Chapter 162
Chapter 162
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 162
Chapter Title: Assignment to Criminal Division 1
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Clang.
The moment Kang Hyun stepped out of Park Min-seong's office, one person was waiting for him.
It was Hwang Jae-eun, the chief of Criminal Division 1.
As Kang Hyun walked quickly down the hallway, she followed him and struck up a conversation.
"What'd he say?"
"He said to come on over."
"Really?"
For the first time in a long while—no, perhaps ever—Hwang Jae-eun's brightened face appeared right in front of Kang Hyun for a few seconds before vanishing.
"He said he'd report straight to the branch chief. If the branch chief gives the okay."
"Then we can get started. But don't get your hopes up about getting that secondment approved too."
"I don't have to join the investigation myself. As long as it helps."
"Hmm. Yeah, it was a good idea."
She hesitated for a moment, glanced around furtively, and mumbled something to Kang Hyun.
"Thanks."
"Pardon?"
"Thanks for caring. I'd been stuck on this case for months, feeling frustrated, and this was a solid approach."
"No, no. It was just an idea. You laid it all out in detail for me."
"If you see it that way, great."
As if she'd fulfilled her duty, she abruptly flung open the door to her office, which they'd already reached.
When the door swung open, the staff inside craned their necks out to peek, but they quickly ducked back at her sharp glare.
As she went in, her parting words were truly unexpected.
"If it works out, even if it's just for a bit, let's do some good work."
"Uh... sure?"
Creak. Thud.
"Wow."
To think that senior would say something like that.
It felt like he'd earned a little recognition from his tough senior, and things seemed a bit more comfortable than before. He was in a good mood.
On top of that, the chance to join a major case had opened up, making his heart race a little.
'I'll finally tackle a real case. And I won't have to see Chief Oh's face for a while.'
Kang Hyun clenched his fists tight.
Adapting to the Namyangju Branch was priority one, but he had no intention of bowing to people who looked down on him.
Half a law school grad? Green rookie prosecutor?
He'd make those words stick in their throats.
And force even them to acknowledge him.
This move was a great starting point toward that goal, and the fact that Park Min-seong and Hwang Jae-eun had responded to his efforts only fueled him more.
It was a good beginning.
Bang!
A little later that morning, Oh Jiman stormed into the branch chief's office, fuming with rage.
"Branch Chief! A secondment order? For a whole month, no less!"
"Chief Oh, restrain yourself."
"How can I? I need an explanation! Even if he's a useless half-law-school seventh-year, I'm still his superior!"
"Chief Oh Jiman... lower your voice a bit."
"Hey! Manager Go! Get out of here already!"
Manager Go from the annex office had rushed into the branch chief's room to calm the raging Oh Jiman, but Oh Jiman just yelled at the innocent manager.
"That bastard Park Min-seong! What did he say to fool the chief?"
"Calm down and sit. There's a reason for all this."
"Huh... a reason?"
He was the type who groveled masterfully to those above him.
His face flipped 180 degrees as if the anger had never happened, and he slowly took a seat. Manager Go, standing nearby, muttered something under his breath with an uncomfortable look, clearly impressed by the display.
Kang Hyun's secondment to Criminal Division 1. For one month.
It was hard for even Oh Jiman to accept, given it came straight from the branch chief he trusted.
He'd even heard that Park Min-seong had stopped by early that morning, and the branch chief had gone along with it, which infuriated him more.
Actually, it was less anger and more wounded pride.
"The deal was he'd only be gone until the search and seizure on Case 17. Prosecutor Kang will be back soon."
"...Branch Chief. What's going on in that head of yours? I don't care where this chick prosecutor flies off to or comes back from. What worries me is your position, sir."
At Oh Jiman's natural disdain for Kang Hyun, Branch Chief Gu Ik-hwan nodded in agreement.
"Tsk, I get it. I know how you feel, Chief Oh. You're not here whining about some useless rookie prosecutor."
"Sir, why did you ask us to review the search and seizure for the Namyangju building collapse case in Criminal Division 1?"
He tsked like Gu Ik-hwan, wearing a frustrated expression.
What bothered him wasn't Kang Hyun leaving his division, but that the branch chief—whose right-hand man he fancied himself—had pushed forward a case he'd been blocking, without consulting him.
Gu Ik-hwan grinned slyly at Oh Jiman's words. Oh Jiman continued, still not getting it.
"Sir, you've had us prepping for months under the pretext of headquarters, and now you're flipping it to approve reviews for searches on Korea Manpower and H Boiler...?"
"That's right. That's exactly what I did."
"...Yes, sir."
"Think about it carefully. Why I made that call."
That was the moment Oh Jiman's eyes flipped 180 degrees. A veteran division chief prosecutor, he'd rolled in these games for years.
'Let me think...'
Shifting a dragging headquarters investigation to subcontractors immediately.
What did that mean?
"Hmm."
Yes. A deal had gone down.
"If we're raiding subcontractors who were just witnesses, it means we're flipping them to suspects now, right?"
That was his conclusion after a moment's thought.
"They kept stonewalling a hit on KW headquarters, so Division 1 settled for subcontractors to save face and wrap it up!"
"Exactly."
Only then did he slump into the chair, all tension draining from his body.
In that case, this was actually a win for him. It made sense why the branch chief had approved and ordered it without consulting him.
If the investigation was wrapping at the subcontractor level...
"Too bad I didn't get to see Division 1 back down with my own eyes! Man, Branch Chief..."
Oh Jiman's face relaxed with conviction, gazing at Gu Ik-hwan with reverent eyes, as if deifying him.
"You've made a brilliant decision."
"Hmm, hmm. I have an eye for these things. And there's another gift."
Slide, click.
This was the updated Namyangju assignment chart.
"Hmm, this is."
Room 323, Kang Hyun's office, had moved to Criminal Division 1. In exchange, another prosecutor's office and one participating manager, plus one staffer.
Instead of Kang Hyun going to Division 1, an entire other office had been folded into Criminal Division 2.
"As expected! Branch Chief! I knew I could count on you! Such gracious judgment—I'm deeply moved!"
"Good. Everything's sorted nicely, and Criminal Division 2 gets some breathing room on performance now, right?"
"Of course! Kicking out one rookie nobody and gaining a whole office—it's like sprouting wings!"
"Yes, perfectly resolved. Plus, Division 1 is putting Prosecutor Kang on the search and seizure...?"
"What? That fresh-out-of-training newbie? Hahaha! Even a stray dog would laugh! Wonder if he can even carry the record boxes! Hahaha!"
Haha ho ho. The people in the branch chief's office, in high spirits, had no idea yet.
How the case would actually unfold and resolve.
Click.
Kang Hyun checked the prosecution office assignment chart adjusted by the system.
- Room 323, Prosecutor's Office
Criminal Division 1 (Secondment)
'Perfect.'
Now, for one month.
Kang Hyun's Room 323 was temporarily free from Criminal Division 2's Chief Oh Jiman, assigned to the major case: the Namyangju Building Collapse.
The advantage of a solo office.
If you hit a certain performance threshold, you could adjust the number of ongoing cases, focusing manpower on big ones as long as nothing overflowed.
Kang Hyun shoved other case files aside to concentrate on the Namyangju incident, opening Investigation Case No. 17.
'All that's left is to work hard.'
Now the office just needed to spin like mad.
Of course, it was just him.
Solving this case well would change things.
Rustle!
Eyes scanning rapidly.
Hands flipping nonstop.
His side cabinet was stuffed with photocopied case files.
A major case dragging for months.
For any other office to suddenly jump in, grasp the work, and prep—that was impossible for just anyone.
But "anyone" meant a normal person.
If that someone was a genius.
If it was Kang Hyun.
Click!
'Just as I thought. No circumstantial evidence proving guilt, and all the witnesses' statements aligned.'
With each page his hand turned, his mind seemed to process it twice over.
The case flowed into his head like a picture, and he could roughly guess why the direct cause still hadn't been pinned down.
'Blame on KW. Anyone would suspect it, but no hard evidence.'
That explained why Park Min-seong's team was obsessed. No smoking gun, but traces of a cover-up emerging everywhere.
For example, witness statements that didn't match at first, then flipped and adjusted over time into a cohesive story.
Or daily management logs required by safety guidelines that never existed—until suddenly they did.
These kept popping up.
Quality test reports, safety compliance docs, on-site inspection reports from investigators.
Suspicious bits everywhere, but nothing conclusive.
Late afternoon now.
One hour, two hours flew by, and even as the sun began setting outside the wide window, Kang Hyun didn't budge.
"Urgh."
His first stretch in hours. Then neck rolls.
Thud!
"Done."
Kang Hyun had demolished enough case files to fill several boxes on a small cart—in just hours.
Of course, Park Min-seong had ordered it: Finish reviewing by end of day and prep warrants.
But that was just talk. Any prosecutor would say it.
Who could pull it off?
Grasp months of files in hours, prep docs for immediate warrant execution, request support staff, scout search sites.
In one day? Impossible.
But Kang Hyun took it literally.
"Nice."
His one thought after reading everything.
Perfect setup for a search and seizure.
Knock knock.
Slide.
The door opened to a now-familiar face.
The junior clerk who'd helped with supplies and case materials.
"Hello, Prosecutor!"
"Yeah, I asked for a big favor..."
"No worries! Leave it to us! This doesn't happen often here, but regs always have us prepped. Your support request is with admin, search vehicle ready. Locations as you specified."
"Yes."
"Got it then. I'll keep preps going!"
He saluted smartly, hand up and down, then withdrew.
That was right.
Kang Hyun had already requested a small search team via the Namyangju Branch's "Investigation Division Support Request" regs, prepping them ahead.