Chapter 172 – Peace – Part 8

Chapter 172 – Peace – Part 8

Woojin swallowed the soju in one gulp.

He had a rough idea of who made that news.

Because there were subtle facial expressions and non-verbal cues from Assemblyman Kim Cheolung when they ate pork belly together, showing how he looked at him.

But it was always a probabilistic assumption.

When an incident related to crime occurs, reporters are highly likely to get involved.

The news said he was an anonymous police officer, but it wouldn’t be strange if reporters came looking for him at any time.

Then Senior Officer Kim’s voice was heard.

“Wow… you’ve become a star. You’ve become a star. Hahaha! At this rate, won’t our Officer Shin get a special promotion? Here, have a drink.”

Woojin, who had received the drink, then filled his glass with soju and spoke.

“Senior Officer Kim, why is it so hard to be ordinary?”

“Ordinary?”

“Yes. I just did my job as an officer. I don’t know if that’s something that should be in the news.”

“Officer Shin, it’s because brave people like you are becoming rare that it’s in the news like that.”

Senior Officer Kim was about to add something but stopped.

He wasn’t just an officer; he was a truly strange fellow.

“I believe the essence of the police is for the well-being of the people. What I did was only natural.”

Senior Officer Kim raised a finger and pointed it at Woojin.

Talking to him, sometimes he seemed like a doctor, or a businessman, or even a psychologist.

“You speak so eloquently. What you say is true. But does everything always go as planned? That’s just how things are in the world.”

Senior Officer Kim suddenly made his eyes like a flatfish and asked again.

“You’re happy about being in the news, but you’re pretending, aren’t you? There’s no need to be humble among people who share the same livelihood. You can enjoy it to the fullest.”

“I’ll just go make a call.”

Woojin stood up, went outside, and put his cellphone to his ear.

The person on the other end was Assemblyman Kim Cheolung.

-Wow… I’m even getting a call from Woojin-gun first, and oh, you were on the news, weren’t you?

Woojin focused on Kim Cheolung’s voice and spoke.

“Didn’t Assemblyman Kim make that happen?”

-Me? No?

“Is that true?”

-…I was going to. I was going to, but I stopped because I thought you’d dislike it. You don’t like that kind of thing, do you?

Woojin slowly nodded his head.

His tone was even and there was no hint of excitement, so it wasn’t a lie.

-Did you call to ask about that?

Kim Cheolung wanted to let the world know about Woojin’s existence, even if anonymously like in the news.

To tell them that there was such a brave and invincible person.

But he soon abandoned that thought.

Because while most people, no, it’s no exaggeration to say everyone in the world, wants to be recognized by the Righteous Path, Woojin was the exact opposite.

“I called to hear your voice, among other things.”

-Your voice has no soul.

Suddenly, Woojin’s voice became a little more urgent.

“Assemblyman Kim, I think my outer shell is about to burn. I’ll call you back later.”

-Outer shell?

“Yes. I’ll contact you again later then.”

After ending the call, Woojin went back inside.

It was a relief.

Because Senior Officer Kim had pushed the outer shell to one side so it wouldn’t burn.

“Senior Officer Kim, you seem to have good sense.”

“What are you talking about suddenly?”

***

The next day.

Woojin heard from the Detective that they had obtained a confession.

The affair between Semi Dad and the yogurt seller was true, and the accomplice Ira’s identity was revealed.

The Detective who conveyed the news looked at Woojin strangely.

He started with no evidence, identified the criminal, and even received a call from the National Forensic Service saying the DNA matched.

It was as if he had stopped Semi’s mom before she reached a critical state from pesticide poisoning.

He couldn’t press for details either.

That was because he had hung up, saying he had to rescue the puppy.

Before hanging up, Woojin’s last words were to not tell the reporter.

And in the afternoon, a reporter came to Woojin’s workplace.

“Is Officer Shin Woojin here, by any chance?”

Woojin, who was sitting in front of the PC, stood up from his seat.

“What brings you here?”

Woojin quickly scanned his appearance.

He had thick-rimmed glasses, eyes that showed interest in him, and a bag like a documents room slung over his shoulder.

Even considering that he looked to be in his mid-thirties, there were many wrinkles on his finger joints.

Also, it was an unfamiliar face, so there was a high probability he was a reporter.

“It’s nothing else, but…”

He offered Woojin a business card with a gentle smile.

[Jeong Hakjin]

The business card indicated his profession as a reporter.

“It’s nothing else, but the arrest of the murder case criminal. I came to request an interview. You’ve done something amazing. It must not have been easy at all. You’re truly incredible. How did you get such courage…”

Reporter Jeong Hakjin continued to praise Woojin and elaborate.

It was to secure an interview.

Naturally, Woojin more than noticed it.

“I only did what was obvious. I have no intention of giving an interview. I apologize for you coming all this way. I would appreciate it if you would leave.”

Despite Woojin’s calm tone, the reporter maintained his smile.

“I think such an anecdote should be shared with many people.”

The reporter was secretly rejoicing at Woojin’s handsome appearance.

A police officer who arrested a criminal with a knife after a fierce struggle, and is also handsome?

He had a feeling it would be a huge hit, with people flocking like a mob of retail investors.

Then, the police officers around them spoke up.

“Alright, Officer Shin. Let’s do an interview.”

“Good deeds should be widely known. It’s good for your career too.”

At their words, which were meant to benefit Woojin, the Reporter smiled even more broadly.

Woojin nodded and replied,

“Understood, Reporter. Shall we go outside and talk?”

“Understood.”

Woojin went outside and found a Coffee Shop with the Reporter. No, before going in, Woojin spoke at the entrance.

“Would you mind going in first? I have a quick errand at the bank.”

“Oh, yes. I’ll go in first. Take your time with your business.”

Reporter Jeong Hakjin entered the Coffee Shop and sat down happily.

There was no one else around, and he liked the quietness.

Jeong Hakjin couldn’t control the smile on his face as he took out his laptop and placed it on the table.

About 10 minutes passed, and Woojin came in.

But something was a little strange.

The person who said he was going to the bank was carrying a shopping bag.

Jeong Hakjin smiled even more.

Could he have brought a gift to ask him to write a good article?

Woojin placed the shopping bag on the chair next to him and sat down.

Then, he abruptly started placing bundles of cash from the shopping bag onto the table.

He then pushed the stack of money towards the Reporter, as if making a gambling bet.

“I’ll give you thirty million won. Take it and stop bothering me.”

The Reporter, with a bewildered look, said,

“What? What do you mean by that…?”

Woojin pulled out more money and stacked it up again, as if raising the stakes.

“Forty million won. On the condition that you no longer show interest in anything related to me.”

“Yes?”

Thud.

“Ten million won more.”

“Look here…”

This time, Woojin took back some of the money he had put down.

“Forty million won.”

“Um…”

His eyes trembled like aspen leaves at the sight of the money in front of him steadily decreasing.

An amount higher than his annual salary was going back and forth right before his eyes.

“Ten million won.”

“Wait! Just a moment!”

Woojin nodded.

“Take this and stop paying attention to me from now on. I’m not the type who likes to get involved in noisy situations.”

Woojin, seeing the conflict in his face and eyes, reached out his hand as if to take back the money.

“Understood. I’ll do that. I will do that.”

Woojin slowly nodded his head and stood up from his seat.

“Your shoulders have been very stiff lately, haven’t they? You need posture correction. And if possible, don’t revisit the hair salon you went to three days ago. Your hair isn’t symmetrical. It seems like your intestines aren’t well, so you should go to the hospital.”

He just blinked and stared at Woojin, unable to say anything.

His body hair stood on end, and goosebumps crept up his spine.

“How do you feel? Knowing that an unknown stranger knows about your life and information.”

And for their own benefit, too.

Woojin continued speaking.

“I’m the same. Reporter, I hope we don’t have to meet again in the future. Today’s money exchange never happened. If you, Reporter, show interest in me again, or if we meet face to face like this again, your life could turn into a mess. Mark my words. It will happen. And, be aware that there are many events to be reported besides me. I hope you broaden your perspective. The world is full of heartwarming stories, not just sensational ones. And one more thing, you seem to have a unique hobby. Reporter, who enjoys cross-dressing, that seems like a topic people would like.”

His already wide eyes grew even wider, as if they would tear.

But Woojin didn’t stop there.

“How long do you think you can keep deceiving your wife?”

“What’s that supposed to mean…?”

“Yesterday, a man and a woman were arrested at the police station for attempted murder. They were having an affair.”

A bead of sweat trickled down his forehead.

Woojin picked up the ten million won in front of him and continued speaking.

The money that had been piled high in front of the reporter was now completely gone, not a single ten thousand won bill remained.

“I trust you understand what I mean.”

Woojin left without hesitation and got into the police car.

And he looked at himself in the private room mirror and said,

“That was incredibly charismatic.”

A line from some movie was playing.

***

The police officers couldn’t quite open their mouths, wondering what was happening at the door of a woman’s room.

She was more beautiful than a celebrity on TV, beautiful in a way that would make you want to slap one.

Pure and elegant, perhaps.

Such a chaebol came to the police substation.

Now, even Lee Hyerim, who was publicly active for Shinhwa Group, had come.

“You’re looking for Officer Shin?”

Lee Hyerim nodded with a calm smile.

“Yes. I’m sorry if I intruded. He wasn’t answering his phone.”

“No, no. He’s just returning from patrol now. He’ll be here soon.”

“Officer Shin’s shift is ending now, right?”

The police officers all nodded.

“Yes.”

“If it’s not too much trouble, could I wait here for a moment?”

“Of course. Please, have a seat.”

“Thank you.”

Just then, Woojin walked in.

“Hyerim?”

Lee Hyerim smiled brightly.

It was a very bright smile.

“I came to go on a date with an officer.”

Her single sentence left the police speechless.

They couldn’t predict what her presence here meant, or the extent of Woojin’s connections.

Someone mumbled with a dumbfounded expression.

“He has it all. He has everything.”

Woojin said to her,

“There’s an amazing street food stall in this neighborhood, but you’ll have to be on your guard.”

Lee Hyerim responded to Woojin’s words.

“Because we might both die eating it?”

Woojin smiled and nodded.

More than anything, the flush on her cheeks, like a blush, looked beautiful.

“Officer Shin Woojin. I’m clocking out.”

***

A few days later.

Woojin was nodding his head as he looked at the data Kim Taehyun had sent him via email and cellphone.

It was a murder case, and the criminal had left nothing behind.

There was no trace of dead skin or even a single strand of hair.

It meant the crime was meticulously planned.

Looking at the studio apartment’s CCTV, the criminal, presumed to be the suspect, was seen entering but not leaving.

However, Woojin found a clue there.

“So he had to commit murder to this extent.”

Judging by the state of the body and the bloodstains, it wasn’t a one-time incident.

It was also highly likely to happen again.

So Woojin said to Senior Officer Kim,

“Senior Officer Kim, I think I need to take some time off.”