#146. Chaos. 6
The next day.
In the police station where Kim Tae-hyun was standing, the team leader's shouts were ringing out loud.
“Within this week! You have to step on the suspect’s shadow! Do you understand?
“If you have even the slightest doubt, hang on and come find something!”
The criminal who left behind the signature of 'repentance', committed a total of 4 murders and disappeared.
Current affairs programs began to compete to produce and broadcast programs on such content, which was like prey.
“If you can't hold a clue in this week, you've been killed twice in our jurisdiction!
“Don’t you get what you want? If you can’t catch that bastard, don’t even think about coming to work. Do you understand?”
"yes……"
The team leader shouted again at the detectives' feeble voices.
“Don’t raise your voice!”
Choi Gi-cheol answered with the loudest voice, almost as if shouting.
"yes!"
“Go out and look!”
Kim Tae-hyun brushed his hair and left for the hallway with Choi Ki-cheol.
At that moment, Kim Tae-hyun hesitated.
It was because Woojin, wearing hiking clothes, was walking towards me.
Woojin was not alone.
I was with a man who looked to be in his early 30s, carrying a backpack. He was dressed in hiking clothes and was covered in dirt, as if he had rolled down a mountain.
Not only that?
His two hands were bound to the clothesline as if they were handcuffed.
As Woojin approached, Kim Taehyun looked at them both alternately and opened his mouth.
“Woojin… … ?”
“He is the culprit.”
“Who’s the culprit?”
“Yes. The protagonist with the signature ‘Repentance’. The culprit of four murders.”
As Kim Tae-hyun blinked his eyes as if his brain had stopped, he was staring at the man when he heard a sharp sound from the side.
It was Choi Gi-cheol.
“이런 개새끼.”
Phew!
"100 million!"
Choi Ki-cheol kicked him in the stomach as if he was stabbing him in the stomach.
Kim Tae-hyun shouted in surprise.
“Hey you crazy bastard, what are you doing!”
Choi Ki-cheol said, grabbing the bastard by the hair.
“Didn’t you say Woojin was the culprit?”
“Oh, that’s right.”
“Then you are a dog.”
To Choi Gi-cheol, the person named Woo-jin was considered a religion.
“That’s true, but… … ”
Kim Tae-hyun turned his head to Woo-jin again.
Woojin has solved many cases, but he has never brought in a culprit or suspect so suddenly.
Directly to the police station.
“Woojin, is this kid really you?”
“Yes. 98% chance. If we search the criminal’s house, we’ll find the missing 2% of evidence.”
If someone had said something like that, I would have shouted, “What the hell are you talking about?” But it was none other than Woojin who said it.
Kim Tae-hyun put his hand on Woo-jin's shoulder and looked him over.
“Are you hurt anywhere? Call me!”
Woojin looked at the criminal being held by Choi Ki-cheol's hand.
He had a strange smile on his face, with small bruises here and there.
“I thought it would be easier for him to move alone since he is a quick-witted criminal.”
“But at least give me a heads up. How did you catch this kid? Where did you catch him?”
“A little bit off the trail.”
Woojin's story was simple.
He was caught at the scene of his last murder, and it was only a few months after his first two murders that he started killing again.
He said he injured his ankle at the scene, went into a break, and then started killing again.
He said that it can be found in the footprints.
“By the way, Detective Kim. It’s almost lunch time. Have you eaten?”
"uh?"
Kim Tae-hyun, who was momentarily dazed by Woo-jin's calm demeanor while catching the greatest madman of all time, quickly came to his senses.
Because I was familiar with Woojin and I knew what those words meant.
“Hahaha! You didn’t eat! I’m suddenly hungry. Woojin, shall we go eat some beef?
What is that? Oh, that's right! Number Nine! Let's go eat that!"
Woojin shook his head.
“How about Sundaeguk? If you dip it in shrimp paste, it’s so good… … ”
“Will that do?”
“I’m hungry. I’m really hungry because I went hiking.”
“Okay, okay! Let’s go! Ki-cheol, I’m going to eat with Woo-jin, so make sure that kid is nice.”
“Yes! Woojin.”
Choi Ki-cheol looked at Woo-jin and gave him a thumbs up.
So, Kim Tae-hyun put his arm around Woo-jin's shoulder and headed toward the exit.
“Really… … amazing. Amazing.”
Kim Tae-hyun didn't doubt Woo-jin at all.
At that moment, Kim Tae-hyun suddenly stopped walking and looked at Woo-jin.
“I smell like alcohol. Have you been drinking?”
“I had a bottle of makgeolli while I was hiking. Makgeolli is what you drink when you hike.”
“Uh… … That’s true? Hahaha!”
On the other hand, Choi Ki-cheol, who had joined the strong team, was receiving a strange gaze from the team leader.
“What? Who are you?”
"The culprit."
“What culprit?”
“That serial killer you were talking about earlier.”
The team leader's gaze scanned the man up and down.
“Hey you little shit. What the hell are you talking about… …”
Choi Ki-cheol quickly whispered in the team leader's ear.
“Woojin caught it. Woojin.”
The team leader's eyes widened.
… … an unrivaled profiler…
“Take this kid to the interrogation room right now. Right now.”
"yes!"
Choi Ki-cheol took the suspect, who could not yet be called the culprit, to the interrogation room.
No, I was convinced he was the culprit.
Then he opened his mouth.
“Woojin? Who is that person? A police officer?”
He had absolutely no information about Woojin.
I heard the name after coming here, and when I first met him in the mountains, I only heard one word from a guy named Woojin.
'Are you the culprit?'
Within seconds of those words, a scuffle broke out and I was dragged here.
Choi Ki-cheol stopped walking and looked at him.
“The grim reaper appears in front of kids like you.”
————————————————————
Hye-rim Lee was calmly looking at the middle-aged man in front of her in the SH Construction office.
The director came from GH Construction.
'I'll come find you'
That was right now.
“So, you’re saying that you’re going to hand over the site where the relics are found?”
The manager responded with a sad smile.
“It’s not like there’s anything like a royal tomb that’s been discovered, and just because a few small relics have been found, development won’t stop forever, right?
We also see this situation as short-term.”
No it wasn't.
If relics continue to be discovered, nothing will be done for several years.
The director knew that fact very well, but
“Then I guess we can wait for GH Construction too. No. From what I see… … ”
Hye-rim Lee took a sip of coffee and put the cup down again.
“It just looks like they’re just passing the buck.”
“No. In fact, this time, the negotiations between GH Construction and Thailand were concluded in a hurry.
“There are several large bridges to be built over the water, and a highway to be built on a huge piece of land. Since we need funds more urgently than expected, I am coming to you to make a proposal.”
Lee Hye-rim nodded slowly.
“You’re saying that you’re going to abandon the new city project and focus on overseas projects? Is that what you’re saying?”
“Yes, I could say that.”
“You could also look at it from a long-term perspective. It seems like they’re trying to build highways, contribute here and there, and get tariff benefits.”
“As expected, you are sharp. This is a business that aims to lower tariffs on GH Group’s export items in the long term.”
Lee Hye-rim's words were true, but they were also naively absurd.
The director's smile grew wider.
As expected from someone who lived a dissolute life, her brain seemed completely empty.
“But, if we get help from the GH Group, wouldn’t we be able to secure the funds quickly?”
The manager shook his head.
“The representative wants to move independently without any help.”
“I want to be recognized… … Is that something like that?”
“That’s right. If GH Construction takes over the site for which it has been bid. Think about it.
SH Construction's mega town will be built.
SH Construction’s breath will reach all four directions, east, west, south, and north.”
The director who said that glanced at Hye-rim Lee.
She was smiling broadly, as if just thinking about it made her feel good.
The director thought he had to drive a wedge in.
“The development halt is only for a short time. We have already discussed it with many historians and experts.
“I am confident that construction will resume within six months at the latest and three months at the earliest.”
I wasn't curious and I didn't find out.
It was a lie that all of this was Woojin's premonitions.
“2.3 trillion won was invested in the field. We will hand it over for 2.2 trillion won.”
Lee Hye-rim spoke as if she had made up her mind.
“2.1 trillion.”
The director's eyes trembled slightly.
200 billion won in Enurira… …
I could accept it if I thought that the development would be dragged on and that losses would continue to occur.
“Okay. 2.1 trillion. But… … ”
The director brought up the subject with the intention of hurting Hye-rim Lee's pride.
It's a very effective prescription for a brat who only wants recognition without any ability.
“Would the CEO or the board of directors agree with Executive Director Lee Hye-rim’s decision? She’s the youngest anyway… … ”
Lee Hye-rim glared at him and said.
"the youngest?"
“Oh, I’m sorry. I misspoke… … ”
“Get the documents ready tomorrow. I’ll show you exactly who I am.”
The director stood up from his seat and bowed his head.
He spoke with great difficulty, holding back the corners of his lips from rising.
“Okay, I’ll get it ready then.”
As Director GH left the office, Lee Hye-rim's expression softened and she looked at the door he had exited through.
Rousseau's famous quote comes to mind.
Desire keeps pulling us forward.
Takes you to a place you can't reach.
Hye-rim Lee thought of them by changing just one word in the last sentence.
From 'we' to 'you'.
Your misfortune lies right there.
———————————————
A few days later.
SH's representative could not raise his head in front of major shareholders and executives.
GH took over the construction site of the building.
“Are you in your right mind! Huh? I’m going crazy because I want to eat beans and rice! Decide on that and do it on your own!”
The representative had no choice but to follow Lee Hye-rim's words.
This was because the knife she was holding was so sharp that it could have easily cut off her own neck.
I also took out a loan.
“Hey you crazy kid!”
“This kid is not a GH Construction spy!”
There was a flurry of cursing and bottles of water and documents were thrown at his face.
“If you have a mouth, at least speak!”
“That’s… … Under the direction of Executive Director Lee Hye-rim… … ”
“You rascal, are you talking nonsense?”
The situation showed no signs of calming down.
It seemed like someone was going to grab the CEO by the collar and beat him up at any moment.
Just then, the door opened and someone came in.
It was Lee Hye-rim.
When she came in, several people jumped up from their seats.
“Director Lee! Are you not thinking! What the heck… …”
At that moment, the man following Lee Hye-rim spoke loudly.
“This managing director has something to say. Everyone, please remain quiet!”
Everyone had a look on their face as if they were about to explode with anger, and some people were hitting their chests as if a rock had rolled into their chests.
“Come on, come up with some excuse! What are you going to do!”
The man standing next to Lee Hye-rim raised his voice again.
“Please be quiet. Thank you.”
Lee Hye-rim stood in front of them.
Have you ever stood in front of so many executives?
'It's a beginning.'
When it seemed as if she could hear Woojin, Lee Hye-rim nodded at the man next to her.
He turned on the news broadcast live using the tablet PC he was holding.
[Breaking news. The source of the artifacts discovered at a new city development site has been revealed.
As a result of Mr. Lee’s secret dealing in relics… … ]
As the news flowed in silence, Lee Hye-rim opened her mouth, looking at each of them who were speechless.
“You want me to make an excuse? What excuse should I make? I’m sorry I bought the land for cheap?
I'm sorry, but I think you'll make a lot of money if you start selling in the future. Or should I say this?
I'm sorry that I think I'll be going beyond GH Construction in the future. Everyone… … I'll be busy."
