𝕭𝖎𝖙𝖊 𝕭𝖆𝖈𝖐 ꒐꒐ ⱽᴵᴺᶜᴱᴺᶻᴼ ᶠᶠ

ℂ𝕒𝕡𝕚𝕥𝕠𝕝𝕠 ℚ𝕦𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕣𝕠

"Did you see the looks on their faces?" Hanseok laughed as he plopped on his bed.

Hanseo hummed, already tucked beneath the duvet covers and ready to sleep.

"That old man really tried to kiss my ass after months of looking down on me. If I didn't have a use for him, I'd have killed him already."

The monster was on a tangent, so Hanseo supposed he could relax a bit. He did as his brother instructed for the most part; that meant he wouldn't be punished, right? That worker who collapsed in front of the reporters during Babel's announcement of their drug release wasn't his fault. But it is your fault, a little voice in his head said, taunting him. No, it's not! I-I didn't force him to inhale those toxins! He was fighting with himself again. An internal struggle that no one will ever know. However, his guilty conscience always won. That's right. That man did die because of him. Those researchers died because of him. Millions of people will continue to die because of him. He was a murderer, just like his brother. By following the monster's instructions, he was allowing corruption to take root. He was allowing people to get addicted to unsafe drugs. Just because he was a puppet didn't mean he didn't participate in making many people's lives a living hell.

"Tomorrow's the trial," Hanseok informed him. "We already paid off the judge and threatened any potential witnesses. That Jipuragi team doesn't have a leg to stand on."

"Hyung-nim," Hanseo said softly, turning to face his brother. "Do you...Do you really have to go that far?"

The barely audible question must've enraged his brother because before he knew it, Hanseok's hands were firmly around his neck. "Little brother," the monster snapped. "Are you becoming soft-hearted?"

"N-no, it's just—"

"I'm not going to let anyone bring down my empire. Not Chayoung, not Vincenzo, and definitely not someone as insignificant as you."

"Y-yes. I'm sorry, hyung-nim. I won't ever say something like that again!"

"Good." The monster released his grip.

Hanseo gently grasped his own neck as tears formed in his eyes. Why did he have to verbalize his thoughts? Was he crazy? His brother hated anyone who questioned his actions no matter how immoral they may be. Hanseo took a deep breath before shifting toward his brother's back on the bed. "I'm sorry," he whispered, hoping his submission would calm the monster's wrath.

His brother turned, his chest now facing him. "My poor, stupid brother," Hanseok said. "I hope you'll never question me again. I'll excuse this once, but next time... I might accidentally snap that precious neck of yours."

The threat sounded so casual. Hanseo was scared like he always was, but his drowsiness allowed him to overlook his dread. He couldn't let his worried mind give him insomnia again. He had to sleep. Tomorrow was going to be a big day. Vincenzo would be there. Hanseo wondered just how clever the man was. Something in his gut was telling him the Italian lawyer was not an ordinary lawyer. As much as Hanseo wanted his brother's plans to go smoothly so he could avoid punishment, he also wanted to see Vincenzo's victorious smile. Vincenzo... could he... could he beat my brother?

---

The courtroom was packed not only with people but also anticipation as the judge settled down. Hanseo sat on the left side of the room along with a group of unfamiliar people who seemed to be cheering for the plaintiff's side. His brother and that attorney woman, Myunghee, were both smirking. There was no doubt they were expecting a decisive victory. Similarly, Hong Chayoung, the former Wusang lawyer and Hanseok's crush, looked relaxed as well. There was no way she'd be this relaxed if she didn't expect to win. But how could anyone win against his brother? Hanseo was itching with expectations. Where's... where's Vincenzo?

"Let me present my first surprise witness," Chayoung announced with enthusiasm.

The doors of the courtroom opened, and everyone quickly turned their attention to the handcuffed man being escorted in. Hanseo widened his eyes. Vincenzo? The officer quickly uncuffed the Italian lawyer, allowing him to walk over to the witness's stand. Myunghee took no time in calling for the judge to disqualify the man.

"I have indisputable evidence," Vincenzo noted. "An employee of Mr. Gil found his phone and accidentally read incriminating texts on it. That bastard of a doctor did know there was a correlation between the drugs and cancer cells."

The judge wiped his sweaty forehead with a handkerchief, obviously looking to Myunghee for directions. Hanseo fiddled with his sleeves, a little amused at the creative antics.

"He's not a medical professional!" Myunghee shouted on her microphone.

"Th-that's right!" the judge said. "I'll dismiss the ev—"

He was cut off by Chayoung. "Is that so? Let me introduce our second surprise witness!"

The attention was once again drawn to the courtroom doors. In walked an elegant woman dressed in a gray suit and holding a suitcase that looked like it held important evidence.

"Honey?" the scummy doctor, Gil Jongmoon, called out in surprise.

Everyone gasped. The female witness was Jongmoon's own wife? Honestly, the scene playing out seemed more like a melodrama than reality. Hanseo covered his mouth with his hands to discreetly hide a giggle. Myunghee looked like she was about to explode from how red her face was. It seemed like her earlier behavior was nothing more than arrogance. More and more drama just unfolded with every minute. Hanseo was so absorbed by the bizarre case that he didn't even notice Vincenzo sitting next to him.

"Enjoying yourself?" the Italian man asked quietly.

Hanseo nearly jumped from his seat as he felt the man's warm breath on his neck. "N-no," he whispered, but his smile was betraying him.

"Really?" Vincenzo teased. "If you keep smiling at our surprises, someone might think Babel's chairman is rooting for the enemy."

"You're full of surprises, Mr. Cassano."

The Italian lawyer furrowed his brows at his comment but quickly brightened up. "As are you, Chairman Jang."

Truthfully, Hanseo enjoyed watching his brother lose. Hanseok had never lost in his life, so this was definitely a pleasant change. Maybe it'd humble him, but Hanseo knew it'd most likely just enrage him. After all, his brother was a psychopathic narcissist.

"How could you do this to me, the head of the family?" Hanseo averted his attention back to the couple. Jongmoon looked furious. He's not as scary as hyung though.

"Go back to that hooker, you fucker," his wife remarked as she gripped her microphone and started beating him with it.

Vincenzo and Chayoung clapped their hands at the mess that the courtroom eventually became. That atmosphere was awfully whimsical as more applause broke out. Hanseo, despite his better judgment, joined in. He wished he could be like that woman. How funny would that be? If his brother raised his voice and used violence, he would do the exact same. Indeed, that would be a wonderful revenge.

The case was soon over, and unlike what Hanseok had predicted, Babel did not win. After everyone had exited the courtroom, Hanseo was dragged by his brother somewhere else.

"Fuck!" the monster yelled, kicking a conveniently placed pot of flowers.

"It's okay, hyung-nim, we can still recover—" Hanseo was cut off by a punch to the face which had him tumbling down.

"You incompetent piece of shit!" His brother was screaming and cursing like there was no tomorrow. "Yah, Hanseo! Just because you're a puppet chairman doesn't mean you can slack off."

"Y-yes, hyung-nim!"

"Go announce that charges are true and that we'll compensate all the victims. I also want that Geumga Plaza torn down! Do you hear me?"

"Y-yes, sir."

Before Hanseo could stand up properly, his brother was already gone. Ah, he's after the attorneys now. What a day. The great Hanseok had been defeated, and a powerful opponent had entered the ring. Hanseo felt a giddy feeling in his chest as the Italian man's name fell from his lips: "Vincenzo."