Chapter 131: One Mountain After Another

TL: Aniea

‘...What a character.’

Director Park Hee-seok lifted the corners of his mouth as he watched Kang Woo-ju confidently step in front of the camera.

He had unconsciously gripped the script book so tightly that it was all crumpled, but no one seemed to care.

That was how much Kang Woo-ju's confident stride drew people’s attention, and the same went for Kim Min-jae, who had been acting just moments earlier.

‘This one's no pushover either.’

Even when he had faced Seo Jun-woo, he had felt more pressure than expected. There was the danger that he might be completely overshadowed by the character.

And [Seo Jung-min, Attorney] and [Kang Ba-ram, Prosecutor] were already characters with very strong presence.

To hold the center ground between them, average acting wouldn’t be enough. With that determination, he had truly given it his all.

‘...It really is one mountain after another.’

Seeing the look in Kang Woo-ju’s eyes that suggested he had already started acting from the moment he entered the set, Kim Min-jae felt cold sweat trickle down his back.

If the Seo Jung-min that Seo Jun-woo portrayed had a sly, snake-like impression.

Then the Kang Woo-ju in front of him was truly a “mountain”. The aura of an oppressive gangster-like prosecutor was fully intact.

‘Fine, I’ll take you on!’

Swish, swish-

Kim Min-jae lightly shook his head to clear his mind. He pushed away all the buzzing, mosquito-like trivial emotions and immersed himself in the role.

Serial killer Jang Woo-cheol.

The reason for his murders wasn’t simply pleasure. Rather, in a way befitting his occupation as a doctor, it was a highly rational and ideal decision.

A highly intelligent psychopath who understood how ordinary people would react in specific situations, he layered that calm persona over himself.

“You're a little late, Prosecutor Kang Ba-ram.”

The camera, which had been stopped, began emitting a red light once more.

──────────

“You speak as if we had some kind of appointment.”

“Isn’t there an order to how things should be done?”

“So someone who knows that deliberately leaks information to the press to buy time, and in the meantime hires the top scumbag lawyer in the country?”

“Seems like there’s some misunderstanding between us.”

“Misunderstanding? What misunderstanding?”

Clang-!

Prosecutor Kang Ba-ram plopped down on the interrogation room chair. The old chair screamed under the weight, but neither of them blinked an eye.

“I wasn't the one who tossed bait to the reporters. Once the news is out, even if I clear my name, I’ll have to hang up my gown. Why would I make such a choice?”

“You’re not getting out anytime soon anyway, so before we start steering public opinion, you figured you’d slyly redirect attention with some carefully worded statement. Isn’t that about right?”

“You're overestimating me, Prosecutor. What kind of connections would a mere doctor like me have to sway the press?”

“You do. And quite a few at that.”

Rustle-!

Prosecutor Kang Ba-ram pulled out a bundle of photos from inside her coat and threw them onto the table.

The photos showed various people shaking hands with Jang Woo-cheol, seemingly taken from afar with a telephoto lens.

“‘God’s Hand’, ‘Unparalleled Genius’, ‘Pioneer of Korean Medicine’, and so on. All those cringe-worthy nicknames. With so many titles, no wonder so many people come to see you.”

“.......”

“I heard the great-granddaughter of the chairman of Hanseon Ilbo, who was suffering from a rare disease, recently made a full recovery? Even world-renowned hospitals overseas had given up on her.”

“I didn't know you had so much interest in me, Prosecutor. Someone might think this is illegal civilian surveillance.”

“You don’t need to worry about that. ‘These things here’ were all taken by pure coincidence.”

“Haha. Well, this is...”

Jang Woo-cheol shook his head from side to side as if troubled. However, there was still a relaxed smile on his face.

“Han Yeo-ryeong.”

“......?”

“That is her name. She was a girl with a very pretty smile. From birth, her heart was so weak that she couldn’t even stand on her own, let alone run around like other children her age.”

Smile-

As if reminiscing about that time, Jung Woo-cheol blankly stared up at the ceiling. Then, the corners of his mouth drew a gentle arc.

“I remember what Yeo-ryeong said to me after the surgery. ‘Doctor, I can feel my heart pounding!’ she said, smiling so brightly.... It was an incredibly rewarding moment, both as a human being and as a doctor.”

“.......”

From Jung Woo-cheol’s calm smile, one could feel a sense of reverence not faded even when compared to that of a devout adult.

Even the citizens outside the window holding placards that read “Immediately revoke murder licenses!” would likely hesitate if they saw this.

However, Prosecutor Kang Ba-ram’s gaze toward him was no different from before.

Cold and emotionless.

Pupils with unfathomable depth.

“I acknowledge it.”

Perhaps dulled even more than that of a psychopath, with that very emotion, Kang Ba-ram nodded calmly.

“Jung Woo-cheol. Your skill as a doctor is real. It’s true that many have been saved by your hands. I have no intention of denying that fact.”

“Well, I appreciate-”

“If that girl's smile wasn’t stolen by force from another child, that is.”

Srrk-!

Prosecutor Kang Ba-ram spread out a wide fan of documents scattered on the desk, then pulled out a photo of a child who looked to be around five to seven years old.

“Do you remember who this is?”

“What does this have to do with the case?”

“Well, if you don’t want to answer, you don’t have to. Remaining silent is also one of your rights. If you want, I can even call Attorney Seo Jung-min, who’s outside.”

“.......”

Prosecutor Kang Ba-ram shrugged as if it really didn’t matter. At that, Jung Woo-cheol hesitated for a moment before slowly speaking.

“Sigh.... How could I forget Ji-ho? Even while battling illness for over a year, she never once complained to me. She was a sweet child.”

“Then why did you kill such a sweet girl?”

“Prosecutor Kang Ba-ram.”

Sssss-

For the first time, Jung Woo-cheol lost his ever-present smile and became serious. The atmosphere in the interrogation room instantly froze.

“You may slander me all you want, but do not insult the pure soul of an innocent child. I won’t let that slide.”

“You really should’ve been an actor, not a doctor. No, don’t tell me... you’re not seriously believing you live and breathe alongside Han Yeo-ryeong, are you?”

Surely he’s not that far gone. Kang Ba-ram revealed a look of open contempt.

In response, Jung Woo-cheol silently glared at him, and Kang Ba-ram shrugged once before continuing.

“Han Yeo-ryeong didn’t have long to live. Her only hope was a heart transplant, but unfortunately, her blood type was O-negative.”

“.......”

“Quite coincidentally, both your patient Han Yeo-ryeong and Kim Ji-ho had the same blood type, and their ages were similar too, so the compatibility rate must’ve been high.”

“Ha, so what? Are you seriously suggesting I killed Ji-ho on purpose to save Yeo-ryeong?”

“Isn’t the circumstantial evidence enough?”

“Hey! Prosecutor Kang Ba-ram!”

Bang-!

Jung Woo-cheol slammed the desk hard and stood up, his face flushed red.

Clenching his trembling fists as if desperately holding back his anger, he continued with a shaking voice.

“I am a doctor! A doctor who saves lives! I am a man who solemnly swore before God to devote my life to serving humanity!”

There wasn’t even a hint of falsehood in his expression. He looked every bit the devoted doctor who would sacrifice himself to save his patients.

Heh-

Seeing him, Prosecutor Kang Ba-ram smiled for the first time. A devilish smile that stood in stark contrast to Jung Woo-cheol.

“That’s right. If it weren’t for you, both of them would’ve died before reaching adulthood anyway.”

Tap, tap, tap, tap.

Prosecutor Kang Ba-ram placed photos of Kim Ji-ho and Han Yeo-ryeong on the table, then tapped them alternately as he spoke.

“So, as a ‘doctor’, you had to choose between the two. Since their missing organs differed, at least one of them had a chance to survive.”

“...Please call my attorney.”

“The choice must’ve been easier than expected. You're an extremely rational man. You probably chose the one with the greater social value. Isn’t that right?”

“I will no longer speak with someone like you.”

“Answer me! How many innocent people have you murdered like this so far!? Huh!?”

Bang-!!

Kang Ba-ram slammed the desk with all his might. The photos scattered in all directions, cluttering the view.

Through them, the two locked eyes. Kang Ba-ram’s trembling pupils contrasted with Jung Woo-cheol’s completely unshaken gaze.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing-!!”

Bang-!

At that moment, Attorney Seo Jung-min burst into the interrogation room, throwing the door open roughly.

He stepped between Jung Woo-cheol and Kang Ba-ram, blocking them with his body, and warned in a stern tone.

“Prosecutor Kang Ba-ram. I’ve heard rumors about your usual coercive investigation methods, but I didn’t expect it to be this bad.”

“.......”

“Regarding the threats and violence against my client that occurred in this interrogation room today, as well as the illegal civilian surveillance, I will be officially filing a complaint to the prosecution-”

“Hey, Seo Jung-min.”

Twitch-!

At the sudden low voice calling his name, Attorney Seo Jung-min frowned slightly.

But Kang Ba-ram, who had called his name, didn’t even glance at him. He kept his gaze fixed on Jung Woo-cheol and opened his mouth.

“You’re still living like that?”

“Watch your words, Prosecutor Kang Ba-ram.”

“Those criminal bastards who feel no remorse even after killing someone. Is the money you take from scum like that really that sweet?”

“Kang Ba-ram!”

Sss-

Only then did Kang Ba-ram turn his head. After silently glaring at Attorney Seo Jung-min for a while, he sharply turned on his heel and walked out of the interrogation room.

──────────』

“.......”

“.......”

“...Director.”

“Huh? Ah, cut! Cut! Cut!”

Park Hee-seok, who had been staring blankly at the camera like a man possessed, finally came to his senses at the awkward voice of the cinematographer.

‘...What the hell did I just watch?’

Heh-

Park Hee-seok let out a hollow laugh. The three actors’ presence had been so overwhelming that, for a moment, he felt more like a viewer than a director.

Apparently, he wasn’t the only one who felt that way, as several crew members were also staring blankly at the set.

‘I had some expectations for Kim Min-jae and Seo Jun-woo, but...’

Director Park Hee-seok’s gaze shifted to Kang Woo-ju. He captured the expression of someone who looked completely calm, as if he had just done what was expected.

Honestly, when casting him, he had been doubtful. He had practically been forced to choose Kang Woo-ju after Seo Jun-woo said he’d only join the project if Kang Woo-ju did too.

Nothing more, nothing less.

He thought that if Kang Woo-ju just performed at the same level as he had in <Peaceful Chaebol Life>, there’d be nothing more to ask for as a director.

‘But this is way beyond expectations!?’

The mere fact that he managed to stand out between Kim Min-jae and Seo Jun-woo was impressive enough.

But Kang Woo-ju effortlessly surpassed that, bringing the character of [Kang Ba-ram] to life.

A typically cold and rational figure who, when it comes to criminals, doesn’t hide his anger, an intense prosecutor who literally stops at nothing.

‘...Especially that last scene was just incredible.’

Kang Ba-ram, who had remained unshaken throughout the interrogation with Jung Woo-cheol, finally revealed his anger in the end without holding back.

The candle-like flicker in his eyes and the trembling in his body as he recalled the victims, pure art.

That scene, contrasted with the unshaken pupils of the inherently psychopathic Jung Woo-cheol, was just...

“Amazing.”

Smirk-

Director Park Hee-seok, unable to fully hide his joy, raised his megaphone once more.

*****

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