Chapter 140: What kind of f*cking ending is this?

CT Entertainment CEO’s office.

The atmosphere was grim.

This was especially true for Yang Ha-rin and the CEO, who were facing each other in a standoff.

“…”

Both had contorted expressions, as if they had just had a heated argument, but now they seemed to have reached a temporary lull.

Both were merely trying to catch their breath.

“Hoo…”

Yang Ha-rin let out a long breath and asked again.

“What did you just say?”

At that, the CEO lit a cigarette.

“I said let’s terminate the contract when the drama ends.”

“Why.”

“So, what does that…”

Yang Ha-rin carefully chose her words before speaking.

“The contract is until the end of this year.”

“Who doesn’t know that?”

The CEO’s eyes widened.

“It means I’ll give you the penalty fee or whatever, so let’s end it early.”

“Take the money and get lost.”

“Yang Ha-rin, is this hard to understand?”

“How many times do I have to say it?”

“…”

Yang Ha-rin trembled, her fists clenched.

“…Are you crazy?”

“Crazy?”

“Are you saying that to me?”

“I’m Yang Ha-rin.”

“From GLACIA.”

“Hahaha!”

The CEO burst out laughing, then.

Suddenly, he gritted his teeth, his expression hardening.

The moment Yang Ha-rin flinched unconsciously at his murderous gaze, he threw a flowerpot.

Crash─!

The flowerpot, narrowly missing Yang Ha-rin, hit the wall and shattered.

“You’re the crazy one, you fcking btch!”

“What, what did you say…”

“Who doesn’t know you’re from the girl group GLACIA?”

“So how is GLACIA doing now?”

“They’ve been on a roll since you left, haven’t they?”

“They’re on the charts every day, it’s like a festival for them!”

“It’s not because I left that they’re doing well.”

“I had aspirations for acting, so…”

“So look at your pathetic state now!”

The CEO shouted, his face contorted like a demon.

“The short film I poured money into didn’t even get good results, the rookie award is already out of reach, and the drama is disappearing without a trace…”

“The money I spent on you is a waste.”

“You btch.”

“…”

“This is fcking bullsht.”

“You acted like a once-in-a-century genius, so I spent money left and right, even got you all the directors you wanted, and now that I think about it, it’s absurd.”

The CEO took a deep drag from his cigarette.

“A btch like you, what?”

“Asking me to find you someone who could be an inspiration?”

“A wretch like you?”

“A has-been?”

Yang Ha-rin bit her lip hard.

“You agreed to it too, CEO.”

“No?”

“I was tricked.”

“I thought I could trust you, so I even gave up connections and pushed for you, and what is this?”

“Get out now.”

“I don’t even want to see your face anymore.”

“You were trying to use me too…”

Yang Ha-rin retorted briefly and turned away.

She admitted her own conduct hadn’t been proper, but the CEO’s attitude of feigning victimhood and being outraged was disgusting.

Who was it that egged Yang Ha-rin on every day in the first place?

It was then.

“For all your pride, you wouldn’t even go to drinking parties to entertain clients.”

Yang Ha-rin’s footsteps froze at the CEO’s words.

“Crazy btch.”

“You’ll never make it on your skills alone.”

“It’s all downhill from here.”

“You think I haven’t seen the end of girls like you once or twice?”

“You’ll end up working in shady establishments later.”

Without realizing it, Yang Ha-rin picked up a shard of the broken flowerpot from the floor.

It was a split second before she threw it at the CEO.

“Son of a btch!”

The ending with CT Entertainment was just that bad.

Afterwards, Yang Ha-rin, having left the building, fiddled with her phone, not caring that her palm was all cut up.

It wasn’t that there was anything particular to look at, and even less so that there was someone to contact.

It was just an action manifesting due to her inner anxiety.

Something close to a compulsion.

[‘Special Mobile Unit 808’, the final broadcast day has finally arrived. The long journey concludes with episode 12.]

[‘Special Mobile Unit 808’, can the happy ending everyone wants be possible? Internet reactions are UP with anticipation.]

The world was still busily discussing only Special Mobile Unit 808.

The rolling stone had dislodged the embedded one, and the world wasn’t generous enough to care about the pushed-aside Yang Ha-rin.

KBM, SBT, MBQ.

Sighs overflowed from all broadcasting stations.

“Haa…”

“Ah…”

They were burdened with such disastrous results that the clickbait articles they had released before the broadcast became a dark part of their history.

Special Mobile Unit 808 was overwhelming, and they were something that couldn’t even be considered competition.

If one had to name it, perhaps ‘witnesses’ or ‘those who experienced it’?

“It was fun though.”

“The structure was good too.”

“Let’s just think the timing was bad.”

“How can you win against that…”

“I’ve given up too.”

“The script is good, but the actors’ performances are also excellent.”

“It was a drama destined to do well from the start.”

Of course, the way of the world wasn’t so simple.

While there were those who accepted defeat cleanly, the number of those who didn’t want to accept this situation was even greater.

This was especially true for officials from other broadcasting stations.

“It would be great if it crashed and burned in the final episode…”

“I know, right?”

“Isn’t there some reason for it to fail?”

“If something that’s doing well suddenly crashes, the sense of betrayal is immense, isn’t it?”

“I really wish it would turn out like that.”

It was because they had been chewed out by their superiors and their own prospects had dimmed.

It’s easier to resent the opponent than to reflect and move forward.

They chose the easy path.

It was shameful, but it was reality.

“Please fail…”

[Special Mobile Unit 808]

[─Episode 12─]

Special Mobile Unit 808, which had broken through the dreaded 30% viewership rating and settled comfortably at 40%, began broadcasting its final episode, embracing all sorts of human emotions.

“Did you attain some kind of enlightenment?”

“That’s impressive.”

It began with Ha Yoonjin’s (Seo Yeon-ju) brief remark.

Across the office desk stood Lee Kangchul, tall and firm.

He was also the one Seo Yeon-ju had just praised.

Lee Kangchul.

He had changed from before, and it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it an evolution.

This was because his skills in apprehending criminals had improved excellently in every aspect.

Lee Kangchul showed a faint smile.

“It’s just that I’ve developed a few more principles.”

“Really?”

“I wonder what kind of principles they might be?”

“It’s hard to explain.”

“They change depending on the situation.”

“Now that I’ve said it, I’m not even sure if these can be called principles.”

“Anyway, that’s how it is.”

He was serious.

Lee Kangchul had changed through a series of incidents and no longer adhered only to fixed principles.

To establish principles fitting the situation and act accordingly.

If one had to define it, that was the principle Lee Kangchul currently followed.

In the past, principles controlled Lee Kangchul, but now, Lee Kangchul could control the principles.

Seo Yeon-ju burst into laughter.

“Interesting.”

“Lee Kangchul saying such things.”

She tapped the desk with her fingertip.

“I especially like the part about principles being able to change anytime.”

“Well, anyway, keep up the good work.”

Seo Yeon-ju rose from her seat and approached Lee Kangchul.

She extended a hand at the same time.

“There’s a celebration for today’s achievements, so be sure to attend.”

“The main character can’t be missing, right?”

“Of course.”

The two smiled brightly and shook hands.

The tvS real-time chat cheered.

• [Great start~~~~]
• [Full of happy ending vibes]
• [Feels like I raised my own child ㅠㅠ]
• [やっぱり heartwarming is the best]
• [They deserve to be happy! I’m so moved!]

***

The 808 team office had transformed into a party venue for today.

It was a place to console their hard work so far and wish for a good future; everyone was thoroughly drunk and causing a ruckus.

“Ughhh!”

“I’m still okay!”

“Kangchul hyungnim!”

“I really respect you!”

“Yes!”

• [Hahaha, their drunken antics are hilarious]
• [I want to have a drinking party like that too ㅠ]
• [Our workplace has no company dinners at all]
• [They really seem like family hahaha]

It was then that the scene changed in an instant.

***

The cheerful background music abruptly stopped.

Deep in the dead of night.

Rustle, rustle, rustle─

Lee Kangchul was rummaging through a drawer in the darkness.

He wasn’t just casually searching; it was quite thorough.

He had a flashlight in his mouth, and his expression was serious.

Kim Yuhan’s voice could be heard.

• – Sunbae, did you get in okay?
• – Yeah. I’m looking for it now.

It was hard to pronounce clearly with the flashlight in his mouth.

• – Good job. And I’m asking just in case, you’re not drunk, are you?
• – Are you doubting me or worrying about me?
• – Half and half? If you were less drunk, I wanted to say let’s have a drink just the two of us after work. If you don’t want to, never mind.

Lee Kangchul unknowingly raised the corners of his mouth.

A drink with just Kim Yuhan, not bad.

Swoosh─

However, he soon refocused on his work.

He had obtained a clue from a newly caught criminal, and there was a part that corresponded with the clues from Sergeant Lee Garam (Park Do-hee), whom they had arrested before.

In other words, there might be more than one traitor.

Lee Kangchul removed the flashlight from his mouth and spoke.

“Looking back, I was careless.”

“Why did I assume there was only one traitor?”

“It wouldn’t be strange if there were more.”

“You trusted the 808 team too much.”

“…Yeah.”

“You’re right.”

Lee Kangchul affirmed.

And the next moment.

“…”

Lee Kangchul’s expression turned grave.

A gut feeling that he had discovered something unusual enveloped his body, and he immediately pulled out a bundle of documents.

It took only a moment to examine them in detail with the flashlight.

“…!”

His eyes soon filled with shock.

“There was another traitor.”

A calm but shocking conclusion.

Before Kangchul’s eyes was too much information that shouldn’t be there.

The residences of the team members, vehicle numbers, assets, personal tendencies and preferences, and human relationships…

“The traitor is…”

The moment Lee Kangchul was about to utter the name.

Click.

A cold sensation touched the back of his head.

Lee Kangchul slowly raised both hands.

“That remark about principles being able to change anytime…”

A familiar voice.

“…Is it still valid now?”

Seo Yeon-ju.

The traitor wasn’t hidden in the darkest spot but was right there in charge.

***

The chat window had already started to boil over.

They had sat down with light hearts.

They had only predicted, at most, that Lee Kangchul and Kim Yuhan would achieve honor while also hinting at romance before it ended.

However.

• [What the? Seo Yeon-ju is the traitor?]
• [What’s going on.]
• [My head is suddenly spinning.]
• [There’s only 10 minutes left in the drama?]
• [What can they possibly do in 10 minutes.]
• [Are they just trying to drop a new foreshadowing?]

Meanwhile, Seo Yeon-ju’s car arrived at the port.

Lee Kangchul, sitting in the passenger seat, was examining the information.

Seo Yeon-ju broke the silence first.

“How is it?”

“Your thoughts on facing the truth.”

“…”

“Why?”

“Speechless from betrayal?”

Lee Kangchul said nothing.

This was a factor that puzzled viewers at this moment.

What was he thinking now, and how would he act in the future?

“You should think carefully about who you should feel betrayed by.”

“Kim Yuhan is a criminal.”

“The kind of criminal you hate the most.”

“She tortured and killed people.”

Seo Yeon-ju smiled as she gazed at Lee Kangchul.

“You said it yourself, right?”

“That principles can change anytime.”

“That’s why I led you this far.”

It meant that everything was ultimately within Seo Yeon-ju’s palm.

The newly obtained clue, what made him suspect Seo Yeon-ju, and even getting caught like this, everything.

Like an elaborate invitation.

It was then that Kim Yuhan appeared.

“Sunbae!”

“I’m here!”

Kim Yuhan shouted as she approached the vehicle.

Seo Yeon-ju hands Lee Kangchul a pistol.

“You make the choice.”

Lee Kangchul quietly looked down at the pistol.

“You’re having a lot of thoughts, aren’t you?”

“You could kill me, but then you wouldn’t get out of here alive either.”

“My people are all over the place.”

“I hope you don’t disappoint me.”

She was deliberately trying to get Lee Kangchul’s hands dirty.

It was a brilliant move that could both give her leverage over Lee Kangchul for committing murder and significantly weaken the 808 team’s strength.

Meanwhile, Lee Kangchul had finished his deliberation.

He soon got out of the car with a determined expression.

“Sunbae, did you store the clues separately?”

“Yeah.”

“The communication cut off midway, it was frustrating.”

“Just tell me.”

“So who was the traitor?”

And the next moment.

Bang!

A gunshot rang out.

Afterwards, the sound of someone falling into the sea with a splash was heard.

By the time Seo Yeon-ju got out of the car, Lee Kangchul was the only one standing unharmed at the port.

Seo Yeon-ju burst out laughing loudly.

“As expected, I like that you’re smart.”

Afterwards, Seo Yeon-ju boards a large ship with Lee Kangchul.

Lee Kangchul looks at the sea as if with lingering regret, but there is nothing.

Swaaaaah─!

As if nothing had happened, the calm surface of the sea was shown.

[Special Mobile Unit 808]

[Thank you for your love and support.]

***

[What kind of f*cking ending is this…?]

The internet instantly turned into a war zone.