Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: The Reporter's Interest
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Dongyoung Daily's third-year reporter, Yoon Min-ha, who had just become a senior, looked down at her disconnected phone and smiled faintly.
They say even a temple dog recites poetry after three years.
Yoon Min-ha was far smarter than a dog, and she was a reporter who had covered incidents and accidents in the social affairs desk for three years.
She caught even the smallest rumors leaking from inside police stations faster than anyone.
And she dug in hard.
Truth be told, under normal circumstances, this wouldn't have warranted such interest.
Catching the serial killer Myeong Jin-han?
Impressive, and well done.
But wasn't that just the police doing their job?
Sure, you could praise them for doing what they were supposed to, but that didn't make you desperately curious about who caught him.
But what if it wasn't a detective, but a lowly patrol officer?
‘That's when things start to change.’
Isn't there a difference between a veteran breaking a scoop and a fresh intern reporter landing one?
Especially since it was a serial killer.
If a ten-year veteran detective had caught him, you'd just nod and move on, but a brand-new patrol officer nabbing a serial killer?
That piqued some interest.
At first, she thought it was like catching a mouse while the cow backed up—pure luck—but as she dug a little deeper, even stranger rumors reached her ears.
A simple accident from five years ago turned out to be a murder case, uncovered by that same patrol officer.
From then on, "somewhat interesting" became "very interesting."
You don't see patrol officers catching two murderers in a week every day.
She poked around diligently, somehow got his contact info, and even made the call.
“Sharper than I expected.”
His reaction didn't feel like a patrol officer's at all.
Was a patrol officer who caught two murderers in a week just inherently different?
One thing was clear: the rumors weren't baseless.
She didn't know yet if he really caught Myeong Jin-han and Park Chun-beom, or if he was just connected somehow.
But his response made it seem definite he was involved.
‘Strangely... it felt like dealing with a ten-year veteran detective.’
No ordinary patrol officer gave off that vibe.
Normally, when you said you were a reporter, they'd tense up a bit but show curiosity too.
Yet he went on the defensive the moment she revealed herself as one.
It didn't feel like blind caution from senior warnings either.
He knew exactly why to be wary and drew the line perfectly.
Just a patrol officer?
‘Definitely not your average one. Connections in the police? Parents cops? Detectives? High-ranking?’
That would explain it.
If his parents were detectives, he'd have picked up tricks over their shoulder, and with some luck, he could've caught a murderer.
Or if he was a high-ranker's son, there were other angles.
‘Piling on achievements.’
Building up his record from patrol officer days, rolling out the red carpet.
Of course, his rank would've been higher if so, and the achievements felt excessive and contrived...
“That's what makes it more plausible.”
Yoon Min-ha murmured as she circled the name Lee Jae-hyun in her notebook.
The odds seemed low, but it felt more realistic than a super-lucky rookie catching two murderers in a week.
What was the real story?
As she pondered, a young man approached from the side.
“What's plausible?”
“......”
Yoon Min-ha frowned at the familiar voice.
A colleague from the same year she joined Dongyoung Daily.
He was a coworker, but honestly a nuisance to her.
Always prying into whatever case she was digging into, like he had nothing better to do.
And he'd snag a good scoop or two from somewhere and drop it at just the right moment.
Han Min-seok.
Son of Han Young-hoon, a director at Dongyoung Daily.
Born with journalism in his blood.
“What's this, Patrol Officer Lee Jae-hyun...? Who's that?”
Han Min-seok peeked at her notebook memo and asked.
Yoon Min-ha snapped her notebook shut with a tsk.
She didn't want to answer, but knew he'd pester more if she didn't.
“He supposedly solved two big cases back-to-back recently. Can't tell if it's skill, family backing, or luck.”
“Two big cases back-to-back, but as a patrol officer? Must be backing. No amount of skill or luck lets a patrol officer solve cases solo.”
Han Min-seok said with conviction.
He shrugged, and Yoon Min-ha had no retort.
Proof of his point sat right in front of her—a backed guy racking up good records without skill or luck.
What could she say with living evidence staring her down?
“Don't poke at that. Digging into connected cops won't yield usable stories.”
Han Min-seok tossed the advice like charity and turned away.
True to form, he said his piece and left, so Yoon Min-ha just stared piercingly at Lee Jae-hyun's name in her notebook without replying.
Was he really connected, like Han Min-seok said?
‘Doesn't feel like it...’
He lacked that aura of privilege.
If anything, he felt like a field-hardened detective who'd run dozens of scenes.
Which was true?
Yoon Min-ha couldn't judge yet.
But...
‘Worth watching.’
She should keep an eye on him going forward.
* * *
After wrapping up the reference interview with Inspector Oh Seo-hyun, a few more peaceful days passed.
Of course, dealing with drunks daily.
Assuming processing the karma drunks spilled in their patrol cars counted as peaceful.
Amid that, Lee Jae-hyun gazed at his notebook with a slightly sunken expression.
A notebook where he'd jotted down every future incident he could recall.
After his father's death, life had been a blur, so memories were sparse.
But he remembered the child kidnapping next week and wrote it down.
An eight-year-old snatched, and he'd busted his ass to catch the perp back then...
It was around then he steeled himself and started seeking revenge on criminals, so the memory stuck sharp.
‘Need to prepare ahead.’
That case ended with the child murdered.
Couldn't let it repeat.
He had to stop it somehow.
As he thought that, Kim Jun-ho piped up.
“Hey, maknae.”
“Yes, Sergeant Kim Jun-ho.”
“Lunch?”
“......”
Mid-thought on the kidnapping, hit with lunch talk—absurd.
Stuck wordless, Kim Jun-ho glanced over and spoke.
“But what's with staring at that thing all this time?”
“Just a memo notebook.”
Lee Jae-hyun closed it naturally.
Since regressing, he'd detailed every remembered case and carried it everywhere.
Obviously.
These were future events from now.
Anyone seeing it would think it weird... or worse, misunderstand.
Had to be careful.
“Memo?”
“Yeah, stuff I need to remember.”
“Ah, got it. You're still a patrol officer, right? Forgot 'cause you don't act like one. Lots to memorize at your stage.”
Kim Jun-ho nodded with an "aha" at the calm reply.
Assuming patrol officers still crammed basics—handy misconception.
Lee Jae-hyun appreciated it.
“So, lunch?”
“How about jjajangmyeon?”
“Classic, not bad. Jjajangmyeon it is.”
Kim Jun-ho nodded.
Just a random pick since nothing else came to mind, but it hit his taste—lucky.
Lee Jae-hyun didn't care what they ate.
“Jjamppong for me.”
Min Ji-hye, quietly monitoring, spoke in her emotionless tone.
He paused at her sudden flat voice, then nodded.
“Got it. Two jjajangmyeon, one jjamppong. What about you, Inspector Park Dae-hyung?”
“Jjajangmyeon for me. I'll get the tangsuyuk, so order that too.”
“Whoa, big bro!”
Park Dae-hyung stretched as he replied to Lee Jae-hyun.
Kim Jun-ho lit up at the tangsuyuk offer, finger-hearts flying Park's way.
Park Dae-hyung frowned and waved it off.
Kim Jun-ho, cheekily hearting the mob-boss-looking Park Dae-hyung—not your average guy.
Food arrived quick.
Cops ate fast, calls unpredictable.
They huddled, setting up swiftly.
Min Ji-hye laid out newspaper; Kim Jun-ho and Park Dae-hyung peeled wraps.
Lee Jae-hyun passed out chopsticks, prepping.
“But y'know, we're really lucky, huh?”
Lee Jae-hyun, lifting chopsticks to mix his jjajangmyeon, eyed Kim Jun-ho—who'd shoveled a sloppy bite and spoke.
Park Dae-hyung paused mixing.
Min Ji-hye ignored it all, slurping jjamppong quietly.
“What?”
“Nah, I legit thought the maknae dragged cases everywhere. Like detective comics—trouble follows wherever. Thought he was that type.”
“......And?”
Park Dae-hyung's face stiffened slightly at Kim Jun-ho's words.
He asked calmly, staring.
“Well, quiet week shows he's not. Lucky, right? Or wait, nah? Cases mean records—not bad either.”
Kim Jun-ho shrugged nonchalantly.
Everyone flinched.
Park Dae-hyung exhaled sharply.
“Jun-ho.”
“Yeah, hyung?”
“I haven't eaten my jjajangmyeon yet.”
“......”
Pointing at his bowl with chopsticks, Park Dae-hyung spoke; Kim Jun-ho finally got it.
“You little shit, seriously. Forgetting basics? Thought it was the maknae, but it's you. Why pull maknae shit?”
Park Dae-hyung narrowed his eyes at Kim Jun-ho.
Classic cop rule #1: Never say "no cases" or "it's quiet."
Kim Jun-ho, who'd slipped, grinned awkwardly.
“Nah, nothing happening anyway. Let's eat. Yeah.”
He gestured hurriedly to dig in.
Lee Jae-hyun nodded, mixing his jjajangmyeon.
About to take a bite.
Ding-a-ling.
An ominous bell rang.
And.
“Um...”
A woman's terrified, trembling voice followed.