Devil Returns to School Days - Chapter 176: Half a Year Later (1)

It was already December.

As the cold wind made people wear thicker clothes, a tense conversation was unfolding in a Korean restaurant in Gangnam.

“So, are you saying it’s impossible?”

“…No, that’s not it. Considering public opinion, the process is just moving slowly. However, the corporate tax cuts for specific industries are progressing steadily. If this succeeds, it will greatly benefit the Taeyang Group. Just a bit more patience, and it will certainly be a success.”

It was Congressman Lee Kyungchul.

A man considered one of the most powerful figures in South Korea, showing signs of deference to the man across from him.

It was inevitable.

The man before him.

Before being the heir to the Taeyang Group, he was the master of Golden Circle.

Half a year ago.

Despite the internal issues caused by Kim Hyunsung, Yoon Hyeon-min turned the situation into an opportunity. He brought Golden Circle, which had been under strict control, into the public eye. Figures like Lee Kyungchul could have resisted, but the overwhelming power of Golden Circle made them step back. The complex web surrounding Yoon Hyeon-min, despite him being a ticking time bomb, offered unimaginable benefits.

Opposing politicians.

Competing corporations.

The so-called powerful elites.

All of them were linked to Yoon Hyeon-min.

He became an untouchable threat, and the powerful concluded that compromising with him was in their best interest.

The result.

Initially, a power struggle erupted within Golden Circle, but Yoon Hyeon-min managed to settle it, proving himself the true master. From that moment, he operated without reservations. By publicly brandishing the name of Golden Circle in everything from securing benefits for Taeyang Group to expanding the circle’s influence, those not aligned with it could only tread carefully.

The push for corporate tax cuts was no exception.

Taeyang Group had been investing heavily in future battery technologies, aligning with efforts to lower corporate taxes in this industry. The leading advocate was Lee Kyungchul, backed by significant lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties, who were either part of Golden Circle or promised benefits.

A massive cartel was taking shape.

Excluding conflicts and focusing solely on shared gains had become a reality through Golden Circle.

This was Yoon Hyeon-min’s vision of utopia.

He smiled.

The promise of success was music to his ears.

“This policy is something we’re all pushing for our collective prosperity. If Taeyang Group benefits, all members of Golden Circle will share in those gains. So please, endure a little more.”

“Understood.”

A perfect hierarchy.

Yoon Hyeon-min had become the true master of Golden Circle.

* * *

Lee Kyungchul left first.

Yoon Hyeon-min stayed back, savoring his meal.

“Is this what they call a perfect positive cycle?”

Golden Circle.

It was an intriguing organization.

Someone like Lee Kyungchul surely had the power to rally people and dethrone him.

But he couldn’t.

To take down Yoon Hyeon-min meant exposing Lee Kyungchul’s own corruption, and the problem was that everyone in Golden Circle was in the same position. Lee Kyungchul, Lim Chul-hyung, and others. None wanted to risk it, and without the backing of powerful allies already blackmailed by Yoon Hyeon-min, any rebellion was doomed. It was ironic. Yoon Hyeon-min had gathered so many weaknesses that he had become the ultimate untouchable figure.

Thus.

The cycle began.

While their vulnerabilities held them back, they accepted his demands and acted accordingly.

This only amplified Yoon Hyeon-min’s power, and as they hesitated, he expanded his influence further.

An iron fortress.

A colossal stronghold was being constructed.

Half a year later, even figures like Lee Kyungchul had adapted to this reality.

It was flawless.

In the midst of this success, there was one nagging issue for Yoon Hyeon-min.

He asked his secretary.

“What’s the status of Kim Hyunsung?”

“…He’s still unaccounted for. Even with law enforcement mobilized, there’s no trace of him. This means he’s not using any accounts or cards under his name. Unless we publicly put out a wanted notice, it seems impossible to locate him quickly.”

“The Kim Hyunsung I know wouldn’t give up like this. He’s resourceful and harbors deep malice toward me. He’s surely preparing something out of our sight. Stir up Daesan a bit more. Force him to come out of hiding.”

“Understood.”

The secretary bowed.

Over the past half-year, even Golden Circle had to stay cautious.

The external scrutiny and internal growing pains made it so.

Now, things were different.

Everything was in order, prompting the secretary to reply with confidence.

“I will ensure a satisfactory outcome.”

* * *

The secretary immediately called for someone.

Han Seungjo.

A new broker leading Golden Circle.

Once overseeing Cheonil, Han Seungjo now managed Golden Circle entirely after its boundaries dissolved.

“What’s the status with Daesan?”

A month ago.

The secretary had already issued orders.

Due to internal restructuring, operations had been paused, but Han Seungjo was tasked with finding Kim Hyunsung. He was ordered to target Kim Hyun-jin, his sibling who had to attend school, using Golden Circle’s methods.

‘Given Kim Hyunsung’s actions, it’s clear. The way he assigns people to watch over his family and uses the police shows that, unlike how he values his own life, he deeply cares for them. If his younger sibling is in danger, Kim Hyunsung will have to show up.’

However.

Now, a month later, Han Seungjo looked troubled.

“I handled it using our usual methods to avoid creating too much attention… but there’s been an issue.”

“An issue?”

The usual methods.

It meant transferring a Golden Circle student to a new school.

The plan was to bully Kim Hyun-jin at school, and they didn’t think Daesan’s influence would be an issue, considering how Oh Daehwan and Kim Youngcheol from Cheonil were dealt with as examples. Myungjin Construction had been under constant attack for half a year, deterring others from taking action.

Han Seungjo sighed.

He wanted to report positive results, but after a month, even he had no choice.

“Daesan. It seems their people haven’t given up yet.”

* * *

A month ago.

A student was transferred to Daesan Science High School under Han Seungjo’s orders.

Administrative processes moved smoothly, and S-Class student Jang In-ho began targeting Kim Hyun-jin as planned.

Smack!

“Your head looks damn annoying.”

In the hallway.

The moment he saw Kim Hyun-jin, he smacked the back of his head. (TL Note: Oh boy… Why did I hear the coffin dance just right now?)

The first altercation.

Kim Hyun-jin grabbed the back of his head and glared, but Jang In-ho smirked.

“What? What are you going to do about it? Gonna call your brother?”

This school.

Would no longer protect Kim Hyun-jin.

Although he had been untouchable because of his brother’s reputation, Jang In-ho, backed by Golden Circle, was different. He feared nothing. He needed to provoke more to draw Kim Hyunsung out.

‘The broker said if I complete this mission, I’ll get my own officetel in Gangnam.’

He was ready to risk everything.

Even if it meant killing Kim Hyun-jin, he would succeed.

“Hyun-jin, I’m warning you. If you want to survive, call your brother. I won’t stop until you’re dead.”

He grinned.

Just then, the bell rang.

Ignoring the furious Kim Hyun-jin, Jang In-ho returned to class.

He didn’t pay attention in class.

Classes meant nothing to him.

Then.

Creak.

Thud.

“Jang In-ho. Come out.”

It was the homeroom teacher.

Seeing the serious look on his face, Jang In-ho stood without batting an eye. Various thoughts crossed his mind. Maybe Kim Hyun-jin had tattled. Even so. Nothing would happen. Siding with Kim Hyun-jin would mean taking on serious responsibility.

As expected.

The teacher said.

“You hit Hyun-jin?”

“So what?”

“So what!?”

The teacher’s face twisted in anger.

He rolled up his sleeves and grabbed a stick.

“Get down.”

“Teacher, I think you’re mistaken. If you touch me, you know what will happen. Don’t do something foolish. You might end up like Cheonil’s Oh Daehwan and Kim Youngcheol. You’ll end up in jail.”

He openly mocked him.

He expected the teacher to back down.

But unexpectedly, the teacher looked at him coldly.

“You little bastard, threatening a teacher? Get down, you damn brat!”

Only then did he realize.

Something was wrong.

With no other choice, Jang In-ho got down, and the teacher lashed him repeatedly until his backside was sore.

* * *

The incident with Jang In-ho.

Was reported immediately to Han Seungjo.

The fact that such a situation occurred despite the example set with Cheonil frustrated him.

He called the principal of Daesan High School.

He was displeased that such a thing happened after Cheonil’s case was used as an example.

“Principal, I was clear. When we arranged In-ho’s transfer, I said there would be appropriate rewards if he was left to handle things without interference. Yet, In-ho was beaten by his homeroom teacher today. How should I interpret this? Should I see it as defiance against Golden Circle?”

Golden Circle.

He mentioned it without hesitation. It was already an open secret, and at some point, Golden Circle had become an untouchable presence.

Teachers said:

If a student under Golden Circle’s oversight was in the school, the incidents involving them should be ignored, treating their presence as a special case. They only needed to be responsible for the rest of the students. That was the meaning of Golden Circle. To avoid jeopardizing their lives, ordinary teachers couldn’t risk opposing it.

He expected the typical response.

The principal bowing down and promising to fix things.

But the unexpected came.

[Are you implying that we would end up like Oh Daehwan if we defied you?]

“Those who know better shouldn’t ask such things. Yes. If this matter isn’t resolved properly, even if I have to fabricate corruption charges, I will ensure that your career ends. Not just with dismissal, but possibly spending your life in prison. Are you prepared for that?”

It was an outright threat.

He wielded a blade to the principal’s throat.

[That’s quite the threatening remark. Here at Daesan, that case is well-known. Everyone knows Oh Daehwan lived a despicable life, but seeing how he was blatantly taken down made us all cautious. Oh Daehwan, Kim Youngcheol, even a large company like Myungjin Construction… we saw how easily Seoul’s influence swept them away. But you should have stopped there. I accepted In-ho’s transfer not because of Golden Circle’s pressure but due to proper procedures. Vice President Go Chang-beom was right. You people won’t stop at once; you will drag us to hell forever.]

Something felt off.

The principal’s reaction didn’t align with someone cowed by intimidation.

[Do you think Daesan is just a pawn you can play with?]

His eyes narrowed.

Han Seungjo.

And Golden Circle.

Did not know that during the half-year that passed, significant changes had occurred in Daesan’s network.