Devil Returns to School Days - Chapter 165: Fracture (2)

Im Cheol-hyeong looked visibly taken aback.

The Taeyang Group.

A formidable corporation.

As the heir to such a group, he held power comparable to the highest authorities in Korea. Yet, the CEO of Mirae Investment Securities was not someone to be treated lightly, no matter who he was dealing with. That was why Yoon Hyeon-min’s accusatory tone provoked him. As the other side showed hostility, Im Cheol-hyeong couldn’t help but react in kind.

“Is this really the time to be nitpicking rules? Thanks to Kim Hyunsung’s media interview, people have started to suspect our backing for the first time. Everyone is dissatisfied. The only reason we’ve blindly trusted the Golden Circle all this time was because of its flawless operations. But haven’t we already failed several times over the matter with Kim Hyunsung?”

As a client, Im Cheol-hyeong believed he had the right to voice his concerns.

“If these failures continue, we’ll have no choice but to take drastic measures.”

“Do as you wish.”

“…What?”

“If you intend to leave the Golden Circle, I won’t stop you. The group I created exists for mutual benefit, not to act as anyone’s personal errand boy.”

Yoon Hyeon-min’s response was anything but submissive.

Im Cheol-hyeong had expected a reasonable reaction to his demands, but Yoon Hyeon-min instead retaliated sharply.

“CEO Im, you are gravely mistaken. If we are to reflect on these failures, it is not solely the fault of the Golden Circle. Do you remember what happened after you introduced us to Jeong Chan-su, who infiltrated Cheonsang? That man turned out to be Kim Hyunsung’s lackey. The leaks of internal information, the unfavorable circumstances we faced—all of it was caused by the man you vouched for. And yet, did I ever hold you accountable?”

Im Cheol-hyeong was left speechless.

Jeong Chan-su.

Even for him, it was a troublesome matter.

After that incident, he refrained from making any further requests to the Golden Circle for a long time.

“I never once blamed you. I even kept silent to others, pinning the failures on the Golden Circle rather than hinting at any deeper issues. Do you know why I did that? Because I believed we were in this together. Your problem wasn’t just yours to bear, so I saw no reason to stir up internal conflict. But now that you’ve decided to hold us accountable, what am I supposed to think? Should I bow my head and apologize?”

The message in Yoon Hyeon-min’s words was crystal clear.

This was not a simple superior-subordinate relationship.

Even if it had been so in the beginning, the current Golden Circle no longer operated that way.

Seeing Im Cheol-hyeong’s troubled expression, Yoon Hyeon-min pressed on.

“Well, if that’s the case…”

“Then trust us and wait. The Golden Circle hasn’t even shown its full strength yet. If we were the kind of group to be swayed by an individual, we wouldn’t exist as we do now. Isn’t it because you trust me that you’ve worked so hard alongside us all this time?”

The tables had turned.

Im Cheol-hyeong realized it instinctively.

Years of accumulated power and influence—

As Yoon Hyeon-min took the lead in the conversation, it was clear that their roles had shifted. Yoon was now far closer to being in control.

“The best thing you can do now is to calm people down, trust us, and wait. If you do that, we’ll meet your expectations, just like we always have.”

—

After Im Cheol-hyeong left, Yoon Hyeon-min immediately summoned his secretary.

“Deploy a few media outlets right away. Have them report that Taeyang Group and Mirae Investment Securities have been discussing some promising investments. That’ll give today’s meeting a plausible narrative.”

“Understood.”

The secretary left.

In truth, today’s incident was not a significant issue.

Im Cheol-hyeong’s dissatisfaction had been anticipated, but his personal visit was a concern. It was a sign of his perfectionist tendencies—his need to ensure no one could trace any private ties between himself and Mirae Investment Securities. However, for the first time, he had left a faint opening.

Of course, no real problems would arise.

It was impossible to establish a connection from a single meeting alone—nothing more than conjecture at best.

The real issue lay elsewhere.

‘It doesn’t sit right.’

Kim Hyunsung.

His actions bothered Yoon Hyeon-min.

If revenge was his true goal, why hadn’t he mentioned the Golden Circle to the media?

Given the information at his disposal, Hyunsung had enough ammunition to destroy most of the Golden Circle.

That made him all the more intriguing.

It was rare for anyone to escape Yoon’s control.

But Kim Hyunsung was different.

From Daesan to this moment, his movements had been unpredictable.

Despite facing challenges that would overwhelm any individual, Hyunsung consistently defied expectations, often delivering the worst possible outcome for the Golden Circle. Yet, Yoon Hyeon-min did not view this as an existential threat. If this were ten years ago, it might have been a different story, but the current Golden Circle was not a fragile entity prone to collapse from internal strife.

He was not merely an heir to Taeyang Group.

Yoon Hyeon-min had become a crucial piece in the intricate web of power surrounding the Golden Circle.

Both political parties.

Competing corporations.

These groups, despite their differences, benefited from him, making Yoon an indispensable figure in Korea’s power structure. Today’s conversation with Im Cheol-hyeong confirmed that. Though Im was a powerful man, even he had ultimately conceded to Yoon’s influence.

This was exactly what Yoon wanted.

He intended to tighten his grip on Korea using the Golden Circle as his foundation.

“If he keeps getting in the way, I’ll have to make a decision soon.”

Whether to kill Kim Hyunsung or accept him.

In the end, the decision was his to make.

And once made, it would become reality.

—

That afternoon, Im Cheol-hyeong drank alone.

Thinking about the events of the day filled him with rage.

“That arrogant bastard.”

He had kept his composure earlier, but the more he thought about it, the more Yoon Hyeon-min’s domineering attitude grated on him.

“So, he thinks he’s grown big, does he?”

Ten years ago, Yoon had been nothing more than an inexperienced kid. But as his position as heir solidified and the Golden Circle expanded, the dynamics had changed.

Leaving the Golden Circle would yield no benefits. Severing ties with Yoon would mean giving up all the advantages the group had brought him.

The losses would be too great.

And…

‘The fall of the Golden Circle would be catastrophic for all its members. If Yoon finds himself in danger, he’ll drag us all down with him. That cunning bastard. We stepped into this quicksand without realizing it, fooled by the benefits of the Golden Circle. But those benefits only last as long as the group holds together.’

Im Cheol-hyeong understood.

In this power dynamic, Yoon Hyeon-min was now the superior.

The profits the Golden Circle provided were impossible to relinquish, and the secrets Yoon held made him too dangerous to turn against. They were bound by fate.

Taking another drink, Im Cheol-hyeong accepted the harsh reality.

No matter how alluring the Golden Circle’s connections were, the chains that came with them were suffocating.

Gulp.

Clink.

“Still, I can’t just sit idle. I need a contingency plan.”

He picked up his phone.

He intended to contact the members of Cheonsang.

Just then—

*Bzzzz.*

[Kim Pan-ho]

An unexpected call.

—

One hour later, Im met with Kim Pan-ho.

At Im’s residence, Pan-ho poured him a drink.

“I heard what happened. It seems the man I introduced caused you some trouble.”

“You knew?”

“Yes. I apologize for not reaching out sooner.”

Pan-ho refilled Im’s glass.

Draining it in one gulp, Im slammed the glass down, venting his frustration.

Clink.

Pan-ho merely smiled, but his gaze remained cold.

“A politician must cherish every relationship. Only then does power have meaning…”

—

On the whiteboard, names were intricately connected.

Kim Hyunsung studied the relationships carefully.

At last, he wrote a name at the center of the board.

[Yoon Hyeon-min]

“It’s you.”

He had finally identified the owner of the Golden Circle.