Chapter 131 #43 Someone's Resolve (2)
She was no longer the team leader of the Gakbeombu. It was uncertain how many more days she could even remain as a public servant there.
A month from now, when she returned, would her position still be waiting for her?
Do Chae-hee had confronted Park Cheol-wan with such confidence, but she was still only in her mid-twenties.
Ever since learning the true nature of Park Cheol-wan—the man she had believed would be her steadfast protector for life—she hadn't known a moment's peace.
It felt like the entire world she knew had crumbled.
Still, Do Chae-hee forced herself to pull it together.
Endless worrying gets me nowhere. Get a grip. Focus on what I can do right now. I've got a whole month ahead.
Being demoted from team leader was actually a blessing. She felt sorry for her team members, but honestly, it had never suited her anyway.
Running the field this time had finally shaken off the frustration and helplessness she'd felt months ago, stuck behind a desk.
It had never been the right fit from the start. As she walked on with that thought—
"Team Leader!"
Do Chae-hee turned at the voice calling from behind.
Kim Yongwon, one of her team members, stood there fidgeting anxiously.
"Oh, Yongwon."
"I-I heard! You're stepping down as team leader."
Do Chae-hee gave an awkward smile.
"Word travels fast."
"Team Leader..."
"Hey, I told you, not team leader anymore. Call me whatever's comfortable."
"How could I? You're still Team Leader to me."
Kim Yongwon still looked at Do Chae-hee like she hung the stars.
He's only two years younger than me, but he acts like I'm some wise elder. A big guy like him being this intense is kinda overwhelming.
She couldn't exactly tell him that.
"What happens to our team now that you're leaving?"
"Who knows."
Do Chae-hee gave a bitter smile at his question. Right now, with her own position hanging by a thread, it was too soon to worry about the team.
"No matter what happens, I want to stick with Team Leader Do Chae-hee!"
"I said, not team leader anymore."
"Th-then, at least as partners."
Do Chae-hee fell silent at his words. Even on active duty, she'd never had a partner. Park Cheol-wan had filled that role. Back then, she'd just been grateful, but now it all felt like manipulation.
No, don't deny the past entirely. Those are my memories. Rejecting everything would break me.
She let out a deep internal sigh before replying to Kim Yongwon.
"We'll talk when I get back."
On the way home, Do Chae-hee sorted through her thoughts over and over. The problem was how to use this aimless month.
They might even try to take me out during this time.
She was a capable Awakener, so she wouldn't go down without a fight, but it was definitely dangerous.
Alright, better prepare thoroughly.
And...
Sitting on the living room sofa, Do Chae-hee stared at her phone.
She let out a heavy sigh.
Her chest ached dully. If only she could take back every word she'd said to him.
Why had she been so blind back then?
Now that she saw the truth, it was time to act. Without hesitation, Do Chae-hee dialed the number.
The call connected immediately, as if the person had been waiting. Do Chae-hee swallowed hard.
"Jeong Hosan, I need to talk. Can we meet?"
* * *
At Do Chae-hee's summons, Jeong Hosan rushed right over. She dragged him into a noisy franchise cafe, the kind where everyone's chatter would drown out any conversation.
Sensing her scanning the surroundings, Jeong Hosan spoke first.
"Long time no see."
Do Chae-hee replied with an awkward expression.
"Yeah. Sorry. I've been on edge lately."
She didn't seriously think they were bugging her already, but better safe than sorry.
Only after glancing around did Do Chae-hee finally meet Jeong Hosan's eyes squarely. The moment their gazes locked, he pressed urgently.
"What did you want to say? Did you find out anything about Ishin?"
Do Chae-hee clenched her fist at his barrage of words, no pause for breath.
"No. Sorry, nothing new yet."
The faint hope flickering on Jeong Hosan's face vanished in an instant. He gave a bitter smile.
"...I see."
The investigation into Kang Ishin's case had stalled for months. He'd vanished without a trace, like he'd shot to the heavens or sunk into the earth. Do Chae-hee hadn't been able to find him.
No, she hadn't even tried properly.
Swallowing hard, Do Chae-hee said to Jeong Hosan,
"That's why I'm reopening the Han Jo-hee murder case."
"That one?"
"Yes. I think we jumped to conclusions too quickly based on witness statements."
She quickly added,
"Of course, Kang Ishin is still a suspect. He definitely committed murders in that illegal gate. But the Han Jo-hee killing... something tells me it wasn't him."
Jeong Hosan asked,
"Why the sudden change of heart?"
"Do you know about the Hyeonmu Pharma incident?"
"You mean Congressman Kim Seongdeok's case?"
"Yes."
The scandal had been huge, so even Jeong Hosan, who paid little attention to such things, knew the basics. A sitting congressman murdered—it was impossible to miss.
"Both that case and Kang Ishin's feel like someone's pulling strings."
Jeong Hosan raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean?"
"Before Hyeonmu Pharma, there was the Bomnal Orphanage incident. That investigation got shut down by pressure from above too."
Do Chae-hee explained the rough situation to Jeong Hosan.
"Back then, I was too caught up chasing a publicly wanted criminal to look back. Now I see how narrow-minded I was."
She continued,
"I think Kang Ishin hit that illegal gate to rescue the people trapped there."
Like how Beltsmets had raided Bomnal Orphanage to free the kids (or so it seemed). Kang Ishin had done the same for the victims inside. The killings were just unavoidable in the process.
"At first, I resisted the idea. Reporting to the police, not taking matters into his own hands—that's what I thought was right. But now I get it. Why he made that choice."
"He doesn't trust the police anymore."
"Yes."
Do Chae-hee, a police officer herself, could no longer trust this government or the Gakbeombu.
Kang Ishin had probably known that long ago.
"If it was just about money, there'd be no reason to free the victims or share the mana stones. He was trying to save them."
Why hadn't she seen such an obvious truth back then?
"Over 80% of gates in Korea are detected by sensors. Undetected ones get auctioned publicly the moment they're found. Meaning over 95% of gates generated here end up on record somehow."
Do Chae-hee went on,
"Some of those reported as 'cleared' and vanished actually turn into illegal gates without disappearing. Dig through all that data, and we can find the ones that didn't really vanish."
Gates recorded as cleared but not actually gone. There was only one explanation for that.
"Find an illegal gate, go in, catch the operators. Tracing them should lead to Kang Ishin."
He definitely knew who they were. And they'd be hunting him after the raid. High chance they killed Han Jo-hee too.
Dead or alive, he was tied to them.
Honestly, Do Chae-hee didn't think Kang Ishin was still alive. Too much time had passed with no signs of life.
But searching for him was the only thing she could do—uncover how he'd met his end.
Jeong Hosan, who had listened quietly, spoke up.
"Doesn't sound easy."
"It won't be."
Hundreds of gates appeared and vanished yearly. Once processed as cleared, records got deleted since gates were meant to disappear. Even if data lingered, it was under Gate Management Agency jurisdiction—other departments couldn't access freely.
Officially requesting help would alert the higher-ups anyway, so no.
"But I've got nothing but time right now."
Do Chae-hee shrugged lightly.
"News articles and old records will show roughly where gates popped up. That's my starting point."
They couldn't erase every online article.
Digging steadily would snag something eventually.
"I asked you here to promise I'll pursue this. I'll find out what happened to Kang Ishin."
Jeong Hosan, listening silently, slowly opened his mouth.
"Can I..."
"Pardon?"
"Can I join you?"
Do Chae-hee gaped at the unexpected words.
"What?"
"I've denied Ishin's actions over and over, wanting to believe he wouldn't do that, but swayed by others' words. Hearing you... it hit me."
"Hit you how?"
"No need to agonize inside. I can just go look myself."
"Huh?"
Jeong Hosan remained calm despite her reaction.
No, relieved.
Finally, progress on a dead-end case.
"No way before, but following you... maybe we find him."
"B-but even digging like this, no guarantee we—"
Jeong Hosan cut her off with a wry smile.
"I know. He might not even be alive anymore. Still... I have to find my friend. Even if it's the end I don't want, I need to see it."
Do Chae-hee shut her mouth.
She realized this wasn't just about finding Kang Ishin.
"What he wanted, why he started that. Why show up to Yuseonje but not me. I have to know."
Huh, something weird slipped in there. No time to point it out. He continued.
"Best to ask face-to-face, but if not... walking his path instead isn't bad."
"His path? You don't mean..."
"Any spot for me at Gakbeombu?"
Do Chae-hee gaped again.
"You cleared this with Red Dog Guild?"
"Nah, heading there next."
Jeong Hosan scratched his neck and chuckled.
Do Chae-hee felt sorry thinking of Kim Myeong-cheol, the guild master who seemed to treasure him.