Chapter 52: Crazy Shim Ji-hyuk

As soon as he stepped outside, Shim Ji-hyuk began shouting.

“F*ck, you clueless idiots! What do you know about anything? Do you know a thing about magic? I’ve been devoted to magic studies for over twenty years!”

Panting, he looked around, but no one was there. Still, he felt as if he could hear the echo of people’s insults ringing in his ears.

“Damn it… I just wanted to join the Tower… If only that damn report hadn’t come out, none of this would have happened…”

Clutching his head in pain, Shim Ji-hyuk muttered under his breath, almost as if possessed.

“That b*stard… That snitch is the reason for all of this.”

Unable to see his own faults, Shim Ji-hyuk was consumed with resentment for the person who had reported him, the one who ruined him with that incriminating video.

“If I could just find out who they are…”

He remembered that every tip sent to the broadcasting station was stored in the main data archive, including the original reporting emails. With this thought in mind, he naturally made his way toward the station’s main data archive.

He began walking briskly, the station’s hallways flashing by.

“Stop right there. Unauthorized personnel cannot proceed beyond this point.”

A security officer stepped in his way. Ji-hyuk smiled, attempting some lighthearted banter.

“Mr. Lee Chan-seong, right?”

The guard squinted at him, then recognized him and spoke, surprised.

“Oh, Shim Ji-hyuk? What brings you here?”

After twenty years of working with the station, very few employees didn’t recognize Ji-hyuk.

“I was supposed to meet with the station director, so I need to go inside.”

The guard looked uncertain and held up a hand to stop him.

“I haven’t received any instructions about this. I’m afraid that won’t be possible.”

Ji-hyuk leaned in and whispered into the guard’s ear.

“Mr. Lee, remember when you tried to ask that idol for her number and got rejected? I’m guessing she didn’t tell anyone because she’s too kind-hearted, but… What would your wife think if she found out?”

The guard stiffened, visibly rattled, and asked in a trembling voice.

“What do you want?”

“Just let me through quietly. That’s all I’m asking.”

With a reluctant sigh, Lee Chan-seong deactivated the massive security artifacts guarding the archive, turning to Ji-hyuk with a serious look.

“Don’t do anything suspicious. And please… keep that incident to yourself.”

Ji-hyuk nodded, asking Lee for directions to the archive office where the main data artifact was stored.

“Right this way,” Lee said, leading him to the office.

Knocking on the door, Lee called out, “This is Security Officer Lee Chan-seong. I need to access the archive briefly.”

A staff member inside sounded cautious.

“A security officer? Coming to the archive? Why?”

The person inside didn’t open the door, clearly sensing something amiss.

With no response from the other side, Ji-hyuk stepped forward, addressing the staff member directly.

“Hello, this is Shim Ji-hyuk. I have something to discuss with the director. Did you not receive a notification about my visit?”

The broadcast director was always here, checking data and making sure there were no issues. So, coming here was the quickest way to see him.

However, there had been no word of a message from outside. The staff member found this odd and checked the monitoring artifact to take another look at the person outside.

“Isn’t that Shim Ji-hyuk?”

Shim Ji-hyuk had been frequenting the broadcast station for 20 years. He was quite familiar with many of the staff members, including this one. Seeing that he’d already been allowed in by a security officer, the staff member relaxed slightly and spoke in a more casual tone.

“The director isn’t in right now. When did he ask you to come?”

Shim Ji-hyuk replied with a bright smile, “About an hour ago, he asked one of the other staff members to pass the message along. Looks like the communication didn’t go through. Do you happen to know when he’ll be back?”

Given that Shim Ji-hyuk had already cleared the first level of security and was someone he knew well, the staff member responded trustingly.

“After he’s finished with his current schedule, he’ll be back here in about an hour.”

Then, Shim Ji-hyuk quietly took a small envelope out of his pocket and whispered, “Actually… I came because I have something the director asked for. I don’t think it’s wise to hold onto it out here…”

The staff member grimaced.

“Is that old man asking for bribes again?”

The director was well-known for taking bribes from various people. Not only that, but he often demanded them himself.

Most key staff members, including this one, were well aware of his greed, but they turned a blind eye. The reason was simple: it was their livelihood.

If the director’s bribery scandal ever broke out, they’d be implicated too. After all, many people here had ties to him. It could even collapse the entire structure of the station.

Staff cuts would be inevitable, and they themselves might be at risk of losing their jobs. So, everyone knew about the director’s bribery, but they kept it an internal secret.

“If anyone finds out, we’re screwed.”

With so many station staff and celebrities around, the last thing they needed was for someone to see an envelope full of cash. That would be a nightmare.

“Is Shim Ji-hyuk crazy? Pulling that out with a security officer standing right there? Does he want us all ruined?”

Pale with worry, the staff member spoke urgently to Shim Ji-hyuk.

“Mr. Shim, I think it would be better if you waited inside. Security officer, please return to your original post. Only Mr. Shim is permitted to enter.”

Shim Ji-hyuk nodded with a smile. “Understood.”

Creaaak

The door to the main data artifact storage room began to open slowly. Shim Ji-hyuk touched the dark artifact he’d hidden behind his back.

If an emergency happens, use this. Consider it an advance payment. But remember, whatever happens after you use it is your responsibility.

The dark artifact Shim Ji-hyuk held had been given to him by Shin Yura. She’d given it to him as a precaution, fearing retribution from the Masked Instructor.

Since the dark artifact couldn’t be detected by magic sensors, Shim Ji-hyuk had kept it with him for emergencies, though he hadn’t expected to use it like this.

“Come on… open a little more.”

Finally, the door was nearly open, and the staff member whispered, “Hurry inside.”

The moment the door was fully open, Shim Ji-hyuk shouted, “Get back, you Fuckers!”

He activated the dark artifact he was holding.