Chapter 76
Chapter 76
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: The Confrontation Hearing
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A few days later.
Kang Hyun and Dan Chorok stood in neat attire in front of Seocho Police Station.
Many events had passed, but the moment of the decisive battle was right now.
"Huu."
Kang Hyun offered words of comfort to Dan Chorok, who was breathing heavily as if tense.
"It's nothing much. Just speak as we've prepared."
"Still, a confrontation hearing... I am nervous."
"It's okay. You'll do great, Senior."
"Yeah, let's go."
She quietly silenced her phone, which was lighting up nonstop with the name of Korea University Student Council President Yang Bo-hyun, and strode ahead toward the main building stairs, her heels clicking sharply.
Watching her, Kang Hyun sharply reviewed the events of this case once more.
A confrontation hearing meant facing Yang Bo-hyun and his defense lawyer directly.
A few days earlier.
They had shown up confidently at Seocho Station and poured out everything they had prepared that very day.
After appearing at the police station as suspects, completing the investigation into the alleged crimes, they immediately filed a countersuit for false accusation.
On top of that, they submitted a complaint for embezzlement against the Korea University Student Council, just as planned.
All of it done in about two hours, so it wasn't just Dan Chorok who was stunned.
The police station staff.
They glanced at Kang Hyun's group, whispering among themselves and clicking their tongues.
"...They're back again."
"Is the department handling it the Economic Team?"
"Yeah. Investigation Division 1, Economic Team 2."
"Tough job."
"Man. With monsters like that sweeping through the station..."
As Kang Hyun's group, who treated the police station like their own home, entered the Seocho Station main building, the staff inside scurried about, subtly avoiding them.
A uniformed officer assigned to guide them hesitated before sticking close to Kang Hyun's side.
"Hello. What brings you here?"
"We're heading to Economic Team 2."
"For an investigation, right? Here's your visitor pass."
Investigation Division 1, Economic Team 2.
It was a department that handled relatively minor cases.
Different from the vibe of Investigation Division 2, where Sergeant Yoo Gun-hyung's voice phishing squad was based.
Perhaps because of that, the eyes of those handling Kang Hyun's case looked extremely tense.
Kang Hyun, without a single flaw, and Dan Chorok, who was far too composed and confident for a suspect.
Their statements were airtight, leaving them no choice but to summon the complainant Yang Bo-hyun, naturally leading to a second investigation as a confrontation hearing.
The door swung open.
"Hello."
A clean, spacious interrogation room.
The officer in charge of this confrontation investigation looked up in surprise at the group, who had arrived a bit early.
"Ah, Ms. Dan Chorok. Please wait a moment. Mr. Kang Hyun, you're here as counsel, right?"
As they hurriedly began preparations, Kang Hyun and Dan Chorok sat in the chairs prepared opposite the officer's desk and checked their watches.
Two o'clock.
Dan Chorok, with an anxious expression, kept glancing at Kang Hyun's face and swallowing dryly.
Sensing this, Kang Hyun met her eyes steadily, doing his best to reassure her.
A "police investigation" was something ordinary people rarely experienced.
No matter who you were, it wouldn't be pleasant or interesting—just a bad memory for sure.
For some reason, Kang Hyun understood and empathized with this better than anyone.
So he didn't find it strange that even the formidable Dan Chorok turned into a meek puppy at the station, and thus could comfort her well.
Seeing her with those big eyes like a docile lamb almost made him chuckle, but Kang Hyun cleared his throat and waited quietly with Dan Chorok for the other side to arrive.
Two ten.
Ten minutes past the appointed time.
Then—clunk! Bang!
"Yang Bo-hyun here."
It was a very boisterous entrance.
A tall man plopped down in the prepared seat next to Dan Chorok, a bit separated, crossing his legs.
Yang Bo-hyun. He had flounder eyes and an aura that screamed something shady at first glance.
The two following him looked like lawyers; probably from a major firm, exuding intimidation from their attire to their demeanor.
"Mr. Yang Bo-hyun?"
One of the officers called him.
He shot back immediately, demanding.
"What's this 'Mr. Yang Bo-hyun'? Call me complainant formally, or Yang Bo-hyun-nim."
"Yes? Ah... yes."
Seeing the officers deflate slightly and avert their eyes, Kang Hyun openly frowned.
*Trying to psych them out, huh.*
Since it was a human investigation, some power play was inevitable.
In Korean investigations, lawyers played a minor role compared to abroad, but Kang Hyun knew how much pressure even a screen of big-firm attorneys behind him put on the police.
That's why he couldn't let this slide.
"You must be the lawyers? It's tough, so have a seat in the back. I'm sitting too."
"...?"
When they ignored him, Kang Hyun stood abruptly and extended a hand, whispering to them.
"Hello, Senior Choi Min-hyuk. Kang Hyun, first-year Korea University Law."
"Huh? Kang Hyun?"
"Oh, Kang Hyun?"
The atmosphere suddenly softened.
Yang Bo-hyun, seated in front of them, felt a chill down his neck and looked baffled.
This showed Kang Hyun's stature.
No one in the legal world these days didn't know Kang Hyun's name. It was a tight-knit community, so major firm lawyers especially wouldn't miss it.
"I'm Kim Min-jae from Law Firm Soongsil. Fancy meeting Kang Hyun here."
"Junior's acting as counsel. Take good care of us."
"Ah? Senior Choi Min-hyuk? Dan Chorok here."
"Huh? Oh. Chorok. Doing well?"
"As you can see."
"Sigh. What mess is this. Hope it resolves well."
"Yep."
Even Dan Chorok stood to greet them, forcing Yang Bo-hyun to twist his face and look back.
"Wh-what are you..."
Sensing the mood from his expression, the lawyers cleared their throats and returned to their seats in an instant.
Normally, in an official investigation, even acquaintances avoided overt familiarity out of respect for the parties involved.
But the two words "Kang Hyun" instinctively made them forget that.
Whether Yang Bo-hyun fumed or glared at the lawyers, the mood swiftly tilted toward Kang Hyun's side.
On top of that, Kang Hyun immediately submitted his prepared documents to the police.
Thud.
"Wh-what's this?"
"Requesting video recording of the investigation. You have a recording room here, right?"
"Yes? We hardly use it in practice..."
"Where was the audit room again..."
"Wait! Hold on."
The police rushed out.
It was the moment Kang Hyun had planned—deflating the momentum of everyone, including the opposition.
"What are you doing?"
Yang Bo-hyun, sensing something off, yelled to interfere, but the lawyers held him back, silencing him.
They couldn't risk tripping over a mere junior like Kang Hyun formally submitting documents.
"Bo-hyun, video recording favors us more."
"It's for fairness—no downside."
"R-really?"
Yang Bo-hyun's face darkened further as he was fully reined in.
He crossed his arms, jiggling his leg, waiting silently for the recording room to be ready.
In contrast, Kang Hyun and Dan Chorok exchanged opinions for what lay ahead.
"This document is key, Senior. We need to request it's attached to the end of the record without fail."
"Got it. I'll hold this in my right hand then."
"Left hand for this one."
"This one's the precedent, right?"
"Yep. Already submitted to police, so the opinion is in the record. Holding it in case you fumble."
The two diligently prepped right up to the last minute for the confrontation. Anyone could see the fight with Yang Bo-hyun was already decided.
Their preparation efforts were starkly different.
But results were only known once revealed. The opponent was none other than Korea University Student Council President Yang Bo-hyun, wielding immense power there.
Then, the office door burst open.
"Investigation ready. Everyone, follow me please."
The lead officer notified the seated group of the move.
"Hu."
"Here we go."
Everyone's eyes turned to the police, thoughts aligned.
Win this investigation.
It wasn't an overstatement to say everything in this case hinged on it.
"Shall we?"
Kang Hyun stood and led the way.
Soon, the main investigation began.
Dan Chorok vs. Yang Bo-hyun.
Korea University Law Student Council President vs. Student Council President showdown.
The charge: "Defamation under the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, Etc."—shortened to "InfoComms Act defamation."
But the case was poised to grow with the false accusation countersuit and Student Council Representative Committee complaint.
"You're Dan Chorok, correct?"
"Yes."
"I'll now advise you of your right to remain silent, etc. ID please. Need to make a copy."
Inside the video-recorded investigation room.
A police interrogation had a very different atmosphere from court trials.
Unlike trials centered on the judge with plaintiff vs. defendant or prosecutor vs. accused, police investigations were typically one-on-one: investigator and subject.
Thus, a video-recorded confrontation was unusual, naturally stirring up Seocho Station.
Not just the lead investigator, but assisting staff bustled about, weighing heavily on the quiet recording room air.
The staff's eyes had changed too—purely focused investigators.
Sensing this, Kang Hyun sat a bit straighter than usual, responding cooperatively, and Dan Chorok followed suit.
"Next, complainant. Yang Bo-hyun, correct?"
"You know that. Hurry up. Here's my ID."
Thud.
But Yang Bo-hyun tossed his ID onto the table with sneering attitude and crossed his arms again.
"Understood."
The officer, suppressing irritation, took the ID and turned to Dan Chorok—his tone markedly different.
"Ms. Dan Chorok. Any discrepancies in the personal details or circumstances you stated previously?"
"None."
The officer's hands flew over the keyboard, eyes moving swiftly and concisely.
"Continuing questions to Ms. Dan Chorok. On the 3rd of last month, you posted on a community site with over 5,000 Korea University students as members: 'Voices of reproach are coming from everywhere.' Correct?"
"Yes. That's right."
"That's what I said!"
Yang Bo-hyun interrupted, cutting them off, so the officer turned.
"No need for this investigation. She admits it all, doesn't she?"
"What?"
As the officer lowered his voice and asked back, Yang Bo-hyun seemed flustered.
"...Pardon?"
"Look here, Yang Bo-hyun."