Chapter 32 : My Appearance as a Lawyer

After finishing all the materials to send to the broadcasting station, we ate our packed lunches and immediately started our evening meeting.

The purpose was to prepare for the Food Sanitation Act violation case trial this Friday and to hear what happened at the prosecutor’s office today.

That way, we could coordinate the timing for our report to the broadcasting station.

Meanwhile, Lawyer Yoon showed his incredible ability by “deleting” the bulgogi lunchbox I ordered in less than 10 minutes.

“These lunchboxes are really delicious here.”

“…Where did the person who said they had no appetite because they had too much work just a moment ago go?”

“It’s true that we have a lot of work. Why else would we carry our laptops to the site?”

“That’s true, I have nothing to say.”

“If we hadn’t adjusted our workload this time, I’d bet my remaining lunchbox that I would have gone to the afterlife due to an industrial accident.”

“This lunchbox with only a few pieces of kimchi left?”

I said, pointing at Lawyer Yoon Yi-hoon’s lunchbox, which I suspected he had practically licked clean.

“How important is kimchi to Koreans? I can’t eat anything without it. So, even though it’s just a few pieces, it’s more precious than anything to me…”

“If you have the strength to talk nonsense, hurry up and clean up your empty lunchbox.”

“Yes, sir…!”

In the end, it was Lawyer Ahn Gyeong-hun who brought the situation under control.

Lawyer Yoon, with hands faster than his eyes, quickly cleared not only his lunchbox but also ours.

While he might be someone who gets into trouble with his words, his initiative is certainly praiseworthy.

I subtly slid over a carbonated drink I had prepared as a gesture of appreciation.

Lawyer Yoon thanked me and started chugging it down.

“Then, before we hear about your visit to the prosecutor’s office today, I’ll first report on the An-eum case.”

At my words, Lawyer Ahn, who was drinking soup, gently nodded his head, indicating for me to proceed.

“In the lawyer’s opinion letter to be submitted at the upcoming court hearing, we plan to submit the unit price lists of normal hexane, which the defendants claim to have used, and the problematic benzene as evidence.”

“Oh, nice timing.”

“Thank you, Lawyer Yoon.”

The lawyer’s opinion letter is a written document to defend the representatives and executives of An-eum Co., Ltd., who are currently on trial.

I plan to submit it on the upcoming trial date.

Since the expert witness testimony from the medical school professor was already completed at the last trial, I judged that now was the perfect time.

“At the last hearing, the professor stated that ‘even if benzene is intentionally added, it cannot improve the oil’s inherent color, scent, taste, or viscosity,’ so you’re thinking of driving the point home with the unit price list!”

“That’s right, Lawyer.”

As expected, Lawyer Ahn Gyeong-hun. He precisely understood my intention.

The core issue of this case is: Was ‘benzene,’ a carcinogen, intentionally used to dissolve the cottonseed used to make the oil? The judgment of the first-instance prosecutor and court was ‘yes.’

However, the stance of experts and industry officials differed.

The medical school professor testified that benzene cannot improve taste or quality.

And industry officials confirmed through a factual confirmation document submitted to the court that, in terms of unit price, benzene was actually more expensive than what the defendants claimed to have used.

Therefore, to lend weight to the statements of the industry workers, I will submit the unit price lists of normal hexane, which the executives claimed to have used, and the problematic benzene as evidence.

“The more I proceed with this case, the more I understand why the CEO attempted suicide, and it made me feel quite bad.”

“Right. That means they were that unfairly accused.”

They were hit with a fine larger than the company’s revenue.

And the executives, including the CEO, were sentenced to prison and are currently detained.

Considering the company’s size, with most of the management imprisoned, the company’s operations were significantly impacted.

So, it’s understandable why they feel unfairly accused.

“Moreover, according to the first-instance police report, the police officer in charge of this case also stated that ordinary people cannot distinguish between the smells of normal hexane and benzene.”

In short, not only was it not intentionally added, but it was also difficult to detect benzene by smell alone during the manufacturing process.

I suppressed my pity and continued.

“Lawyer, since the CEO has been discharged from the hospital and re-detained, please ask him if he wants to proceed with bail when you visit him at the detention center.”

Bail is a system where a defendant on trial can apply for release by paying a security deposit if there is no risk of escape or destruction of evidence.

Of course, since bail is also a type of trial, court approval is required.

“Understood. Please apply for a lawyer’s visit to the detention center so I can meet him by next week at the latest.”

“Yes, Lawyer.”

The CEO, who had been hospitalized after a suicide attempt, was discharged this week and returned to the detention center.

However, even after hospitalization, he reportedly couldn’t eat properly as his body rejected food.

In short, it’s difficult for him to recover at the detention center, so it’s appropriate to release him on bail if possible.

Of course, regardless of bail approval, if a prison sentence is confirmed in the final ruling, he would have to go to prison, not a detention center.

However, judging by the atmosphere of the trial conveyed by Lawyers Ahn and Yoon, it is quite hopeful.

They said it’s because we are presenting a defense that we never even considered in the first instance.

This meant there was a high possibility of bail being granted.

“I hope that even if the final result isn’t a full acquittal, we can at least get a suspended sentence and have the fine reduced as much as possible.”

“Yes, that’s our goal.”

After all, a carcinogen was found in the food.

So, our judgment was that a full acquittal would be difficult.

However, even if it’s just a suspended sentence and a manageable fine, An-eum would be able to breathe a sigh of relief.

The total fine imposed on the company, the CEO, and the executives is 13 billion won, and the company wouldn’t be able to survive intact after paying that.

“Thanks to Ms. Yoo-hee, I think we have a strong chance of winning. So don’t worry too much.”

“Lawyer Ahn is right. And since we are proceeding with the trial as quickly as possible, we should get a result soon.”

The legal detention period for a second instance is six months.

Therefore, since it’s a detention case, the court will also want to expedite the trial.

Even if the CEO is released on bail, An-eum’s executives still remain in the detention center.

“Okay, then I’ll trust both of you.”

“Of course, after all this hard work. If we get a good result, let’s have a company dinner!”

“There are times when Lawyer Yoon says something right.”

Lawyer Ahn Gyeong-hun chuckled and adjusted his posture. It was his turn now.

“The prosecutor accepted our report.”

“As you expected, Lawyer.”

“Yes, I know him well. Just as Prosecutor Seo knows me well.”

“It helps that he’s your judicial training institute classmate.”

“Haha. Of course, there’s that too, but wasn’t this whole plan set up believing it was possible in the first place?”

“I can’t deny that.”

“From the An-eum case just now to this Cha Kang-hyuk director case. I’m really surprised by you, Yoo-hee. I knew you were capable, but you’re beyond that.”

“It’s not that much.”

I said, feeling embarrassed and not knowing where to look.

“Come on, Lawyer Ahn is right. This is truly amazing. You’re achieving something no one else can!”

That’s exactly what I want: the reputation of achieving what no one else can.

Lawyer Ahn Gyeong-hun didn’t steal the credit I earned, as I had trusted he wouldn’t.

Instead, he’s wholeheartedly helping me participate in the case.

I recalled the conversation I had with Lawyer Ahn before he went to the prosecutor’s office.

‘I don’t think one should jump to conclusions about a case, but the Cha Kang-hyuk director case is highly likely to proceed as you predicted, Yu-hee.’

‘Yes. If it even goes on air, Woo Jin-gon will receive even more attention than Director Cha did.’

‘If that happens, it will completely overturn a case that was certain to be lost. No, not only that, but public opinion criticizing Director Cha Kang-hyuk will also change. Cha Han Construction will never forget this.’

‘Yes, there’s a high possibility they’ll become your client in the future.’

‘Haha. Actually, that should be you, Yu-hee, not me. This is your work, after all.’

I flinched.

For a moment, I couldn’t say anything.

Because the ultimate picture I’m drawing is exactly that: Go Jong-tak’s clients walking into my office on their own.

More than anything, I have a lot to offer Cha Han Construction, not just with this case but also in the future.

Helping them get through the financial crisis coming in 2008 would be like putting them heavily in my debt.

‘Of course, they won’t go bankrupt then, but they can’t avoid being hit.’

However, if I advise them, they can prevent it.

We’ll have a win-win relationship, and it will be a wonderful revenge against Go Jong-tak.

And on the other hand, it would also be a blow to CEO Lee Han-woong, one of the founders of Lee & Yeon.

Even if they come on their own, it’s still losing a long-time client.

‘Of course, it won’t be a fatal blow, but it will hurt.’

And I plan to keep hurting them.

At some point, for whatever reason, I’m bound to catch CEO Lee Han-woong’s eye.

It’s also something I’ll experience if I align myself with CEO Yeon Ji-gun.

I can’t be sure yet, but if Go Jong-tak is acting under someone’s orders, the person above him would be CEO Lee Han-woong.

There’s no way he would have given the position of managing partner to Go Jong-tak for no reason.

My revenge isn’t just for Go Jong-tak.

If my predictions are correct, Go Jong-tak will be somewhere around their waist.

‘Above that are the heart and head.’

This is just the beginning of that path.

If I have no power, I’ll die without making a sound, like in my past life.

But I can’t say this to Lawyer Ahn Gyeong-hun.

That would be no different from confessing that I’ve returned from the future.

Lawyer Ahn Gyeong-hun, misunderstanding my hesitation, quickly continued.

‘Ah, of course, I know it’s not easy because you’re not a lawyer. Director Cha Kang-hyuk aside, it would be difficult for Cha Han Construction to entrust advice or cases to a secretary. So I’ve thought about this too.’

He paused for a beat and said with sincere eyes.

‘What if Yoo-hee were a lawyer?’

‘Lawyer.’

‘Don’t misunderstand this. I absolutely did not say that to disrespect you because you’re not a lawyer or anything like that.’

‘You’re saying it because you’re disappointed. I know. If I were a lawyer, I wouldn’t have had such a hard time convincing Lawyer Seo Il-hwa or Director Cha Kang-hyuk.’

Actually, the most disappointed person was me.

I even passed the first bar exam initially to become a lawyer.

If misfortune hadn’t piled up during each exam, perhaps my family and I wouldn’t have met such a tragic end.

But now, I can turn things around.

And I will get revenge on those who made me that way.

In the cruelest way possible.

‘As you said, Lawyer, Cha Han Construction could also become my client.’

‘Yoo-hee.’

‘So, I’ve imagined it too. My appearance as a lawyer.’