The Investigation Division Chief, Kang Do-cheol
The air inside the summit hall froze. It was because of Chairman Kim Seong-ryong’s bombshell declaration. Confusion flickered across the faces of the South Korean delegation, while anticipation rippled through the North Korean officials. President Cha let out a deep sigh. Reunification was a longing that had to be fulfilled someday, no matter what. However, the process leading to it was arduous, and there were far too many factors to consider.
"My heart wants to reunify immediately as well." Wasn't peaceful reunification one of his own presidential campaign pledges? "But reunification is bound to come with many side effects. You can see that from the case of East and West Germany." President Cha organized his thoughts for a moment before continuing. "Immediately after German reunification, the unemployment rate in the East skyrocketed. The uncompetitive East German companies collapsed in droves. And the residents living in West Germany had to cover that cost with their taxes. Furthermore, cultural conflicts will undoubtedly arise. So…,"
"Mr. President." Chairman Kim cut President Cha off mid-sentence. "If you think like that, reunification is absolutely impossible. If you weigh every single consequence, when will we ever reunify? We can live better than those Germans." The soldier's characteristic temperament flared up.
"No, even so…."
"And I am not talking about peaceful reunification. I am talking about reunification by absorption. Mr. President." At the second bombshell, President Cha blinked in surprise.
"Reunification by absorption?"
"Yes, Mr. President. Our Republic is essentially holding a ticking time bomb." Chairman Kim took a sip of the water placed in front of him and opened his mouth. "The existing hunters are already buried under the soil, rotting as corpses. The remaining hunters are struggling even with E-rank gate clears." President Cha listened in silence.
"If things go on like this, our entire Republic will be swallowed by gates. Reunification by absorption? If there were no gates, we wouldn't even think about such a thing. Therefore, we do not have the time to play tug-of-war under the name of peaceful reunification." A brief silence flowed.
"So, are you proposing reunification by absorption?"
"That is correct. It is the only way to save the residents of our Republic."
President Cha’s expression grew complex. He fell into deep thought for a moment. North Korea’s proposal was unprecedented, and its repercussions would be beyond imagination. But at the same time, this was an opportunity that would never come again. Having finished his thoughts, President Cha opened his mouth.
"I, too, am a citizen before I am the President of the Republic of Korea. I desperately want reunification with North Korea. However, as the President of the Republic of Korea, I cannot accept radical reunification like absorption."
"I, I see." Disappointment clouded Chairman Kim’s eyes.
"However, I will review the possibility of dispatching our hunters to North Korea. At the same time, let’s discuss gradual reunification. But before that, we will hold a national referendum. Reunification is a very important matter that determines the future of the nation."
"Are you serious?"
"However, you must guarantee the absolute safety of our hunters. If not…."
Chairman Kim thumped his chest with his fist. "Don't worry about that. I, Kim Seong-ryong, stake my name on it that such a thing will never happen."
"Very well. Then…." President Cha flipped over the documents placed in front of him. "I suppose the agenda for the inter-Korean summit will have to be scrapped entirely."
"Hahaha. My apologies for this. I will visit South Korea myself soon. Will you invite me?"
"You are welcome anytime, Chairman." President Cha chuckled.
"Then, is the boring meeting over?" Everyone’s gaze shifted to the man sitting next to President Cha. It was Cheon Yooshin.
"Hohoho. Sorry for dragging this out so long. That’s right. Now, why don't you go see Pyongyang?"
"Excuse me? More importantly, when do we eat Pyongyang naengmyeon?" A smile played on Chairman Kim’s face.
"Ah, don't worry. I have prepared it specially." President Cha glared at Yooshin with eyes half-filled with mischief. "Because of you, the summit is ending with just eating noodles."
Yooshin shrugged his shoulders and replied smoothly. "What’s wrong with that? You said you’re reunifying. Then you should be able to relax a little." The atmosphere in the meeting hall was becoming much lighter thanks to Yooshin.
2:00 AM. A man staggered out of a high-end bar glowing with flashy neon signs. He boarded a car that had been waiting, apparently having called a designated driver in advance, and left the scene. As soon as he disappeared, Team Leader Park Hae-soo, who had been lying in wait, entered the bar. A woman with heavy makeup stood at the counter.
"Excuse me, I would like to request your cooperation regarding the card number used by the person who just left." As he said this, Park Hae-soo pulled out his Hunter Management Department badge. However, no one is intimidated by someone who is neither police nor prosecution. Especially not people working in this industry.
"Do you have a warrant? Do you know that’s illegal? That’s a leak of personal information," the madam retorted in a sharp voice.
"Ah, is that so?" As expected, one shouldn't be gentlemanly. "Understood. Then I will go out and report this to the police."
"Report? What report? I should be the one reporting you!" The madam glared at Park Hae-soo. "I have information that you are employing minors in this establishment. And you are actively evading taxes, too. Ah! And I heard you’re running illegal gambling in the VIP room over there?" The madam’s face turned deathly pale.
"Then, goodbye. I’m going to go out and make a call." As Park Hae-soo smiled and made a gesture to leave,
"W-wait a minute!" the madam shouted in a panic. "Okay. I got it. I’ll give it to you, alright! But you must keep it a secret, okay? If it gets out in this industry that I leaked customer information, I’m finished!"
"Don't worry about that. I have a thousand-pound weight on my tongue."
The madam frowned and began writing the number on a note. Team Leader Park Hae-soo said with a satisfied smile,
"Thank you for your cooperation."
"Keep it a secret! Do you hear me?!" the madam said in a hysterical voice.
"Of course! Don't worry about that."
He put the note in his pocket and left the room salon. As soon as he boarded his car, he made a call to somewhere.
"Oh! Seong-jin! Are you doing well? Ah, it’s nothing else, I’m just trying to boost your performance record. Yeah. It’s a bar called Taeyangmun, and after investigating, there’s quite a bit of illegal activity. Oh! Yeah, I have the evidence, so I’ll send it to you by email. Let’s grab a meal sometime."
Park Hae-soo hung up the phone and looked at the bar. "I might let other things slide, but I can't overlook employing minors."
Team Leader Park Hae-soo, who had entered his office, sat in front of his computer and checked the card number he had obtained earlier. Then, the credit card information appeared on the monitor.
"As expected, it’s a borrowed-name account."
The name of the cardholder and the name of the detective were different. He dug deeper. He tracked the credit card transaction history and found the connected account number. When he opened the details, Park Hae-soo’s eyes widened.
"10 million won deposited every month…."
His gaze fixed on the name of the depositor. Cheon Yeon-woo.
"Found you."
It was the name of Cheon Yooshin’s uncle. He had found one of the scattered pieces. Park Hae-soo leaned back in his chair and stared at the ceiling. He organized the next steps of the investigation in his head. Locating the account holder, the relationship with the detective, and what this large, regular remittance meant.
News about the inter-Korean summit was released to the media.
While public opinion for and against was fiercely clashing, Park Hae-soo visited the police station.
"Hello. I’m here to see Investigation Division Chief Kang Do-cheol." He asked the policewoman located closest to the entrance.
"Our Investigation Division Chief? Did you make an appointment?"
"Ah! I didn't make an appointment, but…."
"Ah! He’s currently on a business trip. I’m sorry, what should we do?"
Business trip, my foot. I checked that he went inside. This is why public servants are a problem. Park Hae-soo showed his Hunter Management Department badge to the policewoman.
"I’m here on official business, so I’ve come to see him briefly. He’s inside, right?"
The policewoman’s eyes widened slightly. "Ah, you should have told me sooner that you were from there. Could you wait a moment?" The policewoman made a call and finished it quickly.
"I’m sorry, what should we do? He’s currently in a meeting presided over by the Chief of Police. It will take about 30 minutes."
Park Hae-soo smiled brightly. Park Hae-soo had a fairly handsome face for an ordinary person. It was only natural that the policewoman’s face flushed red for a moment when someone like that smiled with intent.
"Oh, then could I get a cup of coffee while I wait? I’m quite fond of instant coffee."
"Ah! Are you? Then please sit here and wait. I’ll bring it to you right away."
Before long, Park Hae-soo and the policewoman were sitting face to face with a cup of coffee between them.
"I have a question. May I ask you one thing?" Expectation filled the policewoman’s eyes. Could he be asking for my number?
"The Investigation Division Chief. What kind of person is he?" The policewoman was disappointed for a moment that it wasn't about her, but it was fleeting.
"Our Chief Kang Do-cheol? He’s incredibly gentle. He’s warm yet charismatic. Usually, when people reach that position, they tend to ignore their subordinates, but he’s not like that. He’s so warm-hearted."
"Ah, I see." At Park Hae-soo’s prompting, the policewoman began to say things he hadn't even asked about, as if she were excited.
"Plus, he’s capable, so he’s the Chief the Police Chief cherishes the most. I heard he’s going to the main headquarters in the next personnel reshuffle? And he’s so passionate about local volunteer work, if only he were younger, I would have just! Hehe! Please pretend you didn't hear that last part!" The policewoman twisted her fingers as if she were shy.
Park Hae-soo was looking at her smiling, but inside his head, he was thinking about Kang Do-cheol. 'Not an easy opponent.' Park Hae-soo already considered him a culprit or someone associated with one. If he hadn't checked his card, he might have been completely fooled just like the policewoman.
"Oh! The meeting is over! Would you like to go in now?"
Park Hae-soo, who had come to his senses, smiled brightly. "Thank you very much. Please guide me."
Guided by the policewoman, Park Hae-soo was able to enter the room marked Investigation Division Chief’s Office. He had been waiting for him, as if he had been notified in advance.
"You came to find me from the Hunter Management Department?" His voice was warm. The smile lingering on his lips was relaxation itself, and his eyes were infinitely benevolent. The moment he faced his face, Park Hae-soo realized. He had met an opponent who would not be easy.