Chapter 33 – The Day the Law Office Must Make Full Preparations

Seo Gi-ryong headed to Noh Si-an’s room.

Noh Si-an. A mid-level attorney and head of the Corporate Response Litigation Team at Law Firm Gankyeok.

Although it had not been long since he joined Gankyeok, he was already at the top of the performance evaluation and received the highest rating in colleague evaluation. In a few years, he might threaten Seo Gi-ryong’s position through rapid promotion.

All the colleagues liked Noh Si-an. However, Seo Gi-ryong felt completely uncomfortable with him.

Even though he did not show it outwardly.

“What’s up!”

Noh Si-an was humorous and fun. He was also an all-rounder in sports, so he had a bright atmosphere characteristic of someone who spent his youth in the United States.

At the same time, he was a thorough liberalist who believed in individual ability.

Rather, he did not fit in with Law Firm Gankyeok, which had a strict hierarchy based on performance, to the point of being out of place.

“I won the lawsuit today, so I’m paying for victory drinks! But I’m feeling great so I’m going to drink alone. Don’t disturb me, and eat comfortably among you associates. Here, the card!”

Noh Si-an was also good at team building. The team he joined always boasted the best efficiency and atmosphere.

However, immediately upon winning a lawsuit, for some reason that could not be known, his team always fell into conflict or was irreparably broken due to an incident.

‘A creepy guy.’

In Seo Gi-ryong’s thoughts, Noh Si-an was a vampire who sucked the energy of the people around him.

He knocked on Noh Si-an’s office door.

Knock, knock.

“Yes, please enter.”

Seo Gi-ryong entered Attorney Noh Si-an’s room.

“Yes, Attorney Noh. It’s been a while. Are you busy?”

On one wall of the office, polo sticks and t-shirts engraved with university names were decorated, and on the opposite bookshelf, several plaques he had received were decorated in a line.

The Lawyer of the Month merit plaque, a plaque of appreciation from the Korean association, a rugby-ball-shaped championship trophy, and even a certificate of completion from an American law school.

His flashy history was visible at a glance.

“Wow, Attorney Seo. For what occasion did you visit all the way to my room? If you had called me once, I would have run over instantly. Hahaha…”

‘He is indeed good at saying things he doesn’t mean… a fox-like fellow.’

Seo Gi-ryong smiled leisurely on purpose.

“Attorney Noh must also be extremely busy… I cannot tell a precious talent to come to my room. By the way, what were you doing?”

“Yes, there is a local trial tomorrow, so I was reminding myself of the preparatory brief again.”

“Ah, really? As expected. But you memorize it all once you look at it anyway. Is there anyone in our law firm who doesn’t know Attorney Noh’s memory?”

“Oh my, compared to you, senior, I am still far behind.

However, I need to double-check if there are parts where the opponent might make unnecessary complaints.”

Noh Si-an smiled brightly and added.

“Of course, as a result, I will crush them. Haha.”

“Indeed… great confidence.”

Attorney Seo Gi-ryong nodded.

“It’s nothing else… but there is a small fry who has been scratching my nerves lately, and no one can touch him…”

“A small fry? No, who dares to disturb the peace of our Attorney Seo?”

“It is nothing. He is a guy who just opened his office, but he is a bit peculiar. It seems everyone finds him uncomfortable to handle. It is not at the level for me to step forward personally.”

“Ah, is that so?”

“Yes, there was a case of ours where he was the opponent, and we lost this time. That appeal… Attorney Noh, please handle it.”

“Yes, then I will handle it quickly.”

“Thanks. You are busy, and it’s not like it’s extremely urgent, so review the documents slowly first.”

“No. Don’t worry. Loyalty!”

Noh Si-an smiled brightly and saluted with his hand on his temple. His sparkling, playful eyes made for a face that anyone would automatically find favorable.

“Then I will leave. I will send the case through the staff.”

“Yes!”

Clack.

When the door closed, the smile vanished from the sparkling face of Noh Si-an in an instant.

He took out a handkerchief from his pocket and carefully wiped the doorknob.

Rub, rub, rub.

“Holding the door without even washing hands… dirty.”

And he began to mutter to himself with a laugh again.

“Well. Seeing him come personally, it must be a pretty troublesome case. Is it a case that helps with promotion?

But what kind of guy is he to make Seo Gi-ryong look so deathly? Wow… I am so curious.”

And some time later, someone knocked on Noh Si-an’s door.

Knock, knock.

“Yes, please enter.”

“Attorney Noh, Attorney Seo Gi-ryong told me to bring the trial records.”

“Ah, Assistant Manager Park. I was planning to go get it myself! Thank you.”

“No, Attorney. I brought it along while sharing the mail of other attorneys. Don’t worry.”

“Really? By the way, that mail is too much, isn’t it? If you give it to me, I will do a quick express delivery to the other attorneys on my way out to the trial.”

“Yes? Hahaha. Attorney Noh, you are always funny. It’s fine. It’s my job, so I will do it.”

“Oh, come on… is there a separate job for staff and a separate job for attorneys? The person who has the circumstances can do it.”

“Ah…”

“Ah, by the way!”

Slide, Noh Si-an took out a card from his wallet.

“It is afternoon, so please buy some burgers and chips for the staff. The partner attorney isn’t here today. Isn’t Five Guys burger in front of here delicious?”

“Ah, it is really delicious there. The chips are also good because they are crispy. They also give peanuts.”

“Right, when I taste it, it reminds me of my childhood. I think it is exactly a good time right now, so buy snacks and eat with the staff.”

“Uh… really? Wow… thank you.”

As Noh Si-an handed over the card with a good-natured smile, Assistant Manager Park wore a broad smile.

“This is all the mail, right? Since it’s only a few, I will distribute them well and go. Haha.”

“Yes! Then I will go buy burgers. Thank you, Attorney!”

As Assistant Manager Park went out excited with the card, Noh Si-an immediately put his foot on the chair, sat obliquely, and began to check the mail Assistant Manager Park left behind one by one.

“This is for Attorney Lee, this is for Attorney Choi… Attorney Myeong? Ah…”

Noh Si-an’s eyes narrowed for a moment.

He stood up from his seat holding the court mail addressed to Attorney Myeong In-hoon and walked to the shredder located on one side of the wall.

And he put the mail right in.

Whirrrr.

Making a loud noise, the mail was shredded into pieces to the point where the contents could not be recognized.

“Why don’t you struggle to death doing overtime… No matter how hard you work, you can’t beat me, Attorney Myeong. Daring to covet my position? Hehehe.”

Suddenly, he remembered what school counselor Jaden had said during his boarding school days in the United States.

“Si-an, even with your scores, I don’t want to conclude that you are a psychopath. There are plenty of other possibilities in you.

But if you keep using people like that… I think I will have to consult with the principal someday.”

After that consultation, counselor Jaden suffered from anonymous letters of accusation and submissions to the local newspaper.

Although he pleaded innocence, the ruined assessment was not recovered, and he was eventually fired in the next semester.

Noh Si-an quickly changed his expression to a brightly smiling face. And carrying the remaining mail and trial documents, he went out to the hallway.

‘Yes, whether I am a psychopath or whatever… living in the world like this is easy and fun. So… what?’

***

The next day at 11:00 AM. Teum office.

Assistant Manager Kim was sharing the lunch menu and recruiting people to eat together.

“Who wants to eat spicy pork today? We are going to a delicious place.”

“Spicy pork? Ah, sounds good. Is it the place that gives a lot of wrap vegetables?”

When Office Director Yeom acted like he knew, Assistant Manager Kim shook his head.

“Oh, it doesn’t compare to there. The fire taste here is amazing. But we have to go out before 11:30. If it’s peak lunch hour, we can’t eat.”

“Really? Was there such a place in Seocho-dong?”

“Yes, indeed. Tell me in advance if you want to go. Since we have to reserve seats for those who come late.”

Office Director Yeom licked his lips.

“If it’s spicy pork, count me in.”

“I didn’t bring my lunch today, so count me in too.”

Office Director Ju Yong-hae also joined.

“Oh my, then Manager Kim and I will go together too. We planned to make bibimbap today, but we can eat it tomorrow. Manager, let’s eat out for once.”

“Sounds good.”

While checking the numbers like that, Attorney Geum Nae-yeong came out of the office.

He handed the documents to Office Director Ju and asked.

“Office Director Ju, to apply for fact verification with this, where should I send it?”

“Hmm… you can send this to the National Health Insurance Service. A reply will come in two months at the latest.”

“Then please apply.”

“Yes, I will submit it right after eating lunch.”

After hesitating for a moment, Office Director Ju asked.

“….Attorney Geum also likes spicy pork, right? They say a famous place opened in Seocho-dong, would you like to go together?”

“Spicy pork in Seocho-dong?”

“Yes, they say people stand in line to eat lately.”

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

“Then I will go too.”

At the unexpected answer, Office Director Ju Yong-hae opened his eyes wide.

He had asked out of politeness, but he was really going? But thinking of Geum Nae-yeong’s diet of eating only his own lunchbox for the past few months, the spicy pork was enough to tempt him.

“Good. Then let’s go together.”

11:30 AM.

Including Geum Nae-yeong, who joined for the first time, the group headed to the spicy pork restaurant in Seocho-dong.

“Welcome.”

“Six of us.”

As they sat in the guided seats, Assistant Manager Kim and Cha Ra-ri skillfully laid out tissues and placed chopsticks. Geum Nae-yeong watched that as if it was interesting.

“Wow, it’s clean. I thought it would be hectic because it’s a popular place.”

As Office Director Yeom admired, Assistant Manager Kim chimed in.

“It hasn’t been open long. But you know. When it comes to spicy pork in Seocho-dong, it’s a direct hit for office workers. The popularity explodes. Even it is delicious. Truly delicious.”

“Really?”

“Seven servings of spicy pork, please!”

When Assistant Manager Kim placed the order on behalf of the group, the side dishes were laid out quickly.

“Oh, it’s neat.”

Because it was an open kitchen, the scene of sparks flying was visible as it was.

“Wow, the fire taste will be proper.”

Office Director Ju licked his lips. At that moment, Office Director Yeom stealthily lowered his voice.

“But… isn’t that chef extremely beautiful?”

In an instant, everyone turned their heads to look at the chef.

“No, careful! Look one by one. If everyone does that, it’s a nuisance.”

As Office Director Yeom gave a look, Geum Nae-yeong, who sat in front of him, replied nonchalantly.

“Why? Is there a reason to look one by one?”

“Oh, because she is working, it will distract her.”

Assistant Manager Kim showed his observation skills.

“She is beautiful, but… she seems to be a bit older?”

“She looks like someone I saw…”

As Ju Yong-hae muttered, Manager Kim Mi-young chuckled.

“Where would you have seen her? You probably saw her in a dream.”

Office Director Yeom looked at the kitchen absentmindedly and met the chef’s eyes for a very brief moment.

Soon, the spicy pork was served on a large iron plate.

“Wow, looks delicious!”

At the moment the chopsticks became busy,

“This… is service.”

The chef from earlier slightly pushed a plate of thick rolled omelet in front of Office Director Yeom and quickly went back in.

“Hahaha! This popularity of mine.”

Office Director Yeom laughed with full bluff. Manager Kim Mi-young’s eyes went round.

“The rolled omelet is 8,000 won, but she just gave it?”

Office Director Yeom seemed to be in a very good mood for some reason.

“I slightly met eyes with that lady earlier… hahaha. She probably fell for me.”

“No way.”

As Assistant Manager Kim snickered, Office Director Yeom shot back immediately.

“Why? I was also exceptionally popular in my youth! Although I am a middle-aged beauty now.”

At this, Geum Nae-yeong set down his chopsticks with a clack.

“That person likes tall people.”

Office Director Yeom became embarrassed.

“…Pardon? I’m just not in good condition today, but usually I am tall. I am in the late 170s.”

“Still, she does not like a style like yours, Office Director.”

“My goodness, how do you know that, Attorney?”

When Office Director Yeom asked, slightly flaring up, Geum Nae-yeong spoke calmly.

“She is my mother. So I know well.”

Pfft—!

Office Director Ju Yong-hae, who was eating a spicy pork wrap, spat out the wrap in his mouth as it was.

“M… Mother?”

“She opened a shop here not long ago. I recommended it. Because Gyodae is close and there are many office workers.”

“Ah… that’s why the rolled omelet…”

A moment later, Geum Nae-yeong’s mother also placed a rolled omelet in front of Cha Ra-ri, bowed as if shy, and went back to the kitchen.

***

After a round of apologies from Office Director Yeom, in the afternoon after the lunch which was enriched by the mother’s service,

Rustle, rustle—

“No… where did this go…”

Ju Yong-hae opened this drawer and that drawer in succession.

“No, Office Director Ju. What are you looking for? If you lost emergency cash, the finder keepers! Haha.”

Office Director Yeom threw a joke, but Ju Yong-hae was silent.

At his attitude, Cha Ra-ri tilted her head and asked.

“Office Director. What are you looking for?”

“Yeah… it seems to have slipped somewhere while moving the office… the voice recorder and the spare consultation log.”

“Voice recorder? Why that?”

Office Director Ju replied shortly without stopping his hands.

“Look at the date. It is that day soon.”

“That day? What day is that??”

“The day the law office must make full preparations, that exact day.”

“So. What kind of day is it?”

Cha Ra-ri asked again curiously, but Ju Yong-hae only focused on rummaging through the drawers instead of answering.