Chapter 152
Chapter 152
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 152
Chapter Title: Dawn in the Empty Office
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Dawn, Namyangju Branch Office.
In a remote corner room where hardly anyone would notice the light seeping out, the sound of pages turning diligently continued without end.
It was the third floor of the main building, Criminal Division 2.
Room 323, Prosecutor Kang Hyun's office.
Flip, flip.
Prosecutor Kang Hyun, pulling an all-nighter.
No, it had gone beyond overtime into the dead of night. Since his first day on the job, he'd stayed up all night past midnight, and now it was pushing one-thirty.
He hadn't eaten a proper meal, just popping into the nearby restroom a few times. That was how he'd holed up in his office, welcoming the dawn of his second day on the job.
'Hot in here.'
In a room where he still wasn't sure if the heating was even working properly, Kang Hyun had tossed off his suit jacket and dove into reviewing the records.
The heat radiating from his intense focus probably made him oblivious to the chill.
Flip, flip.
In his hand, just a single pen.
No one had come looking for him, not even for a quick visit. No one had sent the criminal justice system account needed for his prosecutorial work, nor notified him that his access permissions for various review systems had been approved.
The cyber team hadn't even delivered a single computer yet. That said it all.
Flip!
But Kang Hyun hadn't gone searching for anyone or picked up the phone to call.
Such things would sort themselves out naturally. For now, only what lay before him.
His first mission was these very 'case records.'
Kang Hyun calmly began sorting through them like reading a book.
In other words, he was diving into the review process for case dispositions.
'Manageable. Most of them have obvious answers.'
Sending cases to a prosecutor's office meant to dispose of them.
Disposal meant deciding whether to indict or drop prosecution—prosecutors conducting 'investigations.'
That was the role in a prosecutor's office, the duty of a trial prosecutor.
If someone pictured Kang Hyun, on his first day in a branch office with no welcoming faces, poring over records right away, they might imagine it as a lonely sight.
But he was brimming with energy.
Now that he finally had the legal right to do the work he'd always wanted.
Having a quiet room piled high with investigation records was, in a way, something to be grateful for—it let him immerse himself fully.
And the real reason he was so energized.
"Fun."
That was it. Kang Hyun couldn't tear his eyes away from the case records.
It wasn't like he had no acquaintances in the office. He recognized a few faces from his comings and goings, and there were even some from the Central District Prosecutors' Office.
Like Detective Chief Park Min-seong from Criminal Division 1, or Prosecutor Hwang Jae-eun.
The key was that Kang Hyun knew them well.
He could even meet them by going up just one floor via the emergency exit across from them.
'They're doing well, I bet. Greetings can wait.'
It wasn't strange or difficult to pay courtesy visits on his first assignment.
Even without guidance from the general affairs staff or his aides, he could seek them out and complain about the unfair situation.
But Kang Hyun calmly sat beside the stacked records, turning pages.
Rustle!
'...No need. I don't want to lose, actually.'
He'd faced petty hazing before in his life.
Even a legal genius like Kang Hyun wasn't invincible in social dynamics.
But this kind of blatant neglect.
'This is crossing the line.'
They were looking down on him or ignoring him. On this point, Kang Hyun couldn't tolerate it, no matter who was behind it.
He'd make them come to him. And he'd get an apology.
He brushed off the fleeting thought and dove back into the records.
About thirty cases in total.
From truly thin files under twenty pages, to thicker ones bound in two or three volumes that might take a rookie some time to judge.
In terms of difficulty, they ranged from the lowest level up to mid-tier at best.
If graded, C-grade at lowest, B-grade tops.
But whether prosecutors, judges, the president, or his ancestors.
Dumping this workload on the first day, first hours, without realizing the routine.
Any rookie prosecutor would have wandered to the relevant department with a dazed look, asking why.
They'd play dumb or snark, 'Can't even handle this?'
Typical reactions fall into two categories.
Bow and submit to them. Or grab your phone in disgust and start job hunting elsewhere.
But Kang Hyun was different. With his abilities came unconventional thinking.
'Just knock them all out.'
Flip!
The key in this situation was one thing.
'Prioritize cases I can dispose of right here.'
Kang Hyun's first task was classifying them by difficulty.
Because without even a computer, to prove results, the fastest way was to quickly process and 'send down to the office' what he could dispose of immediately.
Criminal cases invariably go through the prosecution.
That's the current legal framework. Until police gain independent investigation and closure rights, the prosecution remains the core, handling all cases—and it would stay that way.
In that context, for 'transferred cases' not direct prosecutions, the police had already 'completed one round' of investigation.
Whether in custody or not, absolutely. So, picking cases warrantable for 'non-prosecution' per police opinion would reduce the total volume.
"Hmm. Criminal Procedure Act Article 4, land jurisdiction, crime location, address, residence, current location check. Transfer this one."
With each judgment, Kang Hyun let out a short, satisfied sigh, sorting the record aside.
Suspect location unknown: suspend investigation.
Deceased: no prosecution right.
No jurisdiction on current location, crime site, address, residence: transfer.
Even minor cases require summoning parties, but if unreachable or procedural priorities demand, he could handle on the spot.
Of course, no 'progress notes'—the standardized slips attached to case bottoms for easy status checks.
Kang Hyun used Post-its instead, jotting key disposition points or planned actions on the front, sorting simply and moving on.
Then grabbed the next record for review, repeating.
'Not bad at all.'
Truth be told, when Kang Hyun decided no one would come and picked up the first case file, he had a sliver of doubt if this was feasible.
His mind kept signaling: go ask a senior what's going on.
At least check with general affairs HR.
But.
Kang Hyun shoved all those thoughts aside. And calmly opened the first page.
'Turns out, it's easier than I thought.'
Suddenly, the situation flipped 180 degrees.
Now, Kang Hyun had no need to seek anyone out before they came.
If accused of freeloading on meals, he'd have plenty to show.
Flip, flip!
"Whew, no thimbles here... not that there would be."
His fingers ached. Slight sweat beaded on his palms.
It wasn't easy, really. First day, no adaptation yet.
Sleepless, eyes stinging a bit, head fuzzy.
But a few more hours, and dozens of reviewed records would be in his hands.
Not high difficulty, so no room for disagreement on judgments.
Show these, and no one could complain.
He'd return their shock tenfold, a hundredfold; deliver embarrassment and shame a thousand times over.
Two o'clock, three...
Past three-thirty.
Gurgle.
His stomach was starting to complain.
"Grab some cup ramen later."
He'd devoured them endlessly studying in school, so normally he had no craving.
Maybe the memories surfaced. Today, he craved that half-raw, half-cooked spicy ramen made by pouring hot water and waiting two minutes.
'A bit more, then eat well.'
One volume, two.
But even records that took ten minutes now dragged as cases grew complex.
If he had access, he could check suspect records or inmate status.
A direct line list, and he'd call police for contact info or CCTV feasibility.
Even A4 paper stocked, he'd pre-organize.
'Whatever. No point thinking that now.'
Nothing available, time slipping bit by bit, effort piling up, but Kang Hyun didn't quit.
"Hmm, one left?"
A thick bundle of several volumes.
Charges: habitual assault, assault on ascendant.
Suspect habitually assaulted 'acquaintance victim 1' and 'mother victim 2.'
"What a scum."
Fleeting thought.
"...Semi-public offense. A few legal points to weigh."
Unlike before, Kang Hyun pondered more factors, then unusually used pencil to lightly mark check lines on each charge on the front.
'Bundle as habitual assault on ascendant.'
Thud!
With that, record review complete.
Thirty criminal cases? Even a veteran prosecutor focusing hard couldn't finish in a day.
But that didn't apply to Kang Hyun.
"Argh!"
Kang Hyun stretched, swiveling his chair with a creak to gaze out the window.
Four a.m. dawn.
City lights faintly twinkling in the quiet, but still dark.
'Quiet and nice.'
Namyangju.
A new place he'd never visited.
Prosecutors must adapt nationwide, handling local cases.
Not holing up in Seoul if successful, nor exiled to provinces if not.
Safely arriving in new turf, immersing in a full day's work.
Grateful for that alone.
"Alright, time to go."
Thud!
Kang Hyun pulled a crisp briefcase from the cabinet, slowly standing to organize the records.
Snap, snap.
His movements so natural and practiced, like years on the job. He adapted fast, knew no unknowns.
"Let's go."
No one watching, no one ordering it.
But Kang Hyun savored a petty thrill like sneaking ice cream, mingled with pride.
Home now, maybe one or two hours' sleep.
Fine by him.
As planned: boil ramen en route, catch first bus home, shower, head back for work on time.
Kang Hyun glanced at the briefcase—the least familiar thing here—and chuckled softly.
The gift-giver popped into mind.
"You're... doing well too, right? I'll give it my best shot."
Kang Hyun shrugged happily, flicked off the light.
Today's off-duty, today's on-duty.
Another packed day beginning.