My Calling Is Profiler [EN]: Chapter 116

“Well, now that it’s happened, we can work together. We already know each other, right?”

‘We do know each other. But I’ll be lucky if he doesn’t get in the way.’

Park Do-joon smiled, watching Han Sung-gi’s face contort into a grimace as he looked at him. Han Sung-gi wouldn’t show his fighting spirit here.

‘In these situations, showing aggression means you’re losing.’

People who don’t know any better tend to be more wary of those who show aggression.

But Han Sung-gi, whether he knew it or not, just kept complaining as he looked at Park Do-joon.

“A talentless guy like you keeps trying to get involved in big cases?”

“Well, wouldn’t it be good to work together? Detective, if we don’t solve cases like this quickly, the damage will be significant.”

“Have you even been a profiler for a year? Anyone would think you’ve been doing it for, like, ten years.”

“That’s why we should learn together. If we mess up cases like this, children could become victims. We have to prevent that, don’t we?”

“Why would children become victims? What kind of wordplay is that?”

“Because children are the biggest consumers of snacks, ice cream, and bread.”

Han Sung-gi flinched at Park Do-joon’s words. He had only thought about the perpetrator, not the victims. And Kim Sung-han, who was watching, had a strange expression. One was being unilaterally prickly, and the other was soothing him along. And the chairman’s position wasn’t just won by playing ttakji [a Korean game similar to Pogs or milk caps].

‘Look at this?’

He wasn’t ignorant of these situations either. But he didn’t say anything. He was in a position to receive help, and he only needed to listen to the opinions of the right person from the two of them.

“Aren’t we on the same team anyway?”

“Tch, I guess I have no choice.”

In the end, Han Sung-gi seemed to realize he couldn’t do anything about Park Do-joon right away and reluctantly agreed. After all, it would be difficult for him, who arrived later, to chase away someone the chairman had called first.

“So, you’re Detective Han Sung-gi, right?”

“Yes! Detective Han Sung-gi.”

Han Sung-gi raised his voice like a private trying to make a good impression. Kim Sung-han asked him a question.

“Alright, what do you think about this case?”

“The perpetrator is probably more than four people.”

Han Sung-gi was saying something similar to what Park Do-joon had said. And most of his words were similar to what Park Do-joon had said yesterday.

‘Of course.’

Even though this kind of case isn’t common in Korea, if he couldn’t even make that prediction, he should quit being a profiler.

“No personal grudge, just after money?”

“That’s right. So I think we should start by checking the distributors.”

“Start with the distributors?”

“Yes, because if it’s not a distributor, they can’t tamper with the product during the delivery process.”

That’s certainly true. Usually.

‘But the case won’t be solved that easily.’

Generally, the perpetrators of these kinds of cases would subtly introduce the contaminated food. In the past, it was impossible to trace each individual food item.

But now, it’s possible to trace them. Even individual coffee mix sticks can be traced, and every store has CCTV [closed-circuit television, or security cameras].

‘But if there’s no evidence there, then the distributor is the culprit.’

That’s too obvious of a guess.

“So, what does Detective Park Do-joon think?”

Kim Sung-han turned the question to Park Do-joon this time.

“Of course, it’s the distribution process. But we need to know the type of snack first.”

“The type of snack?”

“Yes, do you know what kind of snacks they are?”

“Of course, I know. It’s right here.”

Kim Sung-han handed over a report he had prepared in advance. Park Do-joon took it and quickly scanned it.

“Hmm. The snacks are red bean rice cake and red bean sponge cake? And the ice cream is Injeolmi Ice Bosung?”

The cake is sold by a professional bakery, so that’s one thing, but the three items have a clear difference.

“Is that strange?”

“It is strange. Quite strange.”

Park Do-joon glanced at Han Sung-gi.

‘He’s so caught up in his own trap that he didn’t even notice.’

Park Do-joon, seeing Han Sung-gi squinting as if he didn’t notice the strangeness when he said it was strange, turned his gaze back to the snacks.

“As I mentioned earlier, all snacks go through a definite distribution process. Naturally, people working in the distribution business know how they are tracked in this process.”

“So?”

“So, I don’t think they would commit such an obvious crime.”

“So you think someone else got involved?”

Han Sung-gi scoffed. In his view, his own idea was certain. Besides, what does the type of snack have to do with this case?

The victims and perpetrators are important, not the type of snack.

‘He doesn’t know the saying to suspect everything, see everything, and confirm everything.’

Even the smallest thing can have a butterfly effect in a case, so profilers need to analyze even the smallest evidence or suspicion.

But Han Sung-gi didn’t seem to have any intention of doing that. Just from the way he mentioned the children earlier, assuming the victims would be children, and the way he spoke with such certainty, it was clear.

“If you keep dragging your feet like that, children might die.”

“In my opinion, these snacks probably aren’t being distributed through the existing distribution channels.”

“Not being distributed through the existing distribution channels? Then where are they being distributed?”

Kim Sung-han tilted his head. All distribution is done directly by them. If food companies outsource distribution, the costs are too high.

Of course, these items are also products they produced, so they distributed them themselves. But a new distribution line?

“I’ve hardly ever seen these snacks.”

“What? What are you talking about?”

He’s hardly ever seen snacks that are being properly distributed?

“Red bean rice cake, red bean sponge cake, and Ice Bosung. Hardly anyone likes that kind of stuff these days.”

“Does that matter?”

“It does. These are products with an absolutely elderly consumer base.”

Park Do-joon lives alone. Naturally, he goes to the mart or convenience store alone. But he has never seen these products.

“Moreover, Ice Bosung, what kind of old-fashioned name is that?”

Ice Bosung is what they call ice cream in North Korea. Naturally, it has a very old-fashioned feel.

“Of course, there might be kids with unusual tastes even among young people. But even so, these three aren’t flavors that kids would like.”

“So?”

“If you look at the locations where they were found in this report, you can tell. One snack was from a small neighborhood mart, and the ice cream was from an ice cream discount store.”

Park Do-joon said with certainty as he looked at it.

“I think it’s probably a push-out product.”

“Push-out?”

“Yes.”

At those words, Kim Sung-han’s face hardened.

Push-out. In simple terms, it means that a large company, the “gap” [a Korean term for someone in a position of power], forces the “eul” [a Korean term for someone in a subordinate position] to buy products.

Of course, it’s illegal. In fact, one of the large companies faced a serious boycott because of that push-out.

“But that doesn’t mean push-outs have disappeared.”

If they refuse the push-out, the supply of popular products is refused, or the contract itself is canceled, so the trading companies have no choice but to accept it.

“But these products are long-selling products.”

“Long-selling products don’t necessarily mean they sell well. You know that, don’t you?”

Even if they don’t sell well, if there is a fixed consumer base, the product has stable consumption. That’s why the company continues to sell it to generate revenue.

For a company to discontinue a product means that the product no longer generates revenue.

“Are you now profiling food? Unbelievable, really.”

Han Sung-gi sneered at Park Do-joon with a face full of ridicule. Park Do-joon clicked his tongue inwardly as he looked at Han Sung-gi.

‘That’s why he’s not a proper profiler.’

Observe the state and judge the situation. That’s profiling. This isn’t profiling the object, but a process of understanding the consumer base behind it.

For example, if the perpetrator’s house is raided and there is rice, the perpetrator is likely to be of Asian descent. Conversely, if there are large quantities of spaghetti noodles, they are likely to be of Italian or European descent.

Even among Asians, if there is kimchi, they are Korean, and if there is Chinese pickled vegetables, they are Chinese.

Looking at objects and understanding the other person is the basics.

But Han Sung-gi is completely ignoring that.

‘Does he think it’s not related to the perpetrator?’

Well, if he thinks so, then leave him alone.

“In my opinion, this product was released into the market through push-outs. Naturally, it will be impossible to track.”

For example, let’s say product A sells well in a certain area. But in order to sell it, they need to receive it from the supplier, but the supplier, who is the “gap,” forces them to buy product B, which is not selling well, as a package.

Then the selling company has to accept B in order to sell A.

The problem is that B is a product that doesn’t sell in that area. For example, trendy diet drinks don’t sell in rural areas. They don’t suit the tastes of the elderly.

Anyway, since B, which they brought in that way, naturally won’t be sold there, the company has to dispose of it.

They can’t throw it away, and they can’t sell it, so they simply pass the product on to another place.

For example, if they received a product for 1,000 won, they would pass it on for about 500 or 600 won, and the company that received it would pass it on to a place where it sells well for about 800 won.

The store that operates in a place where it sells well can bring in a 1,000 won product for 800 won, so naturally, they will prioritize receiving that.

“They usually call that a flea market. And items that go to the flea market are omitted from the distribution process.”

Because they don’t scan the barcode to record the flow of the product.

They can’t do that in the first place. Push-outs are clearly illegal.

“And in most cases, the sales staff of large companies do business that way, even though they know it.”

“……”

At those words, Kim Sung-han’s face was filled with embarrassment.

“But it’s illegal……”

“It is illegal. But just because you tell them not to do it doesn’t mean they won’t. The chairman doesn’t know the situation below.”

“I don’t know the situation?”

“Chairman, do you know how much a city bus costs?”

“Uh… um, isn’t it 400 won?”

“It’s 1,200 won with a transportation card.”

It’s common sense for ordinary people, but surprisingly, people who don’t use it don’t know.

“What’s reported to the chairman is performance, not who committed illegal acts. Even if the chairman tells them not to commit illegal acts, those below will interpret it as ‘Don’t get caught.’”

They have to increase profits and generate revenue to get promoted. Naturally, they do push-outs, and if they don’t get caught, that’s it.

Profiler