Chapter 328

Start (9)

A mirror where thick snowflakes create noise like rain.

Park Woo-jung’s face was reflected perfectly in the darkened, mirror-like glass window.

If there’s such a thing as pure mockery, that expression would be it.

The sneer that came in response to the question of whether he intended to seek forgiveness showed not a hint of conscience.

Not that I expected any.

“Even without that document, I’ve prepared everything to erase you from this world. It’s been almost 10 years since I started preparing. I don’t move until I’m fully ready. Money won’t stop me. Your funds will be tied up anyway. The prosecutors will trample over you to survive. We’re both in the same boat, with fire at our feet.”

“So that’s why… I was curious.”

Park Woo-jung opened his mouth, but Jin-hyuk, with his palm pressed against the window, didn’t turn around.

“If it’s to ruin me—”

“You’re probably wondering why I bothered to meet you and give you a chance instead of just executing it. That’s what you’re curious about, right?”

I cut him off again, not wanting to hear his voice.

“I wanted you to apologize to my father. He’s a generous man, so much so that he’d even forgive and feed someone as inhuman as you. So, if my father forgave you, I was planning to forget you too.”

“Huhuhu—”

“I wanted to give you a chance to kneel before my grandparents’ graves and beg for forgiveness. Not for your sake, but so my grandparents could rest in peace. That’s why I waited, even after finding my grandfather, to give him time to rest before making my move.”

“Huhuhu…”

Jin-hyuk ignored Park Woo-jung, who was shaking his chest as if in disbelief, and continued.

“Of course, you wouldn’t even think of apologizing.”

And you shouldn’t. You must remain a villain to the end. Jin-hyuk pressed his hand against the window and pushed firmly. It was something he had done before when helping Dr. Sarang make a decision.

“What you can choose isn’t life or death.”

Creak, creak, creak—.

Unable to withstand the gradually increasing pressure, the thick tempered glass began to crack.

“Social punishment is too lenient. The law can’t even fully address your crimes. Even with evidence.”

Creak, creak—.

“So… you’re going to throw me out and make me a murderer?”

“Death is too easy and comfortable a punishment. I’ve thought about what could cause you more pain than that.”

Park Woo-jung narrowed his eyes, unsure of what was coming.

With the sound of cracking glass as background music, Jin-hyuk proposed a deal that even Dr. Sarang couldn’t refuse.

“If there’s one thing I’ve learned from history, it’s that true revenge is cutting off the seed and ruining the fortune. Be grateful. I’m not the type to take life lightly like you. But I’m confident I can ruin the wealth you’ve accumulated. Your eldest son, daughter, second son, third son, and more. Your grandchildren. I’ll make them drink sewage and scavenge rotten food. They’ll beg from those you once treated as slaves, willingly prostitute themselves in dirty alleys for gum money, and lick the toes of beggars to survive like sewer rats. I’ll make sure they can’t even die on their own terms, under constant surveillance.”

It was a speech he had never imagined, but it flowed out naturally.

The daily life of another world he had seen, heard, and felt while living as a possessor. The emotions born from those harsh memories.

“Will you die alone—”

Creak, creak—.

After stopping the pressure, he pushed the spiderweb-cracked glass a few more times.

“—or will you make your children crawl through the sewers like worms? You only need to choose that.”

Whoosh—.

The tempered glass screamed with a heavy, pudding-like motion.

“If you refuse my offer, you’ll die another way. I’ll sell off Daejeong piece by piece. The heavy industry will shut down, machinery to Taiwan, cars to India, electronics to China, chemicals to Japan, and goods to the Philippines. I’ll sell them off at rock-bottom prices. You’ll disappear without a trace. After witnessing that perfect annihilation, will you die, or will you leave something behind as a legacy? Choose.”

Confirming that the glass was sufficiently weakened, Jin-hyuk turned around.

“I don’t see this place as a battlefield, nor do I see you as a tyrant to be overthrown by some worker. I’m just a son here to kill the bastard who tried to harm my parents. This is my personal revenge, so spare me the talk of justice or heroism.”

He brushed his hands off a couple of times and rubbed his cold palms together.

“Do you know why I cut you off? Do you know why I’m not giving you a final word?”

Park Woo-jung, his face pale, looked up.

His eyes were blank, like a man whose soul had already left.

He was no different from a death row inmate before an executioner.

“There’s no room in my head for the story of a villain. Take your pleas to the dead.”

The chance for redemption ended with Moon Seok-il and his group.

Giving a chance to someone with no possibility of change is just the arrogance of a powerful man.

Jin-hyuk isn’t arrogant.

He knows exactly when to hide his strength and when to use it.

“I thought about cutting off your limbs one by one to scare you. But that method was too obvious.”

Too much work, too much effort. Jin-hyuk gathered the documents on the table.

“Imagine what I’ll do with these documents. Imagination is often scarier than reality. That imagination will soon become a nightmare. If you apologize even in the afterlife, I’ll make all these plans disappear.”

I’m the son of my generous father. Words that didn’t reach Park Woo-jung, who was already out of his mind.

Finally, he took out his phone from his pocket and placed it on the table.

“Press and hold zero, and I’ll answer. You have until midnight today to save your children.”

With those words, Jin-hyuk turned and left the office.

Leaving behind air colder and heavier than the outside.

“Hey. Was this planned with Hong Ki-jun and the Yankees too? Ah—, no. That can’t be.”

Jin-hyuk shook his head slightly, as if to show Park Woo-jung, who was muttering to himself with a stupid expression, and closed the door.

Thud—.

The heavy sound of the door closing sounded like the thunder of the apocalypse to Park Woo-jung.

*

An hour, two hours…

I’ve seen many people jump after losing in management disputes.

It was pathetic.

If you have money, just live comfortably.

“That’s not it.”

Is it the taste of power?

The sense of loss after having everything taken away was overwhelming.

In just two hours, his eyebrows had turned white.

“Huh… huhuhu—”

It was a fear that was hard to resist.

A fragment of a memory from his father, Park Woon-chul, who had weakened while fighting illness, came to mind.

Moon Ye had never once accepted his goodwill.

Even that firm, cold rejection was thrilling, as if rubbing ice against his heart. He realized for the first time that the coldness a person exudes could be sweet. He learned from Moon Ye that there are things money can’t buy.

Is it the power of the blood inherited from his grandmother?

Even revenge is tempting, like that child.

‘How romantic…’

A revenger who gives up the pleasure of directly cutting the enemy’s throat and instead orders suicide.

He created a situation where death was inevitable, but instead of toying with his opponent, he simply said what he had to say and left. The frustration of not being able to argue back will have to be resolved in the afterlife.

‘That’s a fine revenge.’

Accepting an offer you can’t refuse is the basics of being a merchant.

Though he had ruled at the top of a class society that had built walls of morality, he hadn’t forgotten the essence of being a merchant.

Nor the sense of duty as the last remaining parent.

He pressed the number 0 on the cell phone Son Jin-hyuk had left.

No number appeared on the screen, but a dial tone sounded.

It seemed like a rigged phone.

– Speak.

“My children…”

– I’ll protect them. I’m a man who knows honor. Park Hyun-soo will be released tomorrow.

Click—.

Son Jin-hyuk hung up first.

‘I thought it was Hong Ki-jun, but I was wrong. Still, I’ll know who the top power is before I go. To think such a thing existed…’

Thud—.

Pushing his feet while sitting on the sofa, his shoes came off.

What will the headlines be tomorrow?

The tyranny of the consortium! Chairman Park Woo-jung, pressured to resign, jumps.

Yes, that’s clean enough.

Isn’t it human nature to be generous to the dead?

Still, he didn’t bow to anyone in the end, so he kept his pride.

That’s the noble honor that even his younger brother, Park Sarang, maintained.

You brat, do you think I’ll apologize even if I go to the afterlife?

Sizzle—.

Was it the power of pride, or the liberation of someone who had enjoyed a lifetime without regret and had all desires erased at once?

Shifting his center of gravity wasn’t difficult.

Whoosh—.

Park Woo-jung was always fast.

He succeeded faster than anyone, overtaking others without regard for means or methods.

His falling speed was faster than snowflakes.

How elegant. A fluffy wool blanket. How fitting for a nobleman’s bedding.

***

「The Tragedy of the Daejeong Family Over Management Rights」

The jumping incident was concluded with Park Woo-jung’s extreme choice after receiving advance information about a prosecution search while under pressure to resign.

They say you go to see a dead dog at a minister’s house, but not a dead minister.

Park Woo-jung disappeared from the world, leaving only a pitiful bloodstain. Like other elderly members of chaebol families who made similar choices after losing in disputes with their siblings.

Yoo Jun-sik ascended to the position of chairman of the Daejeong Group according to the consortium’s decision.

It was a position that also served as the CEO of Daejeong Electronics.

[In recognition of his contributions to the nation’s economic development, we will ensure that the funeral of the late Chairman Park Woo-jung proceeds without any issues.]

Yoo Jun-sik was careful with his words, whether there was a microphone or not.

But he didn’t hide his true nature.

Park Woo-jung’s eldest and second sons, who held executive positions in Daejeong affiliates, attempted to resist using their connections and power, but it was just a good opportunity for Yoo Jun-sik. Even with social prestige and support from the legal community, their power was pitiful compared to Yoo Jun-sik, like mice before a cat.

“It seems those brats thought I was an easy target just because I worked nicely under my brother-in-law. They must think they have inherited shares. Chairman Son, can I show them what’s what?”

– It’s up to you, Chairman.

“No matter how much authority I’ve been delegated, the opinion of the Albi owner comes first.”

– Protecting the innocent and forgiving those who don’t know their place are different matters. If they were smart, they would have quietly taken their executive salaries, built their foundation, and waited for their time.

“That’s right, that’s right. It’s surprising that young people don’t know such basic truths. They must have enjoyed too much. By the way, have you heard from Thud— Hammond?”

– Yes, I heard that Park Hyun-soo, who was released, went missing near the airport. The American police say it seems the Mexicans had a hand in it.

“How pitiful. I should take good care of my children too.”

– If your children don’t listen, send them to me.

“Hahahaha!”

Yoo Jun-sik, who always thought of his son and daughter attending graduate school and university whenever he spoke with Jin-hyuk.

But Yoo Jun-sik avoided comparisons. Such a person is probably one of a kind in the world, so comparisons are meaningless. His brother-in-law Hong Ki-jun’s words were truly convincing.

– “He’s one of a kind.”

***

The country was bustling with the upcoming World Cup, but Son Yoo-jin’s school was abuzz for another reason.

「Congratulations! Son Yoo-jin of Taeyang Girls’ Middle School! Grand Prize at the 〇〇th Youth Science Olympiad!」

– Co-hosted by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Science and Technology / Sponsored by Saint Technica

Hehe—.

Son Yoo-jin smiled like a fool at the banner hanging at the school gate.

“Yoo-jin, you’re amazing!”

“Hehe, thank you, unnie.”

“Yoo-jin unnie is the best!”

“Ooh—, thank you, guys.”

A feat achieved by a second-year middle school student, surpassing high schoolers, the first in Taeyang Girls’ Middle School’s history.

The model Son Yoo-jin submitted was a miniature spy drone.

A 15mm diameter sphere with a small fan inside for flight capability and a lens smaller than a phone camera. It used a mercury battery for over an hour of flight, but technical issues limited its data storage capacity. It could only store a few photos.

It was a crude device, but it worked as intended.

“Yoo-jin, how did you come up with something like that?”

“I made it to find Haengun-i.”

“Haengun-i?”

“He’s a bird I hatched from an egg, but he started disappearing a lot lately. He might be hiding in a cliff cave or taken by a hawk, and I can’t reach those high, narrow places. So I made it to investigate those hard-to-reach areas.”

She believed she deserved the award for designing and inventing it herself without help from Hong Ki-jun or Jin-hyuk. Though she received help from General for the design and Jo Seol-chan for soldering and assembly.

Rumors say the judges gave generous points for the love transcending species behind Son Yoo-jin’s invention of the spy drone. Of course, the performance and utility were highly rated.

“So, did you find Haengun-i?”

“Yes…”

**

It was the second day without seeing Haengun-i.

Leading Janggun-i and Geon-ma, Son Yoo-jin searched and found the body of a wagtail with a pink ribbon around its neck at the top of a poplar tree near the reservoir. Janggun-i barked at the tree, so she flew the spy drone to take photos and confirm.

It was a staggering 30 meters high, a place even the agile Janggun-i couldn’t reach.

Haengun-i was peacefully resting in an unattended magpie nest.

Having lived 1.5 times the average lifespan of a wagtail, Haengun-i had lived a long life.

Son Yoo-jin guessed that Haengun-i, not wanting to show his final moments to his mother, had found a quiet place to rest.

After checking the photos on her room’s computer, she returned to the poplar tree and tied a pink ribbon around it. Unable to cut the tree or climb it, it was her way of paying respects.

“Let’s leave it be. Sleep well, Haengun-i. Mom will visit often.”

Son Yoo-jin took a few more photos of Haengun-i resting and headed home.

Now, the Haengun-i juniors living on her windowsill were more important.

The history that began with one red-headed bunting egg had now grown into a large family on Son Yoo-jin’s window terrace. They didn’t approach her, but they didn’t run away when she reached out.

Her parents had taught her that.

Living beings are more important, and the young are more important than the old.

“At the top of the poplar tree…”

On her way home, she hummed a song, remembering singing with Haengun-i. Haengun-i would chirp happily when she sang, maybe even singing along.

Tears mixed with her voice.

“Waaah—. My baby, Haengun-i—.”

Why did Haengun-i choose the poplar tree? Maybe because it was the tallest…

But it was probably because of the poplar tree song Dad taught her. Haengun-i especially loved that song.

Could she drown her sorrows? If she sang loudly, would Haengun-i hear her? She raised her voice.

“At the top of the poplar tree— Kim Il-sung’s pants are hanging—. Sob—. Kim Jong-il passing by smelled it and fainted—. Sob—, Haengun-i—. I miss my baby… Waaah—.”

Now grown so much that her walking speed was incomparable to when she was young, the path home, wiping tears with her sleeve, felt unbearably long.

**

“Yoo-jin, isn’t the bus stop that way?”

“I’m going to the terminal. I’m going to Seoul today—.”

Once a week, on days with classes, Son Yoo-jin would finish school and embark on an adventure to meet her brother.

Today, besides the award, she had something to show him.

Thinking of her brother praising her, saying she did well, warmed the emotions that had sunk with thoughts of Haengun-i.

Like when young Son Yoo-jin roamed the neighborhood, she swung her arms and walked briskly.

Hehe—. Off to see my brother!

“Ahem—. It’s spring—. Aha—. Tada—. Heda—.”

Someone once said.

The emotional changes of a second-year middle school student are similar to bipolar disorder.