Chapter 63 – When Giving Him a Business Card, Be Cautious

“Bring out the most expensive lawyer here.”

“Pardon?”

While Geum Nae-yeong was entering the address for the ID ‘Chokbeop’ in the No-Smoking Campaign Live Chat, Park Ki-on was sitting in the waiting room of Gangyeok in an arrogant posture.

The day before, when he was chased out of Law Firm Teum, he had carefully observed Law Firm Gangyeok, which was situated right across.

When he looked it up, it was a large law firm ranked among the top in the country in terms of litigation, famous for being difficult to deal with.

“Since I have plenty of money. The best attorney here. Okay?”

As Park Ki-on bluffed using short English, a lawyer neatly dressed in a suit opened the door and walked in to greet him politely even before his words could completely end.

“Hello. My name is Attorney Park Kwon-do. First, may I ask what kind of matter brings you here today?”

“Hmm. Finally, I like the attitude.”

Park Ki-on felt slightly satisfied with Gangyeok’s respectful attitude toward him.

Clack.

Park Ki-on handed over his business card.

“You know ON.P, right? The brand that’s sweeping the fashion industry these days. The title on the card is Director, but I’m actually the representative.

My father is an active three-term assemblyman.

Once we formally sign the retainer agreement, I’ll let you know my father’s name.”

“Ah, yes. I see.”

Park Kwon-do accepted the business card with a polite attitude.

“You see, there was this guy who was annoying me, so I just wrote about him on an internet page exactly as it was.

But in Korea, they say that’s illegal? I attended school in the US for a long time… Over there, this kind of thing is… well, it’s just at the level of free speech.”

“If so, may I ask what your nationality is?”

“Yeah, the US.”

“Ah. I see…”

Park Kwon-do nodded and wrote something down on a piece of paper.

“Even if your nationality is American, criminal punishment applies in the same way as for domestic citizens.

If a conviction for defamation is finalized, you could become subject to a ‘stay status review’ under the Immigration Control Act. While we are not at the punishment stage right now, you must handle the response carefully.”

“Well, they told me to come to the police station? It’s so ridiculous. All this fuss just because I wrote a few comments. The other party is nothing special, either. An unknown lawyer with no fucking experience.”

“A lawyer? The other party is a lawyer?”

“Ah, he’s not someone grand. A really insignificant guy. Just someone I knew through others in high school… anyway.”

Park Ki-on shrugged his shoulders, as if the person were truly nothing.

“Ah, yes. If so, we can clear it up cleanly for you.

If the opposing side has a short career as a lawyer, our chances of winning are 100% certain.

We will handle this case as quickly and clearly as possible, aiming to have the lawsuit dropped through a settlement.”

“Hahaha. Finally, you get me!”

“Yes. Then, could you tell us the name of that lawyer? We will look into it immediately and take action.”

“Ah, his name? Even his name is shitty. Geum. Nae. Yeong.”

“Pardon?”

“I said Geum Nae-yeong.”

Park Kwon-do’s face instantly turned pale.

“…B-by any chance, are you talking about Attorney Geum Nae-yeong of Law Firm Teum?”

“Of course.”

Park Ki-on leaned deep into his chair and crossed his legs.

“I assume it can be handled quickly?”

Park Kwon-do smoothly slid the business card he was holding back to Park Ki-on.

“…We apologize. We do not accept cases where the opposing party is Attorney Geum Nae-yeong.”

“What?”

“…But, by any chance, you didn’t leave malicious comments or anything about Attorney Geum Nae-yeong, right?”

“What? What does it matter what comments I left? And why aren’t you accepting it? All of a sudden.”

“Ah…”

A short sigh. Then, Park Kwon-do opened his mouth after hesitating.

“By company regulations, our law firm is prohibited from getting involved with that side in the first place. We apologize. Goodbye then.”

After giving a bow, Park Kwon-do quickly left the consultation room without leaving a business card or any hint.

A brief silence.

Park Ki-on stood dazed at the absurd situation before muttering in a low voice.

“…What? Did he just leave me behind and walk out? And they call this a law firm ranked among the best in litigation!”

***

Although Park Ki-on returned to his office after having his representation rejected by Law Firm Gangyeok, there was no way he could be in a good mood.

The accumulated anger eventually headed straight toward his employees.

“Hey! I told you to organize the items in order once we received them from the factory! Huh? Are you performing a ritual for someone to steal all the outgoing goods? Why are they piled up at the entrance like this!!!”

Crash! Bam!

As Park Ki-on violently pushed the desk and chair,

documents, cups, and pens poured onto the floor.

“There’s not a single bastard in this world I like. Fuck…”

Once his venting was somewhat finished, Park Ki-on, huffing and puffing, pulled a hoodie printed with his brand logo, ON.P, tightly over his head. The large black hood completely covered his face.

He trudged toward his car parked in front of the building, looking like the protagonist of a hip-hop music video.

Beep-beep.

The car door opened, and at that moment he grabbed the handle,

“Geum Nae-yeong? Oh, you drive a fucking nice car?”

At the unfamiliar voice, Park Ki-on turned his head without thinking.

“What? Geum Nae-yeong?”

It was then. Something flew toward his face.

Thud!

Instantly, his vision shook, and a buzzing sound rang inside his ears.

A large-statured man was standing in front of him.

At first, he felt a sense of intimidation, but looking again, the guy was only big in stature, and his face still looked young.

However, despite his baggy clothing, his eyes alone were sharp.

Park Ki-on wiped the blood from his lips.

“Ha… Fuck, it’s bleeding! Hey, what are you?!”

“What else? Did you think I wouldn’t come because I was scared? Geum Nae-yeong. Take a taste of what Chokbeop is like!”

“What? Geum Nae-yeong??? What are you talking about?”

Chokbeop threw a punch before he could even finish speaking, but this time, Park Ki-on quickly dodged it.

“Oh? Mister, you’re pretty good?”

“Where does a wet-behind-the-ears punk get off starting a fight! Fuck, my mood is already shitty, and you just got caught. Prepare to die today.”

Park Ki-on clenched his fist tightly.

Thud!

“Kugh!”

Park Ki-on slammed his fist into the juvenile offender’s side.

Perhaps because it hit accurately, the opponent’s face instantly turned pale.

“You young little bastard! Who do you think you’re messing with!!!”

Park Ki-on stepped on the opponent’s hand with his foot again and struck him on the head.

“You tiny little punk!” Thud!

“Who do you think I am! Huh?” Thud!

“Fuck! My mood is already shitty!” Thud!

Just then.

Thud!!!!!!!

Suddenly, someone kicked Park Ki-on from behind. Because of that, Park Ki-on lost his balance and fell forward.

“Hey, fuck. You’re being way too much, lawyer!”

When he turned around, several similar young punks were surrounding him.

‘It wasn’t just one guy?’

Mixed in their expressions were ridicule and the excitement of finding prey.

Chokbeop slowly stood up, wiping his split lip.

His eyes were filled with rage.

“Did you just stomp on me?”

Along with those words,

several of them rushed at Park Ki-on all at once.

Punches rained down from all directions.

He instinctively covered his face, but his balance had already collapsed.

Ultimately, he slumped onto the ground and could not get up for a long time.

“Get a real taste of an offline fight! Kyakyakyak!!”

“You acted like you could fight fucking well, but you’re nothing?”

Chokbeop laughed as he grabbed Park Ki-on’s hood. Park Ki-on’s face was fiercely contorted.

“Hey, hey, what is this? Is this hoodie totally for a Young Forty? Who told you to wear this kind of clothing? Keke.”

“But isn’t Geum Nae-yeong fucking uglier than he is on screen? He looks like a different person.”

“When I called Geum Nae-yeong earlier, he turned around. He must have caked on a shitload of makeup on the broadcast.”

“Look, he’s obviously short too. He must have put a ton of insoles in his shoes on the broadcast.”

Park Ki-on screamed.

“Ha… Fuck! I’m not Geum Nae-yeong! What’s your name! What is it!”

“Why would you want to know my name? I’m a juvenile offender, so I won’t get punished anyway. Bleah.”

Thud!!!

Chokbeop’s final fist landed squarely on Park Ki-on’s stomach, and he was knocked out cold on the spot.

“Hey, hey, hey! Look over here! There are a shitload of clothes piled up.”

As someone shouted, the kids’ attention shifted to one place.

“Wow, what is this? These are all brand new!!”

“Total jackpot, let’s take them all! He can’t catch us anyway!! Kekeke!”

The kids rushed in together and grabbed the new clothes piled up at the building entrance at random. Some wore two or three layers, and some stuffed them into bags. Torn vinyl wrappers fluttered here and there.

“Hey! Let’s go now!”

Vroooom-!

Soon, the sounds of the kids leaving the building one by one on motorcycles could be heard.

However, Park Ki-on was already losing consciousness.

“Ha… The clothes… Those are… for delivery… You fucking bastards… If I catch you, you’re dead… Absolutely… dead.”

His gaze, which had been floating in the air, blurred, and his eyes closed.

***

About 10 years ago.

“Hey, come over here!”

When he returned to school after the surgery, Park Ki-on was already gone.

However, when one Park Ki-on disappeared, another Park Ki-on was bound to appear. The bullies of his school days did not end with just one person.

“Brain Surgery, how much money do you have?”

The guy acting as the school bully in place of Park Ki-on stopped Geum Nae-yeong on his way home and spoke, pretending to be merciful.

“Me? I don’t have money.”

“Hey, do you want to get brain surgery again? If I search you and even a thousand won comes out, you’re dead on the spot.”

Ridicule and threat mixed at the end of his words. However, Geum Nae-yeong stared at him without a word.

Having seen that look, the guy hesitated for a moment, then lowered his voice as if offering a negotiation proposal.

“Hey, just let me borrow some. Then it’s good for both of us, right?”

Inside Geum Nae-yeong’s head, the newly created ‘guy’ muttered as if finding it somewhat interesting.

‘Borrowing? That’s a somewhat evolved method of extortion. …Fine, then shall I deal with him lightly.’

After a brief silence, Geum Nae-yeong answered as if choosing an answer.

“Hmm… Fine. But the money is at home, so I have to go home first.”

“Home? Fuck, are you planning to call your mom out to snitch again? Haha, this bastard is using his head?”

“I’m not using my head. My allowance is just at home. If you don’t want to, then don’t.”

As Geum Nae-yeong finished speaking calmly, the two guys who were extorting the money looked at each other and eventually followed him.

After walking for a while,

one guy following with fast steps spoke in an irritated voice.

“Hey, Brain Surgery! How much further do we have to go?”

“We’re almost there.”

The two whispered to each other.

“This bastard must be fucking poor. To live in a place like this?”

“Yeah, he must be a complete beggar.”

The place Geum Nae-yeong took them to was a factory district not far from the school.

It was a place where rusted iron gates and broken-down vehicles were left abandoned at random, with no sign of human presence.

“Wait a moment. I’ll get the money.”

“Hey, if you call your parents or run away, you know what happens, right? Prepare to die at school.”

How much time had passed since Geum Nae-yeong disappeared like that?

“Hey. You two over there.”

A thick voice called them.

The two bullies waiting for Geum Nae-yeong to come out encountered a large-statured man who called them from there.

As soon as one of the bullies saw the man, he recognized who he was at once.

“Is… isn’t that person… by any chance… that hyung who supposedly became a gangster?”

“No way… Son Hyeok-jae?”

“I… I think it is?”

The man suddenly got angry and shouted.

“You bastards, aren’t you going to fucking get over here right now?”

At the man’s voice, the bullies ran to the man in terror.

“Why did you guys come here?”

“Pardon?… We… we just came to meet a friend…”

“Friend? Are you kidding? Why is there a friend in my territory? Am I your friend? Who dares to lie in front of me.”

Instantly, the man slapped the cheek of the bully who was extorting the money.

The bully covered his face without realizing it and knelt down. Tears naturally began to stream from his eyes.

“What about you? Did you also come to see a friend with him?”

“Yes… It… it’s true…”

Thud!

A foot struck his abdomen hard. The bully curled up as his breath got stuck from the force of the kick, which he was experiencing for the first time.

“Are these bastards crazy? Don’t you guys know you shouldn’t come to a place like this?”

The clumsy bullies who were imitating gangsters experienced real gangsters by being beaten relentlessly by a real one on the spot.

From a distance, Geum Nae-yeong calmly watched the scene.

After confirming that the plan worked accurately, he soon turned his steps back to his real home.

The semi-basement of a shabby villa.

Cutting through the damp air, Geum Nae-yeong slowly went down the stairs and entered the house.

Click.

At the sound of the key unlocking the door, his mother reflexively looked toward the entrance.

The inside of the house was small and familiar.

“Is Nae-yeong back? Seeing that you’re late, you must have studied hard today too. Let’s eat quickly. Mom will grill some ham for you.”

While setting the dining table as usual, his mother scanned the child’s body just in case.

The dining table in the narrow living room, where the three of them, including his father, sat around.

While taking a spoonful of rice, his father asked carefully.

“Nae-yeong, it’s not like someone hit you or anything again, right?”

“Yes, not at all.”

“Violence is bad. Still, if someone lays a hand on your body, don’t just take the beating. I’ll take responsibility for what happens next, okay?”

Geum Nae-yeong nodded at his father’s words.

After clearing the table,

his mother calmly took out a notebook, just like her usual routine.

The title written at the very top of the notebook page.

‘How to Respond to Violence’.

☑ If someone hits you, run away first.

☑ Look for an adult or a teacher nearby.

☑ When there is no other way, respond in kind.

☑ If the violence score is 70 points or higher, do not hang out with that friend for now.

“Hmm… Let’s think about the next step together with Mom again.”

Next to his mother, who had a serious expression, Geum Nae-yeong silently nodded.

However, his eyes were already calculating something else.

After the brain surgery, Geum Nae-yeong’s mother worried every single day that her son might experience such a thing again.

However, contrary to his mother’s worries, Geum Nae-yeong had already mastered how to live in his own way.

***

Picking up his phone in the office to check the time, Geum Nae-yeong nodded with his characteristic expressionless face.

‘Hmm… It must be over.

You should have been cautious when giving me your business card.’

The manual his mother spoke of, “If someone hits you, run away first,” was no longer necessary.

The response he chose was simple: “Respond in kind.”

However, his method was different.

Handling problems efficiently without using physical force himself, and avoiding criminal and civil risks by exploiting the gaps in the law.

It was a way of settling cases not with emotions, but with probability and utility.

To Geum Nae-yeong, it was not merely ‘responding in kind,’ but a calculated response one level higher.

‘Park Ki-on, while you ran away, I perfected the way to survive.’

Geum Nae-yeong had an indifferent face. A small smile hung on his lips for a moment before quickly vanishing.

“This is just the beginning. And a light welcoming-back gift.”