To Let Him Unleash His Abilities Fully
That evening.
Ju-won was having dinner with Team Leader Gu Jin-gu at a casual restaurant near Gangjung Station.
"Still, at least he was at a local motel. I was really surprised this time thinking it was a real disappearance."
"Indeed. I heard he's almost ninety soon, but he was with his girlfriend, and seems hale and hearty compared to me. Haha."
Ju-won and Team Leader Gu Jin-gu, who had solved another 80-year-old grandfather missing person case, no, runaway case in the meantime.
"Still, if it weren't for Inspector Lee, we might not have found him. Suddenly looking around the grandfather's house and saying 'I think he's at that motel'. I was surprised when you said that exactly."
"Haha, is that so?"
"Well, now all that's left is the gold ring robbery case, but Officer Han and I..."
As the meal was nearing its end along with work talk, Ju-won cautiously brought up the story of the case he heard from Reporter Yeong So-hee.
"Team Leader, have you perhaps heard of the Hankuk University illegal filming distribution case?"
"Huh?"
Team Leader Gu, who had been eating with his nose almost buried in the soup, turned his head.
He seemed to think for a moment, then soon nodded.
"Ah... Ah! Is it that case that was in the news a month ago? Gangnam Police Station?"
"Yes, that's correct."
"Of course I've heard of it. Rotten bastard."
Team Leader Gu Jin-gu slammed down the spoon he was holding!
"I have two daughters too. That bastard less than a dog, daring to do that to a precious daughter... Things like that should be torn to death!"
At Team Leader Gu Jin-gu's sudden anger, Ju-won looked at him with a flustered face.
Then Team Leader Gu, feeling awkward, picked up his spoon again and asked Ju-won.
"But why do you ask about that case?"
"Reporter Yeong So-hee requested that we dig into that case."
"It's that reporter from the KBN social affairs department, right? The one who conducted your interview."
"Yes. Correct. She made the request after the last interview ended at lunchtime today."
"Hmm."
Team Leader Gu Jin-gu nodded, signalling him to continue speaking.
Ju-won continued.
"The victim committed suicide a few days ago, but she seemed suspicious that there were circumstances of homicide."
"The victim died?"
"Yes..."
"Oh dear, truly... That's unfortunate."
"However, it seems the side of Gangnam Police Station in charge of the case has a different opinion from Reporter Yeong, who thinks it's homicide."
"Really?"
Team Leader Gu Jin-gu fell into thought.
But soon he continued.
"However, it would be difficult to transfer it to our station without any connection. The guys at Gangnam Police Station aren't idiots, they won't just hand it over."
"Ah, don't worry about that. I looked it up and the victim's address is between the jurisdictions of Gangnam Police Station and Gangjung Police Station, so I think we can receive the transfer. The victim's family also requested the transfer."
"Family?"
Team Leader Gu Jin-gu's head tilted.
Did he meet the family already?
Then Ju-won leaned forward and whispered in a small voice.
"Reporter Yeong So-hee, who requested the case, is the victim's older sister. At first, I wasn't sure, but when I checked the identity, it came up."
"Ah..."
A sigh of regret flowed from Team Leader Gu Jin-gu's mouth.
On the day of Ju-won's first interview, he stopped by the broadcasting station to greet her and ran into Reporter Yeong So-hee.
"She seemed like a cool-headed reporter, but she was hiding her pain..."
"Then do you give permission?"
As Ju-won pushed his head forward, Team Leader Gu Jin-gu shook his head.
"Not yet. I'm okay with it, but we need the Chief's permission. Since we have to receive the transfer. If you get permission, dig into it with Detective Kim."
The next day.
Ju-won was at the office from the morning.
"There's no article yet..."
Scroll. Scroll.
Ju-won rolled the mouse.
News from portal sites is floating on the monitor.
There is no news yet about the death of the victim of the Hankuk University illegal filming distribution case requested by Reporter Yeong So-hee.
"But it's really strange."
Terra answered Ju-won's monologue.
[What is?]
Ju-won spoke inwardly.
'Reporter Yeong So-hee. Even if she's a cold person, no, even if she's a reporter. How can she talk about a case where her family died like that?'
Ju-won hadn't noticed at all.
Until Terra mentioned Reporter Yeong So-hee's name and the victim's name.
That's how much Reporter Yeong So-hee seemed to have no emotional agitation.
[Could it be to fulfil her duty as a reporter?]
'Duty of a reporter?'
[Satisfying the citizens' right to know. By conveying accurate facts. That is why she requested the case to Mr Ju-won, who can find those facts best. Focusing on that part, perhaps she couldn't fully feel the sadness.]
'Her family died, is that possible?'
[Humans are all different. There are hundreds of millions of human personalities, and the way they feel emotions will all be different too.]
Ju-won shook his head.
'Anyway, the most important thing for me right now is solving the case.'
For now, the case transfer hasn't happened yet, so there was little information in hand.
Only the news from a month ago and information heard verbally from Reporter Yeong So-hee.
Ju-won took a notebook out of the drawer.
'First, let's write down the strange points.'
Then as he picked up a pen, Terra spoke.
[First, the shoes Reporter Yeong So-hee mentioned are suspicious. Although there are various possibilities, as Mr Ju-won said, it is a behaviour slightly contrary to common sense. Taking off shoes and heading to the roof barefoot.]
'Shoes... Heading to the roof barefoot...'
Ju-won's pen moved.
Thinking as he did so.
'Right. It looks as if someone dragged the victim who was at home.'
[The victim's cause of death will be important.]
'Yeah.'
But he knows nothing yet.
Since there is no information.
'But seeing that Reporter Yeong didn't say anything in particular... Could it have been death by falling?'
[There are cases where a different cause of death is discovered in the second autopsy. After the case transfer, suggest applying for a second autopsy to Reporter Yeong So-hee.]
'Understood.'
It was then.
Ju-won's mobile phone rang.
It was a message from Reporter Yeong So-hee. The content was just one link.
"...!"
"Aiming for a triple hit..."
At that time.
Gangjung Station Chief's Office.
Team Leader Gu Jin-gu and Chief Myeong Geon-hyeong are sitting on the sofa.
And on the small TV opposite the sofa, Ju-won's interview is playing.
-That is an honest answer. Nevertheless, is there a reason you didn't run away and confronted the criminal holding a weapon?
-Run away? Because I'm a police officer. That is all.
Beep—
Chief Myeong Geon-hyeong pressed the remote control and turned off the TV.
Then he looks at Team Leader Gu Jin-gu.
"Team Leader Gu."
"Yes."
"Honestly, I've never thought of myself as a police officer. I just thought of myself as a slightly special civil servant."
"...."
"Justice? Victim's tears? Actually, I've never sincerely thought about such things. And I've never been ashamed of that, you know?"
But lately, it's a bit different.
A junior he thought was useless, lacking ability and full of bravado, started to look like a real police officer.
Chief Myeong Geon-hyeong sighed and rubbed his face with both hands.
"But now I'm ashamed. Seeing that fellow."
He is ashamed of himself who had no desire for justice.
No, he is ashamed of the very fact that such a self is sitting here as a police officer.
Looking at Chief Myeong Geon-hyeong, Team Leader Gu Jin-gu smiled.
"You've grown up."
"I guess so."
Chief Myeong Geon-hyeong let out a sigh.
"My kid finally graduated from university and got a job last month. At the biggest conglomerate in our country too."
"Ji-yeon? Wow, she's all grown up."
"She is. Enough to earn her own keep now."
Chief Myeong's gaze turned to Team Leader Gu.
"I think I should really try living like a police officer now."
"That means..."
"Inspector Lee, I'll support him putting my position on the line. A fellow like that shouldn't be here, he should go to the main headquarters. To a higher place."
To do that, solving this case is essential.
For a guy with no backing or anything to go to the main headquarters, surely the more results, the better.
"Let's become his windbreaker."
But why?
While making a cool resolution, Chief Myeong Geon-hyeong's gaze caught Team Leader Gu Jin-gu's trembling eyes.
"But why are your eyes..."
"Chief... the youngest in our house is still a middle school student."
"What?"
"It's still 10 years until they go to university and earn their own keep."
Team Leader Gu Jin-gu straightened his body which had been leaning forward.
"I apologise, but it means I must also enter inside your windbreaker, Chief."
Chief Myeong Geon-hyeong's sharp gaze directed at Team Leader Gu.
"Are you really going to be like that?"
"Chief, is Ji-yeon the only child? Don't you remember? At my high school graduation, you said if I had children, you'd be their godfather or something. So strictly speaking, my children are your children too, Chief."
"Do you really have to put your children up for adoption at a timing like this?"
"If it's a house with the windbreaker of the Gangjung Police Station Chief, I'll adopt them out unconditionally at any timing."
"Ha, rascal."
Watching the shameless Team Leader Gu Jin-gu, Chief Myeong Geon-hyeong scratched his head.
But soon he nodded.
"Fine."
"Then do we take this case?"
"Yeah. But you know Gangnam Police Station is the home ground of Senior Superintendent Heo Yeong-sam of the Met Unit, right?"
"Yes, I know well. Isn't it full of nothing but Superintendent Heo's lackeys there?"
"Right, so they might touch the case Inspector Lee is receiving this time. They might not hand over all information. It's childish, but what can we do in a world where guys like that still wear police badges, we have to block them. For now, I'll try to receive the transfer to our station's cyber investigation team, so investigate. I'll talk to the cyber team."
Team Leader Gu Jin-gu nodded vigorously.
"Let's help Inspector Lee so he can unleash his abilities fully."
"Yes sir!"
At that moment, someone banged on the Chief's office door! Bang bang!
"Come in."
The door opened abruptly, and the one who entered was Ju-won.
"Inspector Lee?"
"Chief, Team Leader... an article is out."
"Article? What article?"
Ju-won held up his mobile phone screen.
And what was written on the screen.
"Case closed?"
🔥 Hey legends! Quick updates! 🔥
💥 Can't wait for the next chapter? Good news—ALL advance chapters are available on Patreon for just $5! No more waiting, just pure binge-reading goodness! 🚀
👉 patreon.com/cyci07
✨ Power Stone Challenge! ✨
If we hit 100 power stones, I'll drop 2 bonus chapters! Let's see if you guys can make me suffer! 😂
💬 Enjoying the story? Leave a review and let me know your favorite moment so far! It helps the novel grow and reach more readers!
Thanks for all your support—you guys are awesome! ❤️
_________________________________________________________________________
🔥 Hey legends! Quick updates! 🔥
💥 Support me on my Patreon account!
👉 patreon.com/cyci07
✨ Power Stone Challenge! ✨
If we hit 100 power stones, I'll drop 2 bonus chapters! Let's see if you guys can make me suffer! 😂
💬 Enjoying the story? Leave a review and let me know your favorite moment so far! It helps the novel grow and reach more readers!
Thanks for all your support—you guys are awesome! ❤️