“A bad bitch without blood or tears.”

Those were the words directed at the back of Ha In’s head as she headed to the Central District Prosecutors’ Office after winning the trial.

Ever since Ha In donned the robes, there had never been a case she brought to court that ended in acquittal. Regardless of the defendants’ circumstances or reasons, as long as there was a victim, nothing else mattered.

In this trial too, the defendant claimed to have such circumstances and garnered enough sympathy. However, Ha In handed down the maximum sentence.

“Looks like Cheon Ha In has no emotions.”

Emotions, what a nice thing to hear. If she were to be swept up by emotions and forgive beyond her place, who would compensate for the victim’s life? Ha In strengthened her resolve even further.

“Just don’t mess with her. Cheon Ha In has powerful backing. A chaebol.”

They were people who didn’t know their place. Sometimes she wondered if they really knew what they were talking about. Ha In walked on more calmly without turning back to the uncomfortable words flying at her.

Entering her office, Ha In dropped her gaze to the floor and slowly took off her robes. It wasn’t because she was discouraged by the words disparaging her. It wasn’t because she had regrets about the cruel trial she had won without humanity. It was simply because the news she had been waiting for hadn’t arrived, making her head feel heavy.

Ha In raised her head again and hung the robes she was holding on a hanger. As she was about to sit back down, breaking news headlines related to Cheonha Group appeared on the muted TV screen. Could it be the news she had been waiting for? Her heart raced.

Ha In had become a prosecutor to witness the downfall of Cheonha Group from the closest vantage point. It was also the reason she had driven herself so hard, never allowing herself a light smile.

Ha In hurriedly looked for the remote to turn up the TV volume.

“Sunbae, the chief prosecutor called for a meeting.”

Just as she reached for the remote, Prosecutor Choi Gang Jun entered. Worried that her impatient heart would be exposed, Ha In withdrew her hand and headed to her seat.

“Yes, I understand.”

Gang Jun was a junior who had never casually spoken to her, as well as a colleague sharing the same office. According to him, he had seen Ha In at the library as her junior at Korea University Law School, but Ha In had no recollection of it. Even though Ha In always treated Gang Jun coldly, he always approached her with an innocent attitude. He never failed to mention that he respected her as a competent senior.

“Sunbae, shall we go together?”

Ha In put aside her curiosity about what misfortune had befallen Cheonha Group for a moment. She quickly exited through the door Gang Jun had opened.

The chief prosecutor of the Criminal Department, who had come down from the meeting with the chief prosecutor, called for an unscheduled meeting.

Amidst the unusual atmosphere, Ha In quietly sat at the very end as usual. Gang Jun sat next to her.

“Everyone saw the article forecasting the legal risks for Cheonha Group this time, right?”

The chief prosecutor began, looking quite tired.

“Suspicions of stock price manipulation have been raised. We have received instructions from the chief prosecutor for our Criminal Department to take on this case.”

The Cheonha Group stock manipulation case, it was the ball Ha In had thrown. To think they would really take on that case in the Criminal Department, she inwardly exclaimed. Ha In observed the situation, keeping her mind sharp. It was hard to believe the moment she had been waiting for was approaching, and she grabbed her mind that was about to go blank.

As the chief prosecutor’s announcement continued, the prosecutors in the Criminal Department had questions. The most senior prosecutor among them raised a question.

“But Chief, why are we taking on that case? This incident doesn’t seem to be just an internal issue within Cheonha Group, but also involves the political sphere and high-ranking officials.”

The senior prosecutor spoke with a hint of discontent in his voice.

Wasn’t it just yesterday that they were shoved troublesome cases for the Criminal Department, which had a majority of relatively junior prosecutors compared to other departments, to handle? It was obvious what the atmosphere of the meeting at the higher level must have been like, even without seeing it.

Ha In was anxious that the chief prosecutor might convey the senior prosecutor’s sentiment again at the chief prosecutors’ meeting. The Cheonha Group case couldn’t be viewed in isolation, so the Criminal Department could refuse to the end, saying it wasn’t a case they should solve. Ha In really wanted to take on this case.

“Hah… It wasn’t an arbitrary instruction from the chief prosecutor, and sufficient meetings were held. The conclusion is that our Criminal Department should investigate this case.”

Fortunately, it had already been decided that the Criminal Department would take on this case, and it couldn’t be reversed. The chief prosecutor placed his hand on his forehead, furrowing his brows deeply.

“Who will do it?”

The prosecutors avoided the chief prosecutor’s eyes. Even without opening the lid, they knew well that it was a troublesome case. If someone volunteered to take the lead in this case, the seniors would be pleased. However, Ha In wondered how they would react if she stepped forward. Until now, Ha In had never voiced her opinion in this meeting room. She only tenaciously pushed forward with the tasks given to her.

Above all, taking the lead in this case amidst the rumors surrounding chaebol connections could raise suspicions. But she didn’t want to miss this opportunity out of fear.

“I will do it.”

As Ha In volunteered to take the case, all the prosecutors’ gazes turned to her. As expected, they looked at her attitude as unfamiliar.

“Ah, Prosecutor Cheon will take this case?”

The chief prosecutor hesitated instead of readily saying, “Yes, Prosecutor Cheon, go ahead,” to Ha In. Ha In was disappointed by his reaction. She had taken on even the dirtiest jobs to build up her accomplishments for this moment. Yet when it came to the case she wanted, the chief prosecutor didn’t readily hand it over and wavered, making her feel let down. The chief prosecutor must have heard the rumors too. He seemed to be conscious of Ha In’s alleged chaebol connections. But if she were to be excluded from this investigation for that reason, it would be too unfair to bear.

“Yes, I will do it.”

Ha In expressed her clear will, looking at the chief prosecutor. The chief prosecutor made a troubled expression and gauged the atmosphere among the other prosecutors.

“Prosecutor Cheon, you already have many cases assigned to you. Aren’t you busy? This case isn’t something to be lightly passed with a slap on the wrist.”

Although everyone knew Ha In’s temperament of somehow winning once she took on a case, the chief prosecutor still suspected whether she intended to end Cheonha Group’s case with a light punishment based on some ulterior motive.

“Anyone else volunteering?”

Avoiding Ha In’s gaze, the chief prosecutor asked the prosecutors one more time. Ha In’s shoulders tensed up, worried that she might lose this hard-earned opportunity due to the rumors.

“I will do it too.”

Gang Jun raised his hand.

“I’d like to investigate this case together with Sunbae.”

The chief prosecutor sighed unenthusiastically at the junior prosecutor’s lack of experience. Even so, it would be absurd to exclude the volunteering prosecutors and hand the case over to those sneakily stepping back. The chief prosecutor closed his eyes tightly for a moment, as if feeling troubled. The more cautious the chief prosecutor was, the more impatient Ha In’s heart became. She had to make a bold move.

“I’d like to know the reason you think I would handle this with a slap on the wrist.”

At Ha In’s words, the chief prosecutor’s eyes snapped open.

“Ah, that. Well.”

The chief prosecutor stammered at the brazen question Ha In threw.

“Chief, I’m also aware of the rumors circulating about me.”

She confronted head-on the suspicions they didn’t voice in front of her. The prosecutors froze, realizing that Ha In knew all the rumors even though she hadn’t shown it.

“I…”

“Ahem, Prosecutor Cheon. Hold on.”

As Ha In tried to continue, the chief prosecutor intervened in a fluster, unable to hide his bewilderment. He meant not to create a situation where colleagues would blush in front of each other. Yet he couldn’t give an answer right away. It wasn’t an easy decision, given the gravity of the case. Moreover, it wouldn’t make sense to exclude Ha In from the investigation based on the rumors about her.

“You two stay, everyone else leave.”

Without granting Ha In the case, the chief prosecutor dismissed only the prosecutors. The atmosphere became even heavier, but Ha In thought it was better to have time with just the three of them. The chief prosecutor could also talk comfortably with less concern about others’ gazes. The prosecutors scurried out of their seats as if running away.

Ha In kept her gaze fixed on the notebook resting on her knees, waiting for the chief prosecutor to speak. There was no need for her to reveal all her cards before the chief prosecutor uttered a word. The air settling heavily between the remaining Ha In, Gang Jun, and the chief prosecutor.

“You said you know, so tell me. Prosecutor Cheon Ha In, do you really have no connection to Cheonha Group?”

At the chief prosecutor’s question, Gang Jun’s expression distorted more than Ha In’s. It was truly disappointing that even a chief-level person was swayed by mere rumors.

“No, I don’t.”

Ha In answered simply and clearly. If the person involved says no, what can you do? Ha In stared ahead with a firm expression. All this time, she had worked with the determination to win trials even if it meant obtaining testimony from a dead person for the cases the chief prosecutor had given her. She had built up enough trust in her work. The chief prosecutor had no disagreement on that part.

The chief prosecutor applied force to his forehead and opened his eyes straight.

“The Cheonha Group side won’t be easy either. They won’t just hire one or two lawyers. If you fail to prove their guilt…”

“I will take off my robes.”

Before the chief prosecutor finished speaking, Ha In showed her resolute determination. She had come this far, grinding her bones and drying her blood for this moment. The chaebol-related rumors they were gossiping about weren’t entirely irrelevant. But if they found out how Ha In was actually related to the chaebol, contrary to the rumors, everyone would be so shocked they might faint.

The Cheonha Group case Ha In took on receiving a not-guilty verdict? Even a passing dog would laugh. Ha In was confident she could expose their crimes in detail even with her eyes closed.

Ha In knew Cheonha Group all too well. If asked to draw the mansion they lived in, she could vividly depict it with her eyes closed.

“Alright, with that level of determination, you should do it. You know I trust you, Prosecutor Cheon, right?”

It was a moment to savor the fruits of her labor, having worked like a dog all this time.

“Yes, of course.”

Ha In said so, her deep brown eyes sparkling. She felt sorry for the chief prosecutor, but Ha In was someone who had an extremely close relationship with Cheonha Group.

‘I was the child abused by Cheonha Group.’