You Are Defended - Chapter 527



Only Noblemtl

Episode 527

It took a whole three hours to explain the entire case we had to Kirihara.

When I first shared the issue with Heo Min-woo, it didn’t take this long, but there are definitely cultural and language differences, so even if I skipped the questions and just explained them, it took a lot of effort.

In fact, it is ambiguous to say that the question was omitted.

To be exact, it would be correct to say that Kirihara was so shocked that he was unable to put all his effort into understanding the situation.

“… … That’s ridiculous, really.”

Kirihara just kept repeating the same thing.

“I knew that the person running the Okayama Hospital was Oda Satoshi’s younger brother. But that place… … . I really, didn’t think that kind of thing would happen… … .”

She continued to flip through the slides and shook her head.

“It’s only been four years since the Istanbul Declaration was announced. Everyone from all walks of life who participated agreed to regulate organ trafficking and even transplant tourism. Of course, I didn’t think that this would stop happening, but still… … How can they be so shameless! Korea and Japan are both proudly called advanced countries.”

The Istanbul Declaration, she says, is a global agreement among scientists, medical professionals, government officials, ethicists and social scientists from around the world who have resolved to regulate and supervise organ transplants to ensure that they are conducted in an ethical and lawful manner.

Accordingly, commercialization of organ transplantation should be prohibited, and the principle should be that organs for transplantation should be procured within the country.

If I remember correctly, in recognition of this, in 2017, our government abolished the consolation money system for organ donors.

This is because there was an interpretation that this was also part of commercialism.

But Wooshin isn’t the type of person to care about such things.

Don’t you have a thought process that says that if you don’t get caught, that’s fine, and if you do get caught, you can just get rid of everyone who knows about it?

This confidence may have arisen because they have enjoyed extra-legal benefits in South Korea for a long time.

“Who would have known that the corporation called RND that owned the land of Okayama Hospital belonged to Chairman Koh Sang-jun? In the first place, not many people knew that Okayama Hospital was owned by Oda Satoshi’s younger brother, so not many people would have paid attention to it… … .”

Speaking of RND, in its previous life, the ICIJ did not release a list of people with bank accounts in the British Virgin Islands until early 2013.

It’s only the third quarter of 2012 so it’s unlikely we’ll see it yet, but it would be nice if we could speed it up.

Does Kirihara know about this?

“As you may have seen earlier, RND is a paper company established in the British Virgin Islands. Sangjun Ko must have opened several accounts there as well.”

“Usually, people who open accounts in tax havens do so in their own name. They probably think they won’t be caught.”

“Yes. However, RND was established under the name of a foreigner. However, the accounts containing RND’s funds will be under Ko Sang-jun’s name. Since the incorporation process was already under someone else’s name, he would have given them a small amount of money, but if the account is also under someone else’s name, he would have to give them another amount.”

“I guess so.”

“This is just my guess, but maybe the Oda brothers have an account there too.”

Choi Jong-hyun added.

That’s right.

Ko Sang-jun had no doubt that Lee Jeong-chan would be the next president, and gave Lee Jeong-chan shares when he was running a corporation called KDL Company.

But, deep down, without even knowing it, Lee Jeong-chan was dealing with Satoshi Oda.

So, it is clear that Satoshi Oda also has some connection with RND, even if it is only a small one.

It would be nice if Onodera could come out, but from overhearing their conversation, Onodera didn’t seem to have a very strong relationship with Ko Sangjun.

“This may not have been shared with Reporter Choi yet, but ICIJ is currently analyzing a list of people who have established shell companies or have accounts in someone else’s name in the British Virgin Islands.”

Kirihara brought up the story I had been waiting for.

However, Choi Jong-Hyeon, who knew nothing, opened his eyes wide in surprise.

“Is that true?”

“Yes. However, the list is not organized by country, and ICIJ reporters are currently reviewing and classifying the data. However, since Japan and Korea are part of the Chinese character cultural sphere, their names are unique, so they have been classified to some extent. Before Reporter Choi came, I was the only reporter from a Chinese character cultural sphere country that was affiliated with the ICIJ, so names based on Chinese characters were supposed to come to me.”

“If you assign me the classification task, the completion date will be brought forward a bit.”

“Yes, that’s right. Personally, I was thinking that if the data had come before this presidential election, Onodera could have been stopped.”

If Onodera also has an account in the British Virgin Islands, it will certainly be a blow.

However, the presidential election is just around the corner, and Kirihara hasn’t even received the data yet, so it won’t be usable.

“Even if Onodera Masao doesn’t have an account, if I listen to what Reporter Choi and Attorney Cha have to say, it seems like Oda Satoshi has an account. And Ko Sang-jun definitely has an account. But you know you can’t just look at Ko Sang-jun’s account, right? There might be other Koreans… … and even North Koreans. Your timing is so good. How did you sign up at just this time?”

Kirihara laughed heartily.

At the same time, Choi Jong-hyun looked at me with suspicious eyes.

It was as if he was asking, ‘Again?’

After I break up with Kirihara today, Choi Jong-hyun will probably be talking about how I definitely received help from General Shin.

And listening to this story, Kang Min-jae will be proud that his guess was correct.

“I assume the reason Mr. Choi contacted me was because he wanted the ICIJ to project the horrible things that Wooshin is doing?”

“Yes. Our goal is to properly punish the Wooshin owner family and root out all of Wooshin’s collaborators who have taken root in Korean society. I spoke to you mainly about organ trafficking and prostitution, but Wooshin’s atrocities are not limited to that.”

Kirihara nodded slowly.

“I see what you mean. That’s why you contacted me first. If ICIJ handles the case, my role as a Japanese person will increase, but you’re worried about what will happen if security isn’t maintained.”

“I’m sorry, but yes. But now I feel quite confident in you, and that’s why I opened up our data.”

“What the two of you have prepared is really… … really incredible. I wonder how you prepared all this. As a fellow reporter, I have reflected on it and learned a lot. And the Kyungminhoe guys… … the story about Onodera Masao and Oda Satoshi is shocking because I had no idea about it, even though it was happening in Japan.”

Kirihara continued speaking, scanning the slides with forlorn eyes.

“Come to think of it, Satoshi Oda’s wife is of Korean descent. Is there a connection?”

When we were preparing the materials to explain to Kirihara, we deliberately excluded Kim Mi-ja’s story.

Kim Mi-ja is still married to Oda Satoshi, and although she is more passive than before, isn’t she continuing her activities as before?

But since Kirihara spoke first, I also had something to ask of her.

“You are talking about Tomiko Oda.”

“yes that’s right.”

“… … It was thanks to his cooperation that we were able to obtain this much information.”

Kirihara opened his mouth in surprise at my words.

“… …Are you Tomiko Oda?”

“yes.”

“I can’t believe it. Of course, I thought it was overdone to some extent because of the image, but I thought the two of them would get along really well… … .”

“Ms. Tomiko Oda, that is… … . Her Korean name is Kim Mija. Ms. Kim Mija was taken to Japan by Wooshin when she was 13 and forced into prostitution. Wooshin lied to her that her family had abandoned her, and she did whatever they told her to do in order to survive. Then she met us, and now she is helping us more than anyone else.”

Although he explained it concisely, Kirihara seemed to have guessed what kind of life Kim Mija had lived just from that.

In an instant, he sighed with a sad expression on his face.

“Then that wiretapping was also done by Tomiko… … .”

“yes.”

“If you get caught, you’ll be in serious danger.”

“So, I’d like to ask you a favor now.”

“What do you want?”

“As you said, Ms. Kim Mi-ja is fighting alone in the enemy’s territory. Now we have to ensure her safety. However, I don’t think that we can completely protect her in Korea or Japan. I have almost died several times, and there have already been casualties.”

“……yes.”

“So I want to see if I can protect Kim Mi-ja in the United States, where the ICIJ headquarters is located. I’ve considered other countries, but I’m worried because I don’t have any connections and there are visa issues.”

“That would certainly be the case.”

“I don’t think an ESTA visa will be enough. A study visa or a job-seeking visa is also impossible in the current situation.”

After hearing what I said, Kirihara seemed to have finally begun to think carefully about the part where he said he was ‘taken to Japan at the age of 13.’

He opened his mouth for a moment as if he was embarrassed, then spoke in a small voice.

“I guess so. You said you were taken here when you were 13, so your degree would be… … .”

“Kim Mi-ja also said she would take corresponding responsibility for that. However, in this situation, the falsification of academic credentials is a secondary issue, and Kim Mi-ja’s safety must be guaranteed.”

“That’s right. In the first place, if Tomiko, no… … . Kim Mi-ja hadn’t helped, this huge truth might not have been revealed. I also agree that Kim Mi-ja’s safety should be the top priority. Then, I and Reporter Choi will ask the ICIJ to find a way to protect Kim Mi-ja in the United States.”

I’m glad you got a positive answer.

Her agreement doesn’t mean the ICIJ will accept it, but it at least makes it more likely.

“If the ICIJ refuses, I will find another way. You said that your sister is in Switzerland. If you stay in the U.S. for three months under the protection of the ICIJ and then stay in Switzerland for three months, you will be able to earn at least six months.”

“thank you.”

“I feel like apologizing to Ms. Kim Mi-ja. I’m actually a weak dog… … . Oh, I wrote a critical article tying you to Satoshi Oda.”

Kirihara scratched his cheek as if embarrassed.

“You understand, right?”

“It’s okay. Ms. Kim Mi-ja enjoyed the reporter’s weak dog remarks and said that I would be a good fit for her.”

Kirihara sighed and said, “Thank goodness.”

“And regarding Onodera’s grandson’s surgery, you said it was scheduled to be performed at Okayama Hospital?”

“Yes, I did.”

“Reporter Choi and Attorney Cha said that they would not allow Kenichi Hayashi and the Angel House child to leave Korea, but I think we should prepare for an emergency. It seems that we need to keep an eye on the Okashima Hospital. What do you think?”

“I think it would be good to monitor them if possible. However, since we don’t have enough manpower in Japan, there are bound to be gaps in our monitoring. That’s why I thought it would be best to prevent Im Hyeon-il and So-eun from leaving the country.”

“Then I will take charge of monitoring the Okayama Hospital. It would be best and most certain to monitor Onodera’s grandson, but I think there is a risk of being discovered. Especially if Onodera Masao becomes the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister’s family is not a target of SP protection, but even if they are not SPs, there will definitely be a lot of security personnel.”

The SP she is talking about is a police officer who carries out the security mission of important national figures, and is similar to our country’s presidential security service in that it is in charge of protecting the prime minister.

“You won’t be doing the surveillance yourself, reporter… … Of course, you’ll leave it to trustworthy people, but will there be any issues with security?”

“Yes. We’ve been working together for a long time, and there’s never been a single leak of information.”

[truth]

It didn’t seem likely that Kirihara would lie now, but I tried using my ability just in case.

“Wouldn’t Onodera’s grandson be the first to arrive at Okayama Hospital anyway? He’ll have to undergo various tests before being admitted. After I figure out the structure of Okayama Hospital, I’ll tell Reporter Choi how to monitor him.”

“I didn’t know I could receive this much help… … . Thank you so much.”

As Choi Jong-hyun bowed his head, Kirihara waved both his hands and bowed his head again and again.

“It’s not something you should be thankful for at all. I’m the one who’s really grateful. In fact, you must be busy just dealing with Wooshin, but somehow we got involved in this, so I feel sorry that Reporter Choi ended up doing our work.”

Seeing Kirihara help me so actively, I felt a little sorry as I remembered Onodera Masao and Oda Satoshi saying that no matter what happened in Japan, we should just do our own work.

“Oh, could you please change the time of the flight you booked? I’m not sure if there are any seats available.”

As the conversation was coming to a close, I was about to close my laptop when Kirihara opened his mouth.

She was scheduled to leave the country tomorrow evening.

“Yes. When would you like me to change it?”

“How long does it take from here to Incheon Airport?”

“It will take about two hours.”

“Then should I change my flight to 8 or 9 o’clock?”

“I’m booked on a 7pm flight tomorrow, so I don’t think it’ll make much of a difference. Is there a special reason?”

“Oh, not tomorrow, but today. Judging from the fact that you were able to use this room early today, it seems like you had made a reservation for consecutive nights from yesterday to tomorrow. I’m sorry, but… … .”

As soon as Kirihara arrived in Korea, he came straight to this hotel and talked with us.

But you’re going right away?

“Is something urgent coming up?”

“Actually, when I came here, I thought I should eat a lot of delicious food and see the sights since I came all the way to Korea for free. But when I looked at the situation, I thought I shouldn’t just sit around here. I thought it would be better to go and prepare as soon as possible… … You don’t know the surgery date yet. How do I know if I’ll have the surgery tomorrow?”

She has a point, but today is Wednesday.

When I checked this morning, Lim Hyeon-il still had an outpatient appointment scheduled for Thursday, and he went to work at Woosin Hospital today as well.

It means that I won’t be having surgery tomorrow.

But it is true that it takes time to prepare thoroughly.

“I will look into it.”

Kim Mi-ja is right.

Kirihara has considerable qualities to be my best friend.