Chapter 104
Chapter 104
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 104
Chapter Title: Settling into Incheon
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He followed Kang Hyun toward the chairs.
"Come this way."
As Kang Hyun stepped forward, the man who had been rolling around in the middle of the civil complaints office had already moved to one side. The wailing cries that had filled the air with chaos like a riot suddenly stopped, restoring peace inside.
"Did the complaints room pest leave?"
"No, over there..."
"Oh, it's quieted down anyway?"
"That new ombudsman volunteer student took him away this time."
The staff at the civil complaints office whispered among themselves as the situation resolved in an instant.
To think that someone who came like a regular customer every few weeks—no, every few days—with their horrific persistent complaints had been silenced...
There were more than a few people behind him letting out deep sighs of relief at Kang Hyun's quick thinking.
Thud.
The grubby man sat blankly on the chair, munching on snacks—clearly starving—while Kang Hyun took a seat beside him and struck up a conversation.
"You haven't had lunch, have you?"
"Couldn't eat."
"Yes. With your daughter's verdict coming down like that, it's only natural you couldn't stomach a meal."
"...!"
"That's the case number on your sign, right? Your daughter's fraud case?"
"How did you know that...?"
"I mentioned it earlier. I've been studying law. If it's okay with you, could I offer some advice? The trial's already been decided and finalized, so we can't undo that, but I do know what it would take to turn things around from here."
"R-Really?"
"Yes. Want to hear it?"
Nod, nod.
The man's head bobbed vigorously.
The office staff busied themselves with their work but couldn't help stealing glances, watching in real time as Kang Hyun gradually brightened the face of that notorious troublemaker.
They'd never even seen him use polite speech before, yet here he was, bowing his head to Kang Hyun and repeating thanks over and over.
"The complaints pest looks almost normal today..."
"That student seems to be counseling him or something."
In truth, the public servants at the complaints desk handled dozens or hundreds of cases a day, so it wasn't easy to give each one personal attention.
As a result, genuine complainants desperate for real counsel went away unsatisfied, and the staff ended up frustrated in their own way.
With Kang Hyun showing up in the midst of it all, it was only natural they'd feel like a savior had appeared just for them.
Kang Hyun dusted off his hands after neatly resolving what could be considered the office's top issue of the day and stood before them.
"Hello. I'm Kang Hyun, starting officially from tomorrow."
"Welcome!"
"Please take care of us."
"If you don't know something, feel free to ask anytime."
They extended hands one by one for handshakes, and Kang Hyun greeted them warmly in return.
The civil complaints staff marveled at and praised his exploits until Prosecutor Kim Jeong-min showed up to take him away.
'He'll do great.'
Everything was new to Kang Hyun, but the staff genuinely appreciated having him around.
"Prosecutor!"
"Yeah, let's go grab some food."
After a successful and memorable greeting, Kang Hyun and Kim Jeong-min headed out of the prosecutor's office.
Kim Jeong-min, who had even taken the afternoon off for Kang Hyun's sake, led him to an apartment complex. Expecting something like a studio, Kang Hyun's jaw dropped.
Click.
"Wow, you live here in Incheon?"
"Bought it? Nah, it's government housing. Still, it's pretty livable, right?"
The place they arrived at was an apartment complex near the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office.
It was an older building but cleanly remodeled, with high floors offering a nice view.
A comfortable sofa and TV in the living room. A kitchen suitable for cooking anything. Washer, dryer, lights, heater, and more.
From Kim Jeong-min's setup, Kang Hyun could tell he'd been living independently for a long time.
"You keep it so neat."
"You have to be neater the farther you are from home. Anyway, unpack over there, then let's head out for dinner."
"Sounds good."
"Want a drink?"
"Quit drinking."
"You little prickly one."
After unpacking, checking in with his mother and a few others, and changing clothes, it was already nearing five o'clock.
"Where do you want to go, Songdo?"
"Anywhere with seaside street food stalls sounds good."
"Look at this guy. Says no booze, but wants the vibe!"
"No booze doesn't mean no atmosphere."
"Haha, fair enough. Let's hit Ulwangni for some grilled shellfish."
"Got it."
Step, step.
They stepped outside and began strolling leisurely.
The weather was a bit chilly, but no snow like in Seoul, and plenty of people out and about, giving it a nice, peaceful vibe.
"Wait here. I'll get the car."
"You're drinking, though."
"I'll get a designated driver."
Vroom.
Kim Jeong-min and Kang Hyun headed to Yeongjong Island.
The place where Kang Hyun had first attended an academic conference and stunned everyone with skills beyond college level. Nearby stood grand hotels, etched in his memory.
The evening hues around them were beautiful. Drivers speeding by all looked happy and relaxed. Seoul or Incheon, life was much the same, but still.
Everyone has some place in their memories filled with happy times and nostalgia, so it wasn't strange for Kang Hyun to feel this way.
Kim Jeong-min seemed to know the spots and drove confidently along the coast.
Before long, the scenery shifted to expansive seaside, entering an area lined with shellfish grill stalls in street-food style.
Click.
"Hello. Got any seats?"
"Yes, come on in!"
Starved from the evening hour, they entered one of the shellfish spots and took a table.
Setup was quick, and soon food began arriving.
A platter of scallops topped with cheese and sauce, mouthwatering keyhole limpets, venus clams, live sashimi, and enough dishes to break the table.
With a beer joining the spread, both men's eyes sparkled.
"The vibe is killer, right?"
"Yeah."
"Winter seaside is unbeatable!"
"Feels that way. First time seeing the winter ocean."
Pfft.
"Then bring a girlfriend next time. Forget winter beach for now. Cheers."
Gulp, gulp. Ahh.
From the atmospheric seaside spot, waves crashing, a light breeze from outside the open shop.
A roaring stove, watching shellfish grill, gazing at the sea with a drink in hand.
The tipsy buzz that came naturally with the mood—probably why people can't quit drinking.
As the day's languor and fatigue melted away in quiet pleasure, tension fully released, Kim Jeong-min spoke up.
"By the way, heard you became student council president? Eat up to celebrate."
Kang Hyun nodded at Kim Jeong-min's roundabout way of congratulating him and picked up his chopsticks.
Once the hunger subsided and the coals crackled softly, Kim Jeong-min asked out of the blue.
"What's your next plan?"
"What plan?"
"You hit your goal, so there must be another one."
"Hmm... First, win the international moot court competition, prep for early law school admission. Then the judicial exam when the time comes."
"Busy times ahead."
"And you, Prosecutor?"
"Huh?"
"Your plans. Next goal."
He listened to Kang Hyun, swirling his glass silently for a while.
Then, as if carefully drawing out his inner thoughts, he spoke.
"Head back to Seoul and give it a shot."
"Give it a shot? So not back to the trial division, but investigation?"
"Yeah. Applying to Special Investigations."
Special Investigations Department.
A powerful unit under the Central District Prosecutors' Office Third Senior Prosecutor, handling cases directly designated by the Prosecutor General.
Despite calls for abolition, its immense power stemmed from sitting at the absolute core of unchecked authority.
But becoming a so-called "specialist" there was a double-edged sword.
You could rise rapidly, but earn a regime's ire and get demoted overnight.
Kang Hyun started to say more, but it seemed the decision was final.
"Can't keep going like this. What do you see in our organization?"
"Haven't joined yet, so not sure."
"Yeah, that's right."
He sipped his drink and continued.
"I'll dive in, shake things up. If it doesn't work, open a law firm. You do it too—become a lawyer."
"No thanks."
"Stubborn."
"You're one to talk, Prosecutor."
"True. Haha!"
Sip, gulp, gulp. Ahh.
"Let's... do our best. Next year—important time, right?"
"Yeah. I'll work hard."
"Yeah. Let's give it our all."
Here by the sea.
Instinctively, they reaffirmed each other's resolve and encouraged one another.
This time in Incheon might truly be their last rest before running nonstop.
But as always, they'd support each other like this.
Kang Hyun cheering him on, Kim Jeong-min spurring him forward.
Their conversation continued slowly but earnestly, as more drinks emptied, shellfish opened, and plates cleared one by one.
A satisfying close, perfectly capping their peaceful respite.
And so, Kang Hyun's life in Incheon began.
Mondays through Thursdays, reporting to the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office main civil complaints room at nine a.m., off at five p.m.
The pay was minimum wage, not a formal part-time job but volunteer work, so no extra allowances—but meals and transport covered made it worthwhile enough.
Plus, at Kim Jeong-min's offer to live together, Kang Hyun agreed without much cost, just handling some chores.
It was an incredible opportunity and help for Kang Hyun.
Gaining experience at a prosecutors' office wasn't something you got just by wishing; it was tough amid fierce competition.
Moreover, the Incheon office was sizable even among Seoul and Gyeonggi branches.
Not matching Central District in staff, but plenty—and within days of starting, everyone knew Kang Hyun's face and greeted him warmly.
His debut exploits became the talk of the office, drawing expectant gazes.
Two weeks later.
At the main gate of the prosecutors' office.
"Hello."
"Good morning. Have a nice day."
Kang Hyun greeted the gate security guard as usual.
"...?"
But noticing the man's unusually dark expression, Kang Hyun turned back and asked.
"Sir, something wrong?"
"It's nothing. Just a creepy thing this morning..."
What he clutched and shook was a single letter. The prosecutors' office address, scribbled in pencil so messily it looked left-handed...
"The contents are... a bit much."
Kang Hyun frowned.
The letter bore today's date and a warning message.
'I'll stab you all to death.'