My Calling Is Profiler [EN]: Chapter 525

Jusipan’s hands trembled. As things started to go wrong, they went increasingly wrong. Jusipan, who had been the CEO of Edian, had outsourced work to AnGreen Media, a company he had invested in. And he had his son do the design work. This was so that his son could later receive bonuses legitimately, boast about his performance, and move on to a bigger company. But…

“This goddamn…”

Edian had fired him. He had anticipated the possibility of being abandoned by the Hyunseong Group when things went wrong. In fact, he had been working to embezzle money all along, anticipating that.

Because if he embezzled enough money as CEO, he could live well even if he was fired. However, things had blown up because of his stupid son, leading to his dismissal.

“Hey, Attorney Sang. What’s going on? I thought they weren’t going to sue?”

“That’s strange. Usually, they just dismiss you, issue an apology, and it’s over.”

Moreover, it wasn’t like he had embezzled anything. Of course, it was true that he had funneled work to a company he had invested in, but Jusipan didn’t think that was enough to get him fired. But dismissal and a lawsuit?

“It seems they want to draw a clear line.”

“This is all because of my idiot son.”

He knew that his son, Ju Il-gun, had been active in a place called Japan Best for a long time. But he never imagined he would stab his father in the back like this.

The first time, he could at least make excuses that it was a mistake, but the second and third times, the public had found the cleverly hidden content, so all he could do was insist it was a coincidence.

“Seeing that they’ve hired Wolgwang Law Firm, it seems they’re considering a civil lawsuit as well.”

“A civil lawsuit?”

“Yes, otherwise, there’s no reason to file a lawsuit through Wolgwang Law Firm. Once the complaint is filed, there’s not much for a lawyer to do.”

Furthermore, given that it was a subsidiary of the Hyunseong Group, the police would investigate thoroughly once the complaint was filed.

“Wolgwang Law Firm starts at a minimum of 30 million won [approximately $25,000 USD] to take on a case like this. A high-profile case like the Edian case would cost at least 50 million won [approximately $42,000 USD]. At the very least.”

“What? Why?”

“Isn’t Edian getting a lot of flak from the public?”

Naturally, representing them would make one susceptible to hostile feelings from the public. Of course, law firms aren’t afraid of such scrutiny, but they still charge higher prices for such cases.

“50 million won?”

“At the very least.”

Attorney Sang shook his head.

“Huh? They can charge me that much?”

“Didn’t you say your son did it?”

“Yes. Il-gun, that pathetic bastard.”

He was upset at the thought of attacking his own son, and the lawsuit talk had escalated things, but it was true that his son had screwed up. So, no good could come of it.

“Frankly speaking, it’s impossible.”

It wasn’t a mistake; Ju Il-gun did it intentionally. Even if Edian sued Jusipan, the only responsibility they could hold Jusipan accountable for was management oversight, but Jusipan was the CEO and wouldn’t check every design, so that was ambiguous. Of course, he wouldn’t be entirely without responsibility, given that it was his company.

“Even if the lawyer fees are that much, they’ve announced the lawsuit in major newspapers. That money isn’t cheap.”

“So?”

“Even if you win the lawsuit and get money from Jusipan, that money won’t cover it.”

Even if they won the lawsuit, the amount they could get from Jusipan was, according to Attorney Sang’s estimate, between 100 and 200 million won [approximately $84,000 to $168,000 USD].

“What about Il-gun?”

“They might be able to get more from Ju Il-gun since he acted directly.”

But even that would be within 200 million won.

“Moreover, doesn’t Ju Il-gun have no assets?”

His pathetic son had no assets. All the money he used came from Jusipan. He had recently received some salary from AnGreen Media, but he had already blown it all on clubbing.

“AnGreen Media is a dead company now anyway.”

They had provoked the Hyunseong Group, so it would be strange if they were still doing well. They might claim they didn’t know, but since Jusipan had invested in and created the company, there was no reason to feel wronged.

“But to do this much advertising, they would have to pay at least 500 million won [approximately $420,000 USD].”

Even if they squeezed Jusipan, Ju Il-gun, and AnGreen Media, they wouldn’t get 500 million won.

“To take such a loss, including lawsuit costs and future expenses, there’s only one reason.”

“What is it?”

“They’re trying to kill you by any means necessary.”

“What?”

Jusipan was so shocked by those words that his voice cracked and sounded strange. These were people who had once been under him and had devoted their loyalty to the Hyunseong Group. But now they were trying to kill him?

“Those bastards!”

“Are you just going to take this lying down?”

“Of course not!”

He had to live. Of course, it was true that he had done wrong, but this was all due to his son’s mistake. But they were trying to kill him.

“Let’s countersue for defamation first.”

“Is that possible?”

“Yes, it’s enough in this case.”

Former CEO of Edian, Mr. Ju. There was no one else besides Jusipan, was there? It would be idiotic not to recognize that.

“We need to file a lawsuit for defamation based on true facts. That way, we can have a slightly more advantageous position in negotiations with them.”

“I see.”

Jusipan gritted his teeth at those words.

“I’ll leave it to you. Is a lawsuit possible?”

“Yes, I will definitely win for you.”

“I won’t die quietly, you bastards.”

Jusipan gnashed his teeth in anger.

Soon after, news appeared in the media.

-Former CEO of Edian, Jusipan, sues Edian for defamation based on true facts.

“So, it’s turning out like this.”

Park Tae-geun said with a sullen face to Park Do-joon, who had gone to Edian after work.

“It is, but did we really have to go as far as a lawsuit?”

“We had to, unless you want to go down with Jusipan.”

“It’s not that, it’s the budget…”

They were short on funds even with advertising to earn money, but they had spent money on a lawsuit as a form of promotion. Moreover, they had spent a lot of money putting the lawsuit on the front page of major newspapers, and they were even being countersued. So, it was no wonder Park Tae-geun couldn’t understand.

“Is that really the case? Mr. Ahn Bum-sang, has anything changed recently?”

At those words, Ahn Bum-sang, who was quite excited, opened his mouth. Unlike Park Tae-geun, who was full of complaints, Ahn Bum-sang’s face was filled with surprise and anticipation.

“The atmosphere in the comments has changed a lot.”

“Comments? What comments?”

“What’s changed?”

Park Do-joon was dumbfounded by the bewildered questions from the department heads and asked back.

“Don’t you check them?”

“Checking them only makes me frustrated…”

“Well, I understand, but please tell us your story, Mr. Ahn Bum-sang.”

“Yes, so what the atmosphere has become is that they’re saying it’s brazen of us to act like this when we’re the ones who did wrong.”

At those words, the faces of the people in the company, including Park Tae-geun, darkened. They thought they were the ones being criticized. But Ahn Bum-sang pounded his chest at that sight.

“It’s not us.”

“It’s not us?”

“It’s not us, they’re criticizing Jusipan and AnGreen Media.”

“President Ju, I mean, former president?”

“Yes.”

“But why?”

“It’s not President Ju who did it, it’s his son who caused the accident?”

Park Do-joon shook his head at those words.

“The important thing is not that. It’s that a person in charge has emerged.”

They had identified the person in charge through the media and knew that a lawsuit had been filed.

“I said it before, didn’t I? The public is angry not because we made a mistake, but because we’re not reflecting on it.”

“You did.”

“So, who isn’t reflecting on it now?”

“Huh?”

At those words, everyone looked at each other. Then their faces brightened.

“It’s Jusipan, not us.”

“That’s right.”

Jusipan was still not reflecting and was instead brazenly filing a lawsuit for defamation based on true facts.

“Moreover, he’s the former president. He’s the main culprit in this incident.”

“So, people will criticize Jusipan more than us.”

Park Tae-geun said in a somewhat surprised tone. He never imagined that advertising the lawsuit would shift the target.

“And now is the time to apologize.”

“Now? We’ve already written an apology?”

Had they only written it? They had also posted it on the website and spread it on the internet.

“It was useless.”

“I know.”

They had already posted an apology, but the public thought it was just a way to avoid responsibility and didn’t believe it. On the internet, the prevailing opinion was that it wasn’t an apology but a ‘four-pology’ [a insincere apology] and that they were putting on a show.

“So, we have to do it now.”

“So, now?”

“Jusipan is the former president. And he’s the core of this incident.”

“That’s true, but?”

“And have you apologized since Jusipan left?”

No. Of course not. Because there was no one with the authority to decide that.

“People only remember the hypocritical apologies that President Jusipan made in the past.”

“Ah!”

So, from the public’s perspective, they couldn’t see it in a positive light.

“But Jusipan has left, and Jusipan’s lawsuit against us has completely separated Jusipan and Edian.”

So, what should they do? Of course, apologize. By apologizing separately from the lawsuit, they should break away from Jusipan and take the position that they are the victims.

“That’s why I said we shouldn’t file a civil lawsuit first.”

If they filed a civil lawsuit first, people would say they were putting on a show. But the other side had filed a lawsuit first. Jusipan’s actions were for self-defense, but in the end, they could only be seen as brazen by the public.

“It’s time to shift the blame to the other side, so we need to apologize now.”

“But who will do it? We’re just department heads?”

No one would think it was sincere if a department head came out and did it.

“Of course, President Park Tae-geun should do it.”

“Yes?”

Park Tae-geun doubted his ears.

“What did you just say…”

“President Park Tae-geun should do it.”

“Me?”

Park Tae-geun’s eyes widened more than ever.

“Yes, congratulations on your inauguration as president.”

Park Do-joon smiled at Park Tae-geun.