Chapter 19 – Performance is Status!

“Ah, so… you mean you want the defendant to be punished for past events, correct?”

Geum Nae-yeong repeated Oh Yeong-ja’s last words as if tracing them back.

Hearing those words, the judge tilted his head as if somewhat uncomfortable, and the prosecutor, as if intuiting that the case he prosecuted was tilting toward not guilty, let out a short sigh ‘sigh…’ and dropped his head.

Without hiding his satisfied look, Geum Nae-yeong stared straight at the judge.

“According to the statement of witness Oh Yeong-ja just now, the witness experienced an unpleasant matter such as a ‘savings club money case’ with the defendant in the past.

Even though more than 7 years have already passed since that incident occurred, the fact that she still wants the defendant’s criminal punishment shows that the witness herself harbors deep resentment toward the defendant.

It is difficult for a witness who is entangled in such an emotional conflict of interest to testify with an objective and neutral attitude toward the defendant in this case.”

Geum Nae-yeong’s voice rose.

“Therefore, a grave doubt cannot but be raised regarding the credibility of the witness’s statement.”

Hearing Geum Nae-yeong’s words, Oh Yeong-ja seemed flustered for a moment and began to stammer.

“Uh? Th… That doesn’t mean that…”

Instantly, a low exclamation of “Indeed” leaked out from somewhere in the gallery.

The prosecutor rolled his pen in his fingertips and busy-ly turned the record pages, and Oh Yeong-ja felt with her skin that the situation was flowing disadvantageously for her.

She instinctively looked around and stared at Han Si-hun, the attorney of Gong Chun-hui’s side from Law Firm Gankyeok, who was sitting in the gallery.

But Geum Nae-yeong did not stop and continued his speech.

“Furthermore, another witness who was said to be together at the spot that day is also a member of the same savings club.

In the end, that witness is also entangled in a conflict of interest with the defendant, so the credibility of her statement is also hard to guarantee.

Therefore, the testimony of both witnesses claiming that the defendant defamed the victim’s reputation cannot but be seen as lacking objectivity, and moreover, no direct evidence exists in this case other than these testimonies.”

“According to the principle of the Criminal Procedure Act that ‘when there is no proof of the criminal fact, a verdict of not guilty shall be pronounced,’ please sentence the defendant not guilty.”

The atmosphere inside the courtroom completely changed in an instant.

As Geum Nae-yeong finished his speech, the judge nodded and muttered shortly.

“……He’s good.”

From the defendant’s seat, Jeong Geum-hui realized something only then.

The reason Geum Nae-yeong had dug up and dragged out her old shame.

‘What… everyone said it would be hard to avoid a fine or prison sentence… but actually, this lawyer, he is an extremely capable lawyer, isn’t he?’

A bright smile spread across Jeong Geum-hui’s face.

Having perfectly completed the trial in victory, Geum Nae-yeong left the courtroom.

The complainant’s side, who watched that sight until the end.

Attorney Han Si-hun of Law Firm Gankyeok bit his lip hard enough to bleed. And after glaring fiercely at Geum Nae-yeong’s back, he hurriedly left the place.

Leaving the court, Jeong Geum-hui asked in an excited voice.

“Oh my, Attorney! How did you think of such a thing?”

Geum Nae-yeong opened his mouth with a face that did not smile at all.

“It is a matter of accurately grasping only the legal relationships.”

“But… Attorney, seeing how Oh Yeong-ja glared at me earlier, she seemed quite angry because of today’s trial.

What if she really sues me for embezzlement over that old savings club money case you mentioned earlier?”

As Jeong Geum-hui asked in anxiety, Geum Nae-yeong looked at her straight and said decisively.

“She cannot sue.”

“Pardon? Why?”

“The statute of limitations has passed. The statute of limitations for embezzlement is 7 years.”

“Oh my, really? Then did you know all of that already, Attorney? You are truly amazing!!”

Confirming the complete victory, Jeong Geum-hui raised her voice in excitement as she went down the stairs.

“My chest feels so refreshed! Those things that harassed me like that, not knowing the statute of limitations, they’ll prepare to sue for embezzlement because they got angry today, right? Bad bitches! Hohoho! Even if you sue, I am not guilty!”

When Jeong Geum-hui talked loudly in high spirits, Geum Nae-yeong said with his unique expressionlessness.

“Jeong Geum-hui-ssi is guilty.”

“Gu… Guilty?”

“The completion of the statute of limitations does not mean not guilty. Once the statute of limitations passes, the prosecutor can no longer bring public prosecution, and even if they bring it, the court only pronounces a dismissal of public prosecution.

In the end, it is just that the judgment itself on whether there was a crime or not is not made.

Strictly speaking, it is right that you, Jeong Geum-hui-ssi, who used the savings club money arbitrarily, receive a punishment of about 1 year and 6 months in prison for embezzlement.”

“…Pardon? Prison?”

The moment Jeong Geum-hui stammered and asked back.

Geum Nae-yeong grinned. His eyes did not laugh at all, it was a cynical smile where only the lips moved.

Watching Geum Nae-yeong’s back moving away quickly, Jeong Geum-hui’s face stiffened hard.

***

[Winning is Justice]

Law Firm Gankyeok. A luxurious partner attorney’s office with a high ceiling.

Unlike general law offices where things like paintings are placed, a huge frame saying ‘Winning is Justice’ hangs and occupies an entire wall overwhelmingly.

Strict performance-ism, removing obstacles and seizing victory unconditionally regardless of whether using legal or illegal means. That was the way Gankyeok operated.

Partner Attorney Seo Gi-ryong of Law Firm Gankyeok stared cold-ly at the office floor.

On the floor, five men were holding a push-up position, enduring for 30 minutes.

Even while groans leaked out, the slogan did not stop.

“Performance is status!”

“Performance is status!”

“Performance is status!”

Click, hiss—

Seo Gi-ryong lit a cigarette, took a drag, and blew the smoke long.

“Get up.”

Those who were lying down got up one by one.

“Han Si-hun, step forward.”

The moment the designated Attorney Han Si-hun stepped forward,

Thud!

“Ugh!”

Seo Gi-ryong’s kick struck Han Si-hun’s shin. Han Si-hun bent his body and endured the pain.

“You get a hundred-million-won salary, where did you eat it all? Do you think the firm pays your team’s salary regularly to see this kind of state?”

“……”

“Losing twice to an attorney who has not even 2 years of experience? Not even a big law firm, but a solo attorney level in a corner of Seocho-dong?”

“Originally, that attorney is from Law Firm Nine. His training was at Kim & Chang…”

Slap!

Before Attorney Han Si-hun could even finish speaking, Seo Gi-ryong’s palm slapped his cheek.

“Hey! Is there anyone here who didn’t graduate from Hankook University? Is there anyone who didn’t take the bar exam! The conditions are all the same, and we have more experience, why on earth do you lose? And twice at that! This case is a case that came from the political side, so I personally even told you to do especially well! Huh?!

Ah, this is embarrassing… Annual salary? Do you think we give it for nothing? We give it to make you win somehow! Don’t care about the means and methods, win unconditionally!”

Seo Gi-ryong’s roar rang through the hallway.

“How do you let a small-time lawyer get a not-guilty verdict for a criminal case! Are you stupid?! We even made all the evidence and stood up witnesses, there is no reason to lose! But why!!

The loss last time was finished by firing that stupid guy and handling the aftermath, but the second loss… this means it is not a mistake!!”

How many of our opposing cases does that guy handle?”

“It… it is about thirty cases…”

Fling!

Seo Gi-ryong ultimately could not control his anger. He tore the documents on the desk to shreds and threw them at the attorneys, and not satisfied with that, he began to stomp on the documents scattered on the floor.

A heavy silence hovered.

Just then.

A man who was listening to the scolding with his head bowed from the back raised his hand.

“I will try to resolve it. Attorney.”

The man who raised his hand was Associate Attorney Park Kwon-do.

‘A crisis is an opportunity. Anyway, associate attorneys are overflowing here. It’s better to do one thing surely this time, blow that guy away, and increase my presence.’

He stepped forward, grinding his teeth in his mind.

“Kwon-do, you say you’ll do it?”

“Yes. I think I can handle it.”

“And do you have a way?”

“I heard something a while ago. I will handle it cleanly with that.”

Seo Gi-ryong’s voice softened for a moment.

“Really? …Good. Speak if you need anything, and don’t disappoint me this time.”

Park Kwon-do bowed his head deeply and answered.

“Yes. Understood.”

***

Having completed a busy day, Geum Nae-yeong left work holding his briefcase when it became 6:00 PM.

“Are you here, Nae-yeong?”

At the sound of the front door opening, his mother’s voice was heard.

“Yes. I’m here.”

“Good work. You went through a lot today too.”

His father silently received his son’s bag and placed it on the desk inside the room.

“You came just at the right time.”

A stone-pot soybean paste stew was placed in the middle of the table. The savory smell of the boiling soybean paste stew filled the house. His mother aligned and pushed the side dish plates toward Geum Nae-yeong.

“Our Nae-yeong. Eat quickly.”

His mom even presented a nicely fried round egg in front of Geum Nae-yeong.

“You’re busy lately, right? Your face has become half its size.”

His mother watched her son eating rice with a worried face, and his father awkwardly only rummaged through his rice bowl.

Swallowing the soft-boiled fried egg, Geum Nae-yeong set down his spoon and said.

Thud.

“Mother, Father. Prepare to move.”

“Huh? Move? What move?”

“We are moving to an apartment now. I’ve already checked the location and price, and tomorrow I will go to the real estate office to make a provisional contract.”

“What? Move to an apartment? We… haven’t even paid off all the bank interest yet, what move…”

When his father spoke in embarrassment, Geum Nae-yeong answered without any expression.

“I paid it all off today. I also confirmed that an apartment loan is possible. In two months, I will open a shop for Mom. Father, stop doing wallpapering work now too.”

At the sudden words, the couple looked at Geum Nae-yeong simultaneously in surprise.

When his parents seemed to find it hard to believe, Geum Nae-yeong pulled out his phone and presented the screen.

[Loan Full Payment Guide]

Gold * yeong-nim.

The Nongup Bank loan has been fully paid.

His father silently stared at the phone screen.

The loan lost to a coin scam three months ago, his son had paid it all off.

A feeling of sorry and thankfulness flooded in at once like a high tide. He had also suffered a lot in mind, but since his son and wife also seemed to have suffered too much without any guilt, he could no longer say anything.

***

A few days later, lunch hour.

“Salvage, Season, Simulate, Strategic…”

Geum Nae-yeong was having an English vocabulary test with Ju Ha-yul.

“Now, give me the practice notebook where you wrote the answers.”

The practice notebook received for grading. Ha-yul had scribbled the answers.

Looking at the answers in detail, no proper meanings were written.

Salvage: aespa?

Season: Fashion type?

Simulate: Don’t know, Geum Nae-yeong is super handsome.

Strategic: What does it mean

“…Do you really not know the meaning of Season?”

Ha-yul smiled cheekily and said.

“By the way, Oppa. Can I upload the tutoring with you on Starstagram?

If I say I get tutored by a handsome attorney from Hankook University, the kids will be super jealous.”

Geum Nae-yeong didn’t reply and muttered to himself.

“Even positive therapy, repetitive learning method, and the Ebbinghaus forgetting curve are not applied at all…”

Geum Nae-yeong tilted his head at the situation where Ha-yul’s grades did not rise at all.

‘I should use visualization therapy now.’

He pulled out his business card case.

“Now, I will give you ten of my business cards. If you look closely, the meaning of a word is written under my name. You look at that meaning, and imagine the spelling written on the back. Do it exactly three times a day before eating. Can you promise?”

“Ayy, three times is super possible!”

Ha-yul answered confidently.

‘That promise is not a promise to memorize, so in the end, it has no big meaning. The probability of her skill increasing is very slim.’

Geum Nae-yeong muttered and wrote down words likely to appear on the test on the business cards, and Ha-yul was clicking and taking photos of that sight to post on social media.

And this action of Ha-yul, which had no intention… soon returns as a huge incident that no one could have imagined.