Chapter 32: The Shadow Network
Morning – Student Council Room, Daehan International School
The strategy board was filled with scribbles—company names, bank account numbers, and photos arranged like an intelligence mission. Gevran stood before his small team: Han Jimin, Rhea, Jungho, and two trusted alumni.
> "JEDU Corporation isn't just an investor. They own a network of private schools across Asia—Daehan is just one of their experiments."
Rhea nodded.
"They've infiltrated the curriculum, value systems, even influenced staff selection. All to produce obedient and 'efficient' students."
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Afternoon – Hidden Library
Jungho and Jimin accessed the school's old archives stored in an unused storage room. Behind layers of dusty documents, they found the original contract between JEDU and the school's foundation.
> "Look at this… there's a clause stating that if funding exceeds 60%, the investor gains policy control. This means… the foundation's just a puppet."
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Evening – Abandoned School Building
One of the alumni, Hyun-Taek, brought deeper intel: JEDU had a shadow representative at Daehan—an insider guiding the school's reform from behind the scenes.
> "They call them The Catalyst. Someone disguised as a teacher, staff… maybe even a student. Their job is to observe, influence, and if needed… destroy."
Jimin went silent.
"So we could be sabotaged at any moment…"
Gevran's voice was firm.
"Then we strike first."
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Midnight – A Threatening Letter
A mysterious envelope appeared on the student council desk. No name, just a short message:
> "Stop. Or your family's secrets will be exposed."
All eyes turned to Gevran. He slowly opened it… and found an old medical file—evidence that the Yi family had once been framed in a corporate scandal when Gevran was a child.
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End of Chapter 32
> The enemy no longer attacks from the outside,
but begins stabbing at the most personal of places.
The Catalyst is inside the school.
And there are only 26 days left.