Chapter 14
The interview proposed by KBN turned out to be more significant than expected.
It was planned as a two-part series, airing just before the 8 PM news, where the story of solving a 15-year-old cold case would be told in a Q&A format.
Originally, the plan was for the detectives of Team 3 of Kangjung Police Station's Violent Crimes Division to take turns participating in the interview.
However, Captain Myeong Geon-hyung actively accepted Detective Kim Seok-ho's suggestion and made a counter-proposal to the KBN reporter who had made the initial offer.
The response was surprisingly positive.
"You're the detective who recently solved the murder case hidden behind a traffic accident, right? Detective Lee Joo-won?"
Reporter Young So-hee had previously written an article about Joo-won.
She was a young reporter in the social affairs department of KBN, highly regarded by the department head.
In fact, the department head had even facilitated the connection between her and Captain Myeong Geon-hyung, recognizing her capabilities.
"That sounds good. It will be a two-part series. Thank you, Captain."
And so, Joo-won completed the first interview.
The broadcast aired two days after the interview took place.
<"...At the time, we discovered that the timing and locations of the two cases were closely related, and I sensed it wasn't a coincidence. So, I started looking for connections between the elementary school teacher victim and the Kim Gab-du case...">
Solving cold cases is rare.
Unless it's a case from before the advancement of forensic science, finding something special is not easy.
But this case was different.
Joo-won caught the mistakes made by past detectives and ultimately solved the cold case.
In return, Joo-won became a star.
"The response is huge! Wow, changing it to a solo interview with Detective Lee Joo-won instead of the whole team turned out to be a masterstroke."
"I told you it would work, Chief. That detective, his visuals are no joke—it was bound to be a hit. The ratings were through the roof."
"Just the ratings? Have you ever seen a news video on YouTube get that many views? It's almost idol-level."
The head of KBN's social affairs department and Reporter Young So-hee exchanged bright smiles.
"You have the second part of the interview today, right? Make sure to build a good connection. He doesn't seem like an ordinary cop."
Of course, things weren't quiet at Kangjung Police Station either.
"Look who it is! The detective who's great at Vietnamese and solving cold cases—Detective Lee Joo-won, the rising star!"
Detectives from various teams at Kangjung Station couldn't stop praising Joo-won.
"Haha, don't hype me up too much."
"You didn't speak Vietnamese on the broadcast? Why not? You should've! How many cops do you know who can speak Vietnamese? You should show that off!"
"Detective Lee, you were so cool! You don't even need camera filters—you're just naturally handsome!"
Even a female officer passing by handed Joo-won a coffee, leaving him slightly embarrassed as he smiled and sat down.
He checked the time—it was already 10 AM.
Soon, it would be time for the interview with the KBN reporter.
Joo-won headed to Team Leader Gu Jin-gu's desk.
"Team Leader, I have an interview this afternoon..."
"Yeah, go ahead."
Team Leader Gu gestured, and as Joo-won was packing up, a sandwich was placed on his desk.
Joo-won turned his head and saw Detective Kim Seok-ho.
"Detective Kim?"
"I thought you might not have had time to eat properly with all the running around lately."
Detective Kim Seok-ho looked at Joo-won with an awkward expression.
"If you're not hungry, I can take it back."
"No, it's fine. Thank you, Detective Kim."
Joo-won smiled, and Detective Kim Seok-ho returned to his seat, still looking uncomfortable.
Since that team dinner, Detective Kim Seok-ho's attitude had done a complete 180.
Perhaps he had realized that his previous behavior hadn't been appropriate.
There was no more absurd nitpicking.
As Juwon, with a bright face, unwrapped the bread he received from Sergeant Kim Seok-ho, Terra's voice echoed.
[What a magnificent bastard.]
‘Can you stop swearing? You're not a foul-mouthed granny, but a foul-mouthed AI?’
[It's the swear words in Juwon's mind.]
Anyway.
It never loses an argument.
‘Alright, I was wrong. I’ll correct it.’
[Yes, understood. What kind of bastard should I correct it to?]
At this point, it's clear that the alien AI really has a knack for sarcasm.
‘Correct it to Sergeant Kim Seok-ho.’
[Yes.]
‘Anyway, the answers are half-hearted.’
Shaking his head, Juwon headed to KBN Broadcasting Station.
11th floor of KBN Broadcasting Station.
It's where the small studio is located.
The first interview also took place here.
Perhaps because of that, Juwon walked through the broadcasting station corridor with a somewhat familiar face.
“Please wait here for a moment, Detective. We’ll call you.”
“Yes, understood.”
Following the guidance of the broadcasting station staff, Juwon entered the waiting room.
The content of today's interview was about the situation in which Kim Gab-doo was caught, and the subsequent process of his transfer to the prosecution and the trial he would face.
Thud.
Juwon sat down on the sofa in the waiting room.
Then, he glanced over the question sheet in front of him.
All the questions had been sent by KBN reporter Young So-hee a few days ago.
Still, Juwon carefully reviewed the questions once again.
“……The suspect, who noticed I was a police officer, immediately pulled out a cutter knife from his pocket and threatened me. Therefore, I judged the situation to be dangerous and……”
A little later, in the studio.
The second interview was proceeding without any issues.
“This isn’t on the question sheet, but may I ask something?”
Young So-hee, the social affairs reporter from KBN who was conducting the interview, asked a question that wasn’t planned.
“Yes, of course.”
“Weren’t you scared? Even though you’re a police officer, it must have been quite frightening to have a criminal pointing a knife at you, right?”
A few days ago, Juwon had heard something from Chief Myung Geon-hyung.
Reporter Young So-hee was known to be a capable journalist, even recognized by the head of KBN’s social affairs department.
Juwon could immediately tell that this was true.
A journalist’s mission is to inform the public about what’s happening in society and the world, quickly and accurately, without bias or distortion.
And Reporter Young So-hee seemed to understand that mission well.
Clearly, while the interview was likely planned to highlight the police officer who solved an unsolved case, her questions were all focused on the facts.
[She occasionally asked questions that could be uncomfortable regarding Juwon’s personal life.]
‘Well, that’s just her doing her job as a reporter.’
Juwon opened his mouth.
“I was scared. Of course, I was scared. I’m human, after all. Especially when a repeat offender was glaring at me, ready to harm me at any moment. It was no joke.”
“That’s an honest answer. Still, what was the reason you didn’t run away and instead confronted the armed suspect?”
“Run away?”
Juwon let out a small smile.
Then he answered very simply.
“Because I’m a police officer. That’s all there is to it.”
“Thank you for your hard work.”
After the interview ended, Reporter Young So-hee greeted Juwon, who was drinking water in the waiting room.
“Ah, Reporter Young, you’ve worked hard too.”
“Here.”
But suddenly, Reporter Young So-hee handed something to Juwon.
It was a chocolate.
“You must not be used to such interviews, but thank you for doing your best. You must be tired, so please have this on your way back to the police station.”
At that moment, murmuring voices could be heard from the waiting room door.
“Wow, what’s going on? Reporter Young isn’t usually like that, is she? Why is she acting so out of character?”
“PD, our senior has a warm heart, you know. Sigh… it’s sad.”
“Sad? Why is Reporter Kim suddenly sad?”
“To think that senior’s bright, beautiful eyes are only directed at that wolf-like detective…”
“She’s gone crazy. No matter how pretty she is, Reporter Young seems like the type who wouldn’t even bleed if you poked her… And her bright eyes are beautiful? They’re just scary…”
Suddenly, the volume of the murmurs lowered.
It was because of the sharp gaze of Reporter Young So-hee, who was standing next to Juwon.
“Ahem! I’ll go back to the studio to organize the remaining materials!”
“Ah, I think I left the camera on… I should go check.”
And just like that, the onlookers left, leaving only Juwon and Reporter Young So-hee in the waiting room.
“Do detectives like instant coffee? Ah, is that a stereotype?”
In the awkward silence, Young So-hee turned toward the water dispenser.
“Well, instant coffee is high in calories and convenient, so I do have a soft spot for it.”
“Would you like a cup, then?”
“No, I’ve already had coffee today. Water is fine.”
At Juwon’s words, Young So-hee filled a cup with water from the dispenser and placed it in front of him.
The waiting room fell silent again.
The interview was over.
But the two of them didn’t leave.
Juwon stayed for one reason.
It seemed like Young So-hee had something to say.
And finally, she spoke.
“Have you heard about the ‘Korea University illegal filming distribution case’ that was a big issue last month?”
Juwon rolled his eyes for a moment before nodding.
A month ago, a Korea University student had illegally filmed and distributed footage of his girlfriend, a fellow student.
As Korea University was one of the top universities in South Korea, the entire nation’s attention was focused on the horrific incident that had occurred there.
“I know about it. The victim couldn’t bear the public scrutiny and eventually dropped out, and the fact that the victim still has to hide is something that has angered the entire nation…”
“She committed suicide.”
“What?”
This was the first time Juwon had heard this.
“It hasn’t been reported yet. The case is under the jurisdiction of the Gangnam Police Station, but there’s something fishy about it.”
So that’s why he hadn’t heard.
Juwon nodded and looked at Young So-hee.
“What’s bothering you about it?”
“All the circumstances surrounding the victim’s death didn’t suggest suicide. She had plans to meet a friend that evening, and according to the friend she spoke to the day before, her voice sounded fine. And no suicide note was found.”
“So you think it’s a murder disguised as suicide?”
“Yes. Crucially, she jumped from the rooftop of her officetel, but her shoes were found at home.”
“At home?”
“If it were suicide, she would have taken off her shoes right before jumping from the rooftop. Who would take off their shoes at home and then go up barefoot?”
At that moment, Terra’s voice chimed in.
[Reporter Young So-hee’s remarks are solely focused on the possibility of murder. We shouldn’t rule out the possibility of suicide. Reporter Young, you’re showing a slightly different attitude today compared to your usual reputation.]
‘But she’s not wrong. It’s strange, isn’t it? Going barefoot from home all the way to the rooftop.’
Juwon spoke up again.
“But if it’s under the jurisdiction of the Gangnam Police Station, why not ask the detectives there? Why come to me…”
“You caught the culprit in the elementary school teacher murder case by not overlooking even the smallest oddities, didn’t you?”
Young So-hee’s gaze fixed on Juwon. At the same time, Terra’s voice echoed in his mind.
[It seems that reporter Young So-hee asked for your help because of that. You, Juwon, are not just a police officer who handles cases routinely, but one who meticulously goes through every detail to solve a case.]
‘Terra, there are many people who work hard in their own positions silently.’
Juwon fell into thought for a moment.
Then, he nodded shortly after.
“Thank you.”
Juwon left the waiting room and walked down the hallway.
‘But reporter Young So-hee, she seems to have a strong sense of duty.’
Uncovering the truth of a case is indeed a reporter’s job.
However, the look in reporter Young So-hee’s eyes earlier didn’t seem much different from that of any other police officer.
Though she appeared somewhat reserved and composed, the determination in her eyes to catch the culprit was unmistakable.
Then, suddenly, Terra said something strange.
[The victim of the illegal filming distribution case at Korea University, Young So-yeon, suffered from albinism.]
Juwon’s footsteps halted.
“What?”
[Albinism is a congenital genetic disorder characterized by a deficiency of melanin, leading to reduced pigmentation in the eyes, skin, and hair.]
“And?”
[Reporter Young So-hee also showed similar traits to albinism. Did you notice her eye color is lighter than most people’s? Even if she hasn’t been diagnosed with albinism, she probably has a melanin deficiency compared to the average person.]
“Ah…….”
Now that I think about it, that seems to be the case.
I didn’t consciously notice it, but her eyes had a captivating quality, almost like looking at a foreigner.
[And look at the names. The victim of the illegal filming distribution case at Korea University is named Young So-yeon. Young So-hee, Young So-yeon. The names are quite similar to be just a coincidence.]
“What? Hey, are you saying…?”
[If we assume they are sisters, considering their ages, Young So-hee could be the older sister of Young So-yeon.]
Juwon turned his body and looked back at the waiting room he had just left.
‘Did she request this case because it involves her sister?’
