Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: 047. Vampire Detective
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"Customer, upon checking, some of the gold bars have serial numbers that don't exist, and others are duplicates."
"...Oh, really?"
I was surprised by Hwang Min-jun, the branch manager's words. Come to think of it, there were English letters and numbers engraved on the bottom of the gold bars. I'd glossed over them, but who would've thought they'd cause this issue.
"At first, I suspected they might be stolen goods, but after a quick check with banks in the US, all the owners confirmed they still have their gold bars. However, the ones you brought in still raise suspicions of being stolen. Could you tell me where these came from?"
Hwang Min-jun's eyes were sharp.
"I picked them up in a dungeon. The purity's not an issue, right?"
Dungeons sometimes popped up even in modern settings. I planned to stick to that story no matter what.
"Yes, we've already confirmed the purity. It's pure gold. But you really got them from a dungeon?"
"Yeah. I've got a few more besides these."
"I see."
Hwang Min-jun seemed suspicious, but he nodded without further comment.
"This is terribly rude to say to a customer, but I actually looked into you just a moment ago. You're a sophomore at Gukcheon University, and you train at Yeongcheon Sword Hall."
I knew then that Hwang Min-jun was no ordinary guy. My body tensed up suddenly. Who would've thought selling gold would lead to this humiliation. Couldn't I just sell them?
"...And?"
"The owner of Yeongcheon Sword Hall, Master Jin Woo-seong, is one of our VIPs. I called to verify your identity. You're a disciple of Yeongcheon-ryu."
Jin Woo-seong. I'd never met him personally, but I knew the name. Jin Se-young's father and a master of Yeongcheon-ryu.
"That's right. I do Yeongcheon-ryu."
"...I, I see. Anyway, your gold bars are suspicious, but since you say they came from a dungeon, there's nothing to be done. And you're a disciple of Master Jin Woo-seong. I'll trust you, Customer Sung Yu-jin."
My face brightened. I could guess Hwang Min-jun's intentions.
"Of course. Even if they're from a dungeon, it's understandable they'd be suspected as stolen goods."
"However, in cases like this, the market price drops a bit. The origin is unclear, and reprocessing is needed. 60 million won per bar. How about that?"
"Sounds good. But I've got a lot of these gold bars. Might have more to sell later."
"Of course. I'll buy them all. Here's my business card. How could I suspect someone connected to a VIP? The price will still be a bit lower, though."
I took Hwang Min-jun's business card and smirked.
Hwang Min-jun wore a friendly smile. But that was just the surface.
'Not 'us,' but 'I'...'
I nodded readily.
It'd be a small loss, but with the Playful Life app, I could pull in nearly infinite gold.
"Do you buy jewelry too, by any chance?"
"...Oh? You have jewels as well? I'm specialized in gold, but... I know a broker who deals in all sorts of items professionally. Let me give you his contact."
He scribbled a phone number on the back of the card and handed it to me.
I realized the broker he mentioned was an illegal fence.
"Does this guy... also procure certain 'items' on request?"
"Yes. He's a bit money-hungry, but his skills are top-notch. He can get anything. Anything."
"Ooh, nice."
Hwang Min-jun and I exchanged smiles and shook hands before parting.
It had been a week since moving into the officetel.
The first day, Oh Jun-hyuk came over for a housewarming and we got smashed. From the next day, I moved my stuff from the old place. Since it was just junk, I handled it myself, and my inventory was a huge help.
'Car license test next week... Bike license later. For the car, something decent, like a foreign luxury model.'
I left the house to head to university and got into the elevator. My place was on the 6th floor. I knew Han Ha-rin lived in this building, but still didn't know which floor. Never run into her.
The elevator descending stopped at the 4th floor. The doors opened, and Han Ha-rin stepped in with her usual icy expression. First time bumping into her here.
"...Hey. Hi?"
I greeted her.
Han Ha-rin glanced at me, frowning ever so slightly.
"...You live here?"
"Moved in recently. Close to school, good facilities."
"Yeah?"
"You're on the 4th? I'm on 6th. Neighbors should get along."
"......"
No reply. I thought about saying more but shut my mouth.
Our connection was just being in the same Hunter Department. I'd confessed to her once and got rejected, but she paid me no mind. Just strangers.
We got off on the 1st floor.
Han Ha-rin headed to the parking lot, while I, without a car yet, walked to the bus stop.
'Wow, that ass is killer.'
Stealing a glance at her rear was a given.
Moon Ji-hyuk gathered info on Tusungpa while steadily investigating past incidents.
The alley blood pool case. The Saeo Today apartment case.
The link: three gangster corpses. Investigating them led to a clue.
'Cableplex Room. Ma Bong-cheon and his crew worked security there.'
The van found near the alley was theirs. Why park it so close?
'They planned to kill someone.'
Otherwise, no reason to bring the van to that nearby alley. But their target wasn't Jeokgwang.
'If it was Jeokgwang, the gangsters would've been dead before they knew it.'
It was someone else. The other bloodstain in the alley. That was Ma Bong-cheon's target.
'Holy Dick.'
Relentlessly tailing Cableplex Room, threatening and coaxing the girls who worked there, he got the info.
'Holy Dick, short for Holy Cock.'
Holy Dick was a joke. He'd quipped while banging girls in the rooms that his cock was holy.
The rumor spread among the girls, and now everyone in the nightlife scene knew the nickname "Holy Dick." Quite the playboy.
Sex work happened there too, but Moon Ji-hyuk couldn't arrest the women. His case was Jeokgwang, not prostitution. That could wait.
'The day Holy Dick first hit Cableplex was the day of the alley blood pool incident.'
Moon Ji-hyuk investigated Holy Dick, of course.
Holy Dick. Real name: Sung Yu-jin. 21 years old. College student, loaded with cash. Always solo-clubs in Gangnam. Spends freely. Tens of millions a day is routine.
'DNA from the alley blood: healthy male, early 20s. Matches Sung Yu-jin perfectly.'
Sung Yu-jin must've fought the three gangsters in the alley. Then Jeokgwang intervened, critically wounding them and abducting them.
'Most plausible. But why abduct them from the scene? No torture marks on the bodies.'
No clue what happened after. Locked up for a month? Why bother?
'...Anyway, Sung Yu-jin and Jeokgwang are connected somehow.'
First, dig into Sung Yu-jin.
Moon Ji-hyuk scoured nearby universities. Flashed his badge, requested cooperation, searched for the student Sung Yu-jin.
Nothing.
'...Homonyms existed. Wrong ages, didn't match descriptions.'
Checked every uni in Seoul. No dice. Either fake name or not a student.
'Holy Dick... Sung Yu-jin hits Gangnam clubs almost every night. Most frequent: Yeonghyejeong.'
Yeonghyejeong.
Korea's top nightlife spot.
Learned of it by chance during past ops. Team leader Detective Oh Jung-jin ordered never to touch it. High officials back it. Rumor has it even the police chief's involved.
'And Yeonghyejeong ties to Tusungpa... Not something a lone detective can handle. But...'
Moon Ji-hyuk squeezed his eyes shut, then opened them. Stake out other clubs? Time shortage. A month since Kim Chun-seok scandal. Jeokgwang could strike today.
'...Gotta push and meet Sung Yu-jin ASAP.'
Didn't go straight in. Parked nearby for stakeout. But in 30 minutes, suited big guys surrounded his car.
Their leader knocked on the window.
'...Not amateurs. Busted in 30 minutes.'
Moon Ji-hyuk sighed, phone in hand, and rolled down the window.
"What? Threatening me? I'll call the cops."
"You're the cop, Detective Moon Ji-hyuk."
Park Chan-seong's tone was polite as ever. But to Moon Ji-hyuk, it felt more menacing.
"...Already know who I am. Impressive."
"We're sensitive to info. Mind telling us why you're staking out here? You're with Jeokgwang task force now, right? Doesn't seem aimed at us."
"Tusungpa. Scarier than I thought."
Cold sweat beaded. This was Yeonghyejeong. Power of Korea's top gang.
"Care to answer? Our patience isn't infinite."
"...Jeokgwang investigation. Heard Sung Yu-jin frequents here."
"Ah, yes. He's a regular at our Yeonghyejeong. Can't let that slide."
Park Chan-seong gripped the window frame.
"Detective Moon. Can't have you acting like this. This is Yeonghyejeong. Country's tense, customers scarce... Can't block the few we have."
"Not arresting Sung Yu-jin. Just questions."
"Watch your words. No warrant, so can't arrest. Staking out openly... You think Yeonghyejeong's a joke?"
Moon Ji-hyuk caught the tone turning hostile. Stay longer, even a detective might get roughed up.
'...Better back off this time.'
Bzzz. Bzzz.
Moon Ji-hyuk's phone vibrated.
Checked it: brows furrowed. Team leader Oh Jung-jin. Obvious reason.
"Phone ringing. Urgent? Take it."
"...I'll back off this time. Next, as a customer."
"Customers welcome. Tough times. Got the cash?"
"......"
Moon Ji-hyuk shut up. Recalled his bank balance. Recent expenses. No spare change.
"Detective Moon. You wearing makeup?"
"...What?"
Moon Ji-hyuk startled. Heart dropped. He'd caked on makeup to hide his vampire pallor.
Park Chan-seong smirked, bowing slightly.
"Sensitive to cosmetics. Can tell up close. Letting it slide since you're backing off. Next time, satisfy my curiosity."
"......"
Grip tightened on the wheel.
Suspected him as vampire. Almost certain. A veiled threat.
"...Got it."
As Park Chan-seong stepped back at Moon Ji-hyuk's reply, a passing taxi stopped. Sung Yu-jin hopped out.
"Huh? Manager Park Chan-seong? What's with the guys outside?"
Sung Yu-jin frequented Yeonghyejeong so much, he and Park Chan-seong were on nodding terms.
"...Yu-jin. Well..."
Park Chan-seong explained. No point hiding now. Sung Yu-jin was a whale among whales.
"Oh? Wants to ask me stuff? Guess I gotta answer. Name's Detective Moon Ji-hyuk?"
"Yes. Detective Moon Ji-hyuk, currently with Jeokgwang task force."
Moon Ji-hyuk spoke politely. Sung Yu-jin wasn't threatening like Park Chan-seong, not official probe. First meeting.
"Detective, buy me steak dinner and I'll cooperate. Oh, only high-end spot nearby. Deal?"
"...Dinner's no big deal."
"But that phone? Keeps ringing, seems urgent."
"...Excuse me."
Whirr. Moon Ji-hyuk raised the window and answered.
-Hey, you bastard! Moon Ji-hyuk! What the hell?! I told you not to touch Yeonghyejeong! Didn't I?!
The booming voice made Moon Ji-hyuk's face sour.