Chapter 266
After Kang Gwanung entered his room, Manager Kang approached me.
"First things first, let me show you to your room. This way, please."
I followed him into the second-floor hallway. This wasn't my first time at the house, but it was the first time venturing upstairs. The corridor, wrapping around a central courtyard that extended from the first floor, formed a neat rectangular shape—like a —ensuring privacy even on the same level.
"The residence is quite impressive, isn't it?"
"It is."
"It's been nearly a decade since a guest has come up here, and you're the first, Lawyer Cha."
"I'm imposing in all sorts of ways."
"Not at all."
A low chuckle came from Manager Kang as he walked ahead. "I still can't quite believe this is happening."
Thinking back to Park Younggi's words, I could gauge just how desperately Wooshin had lobbied the police and prosecutors. They'd been burned by me before—not once or twice—so they'd pulled out all the stops to counter my usual tactics. But was dodging arrest for now really the right move? And even if so, was holing up in Kang Gwanung's residence the answer?
I had no certainty. If Kang Gwanung got dragged in, what started as my personal mess could spill into politics, igniting conflict between the ruling and opposition parties. Lee Jeongchan might have been ousted from the ruling party, but he'd once led it, and Kang Gwanung was the president from the current opposition. The moment the revered retired elder got tangled in this, the case would explode beyond control. Yi Se-hwa's once-guaranteed election could even go up in smoke.
In the end, after pledging to help Yi Se-hwa's victory, I might become the very obstacle in his path.
"No matter how much you adore your grandson, do you really think Elder Kang would hide Lawyer Cha on a whim, without a second thought, just because Minjae threw a tantrum?"
"Not exactly, but isn't maximum risk control the best approach?"
"How do you control every variable?"
Manager Kang replied with a laugh in his voice. "You really are just like Minjae described, Lawyer Cha."
"What did he say?"
"That you have an obsession with controlling every variable. How could anyone but a god pull that off? Oh, it wasn't gossip—he said it meaning you're practically a god, given how you've made it happen so far."
……What a guy.
"You've been on a roll so far. So take a breather now. You've cracked cases that seemed impossible before, haven't you, Lawyer Cha? This one will turn out the same."
I hadn't told anyone about my second life, so people's expectations of me would only grow more inflated with time. Until now, I'd met them by leveraging future knowledge. But Lee Jeongchan's murder—and me being framed as the prime suspect—had no precedent in my previous life.
So who knew what evidence might surface to save me, or doom me, or if such scenarios would even arise?
One idea did come to mind: Control the situation to steer clear of politics as much as possible, hole up here for a few months, then strike after Yi Se-hwa's election. Right after inauguration, with no other variables, the president's influence peaked amid the media frenzy of new issues. Even Wooshin would have to watch Yi Se-hwa's eyes, at least briefly. If I played that moment right, shaking off suspicion wouldn't be hard.
Of course, that assumed Yi Se-hwa would help me.
"Oh."
Manager Kang had apparently stopped walking. Lost in thought, I bumped right into him.
"You look deep in contemplation."
He gripped the doorknob while eyeing me.
"Hard not to be."
"Rest up for today, at least. You saw on the way in—no media leaks yet, thanks to the embargo. The police will move quietly for a while. So I recommend relaxing tonight."
He opened the door, revealing a spacious room. A king-size bed dominated the center against one wall, and a large desk sat before floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the rear garden. An attached bathroom meant I could handle most needs without stepping out.
"Pretty grand for a guest room."
"It used to belong to someone who lived here. We have dedicated guest rooms, but since you'll be staying long-term, this seemed more comfortable."
"Who?"
"Who do you think?"
Manager Kang's exasperated expression drew a sigh-like smile from me.
"Got a text from Minjae while escorting the elder back. What a punk. Oh, the room's a sudden assignment, so it hasn't been cleaned yet. The housekeeper will handle it while you eat downstairs. Dinner first?"
"I'm fine. It's clean enough, and I've got no appetite."
"Can't do that. You saw Minjae—he insisted we make sure you eat. If he finds out you skipped, he'll lose it."
"……."
Kang Minjae might not have suggested this hideout purely for my safety.
……Maybe he just wanted the thrill of having a friend crash at his place every day?
Either way, under Kang Minjae's insistence—relayed through Manager Kang—I found myself at the dining table. The housekeeper bustled about, setting out steaming dishes. Staring at them, my absurd predicament felt distant: prime suspect in a heavyweight politician's murder, now fugitively holed up to evade arrest.
"Minjae's stuck in traffic, running late," Manager Kang said, entering the dining room. "Join me if you haven't eaten."
"He told you not to steal my food."
"How could anyone finish all this alone?"
In the end, Manager Kang sat across from me. We ate in silence. About ten minutes passed.
"How's Minjae been lately?"
"In what way?"
"Just as his boss—how do you rate him?"
Times like this reminded me how deeply Kang Gwanung and Manager Kang cherished him. Maybe that's why he'd stayed so bright despite school violence in America and losing his parents.
"I'm baffled why Lawyer Kang keeps hanging around my office."
"High praise?"
"Of course."
When I'd once considered firing him, I'd figured any law firm would welcome him without his grandfather's halo. His fierce determination to join my plans had swayed me, but even now, if he chose stability and quit, I'd let him go gladly.
In my previous life, I'd parted with countless colleagues—some to death, others to conflict. In this life, I planned to reclaim them one by one; some already had. Farewells always stung, but having endured them before, I was somewhat immunized, prepared.
But Kang Minjae was new to this life. Losing touch with him for good would leave regret. Paradoxically, that's why I'd half-hoped he'd leave my team.
"I've wondered why Minjae follows you so devotedly."
"Me too."
"Maybe he just likes handsome guys?"
"……."
"Kidding. He says he wants to be like you, Lawyer Cha."
I let out a small laugh. Truth be told, I'd envied Kang Minjae at times. At first, his wrinkle-free optimism. I was bone-tired, diving back into the flames. I envied his lack of thorny self-flagellation, that burdensome sense of mission.
My resentment toward Wooshin loomed so large that even after the triggers vanished, I couldn't let go—foolish, I'd thought. Then, learning his past, I admired his resilience: staying bright amid ample reason for gloom. His pure ability to follow blindly, his warm openness to all—those luxuries I lacked.
For someone so blessed to aspire to be like me felt like self-sabotage.
"Lawyer Kang has plenty of strengths without becoming like me."
"No one’s ever fully content with themselves. But I don't mind that he has someone like you to emulate. He gained a vitality I never saw at Taegwang. Wasn't living diligently back then."
Manager Kang continued between busy bites. "Clubbing every night, partying with worthless friends. Wouldn't come home, or if he did, he'd stumble in wasted. Hangover remedies were always stocked. Late to work from them, so the elder had to force-feed him haejangguk every morning. Haha."
Now he often beat me to the office, even chiding my occasional tardiness. He loved drinks enough to beg for after-work rounds, but rarely showed up reeking of last night's excess.
"Slacked at work too, but his good nature kept him popular. Small mercies."
Nothing like the Kang Minjae I knew.
"Surprised? Unimaginable now. Seeing him head out early for work—such a good boy. Thanks to you, Lawyer Cha."
"I didn't do anything."
"You think so, but the elder's thrilled watching him change. Wouldn't say it outright."
Manager Kang whispered conspiratorially. "So don't feel indebted while you're here. To the elder—and me—you're the one who made Minjae a real man."
No sooner had he finished than footsteps approached the dining room. That rhythmic stride gave it away.
"I'm back."
Kang Minjae appeared, hands full of bulging plastic bags. He scanned the table and whipped toward Manager Kang.
"Hyung, why're you stealing Lawyer Cha's food?"
"Dude, you're hilarious. Can't I have a bite? It's too much for one person anyway."
"Ugh, seriously. Looks like you took more."
He eyed the side plates in front of Manager Kang.
"Whatever. What's with all the bags?"
"Toothbrush and toothpaste for Lawyer Cha, pajamas, loungewear, socks—you know, essentials."
"We have spares here."
"What if they don't fit? Toothpaste's picky by flavor. Bought every kind."
He handed the bags to the housekeeper, then returned to the table.
"So, what were you talking about?"
"Nothing much."
Manager Kang waved it off. Telling him would probably embarrass the guy.
"Lawyer Cha, what'd hyung say?"
"That Lawyer Kang has two nostrils."
"……Well, duh!"
"Two ears too."
"Duh again!"
"One mouth, though. Wouldn't mind if it was zero. Less noise."
"Aish! Hyung, what'd you tell Lawyer Cha? Huh? What?!"
Kang Minjae's indignant bellow filled the dining room.