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The work process in Korea tends to be quite fast.

This could be due to the country’s small size or the so-called ‘quick-quick’ mentality attributed to the Korean people, or perhaps both factors are true.

Thus, the government’s handling of the hire of Park Jinseong proceeded at a remarkably rapid pace.

Even though the government is often met with complaints of being “too slow” amidst the fast-paced Korean society, decisions were made with impressive speed.

Of course, there were underlying reasons for this swift decision-making.

For someone, it was a rather unfortunate situation.

“If this isn’t handled quickly, it’ll be a big deal.”

“The citizens are currently directing their arrows at the government.”

“The National Assembly is the same. It’s unbearably noisy.”

“The ruling party is silent, and the opposition is quiet too, but the minor parties are in a frenzy, making a huge commotion. They should know full well if they have ears.”

“They’re truly a bothersome bunch. Their usual antics seem to have turned downright relentless.”

The anxiety about the monster and the countless rumors began to coalesce into one.

And it was from within, not outside. The easiest target for people’s anger was the government.

Moreover, there were those who fueled this chaos.

People who had accepted money from China or Japan, citizens trying to make their presence known, those waiting for any slip-up in the government’s operation, and the so-called “experts” eager to make a name for themselves, along with those on the brink of ruin due to corruption but now clinging to life thanks to this incident, and lawmakers going wild to etch their names in people’s minds for the next election.

It was a total mess.

This chaos only grew worse as time passed, and upon the government’s request, even the newspapers, which had been somewhat restrained, began testing the waters. It was as if they were no longer willing to hold back, sensing an opportunity to bite back at the government with reckless abandon.

If a little more time passed, they would likely start shouting, “Isn’t it an act of loyalty after being kept waiting this long? The citizens have a right to know, and we must protect that right,” while they savagely attacked the government in every way possible.

To be honest, the mere fact that they had managed to keep calm this long seemed miraculous.

The internet was well-developed, the nation was tiny, and the people’s patience was notoriously short.

Yet, there had only been murmurs without any major unrest until now?

A miracle, indeed.

Thus, this miraculous opportunity couldn’t be missed.

“Given the government’s announcement, I doubt it will be effective?”

“It’s obvious. The lawmakers and journalists will shove microphones in their faces and say, ‘Attempting to handle such a significant incident in secrecy implies there’s something fishy going on. The government must immediately disclose the investigation process transparently to the citizens.’”

“That would be better than nothing. All sorts of conspiracy theories will flood the scene. Talks of monsters escaping from military bases or leaked weapons research, or even terrorists infiltrating the country.”

“Oh. Just imagining it is terrifying. The country would be ablaze.”

Hence, the government wanted to resolve this situation in a ‘good way.’

“It was just a casual suggestion, but I suppose that won’t be enough?”

“Fate smiled upon us. A mask would be fitting, and the words might be good enough as well…”

“Additionally, there’s a cost to consider. They say Lee Yang-hoon is very interested in magic and divine objects. Wouldn’t he be delighted if we proposed something linked to that?”

“Sounds good. Then let’s get in touch.”

It would be a win-win for both the government and Park Jinseong.

* * *

When problems arise, there are various ways to solve them.

One could simply cover up the stench, like the Japanese method of keeping quiet, or adopt the approach of the puppet regime situated in the north, erasing the source of the problem and turning ‘issues’ into ‘what used to be problems.’

There are methods such as investigating and then editing the findings to present a ‘resolved’ status, subtly shifting the blame to another country or organization and playing dumb, or performing a hot potato game with the responsibility to prolong things indefinitely.

With so many problems, there are many solutions, and amongst them are quite a few that are ‘effective’…

Yet, the method utilized by the government was none of the above.

What they chose was to come clean in a bold fashion.

They opted to acknowledge the occurrence of the problem, investigate the cause, and disclose everything immediately.

The reason behind choosing this method was simple.

Their necks were on the line.

For power holders, the most important aspect is the maintenance of their power.

Losing money?

Expanding connections?

Such concerns are secondary matters.

The foremost issue is power.

With power, money can be gathered at any time, and connections can expand with the mere possession of power. They can live a comfortable life, elevate their honor, and earn respect.

But when power disappears, all of this slips away like sand.

The connections they painstakingly built will vanish like filth fleeing, and money will evaporate just like smoke during the loss of power. The dream of a comfortable life fades away, and as they lose power, all honors and achievements plunge into the sewers, rendering them meaningless.

High-ranking officials did not want to witness such a downfall.

Absolutely not.

Hence, they proposed a somewhat extreme solution.

That was…

* * *

“Mr. Park Jinseong, the shaman. We would like you to appear on a broadcast.”

At a time when the sun was high in the sky, Kim Cheolsu, who sought out Jinseong, uttered those words as soon as he saw him.

“On a broadcast?”

Park Jinseong responded with a puzzled expression as if he couldn’t understand why he should go on air.

Seeing Jinseong’s reaction, Kim Cheolsu artificially modified his expression.

He looked slightly awkward, yet tried to mirror a favorable opportunity.

But inwardly, he sighed.

Worrying whether Jinseong would have an aversion to appearing on a show, and hoping against hope that the higher-ups wouldn’t handle this matter so sloppily even if his neck was on the line.

“Haha. You must have been thrown off by the sudden mention of a broadcast.”

“Um. It was a bit unexpected. A broadcast, you say.”

Jinseong’s face showed never-before-imagined astonishment.

His expression seemed naively perplexed, as if a youth freshly stepping into adulthood and utterly unaware of the world had just heard something.

“I was a bit taken aback upon hearing this too. Haha. I’m not a staff member at a broadcasting station, so what are we even talking about?”

“Um.”

“However, the more I think about it, the more it seems not to be a bad idea. No, it’s not just a good idea. It could be a significant opportunity for Mr. Park Jinseong.”

“An opportunity, you say?”

“Yes.”

Kim Cheolsu flashed a smile and began to speak, wrapping his words with phrases that a twenty-something would appreciate.

“You see, broadcasting is a traditional yet highly effective PR tool. A medium that broadcasts nationwide or even globally could be a powerful means to showcase Mr. Park Jinseong’s skills and name.”

“PR, huh.”

“Do you know how potent the influence of broadcasting is? A citizen who appeared for a brief interview on a variety show could be recognized by numerous people for days, receiving greetings and requests for autographs, all thanks to the power of broadcasting. Nothing beats it when it comes to expanding recognition.”

“But there must be drawbacks.”

“Of course, there are. Broadcasting’s pitfalls are famous. Someone who flaunts their unmerited glory may get caught and fall into ruin, or someone may suffer the consequences of jealousy, or excessive fame may make it impossible to lead a normal life…”

“Exactly. Broadcasting is like a double-edged sword. While it can be a phenomenal tool when used well, one could easily get cut by it if things go south. Is there really a reason to risk that?”

“No, it’s not a double-edged sword. That term only applies to those without skills. For someone like Mr. Park Jinseong, appearing on a broadcast harbors minimal risk while yielding immense returns.”

Kim Cheolsu, tasked with ensuring “Mr. Park Jinseong must be persuaded to appear on the broadcast,” began his pitch.

 

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