You Have Been Defended [EN]: Chapter 265

You Have Been Defended – Episode 265

As I entered, Kang Kwan-woong and Park Young-ki were sitting in the living room.

They looked at me as I came in and sighed deeply.

It seemed that Park Young-ki and Kang Kwan-woong had already started a contingency meeting from the moment they received my call, or even before.

“Sit down, Attorney Cha,” Park Young-ki said, moving slightly to the side of the sofa armrest.

I sat next to him, and Kang Min-jae took a seat across from us.

“I was just briefing the Chairman on the situation.”

“Attorney Cha needs to know too. Explain it again.”

I looked at them in turn.

Park Young-ki looked quite embarrassed, and Kang Min-jae… looked incredibly angry.

But not Kang Kwan-woong.

It was hard to read what he was thinking from his expression or gestures.

Perhaps he was closer to being angry than worried or embarrassed.

Maybe he was upset that I, whom he had helped, had instead embroiled his grandson in a murder case.

“The situation, as I understand it, is that Lee Jung-chan was found dead in the reservoir, as the Chief Prosecutor mentioned, and I am being suspected. That’s all.”

Of course, I had thought about a few things beyond that while coming here.

Finding the person who killed Lee Jung-chan meant that traces of homicide were found on his body.

So, it was definitely not suicide.

If Attorney Kang was right, then Woo-shin killed him.

If the information Lee Jung-chan was trying to give me was so critical to Woo-shin that they killed him, and if he really died at the reservoir that day, why didn’t they kill me, who was there that day?

Was Attorney Kang really some kind of amulet [a charm believed to have protective powers]?

“The reason Attorney Cha is being suspected right now is simple. Attorney Cha was supposed to meet him at the reservoir where he was found, and CCTV footage shows that Attorney Cha actually stayed at the reservoir for about an hour or two.”

“Lee Jung-chan didn’t even show up there. Rather, we couldn’t see Lee Jung-chan, so we went inside to find him. And…”

“I know, Attorney Kang. I’m not doubting Attorney Kang’s words. But that’s how the police see the situation right now.”

“No, this is driving me crazy… Because Lee Jung-chan said he would give us high-level information, we really wanted to meet Lee Jung-chan. So, even after we couldn’t meet that day and returned, the attorney kept texting and calling Lee Jung-chan. If the attorney killed Lee Jung-chan, why would he send texts saying why didn’t you show up, what happened, let’s meet again?”

Attorney Kang couldn’t hold back and rattled off.

Perhaps realizing that his tone was somewhat aggressive and rude, he soon added an apology.

Park Young-ki sighed, and I replied briefly.

“From the police’s perspective, they might judge that even as a trick I played to get myself off the suspect list.”

“Attorney Cha is right. That’s exactly what they’re thinking.”

If the story is leaked to the press as it is, it will be instantaneous for me to become a guy who killed someone on purpose.

I might as well think that all killings are the same, but accidental killings and planned killings are judged differently even in court.

Well, I could say that I sent the text messages to get out of the situation after committing an accidental murder….

What’s important right now is not that.

I have just finished handling the Seol Hyo-seok and Kim Seong-woo case.

Wasn’t I the one who dramatically resolved the case where two people almost died, and even revealed my face on a current affairs program and gave an interview?

I might be called a psychopath in an instant.

“Attorney Cha, do you have your cell phone with you now?”

“I have it.”

When I took out my cell phone, Kang Kwan-woong picked it up from my hand and handed it to Chief Kang, who was standing next to him.

“Take it near Attorney Cha’s office, turn off the phone, and handle it so that the location can’t be tracked.”

“Elder.”

“It’ll be difficult if the phone’s location is tracked and the last location is here. You know that too.”

“…I didn’t think of that. I’m sorry.”

I came because they called me, but I don’t want Kang Kwan-woong to be harmed.

“You use a different cell phone for the time being. Chief Kang will get you a new one.”

The meaning of using a different cell phone for the time being is no different from telling me not to get caught after all.

But if I don’t get caught, a wanted notice will be issued, and then it will be perfect for framing me as running away because I really killed Lee Jung-chan.

It seems better to faithfully cooperate with the investigation and show a confident image.

“I told Attorney Kang while coming here, but the time we stayed at the reservoir that day was only about an hour or two. The time we went inside the reservoir to find Lee Jung-chan was probably less than an hour. Attorney Kang was with me all the time… and in preparation for anything, I talked to an office I know and had some surveillance personnel attached. They were watching us from a distance. If those people become witnesses, I think we can at least get off the suspect list.”

“How well do you know the office you know? Are you usually close?”

At Park Young-ki’s question, Kang Min-jae lowered his head and answered.

“They are investigators from our office.”

“That won’t work. Seeing that they are investigators, there seem to be more people who moved secretly, but the moment the relationship with Attorney Cha is revealed, they will immediately hear that they bought a witness. The police will think so too and will be running around trying to find other evidence. To be exact, Woo-shin will make it that way.”

“But we can’t keep running away in a situation where a wanted notice will be issued. It will be more of a problem if we run away and get caught. Besides, the situation won’t be resolved just by avoiding arrest right now.”

When I retorted, Kang Kwan-woong gestured to Chief Kang.

When Chief Kang leaned close to Kang Kwan-woong, he whispered something in Chief Kang’s ear.

Chief Kang’s eyes widened as he listened to the words, and Kang Min-jae, who was watching the scene like me, grabbed his pants.

“The attorney doesn’t need to run away. You can stay at our house.”

Kang Min-jae was sure that Kang Kwan-woong was telling Chief Kang to abandon me.

He looked at his grandfather with a very angry look and said loudly.

“This is the former president’s private residence. There’s no way they can search the house without evidence that the attorney is here. And rather, the darkest place is under the lamp [the best place to hide is in plain sight]. Those people know the attorney well, so they will never think that the attorney is at our house. And above all, while the attorney is in hiding, I and the other brothers will have to go around looking for evidence that the attorney is not a suspect, and isn’t this the best place to receive such reports? Even if Soo-il hyung [older brother/friend] prepares a burner phone, the tail will be stepped on if the calls are frequent.”

Kang Min-jae said forcefully.

Park Young-ki looked at him in surprise, then turned his gaze to Kang Kwan-woong.

Kang Min-jae’s words were somewhat correct, but it seemed that he thought it was too big of a decision and perhaps Kang Min-jae’s impulsive remark, so he was trying to confirm Kang Kwan-woong’s decision.

Kang Kwan-woong closed his eyes instead of answering.

“Attorney Kang, that’s not a problem you can decide alone.”

I don’t think Kang Kwan-woong is the kind of person who will force himself to accept me because he is looking at his grandson’s face, or because he doesn’t want to be a bad person for no reason.

But it is not right for me to remain silent.

“And my cell phone probably got its location information caught when it came into this house, so it could cause problems for the Elder and Attorney Kang for no reason. I have no intention of staying here.”

“It’s because the attorney and I share an office, and we have the same cell phone model. You can say that I accidentally brought the attorney’s cell phone home and brought it back to the office. And isn’t the last person the attorney met CEO Lee Se-hwa? If CEO Lee Se-hwa doesn’t want to be connected, she can say that the attorney didn’t show up at the place, or she will tell the truth that the attorney left.”

Was his brain that good?

As he said, if I don’t consider the harm to Kang Kwan-woong and Kang Min-jae, hiding here is the best way.

But even so, it is my position that I cannot ignore it.

Even if I do as Kang Min-jae says, I have to carry the psychological burden anyway.

And if it is discovered, if the issue spreads to Kang Kwan-woong, there are more than one or two people who will be harmed.

“While Attorney Cha was coming here, I received a call from CEO Lee,” Park Young-ki, who had been listening quietly, opened his mouth.

“She said she would pretend she didn’t meet Attorney Cha. The other lawmakers who ran into Attorney Cha are the same.”

“Are they trustworthy people?”

“She says there’s no need to worry about that. But what about the car? Did Attorney Cha take the car to that restaurant?”

“No. He said he was going to drink alcohol and took a taxi.”

Kang Min-jae answered instead.

“That’s a relief. And it’s a secret meeting with the people in the election camp, so she said that the staff were kept to a minimum, so no one would have seen Attorney Cha. She said that the CCTV was also turned off temporarily because of the meeting, so there seems to be no problem there.”

“That’s a relief. I was worried that CEO Lee would be harmed.”

“Who is worrying about whom right now? The attorney is about to become a murderer right now.”

Kang Min-jae gave a rebuke.

“There’s no place as safe as our house, no matter where you are. Honestly, when I think that not only Lee Jung-chan but also the attorney could have been like that at the reservoir that day, I get goosebumps. If I hadn’t gone with you, it could have really happened. It was fortunate that there was one more person. If the attorney starts running away outside, Woo-shin might really try to kill the attorney.”

Kang Min-jae has now moved beyond anger and entered the pleading stage.

“Grandfather, please say something. It’s safest for the attorney to be here, right? You think so too, right?”

“Stop it. In that sense, it might be safer to be in jail. There’s no way you’ll be assassinated by Woo-shin in jail.”

“It’s not time to get caught yet. It’s not time yet. Attorney Cha knows too. If you go to jail, your hands and feet will really be tied. You can’t do anything. I don’t think you know because you haven’t checked the atmosphere yourself, but do you know how many people are sharpening their knives at Attorney Cha right now?”

Park Young-ki also began to raise his voice.

I had never seen him get so excited, so I could tell how heinous the situation was.

“Even if I’m here, I can’t go outside. There won’t be much difference between being in jail and being here, except for accessibility.”

“That’s not why I’m telling you to stay out! Even if you get caught, at least secure another suspect and get caught. Otherwise, the police will arrest Attorney Cha and won’t think about finding another suspect and will immediately hand him over to the prosecution, and the prosecution will immediately indict him! That’s the scenario Woo-shin planned! The jurisdiction of that case is not our jurisdiction, so I can’t stop it myself!”

“Stop it!”

Amid the high-pitched voices, Kang Kwan-woong shouted.

Park Young-ki reduced his momentum and softened his expression.

“It seems that the current situation has been sufficiently conveyed to Attorney Cha anyway. Chief Park, go home now.”

“Chairman!”

“Go back and find out more about the situation and tell Attorney Cha.”

“…I understand.”

“And Min-jae.”

“Yes, Grandfather….”

“You do it moderately too.”

“But right now,”

“Ahem.”

When Kang Kwan-woong stopped him, Kang Min-jae also pouted and lowered his head.

“Lastly, Attorney Cha.”

“Yes, Elder.”

“Stay at our house for the time being.”

“But Elder,”

“That’s enough. I know very well that Attorney Cha doesn’t want to cause trouble, and I’ve conveyed that his heart is sincere, so that’s enough. Stay here.”

With those words, Kang Kwan-woong got up, holding the armrest.

Before following him, Chief Kang handed my cell phone to Kang Min-jae.

“Min-jae, take this to the office as you said. That way, it will be as you said.”

“…As I said? Ah, ah. Yes! Yes, Hyung [term for older brother or close male friend]! Attorney, would you like to go together?”

“Can you go together? Go alone quickly. Attorney Cha will be looking at the room I’ll be staying in.”

“Haha, I understand. Hehe. Attorney, I’ll be right back! Oh, right, Hyung. Please take care of the attorney’s meal. He hasn’t eaten yet.”

“I’ll take care of it myself, so go quickly!”

“Yes!”

Kang Min-jae, who looked the most excited I’d seen today, ran to the garage with my cell phone.

I sighed as I watched his back.

Is this really the right thing to do?