Chapter 161
Chapter 161
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 161
Chapter Title: Direct Report to the Department Head
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The morning after his conversation with Hwang Jae-eun.
Namyangju Branch Office, Criminal Division 1 Chief's room.
Chief Prosecutor Park Min-seong's office was already bustling with noise from early morning.
In the outer annex office, a terrified staffer sat frozen, unsure what to do, while inside the room, Kang Hyun—who carried all sorts of rumors about the branch—stood before the furious Park Min-seong.
Click!
"And you've been sitting quiet all this time, only to pull this now? Why?"
"I judged the timing right. Senior Prosecutor Hwang agreed too."
"Lie and you'll die, kid. Trying to rack up some achievements? Or playing both sides?"
"No, sir."
His voice was sharp enough that anyone could sense the murderous intent behind it.
Jeong Jung-hun, the Chief Prosecutor's face, briefly flashed in Kang Hyun's mind, but he couldn't let it show.
On his first day, Jeong Jung-hun had called Kang Hyun in and shown him a photo of Namyangju Branch Chief Goo Ik-hwan. There was no telling how Park Min-seong might interpret that true intent.
Instead, Kang Hyun just smiled faintly at Park Min-seong's blunt question.
"I was just going through work files at dawn when a solid idea for resolving Division 1 Case No. 17 came to me, so I came to report it."
"You're the same as a kid as you are now—no change at all. Still not afraid of me, huh?"
"You're my senior. What's there to fear?"
"Act like a rookie. Stay quiet for now."
"I'm just working hard, that's all."
"You little punk. Won't back down even an inch?"
Perhaps due to his boldness, Park Min-seong's expression unexpectedly softened a bit.
At the same time, Kang Hyun started turning the gears in his head.
If not now, I can't do it.
Criminal Division 2, Room 323, Prosecutor Kang Hyun's office.
Truth be told, even if he tried to think as positively as possible, the reality of his job wasn't easy at all.
No staff assigned to him, highest case allocation rate.
On top of that, Division 2 Chief Oh Jiman still dismissed him as half-baked, and the top of that line, the branch chief, felt the same. Kang Hyun was in the worst spot, working under them.
Other seniors managed somehow, but dealing with even one uncooperative boss was hell—yet Kang Hyun had to handle two all by himself.
I need to use this case as leverage. No matter how much he worked without complaint, he wasn't the type to stay silent when an opportunity to change his dire case situation arose and just keep plugging away like an idiot. He knew full well that staying like this would make him nothing more than a spare sack of barley, dancing to their tune. Exactly. That's why Kang Hyun had his own plan.
Screech.
Park Min-seong pushed back his chair and stood, thrusting his face right up to Kang Hyun's.
It was excessively intimidating behavior from a division chief toward a junior prosecutor, but Kang Hyun responded with a smile, without the slightest flinch.
"..."
Park Min-seong quickly backed away and spoke up.
"You're ignoring the chain of command here. If you wanted to report, you should've gone through Division 2 Chief's line. And you shouldn't have gone to Hwang in the first place."
This was the first time Kang Hyun had come straight to Park Min-seong's office to report, but since he was under Division 2 Chief directly, Park felt compelled to call him out.
Especially since the case was dragging on, putting Park under extreme stress.
Word was he was on the verge of exploding at the slightest word.
The surrounding offices, intrigued that Kang Hyun had sought out Park Min-seong himself, fell silent, ears tuned to their conversation.
"But it's a Division 1 case."
"Then you should've stayed out of Division 1 cases from the start. What do you want?"
"Then hear my report. I'll explain."
"Hmm. So you do want something."
As expected, Kang Hyun launched right into it upon seeing Park's expression.
"Criminal Division 1 Investigation Case No. 17. Our prosecution's direction on the collapse incident has been fixed on 'KW Construction HQ.' Pressing them on negligence in duties and demanding explanations for violations of the Construction Technology Promotion Act."
"Isn't KW responsible for safety management plans and on-site material quality control? That's only natural."
"Yes. So logically, hitting KW Construction would be effective in uncovering the case's charges."
"Hmm, 'effective,' you say... That sounds off somehow. Is that why you drew up this paper?"
"Yes."
A single sheet of the report Kang Hyun had prepared fluttered in Park Min-seong's hand.
Namyangju's investigation direction was wholly on 'KW Construction,' without a shred of doubt, just as Kang Hyun said.
The reason: It was the 'sole' entity potentially directly responsible for the charges.
That's where Kang Hyun's doubt began. Was that 'sole' truly absolute?
In other words, was the investigation direction unchangeable?
The proposal born from that deliberation.
"...Hit the subcontractors instead of KW."
"Exactly."
"Subcontractors have multiple direct victims harmed, and they were just following HQ orders, so prosecution under those charges is impossible. Korea Manpower's site manager and others are already under separate unrestricted investigation."
"That's all the more reason to do it. Generally, building collapse causes stem from on-site failures in safety plan execution. Sudden un-reviewed structural changes, unauthorized removal of safety equipment, poor concrete curing, etc."
"Generally, yes."
"If it's general, then even for the main case of KW Construction's negligence, the subcontractors have some explaining to do."
"Would that fly in court? Subcontractors explaining HQ's responsibility too, on top of their separate cases?"
"If even a tiny part relates, they must. But not as witnesses—as suspects. Here's the key point."
"Go on."
"Setting aside ultimate HQ management failures, there's a high chance of subcontractor mismanagement in executing safety checks from HQ.
To prove the main charges, we need to clarify responsibility ratios between HQ and subcontractors. By this logic, beyond forced investigation of KW HQ, we can also force investigation of Korea Manpower and H Boiler for direct cause identification."
His angry face darkened further. Kang Hyun's argument had real merit.
Park Min-seong kept turning it over in his mind before trailing off.
"...Forced investigation of subcontractors."
"Don't apply for search warrants on Korea Manpower and H Boiler instead of KW. They'll have no choice but to issue them."
"..."
"From the search, evidence clarifying KW's responsibility is essential. Even if the Criminal Procedure Act limits seizure items to evidence proving subcontractor charges, Supreme Court Precedent No. 6252 states seizures aren't limited to items directly tied to the warrant's charged crimes. If there's reasonable suspicion of connection to the same or similar crimes with the same basic facts, seizure is allowed within that scope."
"...And if that's ambiguous, we can just reapply for a new warrant."
He stared intently at Kang Hyun, whose face brimmed with conviction.
"This lays the groundwork to thoroughly search the KW you so desperately want."
Park Min-seong wasn't blindly agreeing just because Kang Hyun was confident. At this point, it was a valid, clear insight.
Of course, grilling only KW would be ideal without obstacles. But circumstances weren't.
So twisting the direction per Kang Hyun's idea was a fresh approach.
Still, there were limits.
"Fine, say your point holds. We shift, search subcontractors, use findings to get new warrants validating evidence, then hit KW."
"Yes. Exactly."
"First issue: Hitting subcontractors consumes time and manpower. We can't halt current investigations to focus solely on Korea Manpower and H Boiler."
"That's why I suggest you approve my attachment request for support."
Park Min-seong looked baffled at Kang Hyun's out-of-left-field demand.
"What?"
"To support this case, please issue a temporary attachment order to Division 1. I'll help with the subcontractor searches, then return."
"Hah. So that's what you want?"
"Yes."
He let out an incredulous chuckle at Kang Hyun's sheer audacity.
Of course. What choice did a rookie prosecutor—especially a total outsider with no connections—have in his position? The worst spot, mutually shunned and forcibly created for Kang Hyun. No one in the branch was unaware they'd made a new prosecutor's office in Division 2 just to shove him in the corner. Normally, any prosecutor would first accept reality and bow their head. But Kang Hyun wasn't yielding to his lot. He'd prepared meticulously to shift positions through his own efforts.
"Hmm. Even if you hate your boss, know when to bow. That's the prosecution's structure."
"I just want the attachment order. Not a formal transfer—just let me help under you temporarily."
Park Min-seong eyed him closely, as if observing. Maddeningly calm guy. He'd assumed he was just quietly working away. Hearing about his insane performance results had surprised him plenty, even more so since he still lacked a practical affairs officer. But he seemed a bit frustrating too. Told to grovel on the floor, he'd do it thoroughly, slaving away like a servant. That's the image he'd had. Of course he wouldn't stay quiet. But no. He'd bided his time, then come asking to be taken in. How was a brand-new rookie prosecutor seeing through all this? No, what was his game even coming here? Faction fights among prosecutors, power struggles, mind games. He couldn't have pierced them all. Rustle. As the distance between Kang Hyun and him closed, their eyes met. Thud! Park Min-seong's approaching footsteps halted, and sunlight seemed to pour over them in a flash. Then, his matter-of-fact voice reached Kang Hyun's ear.
"Don't pull this again. Once only."
The cold, fearsome expression softened with affection, just like that moment long ago, reviving before Kang Hyun. A mix of worry and complexity on his face. In the end, Park Min-seong was about to approve Kang Hyun's request.
"Go back to your office and wait. I'll have case files copied over. Review them by end of day."
"Thank you, Senior."
"If it goes as you say, searches hit both sites simultaneously the morning after branch chief approval and warrant issuance. Prep to handle one and head out."
"I'm good. Already prepared separately."
"Fine. And..."
Park Min-seong shrugged on his jacket, glaring at him. Kang Hyun, ready to leave, paused.
"You... what the hell are you?"
Much was hidden in Park's words, but Kang Hyun casually cut off what was coming with one line.
"Uh... just an enthusiastic rookie prosecutor. Order me around from now on!"
"...Jeez. Get out."
"Yes, sir!"
With a quick bow, Kang Hyun left the Division 1 Chief's office with light steps. Park Min-seong sighed in exasperation at those vibrant footsteps only a true rookie could have—unimpeachable—then gazed warmly at his retreating figure a bit longer.