Chapter 67
Chapter 67
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: Vampire Detective
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Through Choi Sun-mi, I was able to learn about the Red Light Task Force and the Korean Black Cross Society. Even without me saying anything, she brought the information straight to me.
The Red Light Task Force was little more than a name at this point. Its members were handling other duties instead of Red Light cases. Occasionally investigating suspects presumed to be Red Light was about the extent of their work. Apparently, the higher-ups had all but given up on Red Light.
'The chances of the task force being disbanded aren't high. At least having a Red Light Task Force makes it look like they're still investigating Red Light on the surface.'
The police would definitely keep using the task force to appeal to the public someday: We're still investigating Red Light!
'And the Black Cross Society? The atmosphere there is like a funeral home.'
In fact, they had held funerals. For the vampire hunters I killed. I had stopped assassinating vampire hunters after that.
There were fewer than ten vampire hunters left in the Korean Black Cross Society. They had to worry not just about Red Light, but other vampires as well.
'Some Black Cross Society staff developed mental breakdowns from fear of me. Can't have that.'
They had requested support from the Black Cross Societies in England and the US, but were turned down. I heard that the Korean branch's director, Lee Moon-hyeon, was doing something to break through the current situation, but I wasn't worried.
The Korean Black Cross Society had already lost its influence. The most they could do was suppress rampaging vampires who didn't know any better.
'Moon Ji-hyuk seems to be wandering around investigating Kantra... but he's just coming up empty.'
Moon Ji-hyuk had been chasing Kantra in Korea from the start. Only a tiny fraction of Korea's vampires knew about Kantra. And even those who did knew nothing about the Orb of Life.
Right now, Moon Ji-hyuk was flailing at empty air.
'I should provide some information. That way, he'll chase Doris like in the original story. Should I tell him about Kang Wook-seong?'
I shook my head at the thought.
Kang Wook-seong was smart. He'd immediately figure out that I had leaked info to Moon Ji-hyuk.
I wanted to maintain a good relationship with Kang Wook-seong.
'Brokers as convenient as him are rare.'
After some deliberation, I pulled out my smartphone and messaged Moon Ji-hyuk.
I paused here.
Of course, I knew Doris Ziegler's superpower from the original story.
'Should I tell him? In the original, he tracked her fine without knowing... But the current Moon Ji-hyuk is a bit different from the original.'
The original Moon Ji-hyuk had grown mentally through solving various cases. But the current one hadn't solved many due to the twisted plot.
'Especially after that dawn at the Saewol Group HQ bombing. He's softened? Lost his edge.'
Probably a big mental blow from failing to stop Ji An-seok.
This guy was supposed to be caught by Moon Ji-hyuk not long ago in the original. But with the future twisted, there was no sign of it yet. He was hiding and operating in Seoul.
In the original, captured vampires died in prison. The government secretly executed them.
Prisons were built for regular humans. Vampires would obviously try to escape using their innate physical abilities.
I figured Moon Ji-hyuk would arrest Lim Mo-un. He did in the original. Though Lim ended up dead like other transferred vampires.
???
November 19th.
Lim Mo-un died by Moon Ji-hyuk's hand.
Stabbed in the heart with a silver-plated knife, he died instantly.
Moon Ji-hyuk had snuck into Lim's place during the day and plunged the knife into his heart. He successfully got his revenge. But he didn't look happy about it, from what I could see.
After killing Lim Mo-un, Moon Ji-hyuk headed straight to Busan to investigate the infiltrating vampire Progenitor.
'Moon Ji-hyuk. This guy's gotten colder. And oddly obsessed with the Orb of Life? He wasn't this fixated in the original.'
Sensing something off, I began investigating Moon Ji-hyuk. It wasn't much of an investigation—hacking his smartphone. Knowing his number let me hack remotely, though the connection was shorter that way.
'Aha.'
I could tell from his call logs and chats.
'Moon Ji-hyuk changed big time because of Yang Jeong-min, the heroine.'
In the original, he worked in the detective division, not Red Light Task Force, buried in cases with no time for romance. The drama had almost no romance.
'But joining Red Light gave him free time.'
And he used it to date Yang Jeong-min.
I went through all their call records and chat logs.
Occupational habit of a detective: Moon Ji-hyuk auto-saved all calls, no matter how trivial. I listened to their sweet, innocent conversations.
'They've kissed, but no home run yet.'
Makes sense. Both virgins, first relationship. Hard to progress. Moon had that scholarly vibe too.
'This guy's head over heels for Yang Jeong-min.'
I chuckled.
Should I break into Yang Jeong-min's place right now and rape her? Her parents posed no threat. I could do it right in front of them.
'...No, not yet. Even after using Moon Ji-hyuk, it won't be too late.'
If he learned she was raped, his mentality could shatter, leading to unpredictable actions that derail my plans.
'Later's fine. Looks like they won't do it by year's end. ...Hmm. Christmas might have potential?'
I snickered, browsing the internet on my phone.
The web was all Red Light talk, as usual.
The internet was the same as always.
???
'Found him.'
Around 8 AM. Moon Ji-hyuk spotted the foreigner sneaking in on a ship from Japan.
Apparent age mid-to-late 30s. Suit topped with a trench coat. Immaculately groomed, evoking a British gentleman. Briefcase in one hand.
Moon Ji-hyuk watched from over 100m away.
'Wasn't sure at first. But...'
He had a small mercury mirror in his left hand. Earlier, passing by, he checked via the mirror. No reflection. Vampire confirmed.
Moon Ji-hyuk tailed the man quietly and messaged Taker.
'Opponent's a Progenitor vampire like Red Light. Kantra executive too. Sharp senses. Need more distance.'
He widened to 200m. Honestly, even that felt risky. Ideally, 500m.
'This is the safe limit.'
Moon Ji-hyuk agreed. Even in daylight, if Doris teleported away, game over.
'Gather info first. Teleport range is 10m. Can counter if I plan well.'
His hand slipped into his coat pocket, feeling the small revolver. Bought from Taker, loaded with silver bullets. For killing Progenitors.
'I'll definitely get the Orb of Life and return to human. Then... propose to Jeong-min.'
Doris casually entered a Korean restaurant for breakfast.
Soon, a car arrived, picked him up, and sped off. Moon Ji-hyuk followed. But he soon grimaced.
'...Spotted. Trying to shake me.'
Moon Ji-hyuk clicked his tongue. Couldn't confront directly. At least three vampires in their car. Outnumbered.
'Have to let him go here.'
Pretending to be shaken off after a bit, he stopped and messaged Taker.
Moon Ji-hyuk felt a twinge of dissonance.
Taker was providing info like he'd been waiting.
'Coincidence. Taker's trustworthy. Never given false info so far.'
Plus, recently, Taker's tip let him kill Lim Mo-un, who turned him.
'Now, find a way to take them on alone... no, steal the Orb of Life.'