Chapter 6: The Stage of Future Leaders
The Seoul International Convention Center looked magnificent that night. Talented students from all over the country filled the hallways—some engaged in lively conversations, others anxiously waiting for their turn to speak. Gevran stood alone near the registration panel, his eyes scanning the crowd, but his mind drifted to the past few weeks—false accusations, internal school investigations, and relentless media pressure on his family.
But tonight wasn't about that.
Tonight was about the future.
---
"Isn't he the new kid from the Korindro Group family?" one participant whispered to their friend.
"The one involved in that bullying scandal?" another whispered back, glaring at Gevran from across the hall.
Gevran knew all eyes were on him—not because of his achievements, but because of the controversy.
Still, he walked toward the main hall, his face unreadable but his steps confident. In the front row, Han Jimin was already waiting, giving him a subtle nod.
"I knew you'd come," Jimin said softly.
"If we back down, they win, right?" Gevran replied shortly.
Not far from them, distinguished alumni and political figures sat in neat rows in the special guest section. Among them was Lee Tae-joon, a former student of their elite school and now the youngest member of parliament.
After the opening ceremony, several students were called to the stage for a panel discussion. When Gevran's name was announced, the room filled with a mix of applause and whispers. Some were supportive, others skeptical.
Gevran didn't say much. He introduced himself briefly, then shared a single line when given the floor:
> "I believe this country's future won't be built by the perfect—but by those who learn from their wounds."
Silence. Then slow, steady applause filled the room.
---
Behind the stage curtain, two senior alumni were deep in conversation.
"That kid… he's not to be underestimated. Even in a crisis, he still stands tall."
"Yes, and that's what's terrifying," the other said. "He could become a symbol of resistance. And our media can't control public sympathy."
---
Meanwhile, in a dark corner at the back of the hall, a young man in a formal suit stared intently at Gevran. It was Park Ji-seok, the son of the CEO of the media company leading the smear campaign against Gevran.
He raised his phone and made a call.
"Let's accelerate the second plan. Leak the suspicious transaction documents from Korindro Group next week. Let the public start biting."
---
The night ended with group photos, handshakes, and promises of collaboration. But for Gevran, this was only the beginning of a much bigger war.
And though he hadn't said much on stage, he knew—his courage to stand there that night had already sent a clear message to anyone watching:
"I won't run."
Chapter 6: The Stage of Future Leaders (continued)
---
The cold wind outside brushed against Gevran's skin as he stepped out of the convention center. His blazer rustled, but his resolve didn't waver. Jimin walked beside him in silence, clutching the folder of her speech notes tighter than necessary.
"You think they'll really try something again?" she finally asked.
"They already are," Gevran replied. "But now we're no longer walking in the dark. We know what they want—to make people fear rising."
A long pause. Then Jimin muttered, "So what now?"
Gevran's gaze turned to the night sky—clear, starless, endless. "Now we rise louder."
---
The following Monday, the internal school app was once again flooded—but this time not with scandal.
Clips from Gevran's panel speech went viral. Students and young activists across the country started using his quote as a hashtag:
#LearnFromWounds
Even the faculty at Elite International, who once doubted him, began to take notice. Teachers referenced his speech during ethics and leadership lessons. A few even began quietly mentoring students from less privileged backgrounds—something that hadn't happened before.
But with every wave of support came another punch from the shadows.
That Friday morning, Korindro Group was hit with a breaking news headline:
> "Anonymous Documents Reveal Suspicious Internal Transactions—Is Gevran's Family Hiding Something?"
Screenshots of spreadsheets. Names redacted. Context missing. But the damage had begun.
Though the documents were fabricated, the court of public opinion moved faster than truth.
---
At home, Gevran sat silently in front of the television, watching pundits debate over his family's wealth. His father, Mr. Jido, paced behind him.
"I can call the PR team. We can issue a formal statement and start legal—"
"No," Gevran said firmly. "Let me handle this. I need to face it. This time, publicly."
Jido stopped. He stared at his son—not as a politician, not as an heir—but as a leader in the making. A dangerous one. A brave one.
"…Alright," he said quietly. "But remember, once you speak, there's no turning back."
---
Gevran requested a live-streamed student assembly. It had never been done before at Elite International.
Under the bright auditorium lights, with the entire school watching from their devices, Gevran walked to the center of the stage.
"I've been accused again," he said plainly. "They've attacked my friends. My family. And now, they're hoping I'll shut up. That I'll give up."
He raised a printed version of the leaked documents.
"These? They're fake. I can prove it. And I will. But even if they were real, that wouldn't change one thing: I'm not afraid of the truth."
The camera panned to the audience—students holding their breath, some nodding, others still unsure.
"I didn't come here to pretend to be perfect. I came here because I was once broken. I know what it's like to be powerless. I know what it's like to be invisible. And that's why I won't disappear now."
He paused. His voice steady.
"If the system wants me to kneel, they're going to have to break more than my name. They'll have to break my will."
Silence again.
Then applause. From one corner. Then two. Then a thunderous wave that shook the whole room.
---
Far away, in a private suite at Han Media Group headquarters, Park Ji-seok watched the live stream, his jaw tight.
He smashed a crystal tumbler onto the floor.
"Why won't he break?!"
Behind him, his father, CEO Park Gwang-hoon, simply said, "Because we underestimated him. This isn't about PR. It's about conviction."
Then after a pause, he added with a knowing frown, "He reminds me of a young Jido Kim. But more dangerous."
---
Meanwhile, in a quiet corner of the city, a girl named Im Seri—active in a youth organization for social justice—rewatched Gevran's speech on her phone, a small smile forming on her lips.
"Maybe… this is someone worth following."
---
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