Devil Returns to School Days - Chapter 128: The Nuclear Bomb Dropped on Seoul (3)

After the incident in the principal’s office, Jo Hye-joo had been losing sleep at night.

Whenever she forced her eyes shut, she would see Lee Mi-so’s contemptuous gaze staring back at her.

Suddenly, she jumped up.

“Ah, damn it!”

“Honey, what’s wrong?”

Her husband, startled awake, looked up at Jo Hye-joo with a groggy expression.

“…It’s nothing. Just go back to sleep.”

Jo Hye-joo quietly left the bedroom.

She stepped out onto the balcony and lit a cigarette.

“Fuu—.”

Since getting married.

She had quit smoking to maintain her image.

In the past, she had been a heavy smoker, going through two packs a day, so quitting hadn’t been easy. But on days like today, when she felt suffocated, she needed to draw in the smoke to calm her nerves. As the smoke filled her lungs, she finally felt her head clear. Just moments ago, her mind had been about to explode, consumed with thoughts of Lee Mi-so.

“Damn bitch. So, I’m not needed anymore, is that it?”

What infuriated her even more was the behavior of her followers.

Ever since the incident, they had begun trailing behind Lee Mi-so, hoping to gain some crumbs of favor from her.

Whenever she ran into them at the cafe they used to frequent.

They would give her a quick, embarrassed nod before scurrying off to follow behind Lee Mi-so, and Jo Hye-joo’s insides would churn with anger. Just a year ago, Lee Mi-so and her group couldn’t even compare to hers. Jo Hye-joo wielded considerable influence back then, but everything changed when the status of the Sky Moms Cafe soared.

Everyone was now trying to impress Lee Mi-so.

Some families were certainly more prestigious than Lee Mi-so’s, but when it came to their children’s education, they were all at her mercy.

“You messed with the wrong person.”

Sizzle.

She put out the cigarette and lit a new one.

Even though Lee Mi-so had thrown her some scraps like feeding a dog, it wasn’t enough to soothe the boiling anger inside her. This was a matter of pride. She wasn’t happy about Kim Hyun-seong transferring in and changing the school’s dynamic, but she couldn’t just let herself be pushed around for the next year to finish well.

But to confront her openly?

That would be foolish.

She had to show a friendly face up front to avoid backlash.

She opened her phone and scrolled down her contacts.

**[Park Hyung-jun]**

Several years ago a relationship was forged through a very secretive deal.

It was the middle of the night, but she didn’t care if he was asleep or not.

Jo Hye-joo started typing a message.

* * *

**Gangnam Avenue.**

On a busy street filled with more people than the eye could see, stood a colossal building whose top seemed unreachable even if one craned their neck back.

People certainly knew the name of this building. It was the headquarters of “Taeyang Group,” a company ranked third in the Korean business world and widely recognized as a major conglomerate.

**Taeyang Electronics.**

**Taeyang Motors.**

**Taeyang Life Insurance**, and more.

There were several companies under its name.

In surveys conducted among job seekers in South Korea, it consistently ranked among the top three companies they most wanted to work for, just like its rank in the business world. With welfare and salaries befitting a conglomerate, those who managed to pass through the narrow gate into Taeyang Group were having yet another busy day today.

Inside the silent office only the sound of keyboards clattering filled the air.

Clack.

Clack-clack.

People say that working for a major company is everyone’s dream.

But once inside, it’s just another company, and employees had to endure the high workload that came with the high salary.

Then it happened.

There was a commotion outside.

“The Director is coming in!”

A middle-aged department head ran over, shouting, and the employees immediately stopped what they were doing and stood up.

Soon enough a group appeared.

As everyone bowed their heads, the man at the front raised his hand.

“Continue with your work.”

The man smiled.

He appeared to be in his mid-30s.

With his hair slicked back neatly, a clean-cut look, and eyes that curved into a pleasing shape when he smiled, he had a universally appealing appearance. His attire was immaculate as well. With a suit pressed so sharply it seemed like it was ironed every morning and a pristine white shirt, he was someone you couldn’t help but look up to from a distance.

As the man passed by.

People slowly returned to their seats.

The female employees blushed and whispered.

“…He’s really, ridiculously handsome.”

“I’m still amazed every time I see him. How can a conglomerate heir look like that? And he’s got such a great personality too. I swear, if I could marry the Director, I could endure even the worst in-law hardships.”

“Me too, me too.”

“Idiots. Do you think you have a chance? There must be a truckload of rich girls trying to woo the Director.”

The man’s identity.

He was Yoon Hyun-min, the heir of Taeyang Group.

Since childhood, he had effortlessly ranked first nationwide in every exam and entered Korea University with a perfect score on the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT). He grew up to be the pride of Taeyang Group and naturally inherited the position of successor. It also helped that Chairman Yoon Jin-mo, the head of Taeyang Group, had no other children. People often said that Yoon Hyun-min, their only child, was more valuable than having ten children.

After graduating from university, he immediately joined Taeyang Group.

Initially, he didn’t reveal his identity, but Yoon Hyun-min quickly climbed the ranks, proving his abilities with impressive achievements.

As a result, he was promoted to executive director in his mid-30s.

It wasn’t simply because he was the heir; his achievements made it impossible for anyone to deny his capability.

So much so, that even without the title of heir, he was said to have the skills to become the youngest executive.

Yoon Hyun-min quickly made his way to his office.

He was accompanied only by his secretary, and as soon as the door closed, the employees finally looked away and focused on their tasks.

Alone in the room with just his secretary, Yoon Hyun-min’s expression changed completely.

His previously pleasant demeanor turned cold as he frowned.

“Say it again. What’s the situation right now?”

* * *

Thud.

He sat down.

Spinning his chair around, Yoon Hyun-min propped his legs up on the desk, looking up with a cold gaze.

The secretary swallowed hard.

This reaction from Yoon Hyun-min was dangerous.

It was a situation like the calm before the storm, but he knew that hesitation would only provoke further anger.

The secretary spoke.

“…It seems a problem has arisen. A few days ago, we received a request from a client to ‘take care of’ a student named Kim Hyun-seong, who will soon be entering Daesung Future High School. Up to that point, there were no issues, but it turns out that this Kim Hyun-seong was previously a target of the Golden Circle. The broker in charge at the time was Kang Tae-goo, and after he failed the job, Jeong Chan-soo, who is now in charge of VIP clients, was assigned and reported that the matter had been resolved perfectly. However, upon further investigation, we found that was not the case.”

“Continue.”

“The request was a complete failure. The client’s identity was exposed and retaliated against, and all related parties appear to have been taken down by Kim Hyun-seong’s revenge. The reason the truth hasn’t been revealed until now is that both Broker Jeong Chan-soo and Choi Tae-joon, the mercenary hired to handle Kim Hyun-seong, were seemingly bought off. Jeong Chan-soo falsely reported that the task was completed, and as soon as the truth was discovered, we tried to locate him, but he had already vanished, having covered his tracks completely. Given the speed and decisiveness of his actions, it’s possible that his continued presence in the Golden Circle had a ‘purpose’.”

A purpose.

It was a cautiously mentioned word, but neither the secretary nor Yoon Hyun-min was unaware of the truth.

There was a clear purpose.

Otherwise, there was no reason for Jeong Chan-soo to report falsely, nor for him to disappear so suddenly after managing a critical position. Especially since he had gotten into the inner circle through the line of Im Cheol-hyung, the chairman of Cheonsang. It was a rather unexpected connection for a mere broker, and now it needed to be investigated.

“So, what’s the conclusion?”

“I’m sorry!”

The secretary bowed his head.

Apologizing was all he could do.

Yoon Hyun-min turned his body.

Looking out the window, he saw people passing by like ants.

“So, you’re saying this problem has already spread beyond our control.”

He laughed.

This was a troublesome situation.

A real pain in the ass.

* * *

The owner of the Golden Circle.

People didn’t know who he was.

There was always speculation, but he had never once revealed his identity directly.

Only a select few among the VVIPs knew Yoon Hyun-min’s identity.

Several years ago, they had asked Yoon Hyun-min this question.

“Why are you even doing this? With your background and abilities, you have no reason to step into this dirty mess.”

It was a reasonable reaction.

Yoon Hyun-min was the heir who met the group’s expectations, and since his father had no other children, there was no fierce competition for succession. He had no reason to struggle, no reason to recklessly engage in dangerous activities. As someone expected to inherit the chairman’s position as a matter of course, there was no reason for him to leave a dangerous stain like the Golden Circle.

If discovered, this wouldn’t be a trivial issue.

It would not only cost him his position as heir but also require him to take on even greater responsibility.

To this logical question, Yoon Hyun-min replied.

“In South Korea, inherited connections like academic ties, regional ties, and bloodlines are more important than anything. The reason I’m able to face you all here isn’t because I’m the owner of the Golden Circle, but because I’m the heir to Taeyang Group. But do you know when those who have everything are most vulnerable? It’s when their children are in school. Because they can’t fully control their children’s education, they spend fortunes trying to ensure success. Which means, if we leverage the school days of the powerful, we can establish significant connections. And compared to the work I’ll need to do as the future successor, this is a ridiculously good return on investment, isn’t it?”

“The Golden Circle wasn’t born out of scarcity or need.

Yoon Hyun-min, who had ample power and wealth, was strong and had excellent relationships, envisioned a new future as he watched his friends.

Perpetrators and victims.

The strong and the weak.

Survival of the fittest existed even in schools.

Just stepping up once for the victims, they looked at him like a savior.

What a beautiful situation.

The Golden Circle was born this way.

People thought the Golden Circle began from the “bottom of life,” but Yoon Hyun-min had been at the pinnacle from the moment he was born. A life destined for success. When he created a sanctuary for the elite like the Golden Circle, people joined without a second thought. The reason the Golden Circle, which was inherently a weak point for everyone, could establish itself was that its owner was Yoon Hyun-min.

A failed request.

Yoon Hyun-min’s gaze turned cold.

It was a dangerous problem.

If this truth spread?

The Golden Circle members would be shaken.

Realizing their identities might be exposed, they might cause uncontrollable variables.

“That can’t happen.”

For the foreseeable future.

The Golden Circle must be maintained to secure his place as chairman and build an impregnable empire.

The Golden Circle, which allowed the formation of a cartel with minimal effort, was an irresistibly attractive existence.

“…Kim Hyun-seong.”

He was an interesting figure.

According to the report, not only had Kim Hyun-seong defeated his opponents after being targeted, but he had also taken over an entire area called Daesan. His moves were unusual. What was the reason for him to transfer to Seoul, rather than aiming for a safe graduation, after going to such lengths to conceal the truth, including buying off Jeong Chan-soo?

It was malice.

His target was clearly the Golden Circle.

And such intent was utterly laughable.

Did he know that the Golden Circle was not a simple organization?

Rather than just a parents’ association for their children, it was a complex web of powerful people, including himself. No matter how much he tried to expose or attack it, it was an unbreakable fortress. If he reported it to the police, the commissioner would intervene; if he reported it to the prosecutors, the chief prosecutor would step in; if he tried to manipulate public opinion, major media outlets would stand in his way; if he sought political support, prominent figures would counter him. All were under his influence.

So how on earth could this fight even take place?

The danger wasn’t the fall of the Golden Circle, but the fear that the loss of trust might prevent the group from growing any further.

That was it.

A mere high school student’s defiance was no real threat.

Yoon Hyun-min spoke.

“Give him exactly one month after the school term begins.”

He met the secretary’s eyes.

Yoon Hyun-min’s orders were absolute.

They must be carried out.

If not.

“Handle Kim Hyun-seong within that time. No matter what.”

“Understood.”

The secretary and the others involved would face severe consequences.