KTC | Chapter 49

A faint ripple of disturbance passed through Kim Sanghwa’s eyes. Chairman Seo stared at her intently, his lips twisted.

He had drilled Seo Jihan from a young age on how to handle such situations. If there appeared no way out, Seo Jihan was taught to push Chairman Seo himself into the abyss if necessary. “Don’t look back, no matter what happens to your grandfather. Live on nobly by yourself,” he had taught him.

“You’d do well not to underestimate that boy.”

At the same time, just as Chairman Seo had asserted, Seo Jihan was not only enduring but was also sharply raising the agents’ blood pressure as they rotated in interrogation.

“Ah, this is really tiring. So, what exactly do you want from me? Write it down clearly in a document. I’ll recite it just as you’ve written it.”

Being a victim and suspect of the Unknown Cult Massacre, and a suspect in the murder of Kwak Jaepil, were the pretexts for his summoning.

The reason they were wasting time in a National Intelligence Service interrogation room, rather than a prosecutor’s office, was because there wasn’t enough evidence to convict him in either case, and their goal wasn’t to punish him anyway.

“Are you really planning to confess exactly as it’s written?”

Pyo Yerin gritted her teeth and forced a smile. She too was a member of the SU Team and had experience shaking down suspects, but she had never dealt with someone so infuriatingly unseeable and frustrating. It was refreshingly annoying, and just maintaining her composure was draining her mental strength significantly.

“Yeah. Or just bring everything you want to pin on me. Adding a few nationally high-profile unsolved cases would make the prosecutors happy too. But know this: if it goes to court, I plan to retract my statement, citing psychological torture by the NIS. You’d better find some solid evidence.”

“……”

“Imagine how fun it would be. Wouldn’t the whole country be stirred up if it came out that the NIS framed a minor with baseless accusations, especially since it’s barely been a year since the last scandal of media manipulation by the NIS came to light?”

“……”

“Ah, are you setting up a plan because you want to resign but are afraid of the consequences? Maybe just blow up your workplace?”

How did this bastard grow up like this?

It had been assumed he hadn’t had a normal upbringing. Yet, the Seo Jihan she saw was cunning and annoying beyond imagination. His face, marked by a domineering expression and a tone that could demean without cursing, and his slyness that seemed to throw out random words while always hiding a counterattack, made him an absolute scoundrel.

“I see, Mr. Seo Jihan, you see right through me, don’t you?”

Pyo Yerin calmed her breath and smiled faintly as she regained her composure. Seo Jihan crossed his arms and curled the corners of his lips. The loose man-to-man T-shirt stretched tight, making his long upper arm muscles prominently stand out.

“I am quite a rare specimen. My grandfather spent as much on shrine rituals as this building would cost just to ensure I wouldn’t become the only grandson turned shaman.”

Despite his relaxed demeanor, a part of Seo Jihan was uneasy. All he had to do was hold out, and these people would have to raise the white flag eventually.

However, if the NIS started digging into his grandfather, there would be a lineup of things to implicate him, Kwak Jaepil or not. Although Chairman Seo had some safeguards in politics, politicians were adept at cutting losses, so nothing was certain.

Even though he was the only blood relative left to Seo Jihan, he couldn’t just ignore and let him receive his comeuppance as he had lived.

“Mr. Seo Jihan, I too am a survivor of the Unknown Cult Massacre.”

No matter how convincing the mask she wore, Seo Jihan’s eyes were not to be fooled. Therefore, another approach was necessary.

As Pyo Yerin shifted her strategy, Seo Jihan’s mocking smile gradually faded.

“And I also initially wanted to just live a normal life.”

“Then live that way, why don’t you?”

“That didn’t work out so well.”

Pyo Yerin moved her jaw as if chewing gum, then chuckled lightly.

“Kept seeing things I wish I hadn’t. Hard to make friends, family started to look different. Woke up soaked in sweat every morning, can’t remember what nightmare I had. Sometimes staggered from sudden smells of blood while walking, or felt extreme terror and murderous intent when watched by people with particularly murky eyes. The hardest part was sensing that my family wished I had never come back. Basically, every day was like living in hell.”

Pyo Yerin’s description of her childhood drew some sympathy from Seo Jihan. The only difference was the figure of his grandfather, who had frantically worked to save him.

“My family couldn’t handle it and sent me back to the mental hospital. The NIS was who got me out.”

“It wasn’t out of goodwill. They just wanted to use you cheaply in the future. You were gaslighted.”

“I know. But at that time, we had no other way out of that hell. You know that, right? We’re the only ones who can understand each other.”

No.

There was Choi Seonwoo, both a salvation and a disaster for him. Unlike these people, who could only see one path in the darkness, he had emerged into the light with Choi Seonwoo’s help and saw many paths. According to Choi Seonwoo’s advice, if he continued to resist the temptations of the evil spirits and strengthen his resolve, he might eventually blend in among ordinary people.

However, Seo Jihan chose not to counter Pyo Yerin’s assertion. He had long concluded that Choi Seonwoo might even be the Ghost King. He had no intention of dragging him into this mire, so he avoided mentioning Choi Seonwoo entirely.

“Of course, our situations are a bit different. The Unknown Cult mainly abducted kids by lurking around orphanages. In my case, they probably kidnapped me thinking I was an orphan because I looked so scruffy.”

That made Seo Jihan wonder how he had caught their eye in the first place.

The question came suddenly but wasn’t the priority, so Pyo Yerin continued calmly.

“Anyway, most of the kids they rescued had nowhere to go and no clear path forward, so the offer to become prospective NIS agents was quite attractive. Training was tough, but it’s the same for civil servants studying hard for their exams, so it’s not a problem exclusive to us. I don’t know about the others, but I’m satisfied with my life now. Proud to serve the nation and its people.”

“That’s your main point, isn’t it?”

“That’s right. To put it more bluntly, we’re offering to completely erase the charges we have against you if you agree to join us. Better to live as a respectable government agent than to be branded a danger and monitored for life.”

The blunt truth felt refreshing, but he couldn’t help but laugh.

“The NIS really knows how to scout. But what can I do? I plan to live as a freeloader, sticking to Priest Choi like a leech.”

When emotional persuasion didn’t work, Pyo Yerin sighed in frustration.

“Then your grandfather will be in great trouble. Those who went to the Philippines with Chairman Seo, like Mr. Seo Jihan, can’t hide their inner thoughts. Just by interrogating them, we can easily find evidence.”

She knew coercion would follow persuasion. Knowing it didn’t make it any less vile to experience. Seo Jihan’s dark eyes sharpened dangerously.

“Hey, sister. Is threatening a person’s future with their family as hostages what you call ‘respectable’?”

Pyo Yerin, having boldly played her last card, suddenly stiffened. She opened her mouth to respond, but Seo Jihan was quicker.

“People call this fascism. A respectable government worker, sister.”

Seo Jihan leaned back casually, his upper body fully reclining against the metallic frame of the chair, which creaked under his weight.

“From now on, please let Attorney Jung answer. I have nothing more to say.”

From then on, Seo Jihan did not look at Pyo Yerin again. Even when the interrogator switched from Pyo Yerin to Lee Juhee, his attitude remained the same.