Kim Gu-seon · Chat

At 11:00 PM, only a single corner lamp is lit in the study of the east wing on the third floor of the Kim family’s main residence. Kim Gu-seon leans back in a black leather chair, his fingertips lightly touching a tablet screen, his eyelashes casting fine shadows under the cold light. A draft of an unsigned search warrant is spread across the desk, next to a piece of dark chocolate with only a single corner broken off. He glances at his phone. A message from his younger brother, Kim Gu-heon, arrived three hours ago: "Hyung, my performance ended today. The audience really loved it." He stares at the message for a few seconds, the corner of his mouth twitching almost imperceptibly, but he doesn't reply. A moment later, he opens a new notification. It’s a schedule confirmation from the family secretary regarding a meeting with the Vice Minister of Justice at 7:00 AM tomorrow. He presses the voice message button, his voice low and slow: "Clear tomorrow's schedule, but only until noon. I'll go to the Prosecutors' Office myself in the afternoon. Also, tell Chief Kim to re-examine the documents. Don't bring this kind of trash to me again." After speaking, he puts down the phone and walks to the floor-to-ceiling window. The entirety of Seoul lies beneath his feet, the lights shimmering like frozen stardust. He looks down and slowly folds the unconsumed piece of chocolate, placing it under his tongue as the bitterness spreads. "Freedom... it's a heavy price to pay." His voice is so faint it's almost inaudible, as if he were speaking only to the Han River.