Devil Returns to School Days - Chapter 185: The Long-Awaited Moment (5)

After Kim Pan-ho’s resignation, the media scrambled into action.

Shortly afterward, Prosecutor Kang Dong-chul abruptly called a press conference and, in front of a captivated audience, made a startling statement.

“I am aware there are differing opinions on whether the Golden Circle truly exists. Today, I will clarify that matter. The Golden Circle is real. Long before Kim Hyunsung and the alleged victims spoke out, the Central Prosecutor’s Office had already identified and begun investigating this organization. While we have yet to confirm who is behind it, the fact remains that a merciless group, paid to ruin students’ lives, does indeed exist.”

“Unbelievable.”

“This is a huge scoop.”

“Record everything!”

Flash. Flash.

Reporters surged forward like waves.

Kang Dong-chul—a man nicknamed “the butcher’s knife”—had openly confirmed the existence of a shadowy organization long considered conspiracy theory.

One journalist asked, “Does that mean Kim Hyunsung’s claims might be true?”

It was a sensitive question.

If what Kim Hyunsung alleged was true, then the Golden Circle had committed heinous acts to silence one high school student. Particularly the Gangnam apartment incident, where over a hundred students had reportedly been mobilized to kill him in broad daylight. If proven, this would be a staggering revelation—organized attempted murder.

The list of charges tied to this could be terrifying.

Kang Dong-chul met the reporter’s eyes with calm resolve.

This press conference was a calculated move.

Fully aware of the repercussions, he had decided to reveal everything before the Prosecutor’s Office could respond or intervene.

“There is a possibility his claims are true. As we are still in the early stages of our investigation, we will share more information as the facts become clearer. Finally, if, at any point, I am forced to cease this investigation or step down, please understand it would be due to external pressure from the Golden Circle.”

With that, he turned and left.

As he disappeared, flashes from countless cameras filled the room like waves crashing against a shore.

* * *

The Prosecutor’s Office—specifically, the Central Prosecutor’s Office—was thrown into chaos.

Right after the press conference, Kang Dong-chul was summoned by the chief prosecutor.

“Dong-chul.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Are you planning to go into politics?”

“No, sir.”

“Then why—why did you go and start this mess?!”

Crash!

A stack of papers flew across the room, momentarily filling Kang Dong-chul’s vision, yet he remained unflinching.

“I’ve reported this numerous times. The Golden Circle. I’ve insisted we need to investigate and eradicate them thoroughly.”

“I know. I understand, too. Do you think we’re ignoring them because we’re clueless? No. While the public may be uncertain about the Golden Circle’s existence, you and I both know that it’s very real. The problem is that they have influence within our office too. So what’s your plan now? If the investigation falls through, it won’t just be your head on the line; I’ll be at risk too!”

The chief prosecutor’s words hit close to home.

Kang Dong-chul respected him, aware of his good reputation.

But the chief prosecutor’s position prevented him from going after the Golden Circle.

Even a top prosecutor, like the chief himself, couldn’t afford to touch the Golden Circle without repercussions. This was a forbidden realm—the events of recent years had proven that. And with Kang Dong-chul being groomed as his successor, the chief was tormented by the risk he was taking.

Justice?

It was essential.

But for someone who went home to family each night, shouldering this responsibility felt like a step too far.

Kang Dong-chul replied, “I apologize for causing you trouble, sir, but I have no regrets about my decision. You once asked me why I seem so rigid. You said that as a prosecutor, it’s wise to maintain boundaries if one hopes to rise without complications. But for me, from the moment I took my oath as a prosecutor, I always kept my ‘end’ in mind.”

He looked directly at the chief prosecutor.

His gaze was calm and steady, with a fierce determination that words could barely capture.

“My father, and my family, have devoted their lives to the justice system. One day, my retired father told me something. He asked if I knew what it felt like to live without an ounce of shame under heaven. My father was a principled man, one who wouldn’t even jaywalk, who spent his entire career as an upright prosecutor before retiring. Being able to stand tall without a hint of fear means you’ve left no room for doubt in your heart. That feeling of security—never wondering what past misdeeds might come back to haunt you—is something I take pride in. While others falter when they look back on their past, my father never did, and neither do I.”

“Dong-chul…!”

“They call me the butcher’s knife. I don’t mind. If there ever comes a day when I must draw that blade, even if it costs me my career, I will do so without regret. Like my father, I want to be able to look my child in the eye and say I lived truthfully. Therefore…”

The blade had already been drawn.

This wasn’t a plea for approval; it was a statement of intent.

“I’ll take care of this case.”

* * *

Once the meeting concluded, Kang Dong-chul returned to his office.

Sitting down, he loosened his tie roughly.

Staring up at the drab ceiling, he recalled the chief’s final words to him.

“…Do as you see fit. If you’re ready to stake your neck, I won’t stand in your way. I’ll cover for you as best I can, but don’t expect it to last long.”

He was a good man.

Kang Dong-chul knew that his own rigid approach had only been possible thanks to the chief’s support. In most positions, social skills are necessary. Yet as a prosecutor, he could let his stoic nature prevail, something the chief had told him years ago.

Of course, age had softened the chief’s resolve.

Seeing him now, anxious and cautious of superiors, Kang Dong-chul could only empathize, understanding that this was human nature.

He opened a locked drawer and examined the file someone had sent him.

*Kim Hyunsung.*

Thud.

He tossed the file onto his desk.

The documents were filled with evidence tying the Golden Circle to numerous atrocities.

The sender? Kim Hyunsung himself.

Along with the documents, Kim Hyunsung had left a message for him.

*[I don’t claim to be righteous. You may proceed however you wish. Even if you choose to prosecute me fully, if you can deliver fair punishment based on objective evidence, I won’t hold a grudge. Act with the integrity you’ve shown me thus far.]*

Kim Hyunsung’s intention was clear.

Even if it meant he would be punished, he wanted the Golden Circle brought to justice.

When Kang Dong-chul first saw the documents, he felt a heaviness settle over him.

Even a man known for his stoicism found himself shaken, his emotions stirred by the depth of the records before him.

‘What kind of life have you lived?’

A poor background.

Top scores in the nation.

Had he settled for a more conventional life, he would have surely found success. Yet Kim Hyunsung had thrown himself into this battle without the safety net of a powerful family background. All to take down the Golden Circle. Regardless of his criminality, the achievements of this single high school student were undeniable.

Initially, he’d viewed Kim Hyunsung as no different from the Golden Circle.

Both seemed willing to destroy lives for power.

Now, he saw things differently.

‘The Golden Circle is true evil. They destroy lives without a second thought, whereas Kim Hyunsung, while flawed, has motives that resonate. It’s hard not to empathize with his reasons.’

He set Kim Hyunsung’s case aside.

The priority was eradicating the Golden Circle, not Kim Hyunsung.

“Whatever scheme you’ve set in motion, I’ll follow it. I’ll dance on the stage you’ve laid out, wielding my blade.”

The blade was drawn.

As the butcher’s knife, even if he only managed one strike, it would be a fatal blow to its target.

* * *

Public opinion surged.

The case, now dubbed the “Golden Gate,” had escalated with testimonies from victims and the actions of figures like Kim Pan-ho and Kang Dong-chul.

-There’s no doubt the Golden Circle exists now. Someone as high-profile as Kim Pan-ho wouldn’t resign without inside information. There’s something we don’t know.

-Just look at Kang Dong-chul’s actions. He’s known for being fair and relentless, yet he openly confirmed the Golden Circle’s existence in a press conference. I know Kang wouldn’t speak out without evidence. The question now isn’t whether the Golden Circle exists, but how far its reach extends.

Fear spread.

In everyone’s minds, a single name surfaced.

-Could Yoon Hyeon-min really be behind this?

-Wow, this is historic. If that’s true, this isn’t just about a corporate heir running a crime ring. We’re talking about the Taeyang Group’s future leader, someone meant to drive our economy, potentially at the helm of a massive crime syndicate. If Yoon created the Golden Circle, then we can’t predict where the Golden Gate might lead.

-It’s Yoon Hyeon-min we’re talking about. His connections likely include South Korea’s elite. If those people have been colluding under the name Golden Circle for over a decade, then who knows what they could have done? It suggests that behind South Korea’s facade lies an unimaginable reality.

Public opinion could no longer be silenced.

No matter how many comments they manipulated, the flames of curiosity and outrage continued to blaze, capturing the nation’s attention. Office workers on the subway, people on their phones, and even those idling at home were glued to the updates, hoping for the truth to come out.

-The fact is, this isn’t “someone else’s” problem. The Golden Circle could be a disaster that could strike anyone or reflect a hidden reality we’ve long suspected. People bullied around us could be victims of a Golden Circle scheme. We can’t let this case be buried like countless others. If the fire fades, even the greatest scandals eventually disappear like passing seasons.

The public’s yearning for truth felt like a tidal wave, poised to engulf the Taeyang Group.

Then, something unexpected happened.

* * *

The following day, the Taeyang Group made an official statement.

“We at the Taeyang Group are committed to actively cooperating in uncovering the truth behind the rumors circulating about us. I, Yoon Hyeon-min, and the Taeyang Group are not involved in these allegations. I will personally appear at the Prosecutor’s Office, submit to Kang Dong-chul’s investigation, and prove my innocence.”

Before the cameras.

Yoon Hyeon-min stood tall.

Just as he had confronted Kim Hyunsung, he now faced the Prosecutor’s Office, stepping into the limelight without hesitation.