The Legendary Detective Catches All the Criminals - Chapter 41



Only Noblemtl

◈Episode 41◈

bet

Shin Dae-seong answered calmly.

“I called after seeing the advertisement flyer.”

-Yes, would you like to order?

It was a lively voice, like a real sales office.

“No, I’m looking for someone.”

-Who are you looking for?

“Hwang Gil-dong.”

-······.

Shin Dae-seong waited for an answer with bated breath.

-You found it just as expected. I’m really Hwang Gil-dong. Are you detective Shin Dae-seong from Gangnam 2nd Police Station?

“that’s right.”

-Detective Kim Han-gyeol will be next to him, right?

Kim Han-gyeol greeted him reflexively.

“Nice to meet you······ No, you’re under arrest. No, no, how should I say hello?”

-The more I see you, the more interesting you become. I’m also a fan of Kim Hye-ran. Please give me an autograph later.

“Yes, that’s right.”

Kim Han-gyeol whispered to Shin Dae-seong.

‘I got some important information about Hwang Gil-dong. He is someone who hasn’t gotten my mother’s autograph yet.’

That didn’t matter to Shin Dae-seong.

“Why did you leave your contact information for me?”

-Detective Shin told me to contact you anytime. I can’t just sit by and watch people commit fraud using my name.

“Why don’t you officially deny it?”

-I already contacted the police to say it wasn’t my doing. But they ignored me… I thought they were intentionally trying to make me angry.

“I’ll apologize on your behalf. And I have something to ask you.”

-No, I won’t answer.

Shin Dae-seong replied with a frown.

“Do you know what I’m going to ask?”

-You’re curious about my age. Could it be that I committed the murder 20 years ago······.

“······.”

-Even if I say it’s not me, Detective Shin won’t believe me, right?

“No detective takes a suspect at face value. I need hard evidence that he didn’t kill my wife.”

-Unfortunately, that seems difficult. I don’t want my identity to be revealed. Instead, I’ll make a bet.

“What bet?”

-Who catches the fake first? Detective Shin won’t suffer any losses, right?

Shin Dae-seong also accepted it positively.

“Right, and there needs to be a reward for the bet. What can you do for me if I win?”

-Fake life. It’s natural to kill anyone who impersonates me. But this time, I’ll spare that guy’s life.

Shin Dae-seong burst into laughter, finding it ridiculous.

“What is his life worth? I don’t care whether you kill him or not.”

-Does a detective who upholds the law say and write things like that?

“I became a detective again to catch the guy who killed my wife. The rest are next in line.”

-Okay. Is there anything you want, Detective Shin?

Shin Dae-seong answered in a calm voice.

“Just answer one question. But you have to show your face so I can see it.”

-Okay, let’s do that.

Hwang Gil-dong readily accepted Shin Dae-seong’s proposal.

“Are you really going to grant my request?”

-Of course. If Detective Shin can find the fake faster than me.

“You tell me your conditions too. What will you do for me if I lose?”

-Please clear one person’s name.

“who?”

-Han Jun-il.

There was no further explanation.

Shin Dae-seong asked Kim Han-gyeol.

“Who is Han Jun-il?”

“It’s probably Han Jun-il, the CEO of ‘Orange Entertainment.’ His singer ‘Kang Woo-jin’ was arrested on suspicion of murder.”

“That’s weird. I know all the guys who went to prison for murder. But I’ve never heard of Han Jun-il.”

“A representative committed suicide in the detention center. He said he would prove his innocence. And this case is the last of the three major mysteries in the Korean entertainment industry. The prosecution concluded the case with no right to prosecute, but the prevailing theory is that they have not yet caught the real culprit.”

Shin Dae-seong spoke into his cell phone.

“Okay, let’s do that. But what is your relationship with CEO Han Jun-il?”

-I have nothing to do with that person. I was a huge fan of Kang Woo-jin. I just want to find out who killed Woo-jin oppa and punish them.

“You won’t say anything else later, right?”

-That’s what I’m trying to say. I only see police officers who talk twice with one mouthful.

“I’m warning you in advance, the moment you break your promise, you’ll experience the beginning of hell.”

-You keep saying what I want to say? Let’s have a friendly competition and catch the counterfeiters. Game start!

Shin Dae-seong, who had finished the call, moved hurriedly.

“Come with me quickly.”

“Where?”

“A detective can’t lose to a criminal. I know a crucial place where we can catch the fake Hwang Gil-dong.”

“If there is such a place, why don’t you tell me sooner?”

* * *

Shin Dae-seong and Kim Han-gyeol walked down a gloomy back alley.

“Why would someone who finds the Constitution interesting say he’s an action actor?”

“······.”

Shin Dae-seong didn’t say anything in response, and Kim Han-gyeol was talking to himself.

“Honestly, I thought Taebong would become a judge or a prosecutor?”

-Tiring ring~ Tiring ring~.

Kim Han-gyeol happily answered the phone.

“Mom, Taebong, you know? Today at the Martial Arts and Action Academy… I knew! Why didn’t you tell me?”

Shin Dae-seong spoke to Kim Han-gyeol after finishing the call.

“Should we focus on the investigation now?”

“Detective Shin, please tell me where you’re going. I feel like I’m being dragged away by organ harvesters. I didn’t know there was such a dark neighborhood in Gangnam.”

“Let’s think about it from the perspective of the fake Hwang Gil-dong. What would he do after hearing what I say on the air?”

“He would be really angry. Then, unable to bear the insult, he would plan to detonate a bomb.”

“That’s right, I’m going to try to get a real bomb with high lethal power, not a substitute for a special effect bomb.”

“This isn’t a situation where I should be happy that I got it right······.”

Shin Dae-seong went further into the back alley.

“Fortunately, he doesn’t have any knowledge about bombs like the real Hwang Gil-dong. He’ll have to buy them from someone.”

“It is not easy to obtain lethal bombs in our country.”

“Isn’t there one place? Dark Market.”

“That’s right, it’s a dark market associated with crime. You can think of it as an evolved form of the dark web. Was there a ‘dark market’ 20 years ago?”

“No, it wasn’t there when I was in Mapo-seo.”

“This is where the secret dealings of criminals take place. It should never be confused with Carrot Market.”

“Yeah, I don’t even know what Carrot Market is.”

“As Detective Shin said, there is a high possibility that the fake Hwang Gil-dong is using the Dart Market. However, there is no way to stop it. Even the cyber investigation unit cannot penetrate it.”

Shin Dae-seong said, slowing down his walking pace.

“Fortunately, I know the price of explosives. The fake Hwang Gil-dong is likely to contact him.”

“Who are you?”

“Serial Club Bomber ‘Salamander.’”

“He’s the guy who blew up famous clubs with various priest explosives. Did you meet him in prison?”

“that’s right.”

“I don’t remember ever catching a salamander?”

“That’s true too. He was sentenced to prison for arson, not for the club bombing. He begged me earnestly, so I protected him. His name is Odogi, he was released from prison five years ago, and I heard he’s still doing that kind of work.”

“I bet you’ll be very happy to see Detective Shin?”

“well······.”

Shin Dae-seong stopped at an old four-story shopping mall.

Then he tilted his head and entered the shopping mall entrance.

“This is the right place. This is my first time here too······.”

“Is there a sign or something?”

“It will say ‘Jinseong Capital Trading’.”

“I heard a rumor that he only blew up clubs that were hit by that guy. Is that true?”

“Ask him yourself.”

Shin Dae-seong nodded and approached.

-Genuine Capital Trading.

I saw an office with a neon sign that looked like a cafe.

-dripping.

Shin Dae-seong knocked on the office door.

When there was no response, I grabbed the doorknob and turned it.

“It’s locked······.”

Kim Han-gyeol pressed his ear to the office door and answered.

“I hear a lot of noise inside. Is something like the Gangnam Martial Arts and Action Academy going on?”

“I wonder about that too. How many times a day does Detective Kim have bad luck? Has it ever happened in succession within two hours?”

“It never happened twice. But it wasn’t a very short period of time.”

“okay?”

Shin Dae-seong picked up the fire extinguisher.

Then, he held the fire extinguisher in a way that made it easier to shoot it and walked toward the door.

“Get out of the way.”

-Bang, bang, bang!

Shin Dae-seong started to strike the doorknob.

-Chaenggrang.

The doorknob fell to the floor,

Shin Dae-seong kicked open the broken door and went inside.

Fortunately, what I was worried about did not happen.

“!”

Serial club bomber Odogi awkwardly waved goodbye with a surprised expression.

“Oh, hello, Detective Shin. I heard that you were released from prison. Congratulations.”

Shin Dae-seong put down the fire extinguisher and answered.

“What were you doing without opening the door?”

“I was just······working.”

Odogi was caught shredding confidential documents.

In the fairly large office there were also Odogi’s subordinates.

Odogi’s closest aide asked meaningfully.

“Brother, there are only two of us?”

Odogi was so surprised that he shouted.

“What are you talking about, kid? Detective Shin is a hundred against one. Think of it as one hundred and one detectives from the Violent Crimes Unit here right now!”

He then apologized profusely.

“I’m sorry, Detective Shin. Kids these days don’t know the fear of public authority. What brings you here······.”

“You’re an expert on illegal explosives.”

“Yes.”

“I’m not here to arrest you for something that happened in the past, so there’s no need to destroy the evidence. There’s one thing I need to confirm. Have you recently received a request to procure a lethal bomb?”

“I guess it’s because of the fake Hwang Gil-dong. There was no such request.”

“You’re not lying, are you?”

“Of course. Who would lie in front of Detective Shin?”

Shin Dae-seong said while sitting on the sofa.

“Then find it.”

“Yes? What are you looking for?”

“Anyone who wants to illegally obtain a bomb will think of you first.”

“Yes, I was very famous in that industry. But now I have washed my hands of it and started a new business.”

“I guess the new business isn’t legal either? That’s why there was no chaos over the books.”

“!”

Shin Dae-seong spoke in a tone that was filled with requests and threats.

“Don’t you remember? You said you would do anything if I protected you in prison?”

“Yes, I remember······.”

“You said you would volunteer to be an informant for 10 years.”

“I didn’t know Detective Shin would be released this quickly.”

“Didn’t you say congratulations earlier?”

“······.”

“Find the fake Hwang Gil-dong right now.”

“all right!”

Odogi shouted at his men.

“What are you doing? Detectives, I’ll make you some coffee.”

* * *

The quiet Jinseong Capital trading office.

Serial bomber Odogi was hard at work typing on his computer keyboard while his men repaired the shattered doorknob.

Shin Dae-seong and Kim Han-gyeol were sitting on the sofa drinking coffee.

“Is it delicious? It tastes like the mixed coffee that Detective Choi used to make before my mom installed the coffee machine.”

“It definitely has an appealing flavor. Is it because of the ratio of coffee to water?”

“More than that, it’s the real Hwang Gil-dong. If he’s a fan of Kang Jin-woo, there’s a high chance that he’s in his 30s at the most. He’s not the culprit of your sister-in-law’s case.”

“My phone conversation skills are about half that of my peers. But she’s not a fan of Kang Jin-woo. She’s probably more connected to CEO Han Jun-il.”

“Okay, I’ll look into it further.”

This is when Kim Han-gyeol nods and writes down something in his notebook.

“Found it!”

Odogi stood up, clenching both hands.

Shin Dae-sung and Kim Han-gyeol looked at his computer monitor.

“Look here, this is my very first email. It was sent by a guy named ‘Sangnyeoja’. It includes the price and the delivery method after completion. Let’s compare this to the email Chae Jeong-hwan received. The choice of words, grammar, repetition of certain words, etc., there is a 92.7% chance that it is the same person.”

Kim Han-gyeol responded in admiration.

“Isn’t this totally CSI-level?”

“Now I’ll reply to this guy. After the bomb is completed, go to the place where you promised to deliver it and arrest him. Okay, that’s it, it’s over, right?”

Shin Dae-seong shook his head.

“no.”

“why?”

“I’m not satisfied with arresting the fake Hwang Gil-dong. He must have been instigated by Chairman Jeon Yeong-sook. He made the bomb he wanted. Of course, it’s not a real bomb. I’m going to reveal the relationship between him and Chairman Jeon Yeong-sook.”

Kim Han-gyeol said as if he was tired.

“What Team Leader Park said is true. He said that when he sees Detective Shin, he loses the desire to commit a crime.”

“Me too. That’s why I washed my hands too.”

Odogido also responded by sending an email.