Chapter 99

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Translator: Wjin

Chapter: 99

Chapter Title: Payback and Proof

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I headed out after getting a text from Ishiha asking me to spare some time.

The meeting spot was a café not far from my place, and Ishiha sat alone amid a bunch of empty tables, like they'd rented out the whole joint.

"You look like you're in good shape today."

"Yeah, thanks to you—things finally went my way."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"What do you mean 'went your way'? It's not over yet."

Isn't it?

I thought the investigation into Lee Seung-jun had already kicked off.

"Just a slap on the wrist like prison time won't cut it."

Ah, that's what she meant.

"I dug deeper, and that trash... his life's a total dumpster fire. He posts hate comments like it's breakfast, runs scams on secondhand deals... too much to list, but there's a ton. I'm gonna make him pay for every single one, bit by bit."

Ishiha's words sped up, and by the end, she was a little out of breath.

"Sorry, I got worked up and started talking fast. Don't worry about the big one—the creepshot case. I've handed it to the top legal team in the country. He'll do at least five years. There was... just a tiny hiccup, though."

The tiny hiccup—probably me losing control and throwing punches at Lee Seung-jun.

I knew I shouldn't have, but the second I saw Ji-hyun's photos on that bastard's phone, my reason snapped.

"Sorry. I made things messy for you. Should've kept my hands to myself."

"What're you sorry for? Some punk touches your family right in front of you, of course your fists fly. If I had your strength, I'd grab his head and bash it silly... Anyway, I think holding back that much makes you the impressive one."

Ishiha poured tea into the cup in front of me and continued.

"No need to worry—it's minor, like I said. What can that trash do? Against me? Against Nixon Baseball?"

A pretty narcissistic line, but coming from her, I found myself nodding.

"True, the weight class difference is huge."

"Exactly. Worst case, we could... quietly make him vanish off Incheon's coast..."

"You're joking, right?"

"Half-joking, but if you want it done, it's doable. Even tomorrow."

I let out a smirk, and she chuckled too before going on.

"That's plan one. Wanna hear plan two?"

I nodded, and she laid out her scheme like she'd rehearsed it.

"After that trash serves his five years... we sue him right on release day. Sound fun?"

"The day he gets out?"

"Of course. Then with all the dirt I've collected, I'll fabricate even the tiniest crimes—no, make up new ones—and keep hammering him. He'll spend the rest of his life rotting longer in prison."

"Scary stuff, President of Nixon Baseball."

It was half a joke, but half-serious too.

If that plan played out, Lee Seung-jun might as well be socially dead already.

"Gotta do this much for true payback, right? A short stint behind bars isn't enough."

Her expression seemed to ask right?, drawing a smirk from me.

Yeah.

If ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠not for Ishiha, I wouldn't feel this unburdened.

"Teacher, are you really okay going on broadcast?"

Shin Ha-yoon looked at Lee Mi-yeon with concern.

With the daycare assault controversy mostly cleared, all eyes were now on the thug rumors.

At least 100,000 viewers would tune in—exposing your face and identity to that many wasn't easy.

But Lee Mi-yeon nodded casually.

"I'm fine. It's what I have to do."

She figured she, as Cha Tae-hyun's homeroom teacher, was key to settling this.

"Thank you, Teacher. Mustering that courage isn't simple."

"Save the thanks—I'm prouder of you, stepping up for your friend like this."

Shin Ha-yoon and Lee Mi-yeon double-checked their script and hit start on the broadcast.

Chats popped up calling it fake or paid, but when Lee Mi-yeon flashed her teacher ID and class photo, they died down fast.

"Alright, straight to the point."

Shin Ha-yoon explained why Cha Tae-hyun wasn't a thug.

Same points and evidence as the last live—except now his homeroom teacher was there to verify.

That alone was enough.

Words from a teacher staking her career carried real weight.

"Yes, that's right. Like Ha-yoon said, Tae-hyun just slept in class. He even skipped meals to save money—saving for his little sister's tuition..."

Lee Mi-yeon shoved a paper marked "Lunch Application Status" at the camera and kept going.

"See that? Only an X next to Cha Tae-hyun's name? He slept through lunch to work nights... Who'd he bully? No time for that."

Public opinion started shifting favorably.

Shin Ha-yoon and Lee Mi-yeon kept dropping evidence, and the clincher was video calls with fellow teachers prepped by Lee Mi-yeon.

The chat flooded nonstop, curses flying—but Lee Mi-yeon and Shin Ha-yoon could smile.

The rage wasn't at Cha Tae-hyun; it was at those who framed him.

"That's it for this live."

The second Shin Ha-yoon hit end broadcast, Lee Mi-yeon face-planted on the desk.

Tension drained, leaving her limp.

"Whoa... how'd you handle this solo before?"

Shin Ha-yoon flopped too and replied.

"Right? I'm dying... But it went well, yeah?"

"Yeah. Everyone's pitying Tae-hyun, and it was baseless anyway. These blow over fast once opinion flips."

Shin Ha-yoon nodded face-down, then checked his phone and bolted up.

"What the—Teacher, articles on our stream are everywhere already?"

"Huh...? That quick?"

Lee Mi-yeon peeked at his phone, eyes widening.

Lee Mi-yeon and Shin Ha-yoon stared blankly at the articles, then hugged and jumped for joy.

Comments used to stress them out; now they were full of empathy, easing the knots inside.

And the broadcast's ripple didn't stop there.

"Kim Secretary, you see the articles? Get ours up now! Those scum... daring to touch our franchise star?"

"Good. Post ours now. Oh, and mention we've got docs on malicious commenters spreading lies."

While Cha Tae-hyun fans celebrated their vindication like a festival, some couldn't laugh...

"...Lawsuits? For a few comments? Bullshit."

Malicious netizens who'd thrilled on tearing others down with lies.

"If I delete, what're they gonna do...?"

They pulled all-nighters scrubbing posts and comments... but.

"Kim Secretary, sue every single one—no exceptions, per the evidence list!"

"Yes, Chairman."

"Proceed with suits immediately. Keep collecting more. They touched our Nixon Baseball model—they pay."

Nothing changed.