My Calling Is Profiler [EN]: Chapter 277

Even if they sideline a superior they dislike, or conversely, suppress a subordinate, they must provide sufficient justification to prevent unrest among the other members.

Because if they think, ‘I’m going to be targeted by that bastard in the future,’ no one will follow orders.

Even when replacing leaders in a violent organization, justification is needed. So, typically, the lower ranks revolt, claiming the upper ranks neglect them, promising even one more fried dumpling with their *jajangmyeon* [black bean noodles].

Otherwise, most people comply with the existing order, and the revolutionary faction is often defeated.

“What justification is needed in this situation?”

“The lives of three people.”

Lee Ji-soo didn’t understand. She knew the Japanese trainer would die, but why were three lives involved?

Seeing her confusion, the team leader clicked his tongue and said,

“Simply put, if Daekwang directly intervenes and kills the Yakuza trainer, the Yakuza will have to retaliate in some way.”

Of course, a full-scale war is unlikely given the international implications, but inaction would violate the violent organization’s code of ‘blood for blood, eye for an eye.’

The moment they’re seen as weak, the organization collapses.

“Daekwang knows this. So, the best option is for those three to kill the Japanese guy.”

Then Daekwang offers the heads of those three to the Japanese organization.

What happens then? It’s simple. If the three have a prior grudge against the Japanese trainer, they kill him out of anger, and Daekwang, aware of this, offers their heads to the Yakuza, apologizing and providing compensation.

“It becomes a tragic accident. A very unfortunate accident.”

Lee Ji-soo’s eyes widened at Park Do-joon’s explanation. She hadn’t considered such meticulous psychological manipulation in a simple elimination plan.

“I never thought of it that way.”

“You need to understand the psychology of criminal groups.”

“So, you’re saying Daekwang probably ordered those three to kill the Japanese guy?”

“It’s highly likely.”

They’re expendable anyway, not even officially on the organization’s roster. Given their extreme loyalty, they’d likely kill their trainer on command.

“And then Daekwang will handle the aftermath.”

“How do we stop it?”

“Realistically, we can’t. It’s impossible. We don’t even know their location.”

They’re thoroughly hidden. With Daekwang deliberately concealing them, there’s no way to find them.

“And we don’t necessarily need to stop it in the first place.”

“Yes?”

Lee Ji-soo was taken aback by the seemingly cruel words. Park Do-joon is a police officer. She assumed he’d try to save every life. But he’s saying there’s no need to intervene?

“Detective, what do you mean?”

“Hmm, Do-joon, aren’t you… being a bit too blunt?”

The team leader offered a wry smile.

“I know, but it’s a reality we’ll eventually face.”

“A reality we’ll have to face?”

“We’re police officers. We catch criminals. But the prosecution and the court decide the punishment. Realistically, can the court punish that Japanese guy?”

“Yes?”

“Our analysis is based on profiling, but profiling isn’t admissible evidence in court. Only scientific evidence, documents, or testimonies are.”

That’s unavoidable. Despite claims of scientific validity, profiling remains subjective.

Profilers’ opinions aren’t always correct. They can guide us, but they can’t be used as evidence.

“Then what punishment do you think they’ll receive if we catch them?”

“Ah, damn it…”

Lee Ji-soo understood the problem after Park Do-joon’s words. Police officers learn basic law.

What punishment is possible in this case? Unfortunately, none.

Despite Daeguk Group’s actions, there’s no proof they unleashed the dogs.

“The best we can do is charge them with involuntary manslaughter. But even that’s unlikely in this case.”

If the dogs were accidentally released and killed someone, the maximum charge would be involuntary manslaughter.

“The problem is, we found the location, but there’s no evidence they raised the dogs.”

“Th-that’s…”

“You don’t think they went to such lengths to disguise it as an accident, do you? Impossible.”

The dogs have no collars or tracking chips.

Moreover, they were raised in Gangwon-do, but the incident occurred in Gyeonggi-do.

“Realistically, without evidence they transported the dogs, punishment is impossible.”

“Then why did they run away?”

“Legal impunity doesn’t guarantee safety from illegal retribution. Regardless of punishment, criminals flee if they feel threatened. Plus, they failed. So, the situation is escalating.”

If he had died, it would have been covered up. But he survived and was disabled. Someone must pay for that anger.

“The best course is to clean it up. There’s no reason to maintain it.”

They didn’t expect to be discovered so quickly, so they hastily burned everything and fled.

“We can’t punish them with this. Unfortunately.”

That’s why Park Do-joon said their deaths wouldn’t matter.

“Detective, do you think criminals deserve to die for social justice?”

“That’s not it. I’m a police officer.”

Even if someone is a criminal, the priority is arrest and legal punishment.

“But realistically, this is beyond our help.”

A profiler isn’t a mind reader or fortune teller. They predict the future based on the past.

“Since we can’t find their hiding place, there’s no need to mourn their deaths.”

“Then are we letting them get away with it?”

“Not at all. I feel sorry for them, but this is an opportunity.”

“An opportunity?”

“Yes, I told you? It’s about justification. A Yakuza member died. Daekwang Bodyguard must prove they took revenge. The Yakuza aren’t stupid; they won’t believe our word that we avenged him.”

That’s impossible. The Yakuza consider their members family. When a family member dies, they either take revenge or confirm the enemy’s death themselves.

“Don’t tell me…?”

“That’s right. Daekwang will bring Yakuza members to where those guys are hiding.”

To prove the revenge.

“But they could just pay them off, right?”

“Those three are expendable. Protecting them with money would cost far more. Do you think they will?”

If they were that kind of organization, they wouldn’t be a violent one.

“In reality, life is cheaper than capital.”

For example, the giant delivery company, Couzon, is known for not installing air conditioners in warehouses or collection facilities because the compensation they pay for deaths from heatstroke is cheaper than the installation cost and electricity bill for air conditioners in the collection facilities.

And the average temperature in those warehouses or collection facilities during the summer is close to 40 degrees Celsius, and because they have to do physical labor there, nearly twenty people die from heatstroke every year.

But they know that and still don’t install them because they don’t want to pay the electricity bill.

“Even a single company is like that, do you think a violent organization will shut them up with money?”

Lee Ji-soo could only smile bitterly at the cold reality.

“We just have to wait now.”

Then they’ll bring the prey to us.

Park Geuk-tae was trembling. Kim Do-gang and Lee Soo-eok stood beside him, troubled.

“H-hyung-nim [older brother/respected elder], do we really have to do this?”

-Dispose of him. The organization is in danger if that bastard lives.

“But, if we hide him well…”

-Hide what? He can’t return to Japan now. What if he makes a bombshell declaration?

“That’s true, but…”

They’d been through thick and thin for four years. They fought sometimes, but they trained the dogs together, enduring bites.

Naturally, they developed some affection, even if it was resentment. But they were ordered to kill Kamichiro.

“P-please save me. I’ll never open my mouth, please.”

Kamichiro’s Korean, clumsy at first, was now fluent. That made it harder. He was tied up, struggling, begging for his life.

“But hyung-nim, you know how hard Kamichiro worked, right?”

-But he’s dangerous. He’s not one of us anyway, is he? Do you want to betray the organization?

“That’s not it, but…”

To them, the organization wasn’t just a job. Belonging to it gave them a sense of identity.

To them, the organization was family, something to protect even at the cost of their lives.

-Get rid of him. Prove your loyalty. Then the organization will use you in important ways.

Cold words.

Park Geuk-tae closed his eyes. Kim Do-gang and Lee Soo-eok gritted their teeth. Sensing the change, Kamichiro struggled harder.

“We’re friends, save me! Please, I won’t say anything. I won’t go back to Japan. I’ll live quietly in hiding, please save me just once!”

Kamichiro wailed. But the three men had decided.

‘It was inevitable.’

To prove their loyalty, they might have to kill someone. They thought. This wasn’t some small gang, but a large, national organization.

There weren’t many ways to prove themselves in such a place.

“Please…”

The three men surrounded him with large knives. They glared. Kamichiro panicked.

“Please. Just once… Aaaagh!”

But his words were unheard. The knives fell, hacking into Kamichiro’s body.

Pshwack!

-Aaaagh!

Joo Gi-gwang, listening to the screams and the gruesome sounds over the phone, sighed and hung up.