Chapter 29
“Yah! Let go of me!! You bastards…… Yah! Do you know who I am?!”
Inside the construction site, the police and President Seo Jinsang's men got tangled up and became a mess. There were those who meekly put down the wooden sticks they were holding, while there were those who were forcibly suppressed while holding the wooden sticks until the end.
“Do you think I'll end like this?! Uh?!!”
President Seo Jinsang, who was the first to be subdued, was struggling. Seo Jinsang, who was being dragged by both arms, shouted to Hyunsoo.
“I'm not staying still! I'm not going to die like this!!”
However, Hyunsoo only smiled and did not respond. Seo Jinsang was more enraged at his reaction and left the factory gate.
“I'm not gonna let you go!! Wait and see!!!”
“Haa…… His voice is really loud.”
Hyunsoo picked his ears.
Then, after checking that Seo Jinsang and his men were dragged out of the factory, he took out his cell phone.
“…….”
The cell phone’s screen flashed on.
Hyunsoo, who was looking at the empty screen for a while, turned again to see if there was a waiting contact.
At that time.
President Seo Jinsang, who was dragged out of the factory, quickly rolled his eyes to find his secretary. Then he shouted in a loud voice as he saw the secretary being pulled over by the car next to him.
“Call President Lee right away! Got it?”
“Yes! I understand…….”
Seo Jinsang got into the car with the voice of the secretary moving away. His expression was quite flushed by the unexpected situation. But Seo Jinsang did not lose hope. Without knowing that it was a vain hope.
“……I can't die like this.”
The car started with Seo Jinsang opening his eyes wide.
* * *
After a while.
Hyunsoo was driving back to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency with Police Officer Kim Yoojoon.
Jiing-
Hyunsoo’s cell phone vibrated. Hyunsoo immediately turned on his cell phone and answered the call. The caller was President Park.
“Uh, go ahead.”
-The things you asked me to find out? It seems that Inspector-nim’s guess was correct.
On the day he stopped by Sangji Police Station to find out the truth about the incident, Hyunsoo suspected the police were involved in the incident.
A restraining order from above.
Obviously, in addition to Sangma Construction, a larger company had contact with the upper part of Sangji Police Station.
Daesang Construction.
Hyunsoo's guess was this.
Daesang Construction, which worked with Sangma Construction, must have colluded with the police to protect Sangma Construction.
Hyunsoo, who caught a glimpse of Police Officer Kim Yoojoon, who was driving, slightly covered his mouth and said.
“Is there a connection?”
-Yes, I confirmed that Lee Yoonjae, president of Daesang Construction, and Sangji Police Station’s chief had a meal together. It seemed like they were talking for quite a long time.
“Okay. I'll call you back.”
Hyunsoo put down his cell phone. His guess was correct.
Sangma Construction and Daesang Construction were connected, and for Sangma Construction, Daesang Construction blocked the mouth of the Sangji Police Station. It was highly likely that the chief of Sangji Police Station was involved.
‘There's no place that's not rotten.’
Daesang Construction negotiated with the police to cover up their illegal activities. And the medium of the negotiations was mostly.
‘Money.’
Or a position.
Sangji Police Station gave in to the temptation.
Looking at the road visible through the front window, Hyunsoo smiled lightly.
‘The inheritance wasn't in vain.’
If it was money that led them, it would be money that would bring them down. No, Hyunsoo intended to make it that way.
For money, illegal construction companies, police who had forgotten their duty. All of them would be ruined for money.
* * *
After a while.
President Seo Jinsang, who had arrived first, was sitting in the interrogation room of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency.
“He’s still not picking up?!”
He was stomping his feet next to his secretary, who took the phone and made a call. On the secretary's cell phone, only the ringing tone continued. The secretary who hung up the phone shook his head while looking at Seo Jinsang.
“Yes, maybe…… I think he's not picking up on purpose.”
“……What? Give it to me.”
Seo Jinsang, who took the cell phone from the secretary, called again to the number marked ‘President Lee of Daesang Construction’.
“……Why the hell…… Why!!”
However, all that followed was the ringing tone. President Lee Yoonjae's voice, which was his only hope, was not heard. Feeling frustrated, Seo Jinsang jumped up from his seat and called again.
Ttu-Ttu-
The connecting sound was getting longer, and again, the desired voice was not heard.
“Why, why isn’t he picking up……!! President Lee is the only one who can save us now…….”
Seo Jinsang hit the table with his palm with a frustrated expression.
It was then.
Ting- A text message popped up on his phone
Seo Jinsang quickly raised his head and looked at his phone.
“…….”
And when he saw the text on the screen, President Seo Jinsang's face turned white.
[ Daesang Construction President Lee Yoonjae-nim - Let's stop contacting now. You know what I mean, right? Stop here for your mother in the countryside. ]
Seo Jinsang slumped down in the chair. His face was as pale as a ghost. The bewildered secretary looked at President Seo Jinsang.
“Pre, President-nim…… What's wrong with you? What did he say…….”
Stiff body and bloodshot eyes.
Seo Jinsang grabbed the phone and slammed it on the table.
“No!!!”
In the interrogation room, the sound of the cell phone hitting the table rang several times. But that was it.
Seo Jinsang, who saw the message from President Lee Yoonjae, could not do anything more. Seo Jinsang bit his lips until they bled, and hit his head on the table.
“…….”
This was the end. No one could get him out of here anymore.
* * *
At that time.
Hyun-soo, who got out of the car, was walking in the parking lot of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency.
“Lee Yoonjae will definitely abandon Seo Jinsang, then…….”
Hyunsoo was entering the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency while looking at his cell phone. He folded and unfolded his fingers, muttering to himself as he moved along.
“This time, Sangma Construction…….”
There was a man watching him from afar.
It was Han Daesung, the Team Leader of Team 2.
The corner of the parking lot.
Team Leader Han Daesung, who was smoking a cigarette in an inconspicuous place hidden by a tree, exhaled smoke.
“What is he going to do…….”
Then came his worried sigh.
Team Leader Han Daesung was a former police officer and was raised to the position of the team leader of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Major Crime Investigation team. He had been in the police force for quite some time, and he had watched all kinds of police.
Police officers like Heo Insung made money from minor corruption and maintained personal connections. Police officers like Hyunsoo risked everything for their sense of duty.
And he had watched the end of both. Police like Hyunsoo usually disappeared.
That was why Team Leader Han Daesung was more and more careful. He was also a person with a sense of justice, but for the sake of his parents and family he had to support, he closed his eyes and kept the line as much as he could. Therefore, he respected Hyunsoo, who was a junior, but did not shy away.
A guy who attacked without hesitation, a guy who went forward unconditionally for the sake of the victim, even if it meant hitting a disadvantage himself.
He thought he was the most police-like police. So he thought Hyunsoo wouldn't disappear so easily from the National Police Agency like the police who were similar to him.
However.
‘……It's dangerous now.’
The atmosphere in the police station was flowing in a different direction than before. The eyes of his fellow police officers, who had been ignoring him as just an idiot, changed, and at the same time, the media began to focus on him. If this was the case, Hyunsoo would definitely be noticed by those from above.
Team Leader Han Daesung, who dropped the cigarette to the ground, put the fire out with his foot. He couldn't just watch Hyunsoo.
Team Leader Han Daesung stood up. And when he was about to walk, someone tapped Team Leader Han Daesung on the shoulder.
“Excuse me, may I know where Inspector Lee Hyunsoo-nim is?”
“……Who are you?”
* * *
“You didn't forget the promise to let me do the interview, right?”
Corridor of Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency.
It was Reporter Seo Gaeun who visited Hyunsoo.
Hyunsoo smiled as he bowed his head at Team Leader Han Daesung, who came with Reporter Seo Gaeun.
“You work hard until late.”
“You promised, so don't say anything else.”
“It’s true, then…….”
“Inspector Lee.”
When Hyunsoo was about to accept the interview, Team Leader Han Daesung interrupted.
“Yes?”
“Let's talk for a minute.”
* * *
“If you do an interview, the public will pay more attention, it's different from the last time you were a star on CCTV, Inspector Lee.”
“What's wrong with you all of a sudden, Team Leader-nim?”
“If that happens, the above will pay attention to you. You know, the people from above. If they don't like it, they will change things as they please.”
Team Leader Han Daesung's eyes were serious. Then Hyunsoo squinted his eyes and said.
“Team Leader Han, are you really worried about me?”
“Inspector Lee, I'm not kidding…….”
“Don't worry. Even if I seem like a reckless guy, I move while thinking.” “No, I mean…….”
Hyunsoo waved off Han Daesung. Then, saying don't worry, he passed him and headed for Reporter Seo Gaeun.
“Inspector Lee, listen to me for a second…….”
Leaving Team Leader Han Daesung behind, Hyunsoo approached Reporter Seo Gaeun and gently opened his mouth.
“Reporter Seo, do you know many reporters?”
“Reporters I know? Well, there's a lot.”
“Then call some.”
“Those……reporters? To interview Detective-nim?”
Hyunsoo smiled. Then Team Leader Han Daesung approached and screamed.
“Yah! Even if you hear my words……!”
“No, not me.”
Hyunsoo shook his head. Team Leader Han Daesung and Reporter Seo Gaeun tilted their heads at the same time.
“Then?”
“Only Reporter Seo can do my interview, and one more person can do it with the other reporters.”
“Who?”
* * *
“Hahahaha, I'm the only one who wholeheartedly supported…….”
The next day, early in the morning.
Kim Taek, the Commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, was sitting in the room with a bright expression on his face and reporters pressing flash at him.
“Still, isn't it true that Commissioner-nim's support helped Inspector Lee Hyunsoo-nim to catch the construction company hiding the massive corruption funds?”
“Well, if you look at it that way, it could be. Hahahaha!”
Commissioner Kim Taek burst into a hearty laugh. Then, questions from reporters poured in, and Commissioner Kim Taek's smile continued.
And in front of the door.
Team Leader Han Daesung approached Hyunsoo, who was watching the whole situation. He looked at Hyunsoo with a face full of worries and confusion.
“Are you still worried?”
Hyunsoo uttered in a small voice.
“I don't know what the hell you’re up to. Looking at it like this.”
“It's not the reputation I need, it's the trust.”
“What?”
Hyunsoo slowly smiled at Team Leader Han Daesung, whose eyes were round.
“You don't have to worry about me.”