Chapter 100 – It Is a New Beginning

A few days later, Friday evening.

A pub in Seocho-dong, famous for its delicious chicken and sea snail salad.

In the middle of the hall made by putting four or five tables together lengthwise, well over twenty employees of Law Office Teum sat lined up on both sides.

The employees gathered in groups of three or four and were flipping through the menu.

Rustle, rustle.

“Since Attorney Geum said he is paying today, well… we can order without holding back. Haha!”

Manager Yeom was already holding the menu and smacking his lips. His face was full of anticipation.

“One chicken and sea snail salad set here, two 5,000cc beers… No, two of them. Two fried chickens, one Mexican salad, one special fish cake soup…”

Director Kim Mi-yeong ordered the dishes one after another.

“Really… is it okay to order this much?”

“Attorney Geum signed an advisory contract for the acquittal case last time. And… they say he is also attending that company’s shareholder meetings.

Since he told us to eat because he is paying, it’s fine to eat. They say the advisory fee alone is over 200 million won for two years, after all.”

“Wow. Really? I should order more!”

Everyone seemed in a good mood at the plentiful order.

After chatting for a while, Cha Ra-ri, who had already drunk half of a 500cc beer mug, said a word.

“But thinking about it… Attorney Geum is a really good boss by today’s standards, isn’t he?”

“Huh? Why all of a sudden?”

“The best boss is the one who gives his card and disappears during a dinner get-together. Haha.”

“Ah, that’s true. Hahaha.”

“He always gives his card and disappears whenever there’s a dinner get-together. So he doesn’t ask us to have dinner with him, he doesn’t tell us to drink, he doesn’t ask for toasts, he doesn’t give life advice, and he doesn’t give sermons.

He pays the money precisely and without delay as much as we worked.”

“Hahaha. Now that you mention it, that’s true?”

Deputy Kim cut in and chimed in.

“Actually, I… also feel it anew lately. Is it okay to say this…

Our Teum office was a fixture in a corner of Seocho-dong, but it was a very old, shabby office, wasn’t it?

But now it has grown like this, and we even moved buildings.

I didn’t expect it to grow this much either. I thought I would just stop after working as a deputy in a shabby place.”

Im Seon-hui, the reception staff, cut in.

“Moreover, Attorney Geum raised the salaries of all the employees, even if it was little by little.”

Manager Yeom complained.

“Hey, still, I hate working directly under Attorney Geum. There’s too much work there.”

Then, Manager Chu Wang-cheol, who was munching on puffed rice next to them, cut in.

“Still, all of Attorney Geum’s employees drive foreign cars. Their annual salary is almost at the level of a top law firm. Actually, I am a bit jealous. Hahaha.”

Seong Seok-tae agreed with Chu Wang-cheol’s words and nodded his head vigorously.

Manager Ju, who drank his beer in one shot, said as if he remembered.

“…But by the way. Hasn’t Attorney Geum changed a bit lately?”

“In what way?”

“That is…”

As Manager Ju hesitated, Manager Yeom stepped forward.

“Right! Brother Ju, you feel it too, right? Attorney Geum didn’t even eat with us at first. He only borrowed chopsticks every day.

But lately, although it’s limited to stir-fried pork, he goes out to eat lunch with us.

And like Chief Kim’s padded jacket last time, whether it was a joke or something… he subtly stepped in and resolved things…”

Ju Yong-hae nodded.

“When I first saw him, I wondered how there could be such a socially inept person in the world.”

At Manager Ju’s words, Director Kim Mi-yeong touched the new padded jacket hung neatly on the chair and asked back.

“What about the padded jacket? Did you have some talk with Attorney Geum?”

“Ah, no. Just… just saying.”

For a moment, Manager Ju and Manager Yeom shut their mouths.

Deputy Kim muttered.

“Actually, if you just trust Attorney Geum and work, there is nothing to lose. He writes all the briefs himself.

He has never lost a lawsuit, and he wins every time. Did he also win all the cases Ra-ri brought?”

At Deputy Kim’s words, Cha Ra-ri smirked.

“Not only does he win, but Attorney Geum has a habit in trials. After winning, he glances at the Gangyeok attorneys. With a highly condescending look.

If you experience that, you’ll feel extremely dirty, right? Haha.

At that time, seeing those attorneys’ faces looking like they chewed on dung… what should I call it, vicarious satisfaction?”

Laughter broke out among the staff who heard Cha Ra-ri’s words. Ju Yong-hae added.

“In this industry, Attorney Geum is probably the only one who can talk so big in front of Gangyeok.

Whether it’s a large company president or a famous attorney, he never gets intimidated no matter who comes.

As people live, they often look at others’ cues and bow their heads… but Attorney Geum has none of that. So on one hand, I am also jealous…”

Just then, the pub server brought the food and set it on the table.

“Chicken-baengi is served. The chicken was just fried and is hot, so please eat carefully.”

Steam rose from the chicken, which had a golden, glossy sheen. Next to it, spicy mixed green onions and sea snails were placed neatly.

“Wow, looks delicious. They do this menu really well here.”

Crunch—

When taking a bite of the chicken with a thin batter in the old-fashioned chicken style, juice flowed out along with a crispy sound. A satisfied expression appeared on everyone’s face.

“Wow… delicious…”

Someone stopped chewing chicken and asked.

“By the way, when is our law firm plaque-unveiling ceremony?”

At the accounting team’s youngest employee’s question, Director Kim Mi-yeong replied while eating a bit of the sea snail salad.

“It will be around next week. We need to check the attorneys’ schedules. And… they say the personnel system for the litigation team and the accounting team will also change slightly after the plaque-unveiling ceremony next week.”

“Things are changing rapidly. Since Attorney Geum came, there are indeed many changes.”

“It’s unconventional. Just like not showing up to the dinner get-together but paying for it generously.”

At Deputy Kim’s words, Manager Yeom chuckled.

“Just between us… honestly, Attorney Geum is a monster in this industry.

I heard he even got the money in the lottery case without going to the end of the lawsuit? Anyway, he is extraordinary and unique.

His brain is a genius, but his emotions… are completely dull… Haha, the balance is completely off.”

At Manager Yeom’s words, Cha Ra-ri immediately chimed in.

“He is eccentric, but still, he talks to us well these days. It has changed a lot from before.

Even though he always says, ‘I do not have a single friend’…”

“Still, I am curious about how he acts in a friendship. When eating at a restaurant, does he act like, ‘From here to here is my stir-fried pork, so do not eat it’? Hahaha.”

At Manager Yeom’s words, Ju Yong-hae, who was holding a chicken leg, cut in. Perhaps because it was a pleasant dinner get-together after a long time, Ju Yong-hae was more talkative than usual.

“Like father like son, they say. Doesn’t Attorney Geum actually resemble his parents a lot?

He always says incomprehensible things, is blunt, cuts things clean, and seems to lack empathy… but it seems he actually treats his parents extremely well…

Under such parents, his basic character must have grown upright.

Eventually, the day will come when he opens his heart to people.

…Anyway, ever since meeting Attorney Geum, work has increased a lot, and people here and there are recognizing our company’s name…

I wonder if we are really going to make the number one law firm at this rate. Hahahaha.”

At Ju Yong-hae’s words, Cha Ra-ri set down her beer mug slightly and continued.

“That’s right, Manager. Moreover, Attorney Geum is extremely combative lately, as if he is firmly hooked on something. So it makes me want to do my best even more.

I always did part-time jobs and entered this path haphazardly, but it’s rewarding and gave me confidence.

Especially after he got me reemployed, I resolved to be loyal for the rest of my life. Seriously, ‘My dream is Law Firm Teum!’”

As Cha Ra-ri clenched her fists passionately as if testifying, Manager Yeom burst into a laugh.

“Hahaha! Did you really say that during the interview?”

“Yes! So you all know I am studying law these days, right? I even know things like ‘immutable period’ now!”

“Wow, you even know about immutable periods? Ra-ri, you have learned everything at that rate. Ahaha!”

As Manager Yeom laughed heartily, Cha Ra-ri smirked and shrugged her shoulders.

Then someone said suddenly.

“By the way… I saw a sign saying Attorney Geum’s parents’ shop is closed for a week?”

“Closed? Did something happen?”

“Well… I wonder if they went on vacation.”

“Well, since they ran the business diligently for a while due to the restaurant’s reputation, they deserve to go on vacation…”

Like that, the employees’ dinner get-together was naturally being filled with stories about Geum Nae-yeong.

***

Next Monday morning.

“Oh dear, come out quickly!”

Attorney Seo In-ja nagged Attorney Gil Man-uk.

“Ah, it was the most key moment to break the existing record…”

“Still, it’s the plaque-unveiling ceremony! Even if people don’t really do this kind of thing these days, they are doing it for us. You are hopeless, really. Like a child.”

As Attorney Gil Man-uk, who had just run out of the office, stood next to Seo In-ja, Director Kim Mi-yeong raised the camera hanging around her neck and began to focus.

Soon after, Manager Yeom shouted loudly as if holding a microphone.

“Now, when I say three, pull the end of the string hard! Then Chief Kim will snap the picture!”

“One— two— three!”

Along with Director Kim Mi-yeong’s hand signal, the attorneys pulled the string of the cloth covering one side of the entrance at the same time.

In an instant, the plaque with gold lettering was revealed.

[ Law Firm Teum ]

Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap.

As the plaque was completely revealed, people burst into applause all at once.

“The shiny look is nice!”

“Wow, great, great! They say people don’t do this kind of thing these days… but it makes me recall my youth, which is nice.

In our day, we even held a shamanic ritual. Hahahaha!”

At Attorney Shin Chang-ryul’s words, the surrounding people nodded and smiled.

“Now, since Attorney Geum decided to take the representative position… say a word.”

Attorney Seo In-ja looked at Geum Nae-yeong and requested a congratulatory speech. Geum Nae-yeong stepped forward.

“It is a new beginning. If so, there should be a new goal as well.

Tomorrow morning. We will have the first strategic meeting of our Law Firm Teum, so please all attend. I… will go buy coffee now.”

“…Eh?”

“Just briefly on the content.”

Although there was a moment of silence at Geum Nae-yeong’s style of unconventional closing, no one was flustered.

As if they were all used to it, everyone looked at Geum Nae-yeong going to buy coffee, smiled, and scattered back to their respective offices.

Meanwhile, Geum Nae-yeong moved his steps toward a nearby Starbuckz with Seong Seok-ju.

As they walked, Seong Seok-ju cracked a joke.

“No, Attorney Geum, you should have said something like ‘let’s do well together, this is a grand beginning,’ why go straight to work talk? Hahahaha.”

Geum Nae-yeong tilted his head slightly.

“We are already doing well enough, and since the corporate form has changed strategically, I only spoke about what fits it.”

“You are indeed… alright. Hahahaha.”

The two sat at a table on one side while waiting for the coffee.

Just then, Geum Nae-yeong’s gaze naturally turned to the next table.

At the next table, a large man was crying, with tears streaming down his face.

The man sitting opposite him was comforting the crying man.

“Hey, man. Don’t cry. Why cry over something like that.”

“Hey, this is really… Money aside, that the result of what my father bestowed all his life was betrayal… isn’t that too much?”

“That’s… true… but has the opponent hired an attorney now?”

“Yes. And they say it’s Jepyongyang…”

“Jepyongyang? Isn’t that place incredibly famous?”

The comforting man immediately raised his voice.

“Hey, then let’s hire one too! We can just go to places like Kim & Chang and get a consultation, right?”

“I already looked into a few places. But… first of all, they say it’s hard to win. Because the law is strictly set.

And, what is it? The lawsuit amount? Since it’s big, everyone was burdened. They said they couldn’t even tell me to do it because losing is almost certain.”

“Really? …What kind of law is like that? It’s your land, but they say it’s not your land?”

“Twenty years of possession… they say it’s something like that. Because they used it like their own land for over twenty years… it seems it’s not ours anymore.”

Hearing the two people’s conversation by chance, Seong Seok-ju nodded slightly.

‘It seems to be about the completion of the acquisitive prescription… that would be difficult.’

“Mr. Friday Nae-yeong! Your coffee is ready.”

At the barista’s words, Seong Seok-ju raised his head.

“Attorney Geum, the coffee is…”

At that moment, Geum Nae-yeong jumped up from his seat and headed to the next table.

“Hearing what you just said… it seems a lawsuit for possession acquisitive prescription has been filed by Jepyongyang’s side.”

“Pardon…? Yes??”

The men stared at Geum Nae-yeong with puzzled faces.

“I maintain a 100% winning rate against TOP 5 law firms.

I prefer taking cases that other law firms refuse, saying they are difficult.

If we lose, I will not accept the attorney fees.”

Geum Nae-yeong’s attitude was full of certainty. The crying man opened his eyes wide and asked back.

“Are… you an attorney?”

Geum Nae-yeong nodded, took out a business card case from his chest, and handed over a business card.

Snap.

“Yes. I am the representative attorney of Law Firm Teum, Geum Nae-yeong.”