Chapter 250

Whoosh-!

A breath so deep, no one could match it, followed immediately by a lock.

The veins on his temples bulged.

There was a time when he thought studying was the easiest and best thing he could do.

It was a delusion.

It was merely the only option for someone without the opportunity to showcase their talents.

Whoooosh-.

He exhaled a long breath he had been holding.

There was a time when he considered himself a conformist and straightforward person.

It was the arrogance of someone who lacked self-awareness.

Without the strength to resist, he acted like a smooth stone, trying not to stand out in a world that didn’t suit him.

Whoosh-!

He tried to appear indifferent to others’ opinions, but he secretly admired the reputation of being a brave soul who would speak his mind even to his superiors.

Even now, that seems plausible.

Hehe.

While running on the treadmill, he sometimes wondered if he had wasted his talent for running.

‘That’s for sure.’

Even running purely on human strength, he could easily overpower others.

The confidence that he wouldn’t fall behind anyone in training fueled his determination.

Whooosh-. He took a deep, forceful breath.

The well-polished track was good; no need to look down.

Just focus on the finish line and run.

A spiteful headwind challenged him as he sped up, but he tore through it effortlessly with arms that had once climbed mountains and rocks.

His upper body, once unbalanced and swaying to the rhythm, was now firmly fixed, launching like a torpedo.

Pewww-.

He slowly exhaled as he approached the finish line.

With it, his strength also faded.

‘Oh no-.’

He didn’t mean to lose all his strength.

It was a habit from the preliminaries and semifinals.

[Bang-.]

He was too fast; there wasn’t enough time to regain his strength.

And just like that, the race ended.

***

Jeon Gyeong-won, the chairman of the Athletics Federation seated in the VIP section, couldn’t relax and watch.

It was understandable that Yoo Se-ra, the chairwoman of the Sein Foundation, a VIP of the federation, attended this national sports event. But the woman clinging to her husband, who seemed like he wouldn’t let go, made him uneasy.

He’d rather stand and look at the distant mountains. Though he couldn’t see the mountains, only the sea far away. That direction must be Gwangalli, right?

‘Chairman Hong Ki-jun.’

A powerful man just over forty.

Rumors said he had the ability to overthrow the nation and restore a monarchy with money and power.

After establishing a defense industry, he reportedly lobbied to create Korea’s first private military company. Of course, that’s just a rumor.

SSS, was it? A security company, but in reality, it’s said to be a military group. There were even rumors that they exported this private military company to the US, an ally.

They didn’t just train combatants; they reportedly secured advanced military technology. In terms of scale, no country in Asia could match them, but due to protective laws, even the National Intelligence Service couldn’t fully grasp their operations. How they managed to manipulate the regime is unclear, but it was obvious where former and current high-ranking military officials would align.

‘The rumors are beyond imagination, but it’s fortunate that he’s just a businessman focused on profit.’

It’s suspicious that such rumors circulate without any media coverage or evidence. History shows that world-shaking rumors often turn out to be true.

His attendance was unannounced.

As the spouse of Chairwoman Yoo Se-ra and the owner of the event’s sponsor, his attendance wasn’t inappropriate.

But the visit of a powerful man shouldn’t be taken lightly, like a neighborhood stroll.

‘Give me a heads-up.’

No protocol preparations were made.

The sudden visit left him shaking hands nervously, the only form of greeting.

His eyes were sharp, his physique under the suit was robust, and the grip of his handshake was terrifying.

Hong Ki-jun only said hello and thanked Jeon Gyeong-won, nothing more.

Surrounded by fierce bodyguards, approaching him was difficult.

‘Choking.’

Even in the chilly April breeze of Busan, cold sweat dripped down Jeon Gyeong-won’s neck.

“Heehee-.”

As if mocking him, Yoo Se-ra let out an excited snort.

It was the forced aegyo of a woman with no talent for snorting.

“The finals are about to start, why don’t you watch with us here, Chairman? Heehee-.”

“Ah, yes!”

At the woman’s light gesture, Jeon Gyeong-won’s old body moved swiftly.

As he moved to a seat a step away from Yoo Se-ra, the bodyguards cleared the way.

“Honey-?”

“Hmm.”

Honestly, it’s enviable.

Young age, a beautiful wife, and power.

Hong Ki-jun’s ease surely came from ownership.

“The federation chairman promised, didn’t he?”

At those words, Hong Ki-jun turned to look at Jeon Gyeong-won, with a faint, confident smile.

Reluctantly meeting his gaze, Jeon Gyeong-won also smiled awkwardly.

“If we can secure an Olympic spot, the federation will do everything for the athlete.”

I never made such a promise…

But with Hong Ki-jun’s intimidating gaze, it’s better to stay quiet now. If there’s an issue, we can settle it later with official documents.

When Yoo Se-ra made an unusual visit before the event, the federation thought it was a victory.

But Yoo Se-ra’s words were even more unusual.

– “I’m thinking of establishing a sports association myself. Build a football field, a baseball field, a swimming pool, and while we’re at it, a ski resort to create a boarding sports school. Track and field, gymnastics, rowing, canoeing, diving, no sport left out. About eight nationwide? We could secure ten, twenty times more promising athletes than now. How will the Olympic landscape change in ten years? I’m thinking of making a deal with the government with this plan. Then, getting the ‘Korea’ title for our foundation would just be a matter of time, right?”

Jeon Gyeong-won’s impression upon first meeting Yoo Se-ra was straightforward.

– ‘She’s crazy…’

This woman came to make a deal with the federation but ended up threatening the federation to make a deal with the government, all with a gentle expression.

That made it even more chilling. Someone who insults you while smiling is scarier.

It couldn’t just be dismissed as the ramblings of a fool.

Many companies have shown that with capital, no history is impossible.

And if that company is Sein, and if Sein doesn’t just sponsor but directly nurtures, sports history will surely change.

For now, we had to appease her. Fighting a crazy woman only makes you the crazy one.

To be precise, the federation agreed to compromise by not insisting on existing policies regarding athlete qualifications.

– “Heehee-. I knew I could talk sense with the chairman.”

And so, she was sent off.

‘But full support? When did I…’

I never expected her to package it like that.

Still.

If it’s achieved, it’s not a bad thing.

‘Qualifying for the Olympics isn’t that easy.’

In any event, qualifying for the Olympics in Korea’s track and field sprint events is uncharted territory.

It’s like a dream.

[On your marks-.]

The height of the athlete in lane 4 is abnormal.

It’s not the height itself. There are many men taller than him, even younger ones.

But the fact that someone so tall can sprint is baffling even to Jeon Gyeong-won, a former track athlete. This is Korea, where sprinters are supposed to be short and stocky, right?

[Set-.]

But this athlete isn’t just running; he’s running the best.

Even after watching last year’s races multiple times, it’s hard to understand why someone with his physique and strength would pursue track, a sport that doesn’t pay well. Even if the Sein Group, with its overflowing money, is nurturing unpopular sports for social contribution.

[Bang-!]

Waaaaah-!

Most Korean sprinters grit their teeth and run to the finish line.

They fall behind foreign athletes in length.

That’s why it’s more dynamic to watch.

“Hyaaa-!”

At Yoo Se-ra’s strange exclamation, Hong Ki-jun, who had been sitting heavily like a dark cloud, suddenly stood up.

Jeon Gyeong-won also stomped the ground like a stung foal.

‘No way!’

This athlete is different.

Even though he’s tall, he’s dynamic and full of power.

I thought his time would be similar to last year’s.

‘He’s faster.’

Is his growth rate fast? Or is he already complete?

He stands out from start to finish, then slows down as if enjoying the attention.

‘That’s not it! Run to the end! Get the record!’

Unknowingly, my fists clenched.

Yet, because of the athlete who finishes the shortest race in the shortest time.

Waaaaah-!

As if gathering the voices of everyone in the stands, the VIP section’s ceiling shook.

The young athlete’s smiling face on the large screen was filled with ease.

It was as if he had copied the relaxed smile of the powerful Hong Ki-jun.

「9.89」

We must send this athlete to the Olympics.

No, he’ll go on his own.

With his own power, he has become a force threatening the federation’s achievements.

A sigh welled up.

“Wow-. That’s… now…”

“Hahaha-. It’s my first time seeing it live, but it’s fun.”

In the midst of history, the two chairmen laughed together, with contrasting smiles.

“Waaah-.”

A sound like a seal crying was heard.

Crying like a child, Yoo Se-ra was drawing a circle in the air with her hand.

Bang bang bang bang bang-!

Five shots.

***

“If there were any disappointments, let’s forget them and do better in the future. We’ll spare no support.”

The federation bowed its head.

The front page of the newspaper was plastered with Son Jin-hyeok.

A photo of him throwing an uppercut into the sky, with the数字「9.89」 prominently displayed on the scoreboard.

A photo of him alone, pulling up the corner of his mouth while other athletes held their waists, gasping for breath.

And another photo symbolically showed reality.

An athlete shaking hands with one hand, while Federation Chairman Jeon Gyeong-won held it with both hands and bowed his head.

The photo, beyond unconventional, was widely reported in the media. Major TV and sports news repeatedly broadcast the race footage.

「Breaking the wall in Busan」

「Just 16 years and 7 months old」

Across media outlets, they couldn’t offer any additional opinions beyond the straightforward results.

With an athlete breaking the elusive 10-second barrier, there was no reason to continue the psychological warfare, especially since the federation, one side of the fight, had bowed to the athlete, eliminating any justification.

But that was the surface reason.

「Chairman Hong Ki-jun’s unusual visit. Chairwoman Yoo Se-ra (right), moved to tears, hugs her husband, Sein Group Chairman Hong Ki-jun (left), while sobbing.」

A photo and description filling an entire page.

Those who realized that behind the athlete was not Yoo Se-ra but Hong Ki-jun would have acted accordingly.

*

Jin-hyeok organized Hong Ki-jun’s emails, printed them, and recalled the past Hong Ki-jun.

The past Hong Ki-jun was reserved about political or social issues. He seemed uninterested and dark. But after a drink, he would occasionally bring up topics, albeit cautiously.

But now?

「In the era we lived in, journalists were called ‘giregi.’ Correct, incorrect, I have no intention of debating. I’m an emotionless person, and everything is self-inflicted. But you see, from a high vantage point, beyond purity and filth, every gesture is just a trivial act to make a living. That’s why sensible people don’t trust the media. Even the economic newspapers I occasionally read are far from the truth. Wise people judge domestic and international situations based on the behavior of the media, not the content they cover.

Still, I’ll teach you a few things. A dog doesn’t bark at the person who feeds it. It hides and lowers its tail in front of someone with a stick. A dog barks at the moon because the moon doesn’t harm it.」

Pfft-, a hot laugh burst out like bread exploding.

‘An emotionless person comparing journalists to dogs?’

He continued reading, organizing the paragraphs into a document file for easier printing.

The slow typist had written so much; it would be a shame to skim through it.

「They usually start by tearing down celebrities. That’s how they make their names known. Whether they write novels or conduct interviews, it doesn’t matter to them or the public. What matters is the stimulation. For some, it’s stimulation to the point of death; for the public, it’s stimulation that feeds their voyeurism.

To do great things, you must be free from them. Have you ever seen an article tearing me down? I’m the person holding both the feed and the stick. And I’m on the moon. That’s the only human power. Irreplaceable. To reach that level, you need tempering. It’s not bad to forge yourself thoroughly before stepping into the world. These topics are sensitive, so read and delete.」

What, go to the moon, hold a stick, and feed them?

While understanding, the stories didn’t deeply resonate.

‘Uncle Hong Ki-jun didn’t carve out precious time to write such a meticulous email just to boast, right?’

The meaning behind those hints became clear right after the event.

*

The SSS agents stationed at the Son family’s residence were finally earning their keep. It was because of the reporters snooping around for stories.

After the event, he calmly responded to interviews at the press conference and expressed his future resolve. With an agency and being a minor, official positions would be handled by the agency. But reporters needing to sell newspapers required stories. The athlete’s skill and medal potential were irrelevant. What they wanted were tear-jerking tales of pure love, adversity, love, and friendship.

Rumors said the athlete’s father was a top graduate from a prestigious university who built a business in a rural area with no connections. Naturally, curiosity about his spouse and the attention it would draw were obvious, and anyone familiar with the media ecosystem could guess where the reporters would go.

But information about the people guarding that place was scarce.

“You’ve trespassed on private property. This is a warning to leave immediately.”

Yoo Tae-hwa’s thumb folded.

Reporters expecting to be served tea and rice cakes in a cozy rural home while gathering stories faced an unexpected situation.

“Are you violating the public’s right to know? Korea is a rule-of-law country!”

Yoo Tae-hwa remained calm even in front of microphones and cameras that could tear her apart.

“No law in Korea allows trespassing on private property and invading privacy to provide gossip to the public. If you don’t leave, we will use force delegated by the owner and the government through legal procedures.”

It was somewhat sophistry, but the SSS’s force was a legitimate product authorized by the government, so it wasn’t entirely wrong.

Yoo Tae-hwa’s index finger covered her folded thumb.

Behind Yoo Tae-hwa were six SSS agents, including Kim Sang-ho, prepared for any situation. The number of people who had arrived was enough to make Han Yu-young, holding Jeong-won under Jang Jin-nam’s protection, feel fear. She had heard about the visit from Hong Ki-jun but hadn’t expected so many people to come without prior consent, expressing her displeasure to Yoo Tae-hwa.

“Isn’t it too much to treat people who walked all the way here like this? We’re Korean reporters!”

“You didn’t seek prior consent from the athlete’s mother and came despite her refusal for an interview.”

Yoo Tae-hwa’s third finger folded.

She knew too well that dialogue was unnecessary and wouldn’t work with such people.

“We’re leaving!”

The reporters, seeing Kim Sang-ho and other agents stepping forward, quickly retreated.

But it didn’t end there.

Bang bang bang-!

A horn that shook the mountains, followed by curses.

“What kind of bastards parked their cars like this, blocking even a tractor! I’ll push them all down the mountain, you uneducated brats!”

It was tractor driver Jo Il-heon.