A New Normal and a New Client

For the next two weeks, Won Youngoh was discharged.
It was because he pleaded and begged the doctor and nurses every single day.

‘I think the doctor got fed up and let him go…’

Still, it also meant that his recovery speed was fast.
When he finally got permission for outpatient treatment, he looked so happy that even we, who were watching him, couldn’t help but smile.
The problem was that he started ignoring the doctor’s orders as soon as he returned.

“Lawyer Won Youngoh, you shouldn’t overdo it. You might end up peacefully confined in a comfortable hospital again.”
“Lawyer Cha, what kind of scary things are you saying so kindly?”
“That’s my strength, isn’t it?”
“It’s good that you clearly know your strengths. Still, I can’t leave all of this to you. There are also cases with upcoming trial dates.”
“That’s true, but, Lawyer Won… isn’t your back as itchy as your injured hand and stomach?”

I glanced at Won Youngoh’s back and spoke playfully.
Behind Won Youngoh, Lee Ilwoo was staring at us with his eyes shining.

“My back is already sweating cold.”
“Haha.”

Jeong Donghyeok burst out laughing at the sight of Won Youngoh’s face, which had turned pale like a joke.
I nodded to Lee Ilwoo as if to say I understood his feelings.
But this was a bit…
My back and stomach were too tight.

“Mr. Lee Ilwoo, do I really have to work wearing this?”
“It was one of Lawyer Won Youngoh’s discharge conditions.”
“No, I mean, if only Lawyer Won wears it…”

Hearing my words, Won Youngoh immediately jumped into the conversation like a ghost.

“Lawyer Cha, what kind of disappointing thing are you saying from the morning?”
“Ah, it’s just so stuffy. Can’t we just wear it when we go out?”
“No, you can’t, lawyer.”

This time, Lee Ilwoo’s firm answer came back.
There was a reason I was making such a fuss.
It was because Lee Ilwoo had made the three of us wear bulletproof vests, just in case.
He even brought a three-stage baton and all sorts of weapons from somewhere.

“Please make sure to wear it for a while.”
“Uh, Mr. Lee Ilwoo, are all these legal weapons?”
“Yes.”
“The fact that this is legal seems scarier… Where did you get all of this?”
“From my company.”
“Even though you’re on leave?”
“…Yes.”

Feeling Lee Ilwoo’s guilt for not being able to protect Won Youngoh, we moved on with a joke.
It was also because Lee Ilwoo didn’t seem to want to explain any further, just running his hand through his hair.

‘Something is suspicious.’

There was a very clear difference from the bulletproof vests I had seen a few times as a state-supplied item during my judge days.
Do private security guards go this far?
My brief doubt was fleeting, and then I saw Baek Soeun’s article, which was headlining the portal again today.

<The Terrorist Who Attacked the Lawyer of the ‘Lee Hyeonsu’ Righteous Person, There is No Culprit Where He Hid>

The traffic accident case of the client Lee Hyeonsu had been wrapped up quite well.
Although the hit-and-run driver was not identified, the case had become a hot topic enough to be able to burn again at any time if there was enough fuel.
Interest is the most important thing in a cold case.
Even if it’s forgotten for now, if there are people who remember it, there’s always a possibility that it will surface again.

‘At first, I didn’t know why Baek Soeun was being so aggressive…’

Now I knew.
That her ‘work-life balance’ of protecting ‘my singer’ was burning in a good way.
But a reporter is a reporter.
Baek Soeun had a very neutral attitude and tone, and she had completely blocked the sparks that were flying towards her ‘idol’.

[But if that concert that day was C9, then isn’t it possible they’re Serenity?]
[Heol, the fandom that has a terrorist]

These kinds of comments, which were initially posted, were now completely gone.

[I think the biggest beneficiary of this incident is C9 ㅋㅋ]
[They said they even cooperated with the police investigation first, saying the terrorist might have hidden among the staff. I hope they do even better in the future.]

Wow, is this what public opinion is?
C9, who was already a top idol, had now spread their wings even further with this incident.
After appearing on the news a few times, their recognition had soared, regardless of age group.

[Photo]
[It was a happy concert for us, but we heard such sad news (tears). All of our members sincerely wish for a speedy recovery (praying)]

Thanks to the SNS post that the C9 members had uploaded with a selca, our ‘Dike’ was also benefiting greatly.

‘I never thought our office would be promoted this way.’

The number of requests had increased, and the number of cases to be reviewed had also grown.
However, since neither I nor Won Youngoh accepted all incoming requests, Jeong Donghyeok became the busiest.

“Lawyer Won Youngoh, this case seems to have some issues. It looks like an innocent situation.”
“Please classify the requests that seem to have issues in your opinion on the right, office manager.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“Ah, Lawyer Won. I’ll take another look at it here.”
“Yes, let’s do that. That would be better.”

I recalled my conversation with Choi Suhyeok while checking the files that Jeong Donghyeok had classified first and placed on the right.

[Not only Lawyer Won Youngoh’s blood, but also a number of other bloodstains were found on that knife.]
‘That means there are multiple victims, right? Will it take a long time to identify the other victims?’
[Yes, the problem is that the amount is too small. We were lucky with Lawyer Won Youngoh’s bloodstain. It was found exactly in the part you mentioned. Did you see that?]
‘I have pretty good eyes.’

I didn’t say I had good eyesight, so it wasn’t a complete lie.

[The National Forensic Service said it was a relief just to be able to identify the blood type, but you never know. However, there are a few cold cases in the past with a matching weapon size.]
‘I’ll help as much as I can.’
[This guy is no ordinary guy, that’s for sure. And the fact that he’s still keeping his mouth shut. He’s a professional. So be careful.]
‘I understand.’
[I’ll contact you as soon as anything is revealed, so please take care of yourself. I’m thinking of sending you a bulletproof vest. That’s how I feel right now.]
‘Uh… I already have one.’
[Why do you have that?]
‘It just happened. Haha. Goodbye, Detective Choi.’

I had hurriedly hung up the phone in case Lee Ilwoo’s situation became troublesome.
I had already checked all the files on the right.
I selected exactly five cases and handed them to Jeong Donghyeok.

“Office manager, these are the ones I’ve classified. I think you can just give this much to Lawyer Won Youngoh.”
“Yes, Lawyer Cha. But is there a reason why you’re not taking the other cases?”

As Jeong Donghyeok said, there were numerous request files on the table that had been rejected.
Jeong Donghyeok picked up the file I had hesitated and finally put down and said.

“This person seems really innocent.”

I pointed to the part I had been worried about and answered.

“The alibi is suspicious. There’s too big of a time gap, and in cases like this, there’s a high probability that the client is lying.”

I picked up the file in Jeong Donghyeok’s hand and looked through it again, then finally put it back on the left.
And I spoke again.

“A lawyer must follow the client’s claim of innocence even if they know the client is guilty. But I don’t want to do that kind of defense.”
“I feel the same way.”

Won Youngoh, who had been busy reviewing arguments in his room until just now, opened the door and added.
An empty cup was in his unbandaged hand.
I took the cup, poured new coffee, and added.
The fragrant coffee aroma instantly spread.

“We defend people who are truly ‘wronged’. People who are innocent but guilty, and for whom we are all that’s left.”
“Because there are already many lawyers for people who aren’t like that to go to.”

Every time we classified requests and had conversations like this, I felt relieved that Won Youngoh and my opinions matched.
Because it was quite difficult to find a truly wronged and innocent person.

‘Hmm, I’ve looked at all the incoming requests, so I should probably rest in my room and look at some precedents. I’m in the mood for Cheonsugyeong today.’

[How is looking at precedents resting… You’re in the mood for something else…]

‘Why. It’s fun to look at. And useful.’

[Really strange person…]

I didn’t give in to the hologram’s nagging and moved on.

“Then I’ll go to my room and look at some precedents. Please call me if you have anything to say.”
“Yes, Lawyer Cha.”

Creak.

As soon as I opened the glass door and came in, I took off my bulletproof vest, avoiding Lee Ilwoo’s eyes.
Ah, I thought I was going to die of suffocation.
And I opened the file folder piled up on one side.
I didn’t forget to put on my earphones.

[…I have now heard and seen and accepted and held, and I wish to understand the true meaning of the Tathagata…]

Hmm, a feeling of peace of mind.
I spent my time looking at precedents and exchanging opinions with the hologram.

‘In a case like this, there’s a point where the provisions can be abused. And there are precedents that were left by abusing that point.’

[A precedent that was once wrongly left continues to have an effect afterwards.]

‘Uh, the law is ultimately a human domain.’

And so, a long time passed.
The light coming in through the window had already turned orange.

“…The sun has already set.”

When I looked up and looked out the glass door, the three people were already gone.

‘Did everyone go home?’

[Mr. Lee Ilwoo left with Lawyer Won Youngoh earlier. Office Manager Jeong Donghyeok said he was going to the post office.]

‘Really?’

It was when I took my earphones out of my ears.

Chime.

The sound of the wind chime echoed in the quiet office.
A new customer, who had come out from behind the glass door, bowed his head to me.

“Hello. Uh… I’d like to make a request.”

“Would you like some coffee?”
“Ah, no.”

Clatter.

A short while later, Jeong Donghyeok, who had returned, brewed some warm tea.

“Thank you…”
“Please speak comfortably. What exactly is the situation? You have to tell me in detail so that it can help me decide whether to take the case.”

Because if he was guilty, I, who only had to win, couldn’t accept it.
For the past two weeks, quite a few clients had made requests by phone or fax.
That was mostly to choose one among several lawyers. To choose the person who presented a better-looking argument.
People who came in person like this often came with their minds already made up.

[Even if it’s not this woman, will you really not take the case if the client is guilty?]

‘Well, if it were me, I could make the guilty innocent.’

But I don’t want to.
Unless there are truly unavoidable circumstances.
Whatever it is, a crime is a crime.
The hologram didn’t say anything more.
I looked at the new customer, who was choosing his words while stroking the warm cup.

‘<Eye of Truth>.’

I had used the skill from the moment I showed her to her seat, but unlike before, I couldn’t see whether she was innocent or guilty.
Just as I was feeling puzzled, she, who had been bowing her head all along, met my eyes and opened her mouth.
With a resolute expression, like when people have made up their minds about something.

“I want to sue the company.”