The Lawyer Who Reads Tomorrow - Chapter 43

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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 43

 

 

[LIVE ●]

 

“I bow my head and apologize to the people of this nation.”

 

Camera flashes went off with a brilliant flash.

 

Everything before my eyes was dyed pure white, making it impossible to distinguish any objects properly.

The reporters who had swarmed in as if they had caught a big fish were also in chaos.

 

Even though they had clearly arranged the order of questions in advance, they screamed like madmen.

Min Jong-pil, the current president of Nexarum Bio and Kang Hwan-pil’s son-in-law, clicked his tongue bitterly.

 

‘Trash-like bastards.’

 

Although the system remained, they had erased what they could erase on their end.

 

Among those involved were also prominent figures from the political and business worlds.

Even if he took all the blame himself, it would easily be buried.

 

Didn’t they say that to do big things, you must shoulder big risks?

Min Jong-pil calmly controlled the anxiety that was eating away at his insides.

 

It will pass.

Definitely.

This will pass.

 

“It is true that we recruited clinical trial subjects during our company’s new drug development process, but this was all done with consent…”

 

Min Jong-pil clenched his fists tightly.

 

No matter how weakened Kim Wan-gil became, the connections he had built up over the years wouldn’t be severed all at once. However, he was definitely planning revenge against his father-in-law who had instructed him to take all the blame and then fled.

 

“…All decisions regarding this experiment were made by me alone. All other raised suspicions are untrue, and no list exists.”

 

The flashes burst even more intensely.

Min Jong-pil gritted his teeth.

Just a few more minutes of endurance.

 

“However, I take the social and ethical responsibility related to this matter very seriously…”

“Immediately after this press conference, I plan to voluntarily cooperate with the police investigation.”

 

Min Jong-pil returned to a calm expression and bowed his head in greeting.

 

The clamoring of reporters trying to get the right to ask questions was considerable.

Like piranhas trying to tear off pieces, despite there being a predetermined order.

 

Min Jong-pil took a deep breath with an audible sound, then slowly straightened his back again.

 

“You said you ‘recruited’ clinical trial subjects, but I understand there are no related records.”

 

A clear voice that seemed to hammer into his ears burst out from the press section.

 

Even without a microphone, it was a voice that carried clearly to Min Jong-pil’s position, which was a bit further away.

Min Jong-pil pretended not to hear and turned his head toward the pre-agreed press section.

 

“Why aren’t you saying anything about the charges that Elus Entertainment illegally mobilized personnel through NOVA?”

 

Once again, a voice too loud to ignore echoed through the press conference room.

 

Min Jong-pil couldn’t endure any longer and planned to escape.

His miserable expression was a bonus.

 

Several security personnel were approaching to drag away the woman who had questioned him from far away, but it didn’t look easy due to the large crowd.

 

Min Jong-pil’s secretary stepped forward and grabbed the microphone.

 

“Questions are limited to pre-registered reporters-“

 

However, the woman was not easy to deal with.

 

“I am a pre-registered reporter. Choi Hyun-sik from Yugwang Daily.”

 

Lee Na-yoon answered with a shameless smile.

To appear borrowing someone else’s face when she was already a well-known reporter.

 

Min Jong-pil was dumbfounded and let out a hollow laugh.

 

“I understand there is already someone who has confessed internally. According to his statement-“

“Stop! Stop!”

 

[※ A temporary broadcast malfunction has occurred and is being restored.]

[※ Please wait a moment.]

 

* * *

 

“Haha.”

 

I was sitting in the office watching Lee Na-yoon’s antics.

 

To even appear at Min Jong-pil’s press conference.

She really was an amazing person in terms of passion alone.

 

“Will this be enough to wrap things up?”

 

Deputy Manager Yoon Ha-young blinked emotionlessly.

She seemed to have no interest in the political and business figures who were being dragged up one after another right after Sage was cleared from the list of suspects.

 

“It won’t be.”

“As expected.”

 

These kinds of things don’t end easily.

If good triumphing over evil was the most important value in fairy tales, then money and power have replaced that in reality.

 

Of course, that’s not to say it applies to every situation.

 

「[Breaking] Assemblyman Kim Wan-gil’s Office, ‘Reports on illegal experiments completely groundless… Strong response planned’」

「[Breaking] Assemblyman Kang Hwan-pil remains silent regarding ‘Nexarum Gate’」

「NOVA completely denies ‘Nexarum Gate’ involvement. ‘Serious insult’」

「[Official Statement] Elus Entertainment ‘Had no knowledge of trainee drug experiments… Under legal review’」

 

Articles were being posted one by one even before the press conference ended.

Of course, this was also planned in advance.

 

However, Lee Na-yoon’s sudden appearance must have been an unexpected development for them too.

They would have controlled the list of reporters entering the press conference room as well.

 

“…Who’s here?”

 

It was just as I was about to open Sung Tae-hyun’s diary.

A polite knocking sound came from the office door.

 

“Did we have a scheduled appointment?”

 

When I asked, Manager Yoon Ha-young and Noh Hae-min shook their heads in confusion.

 

“No? There weren’t any particular inquiries. Right, Manager Yoon?”

“Yes. Since we took on Sage’s case, they’ve practically stopped coming.”

 

That’s a bit painful to hear.

 

Was that the case?

I’d been so busy without any work that I’d forgotten.

I walked toward the office door where the knocking sound was coming from.

Someone was waiting politely behind the translucent door.

 

When I opened the door, a man who appeared to be in his mid-40s bowed his head gently in greeting.

 

“Hello, Lawyer Sung Tae-hyun.”

 

Someone who knows me.

Though these days my name has become somewhat known due to the media, so maybe not.

 

Whatever the case, I had a feeling that the man before me hadn’t come to request my services.

 

“I’m Manager Jo In-gyu, a lawyer from NOVA’s Compliance Department.”

 

Oh my.

He handed me a business card made of stiff material with both hands.

The gentle-looking man naturally gestured toward the inside of the office.

 

“May I come in?”

 

I did think the fish would bite at this point.

Had he left the office even before the press conference started?

 

I slowly stepped aside to clear a path for him to enter the office.

Was he the messenger Kim Wan-gil chose after Hwan disappeared and he was stamping his feet in frustration?

Or was he another card?

 

Noh Hae-min and Manager Yoon Ha-young’s gazes followed, but I quietly shook my head to stop them.

 

“Please come this way.”

 

I guided Manager Jo In-gyu to the inner room.

He naturally sat down in front of the table.

 

“You must be curious why I came.”

 

Of course.

 

When I offered him tea, he didn’t refuse.

To march into the heart of enemy territory and maintain such a relaxed attitude.

Just how much had Kim Wan-gil been pushing him around?

 

“Although I work at NOVA… I’ve still heard good things about Lawyer Sung Tae-hyun.”

 

The man who suddenly started speaking had an attitude as solid as if he were building fortress walls.

He had a trained demeanor that made it impossible to discern his business from his expression alone.

 

“Is that so?”

 

When I responded casually, he took a sip of tea and answered gently.

 

“Yes, I’m actually also from Haeil. Like you, Lawyer Sung.”

 

I see.

Well then.

 

In the previous case involving Kim Wan-gil and Park Ji-hyung, Lim Do-hyuk, who was also from Haeil, had directly warned me.

 

What was this? An extension of that?

No matter how I looked at it, it only seemed like Haeil was embracing both Cheondong and Kim Wan-gil.

 

“Even though I left Haeil, there’s still that aspect, you know? It feels like home. The first law firm for lawyers, I mean.”

 

I wouldn’t know.

I was a judge, after all.

From the very starting point being different, there was no way a law firm I felt was like my own home could exist.

 

“Haha, of course well… Attorney Sung Tae-hyun resigned not long after, so you must have grown more attached to this place.”

 

He said, pointing to Ilchul where I belonged.

 

Of course, he was wrong.

I had never thought I grew particularly attached to Ilchul.

If that kind of reasoning were true, the Court would be my hometown, but the Court was also just a workplace to me.

 

“The introduction was long, wasn’t it?”

 

Manager Jo In-gyu wore a gentle smile and held out several documents to me.

 

“What is this?”

“You’ll know when you see it. The world has gotten better these days, so other people carry tablets around, but I don’t trust those digital data.”

 

He said, slowly exhaling.

 

“We offered you quite a lot. Money, position, opportunities.”

 

‘We’…

The man didn’t bother hiding his connection to Kim Wan-gil or Elus Entertainment.

 

“But too many rejections seem to have hurt the feelings of our higher-ups. Haha.”

 

Hurt my ass…

 

The man didn’t blink an eye as he placed his hand on his chest as if heartbroken.

Was he an actor rather than a lawyer?

 

I turned my attention away from him and picked up the few sheets of paper.

 

“…!”

 

It was Sung Tae-jun’s profile.

 

“Your brother is an active police officer.”

“…”

“Police these days have really lost a lot of trust, haven’t they? Leaks and whatnot… There are many cases where police actually harm innocent citizens.”

 

Kim Wan-gil had remarkable talent.

Hwan aside, a lawyer who would drag in family members to make threats.

 

No, that’s not right.

Haeil was remarkable.

How far their reach extended.

 

“The next page will be different again.”

 

When I turned to the next page, this time several photos with Lee Na-yoon’s face appeared.

 

“Did you stalk her?”

“What are you saying? Reporter Lee Na-yoon is such a busy person. Anyone could have taken photos like these without knowing.”

 

The man smiled gently as if he had complete advantage.

 

“She’s a capable reporter, but not a very good match for a lawyer who’s just starting to make a name for himself. Ah, this is just advice from a senior.”

 

…What?

Perhaps my face contorted without me knowing, as Jo In-gyu chuckled.

 

“As expected, you’re young. I wasn’t insulting your girlfriend, so stop making that face.”

“Who said she was my girlfriend?”

 

For the first time, my pride was hurt.

 

Girlfriend? That viper?

Lee Na-yoon had helped in this case, but still.

That didn’t mean the decades-old grudge had evaporated and disappeared.

 

At my reaction, Jo In-gyu raised both hands as if surrendering.

 

“She wasn’t? I didn’t know. Our side also said, well, they weren’t certain.”

 

He fanned himself with his hand as if embarrassed.

 

“Well, this is it for now. As a bonus, there are also organized files on lawyer Noh Hae-min and employee Yoon Ha-young…”

 

I understand.

Kim Wan-gil has no more cards to play.

 

The moment he directly mentioned targeting Sung Tae-jun, I almost burst out laughing.

Regardless of whether I had value to him or not, Kim Wan-gil looked that desperate.

 

“What are the conditions?”

“Just stay still.”

 

As if this was finally the main point, Jo In-gyu answered quickly.

 

“Attorney Sung Tae-hyun, just stay still. We won’t demand anything. Just stop here.”

 

Come to think of it, Sung Tae-jun had said something similar. To back off.

For allies and enemies to agree – what a remarkable thing.

 

“Is that all you have to say?”

“For now.”

 

The press conference had also ended.

I could see Noh Hae-min and Assistant Manager Yoon Ha-young watching from outside this room.

 

“Good.”

 

I answered cleanly.

Jo In-gyu’s face was colored with surprise, as if he hadn’t expected me to answer so immediately.

 

“…Just like that? Without any compensation?”

“Since my ‘senior’ went out of his way to come find me, it’s not without compensation.”

 

He seemed even more confused but barely managed to hold it in.

 

The contact should come around now.

Since I’ve confirmed there’s nothing more he has.

I smiled kindly at Jo In-gyu, fulfilling my duty as a junior in place of Sung Tae-hyun.

 

Soon, his Mobile Phone vibrated briefly.

 

[FROM. ‘404 not found’]

 

[This Messages is sent to persons related to the ‘Nexaroom Gate’ List.]

[TIME LIMIT: 48 HOURS]

[If you do not voluntarily report, all identifiable Video will be released.]

—————
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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