Chapter 69
The video posted on the portal exploded with views. Even without us steering the comment sentiment, netizens spotted the attendance sheet flashing briefly in the footage and pieced together that the crime happened at Jangmyeong High School. Before long, posts flooded in about complaints filed with the Board of Education. Most came from people claiming students or nephews attending the school, and there were quite a few of them. Right on cue, Yun Se-yeon made her move.
A video capturing the scene of final exam papers for the second semester of 2008 being leaked at the prestigious Jangmyeong High School, celebrating its 100th anniversary, has gone viral on a major portal site. The perpetrator's face is mosaicked, making identification impossible, but the footage shows them entering the teachers' office alone late at night, opening a cabinet, and browsing the exam papers. They even photographed both the questions and answer keys. Outraged netizens have flooded the local Board of Education with complaints, prompting officials to promise a full investigation and disciplinary action if problems are confirmed.
Once the portal buzz hit the pages of a major newspaper, the scandal snowballed. We'd uploaded the video from a PC bang using a VPN and without logging in, so authorities couldn't trace the original poster. That left us worried the superintendent might just mouth off about an investigation to distract the public and let things fizzle out. So we sent the un-mosaicked version straight to the Board's direct email. If they dragged their feet on a proper probe, we'd drop the un-mosaicked clip on the portal again.
"Lawyer, phone's ringing."
It was the fourth day after the video blew up. Kang Minjae handed me my cell as I stood on the balcony smoking. The caller ID read [Yun Se-yeon Reporter]. I gave a faint smile. Back when I was a prosecutor, her calls annoyed me to no end. Now that she was on our side, it felt reassuring.
"Cha Juhan spe—"
"Cha Lawyer? It's me! Yun Se-yeon!"
"I know."
"Phew, thought maybe you hadn't saved my number. Haha."
"How else would we have kept in touch all this time?"
"True that. Ah, I've been ghosted by you so many times over the years, guess I had some grudges built up. Hohoho."
"Anyway, what's up?"
"Well, figured there wouldn't be anything new for the mastermind behind it all."
"Who says I'm the mastermind? I'm just a tipster."
Yun Se-yeon's voice buzzed with excitement like never before. She'd scored a front-page scoop for the morning edition—no wonder she was pumped. Most folks subscribing to morning papers in Korea cared about education; they had kids at that age where parents had to play expert tutor. No surprise if this dominated page one.
"Board got an email. The un-mosaicked original of that video. Probably sent by someone whose name starts with 'Cha' and ends with 'Han,' right?"
"Could be. Like Cha Ji-han or Cha Jong-han."
"Haha, no need to dodge like that. Your tipster anonymity is sacred to me—I'm that kind of reporter."
"Get to the point."
"Word is, the perp in the video's the Jangmyeong principal. They suspended him from duties right away. No call on arrest yet—they're sending in auditors first. And the school's redoing the 1st and 2nd year finals next week."
"I see."
"Principal's claiming he had no intent to leak—just wanted to check the papers himself. Total bullshit, that's the vibe."
"Anyone with eyes can see that."
She burst out laughing at my deadpan reply. I waited quietly for her to finish.
"Ah, I'm dying—tears, for real. Why are you so good at acting? Should go pro."
"Any chance of accomplices or accessories? How're they handling that?"
"They're shaking down the principal for that. Kinda worrisome—accomplices might bolt in the meantime."
"Hmm... I see."
"You wouldn't happen to know who they are, would you? Nah, not asking you, Lawyer. Just wondering if that tipster might— what's your take? Muttering to myself."
I chuckled softly at her playful nudge.
"Probably does. Just a hunch."
"For real? Then we gotta block their escape. They must've made bank leaking those papers—could just vanish."
"You think the tipster went in without safeguards? Seems meticulously planned—bet they covered that angle too."
"Self-praise much? You're sick with it."
Yun Se-yeon cracked up again.
"Even with the principal sidelined, if accomplices or accessories are still lurking in the school, shouldn't they root 'em out before the retake?"
"Yeah, some reporter already asked that. New papers'll be stored under Board supervision."
I frowned. Board oversight meant plenty of room for Superintendent Lee Hyeokmin's dad to pull strings. For Lee Hyeokmin's fraud to blow up—even if the principal clammed up—his grades had to tank in the retake. But another leak, and he'd slither free like an eel.
"Reporter, we need to rally public opinion."
"Opinion?"
"Board-monitored retake could be trouble. Personally checked, and the principal's connected to the superintendent."
"Oh man. Holding out on premium intel like that? Hang on, grabbing my notebook."
Sounds of rummaging came through, then her panting.
"Got it."
"Not a huge deal to jot down, but yeah—they're buddies. Both Jangmyeong alumni."
"Oho? Smells fishy."
"And the superintendent's son is a 2nd-year at Jangmyeong right now."
"Aha. Stinks so bad my nose hurts."
I could picture her eyes gleaming through the line.
"Alright, I'll run with this. Article pushing for police or another agency to secure the papers since the Board's untrustworthy."
"Perfect."
"Had no clue about the son. Scribbling like mad here."
"We'll shape opinion your way. Once we verify and drop it exclusive, others'll pile on. Cut me some slack on the monopoly?"
"As much as you need."
"Thanks for today's daily bread, Lawyer Cha. I'll dig deep and proper."
"Appreciate it."
No reply at first, then after a pause, an awkward chuckle.
"Live long enough, huh? Hearing thanks from the king of FM Robots."
"Thanks are thanks. You did huge work on this."
"Ah, sounding like the puppet master again. Weren't we pretending otherwise?"
"Not pretending—it's the truth."
"Fiiine, got it. Call if more news breaks. Meet up sometime? My treat."
"Case keeps me swamped—rain check."
"Iron wall much? Explains the single life."
"Not taking life advice."
"Yeah, yeah. Thanks for today—gotta run it by the editor. Bye."
"Good luck."
The line went dead. I sank deep into my chair. Once the superintendent's son at Jangmyeong and his principal ties went public, Lee Hyeokmin couldn't dodge suspicion.
"Every case we take shakes the whole damn country, huh?"
Kang Minjae, who'd eavesdropped, puffed up proudly. I shot him a side-eye.
"Wasn't that the goal?"
He grinned wide.
"Damn right. For the firm's glory."
Whether for the firm or his thrill-seeking, who knew. I just raised my phone instead of answering and rifled through the piled files on my desk, pulling one out.
"What's this? Huh? Kim Hak-seong's affair pics?"
I nodded, ear to the receiver.
"Ah, Lawyer? This it? Time to settle up? You didn't forget—I shelled out big to that education broker for intel. Grade me generous."
Taesik's smug, laid-back tone turned wheedling. I cut him off sharp.
"Not that."
"Tch, then what?"
"Kim Hak-seong might rabbit. Use those affair shots we grabbed last time."
"That tutor chick thing?"
"Yeah."
"And?"
"File 'em as evidence. Adultery charge—lock him down so he can't bolt."
Taesik roared with near-hysterical laughter.
"You're ruthless, Lawyer."
"Shut it and do as told."
"Yessir! Boss's orders."
I hung up and leaned back hard. Thank God adultery was still on the books—pre-unconstitutionality ruling.