Chapter 119
Chapter 119
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 119
Chapter Title: The True Duel Begins
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Waiting Room.
"Hyung... what do we do?"
Yoon Chan-rim looked like he was in full panic mode.
At first, the trial had proceeded exactly as planned, and he thought their strategy was working perfectly.
But now everything had gone to waste, and he'd been crushed by the sheer skill gap, so it was understandable.
"Seok Ji-hoon sunbae... he's no joke. But because of me..."
"It's okay. You did great."
Woo Si-hyung comforted Yoon Chan-rim, who was sitting there with his hair all messed up.
"Chan-rim, you gave it your all."
Kang Hyun patted his shoulder too, trying to calm his own racing heart.
"Hoo."
Kang Hyun took a deep breath in and out. He didn't really need to steady himself that much, but since his strategy hadn't panned out as hoped, he needed a moment to organize his thoughts.
With Yoon Chan-rim defeated and stepping back, it was time for Kang Hyun to take the stage.
Seok Ji-hoon was different from the others.
He didn't seize the high ground and overwhelm with relentless attacks to disorient, nor did he lie in wait for a single fatal blow to bring the opponent to their knees.
Those were the main strategies that didn't work on Seok Ji-hoon.
He was calmer and more flawless than anyone Kang Hyun had faced so far, proceeding through the trial like he was reading text or playing Go.
He provoked without a hint of emotional fluctuation, striking with precise calculations, and when it came to defense, he'd escape the pressure if possible, or minimize damage and pivot to the next argument if not.
Kang Hyun pondered how to handle this kind of opponent.
'He's definitely going to come at me sharply. I have to cling on tenaciously.'
Pulling out some groundbreaking argument or evidence to knock Seok Ji-hoon down in one shot was impossible.
He'd have to bring up big and small claims multiple times—dozens if needed—block the opponent's assertions, overcome them, then counterattack to claim victory.
Having finished his brief deliberation, Kang Hyun spoke to Woo Si-hyung, who was in charge of summarizing the competition issues.
"Get everything ready, from the Seohae Pulp company reorganization documents to the reports on the creditor reorganization plan."
"What? All of that?"
Woo Si-hyung's eyes went wide.
"We have to defend. They're going to argue that the claim amount we're seeking is deductible."
"Even so, that's just what we prepared for submission. Eight whole years' worth."
Woo Si-hyung shook his head instinctively.
"This time, let's just push our side's claims and concede the points they make that we have to. It might be better to wrap up after recess and counter then."
It was the first time he'd opposed the idea, but it made sense.
Even for Kang Hyun, sifting through massive documents in limited time to pull out exactly the right parts to block Seok Ji-hoon's attacks seemed impossible.
Just locating and presenting their prepared arguments would be tough enough, but Kang Hyun was volunteering to defend against the attacks too, so he had to try to stop him.
But Woo Si-hyung knew what kind of response Kang Hyun would give.
"No, I can do it."
"Hyun-a."
As expected, Kang Hyun shook his head calmly.
"This isn't just a trial—it's a competition. Whether we fail to counter and get pushed back now or counter late after resumption, we lose points either way."
"Still..."
Woo Si-hyung tried to interrupt, but he stopped at the sight of Kang Hyun's composed demeanor.
"You trust me, right? I'll focus harder than ever before."
Woo Si-hyung stared blankly at Kang Hyun for a moment, then nodded vigorously.
"Yeah, got it."
He could feel just how reliable those words were.
And how much trust Kang Hyun had in him.
"I'll prepare the materials by year and lay them out."
"Thanks."
Kang Hyun stood, leaving the door open as he headed out first.
Woo Si-hyung watched Kang Hyun's back retreating down the hallway for a long while.
For a brief moment, he'd felt anxious without fully trusting him, and now that seemed a bit silly, leaving him with a wry smile.
Kang Hyun was their leader, carrying so much on his shoulders.
He wasn't just aiming to be the best.
He aimed to be perfectly, overwhelmingly the best. There was no reason to doubt him.
"We'll reconvene."
The bench remained expressionless throughout.
They occasionally pulled out some documents and discussed lightly among themselves, but usually they sat in silence, gazing deeply into the vast courtroom.
Perhaps even they were forcing themselves to focus intensely on the competition under the pressure of the world championship.
Kang Hyun's moment to take the stand was drawing near.
'The initiative has shifted.'
Kang Hyun calmly watched as Woo Si-hyung submitted the materials to the bench.
Seok Ji-hoon deserved recognition for his skill in instantly reversing positions, even though the plaintiffs should have pressed hard as the claimants in the damages suit.
But the facts of the case hadn't changed, nor had their preparations become meaningless.
"..."
As predicted, Kang Hyun quietly observed Seok Ji-hoon seating the other team members and throwing himself back into the fray.
He stood with just a single page of documents to continue his rebuttal.
"Defense, you may begin your argument."
"Before I argue, I'd like to say something to the plaintiffs."
"...?"
Seok Ji-hoon's cold smile contrasted with Kang Hyun's puzzled expression.
It was the first smile they'd seen from Seok Ji-hoon in this competition hall.
"Counting up what the defense intends to claim against the plaintiffs' damages suit... hmm, there were ten points. Can you answer them sincerely and earnestly?"
Thwack.
"Your Honor. This is a civil trial. The defense is acting like prosecutors, trying to press down on the plaintiffs."
"I proposed this not for victory in the competition, but in hopes of uncovering the substantive truth of the case and a just ruling—not through schemes for each side's win, but through agreement based on justice and reason."
"The defense's statement presupposes flaws in the plaintiffs' damages claim."
Even to Kang Hyun's immediate counter, Seok Ji-hoon pressed on fluidly.
But the bench had no particular response.
"That's too much."
Woo Si-hyung, slouched sideways in the seat next to him, muttered just loud enough for Kang Hyun to hear.
It was phrased as a proposal, but it was a declaration of war.
Meaning: I have the confidence, so go ahead and block my attacks as best you can.
Seok Ji-hoon signaled the start of battle with his icy smile.
"So, may I ask my questions?"
"The plaintiffs are fully prepared to answer the defense as much as needed."
Kang Hyun matched him without flinching.
Finally.
The true clash of swords had begun.
The atmosphere in the competition hall was vastly different from before.
Those who'd come to witness Kang Hyun's historic victory now watched the stage with half expectation, half doubt.
Even with the hall packed, not a single breath or whisper could be heard.
Unceasing tension and pressure welled up. The one who overcame it would win, people thought.
But the two on stage were beyond such predictions.
There was no tension left in either of them.
Just skill.
Pure skill under the same conditions.
Both were in a state to unleash 100% of their abilities.
A meticulous argument battle had begun—one that could drag on for dozens of hours or end in a single exchange.
Seok Ji-hoon drew his first blade.
"A question for the plaintiffs. If a corporation goes bankrupt and properly pays off unprocessed bank costs like unsettled L/C payments as legitimate reorganization claims, then if the agency representing the bankrupt company pays the counterparty again, that would be double payment, correct?"
"Yes."
"Good. The damages claim raised by the plaintiffs arose from unsettled L/C payments due to the default of the third party Seohae Pulp. Our client, Kawasaki Corporation, merely acted as agent for Seohae Pulp, and the plaintiffs' losses end there with Seohae Pulp as reorganization claims."
Seok Ji-hoon's words flowed like a blade dancing.
"The plaintiffs reported the damages to Seohae Pulp as reorganization claims, received proper recognition, and most of those claims were paid or settled through agreement between the plaintiffs and Seohae Pulp."
"That does not mean the damages claim against the defendant is extinguished within that scope."
"At least for portions prepaid or converted to equity contributions under the reorganization plan, couldn't we consider those as satisfaction of claims, extinguishing the full amount in that range?"
"That cannot be."
"Then, from the perspective of the Seohae Pulp reorganization plan, shouldn't the interest shortfall on this L/C claim—parts paid by Seohae Pulp to the plaintiffs and parts waived by the plaintiffs—be deducted?"
"That cannot be either."
Kang Hyun responded with an expressionless but disciplined tone.
But at a certain point, Seok Ji-hoon paused deliberately, as if to say "you're right." He brimmed with leisure, believing Kang Hyun couldn't refute it all.
"Your Honor. The plaintiffs are making absurd claims. Seohae Pulp went bankrupt and partially repaid the plaintiffs. How much more double money do they want? The plaintiffs demand massive damages without even gauging the bank's actual losses."
As Seok Ji-hoon spoke, the bench's mic turned on like a mediator, the voice echoing through the hall.
"Plaintiffs, could we hear why you so firmly judge the defense's claims as wrong."
"..."
Kang Hyun stood in silence.
The hall too was wrapped in silence.
People clenched their jaws, frustrated at failing to keep up with the barrage of questions.
Yoon Chan-rim and the others were the same.
In the distance behind, Professor Park Min-ha was visible.
Arms crossed, she stared gravely at the competition hall with an expression that said it was over.
But it was then.
"Very well."
"...?"
"Honorable Your Honor. This is currently the defense's rebuttal time. If granted the floor, I will refute everything."
"...!"
Kang Hyun's words were shocking.
Seok Ji-hoon, his own teammate Yoon Chan-rim, Woo Si-hyung—everyone present without exception wore stunned expressions. Some who understood the flow of the competition even doubted his statement.
"Refute... everything...?"
Seok Ji-hoon muttered unwittingly. It was the first crack in his impassive facade.
Kang Hyun, meanwhile, maintained his poker face.
The bench's mic came on, and the presiding judge spoke with a meaningful expression.
"Very well. Then refute it."
Kang Hyun slowly stood, surveying the audience and everyone present.
Gulp.
Tension peaked among those wondering what would come from his mouth, while Seok Ji-hoon's sharp gaze pierced him.
As if to say, what can you possibly do?
But now was when it really began.
Kang Hyun's offensive was just starting.