Chapter 171 – Peace – Part 7

Chapter 171 – Peace – Part 7

***

Semi’s Dad’s voice grew louder as he threw a glass of water.

“If that’s the case, why didn’t you just marry your company!”

His thick eyebrows twitched, and his cheeks, reminiscent of a bulldog, tensed.

Semi’s Mom closed her eyes tightly and said,

“You know how work life is, too. How can I be the only one not to attend?”

“What kind of era is this that they force you to attend a company dinner? You’re only going because there’s someone you like there, aren’t you!”

“Say something that makes sense!”

Even if attendance at company dinners was supposedly voluntary, she couldn’t help but feel pressured.

Semi’s Mom approached her Husband and took his hand.

“Honey, let’s really not do this. Okay? Or I’ll look for another job. Huh?”

“Ha, seriously…”

Her Husband ran his hand through his hair as if to calm his anger.

“It’s not that I’m suspicious. I’m just worried about you. Look at today. Does it make sense to talk about a company dinner to someone who took a day off because they were sick?”

“I understand what you mean. I’ll try to explain well that I can’t attend.”

Just then, someone knocked on the Front Door.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Her Husband’s brow furrowed.

“Who is it?”

Semi’s Mom walked to the entrance and asked,

“Who is it?”

“This is the Police. We received a report. Could you please open the door?”

“A report?”

“Yes. It will only take a moment.”

Husband chuckled and muttered.

“I need to get out of this damn neighborhood.”

It seemed someone had reported them for yelling a bit.

Soon, Semi’s Mom, who opened the door, widened her eyes slightly.

It was Police Officer Woojin, whom she had seen earlier in the day.

Behind Woojin was a Senior Officer.

She smiled awkwardly and spoke.

“Husband and I had a small argument, and it seems someone reported it.”

Woojin looked at Husband, who was entering the room, and spoke.

“Are you alright?”

“Oh, yes. Of course. I’m fine.”

“Is your child also alright?”

“Yes. Of course.”

“I’m sorry, but I need to confirm that your child is safe.”

“Really…”

Woojin cut her off.

“That’s my job.”

At Woojin’s firm tone, she reluctantly called her daughter.

“Semi.”

At her gentle voice, Semi carefully opened the room door and appeared.

Woojin smiled and said.

“Hello, Semi?”

Semi bowed her head.

“Hello.”

“Are you alright?”

“Yes…”

She was slightly surprised by Woojin’s tone, which seemed to suggest he knew her daughter, and Woojin continued.

“Your daughter reported it.”

Her eyes widened.

“What? My daughter reported it?”

“Yes. And she was very brave.”

Just as her head was turning towards her daughter in disbelief, the Senior Officer spoke, as if this wasn’t the first time such a thing had happened.

“Let’s go.”

The Senior Officer moved first, but Woojin remained unmoving.

“I’ll go down after I’ve sorted out the situation.”

“Don’t overdo it. Don’t overdo it.”

With that, the Senior Officer went down, and Woojin continued speaking to her.

“Have you been experiencing frequent dizziness or a heavy head recently?”

“What?”

“What about feeling listless or having cramps?”

“I don’t understand what you mean…”

She couldn’t figure out Woojin’s intention, as he was asking questions like a Doctor.

“Is your skin itchy, or when I saw you earlier today, you were sweating a lot.”

She answered blankly.

“Oh, yes. I’m not feeling so well.”

“You said you had to go to the Bathroom urgently. Did you have diarrhea? Or did you throw up? I think you threw up.”

“I don’t really understand what you’re saying, but I’m really fine.”

“No. You are not fine. Your physical condition. Let me just check for a moment.”

Woojin took off his shoes and strode inside without asking permission.

His actions were unhesitant.

Entering the Living Room, Woojin yanked open the refrigerator door.

There were various side dishes, and at the very bottom, there were plenty of packaged Cabbage Juice.

Woojin slowly nodded his head.

It was the moment he understood the vegetable smell coming from her.

It was the moment all the circumstances were revealed.

“I’m really fine, so please leave.”

“Yes.”

Woojin replied that way, but he had no intention of leaving.

“I’ll ask you one thing. Did your Husband order this Cabbage Juice?”

Woojin, who had thrown out the question, looked at her face.

Because no matter what answer came out, micro-expressions don’t lie.

That’s how he had come all this way too.

Semi had reported it, but it was Woojin who had first suspected and approached the situation even before that.

He saw people as evidence and pieced together the puzzle.

Her voice lowered slightly, as if she was wary of her Husband.

“Do I have to tell you even that? Please leave.”

Woojin slowly nodded his head.

“So your Husband did order it. Have you heard of Pesticide Poisoning?

Just then, the Master Bedroom door burst open, and her Husband came out into the Living Room.

“Just because you’re the Police doesn’t mean anything! What are you doing barging into someone else’s house!”

Woojin moved towards the entrance as if following his words, but then he approached Semi, knelt on one knee, and met her gaze.

“Semi. Would you go into your room for a moment? Cover your ears tightly and slowly count to 100. Can you do that?”

“What are you doing right now!”

Her Husband shouted, and Woojin, who had sent Semi into the room, slowly turned around.

Then he took out a plastic bag from his pocket and placed it on the table.

Inside it was a Cabbage Juice package,

“It’s very plausible. Pesticide Poisoning caused by Cabbage Juice. If the Wife dies from Pesticide Poisoning, they could even blame the company.”

Woojin pulled out another plastic bag from a different pocket.

It contained a syringe.

“I found this. Even if there are no fingerprints, there will be plenty of your DNA.”

The husband’s face turned red and then pale.

“What are you talking about! Are you out of your mind!”

Woojin nodded and replied,

“I am perfectly sane.”

Woojin glanced at Semi’s room.

Had he counted to fifty?

Woojin fixed his gaze back on the husband and spoke.

And he spoke as if to be heard by the wife.

“We don’t have much time, so listen carefully. The husband, who ordered the cabbage juice, filled a small amount of pesticide into a syringe. The needle was thin, so it didn’t leak, and Semi’s mother drank it. The pesticide gradually accumulated in her body. Very slowly, and today her body reacted. Her body hurts, and she feels helpless.”

“You crazy bastard! What kind of nonsense are you spouting!”

“You’re the crazy one, blinded by your affair.”

His eyes widened, and Woojin continued speaking.

“There’s someone who welcomes Semi’s mother’s illness. Her friend, Lee Siyeon, who goes to see Semi on her way home from school every day. She covets Semi. It’s highly likely that this friend, Lee Siyeon, is infertile.”

Woojin asked the husband, as if expecting an answer.

“Am I right?”

The husband, whose hands were trembling, muttered,

“Crazy bastard…”

“Given that she welcomes Semi’s mother’s illness, it’s highly probable that she is an accomplice.”

Woojin stepped closer to him.

“As of this moment, I am arresting you on suspicion of attempted murder.”

“What!”

He tried to resist as Woojin pulled out handcuffs,

Thud!

He had to groan without knowing how he fell.

Woojin handcuffed him and calmly read him his Miranda Rights.

“You have the right to remain silent, to have a lawyer, and to refuse to testify against yourself in court.”

Semi’s mother said in surprise.

“What are you doing! I think you’ve got something wrong…”

“Reality cannot defeat the truth. I think it would be best if you went to the hospital right away. Semi protected her mother.”

Woojin dragged him out, and she slumped to the floor.

***

The senior officer couldn’t help but be surprised at the sight of Woojin pushing the man into the back seat of the police car.

It was because the guy who said he would go and sort out the couple’s fight had brought him back in handcuffs.

“Hey, what is it?”

“I arrested him for attempted murder.”

“What are you talking about? Attempted murder?”

“Yes. He was feeding pesticide to his wife.”

“What do you mean?”

“Just a moment.”

Woojin brought his cellphone to his ear.

It was Assistant Manager Cha Juhyeok from SH Strategy of Shinhwa Group.

He had been promoted again and again.

“It’s me. I need to send something to the National Forensic Service right now, by the fastest route.”

-Is quick delivery okay?

“Is he someone with verified personal information?”

-Yes, he’s a reliable friend.

“Please send it immediately.”

-Understood.

Woojin, who had finished the call, spoke to him.

“I’m sending the evidence directly to the National Forensic Service. Just in case they try to dismiss the case. You know what I mean, right?”

Woojin looked at him and slowly shook his head.

“It means there’s nowhere to run.”

He said nothing more, just gritted his teeth.

“The National Forensic Service?”

At the Senior Officer’s words, Woojin nodded.

“Yes. I know someone there. They’ll handle it quickly.”

“You know someone at the National Forensic Service?”

“Yes.”

The Senior Officer blinked.

Now he knows someone at the National Forensic Service, too.

Come to think of it, this guy seemed to have a lot of money.

Anyway.

“Did you really give your wife pesticide? Are you sure? Did you see it?”

“I didn’t see it, but I’m sure. I have evidence. Senior Officer Kim. We need to go catch the accomplice right away.”

“Accomplice?”

“Yes.”

***

Pork belly was sizzling golden brown in front of Woojin.

Woojin dipped a bite-sized piece of pork belly in oil sauce and brought it to his mouth.

“Oh, wow… There’s nothing like pork belly with a glass of soju after work. It’s a bit of a shame there’s no bean powder.”

Senior Officer Kim, who had been watching Woojin in silence with his arms crossed, finally spoke.

The man he arrested was now at the police station, and so was the female accomplice, Ira.

“What exactly are you?”

Something didn’t add up.

He was an officer, but a very unusual one.

The same goes for his connections.

Moreover, even the way he catches criminals is unusual.

He catches criminals immediately as if he’s profiling them… And he also seems to be serving the citizens.

“Officer Shin Woojin.”

“Not that. Where did this guy come from and what was he doing?”

“I just did a bunch of things and came here.”

“A bunch of what?”

“I experienced the world.”

At that moment, Woojin received a call.

As Woojin answered the phone, Senior Officer Kim took a sip of soju.

“I shouldn’t even bother saying anything.”

Woojin, who had lightly finished the call, said to Senior Officer Kim,

“They say the DNA matches.”

Senior Officer Kim gasped.

He sends evidence to the National Forensic Service and finds out directly.

There are always procedures and steps, but he was breaking the rules.

At that moment, Senior Officer Kim’s gaze was fixed on the TV.

“Isn’t that about you?”

Woojin’s head turned to the TV.

-Police Officer S, who faced a criminal with a knife, apprehended him after a fierce struggle…

Woojin, who was quietly staring at the TV, muttered,

“I said now is good…”

And he brought the soju glass to his lips.