Chapter 28
The next day, I went to school, and a normal day went by as usual. The only difference was that Sung-Hyun and Byung-Hoon were absent. After school, I stopped by the underground chapel first before going to my house. Fortunately, Uncle Jin-Sung was reading a book in his usual spot.
I got straight to the point. "Uncle, I think you should sell your dBP stocks right now before it’s too late."
"No." Uncle Jin-Sung continued reading his book calmly as if he didn't need to listen. His answer was half-hearted. It was unclear whether it was an actual answer or just an automatic response.
"The stock price is going to crash for sure. This is not a gut feeling, but an absolute certainty.”
"Shush. dBP is a company with a bright future."
"Nope. The future of the company is going to look dark soon. Please believe me."
My uncle shook his head and sighed. "Hey, kid. The stock price is not just going up, it’s pumping like crazy at the moment. It’s still got a long way to go until it reaches the peak! I'd be stupid if I sold it right now.”
"Just don't regret it later."
"Yes, Mr. Cult Leader. I will never regret it. I mean, you don’t know jack about investing in the first place, so I have no idea why you keep trying to act like a portfolio manager.”
"That's true... Ha."
I was so frustrated that I couldn't help but sigh. It seemed like it would take too long to explain everything about Sung-Hyun from start to finish.
[Just don't tell him.]
While pondering about my current dilemma, Legba nonchalantly proposed a solution. He continued to speak without giving me a chance to respond.
[Let him lose his money.]
"What?"
[This is a good opportunity to teach him a lesson. He’ll learn that ignoring the cult leader’s advice will result in a world of pain.]
"That’s a little bit..."
[You're the cult leader, and Jin-Sung is a high priest, but he is ignoring you. It's safe to call it insubordination.] Examine the origin of this data, deeply intertwined with n0v[lbin★
What Legba was saying sounded somewhat reasonable, but Uncle Jin-Sung was family. It’d be a little hard for me to watch him suffer significant financial losses right in front of my eyes.
I couldn't just let the money go away.
"Uncle. I'll say it again for the last time. You should sell."
"Why do you keep telling me to sell? Is there a reason? Or is it your gut feeling again?”
"The dBP stock price is going to tank no matter what. I'm going to make it so that it tanks.”
"What talent do you have to manipulate the stock price? That's ridiculous."
No matter how hard I tried to persuade my uncle, he wouldn't listen. At this point, I was starting to get angry.
"Ha... Do what you want then. Just remember that I tried to warn you."
"Aww, sure thing, kiddo. Just don't bother asking me to buy you stuff later."
"Yes, yes."
I guess I’ll let him do what he wants. It’s not like it was my money anyway. I’ll just have to hope that he doesn’t regret it later.
I gave up and turned around. I decided to watch the news to get rid of my anger. Besides, I also had a reason to watch the news. I went into my room, which was located behind the underground chapel. A news report was coming from a small TV in the corner of the room.
According to the news report, the investigation into the recent series of kidnappings resulted in zero clues. There was also news that the director of the eastern branch of Seoul’s Paladin Order resigned for corruption. Other than that, there was news about the inauguration of a new director and so on.
There was not a single piece of good news. Well, then again, the news was always like this, so I wasn’t surprised.
[The world is a real mess right now.] Legba lamented while watching the news with me.
I stayed at the underground chapel and only watched the news until evening. I tried switching channels multiple times, but I was not able to find the news I wanted. At this point, I began to feel impatient.
[There's no need to be in a hurry. It may still be under investigation.]
"Perhaps you’re right."
I nodded. As Legba said, the investigation was probably still underway. There was nothing to be impatient about. I just had to wait patiently with a calm heart. As long as I waited, everything would work out. I had manipulated the situation so that everything would work out.
Buzzz–!
"Oh, that scared the crap out of me."
I must have dozed off for a brief moment after watching the news for a while. I was startled awake by the sound of my vibrating phone. I checked my phone and saw a text message from In-Ah. As usual, I expected it to be a meaningless greeting message. I checked the contents without much thought.
"What?"
However, the content was more unusual than I thought.
[It doesn’t seem to be good news. I only saw the title, though, so I don’t know for sure.]
"Oh, please. Adonai."
[What? You punk.]
While reciting a prayer, I went to the address specified in the text message.
‘Grandce.’
It was the place where the post accusing me of bullying was posted the other day.
* * *
The eastern branch of Seoul’s Paladin Order was in charge of investigating this case. Han Dae-Ho, the director of the eastern branch, was newly inaugurated due to his predecessor's corruption. The case he was currently working on was so overwhelming that it was giving him a splitting headache.
"Not even a single piece of evidence? Seriously?"
"Yes. Other than a piece of cloth that lay on Bae Sung-Hyun’s head, there is nothing else."
His subordinate held out an envelope that contained evidence inside. It was a piece of cloth with a bizarre pattern on it. He had no idea what religion it was supposed to represent, but it obviously did not represent the Romanican faith.
“Did you show the evidence to the victims? What were their reactions?”
“The other students didn’t respond much, but...”
His subordinate hesitated and dragged out his words.
"There’s no need to hold back. Just say it.”
"Yes, um. Student Sung-Hyun saw the evidence and had a seizure."
"A seizure?"
"Explain what you’ve found out."
"Yes, sir. First—"
His subordinate began reporting the results of the investigation.
Firstly, the pictures on Sung-Hyun's phone were identical to those on Jun-Min's phone. There were also records of him calling and texting Jun-Min.
It was clear evidence that Sung-Hyun had been involved in the Jun-Min case.
There were many other bizarre things on Sung-Hyun's phone. There was a picture of a naked male student with their hands behind their back while exposing their private parts, and there was a torture video of him breaking a male student's bones and repeatedly using healing to reattach the bones. Other than that, there were a few other videos with similar content.
"Is it school violence?"
"It seems to be the case."
"Well, expose this as well."
"Um, but sir..." the subordinate paladin mumbled.
"What? What’s the problem? Hurry up and tell me, don't hesitate.”
"Isn’t the suspect in the case Bae Sung-Hyun, the only son of the chairman of the dBP company?"
"Correct. So?"
"Bae Jung-Hwan, chairman of the dBP company, is coming here. He is expected to arrive in ten minutes."
"What? No, what the fu..."
Knock, knock.
At that moment, there was a knock at the door. Han Dae-Ho, who was about to curse, suddenly stopped talking. Cold sweat from his forehead flowed down his temples and down to his chin. A deep silence filled the director’s office.
"Is the director here? This is Bae Jung-Hwan.”
Before Han Dae-Ho could answer, Bae Jung-Hwan opened the door and entered the director’s office.
"Nice to meet you. I said I'd be here in ten minutes, but I’m a bit impatient, you see," Bae Jung-Hwan said with a smile. It was a gentle and warm smile, yet it also felt somewhat cold.
When Bae Jung-Hwan slowly asked for a handshake, Han Dae-Ho hurriedly shook his hand.
"Good morning. I’m the Seoul Paladin Order Eastern Branch director Han Dae Ho."
"Yes, hello. You're quite big. Hahaha."
"Ah, yes. Haha...”
Bae Jung-Hwan and Han Dae-Ho were both laughing, but the atmosphere was strangely competitive.
"I heard you were newly inaugurated this time. How's your job? It's really difficult, right?”
"Not at all, thank you." Han Dae-Ho smiled awkwardly. Bae Jung-Hwan cleared his throat with a cough.
“Well, if the introductions get too long, it’ll get boring. Let’s get straight to the point.”
"What?"
"I heard that my son is being held as a victim. I don't know the details, but please take good care of him."
"Ah... Yes, of course,” Han Dae-Ho replied bitterly.
Maintaining his subtle smile, Bae Jung-Hwan asked, "Right. I heard that the Seoul Paladin Order Eastern Branch lacks a lot of artifacts, is that correct?”
"We're not lacking that much. Just a little."
"You'll have plenty soon, as long as this situation works out well," Bae Jung-Hwan said while smiling coldly.
‘Bribery.’
Han Dae-Ho could easily guess the intentions behind what he was saying. Bae Jung-Hwan lifted his wrist and checked his watch.
"Oh dear, looks like I spent too much time here. I must have interrupted your work. I'll get going then."
“Haha, yes. Have a safe trip going back.”
“I look forward to the good news.”
Han Dae-Ho repeatedly nodded toward Bae Jung-Hwan, who was leaving the director’s office. Soon, after Bae Jung-Hwan had left the building completely, Han Dae-Ho flopped down onto his chair like a deflated balloon.
"Haaaaaaaaaaaaa..." he sighed deeply. His face, which had already been filled with worries, seemed to age another ten years after meeting with Bae Jung-Hwan.
His subordinate standing at the side approached Han Dae-Ho.
"Sir, are you alright?"
“Do I look alright to you?”
“Ah, um. No.”
Han Dae-Ho smirked.
"So, sir, how do you intend to proceed with the investigation?"
“...”
Han Dae-Ho remained quiet for a long time. There was silence in the director's room. Before long, Han Dae-Ho broke into a smile. It was a smile that seemed to indicate that he was either insane or resigned to his fate.
"How long has it been since I took office?"
"Unofficially, it has been two weeks. Officially, it’s been two days. It was reported today.”
"Yes, it hasn't been long."
Han Dae-Ho dropped his head. His mother’s delighted face came back to mind. It was complicated.
"It's too early to resign, right?"
"...Yes. No one will be able to blame you."
Han Dae-Ho sprang up from his seat.
"Yes. This is natural. This is the right choice.”
Then, he slowly nodded and started talking to himself.
"I don't even know what's natural. This shitty situation....”
“...”
Han Dae-Ho's sigh echoed in the director’s room. There was no sound other than that.