The Fall of the Uncle

The next morning, Park Jihun tossed and turned under his blankets for a long time before finally opening his eyes. Perhaps it was because he’d left the electric heating pad on, but his body felt unusually heavy. He stared up at the ceiling with a dazed expression, then habitually reached out to grab his phone. Several notifications were waiting on the lock screen: an email from a sponsor, an edited video file from his editor Lee Minhyeok, and below that, the name Kim Taejun.

Jihun checked the DM Kim Taejun had sent.

Jihun closed the DM immediately. There was no need to reply. If things had worked out, that was all that mattered. 'More importantly, why did my body get so hot?' Jihun narrowed his eyes and blinked a few times. He recalled the sensation of his insides burning up just before he started his private broadcast last night. Why had his Shinan guided him to show Kim Taejun the way?

'Was it because it wasn't something I could just ignore?' The thought crossed his mind briefly, but he shook his head. He still didn't know. His Shinan didn't always explain the reasons behind its visions, and Jihun simply spoke of what he saw. Trying to force a meaning into it was more dangerous. Jihun wiped his face with one hand. His body still ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠felt languid. Perhaps because he’d been lying on the electric mat for so long, he had no desire to leave the warmth of his bed. He placed his phone back beside his pillow and buried himself back under the covers. The heat quickly enveloped his back. As he closed his eyes, his stray ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠thoughts slowly faded. Pulling the blanket up to his chin, Jihun muttered, "Just a little more sleep."

The moment he let his guard ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠down, drowsiness washed over him like a wave. This time, he didn't resist. He drifted back into sleep.

It was well past sunset when Jihun opened his eyes again. The world outside his window was already dark. Jihun lay there with a dazed expression for a while before slowly sitting up. "What time is it?" Checking his phone, he saw there was only thirty minutes left until his scheduled broadcast. He forced his body up and climbed out of bed. Only then did he realize he was hungry. After eating some ramen and washing up, it was nearly time to go live. Jihun pressed the start button.

The chat room was bustling immediately.

Jihun scanned the monitor and spoke calmly. "Today, we're doing roulette." The chat room erupted.

Jihun said briefly, "If you want to apply, just type 'Apply', and if you win, join the Discord." The chat room was instantly flooded with [Apply]. A moment later, Jihun closed the applications and spun the roulette. There were no particularly dangerous consultations. Someone asking about moving dates, someone worried about exam results, someone looking for a lost item. Jihun briefly touched on what he saw and moved on. It was just as he was finishing the last roulette and preparing to wrap up the broadcast that his gaze locked onto one spot in the chat.

"Dyudyudyu, come in." The chat room stirred.

"Yes. You. Right now." A moment later, Dyudyudyu hurriedly joined the Discord. A young woman's voice rang out, sounding urgent. "What is it?"

"Call 119. Right now."

"What? 119, all of a sudden?"

"Your father is in a state that can't just be ignored."

"My father? That's impossible. We were just eating dinner together in the living room a moment ago!"

"Go look at him right now."

"What?"

"Hurry." The other end of the Discord went quiet.

Soon after, the sounds of urgent movement came through the Discord. The sound of a door opening, footsteps, and ragged breathing. "Dad? Dad, are you okay?" A moment later, another woman's voice erupted. "Suyun! Why is your dad suddenly like this!" The chat room froze for a moment.

Dyudyudyu's voice trembled urgently. "Dad, look at me. Dad! Mom, call 119! Hurry! No, I'll call!" Dyudyudyu asked the Discord belatedly. "I've called 119. They said they're on their way. What should I do now?"

"Stay by his side. Don't let him lose consciousness."

"W-will he be okay?"

"It's not too late yet." With those words, he ended the Discord call. Jihun said briefly, "That's all for today." Jihun pressed the broadcast end button.

Meanwhile, the Strategic Planning Office at Taesung Bio was not much different from usual. The employees were sitting in front of their monitors, and work was proceeding without any particular issues. The only thing that had changed was Team Leader Kang Taesik's face. He looked haggard, like someone who hadn't slept a wink all night. While he kept flipping through the documents on his desk, he was busy glancing toward the Executive Director's office. That was when the office door opened. Men in suits walked in, one after another. The man in the lead headed straight for Kang Taesik's desk.

Kang Taesik tried to compose his expression and asked, "What is this about?"

"We are the headquarters audit team. We are requesting your cooperation regarding the submission of materials related to the Hwarung Biotech joint development project." The ease vanished from Kang Taesik's face. "So suddenly? Wait a moment. That hasn't been organized yet."

"It is a necessary procedure. We ask for your cooperation." In the meantime, two audit team members attached themselves to Kang Taesik's desk. One checked the documents on the desk, while the other reached straight for the PC tower. Kang Taesik rose urgently. "What are you doing right now?"

The audit team leader said in a flat voice, "Do not touch the relevant PC or materials from this moment on."

"Wait a second. At the very least, I need to know what this is about..."

"We will explain the details in the audit office." That was when the inner office door opened. Kim Taejun's uncle, Park Sangheon, appeared. He glared at the audit team leader and asked, "What are you doing here?"

Kang Taesik's expression relaxed for a moment. But that was short-lived. The audit team leader turned his head toward Park Sangheon, his back straight. "We were just about to inform you, Director." He held out a document. "This is an internal investigation order regarding the Hwarung Biotech joint development project. As of today, the project is being transferred to the direct control of the headquarters audit team."

Park Sangheon's eyes narrowed. "Are you saying you're excluding the Strategic Planning Office?"

"Until the investigation is concluded, yes."

"Who gave that order?" The audit team leader didn't hesitate for a second. "It is the Chairman's order."

At those words, Park Sangheon's face twisted. The audit team leader held out another document. "And there is a separate personnel action for you, Director." Park Sangheon ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠took the document. The moment he confirmed the contents, his fingertips tightened. [Suspended pending investigation]. The words were etched into his eyes.

"...I understand. Let's proceed according to procedure." He said that, but his face was rigid. The audit team members moved immediately. Kang Taesik's PC was seized, and the documents on his desk were placed into envelopes one by one. Kang Taesik looked at Park Sangheon with a pale face. "Director..."

Park Sangheon glared at Kang Taesik for a moment, then spoke in a voice too low for the audit team members to hear. "Don't say anything unnecessary." Kang Taesik's pupils wavered. "If you just keep your mouth shut, I'll handle it." At those words, Kang Taesik couldn't say anything more. A moment later, he hung his head weakly and left the office with the audit team members.

Park Sangheon watched Kang Taesik being dragged away for a moment, then went straight into his office. His face was even more rigid when he came back out, having only grabbed his coat and bag. "Director, where are you going?" Someone asked cautiously, but Park Sangheon didn't respond. None of the employees could follow him. It was when he was standing in front of the elevator, biting his inner lip, that a familiar voice was heard from behind him.

"You arrived sooner than I thought." Park Sangheon turned his head slowly. Kim Taejun was standing there. Kim Taejun was looking at Park Sangheon with his usual expression. "I thought it would take a bit longer for the audit team to move." Park Sangheon's gaze turned menacing. "You... you bastard, don't tell me."

Kim Taejun replied calmly, "I told you. To my father." Park Sangheon's face hardened. "How dare you..."

"This is a company, Uncle." Kim Taejun said without taking a single step back. "You've worked hard running around until your feet were sweating. Why don't you rest at home starting today?" Park Sangheon could only glare at Kim Taejun; he couldn't do anything else. Then, the elevator door opened. Park Sangheon stepped into the elevator. Kim Taejun stood there until the moment the door closed. Once he reached the basement, Park Sangheon went straight to his car. As soon as he closed the door, the air in the car sank heavily. The phone in his hand felt heavy. There was only one option in his mind right now. He started the engine and made a call immediately.

Park Sangheon gripped the steering wheel and gritted his teeth. Veins bulged on the back of his hands. Everything was because of that guy. Kim Taejun. Everything started to unravel the moment the Chairman brought that child into the family. "Kim Taejun... how dare that bastard." He muttered as if spitting out the words, then glared at his phone screen again. The call connection tone continued for a long time. "Why isn't Taehun picking up the phone?" He didn't know how many times he had called already. The call wouldn't connect. It was when he was about to call again that—

"Speak." The call finally connected. A cold, sunken voice came through the receiver. Park Sangheon gritted his teeth and said, "Something big happened. The company has been turned upside down. The audit team came down, and it's chaos. Kang Taesik was dragged away, and I've been suspended. You need to help me."

The other side of the receiver was silent. It was when Park Sangheon swallowed dryly that— "Help you? You, the person who even thought about selling off my assets?" Park Sangheon's face hardened. "What?"

"Uncle, you should have been moderate with your greed."

"Taehun."

"Not only did you fail to properly block Kim Taejun, but you also tried to sell off core company materials." His voice was calm. That was why it was even more chilling. Park Sangheon hurriedly continued, "It's a misunderstanding. I acted for your sake. With Taejun rising to the position of Division Head, I couldn't just stand by and watch..."

"Then you should have blocked him from becoming Division Head." Park Sangheon's lips tightened. The voice on the other end muttered softly, "If you lack the ability, you should have at least been quick-witted." Park Sangheon's expression twisted. "You, right now to me..."

"Rest. For the time being."

"Taehun!" Click. The call was cut off. Park Sangheon stared at his phone with a dazed expression. The Chairman had cast him aside, and Kim Taehun had abandoned him. Now, there was nowhere to go, and no one to help him.

At the same time, Kim Taehun placed his phone, which had been cut off, on his desk. Several reports were spread out in front of him. Taesung Bio. Park Sangheon. Kang Taesik. Hwarung Biotech. Kim Taejun. And PerpetualJobSeeker. Kim Taehun's gaze stopped on the last page. [PerpetualJobSeeker]. It was the nickname of a streamer who did internet broadcasts. The first time that name came up was in his father's secretary's office. The mention that his father had been watching a strange internet broadcast lately. The mention that there was a brief commotion regarding Ocean's subscription issue because of that broadcast. And the streamer's name. PerpetualJobSeeker. At the time, he thought it was a ridiculous story. An internet broadcast that did shamanic readings. But when he placed the point in time when Kim Taejun changed, the point when things went wrong at Taesung Bio, and PerpetualJobSeeker's broadcast records side-by-side, it was hard to see it as a coincidence.

Someone was next to Kim Taejun. Just as a shaman had been attached to his father's side. Kim Taehun's mouth twisted. "Is it a family trait? A funny thing." He looked at his monitor. The Ocean screen was on. A moment later, a notification popped up.

Kim Taehun narrowed his eyes. "He finally turned it on." Park Jihun on the screen was sitting in front of the camera. The chat room was already moving fast. A moment later, Jihun opened his mouth. "Today, I will take requests using the priority system." The chat room boiled over. Kim Taehun watched the screen. The priority system. It wasn't that you got in first just because you spent a lot of money. It was a method where only those who applied on a first-come-first-served basis at a set time could get a shamanic reading. It was ridiculous. Yet, Kim Taehun tightened his grip on the mouse. A moment later, the application window opened. Kim Taehun pressed the button without hesitation. But the very next moment, a message popped up on the screen.

Kim Taehun's finger froze. Failure. It was a word he wasn't accustomed to. Kim Taehun stared at the screen for a long time. The chat room was bustling, divided between those who succeeded and those who failed. Soon, the list appeared on the screen. His name wasn't there either. It was a natural thing. Because he had failed. At that moment, Park Jihun called out the first nickname with an indifferent expression. "GenerousPerson. Come in."

Kim Taehun watched Park Jihun on the screen. He was a man who didn't seem to have anything great about him on the surface. But strangely, everyone in that broadcast was following his rules. Even people with a lot of money. Even people in a hurry. Perhaps even himself. Kim Taehun narrowed his eyes and muttered, "Unpleasant." But in the end, he couldn't turn off the screen.