Unpaid Wages (2-5)
“Secondly, this will be classified as other income as soon as the accounting is finished and will be distributed as dividends to the shareholders. In that case, the shareholders will be considered good faith third parties, so they have no obligation to return it.”
“Hahaha….”
The employees who suddenly received a massive dividend felt as if they were dreaming. They never thought that what seemed impossible would be resolved like this.
“But what about the stocks?”
The stocks that Wang Yosang held accounted for 30% of the total shares. Due to the plummeting stock price, they had been seized, but the stocks worth 18,000 won were useless.
“Soon, there will be a commotion over the lack of them, hehehe. A reliable person has agreed to help.”
“Who on earth…?”
“They are already waiting. Please come in.”
At those words, a dark-skinned man entered. The people looked at him with suspicious eyes.
“Who is he…?”
The shares purchased with the 1.8 billion won collected from the unpaid wages accounted for 30%. Yet this man had purchased 25% of the shares by himself.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Lee Daewoo, the head of the investment management team at Daeryong Group.”
“Daeryong Group?”
“Yes. This investment is with Daeryong Group.”
At that statement, everyone’s mouths dropped open.
“What on earth is happening…?”
Minshia couldn’t understand what was happening. It was just an unpaid wage case worth 1.8 billion won. Well, it was a large amount, but there seemed to be no way to collect it. Yet, not only had they received it, but they had also made the wage earners shareholders and replaced the president, and now the company was being taken over by a large corporation. With Daeryong Group becoming the largest shareholder, Yosang Gongjeong was now a subsidiary of Daeryong Group, and the stock that had fallen to 18,000 won skyrocketed tenfold to 180,000 won.
“Am I dreaming?”
“Does it feel like a dream?”
This was completely unbelievable. Ultimately, it was just a case of unpaid wages worth 1.8 billion won, which did not align with any legal knowledge he had.
“That’s how the law works.”
“How does the law work like that?”
“The law can be frightening when understood properly. Those who truly understand the law don’t say to do things by the law. It’s scary.”
What Noh Hyeongjin had done until now was neither fraud nor a serious crime. There was some lobbying involved, but it was merely a request at a generally acceptable level. Nevertheless, Yosang Gongjeong was not only completely bankrupted but also absurdly acquired by a large corporation. With Daeryong Group holding 25% of the shares and the employees holding 30%, Yosang Gongjeong was acquired at a low price with 55% approval, and Daeryong Group successfully purchased a company that could be valued between 100 billion and 200 billion won for just 20 billion won. Since Yosang Gongjeong’s annual profit was 20 billion won, it was an outrageous price. As a result, the stock market was turned upside down, but since it wasn’t fraud, nor was there any manipulation or threats, it merely appeared to be a coincidence.
“This is why the law is frightening.”
Minshia couldn’t say anything. Last time, she had only felt the thrill of victory, but this time she realized how sharp and frightening the law could be when properly honed.
“You should also look outside the law if you want to major in law.”
“Outside?”
“Yes, this fight had no trial, no verdict, and no legal battle. It was just applying a few existing rules. And most fights are decided that way.”
“…….”
Minshia couldn’t say anything. She stared at Noh Hyeongjin intently.
‘As Attorney Song said, maybe… that kid might become great… he could become a giant in the legal field… or maybe a monster that devours other lawyers…’
Her feelings were somehow complicated.
Time Wasting (1)
Obtaining the youngest lawyer qualification. Noh Hyeongjin smiled as he looked at the brightly fluttering banner. Then he picked up the phone.
“Hello. It’s Hyungjin.”
“Oh, Hyungjin!”
“Yes, have you been well?”
“Yeah, how have you been?”
“I’m doing well, but could you take down the banner?”
“The banner?”
“The one that says I became a lawyer. Or should I put up a sign saying it’s a school for child rapists?”
At that, the other person was left speechless.
“Take it down.”
“Got it.”
“I’ll hang up.”
Noh Hyeongjin hung up the phone and chuckled.
“Who are they trying to use?”
The middle school he attended had put up a banner celebrating him as the youngest lawyer in front of the school. However, he had no intention of helping a school that had defended child rapists, so he firmly told them to take it down.
“Ah, that was annoying, really.”
Noh Hyeongjin sighed. Obtaining the youngest lawyer qualification. He had achieved a record that no one else could accomplish. Of course, officially, the youngest to pass the first exam was fifteen years old. But the first exam was just multiple choice. The real skill was shown in the second exam. And he was the only one to pass the second exam at just seventeen and also pass the third exam, the interview. Moreover, he had endured the two years of judicial training that no one else could withstand. As a result, he became a lawyer at the age of twenty. This caused a stir in the legal field, and his family was in an uproar. Not only the whole neighborhood but also all his relatives were calling and making a fuss.
‘Well, it’s still the time to celebrate.’
In the future, passing the judicial training would not be that significant. With the establishment of law schools, there were many lawyers. But at this time, being a lawyer was a tremendous merit.
‘I hope Madam Tu doesn’t come to the house.’
Noh Hyeongjin chuckled. In fact, the woman he married in his previous life was someone he had met through Madam Tu. Of course, the outcome was not good. He was busy working and threw himself into work to forget his deceased sister. Instead of comforting him, she was eager to spend the money he earned. As a result, their relationship ended in a very common ending in the legal field, with her cheating on him. Due to that shock, he went to the United States and obtained his American lawyer qualification.
‘Well, I probably won’t need a daughter in America.’
He knew all about American law. But it still seemed premature.
“Ah, by the way, that was really tough.”
No matter how much he had a goal, the two years of judicial training could be described as loneliness and pain. It was to the point where he felt like he wanted to die. Because of that, he couldn’t help others like when he was attending the academy. No, even going home was a burden.
“I never thought I would do this twice.”
The amount of studying was the problem. There was no time. First of all, helping others legally while in judicial training was problematic. It was natural that they wouldn’t let him skip class, and judicial trainees were public servants. It was legally problematic for public servants to help third parties. So, Noh Hyeongjin had no choice but to study like crazy for two years.
‘This damn studying.’
In fact, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that his life was filled with studying. Nevertheless, the time he dreaded the most was during his time as a judicial trainee.
‘No skipping ahead….’
There were no shortcuts. He had to endure the full two years without fail.
“Hey, big brother!”
At that moment, he heard a familiar voice from afar.
‘Persistent, really.’
After the unpaid wages incident, Lee Yerim made a bombshell announcement. She said she would marry Hyungjin. Of course, everyone laughed, saying it was cute. At that age, where they were worried about kissing, they just thought it was adorable.
“Hello.”
Noh Hyeongjin forced a smile. But now, she was no longer an elementary school student. She was in her third year of middle school. At least she knew that a girl wouldn’t just be worried about kissing.
“I brought food.”
At that, Noh Hyeongjin received it with a strange expression. It reminded him of the first time she brought something she claimed to have made.
When he opened it, it was kimbap wrapped with chocolate. Taste? If that was food, it would be unfair.
“Welcome.”
“Sorry for the trouble every time.”
“Hahaha.”
In the past, it was cute to think of it as childishness from her childhood. But as she grew older, problems arose. Yerim, who was becoming a full-fledged young lady, visiting Noh Hyeongjin was somewhat awkward for Lee Changhoon. It wasn’t that he disliked Noh Hyeongjin. However, from his perspective, Noh Hyeongjin and Lee Yerim lived in completely different worlds. The youngest lawyer known to the entire nation and just an ordinary rural middle school student. They didn’t match. Eventually, Lee Changhoon seriously said something, and trouble ensued. She ran away from home. Well, considering her age, he thought, where would she go? But that evening, she didn’t come home and wandered around, eventually finding her way to Noh Hyeongjin the next day. Surprised, Hyungjin called Lee Changhoon. He hadn’t expected her to come to the judicial training center alone. Thanks to that, that night, Yerim’s bottom was on fire.
“Hey, stop it!”
“Hyung, there’s a kid here.”
“Hello, it’s okay, big brother. It’s fine to stop. They say a four-year age difference doesn’t matter.”
Yerim confidently countered, making the judicial trainee who had spoken feel awkward.
“Ahem, by the way, that’s impressive.”
“What’s impressive?”
“I thought you would drop out halfway.”
“I won’t drop out.”
‘That’s the problem.’
Noh Hyeongjin and Lee Yerim were an unofficial couple famous in the judicial training center. She visited him at least once every two weeks, showing great devotion. It was so much that the judicial trainees debated whether this was Noh Hyeongjin’s way of getting a girlfriend or an investment in Yerim’s future. In reality, there were quite a few women who invested to seduce judicial trainees. Ultimately, due to Yerim’s young age, it was concluded that it was a case of getting a girlfriend.
‘I feel wronged.’
She still looked like a child, so she didn’t seem like a woman to him. Of course, she had become much prettier as she grew, but she still had a strong childlike appearance, and no matter how he looked at her, she felt more like a younger sister than a romantic interest.
“Hehe.”
Whether she knew it or not, Yerim clung to Noh Hyeongjin. He just smiled and gently ruffled her hair.
“Sorry for making you feel bad.”
“It’s okay.”
It was a busy time in the judicial training center. Yet, Lee Changhoon felt truly sorry for Noh Hyeongjin, who took the time to meet him even for a moment every two weeks.
“By the way, today is the last day, right?”
“Yes.”
Today is the last weekend in the judicial training center. After today, he would leave this place.
“So what will you do now?”
Lee Changhoon asked without much thought.
“What do you mean? Of course, I’ll become a lawyer.”
Yerim’s mother said it as if it were obvious, but Noh Hyeongjin shook his head bitterly.
“No, there’s something else I have to do.”
“What is it?”
At that statement, Noh Hyeongjin became even more gloomy.
“I have to go to the military.”
The time that he had found the most frustrating, dirty, and regrettable was returning once again.
The military. A duty that ordinary Korean men cannot avoid. And judicial trainees could not escape it either. Noh Hyeongjin, like he was going to a battlefield, left Yerim, who was crying loudly, and entered the military academy. He had to undergo training there.
‘I should have studied a bit more leisurely.’
Noh Hyeongjin felt sad about his situation. Why? It was simple. There was something he didn’t know. He had intended to go as a public interest lawyer instead of going to the military. A public interest lawyer is someone with a lawyer qualification who serves the citizens instead of going to the military. However, he had made a mistake. That was the existence of military lawyers. Of course, he knew about that existence. But he mistakenly thought it was something he could choose. Before his regression, he had gone to the military as a regular soldier just before obtaining his lawyer qualification and had never seen the relevant regulations. So when he checked at the last minute, he realized his mistake. He didn’t know that military lawyers and public interest lawyers were not something he could choose but were determined by his grades. And since he had always been in the top three, he had to go as a military lawyer, which did not suit his personality.
“Uwaaa!”