Chapter 159
Chapter 159
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 159
Chapter Title: First On-Time Off
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Kang Hyun wasn't acting without thought.
'Stuff like this, I can handle alone.'
For him, processing simple cases didn't require much deliberation—it was as easy as eating cold porridge.
After just a few days on the job, he'd already concluded there was no need or reason to ask for help from others.
Working alone. It wasn't actually easy.
But flip that around, and it made you stand out, made a good impression on everyone.
It was a simple truth. If a newbie was friendly, handled their work independently without issues, didn't burden the veterans, and on top of that had striking good looks...
Who wouldn't like that?
The Prosecutor's Office was, after all, just a workplace. Human relationships there weren't much different from any other company.
So it made sense that this principle applied. He'd decided to be a good guy.
Kang Hyun, who understood this perfectly, began tackling his work methodically and efficiently in his own way.
'Just a bit more hard work.'
There were times when it felt a little heavy. Then he'd calmly close his eyes for a moment or meditate, then slowly pick up where he'd left off.
Before he knew it, one case would be wrapped up. That was how it went.
Of course, if he were stressing others out and failing at his job, this approach would hit its limits.
In simple terms, he'd become a nuisance. Refusing help while being incompetent—that could be the worst.
But Kang Hyun was special.
He had the most crucial thing: 'ability.' He was better at this than anyone.
It was still too early for precise stats, but the performance of Prosecutor's Office Criminal Division 2, Room 323, was holding its own against any other office.
As time passed and quarterly results came out, Room 323 seemed increasingly likely to claim a huge chunk of Division 2's totals.
No wonder—even just his results from the past few weeks were already averaging out nicely.
Working this hard naturally led people to see Kang Hyun as a 'good guy.'
For example, in the hallway as he passed by.
"I heard Prosecutor Kang suggested reopening the staff cafeteria."
"No way!"
If he overheard staff talking about him and approached with a greeting?
"Hello."
"Oh!"
"Ah, hello, Prosecutor! Uh, nice weather today, right?"
"Uh... it's raining today?"
"Oh my! Look at me. Seeing your face must be making the weather look good...."
"You're crazy! Prosecutor, have a great day!"
A grin, then scamper off.
"Uh, wait, Ms. Han? Ms. Oh?"
Young staffers blushing furiously and fleeing. Kang Hyun looking awkward.
Most people he encountered reacted like that.
So he couldn't approach any staff casually or chat freely, but since they saw him as impressive or mysteriously untouchable, it wasn't so bad.
'Well, as long as they don't see me as a bad guy, this is fine, right?'
This was huge progress. He was gradually adapting to the environment, blending into the office.
But he wasn't shouldering all the work in his office just for smooth relationships and adaptation.
Click!
He had a goal here, something he intended to do.
Kang Hyun pulled the information report materials headed to the 'Ministry of Justice Vice Minister's Office' and placed them on his desk.
It was the report on the dragging 'Namyangju Building Collapse Case.'
Of course, since it was for the Ministry, it contained no 'real intel'—just the usual, bland public-facing info.
Whenever he had a gap, he'd fetch these materials, read through them carefully, trying to gauge the insiders' true feelings.
'Lying low and waiting, the time will come.'
Anyway.
Kang Hyun's 'hard grind' continued like this.
One day, two days, three, four....
The higher-ups must have agreed not to mess with the newbie prosecutor who'd already proven he was pulling his weight like a veteran, because they stopped commenting.
Bang.
"Prosecutor Kang. The section chief next door is getting married. Envelopes?"
"Yeah. Of course."
"Wedding?"
"Gotta go."
"Then let's go together."
"Sure."
Plus, aside from his mentor, Prosecutor Kim Si-hwan, the other prosecutors in Criminal Division 2 who were still wary of the brass had no reason to even cross paths with him. Peace reigned.
And so, the last Monday of late March.
Room 323 buzzed with energy.
Even though Kang Hyun was still the only one there, buried in record reviews.
"Finally."
Click.
Finishing today's quota, he stretched with a hugely bright expression. He whipped his head to check the clock, looking oddly cheerful.
Yes. Today was a very special day.
"My first on-time clock-out."
His first six o'clock off in weeks.
The moment he'd been waiting for had arrived.
No need to pass by the convenience store lights every night, no chilly alley lit only by streetlamps.
This was the sweet time he'd earned himself, a honeyed rest guaranteed by his nonstop sprint.
A step toward balancing work and life as a prosecutor.
Moreover. Kang Hyun had no intention of just crashing in bed during this break.
Slide.
Right on cue, his phone buzzed.
"Hello? Yeah, yeah. Heading out now. What's the shop name again?"
On this 'early out' day, he'd made plans.
With a close friend he hadn't seen in ages.
'Been a while. Kinda exciting.'
Kang Hyun packed up, smile refusing to fade.
Seeing an old friend. It was thrilling and fun.
Seocho, late night.
The bar street showed no signs of dimming.
Ding-ding. Ding-ding.
His bankbook emerged from the ATM, back in Kang Hyun's hand after settling.
"Wow... kinda anticlimactic."
Kang Hyun peered almost nose-deep at the printed numbers.
His tangible-yet-elusive paycheck had vanished in a blink, split across various outflows.
Still, first paycheck. Bigger than expected, so he was a bit happy.
He let out a brief sigh of joy, savoring it.
'...It's fine. A little more and I'll clear all the debt.'
Prosecutors were still salarymen; the pay wasn't enough to wipe out his debts in one go. But it was okay.
One change since becoming a prosecutor: he could be a tad more optimistic about money.
The debt collectors tormenting his mom were gone.
Just a few 'supporters' of the Kang family and folks quietly awaiting his transfers.
Sometimes letters arrived at home: 'Thanks for growing up well.'
'Not time to declare victory yet. But still....'
With breathing room at home, Mom had switched to an easier public service cleaning gig on contract, and they were prepping to move from a 40-year-old complex to a small new build.
Truth be told, she didn't even need to work anymore. But she didn't want to lean on him more, claiming boredom as she kept at it steadily.
There, Kang Hyun was gradually becoming her biggest pride.
"Man, that was rough."
Kang Hyun summed up the past with those short words, stepped away from the ATM, and checked the time.
He was waiting for someone today.
'Should be here soon?'
As Kang Hyun thought that, a very welcome face appeared in the distance, heading his way.
"Hey!"
"Hyung!"
Still handsome face, the kind of built physique that'd make women swoon.
Hair slicked up slightly, neat outfit—he approached Kang Hyun.
Kang Hyun's Korea University classmate, someone he'd shared countless days studying and competing in tournaments with. An important friend, good dongsaeng.
Yoon Chan-rim.
"Heh heh."
"Ha ha."
The closer Yoon Chan-rim got, the brighter Kang Hyun's face grew.
Same for the other guy.
"Wow, hyung! How've you been?"
"Good! You?"
"As you see. Gained some weight?"
"Nah. You've been hitting the gym hard."
"Busted. Gotta do something while at the Judicial Training Institute. You're the same as ever?"
"Work's fun, so just been working."
"Ugh, fun my ass. Head not hurting?"
Yoon Chan-rim grinned cheekily. Kang Hyun lightly smacked his waist—tap.
Back when Kang Hyun took the express lane to prosecutor with unprecedented feats in the legal world.
His buddies had given their all too, with decent results.
Among his connections, two were notably following his path.
Woo Si-hyung and Yoon Chan-rim, for starters.
Woo Si-hyung had entered Korea University's law school, prepping for the bar exam after already passing the prosecutor qualification test. Meeting him as a peer wasn't far off.
Yoon Chan-rim passed the 65th Judicial Exam alongside Kang Hyun.
Unlike Kang Hyun's special case, passers normally qualified for Judicial Research and Training Institute education, required for appointment as prosecutors or judges.
He was in the final stretch of the 55th class. In other words, racing toward prosecutor-hood himself.
"Si-hyung hyung probably won't pick up, buried in books."
"Yeah, called earlier. Said he's dying."
"Makes sense."
Despite the time apart, they bantered like old times.
No awkwardness even after ages—that's friendship.
"Anyway, where's the person hyung said he'd introduce?"
"Coming now."
And one more person was joining today.
Thud! Thud!
A burly guy in a white suit.
Crew cut, sunglasses that didn't suit the hour—he swaggered toward Kang Hyun's group.
Someone who'd shared long friendship with Kang Hyun, now a business success.
Han Hyun-ho, proudly topping charts daily as president of his restaurant chain.
"Hey, Prosecutor! Long time!"
"Hyun-ho, yeah."
Kang Hyun and Han Hyun-ho hugged familiarly.
"Sunglasses at midnight?"
"Heh heh, trying to look cool so I don't bow to prosecutors."
Chided by Kang Hyun, he doffed the shades and bowed politely to Yoon Chan-rim.
"Han Hyun-ho, CEO of Wolhwaro F&B, the roast meat pros."
"Nice to meet you. Yoon Chan-rim, friend of Kang Hyun hyung. Heard a lot."
"Honor! Let's head in. Told 'em to prep nice."
"You're the hyungnim, speak easy."
"Ha! Embarrassing. Alright then?"
The trio chatted happily over grilling meat at the barbecue joint.
A massive hit of a restaurant scooping up all the local cash, lines forming steadily.
"Let's go!"
Han Hyun-ho slung arms around both good-naturedly, leading them into the huge shop.
Behind them, the sign gleamed: 'Wolhwaro House'.