The blood-covered students were rushed to the hospital.

The flustered vice principal seemed to be making a call to someone.

“Yes, Prosecutor. Yes, yes. I’ll do as you say.”

While the other students, including Hong Jinpyo, were hospitalized, I was taken to the police station right after a quick patch-up treatment—and locked in a holding cell.

Hyunseong’s father came to visit.

“Muhyuk, this time... I can’t cover it up. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay, sir.”

“This one’s bad. They’re trying to tie it to your past incidents too. Looks like the commissioner gave orders to dig it up.”

“What about my grandma?”

Captain Park—Hyunseong’s dad—looked at me with pity.

“Myungsoo and Hyunseong are probably with her now. Don’t worry about your grandma... worry about yourself. This is serious.”

“Sir, could I make one phone call?”

“Huh?”

“Please. Just one call.”

At my sudden request, he thought for a moment, then opened the cell door and led me to the phone.

“You don’t get long. Make it quick.”

“Yes, sir.”

I took the receiver and dialed Manager Ha.

After a few rings, there was a click, and I heard his voice.

“Yes, Pyeongchang-dong residence.”

“Manager Ha, it’s Muhyuk.”

“The Chairman is in a meeting at the moment. If it’s not urgent—”

“It’s a bit of a problem.”

“A problem?”

“Well...”

I explained the situation briefly, and Manager Ha didn’t ask for further details.

“Where are you right now?”

“Jung-gu Police Station in Busan.”

“Understood. I’ll report to the Chairman and come down right away.”

“Thank you. Please.”

I hung up.

“Who was that?”

“Someone who works with my grandfather. He’s coming. I’ll wait.”

“I heard... Hong Jinpyo’s father is on his way here too. Damn... of all people, you had to touch the son of a chief prosecutor.”

“It’s fine. I’ll handle it. Please pretend you don’t know anything. I don’t want you getting in trouble because of me. Okay?”

“...I’m sorry.”

“I know you’ve always cleaned up our messes. I’m grateful for everything you’ve done.”

I returned to the cell, leaving behind Captain Park and his darkened expression.

The stench of the blanket and the piss-smelling toilet made it hard to breathe.

I had no idea how much time passed.

With no clock, I was left to sort through my thoughts—until the door opened and several people came in all at once.

“Salute!”

“Where’s the little bastard?”

“Over there...”

The conscript guarding the cell pointed in my direction. The man followed his finger and marched toward me with a scowl.

He had to be Hong Jinpyo’s father.

“Open it.”

“But, sir...”

“Hey! Open it! Do you not know who I am?!”

The police chief treated him like royalty. Eventually, the conscript opened the door.

As he entered the cell, he immediately pinched his nose.

“Ugh, fuck. What’s that smell?”

“This is a holding cell. It’s normal.”

“Drag this bastard out.”

“Yes, sir.”

Unable to endure ten seconds, he turned around and left the cell.

Dragged out by police, I was brought before him.

“So you’re the little fuck who broke my son’s arm?”

“His arm’s broken? Well, that’s how fights go. There were ten of them, and I was alone. Why am I the only one locked up?”

“What?”

“Isn’t that a valid question? I was clearly the one getting jumped—so why was only I arrested? And who are you to waltz into a holding cell?”

He let out a scoffing laugh.

“Ha! You’re a funny one. Let’s see how long you keep talking like that. Chief Kim, drag this punk into the interrogation room.”

“What? He’s a minor...”

“Do what I said! I’ll take responsibility. Calming punks like this down is nothing. Take him.”

“...Understood.”

“Let’s go find out who I am, kid. Slowly.”

As he walked away, the chief exchanged glances with a few detectives.

“Sigh... dragging a kid into an interrogation room. Fucking bullshit. I’m sorry.”

But orders were orders. They brought me to the farthest room in the station.

Now, only the two of us remained in the interrogation room.

“Name.”

“Kim Muhyuk.”

After noting down the basics, he got straight to the point.

“Why’d you do it? I heard you were already infamous. Did you really need to beat them up so badly they ended up in the hospital?”

I thought he’d come at me with prosecutor’s intimidation.

But it was too early to let my guard down.

“I only defended myself.”

“Haha. Hilarious. You don’t know where you are, do you? This place breaks even the most innocent. Let’s see how long you keep talking smart. One more time—why’d you do it?”

“My friend was kidnapped. When I tried to help him, Jinpyo and his gang started beating me with bats. I had no choice but to fight back. Did I do something wrong?”

“...Time to get hit.”

He took off his watch, stood up, and shouted outside.

“Hey! Come in!”

Two big guys entered.

“Hold him.”

The detectives grabbed my arms.

With me unable to resist, Jinpyo’s father slapped me over and over. My healing wounds reopened. Blood filled my mouth again.

“Say it again. Why’d you do it?”

“Self-defense.”

“Haha! You’ve got guts, kid. Break him in.”

The two detectives pushed me into the corner and began beating me relentlessly.

It lasted several minutes. I held back my screams and curled up to protect myself.

“You still don’t feel like talking?”

He lit a cigarette, grinning.

“Keep going until he begs for his life. But don’t knock him out—this isn’t amateur hour.”

“Yes, sir!”

More minutes passed. Just when my limbs started losing strength, the kicks stopped.

“Stop. Sit him down.”

I was shoved back into the chair.

My face was a bloody mess. Jinpyo’s father frowned and tossed me some tissues.

“Wipe it off. You look disgusting.”

I wiped my face with the tissues.

But one, two, three times wasn’t enough. The bleeding wouldn’t stop from my head and mouth.

“Now, answer me. Why?”

“S... self... def... fense...”

The pain in my mouth made it hard to even speak.

“Sigh... you’re hopeless. This is your last chance. Admit that you attacked them with a weapon—yes or no?”

“I... told the truth.”

He gave a short laugh.

“Fuck, you’re really pissing me off. Tie him up. We’ll do this properly.”

“What? Seriously?”

“Don’t make me say it twice. You think I came to Busan to be mocked?”

“N-no, sir. Understood.”

They tied me to the chair with rope, forced my arms onto the table.

“From here on out, it’s going to be worse than you can imagine. Kim Muhyuk, right? You brought this on yourself. Don’t blame anyone else.”

He took a needle from a detective and approached me. Two officers held my wrists tightly.

“Doot doot! Doo-doo-doo-doot!”

He hummed to himself as he brought the needle to my left middle finger.

“Going in! Bite down—you’ll chew your tongue off.”

Just as the needle was about to pierce my finger—

Bang!

The interrogation room door burst open. The police chief ran in, gasping for breath.

“Stop! Stop right now!”

“What the hell? Why are you barging in?”

“Sir, it’s just...”

Another man entered behind the chief.

“...Sunbae-nim?”

Jinpyo’s father tilted his head.

The man glanced at me—bloody and restrained—then walked straight up to him.

“What the hell are you doing here, sunbae-nim?”

Smack!

He slapped Jinpyo’s father across the face.

“You insane bastard! You think this is still the Fifth Republic? Beating a minor like that?!”

“Wait, sunbae-nim—at least hear me out—”

“You’re done. I’m Kim Muhyuk’s lawyer. Got it? You’re fucking finished.”

“W-what?”

His face turned red, and he erupted.

“Don’t act familiar with me. I don’t want to go down with you. Do you even know who that kid’s grandfather is? No—you wouldn’t have done this if you knew.”

At that moment, another man entered the room.

It was Yoon Changho—the Chief Prosecutor of Busan.

He saw me and sighed.

“...Prosecutor Hong.”

Finally, Jinpyo’s father began to understand how badly he’d fucked up.

“C-chief Prosecutor Yoon... why are you here...?”

“You have a problem with me? If you’re going to die, die alone. Why the hell pull this shit in Busan? You know I’m heading to Seoul soon.”

“No, that’s not—”

Meanwhile, the lawyer—Mr. Moon—untied my restraints.

“Hello, Mr. Kim. I’m your legal counsel, Moon Sooho. Sent from Pyeongchang-dong.”

“Ah... thank you.”

He handed me a handkerchief and stayed beside me in silence while I wiped off the blood.

Chief Prosecutor Yoon was scolding Jinpyo’s father.

“Seriously, how far were you planning to take this?! Eleven kids with weapons attacking one student—and you drag the victim into an interrogation room? A former Public Security ace acting like this over a schoolyard fight?!”

“My son’s arm is ruined, Chief.”

Jinpyo’s father looked miserable, but Yoon’s rage only grew.

“I always knew you’d cause trouble. This is your fault—spoiling your son! The real cripple here is you!”

“I just don’t understand—why all this chaos? Why’s Mr. Moon here? Why is the Chief Prosecutor himself here?”

“You didn’t know? Figures. You wouldn’t have dared if you did. He’s the grandson of Chairman Cheon. From Pyeongchang-dong.”

“What?”

His face turned pale.

“That... that wasn’t in any of the records I checked...”

“You think I’m here for fun? Think Moon would’ve come for a nobody? What the hell are ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) you going to do now?!”

He finally began to grasp the magnitude of what he’d done and looked at me in fear.

Even with my swollen, bleeding face—I smiled brightly at him.

‘You’re done for, you bastard.’

I didn’t need to say it out loud. His expression said it all.

Less than seven hours after I made that call, Manager Ha arrived. Seeing my face, his expression turned murderous.

“Young Master, are you alright?”

He had never once called me “Young Master” before. Only ever “Muhyuk-gun.” But now he did.

Manager Ha was Chairman Cheon’s right hand. His words were the Chairman’s will.

“Chief Prosecutor Yoon, Police Chief. We will not forget this. Our Chairman will respond soon.”

Their faces turned pale.

“Attorney Moon, may I take him to the hospital?”

“Yes. I’ll take care of the rest.”

“Thank you. Young Master, let’s get you to the hospital. Your wounds are serious.”

As he moved to help me up, I grabbed his arm.

“Wait. Could you clear the room? Just for one minute. I have something to say to Jinpyo’s father.”

“...Understood.”

Manager Ha looked to Attorney Moon, who ushered everyone out. Only the three of us remained.

“Sir.”

“······”

“When you crush people with petty power, don’t forget—there’s always someone with more. Not that you have any power left. But thanks for the lesson. I’ll repay you generously.”

I looked at my aching wounds... at the bloodied needle on the desk... and at Jinpyo’s father’s broken, ruined expression.

The pain, the humiliation, the rage.

In my past life, this was probably what Myungsoo felt.

I would remember this moment forever.

< Young Master, Are You Alright? > End.