You Have Been Defended [EN]: Chapter 630

You Have Been Defended – Episode 630

Ko Il-guk kept asking questions, leaving me no chance to use my ability.

The value of this ability, which discerns the truth and falsehood in another’s words, is multifaceted.

When I worked as a lawyer handling general cases, I focused on using it to grasp the truth. But as I began to seriously target Wooshin, its use shifted.

I mainly used it to determine whether I could trust someone.

This was one of those moments.

Even so, I didn’t interrupt with questions and simply continued to answer his.

“If you don’t have a specific reason for not wanting to join the special investigation team, I think you’ll consider it favorably.”

“What reason would that be?”

“Now that I’m the special prosecutor, many say that senior colleagues with significantly more experience won’t want to join the team. The legal profession is a particularly hierarchical and authoritarian group.”

“I was a judge until retirement. Wouldn’t that make me an exception?”

“I didn’t think you were someone who valued authority.”

“In what way?”

“The reason is minor. When I first came to this law firm, Do Ji-hwan told us to wait while drinking tea.”

“Is that so?”

“There was a young employee present. Usually, in a typical law firm, especially one with senior figures like the representative lawyers here, the employee would make or serve coffee or tea. But that employee didn’t move. He didn’t even seem to notice the situation or feel anxious. That’s probably because it’s natural here.”

Ko Il-guk smiled faintly at my words.

“Do Ji-hwan, Ko Il-guk, and Chae Geun-soo are all senior lawyers. If this atmosphere prevails in the law firm created by such people, my guess was correct. And finally…”

“Haha, is there more?”

“When I was a prosecutor, I often observed trials directly instead of delegating them to the public prosecutor.”

“Chief Prosecutor Cha was flooded with complex and large-scale cases, so that’s why. I was also surprised that the investigating prosecutor often came to court.”

“Yes. So, you knew me very well.”

“Haha, that’s right.”

“In the meantime, I happened to run into you, and you said something like this to me.”

Ko Il-guk also seemed to remember what he had said.

A smile spread across his face.

“That I learned a lot. Usually, seniors would say ‘good job’ when they needed to offer praise, but I was very surprised to hear your words.”

Ko Il-guk shrugged as if embarrassed.

“I said I learned what I learned; what else would I say?”

“For these reasons, I didn’t think you would feel any aversion to a special investigation team led by a young junior. Especially if it’s a team that aligns with what you’re pursuing in this law firm you founded.”

Ko Il-guk nodded coolly at my words.

“You’re right. You have an annoying side. If I hear these words, it’ll be difficult for me to refuse. And the President’s words too.”

So many adults say I’m annoying, like Lee Se-hwa and Ko Il-guk.

“Did you know that the Bar Association initially wanted to recommend me as one of the special prosecutor candidates?”

This was the first I’d heard of it.

But I think that making such a judgment means that the current president of the Bar Association has insight.

Ko Il-guk is one of the right people.

If I hadn’t been trying to become a special prosecutor, I would have supported Ko Il-guk.

“But I refused.”

“I’d like to ask why.”

“I wasn’t confident that I could meet the public’s expectations. And I didn’t think I had the energy to lead this vast investigation. As you said, I thought I was upholding my beliefs as a lawyer and was satisfied just by working for those who are not protected by the law.”

[Truth]

The statement that he felt burdened by the position is also proof that he knows exactly what the special investigation team should do.

Even if he had a desire to increase his recognition through his special prosecutor experience and help his future career, or a desire to hold power, that desire is smaller than his beliefs.

The more I listened, the more convinced I became that there was no one more qualified than Ko Il-guk.

“But I thought about it. If I were to become a special prosecutor, who should I recommend as a special prosecutor assistant? If you were in that position, would you believe it?”

[Truth]

“I’m honored.”

It wasn’t just lip service; it was a sincere statement.

“But now the opposite situation has happened.”

“Is that so?”

“You’re taciturn and not very sociable. So, it wouldn’t have been easy for you to come to me after meeting me a few times in court and exchanging a few words after a few years. In fact, there’s an easy way. If you formed a special investigation team with young lawyers, everyone would have rushed to ask you to let them join.”

Ko Il-guk continued in a slow tone.

“Then, of course, you would receive wary glances, but you could just ignore them. How many people deliberately hire people full of legal and ethical controversies? Nevertheless, you came to me on the morning of the day you received your appointment letter and used words that revealed your emotions, unlike usual. I felt your earnest desire to do your job well there.”

[Truth]

“I’m ashamed that I thought living like this without indulging in other paths was the best I could do to uphold my beliefs. I learned from you again.”

[Truth]

“Are there any other candidates you have in mind for the special prosecutor assistant? This special prosecutor law stipulates that six people must be selected. Is Attorney Kang in here too?”

Ko Il-guk looked at Kang Min-jae and asked.

Then Kang Min-jae rubbed the tip of his nose and replied.

“To become a special prosecutor assistant, you must have at least seven years of legal experience, but I don’t have enough.”

“Oh, that’s a shame.”

“If I had passed the bar exam a little earlier, I would have dreamed of sneaking my name in among the senior lawyers. It’s a pity. In fact, it’s presumptuous and arrogant for me to expect such a thing. Still, I would have slipped in a word to the special prosecutor, ‘How about me too?'”

Ko Il-guk burst into laughter at Kang Min-jae’s joke.

There’s no one like Kang Min-jae to ease a tense atmosphere.

Ko Il-guk laughed for a long time and then calmed his breathing.

“I see. Still, it would be nice to have someone like Kang Min-jae in the special investigation team. The atmosphere will be stiff due to the nature of the team. It’s good to have a witty person at times like that.”

“We are considering Kang as a special investigator.”

“I see… By the way, if you put so much effort into me, what if the President doesn’t pick me? Your visit here today shouldn’t be in vain.”

He wittily accepted the offer.

* * *

2 PM, the Blue House [South Korean presidential residence] reception room.

As I was guided inside, the Blue House reporters all flashed their cameras at me.

“Special Prosecutor Cha Joo-han?”

Fortunately, officials immediately approached and briefly explained the schedule.

Then, I sat in the prepared seat until the President arrived, feeling the camera following me whenever I made a small movement.

I didn’t do anything unusual, but I decided not to move.

Soon after, Lee Se-hwa entered the reception room.

“There will be a presentation of the special prosecutor appointment letter.”

Lee Se-hwa was holding the appointment letter with a satisfied smile.

As I stood opposite her, I heard the sound of cameras clicking all around me again.

“Appointment Letter. Cha Joo-han. Appointed as the Special Prosecutor for the investigation into the truth of Wooshin’s human trafficking and illegal lobbying allegations in political circles. November 13, 2012. President Lee Se-hwa.”

Lee Se-hwa handed me the appointment letter, and I bowed after receiving it.

Then Lee Se-hwa also bowed.

“Hold on a little longer because we have to take pictures.”

Lee Se-hwa whispered to me while standing and looking straight ahead.

I took several pictures with the appointment letter tucked under my arm, like at a graduation ceremony.

I was able to escape from the cameras aimed at me when the appointment ceremony was over and I moved to the reception room.

This is because the content of the conversation exchanged in the reception room is only released in writing.

The main points were the significance of this special investigation team, the reason for appointing me as the special prosecutor, and words of encouragement.

There were also off-the-record conversations.

I shared that Ko Il-guk had agreed to become a special prosecutor assistant, and I shared the list of dispatched prosecutors and special investigators that I had in mind.

Lee Se-hwa showed a bright expression when she heard Ko Il-guk’s story, and she also positively evaluated the list of dispatched prosecutors and special investigators I mentioned.

“There are also movements to produce documentaries from the UN Human Rights Council investigation and overseas public broadcasters.”

“Is that so?”

“Personally, I think it’s a national disgrace, but I can’t hide it. We have to squeeze out the pus so that this doesn’t happen again. So, I’m grateful to you because you made all this happen. I can’t even imagine how hard you’ve been working. I don’t even know when you started preparing.”

Lee Se-hwa had a strange face that could be read as both admirable and pitiful.

“I wouldn’t have even dreamed of it without the help of the President and many others.”

“Humility.”

“I’m serious.”

It’s true that I felt burdened by her, but there would be no today if Lee Se-hwa didn’t care about me.

There would have been no reason to appoint me as a special prosecutor, risking the noise, while pushing aside prominent senior lawyers in the legal profession.

It would have been possible to become a special investigator, but what if a human like Jo Moon-young from my previous life became a special prosecutor?

I would have faced an ending no different from my previous life.

All the things I had done so far, risking my life, might have been in vain.

I met many hateful people while living this life, but I also felt that there are still many people in this world who want justice.

Perhaps it was arrogant of me to work so hard with the thought that I had to become a special prosecutor.

“Above all, it’s not over yet. Isn’t it just the beginning? Please congratulate me again after you put the accomplices, including Go Sang-joon, in jail.”

“Okay. Please take care of the finishing touches. Contact me anytime if you need help.”

It seemed like the meeting was about to end.

Lee Se-hwa put the teacup back on the saucer.

“I want to tell you to have a meal before you go. I guess there are some eyes watching? Our chefs are really good at cooking.”

“There are already many stories about code appointments [appointments based on personal connections]. There are concerns that political neutrality will not be maintained, so it’s best not to do anything that stands out.”

“That’s you. I saw Attorney Kang coming in with you earlier?”

“Ah, he’s waiting in the car.”

“Then you should go quickly. Cheer up until the remaining preparation date. Oh, right. Are you going straight home now?”

“I’m going to stop by home first and then move on to the next schedule.”

“That’s good. I sent Gongjin pills [traditional Korean medicine] to your house.”

Suddenly?

When I looked at her with a puzzled expression, Lee Se-hwa sighed.

“What if you get sick from working day and night? I sent 100 pills: 60 days for the investigation period and 30 days if extended.”

“There are still 10 left.”

“Eat those to nourish your body after working hard on the investigation until the trial. You’re not just bones, but you don’t look healthy, so I’m worried. You’re the type I want to take care of.”

“……”

“Don’t give them to your parents; eat them all by yourself. Oh, don’t share them with Attorney Kang. He has a lot of money. Tell him to get his own.”

“I have a lot of money too.”

“You don’t make Gongjin pills with that money. Eat them on an empty stomach in the morning, refrigerate only 14 days’ worth, and freeze the rest. If I go to your house later and there are a lot of Gongjin pills in the freezer, you’re fired.”

“The President is banned from entering my house.”

“I’ll tell Attorney Kang too, so make sure to take care of it. Got it?”

“……”

“You still don’t say you understand until the end.”

“I understand.”

Leaving Lee Se-hwa behind, I headed to the parking lot.

As soon as I got in the car, Tae-shik asked as if he had been waiting.

“How was it?”

“What’s it like? I just received the appointment letter, talked, and it was over.”

“You’re really no fun.”

“Is it the first or second time? But Tae-shik, we have to go home quickly. Let’s leave quickly.”

“Why? There are still 4 hours left until the next schedule.”

Then Kang Min-jae glared at me and said.

“We have to get the Gongjin pills that the President sent. You might have contacted your parents to take the Gongjin pills. We have to go first and protect them.”

Lee Se-hwa must have contacted Kang Min-jae in the meantime.

“Anyway, it’s faster to go from your parents’ house to our house than from the Blue House to your house.”

“Did you contact your parents to take the Gongjin pills?”

“No, not yet.”

Then Kang Min-jae snatched the phone from my hand.

“Let’s go secure the Gongjin pills!”