Chapter 182: Hook, Line and Sinker

    TL: FoodieMonster007

    Seonwoo Jin carefully reread the contents of the poster, his face drained of color.

    How on earth did they find out about all this...?

    Every dirty deed he''d committed over the past three years was written there in black and white, even things he barely remembered. Secret beatdowns, blackmail, clandestine visits to brothels and gambling dens, everything.

    Could there be a traitor among us?

    For a moment, he suspected the BRS executives, but quickly dismissed the thought. Most of the incidents listed were things he''d done with them. If these facts became public, he wouldn''t be the only one implicated.

    RIIIIIP!

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    Before he knew it, he''d torn the poster in half.

    "Huh?" someone exclaimed.

    Startled, Seonwoo Jin spun around. A few unfamiliar looking students had gathered, their expressions curious.

    Feeling a cold sweat break out on his forehead, he hastily explained, "Haha. Since it''s such ridiculous nonsense, I tore it down so that it wouldn''t upset the students who read it".

    "Uh, okay," the students replied skeptically.

    Seonwoo Jin felt a twinge of panic. Did they see it? How long has it been up? As martial artists, they could have easily read the poster from a distance if they had wanted to.

    Masking his rising anxiety behind a confident front, he said, "You know how it is during election time. People will do anything to sway public opinion. The claims on this poster are such groundless nonsense that I shouldn''t even have to address them..."

    The students smiled and nodded.

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    "Yes, of course. Rumors can''t be trusted."

    "We only believe what we see with our own eyes."

    "Please don''t worry about it."

    Seonwoo Jin narrowed his eyes. He could see the insincerity in the students'' expressions. It seemed that they had read the poster after all.

    "So, does that mean the rumors about Candidate Hyonwon Kang are fake too? I saw a bunch of posters about him as well," a clueless student who couldn''t read the room suddenly blurted out.

    Alarmed, the clueless student''s friend nudged him, whispering, "Hey, hey!"

    Unfortunately, he remained oblivious. "What? Isn''t it obvious both candidates are both putting up posters to smear each other? How are they any different? I''m not part of the Club Union, but this is just plain disgusting."

    Enraged at having been lumped together with Hyonwon Kang, Seonwoo Jin could barely maintain a strained smile. "...Haha. Well, I''ll be on my way."

    As he briskly walked past the students, his face flushed red with shame. He had put a lot of effort into managing his reputation—not just to become the Club Union President, but also because he genuinely cared about how others saw him.

    Fuck!

    For years he had meticulously controlled his appearance, his clothes, his speech—everything. Now that his weaknesses had been exposed, he just wanted to crawl into a hole and hide.

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    Those bastards... They''re probably all gossiping about me right now.

    Once the thought took root, he couldn''t shake it. It felt like every student he passed was mocking him, laughing behind his back, their whispers cutting into his pride.

    Clenching his teeth, he cursed inwardly, Hyonwon Kang, you must have a death wish.

    After a moment''s thought, Seonwoo Jin abandoned his plan to visit the PTA. Right now, it was more important to regroup at the Club Union and come up with a new strategy.

    I need to calm down. I don''t know how Hyonwon Kang found out about what I did, but there''s no evidence. I''ve covered up my tracks and destroyed everything.

    Every time he tried to reassure himself, though, the posters kept appearing before him.

    RIP! RIIIIIIP!

    Seonwoo Jin tore down every poster he came across. He knew full well that the same poster was plastered all over the Azure Dragon Academy, but he just couldn''t bring himself to ignore them.

    At some point, his frenzied motions turned into a desperate, aimless hunt for posters, his eyes burning with hatred.

    When he found them in isolated areas, he tore them to shreds with fury.

    When he found students around them, he took them down neatly, saying, "I swear on my honor that everything written here is false! I will find whoever posted these and hold them accountable!"

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    Finally, he ended up hiding behind a deserted building, shredding a poster with all the force he could muster.

    "That lowly mongrel... I''ll kill him," he muttered.

    "Who are you going to kill? Hyonwon Kang?" came a sudden voice from behind him.

    Seonwoo Jin wheeled around in shock, only to see Baek Suryong standing there, a roguish smile playing on his lips.

    How did he get this close without me realizing it? Seonwoo Jin scowled for a moment, but quickly smoothed his expression and put on a confused face. "Huh? What are you talking about...?"

    "Stop pretending. I heard you loud and clear."

    "I have no idea what you''re talking about..." Seonwoo Jin denied, clenching his teeth.

    Watching Seonwoo Jin''s mental struggle, Baek Suryong decided it was time to take a step back. After all, even a cornered mouse would bite a cat. Who knew what a desperate person might do?

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    ...Moreover, it''ll be more fun to see him try to worm himself out of this. Then, just when he thinks he''s escaped, I''ll set a trap to finish him the little rookie off, heheh.

    Hiding his true intentions, Baek Suryong spoke seriously, "Let me set something straight. I have no desire to use this against you. If I did, I''d have already handed the two account books to the Principal."

    "Like I said, I don''t know anything..."

    "If you agree to one request, I''ll let this matter slide quietly."

    "......" Seonwoo Jin fell silent.

    With this, the boy has practically admitted that he was the Club Union treasurer who had embezzled school funds. Baek Suryong smiled in satisfaction.

    "Take down all the posters in the academy. Stop throwing mud at each other and compete fairly from now on," he suggested.

    "...Is that all?"

    "Would you rather I ask for more?"

    "......" Seonwoo Jin studied Baek Suryong dubiously, examining his face for any hint of insincerity, but of course, Baek Suryong''s expression was inscrutable.

    Sighing deeply, Baek Suryong continued, "What good will come from continuing to dig up each other''s murky pasts? As it stands, even the winner will have to endure constant criticism."

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    "......"

    "Still, it''s a shame that Wonkang hasn''t fully recovered from his internal injuries. Otherwise, I''d have suggested that you guys settle this dispute with a duel. After all, that''s the way of us martial artists, right? Sigh... Unfortunately, that''s impossible in his current condition."

    "...?"

    "Anyway, my condition is simple: take down the posters and stop digging up or fabricating Hyonwon Kang''s past. That''s it."

    "......"

    "So? What''s your answer?"

    After a tense silence, Seonwoo Jin agreed reluctantly, "...I''ll take down the posters. Not that I put them up in the first place."

    Baek Suryong patted him on the shoulder. "Wise choice. I''ll get my kids to take theirs down too."

    With his head bowed, Seonwoo Jin added, "...Like you said, Mr. Baek, I also hope for a fair competition."

    "That''s what I want too."

    "...Then I''ll be going." Seonwoo Jin bid Baek Suryong farewell and left.

    Watching the boy''s receding figure, Baek Suryong mumbled to himself, "Fair competition, my ass."

    He could see it clearly from the look on Seonwoo Jin''s face. Fair play wasn''t an option for this guy. Behind that handsome smile lurked the vicious heart of a viper.

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    Hmm? Why do my ears feel itchy all of a sudden?1 Anyway, since I''ve thrown the bait, he should bite soon... and when he does, I''ll get him hook, line, and sinker.

    As soon as Seonwoo Jin returned to the Club Union, he unleashed his fury, destroying everything in the meeting room.

    "GET OUT!" he roared to the executives, chasing them out. He couldn''t trust any of them anymore.

    When he was finally alone, he collapsed into a chair, seething with rage. Looking down, he saw that his hands were still shaking from the humiliation he''d suffered at Baek Suryong''s hands.

    At the moment, both he and Hyonwon Kang had suffered a heavy blow to their reputations, but it was he, the honor student, who was the most affected.

    I can''t let things continue like this! I have to restore my reputation somehow. And crush that son of a bitch while I''m at it.

    Suddenly, Baek Suryong''s earlier words echoed in Seonwoo Jin''s mind.

    "Still, it''s a shame that Wonkang hasn''t fully recovered from his internal injuries. Otherwise, I''d have suggested that you guys settle this dispute with a duel. After all, that''s the way of us martial artists, right? Sigh... Unfortunately, that''s impossible in his current condition."

    ...Hyonwon Kang hasn''t recovered from his internal injuries yet?

    Seonwoo Jin remembered hearing that Hyonwon Kang had sustained serious injuries in the Valley of Evil, wounds so debilitating that they had hindered his training. Though he had seemed fine the last time Seonwoo Jin had seen him, common sense dictated that no one could fully recover from such a brutal encounter within such a short time.

    "This is it! That guy can''t fight at full strength right now!"

    Piecing together his thoughts, Seonwoo Jin summoned the executives back to the room.

    "Shall we arrange a public duel with Hyonwon Kang?" he asked slyly.

    Seeing the fire in their leader''s eyes, none of the executives dared to voice any objections.

    Weekend Translator: That''s all for this week! See you next week.

    Suryong''s ears feel itchy because he''s a pot calling the kettle black. ?