I Have a Clever Plan
What I am trying to do right now is no different from a low-level clerk at a community center requesting a private audience with the President.
That's right. I am currently on my way to meet Commissioner General Cheon Ojun.
Bypassing the chain of command and disrupting the hierarchy could very well result in disciplinary action.
But...
"If I fail the mission, Beomjappa disappears too."
Continuing my life as a detective without Beomjappa is meaningless to me.
I am not righteous enough to faithfully play the role of the people's cane on a measly salary.
My only interest lies in personally solving the case of my mentor, which has fallen into a labyrinth.
Even now at Level 1, I am already a super cop.
There's no telling what kind of features will be unlocked once I reach Level 2.
The day I drag the killer who shot my mentor and force him to sit before me is not far off.
I will make sure of it with my own hands.
"I'm Corporal Min Suho from Seongam Police Station's Violent Crimes Team 1. Is the Senior Superintendent conference over?"
I asked, showing my detective badge as I arrived at the main lobby.
"It should still be ongoing."
The female officer at the information desk looked at me closely and asked hesitantly,
"You're that officer, right? The one who received the Outstanding Officer commendation on Police Day."
"Ah, yes. That's me."
"Oh my, it's an honor. I read the article about you in the police newspaper. It was very inspiring."
Did that get published in the police newspaper too?
"I just got lucky. Anyway, I came because I have an urgent report for my chief."
"Ah, I'm sorry. Please head up to the grand conference room on the 15th floor. The Senior Superintendent conference should wrap up shortly after eleven."
"Thank you."
I passed the first hurdle relatively easily.
I took the temporary pass and got into the elevator.
The 15th floor housed not only the grand conference room but also the Commissioner General's office.
I had used my chief as an excuse, but the person I actually needed to see was the Commissioner General.
Only he had the power to halt the redistribution of the wanted flyers.
The second hurdle was the secretariat.
"Hello. I'm Corporal Min Suho from Seongam Police Station. I'm here to report something to the Commissioner General."
"To the Commissioner General?"
"Yes. During the Outstanding Officer tea meeting a month ago, he told me to come find him anytime if I had any grievances."
"...Just a moment, please."
Finding it difficult to make the decision on her own, the secretary turned to a senior officer standing behind her.
"He says he has something to report to the Commissioner General. What should we do?"
"Does he have an appointment?"
"He claims the Commissioner General told him to drop by anytime during their tea meeting."
"That was just a formality. Who actually takes that literally and shows up?"
"He seems a bit clueless. Should I just tell him to leave?"
"We can't do that. If he's here for something actually important, we'll be the ones getting reprimanded. Step aside. I'll handle this."
I could hear every word of their whispering.
The senior officer approached me and asked,
"Could you perhaps relay the message through us?"
"This is a matter I must speak to him about in person."
"And you don't have a prior appointment?"
"It's an extremely urgent matter, so there was no time to schedule one."
"What is that in your hand?"
"Ah, this is the public wanted flyer. It's regarding this."
"Are you carrying any firearms or blades?"
"Of course not."
"May I check?"
"Certainly."
Perhaps because it was the final gate, the security screening was quite thorough.
"Everything is clear. Please wait in the lounge until the Commissioner General arrives. We will let you know as soon as he is ready."
"Thank you."
Guided by the secretary, I moved to the lounge.
How much time had passed?
After a long wait, the secretary entered the lounge to deliver the good news.
"You may go in."
Second hurdle cleared!
Knock, knock. The secretary tapped on the door and announced my arrival.
"Corporal Min Suho from Seongam Police Station is waiting."
"Send him in."
"Go on in."
Commissioner General Cheon Ojun was resting on a sofa.
"Salute! Corporal Min Suho from Seongam Police Station, sir!"
"Ah, Corporal Min. Did we see each other a month ago?"
"It was exactly three weeks ago, sir."
"Right. You have a suggestion for me?"
"Yes, sir."
"I have a luncheon appointment, so I only have ten minutes to spare. Is that too short?"
"Five minutes is more than enough, sir."
"Good. Have a seat."
"Before that, may I borrow a pen?"
"Sure, grab whatever is on the desk."
A newspaper was spread across the Commissioner General's desk, and a red highlighter lay beside it, its cap off.
As I picked up the pen, my eyes quickly scanned the section highlighted in red on the newspaper.
I had a good feeling about this.
The Commissioner General was undoubtedly paying close attention to the drug trafficking case.
"The newspaper headline you were reading, sir..."
"Ah, that. It's a headache. I thought things would improve with the new administration, but incidents keep popping up everywhere."
"The drug trafficking case seems to have been the biggest blow."
"Exactly. We thought only Customs and the Prosecution were involved, but who would have guessed our own people were dirty too? That topic took up half of today's Senior Superintendent conference."
"I've learned that when trust in the police weakens, the public's respect for the law also declines."
"True. But are you going to waste all five of your minutes talking about that?"
"I have a solution to that problem."
"...Hmm?"
"I have a clever plan to boost the public's skyrocketing distrust in the police."
They had gathered the local police chiefs and debated for two hours, but no clear solution had emerged.
Ideas like strengthening patrols, expanding youth guidance programs, or casting a famous celebrity for a public service announcement...
It seemed everyone's brains had gone dull, as they were busy listing nothing but clichéd platitudes.
"You can raise the public's trust in the police?"
"Yes, sir."
Cheon Ojun almost burst out laughing.
A greenhorn with barely two years of experience was claiming he could solve a problem that even the high-ranking officials couldn't crack.
It seemed audacious, yet endearing at the same time.
Though he didn't expect much, there was no reason to ignore the pitch of a highly motivated detective.
"Alright, let's hear it. What is this clever plan of yours?"
"It's this."
I spread the flyer I was holding onto the table between us.
"This is... the public wanted flyer, isn't it?"
"Please take a look at the stamps marked 'ARRESTED'."
"..."
Out of the twenty wanted fugitives, twelve had the word "ARRESTED" stamped beneath their faces.
Although he now primarily handled major administrative affairs as the Commissioner General, Cheon Ojun had once been a passionate detective himself.
He knew instantly that the results shown on this flyer were anything but ordinary.
"You've caught quite a lot. Is this the flyer from the first half of the year?"
"Have you not received the report, sir?"
"Apprehending wanted fugitives is delegated to the Director of the Bureau of Investigation. I only check it occasionally when it comes up in formal reports."
So that's why his reaction is lukewarm.
Well, it didn't matter. If he didn't know, I could just inform him now.
"This is the flyer for the second half of this year."
"The second half? You mean this flyer was distributed in November?"
"Yes. Twelve were caught in just three weeks. If you include the three to be processed today, a total of fifteen have been arrested."
I wrote the word "ARRESTED" under the photos of the three fugitives I was handing over today.
"Oh, now this is surprising."
"Having every single fugitive on the wanted list arrested within a month of distribution will probably be an all-time first."
"Didn't you say fifteen just now?"
"Because I will catch the rest within this week. I will make sure of it."
"..."
I looked the Commissioner General straight in the eye with absolute confidence.
Did he think I was being reckless?
There was only doubt in Cheon Ojun's eyes, not excitement.
I drew a red 'X' over the faces of the remaining fugitives and spoke.
"Those who commit crimes and flee. No matter where they hide, the Korean Police will find them."
Cheon Ojun's pupils dilated slightly.
"A country where citizens can live in peace, a friendly public force protecting the safety of the people by their side."
Cheon Ojun leaned forward, showing clear interest.
"The Korean Police look only to you."
I smiled and played my final card.
"If we make a promotional video using these slogans under a wanted flyer where every single criminal has been caught, wouldn't public trust in the police rise at least a little?"
"Hahaha!"
The firmly shut gates had finally opened.
"This is it! This is exactly the kind of answer I was looking for."
"But there is one problem."
"Hmm? What problem?"
"I heard that a new public wanted flyer is scheduled to be printed this week."
"Well, since we've caught this many, we have to update and print a new batch. What about it?"
"We need to show the public that we swept up everyone on the flyer. If we issue a new flyer now, won't all this effort go down the drain?"
"We could just print a special version for the promotional video..."
"Commissioner General, citizens only believe what they see with their own eyes. If the flyer they saw at the library or community center is different from the one in the promotional video, who would believe it?"
"Hmm."
"It won't be too late to distribute the new flyer after the promotional video airs."
"You're saying this under the assumption that the remaining five will be caught within a few days, right?"
"I will bring them in, without fail."
"That's not something you can just guarantee..."
"I have already located all of them."
"Are you confident?"
"I am."
Please, just take the bait.
If he didn't agree, my career as a detective would end right here.
Having made up his mind, Cheon Ojun called his secretary via the intercom.
"Did you call, Commissioner General?"
"Which department manages the public wanted flyers?"
"The Investigation Planning Team, sir."
"Have the Director of the Investigation Bureau and the Planning Team Leader come up. Ah, and call the Director of the Bureau of Investigation and the Public Relations Officer as well."
"Yes, Commissioner General."
Hanging up the receiver, the Commissioner General asked me once more.
"So, delaying the printing of the flyer is all you need?"
"Yes, sir."
"Should I support you with the Police Riot Squad?"
"These guys are skittish. If we make a scene, they'll all run. Please trust me and leave it to me."
"Alright. Let's do it. Somehow, I feel like you'll pull it off."
"Thank you, sir. May I be excused now?"
"Why? Don't you want to greet the executives? It's good to make an impression early."
"Right now, I just want to focus on the arrests."
"Very well. If you handle this successfully, you'll get a special promotion. You have my word."
"Thank you, Commissioner General."
I had minimized the risk of failing the mission and secured a promise for a special promotion.
Talk about killing two birds with one stone.
I left the National Police Agency with a much lighter heart.
"Ah, I should head to Nonghyup Bank first."
Let's secure financial freedom before doing anything else.
"Come on in."
The high-ranking officials entered the office upon the Commissioner General's summons.
Among them was someone who hadn't been called.
"Oh, Chief Lee is here too?"
"Yes, Commissioner General. I was having tea at the Investigation Bureau when I heard Detective Min was here."
"If I knew you were coming, I would have kept him here longer."
"I hope he didn't disturb your rest."
"Disturb? The five minutes I spent with him were far more valuable than talking to five hundred Senior Superintendents."
"...?"
"Now, sit down, everyone. You all need to hear the brilliant idea I just heard."
Cheon Ojun explained Detective Min's proposal in detail, leaving nothing out.
"Planning Team Leader, is it true that fifteen people have been arrested as of today?"
"Yes. I just received a call confirming three more arrests. But how did he know before us?"
"He probably knew because he caught them himself. He said he's already located the remaining five as well."
"Wow, this is a first..."
"Of course. I've never seen a case where every single fugitive on a wanted flyer was caught in less than a month."
"Not only that, but the fact that a single officer made all those arrests is an unprecedented record."
"A single officer? You mean Detective Min arrested all fifteen by himself?"
"According to the reports filed so far, yes."
"Chief Lee. Is this true?"
Cheon Ojun double-checked the unbelievable fact with the Chief of Seongam Police Station.
"Yes. That is correct."
"Hahaha. I knew he was something special, but I didn't expect this. He's a monster."
"He is still a rough diamond that needs polishing. Excessive praise might do him more harm than good."
"You're as rigid as ever, Lee. Young folks these days lose their drive if they aren't rewarded properly. You need to know when to praise good work."
"..."
"If you aren't confident in nurturing him properly, send him to the Detective Mobile Unit. He seems better suited for a national stage."
"I will keep him under my wing a bit longer."
"Good fortune doesn't knock twice. Treat him well while you have him. You know what I mean, right?"
"Yes, Commissioner General."
"Investigation Planning Team Leader, let's hold off on printing the new flyers for now. Public Relations Officer, prepare to broadcast the news as soon as all twenty fugitives are apprehended."
"Understood, Commissioner General."
"Oh, dear. I forgot I had a luncheon appointment. If you have more to discuss, do it here. I must head out now."
"Salute!"
After the Commissioner General left the office, the Director of the Bureau of Investigation turned to Chief Lee Chungki.
"Did you not know he was coming here?"
"I came straight to the Senior Superintendent conference, so..."
"Doing a good job isn't everything. We have plenty of officers who don't know the meaning of obedience. An officer who ignores the chain of command can easily become a disaster rather than an asset."
"I will keep that in mind."
"I'm just speaking out of concern. I'm sure you'll keep him in line. I have another appointment, so I'll take my leave."
"Good day, sir."
The Director of the Bureau of Investigation left the office along with the Public Relations Officer.
The Director of the Investigation Bureau comforted the downcast Chief Lee.
"His talent seems to be overflowing, just like yours back in the day. Nurture him well. It will be good for you too."
"Yes, Director."
The Director of the Investigation Bureau left as well.
The Investigation Planning Team Leader, who was the last to remain, patted Chief Lee on the shoulder.
"Let's grab some lunch before you go."
"Yes. I'll just clean this up and follow you."
The wanted flyer and the highlighter that Detective Min had left behind.
As Lee Chungki was clearing the flyer, his eyes locked onto one particular name.
"...T-this person was caught?"
"What are you doing? Aren't you coming?"
With his senior urging him, he didn't have time to look closer.
"Let's go, senior."
Chief Lee folded the flyer twice and tucked it into his breast pocket.