You Have Been Defended [EN]: Chapter 203

You Guys Are Off The Hook – Episode 203 (203/641)

“Before the prosecution got involved, it was fun for us to be the first to break things here and there, but these days, I feel like there’s nothing to do,” Jo Bong-joon confessed, his voice tinged with gloom.

As the investigative authorities began to seriously handle the Myunghwa Pharmaceutical case, the number of viewers definitely decreased.

The majority of the viewers who initially tuned in were people curious about what would happen to Myunghwa Pharmaceutical’s stock. Now that they’ve achieved their initial goal, it’s only natural they’d lose interest.

Myunghwa Pharmaceutical’s stock is now worthless, and they got the information they wanted.

Nevertheless, there were still many viewers captivated by Jo Bong-joon and Choi Jong-hyun’s sharp commentary.

“We argued so much that state agencies should step in, so now that they’re doing their job, it’s a bit much for us to interfere… It doesn’t align with our previous stance.”

“Even so, since those bastards at the state aren’t doing their jobs perfectly, there will be things for us to critique from time to time.”

“That’s true, but since we can’t predict when those problems will surface, we need other content.”

“Should we do a survey for the viewers? Ask them what kind of content they want us to create?”

“We need to maintain our niche. Since we started by digging into these kinds of issues, we need to find something else to investigate.”

“Hyung [older brother or close male friend], you’re a Wooshin expert, aren’t you? Isn’t there anything else related to Wooshin?”

“There’s a lot. But the evidence isn’t solid enough yet. I was investigating extensively, but I paused due to the Myunghwa Pharmaceutical case.”

“Then let’s get started on that quickly.”

“Ah, there’s no time. I have to worry about the site development, and I have to keep watching the Myunghwa Pharmaceutical case as it unfolds and pay attention to how it’s progressing.”

“I can monitor that. Ha, I’m trying to go all-in on this, but why isn’t it working out?”

Jo Bong-joon said that after this case is over, he will focus on the broadcasting and internet media work that Choi Jong-hyun is creating. He even brought all his luggage from his parents’ house to the officetel [a studio apartment often used as an office].

Choi Jong-hyun did the same.

The two decided to live there together and create content together, and they sold their houses.

“Weren’t you preparing to create a media company?”

“No, that bastard from the National Intelligence Service is delaying the site development.”

“It’s taking a long time because you’re asking for too many features to be added. And it costs money to manage the site, and it costs even more money if you add features, right? We can’t keep relying on Cha Byeon [Lawyer Cha] forever.”

Jo Bong-joon said, seemingly conscious of me.

The monthly rent for the officetel where the two are living is now being covered by them, so my expenses have decreased.

So even if there are maintenance costs in addition to the development costs, it’s manageable.

“That’s okay.”

“Hey, that’s not right.”

“If we put ads on the site after the site development is finished, the maintenance costs will be covered.”

“Ah, so to put ads on the site quickly, we need to finish the site development, but you’re asking for too much!”

“Is it wrong to want to do it properly since we’re doing it anyway?”

Starting with those words, Choi Jong-hyun and Jo Bong-joon began to bicker.

Since deciding to work together, the visions they have in their heads are a little different, so the two often fought.

Among them, Choi Jong-hyun’s desire for numerous features in the site construction process was the biggest point of contention.

When their opinions were sharply opposed, they always called me and asked whose perspective was more correct.

Then, like Hwang Hee Jeongseung [a famous Korean prime minister known for his impartiality], I had no choice but to say that both of their points were valid.

Anyway, it’s true that I’m investing to some extent, so I thought that the side I supported would gain the upper hand.

In fact, I think both of their opinions are valid.

Indeed, this is the sorrow of partnership.

I’m glad I started my own business alone.

“Stop it. If the problem is that you don’t have any content to broadcast, I can give you one.”

“Huh? Really?”

In the midst of raising their voices, I intervened because it seemed like a real fight would break out.

As expected, the two stopped fighting and widened their eyes.

“What is it?”

I still don’t know how far the future knowledge I have is useful.

But what is certain is that there are definitely unchanging events.

For example, cases where the beginning of the case is in 2008 or earlier, and it has continued until now, or problems in areas that are not affected by what I have changed.

What I am trying to convey to them now is the former case.

After all, the future knowledge I had from the beginning was only for 10 years.

I had already prepared myself that when this reality catches up with the future I lived in, that is, 2018, I would eventually have to live without cheat codes.

So, I have to use as much as I can before that day comes.

“I was going to do it together when my situation was sorted out, but since you say you really have nothing to do, you can do it in advance. First of all, let me tell you……”

“Let me tell you?”

* * *

“Kang Byeon [Lawyer Kang], what are you doing after work today?”

“Today? Is it a company dinner today?”

Kang Min-jae, who was staring at the monitor with a bored face, raised his head with a suddenly lively expression.

Generally, don’t company employees try to avoid company dinners at all costs?

At least I did.

But Kang Min-jae, who seems to be eager for company dinners, is truly unique.

“It’s not a company dinner; let’s have dinner together.”

“No, why are you suddenly asking me to have dinner together? ……They say something happens when a person suddenly changes.”

Kang Min-jae looked at Secretary Oh with an uneasy face.

“Secretary, I think something’s wrong with the lawyer.”

“Hey, the case is over, so we’re just having a meal together,” Secretary Oh said, waving one hand while busily typing on the keyboard.

“Really? Can I choose the menu?”

“Do whatever.”

“Secretary, what do you want to eat?”

“Ah, I have to go home early today.”

“Huh, really? Then how about tomorrow?”

“No, you two have it together, intimately. I have to go home early all this week.”

“Is there something wrong at home?”

“No, don’t worry, it’s nothing like that,” Secretary Oh added, reassuringly.

Then Kang Min-jae regretfully smacked his lips and started searching for something on the internet.

“How about here? I just sent it to you via messenger.”

When I opened the message link he sent, there was a review of a lively barbecue restaurant nearby.

I’ve seen it while passing by; it’s a place where people are always lined up for a long time.

“Let’s go to a quiet place, not a place like this.”

“A quiet place? Hmm. How about Chinese food?”

“Good. There’s Yeonhwahun? It was good.”

“Yeonhwahun is good. Then shall we make a reservation there for 6:30?”

“Okay.”

He picked up the phone and entered the phone number, then suddenly raised his head and asked.

“Room or hall?”

“Room.”

“Yes.”

Kang Min-jae finished the reservation with an excited voice and was thrilled that he could leave at 6 o’clock.

“Now work.”

“……Yes.”

Did I overdo it?

Kang Min-jae, who was smiling brightly, instantly drooped his shoulders and moved his gaze back to the monitor.

Secretary Oh, who was watching the scene, slightly raised his head and looked at me.

We just exchanged glances for a moment, without saying anything else.

The office door closed at exactly six o’clock.

After the wiretapping incident, new security devices were additionally installed in the office.

There were more procedures that the last person to leave had to take.

While I was blankly watching Kang Min-jae scan his card, Secretary Oh looked at his watch and said.

“I’ll go first. I have to go quickly.”

“Yes, Secretary. Go in. Thank you for your hard work today.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

After sending Secretary Oh first, Kang Min-jae and I headed to Yeonhwahun.

Because I had made a reservation in advance, spoons and tableware for two people were prepared in the inner room.

Before ordering, Kang Min-jae, who was looking at the menu, asked slyly.

“Shall we have a drink too?”

“Okay.”

“As expected, Chinese restaurants are best with ‘Pae Gal’ [a type of high-proof liquor].”

Kang Byeon skillfully ordered the course, and soon after, the appetizers came out.

While we were eating silently, Kang Min-jae opened his mouth.

“There’s a rumor that Deputy Chief Prosecutor Park Young-ki of the Western District Prosecutors’ Office is being promoted.”

“Really?”

When I reacted as if I didn’t know, Kang Min-jae nodded.

“My classmate said so. Deputy Chief Prosecutor Park Young-ki put a lot of effort into the Myunghwa Pharmaceutical investigation this time, but haven’t you heard anything, lawyer?”

“I’m not close enough to hear those stories. I just talked about Myunghwa Pharmaceutical during this investigation.”

“I see. How was Senior Jung Chang-yoon? You said he was a bit insincere.”

“No matter what, I have no choice but to work hard since the stage is set. He seems to be reluctant to challenge the existing order or method, but he does well if he gets permission from above.”

“Ah.”

Kang Min-jae ate faster than me, even while chattering noisily.

I wondered if he was swallowing without chewing, so I watched his mouth closely.

The main course came out, and the alcohol that Kang Min-jae had been singing about was also served.

Kang Min-jae must have wanted to drink a lot; he pulled the bottle right in front of him and enjoyed a piece of meat and a sip of alcohol very much.

“It would have been nice if the secretary came with us. Secretary, is there really something wrong at home?”

“No. These days, she meets her friends often, so her daughter seems to have said something because she gets home late.”

“Really? Haha. When I hear the secretary’s family story, I want to start a family soon too. It seems harmonious, and the daughters seem to get along very well with the secretary. Why, it’s not easy for a father and daughter to get along well.”

“That’s right.”

“These days, the daughters are giving the secretary pocket money, right? How proud she must be.”

Because I spent a lot of time with Jo Bong-joon and Choi Jong-hyun due to the Myunghwa Pharmaceutical case, there were days when I couldn’t go to the office.

So Kang Min-jae had a lot to say. He usually talks a lot, but today he was really talking non-stop as if he had set aside a specific day for it.

“Your role as a commissioned investigator is over now, right?”

“The investigation will continue, but I’ve done everything I can do. Now the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Financial Supervisory Service have stepped in, and I’m not really needed.”

“That’s good. Then shouldn’t we take on the next case now? Two people came for consultation yesterday anyway.”

“Kang Byeon.”

“Yes?”

I put down the spoon and said.

Then Kang Min-jae also stopped eating and looked at me.

“Actually, I had something to say today, so I asked you to see me separately.”

“I thought so, but is it serious?”

“Maybe?”

He smiled awkwardly and fiddled with the glass with his fingertips.

“……What is it?”

I hesitated for a moment.

I had been thinking that this day would come since I first hired him.

At that time, I thought without much thought that I would just keep him until I officially jumped into that world and then break up.

But now that the situation has come to this, it’s hard to open my mouth.

But I have to say it.

I can’t hesitate forever.

“Kang Byeon, I think it would be better if you stopped coming to the office now.”