A lie has no legs - but really deep pockets
[Live Broadcast - Wedding Korea TV]
[The screen crackles to life, revealing the masked man standing leisurely with his tablet. The camera angle shifts, and the dimly lit section of the room comes into view. Two figures sit under the harsh glow of a single light—one is Kim Do-hee, unmoving, her expression void of emotion. The other is a man who looks like he’s been dragged through hell—Lee Byungchul.]
[The masked man tilts his head, his voice dripping with amusement.]
[Masked Man]:
“Well, well, well. Look who we have here. Everyone, give a warm welcome to Chairman Lee Byung-chul.”
[The name sends a ripple through the live chat. Comments flood the screen, a mix of shock, outrage, and dark humor.]
“NO WAY. THE Lee Byung-chul?!”
“Isn’t he, like, filthy rich?”
“Damn, what’s a corporate giant doing here?”
[The masked man chuckles, reveling in the reaction.]
[Masked Man]:
“That’s right, folks. The one and only. A titan of industry, a corporate mastermind. You’d think a man like him would be untouchable. But here’s the thing—power and money can only hide your sins for so long.”
[Byungchul’s eyes dart around wildly, his breathing erratic. His hands shake, his expensive suit now wrinkled and stained. He swallows hard, looking at the cameras, then back at the masked man.]
[Lee Byungchul]:
“W-What is this? Why am I here? What do you want from me?”
[Masked Man]:
“Oh, come on, Byungchul. Don’t play dumb. We all know you’ve got plenty of skeletons in your closet. Money laundering, tax evasion—”
[Byungchul stiffens, his mouth opening and closing like a fish gasping for air.]
[Masked Man]:
“But you know what’s funny? Out of all the crimes you’ve committed, it’s your little love letters that are going to be your downfall.”
[Byungchul’s face drains of color. His gaze flickers toward Kim Do-hee, but she doesn’t look at him. She stares forward, void of any reaction, like she’s already been hollowed out.]
[Masked Man]:
“Ah, Minister Kim, you’re not going to greet your old… pen pal?”
[Silence.]
[Masked Man]:
“Tsk. How rude. After all, you two were so close. The words exchanged between you—so personal, so… affectionate. And yet, here we are. Tell me, Byungchul, when was the last time you heard from Minister Kim?”
[Byungchul stammers, sweat beading on his forehead. He licks his lips, struggling for an answer.]
[Lee Byungchul]:
“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
[Masked Man]:
“Oh, is that so?”
[The screen behind the masked man flickers, revealing the title of the newly selected file.]
SELECTED FILE: PERSONAL CORRESPONDENCE - 'DEAREST'
[A beat of silence. Then, a new image appears—scanned copies of handwritten letters. At the top, neatly penned in delicate script: 'Dearest.' The live chat erupts.]
“OH. MY. GOD.”
“WHAT KIND OF SECRET LOVE AFFAIR MESS IS THIS?”
“IS THIS WHAT I THINK IT IS?!”
[Byungchul chokes on his own breath.]
[Lee Byungchul]:
“No. No, this—this isn’t—”
[Masked Man]:
“Oh, but it is, Byungchul. These are your words. And hers. Sent in secrecy, hidden away like a dirty little love note.”
[He swipes the tablet, and the contents of the letters begin to scroll across the screen. The words are sickeningly sweet—too tender, too intimate. Promises of devotion, of unwavering support. And then—mentions of deals, of favors granted, of political maneuvering disguised beneath saccharine affections.]
[Masked Man]:
“You see, my dear viewers, while Minister Kim was out there pretending to be the nation’s iron lady, behind the scenes, she was busy playing house with our dear Byungchul here.”
[Byungchul is hyperventilating now.]
[Lee Byungchul]:
“No, no, you’re twisting it! It wasn’t like that! I—”
[Masked Man]:
“Oh, spare me, Byungchul. You wrote these letters. The proof is right here. And our audience—”
[He gestures to the ever-growing live chat, where the flood of disbelief, rage, and amusement continues.]
[Masked Man]:
“They love a good romance, don’t they?”
[Another swipe, and this time, a new document appears. A financial statement.]
[Masked Man]:
“Ah, but what’s this? Love letters weren’t the only thing you exchanged, were they?”
[The numbers speak for themselves. Large, unaccounted transactions between personal accounts. Byungchul shakes his head violently.]
[Lee Byungchul]:
“No! No, that wasn’t—You don’t understand! She asked me to! She needed—”
[He stops himself, realizing what he just admitted. His eyes snap toward Kim Do-hee, but she still doesn’t react.]
[Masked Man]:
“Oof. That’s gotta hurt. Threw you under the bus and put it in reverse.”
[Byungchul is trembling, hands gripping his knees so tightly his knuckles go white. His breaths come in sharp, panicked gasps.]
[Masked Man]:
“Oh, don’t pass out on me, Byungchul. We still have a show to run.”
[He turns toward Kim Do-hee.]
[Masked Man]:
“Minister, do you have anything to say? Anything at all?”
[Nothing. She is eerily, hauntingly still.]
[Masked Man]:
“Well, that’s disappointing. But don’t worry, dear audience—we’re not done.”
A new poll pops up on the screen.]
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THE NEXT FILE?
[YES] – 92%
[NO] – 8%
[Masked Man]:
“Oho, eager, aren’t we? But patience, my friends. The next one… oh, you don’t want to miss it.”
[He leans forward, voice dropping into a teasing whisper.]
[Masked Man]:
“In two hours, we’re going to drop a bomb so big, you’ll be begging for more.”
[The screen flickers, the broadcast cutting to black.]
********
Hoseok - Havana
Hoseok leaned against the backroom table, arms crossed, barely restraining the wicked grin threatening to stretch across his face. The city crew had gathered once again, the usual energy buzzing between them, only this time, it was laced with something sharper—anticipation. The livestream was over. Kim Do-hee and Lee Byungchul were neatly tucked away in their own private purgatory. And now? Now it was time to make things even more interesting.
Then it happened. The music in their earpieces shifted. A different melody, more calculated, more theatrical. Hoseok recognized it instantly.
Seonsaengnim’s signal.
Operation Eclipse had begun.
Namjoon, ever the unflappable strategist, cracked his neck and turned toward Hoseok with the kind of calm intensity that made even hardened criminals feel like they’d disappointed their math teacher. "Where are the groom and his dear old dad?"
Hoseok bit the inside of his cheek, determined not to laugh outright. “Oh, they’re safe,” he said smoothly, pushing off the table. “Made a bit of a commotion, though. Sanghoon, our beloved groom, was very insistent on seeing his darling wife. Imagine his heartbreak when I led him into a nice, empty room instead.”
Yoongi, barely glancing up from his latest hacking endeavor, snorted. Jimin, on the other hand, pressed a hand dramatically to his chest. “Oh, the poor thing. He wanted his bride and got a solo honeymoon suite instead. Tragic.”
Hoseok nodded solemnly. “He wasn’t happy. Understatement of the year. He threw a fit, kicked over a chair, demanded answers like he was auditioning for a soap opera. Not his finest moment.”
Namjoon exhaled sharply. “And Dongsu?”
“Oh, Daddy Dongsu was a bit more composed,” Hoseok said with a casual wave. “You know, the silent, brooding type. But judging by the vein popping in his forehead, I’d wager he’s currently filing several lawsuits in his mind.”
“Perfect,” Namjoon deadpanned. Then, with a curt nod toward Jimin and Hoseok, he added, “Go get them.”
Jimin rubbed his hands together, grinning. “Ah, finally. Time to reunite the father and son dream team.”
Hoseok sighed theatrically as they strolled toward the hallway. “Not sure what condition they’ll be in, though. Sanghoon was already demanding to see his wife. And, well… considering he got an empty room instead, let’s just say his mood might not be the sunniest.”
Jimin gasped, clutching his chest like he’d been mortally wounded. “You mean they’re upset? After all the five-star hospitality we’ve provided? My heart breaks.”
“Shattered,” Hoseok agreed, shaking his head. “But no worries. We’ll be putting all their concerns to rest very soon. Seonsaengnim wouldn’t want them feeling neglected, after all.”
“Of course not,” Jimin said, winking. “Besides, they’re about to have a family bonding session. And then…” He smirked. “It’s showtime.”
With that, the two of them strode off, their laughter echoing down the hall, ready to collect their guests for the next act in Seonsaengnim’s grand performance.
*******
Taehyung - Lee Jaesun - Seonsaengnim
Taehyung walked away from the police tent with the calm, unbothered air of a man who had just excused himself to see his grandmother, not someone orchestrating the downfall of Seoul’s most powerful elite. Poor Jungkook, so eager, so intense, so determined to do his job—and yet, absolutely none the wiser.
"I just want to see my halmeoni," Taehyung had said with the perfect blend of emotional vulnerability and quiet desperation. And Jungkook, the righteous knight in police-issued armor, had lapped it up like a lovesick puppy.
Jungkook was smart—dangerously so—but also too human for his own good. That was the problem with people like him: all heart, no caution. He could profile criminals all day long, but the moment someone showed genuine emotion, his defenses cracked. Taehyung had banked on that.
Now, with the fresh night air hitting his face, he moved briskly down the street, peeling away from the crime scene like a ghost slipping into the dark.
Back inside the tower, Operation Eclipse had already begun. The crew—his crew—was executing everything according to plan, every move calculated down to the millisecond. And soon, oh so very soon, it would be time for the grand finale. The fall of the elite. The destruction of reputations so pristine they could have been carved from marble.
And of course, the exposure of his dear, dear father. Lee Dongsu, the untouchable titan of industry, was about to become very, very touchable.
Taehyung wished he could see his face. The looks of sheer, unfiltered panic.
Oh, and Sanghoon. His perfect little brother, groomed to be their father’s legacy, the shining star of the family. How did it feel to know that the same wealth and power he’d been handed on a silver platter was now the very thing dragging him into the dirt?
And Seokjin—he should have received his offer by now.
Seokjin was interesting. Unlike the rest of the police, he wasn’t in this for power, not entirely. He had a past, a hacker’s past, and that told Taehyung everything he needed to know. Money wouldn’t be enough to lure him in. No, Seokjin needed something else.
Justice. The kind that couldn’t be found in the system he worked for.
Taehyung was 99% sure Seokjin would bite. He wasn’t the type to be seduced by a fat paycheck, but the truth? The raw, unfiltered truth about the people he was supposed to be protecting? That was a different story.
And then there was Jungkook.
Taehyung smirked as he turned a corner, his mind drifting back to their encounter. Jungkook was dangerous in a different way. He was a dog with a bone, relentless, obsessive, willing to sacrifice sleep, sanity, and possibly his entire career to chase down the truth.
If Jungkook found out the truth about him…
Ah. Now, that would be interesting.
But for now, Taehyung had a finale to prepare. And when the dust settled, Seonsaengnim would disappear into the night, leaving behind nothing but a shattered world for the elite to crawl out of—if they could.
He grinned, tucking his hands into his pockets as he disappeared into the city.
*******
The phone rang, and Taehyung already knew who it was before even glancing at the caller ID. He let it ring twice, just to make Seokjin sweat a little longer, then answered with the smooth ease of a man who had orchestrated a perfect storm.
"Ah, Seokjin-ssi. What a pleasant surprise. I was beginning to think you wouldn’t call."
There was a sharp inhale on the other end, followed by the barely restrained tension of a man grappling with the realization that he had, in fact, just walked straight into the mouth of a beast. "Is it true?"
Taehyung grinned. Oh, he was enjoying this far too much. "You’ll have to be more specific, hyung. Are we talking about the secret I offered you? Yes, absolutely true. And I knew you would bite. You couldn’t resist, could you? Something that big—something that special? You had to know."
A sharp exhale from Seokjin. "And if I meant your identity?"
Taehyung chuckled, tilting his head back as if savoring the moment. "Well, you called me, and I answered. That should be answer enough, yeah?"
Silence stretched on the other end. Then, through gritted teeth, "You’re a lunatic, Jaesun."
"Gee, thanks," Taehyung said brightly, reclining further in his chair. "But a lunatic who is now your boss. Or coworker, if we’re being generous. I don’t believe in excessive leadership, after all. I’m all about collaboration."
Seokjin scoffed, the sound full of disbelief and reluctant admiration. "He’s your brother."
Something about that word made Taehyung’s jaw tighten, his amusement briefly flickering into something colder. But he kept his tone light, easy. "What an impressive deduction, detective. But I was hoping for a little more ingenuity from our collaboration."
Then, leaning forward, voice dropping into something smoother, deadlier, "You’ve seen the livestreams, haven’t you? You’ve seen what’s been revealed about the so-called untouchable elite. Almost every guest at that wedding deserves to be thrown in jail. So tell me, Seokjin—do you really think my ‘brother’ is a saint?"
That word—brother—felt foreign, like something he’d long since discarded. The pause on the other end told him Seokjin had caught it.
Another beat of silence. Then, more cautiously, "What do you want from me?"
Taehyung hummed, pleased with the shift in tone. "A better attitude, for starters, but I’m a reasonable man. You, my dear Seokjin, will be playing a very beautiful part in the next phase of our little operation. But first—" He clapped his hands together, grinning. "We need to assign you a proper alias. Since you’re joining my lovely ensemble, you’ll need a city name."
Seokjin exhaled through his nose, sounding like a man who was deeply regretting every decision that had led him here. "Oh, fantastic. Let me guess, you’ve got some elaborate naming process?"
"Absolutely," Taehyung said cheerfully. "Every member gets a city. It’s tradition. And since you’re so wonderfully adaptable and full of surprises, I’m feeling something extraordinary. Something sophisticated. Something with a touch of irony. So what should it be? What do you think of—?“