I Became the Youngest Daughter of a Chaebol Family-Chapter 89: The Weight of the Law (1)

The original text of the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is as follows:

[A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.]

That means: “A well-regulated militia being essential to the security of a free state, the right of the people to own and carry weapons shall not be infringed.”

This law has two major interpretations:

1. Each state may maintain a militia to protect its own autonomy, and the right to arm that militia cannot be infringed.

2. Literally, all citizens have the right to bear arms.

In 1939, the U.S. ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) Supreme Court chose the former interpretation. From then until 2008, gun control remained in effect...

But in 2008, the Supreme Court ruled 5–4 in favor of the latter interpretation—guaranteeing the individual's right to bear arms. In other words, gun control was loosened.

This was actually something I had to think about seriously, even from my own position. The easing of gun control wasn’t exactly welcome.

After all, I’d die if I got shot in the head too.

Even if it’s not me, my subordinates working in the U.S. could be seriously hurt. Every time Si-hyun does something big in lawless Russia, I silently worry...

But I had confidence of my own.

Confidence that by 2008, the world would be mine.

‘Fifteen years from now? Crushing the NRA would be a piece of cake.’

With that judgment, I persuaded John Quinn.

“Lately, the media’s been stirring up conflict between Koreans and Black communities, right?”

“Ah, yes. Because of that, the police chief is about to lose his job... Honestly, even setting racism aside, that was incredibly foolish.”

Chief Gates of the LAPD, who practically cast a spell of “now go kill each other,” unfortunately didn’t have the skill to implant nanobots in vaccines to control people.

If it were Texas, maybe—but in California, a Democratic stronghold with even a Black mayor, that’s essentially political suicide.

But the problem was that while he couldn’t control people, he could incite them.

“Thanks to the Korean community’s active vigilante response at the time, there were barely any casualties... But the media keeps framing it as excessive defense.”

“Public sentiment is still bad right now, but the Korean community’s response was actually quite commendable... Once a bit of time passes, things should settle down. Since there was a complete absence of public order, it constitutionally qualifies as self-defense.”

Right. Unlike civil law systems, the common law system usually interprets self-defense more broadly. With a capable lawyer, there’s little chance of a guilty verdict.

“But the public sentiment is still bad, and that’s a fact. I’m not doubting your legal skills, but... there’s a chance we’ll get less compensation than expected. And if that happens, we can’t go back later to get more.”

Once a verdict is set, it’s not easy to overturn. The first step has to be taken carefully.

But not filing a suit now and waiting for sentiment to improve isn’t an option either—evidence would disappear.

I calmly offered my view.

“I think it would help to check the Republican judge’s stance on gun rights. If he’s favorable toward Korean self-defense, it might be better to go to trial under him.”

The representative nodded in admiration.

“That would indeed be better. At a sensitive time like this, even if the judge holds racist views, he’d have a hard time expressing them openly. That means there might be little difference between Democrat or Republican... and we could more easily focus the case on self-defense.”

John Quinn thought for a moment, then offered a suggestion.

“Hm, I think we could also get backing from the National Rifle Association. They’re not the type to love this kind of case, but if they see political value, their stance might change. Many of them prioritize money over minor political differences.”

I nodded slightly in agreement.

When money’s involved, political colors tend to fade. Whether that person’s Black, White, Asian, or Jewish...

If they make my money grow, they’re a benefactor. If they take it, they’re an enemy.

***

While the class-action lawsuit progressed, I visited LA briefly.

Koreatown in LA had a unique 90s feel to it—well, it was the 90s. It hadn’t changed much from what I remembered in my previous life, which gave me a strange sense of nostalgia.

But there were differences—not necessarily good ones.

The desolate atmosphere left behind by the rioters was bitter, and the Korean-Americans wandering the streets sighed deeply as they looked at their destroyed stores.

– “My old hometown was a flower-filled mountain village, peach blossoms, apricot flowers, baby azaleas~”

A middle-aged man had turned on a familiar melody while moving boxes, and people nearby paused and stopped in their tracks when they heard it.

“...It’s been a while since I’ve heard a spring song. Though spring has passed already.”

Even Lee Si-hyun wasn’t immune—her eyes scanned the buildings with a strange, emotional look.

There was a sign for a bathhouse on one of the buildings. It felt familiar, so maybe I’d been here before.

– Creak.

When I stepped inside the building and confirmed that my guess was correct, I marveled inwardly.

‘This place still exists... Korea changed so fast I barely remember what anything looked like.’

To feel a weird sense of nostalgia here in Koreatown and on Wall Street, rather than in my actual hometown—what an irony. I have no excuse if someone says my heart belongs to America.

“Hm, your tastes must’ve changed while I wasn’t looking. Miss, I thought you didn’t like places like this?”

Si-hyun, who had left a bodyguard at the entrance and followed me in, tilted her head.

“That’s true. The interior’s a bit rough and feels old... But it’s been a while since I’ve been to a bathhouse. Let’s go. Looks like it’s empty inside.”

Looking exasperated, Lee Si-hyun countered.

“You think people are in the mood for a bath right after a riot?”

“That’s why we should use it. Support the locals, right?”

“That’s... also true.”

– Click.

The interior was cleaner than expected.

As I’d guessed, there was no one inside... just an elderly woman dozing at the counter—probably the owner.

“Do you accept customers?”

When I said I wanted to rent the entire bathhouse for the day, the old woman brightened and shook my hand tightly.

“Oh my, even a chaebol young lady is coming to my shop now. I cleaned everything thoroughly yesterday, and there’ve been no customers today, so don’t worry about hygiene, miss. Use it as much as you’d like.”

Oh, perfect timing.

“Hm, Si-hyun. Could you call the others too?”

“You mean Miss Ba-da?”

“Yup yup. It’s a waste if it’s just the two of us.”

“I’ll have the bodyguards bring them.”

Come to think of it, it would’ve been nice if Ji-yeon had come too. I almost never go to public pools or bathhouses, so...

But it’d be weird to invite the girls over to my house and ask them to bathe with me... I’m not a pervert.

While Lee Si-hyun stepped out briefly, I took off my suit and folded it neatly.

‘Maybe I’ll poke around a bit elsewhere...’

Just as I was about to sneak off, Si-hyun returned after giving orders to the bodyguards—and stared straight at me.

“Miss, that’s the men’s bath. What are you doing walking in naked?”

Oops.

“Eheh, you caught me. I just wanted to take a quick peek.”

“...Do you go around doing this outside too? I’ve heard rumors lately...”

I don’t know why anyone believes such ridiculous excuses. I feel like my image is really taking a hit.

“Tch, there’s no one here anyway. Sharing is nice.”

.

.

.

In the end, we shared the bathhouse just the two of us for a little while until Ba-da arrived. I wanted to let the bodyguards in too, but... Si-hyun said it was still too risky, so I had no choice.

I’ll let them use it later.

– Splash.

“Mhm, this hot bath is nice. Warm and relaxing. Hehe.”

“Huuu...”

Si-hyun let out a strange moan as she relaxed.

“Mmm, you sound like an old man. Though, to be fair, you kind of are already.”

“...Please don’t say that. Honestly, few people take care of themselves as well as I do.” fгeewebnovёl.com

That’s true. Even after spending so long in freezing regions, her skin was still smooth and clear, with a pleasant texture.

It was honestly touching.

...

For a few minutes, Lee Si-hyun stared at the water droplets falling from the ceiling, then turned her head to look at me.

“Lately, I’ve been feeling the weight of the law in a new way.”

“Why?”

“I didn’t realize how terrifying a lawless zone could be... Back when I was young, back alleys just felt like harmless roughhousing.”

My chief secretary, who’d just returned from doing mafia work in Russia, spoke heavily. Her words, soaked in steam, seeped into my ears like the trickle of water.

“Recruiting subordinates was easy. Acquiring businesses was even easier. So easy, it felt wrong.”

“...Well, I paid enough money.”

A droplet of water clinging to her eyelashes fell.

“But people die just as easily.”

She didn’t look like she was crying. The secretary I’d chosen was a strong, upright person.

– Splash.

“You don’t like guns? If that’s what you want, I’ll make it happen.”

I gently touched Si-hyun’s submerged body. The scars on her skin, the firm and soft curves—they all told the story of how fiercely and diligently she had lived.

Lee Si-hyun shook her head. As if to say she didn’t want that.

“That’s not it. My dislike of guns and defending Koreans here are two different matters. Honestly, if I hadn’t had a gun, I’d have ended up as part of Russia’s permafrost.”

“Then?”

“This... this much is fine. I think I finally understand why you told me all those things. Just listening to my complaints—that’s enough.”

I smiled softly and gently stroked her wet shoulder.

“Yeah, I will.”

“...I’ll probably have to suffer more in the future, right?”

“Yeah. It’ll get harder. Emotionally too. If it’s too much, you can quit.”

“I’ll be fine. I can endure it.”

The secretary from the lawless zone sat in quiet rest, gazing out at a street devastated by just a moment’s absence of law and order.