Detention Center (1)
Park Hae-soo reported to Section Chief Lee Eun-soo via phone while Cheon Yooshin’s hearing was underway.
"Yes, Section Chief. I’ve scheduled the appointment with the Director of the National Magic Stone Research Institute."
[Good work. When is it?]
"It’s in six days."
[Excellent. The Minister has entrusted this matter entirely to me. You must ensure there are no setbacks.]
"Don’t worry, Section Chief."
[Hahaha. Good, very good.]
[Anyway, review and re-review everything over the next six days. Oh, and is the hearing proceeding well?]
Park Hae-soo chuckled and turned his gaze to the DMB broadcast.
"Hahaha... don’t worry about that. I was just watching it until a moment ago—wait, what?"
Park Hae-soo rubbed his eyes several times as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing, then checked the DMB again. Why was this happening? The screen showed Hunter Cheon Yooshin trampling National Assemblyman Park Taeseok.
'Did I, did I fall asleep and dream this?'
He pinched his cheek. It hurt. He could hear Section Chief Lee Eun-soo’s voice on the other end of the line, asking what was going on.
Click.
But Park Hae-soo didn't have the mental capacity to continue the call. It had finally happened. A massive disaster where the true nature of Hunter Cheon Yooshin was revealed to the entire nation.
#
The video of Cheon Yooshin’s assault spread like wildfire across the internet, topping the search rankings on every major community site.
However, the general public sentiment was negative. No matter how many people he had saved, beating an elder—someone who had lived twice as long as him—in a public forum was something that could never be accepted under the social norms of South Korea.
News reports poured in one after another.
The VIP ward of Hankuk University Hospital in Seoul. The bed where Assemblyman Park Taeseok lay was surrounded by medical equipment connected by a complex web of wires. His face was covered in bruises.
Knock, knock, knock!
With a knock, an aide opened the door.
"Um, Assemblyman. The press has arrived. Are you available now?"
Park Taeseok nodded, signaling for them to enter.
"Understood. I will let them in now."
A cameraman and a reporter entered cautiously.
"Assemblyman, are you feeling alright?"
Reporter Park Jung-ah looked at Park Taeseok. Park Taeseok nodded and gave a bitter smile.
"Since you aren't feeling well, we will finish the interview quickly and leave."
Park Jung-ah took out her notebook and pen and asked, "Assemblyman, what are your thoughts on Cheon Yooshin’s assault?"
Park Taeseok closed his eyes, appearing lost in thought for a moment. After a few seconds, having organized his thoughts, he opened his mouth.
"In truth, I understand Cheon Yooshin’s feelings. He is merely a young man of 25, still full of vigor. We adults should teach and guide him more. As an elder, I deeply empathize with his actions. Rather, as a politician, I am reflecting on my failure to look directly at the root cause of his anger."
Camera flashes went off in succession.
"Of course, violence cannot be justified for any reason. However, this incident has made me realize that we politicians must take a greater interest in the plight of hunters."
After a few more questions and answers, when the final response concluded, Park Taeseok wore a benevolent smile, like a monk who had attained enlightenment. The camera flashes erupted rapidly at the sight.
"I think it’s best to stop here for today. As you can see, my physical condition is poor, so even sitting up is difficult. I will hold a press conference later to state my position in more detail. Thank you."
The interview ended simply, and soon, only Park Taeseok remained in the room. And then, when the aide opened the door and entered, Park Taeseok smiled. Unlike just a moment ago, it was a cunning, devious smile.
"Hehehehe. What happened to that brat?"
"He is currently detained in the detention center. And the prosecution has already begun their investigation. Since the evidence is so clear, I believe the arrest will proceed smoothly."
Assault is a crime subject to the victim's will, but in cases like this, investigative agencies can initiate proceedings even without a formal complaint. He had said he wouldn't file a complaint, but he hadn't expressed a desire to waive punishment. In particular, criminal acts by hunters are treated much more strictly. Moreover, the victim was a member of the National Assembly. It was clear the prosecution would gain momentum and push this all the way to trial.
"Hahaha, how dare he touch me? I’ll show him exactly what social ruin means. He’ll probably have to rot in a smelly, cramped room for a few years."
Park Taeseok’s eyes began to shine with malice. Then, he moved his body without thinking.
"Ugh!"
The spot where that brat had hit him was still too painful.
#
"Is this a hotel or a detention center?"
Cheon Yooshin, who had been taken directly to the hunter-exclusive detention center after the assault, scanned the interior. A state-of-the-art wall-mounted fan was spinning softly on one wall. It was such a high-quality fan that there wasn't even any noise from the blades. A folding chair was placed in the corner. Was it meant for him to sit on so his knees wouldn't hurt from crouching? There was even a TV installed so he wouldn't be bored.
"At this rate, it’s basically a hotel."
He remembered seeing on the news once that the world’s first five-star prison was in South Korea. But this was even better than that. No, at this point, it was no different from home. Especially compared to the Abyss, this place was heaven. He chuckled at the unexpectedly good facilities, turned on the TV, and leaned back in the chair.
On the TV, several panelists were sitting at a desk, engaged in a debate.
"The biggest issue today is undoubtedly the assault on the National Assemblyman. How do you all see it?" the moderator asked.
Behind them, on a large screen, the scene of him trampling Park Taeseok was being played on a loop, in slow motion no less. One of the older panelists grabbed the microphone.
"This assault incident is truly shocking. Does this make any sense? Beating a person on a live broadcast that the entire nation is watching! And a representative elected by the people at that. It shows just how much hunters have looked down on ordinary citizens in their daily lives."
Then, a critic sitting next to him chimed in, spitting as he spoke. "That’s right. Violence only begets more violence, so we need to teach him a harsh lesson this time."
Another panelist jumped in. "We need to reduce the privileges of hunters while we’re at it. They’ve been given too much leeway. Aside from this incident, there are many things that haven't surfaced yet. It’s true they protect us, but that doesn't mean they can stand above the law, does it?"
"Funny," Yooshin muttered with a smirk.
Not a single person mentioned the words Park Taeseok had spewed at him. As if they had been ordered by someone, they focused solely on his violence. To them, he was the villain, and Park Taeseok was being packaged as justice itself.
That was when it happened.
"We are moving to the interrogation room."
A prison guard in full uniform entered and led him to the interrogation room. As he sat in the chair, he felt the cold touch characteristic of metal. Even the air felt chilly.
'Are they keeping the atmosphere like this on purpose?'
It was his first time in a detention center, and his first time in an interrogation room. Perhaps they had dimmed the lights on purpose; even with the lights on, it was quite dark. They had the air conditioning blasting, likely to make him feel small. But...
'Perfect for taking a nap.'
About a minute or ten minutes after he closed his eyes, the interrogation room door opened, and a man in his 30s in a suit appeared. It was Jo Hyun-ho, the prosecutor in charge of this case.
#
Chief Prosecutor’s Office. Chief Prosecutor Kim Chan-woo looked at the man sitting before him and said, "Look here, Prosecutor Jo. You’re well aware of the importance of this case, right?"
Prosecutor Jo Hyun-ho nodded. "Of course, Chief."
"I hope you realize how hard I had to fight to assign this case to you."
"Thank you, Chief."
Kim Chan-woo nodded, seemingly satisfied with Jo Hyun-ho’s response. This case was the perfect opportunity to show the power of the prosecution. It was a major case with the eyes of the nation fixed upon it, and a golden opportunity to tear down the Hunter Management Department. Furthermore, it was a great chance for a rookie prosecutor without any connections.
Kim Chan-woo picked up a document with a photo of Cheon Yooshin printed on it.
"The prosecution and the Hunter Management Department are always being compared, aren't they? It’s time to show them properly who the head of the investigative agencies really is."
"I will investigate thoroughly, Chief."
Kim Chan-woo shook his head as if that wasn't the right answer. "You didn't quite understand what I meant. During the interrogation, push Cheon Yooshin into as unfavorable a position as possible. If necessary... a little pressure would be fine."
"I understand perfectly what you mean."
Kim Chan-woo nodded and said, "Don't miss this opportunity. It’s a crucial chance that your future depends on."
"I will keep that in mind!"
"Good. Now, get out there."
"Thank you so much for the opportunity. I will never forget this grace, Chief!"
"Right. Go and do it properly. Everyone is watching Prosecutor Jo."
At Kim Chan-woo’s words, Jo Hyun-ho bowed his head and left the office. From the moment he was assigned as the prosecutor in charge of this case, he had already made his choice—between his conscience and his career.
#
"Hello?"
'What the hell is this guy?'
Jo Hyun-ho paused, seeing Yooshin greeting him with a bright smile. Although his career had just passed the one-year mark, he had met hundreds of suspects. They usually reacted in one of two ways: trembling in fear, or pretending not to be scared. But the man in front of him was different. Wasn't he greeting him as if he had just met a welcome acquaintance at a restaurant? He almost found himself waving back.
Jo Hyun-ho hardened his expression and said coldly, "I am Jo Hyun-ho, the prosecutor in charge of this case."
"Oh, nice to meet you, Mr. Jo Hyun-ho."
Yooshin was genuinely glad someone had walked in, as he had been bored. Jo Hyun-ho sat across from him and flipped through the documents.
"You are well aware of how serious this matter is, right? The evidence is clear anyway, so let’s make this easy for everyone."
This case was too easy. There was no need to search for evidence. It was a video circulating as a GIF on YouTube and the internet.
However.
"A serious matter? Really? I don't think it looks that serious from where I’m sitting."
To call it a serious matter just because he hit him a few times. If he had used his full strength, they would have probably called for an execution. At Yooshin’s nonchalant response, Jo Hyun-ho’s eyes sharpened.
"Is that so? Take a look at this."
Yooshin took the document and read the text.
"...Eight weeks of treatment?"
"That’s right! Eight whole weeks! A broken leg bone and facial contusions! And the victim is a National Assemblyman. No matter how much of a hunter you are..."
Yooshin, listening to Jo Hyun-ho, raised a hand.
"Excuse me?"
"...?"
Yooshin tilted his head to one side.
"But wait, do you know me? Since when were we on such familiar terms that you’re using casual speech? You shouldn't do that. You really shouldn't!"
No matter what, he shouldn't have snapped like that. No, damn it! How big of a mistake did he even make? Cheon Yooshin’s dissatisfaction was clearly visible on his face. It was obvious that if he pushed the wrong button, he would end up just like Assemblyman Park Taeseok. Jo Hyun-ho realized in that moment: perhaps the Chief hadn't given him an opportunity, but a bomb.