Chapter 149
Chapter 149
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 149
Chapter Title: Oath and Sudden Assignment
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"Prosecutor's oath."
Kang Hyun's swearing-in began. In a calm and solemn voice filled with resolve, he read the oath word for word.
"From this moment, I step into the honorable role of a prosecutor for the Republic of Korea, answering the call of the state and its people. As a representative of the public interest, I am entrusted with the grave mission of upholding justice and human rights, protecting my neighbors and community from crime."
Kim Jeong-min smiled faintly. Bae Seong-shin watched with an expressionless face.
"I pledge to be the courageous prosecutor who dispels the darkness of injustice, the warm prosecutor who cares for the powerless and marginalized, the impartial prosecutor who follows only the truth, and the righteous prosecutor who holds himself to the strictest standards. From beginning to end, I will devote all my strength to serving the people and the nation."
Clap, clap.
"I stake my honor on this solemn vow."
Clap clap clap!
Click! Click!
Solemn applause erupted loudly.
And in that moment, one person caught Kang Hyun's eye from afar.
"Mom?"
She had said she couldn't come because of work.
Yet somehow, Mother had made time and arrived late at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office.
Guided by a staff member, she entered the ceremony hall with a puzzled look on her face, but the instant she spotted Kang Hyun, her expression lit up with a radiant smile as she waved both hands vigorously.
Mother's beaming smile.
How happy and joyful she must be.
The surrounding staff members sensed it too, smiling warmly.
"I'll do my best, Mom."
Amid everyone's congratulations and welcomes, Kang Hyun locked eyes with his mother seated in the distance, giving her a quick wave and a determined nod.
Veteran prosecutors who had long served in the organization, as well as junior staff.
All of them celebrated Kang Hyun's commissioning, thrilled that such a tremendous talent had joined their ranks.
It was truly a "festival."
Kang Hyun felt he would never forget this moment. He savored the rising pride and joy.
Murmur murmur.
"Good work!"
"This way, please!"
After the ceremony ended.
Dodging the well-wishers left and right, Kang Hyun rushed toward his mother.
"Mom."
"My son!"
Kang Hyun gave her a light hug and said,
"How did you make time? You said you couldn't..."
"Hehe, actually, I had cleared my schedule. Everyone told me to go right away. How could I miss my son's big day as a prosecutor?"
Kang Hyun's face broke into a wide grin. Mother was absolutely beaming with excitement.
"I'm so glad you came. I wanted to show you."
"Yes. Congratulations, son."
Pat pat.
What must be going through Mother's mind as she patted her grown son's back?
"Thank you, Mom."
Mother's contented smile. She looked a bit thinner than before, but her face shone brighter and happier.
Kang Hyun thought to himself.
Just a little longer now.
Repaying the debt was only a matter of time, so it wouldn't be long.
He would make sure Mother could quit her hard labor, move to a better home, enjoy fancy and delicious meals, and live a leisurely, peaceful life.
Kang Hyun clenched his fist.
"Mother, you've arrived."
"Oh, Prosecutor Kim Jeong-min?"
With a bow, Kim Jeong-min approached where Kang Hyun and his mother stood, greeting her politely. He and Mother had met briefly during Kang Hyun's school days in Incheon through some volunteer work.
"I'll continue to look after Kang Hyun, so don't worry."
"With you there, I feel so secure. Thank you always."
As Kim Jeong-min chatted with Mother, Kang Hyun awkwardly stepped back, feeling like a child again.
Well, even after becoming a prosecutor, he was still a fledgling.
He would have to endure the staff's cliques and withstand the senior prosecutors' scrutiny.
Lost in thought for a moment, Kim Jeong-min lightly tapped his side.
"...Did you hear me?"
"Huh? Yes?"
"I'll see Mother off. You got the call from Central District, right?"
"Central District? No, I haven't heard."
"Well, yeah."
A meaningful remark. Kang Hyun tilted his head, but Kim Jeong-min waved it off.
"You'll get the call soon. For now, the Chief Prosecutor has something urgent to discuss. Head straight to his office—you know the way?"
The Central District Prosecutors' Office was right behind the Supreme Prosecutors' Office—a short walk away. But summoning him from the front lines right after the ceremony?
Still, Central District was familiar and welcoming to him.
It was his home ground, where he had the most allies.
But for the Chief Prosecutor to call him so urgently suggested some incident was afoot.
"What could it be?"
Ring ring, ring ring.
Just as his thoughts wrapped up, with Mother and Kim Jeong-min walking away, Kang Hyun's phone began to ring.
Sure enough, it was Central District.
Central District Prosecutors' Office, Chief Prosecutor's Office.
Knock, knock.
Whoosh.
As Kang Hyun opened the door, the outer office of the Chief Prosecutor's suite came into view, along with a familiar face seated there.
The administrative officer from Central District with deep ties to Kang Hyun.
It was Kim Eun-hye, the officer who handled contract workers in the General Affairs Division. They had met through her role with student workers, and she remained a close ally, the first person he thought of whenever trouble arose.
"Officer Kim!"
"Oh my! You're here? You are, you are!"
Her pupils dilated in an instant as she shot to her feet, her petite frame scurrying over with tiny hands and feet flailing in excitement.
"Haha, how have you been?"
"Of course! Oh, our student Kang Hyun... no, Prosecutor now. I should've gone to your commissioning ceremony myself..."
She grabbed his arms and shook them, endlessly expressing her regret.
Seeing her react so animatedly made it finally sink in—he really was a prosecutor now.
The situation felt real, and his mood lifted.
"Thanks to your advice, I stayed relaxed and did well. Thank you."
"You saw Chief Kim Jeong-min, right? He insisted on going despite his busy schedule."
Haha. Kang Hyun nodded with a smile, and she calmed her excitement, smiling back.
Kang Hyun glanced toward the inner office.
"Typical outer office. Is the Chief in?"
"Oh, yes. I'll let him know you're here. One moment."
She picked up the receiver to confirm, apparently speaking to the Chief in the inner room.
"This is Kim Eun-hye. We have a guest—Prosecutor Kang Hyun. Yes, yes. Understood."
Click.
Kim Eun-hye guided Kang Hyun toward the door, leading the way.
But for a split second.
"Um..."
"...?"
An odd expression flickered across her face. He had known her for a long time, but it was rare to see.
"What is it?"
She seemed about to say something, then hesitated.
A look that knew the inside story, aware of the unfolding situation.
"...Is there something you want to say?"
"Oh, no! You'll see when you go in. Hurry."
Clunk.
The door opened. The room was dimmer than expected.
Kang Hyun entered ahead with a subtle feeling.
Step, step.
"It's Kang Hyun, Chief Prosecutor."
The spacious Chief Prosecutor's office came into view, followed by a large, thick rectangular low wooden table and luxurious sofas.
In the center sat a man.
"Long time no see, Kang Hyun. Or should I say Prosecutor Kang now?"
A prosecutor.
Fond of drink, with a stern impression, principled yet willing to bend rules for the prosecution's sake.
The top figure leading the faction guiding law school prosecutors, promoted from Central District Deputy Chief to Chief, then straight to High Prosecutors' Office Chief—a hotshot in one leap.
Yet someone who had always shown Kang Hyun special affection.
It was Chief Prosecutor Jeong Jung-hun.
A private meeting between the Central District Chief Prosecutor and a rookie flat prosecutor.
Bow.
Kang Hyun bowed deeply and stood calmly before him. He was no longer just some guy he'd pass on the street or an acquaintance of friendly prosecutors.
Jeong Jung-hun was now his boss, his greatest "connection."
"How have you been, Chief Prosecutor?"
"Very well. You look radiant."
After simple pleasantries, he gestured for Kang Hyun to sit. It seemed a long talk was in store.
Sit.
Newspapers and reports on the table.
"The one and only special appointee prosecutor in history. No probation period, right?"
"Yes. They offered the option, but I declined. I wanted to start work right away."
"I see. I heard. Whether it's the boldness of a gold badge rookie or mere bravado, time will tell."
Most of the desk materials were files on Kang Hyun—personal details and such. Unusually, Jeong Jung-hun seemed to have reviewed a mere rookie's info meticulously.
"Prosecutor Kang."
"Yes."
"How does it feel to be a prosecutor?"
Was it a simple question or something more? Kang Hyun hesitated briefly but answered straightforwardly.
"It feels great. It's been my dream for so long."
"Indeed. You've achieved everything you set out to and settled here—makes sense."
He had tackled countless cases, resolving them dramatically, with overflowing specs and no gaps. He had conquered the special judicial exam and law school bar exam in the same year.
His words acknowledged it all. Remarkable, the top talent of his generation.
Yet he didn't show special emotion or pride toward Kang Hyun.
Jeong Jung-hun's deep interest and affection had always been palpable to Kang Hyun himself.
Even surpassing mentors like Professor Kim Jong-hwan or former Director Song Ha-dong.
"Your commissioning scores were evaluated differently from standard rookies, but undoubtedly top marks. You've heard about your posting, I assume."
"Yes. Central District."
Top score, ranked first without question, so he had been given posting choices.
But his tone differed.
'Something's up?'
Kang Hyun swallowed dryly.
The document Jeong Jung-hun picked up was Kang Hyun's personnel card.
The first posting field was blank.
Enough to make Kang Hyun, who had assumed Central District as planned, tilt his head.
"Alright. To the main point."
"Yes."
Why had Jeong Jung-hun summoned him so early?
Right after the ceremony to Central District, no less.
The Chief Prosecutor raised his eyes and placed one document prominently on the desk.
Place.
It was the personnel card.
Kang Hyun's photo and records filled it. Notably, the "affiliation" field was blank.
"Your affiliation is still open. That's why I called you."
Jeong Jung-hun's calm, measured words struck Kang Hyun's ears forcefully.
"...I heard Central District."
"I put your personnel processing on hold temporarily."
"Pardon?"
Kang Hyun's eyes widened.
"Don't look so surprised—it's not new to you. I have something in mind and adjusted accordingly."
"...Yes, I know how things work. It's fine."
"Good."
He stood briefly, clasped his hands behind his back, and walked to the window. Kang Hyun pondered.
To gauge Jeong Jung-hun's intentions.
First, was this hostility or not?
'Not rejection. He wouldn't have called if so.'
For Chief Prosecutor Jeong Jung-hun, reassigning a rookie's posting was child's play with a word.
Yet he had urgently summoned Kang Hyun, sat him down, and declared he'd adjust the rookie posting per his own will.
'But why?'
What was the reason?
Ambiguous. Kang Hyun finished thinking and asked cautiously to hear him out.
"Then, where am I going?"
Jeong Jung-hun's expression reflected in Kang Hyun's questioning eyes.
Their gazes met.
Instantly, Kang Hyun read his eyes.
'Something's brewing.'
He intended to entrust Kang Hyun with a task.
A mere rookie prosecutor, yet Jeong Jung-hun believed he could perfectly fulfill it.
"Kang."
Kang Hyun listened breathlessly. The moment his rookie posting was decided.
"Take a short trip to Namyangju."
"Namyangju?"
Place.
Simultaneously, he spread a photo on the table and nodded toward it silently.
Uijeongbu Branch of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office—a small office with just two senior prosecutors under the branch director.
Namyangju Branch.
Its branch director and deputy chief prosecutor.
'Deputy Chief Prosecutor Goo Ik-hwan.'
With that, Kang Hyun understood the situation fully.
To a mere flat prosecutor like him.
He was assigning control of the branch.