Chapter 21 – The Only Merchant Selling Water Bottles in the Desert

Teum Joint Law Office consultation room.

Lunchtime. Today, there were exceptionally many people eating in the office.

Office Manager Ju Yong-hae, whose dark circles under his eyes hung low, muttered as he peeled off the lid of the hot instant rice he had just taken out of the microwave.

“I’m starving to death. It’s been days since I’ve eaten without even knowing what the side dishes are.”

Clack-clack-clack.

In a split second, Director Kim Mi-yeong moved with orderly hand movements. She placed a heavy three-tiered lunchbox on the table and confidently opened the side dish lids.

“I put some extra effort in today. Since everyone seemed busy.”

A small gasp of admiration burst out every time a lid of the lunchbox was opened one by one.

“Wow… Is it Ha-yul’s birthday today? The side dishes are no joke.”

Assistant Manager Kim admired, but Director Kim Mi-yeong just smiled subtly without a word.

Plump, savory-smelling japchae, well-fried bite-sized kimchi pancakes, three-color namul seasoned with sesame oil and sprinkled with sesame seeds, and in the last compartment, glossy stir-fried beef bulgogi.

“It’s hot and there’s a lot of work, so I stir-fried some bulgogi for everyone to build up their strength.”

As Director Kim Mi-yeong slid the beef bulgogi dish slightly in front of Office Manager Ju Yong-hae, the Office Manager casually spoke.

“Hey, what’s with you lately? You used to glare at me for stealing your side dishes all the time.”

“Wow, can I try some of that japchae? It looks so delicious.”

As Cha Ra-ri cut in and picked up her chopsticks, Director Kim Mi-yeong responded slyly.

“Sure, sure. Go ahead. But by the way, your bonus this time is no joke, huh?”

“Of course! Do you know how hard I worked? Since the bonus is coming with an incentive per case, I’m totally looking forward to it.”

Cha Ra-ri’s face was already bright as if it were payday.

Knock, knock.

Just then, the door opened and Attorney Geum Na-yeong entered. Geum Na-yeong, who sometimes packed a lunchbox but forgot chopsticks.

“Oh, did you forget your chopsticks again?”

Geum Na-yeong replied with his signature expressionless smile.

“Yes. I’ll borrow some chopsticks.”

Geum Na-yeong took the wooden chopsticks, sat at the table, and began eating his lunchbox, which had Spam and meatballs. Looking at Geum Na-yeong’s lunchbox, Assistant Manager Kim said tactlessly.

“Attorney Geum, that grilled Spam looks golden and delicious…”

“Yes. It is delicious.”

Geum Na-yeong replied shortly, placed the last slice of Spam on his rice, wrapped it in seaweed, and ate it in one bite. Focused on his own lunchbox, he showed absolutely no interest in what others were eating.

While everyone was eating like that,

Cha Ra-ri called out to Geum Na-yeong as if she suddenly thought of something.

“Attorney!”

“Yes?”

“By any chance… do you know what ‘pub-donation’ is?”

“Pub-donation? What is that?”

When Geum Na-yeong tilted his head, Cha Ra-ri disclosed the context.

“Since you said you wanted to take cases against Gankyeok, I’ve been securing cases in front of the Law Firm Gankyeok building lately.

But yesterday, someone came out of the building and said we can’t promote here because it’s their land, claiming they made a pub-donation.”

Instantly, Office Manager Ju Yong-hae stopped his spoon, which he had been eating with relish.

“Sigh… So that was it. My goodness… Ms. Cha Ra-ri, you walked right into the tiger’s den. Handing out business cards in front of that place, how gutsy are you…”

Without twitching an eyebrow, the expressionless Geum Na-yeong sorted out the situation.

“According to my assumption, it seems they meant ‘public donation’ rather than ‘pub-donation’.”

“That’s right! It sounded like that.”

Geum Na-yeong put down his spoon and continued his explanation.

“A public donation usually means that when building, the developer transfers land or property to the local government free of charge. In return, they receive benefits in floor area ratio or the number of floors. In the end, that land belongs to the state or local government, not an individual.”

“Oh, then that person was completely lying? Saying we can’t promote doesn’t make sense either.”

“Yes. Though there might be a risk of violating the Attorney Act, handing out business cards itself is not illegal. Law Firm Gankyeok has no authority to interfere either.”

At Geum Na-yeong’s firm words, Cha Ra-ri nodded as if relieved.

“Then can I keep doing it?”

Office Manager Ju Yong-hae shook his head, trying to dissuade her.

“Ms. Cha Ra-ri, do you know what kind of place that is…”

But Geum Na-yeong cut him off.

“Of course, please continue.”

And he added calmly.

“A person walking in the desert willingly pays the price of gold for the first bottle of water. They still pay a high price for the second bottle. However, starting from the third bottle, they generally do not pay more than the market price.

We are the only merchant selling water bottles in the middle of the desert.

Moreover, even our price is ridiculously cheap. Those sued by Gankyeok will eventually have no choice but to willingly pay us. There is no reason to stop here.

All Gankyeok cases are ours.”

Cha Ra-ri nodded, her eyes sparkling.

Just then, Ha-yul, who was playing with her phone nearby, suddenly jumped up and shouted.

“Awesome! So freaking awesome!!”

“Ju Ha-yul! Who told you to use such language!”

Director Kim Mi-yeong glared and scolded her, but Ha-yul ignored her mother’s yelling, stomped her feet, and shouted.

“It’s seriously crazy! Look at this!”

Ha-yul held out her phone screen to everyone.

On the screen, a side profile of Geum Na-yeong grading English exam questions was posted on Starstagram, and the comment section below was in an uproar.

└ What? Who is this face genius guy?

└ An attorney? An attorney who actually graduated from Hankook University?

└ He’s the number one face in the attorney world.

└ He could be an idol. Didn’t he get nose surgery?

Explosive reaction and view count.

Geum Na-yeong looked at the comments without blinking an eye and said.

“I did not get nose surgery.”

“Ayy, everyone knows Attorney Geum is handsome. It seems he looks handsome even in kids’ eyes.”

Office Manager Ju Yong-hae tried to brush it off casually, but Ha-yul held out another screen.

“That’s not the crazy part, it’s this. This.”

[Hello. This is writer Na Myeong-seong of the JTBS program [Incident Chief].

We were looking for an attorney to invite as a panelist, and we contacted you because we thought your image would fit well with our broadcast…]

“Wow! Look! The broadcast writer is asking for Attorney Geum’s contact information!”

“What? Really?”

“Oh my, Attorney, this is huge! Once you go on this, you won’t even need promotion.”

Cha Ra-ri said, her eyes turning round.

Geum Na-yeong stared at the phone screen indifferently for a moment, then quickly ran the calculations in his head.

‘Cases are increasing just through social media rumors. Ms. Cha Ra-ri is doing well aggressively, too. But appearing on a broadcast station… We have Office Manager Ju, and now an associate attorney as well, so even if cases increase, we can handle it.

At this rate, the time to set up a shop for my parents will also be moved up.’

As if having made up his mind, he raised his head and said to Ha-yul.

“Give them my contact info and please reply.”

“Really? Wow! Attorney Geum is going to become a total celebrity! I want to go see the broadcasting station too!”

Ha-yul ran out of the consultation room, shouting with joy.

***

Na Myeong-seong, a writer for ‘Incident Chief’, was in an exceptionally good mood today.

‘He is handsome…’

Today was the day Attorney Geum Na-yeong, the newly recruited panelist, made his first appearance. Although it was a live broadcast, the preparations were perfectly in place.

Meeting him in person, he was far more handsome than his Starstagram photos. Honestly, with that face and graduating top of Hankook University, if someone like him didn’t appear on TV, who would?

Having the handsome Geum Na-yeong join as a panelist made the program dealing with heavy incidents seem much brighter, so he felt good. The PD also seemed to like him very much.

During the pre-meeting, his tone was slightly blunt, perhaps because he was nervous, but that was actually better for establishing a character. Adding the human charm of a clumsy yet all-around genius of looks and academic background, he would likely blend well with the existing cast.

Writer Na approached Geum Na-yeong, who was receiving makeup in the dressing room.

“You must be nervous, right? But you’ll do great. Haha.

Even if you just sit there nicely, since you’re a face genius, Attorney. Today, just get used to the atmosphere slowly.”

Geum Na-yeong grinned.

It was a smile where only the mouth moved, which didn’t match his serious eyes.

‘He must have frozen up since it’s his first broadcast. Haha. Still, he’ll be good at just sitting there.’

The writer greeted Geum Na-yeong and hurriedly left the dressing room to stand by for the broadcast.

Meanwhile, in Geum Na-yeong’s head, only the retained cases, advertising effects, and the calculation sheet converting them into points that today’s broadcast would bring spun around. He was not nervous at all.

A little later,

Geum Na-yeong calmly read the script handed to him by the writer, and frowned slightly at one part.

[…..There is a risk of illegality. And the defendant has a criminal record…]

‘Not the defendant, but the accused.’

Geum Na-yeong pulled a red pen from his pocket, drew two lines through the incorrect phrasing on the script, and corrected it accurately.

“Oh my, it’s this person.”

A middle-aged man in a neat suit approached from behind.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Attorney Ham Yu-yeol.”

He was a figure whose name everyone in the nation knew.

He was a star attorney called the number one in traffic accident cases, and the most popular panelist on ‘Incident Chief’ who reviewed traffic accident blackbox videos and refreshingly explained the fault ratio that ordinary people found most difficult.

“The writer said a new young attorney would come, and you are very young. Hahaha.”

Geum Na-yeong bowed his head and greeted calmly.

“Hello. I am Geum Na-yeong.”

“Right, it seems you’re nervous since it’s your first broadcast. Just take it easy, take it easy.”

“No. I am not nervous.

However… the writer confused the civil defendant and the criminal defendant in the script, so I think I should correct it before the broadcast.”

In that instant, Ham Yu-yeol’s brow narrowed briefly, but he smirked and let it slide.

“Haha. Is that so? Then mention it quietly to the writer. Well, I’m busy, so I’ll be going…”

‘On your first broadcast, everything tends to look bothersome like that.’

Ham Yu-yeol laughed good-naturedly and left to prepare.

Soon the broadcast time approached, and bright lights filled the studio. Numerous staff members stood by with tense expressions.

And soon, the live broadcast started.

“3, 2, 1… Cue!”

“Hello, Tuesday morning! Incident Chief starts now.”

Along with the signal, a bright opening remark echoed out.

Led by the veteran announcer who was the host, the broadcast went smoothly.

And after a moment.

A reported traffic accident video flowed onto the screen.

A blackbox screen showed a flashing yellow light, a lane change, and then a “Bang!” collision scene.

Attorney Ham Yu-yeol immediately began his commentary.

“Now, do you see? It is a flashing yellow light situation. Changing lanes directly from the left turn lane to the right turn lane, then… Bang! A collision.”

“Dear, dear… In this case, fault is also attributed to the blackbox vehicle. Usually it is 3:7, with the blackbox vehicle at about 3.”

Just when the panelists were about to nod in agreement.

“It is 10:0.”

An unfamiliar voice.

The air in the studio instantly froze.

All eyes simultaneously fixed on Geum Na-yeong.

“Pardon?”

As the host asked back in surprise, Geum Na-yeong said firmly without changing his expression at all.

“The fault ratio is not 3:7, but 10:0. Ten for the blackbox vehicle.”

A moment of silence.

An awkward laugh flowed.

“Ahahaha…”

The host quickly hid his embarrassed face and began to clean up the situation.