Chapter 119
Chapter 119
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 119
Chapter Title: The Crack Yields Results
-----------------------------------------------------------------
A single remark that something interesting had been caught on the camera installed at Gobong Mountain.
It was just one sentence, nothing more.
But that one sentence changed An Do-hyun's expression.
It would deliver tremendous psychological pressure.
If what Lee Jae-hyun had said really came true, he could easily imagine what would happen.
He must have spent the previous night in anxiety, suspicion, and worry.
Even if he hadn't reached a perfect conclusion yet, he could have assumed the worst-case scenario.
That was why he couldn't bolt easily and just stirred the seolleongtang in front of him.
"Why? Food not to your taste?"
"……."
Lee Jae-hyun asked him lightly.
The question, delivered with a faint smile, was merely meant to prod An Do-hyun—nothing more.
But An Do-hyun couldn't even react properly and slowly scooped up a spoonful of seolleongtang before putting it in his mouth.
Watching him start to eat slowly, Lee Jae-hyun resumed his own meal.
For now, it seemed best to hold back from saying anything more.
No telling what choice An Do-hyun would make, but he could wait and then decide the next move based on it.
How much time passed like that?
When the rice bowl was about half empty.
An Do-hyun finally spoke.
"Detective."
"Yeah. Speak."
"Do you really think I did it?"
He glanced at Lee Jae-hyun as he said it.
The fact that he brought up the crime first was proof he was badly shaken.
He couldn't show even a hint of excitement or emotion here.
Lee Jae-hyun replied casually, continuing to eat at a leisurely pace.
"You did it, didn't you?"
"I mean... really? Me, killing all those people? Even the adulterous hiking couple... three people?"
An Do-hyun pressed.
Was he truly worried that the Gobong Mountain case would be pinned on him too?
Or was he trying to fish for more information through Lee Jae-hyun? Either way, Lee Jae-hyun just shrugged.
"What does it matter what I think? I'm a cop. Cops work with whatever evidence turns up."
"You said it yourself, Detective. I'm stuck here doing nothing, and in the meantime, someone could fabricate evidence."
"I never said that."
Lee Jae-hyun answered in a light tone.
When he had first interrogated An Do-hyun, Lee Jae-hyun hadn't brought up evidence fabrication.
In fact, An Do-hyun had been the one to mention it first.
Of course, Lee Jae-hyun had intended to steer things that way... but he hadn't said the words himself.
As Lee Jae-hyun replied with shameless confidence, An Do-hyun opened his mouth with an expression like he was about to lose his mind.
'He's shaking.'
Lee Jae-hyun smirked inwardly at the sight.
The trembling eyes, the head slightly bowed with a low growl as his gaze fixed on Lee Jae-hyun.
Subtleties that ordinary people might not notice.
But not to Lee Jae-hyun.
No one else maybe, but he had decades of experience dealing with criminals.
His veteran eyes and instincts couldn't be fooled.
The behavior An Do-hyun was showing proved he was extremely tense and rattled.
'That's right. Shake more. Until you spit out your accomplice's name.'
The fact that he was shaking meant things were proceeding exactly as Lee Jae-hyun intended.
Ruthlessly gripping and shaking An Do-hyun until he confessed Woo Kyung-hwan's existence.
That was Lee Jae-hyun's mission.
"No, yesterday you definitely...!"
"Yesterday, I did say someone could make evidence if there wasn't any. But I don't think there's really no evidence."
He thought evidence existed, and it had indeed been found—what was the problem?
As if to say, you know I never once used the words 'evidence fabrication.'
Lee Jae-hyun gazed at An Do-hyun calmly as he spoke.
"What kind of nonsense is..."
"Do-hyun, the real nonsense is you brazenly claiming you didn't do it."
"You said yesterday something interesting was caught? What was it?"
"Just some guy. He showed up at the crime scene and messed around with something."
Lee Jae-hyun spoke in an oddly vague tone.
He deliberately leaked information.
No need for detailed explanations.
Just enough to rattle him upon hearing it—that was sufficient.
An Do-hyun's face twisted instantly at Lee Jae-hyun's words.
"The police not properly securing the scene makes no sense..."
"Cops just need to catch the perp. Why be so uptight about it?"
"What...?"
An Do-hyun stared at Lee Jae-hyun with an expression screaming, What kind of guy is this?
Preserving the scene was basic protocol for any cop.
But the detective in front of him looked utterly indifferent as he met An Do-hyun's gaze.
An Do-hyun's face crumpled in fury.
Lee Jae-hyun, as if finding his reaction amusing, spoke in a light tone.
"So, we caught you. Evidence should turn up soon, right? And we're short-staffed—do we really need to bother with that too?"
"Hey, you bastard. You call yourself a cop? By any common sense, if some guy sneaks in at night and tampers with the scene, he's the perp...!"
"Yeah, could be."
An Do-hyun yelled at Lee Jae-hyun, realizing this attitude was working against him.
Lee Jae-hyun suppressed a laugh at hearing 'common sense' come from his mouth.
An Do-hyun had been caught red-handed.
Lee Jae-hyun already knew he was the Mabong Mountain killer, at least.
And yet, 'common sense' from a guy like that.
Lee Jae-hyun cut him off with a shrug.
An Do-hyun glared at him, eyes bulging.
As if asking how he could call himself a cop.
"Then just go catch that bastard quick..."
"But you were caught in the act right at the scene. From the police perspective, tossing in the perp caught red-handed and closing the case racks up performance stats. Way better than chasing some curiosity-seeker, don't you think?"
He deliberately played the stereotypical 'dirty cop.'
Not particularly diligent, just scraping by catching crooks now and then.
The kind with a mindset of 'performance stats are all that matter,' lacking strong professional pride.
Lee Jae-hyun stared at An Do-hyun silently, eyes viewing him like a mere bundle of stats.
After staring like that for a while, An Do-hyun's eyes trembled faintly.
Finally, he slammed his fist on the table in irritation.
Bang.
"No, this is ridiculous! Gobong Mountain—that wasn't me...!"
An Do-hyun spat irritably.
But he still showed no sign of admitting to Woo Kyung-hwan or the other crimes.
He was agonizing over it.
Racking his brain hard, doubting if the person Lee Jae-hyun mentioned was really Woo Kyung-hwan, or even if Lee Jae-hyun was telling the truth at all.
Let him shake and shake some more.
Until he reached a conclusion and finally opened his mouth properly.
A bit more time to simmer seemed fine.
And right on cue.
Bzzz.
His smartphone vibrated briefly.
Lee Jae-hyun checked the incoming text and cracked a faint smile.
"Hey, you're in real trouble now."
"What trouble...!"
"Evidence turned up at Gobong Mountain."
Lee Jae-hyun said it as he stood from his seat.
An Do-hyun tried to say something more, but Lee Jae-hyun had already left the interrogation room.
* * *
Lee Jae-hyun headed straight to Gobong Mountain, where Park Dae-hyung was.
He climbed the mountain and reached the scene, where several cops had formed a perimeter.
In the center of those cops sat what was presumed to be evidence, sitting out plainly.
Lee Jae-hyun walked over, weaving through the cops to reach Park Dae-hyung.
"How is it?"
"Yeah, we found a black mask near the scene. Have to test for DNA to know for sure."
When Lee Jae-hyun asked, Park Dae-hyung waved lightly in greeting before explaining.
"Good that something turned up at least."
"We missed it yesterday, but finding it today pretty much confirms Woo Kyung-hwan tampered with things..."
The camera on the mountain, the figure caught on camera, and now the mask.
Everything pointed squarely at Woo Kyung-hwan.
No random hiker would come to a crime scene and just drop evidence like that.
The only person with business here would be An Do-hyun's accomplice.
Lee Jae-hyun nodded in agreement at Park Dae-hyung's words.
"Yeah. An Do-hyun's DNA will probably turn up on it."
"Well, results'll come quick, so just wait a bit... How's An Do-hyun holding up?"
Park Dae-hyung changed the subject.
Depending on how An Do-hyun played it, things could flow smoothly or turn into a headache.
The truth seemed clear already, but if lack of evidence dragged things out and sparked a new incident, the cops would be the ones bleeding.
From the police standpoint, the best was An Do-hyun giving up appropriately and talking.
"He's almost broken. Couldn't even eat properly from the anxiety."
"Good work. That cocky bastard loses it with one poke."
Park Dae-hyung's mouth corners lifted in satisfaction.
When they'd first seen An Do-hyun in the interrogation room, he'd clamped his mouth shut like he was determined, hiding any evidence or Woo Kyung-hwan's existence.
On top of that, he was ballsy enough to chat leisurely with the cops.
And Lee Jae-hyun had him gripped tight and shaking properly.
Like a veteran detective with years of observing and interrogating perps.
Lee Jae-hyun spoke lightly, as if relaxed.
"One moment of carelessness creates suspicion, and one suspicion creates the proper fissure."
"Exactly."
Park Dae-hyung nodded as he replied.
Just as Lee Jae-hyun said, carelessness bred suspicion—but crucially, it was Lee Jae-hyun who'd made the iron-jawed perp slip up.
Not just uncovering the accomplice, but shaking the perp himself.
From Park Dae-hyung's view, the investigation felt like water flowing smoothly.
The two waited briefly for the DNA results.
Before they came, news arrived from elsewhere first.
Vrrr.
Park Dae-hyung's smartphone rang.
He answered right away, nodded a few times, and quickly ended the call.
"Yeah, got it. Heading over now."
After hanging up, Park Dae-hyung turned to Lee Jae-hyun.
"An Do-hyun talked."
The fissure, in the end, had borne fruit.