Chapter 11 – Even If I Give You a Hint, You Don’t Seem to Know

“What? You’ll handle it?”

Although all the attorneys in the conference room advised him not to deal with Gankyeok, Geum Nae-yeong answered flatly.

“I will do it.”

At his expressionless face, the attorneys also trailed off.

“A young friend is going down a very… difficult road. Take it easy.”

“Sigh, well. If worst comes to worst, he can just submit a notice of withdrawal later.”

The very next day.

The client called, perhaps curious about the situation.

“Yes, Teum Law Office.”

“Yes… Hello. I am Min Gyeong-suk… I’m the person who brought the restraining order case yesterday… By any chance…”

“Min Gyeong-suk-ssi? Please wait a moment. I will connect you to the person in charge.”

“Yes. I’ve taken the call. I am Office Manager Ju Yong-hae, the person in charge. Our attorney has decided to represent you in the lawsuit of Min Gyeong-suk-nim. Please visit us again when you have time.”

“Re… Really? You really mean you are taking the case I’m entangled in right now, right?”

“Yes, yes. You know the restraining order application you brought yesterday?

Our attorney will rewrite it to fit the court forms. I will explain other related lawsuits when you visit.”

“Yes, yes… Thank you so much. Heaven has truly helped me.”

On the face of Office Manager Ju Yong-hae, who hung up the phone, a dark shadow quickly cast.

“Sigh… Really… Of all things, it’s a ‘Gankyeok’ lawsuit. Even the office staff try to avoid their cases for now…

Indeed, I should have known when he said he would give a salary of 7 million won. There is no free lunch in the world… Since we are not even a major firm, how much more will they plague and harass us?”

Ju Yong-hae was already in a half-gave-up state.

While Ju Yong-hae was letting out a deep sigh, Cha Ra-ri asked while rummaging through papers.

“But Office Manager, can I ask you something?”

“Yeah. What, about filing in court? Or?”

“No, not that… Since this is my first time doing this kind of work, surprisingly, you don’t do PR?”

“PR?”

“Yes. Usually, when a store opens, they hand out flyers and promote it heavily, right?”

“Ah, that’s because there is a risk of violating the Attorney Act.”

“Violating the Attorney Act?”

“Yeah. There are advertisement restriction regulations in the Attorney Act. Same for flyers, and since lawyers also have an obligation to maintain dignity, we can’t just do any promotion.

Only advertisements on the internet or approved media are possible.”

“My, how outdated. Can you make money like that?”

“Well, that is true. In the past, there were cases of people getting disciplined for secretly handing out flyers. That’s why we use field office managers.”

Cha Ra-ri asked back as if it were fascinating.

“What is a field office manager?”

“Yeah, people from police or prosecution backgrounds listen to people’s stories around here, and if they think ‘this could become a case,’ they subtly hand over a business card and connect them to a consultation.”

“Then why don’t we have such an office manager?”

“Hey, you have to give activity expenses to a field office manager too. They don’t do it for free.”

“Then do they only get activity expenses?”

“No. They also get a commission per case. Honestly, there is a risk of violating the Attorney Act… but everyone does it on the down-low. Otherwise, there is no proper way to accept cases.

Actually, you shouldn’t say you do free consultations, but if they discipline us for doing a few free consultations in such a small office, half of the lawyers in Seocho-dong would have to be disciplined.”

“Is that so?”

Hearing the Office Manager’s story, Cha Ra-ri smiled subtly, as if she thought of something.

‘If I do well, I might be able to earn more money?’

Around the time the two were sharing the conversation, the office door opened vigorously.

Clatter!

“Who is Geum Nae-yeong here!”

The man who pushed his way in had a nervous, crooked mouth and deep wrinkles carved between his eyebrows. Everyone immediately intuited that a nuisance client had arrived.

Office Manager Ju Yong-hae stepped forward carefully.

“Who did you say you are looking for?”

“Who are you! Are you Geum Nae-yeong?”

“I am the office manager here.”

“Then get lost, you bastard!”

The man shouted while swearing without reason, and the staff only looked at his face in confusion.

Ring, ring, ring—

A loud ringtone echoed from the man’s chest. The man answered the phone nervously.

“What! That bastard likes ancestral rites? What ancestral rites? You go bow to a stranger and get some crumbs! You bastard!

What? Ancestral land? Who are you to tell me to give it or not! If you feel wronged, you should have been born first too! I’m busy, so don’t call me!”

Click.

Hanging up the phone, the man screamed at the top of his lungs, looking for Geum Nae-yeong again.

“Tell Geum Nae-yeong to come out! Who are you guys to interfere in someone else’s family affairs!”

“It is me, Geum Nae-yeong.”

Geum Nae-yeong, who had been listening to the commotion inside the office, walked out.

“Are you Geum Nae-yeong?”

“I just said it. I am Geum Nae-yeong.”

“You are a young, green bastard? How dare you, without fear! My wife said you are taking the lawsuit and told me not to even contact her, are you crazy?? Do you know who I am?”

Instead of replying immediately, Geum Nae-yeong observed the man and thought.

‘Why do people keep asking me since yesterday if I ‘know who they are’? I have no idea at all…

But listening to the husband, his obsessive tendency to constantly monitor his ex-wife is clear.’

“Office Manager Ju.”

“Yes?”

“Get the client’s consent and file it today.”

“File? What?”

“The application for a restraining order.”

“Ah… Ah, yes.”

“What? You bastard, a restraining order? Do you think you’re the only lawyer?”

Geum Nae-yeong narrowed his eyes and answered firmly.

“Yes. Since you heard it, there’s no need to explain. If you show the same behavior from now on, it will be extremely disadvantageous to you. In the future, I advise you to communicate through a representative.

I have work, so excuse me. The consultation is free, but meaningless conversation is charged.”

He said so and went back into his room.

“What kind of bastard is this? You guys!!”

The man tried to overturn the desks nearby, thinking Geum Nae-yeong had ignored him.

At that moment.

“Hey, get out.”

A low, rough voice came from behind.

As the man turned around, Seong Tae-gyu, the youngest son of the representative attorney who was scolded yesterday, was standing with his legs crossed.

Next to him stood a man who resembled him.

“Get out? What is this again?”

“Get out, you piece of shit.”

“Who are you?”

“What do you want to know for? If you don’t want to get beaten, don’t block the way and get out. I’m not in the mood to talk to you right now.”

“I’m not in the mood to talk to you either, okay?”

When the man roared, Seong Tae-gyu raised his hand immediately.

“Then get beaten up!”

At that moment, the man standing next to Seong Tae-gyu grabbed Seong Tae-gyu’s wrist.

“Stop it. Father will hear.”

The man was intimidated by their much larger build and overwhelming momentum, but on the other hand, he panted as if he couldn’t hold back his anger.

“Fine, you guys! I will tell our lawyers to harass you properly, so wait and see!”

Shouting like that, he kicked the door open and left, and Seong Tae-gyu and the man standing next to him silently entered the Representative Attorney’s office.

***

Representative Attorney’s Office.

A conversation was taking place between Attorney Seong Seok-yeon and his sons.

“Did you pick a fight with someone again while coming in?”

Attorney Seong looked at his youngest son sharply. Then the eldest son, Seong Seok-ju, who was next to him, stepped forward.

“No. A strange person came, and Tae-gyu sorted him out.”

At the eldest son’s words, the representative attorney’s voice softened a lot.

“Tae-gyu, you should learn some work under your brother now. Father doesn’t expect big things from you.

I will wrap up this work soon… and you can work with your brother later.”

At Attorney Seong’s words, the youngest son Seong Tae-gyu had a sulky expression and did not answer.

Meanwhile, Attorney Seong also spoke to his eldest son.

“Seok-ju, although this is not the cool and famous law firm you used to attend, the attorneys here have at least 30 years of experience, even the one with the shortest career.

A lawsuit needs a strategy, and only by gaining experience can you properly build up a mental war and strategy. Even if it is a bit hard, learn for a few years and start your own firm.”

Seong Seok-ju nodded at his father’s words.

“Yes, I understand. I will wrap up the company I am currently attending and start coming to work from next month. With the youngest.”

“Yes, good thinking.”

The representative attorney called his two sons to his side like that.

***

Around 5:30 PM.

As work was almost finishing, Geum Nae-yeong was organizing documents and preparing to leave work.

Vrrr, vrrr.

His cell phone vibrated. It was an unknown number.

“Hello?”

“Is this by any chance Attorney Geum Nae-yeong’s cell phone?”

“Yes, that’s right. Who is this?”

“I am Attorney Bang In-su of Law Firm Gankyeok.”

“Yes, what is it?”

“If you have time today, let’s meet.”

“What is the reason?”

“Pardon?”

“The purpose, the reason.”

“You filed an application for a restraining order today… It’s about that case.”

“Yes, speak.”

“It’s a bit… long and sensitive to talk about on the phone.”

“A call is much safer than meeting a stranger outside.”

“……..”

The other party was silent for a moment.

Then, clicking his tongue, he spat out.

“Fine. Since we are also going to enter a lawsuit… Well, I have something to tell you as a favor. Come out for a bit.”

Geum Nae-yeong was curious about the other attorney’s word ‘favor’.

‘Is there something I missed in the calculations?’

“Yes, then please tell me the location.”

The location the man told him was a high-end business wine bar in Seocho-dong.

A man who looked to be in his late 30s handed over a business card and started speaking smoothly.

“My, I looked up some information at the KBA, and you are much younger than I thought. Haha.”

Worthy of a business card from a successful law firm, the paper texture had a different level of luxury.

[Law Firm Gankyeok]

Litigation Team 1 Attorney Bang In-su

Geum Nae-yeong received the card while checking the name.

“And yours?”

When Geum Nae-yeong did not hand over a business card, Bang In-su asked, wondering.

“First, here it is.”

[Teum Joint Law Office]

Office Manager Ju Yong-hae

Receiving the business card of Office Manager Ju Yong-hae, Bang In-su tilted his head.

“Are you the office manager?”

“No. I am Attorney Geum Nae-yeong. Since my business card hasn’t come out yet, you can contact me here.”

“Aha…”

Bang In-su thought as he subtly looked down on Geum Nae-yeong, who didn’t even have a business card.

‘I wondered what kind of unheard-of office accepted the lawsuit. As expected, he must have accepted the case because he is a novice and didn’t know well. Indeed, even if they knew it was our case, it’s hard to accept.’

He gestured to the staff.

“What would you like to drink?”

“I do not drink alcohol. Because it is not good for brain health.”

“Brain… health?”

“Yes. Alcohol affects cortical activity in the brain even if you drink just one glass. That’s why I do not drink.”

“…Ah.”

Bang In-su recalled the reputation of Geum Nae-yeong that he had heard here and there.

‘A crazy bastard personality that doesn’t match his extraordinary head.’

The words were exactly right.

“Well, if so…”

When Bang In-su showed signs of trying to do some trivial small talk at the beginning, Geum Nae-yeong asked straight away.

“By the way, what is the favor you are going to give me?”

The man grinned.

‘As expected, he was curious about that. Well, if we are the opposing party in a lawsuit, they would be scared first.’

Bang In-su deliberately looked up at the clock hanging on the wall.

“Do you know… what time it is right now? Attorney Geum Nae-yeong?”

Geum Nae-yeong checked the time.

“Right now? …It is 7:10 PM.”

“Then today’s date?”

“It is September 12th, Friday.”

Bang In-su opened his mouth and laughed loudly. It was filled with mockery.

“Ahahaha, even if I give you this much of a hint, you don’t seem to know.”