Devil Returns to School Days - Chapter 168: Fracture (5)

In an instant, countless thoughts raced through Hyunsung’s mind.

‘Why is Yoon Hyeon-min here?’
‘Is that really him?’
‘What’s his intention?’

The confusion stemmed from the fact that Yoon’s actions were completely out of character.

Think about it.

Yoon Hyeon-min was a meticulous person. He had never revealed his identity, even when confronted with unpredictable situations like Im Cheol-hyeong’s sudden visit. Instead, he had created a plausible cover with a well-timed article, maintaining his presence as a shadowy figure behind the scenes. And now, that same person was standing right in front of Hyunsung, exposing himself without any apparent need to take such a risk.

*Shhhk.*

Hyunsung took a step back, glancing around quickly.

The CCTV camera in the hallway blinked with a red light, still active due to the recent incident.

That ruled out the possibility of *murder*.

If Yoon intended to kill him, he wouldn’t have made the mistake of appearing at the crime scene in person. Hyunsung was sure Yoon knew that any trap would be anticipated. The unpredictability of Yoon’s arrival left him puzzled. Just as Hyunsung was lost in thought, Yoon smiled faintly as he studied him.

“You don’t need to be so scared. If I intended to harm you, I wouldn’t have shown my face.”

Yoon kept his distance, making no move to intimidate Hyunsung directly.

“Judging by your reaction, it seems like you’ve already figured out who I am, haven’t you?”

His sharp gaze scanned Hyunsung’s expression.

The recent incident at the apartment—Yoon had been impressed by how Hyunsung neutralized the threat and came out ahead. It was enough for Yoon to fully acknowledge him as a formidable adversary, no longer just a high school student.

With this acknowledgment came a realization: Im Cheol-hyeong’s erratic behavior might not have been a mere anomaly. While Yoon had issued the article to solidify an alibi, he couldn’t shake the possibility that Hyunsung had uncovered his identity.

That thought alone was enough to bring him here, face to face with Hyunsung.

“I caught a rat recently,” Yoon said, his expression unreadable. “I asked him why—why would a high schooler from the provinces, with no connections in Seoul, be so obsessed with the Golden Circle? He didn’t have a clear answer. But the way he described you, it was as if you were dealing with a lifelong enemy.”

Yoon’s voice took on a curious tone.

“I can understand your anger over what happened to you in Daesan. But it’s hard to fathom why you’d fight so fiercely all the way to Seoul. Blind hatred like that isn’t easy to sustain—especially not without a reason.”

Then Yoon’s voice grew quiet, heavy with implication.

“Hatred without reason doesn’t really exist, does it? And your hatred… it’s deeper than what’s visible on the surface. But no matter the reason, I came here to tell you one thing.”

Hyunsung’s expression hardened.

The air grew heavy with tension.

Breaking the silence, Yoon said calmly:

“I’m the one you’ve been searching for. I am the leader of the Golden Circle. So, now what? What are you going to do about it?”

—

It was a declaration that fell outside the bounds of anything Hyunsung had expected.

He couldn’t respond.

He didn’t know *how* to respond.

The sheer absurdity of the situation left him in complete disarray.

And then—

“Pfft… Haha… Hahaha!”

Yoon suddenly burst out laughing, his smile wide and amused.

He looked like he was genuinely enjoying himself.

“I’m just kidding,” he said through his laughter. “The real reason I’m here is to make you an offer. If your hostility toward the Golden Circle is something we can negotiate, I want to bring you into the fold.”

Yoon’s words were unexpected.

Hyunsung’s actions had been anything but ordinary. His precision and boldness had not gone unnoticed by Yoon, who saw him as someone valuable.

“You know as well as I do—our operations are full of unpredictable variables. We handle requests, and things don’t always go smoothly. But if someone like you were to join us, you could handle those variables with ease. You’ve already proven your abilities against the Golden Circle, and I value talent. If you accept my offer, all threats against you will disappear, and you’ll gain wealth and power beyond imagination. Sounds tempting, doesn’t it?”

“Why would you make me such an offer?” Hyunsung asked, narrowing his eyes. “After all the damage I’ve caused the Golden Circle?”

“That’s all in the past. You had your reasons, and I respect that. As far as I’m concerned, it’s your skills that matter.”

Yoon’s gaze didn’t waver.

He stared directly into Hyunsung’s eyes, as if reading his very soul.

“But if you’re thinking of pretending to join me to gather evidence—don’t bother. I’ll never leave any traceable proof against me. From now on, everyone close to you will be under my control. You can either live comfortably under my watch, or you can fall into ruin. The choice is yours.”

It was clear now.

Yoon Hyeon-min was not sane.

The man who had built the Golden Circle couldn’t possibly be ordinary.

With a sly grin, Yoon added, “I promise, life inside the cage won’t be so bad.”

—

For over ten years—longer, even—Hyunsung had imagined this moment.

He had often wondered what kind of person had orchestrated his nightmare.

Man or woman?
Young or old?

All he knew was that this person had to be extremely cautious—otherwise, some trace of them would have surfaced when the Golden Gate scandal erupted.

In some ways, he had been right.

Yoon was cautious, yes. But he was also audacious, bold enough to reveal himself now.

‘It must be confidence,’ Hyunsung thought.

Yoon had lived a charmed life. Born with every advantage, he didn’t need to wade into the filth of the Golden Circle to succeed. And yet, he had. Someone like him had probably never experienced failure in his life.

And that’s why…

That’s why Yoon could stand here, unmasked, and say, “So what are you going to do about it?”

He believed there would be no consequences.

Yoon Hyeon-min was evil in its purest form—someone who trampled others simply because he could.

*Tatatat!*

“Hyunsung!”

“Are you okay?”

The bodyguards Go Chang-beom had hired rushed over.

Hyunsung raised a hand to stop them.

Despite the tense situation, his mind remained cool and composed.

“Good,” he muttered. “It’s easier when there’s no hope for redemption.”

“So that’s a no?” Yoon asked casually.

“Yeah.”

The negotiation was over.

Yoon showed no sign of disappointment. He had extended his hand as a courtesy, and now that it was refused, he turned to leave without hesitation.

Yoon and his men moved toward the door, their demeanor shifting to something more dangerous.

The guards looked to Hyunsung for a signal, ready to block Yoon’s exit. But Hyunsung gave no such order.

The two men stood face to face.

Yoon smirked as he met Hyunsung’s bloodshot gaze.

“Go ahead. Take your shot. But we both know you’re not the type to kill and be done with it.”

Yoon had seen through him.

He understood Hyunsung’s nature.

“If you’re not going to act, step aside.”

Hyunsung didn’t deny it.

He stepped out of the way, watching as Yoon walked past him without a backward glance.

—

After dismissing the guards, Hyunsung refused their suggestion to move to a safer location.

“…Yoon Hyeon-min.”

He reflected on their encounter.

Yoon’s confidence, his audacity to make such a bold offer despite being an enemy, was unsettling.

Yoon wasn’t just privileged; he was a man of remarkable ability. It made sense—someone without skill could never have built a network as powerful as the Golden Circle.

With the confrontation behind him, Hyunsung knew one thing for certain:

The war had officially begun, and Yoon’s attacks would only escalate.

He could play along, act afraid, or pretend to compromise—but he didn’t want to.

He wanted to face Yoon head-on and shatter his arrogance.

To make him feel the same helplessness.

The same despair.

‘I’m at a disadvantage now.’

Yoon had power—enough to crush anything in his way.

He might use political pressure, or brute force, or take hostages. Something worse than what happened at Daesan could be on the horizon.

Meanwhile, Hyunsung’s plan was still incomplete.

Now that he had identified Yoon as the mastermind, he needed time to craft the perfect strategy.

*Hoo…*

He took a deep breath.

Strangely, he felt no fear.

In fact, he felt… calm.

This was the moment he had waited for all along.

Lying down on the floor of his empty apartment, Hyunsung stared up at the ceiling and slowly closed his eyes.

The sound of white noise filled the room.

The still air pressed against his skin.

He welcomed the familiar silence.

Memories from his time in the vegetative state resurfaced.

The countless moments he had relived in his mind—somewhere in those moments lay the key to victory.

And so, Hyunsung drifted into the darkness once again.

—

Meanwhile, Yoon Hyeon-min exited the building.

He didn’t care if the CCTV captured his presence. Even if Hyunsung had recorded their conversation, it wouldn’t matter.

Soon enough, people would ignore the Golden Circle, just as they always had.

Even if Hyunsung tried to expose him, Yoon had the power to render any evidence useless.

*Click.*

A driver opened the car door for him.

As Yoon got in, his secretary in the passenger seat spoke.

“…You took an unnecessary risk. There were safer ways to handle this.”

“Maybe. But I wanted to see for myself—wanted to test Hyunsung’s intentions.”

Yoon glanced at his own reflection in the rearview mirror, his gaze icy and calculating.

“There’s no doubt. That boy wants nothing more than to destroy me. If he was going to act, tonight was his chance. But he didn’t. He held back… because he’s aiming for something more than revenge. A simple death won’t satisfy him.”

Yoon’s eyes narrowed.

“The most dangerous ones are those who can keep their rage in check.”

He recalled the fire burning in Hyunsung’s eyes—the murderous intent, barely restrained.

“That kid… He was holding himself back from killing me right then and there.”

At that moment, Yoon made his decision.

“From now on, spare no effort. Take out Hyunsung and anyone helping him—no matter the cost.”