Chapter 64
Chapter 64
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: Standing in as Guardian
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64.
The reason for the warrant's issuance was probably that Im Cheol-su had ignored the prosecution's summons requests for a long time.
It was clearly a legitimate warrant, stamped with the prosecutor's official execution seal.
It seemed the prosecution had been handling the case internally as a preliminary investigation, but when he kept dodging the summons, they handed over investigative authority to the police.
It was an extremely rare case, but it was possible that both the police and prosecution were conducting separate investigations on the same incident.
However, what was strange amid all this was the fact that Im Cheol-su was a minor.
Issuing an arrest warrant for a minor was something that happened maybe once in a hundred times, if that.
Kang Hyun pondered for a moment, then decided to help him. But for Im Cheol-su to stand tall and shine, one more condition was needed.
"Cheol-su."
"...Hic, sob, yes, Teacher."
Im Cheol-su was panting and crying. Kang Hyun asked in a soft yet firm voice.
"I'll go with you as your guardian. How's that?"
There was power in his words.
To Im Cheol-su, they felt infused with magic—sprouting trust in an instant and making him want to lean on him right away.
He looked up with wide eyes, then caught his breath and nodded vigorously.
One condition for Im Cheol-su's moment to shine.
"...P-Please help me, Teacher."
"Yeah, I'll help you."
It was that Kang Hyun had to become Im Cheol-su's official guardian.
Now, Kang Hyun fully positioned himself to block the police from taking Im Cheol-su.
Having decided to help him, he couldn't just hand him over to the police.
The two plainclothes detectives were momentarily flustered and asked Kang Hyun.
"...What do you think you're doing?"
"This kid's a minor."
"So? We'll notify the household separately for the arrest."
"Notify me."
"That's not up to you."
The police seemed to think Kang Hyun was just an acquaintance trying to obstruct the lawful arrest of suspect Im Cheol-su. Their aggressive tone suggested they were trying to intimidate him into backing down.
Fair enough—most people would fold under pressure from two burly plainclothes cops looming in front of them.
But Kang Hyun trusted in the righteous power of the law.
"Criminal Procedure Act Article 200-6, Article 75, Article 81 Paragraph 1 main text and Paragraph 3, Article 82, Article 83, Article 85 Paragraph 1, Paragraph 3, and Paragraph 4, Article 86, Article 87, Articles 89 through 91, Article 93, Article 101 Paragraph 4, and Article 102 Paragraph 2 proviso—these provisions apply mutatis mutandis when a judicial police officer arrests a suspect."
"What are you...?"
"Under the above provisions, per Criminal Procedure Act Article 87, after executing an arrest warrant, notification must be given to the defense counsel, a person with prior right to appoint counsel, or 'one person designated by the suspect' regarding the suspect's case name, date and time of arrest, location, gist of the criminal facts, reason for arrest, and that counsel may be appointed."
"..."
"And suspect Im Cheol-su has designated me right now. So notify me immediately."
"That just has to be done within 24 hours. If you keep interfering like this, it's going to be a problem..."
"The 24 hours you're talking about means up to 24 hours at most. There's a 'person designated by the suspect' right here demanding arrest notification on the spot, and you're going to ignore that and take him away?"
Kang Hyun turned around after speaking, and Im Cheol-su nodded emphatically.
"Yeah! This person's my guardian!"
The police sighed in frustration, unable to make the arrest with Im Cheol-su right in front of them.
Kang Hyun didn't miss the moment.
"I'll accompany him as guardian. As I said again, Im Cheol-su is a minor. Sending a minor alone to the station means no immediate questioning anyway. Cuffs and restraints can be applied later per the National Police Agency's 'Rules on Suspect Detention and Escort'."
Only then did the police, who had been trying to drag Im Cheol-su away by force, really take a look at Kang Hyun—and they seemed to calm down a bit themselves.
Come to think of it, Kang Hyun was right. Having a guardian along would make processing the case smoother and more efficient, and this guy—this man named Kang Hyun—was indeed the one Im Cheol-su had suddenly but validly designated for notification.
They stared silently at Kang Hyun, then their gazes shifted to Im Cheol-su, who was trembling with weak legs and teary eyes.
A kid overwhelmed by confusion and fear from his first time facing something like this.
No matter his suspect status, a minor was still a minor.
"...Haa, fine. Let's go to the car then."
In the end, the detectives judged it better to calm him down first and take him carefully in the vehicle rather than cuffing him on the spot.
They took Kang Hyun and Im Cheol-su to an unmarked police Starex van and finally spoke up.
"Im Cheol-su is currently suspected of violating the Electronic Financial Transactions Act. He was arrested today at around 6:05 p.m. inside a dining cafe in Seocho-gu. The criminal facts and arrest notification below will be sent to Im Cheol-su himself after confirming your address, so no more fussing, please."
"The reason was ignoring summons?"
"You knew?"
"Just a guess. For a minor to get an arrest warrant, that's the only reason."
"He ignored summons five times. We sent multiple text requests, and a formal summons notice to the house. The place was empty during location checks too."
"Could've been coincidence, or circumstances."
"Warrant came down, end of story. Honestly, we're suspicious of you tagging along too, but executing the warrant comes first, so we're not pressing."
They eyed Kang Hyun suspiciously as they spoke.
Fair enough—from their perspective, Kang Hyun might look like an accomplice.
The car set off, heading toward what seemed to be Seocho Police Station.
'Never thought I'd ride a police investigation vehicle like this.'
Amid his complicated feelings, a fierce curiosity welled up in Kang Hyun.
What on earth had this clueless kid done?
He must have gotten constant contacts urging him to appear for investigation, yet he'd ignored them consistently—what was the reason? Why avoid them?
It was suspicious that his mom didn't know. Or maybe she did know and was playing dumb. Or maybe not.
First things first, he needed to talk to Im Cheol-su.
"Officers, mind if I talk to this kid alone for a bit?"
"No."
"I'll ask only objective facts where you can all hear. Stop me if it seems leading or suspicious. I'm just curious myself."
The police let out a big sigh.
Kang Hyun's persistent clinging, trying to do something, made him look just like Im Cheol-su's lawyer.
Naturally, that would irk them. It must feel like deliberate delay of a lawful execution.
"Haa... seriously, if you're going to act like this as a guardian..."
The officer in the passenger seat turned around and scanned Kang Hyun.
Then his suspicious gaze shifted to one of puzzlement.
"Huh? Wait... I think I've seen you somewhere."
But the way he looked at Kang Hyun was a little off.
Very different from the eyes that had just seen him as Im Cheol-su's acquaintance.
"Have you been on TV or something...?"
"..."
"Wait a sec... ah, right! You're the top scorer on this year's—no, last year's College Scholastic Ability Test, aren't you?"
Kang Hyun lightly nodded in acknowledgment, finding it absurd that his identity was coming out in this situation.
But the cop seemed genuinely shocked, calling out his name loudly to draw attention around.
"Your name's... Kang Hyun, right?"
The speeding police investigation vehicle suddenly filled with warmth.
Kang Hyun was quite startled by the detective's suddenly extended fist and bumped it in greeting.
"Whoa, running into Kang Hyun here of all places. What's the story?"
"Senior, who's this guy making you act like that? He a celebrity?"
"No, you don't know Kang Hyun? The genius all over the news."
The passenger-seat senior detective narrowed his eyes and gave his driving junior a scolding look.
"My daughter showed him to me a bunch of times, saying how cool he was! Oh, and he was big on SNS too, right? Title was something like 'Subway Hero'?"
"Huh? What's that?"
"Hey, you're a detective—watch some news. It was all over the place, and you don't know? Ugh, can't believe I'm working with you..."
The older detective shook his head, then suddenly turned back to Kang Hyun and said.
"Man, it's wild meeting someone that famous in person. My daughter's a huge fan—showed me tons. Here's a pic of her..."
He dove straight into daughter-bragging. The photo showed a woman in police uniform saluting—probably a new recruit.
"Later, when you see 'Yoo Chae-eun,' sign something for her. She studied hard thanks to you, Kang Hyun, and passed the patrol officer exam as the youngest this year! Made the papers as the 19-year-old youngest patrol officer! I'm so proud—tell her that."
"Ahem, Senior... save the daughter stories for later."
"Oh, right! Sorry."
At the prodding from the driver, Im Cheol-su with his dried tears and the embarrassed detective averted their eyes with Kang Hyun in between.
"Anyway, what's the deal here? Would've been nice to meet in better circumstances... Ah! So you're his tutor! No wonder you were rattling off laws earlier like it was nothing..."
"Thanks for recognizing me. But since I'm going as Cheol-su's guardian, like I said, please allow us to talk. Not trying to interfere with the investigation at all."
"Sure, we'll watch since it's you, Kang Hyun. But we'll record everything you say."
"Yes, understood."
Finally, Kang Hyun got the chance to talk to Im Cheol-su.
Im Cheol-su seemed ready to spill everything to Kang Hyun under the mounting pressure.
"Cheol-su, you working or something?"
"...What do you mean?"
"Don't play dumb."
"I really don't know."
Kang Hyun took a breath and fixed Im Cheol-su with a serious gaze. To protect him, he had to be telling the truth.
"Listen carefully from now on. I'll explain so you understand everything, so you answer honestly too. Got it?"
"...Yes."
"No passing money along, no collecting personal info to hand over, no anything that'd prick your conscience?"
"I... I didn't do stuff like that! I just... borrowed money."
"What?"
"They said I needed my ID and bank book to borrow money."
"Money? Why'd you need money? What for?"
"...Games."
"Hah... Does your mom know?"
"Of course not..."
Im Cheol-su hung his head low as he answered.
"Then the police station summons notices. You hide them?"
"..."
"Prosecution ones too?"
"No... Mom probably tore them up."
"What?"
"She's been weird since the divorce. Tears up all unknown mail."
"Hah..."
Kang Hyun frowned, sensing something off. Im Cheol-su hurriedly added.
"I was the victim!"
"What?"