Devil Returns to School Days - Chapter 170: Head-on Breakthrough (2)

After receiving Go Chang-beom’s call, Kim Hyunsung couldn’t respond immediately.

Since this was now a game of chicken where one side was bound to be destroyed, there was something he needed to say to Go Chang-beom first.

“Before I explain the plan, there’s something you need to know.”

[Why do you sound so grim?]

“A few days ago, the master of the Golden Circle came to see me. The fact that someone who had kept their identity hidden until now revealed themselves means they’re determined to eliminate me by any means necessary. And as you can see, it’s already happening. Both of us have been hit with lawsuits, and the real powers behind this country—the ones propping up South Korea—are trying to crush us. There’s no turning back now.”

A moment of silence followed.

Then, Go Chang-beom spoke.

[Who exactly is this ‘master’?]

“Yoon Hyeon-min, the successor to the Taeyang Group. He’s the one behind the creation of the Golden Circle.”

[What the hell…]

A curse slipped out before he could stop it.

Yoon Hyeon-min—who was he?

The heir to the Taeyang Group, a corporation on the verge of becoming the number one conglomerate in South Korea, and a man regarded as the epitome of the perfect son. Many believed he would shape the future of the country. Yet, his name had emerged in this unexpected context, leaving Go Chang-beom momentarily speechless.

The situation was more severe than he had thought.

Compared to the Taeyang Group, Myungjin Construction was insignificant. The sheer extent of the power Yoon Hyeon-min could mobilize was terrifying. Could they truly prevail? Could they hold out, relying on a mere high school student, against forces capable of commanding national institutions like the National Tax Service, the police, and the prosecution with ease?

His resolve wavered.

From the moment he decided to support Kim Hyunsung, Go Chang-beom had lost the luxury of making simple decisions.

Yet, he had a reason he couldn’t bring himself to compromise.

[Not long ago, I visited an organization that supports victims of school violence. After seeing what the Golden Circle had done firsthand, I couldn’t shake the discomfort inside me unless I did something. Do you know what I saw there? It was devastating. Kids who were once someone’s cherished children couldn’t even make eye contact. They cried over trivial mistakes, begging for forgiveness. These kids had become people who believed that was normal. The teachers told me that, no matter how much therapy they receive, most of them will grow into adults who remain trapped in their past.]

His voice trembled with emotion.

The more he spoke, the more his anger surged.

[It’s different for the perpetrators. They’ll live well. They’ve learned how to exploit others and crush them underfoot, so they’ll continue to get what they want without faltering. I know I’m not a righteous person. I’ve lived a far from exemplary life, but that doesn’t make me garbage like those bastards. Hyunsung, I’m the kind of idiot who has to say something is shit if it’s shit. And I trust what I’ve experienced. If it’s the Kim Hyunsung I know, you must have a plan for this situation, right?] (TL Note: Yoow! A true brother indeed!)

Go Chang-beom wasn’t cut out to be a corporate leader.

With his emotional way of running things, Myungjin Construction might one day collapse under the weight of owner risk.

And yet, for that very reason, Kim Hyunsung accepted him.

Kim Hyunsung responded,

“Understood. I’ll explain the plan from here.”

—

The next day.

A meeting of Myungjin Construction’s executives took place.

Chairman Go Myung-jin sat at the head of the table, with key figures like Director Kim Cheol-jin and others present.

“…This is the current situation.”

“Hmm.”

“Well.”

Go Chang-beom gave a brief explanation of the circumstances.

Though he omitted Yoon Hyeon-min’s involvement, he explained the existence of the Golden Circle and how their support for Kim Hyunsung had led to the current crisis.

The executives, who had thought the meeting was about loan issues, struggled to hide their confusion at the unexpected turn of events.

Go Chang-beom continued,

“Myungjin Construction is now at a crossroads. If we surrender to the Golden Circle and raise a white flag, they will accept us—but only if we participate in their future plans. Once we take that step, there will be no escape from their grasp.

“Right now, we’ve built a good reputation as a respectable company, which has contributed to our recent success. To maintain that reputation, we would need to ensure that the dirty dealings of the Golden Circle remain hidden. From a business perspective, it wouldn’t be wrong to align ourselves with power and take advantage of the relationship.”

“Are you suggesting we cooperate with them?”

“No.”

He locked eyes with Chairman Go Myung-jin.

They had already discussed this thoroughly before the meeting.

“The moment we let others control us, the company loses its vitality and can no longer move forward. I’m asking for your understanding. We may have gained the image of a good company by chance, but I want to lead this company in a way that aligns with that image. We should build homes properly because people invest their lives in them, and instead of hoarding profits, we should give back to society.

“My vision is for Myungjin Construction to become the best in the industry, earning trust in a way that leaves people with no choice but to believe in us. For that reason, we cannot entrust our future to a corrupt organization. Unless we refuse to compromise, we won’t solve the loan issues, and my personal lawsuits will return as risks to the company. But trust me—if we overcome this crisis, Myungjin Construction will emerge as a true conglomerate.”

Silence filled the room.

It wasn’t an easy choice.

Refusing to compromise could very well lead to the downfall of everyone present.

Yet, surprisingly, the decision had already been made.

Director Kim Cheol-jin spoke.

“Lately, even the junior employees have been saying they’re proud to be part of Myungjin. I’ll follow you, sir. If the road to a brilliant future is filled with thorns, so be it.”

“I agree. Honestly, the Golden Circle is nothing but a disgusting bunch.”

“So, what should we do from here?”

Sometimes, human morality leads to seemingly irrational decisions.

The executives’ lingering conscience pushed them to stand by Go Chang-beom.

Go Chang-beom knew this was a single moment of trust.

If Myungjin Construction faltered and found itself truly cornered, the warmth in the room would disappear in an instant.

And so.

“Thank you. I’ll make sure to live up to your expectations.”

Failure was not an option.

—

That afternoon.

Multiple media outlets in Daesan simultaneously released articles.

**[Myungjin Construction’s Charity Work Faces Sudden Crisis!]**
**[Banks’ Tyranny Crosses the Line.]**
**[Unilateral Repayment Demands—What’s the Real Motive?]**

**”Recently, Myungjin Construction’s projects have encountered serious setbacks. The reason? Banks have abruptly informed the company that they will no longer provide loans and demanded early repayment of existing loans. While it may seem natural for banks to decide who they lend to and when to reclaim funds, such actions during ongoing projects could be interpreted as an intentional attempt to bring down the company.

Despite these challenges, Myungjin Construction has announced that it will continue with its planned projects, including the ‘Myungjin Apartments,’ a charitable housing initiative aimed at providing homes for those in need.”**

A long time ago, Kim Hyunsung had warned Go Chang-beom:

**”Reduce dependency on banks as much as possible and avoid over-expansion. Make sure to secure enough internal reserves.”**

That advice had paid off.

Using their reserves, Myungjin Construction repaid the loans, and their ongoing projects proceeded without major issues. The most significant of these projects was the Myungjin Apartments. It had garnered government support and carried a strong message of charity—building homes for those without them.

The company’s decision to push ahead with the project won public approval.

Naturally, the banks’ hostile actions drew widespread criticism.

– “Are the banks trying to destroy Myungjin Construction on purpose?”
– “I’ve never seen anything like this. It’s absurd.”
– “It makes no sense to stop working with a sound company like Myungjin and demand early repayments in the middle of active projects. It’s as if they’re trying to force Myungjin to fail.”

In addition to this backlash, the public praised Myungjin Construction for continuing its charitable work despite the difficulties.

– “Myungjin is really something. Proceeding with the project using internal reserves?”
– “I’m telling you, there’s no company like Myungjin in the construction industry. They build homes for people, not just profit.”
– “Go Chang-beom is impressive. Look at how he handled that construction accident before. He’s not to be underestimated.”
– “As expected from the future chairman, Go Chang-beom.”

However, just as the favorable narrative began to take shape, the expected blow arrived.

—

The news hit simultaneously across multiple outlets.

**[Myungjin Construction’s Future Chairman, Go Chang-beom, Involved in Assault Cases!]**
**[Sexual Assault Allegations Surface—Details of That Night Exposed.]**
**[The Hero We Knew Was Just an Illusion.]**

Seoul-based media outlets covered Go Chang-beom’s scandal in detail.

Reports claimed that he was implicated in numerous assault cases, along with several sexual assault complaints. The public, which had been praising Myungjin’s charity efforts just moments ago, quickly turned against him.

– “Unbelievable.”
– “If all of this is true, he’s trash.”
– “Wasn’t Go Chang-beom notorious in Daesan for being a thug? I always thought it was strange how people suddenly started praising him.”
– “This explains why the banks stopped lending.”
– “This is the worst kind of owner risk.”

Myungjin Construction had become a lightning rod of controversy.

With all eyes on him, Go Chang-beom made a bold move: he presented himself to the prosecutors.

Click, click!

Camera flashes erupted from every direction.

Journalists swarmed around, eager to cover his every move.

In front of the prosecution office, the reporters bombarded him with questions.

“How did this happen?”
“Do you admit to the allegations?”
“Are all the accusations true?”

His heart pounded in his chest.

The hostile stares of the crowd, the relentless media attention—these were things most people could never experience.

Now that he had been thrown into the spotlight as a target for public scrutiny, Go Chang-beom took a moment to steady his breath.

He recalled his conversation with Kim Hyunsung.

That day, Kim Hyunsung had offered him a path forward.

**“If you try to hide your past, it will always come back to haunt you. No matter how unfair it feels, the years you spent living like a thug, the times you ended up in holding cells for fighting, and your history of hanging out in karaoke bars with women—those things don’t just disappear.

If you want to avoid future scandals, deal with all your owner risks now, before you become chairman. Take full responsibility for everything, and show remorse. Redemption is the only way to counterbalance past mistakes. People react harshly to those who refuse to reflect on their wrongdoings, but if you show genuine remorse—and don’t repeat the same mistakes—they might give you a chance at a new beginning.”**

Go Chang-beom lifted his head.

He looked straight ahead.

He still didn’t believe that he was a clean or righteous person.

But.

“Yes, it’s true that I lived like a thug. I won’t make excuses. I’ll cooperate fully with the investigation and take responsibility for any crimes I’ve committed. I sincerely apologize for causing concern with my personal issues.”

He bowed his head.

A head-on breakthrough.

Go Chang-beom chose to confront his past mistakes, opting not to run from reality.