My Calling Is Profiler [EN]: Chapter 244

“Police officers have disputes among themselves, but this isn’t something that can be covered up.”

This isn’t just a matter of internal conflict; it’s an act that strikes at the very core of the police organization. And the police aren’t a charitable group that would tolerate a traitor in their midst. The reality of the police force is harsh; officers often ostracize individuals, as seen with Lee Ji-soo simply for being Park Do-joon’s former partner. So, for someone to deliberately stir up trouble within the major crimes unit by leaking a case like this to the press?

The organization would never stand for that.

“And we can learn one more thing from this.”

“What is it?”

“The culprit either has the authority to bury this, or they’re confident it won’t affect them.”

It’s not just whistleblowing; it’s a deliberate act to cause disruption. No one would do that without careful consideration. Usually, people act this way when they’re sure they can manage any fallout.

“Control the damage, huh….”

Jung Yi-yeon pondered those words, then suddenly reacted.

“Are you talking about the chief of police?”

“I’m not pointing fingers, but realistically, he’s the one who could benefit the most from the current situation and is in a position to control the damage. Plus, he’s done it before.”

The chief can simply order an investigation when pressured from above. Naturally, he himself isn’t a target. And later, he can claim he was wrongly accused.

“I don’t know how deep the reporter’s connections are, but they won’t reveal their source.”

Realistically, the media has legal protections, so they have no reason to do so. Besides, they didn’t report false information. It’s true that a murder hasn’t been definitively proven, but it’s also true that there’s an ongoing investigation related to it.

“That’s right. Besides, the chief has a history.”

Could the decision to investigate the bereaved family for child abuse and murder, even if it meant stretching the boundaries to silence them, really originate from a mere front-line officer?

Usually, even with genuine suspicions, the police investigate discreetly, not so openly.

“But why would the chief do that? What about the backlash?”

Jung Yi-yeon still struggled to grasp that aspect. From the police’s perspective, escalating the case now would only invite stronger criticism later.

“I don’t think so.”

“Huh? What do you mean, sunbae [senior colleague]? You don’t think the backlash will be strong?”

“Yeah, because it’s not just the chief’s problem anymore; it’s the police’s problem now.”

“What are you talking about?”

“It’s like this: now, instead of the chief having to answer for his actions, the entire police force has to do everything they can to protect him.”

The chief pinning the blame on the bereaved family would be seen as a personal act of misconduct, and if things went south, he’d have to take responsibility alone. Depending on the severity, he could be fired or even face imprisonment.

“But now the situation has changed. The case has expanded to encompass the question of whether it’s a legitimate area of police investigation, not just the chief’s personal judgment.”

“Ah!”

Naturally, the police have to argue that it’s a legitimate area of investigation. It’s not unheard of for parents to be the perpetrators, so an investigation isn’t inherently unreasonable.

“Of course, the police have to protect the chief.”

“Could it be?”

“That’s right. The chief is almost the only one who benefits if the case gets bigger.”

“But from below…….”

“Those below can never rise up against those above.”

If the chief is punished, it’s obvious that those under him will also face consequences. So, those working below will desperately argue that the investigation itself was justified.

“If they’re lucky and the public trial completely convicts the bereaved family, then it’s a huge win.”

The perfect crime scenario. The bereaved family goes to prison, the incompetence and corruption of the police are concealed, and the police are even praised for a job well done.

In reality, such things happen frequently. The media enthusiastically praises the police for their handling of the incident, only for it to later emerge that the culprit was fabricated through coercion. Such incidents are not uncommon in Korean history.

“Then what should we do? Are we just going to be taken advantage of?”

“Of course not. If we let it go, things will go exactly as they want.”

Park Do-joon said, looking at Lee Ji-soo. This is clearly a direct attack on the police force.

“Sunbaenim [senior], don’t worry. I told you before, I didn’t become a police officer to serve high-ranking officials.”

“Really? That’s a relief.”

Park Do-joon clicked his tongue and said to Jung Yi-yeon.

“First of all, you guys have to make a move. If you remain passive in this situation, the media and the public will develop a confirmation bias.”

“Confirmation bias?”

“You’ve heard this before, right? That the first comment is the most influential in any news article.”

Because people’s judgment of news is surprisingly more influenced by the initial reactions than by their own independent assessment. People believe they are objective and rational, but in reality, such objectivity and rationality have a limited impact on their opinions.

For example, if someone leaves a negative comment on a celebrity’s new project or a comment like ‘I don’t expect much,’ then subsequent comments will likely echo similar sentiments or express hopes for its failure.

“Why is that?”

“People have an instinct to avoid conflict.”

“Avoid conflict?”

“Yeah, if you post a negative comment as the first response and someone challenges it, a conflict arises.”

Even if you simply express excitement with a comment like ‘I’m looking forward to it,’ the so-called ‘professional complainers’ will voice their dissatisfaction by saying things like ‘the acting is bad’ or ‘the emotional delivery is poor.’

“In this situation, where will the professional complainers focus their negativity?”

“The bereaved family, I guess.”

“Yeah, so we have to counteract that narrative.”

“But how?”

“First, we need to release a rebuttal article.”

“But will that be enough?”

“Of course not.”

Wolkwang Law Firm has been representing Park Ho-yeon’s family from the start. Even if the family proclaims their innocence through press conferences or announcements, the public trial that has already begun won’t simply end or stop.

“Once the public trial has started, it gains immense momentum. Without Wolkwang presenting solid evidence to refute the accusations, a simple press conference will be dismissed as mere excuses.”

“But there’s no evidence?”

The Chinese people living upstairs aren’t going to confess to the crime anytime soon.

“Yeah, so we have to act accordingly.”

“What do you mean?”

“We have to shift the focus away from the bereaved family’s alleged crime.”

Jung Yi-yeon and Lee Ji-soo didn’t understand and simply looked at Park Do-joon.

“Wow~ Detective Park, it’s been a while?”

A woman smiled brightly. It was Seo Joo-ran, a resident reporter who used to frequent the police station where Park Do-joon worked.

“How have you been?”

“Well, it’s always the same. The editor-in-chief is pressuring me to get some scoops, but scoops are hard to come by.”

Seo Joo-ran shrugged.

“You know, I crossed the police. So everyone keeps their distance from me. Hohoho!”

“I figured.”

“But what brings you here, Detective Park?”

“I came to offer you some bait.”

“Bait? You refused before?”

When she left, Seo Joo-ran eagerly tried to befriend Park Do-joon, but he just smiled wryly. But suddenly, bait?

“It’s difficult to be friends, but it’s possible to help each other.”

“Eh? Isn’t that the same thing?”

“It’s business.”

“Ehhh~ I’m completely disappointed.”

“The topic won’t be disappointing.”

“What is it?”

“The Park Ho-yeon case. The real culprit is someone else.”

At those words, Seo Joo-ran’s smiling face slightly hardened.

“Yes?”

“I know the real culprit.”

“W-wait a minute.”

Seo Joo-ran hurriedly looked around, then pulled Park Do-joon outside.

“Let’s talk outside first. No. I’ll say I’m on outside duty and contact you. It’s too sensitive to talk about here.”

“Okay.”

Park Do-joon nodded as if he understood. Then he went outside, and a little later, an address was sent by text. Of course, it was an invitation to meet there, so Park Do-joon headed over, and soon Seo Joo-ran arrived.

It was a small coffee shop with almost no customers, located in a quiet neighborhood with only four tables – practically a takeout place. As soon as Seo Joo-ran came in, she immediately asked a question.

“Detective Park, is that true? That the real culprit is someone else?”

“Yes, there is someone I strongly suspect.”

“But why isn’t the police…….”

“That’s…….”

Park Do-joon quietly swallowed his words. Then, he looked around and said in the quietest voice possible.

“There are forces trying to help the culprit escape.”

“Yes?”

“The culprit is Chinese. To be exact, a strong suspect. But as soon as they were identified, this announcement came out.”

At those words, Seo Joo-ran’s face hardened.

“What do you mean? Someone is trying to divert public attention in order to help the culprit escape?”

“That’s how I see it.”

Profiling is a science, but it’s not 100% accurate. It’s not particularly difficult to twist it slightly and create a completely different result.

‘And realistically, it’s not entirely wrong.’

The Chinese family upstairs is already preparing to flee to China. Before coming here, I confirmed that their house was already on the market.

Well, even though they haven’t been officially identified yet, there’s no guarantee that they won’t be eventually. So, it’s natural to try to escape to China before all their assets are seized.

“But why would the police say that?”

“Have you ever met the informant?”

“Yes?”

“The informant. The reporter claims it’s a police insider, but you don’t know who it is.”

That’s right. Of course, related news is spreading like wildfire in the media. But it’s all just so-called ‘Ura-kkai articles’ [copycat articles] that copied the original news, and no one has bothered to investigate or confirm anything.

Because the police aren’t saying a single word due to their predicament.

If they admit to investigating, they’ll face the backlash later. If they deny investigating, people will assume ‘the police took a bribe and didn’t investigate, so a report came out’ – especially given the ongoing public trial.

In fact, the police haven’t issued a single official statement so far.

“Are you saying that someone deliberately leaked false information to make it easier for the real culprit to escape?”

“That’s right. And when this news breaks, ‘Ura-kkai’ spreads like crazy.”

“Ah, that’s right. That’s exactly what happened.”

Even in her own newspaper, ‘Ura-kkai’ was rampant, wasn’t it? She couldn’t even participate herself. High-ranking reporters blocked reporters who couldn’t generate views, quickly copying and uploading articles.

“Are you sure?”

“There is no certainty in profiling. But I can be reasonably sure that Park Ho-yeon’s family is innocent.”

“And?”

“And I can also identify the unusual behavior of the Chinese family upstairs.”

“Unusual behavior?”