By Zephyria 
Lee-eum parked his car in front of the café and took out the medicine bottle he had hidden in the corner. When he had swallowed several pills at once in the hospital to get through the crisis, the symptoms had subsided quickly. He hadn’t done anything crazy like sleeping with Choi Won-joon, but the anxiety hadn’t gone away since.
He found out that there were several drugs that could promote a heat cycle. He couldn’t know what kind of drug and how much of it was put in the food he ate that day. He wanted to ask Choi Won-joon, but he knew he wouldn’t get an honest answer, so he gave up.
He opened the medicine bottle and saw that there were only a few pills left. He would have to wait a long time for Yoo Seol-ah to come to Korea. He just hoped he could hold out until then. Lee-eum put the medicine in his pocket, got out of the car, and went into the café. As he opened the door, Lee Ye-sol, the reporter, waved her hand from the corner by the window.
“Welcome, Detective Kim.”
“It’s been a while.”
“Please sit down. I ordered the tea in advance, I hope that’s okay?”
As he sat down, the owner brought two drinks. The café, away from the downtown area, was quiet, and there were no other employees, as if the owner was running the business alone.
“What was that story you told me on the phone? You said that Director Park Chang-shik of Sehwa Construction met with you before he went missing.”
“Before that, let me ask you something. By any chance, is the arsonist from the other day’s fire related to the torso murder on the hiking trail?”
Lee-eum didn’t answer. He thought it was not something to be said carelessly because it was related to the investigation and was not reported in detail in the media. Lee Ye-sol smiled as he kept his mouth shut.
“Let’s reveal one thing at a time. If you reveal one, I’ll reveal one too.”
“Is it that important of information?”
“I don’t know if it’s important, but I think you’ll be interested.”
Lee Ye-sol confidently raised the corners of her mouth. She was a six-year veteran reporter in the social affairs department and had covered quite a few major cases. Recently, she had not been on good terms with the police because she had attracted public attention last year by exposing a case involving a high-ranking police official.
Team Leader Oh would have said something if he knew that he had met her today. Lee-eum had a feeling of discomfort and respect for her at the same time. She was a rare person these days who showed a thorough sense of professionalism, when reporters were often called “Giregi” (a derogatory term for journalists).
“You go first, reporter.”
Lee Ye-sol made a face as if she was fed up.
“You look so nice, but you’re surprisingly picky.”
When Lee-eum didn’t open his mouth, she sighed briefly and took out a diary and spread it on the desk. There was a business card in the diary, and Park Chang-shik’s name was written on it exactly. She placed the business card at the very top.
“A few months ago, Director Park Chang-shik contacted me through his secretary. He said he wanted to meet me separately, so I made an appointment at a Japanese restaurant.”
“And then?”
“I was wondering why a person who was a director of a construction company, not even the public relations team, would want to meet me. But he wasn’t alone.”
“……?”
“He brought a younger brother who he said was a close friend, but people like us know when we see it. I could smell something fishy.”
“Was it Yang Taek-il?”
“That’s right.”
Her explanation was like this. The two of them came out for dinner that day, and soon the largest complex in Korea would be built in Yongam New Town. It was something she already knew, so she didn’t think much of it at first, but what caught her interest was the story that followed.
“Originally, Suin Construction was also greedy for it, but it was as good as Sehwa being chosen as the construction company even before the selection process. He said that there was some kind of connection between the higher-ups at Sehwa and that he had evidence of it.”
“Director Park wanted you to write an article based on that evidence.”
“What’s my nickname? Chaebol Sniper. He must have contacted me because he was afraid that he would stir things up and get caught in the crossfire.”
“What did you say?”
“To be honest, I had nothing to lose. I told him that I would write an article as soon as he brought the evidence.”
“And then you lost contact?”
Lee Ye-sol nodded. At first, she thought he had changed his mind. That was until she heard the story that the man who was with him at the time was found dismembered on the hiking trail. She came to the conclusion that Director Park was missing because she couldn’t reach him.
“Now it’s your turn, Detective Kim.”
Lee-eum paused before opening his mouth.
“The abductor reported in yesterday’s article is Yang Taek-il’s Hyung. He is on the run, and a large amount of blood and hair were found at the scene. There has been no statement from the victim yet, but it is speculated that there may be multiple victims.”
“Hey, that’s weak. Don’t you have anything else?”
“It is possible that his Hyung killed and mutilated Yang Taek-il.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know yet. However, there was a neighbor’s testimony that there was a fight before he died, and he made a false statement about Yang Taek-il, so I think there is a high possibility.”
Then Lee Ye-sol tilted her head. She asked what the criminal who had turned himself in last time was, but Lee-eum couldn’t bring himself to tell her the truth.
“Then what about Director Park? Where did Director Park go?”
“I don’t know. But,”
Lee-eum stopped talking. However, there was one thing that came to mind. He was full of suspicion, but after meeting Lee Ye-sol today and listening to her story, he was convinced. If the two of them had joined hands to screw over Sehwa Construction, and if Choi Won-joon had known about it, then…
He’s the kind of guy who casually drugs a detective. Would he have left the two of them alone?
“Do you have any idea where he is?”
“No. But I think it would be better for you to stay out of this.”
“Why? Am I in danger too?”
Lee-eum didn’t answer. She was a person who was proud of her work. Two years ago, she made headlines by putting a third-generation Chaebol on the stand. However, she was transferred to another department after that, and she only returned at the beginning of this year. He had a feeling that this time it wouldn’t end with a demotion, so he wanted to stop her if possible.
“That’s why I came to you, Detective Kim. Because if I die, you’ll catch the culprit.”
Lee-eum laughed.
“You’ve come to the wrong person. I don’t have that kind of ability.”
“Why? You pushed through the Kim Ji-cheol case like a bulldozer.”
Yes, that was when he was a rookie detective and didn’t care about anything. What was the result? The guy was released due to insufficient evidence, and only the small fry were dragged in. After that, the team that Lee-eum belonged to was investigated by the Board of Audit and Inspection. The team leader at the time took responsibility and stepped down, and the team was disbanded.
No matter how righteous Kim Yi-eum was, the police were an organization. If he danced with a sword all by himself, the sparks could fall on his colleagues. He regretted becoming a police officer for the first time on the day he realized that.
“You have a lot on your mind.”
Lee-eum smiled bitterly and looked out the window. He was looking at the people passing by and organizing his thoughts in his head when he received a call from the team leader at the station. Lee-eum finished his conversation with the reporter and got up from his seat.
“I have to go in. See you next time.”
“Okay. See you again.”
Lee-eum said goodbye and turned around, but went back to his seat after reaching the entrance. He hesitated for a moment before opening his mouth.
“Reporter Lee. Do you know CEO Choi Won-joon of Sehwa Construction well?”
“Why do you think I know him well?”
“You’re a Chaebol Sniper, aren’t you?”
Lee Ye-sol leaned forward and sparkled her eyes.
“Why? Do you think he killed Director Park?”
Maybe she wanted to ask that question from the beginning. Lee-eum shook his head.
“I’m asking because I’m personally curious.”
“I don’t know him very well. The guys I mainly know are the ones with a lot of sins.”
“Choi Won-joon has no sins?”
“Rather than no sins, I should say he hides them skillfully. There’s something fishy about him, but nothing comes out, and his reputation is good. People say he’s better as a successor than his Hyungs. In fact, Sehwa Construction has grown a lot since Choi Won-joon took over. He’s smart, and his personal life is relatively clean compared to other Chaebols.”
Lee-eum made a suspicious expression at the story of his personal life. He heard that he was a slut. He couldn’t bring himself to talk about it, so he finished the conversation and got up from his seat, but Lee Ye-sol snapped her fingers.
“Ah, I remember! That person was kidnapped when he was young.”
[I was kidnapped when I was young. I couldn’t sleep for three days and nights.]
Was it the truth, not a trick?
“The article was blocked at the time, but how can that be hidden? Our director was at the desk at the time. They said that the young child came back on his own feet a few days after being kidnapped, and it was a mess.”
What does that mean? He came back on his own feet.
“In person?”
“Yes. A passing driver found him, and he was covered in blood, so they immediately reported it.”
“Was he that badly injured?”
Lee Ye-sol slowly shook her head.
“No. Choi Won-joon had nothing but a few scratches.”
“Whose blood was it?”
Lee Ye-sol shrugged her shoulders.
“I don’t know. But the director said that when he was drunk. If you want to have a long career as a reporter, don’t touch Sehwa. Remember that.”
Don’t touch Sehwa. Sehwa…
Lee Ye-sol smiled as she watched Kim Yi-eum repeat the words.
“If you’re curious, ask CEO Choi Won-joon the rest yourself.”