Jin had been warned. The crowd gathered in front of the court was impressive and despite the impressive security device deployed to control this influx of people who kept arriving, the atmosphere was particularly anxiety-provoking for people who had been caught in a gigantic murderous crowd movement during their last concert.

     The eldest member of BTS, racked with anxiety, was in the middle car of their small convoy, stuck in the backseat between Jungkook and Taehyung,  to whom he was squeezing hands with all his might, seeking to draw from them all the strength he needed at that moment. Hoseok and Namjoon were in the front car and Jimin and Yoongi in the back one. 

     The security service had explained that it was better to separate them into different cars rather than having them arrive in a single van, what they would have preferred. The tinted windows made it difficult for people to see who was in each car, but they soon realized that the members were in those three cars and started shouting louder and fidgeting, which made the boys uneasy inside of the vehicles.

     In reality, everyone was nervous to find themselves in the middle of a crowd again after Paris and Incheon, but Jin was more so. He had indeed so much trauma to heal that he was doing it more slowly than the others. Yet, between Taehyung and Jungkook, he felt more reassured, as he knew that the two would not let go of him, that they would never let go again. 

     Up front of their car was their manager Sejin. Hyun, their second manager was in the first car and Bang Si-Hyuk was in the third car with Jimin and Yoongi. The presence of the three men with them, in addition to being reassuring for the boys, would publicly prove the company's firm support for the group, regardless of the facts that the company will be accused of by them. 

     The families of the members and their lawyers were already inside the court because they were among the few people to get inside, along with the witnesses, the defendants and the judiciary. 

     Given the scale and urgency of the trial, which would stretch over several weeks, it was agreed that certain cases that should have been dealt with at these times would be postponed. It was obvious that this case could not be solved in one day. There were too many charges received against the different parties.

     This "trial of the Century", title relayed by the media in view of the attention it crystallized in the country, was so important for the population and had been so publicized that it had been decided that the hearings would be filmed and broadcast live like what was done in the United States, which BTS had accepted because it was important to them.

     So the world was going to hear everything and see everything. This lawsuit required BTS to have absolute trust in their fans, because particularly degrading or intimate revelations were going to be made about them, accusing people and institutions, and that would not please everyone. They would probably make new enemies but as long as their former allies continued to be by their side, they knew they would be fine and fearless. This was the core of Namjoon's military strategy.

     The cars eventually pulled up to the court gates and security guards crowded around the car as the police kept the crowds at bay and the military secured the entire neighborhood. Everything had been done to ensure their protection and to make them feel reassured, but they were still dreading the moment of getting out of the car.

    "I can't take you any further, you have part to walk," the driver of the central car apologized.

     "It's understood," Sejin said before turning to the three singers behind him. "Boys, I'll be waiting for you outside, come out when you're ready, okay?"

     They nodded and Sejin and the driver got out of the car, closing the doors immediately. Between the moment the doors opened and the moment they closed, the roar of the crowd was heard very loudly. Many people were holding up messages of support for BTS members.

     Jungkook and Taehyung turned to Jin who seemed to be concentrating on controlling his frantic breathing.

     "Hyung, are you okay?" Junkook asked, giving him a gentle neck massage to relax him.

     Jin had a lump in his throat but he nodded in agreement.

    "Namjoon hyung told us to send them a message when we're ready to get out of the car so we'll all walk down there together," Taehyung said by putting his phone in his pocket, before he began to straighten Jin's tie which was slightly askew.

    They all wore the same sober suit for the audience and had all dyed their hair black. They had also given up their public appearance makeup: they were not going to participate in a show, even if the audience would be broadcast around the world through social networks in particular. 

     They were there as victims of an inhuman system against which they were rebelling. They were there as humans before everything else. They therefore wanted to show themselves also in their fragility as human beings faced with what they had been inflicted on them without thinking about how they felt.

     Jin exhaled deeply one last time. They had been preparing for this moment for two months and if he wanted this trial to end, it inevitably had to start.

    "I'm ready," he affirmed with determination.

    "So, let's go," Jungkook said, opening the door, not letting go of his hand.

     BTS's proposed lawsuit had been called "the trial" of the century, but in reality, it was three separate trials that would unfold one after the other. What these cases had in common was BTS' central position as both victim and plaintiff.

     The trial of the Incheon haters.

     The trial of the sasaeng of the stadium of France.

    The trial of Lee.

     The first trial, that of Incheon, took place in a very short time. During several days, the six young men who set off the airport fire alarm, assaulted several BTS members, and released the videos of the assault were tried one after another, were questioned by the BTS' attorneys, and offered their own defense. 

     Other witnesses, including airport staff, security agents, BTS staff, and even people from the crowd that came to greet BTS in Incheon, were interviewed and videos of the event were shown.

     Seeing those six boys again had aroused a sense of anger among the members of BTS. They had given themselves the mission with this first trial, to bring to light the hatred that targeted idols and other public figures in order to denounce it with as much force as possible. Harassment, cyberbullying, violence... it all had to stop. 

      They were just artists, they worked for the happiness of their fans and, even without wanting to, for the cultural influence of their countr : they never intended to be enemies of anyone. They had never wanted this and had expressed it publicly one after another in moving ways. 

     Taehyung, the one who had been questioned the longest about this affair for having been one of the two main victims with Jin, and the one who had been the most injured, was able to conclude the testimony of BTS in this way:

     "We work hard but we can't please everyone, we knew it from the beginning and we never have any problem with this reality. However, if being artists can expose us to criticism, it should never expose us to such hatred and pain. We don't deserve this. Nobody deserves it."

     Thus, he had brought tears to his parents who had seen the painful images of his assault and bloody face after haters tried to disfigure him to prove he was just a face to people and that he didn't deserve his fame. Jin's parents were also in tears, grateful to Taehyung for having done so much to protect their son, even if it meant for him being beaten badly.

   At the end of the trial, the six haters of Incheon were found guilty on multiple count of indictment, with various sentences announced by Judge Kim Sang who opened the envelope of the jurors and read their verdict before moving on to the reading of the verdict of the Court:

    "Mr. Kim Chung-Ho," the judge said, addressing one of the boys who had been passively filming during the assault. "Although you were found guilty of having filmed the attack on the members of BTS without seeking to arrest it, you did not participate in the attack and your presence at the airport was found to be coerced.

     However, you have been recorded by the surveillance cameras setting off the airport fire alarm by yourself, which constitutes a serious danger for the lives of others, since it has led to a panic. Finaly, you're charged with hit and run for fleeing when you were arrested.

    For this, the court sentences you to six months' imprisonment, coupled with an obligation to participate in a six-month civic training for the prevention of citizen security and the fight against moral harassment. You are also forced to pay the group BTS the sum of 2,129,385 won (1500€ / 1494$) and your legal file will be made public for a period of five years."

      Kim Chung-Ho seemed relieved by the court's verdict. He was the one who faced the least severe sentence of the group of attackers because he had not actively participated in the attack. The judge continued by addressing the one who was, in the eyes of BTS and of all those who had attended his live,  the showman of this aggression:

      "Mr. Jung Eunji, for filming, broadcasting live on social media and very explicitly encouraging the assault of Kim Seokjin and Kim Taehyung by turning it into entertainment for viewers, you share the same wrongs as the attackers you filmed. Therefore, the court sentences you to a three-year prison term and forces you to pay the sum of 63,881,563 won (45,000 € / 44,820 $) to BTS. Your legal file will be made public for a period of five years."

     Jung Eunji, who thought he would escape from prison because he had not participated in the attack himself, seemed to be flabbergasted and clutched his head in despair. He had lost the self-confidence and excitement he had on the day of the attack and was devastated. His lawyer patted his shoulder in comfort but his fate moved only a few people. 

      Contempt had won most of the viewers who attended the trial by the millions and wanted exemplary sentences for those who went after BTS.

     "The other defendants were the five who had just returned from the army at the time of the events, which makes their moral responsibility even greater," the judge announced sternly before addressing Shark and Black Cap, who that day, wore neither a shark mask nor a cap:

      "Mr. Yoong Mok and Mr. Choi Min-Kyung, for the extremely violent physical and verbal aggression of Kim Seokjin and Kim Taehyung without valid reason and for having considered this aggression as a game which constitutes an aggravating motive, the court sentences you to a sentenced to three years in prison and compelled you to pay the sum of 63,881,563 won. Your court file will be made public for five years."

     The public couldn't believe it. How could the attackers get away with such a light sentence, the same as the one who had filmed?

     "What does that mean?!" Jin's mother shouted in the courtroom, outraged by the lightness of these boys' sentence who had yet traumatized her son, threatened him, broken his bones, laughed at his suffering and probably would have disfigured him if not for Taehyung's intervention.

     "How is it possible after what they did to our boys?!" Taehyung's mother exclaimed in addition, unable to get out of her head the horrific images of the attack at Incheon airport. "They attacked them in this horrible way even though they were already injured after their return from France, how is that not a reason for aggravation? They deserve a heavier sentence than that!"

     Their interventions caused the uprising of other families and even of the families of the six young men who had attacked BTS who strongly protested that their sons wouldn't pay full price just because BTS were popular. 

     Yet, the judge was not there to enforce revenge, he had to enforce Korean criminal law, regardless of the pain of the families and the victims.

    "Quiet in the courtroom or I'll get you out!"  he ordered severely.

      Unfortunately, even the most grieving mother could not change the civil code and it turned out that these sentences were the most severe that these boys could receive for their crime. Silence returned to the courtroom but the feeling of anger persisted. If the families challenged the court judgment, then they would have to appeal and initiate a new trial, but they knew the BTS members wouldn't have the strength to start again anytime soon. They would need to move on.

     Judge Kim cleared his throat and resumed reading the verdict. He addressed the man who wore a black hood on the airport surveillance videos and who now seemed annoyed, as if he already knew the court's judgment against him or as if he didn't care:

     "Park Seung, you were singled out by all of your accomplices as the leader of your group and the initiator of this violence against the BTS group when you were fresh out of your military service. You have indicated in your statement that you found the preferential treatment given to these young men, one of whom was over the recruitment age, unfair. Consequently, you have decided to make it known through a violent action that you deem necessary to point out the injustices."

     Faced with this revelation which had already been made publicly during the hearing of Park Seung some days before, Jin twitched as uncomfortable as when he had heard it the first time and squeezed Junkook's hand tighter in his own and the maknae looked at him with concern. The oldest knew what this young man said was what a lot of people were thinking and writing on social media. 

     Jin had been criticized so much in the past for not enlisting for his military service before the age limit, he had received so many hate messages because of that that he wanted to shout at them at least one time that he had been forced to stay. He wasn't responsible and he should never have been threatened for it because he never tried to evade his duty. Jungkook, who had tried to make Jin stay by all means and hadn't felt much guilt, knew it better than anyone.

      One of the cameras filming the trial caught Jin's hurt look and it pained his fans. Everyone was hanging on the lips of the judge who was to pronounce his judgment.

      "The court rejected your defense because the reasons given do not in any way justify such violence," he solemnly announced. "For having instigated this dangerous attack for an inadmissible motive, for having had this attack filmed and broadcast, for having threatened public safety at an airport, for having given a dangerous weapon to Mr. Kim Dong-Yul to kill a member of BTS and for having tried to flee justice at the time of your arrest, you are condemned to ten years of imprisonment and to pay 106 469 272 won (75,000€ / 74 701$) to the BTS group. You are completely prohibited from approaching any of the BTS members even after serving your prison sentence, on pain of heavy additional prison sentences."

     Because he obviously did not have the means to pay, and neither did his family in view of the howls of terror that his parents had just pushed, when the astronomical sum to be paid were announced, the young man repressed a cry of protest which would have broken the impression of detachment he wanted to show. In fact, it was obvious from the beginning of the trial that he was full of hatred towards the group, especially because he had been found thanks to their testimony.

     While the leader of the thug group had been guilty of hit and run, he had been found thanks to the testimony of Jungkook who had mentioned his so particular tattoo of crowned golden eagle. He glared at him but the youngest member of BTS royally ignored him, having decided that he didn't deserve his attention.

      Ultimately, the judge addressed the one who wore a red coat on the day of the attack on Incheon:

   "Finally, Kim Dong-Yul, for the physical and verbal assault on Messrs. Kim Seokjin and Kim Taehyung and for the attempted murder of Mr. Min Yoongi, you are sentenced to a fifteen-year imprisonment and the payment of 212 938 544 (150 000 euros / to the BTS group. You are also completely prohibited from approaching any of the BTS members even after serving your prison sentence, on pain of heavy additional prison sentences."

     Kim Dong-Yul's eyes widened at the sentence.

     "But I didn't even kill him!" he yelled angrily at his lawyer, pointing at Yoongi who gave him a cold look . "So why fifteen years?!!"

     His reaction did not please the assembly. The only reason Yoongi wasn't hurt by his knife attack was because Namjoon got in the way, but he did see death happen due to Kim Dong-Yul. The young man had not expressed any sincere remorse elsewhere, claiming to have done it for fun and that he had not intended to kill anyone, which the court ultimately did not retain.

     While his lawyer tried to reason with him and the media already started to talk about an exemplary sentence for the one who represented the haters in their most extreme and thoughtless way, the judge again ordered calm inside the court.

     "Your complete lack of empathy for your victims and your lack of remorse for your actions did not make the court feel that you deserved its leniency. Sentence has been pronounced," The judge declared, strucking the wooden plinth with the gavel. "Now, from the side of BTS, here is the verdict of the court," he announced.

     The BTS members hugged each other even tighter and the audience held their breath for they knew that the young men who had attacked them had persisted in spite of their wrongs in pressing charges against them. Each anxiously held the other's hand in unbearable expectation. 

     "Mr. Kim Taehyung, you have been accused by Mr. Kim Dong-Yul of physical assault. In view of the videos taken by Mr. Jung Eunji and Kim Chung-Ho as well as by the surveillance cameras, it is clear that you acted under the necessity of self-defense, to defend Mr. Kim Seokjin against the violent aggression of Kim Dong- Yul himself. 

     Moreover, no blow was given by Mr. Kim Taehyung, who merely held Kim Dong-Yul's arm to make him let go of Kim Seokjin's throat. This verdict was given by the specialists who analyzed the video. that we watched a few days ago in this same courtroom. 

     Therefore, M. Kim Taehyung, the court finds you... innocent."

     A sigh of relief traveled across BTS's bench and Jin hugged Taehyung. His fear was that Taehyung would be accused of violence and be punished for protecting him. Outside the court, cries of joy were heard and inside, the families and the representatives of the company Big Hit present in support also expressed their relief. Even if Taehyung hadn't hit Dong-Yule, the fact that there was a rough physical contact between the two when Taehyung had forced the other to release Jin, had created doubt. A doubt that had just been dispelled. 

      Dong-Yul shot Taehyung a venomous look as he wished one of the BTS member would be publicly humiliated and punished like him.

     "Mr. Kim Namjoon," Juge Kim continued, "you have been accused, still by Mr. Kim Dong-Yul, of physical assault. The evidence provided by the various videos and witnesses among the security guards present with you at the end of the assault indicates that you defended Mr. Min Yoongi against the knife attack by Mr. Kim Dong-Yul. Self-defense is therefore accepted and the court finds you innocent."

      Relieved, Namjoon heaved another long sigh of relief and hugged Yoongi as new cries of joy resounded. Yoongi allowed himself a smile after being tense during the whole trial, relieved for Namjoon who had saved his life. 

     "Finally, Mr. Jeon Jungkook."

     The whole group tensed again and the apprehension was palpable. The youngest member was the one against whom the camp of the accused had fought the most. To tell the truth, they had waged a fierce struggle to pass him off as a violent aggressor too. Clasping Jin and Jimin's hand tightly, almost crushing their fingers he was so nervous, Jungkook swallowed hard and waited.

     "You have been found guilty of physical violence against Mr. Park Seung and Mr. Yoong Mok, as well as verbally abusing Yoong Mok by aggressively insulting him in response to his actions and words, all this having been filmed and viewed by millions of people." 

     Yoongi bit his lip. He had known it from the moment Jungkook got carried away in front of them: they had made sure to enhance Jungkook's reputation.

     "Although going against the civil behavior expected and even more from an artist of your notoriety, it was recognized that you had acted only within the framework of self-defense to protect Mr. Kim Seokjin and Mr. Kim Taehyung  who were in a position of imminent danger and were no longer able to defend themselves because of their injuries. You are therefore pardoned by justice." 

    A shout of joy rang out among the BTS camp and it reverberated all over the world. Jin and Taehyung threw themselves on Jungkook's neck and the other members quickly do the sameuntil the group turns into a ball of affection whose image softens the whole world. Behind them, their parents  and company members imitated them and it was a concert of hugs and tears of relief and joy. Next to them, their two lawyers, Mrs Kim Yun and M. Kim Ja, were shooking hands in satisfaction.

     "Because BTS group did not choose to file a lawsuit against the airport and their company for the defects in their security, the lawsuit of the attack of the Incheon airport carried out by BTS ends here and now,"Judge Kim Sang announced before getting up and leaving the noisy courtroom.

     But it was mostly the sound of joy that was heard. BTS had just won their first trial after several weeks of struggle but also after having seen a series of testimonies, including their own, and reliving the terrible moments of the Incheon attack. They were mentally exhausted, but their second trial opened a few days later so they had no time to breathe.

      However, the same evening they already savored their first biggest victory : hearing the media around the world talking about this verdict and strongly condemning the actions and the very existence of the haters. 

     Very quickely, many idols and other celebrities began to publicly speak out against the haters' actions. The hashtag "#DenounceYourHater" was even born and became the beginning of a fight against hatred experienced by artists.

    As Namjoon had wished, BTS became the initiators of necessary reform. 

    And their fight was not over yet because it was only the first act of a last battle which counted three.

__________

A/N :  Everything I said about legal sentences is not to be taken seriously. I would like to point out that I have no knowledge of the system South Korean judiciary. I took some notes while watching one episode of the drama Extraordinary Attorney woo one evening and for the rest, I mainly relied on the French judicial system because it was easier for me to find information on that. But I still ended up using my own imagination sometimes.

Read it with the knowledge that this is fiction, okay? ^^'

Oh and finally, I have something to express... 

You may have noticed that the emotional side of this text and the details was much less worked than the rest of the book. I'm sorry for the poor quality of my chapters lately, and not just for this book. Make no mistake about it : I still take a lot of time to write evry  chapters (maybe even more than before) but I feel that I no longer put as much heart and passion into it (only a conscientious mind) and I think it shows in the texts that you read. That's why I feel sorry, I don't want you to read a text devoid of emotions.

I must admit that "I Won't let you go Hyung" is coming to an end and that even if I do everything to finish it as soon as possible, its author - me - is out of breath and need a real break from writing. 

 I wanted to finish it before tomorrow (November 1) because it will be its anniversary at the same time as my arrival on wattpad but I didn't even succeed, sorry... ='(