The Secret Investment Formula of a Chemical Genius - Chapter 141



Only Krnovel

Episode 141 Science Lab

As if the fuse had blown.

After leaving the hospital, Eun-soo slept with her eyes closed the whole time.

Even after I got home and it was evening.

“The meal is ready. Is Eunsu still sleeping?”

“You look very tired.”

One of the biggest mistakes adults make is assuming that a child who is not good at discerning between right and wrong knows nothing.

However, children who are still much more sensitive to emotions than to reason react very sensitively to even the slightest changes in the atmosphere surrounding them.

There are also research results showing that adults also have a stronger desire to sleep when they are under severe stress.

Perhaps the way Eun-soo is acting now is a kind of self-defense mechanism.

“Let’s just let it rest today.”

“Okay. That little thing… … .”

The mother, who heard what had happened at the hospital, looked at Eun-su with a pitiful look.

After having dinner alone with my mother for the first time in a long while, I went straight into my room and turned on the computer.

Then I turned on the Internet and accessed the geographic information service of the search engine.

Based on the internet messages from the stalker that I received from Taekang, I traced the guy back.

I could immediately see why the police had given up on tracking down the stalker.

The criminal must have been quite skilled, as his IP address circled the globe dozens of times.

I guess you would think that at this point, it would be almost impossible to track.

But there is one thing the stalker doesn’t know.

That’s right, Bli is with me.

Little do they know that quantum computers could be used to track down a stalking crime, let alone a terrorist crime.

Enter the address in the input field.

A single-family home began to appear on the screen.

An ordinary-looking two-story house with a yard.

I leaned back in my chair and stared at the screen for a long time.

I got a call from Director Baek Hee-seong.

“I got a call.”

– Sir, the investigation is over. When will you be free?

I glanced at the clock hanging on the wall.

8:23 p.m.

It’s a little late though.

“Can I go now?”

– Of course. I’ll be waiting.

I picked up the car key that was sitting on the desk.

* * *

“I wonder if I kept you suffering until too late.”

“Please just give me a generous amount of overtime pay.”

“Don’t worry about that.”

I was sitting on the sofa sipping coffee when Director Baek Hee-seong brought me some documents.

“My name is Seo Du-jin, I am 38 years old, single, and currently working as a teacher.”

“Are you a teacher?”

“Yes. Chemistry teacher at Hwajin High School.”

The high school that Hyejin is currently attending is Hwajin High School.

If Hyejin had known that the stalker who had been harassing her was the person sitting right next to her, laughing and chatting.

… … You’ll be very surprised.

I picked up Seo Du-jin’s photo.

Long bangs.

Hunched back.

Dark expression.

A neat checked shirt.

A man who gives off a gloomy impression that makes you feel suffocated just by looking at him.

“This guy is a stalker?”

“See for yourself. This is what I found on Seo Du-jin’s cell phone and at home.”

Director Baek Hee-seong lifted the box from under the table and held it out in front of me.

A photo full of boxes.

Hyejin is sitting in a Benz and having a friendly conversation with students.

Hyejin is having lunch and laughing with other teachers.

Hyejin is talking passionately in front of the classroom during class.

.

.

.

Even though the time, place and background were different, the central subject was always the same.

“It seemed like he suffered from quite a bit of domestic violence as a child.”

“Domestic violence?”

“Seo Doo-jin’s father is said to have assaulted his wife whenever he drank. Well, maybe because he was his son, or because he had at least a modicum of reason left, he never directly assaulted Seo Doo-jin at the time. There was one peculiar thing about it: he threatened her with a weed killer. Eventually, Seo Doo-jin’s mother, unable to endure the endless beatings, ran away, leaving Seo Doo-jin, who was six years old at the time, alone. But… … .”

A bleak cynicism appeared at the corners of Director Baek Hee-seong’s mouth.

“And then shortly after, something funny happens.”

“Did something happen?”

“Seo Du-jin’s father dies. The cause of death is acute renal failure due to pesticide poisoning. He was said to have gotten drunk at a nearby bar and entered the house, where he was found dead the next day.”

“Is it an extreme choice?”

“That’s what it says in the police investigation report… … .”

first?

“Does Director Baek Hee-seong think differently?”

“Well, too much time has passed and all the relevant evidence has disappeared, and the only thing left is this police investigation report, so there’s no way to know what the truth is. However, it’s said that Seo Du-jin’s reaction at the time was unusual.”

“How did Seo Du-jin react?”

“I was laughing. So brightly that my mouth almost split open. In front of my father’s body.”

“… … !”

“Well, it’s not like I don’t understand since I’ve been suffering for a while, but isn’t the situation a bit like that?”

A meaningful smile lingered on his lips.

“… … So what happened?”

“The police officer who saw it at the time also thought something was strange and talked to the child, but they said they didn’t find anything special. They couldn’t even investigate under pressure because of the child’s age.”

At the young age of 6.

A situation where one loses their only guardian.

Even if there was some suspicion, it was not a situation in which the police could exert strong pressure.

“The truth will never be known.”

“That’s right. What happened in that tiny, 20-square-foot room, and with one of the two parties dead, only one of them would know the truth.”

Director Baek Hee-seong handed me a piece of A4 paper.

“What is this?”

“This is a list of items that Seodujin purchased last month.”

A shopping list so long it would fill two sheets of A4 paper.

As I was examining it, my eyes were fixed on something.

“… …Is this what Director Baek Hee-seong wanted to say?”

“You recognized it right away.”

Director Baek Hee-seong took out a yellow highlighter and drew on the paper.

“I think the concentration is too high for something purchased for bathroom cleaning purposes.”

What Seo Du-jin bought was hydrochloric acid.

Although 9.9% hydrochloric acid is sold commercially, what he purchased was 35% industrial hydrochloric acid.

As Director Baek Hee-seong said, I don’t think it was purchased for bathroom cleaning purposes.

… … A human who is much more dangerous than you think.

“What would you like to do?”

I took my eyes off the documents and looked at Director Baek Hee-seong.

“Would you like to report this to the police?”

“Will that solve it?”

“It might be a bit difficult. Our country is strangely lenient on stalking crimes.”

There have been several tragic cases where victims who complained of suffering from stalking crimes ended up being murdered due to the lukewarm attitude of the police, but such practices have not disappeared.

Even if you report Seo Du-jin, the best you can do is get a fine.

That’s not what I want.

“Oh, you’re a troublesome person. You’re like a time bomb, huh?”

I looked down at Seo Du-jin’s photo again.

If you leave it alone, it will burst one day.

“Sir.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Could you please endure it a little longer?”

“Yes. This is my job.”

Director Baek Hee-seong smiled brightly.

“But, when are you planning on talking to the Vice President? After all, he is one of the parties involved… … .”

“I won’t do it.”

“……yes?”

A look of world-hating eyes, close-cropped hair, and gray prison uniform.

You can never make that guy do that.

“If Taekang gets excited, things could get complicated. Let’s just the director and I handle this.”

“All right.”

I stood up from my seat as I watched Director Baek Hee-seong shrug his shoulders.

* * *

“Okay, okay, pay attention for a moment.”

At the voice of the homeroom teacher, the teachers all raised their heads.

“It’s nothing else. This time, teacher Jeon Hye-jin is getting married.”

Jeon Hye-jin, who was standing next to him, blushed and lowered her head as if embarrassed.

“Congratulations, teacher!”

“When will you be having the wedding? Where?”

“Have the invitations arrived?”

When the teachers in the principal’s office heard the news of Jeon Hye-jin’s marriage, they all congratulated her with bright faces.

“Hey, you were popular with the students, but I guess they’re really upset. Don’t you think so? Mr. Seo.”

The Dean of Academic Affairs tapped the arm of Seo Du-jin, who was standing next to him.

“… … .”

But he didn’t say anything with an inexplicably pale complexion.

“What’s wrong? Are you sick somewhere? Your face doesn’t look too good either.”

“… … No. I just feel a little sick after eating breakfast. Can I go to the infirmary for a bit?”

“Really? Go and come back. If the teacher asks for you, I’ll tell him.”

The Dean of Academic Affairs nodded without thinking at Seo Du-jin’s words.

“thank you.”

Seo Du-jin came out of the teachers’ office with a thud! The sound of a chair being dragged.

Jeon Hye-jin is surrounded by people, smiling brightly and receiving congratulations.

Her reflection in the mirror filled Seo Du-jin’s gloomy eyes.

* * *

“Teacher, are you getting married?”

“How did you know?”

“The news has already spread. Congratulations!”

“thank you.”

“Where are you going for your honeymoon?”

“Greece.”

“Good! Can you take me too?”

“me too!”

“Hey! I’m going on my honeymoon, why are you guys taking me with you?”

“That’s what they say, that’s what they say.”

Jeon Hye-jin covered her mouth with her hand and laughed quietly as she watched the children arguing with their friends.

The news of her marriage spread, and students gathered around her as if they were in the teachers’ office.

“What kind of person is the boyfriend you’re planning to marry?”

“That’s right! You forgot to ask the most important thing.”

“Someone I met in college.”

“CC! I envy you! So you’ve been dating for over 10 years?”

“It’s gotten to that point.”

“What do you do?”

“I’m just an ordinary person who goes to work.”

“Can we come to the wedding too?”

“me too!”

The children surrounded her and chattered incessantly.

Questions pouring in.

Nevertheless, Jeon Hye-jin answered each of the students’ questions without showing any sign of annoyance.

at that time.

“… …Teacher Jeon Hye-jin.”

A thick, adult male voice calling out to Jeon Hye-jin.

I turned my head slightly and saw Mr. Seo Du-jin.

“What’s going on?”

“Can I talk to you for a moment?”

“Of course. Why are you doing that?”

At her words, Seodujin didn’t open his mouth and just glanced at the students around him with a somewhat cold expression.

At the cold gaze that was different from usual.

The students took a step back without realizing it.

“Can we talk separately for a moment, instead of here?”

“Well, it’s almost time for me to go to class… … .”

She checked the time and tried to refuse with an embarrassed look on her face.

“It’ll only take a moment. About three minutes.”

She nodded her head as she pondered.

“Okay. Okay.”

There are still about 10 minutes left until class starts.

Because I said it would take about 3 minutes.

Seo Du-jin turned his back and walked forward step by step.

Jeon Hye-jin was about to follow him, but someone grabbed her by the collar.

“Teacher… … .”

The student who first gave me congratulations.

“What’s wrong? Yumi, do you have something to say to the teacher?”

“no…….”

“Okay, see you in class later.”

Yumi nodded reluctantly, unable to hide her somewhat uneasy expression.

“… … Yes. Come quickly.”

“okay.”

Jeon Hye-jin, smiling brightly, stopped walking and approached Seo Du-jin, who was staring at her intently.

* * *

“Excuse me, teacher?”

Suddenly, Seo Du-jin, who was ahead of us, suddenly stopped walking.

“Can we talk here? I think I’ll be late for class if I go any further.”

“It’s an important story. Should we go inside the science lab and talk about it?”

“… … .”

“Why are you doing that?”

“No, it is!”

Jeon Hye-jin quickly changed her expression.

There’s still a long way to go before winter arrives.

Inside the science lab, there was only a cold chill.

Oh my! Jeon Hye-jin tried to keep a bright expression on her face as she wiped away the goosebumps that were rising on her arms with her hands.

“Do you have anything to say?”

“… … I heard you’re getting married.”

“yes.”

Jeon Hye-jin smiles brightly, as if she is thinking of congratulating me.

“Don’t do it.”

“……yes?”

“Don’t get married this time.”

Seo Du-jin muttered with his head bowed.

At the ominous sign, Jeon Hye-jin hesitated and took a step back, seemingly taken aback.

At that moment, Seo Du-jin took a step closer to her.

“Don’t do it. Get married.”

“… … I don’t understand what Mr. Seo is saying now.”

Jeon Hye-jin frowned as if she was angry and spoke strongly.

“I’m going to go now.”

“I haven’t finished speaking yet… … .”

At that moment, the science lab door opened with a “bang!” sound.

“I know the bell will ring for class soon. Shouldn’t you be going back to class, Hyejin?”

Her eyes widened as she saw the man leaning against the crack in the door.

“Mr. Eugene?!”