Who threatened Cheonma Hara with a knife - Chapter 109



Only Krnovel

◈Episode 109◈

Successor Game

Cheongsong Special Prison Investigation Headquarters.

The detectives in the unsolved crimes unit turned their attention to Kim Han-gyeol.

Detective Bang Jin-woo asked openly.

“Detective Kim, who is the culprit?”

“curious?”

“Of course I’m curious. I came all the way to prison to catch that guy.”

“I’ll teach you for free, but······.”

Kim Han-gyeol looked at her with a spiteful expression.

Detective Bang Jin-woo is about to ask Shin Dae-seong directly with a dumbfounded expression.

Kim Han-gyeol raised his hand and said.

“I have an urgent suggestion. It seems like we’ve been just putting our spoons on the table that Detective Shin has set up. How about holding a competition this time?”

Team leader Park Dong-hee glanced at Kim Han-gyeol.

“What kind of nonsense are you talking about? A competition all of a sudden? We’re not celebrities or singers······.”

“I am saying this out of a sincere desire to raise the level of the special task force for unsolved cases.”

“Isn’t it more like playfulness rather than loyalty?”

“Chief, think about it. What would happen if Detective Shin had an accident and quit his job? It would be a huge blow to the unsolved cases unit.”

“Hey, where did you come up with such nonsense! Don’t you know that words can become seeds?”

Kim Han-gyeol responded to Manager Park Dong-hee, calming him down.

“That’s what I mean. Detective Shin never knows when or what will happen to him. How much of the power do you think Detective Shin has in the unsolved case unit? 50%? 60%? I don’t know exactly, but I think there’s no disagreement that it’s more than half.”

“That’s true······.”

“How about choosing a successor to Detective Shin on this occasion?”

“heir?”

“In the absence of Detective Shin, we are going to select someone in advance who will take the initiative to solve the case. Of course, Chief Park should take charge, but isn’t he busy dealing with reporters and trying to please his superiors?”

I earnestly stated that I do not have the investigative ability.

“Please keep talking.”

“Chief Park maintains a negligent investigation that recognizes the individual characteristics of each detective. This is also thanks to the outstanding capabilities of the detectives in the unsolved case special unit. However! If they are all so outstanding, problems can arise.”

“What problem? I don’t know yet?”

“We trust and follow Detective Shin’s decisions, even though he is the lowest in rank. Is it because of his age? No. We trust and follow Detective Shin’s investigative ability. Imagine a situation where Detective Shin is not around.”

“What should I imagine······”

“If they are all excellent, why would they listen to others? Even if Chief Park gives orders, they will investigate in their own way. Why? Because they think they are the best at investigating.”

Manager Park Dong-hee nodded in agreement.

“It does sound convincing, but······.”

“In times like these, we establish a command system in advance. The special task force for unsolved cases prioritizes investigative capabilities.”

“The idea is to decide in advance on a successor that other detectives will accept and follow.”

“That’s it. Today is the chance, and I have a special offer. Whoever becomes Detective Shin’s successor will receive a couple’s trip to Hawaii. My mother gave it to me. You’ll fly first class and stay at the best hotel in Hawaii.”

Manager Park Dong-hee asked Shin Dae-seong.

“What do you think, Senior Shin?”

“Detective Kim sometimes says the right thing. Today seems to be that day. I’ll also bet a prize on whoever becomes my successor. I’ll take 500,000 won in cash for the Hawaiian trip and 10,000,000 won in fines.”

“Then I can’t miss out, right? I will take responsibility for the 14-night, 15-day reward vacation for the person chosen as Senior Shin’s successor. You should take your time going to Hawaii. Right?”

In that moment, the reactions of the detectives in the unsolved crimes unit changed.

At first, he took it as a joke and listened to it half-heartedly, but when he heard that it included a 14-night, 15-day vacation with a trip to Hawaii worth 5 million won, he began to show a strong determination towards his successor.

Shin Soo-ah raised her hand first and asked.

“What are the qualifications to participate?”

Kim Han-gyeol answered as if he had been waiting.

“Detective Shin and I, who know the answer, are excluded. And Chief Park, who is the judge, is excluded. The rest of us are left to our own free will. The person who catches the murderer of our precious child first will be chosen as the successor.”

“Can I match it right now?”

“Wow~ Whoa~ Whoa~ Detective Shin is surprisingly impatient. You only get one chance. And I can guarantee you that the inmate you’re thinking of right now is not the culprit.”

“!”

“I will give you three hints in total. Use them well to guess the culprit. When you figure out who the culprit is, come to me quietly and tell me.”

Detective Bang Jin-woo asked.

“Can I take a picture?”

“That’s a very honest statement. It’s a one in seven chance, so it’s worth a try. But it doesn’t suit the qualifications of a successor. You also have to find out how you were identified as the culprit.”

“It won’t work······.”

Bang Jin-woo shook his head and showed a reaction that was almost like giving up.

-Clap clap clap!

Kim Han-gyeol clapped his hands and gathered everyone’s attention.

“Here’s your first hint. Before dinner time, you can interrogate seven suspects. You can either extract a confession or catch the culprit.”

Detective Seo Min-ju asked.

“What happens when detectives are focused on one suspect?”

“Please choose your turn. It doesn’t matter who asks what questions. Just make sure you ask before dinner time. Is everyone ready?”

“······.”

There was no answer, but the battle of wits was fierce.

“Suspects, please remain seated. The detectives will be on their way. Let’s go!”

As soon as Kim Han-gyeol’s signal was given, the detectives rushed in.

The battle for seats is fierce.

Three detectives were all at once on suspect number four.

Manager Park Dong-hee asked Kim Han-gyeol.

“What is suspect number 4’s name?”

“My name is Kim Soo-jae. I was a fund manager by profession, and I was charged with revenge murder. I honked the horn and chased after a car that passed me, killing the driver and the passenger.”

“He’s definitely not normal.”

Then, Manager Park Dong-hee asked in a lowered voice.

“Who is the real culprit? You can tell me, right?”

“That’s true… but… can you control your facial expressions? The participants can observe your reactions and find the culprit.”

“Don’t worry. When I set my mind to it, I can control my facial expressions better than anyone else. There was a time when I was even nicknamed the Stone Buddha.”

“Okay, now that Manager Park is on board, I should let him know. Listen here.”

“We’re already on the same boat… When Detective Kim came to the 3rd Violent Crimes Unit, we were already on the same boat.”

Kim Han-gyeol spoke with his mouth close to Manager Park Dong-hee’s ear.

‘The truth is, Detective Shin doesn’t know who the culprit is either. I just used my brain to buy time.’

“!”

‘You have to control your expression properly. I’m surprised that this guy is the culprit. Look at the suspects with a confident smile.’

* * *

Dinner time after the first hint.

Chief Park Dong-hee asked Shin Dae-seong, who remained in the investigation headquarters.

“Isn’t there a culprit here?”

“No, I’m sure there is, but I’m not sure.”

“Then why don’t you use the method of elimination? You’ll start by weeding out those who are definitely not the culprits.”

“I tried to do that too. But strangely, the feeling of unease doesn’t go away. The moment I take out one, the balance is disturbed… The one I was trying to exclude starts feeling suspicious again. This is the first time this has happened to me.”

Manager Park Dong-hee’s questions continued.

“The other detectives seem suspicious of number 4? What do you think, Detective Shin?”

“I’m still not sure. Detective Kim bought me some time, so I’ll have to investigate again.”

“Maybe other detectives can figure it out?”

“They all have a strong sense of pride in their investigations. They have the ability, so let’s wait and see what kind of answers they come up with.”

“I know who will tell me the answer the fastest.”

“Who are you?”

“Detective Bang. He will definitely point to number 4 as the culprit, and if you ask him why, he will just say that he feels that way.”

As soon as Manager Park Dong-hee finished speaking,

-dripping.

Detective Bang Jin-woo entered the investigation headquarters.

Manager Park Dong-hee asked.

“What’s going on?”

“I figured out who the culprit was.”

“There are still two hints left. Wouldn’t it be better to listen to them all and then decide?”

Detective Bang Jin-woo spoke as if he had made up his mind.

“No, I have a significantly poor ability to think. If I keep writing like this, my head will hurt even more. I want to talk right now and feel better.”

“Okay, I understand because I’m Detective Bang. Who do you think the culprit is?”

“I have decided number 4, that Kim Soo-jae is the culprit who murdered my son.”

“Why did you decide that Kim Soo-jae was the culprit?”

“Should I say that a strong feeling came into play?”

“Okay, I got it.”

“I don’t have to use my head anymore? Is that really okay? Is that right?”

“I told you, I got it!”

Detective Bang Jin-woo went back out only after being checked again.

Manager Park Dong-hee felt increasingly anxious.

“What if we can’t catch the culprit? We’ve received tremendous support from our higher-ups.”

“That can’t be happening.”

“If the impossible happens, my political career is over before it even begins?”

“Manager Park hated politics.”

“That’s true······ When I think about it carefully at home, I can’t help but imagine that a politician’s life wouldn’t be so bad either.”

-thud!

Kim Han-gyeol opened the door roughly and came in.

“It’s a surprise······.”

“Aren’t you two going to eat?”

Manager Park Dong-hee calmed down his surprised mind and responded.

“Do you think I can swallow food right now? I’m forcing myself to get on board······.”

“It’s your fault, sir. If I hadn’t told you, wouldn’t you have made a fuss about why I didn’t tell you? Since we’re on the same boat anyway, we’ll go all the way without getting caught.”

“How did the other detectives react?”

“It’s more intense than I expected. They’re trying their best to find the culprit. Right now, number 3 is the most suspicious.”

“Not number 4?”

“Suspect number 3’s lies have been revealed.”

Shin Dae-seong asked with a curious expression.

“What lie?”

“Suspect number 3 said he was with his younger brother that day. He wasn’t. His younger brother went down to the province for work, and Suspect number 3 was alone. I don’t know what he did.”

“Who found out?”

“Detective Shin Soo-ah revealed the lie.”

“Is it something you shared with everyone, not something you only know about?”

“The special task force for unsolved cases said it was important to catch the culprit accurately. That’s why other detectives decided to open up information as well.”

“okay?”

Kim Han-gyeol said with a jealous expression.

“Why are you smiling, Dad?”

“What is that smile, Dad?”

“That was Detective Shin’s smile that I just saw. It disappeared in 0.5 seconds, but it was definitely Dad’s smile.”

“I don’t know what it is, but I feel proud?”

“With that in mind, you should hurry up and find the culprit. Didn’t you get inside the culprit’s head?”

“I thought so······ Was I mistaken? Anyway, what are you going to do for the second hint?”

“Not yet. I was just thinking about it from now on.”

This is when Kim Han-gyeol scratches the back of his head and answers.

-Thud!

Detective Seo Min-ju opened the door hurriedly and came in.

“I figured out who the culprit is!”

Manager Park Dong-hee responded with a half-believing and half-doubting expression.

“Are you sure you really figured it out?”

“Yes, that’s for sure.”

“Okay, who do you think is the murderer of your dear friend?”

Detective Seo Min-ju opened her mouth with a serious expression.

“Suspect number 2 is the culprit.”