The Ilhyeon Windows affair spread wave upon wave.

So many people had taken an interest that their anger burst out all the fiercer before a truth that had been shown to be a lie.

—Chairman Tak-hyeon Lee of the Ilhyeon Group must come out and account for this himself.

A man interviewed at a securities branch demanded an explanation from Tak-hyeon Lee.

—The President will have to account for this as well.

—That's right. President Min-gu Noh is an accomplice too. Isn't it because the government backed Ilhyeon that matters came to this? It is President Min-gu Noh above all who ought to make a statement of his position on this affair.

—People invested trusting the President and the Ilhyeon Group. There will have to be a public apology to the nation, and compensation.

People's disappointment and anger toward the Ilhyeon Group grew greater than at any time before.

That disappointment and anger ran fierce enough to bring down at a stroke the tower Ilhyeon had raised with such care over the years.

"Haa…"

Tak-hyeon Lee took his face in both hands.

"Chairman."

Do-beom Hwang bowed his head and spoke.

"I am sorry. I should have watched more closely, and I did not."

Tak-hyeon Lee let out a deep sigh.

"This has grown far too big."

Tak-hyeon Lee drew a hand down over his face once more and said,

"I was too complacent. It will pass, I thought. It will stop somewhere short of the line, I thought… I believed it would end at a level we could at least put right…"

"I am sorry. It is my fault for failing to control it properly."

"No. What fault of yours could there be? You only did as I instructed…"

Just then a flustered voice came from the living room.

"Oh my, oh my. What has happened here? What is this? Have you been beaten by somebody?"

At Suk-ja Chu's flustered voice Tak-hyeon Lee's brow furrowed.

Do-beom Hwang too must have heard Suk-ja Chu's voice, for he turned his bowed head slightly and looked toward the door.

"I will go and…