Chapter 154
Chapter 154
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 154
Chapter Title: Prosecutors' Lunch Tension
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" Hello, I'm Kang Hyun."
"...Let's have a quick bite and wrap this up."
In response to Kang Hyun's polite greeting, someone replied stiffly, giving off the vibe that they wanted to end things before the meal even started.
It was Oh Ji-man, the burly, bald-headed head of Criminal Division 2, seated right next to the district prosecutor.
He shot forward like the district prosecutor's bodyguard before Gu Ik-hwan could even speak, gesturing for Kang Hyun to sit.
Kang Hyun bowed once more.
"Yes."
He gave another light nod, took off his jacket, and made his way to his seat.
A low table surrounded by prosecutors.
Right in the center, two empty spots stood out plainly.
They seemed to be the most awkward seats, reserved for the two latest arrivals: Kang Hyun and Hwang Jae-eun.
Kang Hyun walked naturally to the empty chair directly across from Gu Ik-hwan and sat down with a soft *thud*.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
He flashed a smile.
The new prosecutors usually looked intimidated or scared, but Kang Hyun showed none of that.
Instead, there was a confident poise—neither arrogance nor pretense.
That aura seemed to reach everyone, and strangely enough, the tense atmosphere among the junior prosecutors and executives eased just a fraction.
"Hmm."
District Prosecutor Gu Ik-hwan raised an eyebrow slightly and stared at him for a moment. When their eyes met naturally, he waited for the food with a displeased expression.
Soon enough.
*Clink, clink.*
"Seolleongtang is served!"
The meal began, one bowl at a time.
"Everyone, dig in."
"Please enjoy your meal, District Prosecutor!"
"I'll eat well."
*Slurp.*
*Slurp slurp.*
After that, the group quietly focused on their food without much talk.
With over ten prosecutors eating in one room, you'd expect some case discussions, but most were just eating.
Still, chatter continued from one side.
The speakers? Just two. Their voices bounced back and forth.
District Prosecutor Gu Ik-hwan and Division 2 Head Oh Ji-man.
"Ha, that's why those subcontractor employees under that construction company skim off the bottom, right?"
"It's common these days, isn't it?"
"Exactly. These are end times, I tell you."
A conversation between the district prosecutor and the division head.
Park Min-seong, head of Division 1, sitting in the corner, could've chimed in, but he said nothing, just diligently sipping his soup.
As if his mouth existed solely for eating.
Tension was obvious between Park Min-seong and the two executives, but no one at the lunch acted like they noticed.
No one even seemed to care. They just ate.
The district prosecutor treated Park Min-seong like he wasn't there, and no one found it odd. It struck Kang Hyun as bizarre.
Then Gu Ik-hwan's attention flicked to Hwang Jae-eun.
"Senior Prosecutor Hwang Jae-eun."
"Yes."
"This case is pretty tough, huh?"
*Gulp.*
"There are many things to consider, but I believe some of the suspect's charges are clear-cut."
It sounded like a bit of pushback, but someone suddenly cut in.
"So, is it tough or not?"
It was Division Head Oh Ji-man.
He interrupted the district prosecutor and Hwang Jae-eun's exchange, speaking as if representing him. Hwang Jae-eun caught on and slowly rephrased.
"...It is tough, but we're working hard. Thanks to our division head paying close attention."
The phrase "our division head" seemed to irk Oh Ji-man, who raised an eyebrow.
"Attention? It's not easy to just admit when something's tough, huh? Looks like Division 1 folks are super wary of the boss."
"That's not it. Everyone in Division 1..."
"That's exactly because of an incompetent superior. Ability isn't something you develop. You either have it from the start or you don't, right?"
"..."
*Clack.*
Hwang Jae-eun set down her spoon, signaling the conversation was going nowhere, but Oh Ji-man kept talking.
The type who never listened, just pushed his own words.
You could tell he'd get heated and force his views in any real talk.
"An incompetent general throws his men into the fire pit, while a competent one stops them from going in. If you have gripes you can't tell your boss, come straight to me. Worrying about chain of command is so outdated, don't you think?"
"...Yes."
Hwang Jae-eun fought back rising anger, Park Min-seong ignored it all while sipping soup, and Oh Ji-man, voice rising excitedly, barely maintained a fragile boundary.
*What a mess.*
Was this powder keg always like this?
Kang Hyun had vaguely sensed Park Min-seong's frustration from his earlier car talk with Hwang Jae-eun.
Given Park Min-seong's rumored personality, he wouldn't let the KW Construction case drag like this.
Yet Division 1 was handling it, and external pressure was stalling the investigation.
*Hmm, rumors were true.*
Weeks, months with no progress, the case just lingering in the prosecutor's office—an absurd situation.
Park Min-seong must be fuming inside.
Holding back open mockery in front of everyone? That made him impressive.
*I thought Senior Park Min-seong was a wild one, but he's a real prosecutor.*
Kang Hyun stole glances at him, impressed. Despite the blatant jabs, Park ate on with a blank expression mirroring Hwang Jae-eun's signature stoicism.
Meanwhile, as Kang Hyun ate, he pieced together why the seat across from the executives was empty when he entered the room.
"Ha, what nonsense. We should just shoot them all."
"Yes. Regardless of right or wrong, it's important for society..."
"Important? It's all headed for disaster, isn't it?"
Complaints.
"These days, everything's so strict and uptight. What even is the law? What’s the prosecution?"
"Right on, District Prosecutor. You're spot on. We need to clean house from the bottom up."
Grievances.
Kang Hyun's head throbbed and chest tightened after just a few exchanges.
Even a snippet was this repulsive.
Oh Ji-man kept echoing the district prosecutor's gripes, and when Oh revealed his own, Gu Ik-hwan lapped it up.
Like soulmates, a perfect duo.
Kang Hyun focused on eating anyway.
*Tastes good.*
Seolleongtang—free and delicious. Perfect with chopped radish kimchi.
The broth was rich, the meat toppings tender.
*Slurp.*
*Clink, clink.*
*Not a bad welcome meal.*
As Kang Hyun reached for kimchi with his chopsticks,
"By the way, Prosecutor Kang."
"..."
"Prosecutor Kang?"
"...Yes?"
Kang Hyun, who thought no questions would come his way, paused and looked up at the division head.
"Yes, sir."
"Why are you so dense?"
"...Pardon?"
A total ambush.
He barely suppressed a baffled look, but enjoying the meal was over.
*Tap.*
The junior prosecutors set down their spoons one by one, heads turning to watch Oh Ji-man and Kang Hyun alternately.
"You're a rookie prosecutor, right? Gold spoon rookie?"
"First-year prosecutor, yes."
"How many days in?"
"Day two."
"Ha. On day two, and you're holed up in your office doing nothing?"
"...Pardon?"
Oh Ji-man chuckled *ha ha*.
He seemed incredulous at Kang Hyun's wide-eyed innocence, raising his voice like he needed to set him straight.
"What'd you do all day yesterday?"
"Pardon? If you mean yesterday..."
"You went to your assigned office and didn't step out, didn't even make the rounds?"
"Nothing from admin, so I figured something was up at the office."
"Does that make sense?"
"Doesn't it? I understood it as office circumstances."
"What?"
Kang Hyun continued nonchalantly, cool as ice.
"Reporters everywhere, ongoing issues. Made sense to me."
"O-Ongoing issues?"
The office was buzzing from the district prosecutor's cover-up scandal, but with Kang Hyun—a two-day newbie—calling it out boldly, Oh Ji-man stammered, at a loss.
He'd wanted an apology.
But Oh Ji-man pressed on, pretending otherwise.
"Even so, is that rookie prosecutor etiquette? Just assuming the whole office is chaos and sitting tight—that's not..."
"I judged it a reasonable call given the office situation, sir. Common sense: new prosecutor on first assignment, no ceremony, no orientation, office is a converted break room, barely got an ID. Wouldn't anyone think something's wrong with the office?"
His sharp, point-by-point retort—like stabbing with a knife—drew stifled giggles from the junior prosecutors watching.
"Wh-What?"
Oh Ji-man stared blankly for a moment.
Not regret for starting it.
Nor random targeting of Kang Hyun.
He'd planned a little scolding here.
More like criticism to deflate his spirit than real guidance.
"What... did you say?"
But Kang Hyun wasn't ordinary.
He had the office dynamics down pat, like reading palms.
Spotting Oh Ji-man's hazing, he countered point by point, politely but firmly.
Oh Ji-man recomposed, glaring sternly.
Kang Hyun had already bowed and continued.
"I'm sorry. I spoke too much. I'll keep your advice in mind, sir. It's just warm guidance, right?"
"Y-Yeah. Right."
Kang Hyun toyed with him, livening the meal.
One side eager to end it, the other amused.
"A-Anyway! If you don't know, call, come ask, grab a senior, say something. Just do your investigations diligently. Shape up."
"Yes, sir."
Kang Hyun smiled through it.
"So, reviewed the case files yet?"
Judging by Oh Ji-man's questions, he wasn't letting Kang Hyun off easy today.
Here it comes.
Kang Hyun, who'd been waiting, smiled inwardly.
"Yes. I have."