The doors of the press conference hall prepared by Daesung Group slowly opened.
Inside the vast auditorium, hundreds of reporters gathered in tight clusters.Those in the front rows raised cameras, while those in the back pulled laptops from their bags.
The press conference was about to begin.
Once again, the power of Daesung Group was undeniable.
When we had asked for coverage, media outlets hesitated, constantly watching Shinjeon Group's reaction.But the moment Daesung Group made the request, they gathered like this—without delay.
In the waiting room, I reviewed the materials one last time, preparing myself.
Shinjeon Group Headquarters
"Chairman, you should turn on the TV right now!"
"…What? What's going on?"
Chairman Ji Heon-cheol looked at his secretary with a bored expression.Before he could even finish asking, the secretary grabbed the remote and turned on the television.
The screen showed a live broadcast from the press conference hall.
[Emergency Press Conference – Luktic CEO Hyun Si-woo]
Seeing the red caption, Ji Heon-cheol's face twisted in disbelief.
"What… what the hell is this?Didn't you say all the media had already been 'handled'?!"
"Th-That is… this press conference appears to have been arranged by Daesung Group…!"
"What?! Daesung Group—why would they?!Don't tell me it's because they owe us for saving the chairman's youngest son?Impossible! Chairman Choi Chang-sik is a cold-blooded man!There's no way he'd do something this pointless over something so trivial—"
"Chairman… we've just received information that Chairman Choi has decided to invest 500 billion won in Luktic.We failed to detect it in advance… I sincerely apologize."
The secretary bowed deeply at a perfect ninety degrees.
"…What?That old fox had already marked them as his prey?!What the hell are you people doing?!Isn't that exactly why the Strategy Planning Office exists?!"
"I-I'm sorry…!"
Ji Heon-cheol collapsed into his chair, muttering blankly.
"Then… does that mean…we're not fighting Luktic anymore…but Daesung Group…?"
A chill ran down his spine.
"What are they planning to say at that press conference?Stop it immediately! Contact the media!"
"W-We've already tried…but since everyone knows Daesung Group is backing Luktic,the media isn't listening…"
"What?!"
"They won't respond…!"
"Damn it…!No matter. It's just a press conference.They'll probably just whine about false allegations.If so, we'll just push even stronger accusations."
Despite his bravado, Ji Heon-cheol's hand trembled slightly.
"Tell the Strategy Planning Office to prepare even harsher material.Starting tomorrow, flood every online platform with it.We already have the upper hand.What could a mere press conference possibly do?"
"Yes, Chairman."
The Press Conference Begins
I stepped up to the podium.
Behind me, a prepared PPT presentation filled the massive screen.
"Good afternoon.My name is Hyun Si-woo, CEO of Luktic.I would like to thank all reporters and attendees for taking the time to be here today.I will now present Luktic's official position."
I had agonized over this moment all night.
Should I first refute the false accusations?Or should I drop the bomb immediately?
Both had advantages and risks.
In the end, I chose a middle path.
The first image displayed on the screen was a bottle of Luktic Drink.
"Recently, rumors regarding severe side effects of Luktic Drink have been spreading online.I will address those claims first."
I took a bottle from my pocket, opened it on the spot,and drank it down in large gulps.
Glug. Glug.
After finishing it in one go, I placed the empty bottle on the podium.
"I stake everything I have on this statement.Luktic Drink causes no serious side effects whatsoever.If necessary, we are prepared to conduct comprehensive safety teststogether with certified professional institutions."
The slide changed.
It displayed screenshots of malicious online reviewsclaiming extreme side effects.
"These are recent reviews alleging side effects from Luktic Drink.After consulting professional forensic institutions,we confirmed that every single image was fabricated or manipulated."
While I had been meeting CTO Kang Joo-tae,Dong-sik had already arranged for verification.
All the images used in those reviewshad either appeared elsewhere beforeor were crudely composited.
Camera flashes erupted.Keyboards clattered nonstop.
So far, the reaction was calm.
This was still within expectations—standard statements often heard at press conferences.
"If anyone has genuinely experienced side effects,please contact Luktic directly.We will take every necessary measureand re-verify the safety of Luktic Drink in full."
I pressed the button to advance the slide.
"Luktic will never conceal or cover up its mistakes—unlike Shinjeon Group."
The screen now displayed the large logo of Shinjeon Chemical.
A murmur spread across the hall.
"We have secured evidence proving that Shinjeon Groupwas behind the malicious rumors and false reviews targeting Luktic.That is why we must speak about them today."
The slide changed again.
Photos appeared of patients lying in intensive care units,their bodies covered in bandages and tubes.
"Before that, I must explain why I founded Luktic.My father suffered an industrial accident while working at a chemical plant.He was exposed to an extremely toxic substanceand remains in a coma to this day.In order to treat my father,I began studying and researching various technologies—and the result of that effort is Luktic."
A reporter raised his hand.
"You just displayed the Shinjeon Chemical logo.Are you saying your father's accident occurredat a Shinjeon Chemical facility?"
"Yes.My father was injured due to clear negligence by Shinjeon Chemical.And he was not the only victim.There were countless others—far too many to count."
Another reporter shouted,
"But Shinjeon Chemical insiststhat there has never been a single chemical-related industrial accidentat their facilities."
"Yes," I replied coldly."They claim that shamelessly."
Camera flashes intensified.
"But today, I have obtained evidencethat will expose their true face to the entire nation."
I paused.
"Please listen carefully.This is an audio recordingof a conversation between Chairman Ji Heon-cheol of Shinjeon Groupand his secretary.The original file will be distributedto every reporter present today."
The murmurs grew louder.
Then—silence.
As the audio began to play,the entire hall fell deathly quiet.
[You can erase everything, right?All evidence remaining at Shinjeon Chemical's Yangseo County plantthat could be recognized as an industrial accident.]
[Yes, Chairman.The Strategy Planning Office is reviewing every possible angle.]
[Good.We must absolutely prevent industrial accident recognition.It's not just one or two victims.If we compensate them all,what about the company's image?]
[One concern is that they may file lawsuits,protest publicly,or contact investigative journalists…]
[Don't worry.Hand those stubborn ones over to the legal team.They're poor anyway—and they're terminally ill.If we drag the trial out for a few years,they'll collapse on their own.Didn't doctors say that disease has nearly a 100% fatality rate?]
[Yes, sir.]
[Then just stall until they die or become disabled.Our legal team specializes in that kind of thing. Hahaha.]
When the recording ended,the press conference hall exploded into chaos.
Flashes fired like machine-gun bursts.The roar of voices shook the entire building.
Reporters frantically called their newsrooms.
I continued, my voice trembling with emotion.
"I developed all this technologyto treat my father,who was utterly humiliated and destroyed by Shinjeon Chemical."
"And yet Shinjeon Chemical continuesto trample even a startupthat rose from that pain—using fabricated rumors and public-opinion manipulation."
"I founded Luktic to bring this technology into the world.Our technology can save not only my father,but countless patients suffering from rare and incurable diseases.But they are trying to bury Lukticto protect their own profits."
Tears welled in my eyes.
I stared directly into the cameras.
"Chairman Ji Heon-cheol of Shinjeon Group—this is not how a human being should live.Crushing other people's lives to fatten your own belly,leaving families bleeding tears—how can you justify that?!"
This press conference was broadcast live nationwideacross terrestrial TV, cable networks,and every major streaming platform.
Across the country,millions heard that recording.
Aftermath
Ji Heon-cheol watched the broadcast on TV, trembling.
"H-How… how does that recording even exist…?!And how did it end up in his hands?!"
He screamed and hurled his wine glass to the floor.
Crash!
Red wine splashed across shattered glass,spreading like blood over the marble floor.
Meanwhile, Chairman Choi Chang-sik laughed heartilyas he watched the broadcast.
"Hahaha! Magnificent!CEO Hyun, where on earth did you dig up such a recording?"
After calming himself, he nodded.
"At the very least, you've completely shifted public attention.Well done."
A few days later,public suspicion toward Luktic had vanished entirely.
Public fury had found a new target—Chairman Ji Heon-cheol and Shinjeon Group.
At the presidential office,President Kim Sang-hyun watched highlights of the press conference.
"Interesting," he chuckled."That young man would make a better politician than a businessman."
"He understands exactly how public sentiment moves,"his aide replied.
"Indeed.He spoke about something unrelated to Shinjeon's accusations,yet public outrage completely turned in his favor.The doubts surrounding Luktic have already faded."
"Mr. President,the MFDS Commissioner has requested an urgent meeting regarding Luktic."
"Yes.Tell him to come tomorrow afternoon."
The President added coolly,
"And summon Chairman Ji Heon-cheol as well.I have something important to say to him."
The Presidential Residence
That evening, Ji Heon-cheol arrived at the residence.
Good, he thought.I'll negotiate.Offer something the President wants—and ask him to rein in Luktic.
But the moment he entered the office,he saw the President's deeply displeased expression.
"Chairman Ji,you've been all over the news lately."
"…Y-Yes, Mr. President.When one runs a business for the nation's economy,unfortunate matters do arise—"
"I'm not worried about you, Chairman Ji."
"…Pardon?"
"I'm far more concernedabout the startup you've been persecuting—Luktic."
"L-Luktic…?Why would Your Excellency concern yourself with—"
"Chairman Ji.You know better than anyonewhat Luktic's technology represents for this country."
"Are you afraid of losing Shinjeon Pharmaceutical's rice bowl?Is that why you tried to destroy a promising startupthrough underhanded means?"
"Mr. President—!"
"If your concern was legality,a simple complaint would have sufficed.Why manipulate public opinion and spread falsehoods?"
"…!"
"I will be clear," the President said coldly."Do not touch Luktic again.The government has decided to protect and support Lukticas a national strategic project."
Ji Heon-cheol's legs gave way.
The President continued calmly.
"You'll likely receive only finesfor covering up industrial accidents.Our laws are lenient."
Ji Heon-cheol flinched.
"But succession issues, inheritance taxes, stock manipulation—those are different matters."
"…M-Mr. President!"
"Shall I order a full-scale investigation?A few years in prison isn't unlikely.Prison conditions have improved, they say—but it's still prison."
Ji Heon-cheol collapsed to his knees.
"I-I'm sorry!Please forgive me!"
The President smiled faintly.
"As long as you remember the basics,nothing unpleasant will happen."
"I will immediately cease all unfair attacks on Luktic!"
"Good.If you wish to compete,do so fairly—through technology and quality.That is the duty of a true entrepreneur."
"…Y-Yes, sir."
Ji Heon-cheol left the residence in a daze.
Hyun Si-woo… Luktic…What are they really?Daesung Group… the President himself…Why are all the powerful figures protecting them?!