Chapter 137: Evil Begets Evil (5)
The atmosphere was familiar.
Adults waiting for an answer, their eyes filled with malice, ready to refute whatever was said. **Kim Hyun-seong** found it incomprehensible. How could people live, harming others, and still sleep peacefully at night?
He couldn’t understand it.
The difference between them and himself was clear: he only did what was necessary.
Kim Hyun-seong spoke.
“I admit that I hit **Yoo Yeon-ho**, but I disagree with the claim that my actions caused permanent disability.”
“What do you mean? Are you saying this medical report is wrong?” the opposing lawyer snapped.
“Yes.”
Kim Hyun-seong met the lawyer’s fiery gaze.
There was a possibility that the injuries were truly caused by his actions. Kim wasn’t gentle when he struck, but what mattered here was that the situation allowed room for doubt.
“I have two points of suspicion. First, when the violence occurred, there were no immediate signs of teeth being knocked out or any similar injuries. **Yoo Yeon-ho** didn’t even complain of such symptoms at the time.”
“Well, that’s…”
“And second,” Kim Hyun-seong continued, cutting the lawyer off, “This school, including **Vice Principal Jin Kyung-hee**, has a history of falsely accusing me. **Go Dong-su** and his friends falsely reported that I assaulted them, and the teachers took their side without investigating the truth. Do you all know why **Yoo Yeon-ho** picked a fight with me? It was because his friend **Go Dong-su** was suspended, and he feared expulsion would follow. Shouldn’t we consider the possibility that **Yoo Yeon-ho** may also be making false accusations?”
“How dare you!”
“**Kim Hyun-seong**, refrain from making baseless speculations!” **Jin Kyung-hee** and the others erupted, their voices rising.
It was classic deflection.
While Kim’s violence was undeniable, the resulting “consequences” were being debated. The fact that **Yoo Yeon-ho** had sustained permanent injuries and was undergoing psychological treatment was entirely plausible in the context of the assault. However, Kim Hyun-seong refused to accept that narrative. If he were to achieve his goal, he couldn’t afford to admit more than what was necessary.
He admitted to the violence.
But anything beyond that was excessive.
That was Kim Hyun-seong’s stance.
An uproar followed.
The lawyer representing **Yoo Yeon-ho**, along with the other participants, raised their voices:
“This is utterly vile…”
“He needs to be severely punished…”
“Look at his attitude! How can this be allowed…”
Kim Hyun-seong tuned them out.
He was in the room, but he let all the noise pass by.
The outcome was already decided.
After a series of exchanges that were supposed to represent a dialogue, **Jin Kyung-hee** finally delivered the expected verdict, without deviating an inch from what he had anticipated.
“**Kim Hyun-seong**’s violence is clear. Many students witnessed the event, and there is no doubt about the facts. Furthermore, his unrepentant attitude is inconsistent with the values **Daeseong Mirae High School** seeks to uphold. As the parents have pointed out, for such violence to surface, there must have been a pattern of violent behavior before. Considering that **Kim Hyun-seong** was involved in similar disputes at his previous school, I hereby expel him from this institution.”
Expulsion.
The word fell heavily, and **Yoo Yeon-ho**’s supporters burst into cheers.
* * *
The disciplinary committee was over.
After exchanging a few pleasantries with the others, **Jin Kyung-hee** returned to her office, where she received a phone call.
Click.
“[Thank you for your hard work, Vice Principal.]”
“I was just doing my job,” she replied.
The caller was **Park Hyung-jun**, the broker who had commissioned the task.
**Park Hyung-jun**, in an excited tone, continued, “[We understand that deciding on expulsion wasn’t easy. Thanks to you, we’ve been able to calm the clients’ anger. Since this matter was of particular importance to **Golden Circle**, you’ll receive a special bonus on top of the regular compensation soon. We also believe **Daeseong Mirae High School** would be best served with **Principal Jin Kyung-hee** in charge.]”
“Oh my, that’s excellent news.”
**Jin Kyung-hee** smiled brightly.
This was why.
The decision to expel a student wasn’t one she made lightly. It could have long-term consequences for her career in education. Yet, she had brushed aside any concerns about it. Even though some believed the expulsion might have been too hasty, she used her authority to push it through.
She had **Golden Circle** backing her.
They would clean up any mess.
Her gamble had paid off.
Golden Circle had rewarded her bold decision with a promotion to principal.
Click.
She ended the call, her smile widening.
“**Ahn Ik-soo**, you fool. What were you thinking when you made that ridiculous move? Tsk, tsk.”
In retrospect, it was a stroke of luck.
**Daeseong Mirae High School** had been **Ahn Ik-soo’s** domain, and he had maintained covert dealings with **Golden Circle**. When he accepted **Kim Hyun-seong** as a transfer student, he hadn’t anticipated the fallout. For that oversight, he had been swiftly removed, leaving **Jin Kyung-hee** to reap the benefits.
What a beautiful life.
She had seized the perfect opportunity to rise.
With the power of being principal and the wealth bestowed by **Golden Circle**, her life was set to climb several rungs higher.
“Nice.”
There was no need for a cigarette now.
Her heart was content.
Everything had fallen into place so easily.
The unease she had felt was nothing more than an overblown worry.
After several sleepless nights, she thought she might finally get a good night’s rest without needing alcohol.
* * *
The next day.
**Jin Kyung-hee** felt her mind freeze.
This couldn’t be happening.
She asked again, in disbelief.
“Say that again. What?”
“**Kim Hyun-seong** is at school. I told him clearly that expelled students are not allowed to return, but he’s completely ignoring me.”
“You… you!”
She shot up from her seat, her face flushed red with anger.
She had taken a massive risk with her decision, and now he was defying it by showing up at school?
It was unforgivable.
If this continued, it would undoubtedly escalate into a bigger issue.
She rushed down the hallway.
Students bowed as she passed, but she didn’t have the time or patience to acknowledge them with her usual smile.
Clatter.
Slam!
**3rd Grade, Class 3.**
She flung the door open, scanning the room until her eyes landed on him.
“You! What do you think you’re doing here? You’ve been expelled! Why are you at school?”
**Jang Won-gi** had been right.
**Kim Hyun-seong** was there.
He sat calmly, preparing for class, while the other students watched from a distance, clearly unsettled by the situation. When **Kim Hyun-seong** noticed **Jin Kyung-hee**’s seething expression, he simply looked at her with mild indifference. Even faced with her imminent fury, he showed no signs of distress.
“I told my homeroom teacher already—I have no reason to follow that decision.”
“No reason? That decision was reached through proper procedures! You’re just a mere student. This isn’t something you can contest!”
She shouted, her voice ringing out across the room.
It was loud.
**Jin Kyung-hee** continued to yell something, but **Kim Hyun-seong** didn’t bother listening closely.
“My lawyer will be here soon. So, why don’t you discuss the details with him? I have to prepare for class.”
He turned away from her.
His dismissive attitude was clear.
**Jin Kyung-hee**’s eyes twitched in fury.
* * *
Ten minutes later.
**Park Jong-su** arrived.
The lawyer who had been absent from the disciplinary committee now sat across from **Jin Kyung-hee** in her office.
“Explain this situation to me.”
“To be blunt, the disciplinary committee’s decision has raised significant controversy, and we’ve filed for an injunction to halt the execution of the expulsion. Since the expulsion has not been finalized, my client has every right to continue his education at **Daeseong Mirae High School**.”
“W-what? How is that even…”
“Want to hear something even more interesting?”
**Park Jong-su** grinned.
At first, he had assumed his role was to defend **Kim Hyun-seong** during the disciplinary committee. But after accepting the case, he found himself marveling at the meticulous plan **Kim Hyun-seong** had laid out.
“If the injunction is granted, the school won’t be able to do anything. Whether it’s expulsion or forced transfer, all actions will be ‘suspended.’ And do you know what I plan to do after that? I intend to drag this case out as long as possible. I’ll request delays, reschedule hearings, and if necessary, even switch lawyers. I’ll use every legal trick to prolong this process. In the legal world, this is standard practice. Many cases take years to resolve because of this frustrating bureaucracy. And by then, my client will have already graduated. Meanwhile, **Golden Circle’s** precious students will be left fuming over their ruined academic records. How does that sound? Fun, isn’t it?”
“You…!”
**Jin Kyung-hee** was caught off guard.
**Golden Circle**?
**Park Jong-su** had just openly referenced the organization.
Of course, they both knew of its existence, but for him to speak of it so openly was another matter. Her eyes darted nervously. **Kim Hyun-seong** really intended to go up against **Golden Circle**. Despite knowing that **Daeseong Mirae High School** was their stronghold, he had transferred here anyway.
**Jin Kyung-hee** shouted.
“Do you really think you can win? **Golden Circle** wields a power you can’t even begin to imagine. An injunction? Foolish. If you thought this would work, you shouldn’t have told me. You should’ve kept it quiet and prayed we wouldn’t notice. The injunction will never be granted. **Golden Circle**’s influence will ensure that.”
She regained her composure.
The moment they had revealed the injunction, **Golden Circle** could mobilize their influence to fight back. There was no way the system would work quickly enough to resolve this before they acted.
**Park Jong-su**’s face twisted into an unpleasant grimace.
“Damn it. You really do know everything.”
It was infuriating.
He had known **Kim Hyun-seong** wasn’t foolish enough to ignore the inevitable retaliation from **Golden Circle**.
His meticulous plan had no flaws.
That’s what made this so frustrating.
If **Golden Circle** were composed of reasonable people, ones who respected the law and fairness, **Kim Hyun-seong’s** strategy would’ve worked. But the reality was, just as it had been when **Park Jong-su** gave up his prosecutor’s badge, the system was still rotten and corrupt.
**Park Jong-su** slid a document across the desk.
“Take a look at this.”
“What is it?”
“The law doesn’t allow judges to make decisions arbitrarily just because they’ve been paid off. That’s why precedents are important. Judges are bound by earlier rulings. If they go against established precedents, we can appeal, and the judges’ careers will be on the line. And this…”
He tapped on the document.
As **Jin Kyung-hee** glanced down, she saw pages filled with case law.
“This is evidence that **Golden Circle** has exploited these loopholes time and again. Do you understand what that means? To block the injunction, **Golden Circle** will have to expose their dirty laundry to the world.”
