The Lawyer Who Reads Tomorrow - Chapter 112

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 112

 

 

That afternoon.

 

-I apologize to the people of the nation.

 

The video that had been made through an agreement between Roh Tae-sung and Yoon Sang-do was released through a video platform.

It was a video uploaded to Biga Furniture’s existing official account.

 

-I would like to tell you the truth that has been hidden until now.

 

Yoon Sang-do on screen looked miserable but not despairing.

Rather, he even seemed somewhat relieved.

 

He continued speaking in a calm voice.

 

-…My work that was submitted to this International Furniture Exhibition is…

-A work that copied a design already made by Wooa Furniture…

 

Not many people were watching the video.

 

The other videos uploaded before this one also didn’t have very good view counts.

Since only industry officials were watching, depending on the situation, it wouldn’t receive a public beating.

 

Of course, there was one exceptional person.

 

‘Lee Na-yoon.’

 

The work that Biga Furniture plagiarized was a work that was even submitted to the International Furniture Exhibition.

 

So this kind of confession from Biga Furniture’s representative carried the risk of being buried forever in the industry and never being able to make a comeback.

 

-So, why worry about such things, that’s what I’m saying.

 

When I contacted her to request an article, Lee Na-yoon spoke nonchalantly.

 

I wished I could have spoken just as nonchalantly too.

From the beginning, it was something that Representative Roh Tae-sung, who was the victim, had earnestly requested to increase Biga Furniture’s chances of a comeback.

 

“First, the cancellation of the International Furniture Exhibition award is certain.”

-Of course. I don’t know much about that side, but looking at similar cases… award cancellation is natural and probably a 3-year submission ban will be imposed too, right?

“If no damage compensation claims come, that would be getting off easy.”

-That’s why story is important, Lawyer Sung Tae-hyun.

 

Lee Na-yoon laughed confidently.

She was originally someone whose confidence pierced the sky, but after working with me and breaking several scoops, she even brought news that she had made it onto Jungseo Daily’s promotion list.

 

It was different from when she did good work but was shunned for being disliked by external contacts.

The promotion seemed to be quite good for her.

 

“Story… That’s right.”

 

So what exactly are you going to do?

When I kept my words brief, she laughed even more confidently and poured out a story that seemed familiar from somewhere.

 

-Listen to this. In times like this, you see, ‘The friendship of men who overcame hardship~’ Something packaged generously with that kind of feeling will do.

“…What did you say?”

 

Overcoming hardship… men’s friendship…

 

I feel dizzy.

I silently waited for Lee Na-yoon’s words.

 

-Even if they made wrong choices for a moment, their true friendship shone bright~

 

She’s writing a novel.

She continued speaking with a playful laugh.

 

-Establishment of a friendship furniture company, Representative Yoon Sang-do’s difficulties, his circumstances that can’t be watched without tears, the fathers’ reconciliation, a miracle in Korea’s design industry… How many modifiers can we attach?

“…”

-There’s not a single line of lies, right? Just added a little seasoning.

 

So, by creating and packaging a touching story like this, the industry will eventually understand…

That’s how it sounded to me.

 

-And I’m good at that kind of thing too.

“Reporter Lee Na-yoon is?”

 

That’s not how I remember it.

Wasn’t she a hunting dog who persistently picked apart judges?

And I, one of the victims, was right in front of her.

 

When I spoke suspiciously, Lee Na-yoon chuckled and said.

 

-Shall I recite an article I wrote before? A touching story. ‘It was a miraculous thing. When no one believed my words, he showed complete trust for the first time.’

“That’s enough, let’s go with that.”

 

I quickly cut off the conversation.

Lee Na-yoon’s laughter could be heard again from inside the mobile phone.

 

-Good. When should we release the article?

 

…Right. That person is someone who creates something from nothing.

 

No, not quite ‘nothing’, but should I say she’s someone who finds ingredients in the middle of a desert wasteland and creates high-end restaurant food?

 

Lee Na-yoon is the expert in this area.

I thought for a moment and then answered.

 

“Soon, Representative Yoon Sang-do of Viga Furniture will upload a confession video.”

-Ah, okay. So you’re going to try for a reduced sentence by surrendering first.

 

Come to think of it, Lee Na-yoon was originally a legal affairs reporter.

Without needing further explanation, she quickly understood and added one last thing.

 

-Well, I’ll release it at the most appropriate timing. It would be troublesome if industry officials start attacking Viga’s side too much.

“Good. Please don’t leak anything before the video is released.”

-I’ve been doing this for more than a day or two~ Don’t worry, let’s work together on something big later.

 

The call ended like that.

 

-…Therefore, I bow my head deeply and apologize one last time.

-As soon as this video ends, I will report to the police and take all the responsibility I can.

 

* * *

 

“Representative, please give us a word!”

 

In front of Yoon Sang-do’s residence.

 

It was quite a famous incident in the industry, so reporters had gathered.

Yoon Sang-do was accustomed to what had been planned.

Thanks to Roh Tae-sung’s defense attorney’s efforts, he had been able to come this far.

The courage he had never possessed came ultimately thanks to that old friend he had betrayed, Roh Tae-sung.

 

“Don’t, don’t look at me like that.”

 

Looking outside where it had grown dark earlier than usual due to the short winter days, Roh Tae-sung spoke.

The reporters were already flashing their cameras to photograph Yoon Sang-do.

 

“What would I have to say anyway.”

“Don’t talk such nonsense either.”

 

The video wasn’t live.

So he could also have time to prepare mentally.

 

Thanks to Roh Tae-sung coming to see him first, Yoon Sang-do was able to calm his trembling body that had grown cold.

 

“I’ll pay for all my sins. Tae-sung, you. There will absolutely never be anything that harms you in the future…”

“Hey now, stop that nonsense too.”

“…I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”

 

Somehow, Roh Tae-sung’s defense attorney had even obtained a settlement agreement from the investor.

 

With this, an exit. Even the shadow of the investor who had been pressuring him easily disappeared.

All of this was ultimately thanks to Roh Tae-sung.

 

So, in the end, it was a debt he would have to repay throughout his lifetime.

Yoon Sang-do bit his lips with a reddened face to hold back his tears.

 

“Stop crying already. At this age, if you do that, people will curse you again.”

“…I deserve to be cursed. It’s right that I should be cursed.”

“Ah, did you kill someone?! You, stop saying such things!”

 

Roh Tae-sung shouted angrily.

 

“The design usage rights were all approved anyway! Our employees all understood too!”

“…Still…”

“Viga Furniture? Yes! It might collapse right now!”

 

Roh Tae-sung ignored the flashing notification on his mobile phone.

They were risk report articles sent by the Woo-ah Furniture planning team.

 

「Viga Furniture, suspicion of ‘plagiarizing’ International Furniture Exhibition award-winning work… Industry ‘expulsion process’」

「Untimely design leak confession… Viga Furniture representative, ‘Sorry to Representative Roh Tae-sung’」

「Friendship management? Hit-and-run management? Viga Furniture representative, controversy over betraying ‘best friend’ Woo-ah Furniture」

 

“This kind of thing isn’t even surprising. It was all in our plan!”

 

Yoon Sang-do stood up to get dressed.

The time for the pre-scheduled video to end was approaching.

 

“Don’t be swayed by what a few reporters say!”

“…”

“You didn’t kill anyone. The victim? I, the victim, have already forgiven you!”

 

His hands trembled. How many times in his life had he had to report to the police?

Yoon Sang-do put on his overcoat with trembling hands while recalling the past.

 

“Tae-sung, let me ask you for just one last thing, really just one.”

“…What is it, again. Fine, just say it.”

“If by any chance I get, well, arrested or… a prison sentence…”

“There you go with strange imaginings again. Who’s going to arrest you just like that?! Prison sentence? What prison sentence when there hasn’t even been a trial!”

 

When Roh Tae-sung got angry, Yoon Sang-do nodded weakly.

 

“I know. That it won’t happen right away… But still.”

“What!”

“…Just in case, my wife… well, at the hospital…”

 

Roh Tae-sung’s mouth shut tight.

 

“The hospital bills… are insufficient… I often get… calls about it…”

 

Yoon Sang-do bit his lips tightly and looked at Roh Tae-sung silently for a long time.

 

The friend he had betrayed.

The friend he had chosen to betray in order to survive.

 

Let me just close my eyes and live once.

Even if I pay the price for my sins later, just once.

 

There were times when I thought that way.

 

“…I know I’m being shameless. But, but still….”

“You’re talking like you’re going somewhere far away. The police station is right around the corner.”

“….”

 

He couldn’t speak.

Yoon Sang-do covered his mouth with his own hand to prevent his sobs from escaping.

 

Could someone be this shameless?

Even so, even so, he felt despair at himself for having no choice but to rely on Roh Tae-sung until the very end.

 

“…Let me ask you one last favor.”

“Stop making noise and just go get properly investigated.”

 

Before he knew it, they were at the front door.

 

The flashing cameras were already illuminating his house.

Yoon Sang-do gulped down his saliva.

 

“Well, after you get investigated, let’s go grab a bowl of hot soup and rice.”

“…Yeah.”

 

The door opened.

Blindingly bright flashes burst continuously without pause.

 

“He’s out!”

“Representative Yoon Sang-do!”

“Representative! Please look this way just once! Is the confession video from earlier true?!”

 

Yoon Sang-do steadfastly walked the hellish path and got into the car.

 

* * *

 

[Missed calls (23)]

 

My mobile phone rang loudly.

Already 23 calls. They must have time to spare.

 

I marked this incoming call as spam as well and stretched.

 

“I wonder if Uncle will be okay?”

 

It was late.

Noh Hae-min, who still hadn’t left work, sat in his seat and muttered.

 

Even though he had watched Representative Yoon Sang-do go to the police station through the TV connected to the office, Noh Hae-min’s voice was filled with worry.

 

“What’s there to be okay or not okay about?”

“Still….”

 

Roh Tae-sung would have also covered Yoon Sang-do’s lawyer fees.

The same went for the money Park Hyun-joo took when she decided to exit.

Despite it being quite a large amount, Roh Tae-sung only said one thing.

 

/”It’s a loan. If Viga Furniture goes under, we lose money too.”/(flashback)/

 

In the end, the biggest investor in Yoon Sang-do’s life was Roh Tae-sung.

 

“Ah, is this Lee Jin-seop?”

 

Noh Hae-min’s voice lowered as he sat quietly contemplating.

It seemed they had now found out Noh Hae-min’s phone number.

 

Lee Jin-seop, who had been persistently calling my mobile phone number after somehow finding it out when the video was released, didn’t know how to give up.

 

“Yes, this is Lawyer Noh Hae-min from Law Firm Ilchul.”

-You bastards! What the hell is this!

 

I approached Noh Hae-min and snatched his mobile phone away.

 

“Huh?”

 

It didn’t take even a few seconds to hang up the call and complete the spam processing.

 

“Why do you keep listening to stuff like this? You should block it.”

“That’s true, but….”

 

This person is too soft again.

When I stared at him intently, Noh Hae-min awkwardly scratched the back of his head and said.

 

“Still… I was recording it in case they said something strange so I could sue them for threats or something.”

 

…Ah.

Ah…?

What, he had that kind of thought?

 

When I looked at him with surprised eyes, Noh Hae-min burst into laughter.

 

“Why are you looking at me like that again, Lawyer Sung. Did you think I was going to say something like ‘I wanted to be understanding…’ again?”

“I’m surprised that you’re not.”

 

Wasn’t he that kind of soft person?

It seems I had been seriously misunderstanding Noh Hae-min.

 

“Hey, I’m human too. I’m not a saint.”

“That’s true.”

 

Anyway, an unavoidable aftermath was raging after the video was uploaded.

 

“International Furniture Fair Organizers ‘Assessing the Situation’ Regarding Biga Furniture Incident”

 

Articles kept being posted.

 

It was the same even after Yoon Sang-do left to undergo police investigation.

Since a defense attorney was present, there was no need to worry separately, and what remained was this side.

 

[Missed calls (34)]

 

Buzz buzz buzz—.

 

Noh Hae-min’s gaze followed.

And then.

 

Bang bang bang bang bang bang bang—!

 

The office door was shaking like crazy.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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