“That power I have… it’s not just for punishing scum like those guys, but also to protect people who can’t defend themselves, like you. Why do you think the Taeseong Guild Master is friendly with me? People with real power… they believe it’s important to stand against injustice and take the side of the weak.”
Sang-woong looked straight into the deepest fears in Kim Junsu’s heart.
“You’re scared that if you hand over the evidence… those guys will torment you even worse, right? Earlier… I saw your arm. The cigarette burns… I noticed. I could tell how hard it’s been for you… how terrified you must’ve been…”
When the words ‘cigarette burns’ came from Sang-woong’s lips, Kim Junsu’s body flinched ever so slightly.
The despair and fear shading his face grew even darker.
Almost unconsciously, he gripped the scarred part of his forearm with his other hand.
“That kind of thing… it’ll never happen again. I promise you that.”
Sang-woong looked Kim Junsu directly in the eyes.
The resolve in his gaze was unwavering, like a vow.
“The moment they lay a hand on you… their lives are over. No parent, no bully, no city council member… no one who dares to touch you will be saved from the price by my hand.”
Sang-woong’s voice was quiet, but the words landed on Kim Junsu’s chest with the weight of a universe.
This was not an idle threat.
It was a promise, filled with absolute certainty, the kind only someone who truly could protect could make.
Kim Junsu’s eyes trembled violently.
A storm of deep fear, long-standing distrust, and—most of all—a weight of trust from a true adult he had never felt before, mixed with a last thread of hope, swirled inside him.
The scar on his forearm seemed to scream ‘no’, but the unwavering light in Sang-woong’s eyes seemed to say, ‘It’s all right, I’m here now. You’re not alone anymore.’
Kim Junsu… took a deep breath.
His small shoulders trembled slightly.
It was as if he sensed the enormous change his decision would bring, the storm that might return.
But… he had no strength left to endure this hell on his own.
If it was this man before his eyes… for the first time, belief that someone really might save him outweighed the fear, if only a little.
With trembling hands… he pulled his phone from his pocket.
On the screen… was the list of files he’d secretly recorded and filmed until now.
Beatings, threats, extortion… The files were small, but they were both a record of the pain he’d endured alone and his only weapon to fight back against the world’s injustice.
Kim Junsu held out his phone to Sang-woong.
A single tear finally fell from the edge of his eye.
Whether it was relief, sadness, or the expectation that he might finally get real help… even he didn’t know.
“It’s… here…”
His voice quivered faintly.
It was a small signal, sent to the world, breaking a long silence and despair.
Without a word, Sang-woong took the phone.
There was no smile left on his face.
Only anger and determination remained.
He patted Kim Junsu’s shoulder and spoke quietly.
“You did well, Junsu. You did really well.”
Sang-woong transferred the evidence files to his own phone and returned the device.
He also carefully packed up some meat to deliver to Junsu’s Grandmother.
He included not just meat, but several side dishes as well.
“There’s so much??”
Kim Junsu’s eyes widened in surprise as he took the heavy shopping bag.
At this weight, it looked like enough to last for several days.
“This is a reward for the courage you showed today.”
Smiling, Sang-woong gently patted Kim Junsu’s head.
After seeing Kim Junsu off, Sang-woong returned to the Gentle Breeze Restaurant.
Unlike the face that had been smiling just before, his expression was now set and stern.
He immediately pulled out his phone and dialed a familiar number.
“Oh my, Sang-woong!”
It hadn’t even rung a few times when Kyung Yoon-seul answered brightly, as if she’d been waiting for his call.
“Rokshi isn’t busy right now, is she?”
At Sang-woong’s cautious question, Kyung Yoon-seul replied with a broad laugh.
“Of course not! I’m not busy at all! And even if I were, your call comes first! After all… you’ve been such a great help to us!”
Kyung Yoon-seul’s words were more than just polite courtesy.
In truth, after Sang-woong helped deal with Lee Dojin’s group and gave them Healing Potions as thanks, the Taeseong Guild had profited greatly.
During a dangerous high-level Dungeon closure operation, the elite members of the Taeseong Guild were deployed en masse, but thanks to the Healing Potions, not a single serious injury or death occurred, and the Dungeon was closed successfully.
Minimizing the Guild’s losses and greatly boosting its reputation—these were all thanks to Sang-woong.
“Haha, you don’t have to go that far…”
Sang-woong scratched his cheek, embarrassed by Kyung Yoon-seul’s enthusiastic hospitality.
He always felt a little awkward when people reacted like this.
“It’s just… there’s something I’d like to ask you, Yoon-seul.”
His tone grew serious.
“Yes, go ahead! If it’s a favor from you, I’ll do anything!”
“I need… a lawyer. If possible… someone highly skilled and famous.”
“A lawyer?”
There was a note of curiosity in Kyung Yoon-seul’s voice.
Sang-woong wanted nothing more than to rush to the homes of the kids who tormented Kim Junsu, grab their parents by the collar, and demand accountability.
But if he simply used force, he’d be no different from the bullies who tormented Kim Junsu.
And if things were resolved that way, neither those kids nor their parents would ever truly reflect on what they’d done.
So, the method Sang-woong chose was ‘Law’.
The strongest and fairest weapon.
He briefly explained that a close child of his was being severely bullied at school, and that the perpetrators’ families were so powerful that even the school and teachers wouldn’t step in.
He said he wanted to hold those children, their parents, and the irresponsible teachers properly accountable through the power of Law.
After hearing Sang-woong’s story, Kyung Yoon-seul’s voice instantly rose with outrage.
“How could such a thing happen! Sang-woong! You absolutely can’t let that go! I’ll tell my eldest brother right away! I’ll have the best lawyer from Taeseong Group’s Legal Team sent to you tomorrow!”
She leapt into action as if it were her own problem.
“Thank you, Yoon-seul.”
Sang-woong was once again impressed by her straightforward and decisive handling.
***
The next morning, not long after the Gentle Breeze Restaurant opened its doors, a neat man in a crisp suit entered.
Spotting Sang-woong, he approached without hesitation, bowed formally, and handed over his business card.
“Good morning, Mr. Park Sang-woong. I’m Na Hyunseok, Legal Team Leader and attorney for the Taeseong Group.”
“Pleased to meet you, Attorney Na.”
Sang-woong accepted the business card and shook his hand.
Printed on the card were the titles ‘Taeseong Group Legal Team Leader’ and ‘Attorney Na Hyunseok’ in bold letters.
Being the Legal Team Leader for the Taeseong Group, he was undoubtedly one of the country’s top lawyers.
“You’re early. You haven’t eaten yet, have you?”
Arriving here so early in the day meant he must have set out at dawn.
“No, I’m fine. Just a cup of coffee is enough…”
Na Hyunseok tried to decline.
“Our restaurant’s food is delicious. Besides… you’ll need to be well-fed before we go into battle. Is there anything you can’t eat?”
Sang-woong cut him off and insisted.
At the words ‘You’ll need to be well-fed before we go into battle’, Na Hyunseok felt a strange sense of determination rising along with his appetite.
“No, I can eat anything.”
“Please wait a moment.”
Sang-woong went straight to the kitchen and quickly prepared a meal.
He set the table with freshly steamed rice, doenjang jjigae, spicy pork stir-fry, and a perfectly grilled fish.
“Wow… this is a feast!”
Na Hyunseok’s eyes went round with amazement.
“Please try it. It’ll give you strength.”
At Sang-woong’s urging, Na Hyunseok picked up his chopsticks.
He started with a big spoonful of steaming hot rice.
The moment he took a bite… his eyes widened.
Watching this, the regulars couldn’t help but smile.
Almost without exception, new customers made that same face after their first meal here.
It reminded Sang-woong of his own first visit, and he always smiled seeing others experience it.
“Sir, this is truly delicious. Just the rice alone makes me glad I came.”
Na Hyunseok praised the food with genuine appreciation.
“No need to be so formal. Since the Taeseong Group’s Legal Team Leader came all this way, I should at least treat you to a decent meal. Please try the grilled fish as well. It’s just been cooked and is wonderfully savory.”
At Sang-woong’s kind invitation, Na Hyunseok carefully flaked off a piece of golden, grilled fish and placed it atop his rice.
The combination of lightly salty, tender fish and warm rice was exquisite.
He found himself exclaiming with admiration, nodding again and again.
Not only the stew and pork stir-fry, but every side dish on the table was delicious.
“Wow… sir, your skill is impressive. As a lawyer, I’ve prided myself on visiting famous restaurants all over, but your cooking is… something special. Especially this rice and grilled fish… it’s the best.”
The fish Na Hyunseok was savoring was a special one, caught from the Lotus Pond.
Not only was it delicious, but it was famed for restoring fatigue and boosting the immune system.
Even just eating this regularly meant you wouldn’t need to worry about minor illnesses for a year.
It was a small token of gratitude from Sang-woong to Attorney Na Hyunseok, who had come from afar so early in the morning.
“Actually, the Group President… made it clear that you, Mr. Park Sang-woong, are a very important partner and told me to pay special attention. But… I feel like I’m the one being treated here.”
Despite the large portions, Na Hyunseok polished off all the rice and side dishes without leaving a bite.
Usually, eating this much so quickly would make one feel stuffed or uncomfortable, but oddly enough, there was none of that.
Instead, the fatigue from driving out here early in the morning seemed to melt away, and his whole body brimmed with energy.
He couldn’t even remember the last time he’d felt this good.
After the meal, Sang-woong placed a cup of freshly brewed, fragrant coffee before him.
“Thank you.”
After a sip, Na Hyunseok was astonished once again.
What on earth couldn’t this restaurant do?
“There’s nothing to fault here. Even the coffee is excellent. Honestly… I’m tempted to quit being a lawyer and move to this neighborhood.”
At the joke, tinged with sincerity, Sang-woong laughed heartily.
“Hahaha, you’re welcome any time. Since the Taeseong Group’s Legal Team Leader came all this way to help, I’m the one who should be grateful.”
“Thank you for the wonderful meal, sir. Thanks to you, I feel full of energy. Now, please tell me what I can do for you.”
With a ready attitude, Na Hyunseok inquired about the case.
“I… know a child. That child is being severely bullied by classmates at school.”
From beginning to end, Sang-woong explained Kim Junsu’s story in detail, showing Na Hyunseok the secretly recorded Evidence Files and photos Kim Junsu had collected.