Twisted Madness (10)
A sharp voice cut through the crowd of reporters. Not just me—everyone at the scene turned to find the source.
A man in his early forties, with a bit of a paunch, pomade-slicked hair in an old-school 8:2 part, shoved a microphone in my face.
It was you.
I couldn't help but let out a smirk.
Chae Man-sik, deputy editor at Hanshin Ilbo. The guy who'd been churning out favorable articles for Geonwoo Group through backroom deals.
He'd axed every exposé on their corruption, earning the ire of real journalists. Eventually, he'd jumped ship to become Geonwoo's PR chief.
His eyes, visible through his glasses, were sharp enough.
"Geonwoo Group is denying all allegations of wrongdoing at this time. It's just some unfortunate misunderstanding that's hard to clarify right now, and they plan to lay out the full truth to the public in court. With no verdict yet, this rush to label the suspect guilty flies in the face of the presumption of innocence—not to mention it looks like the police are just chasing headlines."
I shook my head slowly.
"Presumption of innocence and police popularity contests...!"
I turned toward Chae Man-sik. Every reporter's gaze locked onto me.
"Deputy Editor, you coming out here in person means you're sweating bullets, huh?"
"This is a public forum—what kind of vulgar language is that...!"
He took a step back.
"...There's a saying: Be true to what you are. Police should police like police—catch the bad guys. Criminals should face the punishment they deserve. And the media should report the truth like the media should."
I closed the distance. I could hear his breathing.
"Is your attitude right now befitting a journalist? Or is it more suited to Geonwoo's future PR chief, who's negotiating his move as we speak?"
His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed dryly. Whispers rippled around us.
"What? No wonder their articles always seemed off—they were on Geonwoo's payroll?"
"PR chief at Geonwoo? That's gotta be triple his current salary. Jackpot for him."
"Guys like that make all of us look like trash journalists!"
Chae Man-sik's face crumpled as he tried to muster a defense.
* * *
"Whoa!"
"You're here!"
The moment I stepped into the Violent Crimes Unit, applause and cheers erupted from all sides.
"What the hell is this?!"
"Bro, congrats! You saved our Violent Crimes Team 3."
"Detective Kang, shouldn't you be getting treated? Why drag yourself in on a day like this? Paperwork? Leave that to me, Hwang Woo-sik, the expert! Hahaha!"
Lee Gyu-cheol and Team Leader Hwang enveloped me in hugs, stomping their feet in excitement. It wasn't just Team 3—the entire station's staff rose in a standing ovation. Even the rivals from Teams 1 and 2 were cheering sincerely this time.
Behind them, Station Chief Kim Dong-sik waved weakly, his expression a bit awkward.
* * *
"P-President, did you see the news?"
Yang Jin-ho, the executive director, burst into Hong Gye-young's office without knocking, panting heavily.
"Catch your breath first. Have some tea. This new blend has a fantastic aroma."
Hong Gye-young crossed her legs and handed him a cup, a relaxed smile playing on her lips.
"That bastard Park Hyeok-cheol was a serial rapist...! The industry's in total chaos right now."
"Calm down. Analyze how this affects us first."
"...Yes, right away."
Yang Jin-ho took a deep breath.
"Geonwoo's subcontractors are naturally toeing the line, but the other companies with MOUs are already eyeing the exit. No legal binding, but moral responsibility is the core of those deals—and that's the hot-button issue here."
His voice dropped.
"Some quick movers are already sending love calls our way at Taehwa. As you know, electronics and engines—the heart of cars—overlap a lot between Geonwoo and us."
"Hard to quantify exactly, but on a macro level, what's our projected gain?"
"...That's just it!"
Yang swallowed hard.
"Tough to put a number on it, but from this issue alone, we're looking at least 100 billion won. Factor in brand value, and the benefits from nabbing Park Hyeok-cheol are incalculable."
"What's the public sentiment?"
Yang hesitated before speaking.
"Taehwa supported the police for free to maintain public safety, while Geonwoo committed a crime that's outraged the nation—that's the vibe. And... hate to admit it, but Detective Kang Cheol-gu played a huge role."
"Hmm. Is that so?"
Hong Gye-young stood, her slender legs casting a long shadow.
"24 hours. Just 24 hours after leaving me in debt, and he's already pulled off this much. Monstrous drive. That man."
Her cheeks flushed pink.
"From now on, handle Detective Kang Cheol-gu's requests—any of them—immediately. And connect me to Planning Director Seon Woo-bin."
"...Yes, understood."
Less than a minute after Yang Jin-ho bowed and left, her hotline rang.
"Hong Gye-young speaking."
- Hello! This is Planning Director Seon Woo-bin.
"Thank you first off for carrying out my orders so well."
- Oh, no—it's just what I should do...
"More importantly, you know how things are shaking out right now, yes?"
- Of course. The whole nation's turning from Geonwoo to us at Taehwa...!
"Strike while the iron's hot, as they say. Whip up some online buzz. Whatever works best for Director Seon."
- Got it perfectly!
'This should help that man, Kang Cheol-gu, a little.'
Hong Gye-young nodded to herself, stepping to the window. It was the same view she'd shared with him.
'I'll repay favors with favors, not enmity.'
Kang Cheol-gu's parting words from yesterday echoed in her ears.
'Favor or foe—such stiff words. Next time...'
Her delicate fingers, brushing her ear, trembled faintly.
* * *
BAM!
The mahogany desk shook violently. Geonwoo Group Chairman Park Ji-man's fist trembled with rage.
"Is this... is this even sane? Hyeok-cheol, raping? Serial? And caught fleeing the scene?"
"I'm sorry."
Planning Adjustment Director Kim Seong-rak bowed deeply. Sweat dripped from his forehead onto the marble floor, scattering like tears.
"How the hell did you manage that kid? What were you all doing letting it get this far?!"
Chief of Staff Pyo Chi-su stayed silent before the old chairman's fury.
"...Kang Cheol-gu, was it? The cop who nabbed Hyeok-cheol?"
"Yes."
'...Fate's a bitch. Kang Hyeok's son...'
He stared at his gnarled, tree-bark hands. Back when that skin was taut, the young detective chasing him flashed in his mind.
He'd won that fight. Mocked Kang Hyeok's dazed stare. Even patted his shoulder: Let's meet again under better circumstances.
A grinding of teeth rang out, more delightful than any music.
And he'd forgotten it all. Thought it was buried...
Now it was backstabbing him.
Veins writhed like worms on his forehead.
"Rig the case. Turn it into consensual sex under agreement. Throw everything the group's got at pulling that kid out! And that Kang Cheol-gu bastard who did this—use any means, excessive force charges, whatever. Strip his badge and throw him in prison! Got it?"
"Yes, sir."
A wounded lion. His body aged, but the last pride of the jungle king roared fiercely.
* * *
Kim Gwang-il lay pale in the hospital bed, having lost a lot of blood.
"You good?"
"Yeah. Sorry. Pathetic, getting stabbed like that."
"Sorry my ass! I heard what happened. You charged in without thinking when you heard the victim scream, right? If you'd just stood by like I told you, that woman would've lived with nightmares forever. You were a cop through and through."
I patted the shoulder of the guy hanging his head.
"Man, do all my boys come back stabbed every time they go out? Maybe I should enroll you all in a local taekwondo dojo. Sheesh!"
Team Leader Hwang Woo-sik clucked his tongue sympathetically. His words were gruff, but dark circles ringed his eyes.
"Sorry, Team Leader."
"Doc says you missed the vitals—rest up and you'll be fine. Damn kid. You were all cocky when I got stabbed last time. Look at you now!"
"Haha, yeah. Karma, huh, Detective?"
Kim Gwang-il scratched his head with an embarrassed grin.
Lee Gyu-cheol, beside him, chided gently.
"Gwang-il, treat Cheol-gu hyung right. When you were bleeding out, his face went white. He was shaking all over. First time I'd seen him like that."
Gyu-cheol, who'd handled Gwang-il at the scene, spoke up while pulling out drinks.
"Whoa! Iron-blooded Detective Kang Cheol-gu has a soft side?"
"Hahaha."
Everyone burst out laughing at Hwang's quip. Even quiet Heo Seon-sil in the corner cracked a faint smile.
* * *
Ja-ha Hospital VIP Room 1102. Geonwoo Group bodyguards and police stood guard outside.
"Enough. He's a patient first, suspect second. He needs total rest."
The black-suited guards blocked me the moment I identified myself. Murderous intent gleamed in their eyes. These weren't temps—they were his loyal hands.
"No. Let him in."
His voice came through the speakerphone. He'd been tipped off about me.
I opened the door. His eyes tracked me.
"What? Funny seeing me like this?"
Both legs were mummified in casts. IV drips pumped fluids into his withered frame, like watering a desiccated tree.
"Doc says no walking on these for a while. Heh heh heh. Me... the gentleman of the octagon, Park Hyeok-cheol, turned into a cripple!"
His giggling twisted into a snarl. His eyes turned demonic.
"You—you bastard! Think you'll get away clean? I'm Geonwoo Group, and Geonwoo's me! Listen up! I'll walk free, and you'll be the one busted down and disciplined. You think my dad'll sit still?!"
I stared at him. His wrists peeked from the hospital gown—gaunt. In days, he'd withered shockingly.
Pathetic. Revolting.
The 28-year-old octagon fighter was gone. Just a sniveling five-year-old hiding behind daddy.
"...Maybe I should've just killed you back then?"
"What? What'd you say, you...?"
"Want me to tell you what you should do right now?"
I leaned in, grabbed his collar, and whispered in his ear.