Cheon Su-han Slot Machine Incident A nuclear bomb called the Cheon Su-han slot machine incident exploded. Normally, Cheon Su-han's name would not appear in this incident. However......
Early April.
I was at a restaurant located in Seocho District, Seoul.
"Mu-hyeok, it's been a while."
"Have you been well, Chief Prosecutor."
As I arrived early and waited, Chief Prosecutor Yoon Chang-ho of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office greeted me and entered the room. I also stood up from my seat and replied. Taking off his jacket and sitting down, Chief Prosecutor Yoon seemed to be in a good mood as he let out a hearty laugh.
"Haha. I had no greed for the Chief Prosecutor position at the Seoul Central District, but after that incident with you, this kind of opportunity came to me. I guess I benefited from you, my junior?"
I replied with a smile to his words.
"I think you just reclaimed the position you rightfully deserved. Weren't you pushed down to Busan because you lost in a power struggle? You've handled many big cases, and considering your seniority, you can definitely aim for the next Prosecutor General position."
"Hahaha, you know how to make a person feel good. I don't have any more greed. Excessive greed always brings ruin in the end. You should keep that in mind too."
"Yes, Senior."
"So, what did you want to see me about today? You even refused when I asked to see you after you entered university. Is it something important?"
"Let's eat first."
"Right, let's fill our stomachs before we start."
At those words, the food was brought in.
"This place is the best in Seocho District. The food is good, and it's nice for having a quiet conversation. What do you think?"
"The attitude of the employees is great, and I can see they put a lot of careful thought into this place."
Nodding, Chief Prosecutor Yoon brought his spoon to the seaweed soup and said.
"It's a bitter story, but this place has also turned into a spot where prosecutors discuss politics instead of doing the investigations they are supposed to do. Isn't it sad? Let's eat first. The seaweed soup here is a work of art."
"Yes."
We finished our meal while having a light conversation about school life and how we had been recently. After rinsing his mouth with the sweet cinnamon punch served for dessert, Chief Prosecutor Yoon spoke.
"Now! Tell me. What's the matter?"
I also took a sip of the cinnamon punch and answered.
"By any chance, do you know about slot machines?"
"Slot machines? Pachinko?"
"Yes."
"I know. Is there anyone who doesn't?"
Putting down the bowl of cinnamon punch I had in my hand, I looked at Chief Prosecutor Yoon.
"Soon, a man named Jeong Su-ho, who reigns as the godfather of the slot machine industry, will probably be arrested by the prosecutors. The high-ranking political and government officials backing him will likely be mentioned one after another too."
"That's a huge incident."
"It seems to be an incident with a high probability of escalating into the biggest scandal of the Sixth Republic. A powerful figure of the Sixth Republic...... Assemblyman Kim is also involved."
"Assemblyman Kim? Don't tell me you mean Assemblyman Kim Cheol-seung?"
"Yes."
"Huh~ This won't be an easy matter, will it?"
"It certainly won't. There will be constant threats and attempts to appease the investigating prosecutor. That's why I'm saying this, Chief Prosecutor. Why don't you take proper charge of this incident."
"Me?"
Chief Prosecutor Yoon raised his eyebrows as if surprised. I gave him a firm nod.
"The person currently digging into it is an ordinary prosecutor at the Central District Office anyway. If the incident gets bigger, the Central Investigation Department at the Public Prosecutor's Office will probably try to take it."
"Huh......"
"You must never hand it over. The moment you do, everyone who can escape will escape. Assemblyman Kim, especially, will definitely get away. Cheon Su-han is also involved in this."
"Cheon Su-han? You mean your younger uncle on your mother's side? No way......"
I stared back without avoiding the gaze of Chief Prosecutor Yoon, who was looking at me with an astonished face. After looking at me in silence for a long time, Chief Prosecutor Yoon shook his head as if he was sick of it.
"Just like last time, you...... are a truly terrifying person. It doesn't suit your age."
"The moment it is reported to the president, a storm of inspections will rage. Because the Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs is my grandfather's person, everything will proceed with Cheon Su-han left out of it."
"......It would be handed over to the Public Prosecutor's Office."
I nodded silently and added.
"Before that happens, please block all the pressure with your entire body, Chief Prosecutor. I will block my grandfather's side."
"......"
Chief Prosecutor Yoon did not answer. I didn't say anything more so he could think it over thoroughly. A moment later.
Chief Prosecutor Yoon heavily parted his lips.
"Can I interpret this as you telling me to risk my career as a prosecutor?"
"Even if things go wrong, I will take responsibility for the aftermath. But if you succeed...... the next head of the prosecution will be you, Chief Prosecutor. A Prosecutor General who does not come from the planning, public security, or special investigations factions. You need to leave a mark in the history of the prosecution."
I slightly poked at Chief Prosecutor Yoon's desire for honor. He must have abandoned his greed for a promotion when he was sent down as the Chief Prosecutor of Busan. However, he rose to the position of Chief Prosecutor of Seoul due to the incident involving me.
It was completely understandable if he wanted to aim for the very top position now.
"Will you be able to persuade Chairman Cheon?"
"Once you catch them, I will take care of the rest. If the Blue House makes a move, my grandfather won't be able to act easily either. He can't make an enemy out of the government during its early days in power. No matter how much money he has, it's just the underground economy in the end."
"What if I ignore the Blue House's orders and my neck flies first? Then it would be like doing all the hard work just to give it away to someone else......"
I smiled as I looked at Chief Prosecutor Yoon, who was almost fully convinced.
"First, just leak it to the media. Say that pressure is coming from above. Say that you will not compromise with power. Ask the citizens to help. Say that you will become the vanguard in the war on corruption the president talked about!!!"
"Hmm."
"Isn't that exactly the kind of thing His Excellency would love to hear? Then he will think there's no need to hand the incident over to the Central Investigation Department at the Public Prosecutor's Office."
As if his thoughts were organized, Chief Prosecutor Yoon's stiff face relaxed.
"Alright, let's give it a try. Well, I was destined to take off my uniform while in Busan anyway, but since I've made it this far, I might as well try becoming the Prosecutor General like you said."
"Hahaha. Thank you."
"By the way, is this the favor you wanted to ask of me?"
It was Chief Prosecutor Yoon bringing up the single favor he had promised before.
"If you want it to be, Chief Prosecutor."
"Haha. You never take a loss, do you? Forget it, this is a good thing for both of us. Next time, ask me for a favor that only benefits you."
Saying that, the Chief Prosecutor reached out his hand. I grasped his hand.
"This incident must be called the Cheon Su-han slot machine incident. No matter what!"
"What on earth were you doing while things got this big? What about our people in the Blue House? And what is that guy Yoon Chang-ho doing?"
"......"
Manager Ha, who had only been listening to my grandfather's yelling, opened his mouth.
"He said a mad prosecutor already leaked it to the media first. So it's already too late to fix things, and he claims it would be easier if he takes responsibility and wraps it up at a reasonable point. It seems the VIP is currently debating whether to hand it over to the Central Investigation Department of the Public Prosecutor's Office or the Chief Prosecutor of the Central District."
"Huh~" Grandfather let out a sigh and closed his eyes.
"......Is there no way?"
It was a powerless voice. Manager Ha shook his head.
"It seems prison time cannot be avoided."
"No matter how much money we spend?"
"The damage we take will be considerable. I don't think any good will come from upsetting the VIP."
Sighing, Grandfather's gaze turned to me this time.
"Mu-hyeok, do you have any good ideas? A way to save your uncle."
"......You should reach an agreement with Chief Prosecutor Yoon. That seems to be the best method. The moment this incident is handed over to the Central Investigation Department of the Public Prosecutor's Office, it will end according to the president's judgment."
"That's true too."
"Rather than doing that, the only good plan is to make Chief Prosecutor Yoon, who we have a connection with, hold onto the case until the end. After waiting for the moment the president loses his power...... there is the method of aiming for a special pardon."
"This foolish guy ended up digging his own grave in the end. He shouldn't have worked together with a politician...... I made a mistake. I shouldn't have arranged that marriage."
Seeing his blood pressure rising as he grabbed the back of his neck, I ran to my grandfather and supported him.
"Mu-hyeok, is there truly no other way......?"
"You will lose a lot of things, Grandfather. If you are fine with that, I will try to find a way. However...... you could lose something even greater just because of a few years......"
Grandfather must have given up, as he looked at Manager Ha and said.
"Starting with my in-laws, completely ruin everyone involved in this matter. Make sure they can't get things like a not guilty verdict or probation. I don't care how much money it takes. Make them suffer far more than my son."
"Yes, Chairman."
"Tell me anytime if you need my power."
"Understood."
In the end, Grandfather gave up on saving Boss Cheon Su-han. I gained many things while meddling with the slot machine incident. I sent Boss Cheon Su-han to prison for several years.
And I ruined one of the violent gangs that the Blue Wind Association was backing. I planned to use that void to speed up Park Dong-soo's advancement into Seoul.
Chief Prosecutor Yoon made swift moves after his phone call with Chairman Cheon. Starting with the high-ranking public officials who took bribes, he began summoning high-ranking police executives and even assemblymen for investigation.
The assemblymen appealed to reporters in front of the Public Prosecutor's Office, calling it a political conspiracy, while the others quietly lowered their heads and appeared at the Public Prosecutor's Office.
"Mr. Cheon Su-han."
A young prosecutor and Cheon Su-han sat facing each other in the interrogation room.
"Mr. Cheon Su-han! Answer me."
Cheon Su-han was exercising his right to remain silent.
"Hah...... Everyone else has already confessed. It'll only be your loss if you keep holding out."
"I will talk when my lawyer arrives."
At that moment, the door opened and a lawyer walked in. Seeing him enter, the young prosecutor stood up from his seat and bowed ninety degrees.
"Senior, it's been a long time."
"Right, Prosecutor Park. Has it been three months?"
"Yes. Senior."
"Let's sit down first."
"Yes."
It looked as if the roles of the prosecutor and the lawyer had been switched. The lawyer offered a greeting toward Cheon Su-han.
"Boss Cheon. I came because the Chairman sent me."
"Ah, really? Phew...... It's so suffocating I feel like dying. When can I get out?"
"Prosecutor Park, could I have a quiet word with my client for a moment? Go out and have a cup of coffee."
"Will ten minutes be enough?"
"Yeah, thanks."
"Don't mention it. Then I will come back in ten minutes. Should I make a cup of coffee for you too, Senior?"
"Hahaha, no need. How could I freeload off a prosecutor. I should treat you next time."
The prosecutor went outside. Once the prosecutor left, the lawyer spoke in a quiet voice.
"First of all, it seems like it will be hard to prevent your arrest."
"What? What kind of nonsense is that?"
Cheon Su-han shouted. But the lawyer continued speaking without a single change in his expression.
"This is a message from the Chairman. He says you should think of it as taking a break for a while and cool your head. He said he will get you out with a special pardon later, so you should reflect on your actions."
"......My father?"
"Yes."
"Don't lie. There's no way my father would do that."
"I do not lie to my clients. I am delivering the Chairman's message exactly as it is. We reached a reasonable agreement regarding you, Boss Cheon. However, Assemblyman Kim...... probably......"
"What about my father-in-law?"
"The Chairman is very angry. He told me to make it impossible for anyone who tempted you into starting this mess to ever recover. The discussions with the higher-ups are already finished too."
"......"
"He said you must absolutely not act rashly. He told me to tell you that if you cause another accident this time, he will remove your name from the family register."
"Hah...... Can you let me talk to my father on the phone?"
The lawyer shook his head.
"He said he didn't want to talk on the phone because his heart would weaken. He had to concede a lot of things because of you, Boss Cheon. Do not forget that."
"Then, should I just do the investigation as a formality?"
"Yes. It will be announced to the media as the Cheon Su-han slot machine incident. However, because high-ranking officials are massively involved, your name will be forgotten. That was the agreement between the VIP and the Chairman."
"......My name will come out?"
"Yes."
Shocked by the words that his name would be announced to the media, Cheon Su-han was speechless for a long time. Soon, the prosecutor opened the door and came in.
"Did you have a good talk, Senior?"
"Yes. Did you receive the message from above?"
"Yes."
"Treat him to some food, and send him to the detention center."
"Understood."
"Then, Boss Cheon. I will take my leave. I will come visit you every day."
"......"
The lawyer said his goodbyes, but Cheon Su-han didn't respond and just stared straight ahead with a blank expression.
A few weeks passed since the first investigation. Sitting alone in his study, Old Man Cheon's face had grown noticeably haggard in the meantime. Just then, along with a knock, Manager Ha opened the door and entered with a stiff expression.
"Chairman."
"Did something happen? Why is your expression so stiff? Did things go wrong with Su-han? Did they break the agreement?"
"No. That is all going well according to the agreement. More than that, the atmosphere is strange."
"What atmosphere?"
"I heard some key directors and bureau chiefs at the Economic Planning Board have left on long-term vacations and overseas business trips. Their positions don't allow them to leave their posts empty all at the same time like that...... and there are no records of them going abroad either. It is highly presumed that they are doing something."
"......Wait a moment."
The lifeless eyes of Old Man Cheon returned to his sharp gaze of the past. It was Old Man Cheon who broke the atmosphere of the quiet study where there had been no conversation for about ten minutes.
"How is the account organization going?"
"I haven't been able to organize everything yet."
"Take your hands off all other work and focus on that. Once the anonymous accounts are organized, reduce the number of shell accounts to the names of trustworthy people too."
"If we have to organize the shell accounts too, it will take past this year."
"That's fine, there's a high chance they will announce it during the New Year's address early next year. Finish all the work before then. What about the 400 billion sent to America?"
"It will be cleanly laundered and arrive in America in a month."
"Is that so? Who did you go through?"
"I worked it through Daehyun Construction."
"Hmm...... I should have a meal with Chairman Song. I got it. You can go now."
Manager Ha bowed his head in greeting and left.
"I just can't tell what that child Mu-hyeok is seeing. Whether it's the ability to judge the flow of the times, or if he has something else entirely."
Only Cheon Tae-san's monologue lingered in the study.