Chapter 80
“Our child did nothing wrong.”
The moment the meeting for settlement began, the first words from the Legal Representative's side forced me to acknowledge a truth.
Children are a reflection of their parents.
It was wrong of me to expect common sense from the parents of a minor who had committed the crime of a false terror threat in the first place.
Given this, I had no choice but to completely change the plan I’d made before coming here.
As I thought this and glanced sideways, the Lawyer also looked at me and nodded.
As if we had read each other’s minds without a word.
Having confirmed each other’s thoughts, I addressed the Legal Representatives on the Opposite Side.
“First, before we begin our Full-fledged discussion, allow me to introduce ourselves. I am Ji Hojin of EnsonGT, the victim in this case. And this is...”
As I trailed off, the Lawyer bowed his head and offered a Greeting to the Legal Representatives seated on the Opposite Side.
“I am Kim Hajin, a lawyer from EnsonGT’s Legal Team. I will be participating as the mediator for this meeting.”
The Legal Representatives on the Opposite Side reacted differently to our introductions.
First, the man who appeared to be the Suspect’s father took our business cards and examined them with a grim expression,
Conversely, the woman who appeared to be the Suspect’s Mother remained defiant.
“First, to briefly explain the Case Summary...”
“You don’t need to explain. I’ve already heard everything from a lawyer I know.”
“Excuse me?”
“Our child is still a minor, and from what they told me, it wasn’t that big of a deal... Aren’t you, a large corporation, being overly intimidating?”
“...”
From what she had just said, I immediately understood why this woman was so brazen.
The Lawyer, too, seemed to share my thoughts this time, letting out a sighing sound.
The husband next to her looked restless but ultimately failed to stop his wife.
“Honestly, we didn’t come to this meeting to settle, but to give you some advice. The punishment won’t be severe even if it goes to trial, so wouldn’t it be better to just settle? We’re not well-off, but we’ll compensate you for the losses incurred during the suspended time.”
The woman, having finished her piece, crossed her arms and looked at us as if daring us to speak.
Seeing her, I sighed inwardly and asked with a serious expression.
“Before we begin our full-fledged discussion, may I ask what you heard from your son?”
“My child? Oh, they just played a little prank, but the commotion got bigger than expected, and some game festival was suspended. Something like that.”
...Your Son certainly picked and chose only the parts that benefited him, didn’t he?
“W-what did you say...?!”
The woman, realizing I had spoken with a hint of sarcasm and unable to control her emotions, became enraged.
But I ignored her reaction and continued speaking.
“First and foremost, the incident your son caused is not in the category of “a little prank.” It is a clear crime.”
“Even so, to call something that a Minor caused by typing a few keys a crime—”
“The result of typing those few keys is a Terror Threat. A Terror Threat.”
“A T-Terror Threat...? A Lawyer I know clearly told me that if it was merely an attempt, it wouldn’t count as a Terror Threat...”
“I will address that.”
As the situation required a legal explanation, the lawyer interjected at a good time.
The Lawyer then began to meticulously explain the charges against the woman’s Son, the Suspect, and the reasons for those charges.
The woman, who had initially listened with a disbelieving expression, slowly began to grasp the reality of the situation, her face souring.
Next to her, the man who appeared to be her husband looked utterly lifeless.
“Therefore, even considering that he is a minor, we would like to inform you that charges of intimidation, Obstruction of Official Duties, and Obstruction of Business (Crime) can be established.”
“I can understand intimidation and obstruction of business, but obstruction of official duties...”
“That is, in fact, the most certain charge. Especially when you consider the Police SWAT Team and Fire Department personnel who were dispatched due to your Son’s terror threat.”
The Lawyer passed the baton to me, the woman, now silent, having seemingly realized the gravity of her and her child’s situation.
The criminal case is just a taste; the civil case will be the real deal. If their reaction is already like this...
“H-Honey. How about we apologize now and try to settle? Huh?”
The husband, who seemed to be the more rational one, whispered to his wife, apparently grasping the reality of the situation,
but the woman shot her husband a contemptuous glance and then asked me.
“If we reach a settlement, will the complaint be withdrawn?”
At her words, the Lawyer shook his head and answered on my behalf.
“Unfortunately, none of those three charges is an Offense Not Prosecuted Against Victim's Will, so even if a settlement is reached, it will be difficult to completely avoid punishment.”
The Legal Representative couple’s expressions soured once again at the Lawyer’s definitive answer.
I thought they might at least apologize by now, but the woman’s next statement shattered my expectations beautifully.
“In that case, a settlement seems difficult. We were talking about settling on the assumption that the complaint would be withdrawn, but if that’s not the case, then there’s no need to...”
“Yes, well... you may do as you please. Then, may we now proceed to discuss compensation?”
“What? Compensation? Since the settlement failed, isn’t it just about receiving punishment...?”
“The settlement was for your child’s Criminal Lawsuit, and the compensation is for the Civil Lawsuit we are filing due to the damages incurred by this False Terror Threat.”
At my words, the woman’s expression became sullen.
She probably felt a pang in her stomach, realizing the cost would double with the civil case following the criminal one.
“Ah, that’s right... Has the compensation estimate been prepared?”
“Here it is.”
I handed the woman the estimate I had prepared before coming here.
One was anticipating what reaction would erupt upon seeing the estimate.
And as expected, the woman’s reaction upon checking the estimate was dramatic.
“W-hundreds of millions... This is too much! For just a game event!”
“Well, if you listen to what I’m about to explain, you’ll understand.”
“No, I won’t listen. This is an estimate from your Company, isn’t it? We’ll get our own estimate, and then we can talk again after that...”
Interrupting the woman, whose voice had risen in excitement, I asked with a serious expression.
“If you can’t trust the estimate provided by us, the Event Organizer, then whose word will you trust?”
“That’s...”
Realizing her own logic was flawed, the woman chose to clamp her mouth shut instead of answering.
“First, let me go through this slowly, one by one. First, the Ticket Revenue for one 3-hour session of the event, which was suspended due to your Son’s Terror Threat, is 150 Million Won.”
“W-what criteria are you using...!”
“Each ticket costs 15,000 Won. The Ticket Refund Amount is 150 Million Won for 10,000 Attendees, who sold out one 3-hour session.”
“...”
“Secondly, the total amount, including the hiring of Professional Security Guards for Security Enhancement, and Other Incidental Expenses for Personal Belongings Inspection, including Metal Detectors... is listed in the estimate, so please Check it once more.”
The woman, perhaps finally understanding the magnitude of the trouble her son had caused, began frantically scanning the estimate.
Next to her, her husband kept letting out deep sighing sounds.
Realizing there was no escape, the woman began to plead with me, her expression servile.
“B-but our child is a minor, and it seems like it was a mistake... Can’t you do something?”
I shook my head decisively at her plea and replied.
“If we show leniency because he is a minor, there could be a second or third case like your son, so we, too, have no choice.”
“B-but you can still cut us some slack, can’t you...! If we pay all this, we’ll truly be bankrupt!”
“I’m sorry.”
“Then sue us! No matter what, we can’t afford this amount!”
“Honey, just stop for now...”
“Stop what?! How are you going to pay this compensation with your measly salary? Huh?”
“If we sell the Apartment and somehow move to a *jeonse*—”
“Don’t be ridiculous! Our child caused this mess, so why should we sell our retirement home? I won’t sell it! You take that brat and get out!”
“Why are you calling our son a brat—a brat?!”
The couple, who had been exchanging words, soon raised their voices and began to argue,
and as loud shouts filled the Interview Room, a Police officer soon entered and the occupants only quieted down after being told to do so.
Even then, the couple continued to seethe, as if their resentment towards each other hadn’t dissipated.
Seeing this, I felt there was no longer any value in staying, so I stood up.
“Then, understanding that you have no Intent to Settle either the Criminal Lawsuit or the Civil Lawsuit, we will take our leave.”
As a final *teabagging* and a polite bow, I offered a formal Greeting, and the couple on the Opposite Side looked utterly dumbfounded.
“Oh, and from this point forward, this case will be handled not by me, but by our Company’s Legal Team. So, if you have any questions or anything you wish to say, please contact the number on this lawyer’s business card. Goodbye.”
After finishing my words, I immediately exited the Interview Room with the Lawyer.
Behind me, I could almost hear deep sighing sounds,
But,
that’s not my concern.