Chapter 150
Chapter 150
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 150
Chapter Title: First Day at Namyangju Branch
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Vroom.
A taxi sped along the road.
The location was Namyangju. The prosecutorial jurisdiction was the Namyangju Branch.
A subordinate office of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office.
The Namyangju Branch of the Uijeongbu District Prosecutors' Office was a small-scale prosecutorial office with a long history since its establishment.
One branch chief. Two deputy chief prosecutors.
There were barely more than ten regular prosecutors, and even counting all staff, it didn't exceed fifty—the smallest office in the Seoul and Gyeonggi region.
As such, the Namyangju Branch held a negligible position within the prosecution organization, seemingly out of everyone's interest.
It appeared quiet and peaceful, free of work and worries.
However, the reality was the opposite.
Boasting a long history, the office had seen its share of big and small incidents and accidents, with plenty of rumors and troubles. Lately, it was drawing media attention, with reporters coming and going.
Thus, the staff carried themselves as if hugging bombs, their faces always tense and etched with exhaustion.
Amid this, there was a piece of good news that brought them small joy.
At the main entrance on the outskirts of the Namyangju Branch.
"A new prosecutor is coming, right?"
"It's weird that personnel changes are delayed until the end of February. This is really unusual."
"Could it be..."
"Shh! The branch chief's car is pulling in!"
A black sedan kicked up dust as it entered through the wide-open main gate, and two gate security officers saluted.
Vroom.
Passing straight through the gate, the car stopped right in front of the building's entrance steps. A man stepped out, his face showing clear discomfort.
Slam, thud!
His thinning middle-parted hair was streaked with white.
The somewhat stocky man in a suit slammed the door shut with force, making a loud bang, but he didn't seem to care.
"Damn it!"
Grumbling, the man climbed the prosecutor's office steps.
It was none other than Branch Chief Gu Ik-hwan.
Trailing hurriedly behind him was one staff member.
"Who the hell do they think I am!"
"Branch Chief... even so, canceling the welcome event..."
"Now's not the time to coddle a newbie. Stick him in a corner! What's a half-baked Law School 7th class think he is?"
"Branch Chief... they say he passed both the Judicial Examination and the Bar Exam at the same time. The media image is pretty good..."
A sudden chill in the air.
"Administrative Officer Go."
"...Yes."
The branch chief cut the man off sharply. The one called Administrative Officer Go bowed his head.
"Bring me the list of visiting reporters. Check the ones in the press room roughly and report any peculiarities right away."
"Understood."
"Hmph!"
Finishing his words, Branch Chief Gu Ik-hwan passed through the office gate, his face quite sour.
He looked fed up with reporters swarming like mad dogs, striding quickly to the elevator and maintaining an angry expression until the doors closed.
-Ding-dong. Doors closing.
"Hmph, I merely instructed to investigate the case faithfully according to principles and rules..."
Branch Chief Gu Ik-hwan muttered just before the doors shut. He seemed to be rehearsing a script prepared for a press conference.
Thud!
The doors closed. Left standing alone for a moment, Administrative Officer Go shook his head, sighed, and muttered briefly to himself.
"...With the office mood already bad, was reporting it up a mistake?"
In the entire legal world, excluding Prosecutor General Bae Seong-sin, the most famous figure.
Prosecutor Kang Hyun.
The news of him coming to this small office was a huge shock to Administrative Officer Go.
Rumors had swirled that he'd at least be assigned to the Central District Prosecutors' Office, or one of the Seoul east, west, south, or north branches.
For such a person to come to Namyangju.
It felt like salvation had arrived for the office in its current crisis.
However, was Kang Hyun's assignment merely making the regular staff's hearts race?
Upon hearing the news, the branch chief had jumped in extreme wariness toward Kang Hyun, while the other prosecutors uniformly ignored or avoided him.
"...I don't know how this is turning out."
He stood blankly in front of the elevator for a moment, then noticed it was almost ten o'clock and hurriedly headed up the stairs.
Yes. Prosecutor Kang Hyun.
He was on his way to the Namyangju Branch.
* * *
The next day.
'I need to get my license.'
Inside the taxi.
Kang Hyun gazed out the window with a complicated expression and let out a small sigh.
'Namyangju Branch.'
It was a very small office split off from the Uijeongbu District Prosecutors' Office, but transportation wasn't inconvenient, nor was it too far, so daily life and commuting weren't much of a worry.
However, Jeong Jung-hun's intentions.
Recalling the photo of Branch Chief Gu Ik-hwan that he'd tossed like prey, Kang Hyun fell deep in thought.
Jeong Jung-hun's reason for sending Kang Hyun to Namyangju was clear.
Among the major cases currently handled by the prosecution.
The one stirring the most public controversy was the 'Namyangju Construction Site Collapse.' It had to be to bolster efforts on that.
KW Construction,
A small firm also subcontracting for Daijin Group, but quite successful in the Namyangju area.
It was under intense prosecutorial investigation regarding responsibility for the collapse, with plenty of media exposure.
'It was a pretty big case, from what I remember.'
As Kang Hyun recalled, the case was substantial.
All prosecutors from Criminal Division 1 were glued to it, making it enormously significant.
Yet the investigation dragged on.
Months after the incident, it had only superficially questioned witnesses.
Public criticism outside was fierce, branding it a lenient, cover-up investigation.
Thus, the Namyangju Branch in charge was staunchly denying allegations of botched or favoritist investigation.
And at the center was Gu Ik-hwan.
Gu Ik-hwan was a peculiar figure, rife with corruption suspicions, widely regarded as low-quality.
Perhaps due to that reputation, he'd been passed over multiple times in personnel shifts, leaving him perpetually uncomfortable.
Why else would a newly promoted deputy chief take a seat while he, a perennial deputy, was stuck in Namyangju?
It was practically an order from above to 'take off your uniform,' yet he seemed to go with whatever.
'And he's hardcore Judicial Examination faction, class-conscious. Despises Law School grads.'
Everything opposed Kang Hyun. In every way, he was set to clash with him.
Sending Kang Hyun to Namyangju, where such a man was branch chief.
And on orders from a Central District power player.
The root reason would only reveal itself by seeing it through to the end.
Vroom.
'Arrived.'
As Kang Hyun finished his thoughts.
The taxi pulled up near the office, on the outskirts of Namyangju close to Seoul.
Screech.
"Here you are."
"Yes, here's my card."
"Thank you. By any chance... are you a prosecutor?"
"Pardon? Ah, yes."
"Ah! You're that famous one!"
The taxi driver's face lit up as he thrust out his hand. Like trying to shake a celebrity's hand before they exited, Kang Hyun gave a short laugh and grasped it.
Their clasped hands shook vigorously several times.
"Ah, th-thank you."
"Please save our Namyangju a bit before you go! Life here's really tough. So many incidents lately, and all the talk from the higher-ups..."
"Is that so."
"We count on you from now on. Really, we believe in you, Prosecutor! With someone so famous, it's reassuring—very reassuring!"
The driver might have recognized Kang Hyun by chance.
But his words and actions swelled Kang Hyun's pride, alongside a massive sense of responsibility pumping from his heart like blood.
"...I'm a rookie, but I'll do my best. Hard work is key. Then the cases will resolve."
"Exactly. Settle in well, uphold justice! Please keep that promise, Prosecutor!"
"Yes. Of course. Prosecutors' Office Act Article 4: Prosecutors, as public servants to the entire nation, shall protect citizens' human rights in accordance with the Constitution and laws, adhere to due process, maintain political neutrality, and not abuse granted authority."
"...Pardon?"
"Oh, it's a thing!"
As an unexpected legal explanation popped from Kang Hyun's mouth, as if his role were obvious, the driver blinked blankly. Kang Hyun chuckled heartily and exited the taxi.
Thud!
'Let's do this.'
Kang Hyun stepped out and looked up at the Namyangju Branch, about four stories tall.
The weather was a bit chilly, but the sky was clear.
Hardly anyone coming or going, it looked leisurely, far from incidents, even calming his mind.
And the building.
A square, rigid structure like a miniature Supreme Prosecutors' Office, but its familiarity soothed Kang Hyun.
Not bad at all.
Whew.
Of course.
Both Jeong Jung-hun and the prosecutorial factional infighting had contributed to rushing him here.
But the most important thing was one.
Right now, neither acting to Jeong Jung-hun's taste nor deciding an attitude toward Branch Chief Gu Ik-hwan mattered.
'Just do it by the book, set an example. If I do well, everything follows.'
With resolve to do well.
Kang Hyun took a big step forward. His first day at the prosecutor's office began.
"Hello."
"Ah, Prosecutor!"
Before the gate officers' greetings finished, a man rushed out.
Tall in a suit, the typical chief of staff type.
Kang Hyun roughly guessed his role and greeted him warmly.
"I'm Go Won-pyo. Just call me Administrative Officer Go. Welcome to Namyangju! Prosecutor."
"Pleased to meet you."
Despite his lean build, he was sweating profusely—whether from Kang Hyun's intimidating presence or some uncomfortable circumstance, it was unclear.
"Yes. This way, this way."
But with his friendly words and guidance, Kang Hyun smiled and followed, completing necessary registration smoothly.
'But...'
Just a little.
Something felt off.
The few staff in Division 2, Team 3.
Passing employees merely nodded curtly to Kang Hyun, nothing more.
No warm greetings like Administrative Officer Go's earlier—just ignoring him without a word.
It was an atmosphere he'd never felt before, stirring slight embarrassment.
"All set. Your prosecutor ID will be ready today."
"Thank you."
Administrative Officer Go spoke as if glossing over something apologetic.
"That is, your office assignment was delayed a bit, so no dedicated clerk yet."
"Ah, so not assisting a senior prosecutor, but getting my own office right away?"
"Sigh. You're such an amazing figure, Prosecutor. True, but... we lack manpower here..."
He tried hiding his clearly troubled expression.
It being late February's irregular personnel season, Kang Hyun nodded understandingly.
"Sounds good. Then show me the assignment chart; I'll find my room."
"Ah, no! I should guide you."
He waved his hands dismissively, then planted himself squarely in front of Kang Hyun for some reason.
With the look that he had to do it personally, Kang Hyun shrugged and followed.
Thud, thud.
Up the stairs, one more floor.
Past the hallway into the inner passage, another turn.
'Isn't this too far in the corner?'
As Kang Hyun started questioning after walking quite a way.
"Here, Prosecutor! This is it!"
Kang Hyun and Administrative Officer Go stood at a corner of the office.
In front of an old door, facing each other.
"Ah. Room 323. Got it."
"Yes. It's a bit tucked away."
"It's fine."
Aside from the hasty removal traces of 'Break Room.'
It wasn't so bad, so Kang Hyun flung the door open.
Whoosh!
And Kang Hyun's very first thought.
'What... is this?'
One old cabinet, one even older desk.
An empty room with nothing else.
Sunlight streamed through the window, thankfully, but heating issues made it bitterly cold.
"Th-that! It's still February, so chilly, right? Prosecutor?"
Administrative Officer Go, seeing the room even worse than expected, turned pale as he looked at Kang Hyun.
"Well..."
"I'll get the heating fixed right away! Unpack, rest a bit, and the admin office will contact you!"
"Ah, wait, Officer Go! Officer Go?"
Clang, bang!
Left alone, Kang Hyun. Administrative Officer Go fled like he was escaping.
"What... is going on?"
His spot: a corner empty room converted from a break room.
Abandoned as is, Kang Hyun.
The moment his prosecutor appointment took effect, his greatest crisis seemed to hit.