Free Web NovelThe so-called “Cheon Suhan Slot Machine Scandal” exploded like a nuclear bomb.
In the original timeline, Cheon Suhan’s name never even came up in relation to this case.
But now...
* * *
Early April.
I was at a restaurant in Seocho-gu, Seoul.
“It’s been a while, Muhyuk.”
“Have you been well, Chief Prosecutor?”
I had arrived first and was already waiting when Yoon Changho, Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, entered the private room and greeted me.
I stood up and greeted him in return.
Removing his jacket and settling into his seat, Chief Yoon seemed to be in a good mood, letting out a hearty chuckle.
“Haha. I never really had my sights set on the Seoul Central Chief Prosecutor seat, but after that incident with you, an opportunity came my way. I owe you, don’t I?”
I smiled politely in response.
“I think you simply reclaimed the position you rightly deserved. You only ended up in Busan because you were edged out in the power game. You’ve handled major cases, and your seniority is enough that you could even be considered for Prosecutor General.”
“Hahaha, now you’re just flattering me. I’ve got no more ambition left. Excessive ambition only leads to ruin in the end. You should remember that too.”
“Yes, sir.”
“So, what’s this meeting about today? You refused to see me even once after entering university. Is this something important?”
“Let’s eat first.”
“Sure, let’s fill our bellies before we talk.”
Right on cue, the food arrived.
“This place is my favorite in Seocho-dong. The food is excellent, and it’s perfect for private conversations. What do you think?”
“The staff are attentive, and you can tell a lot of thought goes into their service.”
Nodding in agreement, Chief Yoon picked up his spoon and reached for the seaweed soup.
“It’s a bitter truth, but this place too has become a venue for political talk, not legal work. Sad, isn’t it? Anyway, eat up. The seaweed soup here is divine.”
“Yes, sir.”
We made small talk about school life and recent events as we ate.
After finishing his meal and rinsing his mouth with the cinnamon punch served as dessert, Chief Yoon said:
“Well then! Let’s hear it. What is it?”
I took a sip of the cinnamon punch and replied.
“Have you heard of slot machines?”
“Slot machines? Like pachinko?”
“Yes.”
“Of course I have. Who hasn’t?”
Setting down my glass, I looked directly at Chief Yoon.
“Soon, a man named Jung Suho, who currently reigns as the kingpin of the slot machine industry, is going to be arrested by the prosecution. And following him, several high-ranking political and bureaucratic figures will be implicated one after another.”
“That’s a major case.”
“I believe this may develop into the biggest scandal of the Sixth Republic. Assemblyman Kim is also involved.”
“Assemblyman Kim? You mean... Kim Cheolseung?”
“Yes.”
“Whew... this won’t be easy.”
“Certainly not. The prosecutor handling the case will be under constant pressure and attempts at bribery. That’s why I wanted to speak to you, sir. This case... I want you to handle it personally.”
“Me?”
Chief Yoon raised an eyebrow in surprise.
I nodded firmly.
“The person currently digging into this case is a junior prosecutor in the Seoul Central office. Once the case grows bigger, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office’s Central Investigation Department will try to seize it.”
“Hmm...”
“You must not let them take it. If they do, all the key players will slip through. Especially Assemblyman Kim—he’ll definitely walk. Cheon Suhan is involved too.”
“Cheon Suhan? Your maternal uncle? Don’t tell me...”
Chief Yoon stared at me in shock, but I didn’t avert my gaze.
After silently staring at me for a while, he shook his head in disbelief.
“After what you pulled last time... you really are terrifying. Not at all like someone your age.”
“As soon as the president is briefed, the entire political inspection office will go into a frenzy. Since the Senior Presidential Secretary for Civil Affairs is one of my grandfather’s people, the entire operation will proceed without including Cheon Suhan.”
“...So it’s going to the Central Investigation Department.”
I gave a quiet nod.
“That’s why I need you to take the heat and block all the pressure. I’ll handle everything on my grandfather’s side.”
“...”
Chief Yoon didn’t reply right away.
I left him with space to think it over.
A moment later, Chief Yoon finally opened his mouth.
“You want me to stake my entire career as a prosecutor, is that it?”
“If it fails, I’ll take full responsibility. But if you succeed... the next Prosecutor General will be you. A Prosecutor General not from the planning, public security, or special investigation tracks. You’ll make history.”
I deliberately stroked his ambition.
He may have claimed to let go of promotion when he was sent to Busan.
But now he had returned to Seoul and risen to the top thanks to the incident with me.
He had every reason to aim for the highest seat now.
“Can you convince Chairman Cheon?”
“Once the arrest is made, I’ll handle the rest. If the Blue House steps in, even my grandfather won’t be able to act recklessly. The regime’s still in its early stages—he can’t afford to go head-to-head with them just yet. No matter how much money he has, it’s still underground capital.”
“And if I ignore the Blue House and get my own head chopped off? Then I’m just stirring the pot for someone else to eat.”
Seeing Chief Yoon nearly persuaded, I smiled.
“Just leak it to the press. Say that pressure is coming from above. Say you won’t compromise with power. Ask the people for support. Proclaim yourself the vanguard in the president’s war against corruption!!!”
“Hmm.”
“Isn’t that exactly the kind of rhetoric the president loves? If he hears that, he’ll think there’s no need to hand the case to the Central Investigation Department.”
Chief Yoon’s tense expression finally relaxed, as if he had made up his mind.
“Alright. Let’s do it. Hell, I was bound to retire in Busan anyway—might as well shoot for Prosecutor General now, like you said.”
“Hahaha. Thank you.”
“But really... is this the one request you were saving?”
Chief Yoon was reminding me of our earlier agreement—that he would grant one request.
“If you’d like to treat it that way, I’ll gladly accept.”
“Haha. You never lose out, do you? Fine, this is mutually beneficial. Just don’t forget: next time, the favor will be for my benefit.”
He extended his hand.
I took it and shook firmly.
“This case must be known as the ‘Cheon Suhan Slot Machine Scandal.’ Promise me!”
* * *
“What the hell were you doing while this whole mess was blowing up? What about our people in the Blue House? And what’s Yoon Changho doing?”
“...”
As Chairman Cheon shouted in fury, Manager Ha remained silent before finally opening his mouth.
“Apparently, some lunatic prosecutor leaked it to the media. It’s already too late to contain it, and he’s saying it’s better to take responsibility himself and bring it to a close at a manageable level. The VIP is still deciding whether to send the case to the Central Investigation Department or leave it with the Seoul Chief Prosecutor.”
“Ha...”
Chairman Cheon sighed and closed his eyes.
“There’s no way out of this?”
His voice was weak.
Manager Ha shook his head.
“A prison sentence seems unavoidable.”
“No matter how much money we spend?”
“The damage on our side will be considerable. We really don’t [N O V E L I G H T] want to agitate the VIP.”
After a deep sigh, Chairman Cheon looked at me.
“Muhyuk, you got any bright ideas? Some way to save your uncle?”
“...You should negotiate directly with Chief Yoon. That’s the best option. The moment this case reaches the Central Investigation Department, it’ll be out of everyone’s hands and up to the president’s judgment.”
“You’re right.”
“It’s far better to keep the case with someone we can talk to—Chief Yoon. Then we wait for the president’s approval ratings to fall... and push for a pardon.”
“That damn fool dug his own grave in the end. He never should’ve gone into politics... I made a mistake arranging that marriage.”
Seeing his blood pressure rising, Chairman Cheon clutched the back of his neck. I rushed to his side and helped him sit.
“Muhyuk... is there really no other way...?”
“You’ll lose a lot, Grandfather. If you’re willing to accept that, I’ll find a way. But... over a few years, you might lose something even greater...”
Perhaps having made up his mind, Grandfather looked at Manager Ha and gave his command.
“Start with my in-laws and thoroughly ruin everyone involved in this affair. No suspended sentences, no acquittals—make sure they get nothing like that. I don’t care how much it costs. I want them to suffer far worse than my own son.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
“If you need my power, say the word at any time.”
“Understood.”
In the end, Grandfather gave up on saving President Cheon Suhan.
But I had gained a lot from manipulating the slot machine case.
I sent Cheon Suhan to prison for a few years.
I brought down one of the crime syndicates under Cheongpunghoe’s protection.
And I planned to use the resulting power vacuum to accelerate Park Dongsu’s entry into Seoul.
* * *
After a phone call with Chairman Cheon, Chief Prosecutor Yoon moved swiftly.
He began summoning for investigation a series of high-ranking officials—first senior public servants who accepted bribes, then top-ranking police officers, and even members of the National Assembly.
The lawmakers cried out in front of the prosecutors’ office, denouncing it as a political conspiracy, while the others silently bowed their heads and entered the building.
“Mr. Cheon Suhan.”
A young prosecutor sat across from Cheon Suhan in the interrogation room.
“Mr. Cheon Suhan! Please respond.”
Cheon Suhan was invoking his right to remain silent.
“Sigh... Everyone else has already confessed. The more you resist, the worse it’ll be for you.”
“I’ll speak once my lawyer arrives.” freewёbnoνel.com
At that moment, the door opened and the defense attorney entered.
Seeing who it was, the young prosecutor immediately stood and bowed ninety degrees.
“Senior, it’s been a while.”
“Yes, Prosecutor Park. About three months, wasn’t it?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Go ahead and take a seat.”
“Thank you.”
The balance of power in the room shifted. Now the defense attorney was in charge.
The lawyer turned toward Cheon Suhan and offered a polite greeting.
“President Cheon. The Chairman sent me.”
“Ah, really? Whew... I’m going crazy here. When can I get out?”
“Prosecutor Park, would you mind giving us a few minutes of privacy to speak with my client? Perhaps step out for a coffee?”
“Will ten minutes do?”
“Yes, thank you.”
“My pleasure. Would you like a coffee as well, Senior?”
“Haha, don’t worry about that. A prosecutor shouldn’t be serving coffee. I’ll treat you next time.”
The prosecutor left the room.
Once the door closed, the lawyer lowered his voice.
“Unfortunately, it will be difficult to avoid pretrial detention.”
“What? What kind of bullshit is that?”
Cheon Suhan raised his voice in anger.
But the lawyer continued calmly, his expression unchanged.
“This is the Chairman’s message. Think of it as taking a break. Clear your head for a while. Then you’ll be pulled out later with a special pardon. He asks that you quietly reflect for now.”
“...Father said that?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t lie. There’s no way Father would say that.”
“I do not lie to my clients. I’m simply delivering the Chairman’s exact words. You reached a settlement. But Assemblyman Kim... well...”
“What about my father-in-law?”
“The Chairman is very angry. He ordered that everyone who lured you into this mess be crushed beyond recovery. He’s already finished speaking with the higher-ups.”
“......”
“He also said to pass along this warning: if you stir up any more trouble this time, he will remove your name from the family registry.”
“Hah... Can I at least talk to Father? Just once?”
The lawyer shook his head.
“He said he doesn’t want to because he knows he’ll weaken. He’s already made a lot of concessions because of you. Don’t forget that.”
“So, the investigation... it’ll be for show?”
“Yes. It’ll be officially announced as the ‘Cheon Suhan Slot Machine Scandal.’ But because so many high-level officials are involved, your name will soon fade into the background. That was the agreement between the VIP and the Chairman.”
“...My name will be publicized?”
“Yes.”
Stunned by the news that his name would appear in the media, Cheon Suhan fell silent for a long time.
Soon after, the young prosecutor re-entered the room.
“Did everything go well, Senior?”
“Yes. You received the message from above, correct?”
“Yes.”
“Then feed him a proper meal and transfer him to the detention center.”
“Understood.”
“Well then, President Cheon, I’ll take my leave now. I’ll visit you every day.”
“......”
The lawyer gave a polite bow, but Cheon Suhan didn’t respond. He sat there, blankly staring forward.
* * *
Several weeks passed after the initial investigation.
Alone in his study, the elderly Chairman Cheon had visibly aged.
Then, with a knock, Manager Ha entered, his face grim.
“Chairman.”
“What is it? Why the grim face? Did something go wrong with Suhan? Did they break the agreement?”
“No, sir. Everything with that is proceeding exactly as agreed. It’s something else—the atmosphere is strange.”
“What do you mean, ‘atmosphere’?”
“Some of the key bureau chiefs in the Economic Planning Board have taken long-term leave or gone on overseas assignments. But they hold positions that shouldn’t allow them to disappear like that... and there are no official records of them leaving the country. It strongly suggests they’re preparing for something.”
“...Wait a moment.”
The light in Chairman Cheon’s eyes, which had looked nearly extinguished, suddenly sharpened with the edge of his former self.
The silence in the study lasted about ten minutes—until the Chairman finally broke it.
“How’s the account clean-up going?”
“We haven’t completed everything yet.”
“Drop everything else and focus on that. Once you’ve cleaned up the anonymous accounts, reduce the number of borrowed-name accounts to only the most trusted individuals.”
“If we aim to handle even the borrowed names, we’ll have to carry this through the end of the year.”
“That’s fine. The odds are high that they’ll announce something in the New Year’s address early next year. Finish all preparations before then. What about the 400 billion won we sent to the U.S.?”
“In one month, it’ll be fully laundered and land cleanly in the U.S.”
“Really? Through where?”
“We processed it through Daehyeon Construction.”
“Hmm... Then I should schedule a meal with Chairman Song. Got it. You may go.”
Manager Ha bowed and exited the room.
“I can’t tell what that boy Muhyuk is looking at. Is it a sense for the times? Or... is there something else entirely?”
Only Cheon Taesan’s monologue lingered in the silent study.
< The Cheon Suhan Slot Machine Scandal > End.
