The Lawyer Who Reads Tomorrow - Chapter 109

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 109

 

 

“Come in.”

 

A Foundation Director’s Office.

 

Park Hyun-joo naturally guided me inside.

Her expression was relaxed as if she had known I would come, yet strangely guarded at the same time.

 

Park Hyun-joo’s face from long ago overlapped with her current face, making me feel the passage of time.

 

However, if there was something that hadn’t changed during all that time,

it would be that Park Hyun-joo was still an investor who showed not even a trace of humanity.

 

“So, what brings you here?”

 

Park Hyun-joo spoke as if she wouldn’t give me time to think.

It was a topic given to me as soon as I sat down on the sofa.

I could feel the atmosphere that she didn’t want to waste even a minute, almost making me burst into laughter.

 

They say even mountains and rivers change in ten years, but Park Hyun-joo hadn’t changed.

 

“I wanted to meet you once, Director.”

“Why?”

 

Because you’re Loretta.

 

But I couldn’t say that right away.

I had no evidence, and if I said it before the conversation progressed, she would kick me out.

 

“Because you’re someone who’s difficult to meet. I heard you were overseas, and I’ve also respected your annual participation in coal briquette volunteer work.”

 

Of course, it was a lie.

Rather, I was greatly surprised by the fact that Park Hyun-joo had been carrying coal briquettes for several years.

I never imagined she would focus this much on image laundering.

 

“…Really? I like that.”

 

Her expression softened a little.

Rather than truly softening, it was closer to pretending.

 

Park Hyun-joo crossed her legs, sat down, and smiled at me.

 

“I also know the name of Sung Tae-hyun.”

“…Is that so?”

“Of course. No matter how much I’m overseas, I always keep my ears open to domestic situations.”

 

Park Hyun-joo continued speaking while constantly scanning me.

 

“You might not know, but I’m a very busy person, Sung Tae-hyun.”

“Yes, I’m aware.”

“So… I’m getting curious about that business you mentioned…”

 

She’s finished assessing me.

 

Within the next minute, it would be decided whether Park Hyun-joo would kick me out or continue listening.

She really was the type who hated wasting time.

She was closer to a human type that didn’t suit me.

 

Can’t help it.

I wanted to take a bit more time to probe.

 

“I think you already know.”

 

When I provoked her with an indifferent voice, Park Hyun-joo smiled more deeply.

 

“Hmm? Me?”

“Yes.”

“That’s strange, wasn’t this our first time meeting today?”

“I’ve heard plenty about Director Park Hyun-ju from Judge Kim Wook-han, no, from my brother Wook-han.”

 

Her relaxed expression stiffened slightly for the first time.

She soon returned to a relaxed face and continued speaking.

 

“It’s been a while since I heard that name. You must have been close with Wook-han?”

“Yes. I’ve deeply respected the Director who started as the youngest accountant, expanded into investment business, and now even into social welfare foundations.”

 

Well, Park Hyun-joo’s life before becoming a shadow investor like now was available online anyway.

Her profile went on endlessly.

Excluding the core details like being the real owner of Loretta Partners, it was already well-known information.

 

“Ah. I see. You really had a lot of interest in me.”

“That’s right.”

“But… what should I do? I folded everything because I want to live quietly now.”

 

Park Hyun-joo chuckled and continued speaking.

 

“Respect is only temporary. Young people like Sung Tae-hyun have many opportunities.”

“How could that be?”

“Of course. Are you trying to say that I’m still working that passionately or something?”

 

Probing words continued. I nodded without being shaken.

 

“That’s right.”

“I’m just a back room old man overseas anyway. Why are you like this when you should know better, Lawyer Sung.”

“A back room old man, you say.”

 

I slowly raised my head and met Park Hyun-joo’s gaze.

Should I provoke her a bit more at this point?

 

“When you own so many companies.”

“Companies? Oh my. Is this another rumor?”

 

She spoke as if to show off and pressed the small bell on the table.

 

-Yes, Director.

“The office is hot. Please bring some water.”

 

After the brief conversation, she looked at me again and smiled.

 

“Running companies was just a temporary thing. Oh, could it be that?”

“Please tell me.”

“You said you were close with Wook-han, right?”

“Yes.”

 

Soon the secretary appeared carrying the cold water she had ordered.

The secretary placed cold water in front of Park Hyun-joo and a cup of warm green tea in front of me before withdrawing.

 

“I don’t know what Wook-han said, but he’s really something.”

 

I am Kim Wook-han.

Of course, Park Hyun-joo, who couldn’t even dream of knowing that fact, casually mentioned Kim Wook-han’s name.

 

“About my engagement to Chief Prosecutor Choi. You’re not here because of that, are you?”

 

To think she’d bring up that story first.

When I paused for a moment and looked at her, Park Hyun-joo smiled as if she had won and said:

 

“So many rumors spread because of that. It was a very long time ago, but there were stories about me laundering money, playing around with multiple corporations.”

“….”

“It’s all nonsense. I’m broke. All I have is this foundation, but there are still so many rumors.”

 

She gulped down the cold water as if she was truly annoyed.

 

“Well, I don’t think our Lawyer Sung would come here for something like that….”

 

After trying every trick to probe me, now she’s saying it’s something else.

 

Somehow I felt tired.

I showed Park Hyun-joo a gentle smile.

 

“It’s something similar.”

“Really? That kind of thing again. Oh, I’m so tired.”

“If you listen, your fatigue will completely disappear.”

“Unless it’s about our foundation, I don’t think my fatigue will disappear.”

 

At her face that seemed truly innocent, I almost let out a chuckle without realizing it, but barely held it back.

Really, when facing old friends in this state, I become even more tense.

 

“Are we done talking? I’m a bit busy.”

 

Seeing Park Hyun-joo actually trying to get up, I finally spoke the words I had been holding back.

 

“Director Park Hyun-joo.”

“Do you have more to say?”

“Ms. Loretta.”

 

I can’t be kicked out like this.

 

At the sudden mention of her name, her expression hardened instantly.

 

* * *

 

“…Loretta?”

 

Park Hyun-joo opened her eyes wide as if she truly didn’t know.

It was the kind of expression people commonly make when something bothers them but they need to hide it.

 

“Yes. I’m talking about Ms. Loretta.”

 

I continued speaking as if I didn’t know that Park Hyun-joo was Loretta.

 

“…Ms. Loretta?”

“That’s right. I have something to convey to her.”

“…But why did you come to me?”

“Because it seemed like you have a relationship with Ms. Loretta.”

 

Park Hyun-joo frowned.

Her expression showed she had no idea how much I knew.

 

Of course.

Even while conspiring with Choi Yoon-ki on this case, she probably never imagined that her identity as Loretta would be discovered by Sung Tae-hyun.

 

“…I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You don’t need to know right now. You’ll find out soon enough.”

 

I slowly picked up my bag and took out the documents inside.

The few documents I placed on the table contained materials that were already organized for her to easily review.

 

“….”

 

Park Hyun-joo began to slowly read through the documents, taking her time.

 

“Vega Furniture. Wooa Furniture. What’s the point of all this?”

 

After flipping through several pages, she made a sharp sound and put the documents back down on the table.

 

“I have no idea what this is about.”

 

Park Hyun-joo doesn’t move easily.

 

She only moved properly when there was even the slightest risk to her investment funds.

 

Profit and loss.

Park Hyun-joo’s world revolved around those two things.

She was that kind of investor, and that’s how she climbed onto her pile of money.

 

So I had to inform Park Hyun-joo, who was pretending ignorance and playing dumb.

That the money she invested would soon become worthless scraps of paper.

 

“I came all the way here because I have something to tell Ms. Loretta.”

“I told you, I don’t know anything about Loretta or whatever.”

“Biga Furniture will soon become worthless.”

“…!”

 

I didn’t miss the moment when a strange light flickered in Park Hyun-joo’s eyes.

However, Park Hyun-joo quickly composed her expression and answered.

 

“…So what if it does?”

“Well, there might be nothing we can do about it anyway.”

 

As expected.

Park Hyun-joo’s complexion worsened as she thought about her investment funds.

Even if it was small change, money held value beyond life itself for her.

 

Not humans, but money. Investment funds.

And the threat that she might lose that precious money seemed to be gradually taking effect.

 

“…What do you mean there’s nothing we can do?”

“Exactly what I said. Director.”

 

I slowly looked up at the clock.

 

Not much time left.

After checking the time, I took out my mobile phone from my pocket and played a video.

 

-I apologize to the people of the nation.

 

A voice that seemed to be barely holding back tears echoed through the room.

On the screen, Representative Yoon Sang-do was sitting in front of a microphone with his head bowed.

Soon he slowly began confessing his sins.

 

-Our Biga Furniture on ■ month ■ day….

 

“Wait a minute.”

 

Park Hyun-joo snatched my mobile phone while the video was playing.

Then she checked the source of the video first and gave a twisted smile.

 

“Are you kidding me, Lawyer Sung Tae-hyun?”

 

She irritably returned the phone to me.

 

“This is just a video in your photo album. AI-manipulated video, something like that, right? Who would believe this kind of thing in today’s world?”

“Ah. If that’s what you’re worried about, you don’t need to concern yourself.”

“What? And why would the Biga Furniture representative-“

 

Park Hyun-joo’s voice cracked slightly.

She cleared her throat again and continued speaking.

 

“Even if he apologizes for something, would that even scratch Loretta? She probably wouldn’t even care.”

 

Look at this.

This is why humans are interesting.

Even Park Hyun-joo, famous for being thorough and meticulous, ends up like this.

 

“You speak as if you know Ms. Loretta well.”

 

At my words, Park Hyun-joo smiled coldly and said.

 

“I don’t know her, do I? But look, Lawyer Sung. This isn’t how you negotiate. Since our Lawyer Sung has put so much effort into this, I’ll tell you-“

“Please go ahead.”

 

I already knew what would come next anyway.

 

‘To seize the initiative, you have to crush them first.’

 

It was something Park Hyun-joo always used to say.

 

“To lead a negotiation, you have to crush your opponent first, right?”

 

Look at that.

 

“If you can’t even do that much, how can you put dice on the table?”

“Then I won’t decline your offer.”

 

It was going to happen anyway.

I resumed the paused video.

 

-…My work that was submitted to this international furniture exhibition….

-Was a copy of a design that Wooa Furniture had already created….

-I take full responsibility and….

 

Park Hyun-joo’s face gradually hardened.

See, even that small amount she invested in Biga Furniture was more precious than gold to her.

 

Drawing Loretta out of Park Hyun-joo was only possible through this method.

I spoke to Park Hyun-joo, who was silently watching the video.

 

“5 minutes.”

“…?”

 

She looked up at me with a cold gaze.

 

“What do you mean by that?”

“Starting now, in 5 minutes, this video will be released through a video platform.”

 

Right now, Park Hyun-joo doesn’t know whether this is true or not.

 

Limited information and time pressure.

The method Park Hyun-joo had easily used when dealing with others as an investor—

It was a negotiation style very familiar to her.

 

“So, decide within 5 minutes.”

 

I took out a timer from my bag, set it, and continued speaking.

 

“Whether to withdraw from Biga Furniture and quietly exit.”

“….”

“Or embrace the shell of Biga Furniture that will collapse due to the criminal acts of the representative and executives, taking only losses.”

 

Park Hyun-joo’s smile disappeared.

Her expression looked deeply wounded in her pride.

 

“I’ll leave the choice to you, Loretta. Director Park Hyun-ju.”

 

On the quiet table, the timer was ticking rapidly.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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