You Have Been Defended [EN]: Chapter 212

“Can you hear me?”

“Uh, uh, I can hear you.”

“Yes!”

Sang-gil, having finished installing the bug on Lee Se-hyung’s wheelchair, immediately fled the Light and Salt Welfare Foundation for the Disabled.

When Sang-gil, wearing an adorable heart-printed t-shirt, burst into the office, Tae-shik even clutched his stomach and laughed until tears streamed down his face.

[-Welfare worker, the driver was here?

-Oh, really? Let me finish this up and go quickly.]

The only downside was that Lee Se-hyung would likely not use the wheelchair once he got home.

However, installing a bug inside Lee Jung-chan’s house was nearly impossible.

As a second-best option, this wasn’t too bad.

At least, we’d be able to hear conversations in the car or around the wheelchair.

“This bastard, this con artist, looks like he’s leaving work. The sound quality is good?”

Sang-gil grinned and sat next to Tae-shik.

This bug, provided by the National Intelligence Service [South Korean intelligence agency], had surprisingly good sound quality, as they said.

It picked up even small noises and even breathing sounds.

Of course, since it was installed on an electric wheelchair, we had to account for the mechanical noise when the wheelchair moved.

[-I’ll head in first!

-Okay, see you tomorrow!]

With the sound of a car door opening, Lee Se-hyung’s wheelchair bumped once.

He was probably getting into the car.

“From what I see, Lee Se-hyung takes a van to work. It’s inconvenient to move a wheelchair into a sedan, so it seems he chose a vehicle that he can get into with the wheelchair. At first, only sedans were coming and going, so I thought Lee Se-hyung was also riding in a sedan, but I missed it.”

As Sang-gil added, Tae-shik scoffed.

“Politicians really put their heart and soul into scams. That’s how they deceive people these days. People won’t be fooled if you’re ambiguous.”

“There was also a disability sticker on it.”

“Bullshit, bullshit. Wait a minute. You missed it? You said you didn’t know whose car it was at first because the car was tinted? That’s why it took so long? But there was a disability sticker clearly on it?”

“Ah, hyung [older brother or male friend], that’s…….”

Tae-shik put Sang-gil in a headlock and flicked his forehead.

“You little punk. Why did you miss it? Why did you miss it!”

“No, I was doing Bungeoppang Tycoon [a mobile game about making Korean fish-shaped pastry]……. There’s a limit to how fast you can bake Bungeoppang, but the lady kept asking for more Bungeoppang. What could I do!”

“……I admit that. That lady is a bit annoying.”

Tae-shik released Sang-gil and sat close to the bug again.

After getting in the car, there was no other conversation.

Does he not talk to the driver?

Then, a clattering sound came from the speaker.

[-Ah, damn it! Hey, driver. Can’t you drive properly?]

And soon after, Lee Se-hyung’s irritable voice followed.

[-I’m sorry. Someone suddenly cut in front of us.

-Ha, damn it. You can’t even drive properly. I’m already annoyed to death.

-……I’m sorry. I’ll be careful.]

The driver’s voice sounded like it belonged to someone in their fifties or older.

“Look at this rude bastard. How can a young punk swear at an adult like that!”

As expected, Tae-shik expressed his anger.

Unlike his appearance, Tae-shik respects elders.

When he takes the bus or subway, he always gives up his seat to the elderly, and he helps carry heavy luggage.

But unfortunately, there aren’t many opportunities to do such good deeds, which is a disadvantage.

Because the moment he tries to do a good deed, the other person gets scared by his size and appearance and strongly refuses.

[-How can someone who makes a living driving not be able to drive properly?

-…….

-I’m being this patient because it’s me. Have you driven for other families, sir?

-I used to drive for the Hyosang Group’s madam…….

-Hyosang Group’s madam? That woman is famous for her bad temper? You got fired from there?

-No, that’s not it. I had personal reasons…….

-Personal reasons my ass. It’s obvious you got fired because you weren’t good enough.

-…….

-Sigh, never mind. We won’t be seeing each other after next week anyway.

-……Is next week your surgery?

-Do you have to ask? Next week, taking me to the airport is your last job. You need to check your schedule properly if you want to calculate your salary, right? Isn’t that right, sir?]

There weren’t many facts I knew about Lee Se-hyung.

Because Lee Se-hyung hadn’t engaged in any significant political activities since Lee Jung-chan was elected president, he was outside my interest.

Choi Jong-hyun also didn’t give me any other comments other than the fact that Lee Se-hyung’s legs were fine.

But now, it seemed he hadn’t told me an important fact.

That Lee Se-hyung had self-taught his family education [meaning he is ill-mannered].

[-No, that’s not it. I remember.

-Damn it, then tell me. If you’re wrong, I’ll deduct 1 million won from your severance pay?

-You’re leaving for the airport at 10 a.m. next Friday. And you said I can go home right after that…….]

Next Friday at 10 a.m.

Thanks to Lee Se-hyung’s rudeness, his departure date was easily found out.

[-But why are you asking if you know?

-I just wanted to tell you to have a good surgery…….

-It’ll be fine, damn it. Do you want it to not go well?

-Oh, no. Of course not.

-That’s right. By the way, do you have anywhere to go, sir?

-I’m looking into it.

-Don’t drive like that at other places, okay? I’m telling you again, I’m being patient because it’s me. You need to know that.

-I’m not going to do driving, I’m going to do something else…….

-Good thinking. Driving, it’s not your thing. It’s a mess. Even I, with my crippled legs, would do better than you.]

“Seriously, what’s with this rude bastard? I really want to punch him?”

“You really can’t know people, he’s so different on the inside and outside?”

Sang-gil, the only one of us who had met Lee Se-hyung in person, also looked dumbfounded.

“He really has a kind face? And his tone is gentle and friendly, but it was all a lie.”

“Attorney Cha. When we reveal that Lee Se-hyung’s legs are fine, let’s spread this bugged conversation too. I feel like things will go to hell if this is revealed?”

“Then only the innocent driver will be harmed.”

Usually, when famous figures in the political and business world hire people, they write non-disclosure agreements.

Housekeepers, babysitters, and drivers are mostly the targets.

Because they are people who see their private lives up close.

But it doesn’t seem like they give them a lot of money, but people still sign the contract anyway.

If secrets are leaked, they have to pay huge amounts of compensation.

If we spread this bugged conversation to the world, even if the driver says it’s not him, who would believe it?

If we assume that even an investigation comes in, we can also be booked for bugging [illegally recording conversations].

There’s nothing to regret.

In any case, the Lee Jung-chan family is doomed if we reveal just one scam.

“I think you bugged him from the beginning to find out the departure date, and now you’ve found it out. Should we stop bugging him?”

“No, let’s listen a little more. There might be something more to gain. Let’s check his schedule until he leaves the country.”

Now, I need to think about how to effectively reveal that Lee Se-hyung’s legs are fine.

* * *

“……So, Lee Se-hyung’s legs are fine?”

There were only about ten days left until Lee Se-hyung’s departure.

I hadn’t thought of a way to reveal it yet, but because I had to reveal it unconditionally ten days before, I decided to share this fact with Jo Bong-joon and Choi Jong-hyun.

“Yes.”

“No way…….”

Choi Jong-hyun, the biggest contributor to this case, shook his head as if he couldn’t believe it.

“Who says so?”

“My friend is a neurosurgeon at Myungwoon University Hospital. That friend told me.”

“……Huh.”

I decided to sell Dong-jin’s name.

Dong-jin doesn’t know anything, but I still took the trouble to bring his underwear and socks to the security office of his apartment, so wouldn’t this be okay?

“Then is it all rumored in Myungwoon University Hospital?”

“Not really, it seems only the head of neurosurgery and the head of rehabilitation medicine know. My friend found out by chance.”

“This is a jackpot, this…….”

This morning’s news featured stories about each party’s primary candidates.

All media outlets, and the public, were expecting Lee Jung-chan to be the candidate from the Minwoo Party [fictional political party].

If this wasn’t my second life, I would have thought that Lee Jung-chan would be the candidate and would be elected.

Regardless of my personal political views.

“We have to reveal this. Let’s reveal it on our broadcast.”

Jo Bong-joon said, his eyes shining.

“The site development is over now, too. Let’s put it as the first article.”

“That’s a good idea?”

“But, can Attorney Cha’s friend provide evidence?”

“I don’t think so. My friend is waiting for a promotion to associate professor there.”

“Really? Well, he can’t block his own future because of this.”

Choi Jong-hyun and Jo Bong-joon nodded, and then began to worry about how to find evidence.

“If we just had a picture of him walking straight on two legs. I wish we could get it from somewhere.”

“That’s right. Should we put someone on his tail?”

“We should put someone on his tail, but we can’t expect much. If we could find it that way, it would have been revealed a long time ago. That bastard has been living as if he had paralysis for a whopping 8 years, 8 years. Ha, when did his legs become fine? Did he have surgery in Korea? If we can find the hospital, we might be able to wiggle our way in…….”

As expected of an Lee Jung-chan expert, Choi Jong-hyun quickly expanded his thoughts.

I regret to deliver this news to such Choi Jong-hyun, but I added a word.

“But, if we’re going to reveal it, we have to reveal it by next Friday morning.”

“Huh? Why?”

“……According to my friend, Lee Se-hyung is going to Germany on a flight next Friday morning to have surgery.”

“Huh? Damn it? Why is he going to have surgery when his legs are fine?”

Jo Bong-joon asked as if he didn’t understand, and Choi Jong-hyun nodded.

“The presidential election is coming up soon. He’s making evidence that he had surgery around this time, pretending to be in rehabilitation, and then he can show himself walking around the time of the election. Then the crazy people for Lee Jung-chan will think that Lee Jung-chan has created a miracle of raising a cripple. If that really happens, he’ll sweep up the votes of the old people.”

As expected, it’s Choi Jong-hyun.

He knows Lee Jung-chan’s ridiculous tricks.

“Next Friday, hmm, there’s a charity event that Lee Jung-chan is attending next Wednesday. It’s an event where they give out plaques of appreciation to people who have donated more than 500 million won to the foundation where Lee Se-hyung works in 2010. He’s probably going after that?”

“How do you know that, hyung? [older brother or male friend]”

“The presidential election is right around the corner, so I have to know Lee Jung-chan’s schedule to be an Lee Jung-chan expert.”

“Was there such an event?”

If it’s such an event, many celebrities will come, and some politicians who want to look good to Lee Jung-chan will show their faces.

Because the Light and Salt Welfare Foundation for the Disabled is the home of Lee Jung-chan’s son, Lee Se-hyung, politicians who want to get into Lee Jung-chan’s eyes will donate there and try to get Lee Jung-chan’s attention.

People who want to get close to the top management will all have the same ideas.

Then, naturally, reporters will flock there too.

Hmm, a charity event.

“I have a good idea.”