I Have a Clever Plan
What I was about to do was no different from a low-level clerk at a community center requesting a private audience with the president.
That's right. I was currently on my way to meet Commissioner General Cheon Ojun.
Since this meant bypassing the chain of command and disrupting the hierarchy, disciplinary action could follow.
But...
If I fail the mission, Beomjappa will disappear too.
Continuing my life as a detective without Beomjappa was meaningless to me.
I wasn't righteous enough to faithfully play the public's servant on a measly salary.
My only interest lay in personally solving my mentor's cold case.
Even now at Level 1, I was already a super cop.
There was no telling what kind of features would unlock once I reached Level 2.
The day I would drag the killer who shot my mentor and make him sit before me was not far off.
I was determined to make that happen with my own hands.
"I'm Corporal Min Suho from Seongam Police Station's Violent Crimes Team 1. Is the Senior Superintendent meeting 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, then asked cautiously.
"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 was deeply moved by the article about you in the police newspaper."
Did that get published in the police newspaper too?
"I just got lucky. Anyway, I came because I have an urgent report for our chief."
"Ah, I'm sorry. Please head up to the conference room on the 15th floor. The Senior Superintendent meeting should wrap up shortly after eleven."
"Thank you."
I passed the first hurdle relatively easily.
I took the temporary visitor 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 was actually here to meet 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 tea meeting for outstanding officers 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 her superior 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 truly important, we'll be the ones taking the fall. Step aside. I'll handle this."
They were whispering, but I could hear every word.
The superior approached me and asked.
"Could we perhaps relay the message for you?"
"It's a matter I must speak to him about in person."
"And you don't have a pre-scheduled meeting?"
"It's extremely urgent, so there was no time to schedule one."
"What is that in your hand?"
"Ah, this is the public wanted flyer. My business is related to this."
"Are you carrying any firearms or blades?"
"Of course not."
"May I check?"
"Certainly."
Perhaps because it was the final barrier, the security screening was quite thorough.
"You're cleared. Please wait in the lounge until the Commissioner General arrives. We will notify you as soon as he is ready."
"Thank you."
I moved to the lounge under the secretary's guidance.
How much time had passed?
After a long wait, the secretary entered the lounge to deliver the good news.
"He says you may come 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."
"You may enter."
Commissioner General Cheon Ojun was resting on the sofa.
"Salute! Corporal Min Suho from Seongam Police Station, reporting."
"Ah, Corporal Min. Did we meet a month ago?"
"It was exactly three weeks ago, sir."
"Right. You said you had a suggestion for me?"
"Yes, sir."
"I have a luncheon appointment, so I only have ten minutes. Is that too short?"
"Five minutes is plenty, 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 passage highlighted in red on the newspaper.
I had a good feeling.
The Commissioner General was undoubtedly paying close attention to the drug trafficking case.
"The headline of the newspaper you were reading, sir..."
"Ah, that. It's a headache. I thought things would improve under 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 mixed up in it too? That topic took up half of today's Senior Superintendent meeting."
"I learned that when trust in the police weakens, citizens' law-abiding spirit 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 restore the public's skyrocketing distrust in the police."
He had gathered the local police chiefs and discussed it for two hours, but no clear solution had emerged.
"We will strengthen patrols," "We will expand youth guidance programs," "How about casting a famous celebrity to shoot a public service announcement for the National Police Agency?"
It was as if their brains had gone stagnant; they were all too busy listing the same old cliches.
"You can raise the public's trust in the police?"
"Yes, sir."
Cheon Ojun almost laughed out loud.
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, but at the same time, rather admirable.
Although he didn't expect much, there was no reason to dismiss the claims of an enthusiastic 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 criminals, twelve had the word "Arrested" stamped beneath their faces.
Although he was now the Commissioner General who mainly dealt with major national issues, Cheon Ojun had once been a passionate detective himself.
He knew that the results shown on the flyer were anything but ordinary.
"You've caught quite a few. Is this the flyer from the first half of the year?"
"Have you not received the report yet, sir?"
"Arrests of wanted suspects are handled by the Director of the Bureau of Investigation. I only review them occasionally when they come up in formal reports."
So that's why his reaction was so lukewarm.
Well, it didn't matter. If he didn't know, I could just show him now.
"This is the flyer for the second half of this year."
"The second half? You mean this is the flyer distributed in November?"
"Yes, sir. Twelve people were caught in just three weeks. If we include the three who will be processed today, that makes a total of fifteen arrests."
I wrote the word "Arrested" under the photos of the three wanted suspects who were to be handed over today.
"Oh, this is actually quite surprising."
"Having every single wanted suspect on the flyer arrested within a month of its distribution will probably be a historic 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 straight into the Commissioner General's eyes with a face full of confidence.
Did he think I was being reckless?
Cheon Ojun's eyes held only doubt, not excitement.
I drew a red 'X' over the faces of the wanted suspects who were yet to be caught 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 authority that protects the safety of the citizens by their side."
Cheon Ojun leaned forward, showing his curiosity.
"The Korean Police look only to you."
I smiled and threw my final card.
"If we insert these slogans under the flyer showing all the suspects arrested and produce a promotional video, wouldn't public trust in the police rise at least a little?"
"Hahaha!"
The firmly shut castle gates finally swung open.
"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 add new names and print a new batch. Why is that a problem?"
"We need to show the public that we swept up every single suspect on the flyer. If we issue a new flyer now, won't all that effort go to waste?"
"We could just make a separate one 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 arrested 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 you don't agree to this, my career as a detective ends here.
Having made up his mind, Cheon Ojun called his secretary through the intercom.
"Did you call, Commissioner General?"
"Which department manages the public wanted flyers?"
"The Investigation Planning Team, sir."
"Tell the Director of the Investigation Bureau and the Planning Team Leader to come here. 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 as well?"
"They are skittish bastards. If we make a scene, they will 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. May I be excused now?"
"Why? Won't you stay to greet the executives? It's good to make an impression early on."
"I want to focus solely on the arrests for now."
"Very well. If you handle this well, you'll get a special promotion. You have my word."
"Thank you, Commissioner General."
I had reduced the chances 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 my financial freedom first.
"Welcome, everyone."
The high-ranking officials entered the office after being summoned by the Commissioner General.
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 had come here."
"If I knew you were coming, I would have kept him here a bit longer."
"I hope he didn't disturb your rest."
"Disturb? The five minutes I spent with him were far more valuable than meeting with five hundred Senior Superintendents."
"...?"
"Come, 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, sir. I just received a call confirming that three more were arrested. But how did he know beforehand?"
"He probably knew because he caught them himself. He said he has already located the remaining five as well."
"Ha, I've never seen a case like this..."
"Of course. Even I have never experienced a case where every single wanted suspect on the flyer was arrested in less than a month."
"That's true, but the fact that a single officer made all the arrests is an unprecedented record."
"A single officer? So, you're saying Detective Min arrested all fifteen by himself?"
"According to the reports received so far, yes."
"Chief Lee. Is this true?"
Cheon Ojun double-checked the unbelievable fact with the Chief of Seongam Police Station.
"Yes, sir. It is."
"Hahaha. I knew he was something special, but I didn't expect this. He's simply a monster."
"He is still a rough diamond that needs a lot of polishing. Excessive praise might do him more harm than good."
"You're as stubborn as ever, Chief Lee. Young people these days lose their passion if they aren't rewarded in a timely manner. You have to know how to praise them when they do well."
"..."
"If you don't have the confidence to foster his talent properly, send him to the Detective Mobile Unit. I think he's 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."
"Planning Team Leader, let's postpone the printing of the new flyer for a bit. Public Relations Officer, prepare to broadcast it the moment all twenty suspects are arrested."
"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 meeting, so..."
"Doing a good job isn't everything. We have plenty of officers who don't understand the chain of command. An officer who ignores the hierarchy can become a disaster rather than an asset."
"I will keep that in mind."
"I'm just saying this out of concern. I'm sure you'll keep him in check. I have another schedule, so I'll be off."
"Goodbye, 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 dejected Chief Lee.
"His talent seems as overflowing as yours once was, so try to guide him well. It will be good for you too."
"Yes, Director."
The Director of the Investigation Bureau also left.
The Investigation Planning Team Leader, who remained until the end, patted Chief Lee on the shoulder.
"Let's grab some lunch before you go."
"Yes. I'll just clean this up and head out."
The wanted flyer and the highlighter that Detective Min had left behind.
As Lee Chungki was clearing the flyer, his eyes were drawn to one name in particular.
"...T-This person was caught?"
"What are you doing? Aren't you coming?"
Because his senior was urging him, he didn't have time to look closely.
"Let's go, senior."
Chief Lee folded the flyer twice and tucked it into his breast pocket.