RB - 75

75. Plans and Unplanned Events

Come to think of it, Professor Sung Hoyeon and Chairman Shin were nowhere to be seen.

“Huh? Where did Professor Sung go? I need to get an interview!”

“Damn it, I was so focused on covering Shin Jung-hyuk that I didn’t even notice him leaving.”

The reporters bolted out of the hall in an instant, with cameramen lugging large cameras on their shoulders following closely behind.

Soon after, what the reporters discovered was not Professor Sung Hoyeon but Chairman Shin Taemyeong, bleeding profusely.

Moments later, Chairman Shin was placed on a stretcher and rushed to the operating room. The police arrived quickly and secured the CCTV footage, confirming the moment Seo-yeon was abducted by an emergency helicopter.

“This is Detective Song Suyeol from Gangnam Police Station. We will focus all our efforts on locating Han Seo-yeon, who has been kidnapped. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.”

The news of Seo-yeon’s disappearance consumed Jung-hyuk’s mind. He struggled to breathe as if he were a fish forcibly pulled out of water, clutching his throat desperately. He wanted to call out her name with every fiber of his being, but not a single syllable escaped his lips. The sheer despair silenced everyone who witnessed it. His voice cracked under the weight of his anguish.

“Please, tell us anything. We’ll do whatever we can to help.”

Where could they have taken her? As Jung-hyuk gritted his teeth, trying to guess Seo-yeon’s whereabouts, he reassured himself: she had to be alive. Professor Sung wouldn’t kill his last bargaining chip, the hostage. Yet, an ominous foreboding crept up his spine despite his attempts to comfort himself.

“I understand how difficult this is, but you need to calm down. Let’s work together for now.”

Jung-hyuk burned like a volcano brimming with molten lava. But unleashing that lava would lead to consequences beyond the realm of reason, so he gathered the last shreds of his patience. Together with Detective Song Suyeol, he headed toward the Gangnam Police Station.

Meanwhile, Jinhyuk, preoccupied with checking on his older brother’s condition, received the news of Seo-yeon’s kidnapping a little late. His expression contorted in devastation. As he screamed and collapsed, Attorney Jung caught him.

“Hey, Shin Jinhyuk. Are you okay?”

“…This can’t be real. It’s impossible. You’re lying to me, right? We stationed all the guards!”

Jinhyuk clung to Attorney Jung’s arm, wailing in agony. Attorney Jung glanced nervously over his shoulder, worried that Jinhyuk’s cries might reach the ears of the reporters. Rumors about H-ssi—the femme fatale who supposedly seduced the Shin brothers—were already spreading like wildfire. Moreover, the police had decided to keep Seo-yeon’s kidnapping under wraps for now, so they couldn’t afford to draw any attention.

“Pull yourself together. Professor Sung took Han Seo-yeon as a hostage, which means her life is safe. Calm down! Don’t you see the reporters swarming around?”

But Jinhyuk didn’t care about others’ eyes. He unleashed waves of grief too immense to contain within himself. Attorney Jung grabbed Jinhyuk’s collar roughly. Despite his large frame, Jinhyuk slumped like a lifeless doll, unable to hold himself upright. Attorney Jung whispered urgently into Jinhyuk’s ear as he crumbled.

“Stop this. You need to handle the aftermath properly. Don’t you know Han Seo-yeon’s personality better than anyone? She chose to become a hostage willingly because she expected this! To save Chairman Shin—and because she trusts you!”

Not a single word Attorney Jung said was wrong. Jinhyuk knew this deep down, but that knowledge only fueled his torment.

He had endured learning of the betrayal by his stepmother and Professor Sung. Misfortune struck suddenly, like a car accident or natural disaster—it could happen to anyone, whether they lived honorably or exploited others shamelessly.

When he learned of the persecution endured by his eldest brother, Shin Junhyuk, guilt kept him awake at night, but he persevered. Revenge was possible. Protecting his brother’s future could serve as recompense.

But how could he bear Seo-yeon disappearing? Jinhyuk pounded the ground with his fists until blood gushed from them. Even as Attorney Jung restrained him, he thrashed wildly. He wanted to vanish from the world, to die right then and there. Jinhyuk’s sobs grew louder, and Attorney Jung held onto him with all his strength.

---

A task force was set up at the Gangnam Police Station. While Seo-yeon’s kidnapping was being investigated discreetly, news of Chairman Shin Taemyeong being stabbed had already stirred the media into a frenzy.

With the entire nation’s attention focused on the case, the police commissioner issued special orders. On the screen, photos of Chairman Shin Taemyeong, Seo-yeon, and Professor Sung Hoyeon appeared.

“The victims are Shin Taemyeong and Han Seo-yeon. As you all know, Shin Taemyeong is the chairman of Taesung Group and 63 years old. He is currently in critical condition in the ICU at Taesung Hospital due to excessive bleeding from a stab wound to the abdomen. The other victim, Han Seo-yeon, is 29 years old and has been abducted.”

Numerous children were victims of crimes, including the three brothers of Taesung Group. And the suspect? None other than Professor Sung Hoyeon, hailed as this era’s Bang Jeong-hwan and a living Albert Schweitzer. When had there ever been such a sensational and dramatic case? Reporters camped outside the police station, churning out speculative headlines.

Most headlines revolved around keywords like “Attacked Chairman Shin Taemyeong,” “Taesung’s Hidden Successor,” “Twin Brother Shin Junhyuk,” and “The Emergence of H-ssi.”

If there was one silver lining for the victims, it was that high-profile cases spurred public officials into swift action. The police moved with precision.

In one corner of the police station, Detective Song Suyeol deliberately softened his tone. The witness he needed to speak with was visibly terrified.

“This isn’t an interrogation. Just tell us honestly what you know, Pilot.”

The helicopter pilot sat with his knees neatly together, rolling his eyes nervously. He was an ordinary man who never imagined he’d be embroiled in such a monumental crime. He studied Detective Song carefully.

The detective looked to be well past forty, short in stature but sturdy. His thick arms, visible beneath his polo shirt, spoke of regular exercise. The pilot stole nervous glances at the somewhat intimidating Detective Song before speaking.

“I’ve told you everything I saw. I truly don’t know where they went last. I just followed Professor Sung’s orders because he held a jackknife to my neck. I landed at the nearest spot and reported its location.”

“Was there anything unusual? Any hint of where they might go, or something Han Seo-yeon said? Even the smallest clue would help.”

The pilot’s face twisted with frustration. How many times had he repeated the same answer?

“Do criminals on the run announce their destination? And Han Seo-yeon was unconscious the entire time—completely limp like a corpse. What more can I say? You said this wasn’t an interrogation!”

The pilot feared he might be mistaken for an accomplice. Detective Song sensed it was time to press harder—a skill honed through years of experience.

“This may not be an interrogation, but your cooperation is essential. You could be the last person to have seen Han Seo-yeon alive. Even the smallest detail might help—like Professor Sung’s expression, for instance.”

The last person to see Han Seo-yeon alive? Did that mean she might already be dead? The pilot snapped his head up, startled.

“Is she dead? Is she?”

“If you cooperate, there’s a chance we can save her.”

Though Detective Song believed Seo-yeon would likely remain alive for now as a hostage, he didn’t bother mentioning it. The effect was immediate. The pilot furrowed his brow, scratching his neck vigorously before slapping his thigh hard. Then, he rapidly recounted the final moments he witnessed. As Detective Song clicked his pen shut after jotting notes, he asked:

“So, Professor Sung was muttering to himself?”

“Yes, exactly. Barely audible, he said, ‘Going back to the beginning… I can do it again.’ But Detective, will this really help?”

Detective Song offered a faint smile, silently pondering where Professor Sung’s “beginning” might be.

At the same time, in a small meeting room at Gangnam Police Station, three detectives and Jung-hyuk sat in tense silence, exchanging anxious glances.

By now, they expected contact from Professor Sung. Just as the youngest detective glanced nervously at Jung-hyuk, his phone rang loudly, piercing the suffocating silence like tinnitus.

As Jung-hyuk swiftly grabbed the phone, one detective raised a finger to his lips, reminding him:

“Stay calm. Try to prolong the conversation and put it on speakerphone.”

Jung-hyuk answered the call with icy composure, as if it were just another routine business call. His sudden calm demeanor left the detective speechless. Deep shadows darker than the abyss settled quietly in Jung-hyuk’s black eyes.