Chapter 129
"Choosing the paid parking lot was truly a stroke of genius."
Kang Minjae jerked his chin toward the Seoul High Court main gate, where incoming vehicles were being controlled. It looked like there wasn't a single parking spot left.
"If you have business here and don't park in the paid lot, you might not even make it to your trial. Might as well take a taxi."
"They really should make the parking lot bigger, right?"
Kang Minjae tossed out his usual complaint without a hint of boredom. Through the windshield, I could see the road completely jammed up ahead. Already feeling the fatigue. It was a distance we could cover in twenty minutes without traffic, but knowing it might take longer was a bit stressful. Of course, the driving was Kang Minjae's job, not mine.
I rummaged through my bag, thinking I'd review some documents on the way, when Kang suddenly spoke up.
"But why'd you come along today?"
"Why? Because it's a case our office is handling."
"It's not like I couldn't handle it alone, and you were just spectating anyway."
He loved exaggeration, but "just spectating" was spot on. I replied as I opened the file.
"You told me not to leave you out."
"Pardon? No way—you didn't come just because I said not to leave me out, did you?"
Kang Minjae turned to look at me, eyes wide with shock.
"That's exactly it."
I couldn't send the still-inexperienced Kang Minjae into a major trial alone. But I couldn't keep showing up for every single one forever either. Clients were piling up, and so were the court appearances. So I'd been sending him solo on cases I deemed straightforward. He hadn't botched a single one. Clients generally liked the affable, empathetic Kang Minjae too.
But after our conversation a few days ago about possibly sorting things out with Oh the office manager and Kang, I'd felt a sudden urgency.
"Kang."
"Yes?"
"This might come out of left field."
"Sure."
"You regret leaving Taegwang?"
At my question, Kang Minjae scowled like I'd just said something ridiculous.
"Leaving Taegwang? Of course not. I told you before—defending bad guys was the worst part, but working with you means none of that. It's rewarding."
I often compared Taegwang to a den of demons, but that mostly applied to those entrenched inside. To judicial trainees, it was a workplace worth prioritizing over judgeship. Kang had walked out on his own two feet to join me, so he must have gained something. Objectively, though, learning from me was his one-sided claim—I'd never promised to teach him. His pay had ended up higher than at Taegwang thanks to the heavy cases we'd stumbled into. If he hadn't grown, it was on him for not picking it up. Fair enough.
But after watching him so long, affection had crept in. When the time came to send him off, I hoped those two years with me hadn't been meaningless. Even if it was just youthful folly.
"But why bring it up out of nowhere? Don't tell me my 'don't leave me out' comment is bothering you?"
So I wanted to see for myself. Had he really learned something from me, as he'd so badly wanted? Had he grown?
"How about we grab soju tonight to reminisce?"
Lost in thought for a moment, I snapped back as Kang mimed downing a shot.
"What, possessed by the ghost of someone who died drunk? I'm not drinking with you anytime soon."
"Ha, I didn't puke on your floor. I hugged the toilet. And the next morning, I did all the dishes, cleaned the toilet—everything. You're holding such a grudge."
"Who always cleans up after you every time you get wasted?"
"……."
"Know your limits and drink accordingly."
"Gotta drink more to build tolerance, so I don't burden you."
Miraculous logic. I snorted.
"So I keep playing nursemaid till your tolerance catches up?"
"Eh, a few years tops?"
"A few years of nursemaiding?"
"I drive you around, fetch your coffee, answer all the calls—I'm your servant too!"
"You begged to drive me around. Coffee's rock-paper-scissors now—loser buys. Calls go to the office manager."
"You still tell me to drive sometimes."
"Then don't from now on. I can drive fine. Go solo; I drive better than you anyway."
"Ha, seriously."
Kang Minjae clamped his mouth shut, incredulous. As he chattered, we passed the jam. Hoping for quiet the rest of the way, I picked up the document binder again.
"Boss."
"What now."
"Isn't that Wooshin Logistics HQ?"
Kang jerked his chin at the massive building ahead.
"Looks like a one-man protest."
Sure enough, someone stood at the main gate with a placard covered in red writing hung around their neck.
BEAT-UP-THUG-GANGSTER-CHAE-BOL GO YUNSEONG EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
"Yeah."
"Know what big corp HQs, courts, and prosecutors' offices have in common?"
"What."
"Always someone doing a one-man protest."
I nodded involuntarily at Kang Minjae's words. The car drew closer to the protester, and I fixed my gaze on the placard.
But at the passing speed, I only caught the top line.
Beat-up-thug-gangster-chaebol Go Yunseong executive director. Go Yunseong—definitely Go Sangjun's headache of a youngest son.
"What'd it say?"
"Beat-up-thug-gangster-chaebol Go Yunseong executive director."
"Gangster chaebol? Brutal. Assaulted by Go Yunseong maybe?"
"Could be literal, or metaphorical."
I considered stopping to chat with the protester but nixed it. Too many eyes at the HQ entrance.
I couldn't recall any incident involving Go Yunseong around this time on the way back to the office. Nothing rang a bell. Even before I'd fully dug into Wooshin, I wouldn't have missed something like this. By the time the special prosecution kicked off, we'd left no stone unturned—especially on the kids. I knew more about Go Sangjun's offspring than anyone in Korea.
To launch a chaebol special probe, you need public momentum, and scandals on heirs were the most effective: illegal inheritance, military service dodges, college admissions. Stuff every Korean parent rages over.
So me not knowing meant one of two things: airtight cover-up, or it hadn't happened in my previous life.
"Welcome back."
Oh the office manager greeted us upon return. I'd always locked up when heading out with Kang, but with Oh here, the vibe was different. Kang immediately approached him.
"Office manager, soju tonight? Whiskey's good too."
Glancing daggers at me.
"What, rough day for you, Kang?"
"Only thing rough is the boss bullying me."
Kang sighed dramatically.
"It's all because I care about you."
Oh consoled him. Kang perked up a bit, but I shot back.
"No way."
Seemed like with Oh indulging him, he was play-acting for sympathy.
"Boss, didn't you say your grandpa would chew you out if you drank and crashed out again?"
"……Yeah. But this time, just enough to feel good, then home."
"Like you can control it."
As I headed to the water cooler, Kang sighed again.
"Office manager, he's grinding me down."
"Head home early, give your grandpa a shoulder rub."
"……Yes, sir."
Time flew, and it hit 6 PM. Kang was first to pack up.
"Not clocking out?"
"Still some paperwork left," Oh replied.
"Me too."
I was checking if any online news had popped up about the protester, even minor. Nothing. Guess I'd wait for Taesik's update. Plus, I had plans with Choi Jonghyeon. He'd said he'd come to the building lobby, so I'd stick around till then.
"I'll head out first then. See you tomorrow."
After Kang left, about thirty minutes later, a text from Choi arrived. Nearly there.
Time for me to go too. I packed up and stood, but Oh was still deep in typing.
"Office manager, you should head home."
"Just a bit left. Five more minutes."
"Don't overdo it."
"Overdo? Way easier than at the prosecutors' office."
He grinned. Great that he worked hard, but he sometimes joked it was to earn his salary. Not like he'd listen if I pushed anyway.
"Cha."
Outside the building, Choi waved. No car, face red from cold—must've subway-ed it.
"Hop in first."
I hit the remote unlock. Too chilly to chat out here, and we had to go somewhere anyway. As he settled in the passenger seat, I cranked the heater.
"Eaten dinner?"
"Not yet."
"Then somewhere for food and drinks. Quiet spot to talk?"
"Know a place."
"Not too pricey?"
Choi joked.
"My treat."
"Could just Venmo me."
"Feels bad hitting up an unemployed guy."
"Unemployed? Call me freelancer."
As we started to pull out, someone knocked on the window. Oh the office manager.
"Heading out now?"
I cracked the window, and his gaze lingered on Choi in the passenger seat.
"Yeah, wrapped up. Choi, good to see you again. Doing well?"
Oh greeted him; Choi nodded slightly.
"Yes, thanks to you."
Oh eyed Choi appraisingly—like sizing up if he was trustworthy. I'd tipped him off I'd be working with Choi, so he wanted to vet him.
"Choi, mind if the office manager joins?"
Choi looked mildly surprised but not opposed.
"Fine by me. You okay with it, Cha?"
Checking if today's talk was shareable. Both probing each other's trust—better to make the intro.
Truth was, in my past life, these two had clicked best.
"Office manager, hop in the back."