The Lawyer Who Reads Tomorrow - Chapter 20

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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 20

 

 

Jung Seung-jun’s trial date.

 

“Did he come, senior?”

 

I asked Lim Do-hyuk, who had arrived at my trial before I did.

He looked a bit flustered, perhaps because Haeil had sent him.

 

Since he came to this place anyway, couldn’t he be more shameless about it?

Noh Hae-min, who was holding a document bundle next to me, asked.

 

“Do you know each other?”

“Ah, he’s a senior I used to know.”

 

At those words, cracks appeared on Lim Do-hyuk’s face.

 

“…A senior you used to know? Me?”

 

What does he want?

When I looked at him with a face full of question marks instead of answering, Lim Do-hyuk’s expression became even more furrowed.

 

“Ah, actually.”

“Actually?”

 

Noh Hae-min also became tense along with us.

 

It’s obvious why Lim Do-hyuk came all the way here.

It must be because of Park Hyung-il in the end.

If his activities are revealed in this trial, it would be troublesome for Haeil’s side.

 

I added with a teasing smile at Lim Do-hyuk.

 

“Former workplace senior.”

“Ah!”

 

At those words, Noh Hae-min’s face brightened.

 

This always bright and happy lawyer clearly failed to catch the strange tension flowing between Lim Do-hyuk and me.

 

Noh Hae-min smiled brightly and took out a business card from his wallet to hand to Lim Do-hyuk.

Noh Hae-min, who even added a gentle scolding to me saying ‘you should have said so earlier,’ spoke to Lim Do-hyuk.

 

“I’m Noh Hae-min. I work in the same office as lawyer Sung Tae-hyun.”

 

He probably didn’t expect that.

Lim Do-hyuk was showing a flustered expression while looking at Noh Hae-min.

 

I bit my lips and held back my laughter.

In many ways, Noh Hae-min doesn’t look like a lawyer attending court.

 

Noh Hae-min’s still bleached platinum hair sparkled under the lighting.

 

Well, it wasn’t me, but it was an appearance that would make even a judge with strong conservative tendencies recoil.

 

“Noh… Hae-min, lawyer…?”

“Yes. Although lawyer Sung Tae-hyun and I are from the same class, I joined Ilchul first so I’m taking on the senior role.”

 

If you’re a senior, you’re a senior, but what’s this about a role?

Lim Do-hyuk was listening to those words seriously again.

 

Noh Hae-min also had a somewhat calmer attitude than when he first met me.

It could be because of the court setting, or it could be professional behavior in front of a lawyer from Haeil, but…

 

Well, it didn’t suit him at all.

 

“…I’m Lim Do-hyuk.”

 

Lim Do-hyuk, who answered pretending to be dignified unlike when he was in front of me, immediately stuck close to me.

In the meantime, he lowered his voice considerably as if he didn’t want Noh Hae-min to overhear.

 

“Why, senior.”

“…Have you thought about what I said?”

 

I blinked with an innocent expression.

Sung Tae-hyun’s face had the talent to make even a jaded soul like me appear pure.

 

Whatever.

It’s practical to utilize everything that can be utilized, right?

 

However, Lim Do-hyuk frowned deeply and let out a long sigh.

 

“Sighing in front of someone is against etiquette, senior.”

“Just adding ‘senior’ at the end of your words doesn’t make you polite.”

“I have no intention of being polite though?”

 

Lim Do-hyuk started chewing his lips.

While teasing him, I was thinking about the well-organized documents in my bag.

 

In the end, this is Sung Tae-hyun’s first trial.

For me as Kim Wook-han, it’s such a distant memory that I can’t even remember it.

 

“…Listen carefully.”

“I’m busy.”

“I know well that you’re a more perceptive person than I thought. I don’t know how you’ve been hiding that all this time though.”

 

The introduction was long.

 

Lim Do-hyuk continued speaking while anxiously chewing his lips.

Well, even if I told the truth about souls being switched, I’d be treated like a crazy person anyway, so I responded with a smile instead.

 

And I don’t know if Sung Tae-hyun’s soul is still remaining, do I?

Since my body died.

The diary sitting in my bag somehow felt heavy.

 

“Just the conclusion, simply. You learned that when working, didn’t you?”

 

What Lim Do-hyuk was going to say was obvious anyway.

Even if they weren’t parties to the trial, there would be plenty of ways for them to check the evidence I submitted.

Haeil was famous for not being picky about means and methods.

 

So, if Haeil set their mind to it, that is.

 

“…Give up.”

“Give up what?”

“Jung Seung-jun.”

 

Now he’s not even thinking of hiding it.

Not “don’t touch Park Hyung-il,” but “give up Jung Seung-jun.”

 

I couldn’t stop the laughter that burst through my lips.

As I suddenly started laughing, Lim Do-hyuk’s face became even more distorted.

 

He glanced at Noh Hae-min a few steps behind, then instantly came close to my face, grabbed my collar, and whispered.

 

“If not, you’ll die.”

 

Lim Do-hyuk, who had moved away again as if nothing happened, had a calm expression.

 

“So, Sung Tae-hyun. You only get one chance. Whatever you’re thinking and have prepared, give up Jung Seung-jun.”

 

Park Ji-hyung must have spent some money.

There were various situations I could expect.

 

Of course, if they were threatening me this much through Lim Do-hyuk, there was a high possibility that Kim Wan-gil’s influence was at work besides Park Ji-hyung.

 

“You know what, senior?”

 

The show would begin soon.

I walked toward Jung Seung-jun visible in the distance and said to Lim Do-hyuk in passing.

 

“I’ve already died once.”

 

When I looked back, Lim Do-hyuk was frozen with an expression I’d never seen before.

 

‘What.’

 

It was a joke.

Of course, it was a joke mixed with truth.

But could a person turn that pale?

 

Lim Do-hyuk suddenly staggered as if feeling unwell and left the courtroom.

 

“He came all this way just to leave like that.”

“Well, who knows.”

 

I moved away from Noh Hae-min and approached Jung Seung-jun who had entered the courtroom.

He looked even thinner than during the meeting, perhaps from severe mental stress.

I could clearly picture him collapsing and crying his heart out.

 

Jung Seung-jun bowed as soon as he saw me.

 

“Lawyer…”

“Ah, Mr. Jung Seung-jun. How are you feeling?”

 

At my question, The Boy trembled slightly and smiled awkwardly.

 

“I’m… a little scared.”

“You can be scared. It’s your first trial.”

 

Jung Seung-jun licked his dry lips.

The completely intimidated boy continued to sweat coldly, unable to hide his nervousness.

 

“You can see Grandfather over there, right.”

 

I pointed toward the spectator section. Jung Seung-jun nodded.

 

“You like chicken, right? Grandfather told me that.”

“…Yes.”

“Let’s eat chicken after this is over.”

“…”

 

In normal circumstances, this would be impossible.

However, to The Boy who looked at me fearfully, I spoke one more word as if making a promise.

 

“It’ll be over quickly.”

 

Sung Tae-hyun’s Diary had no comments about today’s trial results.

Just yesterday, he had only left brief impressions about today’s trial.

 

[It was the first time in my life I made such a gamble.]

 

Interesting.

I knew he was predicting tomorrow’s events.

But it was the first time he had impressions about my actions, not his own actions.

 

And when I opened the diary again.

 

[■■■■ ■■■ ■■■■].

 

The previous writing had disappeared, and illegible scribbles were drawn as if scratched out with a ballpoint pen.

 

* * *

 

“Defendant Jung Seung-jun, on ■■ day of ■■ month, 20■■, at approximately ■■:■■, got into an argument with victim Kim Jae-yoon, an acquaintance he was close with, in the living room of his house located in ■■-dong, and in a fit of rage, murdered the victim using a murder weapon from the kitchen.”

 

The prosecutor’s statement of charges continued.

It was a monotonous tone I hadn’t heard in a long time.

 

Though it wasn’t appropriate to say in this situation, it was a familiar face.

Prosecutor Kim Jun-ho, quite a capable fellow.

He had appeared several times in my trials as well.

 

In fact, the Criminal Division at the court was always something to be avoided, so my name, having worked there unusually long, was quite well-known.

 

Though that fact means nothing now.

 

“Defendant, do you acknowledge the charges?”

 

Chief Judge Seo Han-pil asked.

He was a judge who had worked with me at the district court for quite a long time.

 

Perhaps Kim Wan-gil’s influence hadn’t reached this far, as Judge Seo belonged to the fairly impartial side.

He wasn’t interested in political maneuvering within the court, but still, this wasn’t bad luck.

 

I smiled at Jung Seung-jun, who was still trembling, as if to tell him not to be nervous, and answered.

 

“We do not acknowledge them.”

 

The courtroom stirred.

 

A hairline crack appeared on Prosecutor Kim Jun-ho’s face.

 

Of course it would.

My intention to essentially claim innocence would be quite a bewildering variable for the prosecution.

 

And the opponent was Prosecutor Kim Jun-ho, famous for his controlling nature.

I hoped with minimal courtesy that he had taken his blood pressure medication on time today.

 

“On the day of the incident, it is true that the victim was at the scene, but he did not murder the victim. Therefore, we deny the charges on grounds of innocence.”

 

There you go.

Prosecutor Kim Jun-ho’s face reddened as if he might grab the back of his neck at any moment.

 

For the defendant to suddenly claim innocence in a trial where he thought the evidence was so certain.

Even if I were Prosecutor Kim, I would have been dumbfounded.

 

Still, well… that’s that, and this is this.

 

“Defendant, is your position the same as what your attorney just stated?”

 

Judge Seo’s cold words followed.

Since this was a case the media was focusing on, Judge Seo must have been equally perplexed.

 

Jung Seung-jun trembled at the suddenly focused attention and opened his mouth.

 

“…Yes, yes.”

“Understood. Prosecution, please submit your evidence.”

 

I disagreed with most of the prosecution’s subsequent evidence as well.

This was equally unusual.

Prosecutor Kim applied for witnesses with a bewildered expression.

 

“First, we request Fire Lieutenant Yoon Hak-gil, the rescue team leader who first responded to the scene after receiving the report on the day of the incident, as a witness.”

 

In fact, he was one of the most important witnesses.

 

Team Leader Yoon Hak-gil was also the first person to meet Jung Seung-jun, who was crying and begging to save the victim despite being suspected of killing his friend.

 

After a moment, Prosecutor Kim asked the witness who had finished taking the oath.

 

“Are you the person who arrived at the crime scene first?”

“…Yes, that’s correct.”

“Please describe the scene situation in detail.”

 

Team Leader Yoon Hak-gil swallowed a sigh and opened his mouth.

 

“Well… at the time, the situation was extremely gruesome. When we responded to the report and entered the building, the smell of blood was overwhelming from the start. The student, no, the reporter had contacted us first rather than the police, so we arrived first.”

“And then? Please provide more detailed explanation.”

 

Prosecutor Kim seemed to have forgotten his bewildered emotions from earlier and was calm again.

That was that guy’s strength.

 

I listened carefully to the recitation of facts I already knew.

 

“The reporter was crouched and sitting on the stairs outside the front door. He was holding what appeared to be a murder weapon, a kitchen knife, in his hand, and his clothes were covered in blood. And as soon as we arrived, he cried out saying his friend was dead.”

“His friend was dead. What about the situation when you entered the living room?”

“Yes. It was exactly as he said. When the report came to our side, there were traces of attempting to stop the bleeding as instructed by the staff member in charge at the time. Towels were scattered around messily, probably intended for hemostasis. However, unfortunately, the victim was already…”…”

 

At this point, Jung Seung-jun’s expression became even paler.

Indeed, it seemed like bad memories were flooding back like trauma.

 

“After he had stopped breathing?”

“Yes. While we were checking the victim’s condition, the police arrived, and the scene was quickly organized.”

 

When the witness finished speaking, Prosecutor Kim added his opinion.

 

“The murder weapon used in the crime was a kitchen knife from the defendant’s kitchen, and the stab wounds found on the victim’s corpse were concentrated on the neck and chest. From the perspective of an ordinary person, it falls within the range where one could sufficiently expect the victim’s death, and the defendant also confessed to his crime at the scene.”

 

It’s horrific to see again.

I naturally nodded while watching Prosecutor Kim who had finished the first witness examination.

Prosecutor Kim raised his eyes in apparent bewilderment at my unconscious, habitual action.

 

“Defense counsel, will you conduct cross-examination?”

 

At Judge Seo’s words, I opened my mouth, pretending to be composed.

 

I almost delivered that line myself.

The soul of Judge Kim Wook-han was raging within me.

 

Stay calm.

I turned my gaze toward the witness.

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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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