The Spoon (4)
The secret to how Yoon-gi could solve problems so easily? It wasn't Choi Deok-bae. "Ah, please, be quiet." Logically speaking, there was no way a multiple-choice test would have a seventh answer option, was there? While other people claimed their ancestors gave them lottery numbers or stock codes to buy, as far as the present was concerned, Choi Deok-bae was nothing but a penalty for Yoon-gi.
Choi Deok-bae stretched his body and let out a long, languid yawn. Meanwhile, Johnson was naturally massaging the ghost's shoulders. 'The life of a ghost really seems like the best life,' Yoon-gi thought. Even while solving the test, he was conversing with Choi Deok-bae. Seeing the spirit speak in a way that was indistinguishable from a living person made Yoon-gi let out a soft chuckle. Of course, to Kim Son-hwan, it looked as if Yoon-gi was laughing because the test was too easy.
At Choi Deok-bae's words, Yoon-gi nodded inwardly. 'That's true. But it's not like guys like that don't exist, right?' Choi Deok-bae nodded in agreement as well.
'Is that so?'
'Ah, I think I've heard of that.' Choi Deok-bae nodded, as if to say he would speak faster, and continued.
'Ho-ho.'
'I suppose he couldn't have turned it off.' Choi Deok-bae nodded.
'Somehow, I can understand that sentiment to some extent.'
'How did it turn out?' A smile played on Choi Deok-bae's lips. This time, a bitter smile followed.
'Ugh...'
'Which side do you think that guy is on?' Yoon-gi snickered again. Certainly, the stories of the Joseon Dynasty that Choi Deok-bae knew were quite interesting and fun. Of course, they often weren't stories from the time period he actually lived in, but since they came from someone who shared the common denominator of "Joseon," they felt vivid. Furthermore, there were parts of Choi Deok-bae's words that Yoon-gi could truly empathize with.
'Then, I guess I'll have to be the one to beat the hell out of him.' Of course, he didn't intend to do it physically. As long as his family wasn't touched, Yoon-gi preferred gentlemanly methods over violence. Kim Son-hwan would experience a gentlemanly method so extreme that he would wish he were dead instead.
The grading results were in. Yoon-gi averaged 98 points, while Kim Son-hwan scored 53. Of course, this didn't serve as legal proof of fraudulent admission. However, it was more than enough to shake public perception.
Even if it wasn't evidence of fraud, the test results created the perception that fraud had occurred. Because the student council had been interested in the matter, they printed the results in the student newsletter and distributed it across campus. After all, isn't it always delightful to hear about someone else's spectacular failure? Furthermore, an average of 53 points—a score completely unbefitting of a Seoul National University student—was enough to grind Kim Son-hwan's pride into dust. Sure, the test might have been brutally difficult, but that didn't matter to anyone. What mattered to the public was that "a guy who got into SNU Business Administration scored an average of 53," and that he was under suspicion of fraudulent admission. These became evidence one and two, creating a syllogism that concluded Kim Son-hwan had indeed cheated his way in.
Many SNU students protested so loudly it was practically a demonstration, and the President used this as an opportunity to officially begin an investigation into Kim Son-hwan's admission.
"P-President. How could you do this to me..."
"Isn't that what I should be saying? How could you let your own nephew get in through fraudulent admission!"
"No, President. There's no evidence..."
"That very statement is the evidence! If you hadn't done it, you would have immediately shouted that it wasn't true! But the fact that you're looking for evidence means you're admitting yourself that there's no problem as long as there's no proof!"
"Gasp!"
Kim Chang-yoon realized his slip of the tongue and hurriedly covered his mouth with both hands, but this action only gave the President a conviction bordering on certainty. The entire university was in an uproar. In this situation, what was Kim Son-hwan doing? It was simple. He was holding a drinking party with his followers. Of course, not near the school, but far away in Gyeonggi-do.
"Damn it! That bastard definitely cheated!" Kim Son-hwan drank like a madman, and his followers continued to follow him. Why? Because Kim Son-hwan had money. If it were the 70s, Kim Son-hwan wouldn't have been able to hold a drinking party like this. First, the curfew. Because of the curfew, he would have had to be in his room by midnight. Second, credit cards. In the 80s, credit cards were rare. Moreover, the way they were used was different. Nowadays, you swipe a card and sign, and the process is finished in real-time, but back then, you had to write out a slip and take it to the bank for processing. Regardless, as long as he had a credit card, Kim Son-hwan was invincible! His followers would come down to Gyeonggi-do after school, and Kim Son-hwan would skip classes to drink day after day.
Ten days passed like that. At a drinking party that started at 7 PM, Kim Son-hwan felt like the king of the world, receiving enthusiastic cheers from his followers. The followers never said things like, "Shouldn't we go to school?" because the more Kim Son-hwan held these parties, the more they benefited. Kim Son-hwan even bought them clothes and accessories, making them follow him even more fiercely. However, there was just one thing missing from this "good" gathering.
"Does anyone have any news about that bastard Seo Gyu-young?"
No one knew anything about Seo Gyu-young. "No, damn it. If I'm looking for him that hard, you guys should be looking too. How can no one know anything about him for ten days? Huh?!" As Kim Son-hwan growled, his followers trembled. It wasn't because Kim Son-hwan had any unique leadership or physical power; it was because they were enslaved by his money. It was common to see people bowing their heads before a boss who had nothing going for him other than the fact that he was their superior. It was the same now. The followers were intoxicated by the fruit Kim Son-hwan provided, and instinctively feared provoking him, lest they lose that fruit. But what could they do? No one knew where Seo Gyu-young was.
"S-Son-hwan. Could it be that the guy named Won-hee hid him somewhere?"
"Ah, that bastard?" Kim Son-hwan nodded, thinking it plausible. "Then you take responsibility and bring Seo Gyu-young back from him. If you can't, you're finished!" The follower who spoke up, regretting his words, twisted his expression inwardly. And so, the drinking party continued. But it didn't last long.
"Everyone, hands up!"
Five police officers suddenly burst in, pulling out handcuffs and shouting at everyone. Due to the nature of the entertainment establishment, they hadn't even heard the door open. They only realized the situation once the police were inside. The followers fell into a panic.
[[[[[W-what is this!!]]]]]
[[[[[KYAAAAAAAH!]]]]]
But the police were experienced. They quickly subdued the panicking college students. Kim Son-hwan stepped forward. "Mister, what's going on that you're coming in here and making a scene?" He acted this way because he had a sense of being the leader. The followers looked at Kim Son-hwan with a hint of respect.
"Are you Kim Son-hwan?" the senior officer asked.
"That's me, so what?"
"Grab him!"
In an instant, three more police officers entered from outside and subdued Kim Son-hwan. Handcuffs were locked behind his back. "Listen carefully. You are charged with the use of stolen cards and..." As the officer recited the charges, the followers' eyes widened.
[[[[[Stolen cards?]]]]]
Stolen cards? Did that mean everything they had been eating and drinking so far was bought with stolen cards? The word "responsibility" began to surface in the followers' minds. However, they weren't given time to process it. They were only allowed to leave the establishment after handing over their IDs to the police, and Kim Son-hwan was shoved directly into a police car. Yoon-gi watched this scene comfortably from inside his limousine.
"Now we'll be able to see how far that guy can climb on his own merits." Though he said this, Choi Deok-bae was also laughing.
Kim Son-hwan didn't go straight to the police station. The place he arrived at was none other than his own home. But the situation was different from when he had run away. "W-w-what, what is this?" The house was covered in attachment seals. Seeing his father sitting on a sofa plastered with seals, looking utterly devastated, Kim Son-hwan walked forward, waddling with his hands still cuffed behind his back.
"Dad! What on earth happened!"
The police officer held up a newspaper lying on the table for Kim Son-hwan to see.
Gyeongwan Construction President Mr. Kim, booked on bribery charges.
Gyeongwan Construction, traces of record-breaking tax evasion revealed.
Gyeongwan Construction, connections with the military regime captured regarding Olympic project orders!
The newspaper was packed with nothing but bad news about Gyeongwan Construction, making even Kim Son-hwan feel dizzy. "Now you know why you were caught, right?" There had been no balance in the account to begin with, but the police had instructed Kim Chang-sun to report the credit card as stolen to catch Kim Son-hwan. When the bar couldn't process Kim Son-hwan's card, they reported it to the police, who then used the tip to catch him.
"Now, shall we go to the police station?" The officer grabbed Kim Son-hwan's arms, ready to take him away. "W-wait! Why am I the only one going?" Kim Son-hwan tried to drag others down with him even in this situation.
"Well. Your father has a warrant without detention. But you have an arrest warrant." The officer laughed and dragged the struggling Kim Son-hwan out of the house. Outside, Yoon-gi was waiting.
"Show me your abilities. Good luck?"
No sooner had he finished his short remark than Yoon-gi turned his back. He wore an expression of pure relief.
Kim Son-hwan's "expulsion" from Seoul National University was finalized. The reason had to do with "words." Many of the words Kim Son-hwan had used in his essay test showed significant similarity to Kim Chang-yoon's usual academic papers. On the other hand, those words were completely absent from the works Kim Son-hwan had previously submitted for writing contests. This became physical evidence, and the expulsion process related to the fraudulent admission proceeded with lightning speed.
It was the same for Kim Chang-yoon. He was booked on bribery charges and simultaneously dismissed. As for Kim Chang-sun, along with his booking, Gyeongwan Construction was completely wiped out. When the scale of his tax evasion was combined with the additional penalties, Gyeongwan Construction's funds couldn't cover it, and no one stepped forward to lend them money. Thus, bankruptcy was inevitable. It was a perfect happy ending. However, one thing remained.
"Yoon-gi, what are you going to do about Gyu-young's side?" At Won-hee's question, Yoon-gi looked puzzled.
"Do you really want 'me' to solve it for you?"