Devil Returns to School Days - Chapter 174: Head-on Breakthrough (6)

A moment ago.

An unfamiliar face appeared at the prestigious Daeyu High School in Gangnam.

Murmurs.

“Who’s that?”

“They’re not from our school, right?”

“Did they come looking for someone?”

The students’ eyes were filled with curiosity.

Wearing a distinctly different school uniform, the person walking confidently through the hallways piqued the interest of the onlookers. A silent procession followed, with the students of Daeyu High School trailing behind to see where this stranger was headed.

Finally.

[Class 1-2]

The stranger arrived at their apparent destination.

Without hesitation, they opened the door and glanced around the classroom, indifferent to the gazes of others.

“There you are.”

Step by step, they walked inside.

One student, who was laughing and chatting with friends, looked up in bewilderment as the stranger approached. It was understandable that he couldn’t make sense of it. A student from another school staring directly at him, along with the crowd gathering in the hallway—none of it made sense. Yet, not wanting to show fear, he contorted his expression and stood up.

Face to face.

The stranger, Kim Hyunsung, stopped walking.

Kim Hyunsung spoke.

“You’re Lee Cheongsu, right?”

“Who are you? Who do you think you are to— Ah!”

Smack!

He slapped him.

He already knew which school he attended and what he looked like.

Even so, after confirming Lee Cheongsu’s identity once more, Kim Hyunsung dismissed his attempt at retaliation and struck him again. The other students didn’t dare to intervene. Those who had intended to step forward froze, watching the scene unfold in shock.

“You’re wondering who I am?”

Woosh.

Thud!

He tripped him.

As Lee Cheongsu fell clumsily, Kim Hyunsung began slapping him repeatedly.

Smack!

“Tell your father.”

Smack, smack!

“That Kim Hyunsung came to find you.”

Each slap left his face in a worse state.

Despite being untouchable at Daeyu High School, Lee Cheongsu’s face was soon covered in blood. The students watching from the hallway were terrified and rushed to call a teacher. It was clear that this scene of unbridled violence could only be stopped by an adult.

Thud.

He released Lee Cheongsu.

Leaving the unconscious boy behind, Kim Hyunsung looked at the gathered students with his blood-streaked face.

Then.

“Aren’t you curious why I hit Lee Cheongsu?”

He flashed a grin.

* * *

This incident.

It couldn’t be swept under the rug.

Upon hearing that his cherished youngest child had been hospitalized, Lee Kyungchul immediately called Yoon Hyeon-min.

[What on earth happened here?!]

On the other end of the line.

A voice seething with anger.

After confirming his son’s condition, Lee Kyungchul couldn’t quell the rage building within him.

[Wasn’t Golden Circle’s security supposed to be flawless? The one who did this to my son is none other than Kim Hyunsung. The same person who caused chaos with the officetel incident that made the entire nation reel, making us all suffer to manage the aftermath. How did he even find my son? There’s no way he would dare do such a thing without knowing that Congressman Lee Kyungchul is connected to Golden Circle, is there?]

His anger.

Completely justified.

Being associated with a group like Golden Circle could be politically ruinous, even if just a rumor. Unlike Lim Chul-hyung, he didn’t confront the matter in person, but his rage was valid. Yoon Hyeon-min should have accepted and appeased it, but he didn’t feel like doing so now.

“Shut your mouth.”

[What did you just say? How dare you…?]

“I said shut your mouth.”

Lee Kyungchul?

Yes, he was a heavyweight politician.

But he had only risen to his current position by feeding off the money from the Taeyang Group, ultimately making him nothing more than a puppet who had to follow Yoon Hyeon-min’s orders. That’s why Yoon Hyeon-min couldn’t entertain his anger now. Kim Hyunsung’s actions had sparked a new fury in him.

“Whether it’s Lim Chul-hyung or you, keep your judgment straight. You’ve all been feasting on my money without any risk, and now you’re acting like this is solely my fault? You know very well. We’re in this together, sharing the same fate. We’re not in a superior-subordinate relationship where only one side bears responsibility. When there’s a problem with Golden Circle, we all shoulder the consequences and think through them together. Got it? If you want to continue your political career, remember that the world has changed.”

Silence fell over the line.

After a long pause, Lee Kyungchul spoke in a tense voice.

[…So what do you plan to do?]

He had conceded.

Yoon Hyeon-min was clever.

Over the years, running Golden Circle, he had received so much that no one could confront him now. The idea of a shared destiny wasn’t wrong. That Yoon Hyeon-min was the true master of Golden Circle had become a fact that powerful figures had to work to conceal for their survival, taking joint responsibility.

That was the line.

Drawing it, Yoon Hyeon-min offered a carrot.

“There’s no need for concern. The reason Kim Hyunsung is acting out so much is that he’s desperately fighting as his limbs are cut off. He’ll be dealt with soon.”

[…I trust you.]

“Yes. Just as always, trust in me.”

Click.

The call ended.

It was a satisfactory outcome.

This was unprecedented, stirring figures like Lim Chul-hyung and Lee Kyungchul, but it also allowed Yoon Hyeon-min to reorganize the internal power structure. It confirmed that he held the reins. As this event became quietly known, those in Golden Circle would have to face the reality.

There was no turning back.

They would have to compromise for survival, aware of the profits and the leash already in his grip.

He called his secretary.

“Use this incident to expel Kim Hyunsung. It’d be even better if he dies as a dropout.”

“…There’s a problem.”

“A problem?”

His eyes narrowed unpleasantly.

The word “problem” grated on him now, given the constant issues.

The secretary spoke.

“According to Daeseong Mirae High School, Kim Hyunsung has already expressed his intent to drop out.”

* * *

At that moment.

Kim Hyunsung was in the interrogation room.

The officer smirked as he looked at him.

“Well, well. Usually, you act like the police don’t scare you, but this time you’re exercising your right to remain silent?”

Throughout the questioning.

Kim Hyunsung kept his mouth shut.

Calling a lawyer would have made sense, but Kim Hyunsung didn’t even attempt to contact one.

The officer was confident.

The evidence was clear.

The Park Min-cheol case had required fabrication to frame him as the perpetrator, but this incident had unfolded in front of the students at Daeyu High School. There was no way out. Especially since Lee Cheongsu’s father was Congressman Lee Kyungchul, the police felt they could take a hard line.

Just then.

The officer received a call and handed the phone to Kim Hyunsung.

“Take it.”

As if expecting it.

Kim Hyunsung accepted the phone.

A familiar voice spoke from the other end.

[What are you thinking?]

“What else? Exactly what you see.”

[I don’t know how you found out about Congressman Lee Kyungchul, but targeting his son like a desperate act to provoke chaos? Foolish. Do you really think such tactics can dismantle a power structure built over years? When you take a step back and look at the big picture, you’re insignificant. Kim Hyunsung, you should have stayed in school.]

He smirked.

The voice openly mocked Kim Hyunsung.

[You knew, didn’t you? The only reason we didn’t touch you was that it wasn’t worth the risk. Now that you’ve thrown away your student status, whatever happens, your story will end in failure.]

Kim Hyunsung’s withdrawal was a surprising move but, unequivocally, his worst misstep.

It was over.

The reason for severing Kim Hyunsung’s ties, stripping him of his background, and cornering him was to remove his status as a student. But he volunteered for expulsion. Such a laughably foolish choice. Yoon Hyeon-min realized again that his adversary was just a naïve minor.

This would be the last call.

After this, Yoon Hyeon-min intended to exclude Kim Hyunsung completely.

Then.

“Sorry, but you can’t touch me now.”

[So you have a plan.]

“Of course. Without preparation, dropping out would be like asking to be killed.”

He glanced at the officer.

Then he smirked visibly.

“Check out today’s Jeongan Ilbo article. You’ll find an interesting story.”

* * *

The headline of the article was provocative.

[There Exists a Social Hierarchy in This World.]

The newspaper was Jeongan Ilbo.

The article was written by Bang Hyuntae.

[One day, I received a tip-off. Daeyu High School, a renowned institution in Gangnam, is essentially ruled by Congressman Lee Kyungchul’s third son, Lee Cheongsu. The reality was shocking upon verification. Lee Cheongsu received preferential treatment like a king at school. Whether he was late, left school at will, or bullied classmates, he faced no consequences. Last year, a student even ran into the street after being bullied by Lee Cheongsu, yet the school did not investigate or convene a disciplinary committee. This proves that a social hierarchy still exists in this world. Would Daeyu High School have allowed such power and freedom if Lee Cheongsu’s father wasn’t Congressman Lee Kyungchul? No one would agree.]

The article was scathing.

It directly named Lee Kyungchul and Lee Cheongsu, harshly criticizing them.

[Recently, school violence has become a social issue. If the children of influential figures are exempt from punishment, as with the infamous Gangnam officetel incident, society’s problems will never be resolved. On behalf of victims, we ask Daeyu High School: why is Lee Cheongsu not punished? If you claim innocence, the next article will provide evidence of his misdeeds.]

It was a pointed exposé.

Jeongan Ilbo had built its reputation with bold reports, but openly targeting individuals was unprecedented. Despite potential legal repercussions, Bang Hyuntae took the risk.

It wasn’t just any newspaper; it was Jeongan Ilbo.

Renowned for its credibility, this article rapidly became a focal point of public interest.

Naturally.

Other media outlets got involved.

Those influenced by Golden Circle countered that Jeongan Ilbo’s piece was baseless and intended to defame Congressman Lee Kyungchul. The situation quickly spiraled into chaos. False reports spread, and people were unsure of what to believe.

That was enough.

Mentioning Lee Kyungchul’s name.

Planting doubt.

This was what Kim Hyunsung wanted from Jeongan Ilbo.

* * *

The call was still ongoing.

Kim Hyunsung spoke.

“If anything happens to me now, people will be curious regardless of how many news stories you manipulate. The protagonist of the Gangnam officetel case targeted Congressman Lee Kyungchul’s son, beating him ruthlessly, only to suddenly disappear? If Jeongan Ilbo reports on it, people will ask questions. Why did Kim Hyunsung go after Lee Cheongsu? Who’s behind the school violence, starting with the officetel incident? And where did Kim Hyunsung go?”

The spotlight would be inevitable.

No amount of power could suppress the ensuing wave.

At this moment.

Kim Hyunsung needed time.

Time to perfect his plan to defeat Yoon Hyeon-min.

Kim Hyunsung said.

“Go ahead, then. I’m right here. If you want, you can kill me now.” (TL Note: What a fking badass! )