Get Famous First (2)
Not just in Light City, but across the entire world, superpower crimes had notoriously low arrest rates. This was especially true for petty incidents. If you used your abilities cleverly enough, no solid evidence would be left behind—and even if some was, proving that the perpetrator had used it was next to impossible.
Of course, calling in a hero with the ability to detect lies or read minds could catch a superpower criminal... but such powers were extremely rare. And heroes with those gifts usually demanded astronomical fees. With multiple superpower crimes happening every day, you couldn't summon intel heroes for every single case.
That was why a certain "saying" circulated among Light City's superpowered folks—one that wasn't quite a proverb but might as well have been.
"Uh, you're saying I kept the girl upstairs awake?"
"Yes."
"I didn't?"
Even if you'd done something that might cause trouble, just deny it outright. And you'd be fine.
"Mind if we take a quick look inside?"
"N-no, stay out. I didn't invite you in. Got a warrant? No? Then no."
Without evidence, police couldn't force their way into a civilian's home. The same went for superpowered individuals. The man downstairs seemed to know the ins and outs pretty well; he kept the door only cracked, holding his ground.
"Sure, I'm a telepath. Here's my superpower registration. But me harassing the upstairs kid? Never happened."
"Hmmm..."
Officer Park Eun-young glared at the man's brazen face for a moment, then turned to Kang Jin-ho and whispered softly.
"This is tricky. He's right—we can't enter without a warrant. What should we do?"
"Hmm..."
Kang Jin-ho hadn't expected things to play out like this. In the game, he'd gotten heroes to help him ransack the place down to the guy's underwear and confirmed evidence was inside. But...
How do I say there's evidence in a house I've never even seen? No one's going to buy that.
No matter how genius he wanted to seem, claiming evidence existed in a place he'd never entered would make him look like a prophet or a psychic. And that was a concept he didn't want—especially not with the woman right beside him. It'd draw way too much attention from her.
"Well, um..."
No good ideas came no matter how hard he racked his brain. Heroes had certain immunities and could force entry here without issue, but police were still restricted.
"Heh, you're stumped, huh?"
Eun-young watched him ponder, then suddenly stretched out her hand, fiddling with the air like she was rummaging through something. Shadows stirred busily behind the man, slyly dragging an object toward the front door.
"Looks like no warrant, so I'm not cooperating. If that's all..."
Cylindrical object rolls out.
Interrupting him, a cylindrical object tumbled out through the door crack. Park Eun-young bent down and picked up the small ampoule from the floor.
"What's this? An illegal mana amplifier...? Why's it rolling around in the hallway?"
"Uh, wh-what?"
"Oh dear, possessing illegal drugs? I'm arresting you on suspicion of narcotics possession."
"Th-this, why, here...?"
"That's for you to figure out. Don't resist while I cuff you. Jin-ho, go search inside."
"...Yes, ma'am!"
He'd just seen the shadows sneak out the mana amplifier. But instead of mentioning it, Kang Jin-ho focused on ransacking the criminal's place. They say you turn a blind eye to a madman's or boss's mistakes. Especially a mad boss's? Erase it from memory.
"Starting here."
"H-hey, that's..."
After lightly slapping the man's cheek twice, Kang Jin-ho prowled the apartment like it was his own.
"What's this? 'Upstairs Discipline Methods: Mosquito Wings 10 Hours, Dental Drill, Chalkboard Screech'... Why download this crap?"
"How'd you get my computer password...? And that—that was an algorithm recommendation. Downloaded by mistake."
"This diary? Wednesday: Upstairs kid's finally losing it. Nice one. Yours, right?"
"That was under the bed—how...?"
"All mana amplifier use at night? Must've needed your powers then."
"N-no. How do you know?"
"Ways and means."
Tsking at the man's unraveling facade, Kang Jin-ho heard...
"Wow."
With the man restrained, Park Eun-young watched him with a catlike smile.
"Our Jin-ho. You're amazing. First time in this place, right? How'd you find all that so fast?"
"Ah, haha... Criminal patterns are all the same, aren't they?"
"Humble too? Incredible. Where'd a rookie like you drop from? The sky? So fun."
"...Thank you!"
Praise, sure—but why was cold sweat trickling down his back? This concept's working, right? Gotta farm karma anyway. Yeah.
Ignoring her gaze, he drove the final nail by waving the man's phone screen.
"Posted on the community too? 'Tormenting upstairs girl lately—pure bliss lol.' Yours, right?"
"Y-yeah..."
"Physical evidence plus confession. Enough for indictment. Bundling illegal drug possession with special assault via superpower."
"..."
The man who'd tormented the upstairs girl with telepathy hung his head limply. He'd mustered the courage thinking it was foolproof—zero chance of getting caught, by his own estimate. How could two crazy cops bust him like this?
Karma decreased by 500.
Three days later.
"Heyyy, Jin-ho."
Kang Jin-ho, writing up verification reports, turned at the voice.
"Sergeant An Seong-sil?"
"Yeah. Whatcha doing?"
"Reports."
"Nice work."
Sergeant An Seong-sil patted his shoulder appreciatively. A slick 30-something on Kang Jin-ho's patrol team, his name meant "diligent," but he was anything but—dozing in corners or playing mobile gacha games whenever he could. Still, he got the job done when it counted, so even Chief Raphael couldn't chew him out openly.
Kang Jin-ho didn't mind him; the guy's easygoing vibe was fun company.
"What brings you?"
"Heh, your face says you haven't seen it. Check this."
An Seong-sil shoved his phone at him. Thumbnail: shocked guy. Title: First Time Ever Benefiting from the Police.
"What's this?"
"That case you wrapped up—the downstairs telepath screwing with sleep. Remember?"
"Yeah, recent. Of course."
"Husband's an XTube creator. Seafood reviewer. Uploaded about how cops saved the day."
"Ah..."
Scrolling, Kang Jin-ho saw the comments in chaos: No way he'd fake it, but cops doing good? Hero probably solved it and passed credit. Can't believe it. Mostly skeptical, but the guy's wholesome rep kept outright doubt low. Sudden cop talk from a seafood guy added credibility.
"Million views already?"
"Yup. Gonna get a commendation? Fast-track to sergeant?"
"Haha, still got a lot to learn."
"You punk. Too humble's annoying. Need slackers like me and sharp workers like you. Balance keeps the force running. Truckload of me's? Cops'd collapse."
"Haha, so I can look forward to it?"
"Don't forget me when you're big?"
"Never, haha!!!"
"Hahahaha!!!!!"
With Park Eun-young out on duty, the two men's warm laughter filled the substation.
Ding-a-ling.
The bell cut their laughter as the substation door opened. An Seong-sil's dopey grin switched to professional smile instantly.
"Yes, Eastern District Substation 7. How can we..."
He trailed off, recognizing the woman.
Cascading brown waves. Elegant Ulster coat. Exotic mixed British features matching rumors. Nothing flashy about the outfit, but the hero badge on her chest confirmed it.
"I'm A-Grade Hero Trace. Heard the cop who solved the noise revenge case is here... Which of you?"
She was A-Grade Hero Trace—rising star among intel heroes, buzzed for her beauty. And most importantly...
"That's me. What can I do for you?"
My karma salvation has arrived.
The one Kang Jin-ho had awaited neck-deep for three days. Only four days left to meet his quota!