Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Suspect
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Detective Park Ki-jeong's face lit up.
"Ah! So that's why that mart bag was there!"
Na Gang-in replied.
"You can't climb a wall holding that thing."
"Of course. That's why when I handed you that bag, I had my suspicions. You didn't mention it earlier, so I figured it wasn't the case..."
"You didn't ask."
"R-Right. Haha. Anyway, you're incredible. Climbing the building wall with your bare hands, tightrope-walking between buildings while carrying someone. How on earth did you pull that off? Are you some kind of living national treasure?"
"That's not the important part right now, is it?"
"Ah. You're right."
Park Ki-jeong pulled out his notepad.
"Could you explain once more why you suspect it was a murder?"
"There was no movement in that room despite the fire. The victim was either already dead or possibly out cold from alcohol or drugs. It's not definitive proof of murder, but the police don't just chase absolutes, do they?"
Park Ki-jeong fully grasped what Na Gang-in was saying.
"So, what you're saying is... someone committed a murder and set the building on fire to cover it up?"
"That thought hit me when I saw the article about a fatality. I climbed the outer wall yesterday, confirming there were no survivors."
If someone had resorted to arson to hide a murder, resulting in a five-story building burning down, it would be a major case. Without Na Gang-in, there could have been additional victims on the rooftop.
Park Ki-jeong said,
"We haven't ruled out the possibility of murder either."
That was why his vacation had been completely canceled.
"We've already requested an autopsy from the National Forensic Service."
Nearby detectives from the same team approached. The second team leader asked Park Ki-jeong,
"No word from the NFS yet?"
"Of course not. Autopsies take time. With how intense the fire was, they said there might not be anything to find anyway."
"What about the cause of the fire?"
Park's fellow detective answered.
"Just got word from the fire department. High chance of an electrical short."
"A short-circuit... Any CCTV around that building?"
The team's rookie detective reported.
"I checked. There's none nearby."
The second team leader said to Na Gang-in,
"As you can see, we're doing everything we can. But with the situation as it is, we have no choice but to wait for the NFS results."
Na Gang-in provided more information.
"Yesterday, as I was heading toward that building, I saw four people coming from that direction. The perpetrator might be among them."
Park Ki-jeong quickly suggested,
"Ah. Perfect. Would you mind helping us with composite sketches? Our sketch artist stepped out, so if you could just wait a moment..."
Na Gang-in asked in a whisper,
"Can you draw with a ballpoint pen too?"
Na Gang-in proposed to Park Ki-jeong,
"I'll draw them myself."
Park Ki-jeong asked,
"Uh... so you can draw?"
"Just a hobby."
"Please wait a moment. I'll get the sketching tools."
Na Gang-in picked up the ballpoint pen on the desk.
"This'll do. Just give me a few sheets of paper."
"Pardon? Ah. Sure. Here."
Na Gang-in laid a white A4 sheet on the desk.
Through his AR Lens, photos of the four faces he'd seen passing through that alley yesterday appeared before his eyes. With the translucent images overlaid on the A4 paper, it was easy to trace them with the ballpoint pen.
He gave a quiet instruction.
"You draw. One person per sheet from what we saw earlier."
The AI Jeon Ji-in borrowed Na Gang-in's hand and drew the portraits right there on the A4 paper with the ballpoint pen.
There were no fancy techniques. It just looked like he was drawing portraits with a ballpoint pen.
The detectives watching from the side marveled.
"Whoa, he draws really well."
"It's like looking at a black-and-white photo."
"His hand's moving so fast I can barely see it!"
"Huh? It looks like he's just started, but he's already finished one!"
One portrait was complete. After the face, he simply sketched the clothes they'd been wearing in the empty space below.
Na Gang-in said,
"This is the first person I ran into in that alley. They were on the phone with someone."
"We'll start by checking phone records."
It took only a few minutes per portrait. As he drew the second person he'd passed, he explained the situation.
"This one glanced back once while walking. Normal pace, but their eyes were a bit glazed."
Park Ki-jeong was impressed.
"Wow. You're recalling the details exactly as if you're seeing and describing it right in front of you."
Because he is seeing it right in front of him and describing it.
The AI Jeon Ji-in displayed the footage from that time through the AR Lens. Since the AI was controlling his hand now, he just had to watch the footage and narrate.
To everyone else, it looked like he was recalling the scene while simultaneously drawing the portrait.
The detectives murmured among themselves.
"Is he a painter?"
"Probably."
"I once had help from an artist on a case. But even that guy couldn't do anything like this."
"A genius, maybe?"
Four portraits were finished in the blink of an eye.
Na Gang-in set down the pen and said,
"These are the only four people who left that alley toward the main road right before the fire was discovered. If the arson-murderer set the blaze and fled, they'll be one of these."
The rookie detective muttered softly,
"Man, it's hard to tell who's the actual detective here."
The second team leader quickly ordered his detectives,
"Identify these people. Start with whoever isn't a local resident, then focus on anyone connected to the victim!"
"Yes, sir!"
Na Gang-in was done. He stood up from his seat.
Detective Park Ki-jeong said,
"If we have more questions, we'll call. So, your number..."
After Na Gang-in left, the second team leader looked over the portraits and said,
"Like the rookie said, it's hard to tell who's the detective. Hey, how are you guys worse than a civilian? Not embarrassed?"
Park Ki-jeong grumbled,
"You're not much better, team leader..."
"You trying to pick a fight?"
"No, sir. On it."
The second team leader raised his voice a bit,
"Rookie! Scan these portraits and distribute them everywhere!"
"Yes, sir!"
Na Gang-in gave his phone number before heading back to the PC bang.
Dinner time was approaching.
Cha Eun-seo asked,
"Oppa. You selling dinner tonight too?"
Whether to sell or not was up to Na Gang-in. This was a PC bang, not a full restaurant. Selling special dishes sporadically was enough to draw crowds.
"We'll sell. I need to make some money too."
Na Gang-in was paid for his chef hours here. Hourly rate: 20,000 won. Two hours in the evening meant 40,000 won.
It was stingy pay for his skill level.
But in exchange, he got free use of the PCs and the staff lounge bed. His own cooking was free too. Staying here covered room and board.
Cha Eun-seo quickly posted a notice on the PC bang order program. Special dinner menu tonight.
People who saw the alert cheered.
"Yes!"
"Gotta eat here tonight!"
"I'm having seconds!"
"Calling the crew."
The evening cooking session was a huge hit too.
After his two-hour chef shift, Na Gang-in ate as well.
Cha Eun-seo sat beside him, eating together.
"So good. I skipped going home just to wait for this. Worth it. Mmm. Smart move, Cha Eun-seo."
Night-shift part-timer Yoon A-reum agreed.
"Agreed. Oppa Gang-in's food is seriously delicious."
College student hacker An Seong-hwan was an on-call part-timer who only came when busy. He showed up uninvited today.
"I came 'cause I heard bro was cooking tonight."
Cha Eun-seo said while eating,
"That fire in our neighborhood yesterday? Turns out it was arson. They caught the perp."
It hadn't even been three hours since Na Gang-in returned from the station.
"Hm? Already?"
"Yeah. Just saw the article about an emergency arrest."
Yoon A-reum made a fuss.
"Oh my gosh! So it wasn't an accident? I almost died because of that arsonist? That jerk!"
An Seong-hwan got excited too.
"Wow. Scumbags like that need to be taken down in the name of justice. Noona Eun-seo, what kind of guy was he?"
"I only saw the arrest article, so no details."
Na Gang-in pulled out his phone, which he'd set aside while cooking. One missed call—from Detective Park Ki-jeong.
Na Gang-in called him back.
"You called."
[Park Ki-jeong over the phone]: "Ah, Mr. Na Gang-in. Just wanted to let you know we caught the perp, thanks to you."
"Solved it quick."
[Park Ki-jeong over the phone]: "Hahaha. All thanks to you. Three of the four portraits were locals, but one wasn't. That one knew the victim, was an electrician, and had borrowed money from him as a friend. It all lined up. This much is fine to share—it's about to be official anyway... "
Park Ki-jeong hesitated, then added,
[Park Ki-jeong over the phone]: "My hunch? Probably strangled him or slipped him some sleeping pills. Figured the fire would destroy all evidence."
"Makes sense."
[Park Ki-jeong over the phone]: "And that perp portrait you drew. Mind if we publicize it?"
Na Gang-in still didn't know why he and AI Jeon Ji-in were here. He needed more info to judge public activity.
But no need to hide completely.
"Fine, as long as you don't say I drew it."
[Park Ki-jeong over the phone]: "Ah... so no name reveal."
"Yes."
[Park Ki-jeong over the phone]: "Should recommend you for a commendation."
"Don't. Just did what needed doing. And I hate that stuff."
[Park Ki-jeong over the phone]: "Some people turn down awards to avoid hassle. Got it. Thanks again."
Na Gang-in hung up.
Cha Eun-seo asked,
"Oppa, what'd you draw? A picture or something?"
"Just some doodles."
Cha Eun-seo said knowingly,
"Must've been terrible. Telling them not to say you drew it."
Detective Park Ki-jeong was looking at the composite photo on his smartphone, then at the perp's real face.
"Drawn just like a photo. Identical."
His fellow detective beside him said,
"Better than a photo. Emphasizes the real features, making it look even more photographic."
"Where's that paper he drew on?"
"Already attached to the case file."
"If Na Gang-in becomes a famous artist later, that sketch'll be valuable. Should've asked for an extra."
The rookie detective rushed over, excited.
"Hyungs! Drugs came out of that arson-murder bastard's wallet."
Park Ki-jeong jumped up.
"What? Drugs for sure?"
"Not sent to NFS yet, but looks like heroin."
"Carrying that in his wallet means he's an addict..."
Park Ki-jeong clapped his hands.
"Now it all comes together. Needed money for drugs, racked up debt. Went for more cash, got refused, killed him. Bought drugs with the money."
His fellow detective said,
"Hey, this case is snowballing."
Park Ki-jeong suggested,
"Call the narcotics squad."
"Not hogging it all?"
"They'll get pissed. Need their help to nab the supplier too. Where's the team leader?"
That night, the police chief gathered reporters and announced the arson-murder investigation update.
The perp murdered, then torched the building to hide it. A five-story structure burned completely as a result. Most murder evidence was lost to the fire.
Yet police arrested him the very next day. Circumstantial evidence all pointed to him. Decisively, victim's skin was found under the perp's nails.
No perp name or photo released. Drug angle omitted on purpose—didn't want the supplier bolting.
The announcement hit major broadcast news. Article posted on various internet community boards.