The Civil Servant
I let out a long, heavy sigh.
"Then there's nothing we can do to help. What power do we have to go up against people like that?"
Myeong-suk fixed me with a steady stare. Her gaze made me uncomfortable—or maybe it was the words coming out of my own mouth that made me squirm. Trying to hide it, I half-turned my body away and spoke into empty air.
"I mean… if things have gotten that bad for Gu Yeonsu, why doesn't she just sell and be done with it? How much more does she need to make that she's willing to put up with that kind of filth?"
Myeong-suk's expression turned strange.
"There's something Yeonsu never told you, Jisin."
I turned back to look at her.
"Something she never told me?"
Myeong-suk exhaled deeply and began to speak.
"It starts with that civil servant—the one who first gave her the development information."
"The one who took his own life… that man?"
She nodded.
"Yes. Yeonsu said he shared the information because she had found him a good house at a low price. Of course that was part of it, but there was a far more important reason."
I frowned.
"Another reason? So it wasn't about money?"
Myeong-suk nodded again.
"That's right. That civil servant… he was an exceptional man. He was the officer in charge of the project. He knew perfectly well that enormous interests were at stake in this development. While he was pushing the project forward, he realized his superiors had already begun carving up the spoils among themselves. And he understood those vast sums were flowing in thoroughly improper directions. For a man who had lived his whole life with integrity, watching that corruption with open eyes was unbearable."
I sighed.
"How rotten does it have to get for the people actually doing the work to feel that way?"
"Some of that money would trickle down to the high-ranking officials involved in the project, but most of it was destined to become political funds—the kind that can move an entire administration. The civil servant told Gu Yeonsu in order to stop it, and Yeonsu bought up most of the land to keep those illicit interests from pouring into the political world."
I gave a cynical little smile.
"But in the end that money just ends up in Yeonsu's pocket, doesn't it? Something about it still feels off."
Myeong-suk nodded.
"Yeonsu promised that civil servant she would use the money for the public good. She even had concrete plans to create a foundation that would provide commercial spaces and housing for low-income people."
I was a little surprised. I had thought of her as nothing more than a businesswoman chasing profit.
"Yeonsu and that civil servant shared a greater purpose. But then…"
Myeong-suk's chest rose and fell with another deep sigh before she continued.
"Once it became known that the civil servant had leaked the information to Yeonsu and that she had started buying up the surrounding land, those forces began applying pressure to everyone around her—using that bastard Jo Byeongsu as their front man. First it was her employees. Now they've started working on her family. The civil servant knew that Yeonsu, who had accepted his ideals in good faith and followed them, was suffering because of it. The guilt and the shame drove him to take his own life."
I had nothing to say.
"Even in that situation, Yeonsu is still holding out to the end. She knows she probably can't hold out forever, yet she cannot bring herself to abandon that civil servant's noble purpose. Right now pressure is coming at her from every direction. She's like a candle in the wind."
I asked carefully,
"What about the authorities?"
Myeong-suk snorted.
"Those people aren't afraid of things like that. If anything, they're the ones who might end up using the authorities. They already have enormous influence over the police and the prosecution."
I sighed again.
"Haa… What are we going to do about Yeonsu?"
Myeong-suk's eyes sharpened as she stared at me.
"What do you want to do, Jisin?"
I fiddled with my toes.
"If I were a real, all-powerful cult leader, of course I'd want to help. And this isn't just about protecting Yeonsu's personal wealth. But I don't have the power to do anything…"
Myeong-suk cut me off.
"And if you did have the power?"
I grinned broadly.
"Then there'd be nothing to think about. Bastards like that deserve to be taught a lesson. If that money ends up in their hands, the chain of evil can never be broken. And people who go after someone's family…"
The sharp look in Myeong-suk's eyes melted into a foolish little smile.
"Then it's decided."
"What is?"
"You already have the power, Jisin. We have the power to stop them. Even if the authorities won't use their strength, we can. Not in the name of the law, but in the name of justice. And by borrowing the power of a god."
I stared at her as if she had lost her mind. Myeong-suk rose from her seat.
"We have a gathering tonight, so prepare for that. I'll work out the concrete plan with Yongjin. Cheonsiman-gyo is a religion for the peace and happiness of all people. More than three thousand people have already signed our membership register. Don't forget—our strength is growing at an incredible speed."
With that, she left the room. I sat there blankly, staring at her hips as she walked out. What power was I supposed to have? That was nonsense. I was nothing more than a puppet sitting here as the so-called leader of this religion, flirting with women. Myeong-suk couldn't possibly not know I had no such power, so what was she talking about? Of course, deep down I desperately wanted to protect Yeonsu and the will of that dead civil servant. But what could mere desire accomplish? Long after Myeong-suk had left, I remained sitting in the inner room, lost in thought.
That evening the regular gathering took place. So many people came that I began to wonder whether our hall was still big enough. Just as Myeong-suk had said, the number of believers was rising rapidly. After the successful evening service, we gathered at Simanjeong. As soon as we entered the meeting room, two Cheongisa took up guard outside the door. I had the distinct feeling the atmosphere had shifted.
Once everyone was assembled, Yongjin spoke in a grave tone.
"We've gathered today to discuss the matter concerning Seongyodan member Gu Yeonsu. From now on, matters like this will be discussed by all of us together, and we will act together. If the leadership of our order reaches a negative conclusion, the matter will be rejected and Cheonsiman-gyo will not involve itself."
At Yongjin's glance, Myeong-suk stepped forward and explained the entire situation. I had already heard it, but it was new to the others. Even hearing it on the news would have been shocking, yet everyone listened with surprising calm. When Myeong-suk finished, Yongjin spoke again.
"We have already sketched out a broad plan and carried out some preliminary work. If any of you have objections to Cheonsiman-gyo involving itself in this matter, please speak freely."
Yongjin looked around at every face. No one said a word. He nodded.
"Good. We will help Gu Yeonsu of our Seongyodan."
I thought to myself, All right… so far so good. Helping someone with pure intentions can't be a bad thing. But how exactly are we going to help? At that moment Myeong-suk spoke.
"The person standing at the front of this affair is Jo Byeongsu. He is a broker and proxy operator who works through violence. Of course there are larger forces behind him, but given the nature of the matter they cannot move openly. So they have left everything entirely in Jo Byeongsu's hands. In my judgment they are backing him, but if Jo Byeongsu is blocked they will not step forward themselves. So we may be able to resolve this more easily than expected."
Good God. Easy—against a gangster? I couldn't hide the anxiety rising inside me, though I kept my face still. Under the table my leg bounced restlessly. Myeong-suk continued.
"Right now Jo Byeongsu is seizing on the weaknesses of the people involved and shaking their families. That may be the area where people break the fastest. That's what makes him so vicious. No one can endure forever when family is on the line."
"That fucking bastard…"
The curse slipped out of Miryeong's mouth. Everyone turned to look at her, but her face remained expressionless. Then Minhwa spoke, her face frozen stiff.
"That civil servant… you said he committed suicide. Could it be…?"
Myeong-suk smiled faintly at the corners of her mouth.
"You're thinking exactly right."