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Chapter 41
“Have you already found a new girlfriend?”
A reporter approached Seung-beom slowly, eyes full of contempt.
“I don’t know who you are, but if you don’t want trouble, I suggest you be careful.”
He glanced over In-hye from head to toe as if giving a warning.
“Girlfriend? Who are you to say something like that?”
In-hye’s expression showed clear displeasure at the reporter’s words.
“That’s good if it’s not true,”
The reporter sneered, studying Seung-beom’s reaction as if waiting for him to lash out.
“In-hye, go inside first. I’ll contact you later.”
Seung-beom masked the twisted expression on his face with a calm smile.
“Okay. I’ll see you next time then.”
Thinking it was the perfect time to slip away, In-hye hurried into the hospital building without looking back.
Seung-beom, whose eyes had been glued to her, slowly turned toward the reporter once she was completely out of sight.
Murderous intent.
There was no other word to describe the look in Seung-beom’s eyes.
The deadly aura emanating from him made the reporter instinctively take a step back.
“This is the middle of the street. Try anything funny, and I’ll scream immediately.”
The reporter threatened, her voice trembling.
“Do you want to end up like Hwang Jung-sik?”
But Seung-beom, approaching without moving an eye, stood directly in front of her and said with a cold glare:
“…….”
The reporter froze like a statue.
Just as Hwang Jung-sik had been helpless when facing Seung-beom in a dark alley, she could do nothing.
This was the fear of death.
It overwhelmed everything in an instant.
“Y-You… think you’ll get away with this? Huh?”
Summoning all the courage she had left, the reporter’s voice shook as she spoke.
“Hah. Nothing ever happens to me. I’ve always been like this.”
Seung-beom’s firm expression didn’t change as he scanned her body with his eyes.
“I’m going to report you for attempted intimidation.”
Every place his gaze passed sent chills down her spine.
Suddenly—
“Found it.”
Seung-beom’s hand plunged into the reporter’s jacket pocket with a grin.
“W-What… what are you doing?!”
The startled reporter yelped and shoved his hand away.
Thud.
In the struggle, her phone slipped from her pocket and hit the ground.
“You were recording, weren’t you? You can’t just drop it like that, can you?”
Seung-beom crouched to pick up the phone, mocking her.
‘It’s over.’
The reporter, lips dry and burning with anxiety, tried desperately to swallow.
“How can you be so consistent? Reporters are so easy. Everything you do is visible.”
Seung-beom raised the screen of her recording phone to her face, grinning.
“Give it here.”
The reporter lunged to snatch the phone, but Seung-beom wasn’t about to give it up.
“I know people like you well. You thought you could provoke me and get some evidence? You picked the wrong person.”
Seung-beom spoke deliberately, deleting the recording file, and tossed the phone to the ground, stomping on it.
Thud—crack—
“Ah! What are you doing? Are you crazy?!”
The reporter fell to the ground, stunned, staring at her broken phone with despair.
“Sorry, Reporter Han. I didn’t realize it slipped from my hand, and I stepped on it again.”
Seung-beom picked up the completely destroyed phone, smiling as if nothing had happened.
“You… this… damn you.”
The reporter’s lifeline—the phone—was destroyed in an instant.
She had been tailing Seung-beom for days, thinking she had a new target to investigate after observing his attentions to In-hye, but this unexpected turn made her feel as if the sky itself had collapsed.
“And I’ll replace your phone. I’ll send a good one to your home. Don’t be too angry.”
“…What? Send it… to my home?”
Hearing that he even knew her address, her shirt was soaked in cold sweat.
“What’s with the surprise? Of course I have to compensate you,”
Seung-beom said with a chilling smile, handing the destroyed phone back to her.
He leaned close to her on the ground and whispered in a small voice:
“You remember the warning I gave you in the underground parking? That’s still valid.”
Even his soft breath radiated deadly intent.
This was the last warning. She instinctively knew that taking one more step here would mean death.
“Then, Reporter Han, make sure to come to the trial tomorrow. You need to cover my acquittal, right?”
Seung-beom straightened up, smiling as if nothing had happened, and helped the crouching reporter to her feet.
“….”
“I’ll be busy, so I’ll leave first. See you tomorrow, Reporter Han.”
Seung-beom got into his car calmly, flashing a cold smile as he left.
The reporter’s legs gave out from fear, and she collapsed back onto the ground.
“Damn… It’s over.”
She wasn’t facing a human being she could handle.
Seeing Seung-beom’s eyes made all her will to reveal the truth vanish, leaving only the instinct to survive.
Meanwhile, In-hye, who had been watching the scene from the hospital director’s office window, lightly pressed the call button on her phone.
“Yes, Seung-beom. I happen to be free tomorrow. Okay, then, I’ll see you at the courthouse.”
Ending the brief call, she clenched her phone tightly, whispering through trembling anger:
“Crazy bastard.”
On the day of Seung-beom’s trial.
The courthouse was packed—journalists, his fans, and even ordinary citizens—leaving barely any space to move.
The case involving Seung-beom’s fiancée had already captured public attention. Now, with the murder case combined, the media frenzy and public curiosity were at their peak.
When Seung-beom’s car arrived, the excitement reached its highest point.
“Kim Seung-beom, can you share your determination for today’s trial?”
“Do you still deny your connection to the late Hwang Jung-sik?”
“After the arrest warrant was rejected, are you confident you’ll be acquitted today?”
Walking through the crowd with his lawyer, Seung-beom’s face bore a rare, solemn determination instead of his usual sadness.
“I’ve heard you’re planning to seek damages from the state due to the police’s excessive investigation. Is that true?”
“Kim Seung-beom, please say a few words.”
Finally confronted with cameras and microphones, Seung-beom stopped.
“I will no longer grieve.”
The unexpected words made the shutters of cameras stop for a moment.
“I will no longer avoid.”
He spoke each word slowly, like a general heading to battle, his eyes burning with resolve.
“What do you mean by ‘not avoiding’?”
“I will fight to protect my honor and that of the people I love.”
Clenching his fist, Seung-beom spoke with emphasis.
“Could you explain in more detail?”
“Those who, in pursuit of their own achievements, misuse power to label innocent citizens as murderers, who wrap the grief of losing loved ones in hypocrisy and pretense—I will no longer tolerate it. I will stand and fight against such abuse of authority.”
“Go, sir! Fighting!”
“I’ll always support you!”
“The truth will come out!”
Voices of support erupted among the crowd.
“Then you’re confident of your acquittal today?”
“Yes. I am confident.”
Seung-beom stared firmly at the cameras.
“And why are you confident?”
“Because all the facts support my innocence.”
“However, I’ve heard the prosecution may present new witnesses. How do you respond?”
“It’s trial time. I’ll answer after the trial. Thank you.”
Observing quietly, Lawyer Kim decided it was time to intervene, guiding Seung-beom through the reporters into the courthouse lobby.
After a moment, a faint smile appeared on Seung-beom’s solemn face as he climbed the courthouse steps.
“Today, the noise will finally end.”
Inside the courtroom, all eyes were on Seung-beom as he entered.
Yet, he fixed his gaze on Prosecutor Tae-joon as he walked toward the defendant’s stand. Tae-joon knew he was being watched, but kept his head down to conserve energy for the trial.
Shortly after:
“The judge is entering. Please rise.”
As the stern judge walked in, the murmuring courtroom fell silent.
“Case 2018Godan2485, professional negligence resulting in death, combined with 2018Godan2511, murder. Is the defendant’s attorney from Jin-sil Law Firm, Kim Eun-mi, present?”
With the judge’s whistle, signaling the start of the final battle, Tae-joon slowly lifted his head from the documents.
Throughout the trial, the tension between Tae-joon and Lawyer Kim made the courtroom increasingly heated.
Seung-beom, however, seemed largely disinterested in the trial, repeatedly glancing toward the entrance.
“Why isn’t she here yet?”
He muttered impatiently, tapping his fingers on his knee, until In-hye entered. His previously bored expression lit up.
“In-hye.”
Forgetting the trial, he smiled faintly and waved lightly.
In-hye, smiling, sat in the back row, murmuring quietly:
“Crazy bastard.”
Only these words could describe him.
“Seung-beom, focus on the trial. Control your expressions.”
Lawyer Kim, watching, scolded him softly.
“The prosecution requests a witness.”
Tae-joon, puzzled by Seung-beom’s behavior, requested a witness as well.
“What kind of witness?”
“A crucial witness who can confirm the defendant destroyed evidence in the murder case.”
Seung-beom’s previously smiling expression instantly twisted.
“Don’t worry.”
Lawyer Kim, as if expecting it, looked at him with a calm expression.
“Approved. The witness is accepted.”
“Your honor, I request a brief recess.”
Lawyer Kim promptly requested the recess.
“Very well. Thirty-minute recess granted.”
Once the recess began, In-hye hurried outside to call Captain Choi.
“Captain, where are you? Why aren’t you here?”
[“I’m with Chaerin right now. Detective Kim will come later.”]
“Wait, why are you leaving in the middle of the trial? And why take Chaerin with you?”
[“I’ll explain in detail when I get there. See you soon.”]
“Captain! Captain!”
In-hye stared blankly at the disconnected phone.
“What on earth are you thinking?”
With the trial teetering toward Seung-beom’s victory, In-hye felt her lips burn with tension.
“The trial will resume. Everyone, please return to your seats.”
With a heavy sigh, In-hye trudged back into the courtroom.
Meanwhile, on the road.
Amid the stationary, long line of cars, Sung-jin poked his head out of the window, checking the traffic ahead.
“Let’s go, come on—ugh—”
Half leaning out, he let out a frustrated sigh, then pushed his head back inside.
[“55-minute traffic report. Today, due to a triple collision on Olympic Boulevard toward Yeouido, the evening traffic is starting early. Especially for those heading toward Gangnam…”]
“Yeah, I know traffic’s bad. I get it.”
Sung-jin nervously fiddled with the steering wheel, taking his frustration out on the radio.
Then his eyes fell on a white sealed envelope on the passenger seat.
[National Forensic Service] was clearly written on it.
“Ah… this is driving me insane.”
Unlike the stalled cars, the clock inside the car seemed to move too quickly, and Sung-jin glared at it resentfully.
