Chapter 45
Chapter 45
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Once Again, Writer
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In truth, he didn’t need to come all the way to the police station in person to file the complaints.
He could have just sent them via courier or registered mail to the cyber investigation unit, and they would have been processed.
But police officers were people too.
So, showing his face and greeting them in person was better in every way than just sending something anonymously by mail.
After all, people were more inclined to pay attention to a complaint from someone they recognized, even if just once, rather than one from a total stranger.
“Not that I’d be coming here often anyway. I’m not asking for any special favors.”
General citizens could still freely access the cyber investigation unit on the second floor, so Woo Ji-hyun headed there carrying a box of drinks in one hand and pulling a cart stacked with complaints in the other.
Knock knock.
The door was wide open, so all sorts of noises from inside echoed down the hallway.
Actually, he’d heard them even from in front of the elevator on the first floor.
But to make the best impression possible, Woo Ji-hyun deliberately knocked anyway.
It also served to announce his arrival.
‘Still as chaotic as ever.’
Three people sat at desks clustered around the entrance like fortifications, their faces all etched with exhaustion.
They looked like they hadn’t slept in days.
‘They probably pulled an all-nighter. Every department’s understaffed, but the cyber unit especially so.’
As the internet advanced, so did the variety of crimes.
But the legal system couldn’t keep up.
More precisely, there simply weren’t enough personnel.
“What brings you here?”
“I’m here to file some copyright infringement complaints.”
“What kind of copyright?”
A man who had stepped away from a middle-aged couple—yelling loudly without even knowing if they’d suffered identity theft or a scam—asked with clear fatigue on his face.
He looked like he already had too much work and now there was more.
“Genre fiction copyrights.”
“You mean like wuxia novels?”
“Yes, specifically fantasy and martial arts novels.”
“Wuxia” was a somewhat derogatory term for martial arts novels, but it was so commonly used that correcting it felt pointless.
Besides, the meaning wasn’t that different.
So Woo Ji-hyun nodded and pulled the cart forward.
“No way... all that’s complaints?”
“Yes.”
“Whoa...”
The man’s eyes shook violently as he stared at the box.
There were far more than he’d imagined.
He subtly scanned Woo Ji-hyun’s face.
Trying to gauge his age.
“Here, take this first.”
“Oh, you didn’t have to.”
Woo Ji-hyun handed the box of drinks to the stunned man.
The guy, who looked to be in his early thirties, brightened up immediately.
His mouth had been parched from endless coffee, and it was like Woo Ji-hyun had read his mind. The man smiled faintly and carefully accepted the box.
“You’re working hard for the country. Couldn’t come empty-handed. Plus, I’m the one asking for help here.”
“It’s not a favor. It’s a formal investigation request.”
“True enough.”
The drinks lightened the mood a bit.
This was before the Kim Young-ran Law took effect anyway, and they weren’t expensive, so a little gesture like this was standard.
“What’s going on?”
“Someone here to file copyright complaints for novels.”
“Again?”
“Haha. Hello.”
The oldest-looking middle-aged man shook his head with a weary expression.
He barely waved back at Woo Ji-hyun’s greeting.
But Woo Ji-hyun didn’t show any offense at the man’s behavior.
He couldn’t even make out the rank insignia, and he knew the cyber unit’s workload was murderous.
“Please understand. They haven’t even gone home in two days. Single or not.”
“There’ve been a lot of copyright complaints lately, right?”
“Don’t even get me started. They’re pouring in. What’s with all these writers... Oh, sorry.”
The friendlier man flinched.
He’d realized his slip-up.
“No worries. I get the gist. Every writer in Namdong-gu is sending theirs here.”
“Exactly. And you’ve got the most of any individual writer.”
“Hahaha.”
Woo Ji-hyun laughed awkwardly.
That’s when he realized he didn’t have business cards.
No need for them usually, so it was awkward now.
“Shall we do a simple statement first? Not required, though.”
“I’ll do it. I prepared a written statement, but better to do it properly, right?”
“Yeah. It’ll get processed faster than ones that just come by mail.”
“It won’t be too intense, will it?”
Woo Ji-hyun glanced around.
No swearing, but the small room was filled with shouts and garbled arguments.
“Of course not. It’s not an interrogation.”
“How long are you gonna stand around chatting?! Don’t you see how much work there is?!”
“Sorry!”
Just then, what looked like the team lead bellowed.
His roar, thick with irritation, sent the man next to Woo Ji-hyun dashing back to his desk like lightning.
He silently beckoned Woo Ji-hyun over.
A wordless urging to hurry up.
“I’ll leave the complaints there.”
“Good idea. That much could collapse the desk.”
“Can’t argue with that.”
Woo Ji-hyun nodded at the rickety old wooden desk.
It looked ancient even at a glance.
“Hurry it up, everyone! We gotta eat on time today!”
“Got it!”
“Whew.”
The middle-aged man kept roaring, seemingly intent on cowing the visitors. Woo Ji-hyun shook his head.
But this kind of brush-off wasn’t so bad.
At least it meant they’d been jolted into action.
‘I’ll take this treatment now, but just wait.’
Woo Ji-hyun grinned.
They might ignore him now, but it wouldn’t last.
In a few years, their attitude would flip 180 degrees.
He was confident he could make it happen.
‘And this is the proof.’
The hard-earned stack of complaints clearly showed his current standing.
Unpopular writers didn’t have many pirated text or scan copies floating around.
He knew that better than anyone, having been one before.
“Take your time writing. Faster the better, if possible.”
“Got it.”
Woo Ji-hyun smiled and began filling out the blank A4 paper swiftly.
What was impressive was that, without any explanation, he knew exactly how to write the statement.
* * *
It felt like 2010 had just dawned, but winter was already here, and Christmas carols filled the streets.
The sound made Woo Ji-hyun—barely(?) 24—feel a sudden chill of fear.
His aging felt closer to forty than twenty-four.
“Normally, I should be aging at 24 km/h, so why does it feel like 40?”
Bundling up against the sudden cold, Woo Ji-hyun zipped his new 400,000-won padded jacket all the way to his chin and muttered.
He was only twenty-four, but time seemed to fly by.
“Is it because my mental age is higher...?”
“What’re you mumbling about to yourself?”
“Oh. What brings you here? You actually on time for once?”
Standing at the Gwacheon Bank intersection, Woo Ji-hyun’s eyes widened at Im Sang-min’s voice from behind.
Im Sang-min, who was almost never punctual, had arrived right on schedule.
“Was at a PC bang nearby.”
“That explains it.”
“Games were so fun after so long. Wanted to play till I got sick of them, but...”
“You’d be an unemployed bum forever.”
Im Sang-min shook his head at Woo Ji-hyun’s words.
He knew himself best, so it rang true.
“Wish In-hu could’ve made it.”
“He ramped up his studies and won’t come out. Might as well live in Noryangjin now.”
“Goshiwons aren’t fit for living.”
“With both parents teachers? No way he’s in a goshiwon. Probably a one-room.”
Woo Ji-hyun had suggested civil service to Kim In-hu partly because his family wasn’t struggling financially.
Not gold spoon, but comfortable enough to support him for two years.
“One-room, huh. Independence is great.”
“You’re moving out soon too, right?”
“Planning to. Aim is jeonse first. Start with my second brother, then each get our own places.”
“Wow, you’re really growing up. Hearing this from Im Sang-min of all people.”
“Tell me about it. Shocking.”
A third voice joined their banter.
Kim Seo-yong, filling the last spot for today’s meetup.
“You guys...”
“But seeing us like this is kinda depressing. Prime dating age, end of the year, and we’re hanging with stinky dudes.”
“We’re in the same boat.”
Kim Seo-yong shot a gloomy, head-shaking Woo Ji-hyun a glare.
Im Sang-min chuckled in agreement.
“No good news? You’re both kinda still college kids?”
“My department’s all guys.”
“Mine’s all girls who act like guys.”
“Whew.”
Woo Ji-hyun, who’d started it, sighed in full understanding.
He got exactly what Kim Seo-yong meant.
“Rough.”
“You too.”
Im Sang-min gave Kim Seo-yong a brief consolation.
Despite needing it himself.
“Cold out. Let’s grab a spot first. What to eat?”
“Meat?”
“Cheap place? Or straight to a booze joint?”
Still students with thin wallets, the two suggested budget options.
But Woo Ji-hyun shot them down flat.
“Let’s do ribs. My treat today.”
“For real?”
“It’s year-end. Year-end party?”
“Feels too small for that, no?”
Kim Seo-yong smirked.
Just three of them made it too modest for a party.
“Do we need a crowd?”
“Invite a girl you know.”
“...Stabbing me in the back. I’ll get revenge.”
Kim Seo-yong glared at Im Sang-min with a hardened face.
But Im Sang-min just kept grinning.
“Let’s go.”
Having already picked the spot, Woo Ji-hyun strode ahead.
His two friends followed.
Sizzle!
Well-marinated pork ribs hit the grill, letting off an appetizing sound.
But the three ignored the meat, downing soju on empty stomachs first.
“What’s up suddenly? Calling us out of the blue.”
“Just curious how you’ve been. You haven’t shown up to hangs lately.”
“Only me?”
Woo Ji-hyun eyed Im Sang-min.
Kim Seo-yong’s words had a slight inaccuracy.
There’d been plenty of gatherings, but Im Sang-min and Kim In-hu had skipped them too.
They’d been studying, to be precise.
“I get why you’re not coming, but...”
“Spit it out if you’ve got something to say. Don’t hold back.”