You Have Been Defended [EN]: Chapter 272

You Have Been Defended – Episode 272

Kang Min-jae looked troubled from the moment he woke up.

He seemed fine when he was told breakfast was being prepared, but after taking a quick phone call, his expression immediately hardened.

“What kind of call makes you look like that?” Choi Jong-hyun asked, noticing Kang Min-jae’s demeanor across the table.

“I got a call from the police. They want me to appear as a witness today.”

“Why the long face over that? I figured you’d be expecting a call.”

“Yeah, but their tone was annoying. Anyway, let’s eat. Madam, please hurry with the food. I’m starving. Hehe.” Kang Min-jae rubbed his stomach, and the housekeepers quickly began placing dishes on the table.

“…Wow, Min-jae. Do you eat like this every morning?” Jo Bong-joon asked, eyes wide at the sheer volume of food, the table practically groaning under the weight.

He held a spoon, but hesitated, unsure where to begin.

“No way. It’s usually not this extravagant, but my grandfather told them to make a special effort since we have guests. Ah, looks delicious.” Kang Min-jae took the first spoonful of soup, signaling Jo Bong-joon and Choi Jong-hyun to start.

They had stayed up until dawn discussing how to present the information on the broadcast and ended up sleeping here.

Being the type to sleep in until the afternoon, they barely managed to wake up around 11 a.m.

I couldn’t sleep well again, managing only three hours before waking at 7 a.m.

“Why aren’t you eating, Attorney Cha?”

“I already ate with the elder.”

“…Are you talking about former President Kang Kwan-woong?”

“Yes.”

Since Kang Min-jae wasn’t awake yet, I had no choice but to sit at the table with him alone.

I tried to refuse, but Kang Kwan-woong scolded me for skipping breakfast, leaving me no choice.

Of course, I mentioned that I don’t usually eat breakfast.

But it was no use.

I ate with Kang Kwan-woong for thirty minutes, but there was little conversation.

He only asked if there was any progress, and I simply replied that I had found clues to initiate a few actions.

Even if Kang Kwan-woong didn’t actively want to be involved, he was in a position to protect me.

Like me, he must have considered how complicated the situation would become if he intervened, and how far the repercussions would reach.

He didn’t press me or ask for details.

I don’t know if it’s because he trusts me, or if he’s testing to see if I can handle this situation on my own.

I’m not in a position to complain, considering I’m receiving the safest hideout in Korea, practically extraterritorial rights, free of charge.

“So, that’s right. He even prepared this grand breakfast, but really, is it okay not to say hello?” Jo Bong-joon asked, his mouth full.

“Speak after you finish eating; it’s messy.”

“Well. Should I go ask?”

“I don’t think you need to ask, but still, there’s an elder in the house, and not greeting him after coming to the house is a bit rude according to my etiquette and common sense, having been born and raised in a Confucian-centered society…”

“Just admit you want an autograph on the book, Bong-joon,” Choi Jong-hyun interjected, cutting off Jo Bong-joon’s rambling. Jo Bong-joon put down his spoon with a serious expression.

“Would I? Would I want to get an autograph? It’s just that I was born and raised in a Confucian society, and that bothers me.”

“So, did you bring the book or not?”

“I brought it.”

“Then stop talking.”

“…I brought it! It’s not that the purpose is the autograph, but I thought that if I were to greet him, I should get an autograph as well~ well, that’s what I was thinking.”

With that, Jo Bong-joon pulled a book from his clothes.

It was Kang Kwan-woong’s memoir, published in the 90s.

It was practically required reading for those of us in college at the time.

In fact, it was one of the most borrowed books in the school library.

A handwritten autograph from the former president, the author of such a book, would be quite rare if it wasn’t a printed signature.

“Are you going to get an autograph and sell it somewhere?”

“…”

“Hey, what is it? If that’s the plan, I won’t ask. How sad would our grandfather be if he gave you an autograph and you sold it? Our grandfather is so sensitive.”

“Hey, Min-jae. That’s not it. Hyung [older brother/friend] didn’t mean to do that.”

Anyway, after the meal, Kang Min-jae arranged a meeting with Kang Kwan-woong for them, fulfilling their wish.

Jo Bong-joon even got his book signed.

“When did they say you should be at the police station?”

“I have to get ready and leave now.” Kang Min-jae looked at his watch and jumped up.

“I’ll wash up, get ready, and come back.”

He hurriedly stubbed out the cigarette he hadn’t even finished smoking and rushed into the house.

“Then shall we go get the CCTV footage ourselves?”

“Let’s do that.”

“It would be better for Attorney Kang to go with you than just the two of you.”

“Why?”

“In principle, CCTV footage shouldn’t be shown to just anyone. It’s okay to watch, but they won’t give you the file. If you say a lawyer is involved due to a hypothetical case, it might be better.”

“Can’t we just say we’re cops? Don’t I look like a detective? A violent crimes detective.” Jo Bong-joon began to puff on his cigarette, striking a pose like a detective in a noir film.

Choi Jong-hyun frowned and retorted, “You do look like that, but if you go in the wrong direction, you look like a gangster, so no.”

“Ah, why. I think it would be fine to just say I’m a detective and ask them to show it to me. How long do we have to wait for Min-jae to come out? It’s a waste of time.”

“If something goes wrong later, you’ll be impersonating a public official. Do you know that, you punk? Then you take all the blame. I’ll pretend I don’t know anything.” Jo Bong-joon became sullen at Choi Jong-hyun’s firm words.

He seemed a little too excited about playing detective.

In the end, they also went upstairs to wash up, deciding to wait for Kang Min-jae to return before heading to the police station together.

The bustling garden became quiet, and I sat alone, taking out the burner phone I had received from Chief Kang.

Now that Secretary Oh said he would start moving in earnest, I thought it would be good to connect him with Tae-shik.

I had received and saved the phone numbers of the main people I needed to contact from Kang Min-jae, so I immediately called Tae-shik.

-Yes, this is Daebak Detective Agency, we’re better at catching evidence of cheating spouses than Conan [a famous detective character in a Japanese manga series].

“Tae-shik, it’s me.”

-Who am I? Who are you, talking informally to me for the first time, huh?

“Your cash cow.”

-My cash cow? Ah, could it be the lawyer?

I’m disappointed he doesn’t recognize my voice, but he understands when I say cash cow.

“Yeah.”

-Wow, it’s a vicious criminal! It’s a murderer! Kids, get ready to report to the police! A murderer called!

“Tae-shik. Do I sound like I’m in the mood to joke right now?”

-……No. I’m sorry.

I’ve benefited countless times from past memories, but the greatest benefit is in moments like this.

The ability to distinguish between people I can trust and those I can’t.

If I didn’t have the memories of the past, I wouldn’t have even considered calling Tae-shik.

Not only Tae-shik, but also Secretary Oh and Choi Jong-hyun.

-Aren’t you supposed to be running away with your tail between your legs right now? What brings you to call me?

“I have a favor to ask of you.”

-A favor? ……Since when have you asked me for a favor? Aren’t you mistaken? You were going to say you were going to order me to do something, but you accidentally said favor, right?

“Okay. Then I called to order you to do something.”

-Anyway, what are you going to kneel down and beg me to do with tears?

“You called me a murderer, so it seems like you know roughly about this case.”

-Yes, well. I know roughly.

“There’s something Secretary Oh is investigating right now. Help him with that.”

-……Secretary?

Tae-shik asked in a nervous voice.

I forgot that he was afraid of Secretary Oh.

But that doesn’t mean you don’t have to do what you have to do, does it?

“Attorney Kang is helping too.”

-Okay. Then should I call Secretary Oh?

“Yeah. The place where the incident happened, that’s Hwagun Reservoir. He’s looking for people who were there on the day of the incident, at that time.”

-Hmm. People who were at Hwagun Reservoir on that day, at that time… Aren’t there a lot of people fishing there?

“That’s right. Specify between 10 p.m. and 12 a.m.”

-Okay. I’ll have to send some kids there to find out. But wouldn’t there be yellow tape around the scene of the incident? I don’t think I can get in?

“Maybe, but not all places will be controlled.”

-Okay. Well, I’ll know when I go.

“Okay, then I’ll hang up.”

-Ah, Attorney.”

I took the phone away from my ear, but I heard Tae-shik’s urgent voice.

When I put the phone back to my ear, Tae-shik asked awkwardly.

-Are you safe?

“Yeah.”

-Are you eating well?

“Uh.”

-Sleeping too?

“Yeah. I sleep well.”

-You’re still rude?

You crazy bastard.

-Hehe. I’m just kidding. Then I’ll really hang up. Is it okay to contact you with this number?

“It’s better to call through Attorney Kang if possible. But, Tae-shik.”

-Yes?

“Let me ask you one thing.”

-What is it?

“Why did you think I didn’t kill Lee Jung-chan?”

I thought that Tae-shik from the previous life would have believed in me, and he is still the same in this life, so I still trust him now.

But this life is a little different from the previous life, and we met again a little differently, and we are working together a little differently.

So I suddenly became curious.

Why does Tae-shik believe in me now?

-I just thought it wasn’t you as soon as I saw the news? Is there a reason for that?

“That’s clear.”

-Are you touched? Don’t cry because of that. Hahaha, then I’ll hang up!

I laughed after hanging up with Tae-shik.

His words asking if there was a reason felt like a wise answer to a foolish question.

What kind of answer was I hoping for?

Was I hoping to hear a eulogy that Kang Min-jae would say, that would make my hair stand on end just by listening to it?

I couldn’t use my ability because I didn’t see him in person and talk to him, but I was relieved that Tae-shik’s answer came out so naturally.

If a eulogy had really come out, I might have suspected it at least once.

“Did you two come by taxi? Then shall we drop you off at the officetel [a building with residential units and office spaces] on the way to the police station?”

“Then we’d be happy to.”

As if they had already finished preparing, I heard the three people talking as they came out into the garden.

“Min-jae, call me when the investigation is over. And then meet at Attorney Cha’s officetel.”

“Yes.”

“But what if he comes out really late? What if the police hold him for a long time for no reason? He’s definitely going to passionately argue that Attorney Cha is innocent, so they might drag out the investigation out of spite. Shouldn’t we do this quickly?”

“Do you think he’ll be held for a long time?”

Choi Jong-hyun looked at Jo Bong-joon as if he was pathetic.

“Why? Can Min-jae beat up the detective with his words?”

“It’s not that.”

“If it’s not that?”

“……His grandfather is the former president.”