Chapter 146 – Chaos – Part 6

Chapter 146 – Chaos – Part 6

The next day.

In the Police Station where Kim Taehyun stood, the Team Leader’s shouts echoed loudly.

By the end of this week! You need to find even a shadow of the suspect! Do you understand?

If you suspect even the slightest thing, latch onto it and find something!

The criminal who left the signature ‘Repentance,’ a total of four murder cases, and then disappeared.

News programs, eager for such a sensational story, began to produce and broadcast special reports on it.

If we don’t catch a clue by the end of this week, a Regional Investigation Unit will be formed. That crazy bastard has committed murder twice in our jurisdiction alone! Twice!

Aren’t you ashamed? If you don’t catch that bastard, don’t even think about coming to work anymore. Does everyone understand?

Yes…

The team leader shouted again at the detectives’ weak voices.

Speak up!

Choi Gicheol responded the loudest, almost shouting.

Yes!

Get out!

Kim Taehyun ran his hand through his hair and went out into the hallway with Choi Gicheol.

Just then, Kim Taehyun paused.

It was because Woojin, dressed in hiking clothes, was walking towards them.

Woojin was not alone.

He was with a thug who appeared to be in his thirties, carrying a backpack. Dressed in hiking clothes, he was covered in dirt, as if he had rolled down a mountain.

And that wasn’t all?

His hands were bound with a clothesline, as if he were in handcuffs.

As Woojin approached, Kim Taehyun looked back and forth between the two and spoke.

Woojin…?

He’s the criminal.

The, the criminal?

Yes. The one who carved the ‘Repentance’ signature. The criminal of the four murder cases.

Kim Taehyun’s brain seemed to have stopped, and he was just blinking his eyes and staring at the thug, when a sharp sound came from beside him.

It was Choi Gicheol.

“You son of a bitch.”

Thump!

“Ugh!”

Choi Gicheol kicked him in the stomach as if embedding his foot.

Kim Taehyun cried out in surprise.

“Hey, you crazy bastard, what are you doing!”

Choi Gicheol grabbed the man by his hair and said,

“Didn’t Woojin say he was a criminal?”

“Yeah, he did.”

“Then he is a son of a bitch, isn’t he?”

To Choi Gicheol, Woojin was a righteous path, a person regarded as a religion.

“That’s true, but…”

Kim Taehyun turned his head back to Woojin.

Woojin had solved many cases, but he had never brought a criminal or suspect like this before.

Directly to the police station, that is.

“Woojin, is this guy really it?”

“Yes. 98% probability. If you search the criminal’s house, you’ll find the missing 2% of evidence.”

If anyone else had said this, he would have shouted, “What nonsense is that?” but it was Woojin speaking.

Kim Taehyun put his hand on Woojin’s shoulder and looked him over.

“Are you hurt anywhere? You should have called me!”

Woojin looked at the criminal being held by Choi Gicheol’s hand.

He had small scratches all over his face and was wearing a strange smile.

“I thought it would be easier to move alone since the criminal was quick-witted.”

“Still, you should have given me a heads-up. How did you, or rather, where did you catch this bastard?”

A little ways off the hiking trail.

Woojin’s story was simple.

He caught him at the scene of the last murder, and the reason why his killings started again after a few months’ break from the first two murder cases was…

He injured his ankle at the scene, went on hiatus, and then started killing again.

He said it could be found in the footprints.

But, Detective Kim. It’s almost lunchtime, have you eaten yet?

Huh?

Kim Taehyun, who was momentarily stunned by Woojin’s calm demeanor after catching such an unprecedented madman, quickly came to his senses.

It was because he was familiar with Woojin and understood what he meant.

Hahaha! No, I haven’t! Suddenly, I’m starving. Woojin, should we go eat some beef?

What was it? Oh, right! Number Nine! Let’s go eat that!

Woojin shook his head.

How about blood sausage soup? If you dip it in salted shrimp, oh my…

Will that be enough?

A large portion. I’m very hungry from hiking.

Alright, alright! Let’s go! Gicheol, Woojin and I are going to eat, so make sure to take good care of that bastard.

Yes, sir! Woojin.

Choi Gicheol gave Woojin a thumbs-up.

So Kim Taehyun put his arm around Woojin and headed for the exit.

Truly… amazing. Amazing.

Kim Taehyun didn’t doubt Woojin at all.

Suddenly, Kim Taehyun stopped in his tracks and looked at Woojin.

I smell alcohol? Did you drink?

I had a bottle of rice wine while hiking. You always have rice wine when hiking, don’t you?

Uh… I guess so? Hahaha!

Meanwhile, Choi Gicheol, who had joined the violent crimes team, was receiving a strange look from the Team Leader.

“What is it? Who is it?”

“The criminal bastard.”

“What criminal?”

“The serial killer you just mentioned, that criminal bastard.”

The Team Leader’s gaze swept over the thug from head to toe.

“You son of a bitch. What nonsense…”

Choi Gicheol quickly whispered into the Team Leader’s ear.

“Woojin brought him in. Woojin did.”

The Team Leader’s eyes widened.

A profiler who is unparalleled…

“Take this bastard to the Interrogation Room immediately. Right now.”

“Yes, sir!”

Choi Gicheol took the suspect, who couldn’t yet be called a criminal, to the Interrogation Room.

No, he was sure he was a criminal.

Just then, he opened his mouth.

“Woojin? Who is that person? A police officer?”

He had absolutely no information about Woojin.

He had only heard the name after arriving here, and when they first met in the mountains, he had only heard one thing from the guy named Woojin.

‘Are you the criminal?’

Along with that one sentence, a struggle broke out within a few candles, and he was dragged here.

Choi Gicheol stopped walking abruptly and looked at him.

“The Grim Reaper who appears before bastards like you.”

–

Lee Hyerim calmly looked at the middle-aged person in front of her in the SH Construction Office.

The Chief from GH Construction had arrived.

‘They will come.’

That time was now.

“So, you’re saying you’ll hand over the land where the Artifacts are appearing? Is that right?”

The Chief replied with a pleasant smile.

“It’s not like a royal tomb was discovered, and development won’t stop indefinitely just because a few small Artifacts were found, will it?

We see this situation as a short-term issue.”

It wasn’t.

If Artifacts continue to be discovered, nothing can be done for several years.

The Chief knew that fact very well, but,

“Then GH Construction can wait too. No, actually, from what I see…”

Lee Hyerim took a sip of coffee, then set the cup down again and said,

“It just looks like you’re trying to pass the buck.”

“No, not at all. In fact, GH Construction and Thailand recently concluded negotiations in a hurry.

Several large bridges are being built over water and highways are being laid across vast areas, and we suddenly need funds more urgently than expected, which is why we’ve come to you with this proposal.”

Lee Hyerim slowly nodded her head.

“So you’re saying you’re abandoning the New City Project and focusing on overseas projects? Is that it?”

“Yes. I suppose you could say that.”

“It could also be seen from a long-term perspective. It seems like you’re laying highways, contributing various things, and trying to benefit from tariff reductions.”

“You are indeed sharp. It’s a project aimed at lowering tariffs on GH Group’s export items in the long term.”

Lee Hyerim’s words were correct, but they were also naively absurd.

The Chief’s smile deepened.

True to her lavish lifestyle, her brain seemed completely empty.

“But, if you receive help from GH Group, wouldn’t the funds be secured quickly?”

The Chief shook his head.

“The CEO wishes to act independently without receiving assistance.”

“You want to be recognized… is that it?”

“That’s right. If you acquire the site that GH Construction successfully bid on, just think.

SH Construction’s Mega Town will be built.

SH Construction’s influence will reach everywhere, north, south, east, and west, all four directions.”

The chief, having said that, glanced at Lee Hyerim’s expression.

She was smiling broadly, as if the thought alone made her happy.

The chief thought he needed to seal the deal.

“The development suspension is only temporary. We’ve already spoken with many historians and experts.

Construction will resume in three months at the earliest, six months at the latest. I’m certain.”

She wasn’t curious and didn’t investigate.

All of this was a setup, a foreshadowing laid out by Woojin.

“2.3 trillion won has been invested in the site. We’ll hand it over for 2.2 trillion won.”

Lee Hyerim spoke, as if she had made a decision.

“2.1 trillion won.”

The chief’s eyes trembled slightly.

A discount of 200 billion won…

Considering the ongoing losses from the prolonged development suspension, it was acceptable.

“Alright. 2.1 trillion won. However…”

The chief spoke, intending to provoke Lee Hyerim’s pride.

It was a very effective treatment for a child who only craved recognition without any ability.

“Will the CEO or the board meeting agree to Managing Director Lee Hyerim’s decision? Especially since you’re the youngest…”

Lee Hyerim glared at him and said,

“The youngest?”

“Oh, I apologize. I misspoke…”

“Have the documents ready by tomorrow. I’ll show you exactly who I am.”

The Chief stood up and bowed his head.

He barely managed to keep his lips from splitting into a wide grin as he spoke.

“Understood. I’ll have it ready.”

As the GH Chief left the Office, Lee Hyerim relaxed her expression and looked at the door he had exited.

Rousseau’s famous quote came to mind.

Desire constantly pulls us along.

It pulls us to unreachable places.

Lee Hyerim thought of them, changing only one word in the last sentence.

From ‘us’ to ‘you’.

Your misfortune lies precisely there.

–

A few days later.

The SH CEO could not lift his head in front of the Major Shareholder and executives.

He had acquired the construction site of GH Construction.

“Are you insane! Huh? Are you crazy for wanting to go to jail! To decide and proceed with that alone!”

The CEO had no choice but to follow Lee Hyerim’s words.

The knife she held was so sharp that it would easily slice off his neck.

He had also taken out a loan.

“You crazy bastard!”

“This guy is a GH Construction spy, isn’t he!”

Cursing ran rampant, and water bottles and Documents flew at his face.

“If you have a mouth, at least say something!”

“That… it was at the instruction of Managing Director Lee Hyerim…”

“Are you calling that an explanation, you old man!”

The situation showed no signs of calming down.

It felt like someone was about to grab the CEO by the collar and throw him down at any moment.

Just then, someone opened the door and entered.

It was Lee Hyerim.

When she entered, several people shot up from their seats.

“Managing Director Lee! Have you lost your mind! What in the world…”

At that moment, the man who had followed Lee Hyerim in spoke loudly.

“Managing Director Lee has something to say. Everyone, please be quiet!”

Some wore expressions of utter frustration, while others slapped their chests, as if a stone had rolled in and embedded itself there.

“Go on, make some excuse! What are you going to do!”

The man standing next to Lee Hyerim spoke loudly again.

“Please be quiet. Thank you.”

Lee Hyerim stood before them.

Had she ever stood before so many executives before?

‘It’s starting.’

Just as she thought she heard Woojin’s voice, Lee Hyerim gestured to the man beside her.

He turned on the news, which was being broadcast live on the tablet PC he was holding.

[Breaking news. The origin of the artifact found at the New City Development Site has been revealed.

It was the work of a Mr. Lee, who secretly traded artifacts…]

Amidst the silence and the news playing, Lee Hyerim looked at each of them, who were unable to close their mouths, and began to speak.

“You want me to make an excuse? What kind of excuse should I make? Should I apologize for buying land at a bargain price?

Should I apologize for expecting to make a lot of money from future sales? Or should I tell you this?

I apologize for being about to surpass GH Construction. Everyone… you’re going to be busy.”