The Lawyer Who Reads Tomorrow - Chapter 94

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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 94

 

 

Childish bastard.

 

The delivery driver who had awkwardly set down a large basket of peaches left.

I thought about returning it, but wouldn’t that just be playing into this childish game?

 

“What’s with the peaches? It’s not even the season.”

“That’s what I’m saying. It’s not even the season.”

 

Noh Hae-min seemed to be experiencing this for the first time too, just letting out exclamations while looking at that huge peach basket.

Ho-shin Senior, who was about to leave the office, was the same.

 

It’s obvious who sent it.

It must be Choi Yoon-ki.

That bastard who’s old enough to know better is quite skilled at these childish antics.

 

“…Our Sung Tae-hyun is quite popular.”

 

Ho-shin Senior chuckled.

What now? This doesn’t seem like good news.

 

As expected.

 

Senior pulled out a card from that childish peach basket and handed it to me.

The thoughtfulness of even including a card with it.

 

Sung Tae-hyun must have really caught his interest.

…That damn old friend of mine.

 

[Lawyer Sung.]

 

The neat handwriting was definitely Choi Yoon-ki’s.

I’d seen it so much I could never forget it.

 

Not many people knew that Kim Wook-han had a peach allergy.

Either way, it seemed Choi Yoon-ki wanted to send a unique warning to ‘Sung Tae-hyun,’ whom he had already mentioned.

 

I opened the card, the product of that thoughtful futile effort.

 

 

“What does this mean?”

 

Noh Hae-min, who had been glancing over, tilted his head.

Even though he’d watched this case from beginning to end, if he didn’t know the connection to Choi Yoon-ki, I would have reacted the same way.

 

“His pride must be quite hurt.”

 

Anyway, they were well-ripened peaches.

 

“Huh?”

“This case, I mean.”

“…This isn’t some Joseon Dynasty poem, what are you talking about?”

 

I couldn’t help but keep laughing.

Childish bastard, was his pride really hurt that much?

 

Just barely touching Cheondong’s subsidiary M&A and he’s throwing this kind of fit.

It was so easy it was astounding.

 

“He’s saying his face didn’t get a scratch.”

“…That’s what it means?”

“Yes. Touching Cheondong’s subsidiary was nothing. But don’t touch it anymore. That kind of warning.”

 

While he was at it, he probably vented his personal feelings about Sung Tae-hyun by reminding him of the dead Kim Wook-han.

Not surprising at all.

I picked up one plump-looking peach in my hand.

 

“Far from an allergy, I’m perfectly fine.”

“…Lawyer Sung, did you have a peach allergy?”

“No. Someone just seemed to hope I did.”

 

I answered casually and took a bite of the peach.

Sweet juice that I couldn’t taste when I was Kim Wook-han filled my mouth.

Even the peach fuzz wasn’t an allergen, as Sung Tae-hyun’s tongue simply tasted the sweetly touching flesh.

 

“He must have spent quite a bit of money, right? It’s delicious.”

 

Seeing me grinning, Ho-shin Senior packed several peaches into a black bag and said:

 

“Oh my, what a precious gift in this weather! What are you all doing? Take them all.”

 

Does Choi Yoon-ki know?

That instead of being angry at his malice, Ho-shin Senior was delighted about having a mountain of delicious peaches.

For me too, this was the first time in ages that I’d tasted peaches.

 

I ate every last bite, and wrapped the remaining peach pit neatly in tissue before throwing it away.

Choi Yoon-ki’s pathetic pride would be stuck in the trash can along with the discarded pit.

 

[Chief Prosecutor Choi.]

 

I opened my mobile phone for my old friend who would be stamping his feet waiting for my reaction.

 

[I received the plump peaches well. Our Representative really liked them.]

 

Yeah. Thanks to you, our office had a company dinner with expensive peaches.

 

[However, I feel embarrassed receiving such a valuable gift.]

 

But did you forget you’re still a public official?

 

[Next time I’ll visit you directly to pay my respects.]

 

If you have something to say, say it to my face.

 

[Please call me anytime.]

 

Don’t call me.

 

After sending the message, I closed my mobile phone.

 

Ho-shin Senior had already left work by then.

Leaving a black bag filled with peaches for the other employees.

 

* * *

 

And the day of Bae In-jun’s first trial sentencing.

 

“Kim Su-yeon is running a bit late.”

 

Noh Hae-min checked his watch and pulled out his mobile phone.

I stopped him and turned toward the court.

 

That would be understandable for Kim Su-yeon.

After several hearings, it was finally the sentencing.

 

“How do you think the sentencing will turn out?”

“It’ll probably be realistic.”

 

That was all I could say for now.

 

Well, a judge I’d seen a few times was handling the first trial, but that wasn’t particularly important.

He was just a principled person, and someone I wasn’t close to at the court because he was boring.

 

“Realistic…”

“Probably around 5 years? If it’s a prison sentence without probation, the judge would consider that generous from his perspective.”

 

Noh Hae-min’s expression darkened.

 

That’s right.

Considering the victim, it’s woefully inadequate punishment.

 

Still, the criminal trial proceeded quite quickly to sentencing.

It was partly due to public outrage, but the nature of the crime was filthy from the start.

 

Bae In-jun had tried to ruin someone’s life using technology.

 

“Will their defense attorney appeal?”

“Even if they wanted to, they couldn’t.”

 

There was no possibility of acquittal from the beginning.

So throughout the trial, Bae In-jun’s defense attorney only tried their best to somehow reduce the sentence.

It wasn’t a particularly regrettable situation. This much was expected.

 

The problem would come after. An appeal?

 

“…Why can’t they even if they wanted to?”

 

That’s because of Cheondong.

 

Cheondong Future Innovation.

Cheondong, which was manipulated by Bae In-jun and almost got hit with a patent infringement lawsuit, had endured while bearing public criticism.

 

“Whether it goes to High Court or Supreme Court, just being mentioned again is a risk for Cheondong.”

“Ah, so… Bae In-jun was also just a chess piece, is that what you’re saying?”

 

…Look at this guy?

 

“…That’s right. There will be pressure. Besides, Choi… anyway, there’s someone on the prosecution side who hates having Cheondong’s name mentioned in matters like this more than anyone.”

 

Even as I added those words, I looked at Noh Hae-min with surprised eyes, as he seemed to have suddenly become clever.

 

“Huh? Why? Did I do something wrong?”

“It’s not wrong… No, it’s nothing. Anyway, it means there’s a higher possibility that neither Bae In-jun nor the prosecution will appeal.”

 

Can a person suddenly become smart in five minutes?

Before I could swallow my doubt, someone came running from afar, greeting us cheerfully.

 

“Lawyer!”

 

A woman who had run over, perhaps worried about being late for the trial, was catching her breath.

 

“Kim Su-yeon?”

“I guess you can’t see me, Sung Tae-hyun?”

 

An unwelcome voice came along with her.

 

“What brings Choi Ji-young here?”

 

She was also a victim if you could call her that, so she had every right to come to Bae In-jun’s sentencing.

It was primarily Kim Su-yeon’s trial, after all.

However, appearing with her usual difficult demeanor today, she suddenly reached her arm toward Kim Su-yeon’s shoulder.

 

“…!”

 

It happened before I, startled, could brush away Choi Ji-young’s hand.

I had been worried that there might be lingering resentment and an assault incident might occur in front of the court.

 

“Ahaha.”

 

Kim Su-yeon’s awkward laughter burst out first. Choi Ji-young had pulled Kim Su-yeon’s shoulder close and draped her arm around her.

 

“…?”

“Our Kim Su-yeon just overslept a bit, so we’re a little late.”

“…What does Kim Su-yeon oversleeping have to do with you, Ms. Choi Ji-young?”

 

When I asked in bewilderment, Choi Ji-young answered with a smug smile on her lips.

 

“I hired her.”

“….”

“Kim Su-yeon, as a marketer for the cosmetics brand I’m about to launch.”

 

…Does this even make sense right now?

Even Noh Hae-min’s face, who had been quietly listening to their conversation beside me, was colored with bewilderment.

 

“…Ms. Choi Ji-young hired Ms. Kim Su-yeon?”

“Yeah, why?”

 

Isn’t this something that would only happen in Hollywood?

Either way, with Bae In-jun between them, one was a stalking victim.

And the other had even resorted to litigation to save Bae In-jun-

 

“I’ve always really liked smart people….”

“….”

“Right? You pick up a decent-looking person and raise them, then they bite their owner’s throat.”

 

I have nothing to say.

Noh Hae-min seemed to be the same, as that talkative man had his lips firmly sealed.

His mind seemed complicated.

 

“So I’m just going to try it myself.”

“…You mean business?”

“Yeah, business. Lawyer Sung Tae-hyun. I figured it would be better to just create my own brand and prove my abilities.”

 

It was a reasonable point. Choi Ji-young did have an eye for things.

 

“Besides, our Kim Su-yeon is so~ good at marketing that Bailonics’ value got inflated, right?”

 

This is also true.

When I nodded in agreement, Choi Ji-young chuckled and patted Kim Su-yeon’s shoulder a few times.

 

“So I spent a fortune to bring our Kim Su-yeon over.”

“…A fortune?”

 

I see.

I was about to tell her to raise her finger if she was being blackmailed or something, but it was all pointless.

It was money.

 

“…Ahaha. Well… um, it was too much money to refuse.”

“That’s good.”

“Right….”

 

Kim Su-yeon smiled bashfully and secretly showed me three fingers behind Choi Ji-young’s back.

 

“…This is.”

“Three times.”

 

Even at her small voice, Noh Hae-min’s eyes widened greatly.

I was the same.

 

“Three times my salary from when I was at Bailonics.”

 

Her face with the shadows lifted looked much better than before.

Either way, it would be better than when she was trembling in that studio apartment in Goshi Village with blackout curtains drawn.

I still ignored Choi Ji-young with her hand on Kim Su-yeon’s shoulder and whispered low in Kim Su-yeon’s ear.

 

“If you ever experience workplace harassment, unfair contracts, or wrongful termination-“

 

Choi Ji-young’s eyebrows twitched.

 

“Feel free to contact me anytime.”

 

Kim Su-yeon nodded brightly. It was the first bright smile I’d seen from her.

 

* * *

 

“Defendant Bae In-jun.”

 

The noisy hall instantly quieted down.

 

It feels like it’s been a very long time.

The voice echoing from the judge’s bench, which now seemed a bit distant, broke my reverie.

 

“The defendant repeatedly monitored the victim whom he met at his business place even after she quit, unlawfully invaded her private space, and threatened the victim’s life and safety.”

 

It was so quiet you couldn’t even hear the sound of swallowing.

The judge’s voice slowly echoed again.

 

“…Furthermore, this is a digital stalking crime that abused modern technology and a matter that should be severely punished by society….”

 

I don’t need to hear more to know.

It’s 5 years.

 

I listened with the feeling of being a prophet.

 

“Severe punishment is unavoidable considering the defendant’s criminal methods, motives, and degree of damage. Therefore, I sentence defendant Bae In-jun.”

 

Finally.

Kim Su-yeon was looking at the judge as if she were praying.

 

“Defendant Bae In-jun is sentenced to 5 years in prison.”

 

The verdict was delivered.

Bae In-jun, who was in the defendant’s seat, dropped his head in despair.

Finally, it was time for this long journey to come to an end.

 

Considering the series of lawsuits that would follow, for Bae In-jun this would be a beginning rather than an end.

 

“Bae In-jun at least had a decent face.”

 

Choi Ji-young, who was making jokes even in this situation, stood up from her seat with an indifferent expression.

 

“His liver must be bad. His face looks a bit swollen.”

 

Choi Ji-young finished speaking and disappeared without any lingering attachment.

Kim Su-yeon was the same.

 

“Um, Lawyer…”

“Yes.”

“Thank you so much.”

“Not at all.”

 

There was once a time when I wondered why the phrase ‘I just did my job’ existed.

Because I thought it was just empty words. But now.

 

“I just did my job.”

 

I answered Kim Su-yeon.

Kim Su-yeon was no longer trembling.

 

And since taking responsibility for the client’s well-being until the very end is the duty of a true lawyer.

 

“…The reporters will swarm toward the parking lot, so let’s go out in a different direction.”

 

I gave Kim Su-yeon some insider tips on how to escape from the court, then calmly faced the wave of reporters.

If this is fate, it’s faster to accept it.

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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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