You Have Been Defended [EN]: Chapter 376

“Do you think Junbeom will do well?”

With worried eyes, Kang Minjae watched Junbeom’s car as it drove away.

Junbeom had been actively involved in the fake arson case, the one designed to expose Lee Jeongchan’s son, Lee Sehyung, for faking his disability. Among Taesik’s crew, he’s one of the more level-headed guys.

Well, it’s true that Taesik’s guys generally seem a bit rough around the edges, but they get the job done.

If he can’t handle something alone, he’ll call for backup, and he’s not one to miss details.

“But what if the police summon the Real Motors president and the taxi driver again? They ran off together, didn’t they?”

As Kang Minjae pointed out, the police might issue summons once, twice, or even three times.

However, if they both disappear immediately after the first summons, it could easily lead to misunderstandings with the police.

Moreover, if they ignore the second and third summons, the police might issue an arrest warrant, depending on how important they consider them to the case.

But from their perspective, running away would be better than being caught by me and spilling everything.

Running away together would make it easier for them to complete their mission than being caught and revealing everything.

“Do you think they’ll run right away? Or will they meet someone before skipping town?”

“Since time is short, they might meet someone, but… they can receive the money for running through a family member’s account, so I think they’ll leave immediately.”

“Will they go abroad?”

“Just in case, I told the guy with a passport to be ready, but I don’t think they’ll go abroad. Their luggage was a bit too small for an overseas trip.”

I said, recalling the luggage they loaded into the car.

“It would be troublesome if they went abroad, so I hope they stay in the country.”

“Well… Wooshin has a lot of money, so sending them abroad might seem like a better option from their perspective. Let’s leave it to Junbeom for now, and we’ll head over to the Deputy Director’s house.”

“Yes.”

Park Youngki would be extremely curious about how things are progressing.

As a Third Deputy Chief Prosecutor, he couldn’t even visit out of fear of gossip, but he must be anxious for updates.

Plus, I have a favor to ask.

“Come in quickly.”

Park Jinseong’s mother, who had been visiting her sister, was also there.

As soon as we took off our shoes, she grabbed our hands and asked.

“How is he? Is he eating well, sleeping well? Huh?”

“Honey, let them come in first before you start questioning them.”

“Oh, right, I was too distracted. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay, Madam. It’s understandable that you’re worried. He’s only been arrested and in detention for 48 hours, so he must not be feeling comfortable.”

“I’m sure… What should I do, my baby…”

“The Deputy Director might feel a bit awkward about it, but it might be good for you to visit him once, Madam. It would be more comforting for your son. Right, Attorney?”

“Yeah.”

“First, sit down, both of you. I’ve kept you standing for too long.”

As we sat on the living room sofa that Park Youngki directed us to, Park Jinseong’s mother soon brought out sliced fruit.

It was so beautifully arranged that I wondered if I deserved such hospitality, considering I hadn’t been able to do anything concrete for them yet.

“How did the investigation go? Can our Jinseong get out?”

“Let’s give them time to eat the fruit before asking. You’re too anxious, dear.”

“How can I not be anxious? My child is in detention right now…”

“Your son had several pieces of evidence that pointed to his innocence. We thought they were solid and submitted them, but they were all rejected during today’s investigation.”

“If I explain from the beginning…”

Kang Minjae summarized everything that had happened in an easy-to-understand way.

He explained what evidence Park Jinseong had and how that evidence was dismissed during today’s investigation.

Park Jinseong’s mother couldn’t close her mouth after hearing that, and Park Youngki sighed, holding his forehead.

“Jinseong is suffering because of me… It’s all my fault.”

I shook my head at Park Youngki’s words.

“It’s not the Deputy Director’s fault. The Deputy Director was doing his job, and Wooshin is the one who’s in the wrong, trying to get rid of you by targeting your son.”

I added, fearing that Park Youngki might lose all hope and consider giving in to Wooshin.

Dealing with Wooshin was a dangerous task anyway.

I couldn’t ask anyone to join this fight.

Most of the colleagues who have gathered now were the ones who approached me first.

They are already prepared and resolute.

But Park Youngki is someone Kang Gwanwoong assigned.

He knows that I’m trying to deal with Wooshin, but he might not have expected that a situation would arise where things that Park Youngki himself cherishes would be taken away.

So, if Park Youngki says he will give in to Wooshin, there’s nothing I can do.

But at least, now is not the time to give in.

“Thanks for the comfort.”

“It’s not comfort. It’s the truth.”

Park Youngki chuckled at my words.

I don’t know why he laughed, but I continued.

“When I was in the Criminal Affairs Department, I cooperated with the Narcotics Investigation Division. I heard that most of the drugs distributed domestically are smuggled in by corrupt customs officials and then distributed. In fact, the first place your son’s car was loaded with drugs was a warehouse near Incheon Port. If it’s 50 kilograms [approximately 110 pounds], it seems like they divided some of it there after it cleared customs… What do you think?”

“That makes sense.”

Since all the evidence has been rejected, we need to go back to the beginning and start the investigation again.

When, where, who, how, what, why – the six principles of investigation.

When I thought about it according to those principles, all we know is ‘when, where, how, what, why.’

Early in the morning two days ago, Park Jinseong’s car, which was entrusted to Real Motors, was secretly used to transport cocaine from Incheon Port to Park Jinseong’s studio to harm Park Youngki.

It’s fortunate that we know five out of six.

Of course, it’s difficult to say that we know the five completely, but we’ll be able to find out by looking for the missing piece, ‘who.’

That someone could be a mechanic, a taxi driver, a Wooshin employee, or someone else.

We need to find out ‘who’ from now on.

“Even if we don’t know who it is, if we start by finding the person who leaked the drugs from Incheon Port, the related people will come out one by one. So, do you know anyone in the Narcotics Investigation Division?”

Even though he has a bad relationship with the Fourth Deputy Director, Park Youngki might have a trustworthy prosecutor in the Narcotics Investigation Division, considering how frequently departments change in the prosecution.

If not, we’ll have to think of another way, but if there is, it will be a great help.

“I called him because you guys were coming. He’ll be here soon.”

He called someone already.

It was an unexpected answer.

“Is he trustworthy?”

If we get the wrong person, we might be accused of using a prosecutor for personal gain.

But Park Youngki didn’t seem worried about that.

“Of course.”

He’s not someone who can’t tell right from wrong, so he must be saying this because he’s trustworthy enough.

I nodded and checked the time.

“When will he arrive?”

“He’ll be here soon. I contacted him as soon as I heard you guys were coming and told him to come. Still, I’m Jinseong’s father, so I can’t just leave everything to Attorney Cha and Attorney Kang. I have to give all the help I can.”

“Oh, then shall I slice some more fruit?”

Park Jinseong’s mother, who had been quiet, got up and said, but Park Youngki grabbed her arm and shook his head.

“No one’s eating it, why bother.”

“Still… Then I’ll bring out the cookies Attorney Kang bought last time.”

“You stay here. You have a lot of questions. Ask Attorney Cha and Attorney Kang. I’ll bring them out.”

While Park Youngki disappeared into the kitchen, Park Jinseong’s mother asked us with nervous eyes.

“Is he okay?”

“Yes. He’s having a hard time because all the evidence has been rejected, but we think that’s something we need to work hard on.”

“I don’t know if he’s eating well or not…”

“I don’t know about that, but if we find the evidence, Park Jinseong will have hope. That’s why we came here today. Don’t worry too much, Madam.”

“Oh…”

Park Jinseong’s mother was on the verge of tears.

Fortunately, Park Youngki came back with Western-style cookies and stopped her.

“By the way, who do you know in the Narcotics Investigation Division? I’m also curious about how you know each other.”

Park Youngki smiled slightly at my words.

“You know Prosecutor Jung, right? Attorney Cha worked with him on the Myunghwa Pharmaceutical case.”

Park Youngki asked, looking at me.

Of course, I know the Prosecutor Jung he’s talking about.

He had a unique background as a doctor, and he was the prosecutor in charge when Jo Bongjoon was sued by Myunghwa Pharmaceutical for defamation.

“That friend used to be under me, but he moved departments because he didn’t want to be known as being in my ‘line’ [a term referring to a network of colleagues who support each other’s careers]. To the Narcotics Investigation Division. Even if I tell him to come back, he seems to fit well in the Narcotics Investigation Division because he’s a doctor.”

So that’s why he was in the Narcotics Investigation Division.

I know roughly how he feels because I’ve heard the phrase ‘Hwang Youngchan’s line’ for so long that it’s sickening.

It’s true, and it’s not a flaw, but it makes me feel like I’m working for Hwang Youngchan instead of working to protect justice.

“So, is Prosecutor Jung coming?”

When Kang Minjae asked, Park Youngki shook his head.

“No, it’s someone Prosecutor Jung introduced as trustworthy. If Prosecutor Jung vouches for him, he’s a trustworthy person.”

“I see.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the doorbell rang.

Park Youngki got up from the sofa and went to the front door.

Kang Minjae craned his neck and looked towards the front door, as if curious about who would appear.

And what appeared was…

“Detective Heo Minwoo?”