The Devil Judge [Bl Version] - Chapter 23: The Third Trial

The following day, Chief Justice Ji informs Yo-han that they\’ll be cooperating with the prosecution from now on to select cases for the People\’s Live Court. He even threatens to replace Yo-han if he can\’t accept it. Yo-han snidely remarks that Chief Prosecutor Ji clearly remembers who appointed him.

As Ga-On walked into the office, he was met with an unexpected burst of enthusiasm. Jin-joo, one of his colleagues, squealed with delight and enveloped him in a tight hug, a wide grin on her face. Ga-On was momentarily taken aback by her exuberance but soon returned the hug.

Jin-joo\’s excitement was palpable as she guided Ga-On to his desk, which was covered in letters and gifts from his fans. The outpouring of support left him genuinely touched.

Just as he was taking it all in, the office\’s producer-director entered, carrying a bouquet of flowers. The PD began talking animatedly about Ga-On\’s heroism in the face of danger, painting an exaggerated narrative of his actions. Ga-On couldn\’t help but feel uncomfortable with the embellished story.

Jin-joo, however, chimed in with a reassuring smile. \”Don\’t worry about the details, Ga-On. It\’s all about the story and the impact it has on the viewers. You\’re a hero in their eyes, and that\’s what matters.\”

Ga-On nodded, recognizing that sometimes, the power of storytelling could outweigh the need for strict accuracy. As he settled into his desk surrounded by the tokens of his fans\’ appreciation, he couldn\’t help but feel grateful for their support and the camaraderie of his colleagues.

Jin-joo approached Ga-On with a request, her tone slightly urgent. \”Ga-On, I have to leave for something really important, and I need Kang Yo-Han\’s signatures on these documents. Could you help me with that?\”

Ga-On hesitated for a moment, feeling a bit shy and apprehensive about facing Yo-Han alone. However, he reluctantly nodded, understanding the urgency of the situation. \”Alright, I\’ll take care of it for you, Jin-joo.\”

With a determined but somewhat uneasy resolve, Ga-On headed off to seek Yo-Han\’s signatures, knowing that he couldn\’t let his shyness get in the way of work.

As Ga-On walked into Yo-Han\’s office to discuss the case, he couldn\’t help but notice the livestream playing on Yo-Han\’s computer. 

\”What are you watching?\” Ga-On asks and stands beside Yo-Han and sees the influencer, wearing a Yo-Han T-shirt, passionately voiced their support for castration, believing it to be a foregone conclusion.

With a playful glint in his eye, Yo-Han teased, \”You should marry one of those fangirls, Ga-On.\” He leaned back in his chair, clearly trying to gauge Ga-On\’s reaction.

Ga-On, always ready for a little banter, decided to play along. He smirked and replied, \”Alright, let me see these girls.\”

But what happened next took Ga-On completely by surprise. Yo-Han grabbed his cheeks and, without warning, kissed him. Ga-On\’s eyes widened, and he pulled away abruptly, his gaze darting around the office.

\”Not in the office, Yo-Han!\” Ga-On scolded him in a hushed tone, \”There are cameras everywhere.\”

Their smiles faded as they refocused on the livestream. Yo-Han switched back to the influencer who was now bowing to a poster of him, declaring, \”We are all Kang Yo-han!\”

Ga-On watched with distaste, wondering why Yo-Han seemed to attract such unsettling and extreme fans. \”Is it really okay for the state to hold a knife against one of its citizens? The nation can be as frightening as a criminal.\”

***********

The next trial commences, and this time, the defendant is a famous actor named Nam Seok-hoon who is charged on multiple counts of sexual assault. Seok-hoon pleads guilty, but in reality he was quite unrepentant and had only admitted his crimes after the prosecutor threatened to leak information about Seok-hoon\’s membership to some VIP room.

Flogging certainly upped the ante on sentences because the prosecution not only requests a 20-year prison sentence but actual castration.

The prosecutor compares Seok-hoon to an animal and demand for the defender to be punished by physical castration had sent shockwaves through the audience, and the courtroom erupted with an unsettling mix of cheers and jeers.

In the midst of the charged courtroom and the prosecutor\’s shocking demand, Ga-On leaned closer to Yo-Han, his voice barely above a whisper, \”Yo-Han, we can\’t give in to that punishment. It\’s inhumane.\”

Yo-Han stared at the audience mix of concern and suddenly his attention was drawn away from the courtroom proceedings when he noticed a surprising figure enter the room. It was Sun-ah, a familiar face from his past. Her presence there was unexpected, and it left Yo-Han with a mix of emotions.

Sun-ah had a warm smile on her face, and her arms were filled with containers of homemade food. It was clear that she had cooked something special for Yo-Han, a gesture that held significance in their shared history.

As Sun-ah observed Yo-Han\’s dilemma, a subtle smile played on her lips. She was well aware of the delicate balance that he had to maintain in the eyes of the people. If he allowed her presence in the courtroom and accepted her gesture, it might be perceived as going too far, perhaps even as a sign of vulnerability. On the other hand, if he opposed it or rejected her offer, it could be seen as weakness or an inability tohandle a situation.

With a calculated glint in her eye, Sun-ah continued to watch the proceedings, confident that she had added a new layer of complexity to the situation that would keep everyone, especially Yo-Han, on their toes.

\”We\’ll adjourn for the day. Please, everyone, make sure to be prepared for tomorrow\’s session.\” Yo-Han called for a recess, signaling the end of the day\’s courtroom proceedings.

With unwavering confidence, Yo-Han walked purposefully towards Sun-ah, his stride deliberate and his expression resolute. As he passed her, he made no effort to engage or acknowledge her presence directly, but his demeanor spoke volumes.

Without uttering a word, Yo-Han conveyed a powerful message to Sun-ah and the entire courtroom: he was not a man to be easily defeated or swayed by unexpected challenges. His determined stance and unyielding confidence sent a clear signal that he was ready to face whatever obstacles lay ahead and would do so with his head held high.

The silent exchange between Yo-Han and Sun-ah was a testament to their ongoing rivalry and the unspoken competition that fueled their every move in the complex world of legal proceedings.

************

When Yo-Han returned home and discovered the inviting homecooked meal on the table, he couldn\’t help but grin with appreciation. The aroma wafting through the air was simply irresistible.

As he was about to walk out of the kitchen, the smart speaker chimed in, playing Ga-on\’s message, \”Yo-Han, eat it so that you can sleep well.\”

Yo-Han paused, chuckling at Ga-on\’s words as he listened to the rest of the message.

\”Stop skipping meals or you\’ll get more wrinkles. Think of your age.\”

Yo-Han\’s grin widened as he couldn\’t help but be charmed by Ga-on\’s playful teasing, \”I think I played with you too nicely last night. I\’ll remember this.\”

With that playful exchange, Yo-Han took a moment to jest with the smart speaker as if it were a person, \”You accepted him as your Master. When did that happen!\”

Sighing, Yo-Han turned his attention to the meal Ga-on had prepared. Despite his initial reservations as Yo-Han savored the delicious meal that Ga-on had lovingly prepared, he couldn\’t help but be deeply moved. It was the first time since the loss of Isaac that he had felt this sense of contentment and warmth after finishing a meal.

The flavors and aromas of the homecooked food had stirred something within him, filling a void that had lingered far too long. Yo-Han looked at the emptied bowls before him, a sense of gratitude washing over him.

With a satisfied sigh, he took a sip of his after-dinner drink, reflecting on the unexpected comfort and solace he had found in this simple yet meaningful gesture from Ga-on.

In his study room, Yo-Han was immersed in articles about neutering animals when Ga-on unexpectedly walked in and found him engrossed in his research.

\”What is all this?\” He gestured to the stack of articles and research papers that filled the desk. 

Yo-Han looks up, a hint of amusement in his eyes, and without a word, he lifted up the surgical knife he had been using to cut out newspaper articles.

\”This surgical knife,\” he began, \”was manufactured by the renowned company \’MediCut\’ known for its precision instruments. It\’s a model V-2000, crafted with the utmost care and attention to detail.\”

He went on, elaborating further, \”The blade is made from high-quality stainless steel, ensuring durability and sharpness. If you look closely here,\” he gestured to a small engraving near the handle, \”you\’ll notice the manufacturing date, which happens to be September 10, 2019. It has served me well ever since.\”

Ga-On\’s impatience was palpable as he prodded Yo-Han further. \”Neutering animals, Yo-Han? Are humans just like those animals to you?\”

Yo-Han smirked and acted as if he was hurt,\” Ouch, Ga-On, that one hurt. I thought we were getting along so well.\”

But Ga-on, perhaps sensing the impact of his words, quickly clarified his intentions,\”No, Yo-Han, that\’s not what I meant. If you talk like this, I\’ll waver.\”

However, Yo-Han chose to cut Ga-on off, his tone serious and contemplative, \”Maybe you\’re right. Some of us are born monsters, using revenge as an excuse to hunt.\”

Ga-on, not wanting to see Yo-Han in such a dark and self-deprecating state, urged,\”You don\’t have the courage to acknowledge your own wounds.\”

Yo-Han, with a mischievous glint in his eye, couldn\’t resist making a teasing comment,\”So, Ga-On, is your pain okay?\”

Ga-On\’s ears turned a deep shade of crimson as he looked around nervously, realizing that Yo-Han wasn\’t going to let this go easily,\”Yo-Han, please, can we not bring this up again and again?\”

Their exchange, while flirtatious and lighthearted, left Ga-On feeling slightly embarrassed, yet it also brought a playful dynamic to their interactions that they both seemed to enjoy.

To be continued…