Chapter 27
[That's likely. The perpetrator seems to be someone far from being a large, intimidating gangster.]
Juwon crossed his arms.
Seeing Juwon deep in thought, Team Leader Maewoon Gochu of Team 2 tapped him on the shoulder.
"Do you have any thoughts, Inspector?"
Though he didn't show it outwardly, his face betrayed a hint of anticipation.
Juwon shrugged his shoulders.
"Not yet. Are there any people related to the victim who aren't affiliated with gangsters?"
"There are."
Team Leader Maewoon Gochu handed over another file.
"Those guys running the 'Anytime Loans' place, they also operate a karaoke bar nearby."
"A karaoke bar?"
"Yeah, it seems the victim was also in charge of managing that karaoke bar. Among the employees there, some aren't affiliated with gangsters."
Juwon skimmed through the documents.
The 'Anytime Loans' office was located in a small building just a few blocks away.
A fairly large karaoke bar in the basement.
But it's a place that's only a karaoke bar in name.
'Illegal gambling and even prostitution. They've done it all.'
More crimes than songs take place there.
[After a prostitution incident a year ago, it closed down and reopened under a new name.]
'So, is it someone from the karaoke bar?'
[We'll need to check.]
Juwon looked at Team Leader Maewoon Gochu.
"Did anything unusual come up here?"
"Our guys have gone to investigate the karaoke bar. Probably..."
The team leader tapped his phone to check the time.
"They should be entering the karaoke bar around now."
"An undercover operation?"
"No, infiltration. As karaoke bar employees. Coincidentally, they posted a job opening yesterday."
Officer Han Geon-woo, who had been listening, tilted his head.
"Isn't it enough to just check the alibis of the karaoke bar employees? Is it necessary to go undercover?"
"We also suspect the regular customers of the karaoke bar. It's also the weekend."
Team Leader Maewoon Gochu looked out the window.
"If it's not a revenge killing but a grudge-driven attempted murder, it could very well be a customer."
[A customer would be appropriate.]
'Huh?'
A short while later, in the still dark early morning sky.
Juwon, who had been reviewing investigation materials alone after everyone else had left, raised his head.
He heard Terra's voice.
[Aren't you going to investigate?]
'I am.'
Can't you see the documents in front of me?
Juwon waved the documents around.
But it seemed that wasn't what Terra meant.
[The attempted murder by the gangster, I mean. Of course, we don't know when it might turn into a homicide.]
Juwon shook his head.
'That's Team 2's case.'
[Since when do cases have teams? If you see a criminal, are you going to check which team they belong to before catching them?]
"Here she goes again with her temper."
Juwon twisted his body slightly and glanced at the desks of Team 2.
Empty desks.
It wasn’t that everyone had left for the day.
They hadn’t returned since last night.
"Everyone’s working hard, trying to catch the culprit. I need to focus on our team’s assigned case now."
[The fact that they’re still running around means they haven’t caught the culprit yet.]
"Do you think I’m any different?"
[You are different.]
"Why?"
[Because I’m here.]
Juwon let out a soft chuckle.
"But you don’t know who the culprit is either, do you, Ms. Terra? If you did, you would’ve told me by now."
[I don’t know yet, but I can find out.]
"How?"
[Go into the karaoke room. It’s better to blend in as a customer rather than an employee.]
"Huh?"
[You need to conduct an undercover investigation. The victim’s daily routine always revolved around loans, home, and karaoke. Since the likelihood of the perpetrator being a gang member is low, it’s more probable that the culprit is either a customer or a regular employee who frequents the karaoke room.]
"But Team 2 detectives have already infiltrated the karaoke room as employees..."
[You should go undercover as a customer. There might be clues that Team 2 members, who are posing as employees, might miss. I’ll help you. Let’s go and assist Team 2. No, let’s catch the culprit.]
After a moment of contemplation, Juwon stood up.
"Right. We need to catch the culprit."
We need to catch them, but...
"Do we really have to go this far?"
A little later, near the karaoke room, by the roadside.
Juwon, who had parked his car on the shoulder, was putting on a pair of horn-rimmed glasses while looking at the rearview mirror.
[Your face has been widely exposed in the media and press. There’s a chance someone might recognize you.]
He was in disguise.
But it wasn’t just the glasses.
He also had a curly wig on his head.
[It should be fine to go in now.]
This looks a bit ridiculous.
[An appearance that seems slightly off can lower the other person’s guard. Just go in.]
Who knew being recognized could be such a hindrance to an investigation?
Letting out deep sighs, Juwon headed toward the karaoke room.
"Welcome! Just one person?"
The male employee at the desk quickly stood up.
"Yes, just one."
"Got it! One person! Let me check which rooms are available..."
The employee lowered his head to look at the monitor and began checking the rooms.
At that moment.
"Just the fact that a detective has come to our establishment is a blow to us! We have a reputation too!"
A loud voice came from the left side of the desk.
Taking advantage of the employee’s distraction with the monitor, Juwon quietly moved toward the source of the voice.
A place with a sign that reads, "No Entry Except for Authorized Personnel."
Inside, a man who appeared to be the karaoke room manager and some familiar faces were visible.
"Detectives, this is really not acceptable. Are you trying to frame an innocent, hardworking citizen here?"
It was Team 2's Spicy Pepper team leader and his detective team members.
"Frame? We're just here to ask some questions!"
"Ah, please lower your voices. There are customers here."
Juwon, who had been glancing at the desk employee monitoring the screens, moved a bit closer to them.
"We've already told you, our employees have solid alibis. If you keep coming here, should I let our 'Swallow Brother' know? Maybe contact the media and tell them how Detective Kang Joong-seo and his team are being so unreasonable."
At the man's words, the detectives from Team 2 clenched their mouths shut, and the man smirked.
"We're not strangers, so let's not do this. It's unfortunate what happened to Brother Jo Pal-hyeok, but he's no longer associated with us, and we've done nothing wrong. Got it?"
Juwon, who had been gauging the atmosphere, quickly headed toward the desk.
At the same time, the detectives from Team 2 who had been talking to the man walked out toward the desk.
It seemed they had backed off due to the threat of going to the media, but their expressions as they left weren't dark.
Juwon listened closely to their voices.
"Where's Officer Kim?"
"She went in as an employee. Thankfully, it seems these guys don't recognize Officer Kim's face."
"Will Officer Kim be okay alone... Huh?"
But the Spicy Pepper team leader, who had been looking at Juwon, stopped in his tracks.
However, it was only for a moment.
He tilted his head slightly, then continued walking out, saying,
"We need to find something... How's the victim's condition? Any updates?"
Clank!
The detectives from Team 2 left, and the karaoke room door closed.
At the same time, the desk employee spoke in a friendly voice.
"You can go to Room 5 at the end."
"Ah, okay."
As Juwon was about to turn around,
"Wait a moment."
The desk employee's voice stopped Juwon.
"Yes?"
"Are you acquainted with the people who just left?"
The employee's eyes narrowed.
Juwon chuckled.
"Ah, it's me, me."
"Huh?"
As Juwon turned his body toward the employee and approached, the employee's eyes widened.
"Ah, you're not a first-time visitor, are you?"
"First time? What are you talking about?"
Juwon, with a smirk, slightly lifted his bangs—no, his wig.
"How many times have I been here? Don't you recognize me?"
The employee, blinking at Juwon's eyes, clapped his hands.
"Ah... Ahaha, are you... Manager Kim?"
"Finally, you recognize me! How many times have I been here because of this damn company?"
"Hahaha, I'm sorry, my mistake. Lately, there's been so much going on..."
"They exploded too much, so I couldn't remember the regular. I'm sorry, so I'll give you a service."
As Juwon entered room number 5, the employee tilted his head.
"Was he a regular...? His face does look familiar."
Bang!
[It seems he's gotten quite used to undercover investigations.]
"Originally, when people see celebrities on the street, they mistake them for someone they know. They see them so often on TV that they make that kind of mistake."
Just as Juwon, who had entered room number 5, was heading towards the sofa and speaking.
Knock knock!
Someone knocked on the door.
"Customer."
Terra said.
[This is not a regular karaoke room. They may offer expensive snacks and alcohol, and there could be illegal assistants.]
Juwon nodded.
With a tense face, Juwon turned his head.
"Yes."
Soon after, the door swung open.
"We'll set up the basic snacks for you. If you need anything else..."
"!"
But a familiar face came in.
"...We also sell alcohol, so please call us anytime."
Bang!
The door closed again.
A young man carrying a tray full of fruit walked towards the table with a flustered expression.
"Isn't selling alcohol in a karaoke room a violation of the Music Industry Act?"
"Th-that's right. I just started today, so I don't know much, but it seems like there are also hostesses being arranged..."
Thud.
The man who put down the tray looked at Juwon.
Then he opened his mouth in a small voice.
"You're going to arrest them, right, Inspector?"
"Of course, we have to, Officer Kim."
The young man was the youngest of Team 2, Officer Kim, who had come in for an undercover investigation.
Juwon naturally sat on the sofa and spoke quietly.
"How did you know it was me? The team leader of Team 2 didn't recognize me earlier."
"I watch your interviews every night, Inspector."
"My interviews?"
"Yes, you're my idol."
As if embarrassed, Officer Kim bowed his head and placed a bottle of alcohol on the table.
"Ah, but it seems like they've installed CCTV in every room."
"Yeah, I saw. I don't know if they're working or not."
Still, it's better to be careful.
The two exchanged glances, moving their lips as little as possible.
"You're undercover, right?"
When Juwon nodded, Officer Kim continued.
"Don't eat the snacks. They charge 80,000 won even if you eat just once."
"Got it."
Juwon picked up the karaoke remote and looked at the screen in front of him, asking naturally.
"Did you find out anything?"
"You heard that the victim was one of the executives managing the karaoke room, right?"
Officer Kim naturally continued setting up the glasses and spoke.
"But apparently, the victim had a history of embezzlement. At the karaoke bar, they would extort money from customers and dilute the drinks. The problem is, it seems they pocketed that money. And it wasn’t just at the karaoke bar—they had a bad habit of doing it wherever they could. They took kickbacks from people who borrowed money and even reduced the principal, but it seems the boss found out and kicked them out."
They had uncovered more than expected in that short time.
"How did you find out?"
"I discreetly checked the employees' phones. When I looked through their chat logs, everything came to light."
"Good job."
Juwon gave a slight smile as he spoke.
"Did you check the customers?"
"It's Sunday evening, so there aren’t many people, but..."
Officer Kim picked up an empty tray and continued.
"Strangely, there’s one customer who came alone, without any companions."
"Alone?"
"From what I heard from the other staff, they seem to be a regular. They’re in Room 12, right across from here."
Juwon nodded, and Officer Kim left the room.
Now, it was time for undercover investigation.
Officer Kim would handle the staff, and Juwon would handle the customers.
Without saying a word, they both knew their roles.
*Click!*
The door to Room 12 opened.
"Hey, buddy!"
"...?"
It was a room where a thin man in his 50s was drinking alone.
The one who opened the door was Juwon.
"Long time no see!"
Acting as if he were heavily drunk, Juwon staggered toward the man.
"What’s this?"
The man’s menacing gaze turned toward Juwon.
Then, Terra’s voice was heard.
[Be careful. An object presumed to be a weapon is visible on the left side of his chest.]
'A weapon?'
