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Chapter 34: Joanne & Jang (1)
“Will it be possible?”
“Of course! It’s nothing.”
“You have to make sure.”
“Just leave it to me. How dare a welfare recipient…”
A premium room salon in Gangnam.
Academic Affairs Director Wang Jindeok had called in math teacher Lee Jangyong.
Glug.
Whiskey filled the glasses.
“Right. A welfare kid can’t be ranked first at Cheonghwa High. In the school’s history, kids like that have never taken first place on the midterms. Especially not in mathematics.”
“Exactly! A guy who doesn’t even attend a private academy getting first place in math? It’s not like he’s some kind of genius.”
The two got along perfectly.
They were the type of people who always chose profit over justice.
Wang Jindeok had his sights set on becoming the next principal.
That was why maintaining good relationships with Cheonghwa’s wealthy parents was absolutely essential.
A master of flattery, he treated every word from the PTA presidents as though it were a royal decree.
Standing beside him was Lee Jangyong, who happily shared the same mindset.
He lived for the thrill of crushing intelligent students with mathematics alone.
This time, Ha Taewoong—the welfare recipient—had poured cold water all over Lee Jangyong’s greatest source of enjoyment.
It was an offense he could never forgive.
“I’ll take care of everything behind the scenes. Just make sure it’s done.”
“Heh heh. Don’t worry.”
A sinister gleam settled around Lee Jangyong’s lips and eyes.
“If you handle this well, you’ll become Head of the Math Department.”
“Thank you, Director.”
“Pick a day next week. Then crush that bastard in front of the entire school!”
“Yes, sir!”
“Anyway, let’s have some fun.”
“I’ve been waiting for this. Heh heh.”
Having received a thick envelope of spending money today, the Academic Affairs Director had reserved a private room while it was still daylight.
He always finished his entertainment early to avoid upsetting his wife.
He and Lee Jangyong occasionally met like this, effortlessly matching each other’s rhythm.
Beep.
Wang Jindeok skillfully pressed the service button.
Then—
“Oppa! You’re here early today.”
“Take good care of him. He’s a junior I value.”
“Don’t worry. Sera here is someone I personally guarantee.”
The assistant madam, who was practically Wang Jindeok’s mistress, entered with a young woman in her early twenties.
The unmarried old bachelor Lee Jangyong’s eyes immediately softened.
‘What an idiot.’
Lee Jangyong was a lunatic teacher obsessively devoted to mathematics.
Watching his lust-filled expression, Wang Jindeok quietly sneered.
Next week, it was obvious how that crazy math teacher would destroy the welfare kid.
‘I’ll just watch the show and collect my envelope. Heh heh.’
The world turned perfectly like interlocking gears.
“Ahh…”
The rough hands of Wang Jindeok and Lee Jangyong wandered over the two women.
The atmosphere inside the room instantly grew hot.
There was one thing I had learned with absolute certainty in my previous life.
Whenever legal trouble arose in South Korea, Joanne & Jang was always the answer.
The lawyers from Joanne & Jang had even represented the man responsible for my father’s death.
There was no way an ordinary truck driver could ever afford lawyers from Joanne & Jang.
Even back then, I knew Ha Ryun Group was backing the driver.
But what could I do?
At the time, there was absolutely nothing I could do.
My father was undeniably the victim, yet no one stood up to defend him.
The prosecutor and judge, who should have prioritized the victim, were overwhelmed by Joanne & Jang’s lawyers from the very beginning.
It had been a fatal traffic accident caused by running a red light.
The truck driver was clearly a suspect under the Special Act on Traffic Accident Cases.
Yet, with Joanne & Jang leading his defense, he walked free with a suspended sentence on appeal.
The settlement deposit had been only 30 million won.
In the first trial, he had received a three-year prison sentence.
But the appellate court reduced it to a suspended sentence.
As though everything had been predetermined, the Supreme Court upheld the decision.
That was when I truly experienced how terrifying Joanne & Jang was.
I still remembered the humiliation and disgrace vividly.
This time, I wouldn’t suffer the same fate.
I had come here to strike first.
One thing I could promise was this—
From now on, I would wage a genuine, bloody war against Ha Ryun Group.
And before that…
I would secure Joanne & Jang, the shield and spear of Ha Ryun Group.
“How may we assist you?”
After parking my car, I headed straight to the first floor.
At the reception desk, a beautiful employee in a dark gray uniform asked the purpose of my visit.
This was Joanne & Jang Law Office, home to more than a thousand attorneys.
Including patent attorneys and accountants, the firm employed over four thousand people.
One unusual thing about Joanne & Jang—
It wasn’t a corporation.
Managing Partner Jang Muyeol and the firm’s lawyers worked under contractual agreements.
If a particular issue arose, they could simply cut off the tail connected to that case.
It was a structure that allowed the organization to preserve its profits indefinitely.
They had built connections capable of influencing not only South Korea’s judicial system but also its administrative and legislative branches.
You should never make Joanne & Jang your enemy.
In this life, working alongside them was essential.
To safely manage the astronomical wealth I intended to earn, Joanne & Jang’s support was absolutely necessary.
“I’d like comprehensive legal services.”
“Excuse me?”
The young-looking receptionist was visibly surprised when I mentioned comprehensive legal services.
“I’m thinking of paying about 1.2 billion won per year for the service.”
“…!!”
An annual service fee of 1.2 billion won.
Naturally, everyone’s eyes widened.
It was by no means a small amount.
For legal advisory services alone—not even litigation fees—it was an enormous sum.
It was the kind of money usually charged to well-established mid-sized corporations.
“Is that not possible? Then I’ll try another law firm—”
“C-Customer! Please wait a moment! Joanne & Jang is proud to provide South Korea’s finest legal services. Please allow me to escort you to one of our consultation rooms.”
The moment she heard the amount, her attitude changed completely.
The receptionist, whose expression had been entirely different just moments earlier, now treated me with the utmost respect.
Seeing such an immediate change only reminded me that this was Joanne & Jang.
There was no unnecessary fuss.
She promptly guided me to a consultation room on the first floor.
Even as we walked, countless employees passed by.
Each carried a different aura.
Surprisingly, many of them radiated clear and pure energy.
Of course, quite a few emitted murky energy as well.
The most common aura I noticed was a murky golden glow tinged with black.
It seemed to belong to those who had sold their conscience for money.
Once someone joined Joanne & Jang, remaining an idealistic lawyer was nearly impossible.
That was simply the fate of attorneys who had to win at all costs for powerful clients.
‘Tsk.’
I clicked my tongue inwardly.
I entered one of the many consultation rooms.
Each room was nearly identical.
Client confidentiality was clearly taken very seriously.
The room was soundproof and quiet.
A clean glass desk, chairs, a vase holding fresh flowers, a small refrigerator in the corner, and a single painting hanging on the wall.
That was all.
“The attorney will be here shortly. May I bring you something to drink?”
“Just water, please.”
“Certainly.”
The employee placed a bottle of mineral water and a glass on the desk.
It was French mineral water.
Pour.
I filled the glass.
Leaning back comfortably in my chair, I crossed my legs.
Strangely enough, I felt as though I were sitting in my own home.
Money gave people confidence.
Even here at Joanne & Jang, that power made itself known.
Here, I wasn’t the weaker party.
I was the client.
Reason, stripped of emotion, completely controlled my thoughts.
Joanne & Jang was anything but an easy opponent.
If not now—when they knew almost nothing about me—it would be difficult to sign a contract with them later.
At this point, I still had no connection to Ha Ryun Group.
None of the future accidents or contracts had occurred yet.
Right now, Ha Ryun Group was still relying on its internal legal department.
Only after my father’s fatal accident would they hire Joanne & Jang to defend the truck driver.
Knock.
Click.
About five minutes later, someone knocked before opening the consultation room door.
A man and a woman entered together.
“…!!”
A middle-aged man in a neat dark gray suit walked in first, followed by a woman.
The moment I saw her, I was genuinely startled.
Found her!!
A woman radiating clear and pure energy.
She emitted a completely different aura from the countless other Joanne & Jang attorneys I had seen.
A smile naturally spread across my lips.
She was the lawyer I had wanted to find.
She was attractive as well.
Her chestnut-brown wavy hair rested just above her shoulders.
Despite being an attorney, she didn’t have a cold appearance.
Her well-defined nose, flawless skin, and large silver-rimmed glasses suited her perfectly.
She wore a gray checkered pantsuit that complemented her slender figure.
Everything about her looked perfectly balanced.
Her intelligent eyes sparkled with sharp brilliance.
“I am Senior Attorney Kim Gyeongmin.”
The man, who appeared to be in his late forties with a broad forehead, handed me his business card.
“Ha Taewoong.”
I accepted it, though I had no card to give in return.
After all, I was still just a high school student.
“Ahem…”
When no business card came from me, Kim Gyeongmin stared silently.
He seemed slightly uncomfortable because I looked so young.
Judging by his wavering eyes, his thoughts were in complete disarray.
He couldn’t decide whether I was truly a wealthy client or simply a crazy kid.
I shifted my gaze toward the female attorney.
“I am Attorney A Yura.”
The lawyer with the unusual name handed me her business card.
Her long, slender, snow-white fingers were especially striking.
“Sir, the legal service you’re looking for is…”
“I want comprehensive legal services.”
“So this isn’t about litigation?”
“Not yet.”
Naturally, Kim Gyeongmin had no idea.
He had no clue what would happen after signing a contract with me today.
Soon enough, he would be dragged into an endless swamp of massive and complicated lawsuits.
I clasped my hands together.
A meaningful smile formed on my lips.
“I request comprehensive legal services covering myself and my immediate family. A minimum contract period of ten years. An annual fee of 1.2 billion won, paid monthly at 100 million won. Litigation and all other legal matters will be compensated separately on a per-case basis.”
By any standard, these were extraordinarily generous terms.
The shocked expressions on both of their faces proved it.
“However…”
