Chapter 47 – Here Is a New Game Console. Enjoy the Game

Three days later.

“Hello?.. I am…”

“Yes. Please speak.”

“This is Park Si-ram. Lawyer Geum.”

“Yes.”

“That… well… I am sorry.”

“Yes.”

“…Please, I beg you to take down the post. The Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Korea Communications Commission have launched an investigation, and we are all about to die.”

“……”

“So please, I beg you, Lawyer Geum. Give me just one chance to make amends. What did the kids do wrong?

We must keep the program running. Even if it is for the sake of the participants… I have committed a truly great discourtesy.”

Geum Nae-yeong was silent for a moment. Then he replied calmly.

“I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about, but… anyway. Understood.”

Click.

Park Si-ram glared at the disconnected cell phone. As if Geum Nae-yeong were standing right in front of him.

“Ha… fucking bastard… I am only bowing down right now because my livelihood is on the line, but…”

“You had better not think of ever setting foot in our broadcasting station again. By the way… shit.

When is the audit going to end? I am going to die. Seriously.”

Click. Click.

[Do you want to delete?]

Geum Nae-yeong hung up the phone with Park Si-ram, clicked the mouse a few times, and then continued writing the documents he was working on.

Although the file on the anonymous viewer bulletin board was deleted at some point, the captured file was permanently archived and continued to float around on the internet.

And before long, the CP and PD of were quietly replaced without a word.

Produced again by the new production team, was broadcasted with its airing postponed by three weeks under the pretext of ‘circumstances of the production company.’

Meanwhile.

Park Si-ram, who was appointed as the CP of an uninhabited island fishing program, was in a preliminary meeting with the staff.

“Hey… ha, don’t make me swear. Do well while I’m speaking nicely, okay? I’m tolerating it because I’m tired lately. So take care of it yourselves. Understood?”

Park Si-ram reached into his inner pocket to take out his e-cigarette, but after checking the staff’s reaction, he quickly withdrew his hand. The notice banning e-cigarettes inside the broadcasting station came to mind.

‘Ah, damn it… seriously…’

Ring-ring-ring-

Just then, his phone rang.

“Ha… what is it now… seriously.”

Park Si-ram picked up the cell phone irritably.

“Hello?”

“Yes, are you perhaps Mr. Park Si-ram?”

“Yes, that is correct. Who is calling?”

“This is the Seobu Police Station. I am Officer Kim Bong-su. Do you happen to know a Mr. Geum Nae-yeong?”

“Geum… Geum, what?”

“Mr. Geum Nae-yeong.”

At that moment, Park Si-ram felt a chill run down his spine.

‘What… it wasn’t over?’

“This person has filed a complaint against you, Mr. Park Si-ram, on charges of insult and defamation. We would like you to come to our station to be investigated. There is also sufficient evidence… First, you must appear.”

“A… a complaint?”

Park Si-ram’s voice grew quieter and quieter.

The team members, who were in the middle of the meeting, also pricked up their ears.

“Yes, well, if you don’t come… you know it won’t be good for you. You know what I mean, right?”

“…Yes, yes, I’ll look at my schedule and call you back…”

He hung up the phone powerlessly.

Knock, knock. Just then, someone knocked on the door.

“Excuse me, CP… Sorry for interrupting the meeting, but it seems to be important mail that I should deliver in person. It looks like registered mail from the court.”

“Court? I have nothing to receive?”

Rip—

Park Si-ram ripped open the envelope.

-Complaint-

Plaintiff: Geum Nae-yeong

Defendant: Park Si-ram

Lawsuit for Damages

Purport of Claim

1. The Defendant shall pay the Plaintiff the sum of 10 million won, and interest on this…

2. Paragraph 1 may be provisionally executed.

Seeking a judgment to this effect.

“What…! Ten million won?”

In addition to the criminal complaint, Geum Nae-yeong had filed a claim for damages for mental distress.

“Excuse me… and also… the finance team leader wants you to drop by for a moment after the meeting.”

“Why the finance team?”

“A… provisional attachment has been placed on your salary…”

Although the employee spoke in the quietest voice possible, everyone sitting in the meeting room understood Park Si-ram’s situation at once.

Park Si-ram realized only then.

Those words the lawyer from Kim & Chang had said.

The true meaning of ‘You’ve been caught by them…’

***

The employees of the Teum Law Firm were eating lunch together in the employee lounge for the first time in a while.

They were making a fuss as they each took out their lunch boxes.

“Please have some of this! I made some japchae and jeon today.”

Office Director Kim Mi-young took out a large airtight container and placed it down with a thud in the middle of the table.

Perhaps because she put in plenty of sesame oil, the meat japchae glistened, and the greasy jeon looked delicious.

“Wow, it looks delicious. It’s so glossy. Japchae is always welcome!”

Deputy Kim exclaimed in admiration as he scooped up a mouthful of japchae with his chopsticks.

“Office Director, are you having a party or something? Bringing so much food like this?”

“Ahahaha. It’s about our Ha-yul.”

Kim Mi-young closed the lid of the side dish container with a forceful ‘tap, tap’ and continued.

“She passed the first round or whatever, so she will appear briefly on the screen of that audition program next week.

Since she’s an independent trainee, she’ll probably just pass by quickly, but…

My goodness, to think I gave birth to such a child and she’s even appearing on TV! Oh, I am just so proud and pleased. So I made it because I was in a good mood. Enjoy the food!”

Cha Ra-ri clapped her hands and made a fuss.

“Oh, that’s amazing! Passing the first round is not easy!”

Kim Mi-young smiled and added.

“Looking at it, it seems Lawyer Geum probably gave her a good personality score. Our Ha-yul is good at dancing, but she takes after her dad and is really bad at singing.

She said the recording was only brutal for the first few days. Even during the very first interview recording, Lawyer Geum showed up coolly and helped her.

But since the production team changed, they gave them proper break times, didn’t discriminate against her for being an independent trainee, and the adults behaved politely. She said the atmosphere was really good. They even let them use their cell phones.

Even if she didn’t make it past the second round, it was a good experience. Anyway, I am just so grateful to Lawyer Geum.”

Office Director Yeom murmured while taking a bite of a meat jeon.

“Well… I somehow feel like he would ruthlessly deduct points, but anyway, Lawyer Geum is truly unique. Normally, he looks like a robot with absolutely no empathy.”

Cha Ra-ri raised her spoon and giggled.

“Still, how should I put it, it seems he isn’t a completely heartless person. It’s like, we are at least ‘close acquaintances’… a feeling like that?”

“Right. It was like that with the hotel dinner last time too.”

What did he say? Did he say ‘We are not friends, but we shouldn’t just receive from people in a similar relationship’? Anyway, he took all of us with him.”

At Deputy Kim’s words, Ju Yong-hae smiled as he sipped his seaweed soup.

“Indeed, Lawyer Geum also calculates salaries with amazing precision. Seeing how he takes care of bonuses says it all.”

“Hold on, before I forget, let me go bring some side dishes to Lawyer Geum.”

Office Director Kim Mi-young put down her spoon and headed to Geum Nae-yeong’s office with the side dishes.

Knock, knock.

“Yes.”

Kim Mi-young opened the door carefully and entered.

“Lawyer, you haven’t had lunch yet, right?”

Geum Nae-yeong replied without taking his eyes off the monitor.

“Yes. I was just about to eat.”

“Here… please try some of this.”

Kim Mi-young placed a small three-tiered side dish box on the desk.

“What is this?”

When he raised his head, Kim Mi-young waved her hands and laughed awkwardly.

“Ahahaha. It is nothing major. I packed some side dishes while preparing our lunch. You have been taking good care of us lately, Lawyer.”

“I have not taken care of anything for you though.”

Geum Nae-yeong’s tone was dry as usual.

“Oh, don’t say that. Anyway, enjoy your meal, and just leave the containers. Office Director Ju will retrieve them later.”

Leaving only those words behind, Kim Mi-young left in a hurry. Once the door closed, the office grew silent.

Geum Nae-yeong stared at the lunch box for a long time before murmuring.

“A lunch box received free of charge…”

An item he had added to the ‘Interpersonal Principles’ section of his notebook not long ago.

☑ One must reciprocate the goodwill shown by others.

Geum Nae-yeong then opened the lid.

“Hmm…”

Jangjorim seasoned appropriately so that it was neither too sweet nor too salty, sesame leaf jeon pan-fried with thin meat stuffed between the leaves, and japchae with a savory seasoning and a gentle scent of sesame oil.

He paused his thoughts for a moment and picked up his chopsticks.

Surprisingly, the side dishes suited his taste perfectly.

***

Late afternoon that day.

“Excuse me, delivery is here.”

A man who appeared to be an installation technician held out a piece of paper.

[Delivery Confirmation]

Orderer: Geum Nae-yeong

Installation Location: Teum Law Firm, Lawyer Gil Man-uk’s Office

“Huh? The orderer is Lawyer Geum… but why is the installation location Lawyer Gil Man-uk’s office?”

Receptionist Lim Seon-hee tilted her head.

“Could this have come to the wrong place by mistake?”

The installation technician shrugged.

“I only deliver as ordered, so I wouldn’t know.”

Holding the delivery document, Lim Seon-hee looked toward Lawyer Gil Man-uk’s office and muttered to herself.

“What is going on this time… What did Lawyer Geum order?”

As luck would have it, Lawyer Gil Man-uk had gone to trial, and even his manager was away from his desk for a moment.

Lim Seon-hee requested help from Office Director Kim Mi-young.

“Unni, a delivery came, but it’s a bit strange.”

“They say the orderer is Lawyer Geum Nae-yeong. But… it looks like it’s quite big?”

Unable to hide their curiosity, the two followed the installation technician.

One technician glanced over the threshold in front of Lawyer Gil Man-uk’s office door, then pulled out a tape measure from his pocket.

Shhh- click-clack-.

Measuring the length by pulling the tape measure all the way out, he tilted his head.

“This… I don’t think it will fit.”

“Excuse me?”

“Width 87 cm… It won’t work.”

The technician scratched his head and said.

“This will absolutely not go through the door. We have to remove the window and bring it up with a ladder truck.”

“The window!?”

Lim Seon-hee’s eyes went wide.

“Wait, what is it that it won’t even fit through the door? Is it bigger than a refrigerator?”

The installation technician waved his hand and said.

“No, it’s not just that size. It’s much bigger than that.”

“We only get paid once the delivery and installation are complete. Please decide quickly if we can remove the window.”

Lim Seon-hee pondered for a moment, then finally nodded her head.

“…Yes, go ahead. It can’t be helped.”

Just then, the rumbling sound of a ladder truck moving up resounded from the end of the hallway.

The window opened, and two technicians, dripping with sweat, dragged up a certain massive box.

“Careful, careful! The footboard is catching there!”

“Hold on, raise it slightly more!”

After a struggle of several minutes, ‘that object’ finally entered inside the office.

The technician tore open the packaging vinyl.

Clank, shhh.

[ Pump it ]

Below the large text was a flashing LED screen.

Beneath that was a massive two-player dance machine with neon lights spinning brilliantly.

“······”

In an instant, everyone’s mouths fell open simultaneously.

Office Director Kim Mi-young was the first to speak.

“Could it be… that Lawyer Geum bought this… for a lawyer who is over sixty??”

Office Director Yeom said as he touched the machine.

“This is that game kids used to play in arcades by jumping around! His kneecaps will be totally ruined… with this.”

Ju Yong-hae laughed awkwardly from the side.

“St… still… he did buy him a brand new one.”

As Deputy Kim stepped on the footboard, it turned on with a “Ding-ding!”

The neon lights flashed, and the sound of “Hit me!” resounded.

And a short while later.

“Hmm… it ended earlier than expected today.”

Lawyer Gil Man-uk, who had returned from completing his trial, opened the office door as usual.

However.

A strange machine was sitting right before his eyes.

A massive ‘Pump’ machine flashing with neon lights.

“…What is this?”

Writing was written on a ribbon that hung down along the machine’s screen.

‘Giving you a new game console. Enjoy the game. Lawyer Geum Nae-yeong’

Lawyer Gil Man-uk took off his glasses and squinted.

“It looks a bit noisy?”

He stared blankly for a moment, then murmured.

“Since it’s a new machine… shall I try touching it once.”

⑧ Master all gaming machines in this world.

That item was number 8 on Gil Man-uk’s life bucket list.

Gil Man-uk took off his suit jacket, hung it on one side, and stepped onto the footboard.

As he tapped the buttons with his feet, the machine responded cheerfully.

“Hit me!”

“Don’t make me laugh.”

Ding.

“I will let you go!”

“Comeback~!”

“……”

Lawyer Gil Man-uk stood in front of the gaming machine for a long time, staring at the screen.

“Sheesh, what is this childish…”

He muttered. Then, his eyes suddenly stopped on a certain piece of music.

[ Beethoven Virus ]

“Hmm? Beethoven… Classical? Good.”

He nodded and firmly stepped on the footboard with his foot to press the button.

Ta-ra-ra-ra-ra-ra-ra-ran—!!

A cheerful electronic sound rang out.

It was a song arranged to be incredibly faster than the original track.

He was momentarily flustered, but he grinned like a young boy.

“Fine. I accept the challenge.”

And the next day.

“Excuse me, this is Lawyer Gil Man-uk’s office.”

The voice of employee Choi Moon-hee, sounding somewhat embarrassed.

“Please agree to the application for a change of the trial date today.”

The employee on the opposing lawyer’s side asked back in a puzzled voice.

“Yes? A change of date? The pleading date is tomorrow though? What is the reason?”

Choi Moon-hee hesitated for a moment and then spoke.

“…Our lawyer… went hiking yesterday… and overexerted himself a bit.”

“Hiking?”

“Yes… step-type… uh… something similar to rhythm hiking…”

Choi Moon-hee could not continue speaking, her face turning bright red.

At that time.

Lawyer Gil Man-uk was applying two pain relief patches with his legs stretched out on his office chair.

“It’s not even hazing, but that young fellow… twice…”