However, there was a place where flames burned, using Lee Jae-soon as an offering.
It was none other than the political world.
“Hey! A person who has become a council member is saying, dragging all sorts of people in for real estate speculation!”
“What? Do you have evidence?!”
“This overflowing here is the evidence! Right before the redevelopment plan announcement, you gather relatives and buy up all the land, then play dumb? Is your face made of steel or something?!”
“What? Whose evidence is that anyway! Isn’t this evidence from that guy named Lee Jae-soon or whatever? Are you really going to present something from a murderer as evidence?!”
“So what if he’s a killer! Whether he killed someone or not, evidence is evidence, right? To begin with, what’s the difference between that guy’s murders and your land speculation?!”
“What? Seriously!”
After Lee Jae-soon’s death, an investigation was carried out.
During this process, the information that Lee Jae-soon had gathered also spread in all directions.
Information.
The secret information that Lee Jae-soon had obtained through divine objects was released, like a horse let loose.
During this process, power holders attempted to intervene, but oddly, their interference had little effect.
A notebook that should have disappeared quietly from the evidence storage room as if it had legs instead disappeared from the evidence storage on its own and the next day was delivered to the home of a journalist desperately seeking an exclusive.
The contents written in the thick notebook were also distributed to various news agencies, and emails full of numerous pieces of information exploded like timed bombs and were sprayed in all directions, even onto communities frequently used by the public.
The information that spread so quickly that no power holder could intervene began to strangle their necks. Like a fierce hound tearing at the neck of its prey, it was intense and ferocious.
In this situation, the political world had no choice but to flounder in confusion.
How did this crazy journalist, Lee Jae-soon or whatever, find out these pieces of information?
Moreover, how did he collect it all, so solidly that there was no room to refute it?
Politicians tried their best to get out of the crisis called “The Lee Jae-soon Scandal” by either attacking Lee Jae-soon, the source of the information, to lower trust in him or by highlighting the faults of other politicians to bury them in the chaos.
It was an absolute mess.
Naturally, amidst this atmosphere, the disputes between Korea and Japan were forgotten.
When your own survival is at stake, what does it matter about nation conflicts or bad feelings?
Korean power holders poured all their strength into getting out of this swamp-like situation.
Ironically, peace was created within this chaos.
And amidst this chaos, there were also places where hands were joined.
It was… the entertainment industry.
“Oh, a Korea-Japan collaborative audition program…?”
“Yes. Given the two countries are entering a reconciliatory mood, this program can help blow away the heavy atmosphere and become an opportunity to strengthen relations.”
“Hmm. This timing… my superiors might like it, but…”
“Yes. 3S has always been an effective means. Korean power holders will want to end this chaos quickly, and the South Korean people will also want to enjoy entertainment instead of focusing on this ‘tiring’ politics. Now is a perfect time.”
“Hmm… improving diplomatic relations and fostering intimate exchanges to revitalize the economy… Yes, this could be a good chance to break this chaotic atmosphere. This is a story my superiors would surely love.”
“Yes. Isn’t international matters all about this anyway? Even after fierce arguments, we can change our faces and shake hands immediately. It’s all about the advantage.”
“Understood. Let’s go ahead and promote this Korea-Japan audition!”
The relationship between the entertainment industries of Korea and Japan was not that bad.
To Korea, Japan was a huge market and an important position in global marketing. To Japan, Korea was a country that produced sellable content for their distribution.
Moreover, Korean content appealed well to the young 10-20 age group and could generate good profits through derivative products.
Profit.
How could one dislike someone who brings in money?
Though they were forced apart due to rising nationalist sentiments, this reconciliatory atmosphere now would not significantly tarnish their relations by becoming close again.
Opportunity.
An opportunity.
An opportunity to make money.
Opportunities should be seized.
A definite money-making opportunity doesn’t come around often!
That’s how Korea and Japan’s entertainment industries shook hands.
Under the name of Korea-Japan collaboration.
At the center of this Korea-Japan collaboration was a genius producer known widely in both Japan and Korea.
“Genius Producer for this Korea-Japan collaboration!”
“Finally extending his reach to Korea! A global idol is sure to be born under his hands!”
Yasaki Tokitaka.
Producer and businessman.
A well-known figure in Japan whose name was even famous in Korea during the time when Japanese dramas and idols were in trend. Known for imprinting the image of a “genius producer” onto the minds of Koreans!
He had stepped into the spotlight.
Naturally, Korea also needed figures with comparable gravitas to maintain balance.
“CEO of J Entertainment stepping in as the Korean representative? A never-before-seen scale of audition program!”
“Unprecedented Korea-Japan audition collaboration on an immense scale, ‘It may be the highest opportunity for the truly capable.'”
Unsurprisingly, known figures from Korea stepped forward.
From those now nurturing their successors after taking a step back to current active ones, they flaunted their presence, putting all their strength to enthrall the masses.
As this process ensued, this Korea-Japan audition program strongly embedded itself in the minds of people from both countries. They naturally turned to this audition as an avenue to relieve the stress they felt from the chaotic political landscape that resembled a witch’s cauldron.
As time passed, people would likely relieve the animosity they felt toward each other by watching the massive scale of this audition program. Instead of throwing punches or hurling insults, they would root for the talented ones emerging from their own country or region.
And thus, peacefully, the bad blood would subside and enter a state of calm.
There was another ingredient that would help bring these people together.
“Pseudonym Chaine, real name Kim Sun-mi. Is this correct?”
“Yes, yes…”
“Soon I heard your contract will be ending. Are you interested to develop your talent with our company?”
“Yes…? What company… Hey, wait a minute, are you from that company? In Japan, right?”
“Yes. Our company is based in Japan, but our activities are not limited to Japan; we operate on a global scale. We believe this would provide an excellent opportunity for Chaine to break into the world stage.”
“Wha? Wha? Hold on a second…!”
That ingredient was Chaine.
She was Korean and about to sign with a globally active, world-famous Japanese entertainment company.
At the end of her contract, she caught the eye of the genius producer, Yasaki Tokitaka, and was scouted to become the new star with the title of celebrity!
Both Korea and Japan could use her appropriately to dampen the animosities between their two countries.
No, they might even foster mutual fondness.
Seeing a Korean celebrity become popular in Japan and, conversely, a Japanese celebrity become popular in Korea could happen.
And the best part was that no one would lose in this process.
Truly, it could not get any better.
So, yes.
Everyone.
Benefits.
“In the essence of all things there is nothing to throw away.”
Lee Jae-soon became a superb fertilizer, a superb ingredient.
And this included not only the intangible but also the material.
“Even in death, there is something usable…”
Lee Jae-soon left behind his skin in death.
Just like a tiger leaves behind its skin, he truly left behind his skin.
After the possession sorcerer harvested his soul, Lee Jae-soon became a cold corpse, which then made its way to the crematorium. It was decided to cremate him as burying the murderer would attract frequent vandalism or tomb damage.
Thus, Lee Jae-soon burned fiercely in the crematorium…
Surprisingly, he left behind his skin along with the white ashes.
On the spot scorched by the crimson flames, atop the white ashes, lay three patches of skin the size of a palm.
It was a marvel.
This bizarre event brought confusion to the crematorium worker, and not knowing what to do, they simply placed the ashes in the urn and set the skin aside elsewhere.
Taking advantage of this, Jinseong infiltrated the crematorium and stole the skin.
It wasn’t difficult.
Because Jinseong had known beforehand that Lee Jae-soon would leave skin behind after death.
This way, Jinseong was able to obtain a truly precious ingredient.
Rather, it would be more accurate to say Jinseong also obtained an ‘ingredient’.
Not only did he ease the Korea-Japan tensions, even eliminating the slightest possibility of war, but he also boosted Yasaki Tokitaka’s influence, preserving the martial strength of both Korea and Japan, and even obtained valuable materials related to magic!
Truly,
Truly, Lee Jae-soon was a tree that gives without reservation.
Perhaps his nature could be likened to that of a fairy.
There’s a saying that where a fairy was, a circle left by the fairy remains.
In the west, they call this circle “Fairy Ring” or “Fairy Circles.”
But do you know?
In the east, this circle is called “Guhwan” (균환) or “Gyunryun” (균륜).
The truth of these mysterious circles is not made by fairies but by specific fungi.
The numerous superstitions held around these circles.
In the place left behind by these circles, mushrooms will begin to appear over time.
As if claiming this place as their own creation,
Or perhaps, eating the residue of the fairy’s circle and her remains as nutrients for themselves to grow.
Thus does the fairy circle become a mushroom circle,
Sprouting abundant mushrooms and forming a path…
And this shape was particularly fitting to the current situation.
It was a delusion that resembled the shape of mushrooms growing and giving gifts, nourished by Lee Jae-soon’s remains…
“ओं अमोघ वैरोचन महामुद्रा मणि पद्म ज्वाल प्रवर्त्तय हूं.”
Truly, it was a delightful matter.
Really, it was.
