Devil Returns to School Days - Chapter 187: The Long-Awaited Moment (7)

The place where Yoon Hyeon-min had departed, Kang Dongchul stared blankly at that empty space.

A sense of futility swept over him.

Six months ago.

After a decisive conversation with Kim Hyunsung, Kang Dongchul committed himself fully to investigating the Golden Circle, leveraging his network and capabilities. Who was behind it? What evidence could prove their existence and crimes? Despite his promotion to Deputy Chief Prosecutor, a position that rarely involved fieldwork, he threw himself into this with the same passion he had in his youth.

The result?

He collided headlong with a harsh reality.

While proving the Golden Circle’s existence was possible, there was no trace of evidence to incriminate those behind it.

“If not for Kim Hyunsung, I wouldn’t even have known Yoon Hyeon-min was involved. In the end, I’m nothing but a man who speaks big. While it’s circumstantially clear that Taeyang Group is behind the Golden Circle, proving it is impossible. As part of the royal family, they’ve ensured there was no legal vulnerability from the very beginning.”

He was extraordinary.

Both Yoon Hyeon-min and Kim Hyunsung.

Yoon Hyeon-min, backed by the formidable Taeyang Group, orchestrated such an elaborate scheme. And despite running the Golden Circle for over a decade, he left no evidence that could expose him. If even a Deputy Chief Prosecutor couldn’t uncover his identity, how could anyone else? Kang Dongchul couldn’t comprehend how Kim Hyunsung had managed to pinpoint Yoon Hyeon-min. For the first time in his life, Kang Dongchul, who had always felt exceptional, was stepping into an unknown realm.

As Yoon Hyeon-min had expected.

The press conference and investigation into him were premature.

Kang Dongchul knew he needed more time. Yet, he had willingly stepped into this chaos.

Kim Hyunsung.

When Kang Dongchul received his materials and called him, Kim Hyunsung had said:

“Make Yoon Hyeon-min officially deny the accusations. Leave the rest to me.”

It was absurd.

Kim Hyunsung viewed Kang Dongchul, who was once called a blade for slaughtering the corrupt and lauded as the Central Prosecutor’s Office ace, as nothing more than another puzzle piece to corner Yoon Hyeon-min.

Even after sharing his information, Kim Hyunsung openly expressed his low expectations for Kang Dongchul. Kang Dongchul couldn’t decipher his full plan. However, he recognized that Kim Hyunsung’s resolve to bring down Yoon Hyeon-min was unshakable, and that aligning with him was necessary to achieve their shared goal.

The stage was set.

For Kim Hyunsung’s scheme.

Kang Dongchul wielded his blade with purpose.

His actions to target the Golden Circle and Yoon Hyeon-min were never about resolving matters himself.

“I’ve played the clown role you wanted, so it’s up to you now.”

It was a powerless day.

Kang Dongchul couldn’t leave his seat for some time.

He decided he might visit the pojangmacha (street food stall) he frequented in his youth after work today.

—

Meanwhile.

Im Cheol-hyung was preparing for a press conference.

His phone was already turned off.

From the moment he announced his intent to call the press, calls flooded in from all directions. He ignored them completely.

“Hoo.”

His heart pounded.

His anxiety surged uncontrollably.

Was this the right decision? He still felt the unease boiling inside him, but he had no other choice. He had to proceed. Once the water was spilled, there were only two outcomes: either his opponent would fall, or he would.

At that moment.

An executive from Mirae Investment Securities assisting with the preparation suddenly approached him with a stern expression and handed him a phone.

“Take it.”

“Who is it?”

“Director Yoon Hyeon-min.”

“You bastard…!”

Im Cheol-hyung instantly realized the executive was one of Yoon Hyeon-min’s informants.

His pupils trembled violently.

He didn’t want to take the call, but after taking a deep breath, he answered with a determined face.

“Alright. What do you want to say?”

[Representative Im Cheol-hyung, if you’re planning to reveal insider information, stop immediately.]

“It’s too late.”

[No, it’s not. As long as you haven’t spoken a word, it’s not too late. Remember, what you’re attempting to do will turn the entire Golden Circle, including me, into your enemy. Do you think you can survive that? The moment your press conference ends, Mirae Investment Securities will lose all its clients and face a crisis. One day, when you’ve lost everything, you’ll meet me again. And that day will be the end of your life.]

It was an outright threat.

And it was credible.

If Yoon Hyeon-min said it, it would happen. His past actions had proven this, forcing members of the Golden Circle to obey his commands. Why defy this monstrous man when riches and glory awaited those who complied?

His mouth felt dry.

Even the gaze of the traitor beside him felt suffocating.

But.

“Yoon Hyeon-min, you bastard. If you wanted to control me, you should have left me some breathing room. Ever since it was revealed that Jung Chansoo was Kim Hyunsung’s informant, the Golden Circle has shunned me. Though I’m part of the Golden Line, I can feel myself being cut off like a loose end. How can I trust you with my life? If I’m destined to die anyway, I’ve decided to take you down first.”

[Are you sure you won’t regret that decision?]

“I won’t.”

Click.

He hung up.

Then, glaring at the traitor, he growled fiercely.

“Get lost, you bastard. You’re fired as of today.”

—

Six months ago.

Im Cheol-hyung had met Kim Panho.

Although they had quickly become close over drinks, the conversation they were having now threatened to destroy their relationship entirely.

“…What do you mean by that?”

“Exactly as I said. Soon, you’ll find yourself in a position where coexistence with the Golden Circle is impossible. Why not join my plan and carve out a path for yourself?”

Im Cheol-hyung felt suffocated.

Though Kim Panho wore a friendly smile, the sharpness in his eyes betrayed his cold intentions.

“I know your standing within the Golden Circle isn’t great. I’ve heard your influence waned after you recommended broker Jung Chansoo, leading to numerous problems. And it didn’t end there. Recently, you even personally visited Yoon Hyeon-min, only to fall out of his favor, didn’t you?”

“How do you know that…?”

Kim Panho laughed.

There was no longer any need to hide the truth.

“How do I know about Yoon Hyeon-min’s identity? Because of you, Representative Im Cheol-hyung. It was so obvious from your actions that anyone paying attention could figure it out. Let me be direct. I intend to risk my political career to expose and bring down Yoon Hyeon-min with the Golden Gate scandal. I can’t guarantee success, but one thing is certain: you will pay the price for drawing in Jung Chansoo and exposing Yoon Hyeon-min’s identity. So I’m offering you a chance. If you’re going to die anyway, why not bet on me?”

Only then did Im Cheol-hyung realize.

Kim Panho’s approach had been deliberate.

From introducing him to Jung Chansoo to drinking with him when his spirits were low.

Betrayal surged within him.

Though his body trembled with anger, Im Cheol-hyung was no fool. He wouldn’t lash out at Kim Panho, knowing the stakes were life and death.

Kill or be killed.

A peaceful future was not an option.

Im Cheol-hyung grabbed a trembling glass of whiskey and downed it in one gulp.

Thud!

“Damn it.”

He glared at Kim Panho.

His bloodshot eyes bore into him.

“What do you need me to do?”

“It’s simple.”

Kim Panho.

The reason he had bet his political career on Kim Hyunsung was because the plan was flawless.

“Expose the truth as a whistleblower. Your testimony will have an impact greater than any piece of evidence.”

—

Im Cheol-hyung walked into the agreed location.

The moment he appeared, flashes from cameras filled the air.

Flash.

Flash, flash.

His heart pounded.

Was this truly the right thing to do?

If Yoon Hyeon-min had shown even the slightest leniency or left room for redemption, he would never have betrayed the Golden Circle. Its downfall would harm him as well. But given the circumstances, there was no alternative.

He clenched his teeth.

Swallowing his anxiety, he faced the reporters with an exhausted expression.

“Before I begin, I want to state that I am ready to face judgment as a co-conspirator. In the past, I committed unforgivable actions, but I now stand here to repent and correct the truth.”

Silence fell.

No one asked questions.

All attention was focused on Im Cheol-hyung’s words.

“The Golden Circle. It is a real organization. I can confidently say this because I was part of it. The Golden Circle operates exactly as described by Kim Hyunsung. It is an organization where individuals often referred to as elites or those in power entrust their children to the system. The Golden Circle ensures their success, caring for everything necessary for them to graduate unscathed. This extends beyond the typical realm of improving grades—it involves ‘school violence,’ a phenomenon that shocked the nation. Yes, that’s correct. The Golden Circle’s founder envisioned a future where power was inherited by those connected to the cartel, under the guise of normalizing school violence.”

“Then, does this mean the Gangnam studio apartment case was a result of such orders?”

It was a question from the audience.

Everyone wanted to know.

Was the violence that had pushed a student to the brink of death rooted in a malicious intent?

Im Cheol-hyung answered.

“There are usually two reasons for targeting someone through school violence. Either the victim’s academic performance threatened the client, or the victim simply offended the client. Kim Hyunsung fell into both categories. From Cheonil High School onwards, he consistently thwarted the Golden Circle’s plans, even retaliating against the clients. The Golden Circle considered him a thorn in their side. When he transferred to Gangnam, the heart of the Golden Circle’s operations, it was necessary to placate the clients’ discontent by silencing him. The result was the Gangnam studio apartment incident. If Kim Hyunsung had died that day, the public might have been outraged, but they would have dismissed it as just another case of school violence.”

“What role did you play in the Golden Circle?”

“In the past, I was a client, just like others. Over time, I became a mediator connecting the powerful figures. I fully acknowledge my wrongdoings. Please take that into consideration.”

This revelation.

It wasn’t driven by a sense of justice.

The way Im Cheol-hyung repeatedly appealed for leniency revealed that he was simply fighting to survive.

“And regarding the controversial incident with Congressman Lee Kyungchul, it was also linked to the Golden Circle. Within the Golden Circle, there exists a special group called the Golden Line. Congressman Lee Kyungchul was, like me, a member of this group. The altercation involving Kim Hyunsung and Lee Cheongsu was not an isolated incident, but rather a consequence of the Golden Circle’s operations.”

“Representative Im Cheol-hyung. I have one final question.”

It was a reporter from Jeongan Ilbo.

Bang Hyuntae wasn’t present, but Im Cheol-hyung knew the moment had arrived.

“Is Yoon Hyeon-min, the heir of Taeyang Group, truly the mastermind behind the Golden Circle?”

It was a critical question.

All eyes focused on Im Cheol-hyung.

The reporters who had gathered in droves were there to confirm this very fact.

Im Cheol-hyung hesitated.

There was no turning back.

This was forbidden territory.

He wavered several times, but the ruthless hand of Yoon Hyeon-min pushed him forward.

“Yes. The Golden Circle, this heinous organization, was created by none other than Director Yoon Hyeon-min of Taeyang Group.”

Flash.

Flash, flash.

The cameras burst into light.

This moment marked the eruption of the Golden Gate scandal—a turning point in South Korean history.