LN Partners

*Present*

Inside the dark room, seven people sat around the long table. Their eyes were on the screen in front of them as the projector reflected on it, showing them some pictures. There was one presenter up at the front while the others listened to him carefully.

"As you all know, that this case is very sensitive," the speaker named Jung Chanwoo said. "Doctor Lim Byungsoo is one of the most prominent medical surgeons in the country and yet, he has been conducting these risky experiments on his patients for years."

He clicked on the remote and the slide changed to show the corpse of an elderly man in his 80's. His chest was bare and showed a long surgical mark.

"Kim Jaemin," Chanwoo said. "Dr. Lim operated on him six months ago. Last week, he fell from the stairs and died. Before dying he had left all of his property to Dr. Lim instead of naming his own son as the successor. The son filed a lawsuit against the doctor of fraud and possible murder of his father."

He changed the slide again. This time a woman in her seventies was shown. She was also dead.

"Kang Hara," he stated. "Seventy nine. She also had an open heart surgery a few months back but after consulting with other doctors, it was found that she did not need the surgery. Medicines could have helped her treatment. But she also died last month, leaving all her property to Dr. Lim Chanwoo."

One of the men on the table leaned forward. "Are you suggesting that Dr. Lim killed these people?" he asked.

"The circumstantial evidence points that way," Chanwoo stated. "There isn't any evidence to point that they died due to the surgeries. Kim Jaemin died of a fall and Kang Hara died from breathing problems."

"This case is too complicated," another man at the table complained. "The doctor is obviously not guilty since his patients didn't die due to heart complications."

"But they left all the property to him," another man across the table pointed out. "It can't be a coincidence."

"The old people who died had problems with their children," Chanwoo informed them. "Ms. Hara was estranged from her daughter while Mr. Jaemin's son was in the middle of a property dispute with his father."

There was a murmur across the table as everyone discussed what to do with the case. They were the CEO's of all the prominent law firms and some of them were expert lawyers. Chanwoo was a representative of the court who was appointed to give the case to the law firm who would be able to analyse the situation and emerge as the worthy candidate.

Since this was a sensitive case, there was immense media attention and the authorities wanted to maximize this chance. This was an opportunity for the judicial system of the country to show its effectiveness by establishing itself as the pioneer of justice in the eyes of the common people.

Chanwoo was specifically tasked with inviting the best law firms for this case. The doctor already had a solid defense but the public wanted to see him being prosecuted. The death of the elderly victims had created an outrage and the public was thirsting for the doctor's blood. All the media channels were tarnishing the doctor's image and if he went scot free in the eyes of the law, then it would be a disaster for the police and all the judiciary involved.

But there was little evidence against him and if they did not collect a solid proof to paint him as the killer, then they would become a laughing stock. Hence, Chanwoo must select the worthy prosecution team for the case so that the doctor would be sent behind bars.

All the law firm owners were discussing amongst themselves. This case was a career suicide for anyone who would take it up. It was obvious that the doctor's patients were fed up with their own children and since they had good relations with Dr. Lim, they decided to give their properties to him. The defense team was strong and there was no doubt that Dr. Lim would win.

"It's impossible to win!" one of the law firm CEO's was saying to the person next to him.

"This is gonna harm our reputation when we lose," another one said.

"Not gonna take it up."

All of them were discussing amongst themselves except for one person. He was seated far away from them but he was listening to their words carefully. His sharp, dark eyes were reading every sentence on the paper, analyzing every aspect of the case.

Chanwoo noticed the man's thin lips were curved into a smile.

"Mr. Lee Jonghyun, right?" he asked. "From LN Partners? Do you want to share an insight with us?"

Jonghyun leaned forward, his handsome face coming into full view for the first time. He was hiding in the shadows so far, preferring to listen rather than talk. The other men at the table shifted uncomfortably in their seats. Lee Jonghyun's charismatic aura was too much to bear for them.

At thirty two years old, Lee Jonghyun was the CEO of the most powerful law firm, LN Partners. With his chiseled looks and naturally commanding aura, Lee Jonghyun ran his firm with an iron hand. He was the youngest person in the room but there was a domineering aura emitting from him which put all the older people under his control.

All the lawyers in his firm were the best of the best and they handled only the most prominent cases of the country. Lee Jonghyun was not a lawyer himself but he knew all the workings of the law which made him either a great friend or a dangerous adversary, depending on which spectrum one fell on.

His dark eyes scanned the room as if commanding their full attention as he spoke.

"The court really wants him to be a scapegoat that badly, huh?" he scoffed. "Typical."

"The court merely wants to have either the criminal punished or an innocent freed," Chanwoo stated curtly. But that statement only made Jonghyun snicker.

"Let's not delude ourselves," he said. He crossed his legs on the table and leaned back against the chair. "The court wants to have him punished because they want to maintain their image as an honest and just institution in front of the public. A blatant lie but we'll have to uphold the rules of the society. And the rules dictate that the courts hold the authoritative power to mete out justice. At least on paper anyway."

Chanwoo was abashed by that remark.

"But this case clearly shows that the doctor isn't the killer," one of the men at the table said out loud. "He was close to the patients and hence, they gave him their properties instead of handing it over to their useless children."

"Yeah, no sane prosecution firm will take this up."

There was another murmur of agreement. Jonghyun sighed and stood up.

"Well, LN Partners will take it up," he declared. Everyone was shocked by his decision.

"Jinghyun, this is almost suicidal!" a middle aged lawyer argued. "The court won't be able to punish him without proof!"

"Exactly!" another lawyer chimed in. "It's an open and shut case. You can't win!"

But Chanwoo could tell that Jonghyun was determined to take the case.

"Why do you want this case?" he asked shrewdly.

"Because," Jonghyun began. "I know we'll win it."

With that, he winked at all the men and left the room. As he walked out of the room, he smirked. He knew a prosecutor who would be perfect for the case and he knew that she would figure out the clues required to win.

"Time to meet you," he mused. "Han Sunye."

As he walked down the corridor, his handsome face was flashing a slight smile. This was going to be fun for him.