Chapter 563: Karma (1)

KBC's culture department head, Lee Gyu-Jin, mentioned the name of the broadcasting station's president, but I didn't back down. I was planning to remove Park Chan-Sik of KBC from his position anyway.

In an instant, Lee Gyu-Jin, who had been speaking politely, switched to informal speech. "

Hah.

You arrogant bastard, what is up with that tone? Hey, Chief Jung. Just because I speak nicely, do you think it's persuasion?"

"Of course not. It sounded like a threat from the beginning. Since it's the broadcasting station's president's doing, a mere chief from an entertainment company like you should stay quiet. Isn't that what you meant?"

"Exactly. So think it over while I'm still being nice. If you keep being uncooperative, we might have to shut Hoop Entertainment down. Got it?"

Now, Lee Gyu-Jin was trying to use the power of the broadcasting station to force me to my knees. To him, the idea of an employee from an entertainment company standing up to the broadcasting station was unthinkable. After all, a broadcasting station held the upper hand.

However, I had no intention of backing down. If I backed off here, then next time, my actor would have to back off. Especially when a reporter had snuck into a school full of kids, taken photos of Miso, and done all sorts of things to find weaknesses, the line of what I could tolerate had been crossed long ago.

"I don't know about that. I wonder who will be the one shutting down whom?"

There was no point in continuing the conversation. I turned around and headed back inside the police station.

"Chief Jung! Hey! Stop right there!"

Lee Gyu-Jin shouted from behind and raised his voice, but I ignored him and walked into the police station. Now that I knew who was really behind Hyun Sang-Beom, I was determined to push forward without hesitation.

Creak.

As I opened the door and stepped into the police station, reporters and lawyers were still causing a commotion.

I pulled out my phone and started recording the riotous reporters.

[Recording video...]

My phone captured the chaos caused by the KBC's reporters and lawyers. Since they were all crowding around Hyun Sang-Beom, they didn't realize I had started recording.

Then, Lee Gyu-Jin, who had taken me out of the police station, followed me back in.

Jingle~

The sound of the door opening rang out.

Lee Gyu-Jin noticed I was recording with my phone. "Hey, you punk! What do you think you're doing?"

'

What do you think? I'm covering how broadcasting reporters are trampling on public authority.

'

At that moment, the reporters from the culture desk surrounding Hyun Sang-Beom turned their heads toward me. All their faces were captured on the screen.

'

Yeah. Say cheese.

'

I grinned and waved my hand. "Everyone, look over here."

"What, what is this?"

"What are you doing?"

Suddenly, the reporters snapped out of it and rushed toward me.

"Hey! Give it here!"

"Who said you could film?!"

At that moment, Yeon So-Hee blocked their path and extended her arm. "If you even lay a finger on our chief, you're all dead!"

A high-pitched voice, totally unexpected from Yeon So-Hee's delicate frame, rang out. The reporters flinched for a moment but quickly came to their senses and reached over Yeon So-Hee's shoulders.

I pulled her back and handed over the phone I was recording with. "Team Lead Yeon, you film it."

Yeon So-Hee took the phone and continued recording. "Yes, sir!"

Then I stepped in front of Yeon So-Hee and shouted at the police who were just standing there, dazed.

"Reporters are lynching a civilian, and you're just going to stand there and watch? Is this what the Korean police do?"

I said it in a way that scraped at the pride of the police. In response, the police chief, who had been hesitating until now, shut his eyes tightly and gave an order. "Hey! Arrest them all!"

"But they're reporters."

"So what if they are? We're the police, damn it!"

The moment the order was given, the officers who had been a disorganized mess suddenly changed expressions.

"Should we arrest Chief Jung too?"

"Hey! Why would you arrest the victim? Can't you see? He's clearly being assaulted! Get your head straight!"

"Sorry, sir!"

Finally, a dozen or so officers rushed out like they had been waiting for this, forming a line in front of me. They began pushing the reporters back and shouted.

"If you lay even one more finger on us, that's obstruction of justice!

Urgh!

Stop... right now, or you'll be charged with...

ah

, screw it! Just cuff them all!"

In the end, the police started twisting the reporters' arms.

"

Aaagh!

"

When a reporter screamed as his arm was twisted, the remaining reporters began to get agitated.

"How dare these worthless cops twist a reporter's arm?"

"Do you bastards not know the power of the press and still dare touch a reporter?"

The police scoffed and replied. "The power of the press? Then how about you get a taste of the power of law enforcement!"

With that, the police began putting handcuffs on the reporters.

Clink, clink.

"

Aagh

, my arm!"

Thud, thud, thud.

The reporters' faces and bodies hit the cold floor of the police station. Before long, all the reporters were sitting in handcuffs next to Hyun Sang-Beom. Only three lawyers who had stayed back and Lee Gyu-Jin remained uncuffed.

Taking advantage of the moment, I wasted no time calling MBS' President Choi Sang-Byung.

"Mr. Choi. I'm calling from Cheonho Police Station. We need some lawyers and a news team sent over."

-Why? What's going on?

"Well, you see..."

I explained everything, starting with what happened at Miso's elementary school all the way to the current events at the station. I told him that Hyun Sang-Beom had targeted Yoo-Jin and Miso. On top of that, he had pulled the hat off a girl named Eun-Byul, who was still recovering.

Choi Sang-Byung spoke with a furious tone.

-That son of a bitch! Got it. I'll send every MBS reporter nearby, just hang on a bit!

After reporting the situation and ending the call, I checked the planner. At that moment, the scheduled entry in the planner finally disappeared.

[Everyday V12.2]

[Date: January 13, 2021]

-10:00 p.m.

(Deleted Schedule Entry: [NEW. Jung Yoo-Jin] Entertainment Everywhere: "Lead actress J from a fusion historical drama assaults a KBC reporter during school coverage!" (Meeting agenda: File a protest with KBC. Respond aggressively to false reports about Jung Yoo-Jin.))

'

It's done.

'

Just then, the police station door opened and Hoop Entertainment's legal team lead, Kwak Moo-Hyuk, arrived.

Ding.

Kwak Moo-Hyuk, who cherished Miso deeply, shouted as he looked around. "Hyun Sang-Beom, where's that bastard?"

When his voice echoed powerfully throughout the station, Hyun Sang-Beom shrank his neck and looked away toward a corner.

"Hey! Hyun Sang-Beom! Get over here, you bastard. Today's the day your life ends!"

The startled Hyun Sang-Beom began to flee while still seated on a chair.

Thud, thud, thud.

"N-no... it's not what it looks like... Officer! Stop him, please! Help!"

Fortunately, the police restrained Kwak Moo-Hyuk. The sight of Hyun Sang-Beom fleeing on a bouncing chair was pitiful to behold.

And almost at the same time, MBS news reporters rushed into the station.

"Chief Jung. We're here!"

The MBS reporters who entered the station started filming with sly grins.

"Start filming from here!"

"Hey, Reporter Kim, Reporter Hyun. You guys are finished today."

The MBS news reporters didn't go easy on the KBC reporters just because they were fellow reporters. They started filming them like they were dealing with gangsters.

"Don't turn your heads, everyone look here~ Say cheese!"

Just like that, Hyun Sang-Beom and all the other KBC reporters were suddenly the stars of the evening news.

***

Kwak Moo-Hyuk reassured me that Hyun Sang-Beom wouldn't be seeing the outside world for a while.

Only then did I entrust the situation to Kwak Moo-Hyuk, Yeon So-Hee, and the MBS news crew, and left the police station.

The first thing I did was video call Yoo-Jin. I wanted to let her know that everything had been resolved.

On the screen during the call, I saw Yoo-Jin, Chae Sang-Woo, Lee Mi-Ri, Deok-Bae, Miso, Eun-Byul, and Han-Ul, all gathered in the hallway. It looked like they had just finished orientation and were about to head home.

"Yoo-Jin. Everything's taken care of, so don't worry. The MBS reporters are going to break the story. Eun-Byul's photo without her hat will never be released. But a video of her hugging Miso might be aired."

-

Sigh

~ That's a relief. As long as the photo without her hat doesn't get out.

"That will absolutely never be shown, so don't worry. And anything else will be heavily blurred."

-That's good to hear.

Just then, Eun-Byul, wearing her hat pulled low, bowed her head and looked at me.

-Uncle Yoon-Ho~ Thank you for keeping your promise.

"Of course. My sweet Eun-Byul. I gave that bad man a proper scolding, so no more crying, okay?"

Eun-Byul forced an even brighter smile.

-Okay. I won't cry~ And Miso and Han-Ul really comforted me a lot. I'm okay now.

"Good. I'm glad."

Then Miso spoke.

-Uncle Yoon-Ho~ We're all going to gather at our place today and watch

Hwaranjeon

together. Come quickly!

"Alright~ I'll be there soon. I just have one more thing to take care of. Are you all playing together already?"

-Yes~

After telling Yoo-Jin that I will be home later tonight, I ended the call. Now, it was time to go after Park Chan-Sik.

'

I'll finish this today.

'

With that resolve, I first checked Park Chan-Sik's schedule entry through Everyday.

[Everyday V12.2]

[Date: February 15, 2021]

-2:00 p.m: Congratulatory wreath delivery for KBC President Park Chan-Sik's reappointment.

As expected, it wouldn't be easy to take down a broadcasting president just like that. In that case, I needed some help because using the information I had to take him down would take time.

'

I need to contact Han Yoo-Sik, the former KBC executive director

.'

Han Yoo-Sik was someone who had once competed with Park Chan-Sik for the KBC presidency two years ago. He was respected and well-liked with many hoobaes following him, and everyone thought he would be the next president of KBC.

However, he fell victim to Park Chan-Sik's cunning schemes and ended up getting fired from KBC. After his unwanted dismissal, Han Yoo-Sik became the president of a drama production company called Mirinae. He was now producing a drama

Haze

about mysterious events on a foggy secret island.

I planned to meet him now and ask him to settle the score from two years ago. Without Park Chan-Sik,

Haze

would likely receive much more support.

"Alright~ Let's go."

I started the car I had parked and headed to Mirinae, Han Yoo-Sik's production company in Cheongdam-dong.

***

In the KBC president's office, Park Chan-Sik was gathering executives and forcing them to promote tonight's premiere of

Queen Jeong-Hee

. After all, his reappointment depended on the success of

Queen Jeong-Hee

.

"Run more ads on the KBC cable channels through the night! The exposure is still too low!"

At his words, the heads of programming, drama, and various other departments nodded endlessly and took notes.

At that moment, 'Fallen Flower,' the original soundtrack for

Queen Jeong-Hee

, began playing throughout the president's office.

『Upon the red petals scattered by the blade~ The spirits of our ancestors fall~』

The lyrics spoke of merciless cruelty wielding a blade for royal power.

As a phone rang in the middle of the meeting, Park Chan-Sik flared up and shouted. "Who is it?!"

The department heads and CPs present glanced around nervously, as the ringtone was coming from inside Park Chan-Sik's own jacket.

Eventually, Drama Department Head Tae Eun-Jong cautiously spoke. "Um, sir. I think... the sound is coming from your inside pocket."

"Is that so?"

It was an awkward moment, but Park Chan-Sik didn't apologize. He just checked his phone.

[Caller ID: Desk Head Lee Gyu-Jin]

"Everyone, quiet for a moment."

Lee Gyu-Jin from the Culture Desk was one of Park Chan-Sik's close associates. He had been working for weeks to dig up dirt on the

Hwaranjeon

team. But on the other end of the line, Lee Gyu-Jin's panicked voice came through.

-Mr. Park, we've got a major problem.

"Stop the dramatics and speak slowly. What's the problem?"

-Hyun Sang-Beom caused an incident and got arrested by the police.

"A reporter got arrested? How pathetic! Why are you just watching? Send someone and get him out now!"

-That's the thing... while trying to do that, the other Culture Desk reporters also got arrested.

"What?"

-We tried to stop it, but everything got messed up because of that bastard Jung Yoon-Ho. And... I'm sorry to say, but we're... on the news now.

Park Chan-Sik felt dizzy. MBS was the station airing

Hwaranjeon

, the competitor to tonight's

Queen Jeong-Hee

. They had handed ammunition to people who would fabricate charges just to report a scandal.

Still holding the phone, Park Chan-Sik shouted at Tae Eun-Jong. "Hey! Director Tae. Turn on the MBS news right now. Hurry!"

Tae Eun-Jong scrambled to switch to the MBS channel. "Ah, yes."

The TV was showing the 5 p.m. MBS News. Anchor Ahn Tae-Sik was speaking with a tense expression.

-Today, an incident occurred at Cheonho Police Station where KBC reporters caused a disturbance. A suspect identified as a KBC reporter climbed over an elementary school wall, claiming he wanted to film Jung Miso and Jung Yoo-Jin during pre-school orientation. The suspect attempted to enter the classroom...

The report went on for a full five minutes, filled with nothing but negative terms from disturbance, trespassing, breaking, to entering.

In the video, Jung Yoo-Jin and Jung Miso were seen confronting the reporter to protect a child wearing a hat. To anyone watching, the reporter was clearly the villain, while Yoo-Jin and Miso came off like heroes of justice.

Watching the footage, Park Chan-Sik was at a loss. "What the... what is this!"

At this rate, his reappointment could vanish into thin air. Flustered, Park Chan-Sik barked into the phone.

"Hey. Director Lee. You need to clean this up on your end."

A distressed voice came through the receiver.

-M-Mr. Park! You're not thinking of abandoning me, are you?

"That's not it. Just pin everything on that bastard Hyun Sang-Beom. Got it? There's no need for everyone to go down just to save him."

When told to throw Hyun Sang-Beom under the bus, Lee Gyu-Jinreluctantly replied.

-U-understood.

"Good. I'll make sure you're left out of this, and we'll mobilize the legal team too. Just hang in there a bit."

-Then please hurry, sir. At this rate, we're all doomed.

"I said I got it!"

Still fuming, Park Chan-Sik hung up and gave orders to the legal team through the intercom.

"Send the entire legal team to Cheonho Police Station. Stop any additional reports and get our people out, fast."

Cold sweat began soaking Park Chan-Sik's underarms. Then the intercom rang again. This time it was from the promotion department.

-Mr. Park. Right now, KBC and

Queen Jeong-Hee

are being bombarded across online communities.

"What?"

-There are posts claiming that a KBC reporter targeted

Hwaranjeon

's leads, Jung Yoo-Jin and Jung Miso, and followed them to an elementary school, using violence. We're trying to get the admins to delete them, but it's not working. Articles are also starting to pop up.

In response to the unexpected backlash, Park Chan-Sik began yelling at the top of his lungs.

"Hey! If that doesn't work, start throwing money around! And pressure the reporters too, stop them from writing anything!"

Only four hours remained until the premiere of

Queen Jeong-Hee

. If the situation continued like this, it could negatively affect the viewership ratings.

Eventually, Park Chan-Sik began making reckless moves. "Forget it. Tell the legal team to sue everyone posting on the communities! And sue anyone writing false articles too!"

Without realizing it, Park Chan-Sik was pouring fuel on the fire.

***

As I drove toward the drama production company Mirinae, where Han Yoo-Sik served as president, I tried calling him.

However, Han Yoo-Sik didn't answer.

[The number you have dialed is currently unavailable due to the customer's request...]

'

Huh? What's going on?'

A production company president awaiting drama scheduling would never turn off their phone as they needed to have endless meetings with broadcasters to secure a slot.

Feeling uneasy, I called Mirinae's office landline.

[The number you have dialed is not in service...]

At that moment, a chill ran down my spine. There was only one reason both a president and a company's line would be unreachable at the same time.

'

It's gone under.

'

Countless drama production companies were constantly plagued by financial difficulties. So when they failed to secure a broadcast slot, most of them ended up collapsing.

Nevertheless,

Haze

being produced by Mirinae—about mysterious events on a fog-covered island—was backed by people in Han Yoo-Sik's circle who were still at KBC, so there was no reason it shouldn't get scheduled.

This hadn't happened before the regression, so I couldn't grasp the current situation. So I finally tracked down and called Hyun Jong-Yeon, who had been the production chief at Mirinae.

"Mr. Hyun, what on earth happened?"

-

Sigh.

So you haven't heard yet. We went bankrupt last week.

"What? Why? Weren't you about to start filming as soon as you got the slot?"

-We were.

"Then why?"

-It's just that... well... because of President Park Chan-Sik... it ended up like this.

To my disbelief, it turned out that Mirinae's collapse was caused by Park Chan-Sik's meddling.

But as it turned out, I was partly involved in that incident as well.