My Calling Is Profiler [EN]: Chapter 23

“Huh?”

Park Do-joon stared at the scale, disbelief etched on his face.

The scale shifted. Moments ago, it had been stubbornly tilted to the right, but now it balanced perfectly.

The digital display flickered and settled on 0.

“What’s going on?”

He’d touched the scale to correct the imbalance, hadn’t he? That was the whole point.

But no matter how he’d fiddled with it, it remained stubbornly tilted. He’d almost concluded it was broken. And now, suddenly, it was level?

And why had the number decreased?

Lost in his confusion, his phone rang.

“Oh, hyung [older brother or close male friend]? What’s up so late?”

Park Do-joon glanced at the miniature statue of Lady Justice on his desk as he answered his brother’s call.

“Do-joon, you wouldn’t happen to need a car, would you?”

“A car? Why the sudden question?”

“Ah, a car sort of… fell into my possession.”

“Don’t give me that. I know the factory’s situation. How could you suddenly get a car?”

“Hahaha. The factory’s doing much better, actually. Thanks to you, things are looking up. I’ll finally be able to give you those equity profits I’ve been owing you.”

Park Do-shik sounded genuinely cheerful.

“Chairman Bae said he’s returning all the money we were unfairly denied all this time.”

It turned out Chairman Bae had discovered the board members’ scheme and, feeling guilty, decided to return the embezzled funds.

These board members had been applying for funds under legitimate pretenses, passing on ridiculously small amounts to subcontractors, and pocketing the rest.

Their ultimate plan was to use this stolen money to build a new factory, effectively replacing Haneul Industries.

“Huh?”

So, they were trying to build an empire on embezzled funds, without investing a single penny of their own.

“For now, the company will pay, and then file a claim for indemnity [legal claim for compensation].”

“Really? That’s a relief.”

His brother had been worried about closing the factory due to salary struggles. Getting that money back would make a huge difference.

“Ah, and I also filed a claim for damages and seized some assets. There were a few cars among them.”

The directors were out of the picture, their assets seized. They weren’t in a position to reclaim their cars.

So, Park Do-shik decided to sell them as used cars, and he realized Park Do-joon didn’t own a car.

“You’ll need to buy a car eventually, so take one if you want. It’ll be better than buying a used one. Those directors took good care of them, probably because they were driving them.”

“Don’t you think I’d buy a new car?”

“Who is Park Do-joon’s brother? Do you think I don’t know you, you little rascal? If you said you were buying a car, you’d buy some old junker.”

Park Do-shik was right. Park Do-joon would likely buy a used car first, just enough to get around.

“Considering dealer fees and everything, it’s much more profitable for you to take one of these.”

“That’s true…”

Park Do-joon glanced at the Lady Justice statue. A car was completely unexpected.

“I do need a car. So, what’s available?”

Park Do-joon had no intention of refusing this stroke of good fortune.

# Company and Profiler

Brum, brum.

Park Do-shik drove to work in his new, beloved car. People stared. It wasn’t exactly the typical vehicle for a police officer.

“Do-joon, what is this?”

The team leader, arriving for work, saw Park Do-joon getting out of the car and looked bewildered.

“Isn’t that B Company’s new model? The top-of-the-line one?”

“Yes.”

“No, why are *you* driving it?”

The team leader looked at him in disbelief. But Park Do-joon remained unfazed.

“It’s my car. Shouldn’t I drive it?”

“No, that’s not it… Hey. There’s such a thing as fitting in…”

*Screw that.*

In his previous life, he’d worried about fitting in. He’d been cautious and servile.

But looking back, even if you drive a compact car to appease others, the higher-ups don’t appreciate it. They look down on you and make immoral demands.

How many times had orders come down from the chief of police to cover up cases?

*But not this time.*

If someone is superior, if there’s a chance they have more power, they can’t easily make unfair requests.

*Besides, there’s no reason to obsess over promotion.*

The limits of promotion are clear for profilers. Especially those not from the police academy. No matter how many criminals they catch, promotion is nearly impossible in their insular world.

And he didn’t need to be obsessed with money like before the regression.

Unlike before, Haneul Industries was thriving, not just surviving. With the income from there, he could live without working.

Not that he intended to.

“If you don’t like it, tell them to come talk to me.”

“That’s the Do-joon I know! You have to be this crazy!”

The team leader smiled, seemingly approving, and approached the car.

“Anyway, it’s amazing. How old is it?”

“I got it used.”

“Mileage is only 5,000? Hey, this isn’t used, it’s practically new. Wow. Look at this, it’s fully loaded. This must have cost over 200 million won [approximately $150,000 USD]. The previous owner must have been someone important?”

“It seems like it was Director Hyunseong. He got screwed.”

*And I helped him get screwed.*

“Seeing him get rid of this, he must have been in trouble.”

The two went inside, chatting. Soon, rumors spread throughout the police station, and some people looked at Park Do-joon with disgust.

There was nothing more absurd than a profiler who didn’t understand social dynamics, or so they thought.

He’d brought it knowing that. Of course, Park Do-joon didn’t care.

*Well, Chief Hyun’s lifeline won’t last long either.*

Soon, the chief of police would be arrested for past corruption. Knowing that, there was no reason to care about him.

“That kid has no tact.”

“I know.”

“These days, kids’ heads are full of nonsense.”

Other team members expressed their entitlement disguised as discomfort.

Park Do-joon simply continued his work in silence.

While he was working, someone entered the profiler team’s office.

“Who are you? Outsiders aren’t allowed in here…”

The team leader subtly intervened at the appearance of the strangers. The profiler team didn’t handle public-facing work, so only authorized personnel were allowed inside.

“We’re from Hyunseong Group.”

The visitor handed his business card to the team leader, who flinched upon receiving it. The card read: Hyunseong Group, Secretary’s Office.

“Why from Hyunseong Group’s Secretary’s Office…”

“Is Profiler Park Do-joon here?”

“Do-joon? Why Do-joon?”

The team leader’s gaze turned to Park Do-joon, who raised his head and met the visitor’s eyes.

“Secretary Jo, what brings you here?”

Park Do-joon greeted Secretary Jo.

“Profiler Park, it’s been a while.”

“Just call me Park Do-joon. But what brings you here…”

“The chairman would like to see you for a moment.”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm…”

Park Do-joon looked at Jo Seong-hwan. He was Chairman Bae Deok-gi’s closest aide, always at his side. There was no reason for such a person to visit in person.

*But he came all the way here…*

Was it urgent?

No. If it were, he would have called.

Anyway, his family owned a subcontracting company, and Hyunseong Group was at the top of the food chain.

*Aha, that’s it.*

Park Do-joon immediately understood Bae Deok-gi’s intentions.

*He’s testing me, isn’t he?*

A gesture of goodwill, but also a test.

*If that’s the case, I’ll gladly use it.*

“I’m sorry, but I’m still working.”

Everyone’s faces paled. The other person was the chairman of Hyunseong Group, someone who could get the chief of police fired with a word.

And he was saying he couldn’t go because he was working.

“We’ll wait.”

Secretary Jo Seong-hwan spoke as if he’d expected it. Park Do-joon nodded and looked at the team leader.

“Team leader, I think I’ll have to leave work early today because I have a guest. Is that okay?”

“I, it’s okay, now?”

“I have to work. I’m getting paid with the people’s taxes.”

“Oh? Is that so?”

The team leader had no choice but to nod uncomfortably. Park Do-joon smiled and focused on his work. The team was filled with awkward silence.

***

Park Do-joon left work on time and headed to Hyunseong Group, where he met Chairman Bae Deok-gi.

“Thank you for the gift.”

“Gift? What gift?”

“Secretary Jo, I mean.”

“Why Secretary Jo?”

“You don’t have to pretend you don’t know. You sent him to put me in my place, didn’t you?”

Bae Deok-gi smiled, as if to say he’d passed the test.

“Thanks to you, social life will be easier.”

Chairman Bae Deok-gi had probably investigated Park Do-joon. That was understandable. From a business perspective, he had to prepare for any eventuality.

A large company like Hyunseong couldn’t run on trust alone.

“I’m guessing you knew my situation and gave me a little boost.”

A person important enough for the chairman of Hyunseong Group’s secretary to visit in person, and who waited until he was finished. Rumors were bound to spread.

And if rumors spread, even the police would feel pressured. They might be hostile now, but a sense of unease about Park Do-joon would gradually grow in their minds.

“At least no one will mess with me.”

“You figured it out that quickly?”

“You have to be that good to be a profiler.”

“Most guys don’t even realize when I’m doing them a favor.”

“It depends on the person.”

Most people would rush to the chairman’s office the moment they were summoned.

Of course, they might get preferential treatment within the organization, but it wouldn’t be as effective as Park Do-joon’s approach.

“And I also know that these things are usually quid pro quo [something given in return for something else]. You wouldn’t have waited for me out of boredom…”

Park Do-joon looked at Bae Deok-gi. Would someone like Bae Deok-gi help him out of pure goodwill? Impossible.

“It seems like you need some help. Not related to a case, but help as a profiler.”

“You knew that too?”

“The police probably know a lot of people who are more powerful than me. But there are almost no profilers in Korea.”

“That’s true.”

Bae Deok-gi nodded in agreement.

My Calling is Profiler