Chapter 158
Chapter 158
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 158
Chapter Title: The One-Man Prosecutor's Office
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Meanwhile.
Kang Hyun's office finally had a computer equipped, allowing him to handle his duties properly. But after that, the volume of messages pouring into his internal messenger could only be described in one word: overwhelming.
His new computer looked like it was about to burst into flames.
-Prosecutor! There's a transfer ceremony scheduled for tomorrow at 10:30! Please reply.
-Prosecutor. If there's anything inconvenient, let me know anytime. Whether by phone or messenger...
-Prosecutor! We've planned to assist with your tour of the building. When would be a good time?
-Prosecutor! The Second Section Chief wants to have a celebratory dinner for your transfer...
-Hello, Prosecutor! I'm Kim, the administrative officer from the Criminal Division. Looking forward to working with you.
"...Wow."
It was as if they'd been waiting for this moment—they suddenly started taking care of him all at once.
Even as he diligently replied, the messages kept coming nonstop.
'Not a bad feeling.'
Kang Hyun felt like a long-blocked meridian had cleared, naturally dissolving the wall that had kept him and the staff apart.
What was that wall? He knew full well.
'It must've been the branch director's orders. After that one showdown, things loosened up like this.'
After giving them a piece of his mind, things got much easier.
Once he'd pulled off that feat in the branch director's office and made it impossible for the director to touch him, people started treating Kang Hyun with unrestrained enthusiasm, like horses with the reins off.
Before the wall came down, they'd been mere bystanders, which had shown their true colors and been a bit annoying, but in retrospect, they might not have had a choice but to watch and wait.
'Is this what social life is like?'
Either way, Kang Hyun now felt like adapting to the Prosecutor's Office would be much smoother.
His first step into society? Not bad at all.
At that moment.
Knock, knock.
"Yes. Come in."
The door burst open.
"Kang Hyun."
It was the afternoon he'd spent organizing supplies, and the person who capped off the end of it had come to visit.
"Ah, Senior Prosecutor Kim Si-hwan. You've arrived."
It was Kim Si-hwan, Kang Hyun's mentor prosecutor.
"Yeah. I'm here."
He scurried over to Kang Hyun's side with a face full of curiosity.
"...?"
"...How'd you do it?"
"Do what?"
"How'd you shut down Section Chief Oh?"
"Ah."
"Watching that guy's nose get flattened cured my depression. Kugh, it's bringing tears to my eyes..."
"Ah... I just reported it as instructed. Sen, Senior?"
Sensing something off in the reaction, Kang Hyun looked up at Prosecutor Kim Si-hwan.
Sniff, sniff.
He was actually crying.
"Hic... I came too soon for no reason... Got any tissues?"
"Here they are."
Sniff.
He must've been carrying a lot of pent-up stress.
He'd rushed over to congratulate Kang Hyun on his victory, only to break down in tears here.
"Senior..."
"Sorry, junior. I've been through a lot..."
"Sigh, it's fine. Sit here and calm down."
Kang Hyun sat him on the new sofa and brewed a hot cup of coffee from the state-of-the-art machine that had been placed in one corner of his office.
Drip, drip.
Sip, sip.
"Whew, I'm the one who ends up like this because I can't stand up to the section chief even if I wanted to."
"No, don't say that."
"No, I've really been struggling a lot lately."
Kang Hyun learned one more thing about Prosecutor Kim Si-hwan.
'Turns out he's got a fragile mental side.'
Oblivious to Kang Hyun's thoughts, Kim Si-hwan began unloading his grievances.
"With Namyangju Branch becoming media fodder this time, and not understanding the section chief's intentions at all. I wanted to speak up, but my skills always held me back."
"No, just having those thoughts makes you impressive."
"Hic. To have a junior like you come in—I'm truly grateful..."
"No, really."
"No, I really am grateful..."
He grabbed Kang Hyun's hand and kept thanking him repeatedly. It was as if Kang Hyun's actions had given him a spark of inspiration.
Even if he was branded an incompetent senior, it felt much better than when he'd shaken the branch director's hand while pretending not to notice his obvious intentions.
"It was a refreshing feeling I hadn't had in ages. The other seniors probably feel the same."
"I wonder if I went too far."
"No, everyone thinks so. With cases going south nonstop, you're like a timely rain."
"It's not that much. I'll work hard from now on."
As Kim Si-hwan kept spewing back-scratching compliments, Kang Hyun cut him off firmly, though his smile remained.
He'd be seeing this man for at least six months, a year—maybe decades ahead.
Having such a kind-hearted senior was a relief he could truly appreciate.
"Yeah. Keep my blubbering a secret. If word gets out, I'll hate you."
"I didn't see a thing, Senior."
"Good! You're swamped, so next time, let's grab a meal. Senior Prosecutor Hwang too..."
He froze like a machine for a moment, as if calculating the tangled web of office relationships.
Luckily, no issues—he resumed with a relieved expression.
"I'll ask Senior Prosecutor Hwang to join us for a meal!"
"Got it. Thanks."
"Have a great afternoon, and let's keep in touch via messenger!"
Kim Si-hwan left in high spirits.
Watching him skip away, Kang Hyun smiled like he would at a big brother.
One more person to look out for, but Kang Hyun was fine with that.
As long as the character was good, skills could be built up.
Kang Hyun knew that better than anyone.
"We ask that you all work hard to ensure our new prosecutor can greatly assist our branch in its time of crisis."
"Thank you."
A transfer congratulatory plaque in Kang Hyun's hand, a handshake with the branch director.
At last, Kang Hyun's official welcoming ceremony was underway inside the branch.
Clap, clap, clap!
The Namyangju Branch Prosecutors' Office was worlds apart in scale from the Central District Prosecutors' Office.
Still, Kang Hyun's transfer ceremony was held in the branch's largest conference room.
Amid their busy schedules, staff poked their heads in to catch a glimpse of him, and a few reporters—somehow having heard the news—stuck their heads into the venue.
For what was supposed to be a routine internal event, this level of interest.
With a major branch-level case ongoing, it seemed they'd promoted it externally to shift some attention here, even briefly.
Feeling people's interest for the first time since arriving in Namyangju, Kang Hyun gladly took the stage and offered a few words with joy.
"Thank you for welcoming this rookie prosecutor. I'll work hard going forward."
A concise greeting and applause.
Kang Hyun soaked it in with his whole body, scanning the room. It was his first chance to see all the staff faces at once since being posted here.
'Some familiar faces.'
A few from Central, and some he'd met in Incheon.
Having people he recognized in this small branch.
It made adaptation feel a bit easier, and he nodded slightly.
"With this, the new prosecutor's transfer ceremony is concluded."
The emcee's closing remark wrapped things up nicely. With applause, people began returning to their duties.
Chatter, chatter.
As the crowd thinned out below the stage, Kang Hyun felt his phone vibrate in his inner pocket.
Bzzz.
He pulled it out, saw who it was, and murmured with a meaningful smile.
"You're a step late."
It was Prosecutor Kim Jeong-min calling.
Whether he'd carved out time from his busy schedule or finally had a breather after wrapping things up, it had been a while since he'd called Kang Hyun directly.
Kang Hyun's lips curved into a smile. Early on, he'd felt a twinge of disappointment that Kim Jeong-min hadn't helped or even tipped him off.
But now? It was fine. Because Kang Hyun had done it himself.
-Why haven't you been picking up?
"Had the transfer ceremony today. It was during the event."
-What? Why do it now?
"Circumstances. Gotta go, busy!"
-Hey, you punk, when you were waiting for my call...
Click.
Kang Hyun hung up quickly and muttered proudly to himself.
"Heh heh, adaptation complete. Senior."
The ability to adapt fully on his own, without borrowing anyone's power.
It wasn't one of Kang Hyun's innate talents.
But in that moment, it felt like something even that could be gained easily with effort—leaving no room for Kim Jeong-min to wedge in.
This joy of another achievement was one he could savor entirely alone.
'Let's do well. I can do this.'
Gazing at the small bouquet and plaque from the staff, Kang Hyun made a silent vow.
Like the sea calming after waves pass, the start had been bumpy, but now it was smooth sailing.
And so, what could be called a major incident wrapped up neatly. Kang Hyun's prosecutor life began to smooth out bit by bit.
As he gradually adapted, he started finding some leisure.
February had passed in a blur, but now it was March, with warm spring returning.
As new buds sprouted and flowers and plants regained their vitality, Kang Hyun too began spreading his wings in the Prosecutors' Office.
"Oh my, where are you taking all that? Prosecutor! Let me help!"
"I'll handle it. It's not heavy."
"Goodness. With no administrative officer in your office... must be tough?"
"I've got hands and feet. I'm fine!"
Kang Hyun strode past without asking for help, arms full of case files, while an administrative officer who'd spotted him on the way panicked and trailed after him.
This was a common sight, and the reason was simple: he was handling every case assigned to his office entirely by himself.
Truth be told, working this way came with inevitable difficulties.
A prosecutor's office was just that—an "office."
If it was meant for one prosecutor to handle alone, it wouldn't be called an "office."
It implied a team working together.
So for Kang Hyun alone, there was a lot to manage.
"This is basically a one-man prosecutor's office."
Case judgments aside, even data entry was on him.
Even for minor cases with low priority—like warrant requests—he prepared them stitch by stitch with his own hands, submitted to court, executed them solo upon issuance, filed them, copied, and sent them out.
He handled countless trivial tasks all by himself.
No wonder the administrative officer from the next office over came by and said:
"Prosecutor! I told you to let me know if you need anything! Doing all this alone..."
Kang Hyun would reply with a bright smile.
"Can I not do it myself?"
"You can, but that's why you pull all-nighters sometimes."
"It's fun. If I really can't manage, I'll ask. But there aren't even cases worth asking for help on..."
Simple assaults, fraud under 100 million won, public indecency, and so on.
Cases were being closed without anyone's help. Perfectly.
Just as someone had said, the one-man prosecutor's office was operating normally.