Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: The Tilted Scales
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"First off, I want to make it clear that since what I'm testifying to happened in a crowded subway full of eyes, I absolutely cannot commit perjury."
Kang Hyun caught his breath.
Then, he glanced briefly at the defendant before continuing.
"That day, when that guy got caught red-handed by the victim, he said he'd delete the video but suddenly threw his phone instead. I picked it up and handed it over to the police."
The prosecutor, flustered by this, asked again.
"Pardon? So you're saying the police took the defendant's phone without asking for his consent to voluntary submission?"
"Yes. After I handed it over, they took it without any special consent. If they didn't handle the follow-up properly afterward, then yes, it was essentially seized by force."
Kang Hyun had even said what the prosecutor was about to. As a result, the seized phone became illegal evidence according to his testimony.
Murmurs rippled through the room.
The few spectators in the gallery raised their voices in confusion, causing a brief commotion.
"Quiet. Proceed."
The judge, now wearing a resigned expression, spoke up. The prosecutor, biting his lip as if to swallow it, turned away to end the questioning.
Prosecutor Kim Jeong-min ground his teeth and tried to wrap things up by telling the judge.
"...The witness was caught up in the chaos at the time, and considering the witness's credibility..."
Watching him was his lawyer, arms crossed with a smirk, and the defendant flashing a sleazy grin—it was enough to make anyone feel the prosecutor's humiliation vicariously.
'Disgusting. Just wait. I'll wipe that smirk off your face soon enough.'
Kang Hyun spoke up loudly.
"Prosecutor, my story isn't over yet."
Kang Hyun raised his hand high, cutting off the prosecutor.
All eyes turned to him.
But he didn't care and stood up abruptly.
The judge, prosecutor, defense attorney, and spectators—all fixed their gazes on him without exception.
"I'll continue."
Kang Hyun, satisfied with the attention, pressed on in a confident voice.
"The scales held by the Statue of Lady Justice are not perfectly level; they're tilted ever so slightly to one side. This symbolizes that the law doesn't pursue absolute equality but stands on the side of the weak, embodying relative equality."
Normally, if a witness went off like this, the examining prosecutor or lawyer would cut them off, fearing rudeness or irrational testimony.
"You're right. Please continue."
But Prosecutor Kim Jeong-min seemed to sense something, nodding as if to say there was no other choice but to hear him out, and quietly stepped back.
"...This is why, even in a trial strictly adhering to the principle of evidence law and the prohibition of analogous interpretation, so many people await the wise judgment of the presiding judge, hoping for justice to be realized."
Unlike Prosecutor Kim Jeong-min, however, the defense attorney took offense to Kang Hyun's demeanor and stood up shouting.
"...Your Honor! I request that the witness refrain from unnecessary remarks!"
But the judge shook his head, siding with Kang Hyun.
'What an ingenious kid.'
This was no high school student's eloquence. It was as if the prosecution had its own lawyer. The judge smiled as if beholding a rare creature and urged Kang Hyun on.
"Overruled. Please continue."
"...Of course, procedurally, there's a high chance the defendant's phone won't be admitted as evidence due to illegality, and I acknowledge that. However, considering the elements of the crime of illegal filming with a camera, even excluding the illegally obtained evidence, please take into account the other submitted evidence in determining guilt or innocence."
Kang Hyun looked at the judge with bright, earnest eyes as he made his plea.
This was Kang Hyun's answer.
Was there any need to cling to evidence gathered illegally? One procedural misstep didn't doom the entire trial.
"Prosecutor."
"Yes, witness."
"I saw the police, in the heat of the moment, essentially seize the phone by force. But I clearly witnessed the defendant filming the victim, so I reported it."
"...!"
"In response, when I told the defendant to show me his phone, he definitely shot back, 'I'll delete it.' There were plenty of people in that train car who saw it."
The prosecutor's eyes changed as he watched the witness's unexpected move. He must have realized there was meat on those words.
"Prosecutor."
Kang Hyun urged him on with a look. 'Cling to that rotten lifeline, and you'll fall.'
"I'm testifying that there were plenty of people who saw the defendant committing the crime in flagrante delicto and resisting when caught."
"...I see."
The prosecutor finally grasped Kang Hyun's intent. He gave a small nod to Kang Hyun, then spread his arms wide and stood before the judge in the center.
"Your Honor, that's all from me. Cross-examination concluded. And..."
The prosecutor spoke with resolve.
"Since Evidence No. 6 and related items were obtained illegally, we'll concede the defendant's objection to their admissibility."
The gallery murmured once more.
The prosecutor had acknowledged that the phone and the video on it couldn't serve as evidence, invalidating the statements and investigation reports based on them.
"However, based on the witness's testimony, we'll prepare new eyewitnesses and evidence that can stand independently of Evidence No. 6. We'll gather and submit additional reinforcing evidence soon, so I request the trial be continued to the next date!"
Judge Choi Ho-jeong frowned deeply, as if he'd expected as much, and bowed his head.
A brief silence fell; Kang Hyun swallowed dryly as the judge prepared to speak.
The prosecution's request to abandon their key evidence and bring in new ones meant the trial wouldn't proceed today—it would be delayed further.
Given the high trial fatigue, this wasn't what judges wanted.
But in the end, the answer was predetermined.
"Granted."
The prosecutor's face lit up at the judge's words.
The media would buzz over the case involving illegally obtained evidence, criticizing the lax investigation by the special squad and prosecution.
But the case would be resolved.
Once they acknowledged it and submitted new evidence, the guy had no escape.
In contrast, the defense attorney looked like he'd just bitten into shit.
But then.
"What the hell is this? What are you doing right now?"
The silent defendant, criminal Han Jae-su, finally showed his true colors and snarled. Even his lawyer's attempts to restrain him did nothing.
"Fuck, you said the footage was illegal evidence and invalid! Just acquit me already—why drag this out? What the hell is going on!"
As the defendant grew more unruly, the judge bellowed in a harsh voice.
"Quiet! You should be reflecting, not acting up!"
The judge glared at the defendant.
This wasn't the judge's usual demeanor.
Only then did the guy slink back into his seat, his bluster deflated.
Silence fell briefly, and the judge turned to Kang Hyun.
"Witness, you're free to go. And..."
Looking down at Kang Hyun, he smiled with satisfaction.
"Thank you sincerely for so readily agreeing to testify in this trial."
At these rare words from the judge, the gallery erupted in loud murmurs.
Some even gave Kang Hyun a smattering of applause.
'Yes!'
Kang Hyun felt a thrill rise from deep in his chest amid the judge's unexpected praise, swelling with pride.
'I did it!'
He'd cleared the clogged drain of a labyrinthine case, paving a swift path forward.
"The next court date will be scheduled as follows... same courtroom, 413..."
Kang Hyun nodded as he listened to the judge's closing remarks.
With the direction now set, a proper verdict was only a matter of time.
Gathering new evidence and witnesses would take time, but that was the prosecution's job—Kang Hyun could be satisfied with this.
'Chaotic. But...'
Implementing justice in the courtroom.
Protecting the weak, punishing evil.
What could be more exhilarating?
A dream he'd never dared imagine before. Seeing the people of that dream alive before his eyes, Kang Hyun's pounding heart wouldn't stop.
And today, with this thrill, he'd clarified his dream's direction a bit more.
'So cool! If I just work harder, I can do it too!'
A smile bloomed naturally on Kang Hyun's face.
As Kang Hyun exited the courthouse, someone called out to him.
"...?"
Turning around, he saw the prosecutor from earlier waiting. Usually, they'd head straight back to the prosecutor's office—this was unusual.
"Witness—no, Kang Hyun."
He'd come to give thanks, it seemed. Kang Hyun played it cool and asked.
"Were you waiting for me?"
"Yes. First, my apologies. I should've briefed you beforehand, but I called you straight to the courtroom as a witness—must've been awkward. Sorry about that."
"No, no. Thanks to you, I got a great show."
"Really?"
He seemed to be choosing his words carefully, wondering what to say to Kang Hyun.
Having seen his eloquence, he probably assumed interest in the legal field.
"Thanks for today. You saved a case that was about to go sideways—now it looks like it'll resolve cleanly. If it had ended in acquittal, I'd have blamed myself entirely."
"I was just answering as the witness you subpoenaed. I only said what I saw."
He shook his head.
"But people don't see it that way."
Kang Hyun glanced around at those words and spotted a few familiar faces—spectators from the trial.
-That's the guy from earlier. A student?
-Thought he was a lawyer.
They all stole curious glances at Kang Hyun as they passed.
Yes. To ordinary eyes, Kang Hyun today was no average citizen.
Not a judge or prosecutor, but someone who seemed like they belonged. He'd astutely read the trial's flow and steered the case from derailing.
"In this hearing, it felt like Kang Hyun was the prosecutor. Impressive and amazing. Even as a prosecutor myself, it makes me want to work harder and hold onto my sense of duty."
He spoke with expectant eyes.
Kang Hyun smiled awkwardly.
"Even if I hadn't stepped in, you'd have found a way to break through for a proper verdict."
At Kang Hyun's words, Prosecutor Kim Jeong-min grinned with that same 'look at this guy' expression the judge had worn.
Kang Hyun's unflappable poise from the courtroom carried on unbroken.
"Alright, whatever—thanks to you, it worked out today. So, here's the thing..."
"...?"
He paused a moment before asking.
"You're a high school student, right?"
"Yes, second year."
He hesitated briefly, then said.
"During break, want to come intern with me at the prosecutor's office?"