TTS Vol 1 Ch 1.3

Laughter filled the tatami room of the Japanese restaurant where the Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 3 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Office was having their dinner gathering.

Though the division’s name has since changed, the Anti-Corruption Investigation Division was once regarded as the pinnacle of the prosecution—a unit often referred to as the ‘elite among prosecutors,’ wielding power that went largely unchecked.

The Anti-Corruption Investigation Division mainly investigates corruption cases involving politicians, high-ranking officials, and large-scale economic crimes. Due to the high-profile nature of the cases they handle, they have always received special treatment within the prosecutor’s office. It’s not just that only elites gather there; it’s often said that those seeking fast promotions must go through that division.

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The table was filled with the finest food and alcohol, staples that were never missing from their gatherings. Today, however, the atmosphere was even livelier than usual, perhaps due to it being a joint event with the Public Investigation Division 2.

“That’s what being a man is all about. You’ve got to clear it out and let it loose regularly for that big ol’ head of yours to work smoothly. Isn’t that right, Prosecutor Kim?”

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“Of course, Chief. Everything you say is right. You’re absolutely right.”

Fourth Deputy Chief Prosecutor Na Gi-dong grinned widely, his thumb and index finger forming a circle as he repeatedly jabbed his right index finger through it. Senior Prosecutor Kim Hee-dong nodded along enthusiastically.

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Watching these b*stards…sometimes, a sense of reverence washes over me. It’s as if they’re personally demonstrating just how deeply rotten an entrenched system can get.

Instead of joining their conversation, Park Chigyeong merely smiled and emptied his glass in one swift motion.

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And that smooth smile of his slightly faltered when…

“Assemblyman Park Sangheon…”

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…the name of his father slipped from the lips of Yoo Inwon, a prosecutor from the Public Investigation Division 2, who was sitting across from him with a sake bottle in hand.

“Seems like he’s going to get re-elected for his fourth term without any issues this time.”

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As one might expect from someone in the Public Investigation Division, which specialized in elections and politics, Prosecutor Yoo Inwon might have appeared genuinely interested in the influential figure of someone from his cohort. But in truth, that wasn’t the case.

A cohort refers to a group of people who share a common characteristic, usually related to time, such as joining an organization, entering a school, or starting a career at the same time. In professional or academic settings in Korea, a cohort often means a group of individuals who entered the same program or organization (e.g., the prosecutor’s office or a university class) in the same year.

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Yoo Inwon had disliked Park Chigyeong since their early prosecutor days. The reason was clear, but Chigyeong kept it to himself, hoping that one day, the other person would realize on his own.

Who exactly he was daring to mess with right now.

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“Ah, our Assemblyman Park is really capable, doesn’t he? To think he’d reach his fourth term despite all the criticism he faces. What’s his secret? A strong fanbase, perhaps?”

Leaning in, Yoo Inwon closed the distance between himself and Park Chigyeong, looked him straight in the eye and smirked as he poured the sake into Park Chigyeong’s empty glass.

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“Still, don’t let your guard down until the very end. There’s a reason they say it ain’t over till it’s over, right?”

Watching the liquid slowly fill his own glass, Park Chigyeong glanced down at it briefly before raising it to his lips with a quiet smile, then drank it all in one go before setting the glass down.

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Even after that, Yoo Inwon stayed close to him, continuing to get under Park Chigyeong’s skin. He even placed a glass in front of Park Chigyeong, arrogantly demanding him to also pour him another drink, and after having his glass filled, he would then open his mouth expectantly, asking for a bite of food as if he were entitled to it.

It wasn’t until Deputy Chief Prosecutor Na Gi-dong, sensing the tension between the two, intervened that Yoo Inwon finally stopped his obnoxious antics. Not that Park Chigyeong had even started playing along in this so-called “tension” to begin with.

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“Come on. Are you two gonna fight amongst yourselves? Family shouldn’t be pointing knives at each other.”

The term “family” here doesn’t imply literal family ties. In Korean workplace culture, especially in hierarchical settings, colleagues may refer to each other as “family” to convey a sense of loyalty and unity. This usage implies a closer bond within the organization and allows for casual interactions.

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“Oh, Chief, I’m just kidding, just kidding. As if I’d pick a fight with the ace of the elite division.”

Turning to Na Gi-dong, Yoo Inwon flashed a cheeky smile and then gave Park Chigyeong’s shoulder a light, mocking tap.

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“Hey, chill out, man. It’s a joke! Can’t we even joke around amongst family? Look at your face—it’s so serious that even your Deputy Chief’s watching his steps around you. Should a senior really have to watch his subordinate’s mood like this?”

Yoo Inwon tilted his head downward, muttering quietly, “Ease up, will you?” just before he picked up his ringing phone to his ear and left the room. Na Gi-dong shook his head, clicking his tongue disapprovingly as he pointed toward the door.

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“That guy used to be completely silent in front of our Prosecutor Park, but now that he has his wife’s family backing him, look at how much he’s changed. Hey, Deputy Chief Prosecutor Jo, aren’t you going to keep your ‘son’ in check?”

As Na Gi-dong reprimanded the Third Deputy Chief Prosecutor, Park Chigyeong, who had been drinking his water silently, grabbed the sake bottle with one hand and stood up from his seat.

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He moved to sit beside Na Gi-dong, politely kneeling down beside him. As he filled Na Gi-dong’s empty glass, he asked courteously, “Would it be alright if I excused myself first? I have some work left to do.”

“Prosecutor Park, be honest with me. You have a woman, don’t you?”

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“It would be stranger if Prosecutor Park didn’t have a woman, Chief. And shouldn’t we be thankful it’s just one? Let’s let Prosecutor Park off the hook today. So, Prosecutor Park, what kind of woman is she? Make sure to find a good one. That way, I’ll save my face in front of the Assemblyman.”

Kim Hee-dong came to Park Chigyeong’s rescue, placing a slice of tuna sashimi on Na Gi-dong’s plate.

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In response, Park Chigyeong only smiled again, saying nothing as he gathered his briefcase and jacket. He bowed respectfully and turned to leave. As he stepped through the sliding wooden door opened by the hostess, the soft smile he had been wearing disappeared entirely from his face.

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* * *

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“Yes, father-in-law, yes. I’ll visit you as soon as the dinner ends. Oh. Right now? Ah, yes. Then I’ll wrap things up quickly and head over. Yes. I’ll be in touch. Yes. Goodbye.”

Yoo Inwon held his phone with both hands, standing respectfully until the other person hung up. Once he confirmed the call had disconnected, he let out a deep sigh of relief.

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Sh!t, that d*mn old geezer, he muttered a curse under his breath, trying to suppress his anger, then shoved the phone irritably into his pocket and turned around.

“Called in by your father-in-law?”

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The moment he turned, he found himself face-to-face with someone unexpected and his eyes widened. Clearing his throat awkwardly, Yoo Inwon scratched the back of his head.

“What are you doing out here?”

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“Heading home early.”

He waved his briefcase lazily as he puffed on his cigarette, walking straight past Yoo Inwon. Yoo Inwon instinctively took a step back, revealing his fear of Park Chigyeong.

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And yet, he still tried to act tough. All for the sake of his petty pride.

“Inwon-ah.”

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In Korean, “-ah” (아) is an honorific suffix used to address someone affectionately or respectfully. It’s similar to adding “dear” or “honey” in English when addressing someone you care about. Though in this part, it seems like a mocking tone.

“…What?”

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“Should I do it?”

“What?”

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“Should I strike once?”

“What are you—”

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Park Chigyeong took a deep drag from his cigarette, the embers glowing brightly as he deliberately tapped the ash onto Yoo Inwon’s polished shoes, a faint smile playing on his lips.

“Your father-in-law’s company.”

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His eyes, sharp and piercing, held a hint of amusement. Even Yoo Inwon, who had encountered all sorts of people in his line of work, had never seen such chilling eyes. Without realizing it, Yoo Inwon swallowed nervously before shouting.

“What bullsh!t are you talking about!”

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“Bullsh!t?”

Exhaling cigarette smoke into the dark air like a sigh, Park Chigyeong took another step closer and muttered in a low voice.

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The voice was clearly tinged with annoyance, yet, as always, Park Chigyeong’s demeanor remained calm. And that made him all the more infuriating. It would’ve been easier to deal with someone who showed their emotions openly, who shouted and expressed their anger directly.

“I know you’ve come a long way, Inwon. In this day and age, when it’s almost impossible to rise from the bottom, you grew up under a poor single mother and still managed to wear that prosecutor’s robe. I respect you for that, Inwon. You’re smart? I acknowledge that too. But, Inwon…”

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Park Chigyeong flicked his cigarette, the glowing embers scattering as he aimed the still-hot butt at Yoo Inwon’s thigh, a playful smirk on his face.

“…you bow your head before me. You always have.”

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“Hey… Park Chigyeong…”

“Do you know why your father-in-law took you in, despite you having nothing? The only thing his family lacked was a connection in the legal world. Now, imagine if you, Inwon, weren’t able to live up to that role. What do you think your future would look like?”

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With just a few words, the balance of power had completely shifted. Park Chigyeong spoke calmly, his voice never rising, but Yoo Inwon felt himself shrink under the weight of those words.

Because he knew Park Chigyeong was the kind of person who was truly capable of destroying him. Money, fame, power, and connections—this b*stard was born holding all of them in his hands, unlike himself, who had clawed his way up and now wore a prosecutor’s robe under the care of a single mother, just like Park Chigyeong said.

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Park Chigyeong, noticing Yoo Inwon’s face change subtly, grabbed his shoulder. His grip tightened, the unexpected strength contorting Yoo Inwon’s face with pain.

“Just play the loyal dog and protect that family of yours, Inwon. That way, your master will continue to favor you. And ease up a bit, will you? Your shoulders seem a little too tense.”

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Im off, he patted Yoo Inwon’s shoulder twice before leisurely walking over to the driver who was waiting for him.

Yoo Inwon stared at his tall figure walking away with a mixture of fear and resentment in his eyes. Then, his shoulders slumped, a defeated smile creeping onto his face.

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It was the expression of someone realizing that the game had never really been in their favor from very the start.

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