Chapter 127
Chapter 127
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 127
Chapter Title: The Hound Prosecutor Awakens
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Around sunset at the Central District Prosecutors' Office, Violent Crimes Investigation Division.
Located in Seocho, it was the core investigative agency overseeing the National Police Agency, Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, and eleven police stations below it.
Inside the narcotics crime investigation prosecutor's office in the annex building.
A man was leaning back in his chair, half-reclined, seemingly recharging his energy and enjoying a moment of leisure.
Prosecutor Park Min-seong.
He was the youngest among those who passed the Judicial Examination, a regular prosecutor known for his foul temper and meticulous investigations.
Uninterested in promotions or connections, his relationships with colleagues and seniors were poor, and few people visited him.
He might seem like an outcast in the organization, but that wasn't the case. His reputation for handling cases better than anyone in the Central District Prosecutors' Office spoke for itself.
In the violent crimes division, he was famous as a hunting dog who latched onto assigned cases and never let go.
When it came to cases, he was thorough about everything and never overlooked even the smallest detail. No one could mess with him lightly.
That man was Park Min-seong.
The door burst open.
Peek.
Someone peeked in, and black hair swayed lightly as their head appeared.
It was Prosecutor Jung Ji-eun.
Currently on duty at the investigation office, she had come all the way to the Central District annex to see him, despite her busier-than-expected schedule.
Park Min-seong seemed unaware of her arrival, showing no movement.
She glanced around to check if anyone else was there, confirmed he was alone, and cautiously stepped inside.
Tip-toe.
Then, in a whispery voice, she teased him lightly.
"S, un, nim?"
He jolted upright.
"Whoa, you scared me. Oh, Prosecutor Jung! You gotta make some noise when you come in!"
"Looks like the team leaders aren't here?"
"Yeah, they stepped out for a bit."
Park Min-seong, accustomed to her visits, shook off his surprise and leaned back in his chair again.
"Hehe. Perfect."
"...?"
At her meaningful smile, Park Min-seong looked troubled and pretended to glance around.
Whenever Jung Ji-eun acted like this, he always ended up in a awkward spot.
She was the only junior he got along with casually, but he'd been through several incidents that made him think it might be better if he didn't know her.
"...What? You're making me nervous again."
"Why? A friend who joined a law firm this year sent me this. Thought we'd share."
"Oh, uh... You came all the way here for that."
"Yep, here."
"Nothing else going on, right?"
He was prickly with everyone and didn't mince words regardless of who was listening, but he was kind to one person: Prosecutor Jung Ji-eun.
She didn't dislike him either, and they occasionally chatted alone like this before she left. Hoping today was just that, he tried to reassure himself.
At that moment.
The door burst open again.
"...?"
Someone had followed behind Prosecutor Jung Ji-eun. The sharp glint in Park Min-seong's eyes, previously full of goodwill, turned predatory like an eagle's.
"Hello."
The man who entered with her. It was their first meeting, for sure.
But Prosecutor Park Min-seong scowled deeply and shot Prosecutor Jung Ji-eun a glare.
He knew exactly who the man was.
And the man seemed to know about him too.
"Prosecutor Jung."
"Yes, sunbaenim?"
Park Min-seong glanced at the brazenly staring Prosecutor Jung Ji-eun with a sense of betrayal.
He had pieced together the situation.
Prosecutor Jung Ji-eun had clearly brought the man here for some headache-inducing reason.
Moreover, bringing him straight to the prosecutor's office—something that wouldn't happen in normal circumstances.
"Sigh... This is a problem. It's solicitation."
Park Min-seong jumped to conclusions a bit, his voice laced with displeasure.
"It's a civilian complaint. Hear out what my junior has to say."
But Jung Ji-eun's expression was confident. All eyes turned to the man who had followed her in.
The protagonist was Kang Hyun, who had rushed straight to the prosecutors' office.
He bowed politely.
"Hello. I'm Kang Hyun."
At the courteous greeting, Park Min-seong waved him off dismissively, showing clear hostility. Treating him informally from the start, despite it being their first meeting.
"Hoo. Leave while I'm being nice. You're our famous junior. Coming like this isn't good."
"I've come legitimately."
"Is that so? I don't want to end up in the newspapers."
"I'm here as a civilian complainant, Prosecutor. Plus, it's an inquiry about a case."
"I said leave."
"I'm the complainant, and there are no reporters here. I'm requesting a meeting. And this is our first time meeting."
"You're not listening. Is this something that can happen in our organization? Especially from someone thinking of joining us."
"For now, I'm just a student."
For a brief moment, Park Min-seong and Kang Hyun locked eyes in a subtle power struggle.
Park Min-seong was the kind of person whose inexplicable aura made even deputy chiefs, chiefs, vice directors, or even chief prosecutors hesitate to treat him lightly.
Yet this guy named Kang Hyun wasn't intimidated; he smiled brightly and spoke his mind confidently in front of him.
On top of that, Kang Hyun didn't come off as rude or needlessly defiant.
And since he'd come with Prosecutor Jung Ji-eun, it was a bit awkward to make a scene.
That said, it didn't seem like Kang Hyun was hiding behind her as protection, nor did it feel like a personal matter.
Park Min-seong asked gruffly—the man whom juniors couldn't even make eye contact with and often fled from, a figure of fear among prosecutors.
"You don't seem scared of me?"
"Why would I be? You're the lead prosecutor on the case."
"Think you'll feel the same after joining?"
"That's for later. If the day comes when I call you sunbaenim, I'll greet you properly then."
"Oh, really? Come join the firm first before talking big."
"It's just a matter of time."
"Yeah. Our First Deputy Chief seems to think so. But don't assume the whole organization agrees."
Park Min-seong specifically named Jung Ji-eun's father, the rising star Chief Prosecutor Jeong Jung-hun. Jung Ji-eun, standing beside him, scratched her head awkwardly.
He had no intention of acknowledging Kang Hyun easily.
'Not easy.'
After the initial exchange, Kang Hyun paused to think.
The dinner with Chief Prosecutor Jeong Jung-hun last time.
Jeong Jung-hun's attitude had been intriguing. Beyond mere curiosity about Kang Hyun, it felt like he was testing whether he was trustworthy—multiple times. He was already showing immense interest in Kang Hyun.
But in hindsight, it was a double-edged sword.
A young kid who hadn't even joined the prosecution yet, being fussed over by someone worthy of a top position at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office.
It meant no one in the organization was unaware of Kang Hyun, but many didn't look kindly on it.
People like Park Min-seong clearly didn't view the situation favorably.
'At least he seems on good terms with Prosecutor Jung Ji-eun...'
Jung Ji-eun had brought Kang Hyun straight to him.
That was one favorable circumstance for Kang Hyun.
'Anyway, I have to push forward.'
Whatever the case, Kang Hyun finished his thoughts and responded.
"I'll take your advice to heart. But today, I need to fulfill my duty."
"Hmm. Is that so."
Kang Hyun shifted the conversation and looked at him again. Park Min-seong, who had been sitting arrogantly with legs crossed, adjusted his position slightly.
"Then let's hear it."
It was the attitude of someone who didn't want to listen but would hear it out for courtesy's sake. Sensing this, Kang Hyun continued.
"Thank you. Straight to the point: There's a suspicious drug case among the internal affairs investigations under the main office's jurisdiction."
At that, Park Min-seong looked up. He reacted to the word 'case.'
"Suspicious?"
"I think it was arbitrarily closed without justification."
"What's your connection to the case, junior?"
"The subject is a Korea University student. I'm the student council president."
"That's it? The investigation target isn't a friend or anything?"
Park Min-seong grew curious about Kang Hyun, who had come to see him despite the case being closed and having no direct relation.
"I couldn't overlook the injustice."
"Ever thought disrespecting the police's right to close internal investigations is unjust? Why come here to say it?"
"After receiving intel that a drug dealer using the ID 'Kimhana-yang' was a Korea University student, the police closed the case internally without proper investigation. But this isn't a case eligible for internal closure."
"Why not?"
"The reason it's not eligible for internal closure? Because you, Prosecutor, don't know about this situation right now."
"What?"
"Because this is Prosecutor Park Min-seong's office—the commanding office for that case's division."
Kang Hyun took a small breath in and out, then began.
"The head of a police department has a duty to review ledgers and records related to internal investigations and determine their propriety. But the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Investigation Division Chief position has been vacant this year."
"There were gaps in police internal case management?"
"Yes. It's subject to audit."
"That's not enough."
"Article 18, Paragraph 2, Items 1 and 4 of the Regulations on Prosecutorial Oversight of Judicial Police and Investigation Guidelines for Judicial Police. For cases involving seizures and searches (excluding verification seizures and searches), communication restrictions, or requests for communication confirmation data, the list of closed internal investigation cases and summaries must be submitted to the prosecutor via the Criminal Justice Information System."
"...Hmm."
"In this internal investigation, the police immediately requested communication confirmation data from the telecom provider upon receiving intel about the Korea University student target. That's according to the official document sent by the National Police Agency Narcotics Unit to Korea University's student affairs office."
Park Min-seong glanced at Jung Ji-eun, who stood a bit away, with a deeply troubled expression.
But in contrast, Prosecutor Jung Ji-eun was grinning like she was having the time of her life.
"See? That's why I had to bring him, sunbaenim."
"Sigh."
He seemed lost in thought for a moment.
Kang Hyun was telling him to act.
Sloppy police work, even bypassing the prosecution with tricks?
And straight to him, 'Park Min-seong,' the direct prosecutor for it.
"...Just when I'd shaken off my image and holed up quietly."
He waved his hand lightly at Kang Hyun as if that was enough, then stood up abruptly.
His face said it was a hassle, but it was clearly a reaction to Kang Hyun's words.
"...?"
"Wait here."
His hand was already reaching for the desk phone.
Tap, tap.
Park Min-seong sharply dialed a number and started calling someone. Kang Hyun watched silently.
If he was acting on Kang Hyun's words, he was probably checking investigation division staff availability or available vehicles.
But if Kang Hyun's argument lacked merit, he'd be calling to have him removed from the office.
"Yes... Park Min-seong speaking."
"Yes... Yes. That's correct."
Click.
He hung up, pulled out his cell phone, and headed to the inner break room to continue the call.
'No way it fails now.'
This last call might decide whether Kang Hyun got kicked out or got his comeuppance.
Kang Hyun glanced at Jung Ji-eun; she showed no particular expression, just a hint of tension as she watched the inner room with him.
The call dragged on. One minute, two.
Tense moment.
The door burst open!
In the end, Kang Hyun had said something that let Park Min-seong guess his thoughts.
"Yes. Good... Bring everyone. Destination?"
Yes. Park Min-seong had judged Kang Hyun's words valid.
'It's on.'
The prosecution was moving to punish the negligent police and resolve the case satisfyingly.
"The destination is the Narcotics Investigation Division in the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Annex, Regional Investigation Team building. Thank you."
Click.
A brief silence followed.
Breaking it, Park Min-seong said to Kang Hyun,
"Let's go."
Hearing that, Kang Hyun shared a meaningful look with Park Min-seong.
It was the gaze of a lead prosecutor. Cold and gleaming, like a hunting dog moments before sinking its teeth into prey.
A glimpse of how terrifying a prosecutor could be—and how formidable against injustice.