You Have Been Defended [EN]: Chapter 246

You Have Been Defended – Episode 246

The meeting with Lee Se-hwa was set at a high-end hotel restaurant in Yeouido.

Upon giving Lee Se-hwa’s name to the server, I was led to a private room, a gesture that seemed mindful of unwanted attention, rather than the bustling main dining area.

“Welcome, Attorney Cha.”

Lee Se-hwa, whom I hadn’t seen in some time, appeared to be in high spirits.

I couldn’t discern whether her good mood stemmed from her recent triumph over the formidable Lee Jung-chan, or from the fact that I, who had previously dodged her calls, was now seeking her assistance.

“How have you been?”

“I’ve been well, thanks to you, Attorney Cha.”

Was that sarcasm I detected?

Even if it was, it lacked any real bite.

As the server presented the course menu, Lee Se-hwa interjected,

“The à la carte [ordering individual dishes] menu is superior to the course menu here. What would you prefer?”

“You seem well-acquainted with this establishment, Representative. Please, order whatever you desire. I’m not a picky eater.”

“I assumed you would be.”

Choi Jong-hyun and Jo Bong-joon had made similar remarks. What kind of impression do I project?

Receiving no response, Lee Se-hwa requested the à la carte menu and proceeded to place several orders.

The dishes bore unfamiliar names, ones I hadn’t encountered before.

“I frequent this hotel when I need to unwind or have an important engagement. The food is excellent, and as it’s a foreign-owned hotel, I find it quite comfortable here.”

This particular hotel in Yeouido is part of a large, foreign-owned hotel group.

Most domestic hotel brands are owned by chaebols [large, family-controlled industrial conglomerates] that have diversified into numerous sectors, making them potentially problematic for a major political figure like her to patronize.

Chaebols are known for their persistent, often aggressive, attempts to curry favor with politicians.

It’s been their modus operandi [method of operating] since the inception of the Republic of Korea.

If a prominent politician makes a reservation, most hotels under domestic companies immediately alert their superiors.

They then leverage that single visit as an opportunity to establish contact.

However, with a foreign company, such concerns are largely absent.

Even if a report is filed, they don’t typically engage in undue lobbying of politicians.

They don’t hedge their bets on politicians in anticipation of potential crises.

If their business underperforms or encounters difficulties, they can simply withdraw from Korea.

“The Mo Group constantly tries to shower me with hotel vouchers and meal tickets because I refuse to accept monetary gifts. When I began to gain prominence as a politician, they offered me a membership. I declined, but I was curious about what made it so special. I assumed you just signed up. That’s what I thought. So I inquired, and it turns out you have to pay 300 million won [approximately $250,000 USD] to become a member!”

Lee Se-hwa chuckled, as if recounting an amusing anecdote.

“A 300 million won membership. Isn’t that absurd? We’re merely representatives. Representatives of the people. And it’s not as if there’s only one representative, but one among a multitude. If I were to accept a 300 million won membership, indulge in lavish spa treatments, and frequent hotels, how outraged would the public be?”

[Truth]

The word that appeared above her head was unexpected.

I believe she possesses an idealistic mindset as a politician, but I hesitate to base my entire evaluation solely on this.

Nearly everyone succumbs to greed upon reaching a position of power.

That greed manifests in various forms.

Whether it’s a desire to live luxuriously like the aristocracy of a monarchy, to amass wealth and secure personal interests, or simply to be esteemed, it varies from individual to individual.

I was confident that she didn’t aspire to excessive luxury.

But I couldn’t be certain about the other two possibilities.

She might be accumulating wealth discreetly, out of public view.

Of course, it’s undeniable that she rejected the chaebols’ money, as confirmed by my ability.

However, that doesn’t necessarily mean she doesn’t covet wealth.

She might have declined it simply because accepting it would inevitably lead to complications.

Politicians have countless avenues for accumulating wealth.

“I’ve heard rumors that Attorney Cha has amassed a considerable fortune. Do you also have a fondness for money, Attorney Cha?”

She rested her chin on her clasped hands, her gaze meeting mine.

Her eyes seemed to penetrate me, as if she possessed a similar ability to mine.

“Is there anyone who dislikes money?” I countered.

No one truly dislikes money.

Even if they don’t actively pursue it.

That applies to clergymen as well.

Whether it’s a temple or a synagogue, money is essential for its construction, and at the very least, for basic survival.

Therefore, I never trust anyone who claims to dislike money.

“Then let me rephrase the question. Are you actively pursuing money?”

She posed the question as if she had read my thoughts.

“The more money I possess, the more advantageous it is for achieving my goals.”

“Your goals? I’m curious about what Attorney Cha aspires to achieve.”

It’s significant when someone seeks to understand another’s aspirations, especially someone with as much influence as Lee Se-hwa.

If she knew my desire to apprehend Wooshin, she might offer me a position within her group, offering assistance as a condition.

Therefore, I opted for a non-committal response.

Instead.

“I requested this meeting with you, Representative, because of one of the things I want to accomplish.”

In broad terms, my goal is to rectify the injustices I failed to address in my previous life.

That includes capturing Wooshin and saving Dongjin.

“I’m intrigued.”

“I intend to discuss Han Young Electronics Executive Director Seol Hyung-seok.”

As soon as I uttered those words, Lee Se-hwa chuckled.

She likely didn’t anticipate his name emerging from my lips.

And at that moment, she might have understood.

Even if she lacked the specifics, she knew that my objective involved leveraging her relationship with the chairman of Han Young Group.

“Why Seol Hyung-seok?” she inquired, tilting her head.

Whatever the reason, she didn’t seem particularly enthusiastic about my request.

But I understood.

She holds me in high regard, and consequently, expects significant things from me.

But if the matter she hears after meeting me concerns only a chaebol, she might be disappointed in me.

Even so, I must accept that potential disappointment as someone making a request.

“Are you aware that Executive Director Seol Hyung-seok is currently hospitalized at Myungdae Hospital with glioblastoma [a type of brain cancer]?”

“I don’t believe the diagnosis has been made public, but you possess remarkably swift access to information, Attorney Cha.”

“An old friend of mine is Executive Director Seol Hyung-seok’s attending physician, which is how I learned of it.”

“Is that so? Well, I question his discretion as an attending physician. I believed Executive Director Seol Hyung-seok’s condition was being kept strictly confidential, yet he divulged it to you?”

“There were extenuating circumstances.”

I recounted the entire story to her honestly.

I typically avoid revealing my true sentiments when dealing with politicians.

If possible, I would resort to lies or bluffs.

That was invariably the case, even when I met Kang Min-jae’s grandfather, Kang Kwan-woong.

But I believed that in this instance, an honest approach, rather than one embellished with falsehoods, was the most prudent course of action.

Well, it’s a strategy I chose while recalling the catchphrase ‘the value of honesty’ that Lee Se-hwa put forward after becoming president in my previous life.

“…So that’s what happened.”

She listened attentively without interruption until I had finished, then slowly nodded.

“So you want me to inform the Han Young Group about your story?”

“That’s correct.”

No sooner had I finished speaking than the food arrived.

While the dishes were being placed on the table, she remained deep in thought.

And as soon as the staff closed the door and left the room, she met my gaze.

“Listen. The food will lose its flavor if it gets cold.”

She said, picking up her fork.

But I couldn’t bring myself to touch the food.

“You’re not going to eat until you hear my answer?” she said with a smile, glancing at my motionless hand.

“Ha, it’s astonishing that Attorney Cha, who seems incapable of shedding a tear even if stabbed, is making this kind of request for a friend. I’ve heard a great deal about you, Attorney Cha. I heard you were called an FM [field manual; someone who strictly follows the rules] robot since your days as a prosecutor?”

“I’m aware of that moniker.”

“I heard you acted like a knife in any situation, but I didn’t realize you were the kind of person who would make this kind of request for a friend.”

I couldn’t find the words to respond.

It wasn’t as if I hadn’t considered that she would have investigated me.

“You couldn’t have been unaware that if you asked me for a favor, you would incur a debt. I must have been a very difficult person to deal with. Your friend is fortunate to have a friend like you.”

She moistened her throat with wine and continued.

“I’ll relay the story to the chairman. He’s a person who clearly distinguishes between right and wrong, so he wouldn’t want the truth to be suppressed because of his anger over his son becoming a vegetable. The chairman is angry at the person who made Seol Executive Director that way, not the attending physician. And I also believe that if Attorney Cha judged that way, there must be a problem.”

“Thank you, Representative.”

People typically add all sorts of flowery words to express their gratitude in situations like this, but I don’t really know what to say.

Just when I was thinking that it might have been easier if I had brought Kang Min-jae,

“It must be burdensome for Attorney Cha to unilaterally ask me for favors. Then it would be appropriate for me to ask Attorney Cha for one favor as well, right? Then we’re even.”

And she got straight to the point.

Her demeanor, as if she had been anticipating this, made me wonder if she was pleased that I had something to ask her.

Perhaps… even if I hadn’t honestly told her the story… no, perhaps even if I had simply presented the business proposition without revealing the entire narrative, she would have granted my request?

“Please tell me.”

“There’s a presidential election approaching soon. You’re aware of that, correct?”

“Of course.”

This is somewhat unsettling.

“I’d like Attorney Cha to join our election campaign.”