Unlike the harsh public opinion, the atmosphere in the prosecutor’s office wasn’t particularly bad.
This was because they were handling a case that had captured the attention of the entire nation.
It was a case they absolutely couldn’t lose, even in court, and it involved a big name like Cha Kang-hyuk.
There was no way they wouldn’t be pleased, as it would surely be reflected in their performance reviews.
The prosecutor continued the investigation in a largely non-hostile atmosphere.
All the truth was already clear.
‘A righteous prosecutor who investigates like a bulldozer, unyielding even before the powerful.’
What a magnificent epithet this was.
And indeed, he planned to give interviews to reporters once this investigation was over.
“I am innocent. My fist just reflexively went out to protect myself.”
“I admit you’ve plausibly constructed the circumstances of the incident. However, all the evidence and witnesses are clear, and the victim is still unconscious. Continuously denying it won’t change the situation.”
“No, Prosecutor. Everything Chief Cha Kang-hyuk has said so far is a statement based on facts.”
“Attorney Ahn… No, Attorney Ahn, why are you acting like this again?”
Frustrated, he almost slipped into his usual way of speaking but quickly corrected himself.
In fact, he was a fellow 24th-class judicial trainee, just like Attorney Ahn.
Because of this, he knew Ahn Gyeong-hun better than anyone.
He was an eccentric who, despite graduating at the top of his class and rejecting offers to become a judge or prosecutor, went to a large law firm only to take on unprofitable cases.
When he once asked why he went to a large law firm if that was the case, he said it was because he thought he’d meet more wronged people if he was part of a big organization.
In short, he was just plain crazy.
‘But how surprised was I when he suddenly appeared as Cha Kang-hyuk’s lawyer?’
Who was Cha Kang-hyuk? Wasn’t he someone who, to anyone, seemed a million miles away from being wronged?
‘It looks like he finally succumbed to money.’
It seemed even the great Ahn Gyeong-hun couldn’t help but yield to hunger.
The rumor that he was on his last legs at Lee & Yeon was an open secret among their colleagues.
No, in fact, it was a miracle he’d held out this long.
He heard it was because of his gangster-like win rate.
But how long could they tolerate unprofitable cases just for that?
A law firm wasn’t a charity organization.
And certainly not the prosecution.
It meant they couldn’t cut him any slack just because his situation was difficult.
He looked at Ahn Gyeong-hun with eyes full of pity.
“A lawyer, who knows better than anyone that false testimony can be detrimental… How can you encourage it instead of stopping it?”
“My answer will be conveyed through the lawyer’s written opinion.”
“I know you write good opinion statements, Attorney Ahn. But this isn’t something that can be resolved with that.”
“Here, as Exhibit No. 5 of the lawyer’s opinion statement, please first watch the incident video CD.”
“We’ve already secured the incident video, haven’t we?”
“The video secured by the prosecution is only the last part, not the whole. But this is a CD containing the entire video of the incident from that day.”
What the prosecution had obtained was an edited video from KBN.
It was in a secluded area behind the building, so perhaps they were grateful just to have that much.
But the entire video? He doubted his ears.
“The whole thing? There’s something like that?”
“You’ll see. Whether our claim is a ridiculous lie or a truth without an inch of error.”
“…When Attorney Ahn says that, it’s a bit scary.”
“What’s scary about verifying the truth?”
All that remained was to receive dazzling spotlight and the attention of the entire nation.
How much explosive support would he receive if he demonstrated himself defeating the powerful with the law in court?
But the truth? What about his honor and promotion? It was as plain as day that raising his public profile would be advantageous for future prosecutorial personnel decisions.
“We’ll conclude today’s investigation here, and if we need to schedule another session, we’ll notify you later.”
“Alright.”
At Prosecutor Woon Il-seung’s words, Cha Kang-hyuk lightly bowed and left the interrogation room.
However, for some reason, Attorney Ahn Gyeong-hun showed no intention of moving from his seat.
Prosecutor Woon turned off the interrogation recording tape and plopped down opposite Ahn Gyeong-hun.
“It’s good, I actually wanted to talk.”
“I figured as much, which is why I was waiting.”
“As expected of Ahn Gyeong-hun. I guess I should say you’re incredibly perceptive.”
“You don’t want to say that. Get to the point.”
“Hey, seriously, what’s with you? And where did you get this CD?”
“Let’s just say I have a capable secretary and associates.”
“Hahahaha. So does that mean the Korean prosecution is the opposite?”
“That’s a big leap. It just means my people are capable.”
He hadn’t seen the CD yet, but it must be favorable evidence.
It was strange that Ahn Gyeong-hun took this case in the first place.
This guy wouldn’t do anything wrong even if a knife was held to his throat.
There must have been something from the beginning.
“You stubborn bastard. You had a crucial trump card all along and you’ve been messing with me?”
“No way. I only secured this recently too.”
“Do you expect me to believe that?”
“Isn’t it that you don’t want to believe it?”
“Alright. Since it’s come to this, I’ll speak frankly. I was trying to raise my public profile with this. But thanks to you, it looks like that’s going down the drain, doesn’t it? Would you want to believe it?”
“I think that public profile can be sufficiently raised.”
“Are you playing word games with me now? How can that be possible with Cha Kang-hyuk being the losing party?”
“Do I look like someone who does that?”
“…No, you don’t.”
There was something.
Prosecutor Woon Il-seung intuitively realized.
He reflexively leaned towards Ahn Gyeong-hun and spoke.
“What on earth is it?”
“Examine this.”
“This is hair.”
He said, holding up a palm-sized transparent bag.
“Suddenly a marijuana test? Ah, to raise his value with this? Seriously. Hey, is this like a celebrity’s hair or something? But this much won’t beat Cha Kang-hyuk. You know that, right? That Cha Kang-hyuk is the hottest person in Korea right now.”
“Woo Jin-gon.”
“Woo, Jin-gon? Who’s that… Oh!”
He had momentarily forgotten, focused on Cha Kang-hyuk.
One of the other suspects and witnesses in this case.
Though smaller in scale compared to Cha Kang-hyuk, the fact that he was a third-generation chaebol remained unchanged.
“Hey, but even if you say he did drugs somewhere, it won’t beat Cha Kang-hyuk. Cha Kang-hyuk’s victim is currently in the intensive care unit.”
“If you watch the evidence video I submitted, your opinion will change. Above all, there’s a high probability it happened on the day the incident occurred.”
“What?!”
Prosecutor Woon leaned so far towards Ahn Gyeong-hun that it seemed he might fall over the desk.
Attorney Ahn chuckled at the sight and said,
“What if the real culprit in this case isn’t Cha Kang-hyuk, but Woo Jin-gon, and it’s because of marijuana?”
“…That would be huge.”
Prosecutor Woon Il-seung’s body tensed up.
If this exploded properly, it would be bigger than the Cha Kang-hyuk case.
“Don’t hesitate, tell me quickly. I’m dying of curiosity.”
“Then raid a club.”
“A club? Ah, the place where this incident happened?”
Attorney Ahn Gyeong-hun just smirked instead of answering.
“There’s a CCTV room in the basement there. I’ll draw the location and give it to you separately.”
“Oh, then I’d be thankful. And?”
“And, there’s the treasure trove you’re looking for there.”
Ahn Gyeong-hun relayed everything he had heard from his secretary about the CCTV room to Prosecutor Woon Il-seung.
Especially that the turned-off CCTVs were the most suspicious.
“If the hair test comes back positive, go in immediately.”
“Isn’t that obvious? Anyway, truly, thank you, Attorney Ahn. I’ll buy you a drink later.”
“Not that. If the test results and the CCTV room raid yield something, can you at least give me a heads-up?”
“You’ve spoon-fed me this much, of course. I’ll definitely give proper courtesy to the public informant.”
“Give that courtesy to my secretary, not me. She’s the true informant in this case.”
“Huh?”
“This is all her work.”
“What?!”
Had Ahn Gyeong-hun finally lost his mind?
Prosecutor Woon unconsciously waved his fingers in front of Ahn Gyeong-hun’s eyes.
“How many is this?”
“You crazy bastard. Drink this and snap out of it.”
No, who was crazy?
He muttered, looking at the water bottle sitting alone in front of him.
“Why does it feel like we’ve overcome a big mountain, but the work is still the same?”
“Because there are more mountains to climb?”
“Damn it…”
Attorney Yoon Yi-hoon, who was creating documents to send to the broadcasting station with me, pushed his mouth forward by 3cm.
Even though the workload had decreased, they had only solved half of it because they had been tied up with the Cha Kang-hyuk case.
“Still, if this broadcast goes well, it’ll be quite a sight, won’t it?”
“Hehehe. Yes, it will. Ah, how did you think of attracting attention in this way? Yoo-hee, you’re truly amazing.”
“Hmm, because what we need is attention?”
“Ah, Yoo-hee, were you an attention-seeker?”
“You’re very good at making jokes that make me want to punch you, aren’t you?”
“What happens if you ask what’s more annoying, being single or this?”
“Well, nothing much. Just be careful walking at night.”
“Wow, you make really funny jokes.”
“…I’m more serious than ever, though.”
“Oh, it’s right here. I want to emphasize this part a bit more.”
Attorney Yoon Yi-hoon hurriedly changed the subject.
Because the pain in his side, which he got hit in the club parking lot, lasted for about 3 days.
That was just from acting; if she was serious, she might be a nuclear puncher even beyond Cha Kang-hyuk.
“Where do you want to emphasize?”
“Oh, Attorney Ahn, you’re here? I was dying to know how things went at the prosecutor’s office today.”
“So I came before Attorney Yoon went crazy.”
“Wow, to take that seriously. Attorney Ahn, I acknowledge that too.”
“What exactly are you acknowledging?”
“It’s better if you don’t know.”
Because I’m enough to threaten Attorney Yoon’s life.
I whispered softly, just loud enough for Attorney Yoon Yi-hoon beside me to hear, and smiled sweetly.
“Please save me…”
“Huh? Suddenly?”
“It’s not sudden, Attorney Ahn. I’ve been consistently receiving threats of violence.”
“Who would openly dare to assault a Lee & Yeon lawyer?”
This was an unexpected crisis. I quickly changed the subject.
“Oh, right. You know the trial date for the Aneum case is this Friday, right?”
The trial for the food sanitation law violation case is this week.
It was as urgent and critical as the Cha Kang-hyuk case, and I hadn’t let go of it even while working in the field.
“Wow, look at Yoo-hee changing the subject.”
“Changing the subject? All cases are important to us.”
“Attorney Ahn, that’s exactly what I wanted to say!”
“Hmm. I understand why Chief Cha Kang-hyuk says ‘if only he could speak’.”
“Me too.”