Chapter 22
"Detective Lee Joo-won's exceptional investigative skills didn't just stop at solving cold cases and uncovering murder cases disguised as traffic accidents, building an impressive track record."
The entrance of Kangjung Police Station comes into view.
Reporter Young So-hee stands in front of the camera, holding a microphone.
"He comforted the grievances of the victims and warmed the hearts of the bereaved families who lost their loved ones..."
Over the past few days, Reporter Young So-hee had been covering the cases solved by Joo-won.
"Okay, cut!"
Since Joo-won had already gained internet fame for solving cold cases in a special broadcast, the short news clips uploaded by Reporter Young So-hee on YouTube also garnered significant attention.
The view count was several times higher than other news videos, and the comments were flooded with requests for a special interview with Detective Lee Joo-won, or even a regular program featuring him.
"Good work, Reporter Young."
"You too, Director."
The director, having finished filming, took off his headset and began packing up the camera.
At the front entrance of Kangjung Police Station, Reporter Young So-hee lowered the microphone she was holding and gazed at the building.
Just then.
"Senior!"
A junior reporter from the KBN social affairs department, who had accompanied her, approached.
"Yeah, what is it?"
"Here, your phone. You just got a text. It says Detective Lee Joo-won solved another case."
The junior reporter, who had been holding Young So-hee's phone during the shoot, handed it over.
"Really?"
Her eyes widened as she immediately took the phone.
As she read the text from Joo-won, her eyes slowly turned red.
[It was Moon Jung-ho. He hasn't confessed yet, but his hair was found at the crime scene, the kitchen. The hair was confirmed to have fallen out at the time of the incident.]
"Se-senior..."
The junior reporter, confused, rolled her eyes nervously.
At the same time, Young So-hee's grip on the phone tightened.
"Let's go."
"Wh-where?"
"Where else? Kangjung Station."
She turned around and started walking while making a call.
"Chief."
It was the head of the KBN social affairs department.
-Oh, Reporter Young. Finished filming?
"Yes, I'm heading to Kangjung Station now."
"Kangjung Station? Why?"
"Detective Lee Joo-won solved it."
"...Really?!"
"Yes."
At the crosswalk in front of Kangjung Station, Reporter Young So-hee stared at the red light and said,
"Chief, I'll report it live on the 9 o'clock news today."
"Alright."
Her eyes, reflected in the traffic light, glow a deep red.
It's time to take out the trash.
"She said she was in the same department as Korea University, but the victim was from the Business School. But there are a lot of people in the Business School. Just counting the male classmates, seniors, and juniors, there are hundreds."
At that moment, in front of Kang Joong-seo.
A massive crowd has gathered.
Reporters from various broadcasting stations, newspaper staff, and even YouTubers streaming on YouTube are present.
A journalist, organizing questions on his phone, nudged another reporter standing nearby.
"They're not going to reveal his identity this time, right?"
"Yeah, seriously. They're not doing it again this time. I really don't understand how these judges work."
"Right. Especially these days, trust is at an all-time low."
"Anyway, they only care about the perpetrators' human rights! They should show his face! That's how the viewers will know!"
"Isn't TWN's viewership rating what matters?"
At the journalist's joke, the other reporter chuckled awkwardly.
"Even if you say that."
"But isn't it Detective Lee Joo-won from Team 3 again this time?"
The reporter nodded.
"That's what they say. That detective is really hitting a triple home run."
"Wow, that detective should buy a lottery ticket."
"Are you going to get an interview?"
"Of course, I have to. He's the rising star in the social affairs department these days."
"Right, but it seems like there's already an agency investing in him, doesn't it?"
"An agency?"
The reporter glanced subtly toward the KBN broadcasting station where Young So-hee was.
"Oh, right. KBN did a special feature on him before, didn't they?"
"Yes. It seems like they'll do it again this time. I'm so jealous."
"They must have known about this case in advance. No wonder KBN has been talking about Detective Lee Joo-won like crazy since last week."
Under the envious gazes of those reporters, near the KBN broadcasting station's camera.
Reporter Young So-hee was adjusting her attire with a cold expression.
'Moon Jung-ho...'
This case was one that Reporter Young had handed over to Joo-won.
As she had hoped and expected, Joo-won confirmed it was a homicide and caught the culprit.
And now, many reporters have gathered to see that culprit.
She had no desire for an exclusive scoop.
All she wanted now was the downfall of Moon Jung-ho, who had shattered her younger sibling's pitiful soul.
At that moment.
First floor of Kang Joong-seo.
In a corner out of the reporters' sight, Moon Jung-ho and his lawyer were waiting for the prosecutors.
"F***, f***..."
Moon Jung-ho, chewing his lips nervously, spoke to his lawyer.
"F***, I didn't do anything! He just fell and hit his head! How is that murder? I had no intention!"
At his loud voice, the police officer guarding Moon Jung-ho...
As the dog went crazy, the lawyer quietly opened his mouth.
"First, just exercise your right to remain silent. It's the same in front of reporters, don't say anything."
"Ugh, damn it... How am I even supposed to find the hair? But am I going to be detained?"
"Don't worry. If we request a detention review, you'll be out soon."
At that moment, a familiar voice was heard from behind them.
"That won't be possible."
It was Juwon, who had appeared out of nowhere.
Moon Jeong-ho's eyes turned fierce.
Juwon approached Moon Jeong-ho, who was glaring at him.
"Mr. Moon Jeong-ho, your father is Councilman Moon Cheong-seok, right? This is going to be tough for your father. Politicians live and die by votes, and with a son who's less than human..."
Juwon leaned in close to Moon Jeong-ho's face.
"Who would vote for your father now?"
The lawyer stepped between Juwon and Moon Jeong-ho.
"I believe the disclosure of personal information has been dismissed."
Juwon shrugged his shoulders.
"That's true. But you never know how things turn out."
He then smiled and looked at Moon Jeong-ho.
"Please, don't be happy for even a moment."
As Moon Jeong-ho was about to curse, prosecutors approached him.
"Let's go."
The prosecutors took off their jacket and covered Moon Jeong-ho's head to prevent his face from being exposed.
As Moon Jeong-ho left Gangjungseo, Juwon watched his retreating figure and called Terra.
"Terra."
[Yes.]
"Just in case, I'm asking."
[Go ahead.]
Juwon, leaning slightly against the corner, looked at the crowd of reporters and YouTubers outside Gangjungseo and asked.
"What's the percentage chance that Moon Jeong-ho's face gets exposed in that crowd?"
Even by accident, he hoped that Moon Jeong-ho's human rights would be disregarded.
He wished for Moon Jeong-ho's identity to be fully exposed, for him to be pointed at for the rest of his life, and for his parents, who covered up the sins of their murderer son, to live in agony.
But for some reason, Terra didn't answer.
"Hey, are you asleep?"
[Have you eaten? To become an excellent police officer, maintaining physical strength is essential. Since you haven't been eating regularly due to the Moon Jeong-ho investigation, I recommend eating high-calorie foods.]
"What's this? Why are you avoiding the question..."
[I recommend meat. Considering your wallet, pork would be better than beef.]
But Juwon, lost in thoughts of pork, let out a small smile.
"Right, let's fill my stomach and go meet Reporter Young."
With that, Juwon started walking.
"Is it true that you were in the same department as the victim at Korea University?!"
"Not only did you illegally film and distribute footage of your victim, who was also your lover, but why did you go as far as killing her?!"
At that moment, it was nothing short of hell outside the courthouse.
Well, at least for Moon Jung-ho.
"It's still just a murder charge."
"The trial hasn't even started yet, please refrain from making hasty assumptions!"
The lawyer desperately tried to block the reporters, but it was no use.
"How do you feel about the fact that a close friend reported you as a murder suspect?!"
"You're still on probation for the illegal filming distribution case—are you going to prison now?!"
Moon Jung-ho, with his jacket pulled over his head, was on a rollercoaster of darkness like no other.
It was impossible to tell how many people had gathered, but hands were grabbing at his arms from all directions, and microphones were being shoved even under his jacket.
He couldn't see a thing, and with all the chaos around him, he was on the verge of losing his mind.
But then.
Whoosh!
Moon Jung-ho's vision suddenly brightened.
Amid the crowd of reporters and YouTubers rushing toward him, someone nearby had knocked his jacket off.
"...Damn it."
And just like that, the murderer's face was revealed.
In an instant, the eyes of the reporters and YouTubers lit up.
"Hey, film this!!"
"His face is out! Camera!!"
"Show us your face!! Get it on camera!"
The prosecutors quickly tried to cover his face with the jacket again, but it was already too late.
"Did you see that? The murderer's face was just revealed due to the massive crowd!"
Moon Jung-ho's face was already being broadcast live across the country through YouTubers' streams.
