THE TRUTH MANSION'S
Chapter 18's

        Under the window of the building's supervisory office was a long wooden table with a surface filled with deep muratap. There is a vault that can only be opened with a pass number under the table, a wheeled chair that is set too low compared to the height of the table, and a small refrigerator next to the table. The room was enough for one person.

        Jin-kyeong often visits the building's narrow supervisory office despite the old man showing his displeasure. Jin-kyeong sometimes sits at the table, on armrests, even on the floor. Because he only ever lived with a totally powerful father and mother who never showed any expression, and because he rarely met other parents, he said, Jin-kyeong finds it difficult to get along with the old people.

        However, he liked the supervisor of the building. The old man was chatty, and would often nag people he knew, or complain, or be very pessimistic. However, there was something within him that made the others feel calm. Whenever Jin-kyeong walks into the office without knocking on the door first, the old pris will only grumble about the cramped room while opening a folding chair in the corner of the room for Jin-kyeong.

        While Jin-Kyeong brushed off the dust from the simple folding chair, the opening song for the news broadcast was heard from the small television on the table. The old man reaches out to the television and raises the volume, There is only one channel on television and Television radio that only has one button that makes Jin-kyeon astonished.

        “This stupid box. Stupid box. Just making people more stupid. It is better not to watch,” said the old man without taking his eyes off the television screen.

        What was being broadcast at the time was a report from the Spokesman of the Council of Ministers. News releases always begin with a report from the Spokesperson, who conveys information about the Council's decisions, the development of government projects, and the Council's opinion to the Town Citizens. Increased medical insurance coverage and partial adjustment of premiums, change of ownership of child care centers from private to state, and ownership of District Settlement 3 is left to the state. Some branches of the research center managed by the National Hospital will be purchased by the largest foreign medical foundation in the world, and the Department of Industry and Food will become a public company separate from the government.

        “Very good. The Towns will be delighted,” Jin-kyeong said.

        Jin-kyeong looks at the seven-pointed star engraved on the Spokesman's podium and is reminded of the flags fluttering by the side of the road. In his home country back then, the state flag was barely visible everywhere. The country is waving the flag of the Council of Ministers—not the flag of the country— on the streets, its ministers are announcing their decisions every day, and the public is wrong to regard the unilateral report as communication. After the report ended and the news broadcast began, the old man turned off the television.

        “What a surprise, right? Why did they let the Saha People stay the Mansion that was in Town?”

        “I think it's the minister's decision.”

        “Why do ministers make such a decision?”

        Feeling that the old man is not really expecting an answer with his question, Jin-kyeong just stared at the shadow of the old man reflected on the black television screen. The old man was grumbling to himself. "It's the Town Citizens who decided it?”

        Jin-kyeong's eyes collide with the old man's eyes on the television screen. The old man did not smile.