There was a way to make Lee Jeonggeun's mood even worse at times like this.
Lee Hanyeong drew a faint smile and spoke in a voice loud enough for Lee Jeonggeun to hear.
"I think I see something. I believe I've found a point that the prosecutor or the lawyer missed."
"Really?"
Senior Chief Director Im Jeongsik beamed, while Lee Jeonggeun's fist clenched tightly.
To think that even the carefully selected brute chosen by the court chief was showing cracks.
In this world, juniors were the most frightening.
Because the moment a junior climbed up over you, you might be forced to take off your robe.
Lee Jeonggeun's gaze followed the backs of Lee Hanyeong and Senior Chief Director Im Jeongsik.
Senior Chief Director Im Jeongsik had an arm draped affectionately over Lee Hanyeong's shoulder.
It was also a signal directed at Lee Jeonggeun, telling him not to treat Lee Hanyeong carelessly.
Lee Jeonggeun bit down hard on his lower lip and shook his head.
"Coffee?"
"Take out a cold one."
The sound of a canned coffee dropping from the vending machine rang out.
Kim Yunhyeok handed the coffee to Lee Jeonggeun, who was sitting on a lounge chair.
Lee Jeonggeun opened the can and spoke.
"What should I do about that bastard Lee Hanyeong? I can't exactly kill him."
Kim Yunhyeok smiled quietly.
"He's probably under a lot of stress. His first solo trial was Kim Sangjin, and then the next thing he got was a brute case."
"Is he the only one holding that brute case? Why make such a show of it?"
"The court chief personally handed it down, and it's far more complicated than an ordinary brute case. He's just been promoted to solo trials, so the pressure must be intense. Please understand. Judge Lee Hanyeong may be a bit rough around the edges, but he's a good person once you get close to him."
Feeling stifled, Lee Jeonggeun downed the canned coffee in one go. He then crushed the empty can in his hand and said,
"Ah, if Lee Hanyeong were even half as good as you, I'd dote on him."
Kim Yunhyeok silently brought his canned coffee to his lips.
Lee Jeonggeun still seemed indignant, repeatedly clenching and unclenching his fist.
Then he shook his head.
"Ah, I really don't like that guy."
Listening to him, Kim Yunhyeok shifted his gaze.
His eyes landed on where Lee Hanyeong's office and his own were located.
An inscrutable smile quietly formed on Kim Yunhyeok's lips.
As Lee Hanyeong was reading the records and tracing through the case, the door opened and Kim Yunhyeok walked in.
"Busy?"
"No. Go ahead."
Lee Hanyeong replied without turning his gaze toward Kim Yunhyeok.
Kim Yunhyeok stepped closer to Lee Hanyeong and spoke.
"Judge Lee Jeonggeun seems pretty angry. If you have time, go apologize. It's awkward when you keep running into him in the halls."
"Ah, thanks for worrying."
"And about that brute case..."
Lee Hanyeong's hand, which had been flipping through the records, stopped.
Kim Yunhyeok continued.
"I heard you're seeing something. What is it?"
Lee Hanyeong lifted his head and met Kim Yunhyeok's eyes.
Kim Yunhyeok was looking at him with the same 'kind' eyes as always.
Lee Hanyeong slowly twirled the pen in his hand and spoke quietly.
"Who knows."
Lee Hanyeong was thinking.
'Should I tell him?'
The current trial was small.
Even though this brute case was said to be complicated, at most it was a solo trial taking place in the provinces.
But what lay ahead would be big.
If someday he went up to Seoul and took hold of a major trial, it would be incomparable to this current brute case.
'What if you take everything I say as the truth? What if I look like a perfect friend? What if I look like a sucker who tells you everything, just like in my previous life?'
This time, Lee Hanyeong would be the one striking the back of Kim Yunhyeok's head.
Lee Hanyeong slowly nodded.
"I met the victim's friend. That's all. I was just putting on a bit of a bluff in front of Judge Lee Jeonggeun."
"Oh, really?"
"Judge Lee Jeonggeun acts so arrogant, like he's way above everyone else even though he's also just handling solo trials. It's annoying."
When Lee Hanyeong answered casually, Kim Yunhyeok lingered for a moment before heading to his own desk.
Lee Hanyeong glanced at Kim Yunhyeok.
He planned to steadily build up their friendship from now on.
Kim Yunhyeok was probably thinking the same thing.
But...
'This time, you're the one getting hit in the back of the head. It's going to hurt a lot.'
Sensing Lee Hanyeong's gaze, Kim Yunhyeok looked away.
"What is it? Want me to make you some coffee?"
"No."
Their eyes were warm.
As Lee Hanyeong's gaze returned to the case records, a phone call came in. It was reporter Song Nayeon.
Lee Hanyeong stepped out into the hallway and pressed the call button.
"This is Lee Hanyeong."
-Detective Lee Hanyeong, I did what you asked. The article is up now, so check it.
"Thank you."
-Do you think this will get big? It doesn't seem like anyone would be interested...
Lee Hanyeong had asked Song Nayeon to mobilize a small online newspaper.
With no major incidents, the world had been quiet, so an article titled 'Stalker Kills Girlfriend for Insurance Money' was more than enough to stir up the online world in an instant.
Reporter Song Nayeon spoke in a worried voice.
-But is it really okay if things get noisy?
"Sometimes it has to get noisy for the truth to come out. By the way, when are you planning to meet Ms. Kim Gayoung?"
-I made an appointment for two days from now.
"Then I'll leave it to you."
Lee Hanyeong slowly hung up.
Just then, a judge passing through the hallway looked at Lee Hanyeong and spoke.
"Lee Hanyeong, I heard you got the brute case the court chief gave you?"
Judges sometimes called each other 'pro.'
Lee Hanyeong gave a slight bow.
"Yes."
"Handle it lightly. Since it came from the court chief, I looked into it myself, but it won't end at the first trial anyway. Just write a solid ruling."
"Thank you."
"Do well. I'm expecting a lot."
The judge patted Lee Hanyeong on the shoulder and walked past.
No one—not even Court Chief Baek Iseok—knew that this case would turn into a typhoon.
Lee Hanyeong smiled faintly.
A few days later.
Reporters flooded into the once-quiet courthouse, causing an uproar.
It was because of the brute case Lee Hanyeong was handling—the Kim Seonhui murder case.
As news of her unjust death spread, reporters stormed the courthouse aggressively.
"We've heard the investigation started late. Isn't the investigative outcome from the prosecution insufficient?"
"I've heard the judge in charge lacks experience."
"Please say a word."
While the staff were suffering through the chaos, Senior Chief Director Im Jeongsik was rushing toward the court chief's office.
Without hiding his ragged breathing, he flung the door open and went inside.
Before he could even bow his head, Court Chief Baek Iseok spoke.
"That's enough. Come over here and sit down."
Senior Chief Director Im Jeongsik awkwardly sat on the sofa.
Court Chief Baek Iseok stood up from his desk and walked toward the sofa.
Senior Chief Director Im Jeongsik's face was drenched in fatigue and irritation, but Court Chief Baek Iseok was not.
Even now, with reporters swarming in and the place growing noisy, there was no change in Baek Iseok's expression.
"What's the situation?"
"Yesterday, Judge Lee Hanyeong went to verify the scene."
"And?"
"He says he can see a clue to the truth. Once the trial begins, he plans to interrogate starting with the family..."
At the word 'family,' Court Chief Baek Iseok's eyes showed a change for the first time.
"By family, do you mean the victim's bereaved family?"
"Yes, that seems to be the case."
Court Chief Baek Iseok slowly put on his glasses and placed the records of the Kim Seonhui murder case on the table.
"The bereaved family..."
Page by page, the records were turned.
Listening to the sound of paper flipping, Senior Chief Director Im Jeongsik watched Court Chief Baek Iseok with a stiff expression.
It was rare for so much attention to be focused on a solo first-trial case occurring in the provinces.
At least, in Senior Chief Director Im Jeongsik's legal career, it had never happened.
And such a trial was being handled by Lee Hanyeong, who lacked experience.
'What if he delivers a flawed judgment?'
He could become a target of public opinion, arrows piercing him from all sides.
Senior Chief Director Im Jeongsik lifted his head and looked at Court Chief Baek Iseok flipping through the records.
His lips were tightly sealed. The eyes behind the glasses were so sharp they seemed to carry a chill.
Senior Chief Director Im Jeongsik swallowed unconsciously.
Then Court Chief Baek Iseok spoke.
"How many major outlets are here?"
"Pardon?"
"Find out how many major newspapers have shown up, not those neighborhood bulletin sheets."
Senior Chief Director Im Jeongsik turned his body and made a call. Then he looked at Court Chief Baek Iseok and said,
"Two have come."
Court Chief Baek Iseok slowly nodded.
Senior Chief Director Im Jeongsik hurriedly continued.
"Court Chief, I'll stick close to Judge Lee Hanyeong. I'll comb through the case records from the beginning..."
Court Chief Baek Iseok waved his hand.
"No. That's enough. It's not an assignment I gave you, is it? I gave Judge Lee Hanyeong an assignment. He'll handle it."
Outside was noisy, but Court Chief Baek Iseok's voice remained calm.
Senior Chief Director Im Jeongsik couldn't read anything from Baek Iseok's expression. He could only listen.
"The majors aren't enough. If we're going to set the board, we should make it bigger. Call other newspapers and let them know there's a scoop here."
"What? You want us to publicize it even more?"
"Lee Hanyeong, come to my office."
Senior Chief Director Im Jeongsik set down the phone.
A moment later, as he watched Lee Hanyeong pull out a chair and sit, Senior Chief Director Im Jeongsik let out a sigh.
"The reporters showing up must be overwhelming, right? It's just a first trial, and it's bound to go to a second trial anyway. Why are they making such a fuss?"
This case was never going to end at the solo trial.
Whether the defendant or the victim prevailed, neither side would be satisfied.
Their claims were that sharply opposed.
"As you continue your career as a judge, you'll meet many noisy reporters. Don't worry, and follow your convictions. If you start being swayed by public opinion now, it'll be hard later."
A young judge could issue an incorrect ruling under pressure from public opinion.
Senior Chief Director Im Jeongsik tried his best to steady Lee Hanyeong so he wouldn't walk that path.
"The court chief also instructed us to let Judge Lee Hanyeong handle things on his own."
"Thank you."
Lee Hanyeong bowed deeply.
Senior Chief Director Im Jeongsik walked over to the window.
Broadcast vans entering the courthouse came into view.
"If it gets too difficult, postpone the hearing. I'll make an excuse for you. Once some time passes, the reporters will quiet down."
"It's burdensome, but I won't postpone it. If the ruling is delayed, it's hard on both the bereaved family and the defendant. Giving them an answer as quickly as possible so they can find some peace—that's my job."
Senior Chief Director Im Jeongsik turned his head toward Lee Hanyeong.
"Then follow your convictions. I'll be the one to take the bullets."
"Thank you."
Lee Hanyeong merely smiled gently at his concerned gaze.
And thus, the full-fledged trial of the Kim Seonhui murder case began.
Lee Hanyeong was in his office, putting on his judicial robe to head to the courtroom.