Chapter 928: We Made a Promise, So We Should Keep It
Kimyunsikshowedaruthlessapproachfromtheverybeginning.
hefirstbladehedrewwasaimedatasittingmayorwhohadalreadyservedtwotermsasmayorofDaegu.Withoutevengrantinghimtherighttoparticipateintheprimary,hecuthimoffcompletely.
hemanwasinfamous~оvеl𝕚ght~enoughtobenicknamedthe“four-timeconvictedmayor”duetotwodrunkdrivingoffensesandseveralothercrimes.
venso,withinDaegu,hewaspracticallyaking.
venhadn’texpectedthemtocuthimoffentirelywithoutgivinghimthechancetocompeteintheprimary.
“hey’rethrowingoutMayorMinyeongjinlikethis?”
tseemedMyungsoowantedtochangetheveryconstitutionofthepartythroughthisopportunity.
Sureenough,MayorMinyeongjinimmediatelyheldapressconference,callingitanunfairdecisionanddemandinganotherreview.
eevenleftbehindawarningthathemightleavetheparty.
henotebookhadgivenMyungsooalsocontainedMinyeongjin’sweaknesses.
WhetherMyungsoowouldusethemorchooseanothermethod,watchinghowthingsunfoldedwouldbeentertaining.
loweredthenewspaperandcheckedtheSeven-wanggumaterialsMichaelhadbroughtme.
heoilreservesdiscoveredthistimewerefarmoresubstantialthanexpected.
heinformationinmyhandshadnotyetbeenmadepublic.
spentquitealongtimereviewingthedocuments.
Whileorganizingalltheinformationinmyheadaftergoingthrougheveryfile,ManagerMaenteredtheroom.
placedthepapersinmyhanddownandlookedathim.
“Boss,confirmedwhatyouaskedfor.”
hadinstructedManagerMatoinvestigateKimyunsik’sgrandson,KimJunhyeok.
“Really?etmesee.”
ManagerMahandedoverthedocumentenvelopehehadbeencarrying.
Afterspendingtheentiredayreadingpaperwork,myeyesfeltstiff,sorubbedthembeforeopeningtheenvelope.
hefirstthingthatgreetedmewasasheetwithaphotographattached.
“elookslikeanexemplarystudent.”
“Yes.isgradesarealsoattheverytop.”
noddedandbegancheckingthematerialsManagerMahadgathered.
hensuddenlystoppedatonesection.
ookingatthephotographattachedbesideit,asked:
“hiskid?”
“Yes.”
“owbadisit?”
“e’sbeingtreatedlikehedoesn’texistinhisclass.”
“AndKimJunhyeokistheoneleadingit?”
ManagerManodded.Whywouldhedosomethinglikethat?
“What’sthereason?”
“Wedon’tknowthedetails.Duringthefirstsemester,theyapparentlyweren’tonbadterms,butatsomepoint,bullyingandostracismbegan.”
Physicalviolencewasn’ttheonlykindofviolence.
Sometimespsychologicalviolencewasevenmorepainful.
Bullyingaccompaniedbyisolationandharassment.
hevictimprobablywouldn’tbeabletoenduretheshockforever.
heclearestevidenceoftheaftermathwasvisibleinthereportcard.
“Astudentwhousedtocompeteforfifthplaceintheentireschoolsuddenlysawhisgradescollapse.”
“Yes.Duringthefirstsemester,KimJunhyeokhadbettergrades,butinthesecondsemester,thatstudentsurpassedhim.”
Washeunabletotoleratesomeonerankingabovehim?
knewpeoplelikeKimJunhyeokalltoowell.
heybowedbeforethosestrongerthanthemselveswhilebecomingcruelerthananyonetowardthosetheyconsideredweak.
heywerethekindofpeoplehatedthemost.
“et’ssee...thenameisanMugil.Whatabouthisfamily?”
“heircircumstancesaren’tverygood.”
nodded.Justasexpected.
fhehadcomefromapowerfulorwealthyfamily,KimJunhyeokneverwouldhavetargetedhimlikethis.
emusthavecarefullyselectedsomeonehecouldsuppressevenifthingswereexposedlater.
AfterorganizingtheSeven-wanggumaterialsonthetableandplacingthemintothesafe,spoke.
“et’sgo.’llseehisfacemyself.”
hiswassomethingcouldnevertellMyungsoo.
Myungsoohimselfhadalsobeenbulliedinhighschool.
fhelearnedaboutthis,he’dexposethematterpubliclyregardlessofwhetherKimyunsikwasthenominationcommitteechairmanornot.
YoucouldtelljustbylookingatthebillsMyungsooproposedafterbecomingaationalAssemblymember.
Mostofthemfocusedonpunishingbullyingandschoolviolence.
“et’sresolvethisbeforeMyungsoofindsout.”
nmypreviouslife,KimJunhyeok’scaseonlybecameknownbecauseKimyunsik’sson—KimJunhyeok’sfather,KimCheolgeun—enteredpolitics.
Anopposingcandidatepublicizedtheincident,andintheend,KimCheolgeunwithdrewhiscandidacyanddisappearedfrompublicview.
KimCheolgeuncurrentlyworkedattheSupremeProsecutors’ffice.Backedbyhisfather’sinfluenceandhisownexceptionalpoliticalinstincts,peoplesaidhiscareerwouldlikelyendwithhimbecomingProsecutoreneral.
naneraoverflowingwithcorruption,ason’sschoolviolencescandalalonewasn’tenoughtoforceacandidatetoresign.
owever,thefactthatKimCheolgeunusedhispositiontoquietlyburytheincidentdealtafatalblowtohismorality.
AndKimyunsikcouldn’tescaperesponsibilityeither.
“Wherewouldyouliketogofirst?”
“et’smeetthevictimfirst.”
ogetherwithManagerMa,headedtowardanMugil’shome.
“uryongillage?”
anMugillivedinuryongillage.owever,hisregisteredaddresswassomewhereelse.
“a...”
knewhissituationwasn’tgood,buttothinkhelivedinaplacelikethis.
uryongillage,existingrightinthemiddleofangnam—theveryheartofSeoul.
twaspracticallyasymbolofSeoul’swealthdisparity.
“Pleasewaithere.’llhavethembringhimout,Boss.”
watchedManagerMamovetowarduryongillagetogetherwithhissubordinateswhilesinkingbrieflyintothought.
‘uryongillage...’
owerPalace,theultra-luxuryresidentialcomplex,stoodextremelyclosetouryongillage.
helandwhereowerPalacewasbuilthadoncealsobeenashantytownlikeuryongillage,butlsungrouppurchasedthelandandconstructedluxuryresidentialtowersthere.
Asaresult,owerPalacehadbecomeoneofSeoul’srepresentativehigh-endresidentialareas.
Whilewasorganizingmythoughts,suddenlyfeltsomeone’sgaze.
Aself-defensepatrolhadappearednearthevillageentrance.Seeingthewarinessfillingtheirfacesgavemeaglimpseintouryongillage’scurrentsituation.
AfterspeakingwithManagerMa,thepatrolmembersopenedtheway.
ManagerMareturnedaftersendingtheemployeesinside.
“Whatdidtheysay?”
“heyaskedwhowecametosee.gavethemanMugil’snameandslippedthemsomemoney.didn’twantanytrouble,sohandleditonmyownjudgment.Sorry.”
“o,youhandleditwell.”
nuryongillage,wherecountlessinterestsweretangledtogether,moneyultimatelycamefirst.
“Manager.Whatdoyouthinkaboutdevelopinguryongillageourselves?Don’tweownsomelandtheretoo?”
frememberedcorrectly,whenwereceivedrealestateassetsfromChairmanJangofyeonboroup,wealsoacquiredlandarounduryongillage.
“Yes.Wedo.”
“ood.ookintothelandownershipsituationinuryongillageandfindoutwhoownswhat.”
“Yes.’llinvestigateassoonaswereturn.”
Atthatmoment,sawonestudentwalkingdowntogetherwithouremployeesfromthedistance.
twasanMugil—thesamefacehadseeninthephotograph.
ManagerMasteppedoutofthecar.hemomentanMugilsawhissize,hevisiblyflinched.
“Manager.Youbroughthim.”
“Yes.”
ManagerMaaddressedanMugil.Uponreceivinghisgaze,anMugilloweredhisheadentirely.
Rubbingthebackofhisneck,ManagerMaspokeinanunexpectedlygentlevoice.
“anMugil.”
“uh?Y-Yes?”
“We’renotheretohurtyou,sodon’tbetoonervous.Someonewantedtoseeyou.”
“M-Me?”
loweredtheslightlyopenedcarwindowandcontinuedafterManagerMa.
“Student.etinthecarfirst.”
anMugil’seyesshook.
isgazewasfilledwithanxietyandcaution.
“WecamebecauseofKimJunhyeok.”
“J-Junhyeok?don’tknowanything.”
“Wealreadyknoweverything.Justgetin.Peoplearewatching.”
heself-defensepatrolmemberswerestaringatus.
“Pleasegetin,Mugil.”
ManagerMaopenedthedoorforhim,andafterhesitatingforalongwhile,anMugilreluctantlyclimbedintothecar.
esatbesidemewithhisheadlowereddeeply.
“Manager.et’sgosomewherequiet.”
“Yes.”
hecarcarryinganMugillefturyongillage.
nlyafterarrivingattheparkinggarageofoneofmybuildingsdidfinallyspeak.
“anMugil.rshouldcallyoustudent?Well,’molderthanyou,sowoulditbealrightifspokecasually?”
anMugil,whohadremainedsilentwithhisheadloweredtheentiretime,nodded.
Washenaturallythistimid?
“Alright,Mugil.camebecausewanttohelpyou.knowyou’rebeingbulliedatschool.”
Atthewordbullied,anMugilimmediatelyraisedhisheadandshookitfrantically.
“Bullied?othinglikethatishappening.”
“Youdon’thavetolietome.”
“-o.Really.”
placedmyhandonanMugil’sshoulderandspokecalmly.
“’mtryingtohelpyou.Sosomethinglikethisneverhappensagain.ookatme.”
anMugil’sshouldersweretrembling.
hetypicaldemeanorofaschoolviolencevictim.
heperpetratorswalkedconfidentlythroughthestreetswhilethevictimscouldn’tevenraisetheirheadsandbecamewithdrawn.
Suddenly,thoughtofMyungsoo,andmyvoicesoftenedevenmore.
“Won’tyoutellmeforyourgrandmother’ssake?wasalsoraisedbymygrandmother,sothisdoesn’tfeellikesomeoneelse’sproblemtome.”
anMugilwasinthesamesituationasme.
Bothhisparentshadpassedaway,andhelivedwithhisgrandmother.
“’msomeonewhocanhelpyou.rustme.hekidsbullyingyou?hey’renothingtome.”
“......”
“fyouwanttohelpyourself,lookatmeandsayit.Sayyouwanttoescapethathell.henjusttellmeeverythingthathappened.”
Aftermypersistentpersuasioncontinued,anMugilslowlyturnedandlookedintomyeyes.
Fearstillfilledhistremblinggaze.
“don’tlie.Anddon’tmakepromisescan’tkeep.tprobablyfeelsstrangehearingthisfromsomeoneyoumetforthefirsttimetoday,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.
“...owareyougoingtohelpme?”
“owshouldhelp?ShouldtransferKimJunhyeoktoanotherschool?Shouldpunishthekidswhobulliedyou?rshouldgetyoucompensationmoney?”
“wantanapology.”
heunexpectedanswermademefurrowmybrowwithoutrealizingit.
“Anapology?”
“Yes.venifJunhyeoktransfersschools,thatdoesn’terasethefactthathebulliedme.wantasincereapologyandapromisethathe’llneverinvolvehimselfwithmeagain.”
Wellnow.
anMugilwantedtheonethingKimJunhyeokwouldprobablyfindmostunbearable.
“obehonest,evenyouknowthat’sthehardestthingtoget.heJunhyeokyouknowdoesn’tseemlikethetypetoapologize.”
“o.hat’swhywanttoseeit.Money?don’tneedthat.justwantanapology.”
“......”
onestly,askingformoneywould’vebeentheeasiestoption.
isboldresponsemademyheadthrobslightly.Werekidsthesedaysalllikethis?
“WhatifKimJunhyeokrefusestoapologize?”
“hendon’twantyourhelp.Andrealizedsomethingthistime.hat’mKimJunhyeok’sweakness.”
nteresting.
Foramoment,itevenfeltlikethecornersofanMugil’slipshadcurledupwardslightly.
silentlystaredathim.
“Willyouhelpme?”
anMugilwasn’tsomeonewhosufferedbecausehewasweak.
esimplylackedpower.
nfact,hewassharp.
Fromjustafewwordshadspoken,hefullyunderstoodtheleveragehepossessedandknewhowtouseit.
“Alright.Asincereapologyandapromisenevertobotheryouagain.hat’senough?”
anMugilnoddedslowlybutfirmly.
“Doesyourgrandmotherknowaboutthis?”
“o.Shedoesn’t.”
“hat’sfortunate.fshefoundout,itwouldbreakherheart.”
“hat’swhy’veenduredit.therwise...probablywould’vedonesomethingtoo.”
anMugilspokeinavoicefirmassteel.
Akidlikethischosedeathonhisown?
heremighthavebeenhiddencircumstancesbehindhisdeathtoo.
“Alright.’llmakesureyougetwhatyouwant.t’dbebestifyouwenthomefortoday.Manager,havetheemployeesdrivehimback.”
ManagerManoddedandsteppedoutofthecartoopenthereardoor.
Beforegettingout,anMugillookeddirectlyatmeandspoke.
“Mister.don’tknowwhoyouare,but’lltrustyou.”
Aftersteppingoutofthecar,anMugilgotintoanothervehicletogetherwiththeemployees.
turnedtowardManagerMaafterheclimbedbackintothecar.
“Manager.Whatdoyouthinkabouthim?”
“e’sachildwithoutpower,butdefinitelynotaweakchild.”
“Right?Andofallthings,hepickedthehardestdemandpossible.ealsoknowsexactlywhatkindofweaponhepossesses.”
“Whatdoyouplantodo,Boss?”
“Whatdoyoumeanwhat?Wemadeapromise,soweshouldkeepit.Abusinessmanlivesontrust.”
ShouldgodirectlytoKimJunhyeok?
rshouldmeetKimJunhyeok’sfatherinstead?
omatterwhat,ProfessorKimyunsikabsolutelycouldnotlearnaboutthis.
Becauseifhedid,hewasthetypeofmanwhowouldvoluntarilystepdownonhisown.