Chapter 49

EP 9 - Jininsadaecheongmyeong盡人事待天命 (5)

On TV, an announcer with a pale face read from a script.

"A search warrant has been issued for the Han Seung-moon Foundation. Simultaneously, a special prosecutor law has been passed in the National Assembly."

The prosecution and the special prosecutor were launched simultaneously.

The government and the National Assembly launched a joint attack.

First, the prosecution.

Wonyokbun is a former prosecutor and president, and he himself was an elite prosecutor. Wonyokbun controlled the prosecution through seniority culture and organizational primacy, which means the government has drawn its sword.

And the special prosecutor.

The Special Prosecutor Team 特別檢事.

An organization with unlimited investigative powers if there is political consensus. An organization for which a new law is enacted to create a single organization.

"Claims that Han Seung-moon is behind the controversy over the coalition and the terrorist attacks—"

A weapon that can kill anyone if there is political consensus.

The most powerful sword in South Korea, which is appointed with the political consensus of the National Assembly and the government.

"Based on charges of political incitement, terrorism manipulation, and treason—"

I can feel that this sharp sword is hanging over my neck.

The National Assembly and the government are trying to kill me.

"......"

Finally, I can see the end.

* * *

The lawmakers said,

"Even VIP agreed. Let's take off the badge."

"Are you not worried about a backlash?"

"Just thinking about what that guy has done makes me shudder. Really!"

"Just a little more restraint—"

"Ah, I'm sorry."

"Since the special prosecutor for Han Seung-moon was passed, a search is being conducted at the Han Seung-moon Foundation. Ms. Hong Seon-ah expressed deep regret—"

In the underground National Assembly reception room, 11 people were gathered in front of the TV.

Ten were lawmakers, and one was the Chief Justice.

"Of course, the National Party could form a counter-reaction and push it through. But what is the National Party, really?"

A lawmaker spoke passionately.

"Ultimately, it's just a group trying to take advantage of Han Seung-moon's popularity! Without Han Seung-moon, the National Party is just a shell!"

"If excessive punishment is imposed on Han Seung-moon, there will be a national backlash. It might be better to drag it out and lower his approval ratings—"

"How do we know what that guy will do next!" The lawmakers were discussing how to kill Han Seung-moon. It was a heated debate, but ultimately, it was just a discussion of methods.

"Disqualify him from his position as a lawmaker! He should be barred from running for office!"

"There will be a backlash!"

"I think it's fine. He's despicable. We need to show what happens to those who break the rules."

"No, his image will already be tarnished just by being investigated. How about using it to gain an advantage in the April general election?"

"No. There are many opinions that it's an unjust suppression. Let's make a quick decision and take off the badge."

"Yes, the public opinion is hot now, but just wait a few months. They'll all forget."

The Chief Justice couldn't say a word because nine lawmakers were deciding the sentence on their own.

The Chief Justice smiled awkwardly with a kind look and looked at the one lawmaker who had remained silent.

A judicial training institute classmate,

A comrade in the judicial reform,

A colleague at the Court Administration Office,

A fellow judge,

Yang Pan-seok nodded slightly, and the Chief Justice spoke.

"Lawmakers, I understand what you're saying, but to determine a sentence, we need charges that do not contradict public sentiment."

"Didn't he manipulate terrorism! President Wonyokbun!"

"Whether the public will believe that is another matter."

A lawmaker with bloodshot eyes from stress checked a file sent via smartphone.

"We need a strong follow-up."

"......"

"The prosecution has filed one case."

Yang Pan-seok closed his eyes quietly.

The lawmaker smiled and held out his smartphone.

"At the Han Seung-moon Foundation's research institute, records of biological experiments were found."

*

David Kim tilted his head.

"......What is this?"

Hong Seon-ah smiled.

"Resignation letters!"

"But I know that. Why are there so many?"

"You're not as surprised as I thought...?"

"I had a rough idea."

Hong Seon-ah submitted 48 resignation letters. Given that the 'Special Ability Contracting Association' had steadily grown to about 70 members, this was a majority.

Hong Seon-ah said,

"Um...! It seems everyone dislikes 3D jobs!"

"Do you know what 3D means?"

Hong Seon-ah tilted her head and thought.

Hunters were recognized as civil servants.

Their income was low compared to their labor.

This was due to Han Seung-moon making the guild a cooperative agency under the National Police Agency.

Therefore, they were always dissatisfied.

This helped Hong Seon-ah control the dissatisfied elements within the organization.

"Um......"

Hong Seon-ah smiled, thinking Han Seung-moon was a bit scary, and answered Kim Chun-sik's question.

"3D! Dirty! Dangerous! No money!"

"Smart or stupid......"

David Kim chuckled and took the resignation letters.

"Sorry, Seon-ah."

"......Huh?"

"If you're sorry, then you know. Just."

Hong Seon-ah looked at Kim Chun-sik, who was quietly organizing the resignation letters, with a unique, ambiguous expression that was hard to read.

One-armed David Kim struggled to take out a cigarette with one hand. He dropped the lighter he was trying to take out.

"......Hmm."

A flame appeared in the air and lit the cigarette. Hong Seon-ah turned around silently and walked away.

She grabbed the doorknob.

And stood there for a while.

With an unreadable smile, restraining her emotions, she spoke in her usual, overly enthusiastic voice.

"Um, I'm leaving?"

"Okay."

"Aren't you going to stop me?"

"You're going to go anyway."

Hong Seon-ah smiled and closed her eyes.

As expected, the person who could make her angry was

the only one in the world.

"......Hey, you."

"......"

"S, s, son of a bitch...!"

Hong Seon-ah collapsed, still holding the doorknob. She laughed, tears streaming down her face.

"Yoo Ji-won, Sung Jae-gwang, Kim Jeong,"

Dogs. Octopus. Fake soldier.

"Do Eun-a, Park Jae-jun, Jeong Seon-jae,"

Ruffians. Herself. Dogs.

"Kim Bok-rye, Kim Jeong-gyu, Jo Jeong-sik."

Helmeted person. Collapsing building. Sniper.

"Park Tae-chul. Seo Ju-hee. Jeong Ah-reum."

Flying monster. Ruffians. Herself.

"It's me. I remember why all those people died."

The person who burned their bodies was Hong Seon-ah.

"In Seoul, we could have escaped on our own. But you said you couldn't leave civilians behind. I said I would stay, so you should go.

So, everyone laughed and said they would stay too. They all said they would stay. They all said they would stay.

Just like a cheap American movie. Everyone...!"

Burning the lower half of a body stuck in a collapsed building. Wiping and burning a cold, naked corpse in a secluded building. Lowering and burning a hanging corpse. Piling and burning a skeleton after the flesh had been eaten away.

"The smell of burning meat seeped into my nose." Hong Seon-ah remembers.

"I couldn't eat meat anymore!"

Twelve awakened individuals died in Apgujeong.

"I'm seeing a psychiatrist and taking medication! The doctor calls me crazy! Han Seung-moon also called me crazy! Laughing while burning people!"

Kim Chun-sik protected 1,200 civilians.

"......Huh."

1,200 lives saved at the cost of 12.

When comparing the weight of lives, no one can easily give an answer.

But no one can't count.

So, Hong Seon-ah is a fool.

"Hehe..."

She laughed and opened the door.

"Um, I'm leaving?"

"......"

"Really leaving? This is your last chance to stop me! I won't come back?"

Kim Chun-sik granted Hong Seon-ah's request.

"Don't go."

Hong Seon-ah smiled.

"Go to hell."

*

All kinds of evidence and claims are pouring in.

Han Seung-moon manipulated the coalition.

Han Seung-moon manipulated terrorism.

It sounds like an excuse from the established political circles. They aimed for this from the beginning.

However.

A powerful follow-up hit the solar plexus.

"Since the controversy over Han Seung-moon's biological experiments emerged, there has been ongoing debate across various sectors. Han Seung-moon will hold his first press conference at 2 PM—"

"About 200 records of biological experiments were found at the Han Seung-moon Foundation's research institute. Some argue that this is a plot by the established political circles.

However, the terrorists' claim that Han Seung-moon obtained the results of Cha Jae-kyun's 'monsterization drug' research—"

"Um, should we turn it off?"

"No, just leave it on."

The prosecution seems to have done a thorough job. They found it despite it being well hidden.

"About 200 records of biological experiments were found at the Han Seung-moon Foundation's research institute—"

A superpower awakening agent.

While Cha Jae-kyun created it through criminal biological experiments, it couldn't be commercialized immediately. Ihoejeong silently inserted a straw into a banana milk and handed it to me.

"......Good job."

"Okay."

I looked at the passing cityscape. I messed up my hair when I saw my reflection in the window.

"Damn, gray hair..."

I saw noticeably gray hair. For a 28-year-old, it was a perfect sign of aging.

"I'm so old, so old..."

"The special prosecutor team has indicted Han Seung-moon on charges of biological experiments, incitement, disruption of constitutional order, and seven other charges."

The country is divided into two.

The public is caught between two hypotheses.

The National Party's 'hero'.

Han Seung-moon, who stood against Cha Jae-kyun's conspiracy, the collusion of lawmakers, and the threats of extremist terrorist groups.

The Defense Party's 'agitator'.

The second Cha Jae-kyun, who manipulated facts to seize power, controlled terrorist groups from behind, and conducted biological experiments.

The National Party has the moral high ground and public sentiment, while the Defense Party has the evidence and media.

Public sentiment is still with the National Party, but legal and media support is pushing the Defense Party.

People are confused.

And in such a chaotic era,

A person who provides a clear direction is called a hero.

I will show the way in this crazy country.

"Ha, it's Han Seung-moon!"

"Mr. Han Seung-moon! The controversy over biological experiments—"

"Han Seung-moon! Han Seung-moon! Han Seung-moon!"

"Who is the guild?"

As soon as I got out of the car, I was surrounded by a large crowd. It was a familiar place.

I deliberately chose that place.

The familiar press conference venue where I exposed Cha Jae-kyun's biological experiments is recreated.

I sat in a wheelchair and headed to the podium on the red carpet.

I have cut myself countless times and now stand here as a complete politician.

I don't see illusions. I now know what I must do and act accordingly.

To prevent the promised downfall,

To lead the hardened politicians and the confused masses back on the right path.

I have come to give hope to this country, which is slowly going mad.

"......Hello."

I now know the appropriate distance between my mouth and the microphone, and how to handle eye contact to appear trustworthy on camera.

I give a familiar greeting.

"I am lawmaker Han Seung-moon."

A four-second bow to show solemnity. A three-second pause to build anticipation.

"I risked my life to stop Cha Jae-kyun's plan,

but I manipulated the terrorism of Cha Jae-kyunists from behind,

and was kidnapped and shot by them."

A light paradox.

I show ease to my supporters.

"Also, I was young, promising,

and had a guaranteed future in politics,

but I manipulated the collusion of the established political circles,

and then exposed it."

I clearly acted like a madman in politics.

In other words, my politics lack plausibility.

"Do you believe this?"

It's hard to believe.

"Was there a reason for me to do this?"

Of course, the special prosecutor and the prosecution presented very objective and reasonable evidence. Various documents, testimonies from related parties, and so on.

But.

"The evidence presented by the special prosecutor and the prosecution is mostly fabricated."

People naturally believe what they want to believe.

"The evidence may be able to put me on trial and in prison."

Evidence and trust are unrelated.

"But I believe that truth and justice do not change!"

Political trust is determined by moral high ground and public sentiment.

"I will clearly reveal everything here."

Finally, all the pieces of the puzzle fall into place.

"I exposed the collusion between the Republican Party and the Democratic Party."

To split the political circles and promote mutual checks and balances. To make the social elite work again.

Politicians must fight each other for the country to progress.

"I fought against the dictator Cha Jae-kyun and am still fighting against his remnants."

To create a fictional enemy, confuse the public, and exchange that fear for support.

"The special prosecutor's claims are a clear smear campaign."

To provoke attacks from the established political circles.

"However, there is one fact. I conducted about 200 biological experiments."

Ultimately, to shatter those attacks.

"I transformed the 'monsterization drug' into an 'awakening promoter' through biological experiments and reduced its side effects."

To dismantle the government,

liberate the prosecution and the media.

Thus.

"The only test subject was me. I conducted 200 biological experiments using my superpowers." To completely sever the collusion of the established political circles.

"The price I paid is a remaining lifespan of 10 years."

The revival of the separation of powers 三權分立.

And,

"I will no longer discuss the past. I will talk about the future. Instead of elaborating on the smear campaigns against me,

I will reveal here

what kind of Republic of Korea we should create."

To provide a clear direction in a chaotic world,

to end the chaotic era 亂世.

The Thirty-Six Stratagems 三十六計, Strategy 34

The Bitter Flesh Stratagem 苦肉計

: To harm oneself to achieve a goal

The Three Divisions of the Empire 天下三分之計

: To divide power into three to promote mutual checks and balances.