Chapter 138
"Kang left a bit ago."
As soon as Yang Hansuk opened the door to his office, he spoke up before I could even step inside.
"Figured as much," I replied, walking in.
"He copied all the records, so why'd you come back, Sunbae?"
"Didn't give him the CCTV footage, did you?"
"We can't release that due to personal information issues."
"I've already cleared it with the chief. Check again."
Yang Hansuk grimaced and picked up the phone. The call didn't last long. A few seconds later, he muttered an acknowledgment and hung up.
"I'm the lead prosecutor here. If you want to review evidence records, you talk to me. Why put on a show with the chief and then notify me, the actual lead?"
"Yang took the case details straight from the chief—why should I only deal with you?"
Yang Hansuk shot to his feet.
"What did you just say?"
"Was I wrong?"
"Who says I got the case info from the chief? I investigated based on the police handover. Don't make assumptions."
"Fine. Here's the data."
I placed the USB on his desk. Yang Hansuk glared at me, clearly deeply insulted. I had no intention of being overly polite to him, but I wasn't trying to humiliate him either. I just didn't want to drag out this pointless conversation.
I sat on the sofa and checked my watch.
"I'd appreciate it if you could hurry. I'm short on time."
Yang Hansuk looked like he wanted to grab me by the collar. His fists trembled, but he did nothing. He just handed the USB I'd given him to his clerk and instructed her on which CCTV files to pass along to me.
"Here you go, Counselor."
A short while later, the clerk approached and handed me the USB. Since I'd already gone through the chief, I figured there'd be no funny business with missing files to make me come back multiple times. I pocketed it without checking.
"I'd like to get in touch with the victim's side."
"...Uh, Prosecutor?"
The clerk glanced at Yang Hansuk uncertainly after I spoke.
Yang Hansuk scoffed.
"Ask the defense attorney why he wants to contact the victim."
"...Why do you want to get in touch?"
"To check the extent of the victim's injuries and see if a settlement is possible."
My voice had clearly carried to Yang Hansuk, but he pretended not to hear. The clerk looked awkward again and parroted my words back to him like a parrot.
"Tell the defense attorney we'll check with the victim's side and get back to him."
"We'll check with the victim's side—"
"Thanks."
I grabbed my briefcase and stood. Yang Hansuk seemed deaf to my voice, but I could hear his just fine. No need for the middleman.
As I headed for the door, his voice came from behind.
"Sunbae. Watch your back. Plenty of people gunning for you from the shadows."
So that's all he had to say in the end.
"Got it."
I knew my curt replies often pissed people off even more, so I kept it simple. Yang Hansuk already seemed furious with me—better than drawing it out.
"..."
Yet somehow, he looked even angrier. Go figure.
"Counselor."
As I crossed the hallway to the elevators, a voice called from behind. It was Kang Minjae. I'd told him to go ahead, but he'd waited.
"I said go on without me."
"How could I? You said things are already bad with the chief. I was worried."
I glanced at him. Sure, our relationship was strained, but Hwang Youngchan wasn't about to lock me in his office and beat me.
"Can I ask what you talked about?"
Kang Minjae asked once we were in the elevator.
"Asked for the CCTV."
"That's it?"
We'd covered more ground, but there wasn't much I could share with him. Even Hwang Youngchan had mulled over why I'd suddenly left him before reaching his conclusions. Explaining my actions would take too much backstory.
I didn't feel like giving a long lecture. This case was Wooshin's orders funneled through Hwang Youngchan to bury it via Yang Hansuk. And until a couple years ago, I'd been Hwang's loyal pup. Anyone with half a brain could piece it together just from watching the case unfold.
"...So, did you get the CCTV?"
Kang Minjae rubbed his temple as I stayed quiet.
I pulled the USB from my pocket and handed it over.
"Not every camera from the scene, but it has Go Yunseong being carried out and him leaving the construction site."
"Got it. Hmm, should I call the NIS guy? Might need video analysis."
"Watch it first. Gotta check for tampering."
Back at the office, we reviewed the footage right away. Nothing special. The alley where the assault happened was pitch black inside—no shadows, nothing. Just Go Yunseong being carried out by his escorts. As per the on-site statements, he was covered in clothing, so you couldn't see much. Just limp hands and a face smeared with blood visible at a glance.
Multiple cameras caught it from different angles. The escorts surrounded him protectively as they exited the site. Even the shocked stares of the workers were recorded—including the site supervisor I'd met today.
"No CCTV from the underground parking, looks like," Oh Yanghun said, flipping through files.
"No way they'd hand that over. They snuck Oh Sanghyeon out that way—if it showed him badly hurt, they'd have to admit mutual combat. Bastards. They probably yanked the alley cams themselves and still have the footage."
Kang Minjae fumed.
"We need to dig into Go Yunseong's situation fast. I requested his contact from the prosecutors for a meeting—should hear back tomorrow."
I glanced at the clock hitting 6 p.m. and shrugged on my coat.
"And when you meet? Gonna try settling?"
"That's what I told the prosecutors, but no settlement. Need proof he's not actually hurt."
Oh Sanghyeon couldn't have beaten him that bad for an eight-week injury prognosis. And Go Yunseong wasn't the type to self-harm just to play victim. Perfectly convenient that he was at a Wooshin hospital—probably colluded with a doctor for the diagnosis.
"The case file had photos of lacerations and bruises."
As I buttoned my coat, Oh Yanghun replied.
"Looked serious. But usually, police take those photos themselves. If he's faking, where'd those come from?"
"Either cops are in on it, or they let him submit his own for convenience. Either way, that body in the pics isn't his."
If my hunch was right, I'd expose that too. Then Go Yunseong wouldn't face the stones alone. With Po-dol as his sidekick, how reassuring.
* * *
Three days later, a call came from Yang Hansuk's office. Oh Yanghun took it—Go Yunseong's lawyer had okayed sharing the contact.
I hadn't received the civil complaint yet, but a quick search on the lawyer's name in legal directories showed Taegwang affiliation. Not surprising, but Taegwang again? Infuriating.
For now, the criminal trial was priority—prosecutors were the immediate enemy. I'd ignore the civil side. During criminal proceedings, the lawyer was just Go Yunseong's mouthpiece. The civil case would hinge on that outcome; might not even face them in court.
Hoping so, anyway.
"I'll make the call."
Kang Minjae took the number from Oh Yanghun and picked up the receiver.
"Say we'll meet in Go Yunseong's room. We have to get in there, whatever it takes."
Meeting anywhere else meant dealing only with the lawyer—total waste of time. No intention of settling anyway; why bother both sides? Plus, the lawyer had probably drilled Go Yunseong to keep quiet. No useful info from him.
My real goal from the start: infiltrate his ward. To verify the faking, I needed eyes on how he was living inside the hospital. That meant entering the ward. Problem was, he'd be in VIP—strict access controls. Only way in was via an appointment with him. Statements from staff? Impossible without entry.
So even if no face-to-face with Go Yunseong, I had to reach his room. Staff mouths would be sealed tight, but it's still a place where people work. Tongues wag everywhere, eventually.
"Doubt they'll show him willingly."
"Act like we're settling, coming to apologize in person—they might. No other way into the ward without meeting him."
The union was gearing up to target Go Yunseong over Oh Sanghyeon when he preempted by claiming assault. His bad image couldn't take a worker-beating scandal. If we offered settlement, he might play along for the PR win: gracious forgiveness after personal apology.
Thinking back, maybe that's why Oh Sanghyeon's previous lawyer pushed settlement so hard. Go Yunseong signaled conveniences for settling; lawyer bit.
Even shifted to injury charges beyond semi-public prosecution, a settlement and no-punishment petition would earn major leniency.
"What if they flat-out refuse a meeting?"
"Say he's faking and won't show because of it."
"...We can poke that hard?"
"Think it'll work?"
"Wish your jokes sounded more like jokes, Counselor."
Kang Minjae grumbled as he jotted the lawyer's name into his phone.
"I'll step out to call."
About 30 minutes later, he returned, lips parched white, rubbing them with his hand.
"How'd it go?"
He ignored Oh Yanghun's eager question, chugging water from the dispenser first.
"Ahh, talked too much—lips cracking, tongue dry."
I was at my desk reviewing docs when footsteps approached, shadowing my papers. I looked up: Kang Minjae looming, waiting for me to ask.
I just stared. Finally, he slapped a Post-it on my desk.
"Wooshin Hospital main building, room 1803. Tomorrow, 4:30 p.m. VIP ward—leave ID at reception desk, they'll guide you."
He beamed like an Olympian returning with gold.