The Ultimate Inspector, Kang Ji-hyeok - Chapter 9



Only Krnovel

Episode 9

The more you investigate, the more the truth of the case becomes apparent.

“Two lieutenants premeditated the murder of a sergeant. One lieutenant was the mastermind······.”

I checked each of the photos that were stuck on the whiteboard.

“Sergeant Park Chung-deuk······.”

Follow the red thread.

And I see photos of him when he was alive.

“While studying chemistry at one of the best universities in the country, he was specially hired to work at Atlantic Cosmetics, and then he joined the military. When he ran out of money he had saved up while working to pay for his mother’s hospitalization, he met a second lieutenant and started receiving a large sum of money every month.”

“So Private Park Chung-deuk was able to cover his mother’s hospitalization expenses.”

“That’s right. If that’s true, then Lieutenant Han must have ordered Sergeant Park Chung-deuk to do something that deserved the money.”

Follow the red thread to another photo.

But this time, there are two photos with question marks drawn on them.

“I checked who deposited the money every month and it was a homeless person living in Seoul Station. So the source of the money was a bank account······.”

widely!

I see another picture with a question mark drawn on it.

“Another one is a doctor who went to China. That doctor determined that Private Park Chung-deuk died of asphyxiation due to fainting. He said that he suffered a concussion when he fell and his neck was broken, and the snack he had eaten before got stuck in his throat and he couldn’t breathe.”

Even the doctor in charge sided with the perpetrator.

He must have received a huge amount of money.

Or, you may be promised a position that will pay you a lot of money.

“So, through a series of actions, the so-called group could end up serving at most a year or be acquitted for murder with intent to commit murder.”

“From the beginning, everyone was dragging the sergeant’s death into a case of mutiny by a nasty junior soldier who was in a state of depravity due to dirty temptation. And then they made up a story that he fell down and died while drunk, and that two lieutenants were there.”

I stare at the white storyboard quietly.

“But something crucial is missing. The most important thing in a murder case is missing.”

“What is that, Inspector?”

I turn my head and look at Ji-cheol.

Then she spoke to him coldly and coolly.

“Purpose. The purpose of the murder is lacking. The reason for killing Private Park Chung-deuk is not convincing.”

Rustle.

Ji-cheol took out the documents he had brought to work from his bag.

“Here it is. It is a diagram of the entire boiler room where Private Park Chung-deuk worked, as you requested yesterday.”

“Is the entire piping diagram connected to the boiler also included?”

“Yes, that’s right. Fortunately, I was able to save him because I had a classmate in that facility.”

“As expected, Detective Kim Ji-cheol is amazing. He accomplished something this difficult······.”

Chook.

A large piping diagram and drawings were spread out.

A design drawing was spread out, looking as complicated as a spider’s web.

“This intricate treasure map will guide us.”

“Where are you talking about?”

I smiled at Ji-cheol.

“The reason why Private Park Chung-deuk had to die. From now on, I will dig up the design drawings, so you go here and give me this note.”

“Isn’t that the Chinese currency exchange office in Myeongdong?”

I handed over a note folded into an origami paper crane.

“You just have to tell him this.”

“···But who are you looking for?”

It’s been ten years since I first met him.

Jang Hak-su, a loan shark who worked in Myeongdong.

You’re exactly 32 years old now, right?

“I’ve been doing this for 13 years. If you have any information about China, leave it to me, Detective.”

“Then what should I do for you?”

“There’s nothing you can do for me. I’ll play the money game in Myeongdong as legitimately as possible. Just catch the loan sharks who are illegally selling drugs or prostitution.”

“Okay, Haksu.”

Jang Hak-soo. I hope you’re working at that currency exchange office.

Then you will know the meaning of origami crane······.

I spread out all the design drawings on the floor.

My quick eyes and memory.

If you have two abilities, you can find them in this entire layout.

Hidden treasure map.

Because it is a treasure map that holds the secret that will solve the most important ‘purpose of murder’ in this crime.

* * *

The next morning.

I got a call from the court.

“The trial will be held in two days.”

“okay?”

“It was caught suddenly. The date······.”

There are hundreds of documents piled on the desk.

“Still, compared to the first report I received, I think we will be able to submit a tremendous amount of evidence, Inspector.”

Ji-cheol has a tired face.

But his eyes sparkled.

“Inspector, that guy named Jang Hak-su was surprised when he saw the paper crane.”

“I guess so.”

“I received information by email today about the doctor who went to China.”

“Should I write a threatening email to that doctor who ran away to China?”

I sent him an email.

He sent an email threatening that he would be arrested by the police if he did not send the photos he had taken when he murdered Private Park Chung-deuk.

He would know what would happen if he were caught by the police in China.

“But what if there is no photo of Private Park Chung-deuk when he died?”

“Detective Kim Ji-cheol.”

“Yes, inspector.”

“When a criminal lies, he has an instinct to possess evidence. He knows it himself. The fact that anyone can betray······.”

“So you’re saying that if you want to survive, you have to have crucial evidence.”

“That’s right. Those criminal bastards never trust anyone.”

Lieutenant Han Ji-min.

The truth behind the incident you’ve set up is slowly coming to light.

Just wait and see.

I’ll show you what happens when you sin.

“I also obtained one year’s worth of vehicle entry and exit documents from the guard post.”

“Good job. Detective Kim, from now on, look for traces of outsiders among the vehicles entering and leaving. There must be outsiders who enter and leave periodically.”

“Understood, Inspector.”

There is still a little way to go to the truth.

I had to stay up tonight again drinking a few cups of coffee.

“You haven’t been able to sleep for days because you’ve been looking at case files. Are you okay?”

“When I was going to law school at Korea University and preparing for the bar exam, I had nosebleeds 300 times in a year. I wanted to beat up those bastards.”

Detective Ji-cheol looks at me with a blank expression.

“Inspector.”

“why?”

“You were a son of a bitch, Lieutenant Han Ji-min.”

“That’s right. How did you end up meeting a prosecutor like me and getting beat up?”

* * *

The day of the trial arrived.

At dawn, I woke up Kim Ji-cheol who was sleeping.

“It’s over.”

“Huh? Did you look at all this information and organize it?”

“I’m hungry. Should we go eat some bone soup?”

“Yes, that’s right, Inspector.”

A hot bowl of bone soup will melt your upset stomach.

“Oh. Good, Inspector.”

“I know.”

Before I knew it, Ji-cheol started following me around and calling me ‘Inspector’ all the time.

“Inspector.”

“why?”

“You are the best prosecutor I have ever had.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I respect you. I just wanted to tell you.”

Huruk.

Rice rolled in hot hangover soup is truly the best.

“If you cover up a lie with a lie, the truth will inevitably leak out. What we do is dig into the truth by catching its tail and······.”

I muttered like that.

It was a story I told my juniors throughout my days as a detective.

But when I met a prosecutor who was annoyed by my work, the truth was completely cut off.

‘Now that I’ve become a prosecutor! I will never lose sight of the truth. I will definitely dig deep.’

Make a promise to yourself.

Otherwise, the string of truth is bound to loosen.

Ji-cheol, who had even emptied the soup, tilted his head and asked.

“But why don’t you leak this information to the reporter? If public outrage grows, the trial will be more favorable.”

“A prosecutor must swing a sharpened sword. That must be the judge. If you swing it recklessly, the tip of the sword will inevitably turn against you.”

I intend to show the power of the prosecutor by cutting off the criminal’s head with a sharp blade in the courtroom.

“My heart is pounding. The time has come for the criminals to be punished······.”

Lieutenant Kim said so.

〈It’s been a while, Kang Ji-hyuk.〉

I heard a guiding voice in my head.

“I will give you a mission. You must win this trial.”

“What about the reward?”

〈Excellent recovery ability.〉

I smiled.

“Okay. That’s compensation enough.”

Are you saying I can work all night?

* * *

〈Second Regional Military Court.〉

It was the first day of trial.

Ji-cheol, driving carefully, gives a simple explanation.

“Pocheon area is held in the 3rd court.”

That’s what he said.

The court is determined by jurisdiction······.

Listening to Lieutenant Ji-cheol’s story, I organize today’s trial in my head.

The incident was initially reported as a ‘death caused by negligent homicide’.

But in my head right now it’s a much bigger event.

“I’m going to go for special murder charges based on the formation of a criminal organization.”

Ji-cheol whistled and made a nervous expression.

“Whew. Your Honor, you’ll be surprised. A simple matter has become such a big deal.”

“The core of this case is that it is a planned murder, and at the heart of it is a larger criminal organization.”

I was thinking of blowing it in one gulp.

You have to debut sensationally.

There are certainly many limitations to what I want to do.

Breaking that limitation is achieved by riding on the back of ‘fame’.

I am safest when I am the center of attention.

“Criminals should be punished in proportion to the severity of their crimes. That’s why prosecutors exist.”

“That’s right, Inspector. I’ve been living this life for several years, so I’ve forgotten. I just thought about wrapping up the case comfortably.”

Ji-cheol smiled and said awkwardly.

“Thanks to you, I was able to go back to the beginning. That’s why I applied to be a military investigator······. Haha.”

Jiying.

I rolled down the window.

A refreshing breeze brushes the tip of my nose.

“Only then can I walk the path of revenge. I will destroy every single cell of the criminal.”

I muttered without anyone knowing.

As always.

I tell myself.

Just one reason.

So that I never forget.

“Today is the day to take that first step. So I can’t fail, right? The reward for completing the mission is pretty good too······.”

Damn it.

Damn it.

The judge had arrived before I knew it. I walked down the quiet hallway and opened the door to the judge’s office where I would be fighting today.

Squeak.

The gathered people look at me.

“I heard he’s a young military prosecutor who’s having his first trial today?”

“You’re a rookie. A prosecutor that young?”

“Wow. Can that prosecutor beat that seasoned lawyer in court today?”

As I stood in the courtroom, I noticed the lawyer on the other side.

Lieutenant Han Ji-min glares at me with fire in her eyes.

Soon, the lawyer next to him approaches me.

An expensive looking suit.

Black socks.

Shiny, luxurious shoes.

Neat attire and neatly combed hair.

Appearance: appears to be in late 30s.

“Nice to meet you. I am Jiho Kim, a lawyer at Kim & Joe Law Firm. Let’s play fair.”

Kim & Joe Law Firm?

Isn’t this the best law firm in Korea?

Kim & Joe Law Firm, which was attached to the Chinese guy who killed my wife!

This trial comes first right now.

First, let’s calm down.

But how can a lawyer from such a big law firm be brought into a military trial?

Of course, this incident was not just an accidental murder that occurred in the military.

“I saw this case properly. Since it came from Kim & Joe Law Firm······.”

Attorney Kim Ji-ho smiled without saying anything in return and extended his hand to me.

“Let’s shake hands after the trial.”

“You’re so prickly, perhaps because you’re young.”

I shoot him a look.

Attorney Kim Ji-ho is someone who tries to defend Han Ji-min even though he knows she is a murderer.

“Why are you defending that piece of trash?”

“Because he is my client.”

It’s a clear answer.

Shh.

I just smiled.

“Lawyers also need to find work by looking at people.”

Before the judge came in, Detective Ji-cheol whispered to me quietly.

“Prosecutor, this is the first time I’ve seen someone from Kim & Joe appear in a military trial.”

“They either have that much money or······.”

I looked at attorney Kim Ji-ho and spoke coldly to Ji-cheol.

“He might be involved in this incident.”

“Suddenly related?”

Kim Jun-tae, founder of Kim & Joe, one of Korea’s leading law firms.

That son of a bitch used his position to exonerate criminals.

He is a lawyer with a genius talent for changing guilt to innocence with money.

Attorney Ji-ho Kim of his law firm.

You’re a lawyer who’s crazy about money, right?

He’ll be him······.

“So this is how I get to meet that son of a bitch’s subordinate.”

I’m so angry I feel like my eyes are going to burst.

No, let’s calm down.

What’s important now is the trial I’m in charge of.

Instead of the young man who lost his precious life in a conspiracy, we must first take ‘revenge by law’!

Damn it.

Damn it.

The judge appeared on a high podium.

“This is Judge Jeong Ji-han, the presiding judge. Everyone, stand!”

Everyone stood up.

He walks slowly and looks at me and the lawyer once.

“Haha. Today’s trial is a showdown between a young prosecutor and an experienced lawyer.”

Bow.

Attorney Kim Ji-ho bowed his head.

I didn’t do that.

The suspended judge took his seat.

The court ushers provided the audience with information regarding courtroom rules.

“Then, we will begin the trial for the murder case today.”

The judge looked at me and spoke coldly.

“Prosecutor Kang Ji-hyeok will explain the outline of the case and then we will begin the trial.”