Chapter 57
Scandal
News of Sam turning himself in at the police station for the Gym Lord assault case reaches JK. The old man immediately dresses simply and neatly, ready to play the part of a savior.
The media king smiles slightly as reporters, radio stations, and self-proclaimed fans gather in front of the police station. He steps calmly out of the car and is instantly surrounded by the crowd.
The chaotic scene of video recording and photo-taking erupts once again. A loyal disciple quickly poses the burning question:
"Sir, are you here to bail out Sam?"
"What do you make of this scandal, Sir?"
The media king puts on a thoughtful expression:
- Beating people is against the law. We must respect the law and cannot tolerate such lawlessness.
Before JK finishes speaking, the crowd grows noisy. The media mogul clears his throat, and everyone quiets down to hear him continue:
- From a legal standpoint, it is difficult to forgive. However, the law encompasses not only 'the letter of the law' but also 'human sentiment'. The victim has lectured on moral matters that have nothing to do with him. He has been heartless enough to insult the dignity of women. If the dearest person has been trampled on, even a god could not suppress the anger at such reprehensible behavior — not to mention a man like Sam who values family affection and regards relatives as more important than life.
All praise the king of crafted words. JK nods in thanks and ends his eloquent speech:
"That reason drives me to save those who are worth saving!"
JK does not mention Sam as an acquaintance, but instead points the blame at the person who started the feud, allowing public opinion to attack the guy who craves fame.
The media king speaks a sentence worth ten thousand moral philosophies, prompting various online factions to compete in throwing stones, drowning the Gym Lord under a pile of criticism bricks.
JK says a few polite words and casually enters the police station. The old man comes to shake hands with Kim and Phuong Hoang.
- Can I talk to Sam?
Kim hands the pre-prepared prisoner visit form to JK. The old man signs it, Kim approves it, and the prison visitor enters the waiting room. The police bring Sam to meet JK. JK glances at the number-eight handcuffs locking Sam's hands, and a hint of disdain flashes across his eyes — as if entering prison and committing crimes is default behavior for a dog-blooded guy.
The young buffalo sneers with contempt, and the two sides exchange antagonistic glances so quickly that the camera doesn't have time to capture the moment. The prisoner and "relatives" sit on the chairs, facing each other through the glass, pick up the communication device and start talking:
- Didn't your mom and dad come to visit?
A normal question, but it sounds sarcastic in Sam's ears. He answers coldly:
- You arrived just in time, but still one minute later than them.
JK half-smiles at the loaded answer. The old man asks about Sam's health:
- Are you okay, son?
Sam lets out a dry, indifferent smile at the needling question:
- I'm healthy enough to beat people up, and then go to jail, old uncle.
JK laughs at the familiar retort and pulls out his pipe, but remembers he has to ask the officer for permission. The policeman points to the ashtray on the shelf under the table. The old man thanks him and happily places the ashtray in front. JK takes a breath and says through the smoke:
- Everything must be handled slowly. Dog meat needs to wait for shrimp paste and be eaten with wine before it tastes good. But you got angry again and beat up a guy who hasn't even finished first-grade ethics class. Your hands are too dirty, son.
Sam can't — and doesn't have time to — get mad at the tone that grates on his ears. He exhales, leans back in his chair, and looks up at the ceiling.
- Is Sam a person who likes to be lectured, old uncle?
The police are no strangers to Sam's insolent and disrespectful behavior toward adults. The officer listens carefully to the conversation between two special people.
- Oh, I forgot your personality. I'm old, no longer clear-headed. - JK smiles and smokes with his lips curled up. - You don't like it when people beat around the bush, so I'll cut to the chase: I'll bail you out and take you home.
Sam smiles dryly with his lips curled up:
- Dare to do it, dare to take responsibility. Don't equate me with the kind of person whose liver grows in his mouth!
JK widens his eyes and stares at Sam, stunned for a few seconds before realizing that if Sam is released on bail, he'll be seen as a coward — someone who dares to act but not to face punishment, just like the guy who craves fame. The "family member" secretly smiles at the young buffalo who's already dog-blooded but still cares about his reputation. The old man speaks with deliberate emphasis:
- To be human, one must have principles and a backbone. You defend yours better than any steadfast man. - He pauses and exhales smoke. - But nephew, you beat someone up and went to jail — who's the most worried, who's the most sad, and who feels the most guilty?"
Sam wants to smash the glass and rush out to punch that hypocritical face. The more annoyed he gets, the higher his blood pressure rises, sending flames of anger to his head. The voice grates on his ears, yet absurdly, it's reasonable and rational.
If Sam stubbornly refuses JK's help, the crowd may not know what's going on inside their house, but they clearly know what's happening out in the alley—they'll gossip and suspect something fishy about JK and his family. The tombstone mouths of the world will build graves for every dearest person.
What hurts most is that every time he thinks of his brother wasting away and waiting to die, his mother crying a river of tears day and night by the hospital bed, and the future sister-in-law quietly swallowing back scalding tears into her heart. Not to mention the eldest sister and nieces tormented by the crime — angels forced to live with devils.
Countless tragic scenes pierce hatred into the hot-headed impulses of those who live by their instincts.
Sam can't refuse directly, so he complains that he's tired and wants to sleep, then lifts his butt and leaves immediately. Sam is notoriously stubborn. JK still can't believe this young buffalo is so shallow that he's reached the bottom. No — he doesn't even have a bottom to be shallow. JK shrugs helplessly at the empty-headed guy.
The old man displays sorrow — his heart heavy with how descendants cruelly trample the devotion of fathers and grandfathers — yet he speaks tactfully to avoid suspicion.
- You shouldn't discuss important things when your mood is unstable. Goodbye, nephew.
JK puts out his smoking pipe and leaves the police station. A swarm of flies clings to him again:
- How is the situation, sir?
- When will Sam be home, sir?
- Is Sam in good condition, sir?
JK replies gently:
- I've been suffering from insomnia lately and I'm often absent-minded. I forgot there are matters to settle in the House of Commons today. The bail procedure takes time. Private matters can't be compared with national affairs, so this trip should be regarded as a visit to relatives. - He raises his hand in farewell. - Ah, Sam's still fine! Goodbye, everyone!
JK gets in the car, and Zero drives East across the city.
A few minutes after JK leaves, Kai and the lawyer appear almost at the same time. The crowd of idle busybodies starts babbling nonsense again. They give brief answers and then enter the police station. The lawyer and Kai sign the papers to visit Sam.
Afterward, the three of them talk for a long time. The fame-sucking guy has carried a body wrapped here, bandaged there. His whole frame has been steeped in the pungent smell of medicine for healing tendons, adjusting bones, and dissolving blood clots and bruises.
The Gym Lord twists his body in discomfort and anger, but when he sees Sam's cold eyes, he turns pale and quickly shifts his gaze elsewhere. The lawyer immediately addresses the main issue:
- All stakeholders are present, and we resolve the matter properly.
The Gym Lord frowns and laments, then acts like a spoiled child:
- I demand compensation for medical expenses and honor!
Sam curls his lips and sneers:
- Honor? Dogs have honor too!
The Gym Lord seizes the opportunity to counter the damage:
- Hey, did you all see that? I'm the victim — beaten to a pulp and forced to drag myself to this negotiation — but he has no intention of reconciling. He doesn't want to apologize or compensate. I won't suffer humiliation either!
Gym Lord stands up to leave, and the lawyers and police ask everyone to calm down. It takes a long time to persuade them to stop the war of words. Both sides begin discussing various solutions.
Gym Lord refuses to give in, demanding that the abuser pay for his life insurance premiums for the rest of his life and provide billions in compensation for 50% of the health damage costs. Then Sam must go on national television to make a public apology.
The hot-tempered man slams the table, making Gym Lord flinch. He winces and sneaks a glance at Sam's face, twisted in rage, terrified as Sam roars and shakes the entire police station:
- Fuck lust you mother, get the fuck you mother out! Even though your daddy[1] is in jail until woodworms gnaw at the cangue, I won't humble myself or suffer humiliation before that birth dog guy. Get out… get the fuck you mother out! Get out!
Two muscular policemen pin Sam to a chair, but he still thrashes like a mad beast. Kai and the lawyer choose their words carefully to persuade him. Sam roars and stares at the fame-sucking guy with turbid eyes.
The police always stop Sam. The Gym Lord, shameless, keeps repeating his outrageous demands. But he must take advantage of his enemy's need for reconciliation and seize the opportunity given to him by God.
Enemies enrage Sam, and he instantly flies into a rage. No warning from the police works. Kim says to stop for now and wait for both parties to reach an agreement before negotiating further. If dragged on, the younger sister will blame herself and suffer. Kai decides to end this today. As the Gym Lord heads for the main door, he calls out:
"If you don't back down, I will sue you for defamation and defaming honor!"
Gym Lord is startled but quickly tries to put on a brave face:
- You want to sue me? - Gym Lord points at himself and raises his lips - I don't know who I'm slandering or defaming. Why do I suddenly become a criminal when I'm the victim? Hey, you guys are guilty of false accusation again!
Kai laughs:
- You have falsely accused pure flower, as evidenced by the video that has flooded social media. The witnesses are members of the anti-you association and fans of my sister!
Gym Lord stares at Kai with eyes wide open. He doesn't expect that the world superstar is just an empty guy. He chuckles and says:
- Oh, so your sister is pure flower?
He shrugs, a smug smirk playing on his lips:
- I'm sorry I disappoint you. I didn't mention your sister's name or Hoang Kim's name that day. You guys can't sue me. Hehe...
- Tsk, you are so proud that you become ridiculous. Do you think your sister is the only Pure Flower in the world? - He bursts into laughter - The consequence of losing your mind over your sister for more than 180 minutes… Hahaha…
Kai smiles. The coward startles when he hears Kai say:
- Oh, comrade police officer, have I ever said that he slanders my sister from the beginning until now?
Kim shakes her head and laughs while Kai retorts:
- I am a righteous worshiper and I will not tolerate a man—strong, four-limbed, and as big as an ox—who has insulted and reviled a woman. Whether the pure flower is my younger sister or not, I demand justice for the victim!
Kai takes out his Halo Illusia K and types a few words. The TV on the wall lights up immediately, showing countless netizens around the world who have liked, reacted with hearts and anger, shared, and commented on the video and pictures of Gym Lord craving fame.
The fame-hungry man is furious, but his whole body is starting to feel cold. Everyone is looking at Kai in amazement, not understanding how he is able to gather all that worldwide evidence. Even the most modern technology cannot do this unimaginable thing.
Sam doesn't have time to question it — he only cares that someone as smart and sharp as Kai has plenty of ways to shut the dog's mouth. But the brother chooses to be tough and cruel, even though he knows it might cause Hanna mental damage.
The brother remains calm and confident while doing the "shocking" thing, certain he will calm and comfort his sister — success being 100% guaranteed.
Sam can't help but shudder at the fact that his brother is more rational than JK — the king who lives by the spirit of steel. Kai smiles gently at Sam and speaks to his sister with all his heart:
- The present mental damage is just a breeze compared to the storms that are gathering to bury everything in the future!
Sam hasn't stopped being surprised yet. Kai looks gently into his younger brother's stiff eyes — the warm emotion always present in the elder brother's quiet demeanor, revealing an immortal belief: as long as little swallow is by sky's side, all grievances and dangers will end. Her mind and body will be absolutely peaceful, without even the smallest mistake.
Kai no longer sees the surprise occupying Sam's mood. The younger brother smiles as if he has no words left for him. Kai laughs, thinking that if Sam doesn't understand him in time, the younger brother's temper — hotter than fire — will definitely reproach his brother.
Kai is happy with the friendly start, enough for them to understand each other, and turns to the Gym Lord. The guy with a liver growing in his mouth is swallowing dry saliva with a tight throat, staring at tens of thousands of comments and thousands of articles mentioning the pure flower. No one is guessing — everyone is certain who the pure flower is, and everyone knows exactly who that person is. Only those who dare to act but don't dare to take responsibility keep stubbornly arguing.
- Hey, you guys want to press charges? Show concrete evidence. Point to names, not a bunch of junk that has no legal value! Again, I didn't mention Hoang Kim or your sister's name. You guys can't sue me!
Sam waits patiently to see how Kai will deal with this dirty guy. Kai asks the Gym Lord:
- Is Hanna a pure flower?
Everyone is at a loss, not understanding what Kai means. Phuong Hoang and Kim laugh secretly at the fact that the king of argument is now the king of interrogating criminals.
- Why are you looking at me with your eyes wide open? - Kai shrugs and says - I'm not good bait!
The Gym Lord knows Kai is setting a trap for him, but he doesn't understand how the enemy will spring it. Panic causes his cowardice to return. Sweat soaks his skin, turning it pale. He can't swallow the blocked saliva, but still tries to pretend to be calm:
- Hanna is not a flower, but your sister!
Kai sneers at the Gym Lord's copycat answer:
- Oh, the whole world has already crowned the one whom everyone knows exactly who it is — and you're the only one who has denied it. So tell me, who exactly is the flower you've splashed dirty water on?
The Gym Lord is forced into a difficult situation and immediately shows confusion:
- Pure flowers are not rare in the world...
Kai smiles blandly, focusing on the other person's uneasy expression and confused behavior:
- Ah, so you haven't targeted any particular individual, but you have ironically questioned whether the girl showed up at the right time by accident. If "someone" isn't a world superstar! The flower of purity that you guys admire and respect as an idol has already been put in another guy's mouth to smell and lick, not having idle groins to be the shadow beside your husband, worrying and waiting eagerly just like now.
Kai emphasizes the word "now," raises an eyebrow, and looks at the pale, gray face of the Gym Lord. Sweat soaks his clothes. He looks shaky, his forehead wrinkled, brows furrowed, and his mouth and tongue slippery — now his trembling lips and tongue twist together.
Kai immediately confirms that the guy with the liver growing in his mouth is secretly blaming himself for preaching too much, turning his own mouth into a disaster.
- Life doesn't lack pure flowers, but those are just ordinary people. The ones greedy for fame don't know who she is. Beauty worshipers compare famous people to flowers. The bad luck of the protagonist of this drama is that, before Hanna appeared, the world has only had charming hybrid roses — the queens of flowers, and so on — but absolutely no girl has ever been regarded by the world as a pure flower.
The police team has pursed their lips to hide a smile. Phuong Hoang has raised his hand to cover his smile at the guy who is crazy about his sister. Sam has been very happy to hear his brother praise his sister without hesitation. The praise has also become a question — convicting the fame-seeking guy.
- The one who causes social media chaos, the world's fever, and the burning temperature in the eyes of the preaching king, the moral master like the Gym Lord, must be the pure flower — the one everyone knows who it is. The most important thing is that, in recent times, except for the Hoang Kim accident, all the celebrities in the world have remained safe and sound.
Lawyers—who use their three-inch tongues for a living—must bow down to those with boneless tongues and countless winding turns. The police always pride themselves on their 100% success rate in prying open the mouths of criminals, but now they all admire Kai. Sam gives a thumbs-up to the king of comebacks, his praise evident.
- What? I shouldn't take things that don't belong to my sister, ah? — Kai's laughter echoes through the police station. - I don't want to brag, but the king of action movies, a man who has "nothing" except fame like me, must take things that don't belong to my sister, ah? Oh divine, look down and see if I heard it wrong, police comrades!
Everyone bursts into laughter and simultaneously focuses their eyes on the Gym Lord — like a mirror catching a monster. The loser of the verbal battle lowers his head but immediately lays down a rule:
- Saying too much is just intuitive reasoning after all. To convict someone, there must be concrete evidence — only then will I be convinced!
Kai immediately takes out his little device, presses a button, and plays a recording of a group of people talking:
"I have told you countless times—Hanna isn't the only flower in the world. Oh no, that girl isn't even worthy of being compared to a flower!"
"Hung Nhat's saintly morality speaks only of accuracy. Damn it, she is just a whore, and you are so obsessed with her that you want to bury your face in that stinking groin."
"Fool. If you are stupid, your father dies. Life is boring, blood is boiling…"
"Are you drinking to your mouth's delight yet?"
"Damn it, leave me alone. This has nothing to do with you!"
"Damn, I have loved it more than anyone, even the old man and the old lady; I haven't cared as much as it does! I have bought all kinds of things for it, and that bitch has returned them all, making me a fool who has suffered more humiliation than a dog. Fuck…"
"Who says you are stupid? If you are stupid, your mother die, lament the blood… ah!"
"Shut up, you mother, it goes crazy, you don't advise it off, you tease the cage, ah?"
"I have advised it countless times: there have been too many beautiful girls in this world. It has been the son of a wealthy man; with a casual call, a herd of ovulating girls have knelt under its groin and have let it play to its heart's content! It hasn't listened, has liked to headbutt a slut who is greedy for fame but not for money — it has had money but no fame. It has eaten bitter fruit, and then has drunk spicy yeast to relieve sorrow… loathsome…"
Kai lets everyone hear the full part where his friends provoked the Gym Lord — and the fame-hungry guy instantly accepted the challenge to suck up fame. The Gym Lord is so scared that he trembles all over. The fame-sucking guy is forced into a corner and tries to struggle, clinging to the only buoy:
- I mention Hanna in the tavern and expose the scandal in the livestream — those are two completely different things.
The Gym Lord raises a face that is no longer afraid, but brimming with the hope of turning the situation around. He lifts the corner of his mouth into a smirk.
- You can't twist things unreasonably and turn white into black. I say again: I didn't mention Hanna or Hoang Kim in my livestream. If you want to sue me for scolding Hanna in the tavern, I'm ready to go to court. But hehe, at most, I only get an administrative fine — while you all suffer a scandal: the brother is narrow-minded, the sister… ah… forget it…
The Gym Lord knows that everyone understands what he's implying, so he leaves the sentence blank, leans back in his chair, and faces Kai and Sam with his eyes raised triumphantly.
Sam glances over and sees Kai hesitate for a moment. He realizes that his brother has done everything he can, but it's a pity that the guy who sucks fame is a coward — yet not easy to deal with.
He believes Kai can win, but nothing in life is certain. Every perfect plan has a variable, and he doesn't want that variable to humiliate his brother.
Anyway, Kai reveals a lot about himself.
Sam doesn't expect Kai to have a recorder that captured the conversation in the pub. Kai was on set at that time — how could he have recorded it without someone secretly helping him? It must have been Kai who had been sending people to silently protect his sister Hanna for the past three years. Those bodyguards were the ones who did the recording.
Thinking about this, Sam suddenly remembers the crowd on the sidewalk that day — they spread rumors that someone had booked out the entire pub, meaning there were no customers in the Confidant Pub except those bastards.
Sam is shocked to realize that the people in the Confidant Pub are Kai's people. Maybe his brother's acquaintances have worked there, or maybe Kai has been the real boss of this pub all along.
The most twisted thought is... Sam doesn't dare to let his imagination run wild. He stares at Kai and begins to feel afraid of his brother, who hides countless mysteries.
Kai must be rescued now; everything else will be calculated later. Sam conceals his mood by despising the Gym Lord. He tells Kim:
- Tsk, I remember — there's a priceless gift to compensate the victim. It's my recording on my Halo.
Everyone turns to Sam, guessing he has a trump card. All eyes are on Kim. The police officer pulls a Halo from his pocket. Sam tells him to play the recording:
"Dead dog guy, you were tired of rice and craved shit — how dare you bite my sister-in-law!"
The sound of the Gym Lord's twitching tongue echoes through the Halo:
"Please... I was sorry, I... I... didn't mean it. Please forgive me, don't hit me!"
Everyone hears that the Gym Lord had apologized to Hanna repeatedly while he was being beaten by Sam. The lawyer breathes a sigh of relief. Kai gives a thumbs-up to his younger brother — a tiger panther — but does so wisely and cunningly. Sam bares his teeth in a grin at his elder brother, tilts his head, and raises his eyes to mock the victim, who has now become the source of all the controversy.
The police team secretly laughs, as their expectations have come true. Finally, the person who deserves the most punishment shows his true face. The Gym Lord can't control his fear and sweats profusely. His limbs shake. He sips a mouthful of hot tea to warm his frozen body. The lawyer waits for him to regain his composure before saying:
- If you agree to the settlement... - The lawyer places the agreement in front of the Gym Lord - Please sign here!
Kai lets out a light laugh:
– If you're still too stubborn to accept, then we'll see you in court!
Sam sneers at the enemy cowering like a dead dog:
- The crime of assault depends on the severity of the injury to the victim. If it's a minor offense, the offender gets three years of eating rice weighed by the scale. If it's serious, six years of wearing a numbered shirt. As for defamation and smearing someone's reputation — how many calendar pages will be peeled off, police comrades!
The policemen laugh quietly when they see Sam's shameless face looking exactly like the Gym Lord's earlier. Kim scratches his nose, smacks his lips, and clears his throat:
- According to the Prehistoric Criminal Code, using social media to smear someone's reputation is a crime of personal insult, punishable by two years in prison. If the insult targets a woman's dignity, the sentence increases by four years, plus a warning, a fine of 40 million, a public apology, and compensation for the victim's reputation and emotional damage. The compensation increases depending on the consequences suffered by the victim.
Kim takes off the handcuffs locking Sam's hands and returns the Halo to him, so that he can transfer the compensation for health and mental damage to the Gym Lord. The guy who sucks fame doesn't dare to say a word and slides away from the police station with his tail drooping.
Kai and Sam don't rush to celebrate, but discuss the deforestation case with their lawyer. The lawyer and the police complete the case reporting procedures, pay the fine, and Kai and Sam write a letter of commitment to compensate for all losses if they commit the crime again and accept legal sanctions.
Once the problem is solved, Kai and Sam say goodbye to the lawyer. They walk through the crowd for a long time before getting away from the flies, then quickly get into the car waiting in the distance, and the driver quickly takes them back to the dormitory.
Note
[1] This is a loud shout that Vietnamese people often use when they are angry or arguing, cursing at each other. "Your daddy" in this context isn't Gym Lord's father, but rather Sam is talking about himself.