You Have Been Defended [EN]: Chapter 23

“So?”

“I was sure of your conclusion, sir.”

I was speechless at the unexpected answer.

“Why are you so sure of my conclusion?”

“Because I respect you. As a lawyer.”

“…What?”

“I’ll be honest. Actually, I wanted to be a judge during my training. My grades were good, too. But while working under you as a trainee, I came to sincerely respect you, and that’s why I applied to be a prosecutor. I wanted to be like you. But unfortunately, the job of prosecutor didn’t suit me. If I had worked with you, I might have continued as a prosecutor, but I could never get assigned to the Third Criminal Division.”

Kang Min-jae took a sip of whiskey and continued calmly.

“I always attended your trials unless they overlapped with mine. You wouldn’t know it, though. And you may or may not know my personality, but I don’t respect just anyone. I have high standards when it comes to lawyers.”

As the atmosphere seemed to calm down a bit, Kang Min-jae began to mix in some jokes.

I sighed.

“When I heard that you were starting anew as a lawyer, I was so curious that I couldn’t stand it. And after you opened your office, I heard that you were working alone without an office manager, so I thought that if I did well this time, I might be able to work with you. I want to learn more from you.”

The word [Truth] was constantly floating above his head.

I couldn’t find the words to answer.

Starting the investigation targeting Wooshin Group, I went through a lot.

What I gained from that was a terrible distrust of people.

I experienced countless betrayals, and I’ve been tasting bitterness as I watched people leave my side.

I had many secrets, and there were many times when I was anxious that those secrets would leak out.

“I don’t think you have anything to learn from me. Above all, you have more to learn at Taekwang than from me. It’s a huge law firm, so you can handle a variety of cases. Also, you can’t ignore income. As I said before, I can’t guarantee the same salary as Taekwang.”

Kang Min-jae didn’t answer for a while.

He seemed to be thinking deeply about something.

“I’ll decide whether there’s anything to learn or not. While working on this case together, I became even more convinced. I have a lot to learn from you, Attorney Cha. Taekwang was not a place where I had much to learn. And as I said, I really don’t need money. My family has a lot of money. If your office doesn’t do well, I might be able to persuade my grandfather to invest.”

Kang Min-jae began to list all sorts of reasons why he should be hired.

If I honestly tell him about my goal, will he change his mind?

No, he might become even more passionate.

Above all, I can’t tell him my goal because I can’t fully trust him yet.

“Attorney Cha, I won’t cause any trouble, and I can help you. Even in this case… Ha, of course, I know I wasn’t a big help. But it’s true that you need manpower in the office.”

“No, you were helpful.”

“Yes?”

“You were helpful.”

I admit that I would have had a hard time without him.

Because I was very short on time and manpower.

“Don’t worry about the salary issue. Honestly, I don’t care if I don’t get paid, but there are labor laws. You can just take a certain portion of what you receive in retainer fees. That’s how it works, right?”

Why didn’t I notice him in my previous life, when he respected me so much?

Was it because I was a prosecutor and he was a lawyer?

As I began to dig into Wooshin’s corruption, people with the same goals as me began to secretly contact me.

That’s how I built my team.

Of course, Kang Min-jae wasn’t among them.

If he wanted to work with me this much, he would have contacted me, but why didn’t he?

Was he afraid of taking down Wooshin?

‘If so, if I start taking down Wooshin in earnest, won’t he drop out on his own?’

“Your parents won’t like it. Going from working at Taekwang to a small office like this.”

“My family wants me to do what I want to do.”

“It’s great to be born with a silver spoon.”

I even wondered how much money they had to be able to say something like that.

“You’re hiring me, right?”

“I’ll fire you if I don’t like you.”

“…Yes?”

“And Kang, you can leave as soon as you think you have nothing more to learn from me. Also, if you think what I’m doing doesn’t suit you, leave. Don’t force yourself.”

Kang Min-jae stared at me blankly for a moment.

“Why? Do you have a problem with that?”

“No! No, I don’t!”

“Come to work at 9 every day. I don’t know how many cases will come in, though. There will be many days when you’ll be doing nothing. If you’re tired of doing nothing, write your resignation and leave.”

As soon as I finished speaking, Kang Min-jae jumped up.

And he bowed 90 degrees.

“I’ll work hard!”

“Stop saying the obvious.”

Looking at him smiling excitedly, I was speechless.

When dangerous things start to happen, I can make an excuse to fire Kang Min-jae, even if he says he wants to stay.

Anyway, for the time being, I’ve decided to focus on becoming famous as a lawyer, so until then.

That should be fine.

* * *

He went upstairs.

If it were a normal matter, he would have asked to meet in the living room, but the fact that he specifically asked him to come up to the study on the second floor meant that it was a very serious matter.

“Ahem!”

Standing in front of the study, Kang Min-jae straightened his clothes and cleared his throat once.

Then he knocked twice.

-Come in.

His grandfather’s low voice was heard.

Inside the study, his grandfather was reading a book while smoking a cigarette.

“I’m here, Grandpa.”

“Sit down.”

“Yes.”

As soon as he sat down opposite him, his grandfather finally closed the book and looked at Kang Min-jae, lowering his glasses slightly.

Feeling awkward under the burdensome gaze, Kang Min-jae forced a smile.

“Why are you looking at me like that? Did you suddenly realize that your grandson is very handsome?”

“You quit Taekwang to go work under that rookie lawyer named Cha Joo-han?”

Kang Min-jae sighed.

In fact, he had submitted his resignation to Taekwang a few days ago.

He had made up his mind to cling to Cha Joo-han if he didn’t accept him.

Taekwang had been holding off on accepting it, but it seemed that they had finally processed it after hearing the news that he had appeared in court this morning.

The news of his resignation must have been conveyed to CEO Yoon Won-hyung, and it was very natural that it would have flowed to his grandfather.

“Yes.”

“So, did Cha Joo-han accept you?”

His grandfather sighed and leaned back deeply on the sofa.

He had seemed excited lately, and it seemed that he had been in a good mood working with Cha Joo-han.

But today, his lips were twitching, and it seemed that he had finally heard the words that Cha Joo-han would take him in.

He didn’t want to spoil that for his grandson.

“At first, I didn’t think he would accept me, but this grandson is so good at his job that he finally accepted me.”

“Stop showing off, you.”

“You know I’m joking.”

“I don’t know if a 5-year prosecutor who hasn’t been open for long can even take care of your salary.”

“I can live on what I’ve saved. And he’ll probably do well. This case, and the Jo Jin-tae case, were so focused on by the whole country. His name must have become very famous.”

Looking at him smiling brightly, his grandfather sighed.

He hadn’t called him to scold him to go back to Taekwang, but seeing how much he liked it, he seemed like he would sulk if he said anything bad about Cha Joo-han.

“And I think it would have been impossible for me, who is only in my first year, to enter Taekwang, and even be assigned under Attorney Kim Yoon-hee, if it weren’t for my grandfather’s influence. But working with Cha, I, Kang Min-jae, did it without any background.”

No one recognizes him for working with Cha Joo-han, but his grandson is expressing it as ‘he did it.’

His grandfather smiled.

Anyway, it was a good attitude to try to build something on his own, away from his grandfather’s shadow.

Even if he failed, his grandson was still young, so he could always help him get back on his feet.

“Cha didn’t even seem to know that I was your grandson.”

Kang Min-jae added, watching his grandfather’s reaction.

That meant that Cha Joo-han wasn’t very interested in power.

It also meant that he wasn’t the type to listen to rumors circulating in the legal profession.

He didn’t know if that was a measure of integrity, but it was definitely a good aspect to appeal to his grandfather.

“Okay. Do well. Don’t disappoint me.”

“Yes, of course. I’ll do well. Then good night.”

His grandfather stared persistently at his grandson’s back as he bowed and left.

“I thought Cha Joo-han was something special.”

He muttered to himself as the door closed.

But that didn’t mean that he was someone worth giving up all the good circumstances given to his grandson.

Young lawyers who he thought were something special were often seen in every class of the training institute, if not all of them.

But it was not common for all the people he pointed out to carry out their beliefs to the end.

They were swayed and worn down by the logic of capital and the logic of power, and eventually became the same parts that made up the legal profession.

“Come in for a moment.”

He pressed the intercom and said.

Almost at the same time, the study door opened and a young man entered.

It was Kang Hyung-chan, who was performing his secretarial duties.

“Did you call me, Elder?”

“Find out more about Cha Joo-han. As much as you can find out.”

As much as he could find out meant that he was not simply asking about the lawyer Cha Joo-han.

The human Cha Joo-han.

How he had lived, what background he had, what he had done, and even predictions about what he would do in the future.

It encompassed everything.

“Yes, I understand. Is it urgent?”

“My grandson is so crazy about him, of course it’s urgent. But find out in detail so that you don’t miss anything.”

“Yes.”

“Oh, and make a token of appreciation to Kim Yoon-hee of Taekwang. And while you’re at it, to CEO Yoon Won-hyung.”

“CEO Yoon Won-hyung has already conveyed that he would like to visit you.”

“There’s no need for that.”

“Um, I understand. I’ll take care of it as you said. If you don’t have any more instructions, I’ll leave.”

After Kang Hyung-chan left, he glanced at the article printed on one side of his desk.

[Lawyer from the Prosecutor’s Office Criticizes Sloppy Investigation by the Prosecution in Court]

He read the article again.

Hoping that Cha Joo-han would not disappoint him.