Chapter 40 – The Judge Missed the Timing

“You didn’t knock.”

A familiar and calm voice.

Ju Yong-hae, who gently opened his eyes, froze right on the spot in an instant.

Among the five men, Geum Nae-yeong was sitting peacefully at the head of the consultation table.

“What is… what’s going on…”

On the table, a couple of unfamiliar machines were set up, and people were sitting in front of them chatting.

At the same time, they looked toward Office Manager Ju with eyes full of questions.

“Ah…? I… I’m sorry.”

Ju Yong-hae quietly closed the door with a cold-sweat-covered face. His face turned red with embarrassment.

The people in the room continued the flow of the conversation they were having.

“As you said on the broadcast, Lawyer, the doctor in charge of the video analysis stated that this vehicle popped out sideways for about half its width from the rear.”

“The type of vehicle has also been specified. A semi-medium car with protruding handles. They said it would have a design with distinct angles.

Therefore… a specific suspect named Jeon Yong-jang came under suspicion.”

Geum Nae-yeong nodded.

“You questioned him with the evidence, and this is another piece of evidence.”

An officer of the scientific investigation team continued speaking.

“Large traces of the accident remained on the suspect’s car, and fearing that the crime would be revealed if he sent it for scrapping or repair, he covered the car tightly and hid it in his father’s abandoned greenhouse. It was incredibly rusty.

Although the suspect had wiped down the car at the time of the accident, we found a single, very short hair stuck between the bumper.

As a result of performing DNA analysis on that hair, it was proven to be the victim’s.”

“Ah, is that so? That’s good.”

As Geum Nae-yeong nodded, another investigator continued speaking.

“Based on this data, we questioned suspect Jeon Yong-jang, and finally obtained a confession to convert him to a suspect.

According to his statement, when the victim pressed him to repay the borrowed money, he committed the crime in a fit of rage.

It is said that Jeon Yong-jang and the truck driver Mr. B, who was the initial suspect and died, originally knew each other. In the beginning, he stated that the two conspired to only scare the victim.

However, they ended up hitting the victim, and the victim was found dead the next day. And truck driver Mr. B made an extreme choice out of fear when his truck was identified as the accident vehicle.”

Next, the video analysis expert played the restored video of the time.

“As you can see, the exterior of the vehicle is revealed quite clearly. The appearance also matches the suspect’s vehicle we investigated.

However, since more testimony is needed at trial, we intend to forward it with an opinion for prosecution right away once you write a written opinion on the witness and video analysis, Lawyer.”

“Ah, I see. In that case, I will organize it and send it within today.”

“…Is it possible that quickly? Thank you.”

“It is not a very difficult task.”

“Could we occasionally request you for unsolved cases like this?”

“It is possible.”

Thus, the unsolved case, for which Geum Nae-yeong had suggested clues, identified the culprit and finally entered a phase of resolution.

Meanwhile, after the detectives left, Ju Yong-hae shook the door of Geum Nae-yeong’s office back and forth for no reason to hide his embarrassment.

“It’s here.”

He carefully brought a screwdriver and tightened the loose screw on the door.

Creak—

“Fixed.”

Director Kim Mi-yeong, who watched him packing up the screwdriver with an awkward expression, clicked her tongue.

“My goodness, I thought it was some huge deal. Lawyer Geum’s job is a lawyer, would he not be able to look after his own body? Sheesh.”

“Why? Still, Office Manager Ju was cool. Telling you to guard Ha-yul well. While none of the staff could step forward, he courageously kicked the door open and went in.”

As Cha Ra-ri smiled and chimed in, Director Kim Mi-yeong casually tossed a word.

“Cool, my foot… He’s always been weak for his daughter. He just absolutely adores her.”

Even so, she glanced at Ju Yong-hae once more.

***

Law Firm Gankyeok, Lawyer Noh Si-an’s office.

Rustle, rustle.

An office shrouded in silence. Only the sound of flipping pages resonated clearly.

On Noh Si-an’s desk, stacks of documents were piled up haphazardly with no order to be found, and paper cups from which he drank instant coffee were placed here and there in the gaps.

Already for a month.

With the sole determination to defeat Geum Nae-yeong, Noh Si-an gave up even his weekends and looked into the litigation documents to the point of memorizing them inside out.

“…Ha, found it.”

The evidence list submitted by the defendant. The dates were mismatched.

“Oh-ho, it was a lie.”

Noh Si-an’s lips curled up.

“If I raise an issue with the credibility of the statement first and proceed with the verification of the party’s facts again… Geum Nae-yeong is finished.”

The gap caught by searching the litigation documents like combing for lice in just one month. The day of the showdown was now right before his eyes. A faint smile hung on Noh Si-an’s lips.

Knock, knock.

“…Yes.”

Noh Si-an quickly closed the documents he was viewing.

“Oh, Attorney Noh. You’re working hard lately?”

The person who opened the door and entered was Partner Attorney Seo Gi-ryong.

“Lawyer Seo, welcome.”

Noh Si-an stood up. He forced a smile, but an unhideable fatigue stained his face.

“Yeah. They said you haven’t been coming out at all lately. It looks like you’re preparing for a lawsuit?”

“Yes, well… I was reviewing some things.”

Seo Gi-ryong nodded as if letting out a snort.

“Hmm… I also saw the trial materials, and that side did very well in the first instance. The evidence is also solid.

Wouldn’t it be better for our side to withdraw the appeal?

It’s easier to persuade the client, and it’s better than losing for nothing.”

The words were gentle, but the look in his eyes was clearly probing Noh Si-an.

Noh Si-an answered with a firm cut.

“There is no need for that. I will win this time. There is clearly a problem in the documents, and the lawsuit itself was nothing much.”

“Oh-ho? So you won’t withdraw the lawsuit and go to trial?”

“Yes.”

Noh Si-an wore a confident expression.

“On the day of the trial, Geum Nae-yeong collapsing… I will take a picture of it myself and bring it back.”

“Oh, good spirit? Hahaha. Fine, I will trust you.”

Seo Gi-ryong left the room, smiling as if satisfied.

“Talking in circles in an annoying way… Just wait, Seo Gi-ryong. I will definitely devour that position of yours.”

Noh Si-an watched the departing Seo Gi-ryong, then returned to his seat. And he began to write a new brief based on the error he had just found.

***

Seoul High Court Civil Courtroom 120.

Geum Nae-yeong, sitting in the defendant’s seat, was invariably expressionless, whereas Noh Si-an in the plaintiff’s seat organized his arguments while reviewing the documents. Confidence filled Noh Si-an’s heart.

‘Today, I will definitely see your face collapse.’

“Appellant, please present your argument.”

At the presiding judge’s voice, Noh Si-an stood up confidently.

“Yes. Respectable Presiding Judge. The plaintiff trusted the defendant and lent 500 million won. Nevertheless, the defendant shamelessly claims that it was ‘investment money’ and cannot be repaid since the company went bankrupt.

However, looking at Exhibit Eul No. 8 submitted by the defendant in the first instance, the address is written as Jain Apartment, Won-gak-si, Gangneung-do. But upon checking, the defendant has never resided at that address.

Writing a contract with an address where he does not even reside, this reveals that the defendant had an intention to defraud the plaintiff and pocket the money from the very beginning. It cannot be viewed as a simple investment.”

Right at that moment.

“It can be viewed that way.”

A voice that cut off Noh Si-an’s argument decisively.

“What?”

Turning his head toward where the sound came from, Geum Nae-yeong was standing up from his seat.

“Our defendant has submitted an application for correction of party’s designation as of today.”

“What? That can’t be? I checked until this morning…”

Noh Si-an’s face froze in an instant. The presiding judge searched the case records on the laptop.

“Yes. It shows as received this morning.”

“Fearing it might not have reached the panel yet, I prepared a filing receipt and a copy.”

Geum Nae-yeong calmly handed the documents to the clerk.

Once the judge saw the content, Geum Nae-yeong continued his argument as if no further explanation was even needed.

“At the time of the first instance, the defendant was in the process of moving. In that process, the address in Exhibit Eul No. 8 and the defendant’s address written in the complaint were simply different. It is nothing more than a simple mistake.”

The judge scanned the documents and nodded.

“Yes, I checked the corrected details.”

Noh Si-an’s fingertips trembled.

‘How… how did he know? That I was planning to make an issue of that…’

No.

In an instant, Noh Si-an pulled himself together again. He almost got swayed by Geum Nae-yeong.

‘It’s not over yet. The real thing is this.’

Feigning confidence, he raised his voice.

“Fine. In that case, look at Exhibit Eul No. 10 submitted by the defendant, the written confirmation of facts written by non-party Jeong Hye-min. According to the statement, it says that around October 12, during a drinking session after work, they heard from the plaintiff that they had made an investment.”

“However, looking at page fourteen of the transcript submitted afterward, there is a passage that reads, ‘On October 11, while having a drink because it was my birthday…’

No one can easily confuse their own birthday. The fact that the statement of the core witness in this case does not even match the date is proof that there is a serious problem with the credibility of the testimony itself!”

‘Well done.’ Noh Si-an was satisfied.

However.

“It is not proof of that.”

Geum Nae-yeong’s calm voice cut off Noh Si-an’s argument abruptly once again.

“What… now!”

Noh Si-an asked back instantaneously. The judge also began to say, ‘Constantly interrupting…’ but missed the timing.

Geum Nae-yeong pulled out the documents he had prepared.

‘Trial is timing after all. The moment I take the flow, the initiative passes to me.’

“Presiding Judge, I will submit non-party Jeong Hye-min’s written re-statement. I ask for your understanding that due to the tight litigation schedule, we came to submit it on the trial day while securing additional transcripts.”

The judge nodded briefly. The judge began to flip through the received documents himself.

“Hmm… it is written like this here. There was a part where the date was confused due to intoxication. And they also attached the written confirmation of another witness who was present at the time.”

“What?”

Noh Si-an’s eyes shook.

‘That cannot be. That witness was someone who cut off contact, saying they didn’t want to be involved, when Gankyeok’s staff contacted them several times regarding the testimony.

It was the same even when visited dozens of times. Yet a re-statement. On top of that, an additional witness?’

Noh Si-an’s mind tangled up.

The small crevice he barely found by comparing hundreds of litigation documents. Even that, Geum Nae-yeong predicted and blocked.

At that moment, the sound of paper crumpling in his hand echoed exceptionally loudly. Strength had gone into his hand without him realizing it.

The judge slowly shook his head and let out a deep sigh.

“Why bring a case that is obviously going to lose all the way to the appeal stage. The evidence is already clear, there’s no room to argue. Tsk… If there is nothing more, we conclude the pleadings. The date of pronouncement of judgment is Tuesday, two weeks from now at 2:00 PM.

Now, next case.”

Noh Si-an sank into his seat, losing his strength.

A month of thorough preparation vanished like bubbles in just twenty minutes.

The back of Geum Nae-yeong leaving the courtroom with an expressionless face was visible.

‘How did he know all the cards I would play? I’ve looked at the case materials enough to throw up.

But… how did he know everything in advance and come prepared?

Geum Nae-yeong. What on earth is he… is he a monster?’

Noh Si-an returned to his office, completely defeated.

He opened the door, walked in, and roughly loosened and threw his tie.

“Ah, damn it…”

“…You’re late.”

At the unfamiliar voice, Noh Si-an turned his head toward the chair. Someone was sitting in the consultation seat.

“…Attorney?”

It was Seo Gi-ryong.

“The date for judgment pronouncement of today’s case was set?”

Seo Gi-ryong shot sharply with his arms crossed.

“If your claim had been accepted today, the judge would have said to verify the facts first.

Then the trial would have been continued. …But why was the date of pronouncement of judgment set immediately?”

“…That’s…”

Noh Si-an’s voice grew small.

Seo Gi-ryong stared at Noh Si-an with a cold face.

“Your bluffing… I let your habit of lying slide… But I can’t stand seeing you lose.”

“···.”

“I also closed my eyes to you uselessly going on TV and bringing disgrace to the firm’s name. Provided there was a condition, that you must win the lawsuit. But… you lose?”

Seo Gi-ryong’s voice was low, but cold as ice.

Noh Si-an hesitated for a long time before barely continuing his words.

“…That guy… was different from what I thought.”

“A different guy? Is that the excuse you’re offering?”

Seo Gi-ryong’s gaze jetted like a dagger. Noh Si-an could say nothing.

“Well, if you were an associate, I would just give you a dressing-down and end it. But a team leader loses? That’s different.”

Seo Gi-ryong stood up abruptly from his seat.

“Empty your office right now. The team leader position is for someone who is qualified. I will send you to the small claims litigation team, so learn again there. Corporate litigation? With your level, it’s out of the question.”

He slammed the door and went out.

Noh Si-an slumped down in his chair.

The price of facing Geum Nae-yeong. It was harsh beyond imagination.

Seo Gi-ryong, who was walking down the hallway, also had a throbbing headache.

‘Damn it…’

Now, when anyone hears that guy’s name, Geum Nae-yeong or whatever, they only try to avoid it and no one wants to take it.

To think that Noh Si-an, who was supposed to be somewhat capable, would get stripped clean like that.

Seo Gi-ryong paused his steps for a moment and made a decision.

“…It doesn’t quite match my level, but… I should resolve it myself.”