My Calling Is Profiler [EN]: Chapter 28

# Pesticide Murder Case

There’s a saying, ‘walking on thin ice.’ It describes a situation where every step must be taken with extreme caution.

That’s exactly the atmosphere in the profiler’s office right now. It felt like walking on eggshells.

After Han Sung-gi returned from his one-month suspension, the office atmosphere was so tense it was hard to breathe.

‘Yeah, he must have been itching to come back and cause trouble.’

It was obvious. The police force pretends to be righteous, but it’s not. They’re always eager to cut down anyone who stands out internally.

Moreover, Park Do-joon had caused his senior to receive a one-month suspension. He escalated a situation that could have been smoothed over by simply filing a complaint.

‘So, he probably thought he could come back and easily instigate people against me.’

But Han Sung-gi’s plan was doomed to fail.

First of all, aside from Park Do-joon’s skills, there was Secretary Joo Sung-hwan from Hyunseong Group, who had personally come to see Park Do-joon.

After that visit, rumors spread that Park Do-joon had enough influence to warrant a private meeting with the chairman of Hyunseong [a large corporation], and no one was willing to side with Han Sung-gi to take him down.

‘You fool,’ Park Do-joon thought.

But outwardly, Park Do-joon wasn’t bothered at all. Even before his regression [reincarnation or return to the past], he had essentially worked alone. It wasn’t that he didn’t have teammates, but they were usually the first to betray him.

Of course, unlike Park Do-joon, the team leader’s lips were parched with anxiety.

“No, so you’re saying you refuse to work with him?”

“I do. How can I work with someone who stabs his own supervisor in the back?”

“Hey, Han Sung-gi was the one who stabbed first.”

“No, Park Do-joon stabbed first.”

Since the relationship between Han Sung-gi and Park Do-joon, who were on the same team, had completely broken down, it was impossible for them to work together. The only option was to replace a team member.

But the other team members, who were already in cahoots with Han Sung-gi, wouldn’t accept that.

“So, what are we supposed to do?”

The profiler team has a total of six members. Replacing someone within that number would ultimately be pointless, just shifting the problem around.

“I don’t know. I absolutely can’t work with that bastard.”

“Team leader, isn’t there such a thing as teamwork? How can we trust and work with someone who stabs his colleagues, teamwork or not?”

“I’m going crazy, really,” the team leader muttered.

From the team leader’s perspective, who was responsible for forming a functional team, it was a frustrating situation.

But requesting additional personnel wasn’t as simple as just issuing an order for profilers. The T.O. (Table of Organization) [authorized personnel slots] was limited, and even that was woefully insufficient.

Moreover, this year’s T.O. was already filled by Park Do-joon. And to form two separate teams, two people had to be added: one for Park Do-joon and one to replace Han Sung-gi.

Would they really allocate two T.O.s? It was highly unlikely.

Furthermore, Han Sung-gi and the others wouldn’t say good things about Park Do-joon to any newly arrived employees, so the effort would all be for nothing.

‘Should I send Do-joon somewhere else? No. Is that even possible?’

Those guys had already poisoned the well, revealing everything Park Do-joon had supposedly done to every other profiler team.

Because of that, a swap with another team was impossible.

“Alright, alright. Let’s just go with this for the time being.”

Even though the two didn’t get along, they had to work together. In this situation, the team leader could only sigh.

Of course, Park Do-joon didn’t care.

“Team leader, we have a support request from Gangwon Province?”

“Yeah.”

“Doesn’t Gangwon Province have its own profiler team?”

“They do. But isn’t the lack of personnel a daily occurrence everywhere? And they have a shortage of applicants themselves.”

‘That’s true,’ Park Do-joon thought.

Even though criminology departments have been established in Korea and there are training programs for profilers, they’re not as comprehensive as those overseas.

You can’t simply trust someone’s skills just because they went to college. Ultimately, they need to gain practical experience.

The problem is that people who graduate from college absolutely refuse to go to rural areas.

Each of the eight provinces in Korea has its own local police force. Local police forces all operate profiler teams, but the problem is that there aren’t enough people willing to go to the provinces.

Right now, in Seoul, teachers are protesting and complaining because there are no positions available, but in the provinces, they’re in a frenzy because there aren’t enough teachers.

It’s not that there are no positions, but that there are no positions they want.

The same goes for the police. Even profilers avoid the provinces.

The reason why they established metropolitan profiler teams separately, even with profiler teams in each province, is precisely that. To have a pool of readily available experts.

There aren’t enough people willing to relocate, so they hire people in Seoul and send them on business trips.

In reality, people whose lives are based in Seoul don’t have major complaints about going on business trips to the provinces, especially for short-term assignments.

“You two go.”

“Team leader!”

“So, you don’t want to work?”

When polite requests don’t work, the whip comes out.

The team leader eventually raised his voice at Han Sung-gi, who was complaining about being uncomfortable and not wanting to work together.

“If you don’t like it, write your resignation, you bastard.”

“But…….”

“But what? It’s your fault we’re in this mess, isn’t it? You got suspended because it was your fault, right? If it wasn’t, Do-joon would have been suspended. And now you’re complaining about not wanting to work? Should I go to the Commissioner General and make a fuss?”

“…….”

Although they were based in the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, the profiler team’s specialized nature placed them directly under the Commissioner General’s investigation team.

Of course, the team leader could go to the Commissioner General and lodge a formal complaint.

“No, sir.”

“Are you guys looking down on me because I’m being too nice? Hey, Park Do-joon. Are you uncomfortable too? Are you going to write your resignation too?”

“I’m not uncomfortable. Isn’t that right, Detective Han?”

“Huh? Yeah, right…… right.”

At Park Do-joon’s words, Han Sung-gi gritted his teeth and reluctantly agreed.

And Park Do-joon got up from his seat.

“Detective Han, I’ll escort you. Let’s get in the car.”

“The luggage?”

“Isn’t this a job with frequent business trips? I keep a travel set in the car separately. Just get in.”

“Alright.”

Han Sung-gi had no choice but to follow Park Do-joon to the parking lot.

And his eyes widened when he saw Park Do-joon’s car for the first time.

“What, what is this car?”

“Well, I picked it up somewhere, and it’s decent enough to drive around. It’s a bit uncomfortable, though…….”

At Park Do-joon’s words, Han Sung-gi looked troubled.

‘This is when bluffing works.’

It’s only natural that if you bluff to someone who is hostile to you, they will have difficulty attacking you. It throws them off balance.

A ridiculous bluff wouldn’t work, but Park Do-joon’s bluff was believable.

‘Besides, I didn’t exactly lie.’

It’s true that he acquired the car through unusual circumstances, and it’s true that it’s decent enough to drive. In fact, it would be strange if such an expensive car wasn’t drivable.

But is it uncomfortable? To be honest, it is a bit inconvenient. Being a large sedan, driving and parking are inevitably more challenging.

‘But the person receiving it will probably interpret it differently.’

Probably, from Han Sung-gi’s perspective, Park Do-joon’s words would sound something like, ‘It’s not my favorite, but I drive it because I don’t want to flaunt an imported car.’

“Get in.”

Han Sung-gi, completely psychologically defeated by Park Do-joon’s display of wealth, ended up going down to Gangwon Province without saying a word, and arrived at the scene there.

When the two arrived at the scene, the police had already cordoned it off.

“Here!”

One of the police officers raised his hand and called the two over, and when they approached, he said with a welcoming face.

“You’re from Seoul, the profiler team.”

“Yes, that’s right. What about the victims?”

Park Do-joon didn’t offer any further introductions for the time being. He wanted to assess the scene himself before involving Han Sung-gi.

“Five deaths and four injuries. Two of them are in critical condition. The doctor says it’s unlikely they’ll make it…….”

The case was simple, on the surface. A case where people ate food at a gathering in a rural village and a large number of deaths occurred.

‘That’s right. As I recall, there were ultimately seven deaths and two injuries, one of whom went blind due to side effects. But…… that’s the extent of my memory. My memories have faded a lot since the regression after all.’

I remember this case too. But I only remember the broad strokes. I don’t remember who the perpetrator is. It’s definitely a case I came to with Han Sung-gi.

“Someone put pesticide in the food people ate.”

In such a rural area, it’s not difficult to obtain pesticides. And sometimes, people with grudges resort to such desperate measures.

“So, has the culprit been identified?”

“Yes. It’s the person who recently moved in.”

“Then why did you call us?”

“That person claims they didn’t do it. Well, given the circumstances, it seems almost certain, but it’s a case where five people have already died.”

If they’re really not the culprit and are being falsely accused, the repercussions would be significant.

“And as you can see.”

“Ah…….”

When he pointed to a place a little further away, there were reporters gathered there.

“It’ll be all over the news.”

What if it goes on the news and they miss the real culprit?

Then the police officer in charge would have to worry about his career, let alone a promotion.

“So, we’re trying to make absolutely sure. For now, the culprit, no, the suspect, is strongly denying any involvement.”

“What about the evidence?”

“CCTV footage.”

“There is?”

“To be exact, they were filmed entering the village hall.”

There are surprisingly many petty crimes in such rural areas. There are fewer CCTVs than in the city, and there are often cases where there is a lack of police force even if theft occurs.

“Last year alone, 400 kilograms of dried red pepper were stolen from this village.”

Due to the repeated thefts every year, the village demanded the installation of CCTV, and as a result, several CCTVs were installed on the main road.

And the suspect’s appearance was captured on one of them.

“And the suspect was filmed entering the house where the food was being prepared. They came out in less than five minutes after entering.”

Park Do-joon tilted his head and asked.

“Well, if they’re a villager, isn’t it not unusual to stop by for a moment and leave?”

“The thing is, they’re in a serious dispute with the villagers.”

“Serious dispute?”

“Yes, they’re currently involved in a lawsuit with each other because of it.”

“Lawsuit?”

“Yes.”

The suspect is said to not have originally lived in this village. They were someone who returned to the countryside after living in the city.

But after they came and settled in the village, problems arose.

This village doesn’t have a modern running water system. Naturally, they dig groundwater wells to supply water, but it costs money to dig a well large enough to supply a village and create a tank to store the water.

“And the village demanded a share of the original installation fee from the newcomer.”

“What? Installation fee?”

“Yes.”

“No, how long ago was it installed?”

“About 25 years ago?”

“They’re asking someone who just moved in to pay for something installed 25 years ago?”

“That’s just how things are sometimes in the countryside. It’s a ‘custom,’ so to speak.”

It’s not just a year or two, but a water facility installed 25 years ago. Moreover, it’s almost certain that the government provided subsidies at that time.

The person who moved in naturally refused the village’s demand to pay 3 million won [approximately $2,500 USD] as an installation fee, not a management fee, for such a thing, and clashed with the villagers over the matter.

A Professional Profiler