The Unbelievers

Chapter 60

Some of the elders harbored resentment towards Chairman Yoo’s son, who was gradually establishing himself as the successor. Elder Kwon, who was extending his hand to shake Yoo Siwoon’s, was one of them. He had been caught by Yoo Siwoon last summer while digging into Seongha Group’s corruption, and they had agreed to join forces.

As Yoo Siwoon shook his hand, he quickly said, “It would look strange if you try to acknowledge me. Let’s just shake hands and move on.”

“Yes, that was my intention.”

Elder Kwon immediately let go of his hand and moved to the side after exchanging a perfunctory smile and greeting, maintaining minimal courtesy as it would be awkward to simply pass by Yoo Siwoon standing in the way, but not appropriate to engage in a serious conversation. Where he was heading, a newly recruited police superintendent was introducing himself to the power brokers, enthusiastically talking about the fire show he had just seen, apparently quite impressed.

Yoo Siwoon pretended to maintain his position as a lower-ranking family member, only signaling to Master Manpo that he would contact him later, and left the golden hall.

As he was heading towards the parked car with Director Nam, someone called out to him from behind.

“Siwoon.”

Although he had already sensed it, Yoo Siwoon flinched, his hasty movements revealing the anxiety he couldn’t hide.

He swallowed hard. Slowly turning around, he saw Chairman Yoo, the head of Seongha Group and, along with the apostle of the elder council, the de facto leader of this cult group.

The numerous murders committed by Chairman Yoo came to mind. A benevolent smile was plastered on the face of a man who considered it natural to sacrifice those who opposed them to maintain power and protect authority.

Yoo Siwoon recalled the handshake he had just shared with Kwon Junho. He retraced his actions, wondering if he had done anything suspicious. Or maybe he already knew. Chairman Yoo was that kind of person. He was also a murderer who believed in the existence of a prophecy that half the family didn’t believe in like a religion, and committed murders without hesitation to realize that prophecy.

Unaware that the ‘Great Rift’ with the mark on its neck actually existed, not knowing he was being deceived by Yoo Siwoon whom he considered the least significant, believing he had complete control over the family, he was the most powerful figure in Seongha Group in name and reality, meticulously preparing to pass it on to his son, Yoo Siwoon’s cousin.

Yoo Siwoon greeted him politely.

“Chairman.”

“Are you leaving already? Stay for dinner.”

“I have work at the company.”

“I heard the shipping revenue has grown a lot since you took over. It seems you’re managing well the unprofitable business divisions I handed over to you to give you something to do.”

“It’s all thanks to your consideration, Chairman. I’m grateful for your care all this time.”

“Yes, it’s already been half a year since your father passed away. Everything alright?”

Chairman Yoo casually inquired about everyday matters. Yoo Siwoon forced a fake smile on his lips, consciously trying not to swallow. Every time his lips twitched involuntarily, he felt a chill run down his spine.

He felt even more creeped out as he recalled Chairman Yoo’s actions in his younger days, cutting open the stomachs of targets to check for the ‘Great Rift’. He was now asking about his well-being, pretending to be a kind and wealthy chaebol.

If they found out that Eunseong was the target they had been searching for, Yoo Siwoon’s life would be in danger too. The moment they secured the ‘Great Rift’, rank and ability would become meaningless, and one would gain the right to control Seongha Group.

If Eunseong was that being, it meant that whoever possessed Eunseong would become Seongha’s successor. And today, that being had attempted to run away for the second time. Unlike the clumsy first attempt, he had meticulously covered his tracks, as if warning that this time would be different.

Facing Chairman Yoo, Yoo Siwoon was experiencing with his whole body what it meant to feel like going crazy.

“You seem quite tense. I’m not going to ask you to do anything difficult. I won’t do anything to our family members.”

“…It’s because I’m not capable enough.”

Chairman Yoo sneered at Yoo Siwoon, who was acting subservient like a dog tucking its tail between its legs in front of a clear hierarchy.

Chairman Yoo didn’t regard Yoo Siwoon, who was merely cleaning up after his actions, as a threat at all. To him, Yoo Siwoon was just a lackey cleaning up his mess, just like his father had been.

His cold eyes, never revealing emotions, swept over the tattoos visible on Yoo Siwoon’s neck and wrist, subtly showing contempt.

The more Chairman Yoo looked down on him, and the more afraid Yoo Siwoon was of him, the more thrilling it felt for Yoo Siwoon. He possessed the decisive means to overturn this relationship, and Chairman Yoo was completely unaware of it.

That wasn’t all. Eunseong showed a different aspect from the resonance. He genuinely liked Yoo Siwoon. The fulfillment of the prophecy depended on the choice of Yoo Siwoon, who was at the bottom of the hierarchy, not anyone else.

“If it’s urgent, you should go. But it doesn’t look good to miss family gatherings often. In the end, blood is all we have, wouldn’t it be nice if we got along well?”

“I’ll make sure to attend next time.”

Chairman Yoo nodded as if to say he could go now. Yoo Siwoon bowed and turned around. The persistent gaze following his back disappeared.

Director Nam, who had been frozen while watching them from afar, quickly followed Yoo Siwoon as soon as Chairman Yoo disappeared inside.

“What did you talk about with Chairman Yoo? Does he know about Eunseong’s existence?”

“No. He couldn’t know. He has that expression because he doesn’t know.”

The look of contempt that Chairman Yoo didn’t bother to hide towards him was proof that he had no idea what was happening somewhere he didn’t know about.

“Then what could have happened? Did Eunseong run away?”

“Probably. Let’s find the kid first. Where did he disappear from?”

The name of the subway station with the highest floating population came out of Director Nam’s mouth. Yoo Siwoon cursed inwardly. He was constantly conflicting between regretting not giving Eunseong what he wanted then, thinking this wouldn’t have happened, and his reason for gritting his teeth, saying that such a thing shouldn’t be done.

Maybe it felt more so because it was snowing. Yoo Siwoon felt heavy-hearted. Throughout the journey back to Seoul, his brow furrowed more and more as he watched the snowflakes fluttering outside the car window.

Director Nam was at a loss for words. If it had been Yoo Siwoon, he might have noticed. For the past few days, Eunseong had been different from usual. Something was off. He looked like someone who was sick, or like someone who had been rejected in love. He had lost interest in everything, responding with almost no reaction to anything.

The kid who should have been full of energy, able to laugh at the sight of falling leaves now that the college entrance exam was over, was walking around with slumped shoulders as if he had lived his whole life and had nothing new to experience. Unlike before, his expression was empty, and he seemed to have no appetite.

“I’m sorry. I should have noticed earlier. I let my guard down because there hadn’t been any such attempts since then.”

“No matter how we monitored him, we couldn’t be with him 24 hours a day. He would have found a way to slip out somehow.”

Eunseong had attempted to run away before, but Yoo Siwoon’s reaction now was completely different from then. At that time, he had not hidden his disappointment in Director Nam, but today he was calm, as if he had anticipated this would happen.

“Did you know about this, sir?”

“Know what?”

“About Eunseong running away. You don’t seem very surprised. Do you have any idea why?”

“I rejected him.”

“…Pardon?”

Yoo Siwoon spoke in a low voice, his gaze fixed on the snow fluttering on the road outside the car window. Director Nam frowned, looking at him through the rearview mirror with an expression of having misheard something.

“I rejected him.”

“Rejected? What do you mean… Did you go to see Eunseong?”

“I went on the day of his college entrance exam.”

“May I ask… what happened?”

Director Nam asked cautiously, unable to hide his tension. Knowing his personality better than anyone, he could only hope that the worst situation he was imagining hadn’t occurred.

“He said he liked me. That he hated me, that he wanted to undress me.”

“…What?”

“That day, he begged me to kiss him.”

“What?!”

Yoo Siwoon laughed mirthlessly, finding it hard to believe even as he said it himself. That he could be so brazen, so impudent, so innocent and lovable, that he himself was the one who received such a confession was unbelievable. Moreover, the Great Rift was emotionally fond of him and physically responding as if it was natural for Yoo Siwoon to become the master of this vast family.

“Did you say no?”

“I told him it couldn’t happen.”

“Ah, I see.”

Director Nam lamented as if he couldn’t believe he had missed this.

“What do you mean, ‘I see’?”

“Eunseong’s behavior looked exactly like someone who had been rejected in love. If only you had told me earlier…”

Director Nam sighed regretfully, thinking that if he had known about this incident beforehand, he could have prevented this situation from happening.

“You didn’t say anything else, did you? What did you say that made Eunseong leave home?”

The meaning was not curiosity, but that he needed to know exactly what was said and how to make the kid leave home. Director Nam glanced at the rearview mirror occasionally while watching the road ahead. The weekday highway had few surrounding vehicles and they were driving at high speed.

Yoo Siwoon still had his gaze fixed outside the car window.

He must be cold, it’s winter, he should have gone to a warm country and disappeared… He should have taken a lot of money with him.

His chest tightened at Eunseong’s reckless action, wondering why on earth he had left home in this cold winter.