NIS Agents Tearing Up the Japanese Empire - Chapter 141



Only Krnovel

Investment (5)

“The stock market seems a little weird.”

“What? What kind?”

“Stocks. Stocks.”

“Oh, stocks? Does Inspector Sasaki invest in stocks too?”

“That’s not it… … .”

Inspector Sasaki, standing before the Director of the Police Bureau of the Government-General, acted as if he had something to say, but he was reluctant to open up.

Even without that, the Joseon Army (Japanese Army) across the Imjin River and the army coming up from Daegu were blocked at Joryeong and were wandering around the area.

As the Chief of Police, I was very displeased with the sight of Inspector Sasaki suddenly showing up and wasting my time when I was busy making plans to deal with the military.

“If you have something to say, then say it quickly.”

“As I mentioned earlier, there are some strange signs in the stock market.”

“nicety?”

“Yes, the sudden jump in stock prices seems a bit suspicious.”

The chief of police turned his head away as if to ask why he was bothering him with something like this and focused on his paperwork.

But I didn’t forget to answer.

“How high did it go that it’s suspicious?”

“It’s gone up about twenty times compared to last week.”

“It went up that much?”

The police chief’s hand stopped.

Then he put down his pen, raised his head again, and looked at Inspector Sasaki.

“Stock trading volumes have also increased significantly over the past few days. This cannot happen without someone’s intervention.”

“hmm.”

As Inspector Sasaki said, this was an abnormal event that would not have happened unless someone intervened.

Leaving everything else aside, considering the current economic situation of the Japanese Empire, it would have been normal for Joseon stocks to fall rather than rise.

In fact, the Tokyo Stock Exchange is currently postponing its opening several times due to concerns that opening too hastily could lead to a market crash.

“There’s definitely something fishy.”

The Chief of Police nodded as if he realized that something was strange, so Inspector Sasaki immediately brought up what he had been holding in his heart.

“So, I would like to look into this case… … and I would like your permission.”

“You? Do you really need to do that when you have to return to Shanghai soon?”

As the Chief of Police said, Inspector Sasaki was not a member of the Police Department of the Government-General, but was assigned to the Japanese Consulate General in Shanghai across the sea.

It would have been a little odd for anyone to see that such a person suddenly came to see the chief of police to ask about investigating a stock manipulation case in Gyeongseong.

“That’s… … . Right now, Jemulpo is damaged, so we don’t know when the ship to Shanghai will leave, and if we go by land, there’s… … . You know.”

“Oh, right.”

“And since I’m just sitting here doing nothing, I feel like I’m being noticed… … .”

“hmm.”

Actually, if you think about it, it was a simple problem.

Inspector Sasaki was dispatched from Shanghai to supervise the transport of weapons for the Government-General, but on the day he arrived, Jemulpo Port suffered major damage from a bombing attack and was unable to launch a ship.

To make matters worse, Geumchon Station, the midpoint of the Gyeongui Line, had also suffered major damage from a bomb attack, and the North was currently occupied by the North Korean army (Japanese army), and armed rebels were waiting for him across the border. It was also true that Inspector Sasaki had no means of getting to Shanghai safely.

At the time, the police department was busy with various things and was lacking someone, so if Inspector Sasaki, who was famous for catching illegal immigrants in Shanghai, were to lend a hand, then as the chief of the police department, I had no reason to object.

“Then, would you please investigate this case?”

“Yes, just leave it to me!”

“Okay! Then you will take charge of this case, but please also know that the police department will not be able to provide you with any support.”

“Yes? Don’t you get any investigative support money or anything?”

“Nope. The police department’s money has been dry for a long time now, so they’re struggling to pay their employees’ salaries.”

“Oh, I see.”

“And when I think about it, I don’t think this case will require that much money. If possible, I will pay for the expenses incurred during the investigation with my own money, and you will take care of all the evidence that comes out during the investigation and submit it with the report when the work is finished.”

So, what the Chief of Police said was this.

Since there is no money to support Sasaki right now, he will proceed with the investigation at his own expense for now. He will also turn a blind eye to the evidence that arises during the investigation, such as receiving bribes or the disappearance of evidence in this case (such as stock certificates or illegal funds).

Even though I spoke like a dog, he understood everything perfectly and a smile appeared on his face.

“All right!”

“Okay, let’s go out.”

As we sent Inspector Sasaki out, this time Chief Miwa came into the director’s office.

It had been only a few days since I had seen his face, but as soon as I saw his face, the police chief’s face crumpled as if he had chewed on shit.

“In what country is it customary to not only welcome people but also scold them in the face?”

“This is what happens to anyone when an uninvited guest comes to visit.”

“The real uninvited guest is the ghost of Gyeongseong. Compared to that guy, I am just a friendly neighbor.”

“So, has my kind enemy come here to talk nonsense?”

“Of course not.”

Miwa smiled brightly, put her hand into the hem of her coat, took out a small envelope, and carefully placed it on the director’s desk.

Naturally, the police chief took a peek at the envelope and checked what was inside.

“What is this?”

Then, there was a single cartridge inside.

“cartridge case?”

“We found it by searching through the remains of Jongno Police Station.”

“?”

“The owner of that cartridge is, of course, the Ghost of Gyeongseong, that guy.”

The police chief looked back and forth between the faded, damp, slightly rusted cartridge case and the confident, smug Miwa.

Then he threw the cartridge he was holding into the trash can and said:

“Are you bringing trash as evidence?”

“Oh, oh my!!!”

Miwa, the squad leader, saw a bullet flying in a beautiful parabolic arc into the trash can and immediately flew forward to catch it.

-Wow!

After destroying half of the police chief’s office and barely rescuing the bullet casing that was about to end up in the trash can, Sergeant Mi-wa blew away all the piles of documents on the desk and questioned the police chief who was quietly looking at her.

“Director! What are you doing?! Do you know what this is and yet you are handling this precious piece of evidence so carelessly?”

“… … .”

“Seriously, you owe me one thing, Director.”

Miwa continued speaking, placing the cartridge back on the desk that had been cleared of paperwork.

“I chased the ghost of Gyeongseong for quite some time, but he kept evading me and even went so far as to use me in return, toying with me.”

“… … .”

“But aren’t we in a situation where we don’t even know his face or name? So I thought about it quietly. I wondered how we could possibly catch the ghost of Gyeongseong.”

The police chief glanced around his office, which had become a mess, and began to feel anger rising from deep within his abdomen.

Of course, Captain Mi-wa, who does not know the speed of water one mile deep or the speed of people ten mile deep, bragged about the great achievement she had discovered in front of the police chief.

“I thought about it carefully, and it seemed like it would be a good idea to follow the ghost of Gyeongseong from the moment it first appeared. So I started by searching the Jongno Police Station, where it first appeared. And right there, I found this!”

Miwa and the squad leader pointed to the cartridge case.

He said he had found some great relic, but it turned out to be nothing more than a rare German 9mm pistol cartridge.

“The cartridge case was so worn that I couldn’t make out the company name or other information written on the outside, but after looking at its construction closely, I can tell you that it’s not a Chinese replica. That means that the bullet must have been produced in faraway Europe or the United States, and since I know of only one person in Gyeongseong who would use such a high-quality product… … I can conclude that the owner of this cartridge case is that guy.”

“… … .”

Just now, the Chief of Police had come to a conclusion on how to deal with Miwa and the squad leader.

‘I have to start by hitting the cheek.’

The police chief, who had made up his mind, tried to get up from his seat, releasing all the anger he had been holding back, but the rough hands of Squad Leader Mi and Sergeant Mi made him sit back down.

“And the most important thing here is where this shell was found. Where! Where is that place!”

Miwa, the head of the department, left footprints on the documents scattered on the floor and pointed to a certain place on the large map of Gyeongseong hanging on the wall of the director’s office.

“Right here in Jongro.”

“That’s not important right now… … .”

“It’s important! Why! Unfortunately, this is the very place where the former police chief was kidnapped and murdered, and where the Black Dragon’s ronin were massacred… … It’s also the place where a new company was opening a few days before the incident while waiting for permission from the Governor-General.”

“… … !!!”

Miwa’s words calmed the anger in the police chief’s head, which was rising to the top of his head, and made him, who had been contemplating whether to lift or lower Miwa’s cheek just a moment ago, listen to Miwa’s words.

“So, does that mean that the founder of that place is the ghost of Gyeongseong?”

“Isn’t that highly likely?”

“Hmm… … . You weren’t just playing around!”

At the words of the Chief of Police, Miwa’s face turned cold and she began to grumble as if she was really hurt.

“… … You seem to be disappointing the listener. When did you say I ever rested?”

“That’s what you’re saying, man! So, have you found out anything else?”

“Well, I did find out a few people who were believed to have worked there.”

“Oh. Then, they must know something about the ghosts of Gyeongseong! Who are they?”

Miwa took a photo out of her coat pocket.

One was a young man with an innocent look, and the other was a woman whom the police chief also knew well.

“I don’t know who the young man next to me is, but isn’t this woman Kim Hu-dong, the most beautiful woman in Gyeongseong?”

“That’s right. And the person next to him is Kim Chun-sik, who works as a messenger at the Chosun Ilbo.”

“Kim Chun-sik? This is the first time I’ve heard of it.”

“Have you heard of the name Kim Sang-ok?”

“You know, aren’t you part of a terrorist group called Uiyeoldan or something created by the crazy bastard Kim Won-bong?”

“The Kim Chun-sik here was the person who was close to Kim Sang-ok and helped him in both material and spiritual ways. I heard his real name was Jeon Woo-jin.”

“okay?”

The police chief’s mouth was hanging from his ear.

To him, this news was like his son, whom he had not expected much from, suddenly returning home with a certificate of acceptance to Tokyo University.

“Then, if we get rid of this guy Jeon Woo-jin and Kim Hu-dong, we might be able to get information about the ghosts in Gyeongseong?”

“I already caught it.”

“Already? That’s fast.”

“All the technicians have been called to the front lines, so there are no technicians to interrogate these guys.”

“Hmm. Let me quickly look into it.”

“And also… … .”

Miwa, who was about to excitedly explain her plan, suddenly stopped talking, turned around briefly, walked out, and opened the door.

But there was no one outside.

“What’s going on?”

“It’s nothing.”

“It’s a bit bland.”

As Chief Miwa tilted her head and closed the door, Inspector Sasaki, who had been hiding behind the door with his mouth shut and holding his breath, was seen.

‘You have to tell me immediately!’

Inspector Sasaki had never heard of names like Kim Chun-sik, Jeon Woo-jin, or Kim Hu-dong, and he didn’t know who they were.

But I knew the ghost of Gyeongseong very well.

And if what Miwa said is true.

If they are really the people associated with the ghost of Gyeongseong.

I had to get this news to this teacher somehow.

As I was carefully passing in front of the director’s office, the door to the director’s office suddenly opened and Sergeant Miwa came out.

“Huh? Aren’t you Inspector Sasaki?”

“Ah, hello, Mi, crazy… … No, Miwa Wasaburo from the Special Investigation Headquarters… … .”

“Just call me Miwa and Class President. That’s what everyone here calls me.”

“Yes, let’s do that. Miwa, class president… … .”

Sasaki had intended to just say hello and leave, but Miwa kept talking to him.

“By the way, you said that Inspector Sasaki came back injured, right? I was wondering what happened when the Ghost of Gyeongseong fled to Shanghai, so this is a good thing.”

Miwa, the class president, smiled and grabbed Sasaki’s arm tightly.

“Can I talk to you for a moment?”

“… … .”

NIS Agent Tears the Japanese Empire Episode 142