Chapter 178
Chapter 178
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 178
Chapter Title: TBS Appearance
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Right after the first trial ended, in the outer courtyard of the Namyangju District Court.
The person who came running up and grabbed Kang Hyun, who was on his way back, was none other than Lawyer Kim Hanguk.
He looked like he'd broken out in a full bucket of cold sweat—his hair disheveled, his pupils dilated in fear.
Kang Hyun, by contrast, greeted him as casually as ever.
Anyone could tell at a glance how the trial had gone, judging by their current states.
"Prosecutor Kang! Isn't this going too far?"
"Ah, Lawyer. Sorry, I didn't even say hello."
"That's not it. Even so, isn't that sentencing demand just child's play?"
"Pardon?"
"Doesn't the prosecution do sentencing investigations? Life imprisonment—what the hell?"
"Uh..."
Kang Hyun paused for a moment in thought, then explained patiently.
"Base for retaliatory motive is fifteen to twenty years, or eighteen years and up with aggravation, up to life. Two-thirds of the upper limit range—incomplete murder intent present, victim provoked, serious injury and death inflicted on victim, no remorse, no victims expressing desire for no punishment, no self-surrender, irresponsibly claiming mental incapacity for which he's at fault, no aid or transport after the crime... And we'll submit evidence later, but there are circumstances where the defendant's father attempted a settlement and caused harm to the victim. Upper limit exceeds twenty-five years, so we sought life imprisonment."
"...Ah."
"Ah! You're upset because I couldn't seek the death penalty, right?"
"...Ah, yes."
"I agree. Anyway, I'll be going. Say hi to Senior Dan Chorok for me. Reporters are tailing me, so I'm sneaking out the back."
He bowed politely.
"Ah! Yes, sure!"
The flustered Kim Hanguk bowed back in kind.
As he watched Kang Hyun flash a grin and vanish with quick steps to evade the reporters, Kim Hanguk tried to suppress the creeping tremor rising within him.
"What the hell is that guy? This isn't a joke."
Still, this trial was a bust, but he was relieved.
He could always explain that his opponent in this case was none other than the monster that was Kang Hyun.
No one could blame Kim Hanguk himself then.
"Guess I should at least show my face. Whatever."
With nothing else to say, he stood awkwardly in a corner of the courthouse, fiddling with his lawyer badge as he waited pointlessly for reporters.
Bang!
Prosecutor's office, Namyangju Branch Office Room 323.
Prosecutor Kim Si-hwan burst in on Kang Hyun, his face flushed with excitement, clutching some organized documents.
"Kang Geom! You've got an ad offer! 'Justice Protects Korea'!"
"No thanks. I didn't apply for a side gig."
"Aw, c'mon—broadcasts are one-offs, so it's fine. Got a variety show invite too! That 'Unveiling the Truth of Profiling' panel spot. It's my absolute favorite..."
"I'll recommend you, Senior."
"Thanks... Wait, no—and the reporters waiting outside are going nuts. Seriously! Looks like ten times the usual crowd that hangs around here? Namyangju's on fire because they're all after you."
"Not exactly welcome news... And why do my updates keep reaching you, Senior?"
"Oh, no—Admin Kim said you were going, so I took the message. Better to chat lightly with me and prep than deal with the admin, right?"
"Uh... Sure."
"Yeah, exactly. Man, why am I so pumped? This case was huge. Good work. Everyone's congratulating like crazy. You properly wrapped a major case from investigation to trial!"
Despite the barrage of praise from Kim Si-hwan, Kang Hyun just smiled calmly. The guy was acting like a manager desperate to get him media exposure.
"Anyway, I'll pass, Senior."
"Ah! At least do this one. It's for the KW case—they invited you as a news guest."
As if expecting that, Kim Si-hwan smoothly handed over a document. Kang Hyun read it with a suspicious look.
Public broadcaster TBS. A request to appear as a panelist on News Time.
"It's TBS."
The obnoxious TBS reporter from the recent Yeong-an Office case sprang to mind, and Kang Hyun shook his head in disgust.
But Kim Si-hwan, prepared to persist, leaned in conspiratorially with a playful whisper.
"It's from the TBS News Director himself. A big shot's personal request. Huge deal."
"The News Director?"
"Yeah. Building ties with broadcast folks pays off later, y'know? Protection for our Criminal Division. Our line of work ain't all pretty—we take five hits for every ten criticisms, ten praises for every one compliment..."
['Never setting foot in TBS News.']
As he tuned out Kim Si-hwan's eager rambling, one phrase smacked Kang Hyun's ear.
"...So personally, I'd love if you did it. News Director Jeong Eun-seong is a stickler, but still."
"Pardon?"
"What?"
"What did you just say?"
"TBS News Director Jeong Eun-seong. The guy who holds the prosecution to impossible standards. But him personally requesting under his own name? Guess broadcast people are broadcast people..."
"Reporter Jeong is the director?"
"What? You know him?"
"...Yeah."
Jeong Eun-seong, the reporter.
Last he'd heard was the move to TBS, then contact had dwindled.
While Kang Hyun poured everything into becoming a prosecutor, he'd apparently been climbing to the top himself.
He'd helped Kang Hyun countless times on cases and personal matters alike, so the name brought genuine pleasure.
Perfect timing.
Ring-a-ding, ring-a-ding.
Speak of the devil.
Kang Hyun's phone buzzed right on cue, at the most impeccable moment.
"Hello? Reporter Jeong?"
"Eh?"
Whoosh.
Thud!
Kang Hyun snatched the call with a beaming smile and dashed to the outer lounge.
"What? Jeong?"
Kim Si-hwan was left alone in Kang Hyun's office again.
"What the...? They're in touch? How?"
Still baffled, he scowled for about thirty seconds before mustering some self-consolation.
"...Right, can't judge by my standards. Famous folks have elite connections, huh."
A few days later.
The towering TBS building in bustling Yeouido, amid the morning commute rush.
Eight-forty a.m. Inside the News Time panel waiting room sat none other than Kang Hyun.
Fidgeting like the ill-fitting suit was uncomfortable, he kept adjusting his position on the waiting room chair.
Bang!
"Hm?"
News wasn't set to start for another twenty minutes or so.
Unexpectedly, the door flew open. Staff rushed in to tidy up, followed by a broadcasting exec striding in with big steps, greeting Kang Hyun warmly.
"Kang Hyun! Er, Prosecutor Kang Hyun now!"
"Reporter! Ah, you're Director now too."
Handshake.
"Haha, thanks so much for accepting the interview! We cleared an exclusive slot—give us lots of good soundbites!"
"Heh heh."
The effusive welcome and familiar voice had Kang Hyun rising happily from his seat for a light hug as Jeong Eun-seong bounded into the waiting room.
"...How do the director and him know each other?"
"...Beats me."
The staffers with name tags around their necks blinked curiously at the pair's chummy vibe.
Jeong Eun-seong, TBS's youngest-ever News Director.
His face still free of deep wrinkles, belly flat as ever—he looked exactly the same.
Kang Hyun grinned, amazed that only the title had changed as Jeong welcomed him so warmly.
"How many years has it been? I'm truly grateful you agreed to the interview. Our paths have diverged so much, and you're swamped with work."
"No, no—I should've reached out more often."
"Nonsense. Wanna step out for a quick chat? Too many ears here."
"Sure."
Jeong turned to the other staff at Kang Hyun's reply.
"So, our Prosecutor Kang Hyun's interview slot still good?"
"Yes! Plenty of time."
"Whew, good."
Kang Hyun made another amazed face at how deferentially the staff treated Jeong.
Following his lead, they left the waiting room, took the elevator up, and headed to a corner terrace on a high floor.
"Wow!"
"Pretty high up, right?"
The terrace overlooked the entire metropolis.
Vroom, vroom.
The early-morning city teemed with commuters, buzzing with fullness.
"So, how've you been? I've kept up with your updates sporadically."
"Yeah, getting by. Feels like yesterday I heard about your TBS switch, but it's been years already. How about you? Reporter... Er, Director. Still doesn't roll off the tongue."
"Haha. Anyway, you're the same as ever, Kang Hyun. Call me casually when it's just us."
"Got it. You too, Reporter. No changes there."
A brief catch-up and a few minutes of old stories.
Nostalgia welled up, leaving both with happy smiles in no time.
As their chat flowed, they grew prouder of each other's accomplishments.
To the public, Kang Hyun was the top prosecutor of the moment. Among prosecutors, he was the one hauling every case in Namyangju. The center of attention inside and out.
Jeong Eun-seong was the man who'd rocketed to commanding every scrap of news in Korea as the vaunted News Director.
When two such figures met...
Talk naturally veered to current hot topics—Namyangju case anecdotes.
"This Namyangju KW Construction thing. Word is the Daijin Group family is already showing heavy interest."
Jeong's casual remark widened Kang Hyun's eyes a bit.
"Yeah. They're pulling out. Makes sense—KW wasn't a big player in Daijin anyway, no real influence from the start."
"No, seems like they're gearing up to dive in."
"Pardon?"
Jeong's gaze shifted at his reaction. It had been ages, but Kang Hyun knew that look.
The glint Jeong got for juicy, tangled cases.
"Rumor has it Daijin plans to purge Chairman Park Jeong-seok's clan, wrap this case cleanly, then go aggressive on expansion."
"Wild. No treasure chest in Namyangju or anything. Still, they'll want to settle this fast then."
"Yeah. Won't be easy for our Prosecutor Kang Hyun either. Hearing they've already assembled a lawyer squad."
He spoke with concern, but Kang Hyun just nodded blankly.
Exactly what he'd hoped for. Better a proper showdown than grilling half-assed pushovers.
Pouring in full strength and skill. It all became nourishment, energy.
Especially against Daijin Group.
"Should be fun. Thanks for the intel, Reporter."
"I'm angling for more scoops too. Nail the case and grant me another exclusive interview. Deal?"
"Heh heh."
Just then...
Kang Hyun blinked at a burst of flashes erupting amid the throng far below the TBS building.
"Some celeb incoming? Morning crowd's nuts."
"You draw crowds too, Kang Hyun. Looks like an entertainer from the press."
Peering intently downward, Jeong narrowed his eyes to ID the commotion for Kang Hyun.
"Ah."
"...?"
"Y'know, that celeb from 'Power Celebrity 50.' Back from Metropolitan Fashion Week—first time home in ages, I hear."
"Ah, so showing face on air."
"Something like that. You not into celeb stuff, Kang Hyun?"
"Yeah. Eh."
Famous person—interest ended there. As he averted his gaze from the shutter storm below and looked up...
"Name's... Yoon Haneul, I think?"
Kang Hyun froze mid-motion at the name from Jeong's lips, then turned back to him.
"...Yoon Haneul?"