Chapter 67 – Money – Part 8

Chapter 67 – Money – Part 8

Kim Cheolung, who had been blinking at Woojin’s serious expression, nodded his head.

“Right. It looks like expensive bread. How much would one of these cost, tens of thousands of won?”

Kim Cheolung picked up the bread with his hand and took a bite, and Woojin also brought a bite-sized piece of bread to his mouth.

As if the world had stopped, Woojin closed his eyes and savored the taste, a small voice escaping his lips.

“As expected…”

The bread was chewy.

He thought it was the best bread he had ever eaten.

Woojin used his fork and knife to pull the bread apart.

The inside stretched tautly, as if trying not to separate.

Woojin quietly marveled.

“This is huge…”

Woojin now spread unsalted butter on it and put it in his mouth.

Woojin, with his eyes closed, slowly shook his head.

The savory and chewy texture was excellent.

At the sight of Woojin, Kim Cheolung let out a dry laugh.

He looked like a gourmet, and with his pale, handsome face, he could have gone on a broadcast show just like that.

Kim Cheolung licked his fingers and said,

“It’s much better than most bakeries.”

Having finished the bread, Woojin put down his knife and fork and said,

“I guarantee you, it would be very difficult to find a bakery that makes bread this delicious.”

Kim Cheolung let out a dry laugh.

It was because he was watching a person change 180 degrees just for a piece of bread.

Woojin opened his mouth again.

“Prosecutor, I have more questions. Mr. Lee, who stole about 20 packs of ramen, received a prison sentence, right? Ten months in prison. Mr. Kim, in his 70s, received eight months in prison, and someone else received three years and six months in prison…”

Woojin paused for a moment, looked at Kim Cheolung, and then opened his mouth again.

“The Air Force Chief Prosecutor General, who embezzled military secrets and took 2.5 billion won, received a suspended sentence. What do you think about that?”

Just then, the Staff Member placed the next course dish down.

“This is king crab ravioli.”

Caviar was placed on the small, spoon-sized dish.

Kim Cheolung rubbed his forearm, fixed his gaze on the food, and began to speak.

“We always strive to ensure that such precedents are not inconsistent with fairness…”

Kim Cheolung, who was continuing his sentence, suddenly flared up.

“Hey, are you listening to me right now?”

It was because Woojin was savoring the food and exclaiming in admiration, just like before.

“Yes. I’m listening carefully.”

Prosecutor Kim Cheolung felt something strange but continued speaking.

He was being outmaneuvered by Woojin.

“I think it’s our job as Prosecutors to work to prevent such unfair precedents from being set.”

As he finished speaking, Woojin’s eyes flickered slightly.

He had read Kim Cheolung’s expression.

It contained a mix of lies and sincerity.

But that wasn’t important right now.

“This is Scallop Carpaccio.”

It was a dish topped with caviar, balsamic dressing, and avocado.

“Oh, really.”

Kim Cheolung poked at the scallops and brought them to his mouth, chuckling.

Woojin seemed about to say something, but despite receiving an answer, no words came back.

Woojin, who had thoroughly enjoyed the food, asked,

“Prosecutor, you might know about this, but there was a case like this. There was a man and a woman who met through a random chat. The woman had a sexual fantasy of someone violating her. She told the man her address and said, ‘Even if I resist and say no, it’s all an act, so don’t stop. I’m acting to feel like I’m actually being violated.’ She also told the man, ‘So, please make me feel like I’m really being sexually assaulted…”

“This is Mousseline Weenie with a fennel sauce base. I’ll bring the prepared wine.”

Kim Cheolung crossed his arms and glared disapprovingly at the Staff Member.

He was already frustrated, and it felt like Woojin’s words were being cut off.

Woojin, on the other hand, was thoroughly enjoying the food and wine.

In Kim Cheolung’s eyes, Woojin looked like a Sommelier himself.

Woojin, who had been savoring the wine and nodding, opened his mouth again.

“The man listened to the woman and went to that address. He asked for a signature, saying it was an important item. The woman who opened the door looked exactly like the photo he had received in the random chat. And he violated her. She reported it. The Police were dispatched, and the truth of the incident was revealed. The woman from the random chat was actually a man, her ex-boyfriend who held ill will towards her. Who is at fault? Where should the gavel be swung?”

“Was a verdict reached in that case?”

“Yes.”

Woojin, who answered briefly, brought the wine glass to his lips.

It was just enough Righteous Path to slightly wet his tongue.

Kim Cheolung grinned and said,

“So, her boyfriend was arrested?”

“Yes. The person who directly sexually assaulted her was released without charges. Is the law unable to deliver moral judgment?”

Kim Cheolung’s brow furrowed slightly.

He was thinking.

“That’s…”

“If you think about it in reverse, that person could also be a victim. How will his acquaintances view him? A person accused of sexual assault and then released? Or a perverted psycho? He’ll have that label follow him for life.”

Kim Cheolung felt his mind becoming distracted.

He tried to think one thing, but then had to consider another.

Because Woojin’s words were fundamentally logical, confusion had settled into his brain.

Kim Cheolung remained silent for a while.

The plates changed several more times, and he seemed to only hear what Kim Taehyun and Woojin were saying.

No, he was looking at Woojin.

“Woojin, do you want some more of mine?”

“It’s okay, there’s still a lot left in the course. I also have to consider the law of diminishing marginal utility and the effect of reputation.”

“Hahahaha! My thinking was short-sighted!”

Kim Cheolung scratched his cheek.

He didn’t know what they were talking about; it was as if they were conversing in a code only they understood.

And they seemed to enjoy it.

He felt isolated and left out.

He had come to persuade Shin Woojin in front of him, but this was becoming difficult.

Just then, a staff member set down a Tenderloin Steak, about half the size of a palm.

Kim Cheolung cut his steak, trying to blend in, and said,

“Wow… steak is delicious when it has just the right amount of blood.”

Woojin cut his steak and began to speak.

It’s not blood. If there was blood left, the meat would smell and spoil easily, so it’s cleanly removed during the butchering process. What looks red like bloody water is a protein component called Myoglobin, which is red. As the meat cooks, protein, fat, and moisture come out, and that’s just what looks red. In other words, it means it’s deliciously well-cooked.

Having finished speaking, Woojin brought the sirloin to his mouth.

“Wow……”

Woojin thought that there might really be such a thing as umami.

Kim Cheolung let out a long sigh through his nose.

He had met countless criminals and many people during his time as a Prosecutor, but this kind of character was truly a first.

He usually had a rough idea of what kind of person someone was by looking at them, but this guy, Shin Woojin, was really hard to define.

He knew the law better than he did as a Prosecutor, he was good at profiling like a fortune teller, and on top of that, he seemed to know a lot of other things……

He didn’t know how to deal with Shin Woojin or how to approach him.

However, he seemed to get along well with Detective Kim Taehyun.

Prosecutor Kim Cheolung didn’t know, but Kim Taehyun did.

That Woojin liked to eat.

But even Detective Kim Taehyun didn’t know Woojin well, except for his love of food.

Kim Cheolung decided to take a step back and adopt a cooperative stance.

After all, it wasn’t good to leave a negative impression.

As the main courses came out, Woojin’s small exclamations of delight continued.

“Wow……! It’s delicious. You know that saying? There’s no such thing as cheap and good. Expensive is the best. I hear it a lot.”

“Prosecutor Kim, thanks to you, I’m eating well.”

“Oh, it’s nothing. If you need more, just order it.”

“Yes.”

As time passed, Woojin’s feast came to an end, finishing with tea.

Feeling suitably full, Woojin took a sip of tea and asked.

“Prosecutor Kim, please tell me now. What was the reason you wanted to see me?”

Kim Cheolung almost yelled at him as if he were a criminal.

‘You bastard! You kept interrupting me!’

Prosecutor Kim Cheolung smiled, unable to express his burning anger.

“I wanted to ask for your help in catching bad guys.”

Woojin slowly nodded and said,

“Why should I help Prosecutor Kim?”

Despite the direct tone, Prosecutor Kim Cheolung maintained his smile.

“How about thinking of it as a good part-time job per case? It’s not a difficult task for you, Woojin, is it?”

“It could be difficult if the criminal is a very smart person.”

But he hadn’t seen one yet.

Woojin always thought this way:

There’s always someone flying above the one who’s running.

Woojin was trying to position himself in the middle.

He judged that the middle was ordinary.

Kim Cheolung said, as if throwing it out,

“How much do you want?”

For a moment, Kim Cheolung immediately regretted what he had said.

This was the guy who suggested a 780,000 won course meal per person.

He didn’t know how much he would ask for a part-time job.

“I don’t need money. Instead, can you show me around the prosecution?”

“Show you around?”

“Yes.”

“You mean you want to take a tour or something?”

“Yes. I’m curious about what kind of work you do and how the structure operates.”

Kim Cheolung smiled leisurely.

It was a relief that he didn’t want money.

“The prosecution isn’t very interesting these days. Okay!”

I have one more condition.

Again?

Yes. Please make sure our Detective Kim gets a special promotion to the first rank within this week.

Kim Cheolung, who was drinking tea, coughed, as if he choked.

He was planning to slowly pave the way for his promotion by connecting him with the Commissioner and his connections, but now it’s a special promotion.

Kim Taehyun was just as surprised.

He quickly said,

Woojin, you don’t have to. I’m really fine. I really am!

After all, he was going to meet the Commissioner too.

But Woojin was different.

That’s the condition.

Kim Cheolung wiped his chin and laughed.

Oh my… Woojin really cares a lot about Detective Kim. I’m so jealous of Detective Kim, having such a reliable younger brother by his side.

This week. There are 4 days left. What are you going to do?

Don’t you think that’s too short a time?

I think it’s enough time. I want to work part-time next to a capable Prosecutor. Just like Detective Kim.

Your way with words is truly… amazing. Wow…

Kim Cheolung, who had been pointing at Woojin with his finger, hardened his expression and quickly spoke.

Okay. Deal.

How are you going to get him a special promotion to the first rank? I’d like to hear the specifics.

I feel like I’m being interrogated right now… Hahahaha! What can I do? The one who needs something has to humble themselves. So I’ll do this. I’ll make the cases Detective Kim has solved so far more publicized. I’ll use SNS, reporters, everything to make it happen. I’ll negotiate with the Commissioner too. A special promotion to the first rank within this week.

Kim Taehyun didn’t know what to do.

These days, a special promotion to the first rank is not something just anyone can get, it’s as rare as beans in a drought.

But it seemed to be becoming a reality right before his eyes.

Woojin nodded.

This allowed him to make Detective Kim stronger.

Woojin was always like this.

Even when he was at Shinhwa General Trading, he made Manager Lee a Deputy Manager, and he also connected Deputy Manager Lee with Department Head Shim of the Sales Team to help Lee Hyerim build her own network.

He helped Mansu and his older cousin earn more money, and he imparted knowledge to seven-year-old Han Bora.

He made those around him progressively stronger, and Woojin was always behind them.

Like a mastermind.

Woojin replied,

“Sounds good. Shall we talk about the case?”