KBN Reporter Yeong So-hee
The interview proposed by KBN was larger than expected.
It was planned as a two-part series, airing just before the news around 8 PM, an interview answering questions about the story of solving a 15-year unsolved case.
Initially, the plan was for the detectives of Gangjung Station's Violent Crimes Team 3 to take turns being interviewed.
However, Chief Myeong Geon-hyeong actively accepted Detective Kim Seok-ho's opinion and made a counter-proposal to the KBN reporter who had made the offer.
The response was unexpectedly positive.
-You're that detective who recently solved the murder case disguised as a traffic accident, right? Inspector Lee Ju-won.
It was Reporter Yeong So-hee, who had written an article about Ju-won back then as well.
A young reporter in the KBN social affairs department, said to be a young person the department head particularly cherishes.
So she was a capable reporter whom the social affairs department head even connected with Chief Myeong Geon-hyeong.
-That's good. It will proceed as a total of two parts. Thank you, Chief.
Like that, Ju-won finished the first interview.
The broadcast aired two days after the interview took place.
<...At the time, I discovered that the time and place of the two cases were very close, and I intuitively felt it wasn't a coincidence. So I started looking for a connection between the elementary school teacher victim and the Kim Gap-du case...>
Cases of solving unsolved crimes are rare.
Unless it's a case from before forensic science techniques developed, it's not easy to discover something special.
However, this case was different.
Ju-won caught the mistakes of past detectives, and eventually solved the unsolved case.
In return, Ju-won became a star.
"The reaction is hot, isn't it? Wow, switching from the whole team to a solo interview with Detective Lee Ju-won seems to have been a stroke of genius."
"I told you it would be fine, Department Head. That detective has killer visuals too, so I knew it would work well. I heard the viewer ratings came out incredibly well after a long time."
"Is it just the viewer ratings? Have you ever seen a YouTube news video get that many views? It's almost idol-level."
The KBN social affairs department head and Reporter Yeong So-hee smiled brightly.
"You have the second filming today, right? Build a good connection. He doesn't seem like an ordinary police officer."
Of course, Gangjung Police Station wasn't quiet either.
"Who is this! Isn't it Inspector Lee, who is doing very well speaking Vietnamese and solving unsolved cases?"
Detectives at Gangjung Station, regardless of their team, spared no praise for Ju-won.
"Haha, please don't flatter me too much."
"You didn't speak Vietnamese on the broadcast? Why didn't you? I told you to! How many police officers can speak Vietnamese! You can show off things like that!"
"Inspectort Lee, you were so cool! Even though you're a style that really doesn't suit the camera, you looked really handsome!"
Ju-won, who even received coffee from a passing female police officer, smiled shyly and sat down.
Checking the time, it's already 10 AM.
A little later is the interview time promised with the KBN reporter.
Ju-won headed to Team Leader Gu Jin-gu's desk.
"Team Leader, I have an interview in the afternoon..."
"Ah, go ahead."
Team Leader Gu gestured, and just as Ju-won was packing his things.
Thud.
A sandwich was placed on Ju-won's table.
Ju-won turned his head.
Then he saw Detective Kim Seok-ho.
"Detective?"
"I was worried you wouldn't be able to eat properly being called here and there these days."
With an awkward expression, Detective Kim Seok-ho looked at Ju-won.
"If you're full, I'll take it back."
"Ah, no. Thank you, Detective."
Ju-won smiled, and Detective Kim Seok-ho returned to his seat with an awkward face until the end.
Since that team dinner, Detective Kim Seok-ho's attitude had changed 180 degrees.
Perhaps he realised his actions until now hadn't been right.
There were no more nonsensical nitpicks.
As Ju-won opened the bread received from Detective Kim Seok-ho with a bright face, Terra's voice rang out.
[A cool bastard.]
'Stop swearing. Are you a swearing granny or a swearing AI?'
[It is a swear word in Mr Ju-won's head.]
Anyway.
It never loses a word.
'Alright, I thought wrong. Correct it.'
[Yes, understood. What kind of bastard should I correct it to?]
At this point, it is certain the alien AI really has a function for sarcasm too.
'Correct it to Detective Kim Seok-ho.'
[Yes.]
'Anyway, answering half-heartedly.'
Shaking his head from side to side, Ju-won headed to the KBN broadcasting station.
11th Floor, KBN Broadcasting Station.
It's where the small studio is located.
The first interview also took place here.
Perhaps because of that, Ju-won walked down the broadcasting station hallway with a relatively familiar face.
"If you wait for a moment, we will call you. Detective."
"Yes, understood."
Ju-won entered the waiting room following the guide of the broadcasting station staff.
The content to be interviewed today is about the situation of catching Kim Gap-du and what trial Kim Gap-du will face after being sent to the prosecution.
Thud.
Ju-won sat on the sofa in the waiting room.
Then he scanned the questionnaire sheet in front of him.
All are questions Reporter Yeong So-hee of KBN sent a few days ago.
Still, once more, Ju-won looked through the questions meticulously.
"...The suspect, realising I was a police officer, immediately took out a box cutter from his pocket and threatened me. Therefore, I judged it to be a dangerous situation and..."
A short while later, studio.
The second interview was proceeding without any issues.
"This is a question not on the sheet, may I ask?"
Reporter Yeong So-hee of the KBN social affairs department, who was in charge of the interview, threw an unscheduled question.
"Yes, of course."
"Weren't you scared? No matter if you are a police officer, thinking that a criminal is aiming at you with a knife right in front of your eyes, I think it would be quite frightening."
There is something he heard from Chief Myeong Geon-hyeong a few days ago.
That Reporter Yeong So-hee is a capable reporter acknowledged even by the head of the KBN social affairs department.
Ju-won could tell at a glance that those words were true.
A reporter is a profession with a mission to inform the public of information happening in society and the world quickly and accurately without prejudice or addition/subtraction.
And Reporter Yeong So-hee seemed to know that mission of a reporter well.
Clearly, if she planned the interview, there must have been an intention to boost him as a police officer who solved an unsolved case, but all the questions she asked wanted only facts.
[She also occasionally asked questions difficult for Mr Ju-won's personal information.]
'That's because she's a reporter, asking natural questions.'
Ju-won opened his mouth.
"I was scared. Of course I was scared, I'm human too. Even more, a guy with many criminal records was glaring at me with eyes saying he could harm me at any time, phew. It was no joke."
"That is an honest answer. Nevertheless, is there a reason you didn't run away and confronted the criminal holding a weapon?"
"Run away?"
Ju-won smirked.
Then answered very simply.
"Because I'm a police officer. That is all."
"Good work."
After the interview ended, Reporter Yeong So-hee greeted Ju-won, who was drinking water in the waiting room.
"Ah, good work to you too, Reporter Yeong."
"Here."
But suddenly, Reporter Yeong So-hee handed something to Ju-won.
It's chocolate.
"You probably aren't used to interviews like this, but I was grateful you worked hard. Your sugar levels must have dropped, so please eat it on your way back to the police station."
At that sight, murmuring sounds were heard from in front of the waiting room door.
"Wow, what's that. Reporter Yeong isn't originally that kind of character, is she? Why is the character known for being chilly acting like that?"
"PD, still, our senior has a warm heart. Ha... sad."
"Sad? Why are you suddenly sad, Reporter Kim?"
"To think the senior's beautiful bright eyes are directed only at that wolf-like detective..."
"She's crazy. No matter how pretty, for a girl like Reporter Yeong who looks like she wouldn't bleed a drop even if pricked... And beautiful because her eyes are bright? They were just scary..."
But suddenly the volume of the murmuring decreases.
Because the vicious gaze of Reporter Yeong So-hee next to Ju-won was felt.
"Ahem! I will then go to organise the materials remaining in the studio!"
"Ah, did I turn off the camera... I should go check."
Like that, the onlookers left, and only Ju-won and Reporter Yeong So-hee remained in the waiting room.
"Do detectives like instant coffee mix? Ah, is this a prejudice too?"
In the awkward flow, Reporter Yeong So-hee turned around and headed to the water purifier.
"Mix is high in calories and easy to consume, so I do tend to favour it."
"Then would you like a cup?"
"No, I've already had coffee today. Water is fine."
At Ju-won's words, Reporter Yeong So-hee got water from the purifier and placed it in front of Ju-won.
Inside the waiting room became quiet again.
The interview is over.
However, the two people do not leave.
There was one reason Ju-won didn't leave.
It seemed as if Reporter Yeong So-hee had something to say.
And just in time, Reporter Yeong So-hee opened her mouth.
"Have you heard of the 'Hankuk University Illegal Filming Distribution Case' that was a big issue last month?"
Ju-won, rolling his eyes briefly, nodded.
A month ago, it was a case where a Hankuk University student filmed and distributed illegal footage of his girlfriend, a fellow student.
As Hankuk University was the top university in Korea, it was a case where the entire nation's attention was focused on the terrible incident that happened there.
"I am aware. The victim couldn't withstand the surrounding gazes and eventually dropped out, and the entire nation was enraged at the reality that the victim still has to hide..."
"She committed suicide."
"Pardon?"
It's the first time he's hearing this.
"There hasn't been an article yet. Jurisdiction is Gangnam Police Station, but there's an uncomfortable corner."
Is that why I didn't know?
Nodding, Ju-won looked at Reporter Yeong So-hee.
"What point is bothering you?"
"All circumstances at the time of the victim's death were not circumstances for suicide. She had an appointment with a friend in the evening, and according to the testimony of the friend she called the day before, her voice seemed fine too. And no suicide note was found either."
"It looks like a homicide disguised as suicide?"
"Yes, crucially, she jumped from the roof of her officetel and died, but her shoes were found in her house."
"In her house?"
"If it was suicide, she would have taken off her shoes right before jumping from the roof. Who would take them off from home and come?"
At that time, Terra's voice was heard.
[Reporter Yeong So-hee's remark is a remark keeping only homicide in mind. We must not close off the possibility of suicide. Reporter Yeong So-hee, today she shows an attitude slightly different from her reputation.]
'However, it's not wrong. It's strange, going up to the roof from home barefoot.'
Ju-won opened his mouth once more.
"But if the jurisdiction is Gangnam Police Station, you should ask the detectives there, why me..."
"You caught the culprit in the elementary school teacher murder case by not simply passing over small but strange points."
Reporter Yeong So-hee's gaze fixed on Ju-won. Simultaneously, Terra's voice is heard.
[It seems the reason Reporter Yeong So-hee asked is because of that. The point that Mr Ju-won is not a police officer who simply tries to process work, but a police officer who tries to solve cases by pointing out every single thing.]
'Terra, there are many people who work hard silently in their positions.'
Ju-won fell into thought for a moment.
Then soon nodded.
"Thank you."
Ju-won left the waiting room and walked down the hallway.
'But Reporter Yeong So-hee, she must really have a strong sense of duty.'
Digging into the truth of a case is indeed a reporter's job.
However, Reporter Yeong So-hee's eyes a moment ago didn't look different from any other police officer.
She seemed to hide a bit with a cool appearance, but the look of definitely wanting to catch the culprit was clear.
But suddenly Terra spat out strange words.
[Yeong So-yeon, the victim of the Hankuk University illegal filming distribution case, was suffering from albinism.]
Ju-won's steps stopped.
"What?"
[Albinism is a congenital genetic disorder where pigment reduction in the eyes, skin, and hair appears due to melanin deficiency.]
"And so?"
[Reporter Yeong So-hee also showed features similar to albinism. Did you notice that her eye colour is lighter than other people? Even if she wasn't diagnosed with albinism, she probably lacks melanin pigment compared to ordinary people.]
"Ah..."
Come to think of it, it seems so.
Although he wasn't conscious of it, it felt like being drawn into her eyes, like looking at a foreigner.
[Look at the name there. The name of the victim of the Hankuk University illegal filming distribution case is Yeong So-yeon. Yeong So-hee, Yeong So-yeon. They are quite similar names to dismiss as a coincidence.]
"What? Hey, don't tell me you..."
[If we assume they are sisters, judging by age, she could be Reporter Yeong So-hee's younger sister.]
Ju-won turned his body and looked at the waiting room he came out of.
'She requested an investigation into her sister's case?'
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_________________________________________________________________________
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💥 Support me on my Patreon account!
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✨ Power Stone Challenge! ✨
If we hit 100 power stones, I'll drop 2 bonus chapters! Let's see if you guys can make me suffer! 😂
💬 Enjoying the story? Leave a review and let me know your favorite moment so far! It helps the novel grow and reach more readers!
Thanks for all your support—you guys are awesome! ❤️