Chapter 31 – Scouting So Smoothly

…O person who does not~♩

The whistle of the train has stopped~♩

Geum Nae-yeong’s mother was tense when her son seemed to be agonizing over the answer to the question.

Although messages saying “Nae-yeong is on TV” poured in from around her, she did not reply and placed her cell phone neatly next to her, in case a call came to her.

Just then, his father’s cell phone rang.

“Oh dear! Our son is on TV, you should keep the phone quiet!”

At his wife’s nagging, his father went into the room to take the call, replying.

“Well… it might be a big job coming in, so I will take it quietly. Watch if Nae-yeong solves that question well!”

“Stop taking jobs! We have to run the store together now, so why take on work. Go quickly, we have to see if he gets that right.”

When his mother glared, his father closed the door with a click and answered the call.

“Hello?”

“It’s Nae-yeong.”

“Yes, Nae-yeong? What’s the matter? You are leaving work late today?…… Ah?… Ah!!”

“I am on broadcast right now. Do you know the answer to this quiz?”

“Huh?… Uh, uh?? That?? Of course I know, I know.”

His father was startled. Because he never thought his son would call him.

“The answer is BTS! Oh my, our son forgot that!”

“Yes, thank you.”

Just as Geum Nae-yeong was about to hang up, his father added.

“Nae-yeong, just in case, make sure to say ‘ARMY, I am sorry’ after you say the answer.”

“Yes? ARMY? What is… that?”

“It is because Dad has a plan. Make sure to say ‘ARMY, I am sorry,’ absolutely!”

The conversation between the father and Geum Nae-yeong was broadcast live in the studio, and people burst into laughter.

The comment section was flooded with posts bursting with laughter.

└ Hey, he knows all the truly difficult things, yet he doesn’t know BTS.

└ ARMYs, please forgive Attorney Geum Nae-yeong! He is the one who saved our Yoon-woo.

└ His father has 100 levels of wits!

└ The father knows much better than the attorney. He has great sense.

“The answer is BTS.”

At Geum Nae-yeong’s reply, the host said, unable to hold back his laughter.

“The father precisely gave even the precautions! For the short-answer question, it is correct.”

When the correct answer came out, a round of applause broke out.

And as his father advised, Geum Nae-yeong added clearly, “ARMY, I am sorry.”

Although he could not know the context before and after, his father’s advice was worth following.

“But why did you call your father?”

At the announcer’s question, Geum Nae-yeong replied shortly.

“I solved many quizzes with my father when I was young, so I thought he would know the answer.”

“Yes, I see! Well, then we will enter the last question for the final survivor, Attorney Geum Nae-yeong.”

Thus, the announcer continued the program, and in Geum Nae-yeong’s mind, memories of his childhood with his father flashed by for a moment.

It was still a memory from when he was seven years old.

Even before losing his emotions, Geum Nae-yeong was not an affectionate child. However, in his memories before the accident, some colors remained that his current self could not understand.

Yellow and bright emotions that colored the child’s world.

All those colors were memories created by his parents.

Even before Geum Nae-yeong could remember, his father was a quiz show enthusiast.

“Nae-yeong. Try to guess this, it’s a nursery rhyme quiz. Three bears live in one house~ Daddy bear, Mommy bear, Baby bear. The baby bear is so… What are the three syllables that go in here?”

“Smart.”

“No, Nae-yeong. It is ‘cute.’ Hahaha.”

He had seriously worried back then about why the baby bear could not be smart.

“Hahaha, yes, since our Nae-yeong is also smart, the baby bear can be smart too.”

His father smiled and tightly hugged Geum Nae-yeong’s small shoulders with his large hand.

“Nae-yeong, let’s watch The Golden Bell Challenge.”

His mother chimed in.

“Oh my, a child who is only seven years old, what… isn’t that a question solved by high school students?”

“Why, our Nae-yeong is smart. He can solve half of those. If there had been a program like that when I was in school, I would have appeared at least once…”

“Oh my, what did you, who did nothing but play around back then, do?”

“I will show you me appearing in a quiz sometime! Our Nae-yeong, go out with Dad and win! Got it?”

Even to the young Geum Nae-yeong, it was clearly remembered that his father’s eyes shone exceptionally bright.

But his father ultimately lived without realizing his small dream of appearing on a quiz show.

Due to Geum Nae-yeong’s accident, huge hospital bills and debts arose, and because he worked busy to pay off the debts, he had no room to think about dreams or anything. And even the Air Coin scam that hit just when life was about to stabilize.

Borderline Psychopath.

Nevertheless, the brightly colored memories of his childhood remained as affection for his family, still a faint and warm light somewhere in his brain. That was the last bit of humanity left in Geum Nae-yeong.

So Geum Nae-yeong wanted to stand his father on that stage, at least with his voice.

And again, now.

“Now, Attorney Geum Nae-yeong. Then, the last quiz! Please tell us the answer.”

“The name of the giant derived from ‘garganta,’ which means throat or gullet and has the same etymology as gargle we commonly use, is ‘Gargantua.'”

As Geum Nae-yeong replied calmly, the announcer checked the monitor.

“Gargantua… it is correct! Attorney Geum Nae-yeong, you became the final survivor. Congratulations!”

Although the host offered congratulations, Geum Nae-yeong’s expression remained peaceful.

That scene closed in on the camera, and the main PD swept his chest while looking at the monitor.

‘There was an error in the question in the middle, but it passed smoothly. Thanks to Attorney Geum Nae-yeong who doesn’t know BTS, the viewership ratings will also come out unexpectedly well.’

He ended the broadcast in a good mood and sent a closing sign to the announcer.

“Now, today’s final survivor, Attorney Geum Nae-yeong! Finally, we will hear your thoughts and wrap up ‘Brain Survival 1:100.’ Attorney Geum, please tell us your thoughts.”

“Now, close-up.”

When the camera shone on Geum Nae-yeong again, he thought for a moment and then spoke calmly as if he thought of something he had to say.

“If there is anyone among you who has invested in ‘Air Coin,’ that coin is a scam. If you are investing in a coin with a similar name, make sure to check if it is a scam.”

Geum Nae-yeong finished his comments satisfactorily.

But the announcer and the PD tilted their heads at each other.

“Uh… Air Coin??? What is that about?…”

“Close it!”

According to the urgent directive, the announcer hurriedly wrapped up the program.

And after the broadcast, the real-time search terms quickly began to be plastered with Air Coin.

The next day.

Seeing Geum Nae-yeong enter the office, Office Director Yeom spoke first with a smile.

“No, Attorney Geum, you don’t know BTS whom even a pigeon in New York City knows? My goodness… hahaha.”

Despite Office Director Yeom’s joke, Geum Nae-yeong was silent.

Then he spoke to Office Director Ju Yong-hae.

“Office Director, is Ha-yul coming today?”

“Ha-yul? She will probably come to eat lunch if nothing special happens. Today is not a day she goes to the academy.”

“Yes. Understood.”

After answering like that, Geum Nae-yeong went into his office.

‘There is no path closer to perfect knowledge than correcting mistakes.’

Geum Nae-yeong chewed on the fact that he had newly discovered a field he did not know. And that he must fill that gap.

***

“Knock, knock.”

When Geum Nae-yeong knocked on the door, Manager Kim Mi-young reflexively stood up and prepared chopsticks in advance.

“Attorney Geum. You don’t have chopsticks?”

“I have chopsticks. I have something to ask Ha-yul.”

“Ah, Ha-yul? She will be here in about ten minutes.”

“Then I will wait.”

Geum Nae-yeong did not sit at the table where the staff ate, but quietly watched them from behind, waiting for Ju Ha-yul.

Unable to contain his curiosity, Assistant Manager Kim asked slyly.

“By the way, Attorney, about the 10 million won prize money from yesterday’s program. If you receive it, who are you going to give it to? They didn’t give it right away, did they?”

“Yes, I heard it is deposited after tax deduction. When I receive it, I will give it to my father. Because my father got it right.”

“Ah… you are a filial son. It must be quite a sum even after taxes. Haha.”

Just then, the door opened with a clack and Ha-yul entered.

“Wow. Oppa Attorney Geum Nae-yeong, you were here!”

Manager Kim Mi-young quickly began to heat up Ha-yul’s rice in the microwave.

“Ha-yul, sit here. Hurry up and eat.”

“Ju Ha-yul. Let’s have a pop music meeting after you eat.”

“Pop music? Ah, you got a reality check because you got the question wrong yesterday, right, Oppa?”

At Ju Ha-yul’s words, Geum Nae-yeong replied calmly.

“It is not about being upset, but dealing properly when discovering what one does not know is the real skill.”

“Hmm… I get it. Well, you want me to tell you the names of idols and songs, right? If I tell you, will you give me part-time pay?”

“Of course. Let’s write a contract first. Since parental consent is also needed, get Office Director Ju Yong-hae’s permission too.”

Manager Kim Mi-young immediately chimed in.

“Oh my, why? I am Ha-yul’s guardian, so I will consent. Just let me verify the contract.”

“Okay, understood.”

“Yay! Then I should buy an Apple Watch with the pay!”

Meanwhile, the topic of conversation among the office people shifted to the Air Coin that Geum Nae-yeong had mentioned yesterday.

***

And around quitting time, a call came from an unknown number.

“Yes, hello?”

“Is this by any chance Attorney Geum Nae-yeong’s cell phone?”

“Yes, correct. Who is calling?”

“I am Attorney Yoon Chi-hwan from Kim & Chang Law Office.”

“Ah, I see. What is this about?”

“It is hard to say over the phone… I would like to see you in person.”

“Is it about a case? Or advice? Or goodwill?”

“…Pardon?”

Attorney Yoon Chi-hwan, momentarily hesitant at the reply whose meaning he could not understand, soon summarized and said.

“It is something I must speak about in person. It will also be helpful to you, Attorney.”

“I am fine with time today. Where shall we meet?”

“Yes, then let’s meet around Gyodae.”

Thus, Geum Nae-yeong showed up at the appointment place. Attorney Yoon Chi-hwan recognized him at once.

“Ah, over here. Attorney Geum.”

As he approached Attorney Yoon, who was waving, he stood up from his seat and offered a handshake.

“Nice to meet you. I am Yoon Chi-hwan.”

“Yes, I am Geum Nae-yeong.”

When they sat opposite each other, Yoon Chi-hwan offered a drink first.

“Well… do you drink wine? Or whisky?”

“I do not drink alcohol, which affects the cerebral cortex.”

“…Pardon? Ah, yes. Haha.”

Embarrassed, Yoon Chi-hwan ordered wine and immediately continued speaking.

“I watched your broadcast well. The morning broadcast and the quiz program.”

“Yes.”

“Your character was very good. Upon looking into you, you graduated at the top of Hankuk University and your bar exam scores were excellent, and you even did your apprenticeship at our firm, right?”

“Yes. Correct.”

“We did not have a connection back then, but now, a new entertainment and media department has been created in our firm.”

Yoon Chi-hwan already knew almost all of Geum Nae-yeong’s information.

A lawyer who should not be assigned high-ranking figures or corporate cases.

A lawyer who works only by his own standards without caring about hierarchy. Although he did not fit Kim & Chang, the assessment was that he was a perfectly suited figure for entertainment.

“So, after an internal meeting, we decided to recruit you, Attorney Geum. I understand the place you are currently at is an independently settled office, but we have all the infrastructure. Staff, facilities, network… you will be satisfied if you come.”

“Hmm…”

“Do not worry too much. The power of broadcasting is great, as you know. It will be helpful to your own development and profits.”

“What about the salary?”

Yoon Chi-hwan laughed loudly at the direct question.

“Hahaha, you are indeed refreshing. The salary is important. We don’t drag things out. An annual salary of 2.5 billion won, and all broadcasting income is entirely personal income.

However, you just need to cooperate in securing the firm’s image and promotion as a member of the entertainment team.”

“The amount is too small.”

At the short and firm reply, Yoon Chi-hwan hurriedly added.

“Incentives are separate from the salary. Since it is determined by the winning rate, the total amount will easily exceed 3 billion won.”

Geum Nae-yeong finished his calculations and spoke shortly.

“Good.”

“Wow, you are truly cool.”

A smile spread across Yoon Chi-hwan’s face.

“However, I would like the staff I worked with to go together. One associate attorney, one office director with 20 years of experience, one employee with a laughter therapy license, and one clerical employee with no experience or skills.”

Yoon Chi-hwan shook his head.

“…Laughter therapist?… What does that… Well, anyway, that is not possible. The scouting is conducted solely for you, Attorney Geum. Since staff-related issues are in the domain of internal personnel, I cannot interfere.”

“Really? It can’t be helped then. Okay, I understand. Only I will go.”

Seeing Geum Nae-yeong quickly agree, Yoon Chi-hwan was pleased internally.

‘Scouting so smoothly… the higher-ups will like it.’