Chapter 175
Chapter 175
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 175
Chapter Title: James Park Confirmed
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KW Construction Chairman Park Jung-seok.
His youngest son, James Park.
The news of his return to Korea after years abroad had made brief headlines in the media.
Unlike his siblings, who were embroiled in fierce succession battles to inherit the company, he stayed completely out of the spotlight, with no public activities whatsoever.
Yet he was quite infamous as the black sheep of the KW family.
The drug party scandal that had erupted in the US.
It had been quietly swept under the rug, but ripples were inevitable in legal circles.
'The investigation itself never even got off the ground back then.'
It was a story from several years ago, but Kang Hyun dramatically recalled the incident, remembering the name. That was why he hadn't skimmed over the records.
'Our ages match up based on the birthdates, and there are some odd details.'
This medical record for "James Park."
The gap between admission and discharge was far too short. For rib fractures and a leg break, even without surgery, outpatient treatment alone required at least four weeks.
Yet discharge happened the very next day.
'Discharged after just one day?'
With his limited knowledge, he knew that collarbone or rib injuries were hard to cast, took a long time to heal, and restricted movement severely.
Drumming his fingers.
Kang Hyun quickly gathered the documents, taking only James Park's medical record as he headed out. Just then, the administrative director passing by greeted him.
"Heading out, Prosecutor?"
"Ah, I've finished checking, but I have one thing I'd like to ask."
"Sure, go ahead."
"Could you check the discharge reason for this James Park from the medical records?"
The administrative director tilted his head as he read the record Kang Hyun handed him.
"Hmm. We'd need to look at the consultation notes. We recommended at least four weeks of hospitalization, but he was discharged right away."
"That's not common, right?"
"Exactly. Once someone with injuries requiring four weeks or more is admitted, even if they want to discharge themselves, they have to inform their attending physician of the intent and reason, submit necessary paperwork, and go through a consultation. Unless it's involuntary discharge, leaving the next day isn't that simple."
"I see."
"Could he be the perpetrator?"
"No, but the record is suspicious, so I'd like to verify."
"Alright, hold on. Follow me."
It was the moment the seed of doubt in Kang Hyun's mind began to sprout.
If this really was that "James Park."
What if he'd been admitted to Namyangju University Hospital by mistake and discharged belatedly to avoid media exposure?
The administrative director's face grew strange as he searched the records.
"Uh... this is a bit awkward to say."
"Yes, please tell me."
His expression was far from normal. Kang Hyun's eyes sharpened in focus.
"He mentioned during the consultation that he was transferring to another hospital for continued admission, but no destination hospital is listed. This looks like an oversight. Normally, we'd transfer the records, and it'd be logged in the system."
"But there's no record?"
"Yes. We're very thorough about this at our hospital."
'Aha!'
The director glanced cautiously as he spoke, but Kang Hyun had no time to mind him.
His response echoed solely in Kang Hyun's head like a bell tolling.
'This guy's the one.'
Every instinct, every circumstantial clue, pointed to one conclusion.
Left the accident scene untreated and fled.
And someone who could discharge after just one day without leaving a record in administration.
Kang Hyun's suspicion hardened into certainty.
"Thank you for checking."
He stood abruptly. The director, looking troubled, rose and followed.
"This won't cause any issues for us, will it?"
"Yes. If any overlooked details come to light, please contact the prosecutor's office. Thank you for your cooperation."
Kang Hyun gripped the medical record and personal details of James Park tightly in his hand.
If he truly was KW Chairman Park Jung-seok's son.
This was no coincidence.
Coincidences stacked together become deliberate inevitability.
Vroom!
As the sun dipped low.
A car sped into the Namyangju Branch Prosecutor's Office.
When Kang Hyun hurried toward the prosecutor's office with quick footsteps, one person stood guard at the door.
Senior Prosecutor Hwang Jae-eun.
"Where the hell have you been wandering? Why'd you ask for the KW Construction executive list?"
"That was urgent; I'll explain later."
"Hey, you."
Hwang Jae-eun's voice was half awkward, half sharp. She clearly hadn't cooled off from Kang Hyun's impulsive actions.
And she had every right to be angry.
With the recent surge in active investigations, she'd gone days without going home, even skipping meals to take statements.
Prosecutors' lives were worrisome without work, but with too much, it was like grinding their bodies to dust. He got it.
In this routine, even if she'd promised to respect Kang Hyun's methods, her personality and frayed nerves at this peak-stress point made his antics intolerable.
'Haa...'
Their contrasting temperaments shone through.
Hwang Jae-eun: deferential to superiors, detached from others, a perfectionist in work who dove in obsessively but always by the book.
On the other hand, there was Deputy Chief Prosecutor Park Min-seong, who used any means necessary to solve cases, superiors be damned.
Kang Hyun, much like Park Min-seong.
"Please, just stop... now. You're gonna cause a huge mess. Lots of people have it out for you."
"And you, sunbae?"
"What?"
"Are you holding a grudge against me too?"
"That's..."
She bit her lip, then relaxed. It was rare to see Hwang Jae-eun hesitate at Kang Hyun's question.
"Well, you see."
Snap.
"Huh?"
At Kang Hyun's gesture, Hwang Jae-eun unfolded her arms.
"What?"
He held out his open palm to her.
"...Why?"
Hwang Jae-eun stammered, then instinctively grabbed his hand.
Click.
Then Kang Hyun spoke.
"I didn't mean for you to grab it."
"...?"
"Anyway, take a look. I don't sweat much normally, but right now..."
"Oh my."
No sooner had Kang Hyun finished than Hwang Jae-eun startled and dropped his hand, making him chuckle.
"I'm really on edge. Sunbae, just give me a day. Results by tomorrow."
Slam.
"Ah, hey, you..."
Thud!
"...He's not crazy; I am."
In her normal state, she wouldn't care what other staff did or what antics a fellow prosecutor pulled.
Likewise, if a junior prosecutor caused trouble with misconduct or insubordination, she'd simply recommend discipline as senior prosecutor and move on.
But since Kang Hyun arrived, something had changed.
She was expending energy she couldn't explain.
His results as a rookie were unbelievably stellar, and his approach and intuition were captivating.
Hwang Jae-eun sighed, shoulders slumping as she glanced at Room 323, then trudged wearily to her own office.
"ID check results?"
"Family registry confirms: Park Jung-seok's youngest son. Eldest Park Ju-ho, second Park Sung-ho, youngest James Park."
"Thank you."
The report from the investigation team.
Kang Hyun immediately cross-checked the birthdate from the hospital medical record against the ID report.
"Matches."
The patient named James Park who vanished like a fugitive after admission. He was indeed KW Construction's youngest son.
Another circumstantial link boosting the likelihood that the hit-and-run driver who fled in corporate A6 after the accident was KW Construction's youngest son.
And the next incoming contact could be the key to cracking the case—a decisive clue.
Knock knock.
"Come in."
Slam.
"Hong Tae-ho, team leader."
Hong bowed 90 degrees upon entry. Kang Hyun nodded, and he straightened, presenting the documents.
Prodded by Kang Hyun, they'd finally gotten to work.
"What is it?"
"Ahem! Here to make amends for my past failings."
His manner was the same, but he handed something over confidently.
'Photos?'
Photos of the vehicle.
"It's early, but this is from in front of the bar—face and build are visible!"
A tall man in a suit, face blurry.
"Where was it found?"
"Accident day, around 5 PM, A6 with plate 01ga1357 spotted in Gangnam area."
"Gangnam? Not Namyangju?"
"Yes!"
'Went from Gangnam to Namyangju, then back toward Gangnam? Intriguing.'
Kang Hyun quickly compared the ID photo on James Park's report with the security CCTV face.
'Whoa!'
Blurry, but identifiable.
"...It's him."
Excitement surged. And thrill.
That guy was this guy.
For evidentiary use, he'd need forensic confirmation from the National Forensic Service on the face match, but it wouldn't take long.
Horse-like face, large nose, sharply slanted eyes, protruding jaw, creepy smile.
No need to double-check—it was exactly him.
"Ahem. So, what do you think? Our investigative skills."
Hong puffed out his chest proudly. But Kang Hyun wasn't ready to reward him yet.
"...And the route?"
"Pardon? The route?"
"First sighting confirmed, so trace the path via security CCTV."
"Uh, well, Gangnam's different jurisdiction..."
"Jurisdiction?"
Kang Hyun furrowed his brow, and Hong flinched.
"Ah, we'll check as fast as possible! Sorry!"
"Forget it."
"...?"
"Prepare."
"Prepare for what?"
"Arrest prep, what else."
"...Arrest? With this evidence, how do we even find the driver?"
Thud.
Hong laughed incredulously at Kang Hyun's words, but paled upon seeing the documents, his smile vanishing in a second.
"...Whoa! You already identified him..."
"Prep immediately. Face match confirmation to the department in hours."
"Yes, sir! Arrest warrant incoming!"
Click!
Kang Hyun sighed at the sudden loyalty, accepting it lightly. As he turned, he caught Hong muttering.
-Whew, damn... total grim reaper.
Slam, thud!
Hong slunk out, mumbling after failing even to get praise.
Left alone, Kang Hyun.
"All set."
He'd straightened the botched police investigation and pinpointed the hit-and-run perp in days.
Arrest warrant request imminent—what would've taken a month, done in days.
Showing such prowess, he sighed softly, stretching.
Satisfaction of nabbing the guy let him finally close his eyes relaxedly.
With capture all that remained, he deserved it.
A case drawing massive attention.
Once the warrant was filed and issued, chaos everywhere. Prosecution, police, courts, media—all stunned, reporting wildly.
'Gonna be noisy.'
But Kang Hyun calmly savored sweet rest as victory reward, reviewing events and looking ahead.