Rise of Silent Genius

Wang Soo's world continued to unravel as Albeirt's schemes took hold. The quiet malice of his stepbrother's actions turned Wang Soo's once-stable life into a minefield of distrust. Albeirt wasn't content with spreading rumors from the sidelines—he sought to dismantle Wang Soo's life systematically, piece by piece. His next target was Kcreative and, more specifically, Yura.

Albeirt's Arrival at Kcreative

The bright, modern offices of Kcreative buzzed with the usual activity. Employees typed away at their desks, while the hum of conversations filled the air. Yura was in the conference room, poring over a new branding proposal when her assistant knocked on the glass door.

"Ms. Yura, someone's here to see you. He says it's urgent," the assistant said.

Yura looked up, surprised. "Who is it?"

"He said his name is Albeirt. He claims he's related to Wang Soo."

A flicker of curiosity crossed Yura's face. She wasn't aware Wang Soo had family in Creatis. After a moment of hesitation, she nodded. "Send him in."

Albeirt walked into the room with an air of authority, his tailored suit and polished demeanor starkly contrasting with the casual, creative vibe of Kcreative. He extended a hand, his smile calculated to disarm.

"Yura, it's a pleasure to meet you," he began. "I'm Albeirt, Wang Soo's stepbrother."

Yura shook his hand, her expression polite but cautious. "What brings you here, Mr. Albeirt?"

"I won't take much of your time," he said, taking a seat uninvited. "I'm here because I'm concerned. About Wang Soo. And about Kcreative."

Yura raised an eyebrow. "Concerned? What do you mean?"

Albeirt leaned forward, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial tone. "I'm sure you've heard about the project Wang Soo was handling for me. It was a simple task—providing internet access to a remote village. But he disappeared. Left the job incomplete and took the funds meant for the project."

Yura frowned, her defenses rising. "That doesn't sound like Wang Soo."

"I wish I could say the same," Albeirt replied, sighing heavily. "But this isn't the first time he's acted irresponsibly. I'm his stepbrother, Yura. I've seen this pattern before. He gets in over his head, and when things go south, he runs. I hate to see this happening, but I felt you deserved to know. Especially since you're tied to him professionally."

Yura's eyes narrowed. "Why are you telling me this? What do you gain from it?"

"Nothing," Albeirt said smoothly. "I'm just trying to protect the people around him. You and Han Ko have built something incredible here. Don't let Wang Soo's mistakes jeopardize it."

The seed of doubt was planted. Yura, torn between loyalty to Wang Soo and the growing unease sparked by Albeirt's words, nodded stiffly. "Thank you for bringing this to my attention."

Later that day, Yura stormed into Han Ko's office, her frustration bubbling over. Han Ko was seated at his desk, engrossed in financial reports, when she burst in.

"Han, we have a problem," she said, throwing herself into the chair across from him.

Han Ko looked up, startled. "What's going on?"

"Albeirt, Wang Soo's stepbrother, came to see me today. He's saying Wang Soo ran off with project money. That he abandoned a government job and left people high and dry."

Han Ko frowned, leaning back in his chair. "And you believe him?"

"I don't know what to believe!" Yura exclaimed. "But if there's even a chance he's telling the truth, we need to act. Our clients are already starting to ask questions about the rumors."

Han Ko tapped his pen against the desk, his face thoughtful. "Wang Soo has been with us since the beginning. He's always delivered, even if his methods are... unconventional. This doesn't sound like him."

"I know," Yura said, her voice softening. "But what if we're wrong? What if we ignore this and it blows up in our faces?"

Han Ko sighed. "Let's talk to Wang Soo. Hear his side before we make any decisions."

When Wang Soo arrived at the office the next morning, he could feel the shift in the air. Conversations hushed as he walked by, and his colleagues avoided his gaze. In the conference room, Yura and Han Ko waited for him, their expressions grim.

"Wang Soo, we need to talk," Yura began, her tone cold.

"Let me guess," Wang Soo said, his voice tinged with bitterness. "Albeirt got to you."

"He told us some disturbing things," Yura said bluntly. "And the rumors... they're spreading fast. Clients are worried. We're worried."

Wang Soo's fists clenched. "You're seriously taking his word over mine? After everything we've been through?"

"It's not about taking sides," Han Ko interjected, his tone calm but firm. "It's about the company. Our reputation is on the line."

"So what?" Wang Soo snapped. "You're going to throw me under the bus because of some baseless accusations?"

"We're asking you to step down temporarily," Yura said, her voice cracking slightly. "Until we can clear this up."

That evening, Wang Soo returned home, his face a mask of frustration and disappointment. Lee was waiting for him, her arms crossed as Bruno wagged his tail by her side.

"How did it go?" she asked.

"They want me to step down," Wang Soo replied, his voice heavy with bitterness. "They think I'm a liability."

Lee shook her head, her eyes fierce. "Then resign, Soo. Don't let them think they've cornered you. You're better than this."

"Resign?" Wang Soo repeated, his brow furrowing. "And let them think I'm guilty?"

"No," Lee said firmly. "You resign on your terms, not theirs. Make it clear you're stepping away because you won't work with people who doubt your integrity. Then focus on rebuilding. Prove them wrong."

Wang Soo stared at her, the fire in her eyes reigniting his resolve. "You're right," he said finally. "I'm not going to let them dictate my worth. I'll resign. And I'll show them exactly what they've lost."

The next morning, Wang Soo handed in his resignation letter. He left the Kcreative office with his head held high, determination coursing through his veins. This was not the end. It was just the beginning.

Across town, Albeirt sat in a sleek bar, a self-satisfied smirk playing on his lips as he sipped his drink. The bartender slid another glass his way.

"Celebrating something?" the bartender asked.

Albeirt chuckled. "You could say that. Just wrapped up some... family business."

He leaned back in his chair, the glow of his victory warming him. Wang Soo's downfall was only the beginning.

End of Chapter 2