Chapter 26 – Sigh… I’m Here Again

“Kang Do-hyeon, Kang Min-woo, Go Se-jin, Go Gi-hyeon, Gong Eun-ji, Gu Bon-hyeok, Kwon Yul-chan, Kim Do-yeon, Kim Min-ah, Kim Seok-ju, Kim Yeong-ho, Kim Ji-soo, Kim Tae-hoon, Kim Ha-neul, Kim Hyeon-woo, Kim Hye-jin, Nam Do-hyeon, Nam Sang-woo, Na Do-yoon, Na Min-jeong, Ra Yoo-seok, Ma Do-hyeon, Ma Seong-jun, Maeng Sang-woo, Myeong Soo-jeong, Moon Seok-ho, Moon Tae-jun, Min Do-hyeon, Park Gyu-min, Park Sang-jin, Park Woo-jin, Bang Min-seok, Bae Geon-woo, Baek Do-yoon… Baek Seo-jin.”

What Geum Nae-yeong was reading were people’s names. The list of names starting from the Korean alphabet ‘Giyeok’ did not end and continued.

“No. Wh… what are you doing right now?”

Chairman Go Gi-hyeon asked with a flustered face, but Geum Nae-yeong did not stop.

He continued reading as if he could only turn to the next page after reading every single name written on the first page. The committee member sitting on the left raised their voice in displeasure.

“Look here, Attorney Geum Nae-yeong. What are you doing in this explanation meeting? Does this place look like a joke to you?”

Geum Nae-yeong replied in a very calm manner.

“This is not a joke. It is a very serious raising of an issue.”

“Raising an issue?”

“Yes. The names I just called are lawyers who violated the duty to maintain dignity and the duty of sincerity. I personally witnessed them in Seocho-dong over the past few weeks, and I have secured evidence of their violations.”

Geum Nae-yeong’s gaze turned toward the chairman.

“In particular, Chairman Go Gi-hyeon. On August 28th, around 1:00 PM, you drank raw fish soup and seven glasses of refined rice wine for lunch at Seocho Mulhoe, located at 24 Seocho-daero 32-gil. I watched from outside the restaurant’s glass window and counted how many glasses you drank.

And only an hour later, you attended a trial held in Room 204 of the Seoul District Court. You conducted the trial under the influence of alcohol. The evidence photos are attached at the back.”

At that moment, Chairman Go Gi-hyeon’s eyes began to shake violently.

“Also, Attorney Kang Do-hyeon’s employee approached me, who was walking near the court after lunch on August 30th around 1:20 PM, recommended a consultation, and urged me to retain them, saying, ‘We can absolutely win 100%.’

This is a violation of the Attorney-at-Law Act, and I am keeping the relevant recording.”

Geum Nae-yeong continued without even catching his breath.

“And Attorney Go Se-jin said to me, ‘Huh? It’s Geum Nae-yeong? You’re doing well lately, aren’t you?’ in front of the counter of a coffee shop on Seochodae-ro 3-gil in Seocho-gu after lunch, and then,

mentioning the real name of the judge who appeared in court today, slandered the trial judge, saying, ‘He is fucking ugly and his ruling was also garbage.’ The location was a coffee shop with many people present, and this has room for the crime of insult to be established.”

Geum Nae-yeong had taken a walk after lunch for several weeks after the notice of the disciplinary committee came.

And on those walks, he had collected numerous examples of Seocho-dong lawyers violating the duty to maintain dignity, the duty of sincerity, and advertising regulations.

“Uh… and also…”

As Geum Nae-yeong spoke further, the chairman waved his hand.

“Stop. Stop… then does that mean the materials piled up next to you are all evidence?”

“Yes, that is correct. I have not even called half of the names yet. If I must be punished, it is only proper that these people are punished just like me. It is a total of 285 lawyers. Including you, Chairman.”

“T… two hundred eighty-five people?”

The meeting room was stirred up as if a beehive had been poked.

“Uh, uh… Attorney Geum Nae-yeong. Would you step outside for a moment?”

“Yes? Do I have to step out?”

“Yes, we have some things to discuss among ourselves.”

“…Understood.”

Less than thirty minutes after the start of the meeting, Geum Nae-yeong walked out of the room. The disciplinary committee members inside the room were thrown into shock.

“No, what kind of lunatic is that? What on earth is this?”

“We are not elementary school students… what is this? Is he writing down names and telling on us now? Good grief…”

A committee member picked up the materials Geum Nae-yeong had left behind.

“In the back of the materials, the disciplinary matters are completely organized, including photos of the employees handing out business cards, the business cards received, recordings, and scenes of drinking.”

“Oh my… this is really… he has clearly specified all the times and places meticulously.”

Another committee member asked the chairman.

“Chairman, did you really go to court after drinking?”

“Ah, well… I just had a very little medicinal drink while eating lunch…”

“But there are multiple photos taken like this?”

The chairman, who saw the photos clearly capturing his drinking scene, could only move his lips. They were photos of him drinking exactly seven glasses of refined rice wine, with only slightly different poses.

“Tsk…”

“If we punish Attorney Geum Nae-yeong like this, he will report all those lawyers… I mean, all 285 of them, right?”

“Of course he will. That is why he collected them like this, isn’t it?”

Chairman Go Gi-hyeon, who had already received considerable entertainment from Law Firm Gankyeok, became extremely troubled. However, if he disciplined Geum Nae-yeong as Gankyeok wanted, he was afraid of how the evidence of his own drinking would be used.

“That Geum Nae-yeong… I heard he appears on TV lately and is doing well.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, he says everything he wants to say regardless of whether it is a broadcast or whatever, and his public popularity is also considerable. Perhaps because his face is tidy…”

“If he says everything… then this matter… ha…”

Thus, the committee members engaged in a heated debate, unable to reach a conclusion on Geum Nae-yeong’s disciplinary case.

“If we want to hand down a disciplinary action to that fellow, we will have to discipline every other lawyer’s office in Seocho-dong.”

Instead of the chairman, who could not even bring himself to speak, another committee member stealthily put forward an idea.

“…Let’s not poke the beehive for no reason… how about doing it like this?”

“How?”

“First, let’s drag out the time. We say it is under discussion, and postpone the disciplinary action. Keep postponing and postponing it so that it fizzles out like that…”

“Hmm…”

Chairman Go Gi-hyeon muttered to himself.

‘That’s… there is also the money I received from Gankyeok, so it’s awkward to pretend not to know, and if I discipline him, this fellow is holding my weakness… but dragging out the time… that is a decent way.’

The chairman nodded slowly.

“Then let’s just give a warning today and postpone the decision for later.”

The committee members who were connected to Geum Nae-yeong’s list also nodded silently, yet eagerly.

“Tell Attorney Geum Nae-yeong to come in.”

A moment later, Geum Nae-yeong came back in and sat down.

The chairman cleared his throat and spoke.

“Hmm… it seems we need to think more about Attorney Geum Nae-yeong’s case. So, in the meantime, it would be good to refrain from promotional activities a little.”

“Refrain? What does that mean?”

At Geum Nae-yeong’s expressionless gaze, Chairman Go Gi-hyeon was tongue-tied.

A committee member in the corner quickly turned the words around.

“That… do not make it obvious… doing it like that is… not bad… is what we mean. Attorney Geum, you understand what we are saying, right?”

However, Geum Nae-yeong, who could not possibly know the meaning of such ambiguous words, stared at the committee members for a moment, then nodded and replied.

“Ah, a double negative. I understood the linguistic implication. So you are saying I can do it?”

At that single sentence, the meeting room fell into silence, and no one inside could reply to Geum Nae-yeong’s words.

“Well… anyway, that… leave the materials you brought here. Since we need to refer to them.”

When a committee member spoke up, Chairman Go Gi-hyeon immediately nodded.

‘Let’s secure the evidence first.’

Geum Nae-yeong replied calmly without any expression.

“Yes. I will leave it here. However, the original materials are kept very safely by me. If there are any missing details or if you need additional materials during review, please request them from our office.”

“Ah…”

As soon as the original materials were mentioned, no one could open their mouth anymore, and silence enveloped the meeting room.

From that moment, Geum Nae-yeong became a figure like the eye of a typhoon, holding the weaknesses of over 280 lawyers operating in Seocho-dong in one hand.

Geum Nae-yeong thought as he left the meeting room.

‘To the second-rate, act like the second-rate. Return the method they use… exactly as it is.’

Thus, the explanation meeting, which was short and bizarre for Geum Nae-yeong and sweat-inducing for the committee members, came to an end.

Geum Nae-yeong returned to the office carrying the neatly wrapped pink wrapping cloth.

“Attorney! Did it go well?”

Office Director Ju Yong-hae, whose heart had been burning with worry at the office, ran out. Cha Ra-ri also stood behind Ju Yong-hae with an anxious expression, curious about the result of the explanation meeting.

Geum Nae-yeong replied with an expressionless face.

“It was wrapped up well. You can continue doing your work as you have been.”

“Pardon?? As we have been??”

“Yes.”

“Both the promotion and the work, all as we have been?”

“Yes.”

At Geum Nae-yeong’s unmoving expression, Ju Yong-hae only tilted his head with a face that showed he did not understand what on earth was going on.

“What on earth is going on…”

***

The next day, lunchtime.

It was the first meal in the newly prepared pantry. The atmosphere was very amicable.

“Wow~ It is indeed nice since we expanded the office. When we ate in the consultation room, clients complained about the smell, but having a space where only the employees can rest is just perfect.”

Assistant Manager Kim poured out admiration. Manager Kim Mi-young asked Ju Yong-hae as she picked up a meatball with her chopsticks.

“By the way, did Attorney Geum do well in yesterday’s explanation meeting?”

Ju Yong-hae shrugged.

“I don’t know. His expression is always the same, so how could I tell? But whatever he is relying on, he does all his work just like before and told Cha Ra-ri to keep promoting in the exact same way.”

“Really? …What is going to happen then?”

While Kim Mi-young was muttering, the door suddenly opened and Ju Ha-yul ran in.

“Mom! Do you know that Oppa Geum Nae-yeong became a complete influencer?”

“I know, I know. He swore like that on the morning broadcast, so it would be strange if he didn’t become a celebrity.”

“But why doesn’t Oppa do Starstagram? If he does that, hitting 1 million followers is easy.”

“Oh, you. Where would Attorney Geum have the mind for that? He is busy with consultations, and the company has grown.”

“Ah, Mom! My report card!”

Ju Ha-yul held up her report card, held it out in front of the people, and shook it proudly.

“Oh my, oh my! What is this? Ha-yul, is this really your grade?”

“Wow, all grade 8?”

Assistant Manager Kim whistled and then teased.

“Hey, Ju Ha-yul. Is that something to brag about? You are really bad at studying. All grade 8!”

Then Ju Ha-yul crossed her arms and shot back.

“Mister Assistant Manager Kim, do you know how difficult it is to get all grade 8? I was originally all grade 9, you know?”

“Hey, wait. Why do you call Attorney Geum Nae-yeong ‘Oppa’ but call me ‘Mister’? I am younger than Attorney Geum.”

“Mister, you are ugly. If you’re handsome, you’re Oppa; if you’re ugly, you’re Mister. Don’t you know that?”

When Assistant Manager Kim, who took a direct hit, was lost for words, Ju Ha-yul prattled to her dad.

“Dad, I asked Oppa Geum Nae-yeong to make me get exactly grade 8, and he really made me get grade 8! Anyway, I can go learn K-pop dance now, right?”

“Of course, of course. Since Ha-yul and Dad made a promise. Dad always keeps his promises.”

“Wow, awesome! I should go brag to my friends!”

Ju Ha-yul immediately took out her cell phone and began to write something quickly.

Kim Mi-young, who was watching this, said in an admiring voice.

“My, a person from Hankuk University is indeed different. No matter how much I sent Ha-yul to academies, she always got grade 9, but how did she bring back grade 8? If we keep making her study, could she even get grade 1?”

Ju Yong-hae snapped.

“Manager Kim Mi-young, wake up. No matter what, grade 1 is not it.”

Kim Mi-young glared and counterattacked.

“If Ha-yul had only resembled my brain, she would have got grade 1! She finds studying a bit difficult because she takes after her dad.”

“What? What is wrong with my brain! I am a person who took the exam and proudly became a court public official. I quit the low-paying civil service job to build a family with a hot-tempered someone.

If I hadn’t, I would have become a Grade 5 administrative officer by now.”

“Forget it. If I had only utilized my math brain, I would have got a doctorate from KAIST by now. It is just that the study environment did not support me back then, so I fell into this path.”

As the bickering between the two started again, Assistant Manager Kim quickly stepped in to mediate.

“Oh, stop it, both of you. You have a lot of consultations in the afternoon. Both of you, finish your food.”

Only then did the conversation in the pantry die down, and the lunch atmosphere became peaceful again.

***

Late afternoon.

Clack.

A black car stopped in front of the entrance of Teum Law Office.

The rear seat door opened, and a middle-aged woman wearing flashy leopard-patterned clothes got off first.

Following her was a young man with slumped shoulders. With his head bowed deeply, he dragged his feet as if carrying all the weight of the world.

“Sigh… I’m coming here again.”

The woman looked up at the building and pouted.

“Madam, please go inside.”

The secretary, who got out of the passenger seat, quickly ran over and opened the door.

“Why act like someone who committed a crime? Straighten your shoulders, son. Mom will solve everything for you.”

The mother and son strode into Teum Law Office.