Chapter 42 : Verdict (2)

I secretly rejoiced.

“Lawyer, you haven’t finalized where you’ll be taking on that case yet, have you?”

“Yes. My uncle is also very worried. It would be a big problem if he entrusted it to just anyone and we lost.”

“Then, could you give not only Lawyer Yoon but also us a chance? I am very much an expert in this area.”

“Hmph, I’ll tell you on the way back after hearing the verdict.”

I pointed to CEO An-eum, who appeared in the distance, and said,

“Lawyer Ahn, Lawyer Yoon!”

“CEO.”

An-eum’s CEO rushed over in one breath. Then he spotted me and stopped.

“Ah, is this person perhaps…?”

“Yes, I’ve told you many times. This is Ms. Kim Yoo-hee, the person who worked tirelessly for the CEO’s case and is my secretary.”

“Ah, ah! This is the one!”

The CEO gazed at me with grateful eyes.

In the first trial, he was tried in a razor-sharp atmosphere, amidst misunderstandings from the court and the prosecution.

However, this time, he was treated with respect, even granted bail, and although temporarily released until the verdict, he now had hope that things might turn out differently.

The person who opened up that possibility was standing right in front of him.

“Thank you. Thanks to you, I was able to recover.”

“Not at all. You were released because you always did well, CEO. All those petitions and statements of fact prove it.”

“But, it’s thanks to you, Secretary, that it was physically proven. I heard you have a deep knowledge of the food industry since college!”

Uh, um. Is ‘food industry’ the same field I’m thinking of…?

It seems what I said to persuade Lawyer Ahn Gyeong-hun to take on the case has been seriously distorted.

Cold sweat ran down my back.

“I’m not that much of an expert.”

“Come on! I’ve been in this field for so long, and I couldn’t find what you miraculously discovered. You’re being too modest.”

“Hahahaha….”

I couldn’t say no to the CEO’s words anymore, so I just laughed.

If I were to say that I got the inspiration from future cases on my laptop, and then found it after digging through all sorts of future data… they’d think I was crazy.

Recalling the conversation I had with Lawyer Ahn on the first day I encountered this case, I tried to figure out where such a serious misunderstanding originated.

‘Ms. Yoo-hee? We’ve handled quite a few criminal cases, but we’re not experts in that field, so you wouldn’t know much!’

‘You know I majored in law, right? At that time, I was active in an academic society that published legal journals, and I had some experience in that field.’

I did deal with food-related cases at that time.

Although, pressed for time by part-time work, it became a legendary manuscript closer to a mukbang review.

‘Ugh.’

I didn’t lie.

But now that ‘mukbang’ has become ‘deep knowledge in the food industry,’ sweat is pouring like water.

“Huh? Yoo-hee, are you very hot? Why are you suddenly sweating so much?”

“J-just a little hot.”

“Today is still fine, as the heat has subsided quite a bit. It seems you’re prone to getting hot, Secretary.”

“Hahaha, yes. That’s right.”

Today, for today only, I’m prone to getting hot.

…Anyway, that’s how it is.

I hurriedly wiped the sweat from my forehead and quickened my steps.

“Not much time left. Let’s go hear the verdict now.”

“Yes.”

The CEO nodded and changed direction.

Then the lawyers also strode forward.

At that moment, a rather flushed voice was heard.

“Um, Lawyer Ahn. I’m a bit more nervous than I thought.”

“It’s an important verdict, so it would be stranger if you weren’t nervous.”

“That’s right. I feel so sorry for Manager Seo, Director Ji, and Section Chief Um because only I was released.”

“It was an unavoidable choice due to your poor health. If something went wrong with you now, that would be an even bigger problem.”

“Is that so? When I was on trial in the first instance, I was scolded so much by the judge for playing with food. I’m so grateful that I was treated like a person this time.”

He must have been psychologically intimidated from constantly hearing negative remarks in the courtroom.

On top of that, the desperate first-trial result.

An-eum’s CEO continued to speak quietly, like someone making a confession.

“So, I deeply regret making a poor choice. It wasn’t something that would be solved by just me disappearing. I just ignored the fact that those left behind would bear a greater burden. I’m truly ashamed. I wasn’t the only one being unfairly treated, so why did I act so self-important…? Our executives who were involved in making the oil received even worse treatment, never less.”

“CEO.”

“Yes, I know. I know that saying such things before even knowing the verdict might be premature. But, Lawyer and Secretary, I am truly desperate.”

As we talked, we finally stood at the entrance to the courtroom.

But no one said to go in.

The CEO paused for a moment and stared at the paper filled with the case numbers to be heard today, then began to speak.

“I apologize for showing such a side of myself. But could you give me a moment to pray?”

“There’s still time, so you can take as long as you need.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

The CEO stepped back from the courtroom entrance and looked out the window.

He clasped his hands together and moved only his lips, praying fervently for something.

Then he approached us again.

“May I ask what you prayed for?”

To Lawyer Yoon Yi-hoon’s question, the CEO replied in a slightly choked voice.

“Our family members, especially the executives in the detention center, worked hard on the factory floor despite their considerable age because the company is small. They wanted to do more than their share. But if the company completely collapses like this, how can I face them? So I begged, please save them.”

“I see….”

The CEO also mentioned that Manager Seo still had a home loan to pay off, and Director Ji had two high school-aged sons to send to college.

The rest of the employees, though differing in specific circumstances, all needed this factory.

We entered the courtroom with solemn hearts.

Those who had arrived early greeted us.

“CEO!”

“Oh, how did you all get here…?”

“It’s the verdict day for our company, of course we have to come.”

“These are people in the prime of their working lives; it’s a shame the company ended up like this, leaving them idle.”

“No, sir. We all know that you and those gentlemen are innocent. So, keep your spirits up!”

“Stay strong, CEO!”

“Thank you, everyone.”

From employees in their 20s to those in their 40s.

They supported the CEO and the executives, who entered wearing prison uniforms, with unwavering hearts.

“It seems the CEO treated his employees very well.”

“Did I do anything well? We’ve only come this far because our family members worked so hard.”

Even through this brief conversation, I could tell what kind of person the CEO was.

Above all, if the company were to close down due to today’s verdict, he might no longer be their CEO.

But they had rushed here with one heart, hoping the company would continue and that their CEO and superiors would return.

Isn’t this the greatest proof that the CEO was wronged?

I clasped my hands together, watching the CEO and Lawyer Ahn walk to the defendant’s seat.

‘Please, let the CEO’s prayer be answered.’

I had done my best.

Now, all that was left was to pray.

I hoped there wouldn’t be a tragedy where these people lost their jobs.

At that moment, the presiding judge’s verdict was delivered.

“The defendant Oh An-eum is sentenced to one year and six months in prison, and the defendant An-eum Co., Ltd. is sentenced to a fine of fifteen million won.”

“……!”

The fine was reduced.

Considering that the total fine imposed on the CEO, executives, and the company in the first trial was 13 billion won, this was a groundbreaking result.

13 billion had been drastically reduced to 30 million won combined for the CEO and the company.

With this, the company had overcome one of its biggest hurdles.

Although the fine was greatly reduced, the fact that the CEO received a prison sentence meant…

Just as my thoughts continued, the next verdict was announced.

“However, the execution of the sentence for the defendant Oh An-eum is suspended for three years from the date this judgment becomes final.”

Suspended sentence!

This meant he would not be incarcerated if he committed no further crimes.

He had literally received a suspension of his sentence.

“Wow!”

Cheers erupted from the spectators’ gallery in the courtroom at the judge’s verdict.

In the meantime, the remaining verdicts continued.

“All the fines for the other executives have been dropped. Plus, all executives received probation of sentence. This is the best outcome we could have hoped for, isn’t it?”

“It seems there are more verdicts to come.”

I quickly said, fearing the last verdict would be drowned out by Lawyer Yoon’s voice.

Then, the judge’s powerful voice was heard.

“Among the charges against the defendants, the points regarding violation of the Food Sanitation Act due to manufacturing, portioning, and selling harmful food products, and manufacturing illegal food products, are all declared not guilty.”

“Ugh, ugh, ugh.”

“CEO, what we made was declared innocent!”

“Not guilty!!”

Their manufacturing and sales activities were declared not guilty.

At this point, it was practically a victory.

The CEO and executives sitting in the defendant’s box embraced each other, shedding tears.

“Thank goodness. Truly a relief.”

I jumped up from my seat, clenching my hands.

At that moment, a joyful voice came from beside me.

“Yoo-hee, we won! We completely won!”

“Not completely.”

“You found a point that wasn’t discovered in the first trial and turned the case completely around. This is a complete victory. It’s a great triumph.”

“Is that so…?”

Even the usually reserved Lawyer Ahn clenched his fists, unable to hide his joy.

Yes, Lawyer Yoon was right.

It was a great triumph.

Because both the CEO and the employees had returned alive from hell today.

I watched the swirling vortex before my eyes, my head spinning.

More precisely, I was staring into my soju and beer mix glass.

“Wow, the employees here are excellent at making soju-beer mixes, aren’t they? You could make alcohol instead of food!”

“Haha. We hear that often. On that note, drink up!”

Lawyer Yoon Yi-hoon next to me drank his first.

Hmm, as expected of a mukbang genius, he drinks well.

Perhaps Lawyer Yoon would have done better doing something else besides being a lawyer.

“Oh, Secretary, you can’t drink?”

“No, I can drink a little.”

I’m intentionally not drinking, but it’s not that I can’t.

According to the results of a test during my university freshman welcome party, I can drink up to one bottle of soju without any problem.

I downed the glass in front of me in one go.

The freshly made soju-beer mix was quite refreshing.

“Thank you, Lawyer and Secretary, for attending our company dinner.”

Manager Seo, who had changed from his prison uniform to casual clothes, said with a bright smile.

He was released with a suspended sentence verdict. After finishing company business, we attended An-eum’s company dinner.

The employees, having attended the verdict, held a celebratory dinner, and we couldn’t ignore their earnest request to come, no matter the time.

“I’m the one who should be grateful for being invited to such a meaningful event.”

“Oh yeah! Me too!”

Hmm, right.

Lawyer Yoon wouldn’t miss a place with meat and alcohol.