Chapter 305 (1/2)

“Before that, you should make a call one last time.”

“There’s no way that man will pay us just because we call him. He practically wants us to do it.”

“We can negotiate now, so it’s better if you try anyway. He’ll probably change his mind if you bring up the word court. Also, the fact that someone got paid means that they still have some budget left over, so if you act strongly, he’ll probably pay the overdue wages. He might act like that again, but you’ll be able to make up some money for immediate bills, so you’ll have to go on a strike or something like that if he does that again.”

Maru finished speaking and had a look at the staff. They all looked hesitant. Mr. Kim also fell into thought as he put his hand against his chin.

“That lawyer back there told you that?”

“Yes.”

“Do you think you can ask him to help us if something goes wrong?”

“That probably won’t be possible. He just gave me advice for this, not a proper consultation. If you want him to help us, you’ll have to pay him, so I don’t think that will work out.”

“Why? He sounds like a good man from how he’s helping us out. I think you can ask him.”

“Being a good man and free service are two different things. Also, I’m not that close to him, so I’m not comfortable with asking him for something like that.”

“Then I guess we’ll hire him officially once things go bad. He’ll help us more if he’s doing it for someone he knows.”

“That… probably won’t work out either.”

“Why’s that?”

“As far as I know, you might have to pay him what you get paid for the case.”

“...Looks like he’s someone famous.”

“Yeah, well. He does belong to Lee & Kang Law Firm.”

“Lee & Kang Law Firm? I’m not knowledgeable about things like that. Is that like some super corporation or something?”

Someone told him that it was the number one law firm in the country.

“Then I guess it’s not happening. But it’s good that we now know a way. People like us don’t know how to stare into books and only know how to work to get paid. Since he said it’s not hard, let’s make the call. If he still feigns ignorance, then I guess we can only do this the hard way. Is everyone okay with that?”

Mr. Kim called the president of the subcontractor company with his phone. Perhaps thanks to having found a way out, he did not get agitated and started with the greeting. As the conversation continued, he exercised more effort into his words and mentioned the lawsuit: that they were prepared to do it as a group, and that they had already talked to a lawyer about it. There was a little lie mixed in, but it probably did not matter. After all, the subcontractor was the one holding their money.

“Today’s shoot finished without a hitch, but I don’t think I can say the same thing for tomorrow as well. I have made our intentions clear. If you do not send us the overdue wages before tomorrow’s shoot… we’ll go to the KPU and go on a strike. I plan to drag this out until the end, so think about it carefully. Also, the lawyer that’s helping us says he belongs to Lee & Kang Law Firm. So think about that carefully as well.”

Mr. Kim hung up with a smile on his face.

“Do you think that will do?”

“I guess we’ll have to wait to find out.”

At that moment, director Lee, who was watching from afar, picked up his phone.

“Yes, president.”

Director Lee approached them slowly. He took the phone off of his ears and switched on the speaker mode to make the other party’s voice clearer.

-I got a call just now, and he told me something about talking to a lawyer. Is this true?

“Ah, yes. I was next to him.”

-Wait, so you just watched him do so without taking any action?

“What power do I have to stop him? He says he’s a famous lawyer.”

-Why is there a lawyer at the shooting location? Is it really true? Are you sure he didn’t make something up?

“This is an independent school you know? It’s the school where all the rich kids go to. Maybe that lawyer’s child goes to this school.”

At the beginning, Mr. Kim watched the two make a call with a sour face, but his expression loosened the more he listened to it. Director Lee started leading the conversation so that he was inducing the president to pay the staff, and the president eventually had to accept before ending the call.

“Producer Lee. Why are you changing your attitude now?”

“Director Kim. I have a family to feed just like you. I have kids at home nagging me to pay their school tuition, and my wife tells me that she has to pay interest for the loan. I can’t not receive the money that the president is giving me. And also, it’s not like I treated you badly, did I? You watched me as I asked the president to solve the wage issue several times.”

Director Lee apologized in a small voice. Mr. Kim sighed and turned around.

“I understand your situation. But know that I only understand it.”

Director Lee no longer said anything and turned back around with a bitter expression.

“Are you going to continue shooting now that your wage issue is solved?” Maru asked.

“I will. They’re the kind of people that will nag at us to do work since they paid. Well, it’s not like we’re doing this because we don’t like the drama. As long as they pay us properly, we should do our work properly as well.”

Mr. Kim thanked Maru as he stood up. The other staff members expressed their appreciation as well. Director Lee told everyone to pull out since it looked like they wouldn’t be getting any more work done today. The main actors weren’t waiting at the set either. They were probably waiting inside their cars or something.

The managers, who had been keeping the actor’s places, bid farewell to the staff and quickly left. The people from the TV station also started packing up the equipment. Some of them even told the other staff members to cheer up. They just worked for different entities and in actuality, were just laborers who earned daily wages just like them.

“Go back home. I’ll send you all a message after I look at the time schedule, so send a reply if you want in. Also, you should tell me beforehand if you woke up late. I’ll have to find replacements.”

The leader scattered everyone after thanking them. Maru took off the gym uniform and gave it back. The staff bid him farewell as he gave it back. Although it was for just one day, it seemed like they’ve taken a liking to him. Maru smiled back. He hoped that everything went well.

“Hey, over there!”

Mr. Kim approached him. He was inviting Maru to an afterparty for giving the subcontractor a blow. Although Maru was thankful, he had a prior engagement.

“Sorry about that. I have someone I have to meet.”

“Is it that lawyer from before?”

“Yes.”

“I guess it can’t be helped then. But hey, you are a student, right?”

“I’m in my 2nd year of high school.”

“It won’t be easy living in this industry. Though, from the way you act, I guess you’ll cope with it better than me. Are you going to come again? If you are, I’ll talk to the leader and have you come next time.”

“I’ll definitely contact you if I need to.”

“Alright, alright. Be careful on your way. Anyway, thanks for today, for helping us out even though we’re complete strangers.”

“My wage depends on it as well. I hope we can meet each other on set more often.”

“Alright. Oh, I’m Kim Jangsoo.”

“My name is Han Maru, sir.”