Kimyunsikshowedaruthlessapproachfromtheverybeginning.
hefirstbladehedrewwasaidatasittingmayorwhohadalreadyservedtwotermsasmayorofDaegu.Withoutevengrantinghimtherighttoparticipateintheprimary,hecuthimoffcompletely.
hemanwasinfamous~оvеl𝕚ght~enoughtobenicknadthe“four-ticonvictedmayor”duetotwodrunkdrivingoffensesandseveralothercris.
venso,withinDaegu,hewaspracticallyaking.
venhadn’texpectedthemtocuthimoffentirelywithoutgivinghimthechancetocompeteintheprimary.
“hey’rethrowingoutMayorMinyeongjinlikethis?”
tseedMyungsoowantedtochangetheveryconstitutionofthepartythroughthisopportunity.
Sureenough,MayorMinyeongjinimdiatelyheldapressconference,callingitanunfairdecisionanddemandinganotherreview.
eevenleftbehindawarningthathemightleavetheparty.
henotebookhadgivenMyungsooalsocontainedMinyeongjin’sweaknesses.
WhetherMyungsoowouldusethemorchooseanotherthod,watchinghowthingsunfoldedwouldbeentertaining.
loweredthenewspaperandcheckedtheSeven-wanggumaterialsMichaelhadbrought.
heoilreservesdiscoveredthistiwerefarmoresubstantialthanexpected.
heinformationinmyhandshadnotyetbeenmadepublic.
spentquitealongtireviewingthedocunts.
Whileorganizingalltheinformationinmyheadaftergoingthrougheveryfile,ManagerMaenteredtheroom.
placedthepapersinmyhanddownandlookedathim.
“Boss,confirdwhatyouaskedfor.”
hadinstructedManagerMatoinvestigateKimyunsik’sgrandson,KimJunhyeok.
“Really?etsee.”
ManagerMahandedoverthedocuntenvelopehehadbeencarrying.
Afterspendingtheentiredayreadingpaperwork,myeyesfeltstiff,sorubbedthembeforeopeningtheenvelope.
hefirstthingthatgreetedwasasheetwithaphotographattached.
“elookslikeanexemplarystudent.”
“Yes.isgradesarealsoattheverytop.”
noddedandbegancheckingthematerialsManagerMahadgathered.
hensuddenlystoppedatonesection.
ookingatthephotographattachedbesideit,asked:
“hiskid?”
“Yes.”
“owbadisit?”
“e’sbeingtreatedlikehedoesn’texistinhisclass.”
“AndKimJunhyeokistheoneleadingit?”
ManagerManodded.Whywouldhedosothinglikethat?
“What’sthereason?”
“Wedon’tknowthedetails.Duringthefirstsester,theyapparentlyweren’tonbadterms,butatsopoint,bullyingandostracismbegan.”
Physicalviolencewasn’ttheonlykindofviolence.
Sotispsychologicalviolencewasevenmorepainful.
Bullyingaccompaniedbyisolationandharassnt.
hevictimprobablywouldn’tbeabletoenduretheshockforever.
heclearestevidenceoftheaftermathwasvisibleinthereportcard.
“Astudentwhousedtocompeteforfifthplaceintheentireschoolsuddenlysawhisgradescollapse.”
“Yes.Duringthefirstsester,KimJunhyeokhadbettergrades,butinthesecondsester,thatstudentsurpassedhim.”
Washeunabletotoleratesoonerankingabovehim?
knewpeoplelikeKimJunhyeokalltoowell.
heybowedbeforethosestrongerthanthemselveswhilebecomingcruelerthananyonetowardthosetheyconsideredweak.
heywerethekindofpeoplehatedthemost.
“et’ssee...thenaisanMugil.Whatabouthisfamily?”
“heircircumstancesaren’tverygood.”
nodded.Justasexpected.
fhehadcofromapowerfulorwealthyfamily,KimJunhyeokneverwouldhavetargetedhimlikethis.
emusthavecarefullyselectedsoonehecouldsuppressevenifthingswereexposedlater.
AfterorganizingtheSeven-wanggumaterialsonthetableandplacingthemintothesafe,spoke.
“et’sgo.’llseehisfacemyself.”
hiswassothingcouldnevertellMyungsoo.
Myungsoohimselfhadalsobeenbulliedinhighschool.
fhelearnedaboutthis,he’dexposethematterpubliclyregardlessofwhetherKimyunsikwasthenominationcommitteechairmanornot.
YoucouldtelljustbylookingatthebillsMyungsooproposedafterbecomingaationalAssemblymber.
Mostofthemfocusedonpunishingbullyingandschoolviolence.
“et’sresolvethisbeforeMyungsoofindsout.”
nmypreviouslife,KimJunhyeok’scaseonlybecaknownbecauseKimyunsik’sson—KimJunhyeok’sfather,KimCheolgeun—enteredpolitics.
Anopposingcandidatepublicizedtheincident,andintheend,KimCheolgeunwithdrewhiscandidacyanddisappearedfrompublicview.
KimCheolgeuncurrentlyworkedattheSupreProsecutors’ffice.Backedbyhisfather’sinfluenceandhisownexceptionalpoliticalinstincts,peoplesaidhiscareerwouldlikelyendwithhimbecomingProsecutoreneral.
naneraoverflowingwithcorruption,ason’sschoolviolencescandalalonewasn’tenoughtoforceacandidatetoresign.
owever,thefactthatKimCheolgeunusedhispositiontoquietlyburytheincidentdealtafatalblowtohismorality.
AndKimyunsikcouldn’tescaperesponsibilityeither.
“Wherewouldyouliketogofirst?”
“et’setthevictimfirst.”
ogetherwithManagerMa,headedtowardanMugil’sho.
“uryongillage?”
anMugillivedinuryongillage.owever,hisregisteredaddresswassowhereelse.
“a...”
knewhissituationwasn’tgood,buttothinkhelivedinaplacelikethis.
uryongillage,existingrightinthemiddleofangnam—theveryheartofSeoul.
twaspracticallyasymbolofSeoul’swealthdisparity.
“Pleasewaithere.’llhavethembringhimout,Boss.”
watchedManagerMamovetowarduryongillagetogetherwithhissubordinateswhilesinkingbrieflyintothought.
‘uryongillage...’
owerPalace,theultra-luxuryresidentialcomplex,stoodextrelyclosetouryongillage.
helandwhereowerPalacewasbuilthadoncealsobeenashantytownlikeuryongillage,butlsungrouppurchasedthelandandconstructedluxuryresidentialtowersthere.
Asaresult,owerPalacehadbecooneofSeoul’srepresentativehigh-endresidentialareas.
Whilewasorganizingmythoughts,suddenlyfeltsoone’sgaze.
Aself-defensepatrolhadappearednearthevillageentrance.Seeingthewarinessfillingtheirfacesgaveaglimpseintouryongillage’scurrentsituation.
AfterspeakingwithManagerMa,thepatrolmbersopenedtheway.
ManagerMareturnedaftersendingtheemployeesinside.
“Whatdidtheysay?”
“heyaskedwhowecatosee.gavethemanMugil’snaandslippedthemsomoney.didn’twantanytrouble,sohandleditonmyownjudgnt.Sorry.”
“o,youhandleditwell.”
nuryongillage,wherecountlessinterestsweretangledtogether,moneyultimatelycafirst.
“Manager.Whatdoyouthinkaboutdevelopinguryongillageourselves?Don’tweownsolandtheretoo?”
fremberedcorrectly,whenwereceivedrealestateassetsfromChairmanJangofyeonboroup,wealsoacquiredlandarounduryongillage.
“Yes.Wedo.”
“ood.ookintothelandownershipsituationinuryongillageandfindoutwhoownswhat.”
“Yes.’llinvestigateassoonaswereturn.”
Atthatmont,sawonestudentwalkingdowntogetherwithouremployeesfromthedistance.
twasanMugil—thesafacehadseeninthephotograph.
ManagerMasteppedoutofthecar.hemontanMugilsawhissize,hevisiblyflinched.
“Manager.Youbroughthim.”
“Yes.”
ManagerMaaddressedanMugil.Uponreceivinghisgaze,anMugilloweredhisheadentirely.
Rubbingthebackofhisneck,ManagerMaspokeinanunexpectedlygentlevoice.
“anMugil.”
“uh?Y-Yes?”
“We’renotheretohurtyou,sodon’tbetoonervous.Soonewantedtoseeyou.”
“M-?”
loweredtheslightlyopenedcarwindowandcontinuedafterManagerMa.
“Student.etinthecarfirst.”
anMugil’seyesshook.
isgazewasfilledwithanxietyandcaution.
“WecabecauseofKimJunhyeok.”
“J-Junhyeok?don’tknowanything.”
“Wealreadyknoweverything.Justgetin.Peoplearewatching.”
heself-defensepatrolmberswerestaringatus.
“Pleasegetin,Mugil.”
ManagerMaopenedthedoorforhim,andafterhesitatingforalongwhile,anMugilreluctantlyclimbedintothecar.
esatbesidewithhisheadlowereddeeply.
“Manager.et’sgosowherequiet.”
“Yes.”
hecarcarryinganMugillefturyongillage.
nlyafterarrivingattheparkinggarageofoneofmybuildingsdidfinallyspeak.
“anMugil.rshouldcallyoustudent?Well,’molderthanyou,sowoulditbealrightifspokecasually?”
anMugil,whohadremainedsilentwithhisheadloweredtheentireti,nodded.
Washenaturallythistimid?
“Alright,Mugil.cabecausewanttohelpyou.knowyou’rebeingbulliedatschool.”
Atthewordbullied,anMugilimdiatelyraisedhisheadandshookitfrantically.
“Bullied?othinglikethatishappening.”
“Youdon’thavetolieto.”
“-o.Really.”
placedmyhandonanMugil’sshoulderandspokecalmly.
“’mtryingtohelpyou.Sosothinglikethisneverhappensagain.ookat.”
anMugil’sshouldersweretrembling.
hetypicaldeanorofaschoolviolencevictim.
heperpetratorswalkedconfidentlythroughthestreetswhilethevictimscouldn’tevenraisetheirheadsandbecawithdrawn.
Suddenly,thoughtofMyungsoo,andmyvoicesoftenedevenmore.
“Won’tyoutellforyourgrandmother’ssake?wasalsoraisedbymygrandmother,sothisdoesn’tfeellikesooneelse’sproblemto.”
anMugilwasinthesasituationas.
Bothhisparentshadpassedaway,andhelivedwithhisgrandmother.
“’msoonewhocanhelpyou.rust.hekidsbullyingyou?hey’renothingto.”
“......”
“fyouwanttohelpyourself,lookatandsayit.Sayyouwanttoescapethathell.henjusttelleverythingthathappened.”
Aftermypersistentpersuasioncontinued,anMugilslowlyturnedandlookedintomyeyes.
Fearstillfilledhistremblinggaze.
“don’tlie.Anddon’tmakepromisescan’tkeep.tprobablyfeelsstrangehearingthisfromsooneyoutforthefirsttitoday,doesn’tit?”
“...Yes.”
“So’llbehonest.knowKimJunhyeok’sgrandfatherpersonally.ButthinkKimJunhyeokcouldenduphurtinghim.hat’swhywantyoutocontinuekeepingyourmouthshutinthefuture.”
wasn’ttryingtohelpthiskidsimplybecausepitiedhim.
justwantedtoresolvethingsbeforethebullyingworsenedfurther.
Beforehemadeaterriblechoice.
“’mnothelpingyououtofpuregoodwilleither.’msteppinginforthatman’ssake.Soifourinterestsalign,wouldn’titbebetterforustoworktogether?”
Atmyhonestwords,anMugil,whohadbeenbreathinganxiously,suddenlystilled.
venthetremblinginhiseyessettleddown.
Sohewasn’tnaturallytimidafterall.
“...owareyougoingtohelp?”
“owshouldhelp?ShouldtransferKimJunhyeoktoanotherschool?Shouldpunishthekidswhobulliedyou?rshouldgetyoucompensationmoney?”
“wantanapology.”
heunexpectedanswermadefurrowmybrowwithoutrealizingit.
“Anapology?”
“Yes.venifJunhyeoktransfersschools,thatdoesn’terasethefactthathebullied.wantasincereapologyandapromisethathe’llneverinvolvehimselfwithagain.”
Wellnow.
anMugilwantedtheonethingKimJunhyeokwouldprobablyfindmostunbearable.
“obehonest,evenyouknowthat’sthehardestthingtoget.heJunhyeokyouknowdoesn’tseemlikethetypetoapologize.”
“o.hat’swhywanttoseeit.Money?don’tneedthat.justwantanapology.”
“......”
onestly,askingformoneywould’vebeentheeasiestoption.
isboldresponsemademyheadthrobslightly.Werekidsthesedaysalllikethis?
“WhatifKimJunhyeokrefusestoapologize?”
“hendon’twantyourhelp.Andrealizedsothingthisti.hat’mKimJunhyeok’sweakness.”
nteresting.
Foramont,itevenfeltlikethecornersofanMugil’slipshadcurledupwardslightly.
silentlystaredathim.
“Willyouhelp?”
anMugilwasn’tsoonewhosufferedbecausehewasweak.
esimplylackedpower.
nfact,hewassharp.
Fromjustafewwordshadspoken,hefullyunderstoodtheleveragehepossessedandknewhowtouseit.
“Alright.Asincereapologyandapromisenevertobotheryouagain.hat’senough?”
anMugilnoddedslowlybutfirmly.
“Doesyourgrandmotherknowaboutthis?”
“o.Shedoesn’t.”
“hat’sfortunate.fshefoundout,itwouldbreakherheart.”
“hat’swhy’veenduredit.therwise...probablywould’vedonesothingtoo.”
anMugilspokeinavoicefirmassteel.
Akidlikethischosedeathonhisown?
heremighthavebeenhiddencircumstancesbehindhisdeathtoo.
“Alright.’llmakesureyougetwhatyouwant.t’dbebestifyouwenthofortoday.Manager,havetheemployeesdrivehimback.”
ManagerManoddedandsteppedoutofthecartoopenthereardoor.
Beforegettingout,anMugillookeddirectlyatandspoke.
“Mister.don’tknowwhoyouare,but’lltrustyou.”
Aftersteppingoutofthecar,anMugilgotintoanothervehicletogetherwiththeemployees.
turnedtowardManagerMaafterheclimbedbackintothecar.
“Manager.Whatdoyouthinkabouthim?”
“e’sachildwithoutpower,butdefinitelynotaweakchild.”
“Right?Andofallthings,hepickedthehardestdemandpossible.ealsoknowsexactlywhatkindofweaponhepossesses.”
“Whatdoyouplantodo,Boss?”
“Whatdoyouanwhat?Wemadeapromise,soweshouldkeepit.Abusinessmanlivesontrust.”
ShouldgodirectlytoKimJunhyeok?
rshouldetKimJunhyeok’sfatherinstead?
omatterwhat,ProfessorKimyunsikabsolutelycouldnotlearnaboutthis.
Becauseifhedid,hewasthetypeofmanwhowouldvoluntarilystepdownonhisown.
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