You Have Been Defended [EN]: Chapter 223

You Have Been Defended – Episode 223

The meeting place arranged by Chief Park was a Korean traditional restaurant in Yeouido.

This restaurant, renovated from a traditional Korean house built in the late Joseon Dynasty [1392-1897], is famous for its employees wearing modernized hanboks [traditional Korean clothing] designed by a renowned hanbok designer.

The food’s quality is, of course, exceptional.

It’s a place frequented by people in political and business circles, so you’re likely to run into someone you know even without an appointment.

I remember coming here, too.

In my previous life, of course.

“This way, please.”

Upon stating my name, the employee checked the list and guided me inside.

The soundproofing was excellent; I didn’t hear any noise even after passing through several rooms.

Arriving at the innermost part of the hallway, the employee opened the sliding door.

“Oh, Attorney Cha. You’re here?”

It seems they gave me a slightly later appointment time.

Chief Park Young-gi and Liberty Justice Party Leader Lee Se-hwa had already arrived.

“Hello. I am Cha Ju-han.”

As I bowed in greeting, Leader Lee Se-hwa smiled and suggested I sit next to Park Young-gi.

“I thought you looked good on the news, but you’re even better in person. I should sue the broadcasting station, Attorney Cha.”

“You flatter me.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Lee Se-hwa.”

She tucked her short bob behind her ear and stared at me intently.

“I was curious to know which lawyer was receiving so much affection from our teacher, but I never expected to meet you like this.”

‘Teacher’ is obviously referring to Kang Kwan-woong.

When Lee Se-hyung standing on his own two feet was broadcasted, Kang Kwan-woong immediately contacted Lee Se-hwa and had her issue a statement demanding an explanation, so their friendship must be quite deep.

Kang Kwan-woong is much older, so they wouldn’t be in a senior-junior [mentor-mentee] relationship.

She is a politician who used to be a prosecutor.

She is of a higher class than Park Young-gi, but much lower than Kang Kwan-woong.

She is a distant senior to me.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you at the legal community alumni association?”

“Ju-han doesn’t really go to private gatherings.”

“Is that so?”

Lee Se-hwa continued to stare at me with a strange expression.

It was a look that seemed to be probing something.

From the impression she gave off, it seemed like she wanted to gauge my style.

The current Lee Se-hwa is someone who lacks nothing as a potential presidential candidate.

Although she isn’t considered a frontrunner because the Democratic Party has Lee Jung-chan as a powerful contender, she was a party leader who was quite recognized by Liberty Justice Party supporters.

She has stated that she will not run in this presidential election but will run in the next one.

And she was confidently expected to be elected.

In other words, I am facing the future president.

“I heard about it from Chief Park. This case, it’s all Attorney Cha’s handiwork.”

Before today’s meeting, Park Young-gi asked if it was okay to tell Lee Se-hwa the whole story of this case.

Kang Kwan-woong said she was someone he could trust, and I had no objections either.

Being in the same boat meant that.

Even if you don’t reveal everything, you have to be somewhat transparent.

“The situation is interesting. An unidentified, somewhat villainous, mysterious informant provided a huge source to an internet broadcasting reporter who could never be called a formal media outlet.”

The reason I didn’t reveal myself in this case, which exposed the fraud of Lee Jung-chan and Lee Se-hyung from the beginning, was simple.

Because the means were not entirely legal.

Now is not the time for my reputation to be tarnished yet.

“I was wondering who it was, but I never thought it would be Attorney Cha.”

More than anything, the reason I hadn’t revealed myself until now was because I didn’t yet have the power to protect myself and my colleagues.

But now the situation is a little different.

Lee Se-hwa needs me more than anyone right now.

And through Lee Se-hwa, I can ensure safety and achieve my goals.

It’s a situation where we need each other.

So, I needed to show Lee Se-hwa my true colors.

“Those reporters were the ones who uncovered the Myunghwa Pharmaceutical case, right? I knew Attorney Cha was in charge of the case, but I never thought to connect it. I just thought Attorney Cha was a lawyer who took on cases that came in… well, not ordinary. I just thought you were a capable lawyer. I never thought you’d be the type to take the lead and initiate things.”

Lee Se-hwa continued, wearing a smile as if she was intrigued.

Although it was a short remark, I could sense that she had been watching me for a while.

“It seems like you know me well, Leader.”

“I can’t say I know you well, but I’ve been paying attention. I was curious from the moment Attorney Kang Min-jae left Taekwang and went to work for Attorney Cha. And I was also curious why the teacher didn’t stop Attorney Kang from doing so. Capable people are bound to stand out. They stand out when you’re about to forget them, and they stand out again when you’re about to forget them.”

Among the cases I’ve taken on, there have been many significant ones, so it’s perhaps natural.

“This is something I was personally curious about, but before, that Jangmyung High School case. Is that also Attorney Cha’s work? I think I’ve actually heard rumors like that.”

“That’s right.”

“Hahaha. Interesting, this guy?”

Lee Se-hwa laughed heartily as if she was enjoying herself.

“Why? Why did you do that?”

And she asked innocently, like a curious child.

Her eyes sparkled too much to be the eyes of a middle-aged woman in her 60s.

I think politicians who reach the top each have their own charm.

Kang Kwan-woong definitely had a charm that attracted people.

And although I don’t really want to admit it, and I couldn’t quite see it, I think Lee Jung-chan also had that charm.

Lee Se-hwa is the same.

It was a meeting to plot something, but she had a strange talent for making people feel comfortable.

“Wouldn’t it be okay to say that I did it for the sake of realizing justice?”

“Realizing justice? That’s an answer worthy of a former prosecutor. Realizing justice is good.”

Lee Se-hwa slowly wiped the smile off her face, circling the edge of the teacup with her fingertips.

“Then, the reason the veiled ‘informant’ Attorney Cha met me is also for the purpose of realizing justice?”

“That’s right.”

“But I’m a politician?”

This is the first time in this life that I have met such prominent politicians at the young age of mid-30s.

And each of those people tries to test me.

Kang Kwan-woong did, and so does Lee Se-hwa.

Depending on what answer I give, it means they will evaluate me.

“Leader. You and I are people who met because our needs align. You want the Liberty Justice Party to win the presidential election, and I want the downfall of Lee Jung-chan. What we need now is to create a plan to achieve each other’s goals.”

In the case of Kang Kwan-woong, it was a picture of me unilaterally asking him for help, but now it’s different.

Of course, it wouldn’t be bad to make a good impression on her.

Although things have changed to some extent since I started to get involved, Lee Se-hwa was the person who became president in the future I saw.

But right now, I’m not in a position where I have to try to look good to Lee Se-hwa.

In a word, the fact that she’s trying to test me reads as rudeness rather than gratitude to me.

“I see what you mean. Chief, this guy is quite strong-willed?”

Lee Se-hwa looked at Park Young-gi and made a joke.

“He is not the type to be suppressed. Leader, you came across too softly.”

As Park Young-gi chimed in, Lee Se-hwa raised both hands as if surrendering and joked.

“I’m sorry. It’s my first time meeting someone like Attorney Cha, so I unknowingly went into party leader mode looking for talent. You know, the political world always wants to transfuse young blood. So, when I have a chance to talk to young people, I keep exploring. Ah, shall we talk while eating first?”

Soon, a full course of Korean dishes was served.

During the meal, personal stories were exchanged.

She mainly asked questions, and I answered.

What was the reason for quitting the prosecutor’s office and starting a law firm, and why did you reject the offers from large law firms?

Even though she said she would stop probing, she never stopped directing her curiosity towards me.

I answered appropriately and changed the subject.

“The public has learned about the fraud of Lee Jung-chan and his son, but if we leave it as it is, it will subside. We need to add fuel to the fire and fan the flames a little more for it to burn properly. The top three newspapers will probably not cover this case until the line is clearly drawn. The broadcasting stations will probably be watching closely as well.”

“We are fully prepared on the media side as well.”

Lee Se-hwa didn’t seem to want to explain in detail.

Her attitude suggested that, even if I provided the source, there was no reason for her to tell me everything she was going to do.

That was also true.

There was no reason for her, the leader of the Liberty Justice Party, to report such things to a mere lawyer.

“The reason I wanted to meet Attorney Cha was not to create a plan together. I wanted to meet you to tell you to hand over any cards you haven’t shown yet.”

Unlike her previous appearance, where she was smiling brightly, Lee Se-hwa spoke very seriously and firmly.

Ah, now that I see it, my words about having to create a plan must have sounded quite presumptuous to her ears.

“On the broadcast, reporter Choi Jong-hyun said something like that. He said that they had done all they could do with that, and that they would leave the rest to the national institutions. That’s right. Attorney Cha has done a tremendous job, and Attorney Cha has done everything he can do. Next, leave it to us.”

At first glance, her words are correct.

Even though there are people who help, I am still just an individual.

It is morally right to be satisfied here, hand over everything so that they can take care of the rest, and wait quietly for the results.

But I can’t be satisfied with that much.

“Leader. The reason I said I would meet with you today is because I thought you would want to grab the reins of this case more than anyone else.”

“So?”

“The reason I thought that is not because I know you well, but because of the position of the Liberty Justice Party, which is the main opposition party. I want the downfall of Lee Jung-chan, who has been deceiving the public more than anyone else, but that doesn’t mean I am a supporter of you and the Liberty Justice Party, who are on the opposite side.”

Lee Se-hwa’s expression briefly hardened at my answer.

“It is true that I have more to offer. But I’m not sure yet if that source can be used in the right way.”

“You don’t trust me?”

Lee Se-hwa asked, narrowing her eyes.

“It means I can’t judge anything because I don’t know your plan. I don’t even know if meeting you was a wise choice.”

“You mean you want me to share my plan.”

To be exact, I want to check if the plan I have in mind aligns with her plan.

Lee Se-hwa was silent for a moment.

She tapped the table and pondered, as if contemplating something.

I waited until she opened her mouth.

“Chief, this guy is not just not soft, but has a cheeky side to him?”

She looked at Chief Park Young-gi with a slightly displeased, yet playful voice.

Park Young-gi only smiled faintly.

It wouldn’t be strange if Lee Se-hwa got angry at my rudeness here and left.

After all, she is someone who has risen to the position of leader of the Liberty Justice Party, one of the two major pillars supporting South Korea.

Although she is known for her progressive personality, she might still think that a distant junior is showing off because she has one more card.

I am prepared for either outcome.

“But, I have this thought. Attorney Cha doesn’t want to hear my plan right now, but I think he wants to tell me his own plan. It seems like you have a big picture drawn, will you tell me?”