Chapter 197
We Promised We’d Catch Him
With only a few memory synchronizations left, Yu Yeon-seo had been living with hallucinations from most of his past memories. Ever since he recalled the memory of Min Seong-cheol, he had also been plagued by auditory hallucinations.
He couldn’t lead a normal life. The visions were a constant annoyance, making him irritable.
People could curse him for his rotten personality; he didn’t care. The trauma gripping his body made it hard to even move his mouth properly. They could say he couldn’t even deliver his lines right; he didn’t care.
‘It’s all because of that bastard.’
But just because he didn’t care didn’t mean everything was okay.
Relying on a doctor felt like admitting he was weak, so he stubbornly endured it. He vented his frustration and anger elsewhere. People pointed fingers at him for it, but he didn’t stop. It felt like the only way to survive.
As Yu Yeon-seo strode toward Park Gyeong-seok’s office, he mulled over how to deal with him.
‘What should I do?’
Beat him to death? Or maybe hang him, just like the mother who died because of him. Just then, Yu Yeon-seo spotted a security guard ahead and stopped. The guard, recognizing him, slowly approached.
“Young Master?”
Yu Yeon-seo’s eyes fixed on the gun at the guard’s hip. He knew from experience that getting shot really hurt. It was probably the same in this era, right? Besides, since people in South Korea rarely get shot, this would be a good opportunity to let him experience it.
“My apologies.”
“What?”
With a swift movement, Yu Yeon-seo knocked the guard unconscious, snatched the gun from his hip, and checked the magazine. As expected of Juseong’s security team, it was loaded with live rounds.
Without hesitation, Yu Yeon-seo walked on.
The sudden gunshot was followed by screams from outside the office. The bullet flew past Park Gyeong-seok and struck a potted orchid behind him. But Yu Yeon-seo didn’t stop; he reloaded the gun.
“Next time, it’s that bastard’s head.”
“Yeon-seo!”
Yu Eun-ho, having heard the gunshot, arrived late and shouted from behind. Baek Seo-jun gestured for his team member to let him through.
[Eun-ho, don’t be alarmed, and listen carefully. We found the culprit.]
[But… you need to get to Juseong H&C quickly and stop your brother.]
Baek Seo-jun’s intention was to have Yu Eun-ho restrain his brother in case Park Gyeong-seok tried to harm him, or if Yeon-seo found himself in a dangerous situation. He never imagined that Yu Yeon-seo would be the one holding a gun.
“It’s dangerous. Give that to me.”
“Hyung, it’s him.”
“I know. I heard.”
He had gotten the gist of the situation from Baek Seo-jun. He had suspected it was one of his two uncles-in-law. Now that the truth was confirmed, he felt a sense of betrayal. But hearing that his brother had gone there himself, he had dropped everything and rushed over.
“Yeon-seo.”
“You know how long I’ve waited for this moment.”
Yu Yeon-seo stared at Park Gyeong-seok with bloodshot eyes. Tears streamed down his cheeks, and his voice trembled uncontrollably. The people gathered in the office held their breath, listening to their conversation.
“I know, I understand. But…”
“…I can still see Mom.”
When he said he could still see her hanging there, whispering that it was his fault, even Yu Eun-ho was at a loss for words.
“…That’s not real. You know that.”
“I know.”
Would things have been different if his younger self hadn’t guided Min Seong-cheol? No, Yang Hong-sik and Park Gyeong-won, who knew the layout of the mansion better than anyone, were already there.
But it had been twenty-four long years. A lifetime of pain. Was it wrong for him to want to end it with his own hands? Shouldn’t a death be repaid with a death?
“Ugh…”
“Yeon-seo?”
Yu Yeon-seo frowned at a sudden ringing in his ears. The aftereffects of reliving his memories and the constant exposure to hallucinations and phantom sounds made his hands tremble.
“Look at me.”
Yu Eun-ho stepped in front of Park Gyeong-seok, positioning himself before the gun’s muzzle. Baek Seo-jun held his breath in suspense. Of course, he wouldn’t shoot his own brother, but for someone not skilled with firearms, an accidental discharge was possible.
“This won’t solve anything.”
“…”
“We promised we’d catch him with our own hands.”
Not kill him.
Hesitating at Yu Eun-ho’s plea, Yu Yeon-seo lowered his arm. Seizing the opportunity, Baek Seo-jun snatched the gun and unloaded it. My heart almost stopped.
“Let’s go.”
As Yu Eun-ho led his distraught brother out of the office, Baek Seo-jun’s team member, who had heard everything, stepped aside to let them pass.
“Mr. Park Gyeong-seok, you are under arrest for soliciting the murder of Lee Hui-seo.”
Left behind, Baek Seo-jun approached Park Gyeong-seok and cuffed him. Park Gyeong-seok struggled weakly.
“I, I didn’t do it!”
“You still don’t get the situation, do you? Hwang Seung-jun sang like a canary. Even wrapped up the evidence nicely for us. And you know those three are with us too, right?”
“What? What?”
“Let’s talk details back at the station.”
I have a lot to ask you, too. Baek Seo-jun cuffed Park Gyeong-seok’s hands and roughly pulled him out of the office.
“What, what’s going on?”
“Murder? Lee Hui-seo?”
“Our CEO…”
He could hear the employees whispering as they passed. How did it come to this? Park Gyeong-seok tried to make sense of the situation with bewildered eyes.
“Hwang Seung-jun? He… what evidence could he possibly have…”
Baek Seo-jun scoffed. It was amusing how he was still trying to save face by ducking his head.
“You can see for yourself.”
You’re in for a surprise. Filled with the satisfaction of finally catching the culprit and the urge to finish the investigation and throw Park Gyeong-seok in a cell, Baek Seo-jun strode outside, only to be met with a sudden barrage of camera flashes that made him scowl.
“What’s going on?!”
“Why are you taking CEO Park Gyeong-seok away?”
It was the reporters, who had already gotten wind of the news. The Juseong H&C building was located in an area with a high concentration of media companies, so the rumor must have spread quickly.
“Damn it…”
But it was too fast. Where the hell did they get the tip? Baek Seo-jun muttered a curse under his breath. He recalled the fellow detective at the next desk who had been watching his every move with keen interest.
“Gwak Chi-hun, that son of a bitch…”
“What should we do?”
“Get him in the car for now.”
With Juseong and Lee Hui-seo involved, a quiet investigation was impossible anyway. The problem was that there were people at the scene who shouldn’t be photographed.
“Wow… what is happening.”
Reporter Han Jin-seok focused his camera on Yu Yeon-seo and Yu Eun-ho. Yu Yeon-seo was shedding silent tears, his expression one of utter devastation and despair. Standing beside him, Yu Eun-ho’s face was grim as he stared at Park Gyeong-seok’s back.
“What on earth happened for them to look like that…”
As Park Gyeong-seok was put into the police car, the reporters immediately turned their cameras on Yu Yeon-seo and Yu Eun-ho.
“Stay back!”
“What happened?”
Baek Seo-jun’s team members quickly formed a human barricade, shielding the brothers from the prying eyes. Baek Seo-jun glanced at the reporters swarming behind them with an annoyed expression.
“You two should head home for now. I’ll call you.”
“…Alright.”
“Are you okay?”
Yu Eun-ho wiped away a stray tear clinging to his eye with his sleeve. I have to be okay. This is just the beginning.
“…Yeon-seo?”
“Just a moment…”
Yu Eun-ho and Baek Seo-jun grabbed Yu Yeon-seo’s arms as he staggered. With his head bowed, blood dripped from Yu Yeon-seo’s lips.
“Uh…”
I’m screwed. Startled, Yu Yeon-seo looked up, and the last thing he saw were the camera lenses pointed at him before he lost consciousness.
“Gasp!”
“What the?”
“Get the shot! Get it!”
The reporters shoved their cameras forward.
“Stop filming!”
“Yeon-seo!”
“An ambulance! Call an ambulance!”
As Yu Yeon-seo collapsed with blood trickling from his mouth, the reporters, unfazed, rapidly clicked their shutters. Juseong H&C employees rushed out to block the reporters, creating a scene of chaos.
Juseong H&C CEO Park Gyeong-seok Emerges in Handcuffs, Details Currently Unconfirmed
[Issue Photo] Brothers Yu Eun-ho and Yu Yeon-seo Leaving Juseong H&C
[Photo] Yu Yeon-seo, a Look of Despair
Juseong H&C CEO Park Gyeong-seok Arrested, Yu Yeon-seo Collapses
Ambulance Arrives at Juseong H&C… Yu Yeon-seo Transported to Juseong Seoul Hospital
Articles poured out immediately. The exact reason for Park Gyeong-seok’s arrest was unknown, so all eyes were on Yu Eun-ho and Yu Yeon-seo.
└ ?
└ What the hell is going on?
└ OMG
└ Holy shit, are those trash reporters insane? They’re just taking pictures?
└ What??
└ Is that blood?
└ (Photo) Found this witness pic from nearby. Look at the reporters, holy shit. Are they a zombie horde?
└└ That’s crazy. Someone collapsed and they’re just swarming him?
└└ Trash reporters need to be erased from society.
└ What is happening right now??
With Yu Yeon-seo’s sudden collapse, attention shifted to him, and speculative posts ran rampant. Then, Han Jin-seok, who had quickly learned the reason for Park Gyeong-seok’s arrest from Gwak Chi-hun, immediately published an article.
[First Report] Police Arrest 3 Suspects in the Murder of the Late Lee Hui-seo
[Breaking News] The Late Lee Hui-seo’s Death Was Not a Suicide… Juseong H&C CEO Park Gyeong-seok Under Emergency Arrest
└ ?
└ OMG
└ No fucking way
└ It wasn’t a suicide?
└ But why was Park Gyeong-seok arrested?
└ Fkn crazy, murder for hireㄷㄷ
The news spread through various online communities and into the chat rooms of everyone who could read the news. Across South Korea, there was no one who wasn’t talking about them.
By the time Baek Seo-jun had cuffed Park Gyeong-seok, the news had quickly reached Chairman Yu and his family.
“Chairman!”
Chairman Yu and Yu Geon-min, who were at a business gathering, turned around at the sudden call.
“What are you doing here… Has something urgent happened?”
“…Chairman, Vice Chairman.”
Park Sang-hyeong, the head of the Strategic Planning Office, had come in person. Guessing it was no ordinary matter, the two men’s eyes widened at the shocking news whispered into their ears.
“What, what do you mean…”
Yu Geon-min shot up in shock, then staggered, unable to keep his balance. Park Ji-won, who was beside him, supported him.
“W-we must be going.”
“Please have a safe trip.”
Judging by their reactions, something had clearly happened. The business leaders, who had gathered here because of Juseong, saw them off with disappointed faces. Then, their expressions changed as they shouted at their own aides.
“Chairman Yu was stuttering. What in the world happened?”
“Secretary Park, Secretary Park! Find out what’s going on with Juseong!”
It was the same at JSENM. Choi Yu-jin frowned when Cha Yun-ho suddenly entered the conference room. But the news that followed left her frozen and speechless. One of the executives, seeing her state, cautiously called out to her.
“Chairman?”
“…Let’s conclude today’s meeting here.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
Choi Yu-jin stood up abruptly and headed outside.
“Block all incoming calls to our side. Don’t respond to anything.”
“Understood.”
“And Yeon-seo?”
Cha Yun-ho, who was taking a call behind her, said quietly.
“…They say he collapsed.”
“To Juseong Hospital… Haa, just a moment.”
“Are you alright?”
“I’m fine. It’s the kids I’m worried about.”
Stumbling slightly, Choi Yu-jin steadied herself against a wall. Employees who had received the news from various places were watching her with concern. Regaining her composure, Choi Yu-jin strode outside.
“Alright, for today’s stream… I’m going to be betting on games with my old college buddies!”
“Hello!”
Park Seon-woo, who happened to be live-streaming at that very moment, learned of the shocking news through his chat window.
-<Juseong H&C CEO Park Gyeong-seok Arrested, Yu Yeon-seo Collapses>
-??
-?
-<Juseong H&C CEO Park Gyeong-seok, Emergency Arrest>
-Wut?
-??
-Seon-woo, check the news
-Seon-woo, they’re saying your dad was arrested?
“Huh? What’s with the news? Did something happen?”
Come to think of it, he had turned his phone face down because of the noisy notifications… Park Seon-woo picked up his phone and turned on the screen.
“…Huh?”
He didn’t even need to search for the articles. His acquaintances had already sent him the links.
-Seon-woo, isn’t this your dad?
-Park Seon-woo, what is this? Do you know anything?
“Uh, uhhh…?”
I don’t know either… What is all this? Why was Dad arrested, and why were my cousins at the scene? Why did Yeon-seo-hyung collapse? Frozen in confusion, Park Seon-woo was jolted back to reality by the incessant ringing of his phone. It was his mother, Yu Seon-yeong, Chairman Yu’s youngest daughter.
“…Shouldn’t we stop the stream?”
“Let’s turn it off.”
“We’re ending the stream now.”
One of Park Seon-woo’s close friends frantically turned off the camera.