You Have Been Defended [EN]: Chapter 371

“You Guys Are Defended – Episode 371”

“W-What did the news just say? Didn’t they say something about Park Young-ki?”

Kang Min-jae, who was looking at his phone, suddenly raised his head and asked.

I frowned and checked the news screen as well.

A reporter was standing in front of the Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Office, beginning a briefing.

[The reporter says:] “Park, the eldest son of Park Young-ki, the Third Deputy Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Office, and a famous furniture designer, was arrested this morning on charges of possessing drugs. Police received a tip that Park was storing drugs in his studio in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, and dispatched officers, discovering a total of 50 kilograms of cocaine. This amounts to approximately 1.1 billion won [roughly $830,000 USD]. Park claims to know nothing about the drugs, but police say they will investigate to uncover the truth.”

“Crazy… No way.”

Kang Min-jae shook his head in disbelief.

I, too, found it hard to believe.

I don’t know much about Park Young-ki’s son, but I know at least some information from Park Young-ki himself.

I heard he is a famous furniture designer who designs and makes handmade furniture.

He graduated from college in the United States, and Park Young-ki boasted that he had shown talent in furniture design since college and was doing well for himself even at a young age.

I don’t know about his personality, but whatever the case, it was unbelievable.

More than anything, the timing…

“Is it a setup?”

It hasn’t been long since Go Yoon-ho and Go Yoon-seok were indicted.

This is just my speculation, but what if it went like this?

Park Young-ki assigned a tough prosecutor to indict Go Yoon-ho and Go Yoon-seok based on the principle of zero tolerance.

Wooshin and Taekwang probably couldn’t influence it no matter how hard they tried.

Of course, they would have exerted influence in the court, but they must have judged that the trial would be difficult as long as Park Young-ki was in the prosecution, as a tough prosecutor would continue to cause trouble through appeals.

If his eldest son is caught with drugs, an amount that could link him to distribution, Park Young-ki would naturally step down or be demoted even if he resisted.

What if someone was aiming for that and framed Park Young-ki’s eldest son?

“I need to call Chief Prosecutor.”

When I pressed the 15th-floor button to turn it off and then pressed the B1 [basement level 1] floor button again, Kang Min-jae pressed the B1 floor button again to turn it off and pressed the 15th-floor button.

“No. Get your checkup first.”

“It could be a setup. Wooshin and Taekwang could be working together,”

“I think so too.”

“Then?”

“But your health is more important, Attorney Cha. Getting a checkup is only between 20 and 30 minutes. Nothing will change just because it’s delayed that much.”

“It could be urgent.”

Kang Min-jae sighed and seemed to catch his breath for a moment, then looked straight at me and raised his voice.

“You need to think about your own health first! You can just leave it to me. While you’re getting your checkup, can’t I call the Chief Prosecutor and work with him? Why do you always neglect yourself?”

“…”

“And, are you just going to go to the Chief Prosecutor without going to the hospital even though you’re bleeding? Right now, you’re no different from a bleeding patient. That’s how bad your condition is! I hope it doesn’t happen, but if you have another seizure while driving alone, you could have another accident like today. I was lucky enough to prevent the accident today, but I might not be there next time. Why don’t you understand that? You can leave it to me for 30 minutes. Do you think you have to solve everything yourself!”

This is the first time I’ve seen Kang Min-jae get so angry.

I was momentarily speechless and stared at Kang Min-jae.

“You don’t know how precarious you look to the people around you. If the Office Manager knew you had a panic disorder, she would have told you to go to the hospital first.”

“I’m going to the hospital.”

“But it’s not getting any better. How long has it been since that happened at my house!”

“It’s only the second time I’ve had a seizure.”

Although I dream a lot.

“Anyway… Get your checkup first. I’ll call the Chief Prosecutor.”

“Okay. Okay, so stop getting angry.”

He’s small, but he’s scary when he’s angry.

“I’ll go in alone, so call the Chief Prosecutor and come in.”

I went into the hospital, checked in, and waited, but there were quite a few people.

Thanks to Kang Min-jae, but I wondered if I could cut in line like this.

Sitting on the sofa, I searched for news related to Park Young-ki’s son on my phone.

There wasn’t much information released yet, so it was similar to what the news had briefed.

The only additional information I found was that the scene of Park Young-ki’s eldest son taking cocaine out of his car was captured on the studio parking lot’s CCTV [closed-circuit television].

This made me even more suspicious.

He couldn’t have been unaware of the CCTV, yet he openly transported drugs in his car?

It doesn’t make sense.

“Cha Joo-han, please come into the examination room.”

At the nurse’s words, I got up from my seat.

I entered the examination room she pointed to, and a doctor who appeared to be in his 50s bowed to me.

“Hello.”

“Yes, Mr. Cha Joo-han. Please sit down.”

As I sat down, the doctor fixed his gaze on me and asked.

“What symptoms have brought you here today?”

I couldn’t be honest at the previous hospital.

Of course, I don’t plan to be honest here either.

I can’t say that I woke up from death and returned to 10 years ago, and that I have nightmares and seizures due to the trauma of dying back then.

They are likely to misunderstand me as a delusional patient.

“I almost died in the past. I was in a drum in the sea, and cement was being poured… Then the Coast Guard came and dramatically saved me.”

That was all I could say.

After that, I explained the symptoms I had experienced in a normal way.

From the first seizure to the one that happened today.

“Based on what you’ve told me so far… I think it’s likely that you have post-traumatic stress disorder, where you feel fear after a terrible experience and re-experience it as if a tape is being played again and again. We usually recommend counseling for patients with post-traumatic stress disorder. Especially in cases like yours, where you have had an experience that brought you to the brink of death.”

“Counseling…”

“You would come in once a week and talk to me to understand and treat the root of your fear. However, if this gap becomes too long, it won’t be very effective and tends to turn into casual conversation, so you must come in once a week.”

I don’t have time to come to the hospital once a week when there isn’t a big problem.

I don’t know when I’ll get busy, so I can’t say I can’t go because I have to go to the hospital every time.

“If you want to start now, you’ll have to wait about three months…”

“I don’t think I can do counseling.”

“I see. Then let’s start with regular outpatient visits and medication. You must take the medication I prescribe regularly, and you must not stop taking it without permission. Understood?”

“Yes.”

“Then shall we see you next week?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll prescribe you for 7 days. I’ll give you some extra medication in case you feel unbearably anxious.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

“Okay, then I’ll see you next week.”

I left the examination room and checked the time, and already 20 minutes had passed.

I paid the medical bill, received the medicine, and came outside, where Kang Min-jae was standing in front of the elevator.

The call seemed to be over, and he was looking out the window.

“Attorney Kang.”

“Oh, you’re out. Did you get your checkup?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s good. The doctor is very nice.”

“He is.”

“Actually, when I studied in the United States, I told you I was bullied at school. That’s when I developed a panic disorder, and he was the doctor who treated me when I came to Korea. I’m completely cured now.”

“I know.”

“Huh? I never said it was me?”

“It’s obvious. You know the cure rate, you know how to deal with a seizure, you have a dark past, and you said I have to wait three months, but you made a call and got me an appointment right away.”

“I can’t fool you, anyway…”

Kang Min-jae pressed the elevator button and said.

“I talked to the Chief Prosecutor, and he said he’s looking into the situation. We’ve decided to meet at his house for now.”

“When?”

“I said I’d leave right away.”

If the police are mistaken, Park Young-ki’s son will need a lawyer from the investigation stage.

Perhaps Park Young-ki’s son is going through hardship because of me, so I can’t just stand by.

I should get a retainer agreement as soon as possible and carefully examine the situation.

Kang Min-jae entered the address of Park Young-ki’s house, which he received via message, into the navigation system and sat in the driver’s seat.

Park Young-ki’s house wasn’t far away.

About 20 minutes by car.

I had always met him outside, so today was the first time I was going to his house.

“We’re here.”

Kang Min-jae parked the car and took a shopping bag from the back seat.

“What’s that?”

“I bought it while you were getting your checkup. There’s a confectionery nearby. I thought it would be a bit much to go empty-handed.”

He’s amazing at taking care of things like this.

I reached out my hand to him.

“The receipt.”

“Why?”

“To process the expense.”

“Oh, come on. Don’t process this as an expense.”

“It could be a new case for us.”

When we reached the 5th floor of his house, Kang Min-jae straightened his clothes.

I rang the doorbell, and soon Park Young-ki opened the door.

“Attorney Cha, Attorney Kang. You’re here?”

“Hello, Chief Prosecutor.”

“Hello.”

“Yes. Come in quickly.”

I hadn’t talked to him on the phone, so I didn’t know what state he was in, but he didn’t seem to be in a complete panic.

“Excuse me.”

Park Young-ki led us to the living room.

“My wife has been crying too much since dawn, so I sent her to her sister’s house nearby. I’m the only one home. Sit down, quickly.”

Park Young-ki sat on a single sofa, and Kang Min-jae and I sat on the sofa he pointed to.

“I bought this on the way because it looked delicious. Please have it with your wife later.”

“You didn’t have to buy anything like this. Thank you. Should I get some tea to share?”

“No, thank you. Please have it with your wife.”

Neither Park Young-ki nor Kang Min-jae seemed to have the courage to get straight to the point.

They kept talking about other things and beating around the bush, so I spoke first.

“I heard about your son’s news on the news this morning.”

“…Yes.”

“I’ll ask you the most important thing first. That way, I can judge whether I can repay the favor you’ve done for me.”

Park Young-ki, who had been skirting the issue, also hardened his expression and replied.

“Tell me.”

“Is your son really not involved with drugs at all?”