Chapter 69 – Miss Chunhyang Friendship Award

Geum Nae-yeong had a flat expression, then soon pointed to the cadastral map with his finger.

His finger traced along the center of the map, swish, and finally reached the innermost spot, the place he chose. Geum Nae-yeong spoke.

“The innermost spot I chose has the lowest price and the geographically most disadvantageous location.”

Attorney Shin Chang-ryul nodded.

“Exactly. I told you to pick the one that could get the highest price, so why did you pick that of all things?”

“However.”

Geum Nae-yeong’s firm tone.

“This place will eventually become the best location, a place that can receive the highest price.”

At those words, the lawyers looked at each other. They had expressions showing they had no idea what Geum Nae-yeong was talking about.

He took out a satellite photo and spread it out, shuck.

“You can see the mountain in the back, right?”

“Mmh… Yes.”

“And in the front?”

“The front?”

“Yes. Do you see a river in front over there?”

“But that river isn’t close by. It’s not a spot where water can be drawn to be used, and it has no connection to this land.”

Attorney Seo In-ja added, looking puzzled.

Geum Nae-yeong nodded and answered shortly.

“Correct.”

“Then what is it? There isn’t a single factor that would raise the price.”

Attorney Gil Man-uk shook his head inwardly.

‘Lawyer Geum… it seems he made a reckless move this time? …Didn’t he lose to Attorney Seong? Then the permanent associate will be Lawyer Geum’s side. Haha.’

Seong Seok-ju was also certain.

‘Yes. I finally won!

Phew… my nominal status is a prospect of Jepyongyang, yet I have lived an associate slave life for a whopping year… Now even that is over!

This is very gratifying. Haha. Since Lawyer Geum works wonderfully well, what should I make him do first?’

It was then.

Geum Nae-yeong tapped the land he chose with his finger.

“It is a propitious site.”

“…Pardon? What?”

“The optimal place to be used as a grave, an auspicious site.”

Instantly, the lawyers’ expressions froze in unison.

“You probably remember the HT Group Chairman lawsuit.”

Geum Nae-yeong confidently continued speaking.

“It was a case that went to a lawsuit because of a grave site. It is a spot comparable to that.”

He took out a few photos to show them and added.

“Facing due south. The slope is good, and the back is blocked by a mountain. Its shape is a mountain-backed, river-facing core spot in geomancy, and the highest-grade auspicious spot among them.”

At the unfamiliar terminology, the lawyers tilted their heads in doubt at the same time.

“If this spot is designated or traded as a grave site, it will be worth whatever they ask.”

“Ah, what nonsense…”

Seong Seok-ju snorted.

“Are you some geomancer who reads feng shui, Lawyer Geum? What is that all of a sudden?”

Then Geum Nae-yeong nodded.

“A civil courtroom is precisely where disputes arise over things that seem nonsense to ordinary people.”

“…What?”

Everyone concentrated on Geum Nae-yeong’s words.

“If an actual grave lawsuit or land value dispute escalates into a lawsuit, what does the court do?”

“Well… they apply for an appraisal and leave it to experts.”

“Correct.”

He took out his phone.

While entering a text with his thumb, he added indifferently.

“Due to the situation, we cannot call an official appraiser now, but I will summon a qualified appraiser for proof.”

The lawyers watched the scene in bewilderment.

Tap.

Geum Nae-yeong entered the last letter of the text and pressed send.

About ten seconds later, someone knocked, knock, knock, on the door.

“Yes.”

“Hello, Lawyer.”

Cha Ra-ri entered with a respectful greeting.

“Cha Ra-ri?”

Seong Seok-ju tilted his head in doubt when Cha Ra-ri entered.

“By the way, Lawyer, what did you ask me to explain?”

Geum Nae-yeong spoke, pointing to the document.

“Cha Ra-ri. Please explain exactly what you told me before. About this spot on the map. What value this spot holds if it comes on the market and is used for a grave. “

“Just a moment.”

Cha Ra-ri looked into the photo of the land Geum Nae-yeong handed over.

Then, as if realizing something, she quickly nodded.

“Oh my… Lawyer. Your memory is really good. I knew you were originally smart, but how do you even remember this kind of thing?”

Cha Ra-ri smiled and held up the photo to show people.

“A terrain of Hoeryong Gojo, facing due south. In other words, it is the best spot where the watercourse flows from the Sin direction and drains toward the Jin direction.

If a grave is placed in a spot like this, it is a site where descendants become high-ranking noblemen.

It is similar to the site I saw by chance in the past, and somehow you remembered it, Lawyer Geum?

For this kind of site, it’s worth whatever they ask. As you know, when locating graves for conglomerate chairmen, they search all the propitious sites in the country.

If a site like this comes on the market, there will be more than a few people lining up to buy it, right?

Judging by the shape of the spot, the price would probably be considerable even now… but anyway, if it comes on the market, a premium will definitely be added.”

At Cha Ra-ri’s words, Seo In-ja knitted her brows.

“Well… although we can discuss intangible value, is this spot really that good of a spot?”

Seong Seok-ju’s voice grew louder.

“Wait, Cha Ra-ri is not an appraiser first of all, is she? We can’t completely believe her words!”

While everyone tilted their heads, Cha Ra-ri took something out of her inner jacket pocket wallet.

[Feng Shui Expert License]

Name: Cha Ra-ri

Grade: Class 1

“You lawyers are experts in the legal circle, right? I am quite an expert in the feng shui field.”

She smiled and presented the license.

“I studied under Geomancer Kim Jin-ho, the best feng shui expert in the country, who located the grave core for the H Group chairman.

After that, I went on training in China. I am also in the process of acquiring a Feng Shui Interior Instructor license.

If you really can’t believe it, you may contact my master’s research lab. They will say 100% the same thing. I am confident.”

At Cha Ra-ri’s confident words, the lawyers let out exclamations of “Oh…” and Seong Seok-ju’s face contorted into a mess.

Attorney Seo In-ja laughed as if it was amusing.

“Aigo, Lawyer Geum won again. Although we have to go to a lawsuit to know about easements, this means it will be sold at a high price even if it comes on the market right now, right? It’s certain!”

Attorney Shin Chang-ryul said with a laugh.

“Exactly, why make a bet. On top of that, permanently… but that’s too much, let’s make it about six months, haha.”

Seong Seok-ju watched the senior lawyers laugh and suggest making the associate contract only six months.

No words came from his mouth, but he stayed quiet, hoping Lawyer Geum would listen to them and shorten the contract period even a little bit.

Just then.

“Six months, my foot.”

Attorney Gil Man-uk cut off the words firmly.

“The world of competition is cold. Regrettable, but Attorney Seong has become Lawyer Geum’s… what is it, associate.

The representative attorney for establishing the corporation is down the drain… Ahahahahaha. To your father… we will keep it a secret for you.”

The senior lawyers in the conference room began to chuckle.

Attorney Gil approached Geum Nae-yeong with a somewhat satisfied face.

“Aigo. Lawyer Geum got an associate. Congratulations. As expected, my game competitor was not an ordinary person. Haha.”

As Attorney Gil held out his hand, Geum Nae-yeong accepted the handshake with an expressionless face.

“Thank you.”

So the meeting, whose topic had become ‘Geum Nae-yeong obtains a new permanent associate through a bet,’ ended anticlimactically.

Seong Seok-ju, whose face had turned dark as ash, walked hesitantly past Geum Nae-yeong.

At that moment, Geum Nae-yeong said a word shortly.

“We need to rewrite the associate contract now, so see you in my room.”

“…”

Seong Seok-ju bowed his head deeply. Only then did he realize.

Why Geum Nae-yeong had never lost even once against Gangyeok.

That with just ordinary schemes, one would instead end up entangled in Geum Nae-yeong’s calculations.

From then on, Seong Seok-ju developed one ironclad rule.

‘Do not easily test Geum Nae-yeong.’

***

Entering his office, Geum Nae-yeong sat straight at his desk without saying anything.

He opened his laptop and pulled up a new document.

His fingers moved over the blank screen where the cursor blinked.

[Associate Attorney Employment Contract]

Article 1 (Conclusion of Contract and Command System)

Attorney Seong Seok-ju concludes an associate contract with Lawyer Geum Nae-yeong in the form of a non-fixed term contract, and subsequent case direction and work instructions shall follow the instructions of Lawyer Geum Nae-yeong.

…

Other Conditions

Acts of arbitrarily paying for meals or conducting hospitality in the future are prohibited.

Knock, knock.

“Yes, come in.”

“Lawyer, it’s me.”

Cha Ra-ri entered with a bright face.

“Yes, thank you for your hard work earlier.”

“But you even remember things like that? Me having a license and me asking about the vicinity of that land before.”

Cha Ra-ri had once given advice to a mother and daughter who came for a consultation.

Of course, it was done in the waiting room just for killing time, but only after they left did she realize she had designated an extremely ominous spot.

Without knowing the map she was looking at was misaligned, she had designated an ominous spot that would ruin generations instead of the extremely auspicious spot next to it.

In this way, Cha Ra-ri’s scatterbrained personality was an important factor that had prevented her from becoming successful until now.

The worried Cha Ra-ri had sought legal advice from Geum Nae-yeong, and Geum Nae-yeong remembered the entire area as accurately as a photograph.

Even all of Cha Ra-ri’s feng shui interpretation methods.

The area presented by Attorney Gil, specifically the very back spot chosen by Geum Nae-yeong and the auspicious spot explained by Cha Ra-ri, were so alike that it was safe to view them as almost the same area in shape, angle, and position.

Geum Nae-yeong answered shortly without even raising his head.

“Of course. I remember everything.

And since I received your resume, I had to verify the truth of the contents written in it, too.”

He added, turning over the document.

“Besides that, I also verified the fact that you received the Miss Chunhyang Friendship Award by contacting the host organizer directly.”

Cha Ra-ri’s eyes went round.

“Oh my, Lawyer, you are more meticulous than I thought?”

Geum Nae-yeong replied expressionlessly.

“From the perspective of running a company, it is merely a basic verification procedure that must naturally be undergone.”

And looking at the laptop screen, he added.

“Ah. And since you performed an appraisal, I will process the appraisal fee as an additional allowance when paying this month’s salary.”

With that single word, Cha Ra-ri’s mood became very good.

Then, soon she brought up a topic with a somewhat hesitant look.

“…Looking at it like this… I think my decision is exactly right, Lawyer.”

“Your decision?”

Cha Ra-ri took out an envelope she had placed in her inner pocket. On top of that envelope, [Letter of Resignation] was written in bold letters.

“A letter of resignation?”

“Yes. Thanks to you, Lawyer, I achieved one important thing in my life: ‘driving a Ferrari.’

Others would say what on earth is that, but to me, it was very important.

So I am truly grateful.

But these days, Gangyeok is not like it used to be. If they hear we are the opponent, they reject saying they can’t do it. You must also know that fewer cases are coming in compared to before.”

“So?”

“So… I am now going to challenge the work I originally wanted to do. My life’s dream.”

“What is that?”

“Anam-seo!”

“Anam-seo? What is that?”

“No. An announcer! Broadcast station!”

“Your pronunciation is not good. It is not anam-seo, but announcer.”

“…Anyway. I also have to prepare for the written exam, so although it’s late, I plan to take the challenge.”

Geum Nae-yeong nodded for a moment.

“Yes, I understand. Thank you for your hard work all this time.

I will speak to Manager Kim Mi-yeong regarding the settlement of salary, bonus, and retirement.”

At Geum Nae-yeong’s unchanging, calm attitude, Cha Ra-ri felt a little disappointed.

However, recalling the application form for the announcer exam, she steeled her heart.

“Thank you, Lawyer. I will wrap things up and resign by next week.”

“Yes, I understand.”

It was a short and dry response, almost scary.

Geum Nae-yeong immediately turned his gaze back to the documents and typed on Seong Seok-ju’s permanent associate contract again.

Before and after accepting Cha Ra-ri’s resignation letter, there was absolutely no change in the typing sound.

Just then, he picked up the intercom.

“Clerk, please post a recruitment ad on JobKorean. Miss Cha Ra-ri has submitted her resignation letter.”

“Pardon? Miss Cha Ra-ri??? Ah… ah, yes…”

Those words soon spread throughout the office.

“Miss Cha Ra-ri is quitting.”

“Really? Didn’t Lawyer Geum say some fact-bomb or something like that??”

“He is more than capable of that, but why all of a sudden…”

Although talk went back and forth here and there in the office,

Geum Nae-yeong sat in front of the monitor as usual and quietly continued his work.