Chapter 13 – What If I Win

Geum Nae-yeong raised his head.

“Our respondent accepts the amount based on contribution regarding the claimant’s claim purpose amount.”

“Pardon??”

The judge asked back in surprise.

If the judge ruled the claimed property division of 1 billion won as it is, it meant the wife had to pay 1 billion won to the husband. The judge asked again at the nonsensical reply.

“You accept it?”

“Yes.”

Geum Nae-yeong answered in a single word. At that, Attorney Bang In-su looked at Geum Nae-yeong with an dumbfounded expression.

‘Ha, what? Is it true that they rumored him to be a crazy bastard? If the judge accepts it, he knows that means giving 1 billion won of his client’s assets to us and is acting like that, right?’

But Geum Nae-yeong flipped a page of the documents and continued speaking indifferently.

“However, we seek additional property division regarding the deposits and real estate owned by the claimant Han Deuk-su.”

“What did you say?”

Attorney Bang In-su jumped up and shouted.

“A counterclaim is impossible! The right to claim property division is a formative right, and once the 2-year exclusion period passes, filing a lawsuit is impossible even by agreement. The respondent has already passed the exclusion period, so she cannot claim property division!”

Geum Nae-yeong responded calmly.

“When did I say I would file a counterclaim?”

At the indifferent reply, Attorney Bang In-su looked at Geum Nae-yeong blankly.

“Then… what does that mean? We are the ones with the right to claim?”

Geum Nae-yeong explained again with a smile that looked friendly but was somehow cold.

“We are not claiming property division ‘anew’. When asserting additional property division as a ‘defense’ against the other party’s claim, the exclusion period does not apply.

In other words, the exclusion period of the right to claim divorce property division only applies to the act of ‘claiming’, but not to the ‘defense in response’. We are simply ‘responding’ right now.”

“What kind of wordplay is that!”

Bang In-su’s voice rose.

Geum Nae-yeong wiped his smile and narrowed his eyes.

“Why, you don’t seem to have even read the Supreme Court decision? A ruling was made recently. That the exclusion period does not apply to assertions made as a defense against the other party’s claim.”

“The… Supreme Court?”

Bang In-su’s voice shook.

“Since you were only engrossed in the lawsuit, you didn’t look up recent precedents. I am saying we should calculate each other’s assets as a ‘response’. If you want to refuse, bring the precedents first.”

Instantly, Bang In-su was speechless. When the judge heard Geum Nae-yeong’s words, he nodded and looked at Bang In-su with a pathetic gaze.

“Even as the claimant side… not even looking up precedents before litigating… tsk.”

Like that, the first pleading date ended with one blow from Geum Nae-yeong.

After the trial ended, Attorney Bang In-su approached Geum Nae-yeong.

“You, you did it knowing everything, right?”

A somewhat cold smile hung on Geum Nae-yeong’s face.

“I am Geum Nae-yeong, not ‘you’. By the way, you should have just taken the restraining order, why did you file a property division lawsuit?

If you hadn’t filed the lawsuit, both exclusion periods would have passed, so we wouldn’t have had to fight over property division. If that had been the case, the husband also wouldn’t have had to lose at least 2.5 billion won…”

“What, 2.5 billion won?? What does that mean?”

Bang In-su’s face stiffened hard. 2.5 billion won? He had never heard of such assets from his client.

What is this? This chill…

“Ah, it seems you haven’t heard from Han Deuk-su-ssi. There were quite a few assets he hid from his wife. We will apply for property disclosure soon. Then probably more assets will be revealed? I mean his owned land, and the family ancestral land he inherited 10 years ago.”

“Ancestral land?”

“A road was opened there. Min Gyeong-suk-ssi supported her parents-in-law, and she took care of all the ancestral rites, weeding, and seasonal sacrifices. Every single year until the divorce. The evidence is also sufficient. Since he sold that ancestral land for 5 billion won, we will claim a 50% contribution share.”

“What…? How did you know that? When even I didn’t know?”

Bang In-su was swept by shock. Geum Nae-yeong answered indifferently.

“Han Deuk-su-ssi said it himself. Very loudly. By the way, aren’t we taught to talk quietly and as rarely as possible on calls in public places?”

It was the day Han Deuk-su first came to Geum Nae-yeong’s office and made a scene.

“What! That bastard likes ancestral rites? What ancestral rites? 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!”

A loud phone call voice was heard from outside.

‘Who is calling so ill-manneredly like that…’

Geum Nae-yeong muttered to himself.

He listened to the voice quietly. The voice was a male in his 50s. He seemed to be arguing with his family over the inheritance of ancestral land.

And soon, that voice changed to “Tell Geum Nae-yeong to come out! Who are you guys!”

Geum Nae-yeong opened the office door and walked out, meeting Han Deuk-su for the first time on that spot.

And Geum Nae-yeong naturally remembered all of that, the words the man spoke, even a single comma.

Geum Nae-yeong left the spot with a cold face without much explanation, and Bang In-su could not shut his mouth, his face full of astonishment.

***

Having finished his morning pleading, Attorney Geum Nae-yeong placed the document envelope on Office Manager Ju’s desk to check the next court date and entered his office.

Returning to his seat a moment later, Office Manager Ju saw the property division case document envelope placed on his desk and knew Geum Nae-yeong had finished the trial well.

Unable to suppress his curiosity, he immediately opened the trial record.

“No, how on earth did he resolve this case?”

Rustle, rustle—

Ju Yong-hae let out a groan without realizing it.

“Gasp…”

‘No… was there such a thing? Even if the exclusion period passed, we could calculate the other party’s assets as a response. If so, it means we can also assert it in reverse.’

He could not hide his admiration.

‘Attorney Geum Nae-yeong, he’s amazing..’

Office Manager Ju glanced toward Geum Nae-yeong’s office.

‘He wrote the documents extremely well too… indeed he is no ordinary person.

But how did he know about the ancestral land and land the husband hid? When he hadn’t even applied for property disclosure.

What a fascinating person…’

Immediately, thoughts followed in a tail.

‘Wait… First, claiming half of the 5 billion won from selling the ancestral land, and calculating everything that gets revealed later like bank statements or real estate… If we assume about 2.5 billion won is recognized…’

Office Manager Ju Yong-hae hurriedly pulled out the old Casio calculator placed on one corner of his desk.

Tap, tap-tap—

‘Since we decided to get 5% of the total upon winning, gasp? If we win… 125 million won…? With just a single case?’

At that moment, in Office Manager Ju Yong-hae’s eyes, Geum Nae-yeong looked like a huge golden dragon wrapped in golden energy, emitting a golden glow.

***

2:00 PM.

Cha Ra-ri knocked on Geum Nae-yeong’s office door.

Knock, knock.

“Attorney?”

“Yes.”

“The Representative Attorney asked you to come to the conference room for a moment.”

“The conference room? I am busy right now…”

Geum Nae-yeong sighed as if giving up and stood up from his seat.

“Indeed, when running a joint office, it is necessary to attend unnecessary formalities. Fine. Let’s go.”

Opening the conference room door, the Representative Attorney and other attorneys, Director Kim Mi-yeong, and even the office managers were already filling the seats.

The Representative Attorney stood up from his seat and began to speak.

“Since Attorney Geum Nae-yeong has also come, I will introduce now.

Since I have some age, my son has started working at our office while learning the cases I handle little by little. He is still lacking, so please help him a lot.”

Attorney Seong Seok-ju, the oldest son of Representative Attorney Seong Seok-yeon, stood up and bowed politely.

“Hello. I am Attorney Seong Seok-ju.”

As the greeting finished, the Representative Attorney introduced his youngest son, Seong Tae-gyu.

“And my youngest. He is still immature, but he says he will learn work next to his brother. I hope the office managers teach him a lot.”

The heavily built Seong Tae-gyu bowed politely, unfitting for his body, but he looked to have many complaints somewhere in his expression.

The attorneys and staff delivered welcoming greetings, and once the greetings were finished to some extent, Representative Attorney Seong opened his mouth again, looking at the documents placed on the desk.

“And… there were a few cases we accepted jointly in our office, and among those I handled, I plan to assign court appearances to my son first.

We’ll distribute a few to other attorneys. Attorney Geum, please also lend a hand in reviewing the cases when my son is busy. Hahaha.”

It was said with a mind hoping the son and Geum Nae-yeong would get along friendly. But Geum Nae-yeong reacted immediately upon hearing Representative Attorney Seong’s words.

“Then I will review the cases you handled. Please give them to me.”

Instantly, Attorney Seong was flustered.

“Ah, yes… That was just said out of politeness… Well, we can look slowly later…”

Unlike the Representative Attorney who trailed off, Geum Nae-yeong shot a gaze demanding the case documents with an indifferent face. In the end, a few cases were handed over to him due to the atmosphere.

“Since my son is from Law Firm Jepyongyang, he will do lawsuits well. You can just check a few cases and share opinions later. Hahaha.”

Representative Attorney Seong laughed awkwardly, but Geum Nae-yeong didn’t care.

Rustle, rustle.

While other people were sharing small talk, Geum Nae-yeong paid no mind, went through a few litigation documents, picked up one case, and asked.

“Did you file a lawsuit for this loan return lawsuit?”

“Yes, I filed it two days ago.”

Attorney Seong Seok-ju answered confidently. After checking the document for a moment, Geum Nae-yeong said decisively.

“Hmm… Since it is before the first pleading date, withdraw the lawsuit.”

“With… withdraw the lawsuit?”

Seong Seok-ju spat out his words as if displeased.

“What on earth do you mean by that suddenly? Withdraw the lawsuit.”

“Because it is a case we will lose.”

Geum Nae-yeong’s voice was calm, and on the other hand, he had a face as if satisfied with his own conclusion.

In contrast, Seong Seok-ju, who thought he was being embarrassed in front of several attorneys he met for the first time, turned red in the face.

“What did you say? Lose? When we clearly have the witness transcript and the loan certificate, lose? Aren’t you speaking too easily?”

Seong Tae-gyu, who was watching from the side, chimed in.

“Hey, you shouldn’t speak like that about someone else’s case. What if he wins?”

Attorney Seo In-ja quickly tried to soften the mood.

“Ayy, why are young people acting like this. Hahaha. Everyone is full of vigor.”

Other attorneys also helped.

“Right. Share opinions while looking slowly. Why act so extremely.”

But Geum Nae-yeong cut them off and said firmly.

“I am right. We will lose.”

At those words, Seong Seok-ju raised his voice.

“Look here, Attorney Geum. Then if I win, what will you do? If I win, can you hand over all your future cases to me?”

Geum Nae-yeong answered simply, without even twitching an eyebrow.

“Yes, I can give them.”

“Aha, is that so? Then since there are many witnesses here, let’s see who is right.”

Seong Seok-ju, whose pride was hurt, twisted the corners of his mouth up.

“Good. Attorney Geum says we’ll lose, and I will win. Let’s pass 10 cases of the losing side to the winning side, and on top of that, work as an associate attorney under them for half a year.”

At those words, even Seong Tae-gyu chimed in.

“I’ll join too. If our brother loses, I will call Attorney Geum Nae-yeong ‘hyungnim’ from then on.”

“Oh dear, you guys. Why are you acting so childishly. You can just check well with each other.”

“We aren’t even a big law firm, what associate… really…”

Other attorneys tried to stop them, but the Seong brothers’ feelings were already firmly hurt.

Geum Nae-yeong said quietly.

“I am right. I will tell you the reason.”

“Reason? Forget the reason! Are you doing it or not!”

Seong Tae-gyu acted stubbornly. Geum Nae-yeong answered without his expression changing a single bit.

“I will do it. Because… I am right.”

“Fine. I will write a pledge, so don’t say something else later.”

Seong Seok-ju grit his teeth, and a moment later brought a sheet of paper.

Conditional Agreement

This contract is written in accordance with the agreement to determine the validity of the conflicting legal views of Attorney Seong Seok-ju and Attorney Geum Nae-yeong through a real lawsuit. …

After reading the agreement meticulously, Geum Nae-yeong left his signature next to his name without hesitation.