Han Hyunsoo, who had been declared missing, suddenly reappeared.
Not alone — but accompanied by dozens of n wearing masks and caps, their faces completely concealed.
The first thing Han Hyunsoo did upon returning was head straight to the main sanctuary.
Inside, Kim Sunja was presiding over worship.
“Lord! Please have rcy on our poor Hyunsoo...”
Kim Sunja had exploited Han Hyunsoo thoroughly.
Playing the role of a grieving mother who had lost her son, she tried to win over the hearts of the believers.
Because her two sons had released the recording, she had been briefly cornered. But nowhere in that recording did she directly order Han Hyunsoo to be killed.
All it contained was a vague instruction to “take good care” of him during his visit to Japan.
So Kim Sunja had chosen to confront the recording head-on.
As a result, Heaven’s Church had split in two, the factions cursing one another openly.
Just as Kim Sunja was leading the service, the large central doors of the sanctuary swung open.
During worship, it was customary to use the smaller side entrance.
But Han Hyunsoo deliberately flung open the massive central doors with force.
The sudden crash made the believers, who had been bowing their heads, lift them and turn around in shock.
Countless mbers of Heaven’s Church watched as he strode confidently into the main hall.
Through the wide-open doors, Han Hyunsoo walked forward with long, firm steps.
Everyone was stunned.
But the one most shocked of all was Kim Sunja.
Her mouth opened, but no words ca out.
‘They said he was dead.’
The mont she saw him standing there perfectly unhard, it felt as though her brain had frozen.
Watching her blank expression, Han Hyunsoo lifted one corner of his mouth and spoke in a booming voice.
“Mother! I’ve returned. Your son has co back!”
At his voice, the believers’ gazes shifted back to Kim Sunja.
With everyone staring at her, she forced an awkward smile.
“Yes... my son, you’re alive. Do you know how worried I was? What on earth happened?”
Her voice, despite her panic, was perfectly that of a mother concerned for her child.
Han Hyunsoo twisted his lips in a faint smile.
“You would know better than I do what happened, Mother. By the way... why are you presiding over worship? When did I grant you that authority?”
“......”
Kim Sunja couldn’t answer.
Keeping his eyes fixed on her, Han Hyunsoo began walking toward the pulpit.
Dozens of n followed behind him.
“Stand by.”
He ordered the rcenaries to wait, then slowly climbed the steps and stood on the platform.
Approaching Kim Sunja, he leaned close enough that only she could hear.
“Mother. This is really the end now.”
Her face drained of color instantly.
Han Hyunsoo pushed her aside and stepped in front of the microphone.
“You were all worried, weren’t you?”
No one answered.
Because of Kim Sunja’s behavior over the past weeks, everyone had believed he was unquestionably dead.
“I died once. I died aninglessly in Japan. But God did not abandon . He resurrected like this.”
At the word resurrected, the believers’ expressions transford.
So burst into tears.
Others cried out, “It’s a miracle!”
And just like that, Han Hyunsoo returned to Heaven’s Church as the ssiah who had died and risen again.
* * *
I was reading the report sent by the rcenaries.
I had attached one team to Han Hyunsoo under the pretext of assisting him, but in truth, this entire deploynt had been for this very purpose.
To receive detailed reports on everything that happened within his imdiate proximity.
A week had passed since his return. The report docunted his movents hour by hour.
I read it carefully.
Only once Heaven’s Church in Korea was completely settled could I determine how to deal with the Japanese branch.
After finishing, I set the report down and let out a quiet laugh.
“Han Hyunsoo really made up his mind.”
When word spread that he had resurrected, believers from across the country flocked to the main sanctuary.
A normal religion worships God.
A cult does not.
They worship their leader and pastor as a living ssiah.
The believers had originally followed Han Sungjin. Even after Han Hyunsoo was appointed as the second leader, many still believed in Han Sungjin.
But the situation had reversed.
Han Sungjin had not resurrected.
His son — the second leader — had.
That alone was enough to convince them their faith had never been wrong.
“Even so, I didn’t expect it to escalate this much.”
I tapped the report lightly.
With the sect divided, I had expected Han Hyunsoo to struggle to reclaim the leadership.
Instead, he was consolidating control faster than I anticipated.
Kim Sunja and his siblings were still resisting, but that would likely end soon.
Of course, beneath the surface, several people had disappeared without a trace.
I pushed the report aside and asked Manager Ma,
“What’s the dia saying?”
“For now, Koryeo Daily is blocking related articles at the editorial level. But they say they’re reaching their limit. Stories are already spreading online — they won’t be able to suppress it much longer.”
It couldn’t be helped.
The era when the press could selectively filter information before presenting it to the public was ending.
The rise of the internet was steadily eroding the dia’s monopoly over public opinion.
Raw, unprocessed information flooded online.
In ti, it would beco complete chaos — no one knowing what was truth and what was fabrication.
“That’s enough. Tell them to start reporting. But make sure the tone is favorable to Han Hyunsoo.”
“I’ll relay that. And there may also be issues regarding illegal entry.”
I had anticipated that as well.
“Smuggling in isn’t a capital cri. That’s Han Hyunsoo’s problem to solve. Leave it alone. We don’t need to fix everything for him.”
“Yes, understood.”
The choices left to Han Hyunsoo were simple.
Kill his family.
Or spare them.
“Let’s continue observing Korea. And it’s about ti we make contact with the Japanese branch. Set up a eting.”
Manager Ma bowed.
I picked up the Yomiuri newspaper beside the report.
On the front page was a large photograph of Hiroyuki and Takayama eting.
“As expected, Yomiuri moved quickly.”
“Yes. They completed verification within two days of receiving the information.”
Yomiuri had gone all in — devoting five full pages to a special feature.
The article detailed every eting between Hiroyuki and Takayama, including transcripts of their conversations.
[Hiroyuki: What is this?
Takayama: A gift from us to commorate your appointnt as Chief Cabinet Secretary.]
Line after line docunted the money Takayama had transferred to Hiroyuki.
“With this, public anger over Seven-Gwanggu should cool down a bit, right?”
After days of talks, the agreent on re-exploration and joint developnt of Seven-Gwanggu between Korea and Japan had been announced.
For the next five years, both governnts would jointly explore and develop the area.
It was also reported that Russian and Arican companies would conduct the exploration on behalf of the two nations.
Japan’s right-wing factions launched fierce attacks.
Multiple nationalist groups took to the streets, cursing the cabinet and Koizumi.
They called it humiliating diplomacy. They accused Koizumi of selling out Japan.
Though the right wing firmly supported Koizumi, when it ca to Korea, they always reacted this way.
On matters involving Korea, Koizumi and the right-wing were completely opposed.
They didn’t care about Hiroyuki’s death.
They simply hated the idea of doing anything alongside Korea.
Yomiuri even carried photos of their protests.
“It’s strange, hating soone for no real reason.”
Did they realize Seven-Gwanggu was rely a small piece of the board?
I smiled faintly.
Normalization between Japan and North Korea still remained.
“Keep adding fuel. Make sure all eyes in Japan remain fixed on Hiroyuki.”
“Yes.”
“As for Heaven’s Church, let’s et the main faction first before deciding.”
“I’ll arrange it imdiately.”
“Handle the rest. I need to think.”
After Manager Ma left the hotel room, Kim Seonggyeong entered.
“Boss. I’ll make you so tea.”
I nodded.
She moved quietly, almost as if she wasn’t there at all.
While I organized my thoughts, a pleasant fragrance filled the room.
It was about ti to wrap things up in Japan and return to Korea.
This trip had grown longer than intended.
“Boss. It’s pu-er tea.”
Her soft voice pulled from my thoughts.
Steam curled gently from the cup placed before .
I lifted it, inhaling the aroma.
“Not bad. Thank you.”
After taking a sip, I set the cup down.
She was smiling softly.
More lively than when we first t — yet still calm and composed.
“What do you think? Watching what I do from the side.”
“I didn’t know a world like this existed.”
“Surprising, isn’t it?”
“Yes. It’s astonishing how most things are resolved not in the light, but in the shadows. The way those terrifying Yakuza mbers from Kansai get dragged in at a single word from you. And...”
I had intentionally shown her part of my true self.
If she intended to work with , she needed to see it sooner or later.
“Following you, Boss... I realized sothing. If I stand in the position I can stand in and do what I must, one day I’ll gain power too. And then... I’ll be able to take revenge with my own hands.”
Sharp, as expected.
I smiled.
“That’s right. Do your job well in the place you’re given. Power will follow.”
“Yes, Boss.”
“We’ll return to Korea soon. You’ll go straight to the UK. After that, you won’t have my help. You’ll have to learn on your own. Can you do it?”
Even as I deliberately pressured her, she nodded firmly.
“Yes. Since you trust enough to send , I’ll learn properly.”
“Good. Learn everything. Then help °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° properly.”
“Yes, Boss.”
I finished my tea and smiled.
“Thanks to you, things beca easier to clean up. The tea was good.”
She bowed lightly and stood.
Placing the empty cup and teapot onto the trolley, she turned toward the door.
But no sound of it opening ca.
“Why? Sothing to say?”
After hesitating for a long mont, she turned back.
“Boss.”
Her voice trembled slightly.
I tilted my head for her to continue.
“When I go to London... I won’t see you again, will I?”
“Probably not.”
Her eyes wavered.
It wasn’t hard to understand.
Perhaps she had co to harbor feelings for the man who had pulled her out of the mud.
Or perhaps she feared being discarded once she was no longer useful.
Given what she had endured under the Yakuza, her anxiety was understandable.
“Boss... I don’t want to be alone tonight.”
I shook my head lightly.
“You don’t owe that kind of feeling because I helped you. I see you not as a woman, but as a capable subordinate.”
She didn’t back down.
Instead, she asked quietly,
“Boss... have you never once taken a subordinate into your arms?”
“......”
“If you have... then hold too.”
I looked into her eyes.
She was serious.
“......Fine. Co to tonight.”
After she left, I let out a long breath.
“The human heart... impossible to fully understand.”
And that night—
Kim Seonggyeong ca to see .
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