Chapter 193
Chapter 193
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 193
Chapter Title: Cult Religion (4)
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“Time’s short. We need to resolve this as quickly as possible.”
When my instincts tell me something’s off, the choices usually boil down to two.
① Cross even the sturdiest bridge one careful step at a time.
② Leap off that bridge like bungee jumping, no matter what—handle everything at breakneck speed.
Normally, I’d pick the first option without hesitation.
But not this time. If it were just some issue with those Jewish uncles, maybe. But with Princess Hina almost certainly held captive by a cult...
‘Send out surveys to every single employee at the Ammunition Auto Naju Research Lab. Ask if they’ve noticed anything even remotely suspicious in the area. Especially...’
That’s why, just a few hours ago,
I’d impressed upon Uncle Kim Won-cheol, who was about to head to Naju, with these words.
‘Make sure to check for any shady rumors linking to Enter Industries—any companies or groups connected to them.’
‘Got it. Looks like I’ll have to go down there myself and oversee everything.’
Uncle Kim Won-cheol had raced off toward Naju like a courier on a fast horse. He’s probably handing out those survey sheets to the staff in person right now.
And the next player in resolving this mess? With a weak knock at the door, Mom entered my office.
“You’re here? Any news on Princess Hina?”
Mom shook her head sadly.
Looks like... my suspicions were right. Not only is Princess Hina’s phone off, but even Maria’s unreachable.
“Whew, just as I feared.”
“What do we do... I should’ve paid more attention. How could the agency head not know...”
“The former Chairman didn’t know either. Let’s sort out the situation first. So, starting with the most important...”
I calmed my teary-eyed mom and immediately pulled out a sheet of paper, placing it on the desk.
Names of unfamiliar entertainment companies filled large and small circles.
I pointed to the one smack in the center and asked Mom,
“Eden Garden Records. This is the key player behind the hit on Nuclear Weapon Enter, right?”
“If my investigation’s correct, they’re the ringleader.”
“What the hell kind of company pulls something like this?”
Mom, seeming a bit more composed now with fire returning to her eyes, began explaining the situation. Including info from Chairman Lee Jae-hoon of CZ E&M.
“They’re a hidden powerhouse in the album market. Nearly twenty years in the industry, plus decent stakes in cable TV and small entertainment firms.”
“Strong but under the radar.”
“But... there are some weird rumors floating around too. Nothing confirmed, so I’ve been hesitant to mention it.”
Worried about feeding me bad intel that could backfire, Mom hesitated.
I knew her heart was in the right place, so I thumped my chest confidently and spoke with exaggerated assurance.
“It’s fine. Go ahead. Handling it and taking responsibility—that’s all on me.”
“Right... our Seo-jun is the Chairman now.”
Her face lit up with satisfaction, emotions tangled like a ball of yarn.
Mom took a sip of coffee from the desk, then shifted her gaze sharply, ready to dive in.
“So, have you ever heard of a religious group called [Lord’s Garden]?”
“[Lord’s Garden]?”
As if she’d prepared it in advance, Mom handed me some documents.
A line from the top—Gwangju Archdiocese under the Catholic Church—snaked down like a vein through countless parishes, ending at a certain cathedral in Naju.
And at the edge of that cathedral, a thick red line connected to the problematic order: [Lord’s Garden].
“A Catholic-affiliated order, at least officially. Why them?”
“It’s still just rumors, but word is they’re not a legit order—they’re a newfangled cult. And...”
She flipped to the next page with a rustle.
Printed there was a photo of a plump woman in her mid-50s.
Once a nun, now the cult leader of [Lord’s Garden]. Her name?
“There’s talk that she’s the real owner of Eden Garden Records—Park Geum-deok.”
“Wait, so that cult’s location is...!”
“Jeollanam-do, Naju. That’s why... I’m so worried. What’s happening to our Hina right now...”
Yeah, exactly. The anxiety creeping in is unavoidable for me too. Though I can’t let it show.
And right on cue, my phone rang. Uncle Kim Won-cheol, nailing the timing for once, jumped straight to the point.
His voice sounded a bit rushed.
-Yeah, Chairman. Surveys are all done. Figured a quick report’s better than waiting for the formal one.
“What’s going on?”
-Turns out... that wild parallel theory you mentioned might be spot on. Got a key testimony from inside about [Lord’s Garden].
The puzzle of the bizarre group [Lord’s Garden] was coming together...
Uncle Kim Won-cheol slotted in the final piece, perfectly, so I could make the call.
-Some gal’s mom worked there—cleaning lady at the Ammunition Auto Naju lab. She’d been in and out of it... Anyway, sending the recording now.
* * * *
-I can’t even think about those evil bastards without jolting awake at night. Never seen devils like that in all my years!
Click. Fifth time replaying the audio file.
Reliving the trauma? The cleaning lady’s agitated voice trembled uncontrollably.
-It started when my daughter joined some God club. Thought it was just a cathedral group at first.
[Lord’s Garden], masterfully disguised as Catholic. Her college-girl daughter probably thought it was a standard Catholic club.
Never imagining it was a parasite devouring her life and those around her.
-So I got sucked in following her... But what the hell? They vacuumed up every penny from our home, then took my daughter’s body too!
Way... more serious than I’d thought.
When asked if she’d reported to police, the cleaning lady sighed deeply.
-Those filthy things... Couldn’t touch ’em ’cause they’re church-affiliated. Don’t know if they’re in cahoots with local cops, but no one in town—not even the dogs—would pretend to listen!
The Catholic camouflage. Collusion with local police.
That ironclad shield had nourished the cult for twenty years.
Then, Uncle Kim Won-cheol’s cautious recorded voice.
Asking if she’d seen any Jews inside. After a pause, she seemed to remember something and answered.
-Jews? Oh, those two lanky foreigners? Damn! Come to think of it, what happened to them? Can’t live forever—reincarnation event’s right around the corner.
Click. Audio file ended.
Uncle Kim Won-cheol, back from Naju to Seoul in three hours, sat before me.
“Whew... No matter how many times I listen, it’s insane.”
“Shouldn’t we crush them quick? Mobilize the president or whoever. If Princess Hina’s tangled up, that raccoon’ll move fast.”
“The raccoon’s not even in his burrow. He’s touring Europe for summits— in the Vatican right now. And...”
Talk about useless timing from the President.
The trip itself is a problem.
Because...
“That Vatican... it’s Catholic central.”
“Why them?”
“[Lord’s Garden] is definitely a cult, but they’re hiding behind a Catholic shell.”
“Oh no, right.”
“Could spark a diplomatic mess, so prosecutors and police’ll drag their feet. Local ties are just icing.”
Hard to sway Seoul’s top brass on short notice.
Even Park Eun-ji, the prosecutor we synced with on the interest rate thing, said as much.
‘Damn, they shipped me to the Justice Ministry’s Gwacheon HQ—now you’re asking about fieldwork?’
‘Congrats on the promotion, but don’t be like that.’
‘Hilarious. Anyway, about that [Lord’s Garden] you asked. Right now? Total takedown’s tough. Long-term op, maybe.’
Crazy butcher like her saying that?
Park Eun-ji sighed shortly, frustrated herself, and continued.
‘Need solid evidence. So brass can move without blowback later.’
Waiting under the persimmon tree for fruit to drop.
Bureaucrats at the top are all cut from the same cloth.
So, to wrap this up fast, Ammunition Group has to handle it solo.
“Hmm... Guess we gotta do something ourselves. Any ideas?”
Uncle Kim Won-cheol pondered, no sharp plan in sight.
I had one.
Problem is... it’d be like a painful shot for him.
“Not like we have zero options.”
“Huh?”
“Pull some from Ammunition Group’s security team. Infiltrate. Extract Princess Hina first, gather evidence as we go.”
“Yeah, that’s probably it. Who to put in charge...?”
I fixed him with a deliberate, lingering stare.
This sharp guy sensed danger, stepping back and stammering.
“Uh? Why stare like that? Something on my face?”
“Perfect candidate’s right here. You know this case from start to finish.”
“No, Chairman... you don’t mean...?”
Fieldwork? He did plenty at Fukushima last time. Time to trust a reliable employee, right?
I gripped Uncle Kim Won-cheol’s hand tight, batting my doe eyes.
“[Lord’s Garden] devotees have hair rules. Women: bob to 3cm below ears. Men:”
Yeah, for men—just shave the back of his current style nice and clean.
“Completely bald. Razor-shaved scalp, shiny smooth.”
“Gasp...!”
His eyes shook like an earthquake, poor boiled cuttlefish-to-be.
Squeezing his hand harder, I delivered the final plea. Never ever.
“They say hair grows back stronger after shaving. Please, take on this heavy duty.”