Chapter 66
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: The Mayor and the Exposé
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Live broadcast day.
The day of the final battle. The day I mount the guillotine.
And at the same time, the day of liberation.
I walked down the broadcasting station corridor.
The new shoes felt a bit uncomfortable on my feet, but I could endure that much.
Like a condemned man enjoying his last supper. Everything is forgiven generously.
A familiar face approached from the other end.
"Hey! Jo Young-seok MC! Long time no see. Last time was so much fun. I heard the ratings were through the roof? Thanks to you, I became a star too."
Jo Young-seok MC. The star host of NNC Broadcasting. And today, the executioner presiding over my public execution.
I approached first with the brightest smile in the world and extended my hand.
For a moment, his eyes looking down at my outstretched hand flashed with something like killing intent.
Must be my imagination. A beloved national broadcaster wouldn't.
"Yes, Mayor. Today will be an even more 'entertaining' broadcast."
He gripped my hand, grinding his teeth.
Crunch.
His grip was stronger than expected.
This wasn't a handshake; it was practically a challenge to a duel.
"The true communication you desire, Mayor. I'll deliver it properly."
A meaningful smile.
He left those words and disappeared into the studio first.
'Oh ho, you've prepared something solid, huh? Good, bring it on!'
Just before entering the studio, the PD approached and briefed me on the broadcast format.
Two-hour special programming. No editing except mid-break ads.
Magpie Village Chief Park Chun-bae and Frontier Development CEO Jeong Jae-hyeok appearing together.
And 50 citizen panelists seated in the studio, asking questions and giving real-time evaluations.
The perfect chance to take a barrage of crossfire from all sides and be branded by the citizens as the scumbag of the century.
My heart pounded. This wasn't fear. It was ecstasy.
The studio lights were scorching hot.
Countless camera lenses were aimed at me.
I sat down in a relaxed, confident posture.
"Hello. This is Jo Young-seok with NNC's 60 Minutes Frontal Assault."
Jo Young-seok MC's voice echoed throughout the studio.
"Today, we've prepared a truly special broadcast. We've gathered the three key figures at the center of the heated Magpie Village redevelopment conflict that's gripped Neo Incheon."
The camera panned between the three of us in turn.
"First, Magpie Village resident representative Chief Park Chun-bae, then Frontier Development CEO Jeong Jae-hyeok. And finally, Lee Garam, Mayor of Neo Incheon, who has taken on the role of mediator in this entire conflict."
Chief Park Chun-bae clenched his fist with a resolute expression, while CEO Jeong Jae-hyeok neatly arranged his stack of documents, finishing his preparations for battle.
And me? Naturally, I smiled comfortably.
"As viewers know well, this conflict goes beyond a simple redevelopment issue and reveals various problems in our society. Today, we'll hear honest stories from these three."
He paused to catch his breath and added,
"Of course, today is a complete live broadcast with no editing. So expect even more candid... and unpredictable conversation."
His voice trembled slightly on the last sentence. 'Unpredictable' was clearly aimed at me.
The real-time ratings graph on one side of the studio was climbing steeply.
"We! We're just trying to protect the homes we've lived in our whole lives! But that mega-corporation! They're trying to crush us with money!"
Oh, starting with an emotional appeal. Classic, but effective.
CEO Jeong Jae-hyeok immediately countered.
"We've offered the maximum compensation allowed by law, 250% of market value. Please don't slander us as unscrupulous companies trying to buy pure hearts with money."
"It's not about the money! We've lived there our whole lives! Our ancestors' graves are there, the alleys where our kids played are there! Telling us to sell that for a few bucks is like telling us to forget our roots!"
Ancestors. Children. Memories.
The emotional trio set appeared.
As Chief Park Chun-bae's eyes welled up, light applause broke out from the audience seats.
"CEO Jeong Jae-hyeok, what do you think?"
Jo Young-seok MC passed the mic as if he'd been waiting.
"We regret it too."
Jeong Jae-hyeok said calmly.
"But for Neo Incheon's development, it's an unavoidable choice. The complex mall and superpowered-tech complex on the Magpie Village site will create tens of thousands of jobs and boost the city's competitiveness to the next level. We can't sacrifice the many's future for the few's nostalgia, can we?"
Development. Future. Greater good.
Now the logical trio set.
'Both sides came prepared.'
I watched their first round of exchanges with crossed arms and keen interest.
"You mobilized thug enforcers to threaten our residents!"
"Who occupied our headquarters' main gate with illegal protests and injured our employees first?"
I could feel the studio temperature rising on my skin.
The camera directors were excited too, alternating close-ups on their faces.
'Yes, fight like that. More fiercely! More uglily! Expose every dirty bottom of yours!'
Chief Park Chun-bae pulled a yellow envelope from his pocket.
"Take a look at this! Account records showing Frontier Development bribing three city council members!"
Finally, the bombs started detonating.
CEO Jeong Jae-hyeok didn't stay quiet. He pulled out a binder and tossed it.
"Proof that most Magpie Village residents already own luxury apartments in Songdo! They're unscrupulous scammers trying to double-dip on redevelopment compensation and Songdo apartments! Enough with the poor cosplay!"
"Wh-what did you say?!"
This time, Chief Park Chun-bae's face flushed beet red.
Both were using the exact materials I'd slipped them, claiming I got them from 'a brave whistleblower'.
'Perfect! Stabbing each other's hearts with the knives I forged! What a beautiful sight!'
The exposé battle was just beginning.
"This is the geological survey report! You knew the land under your development site was hollow, but ignored citizens' safety to push it through!"
"Then explain where these people went! Residents who went missing just for supporting redevelopment! Did you silence them?"
The powerful cards I'd subtly provided for free.
A slugfest of corruption and ugly secrets.
Mutual accusations and exposés reached a fever pitch.
"They're both the same scum."
"Not a single trustworthy one."
"Did the mayor set this up again?"
The citizen panelists wouldn't stop murmuring.
This beautiful scene of both sides sinking.
But something felt empty.
'Good, both sinking together is great... but how do I reveal that I'm the bat who rigged the whole game?'
Should I just shout, 'Actually, I made it all up!'? Too corny...
Right then.
Jo Young-seok MC raised his hand to halt their heated argument.
"Hold on. Both of you, calm down. There's something very important we're overlooking here."
All the studio cameras swiveled toward me in unison, as if on cue.
"Mayor."
Jo Young-seok's eyes gleamed.
"Do you bear no responsibility for this conflict escalating this far?"
As prepared, I put on the most innocent, clueless face in the world.
"Me? What did I do?"
Innocence. Sometimes the strongest weapon, the ultimate provocation to enrage opponents.
I widened my eyes and tilted my head.
Of course, only 50% power compared to what I used on Seria.
A vein popped on Jo Young-seok's temple.
"Then, let's view the prepared footage together."
A large screen in the studio played the video.
And who appeared? Naturally, me, Lee Garam.
Me at the black goat house in front of Magpie Village, holding residents' hands.
[Don't worry! I'll make sure that evil corporation can't drive you out!]
The screen changed.
Frontier Development HQ conference room. Me shaking hands with executives.
[Don't worry! I'll handle those illegal protesters so they can't hinder development!]
And the videos continued.
Scenes of me flitting between sides like a bat, leaking corruption and incident info, unfolded panoramically.
"This isn't all."
The screen went dark, and a voice echoed in the studio.
Third piece of evidence.
[Chief, listen carefully. Frontier's mobilizing thug enforcers tomorrow.]
Fourth piece.
[Director Jeong. Residents are linking with environmental groups for a massive protest.]
My voice, unmistakably.
'Whoa... this exceeds my expectations? Jo Young-seok, you really prepared hard! Good job!'
I cheered inwardly. No escaping this.
Lee Garam would go down as Neo Incheon's worst bat mayor.
Park Chun-bae and Jeong Jae-hyeok turned to me simultaneously.
Their expressions... how to describe?
Betrayed lover? Backstabbed friend? Scammed investor?
"So... the mayor deliberately made us fight...?"
"Leaking false info to both sides... to escalate the conflict...? Why, why on earth...?"
Their voices overlapped.
The raw betrayal of being stomped by a trusted ally.
The despair of realizing you'd been used.
The moment all trust shatters.
Park Chun-bae shot up from his seat, pointing at me.
"Y-you bastard! We trusted only you, mayor! Followed only your words! Tricking innocent villagers like us! How can you call yourself human?!"
Jeong Jae-hyeok shouted in outrage too.
"A public servant, a mayor! How can you betray the trust of citizens and businesses?!"
Jo Young-seok MC smiled satisfactorily at me, as if he'd anticipated everything.
I took all the arrows of blame on my body and quietly closed my eyes.
This noise. This chaos. This rage.
'Yes! This is it! Finally... my plan succeeds!'
Jo Young-seok's eyes shone. A predator cornering prey.
The executioner's eyes on the convict's neck.
He threw the final question.
"Mayor."
His voice rang coldly through the studio.
"Is this the true communication and high-level political mediation you spoke of?"
The cameras' red lights all turned to me.
Zoom in. Closer, closer, closer.
My face filled every screen in the studio.
Every pore about to be captured.
"What did you gain by inciting conflict and division among citizens?"
It came.
The finisher. Checkmate. Game over. K.O.
I ignited my actor's soul.
Lee Garam-style method acting begins.
First, let a drop of sweat trickle from my forehead.
Good thing the lights are hot. Sweat comes easy.
Lips trembling, I stammered.
"Th-that... I... I mean... I didn't intend..."
Perfect acting. Couldn't be better.
A cornered, incompetent, cowardly politician.
Viewers must be dying to hurl remotes at their TVs.
Sure enough, the real-time ratings in the screen corner shot up vertically.
The more viewers, the better.
The more the nation witnesses my ugly true face live, the deeper the irreversible river I'll cross.
Once branded 'national scum', it never washes off.
'It's piling up! Hate mileage stacking steadily!'
My jaw ached suppressing the laughter trying to burst out.
"Th-this... is a misunderstanding... everyone! That footage is maliciously edited! You know it's all lies, right?"
Jo Young-seok wouldn't miss. He lunged like a shark smelling blood.
"Misunderstanding? Then why provide different info to each side and stir confusion? Your voice is clearly recorded. How will you take responsibility for all this chaos and division?!"
Now, excuse time. The kind that pours oil on the fire, of course.
"That was... part of my effort to deeply understand both sides' positions..."
Murmurs.
The studio stirred.
Good, perfect.
"And providing objective info so they could... realize the truth themselves... that deep meaning..."
Booing grew louder.
"And anyway! Am I the only wrong one? Looking back, those two are at fault. They were hiding their true intentions! There's a root problem, why pick only on me?!"
Childish blame-shifting. Certifying zero leadership qualities.
"Is that what a mayor says? Toying with citizens!"
"No sense of responsibility! Unfit for public office!"
"Neo Incheon's doomed with him as mayor!"
Blame voices surged, ready to pierce the roof.
Jo Young-seok smirked coldly to wrap up.
"So ultimately, you admit intentionally and deliberately inciting this conflict?"
I met a true benefactor today. My ally, Jo Young-seok MC.
To help me this much. I should ask for a handshake after the broadcast.
"No! I just... wanted both sides to crash..."
Silence.
Park Chun-bae, Jeong Jae-hyeok, citizen panelists, even camera directors—all froze, staring at me.
Broadcast accident-level truth bomb.
No, this was straight self-destruction.
"...Wanted them to crash? Mayor, you're saying you wished for citizens and businesses to perish? How can a public servant, Neo Incheon's top leader, say that? Apologize publicly to the citizens now!"
Yes, time for an apology.
A public apology. Followed by resignation declaration. If not, a period of reflection.
I gripped the mic firmly.
"Citizens... due to my negligence..."
Right then.
Bang!
The studio's heavy iron door flew open with a thunderous boom, as if kicked.
All eyes turned to the door.
"I object."
Rags. The most fitting word for him.
His high-end suit fabric was torn and soot-stained everywhere. His shirt was caked in dirt and unidentified fluids, unrecognizable in color.
But strangely, his body bore not a single wound.
Neo Incheon's Grade 1 Audit Enforcer.
Erebos's minion. Super-regeneration possessor. Codename: Undead.
Kang Hyunwoo.
And atop his head sat a calico cat yawning nonchalantly amid the commotion.
Jo Young-seok MC stammered in panic.
"Wh-who are you to barge in? This is live broadcast... Security! Security!"
Kang Hyunwoo didn't even glance at him.
"I have an urgent report for the mayor."
Meow~!
Even Nero's smug face boasting a big accomplishment.
Why? Why now?
Why did it have to be exactly now?! Just 5 minutes, no, 1 minute later!
Couldn't you let me get properly trashed and ruined?!