The Ultimate Inspector, Kang Ji-hyeok - Chapter 7



Only Krnovel

Episode 7

He read the documents with a frown.

Look at this case? It’s quite interesting.

“The dead man is a sergeant, but the people accused of murder are two second lieutenants······.”

The incident happened a month ago.

But little investigation has been done.

“Why are you looking at that incident?”

“Then should I take on the case where a deserter steals a car from a private house and runs away?”

The investigator looks at me with an expression that says, “Isn’t that obvious?”

Is it natural for you to take charge of the case of a deserter stealing a car?

“That’s convenient. The evidence is solid, and the chances of winning are higher, right?”

“Anyone would win that case and the evidence is clear, so why are we investigating it?”

“That’s why I’m doing it. It’s something that’s hard to fail at.”

“Are you saying we shouldn’t fail at our first task?”

“No. I just want you to not fail, Inspector.”

Although it was an incredibly easy case, the attached data was much more extensive than that of the bar murder case.

So, does that mean the investigation is almost done?

“Detective Kim, I have the choice, right?”

“Yes. Those are the two cases left in our unit right now.”

“So, this murder case was passed on to other military prosecutors, so it’s still floating around as a few pieces of paper?”

Kim Ji-cheol became as quiet as a child with candy in his mouth.

After a moment, he answers cautiously.

“I guess so. Honestly, why would a military prosecutor take on such a difficult mission?”

“Let’s do this. Murder case.”

Kim Ji-cheol hesitated for a moment and then answered.

It’s a regretful voice.

“all right.”

The dead man is Private Park Chung-deuk, 26 years old.

But the ones who beat him to death were lieutenants of similar age.

“Why do you insist on taking on that case?”

Kim Ji-cheol still seems dissatisfied.

Well, it’s only natural that people don’t want to do difficult things.

“It’s strange. Why would they take the soldier out and beat him to death in a bar?”

“I didn’t beat him to death. I beat him and he died.”

Are you playing with words?

This gentleman.

But the investigator has a cold face.

I’m not kidding.

“Let’s go meet those suspects, Lieutenants. We’ll take charge of this case.”

“Okay, then I’ll go to the military camp.”

“Aren’t you supposed to be in a military detention center when you are under investigation, trial, or other court detention in the military?”

“No one is taking this case, so he is currently in a detention center. If the prosecutor requests detention, he will be sent to a military detention center.”

weird.

They definitely killed one private.

But you’re in a regular camp?

“Let’s meet up first.”

* * *

Upon arriving at the camp, two ensigns are sitting at a table.

Suspect… no, a murderer.

“Second Lieutenant Lee Hyeon-su.”

“yes.”

“And Lieutenant Han Ji-min.”

Han Ji-min looks at me without answering.

Is it a dog?

How dare you kill a man in front of a military prosecutor?

“Don’t just nod your head, just answer.”

“yes.”

Lieutenant Han Ji-min answers with a displeased expression.

But he’s still a suspect now.

I’ll do it moderately.

You little criminals.

“Second Lieutenant Han Ji-min has been serving for a longer period of time.”

He just nods his head again.

I glared at him and spoke quietly.

As cold as possible.

“Lieutenant Han, are you trying to joke around now?”

Han Ji-min looks a little surprised.

The pupils are shaking.

“Answer me straight. If you want to be judged properly.”

“···All right.”

He looked into their eyes again with a calm face and spoke.

“From now on, I will not use honorifics for the convenience of the investigation.”

“all right.”

Both answered almost simultaneously.

“Yeah. Those criminal kids should at least answer properly.”

widely.

I said, tapping the table with the pen I was holding.

“Second Lieutenant Han Ji-min. Why did you kill Sergeant Park Chung-deuk?”

“······.”

Suddenly it became quiet.

One lieutenant exercised his right to remain silent and did not answer.

In times like this, I guess I’ll have to ask someone who listens well.

“Second Lieutenant Lee Hyeon-su. Why did you kill Sergeant Park?”

“I didn’t kill him.”

“You didn’t kill him?”

“I pushed him while drunk, and Private Park fell over and died.”

According to a short incident report, Sergeant Park died a month ago in the bathroom of a bar called Seven.

It is said that he was a private of interest because of his usual bad attitude towards his superiors.

That day too, the two second lieutenants said they took Sergeant Park, a private of interest, out for a drink to try to cheer him up.

And it is said that they got drunk at a bar called Seven and went to the bathroom together.

In the bathroom, two drunken lieutenants pushed Sergeant Park, causing him to slip and fall.

Sergeant Park was unlucky enough to die instantly when food got stuck in his throat.

“Sergeant Han and I tried to treat Sergeant Park like a human being. He was said to have been a swindler at a Gangnam room salon in society. That’s why he liked to drink.”

It was a story that wasn’t in the report.

However, other statements recorded in the incident report were also weak.

“How do you know that?”

“I heard it while I was drinking that day.”

“Did you drink a lot?”

“Yes. We both drank so much that our memories were hazy.”

“That must be why he stumbled in the bathroom and pushed Sergeant Park.”

“Yes.”

“Second Lieutenant Han Ji-min and Sergeant Park also drank too much, so the three of them had to go to the bathroom in a hurry, right?”

“Yes.”

Lee Hyun-soo had a confident expression.

I guess now he thinks I understand him.

“Detective Kim, are you recording well?”

“Yes, inspector.”

Han Ji-min slightly lowers her eyes and looks at the floor.

From my experience as a detective, I can tell that the culprit in this case is that guy.

The guy keeps his mouth shut.

Instead, Lee Hyun-soo is conveying the story that Han Ji-min wants to tell.

Lieutenant Han Ji-min.

Are you laughing at me right now?

I guess you think a pathetic rookie military prosecutor has arrived.

Let’s match the rhythm well.

Is that what you think? X-ing.

You’re wrong.

You will learn how scary military law is.

“Sect. Han, what kind of work did Sergeant Park do? He was strangely absent from reports.”

This is the strangest part when I first saw the report.

Sergeant Park’s work was missed.

“I was a boiler maintenance worker.”

I thought I knew how to answer this question.

Because it has nothing to do with the incident.

“The most desirable position in the military, boiler maintenance soldier?”

Han Ji-min’s eyebrows moved slightly.

Are you feeling good?

Because I play to your rhythm.

“Do you know that too? A newly commissioned military prosecutor?”

Han Ji-min said so.

Look at this son of a bitch?

“Let’s stop here for today. Come back tomorrow, and tell me more about what happened in the bathroom.”

“all right.”

They both answered at the same time.

Han Ji-min bowed her head.

Are you confident?

Where does such confidence come from?

Lieutenant Han Ji-min.

* * *

Late afternoon.

It was time to move on to dinner.

He gave instructions to Detective Kim in the car on the way back to the prosecutor’s office.

“Please tell me as much detail as possible about Han Ji-min and Lee Hyun-soo by 11 AM tomorrow. From their positions after entering the military to their activities before entering the military. Everything.”

“All right.”

As I turned the corner in front of the unit, I said to the investigator.

“Instead of returning to the unit, let’s go there.”

“Where are you talking about?”

“Seven bars.”

“You mean the crime scene? It’s already been a month, so there’s probably not much to find there.”

“You can’t investigate without seeing the scene of the crime.”

Detective Kim Ji-cheol stares at me.

“Is this your first case, Prosecutor?”

“It’s my first time as a prosecutor.”

He is a veteran detective with over 20 years of experience.

But it is true that this is your first time as a prosecutor.

Kim Ji-cheol asks me with his mouth sticking out.

“But why don’t you ask Lieutenant Han Ji-min questions about the case? You keep demanding that she answer correctly? You only ask irrelevant questions.”

“Is the question about Private Park’s position irrelevant?”

It was important, Detective Kim.

Learn it well.

Why do detectives ask for your age, name, and ‘occupation’ first when writing a report?

Sigh.

I smiled.

“Because Han Ji-min is the culprit.”

“yes?”

“There’s no need to question the criminal about the case. He’ll only open his mouth if you show him crucial evidence······.”

This is something I learned from my life as a detective.

Han Ji-min’s eyes were empty.

He clearly has something he believes in.

“His eyes are empty. Usually, empty eyes in criminals mean that he has a clear backer.”

“You have a back?”

“Shall I tell you why I chose this murder case? Are you curious?”

“Yes, inspector.”

“It’s so flimsy. The incident report is flimsy, but the statements are completely consistent.”

“The report is flawed, but the statements are consistent?”

“These two guys’ statements are so accurate. For guys who are so drunk that they can’t even remember things······.”

That’s why I recorded my statement today.

That statement that he was extremely drunk will be a good weapon for us.

Boohoo.

As we turned the corner, we came into view an area of ​​bars and restaurants.

A place that is always in front of a large unit.

“That’s Seven Bar. But, sir.”

“Why is that?”

“What on earth do you do, inspector?”

“Let’s ask personal questions after we get to know each other better, Detective.”

“I’m sorry. You are so experienced, so I made a mistake.”

Squeak.

He parked his car in front of a small bar that had the number ‘7’ written on it.

The red number 7 flashed, painting the streets leading into the evening red.

“Seven dyed red······. Isn’t it fun?”

We opened the bar door and went in.

Daughter.

A refreshing sound of wind chimes rang out.

* * *

“I remember that day.”

Teak.

The Seven Bar owner lit a cigarette.

A long puff of white smoke.

“There are eight tables, but even if it were full, there would only be about twenty people······. And those three were noticeably loud.”

“You mean it was noisy? Were those two officers harassing the sergeant? Or was it the other way around?”

“No, it wasn’t like that. I remember those three being noisy like they were close friends. People who come here aren’t that noisy.”

The owner is in his 40s.

Dark skin.

It’s a face that looks like it’s been through various hardships in life.

“Even though we ordered a lot of side dishes, only the sergeant in uniform drank all the alcohol.”

“What does that mean?”

“Only the sergeant who died was wearing a military uniform, while the other two were wearing civilian clothes. So I thought, oh, the officers brought the soldiers. It’s a common occurrence······.”

“Well, I guess that’s because it’s near a military base.”

“Yes. That’s why it’s quiet. The officers talk among themselves, and the soldiers, who are usually drivers, quietly drink cola.”

Driver?

Why is the executive driving the driver······.

“Instead of using a designated driver, I bring him out. The driver said it was nice because he could come out at night and have some cola and chicken.”

Anyway, it’s a gangster-like army.

You’re saying that the executives get together for a drink and then bring out the driver and have him drive?

“Well, since the officers’ quarters are located within the military, I guess they use private drivers as designated drivers.”

Detective Kim Ji-cheol also nodded.

You shouldn’t do that.

Don’t be a gangster.

“But the three of them were drinking together like friends. That was a bit special. Moreover, as I said, the two executives didn’t drink.”

“Did you testify about that to the police?”

“They didn’t ask any questions. The police just asked if there were three of you, what time you arrived, and whether you went into the bathroom together.”

I see.

The investigation was botched from the beginning.

“Sir, what happens in the military is not of much concern to the police.”

At Ji-cheol’s words, the owner puts out the cigarette he was smoking.

“You’re a prosecutor. Wow. It’s surprising to hear that you’re a military prosecutor at such a young age. Most of the military prosecutors who come here are in their 30s······.”

I didn’t come here to hear that kind of story, so let’s change the subject.

“Three of them went to the bathroom together?”

“To be exact, the sergeant staggered to the bathroom, and two officers followed him.”

Wiggle.

My eyebrows went up on their own.

It was as expected.

“Is the bathroom over there?”

“yes that’s right.”

“Detective, let’s go together. Follow me and take a video.”

We headed to the bathroom.

Perhaps because the bar was narrow, the path to the bathroom was also narrow.

“It’s barely wide enough for one person to pass through.”

“okay.”

I took the lead and Ji-cheol followed.

Then, when I stop, the person who was following me also stops.

“Please pass in front of me.”

“···How do I get through here? It’s too narrow.”

Shh.

A smile spread across my face.

“After all, you have to see the scene for yourself.”