Chapter 75
Chapter 75
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: The Terror of the Law
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"But before we get started, there's something I need to say."
Out of nowhere, he wore a peculiar expression.
"What...?"
The moment she picked up on Kang Hyun's look and asked, he flashed a grin and spoke up.
"Let's make a deal. I'll help you out, but in return, no more pushing me to take over as Law School Student President."
"What?"
"I'm seriously swamped right now. Helping with thesis research, juggling part-time gigs, prepping for international competitions. Not that I'd abandon my undergrad peers, but you're already handling things great as it is, Senior. Once we wrap this up, you'll do even better."
Dan Chorok scrutinized Kang Hyun's face closely, then let out a smirk as if sensing his sincerity.
"You hate the idea that much?"
"I'll take that as a yes!"
"Fine, whatever. Do your thing."
Dan Chorok pouted but accepted Kang Hyun's terms.
She shot to her feet as if he'd just officially taken her case.
Rising with her, she followed behind as he led the way.
"So... what's the plan?"
"Senior, you're a prosecutor in the middle of investigating this case—what would you do?"
"What?"
"Or say you're the defense attorney who has to represent it?"
"Clear the air first."
"And then?"
"Counter-sue."
"Exactly. Exercise your right to defense, file for false accusation, report the embezzlement. We've got to hit all of it."
"Wait, you're seriously going to do all that? You think it's as easy as buying movie tickets?"
But despite Dan Chorok's doubts, Kang Hyun strode ahead with a calm, relaxed smile.
He fully intended to sweep away both her defamation case and the embezzlement investigation in one go, starting with her defense.
"First off, you free for the next few days starting tomorrow?"
"Why?"
"You haven't gotten a summons yet, but we need to take the initiative. Contact the police department handling it and schedule your appearance."
"We're going to the police station first?"
Inside the police station's public service office, as she questioned whether they even needed to go, a few complainants shot them odd looks while passing by.
"Yes. Dragging it out puts you at a disadvantage, so submit the materials right away and promise to show up. The cops will probably just question you as a witness and call it good."
"Hmm, that does sound advantageous."
"And even if the University Student Council preps their docs well and the police send it to the prosecutors with an indictment recommendation, the content matters. Play it right, and we can wrap this in three weeks. Only way to counter with false accusation is to move fast from the jump."
"What about filing on the embezzlement?"
"Submit the materials when we go in."
"That's allowed?"
"Yep."
Dan Chorok was a rising star in legal circles. She might not know every procedural nitty-gritty, but she understood how the system worked and the vibes around it.
That's why Kang Hyun's words sounded like pie-in-the-sky fantasy to her.
It felt utterly impossible.
Yet Kang Hyun brimmed with confidence.
As if it were only natural, as if everything would fall into place effortlessly.
"Ten days tops. Time to show them the terror of the law."
He gave Dan Chorok—a sea of doubts—a gentle smile.
From that day on, Kang Hyun popped into the Law School Student President's office whenever he had a spare moment.
"Gather all the publicly available festival-related docs from teams like External Affairs Support and Student Services. The University Student Council should have festival papers open to the public too."
His agreed police appearance was three days out.
Which left them about two days.
'Need to hoard as much evidence as possible.'
Legally, proof hinged on Criminal Procedure Act Article 307.
The big principles: evidence trialism, in-court evidenceism. Kang Hyun knew full well how powerful they were.
No investigative body could assume guilt without proof; suspects and defendants were presumed innocent.
Meaning investigations proceeded under that assumption.
But practically, with a potential perp sitting right there, things leaned toward the complainant's side.
What shook that off? Evidence.
Kang Hyun reviewed materials in his downtime; Dan Chorok stepped up in kind, dropping most duties to focus on gathering docs.
Thud.
"Senior, set these down here? Three years of event files and divisional delegate audit reports."
"Yeah, I'll check 'em out. Thanks a ton, Myung-hwan."
Led by Lee Myung-hwan, the execs pitched in to help her too.
Embezzlement files that'd be tough to perfect even with a month suddenly piled up smoothly; all-nighters started paying off.
"This is plenty. No question they can stump us with this much."
Then, evening of the last day at six.
Dan Chorok had poured every second into prepping for the police visit.
Save bathroom breaks, calling her glued to the office wouldn't be exaggeration.
Student President's office.
Materials stacked high on both sides of the desk. Dan Chorok propped her chin, lost in thought at the center.
"...What a mess."
She muttered lightly from stress, but her heart weighed heavy.
Could she pull it off?
Win this?
She'd faced crises before in her tenure, but she held an unbendable conviction.
Leave a better world for the juniors coming after.
But with arrows now aimed at her, she couldn't help shrinking back.
It bruised her pride, wore her down.
Still, surrender was off the table.
Knock knock.
"Yes."
"It's me, Senior."
Thud.
Kang Hyun entered with a bright smile. Unlike usual, laptop in hand, he sat before Dan Chorok.
"You're here? What's with the laptop?"
"You've been all-in on embezzlement filing docs till now. Time to cover your side too."
Final night before police.
He'd come late to brief her comprehensively on the defamation case against her.
Opening the laptop, he flowed into explanation like running water.
"Defamation under Article 70(1) of the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection. Key element: 'intent to defame.'"
"...So embezzlement aside, defamation's unavoidable."
"Nope. Exception: If the publicized fact concerns public interest, no defamation intent absent special circumstances. 2013Do15868 ruling."
"Public interest, huh." "Whether the defamation victim is public figure or private, if the defamatory expression objectively ties to public concern or pure private realm. If victim courted the risk of defamatory expression, and special circumstances around infringement degree, expression method, motive."
"Tons to consider."
"Nah, I only listed five criteria for judging public interest."
This was the mindset shift.
'Public interest' was abstract, ripe for subjective calls. Break it down so anyone got the same answer. How thoroughly you did that decided wins in close calls.
"No different from prepping for competitions. Just live rounds now. Prep materials point-by-point to favor us."
Finishing, he spread out at the side desk. Dan Chorok, surprised by the move, stood softly and asked.
"No tutoring today?"
"Cancelled it."
He shrugged nonchalantly.
"...."
Dan Chorok always figured she could bulldoze anything with her skills. Never once dreamed of needing help.
So when crisis hit, having Kang Hyun step up quietly—and stick around now—felt refreshingly different.
He'd been just a hotshot junior, the rival who'd brought her to her knees in debate.
Now as backup, he felt rock-solid.
Feeling his sincerity, Dan Chorok thought she'd owe him big after this.
"...Thanks for helping with my personal mess too."
She smiled gratefully.
"Not personal. Just aiding a senior caught in injustice."
His matter-of-fact tone energized her.
First time leaning on someone felt awkward, embarrassing—but having backup beside her solo fight? Incredibly reassuring.
"Shall we start?"
"Yeah, let's do this!"
Defamation shake-off, false accusation countersuit, embezzlement filing.
Their all-nighter kicked off: tackling three at once, reckless as it seemed.
Cold, vast room packed with people and cameras.
"Final question for the University Student Council President. Any words for Korea University students?"
To the reporter's query, the man sat legs crossed under bright lights, answering leisurely.
"As Korea University's rep elected by you all, our University Student Council works tirelessly for a school reflecting everyone's views, becoming what we all want. Watch us grow with our execs."
"Thanks for the interview today."
Clap clap clap.
Amid applause, he rose smoothly, bowed politely, and exited.
Yang Bo-hyun, University Student Council President.
Click.
Student Council office.
Door shut, his face hardened viciously; he spat a short curse. Like he'd heard shocking news.
"Those bastards dare..."
"S-Se-nior!"
A pale exec rushed up. Yang Bo-hyun slapped him flat out.
Smack!
"What did I say!"
"S-Sorry."
"Call a meeting now, contact Lawyer Choi. And you lot—take responsibility!"
"Y-Yes..."
Exec clutched his red cheek, bolted out.
"Fuck, tangled with that frustrating bitch..."
He went to clamp an e-cig, hurled it instead, checked his phone.
There: summons for interrogation, date and place noted.
Police request to appear, Dan Chorok case. Their trap had gone wrong somehow.
Yang Bo-hyun hadn't foreseen or planned this.
He—the core of it all, center of the corruption den.
Dan Chorok and Kang Hyun had dragged him to the station too.
Shaking with nerves, he dialed 'Law School Student President' Dan Chorok.
Doubted she'd pick up, but before rings finished, a husky female voice cut in brief.
-Yes.
"...Dan Chorok."
-Hello.
"You dare summon me to the station? You rude little..."
-Everything's being recorded, so I'd advise against incriminating statements.
"Wh-What?"
-And talk to my lawyer from now on. No more calls to me. Bye.
Click.
"Ha, what the fuck..."
Not content with tossing the cig, he nearly chucked the phone—calmed, redialed Dan Chorok.
"Hey, what the hell do you think you're gonna do!"
Unexpected voice answered.
-Yes, this is Dan Chorok's attorney, Kang Hyun.
"What? K-Kang Hyun?"
-I'll text you my number. Call this instead. That's all.
Click.
"...."
Staring at the dead line, Yang Bo-hyun stood dumbfounded at the random name and turn.
"Kang Hyun...?"
Feeling off vibes, he paced anxiously.
Then froze.
"No way—that Kang Hyun?!"
For the first time, chills ran down his spine.