What the White Dog Uncovered

Aren't their expressions a bit too solemn right from the start?

I asked Manager Geum.

"Are you nervous?"

"Rather than nervous, I'd say I'm excited. This is my first business trip since becoming a corporate employee, after all."

"Don't get too carried away, though. You never know what might happen in the field. Make sure to wear your protective gear, and keep your wits about you when you're working."

"Understood."

"If everyone is ready, let's get started right away. You've all checked your routes, right?"

"Yes."

"Those starting in Daejeon and Jeonju, head out first. For those accompanying clients, call me once you arrive."

"Understood."

Manager Geum and Assistant Manager Dong teamed up to head to Daejeon, while Nam Junghmo paired up with Hyeon Jubaek to head to Jeonju.

"Section Chief Eun, you'll be flying solo today. Your area is the Seoul metropolitan region. Since your tasks shouldn't take too long, you've been assigned the most cases."

"Leave it to me."

"Great. Everyone, save the clients' contact information on your phones. Put on your protective gear, and if you're ready, let's de—"

"Wait a minute!"

My younger sister, Gain, raised her hand and stepped forward.

"I have something to announce before you leave."

"What is it?"

"For any expenses incurred during field work—such as fuel, highway tolls, meals, and lodging—you must submit the receipts. Otherwise, we cannot process your travel expenses."

She's learning under Director Ju, so she's doing things strictly by the book.

But this wasn't what I wanted for my sister.

"How much could that possibly be? Just move instead of wasting time collecting receipts. Time is money for us."

"If we don't have receipts, how are we supposed to process the expenses?"

My sister asked, as if demanding an explanation.

"Just pay out of pocket, and I'll increase your performance bonuses to cover it."

"Wow, that makes no sense. Director!"

Gain dragged in her boss, Ju Harin.

Director Ju approached with her arms crossed, squinting at me.

"I heard you were a notorious cheapskate, but I guess not?"

"Who spread such nonsense?"

"If we don't write off expenses just because it's a hassle, who's going to handle the massive tax bomb?"

"Well, as the majority shareholder, I can just shoulder it."

"What's your real reason for this? Tell me honestly. Just between us."

Ju Harin leaned her head toward me, wanting to hear it privately.

A faint scent of jajangmyeon, rather than shampoo, drifted from her fine hair, but it wasn't unpleasant at all.

"Well... if we accumulate too many receipts, you have to enter vouchers, organize the ledgers, and calculate travel expenses. It just creates more work."

"So you're trying to reduce the workload because you're worried your sister will have a hard time?"

"It's not exactly that, but isn't it better if the workload is lighter?"

"Wow, the sibling affection here puts the Sun and the Moon fairy tale to shame."

"Don't be sarcastic."

"I'm not being sarcastic. I'm just jealous."

"If you're jealous..."

I quickly swallowed the words that were about to slip out.

It was too early to say it now.

But Ju Harin seemed deeply curious about what I was going to say.

"If I'm jealous, what?"

"Nothing. So, should I tell them to bring all the receipts?"

"There's no need for that. They can just use the corporate cards."

"Corporate cards?"

"I applied for them last week, and they arrived today. The limit is ten million won, so it should be plenty for travel expenses. The card statements will serve as proof."

"You should have told me sooner."

I felt as if my hidden motives had been laid bare.

Ju Harin handed out the corporate cards, each printed with the employee's name, one by one to the field staff.

The final order to deploy was up to CEO Cha.

"Alright, did everyone get theirs?"

"Yes."

"Head out before it gets too late. Drive safely, everyone."

"We'll be back! Loyalty!"

The highly motivated warriors quickly dispersed to their assigned locations.

Two hours later.

Gain slipped the deposit confirmation slip into a signing folder and handed it to Director Ju.

"The deposit for the officetel we contracted yesterday was just transferred."

"Was that the last one?"

"Yes. The commercial spaces and officetels are now fully occupied."

On the first floor, Jurassic Bone Steamed Dish, a convenience store, a pharmacy, a laundromat, and a sushi restaurant had moved in. The second and third floors, as Ju Harin had wished, were filled with internal medicine, dental, dermatology, ophthalmology, and urology clinics.

The officetels on the fourth, fifth, and sixth floors were also fully leased, locking in the building's fixed monthly rental income.

The important part was the total revenue.

"How much rental income will be coming in starting in February?"

"Ninety million won for the officetels, 220 million won for the clinics, and 40 million won for the commercial spaces. That's a total of 350 million won."

"Excluding VAT?"

"Yes."

A monthly rental income of 350 million won.

Considering the amount spent at the auction, it was an incredible rate of return.

However, there were some minor regrets, such as using the seventh floor as lodging for Dachaja employees and the cheap rent for Jurassic Bone Steamed Dish, which had moved in without even a deposit.

"Well, the restaurant's success played a big part in this, so it's fine."

With 350 million won in rental income and 200 million won from the National Police Agency...

To achieve an annual revenue of 10 billion won, the Location Information Service Division had to bring in about 400 million won every month.

Assuming an average retainer fee of 2 million won, they would need to take on 200 cases a month to reach that target.

Excluding holidays, that meant about nine cases a day.

"That seems a bit tight."

They were sailing smoothly for now, but this boom couldn't last forever.

When planning, one must always be conservative.

Achieving 10 billion won in revenue was also essential for Ju Harin's future.

Only by reaching this goal could she make a triumphant return to Gukil Law Firm. That was the sole condition set by Representative Jin Jiman.

"But was a ten-billion-won revenue target ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠always this difficult?"

Back when she was at a law firm that brought in trillions of won every year, even a company with a hundred billion won in revenue seemed trivial. But experiencing it firsthand, she realized it was no easy feat.

If it meant she could become an equity partner, she felt like she would even take out private loans to boost the revenue.

"Wouldn't it be better to hold one more card in my hand?"

While Ju Harin was pondering additional sources of income, Gain clasped her hands politely and bowed to her.

"Director. I'm sorry."

"Hmm? For what?"

"It seems my brother is abusing his power."

What on earth was she talking about?

"Abusing his power? Who? Detective Min?"

"Using his superior position to make excessive demands on the company and crossing the line..."

"Wait, Gain. Hold on a second. What are you talking about?"

"I heard my brother is the private ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠liaison designated by the National Police Agency. I think he's acting out because of that. I apologize on his behalf."

"Ah. So that's how you saw it? Haha. That's funny."

Since Detective Min had said he would tell her himself when the time came, she had kept the fact that he was the actual owner of the company a secret.

She had laughed it off, assuming it was some kind of surprise event for his family.

His behavior was cute, so she had actively played along.

But he still hadn't told her?

It would be best to keep it a secret until he spoke up himself.

When in a tight spot, diverting attention is highly effective.

"Admin Min."

"Yes, Director."

"You haven't told your brother that you're preparing for the CSAT yet, right?"

Ju Harin had advised Min Gain, who was interested in accounting, to go to college.

She had added that since Gain was still young and could get support from her parents and brother, now was the perfect time if she wanted to do it.

And so, Gain had started preparing for the CSAT.

"I was planning to tell him after I take the exam."

"So you haven't been caught yet?"

"Yes. My brother probably doesn't know yet."

"Like leaving a CSAT workbook on your desk..."

"Ah, yesterday!"

Gain suddenly remembered leaving a book of past ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠exam questions on her desk yesterday.

What if her brother, who had stayed late at the office, had seen it?

Seeing Gain's expression, Ju Harin nodded and muttered.

"It was strange from the moment he said we didn't need receipts."

She had wondered why a cheapskate who only ever bought her jajangmyeon would suddenly pass up an opportunity to save on taxes.

Gain blinked and asked.

"What about the receipts?"

"It was because of you, Admin Min. Your brother was being considerate so you could focus on studying instead of working. You've been caught preparing for the CSAT."

"Ah! But why would he come to someone else's company and..."

"Never mind that. Just ask your brother what he wants to do for dinner. He looks like he'll be in the command center until the sales team finishes their work."

"Understood."

Ju Harin stared intently at the command center where Gain was walking, as if trying to see right through the walls.

"The more I look at him, the stranger he is. He says his goal is a ten-billion-won revenue, yet he doesn't spare money on the people around him. Is he really a cheapskate?"

I was busy on the phone with the sales team members out in the field.

Section Chief Eun had just resolved his fourth case.

Manager Geum and Assistant Manager Dong, who had left for Daejeon, had also wrapped up their second case in Cheongju and were heading to Cheonan.

Nam Junghmo and Hyeon Jubaek, who had gone down to Jeonju, contacted me to say they had closed their second case and were moving to Hamyeon Island.

Hamyeon Island is a resort destination connected to Taean by a bridge. It was the last known location of a college student who had been missing for three months.

Just as everything was proceeding smoothly...

Knock, knock, knock.

Someone came to the command center where I was alone.

"Oppa, can I come in for a second?"

It was Gain. No matter if she was my sister, this was a space she shouldn't enter lightly.

"I'd prefer it if you didn't disturb me while I'm working."

Despite my refusal, Gain turned the doorknob.

"What? It's locked? Did you do this, Oppa?"

"Yeah. Why, what's up?"

"I'm asking what you're doing for dinner."

"I'm not hungry."

"Should I ask Dad to pack a lunchbox for you?"

"No! If he finds out I'm here, he might try to come over."

"Are you avoiding Dad right now?"

"Yeah, for the time being. Dad's gone money-mad. Every time he sees me, he keeps asking to borrow money, so I'm not meeting him."

"Ah, about him wanting to open a branch? Then should I at least pack some sushi..."

"I'll take care of it. Hurry up and go home to stud—I mean, rest."

"Okay. But Oppa."

"What now?"

"Thank you."

I didn't get to hear her reason.

My sister's presence at the door faded away.

What is she thanking me for?

Thank you.

I was hearing those words a lot today.

From the children of an elderly mother who had lost her memory.

From the owner of the runaway dog, Kong.

And from sisters who had been adopted abroad as children and reunited in middle age.

I felt glad that I had started ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠this business.

But it wasn't always good news.

Hyeon Jubaek, who had moved to Hamyeon Island, had arrived at the third location I designated.

Shin Haejun, who had entered Hankuk University's Business School as the runner-up of his class two years ago.

He had been missing for three months, prompting his mother to search for him herself.

Since the disappearance of an adult is often treated as a simple runaway case, the police response is inevitably slow even if reported.

Desperate, the mother had no choice but to knock on Dachaja's door, drawn by the clumsy advertisement promising to find anyone within three days.

Since it was January and the winter cold was still fierce, there were very few people on the beach.

The red arrow on the Beomjappa navigation app pointed to the exact spot where Hyeon Jubaek had arrived.

But all that was visible was an elderly man with graying hair and a white dog he had brought out...

"Mr. Hyeon!"

Something had just emerged from the ground the white dog was digging up.

Judging by its appearance, if it wasn't a mannequin, it was definitely a human hand.

If it was a human...

Since someone couldn't dig a hole and bury themselves, this was undoubtedly a murder case.

Why was a student from Hankuk University, the most prestigious university in the country, sleeping beneath the cold sand?