kind of sloppy scene photo, exactly the feeling where it seemed the exact amount of damages from the theft hadn’t been properly grasped.

On the other hand, because Na Dae-ho was the victim, he had left behind very detailed photos. Very meticulously, several of them. It felt like a delicate side of him that differed from his rough appearance, and at the same time, it felt like an aspect that went well with the citrus scent he had sprayed today.

The handcart, carrying all sorts of loads, stood in front of the metalworking factory looking burdened. It had become so huge that I wondered if the grandmother I met in the morning could even pull this cart.

I enlarged the photos one by one to see if there was anything that stood out. Most of the cargo loaded was waste paper. Some scrap metal that seemed to have been obtained from the factory, miscellaneous bottles, and rain-soaked boxes. Even though I tried not to feel pity because she was a thief, it was inevitable to compare her circumstances to Na Dae-ho, who had come in carrying a luxury clutch.

Ms. Ji Yeongsook virtually has no money to pay for a settlement. Judging that she might have to serve prison time because of the amount, the gap in their lives seemed even greater.

I scrolled down with a bitter feeling and then quickly scrolled back up. Suddenly, a familiar vitamin drink wedged between the countless empty bottles caught my eye.

“Yeongsaengsu….”

Prosecutor Joo, who never misses my words even in ordinary times, stopped his fingers from flipping through documents and lifted his head; I caught the movement at the corner of my eye.

“What about Yeongsaengsu?”

“There is an empty Yeongsaengsu bottle in the grandmother’s handcart. It’s nothing, I was just talking to myself.”

“It could be something. Does the grandmother look like a buyer to you?”

“There’s a high possibility she picked it up. Since the main base for Yeongsaengsu sales is Danhyeon-si, it is an area where there are many buyers, too.”

“Officer Lee, Ms. Ji Yeongsook had one granddaughter and one grandson, why don’t you try contacting them?”

I watched Prosecutor Joo, who was sitting with his back to the sunlight, blankly. It seemed that indicting the grandmother weighed on Prosecutor Joo’s mind as well.

Other people wouldn’t know the warm heart hidden behind that cold face. The deep empathy that eventually accepted me, even while thinking I was the son of the man who killed his father. Even I am sometimes fooled by his cold tone and forget Joo Taeson’s true heart, and at times, I even grumble that he is too cold.

“At the police stage, the granddaughter refused contact, saying it was none of her business. The grandson didn’t even pick up the phone.”

“I know that.”

“Yes, then I will try calling again.”

Without a word of complaint, I immediately found the granddaughter’s contact information and called.

“Are you Ms. Ji Yeongsook’s granddaughter? This is Investigator Lee Chaeha from the 1st Criminal Division of the Danhyeon Branch.”

— Are you in charge of Grandmother’s case?

“Yes, that’s correct.”

— I was actually just about to contact you. Could we meet?

It seemed the granddaughter’s mind had changed.

“When can you come?”

— I work, and I live in another region, so I can’t go this week. It’s possible next week. I’m going to take a half-day off, but I have to take the express bus, so the earliest I can get there is 7 o’clock? But isn’t that your off-duty time?

“No. Please come then. I don’t usually leave work at that time, so it’s fine.”

Prosecutor Joo’s mental concept of on-time departure was 7 o’clock, and that remained uncorrected, occasionally leading to overtime work. I had to consider it fortunate that at least the starting time of work had been adjusted. If not, under the pretext that we had to commute together, I would have had no choice but to commute in the early morning hours, and I am not a person with that level of stamina. I also wasn’t as much of a workaholic as Prosecutor Joo.

A message from Prosecutor Joo flew in.

Are your words laced with thorns? Is she coming late?

Please don’t worry about every little thing I say and focus on your work. You’re busy, Prosecutor.

I have time for this much talk. When and at what time is she coming?

Next week, weekday at 7 o’clock. Even if you have time, please focus on your documents. You know how busy the prosecutor’s office is these days.

Somehow it feels like the roles have been reversed. Your nagging is sharp.

It’s the student surpassing the master.

I sent a reply, lacing every word with thorns.

As I put a thimble on my finger and stole a glance at Prosecutor Joo, the corners of his mouth subtly went up and down. Feeling a sense of satisfaction for no reason, I put on the thimble and soon buried myself in the pile of documents stacked in front of me. The lover working in the same office was doing the same.

📄🖊️

The results of Ms. Ji Yeongsook’s dementia test, which had been requested a week ago under Prosecutor Joo’s instructions, came back as having no abnormalities. If she had been in the early stages of dementia, it would have been taken into account during the trial, so I don’t know if it’s fortunate or unfortunate.

Lee Mooncheol, who had fled, was completely unheard of. The face of Prosecutor Yoon Gyuho, whom I occasionally run into, turned bluer than the cold autumn weather. It seemed Yoon Gyuho was trying to buy time by flattering the Deputy Chief Prosecutor as much as possible, but since he hadn’t been able to apprehend the missed suspect for a week, the Deputy Chief Prosecutor’s mood was no different from a volcanic crater that had ended its dormant period. Red-hot anger overflowed, as if it wouldn’t be strange no matter when it erupted.

In the small branch office that loves to gossip, rumors circulated that Yoon Gyuho’s transfer to Seoul was effectively dead in the water. I relayed this to Prosecutor Joo, only to be scolded loudly for paying unnecessary attention to Yoon Gyuho.

It was a crazily busy day, as it is every day. I processed and submitted three cases until I left work. Although the documents I had to read were well over a thousand, I clung to them desperately and somehow processed them. The large and small cases that poured in like waves every day never stepped back on their own. It was only after everyone in the prosecutor’s office had their fingerprints worn down flipping through case records and were overworked to the point where their eyes could no longer take in the print that they might barely empty a small cabinet compartment.

All personnel did their best, but the 1st Deputy Chief Prosecutor jumped up and down every day during meeting hours, nagging the prosecutors under his command. One more case. That was the phrase the 1st Deputy Chief Prosecutor lived by. This is because, just as an investigator’s performance is a junior prosecutor’s performance, a junior prosecutor’s performance is soon the Deputy Chief Prosecutor’s performance.

In the midst of that, Chief Kim looked up the wrong legal provision and received a harsh reprimand from Prosecutor Joo. Considering that the Deputy Chief Prosecutor was touring every office and making a scene, it was a gentle-enough response, but Chief Kim ended up feeling dizzy in the middle of being scolded. Prosecutor Joo, sitting at his desk, stared at the sight of the staggering Chief Kim with as much contempt as the incorrect legal provision.

Worried about Chief Kim, I immediately sent a message. I’ve been through it, too, but there is an intimidating presence that an ordinary person finds hard to endure.

Chief Kim, are you okay? Should we go have a cigarette together in a bit?

No… If I do that, I’ll get in trouble again.

Please have a cup of vending machine coffee. See how the atmosphere is, and let me know if it’s too hard.

I’m going to quit.

No, T_T. Hang in there a little longer. You’ll be transferred after just one year, you know.

What if they tell me to stay longer?

Not you, Chief, but the Prosecutor will be transferred.

Oh?! Come to think of it?

Typing slowly on the keyboard, which suddenly felt heavy, I organized the sentence precisely once more.

Prosecutor Joo Taeson will be transferred.

That’s right, isn’t it? Please. Can’t you go to Seoul after handling one big case? It’s not Prosecutor Yoon, but Prosecutor Joo who should go far away T_T.

Since I had been inwardly worried about where Prosecutor Joo Taeson’s next transfer would be, it was possible for me to comfort Chief Kim immediately. However, seeing the colleague’s message hoping he would leave, while I used my own biggest worry to comfort Chief Kim, a cold wind blew through my heart.