Chapter 14 – How Do You Even Know to This Extent

After the young lawyers exchanged the agreements and returned to their respective offices, the remaining attorneys began to drink tea and wonder about the outcome.

“Young people indeed have vigor…”

Attorney Seo In-ja said, subtly picking up the case record.

“By the way, when there is clearly evidence… why did Attorney Geum say we would lose?”

The attorney sitting next to her chimed in.

“We haven’t even received the other party’s written answer yet. They have to show a reaction of whether they’ll repay the money or not for us to know if we’ll lose or win.”

“Wait. Then if Attorney Geum loses, does he have to go work under Attorney Seong Seok-ju, and call the youngest son hyung?”

“Probably. That will be quite fun. Hahaha.”

While the attorneys talked happily like a joke, the brothers Seok-ju and Tae-gyu, who returned to their office, could not hide the displeasure on their faces.

“I came because Father told me to… but what on earth is that guy? Isn’t he a crazy bastard? At the first greeting place. Anyway, my impression of him was bad from the start.

Hyung, winning this is one hundred percent right, correct?”

“…Ten thousand percent. Do you think I didn’t even look at the record? Why is a guy who is nothing playing a mind war. By the way, I’ll have an associate attorney under me soon. Haha..”

Although he made a laugh mixed with bluffing in front of his brother, one corner of Seong Seok-ju’s mind was strangely uncomfortable.

‘They said he is from Law Firm Nine… his skills wouldn’t be lacking. To tell me to give up a case whose response hasn’t even come out… Why did he say such a thing?’

***

Lunch the next day.

“Oh, it’s lunch time already.”

After handling a few online consultations and organizing trial documents in the morning, it was lunch time before he knew it.

Geum Nae-yeong carefully pulled out his lunchbox from his bag.

On top of the white rice, a well-cooked yellow fried egg was placed neatly, and in the side dish container next to it, spicy stir-fried pork infused with fire flavor sat glossy.

Thinking it looked delicious, but only for a moment.

“Huh?”

No matter how much he searched, he couldn’t see chopsticks. His mother must have missed them.

Hesitating for a moment, Geum Nae-yeong ultimately stood up from his seat.

Knock, knock.

Opening the consultation room door, Office Manager Ju, Cha Ra-ri, and Director Kim Mi-yeong were eating lunch together inside.

“By any chance, do you have spare chopsticks?”

Geum Nae-yeong wore his unique smile. His mouth showed a slight smile, but his eyes did not laugh at all.

It was the expression he always wore without fail when asking someone for something.

Director Kim Mi-yeong nodded.

“Ah, Attorney, you didn’t pack chopsticks today. Just a moment. There should be wooden chopsticks.

No, since you came all this way, why don’t you eat with us?”

“No. I feel more comfortable eating alone.”

Geum Nae-yeong refused firmly, but Cha Ra-ri immediately shot back.

“Is that so? But I have something to tell you while eating?”

“What kind of business is it?”

“Ayy, I’ll tell you when you join.”

At Cha Ra-ri’s sly words, Geum Nae-yeong ultimately sat down.

When Geum Nae-yeong open the lid of his lunchbox, Director Kim Mi-yeong admired.

“Wow, smells good! Stir-fried pork and fried egg… your mother packs food very taste-fully for you.”

“The stir-fried pork is glossy.”

Everyone sent hints that they wanted to get a bite subtly, but Geum Nae-yeong did not notice such hints at all and began to eat his stir-fried pork deliciously with the chopsticks he obtained.

“Please try some of our side dishes too. But Attorney, your stir-fried pork looks really delicious.”

Director Kim Mi-yeong kept sending hints to share, but Geum Nae-yeong did not notice at all and concentrated on eating.

While Geum Nae-yeong was eating a delicious lunch where only he did not feel awkward,

Office Manager Ju Yong-hae subtly spoke to him.

“Attorney. You handled this property division case very well? It’s amazing. Just the winning fee alone… if you do well, you’ll get over 100 million won, right?”

Geum Nae-yeong nodded and answered.

“Yes. To be exact, I calculated about 125 million won surely as the winning fee.”

“Probably only our firm has won against Law Firm Gankyeok from the start like this. Haha.”

“Yes. Actually, I plan to proceed with cases focusing on Gankyeok from now on. Since everyone is said to be reluctant to litigate against Gankyeok, it would be good if we specialize in it.

However, I am contemplating how to attract clients.”

“Against Gankyeok…”

Just hearing about Gankyeok made Office Manager Ju Yong-hae’s head throb already.

Because of the Office Manager whose mood suddenly turned gloomy, the conversation cut off from then on, and only the quiet sound of eating continued. Today, since their daughter Ha-yul was not here, it was a place where small talk decreased for no reason.

After a moment, Cha Ra-ri subtly smiled and asked.

“By the way, is your expression originally that expressionless, Attorney? Your mouth smiles slightly but your eyes don’t laugh at all… it’s a bit fascinating.”

“I only smile when asking for a favor from others.”

“Is that so? Why do you only smile when asking for a favor?”

“I injured my head from school violence when I was young. Since then, I was diagnosed with antisocial traits and heard that my empathy ability could be lacking compared to others.

For this reason, I do not understand people’s emotions well.

My mother taught me to smile when asking for a favor… so I smile when asking for a favor.”

Instantly, the expressions of Office Manager Ju and Director Kim stiffened completely.

“……..”

“Oh dear… such circumstances… my…”

The atmosphere turned even colder, as if cold water had been thrown over it.

But Cha Ra-ri did not even blink at Geum Nae-yeong’s answer, and smiled widely.

“Aha! So your eyes don’t laugh and only your mouth smiles? My curiosity has been solved. I am also a strong T. On top of that, my eyes don’t laugh well, but my mouth is extremely good at talking.”

Geum Nae-yeong replied expressionlessly.

“What does that mean?”

“My, don’t you know your MBTI, Attorney? Let’s see… just by looking, you seem like an INTJ. Well, anyway, T is good, right?

But if we two combine, my face is scary but my words are fun, a combination that seems perfect for earning money in this industry?”

Director Kim burst into a chuckle, and Office Manager Ju nodded as if his tension was released.

‘Cha Ra-ri-ssi’s personality is cool. She changes the atmosphere well.’

Suddenly, Cha Ra-ri spoke to Geum Nae-yeong as if she remembered something.

“Ah! Boss. Can I make a suggestion?”

“Speak.”

“Please let me act as a field office manager too. Let me go out for PR activities for about two hours in the afternoon, and give me a separate incentive for cases I bring in.

And I will also resolve the worry you had earlier. Cleanly. I think running around outside is more efficient for me than just sitting.”

“The worry I had earlier?”

“Yes. Recruiting clients for cases against Law Firm Gankyeok.”

Geum Nae-yeong thought for a moment and then nodded.

“Good. Write a proposal and show it to me. Let’s review it and write a separate labor contract.”

“Wow, as expected, you are cool, Boss. Other people would drag it out saying they’ll think about it… you cut it clean in one word.

If you allow it, I will show you what real PR is.”

Cha Ra-ri began to like the company more and more. It seemed she could resolve her card bills sufficiently, and on top of that, she could earn quite a bit of money. The boss was also rational.

‘Maybe it wouldn’t be bad to work here a bit longer?’

* * *

Like that, a few days passed.

The written answer from the opposing side in the case they bet on arrived for Attorney Seong Seok-ju.

[The defendant has no knowledge at all about the money claimed by the plaintiff, and wishes to apply for an appraisal to confirm the authenticity of the Loan Certificate, Plaintiff’s Evidence No. 3, submitted by the plaintiff.]

‘Huh? Authenticity appraisal?’

Surprise spread across Attorney Seong Seok-ju’s face. Because the opposing side claimed that the loan certificate might be fake.

‘No way… this is fake? No, but they’ll say let’s get an appraisal first, right?

But if the loan certificate is fake, this case is lost one hundred percent. Then it means Attorney Geum Nae-yeong was right…’

Uneasiness flooded in. After receiving the written answer, the client’s attitude during the consultation also weighed on his mind for some reason.

Attorney Seong Seok-ju headed to Attorney Geum Nae-yeong’s office holding the written answer.

Knock, knock.

Seeing Attorney Seong Seok-ju open the door, Geum Nae-yeong asked a question as if he had been waiting.

“You received the opposing side’s written answer, right?”

As Geum Nae-yeong spoke as if he already knew, Attorney Seong Seok-ju got goosebumps.

‘…What does he know?’

“Yes… I… received it.”

“And they are asking to appraise the authenticity of the loan certificate you submitted as evidence?”

“Th… That’s right.”

When he answered in bewilderment, Geum Nae-yeong nodded.

‘How on earth does he know to this extent?’

Seong Seok-ju could not suppress his curiosity and asked Geum Nae-yeong.

“How do you know all of this? As if you see the future in advance…”

“It is nothing much.”

Geum Nae-yeong spread the loan certificate document and placed it on the consultation table. He picked up his phone, turned on the flash, and directed the lighting at the stamp part.

“Look at the boundary of the stamp.”

Attorney Seong Seok-ju checked the stamp boundary, but there was nothing special. It looked like a stamp cleanly pressed with ink.

“The pixels near the boundary are minutely broken.”

“Pardon? Uh?”

“It is a very elaborately made fake loan certificate.”

“A fake?.. How do you know that?”

A memory capacity that remembers everything, “I can zoom in or out on documents or files I’ve seen once, and check them anytime, anywhere”—there were many misunderstandings arising from not being able to explain this.

Geum Nae-yeong’s own method of survival. He pulled out the notebook he always carried with him from his inner jacket pocket.

Rustle, rustle.

‘This one is good.’

-Brain Ability Explanation Manual-

☑ Say I originally knew, or saw it in the past.

☑ State the fact that the cerebral visual cortex is developed so I can see it.

☑ Say I could know because my intelligence is high.

☑ Do not say it and guide to another story.

‘Hmm… In this case, it’s better to choose the visual cortex story.’

Geum Nae-yeong began his explanation in the easiest way to understand.

“My cerebral visual cortex, which processes visual information, is much more developed than others.”

“Pardon? Ce… Cerebral visual cortex?”

“Yes. Humans convert visual images into nerve signals from visual cells through neurons. The part in charge of that is called the visual area, and that part of my brain is much more active than other people due to some cause.

Therefore, I can see minute differences in color or delicate pixel breakages.”

Attorney Seong tilted his head at Geum Nae-yeong’s words.

‘In that case… when the authenticity of a document is doubted in a lawsuit, it means he can determine it himself to some extent without having to send it for appraisal? Is that really possible?’

“Are there such cases?”

“Yes. Although the medical staff couldn’t explain the exact cause other than the impact applied to the brain.”

“Then why didn’t you say so in the beginning?”

“I was going to say so in the beginning. But you told me not to explain and just agree to the bet, so I just agreed.”

“……”

“If you withdraw the lawsuit even now, there won’t be any big loss for you, Attorney Seong. Please do so.”

Geum Nae-yeong’s words left Attorney Seong Seok-ju in bewilderment.

‘Seeing how he even thinks so that I won’t lose the lawsuit rather than focusing on the bet, he seems to be a person with a decent personality? If I withdraw now, I’ll only lose about the stamp tax fee…’

There were often cases where clients lied. Lawsuits stubbornly demanding money that was never lent were common.

Therefore, being able to recognize the client’s lie before entering a full-scale lawsuit was rather a relief for Seong Seok-ju.

***

The next morning.

They met at the entrance of Teum office.

Seong Seok-ju felt a subtle fondness for Geum Nae-yeong, who had told him the answer yesterday. So today, he smiled and initiated the conversation first.

“Attorney Geum. You’ve arrived at work. Did you drink coffee?”

At that, Geum Nae-yeong replied expressionlessly.

“Yes, I bought it on my way to work.”

“Ah, you like coffee.”

Just as he was about to head to his office.

“Attorney Seong? Please pack your materials and let’s meet in my room.”

“…Pardon? What materials?”

“Didn’t you agree to be my associate attorney? Come and support the litigation.”

Geum Nae-yeong spoke as if it were natural and went into his office, and Seong Seok-ju froze on the spot, his mouth wide open in absurdity.