In the following days, the news was dominated by reports about Cheol-min. Jihyeon watched the screen with indifferent eyes.

  "Despite such massive damage, the police failed to provide a proper response."

  As usual, the reporters made no effort to understand the essence of the matter. Instead, they acted like peddlers, displaying sensationalist content as if begging for attention to make a sale.

  This time, they were pouring criticism on the brave officers who had fought against an impossible disaster. It seemed that tearing others down brought the reporters joy.

  Though sickened by the sight, Jihyeon kept watching the news. To be precise, it wasn't because he wanted to.

  His younger siblings wanted to watch it, and he saw no reason to force them to change the channel. To the two of them, this was simply a fascinating incident.

  Jihyeon said nothing. Internally, however, he scoffed at the absurdity.

  The essence of the matter was much simpler.

  A man consumed by a tool he couldn't handle had gone on a rampage, and a man possessing an object capable of controlling tool-wielders had put an end to it.

  Just as fathers in the past had punished their wayward sons, Cheol-min's father had simply done what he felt he had to do.

  Jihyeon was a witness who had watched the scene from afar. If the day ever came when he had to testify, he intended to reveal everything he had seen.

  But that day would likely never come.

  The truth about the tools had to remain hidden. While it couldn't be concealed perfectly forever, the true nature of the tools had to remain a mystery.

  Still, Jihyeon felt he had gained a small clue. He was now one step closer to those who sold these tools—the ones throwing himself and the rest of the world into chaos.

  It was too early to judge.

  The information he had on his opponent was minimal at best. There was virtually no data on the woman known as the "Salesperson."

  It was such a strange mystery that Jihyeon almost wanted to ask her himself.

  However, the difference between having zero information and finding a lead was incomparable.

  By gathering tiny fragments of information to draw a larger picture, one eventually arrives at the truth.

  Though he still had a long way to go, securing information like her phone number was a victory.

  Thinking he could extract something from this, Jihyeon slowly began to probe for information.

  However, moments later, Jihyeon realized he had been too hasty.

  Just as he thought he was reaching the data, an unexpected headache struck. It was a vicious, piercing pain that surged through him in an instant.

  A firewall—one stronger than anything currently existing in this world—began to block Jihyeon’s search.

  "Kuh!"

  Jihyeon let out a sharp cry at the unexpected counterattack.

  "Hyung, is something wrong?"

  His younger brother, Jihyeok, startled by the sudden groan, asked with concern. Jihyeon told him he was fine and retreated to his room.

  At that moment, he felt blood trickling from his nose. His entire body reacted to the unforeseen shock to his brain.

  "This is going to be a headache..."

  Never before had he faced a counterattack while searching for information. But today, for the first time, Jihyeon had been exposed to an unexpected blow.

  This was not a good sign. There was a high probability that things would flow differently from what Jihyeon desired.

  "Tch..."

  Sensing that things shouldn't head in this direction, Jihyeon clicked his tongue.

  "Oh boy... trouble's brewing. Real trouble."

  The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  Jihyeon muttered as he threw himself onto his bed. His head was spinning from the sudden shock.

  First, he needed time to recover. Thinking could wait. Jihyeon closed his eyes and drifted into sleep.

  At the police station, the Team Leader maintained his silence. He knew well that exercising his right to remain silent was the only thing that might work in his favor.

  He had no choice.

  His pyramid scheme company was finished. He didn't know who had tipped them off, but someone had provided a very detailed report on the numerous illegalities that had occurred there.

  A search and seizure had begun, and every executive at the Team Leader's level had been brought in.

  From the Team Leader's perspective, it was incredibly unfair. They had simply been running their own business.

  Sure, the lives of a few fools were ruined because of it, but that was only because they were stupid.

  However, the police clearly didn't see it that way.

  "Say something, for god's sake!"

  Despite the roar of the investigator questioning him, the Team Leader remained silent. No matter what he said, it would only come back to haunt the entire group for the crimes they had committed.

  Unnecessary words always created problems.

  A wise man knows to stay quiet at a time like this. Empty talk only made things a mess, as it always did.

  "..."

  The Team Leader simply stared at the investigator. Of course, his gaze held a hint of resentment.

  "We already know everything you've done. You'd better start talking."

  The investigator pulled out a file. To the Team Leader's shock, it contained details of his recent bank deposits and withdrawals.

  "Why did you move this? Who told you to do this?"

  At the investigator's words, the Team Leader's face went blank. He wondered how on earth they had found this out.

  If the account had been in his own name, he wouldn't have been this surprised.

  But it wasn't his name. That fact chilled him to the bone.

  "...That was when..."

  Finally, looking at the evidence the investigator produced, the Team Leader spoke for the first time. His voice was filled with resignation.

  The act of moving accounts itself wasn't strictly illegal. However, he never expected them to track down a borrowed-name account, and his expression rapidly froze.

  "Hmm... So you did it because that person suggested it?"

  The investigator asked, sounding intrigued by the Team Leader's words. The Team Leader simply nodded quietly.

  "Interesting. I was actually curious about that."

  The investigator smiled. It was the look of someone who had figured something out. The Team Leader, however, couldn't understand why he was wearing such an expression.

  But more important than that confusion was what lay ahead. The Team Leader desperately hoped he could get off easy.

  "Well, we'll look into that later."

  The investigator said, pulling out more documents one by one. They were about the victims before Sang-il.

  Every person listed there had signed a private loan contract under his coercion.

  They were all now working under the Team Leader, pressuring new victims. They were his loyal dogs, too terrified to even dream of betrayal.

  "You realize you're the one who twisted their fates, don't you?"

  The investigator asked in a heavy voice. Without offering an answer, the Team Leader simply let out a sigh of despair.

  Sensing that everything had completely collapsed, the Team Leader slowly began to cooperate with the investigation.

  A storm had passed.

  What else could be said? Sang-il thought as he let out a sigh.

  Fortunately, his sister was doing better than expected. Although she needed a week of rest due to the mental shock, Eun-yeong had already returned to her part-time job as if nothing were wrong.

  Sang-il, however, could not do the same.

  He had seen on the news that his Team Leader and the entire pyramid scheme company had been arrested, but that alone wasn't enough to help him endure.

  Even if he returned to school, he probably wouldn't be able to live a normal life.

  He was terrified.

  He had been forced into the pyramid scheme because of Cheol-min, but in the end, he had called a few of his own acquaintances.

  It was because he feared the violence.

  Beatings are the most effective way to shatter a person's judgment. After being hit in the head a few times and flinching at the sound of fists slamming on desks, Sang-il had done the unthinkable.

  He knew he should apologize and live quietly, but he didn't even have the courage to do that.

  Even stepping outside his house was frightening.

  It felt as though the world was pouring all its criticism onto him. He was just scared. He wanted to hide away forever.

  His parents, of course, suggested psychiatric counseling. It was the right treatment for a situation like this.

  But Sang-il refused.

  He was simply afraid to go outside and see people. Even when his sister was being assaulted by Cheol-min, Sang-il hadn't been able to go out.

  He was scared.

  He had simply stood there like a fool in the midst of his terror. He couldn't forgive himself for that.

  His sister told him it was okay, but since he couldn't accept it himself, her words couldn't be the answer. That was why Sang-il remained in bed.

  His family worried.

  His friends reached out.

  But he ignored everything.

  He was simply sinking like a ship to the bottom of the deep sea. He believed there would be no salvation and that he would remain a piece of trash who could do nothing.

  Then, his phone rang.

  He had long since blocked everyone from the pyramid scheme, including Cheol-min, but he still jumped in fear whenever an unknown number appeared.

  However, Sang-il couldn't bring himself to ignore the call from the one outsider he felt he could trust.

  Jihyeon.

  The contact from the man who had rescued him at his friend's request. With a trembling voice full of fear, Sang-il answered Jihyeon's call.

  -"I've called the friend who went to look for you after my call, so make sure you apologize properly."-

  Totally unexpected words. Sang-il felt a shock as if he had been struck in the head. What on earth was this person thinking?

  But Jihyeon's words, just like before, seemed to touch the painful parts of Sang-il’s heart.

  -"Other people are worried about you, so be grateful to your friends."-

  Jihyeon told him where to go and then hung up. At that, Sang-il couldn't stop the tears from flowing.

  There was power in his words. And Sang-il felt the energy to attempt a challenge that he couldn't even do for his parents.

  "..."

  Sang-il stood up. It would be easier for now to ignore Jihyeon’s call and stay holed up in his room.

  But even if it was scary, he had to face it.

  It was his sin. It was his mistake, and it was something he shouldn't run away from. It was time to find courage.

  It was the courage he should have found when he first went to the pyramid scheme. He hadn't been able to do it then. Sang-il knew that now was the time to change.

  With staggering steps, he headed to the bathroom. And Sang-il turned on the hot water.