My Calling Is Profiler [EN]: Chapter 371

“A battle of egos in a situation like this.”

“That’s just how humans are.”

Humans cling to pride even when facing imminent death. Back in World War II, as the Nazis were pushed back and people starved, subsisting on turnip bread, turnip butter, and turnip juice, the upper ranks were busy embezzling and backstabbing.

“Sorry. So, what were you saying earlier?”

“The perpetrator is evolving.”

“Evolving?”

“Yes.”

Park Do-joon arranged the six discovered videos in a row.

“Initially, it was 40 minutes. Now, it’s 70 minutes.”

“Isn’t that just editing?”

They did edit the videos, meticulously removing any parts where they appeared or could be identified.

“That’s precisely why it’s so telling.”

“Telling?”

“Yes.”

If they simply edited to shorten the time, the durations should be similar.

But they didn’t. They completely erased anything that could identify them, leaving the rest intact.

Because that’s how they increase the realism and sell it for more.

“That means the victim’s survival time is increasing even more.”

“Increasing even more? Are they perhaps getting used to the torture?”

Lee Ji-soo, like a true profiler, immediately grasped Park Do-joon’s meaning.

“Correct.”

The perpetrator is getting used to the torture, which naturally increases the victim’s survival time. As survival time increases, so does the edited video length.

“The shortest 40-minute video shows the victim bleeding profusely.”

The exact cause of death wasn’t shown, but with that much blood, it’s highly likely they died from blood loss.

“In contrast, the longest is the second video we saw.”

The one where they shattered the knees on the first day.

The time is a staggering 70 minutes.

“Are they gradually learning how not to kill?”

“That’s right.”

It’s said that those accustomed to torture can keep victims alive for days. Historically, in some countries, if the torture subject died too quickly, the torturer would be tortured and killed in their place.

“Human life is both resilient and fragile.”

Everyone fell silent, horrified at the thought of being subjected to such treatment.

And that time is increasing…

“Well, the order we discovered them isn’t necessarily the order of the crimes.”

Kim Si-deok nodded, understanding Park Do-joon’s point.

“But the person in the middle changed.”

“What?”

What could that mean?

From the start, the torturer always wore a mask. And because of the blood, they wore a large rubber apron, making it hard to discern their body shape.

But the person changed?

“So, you’re saying there are two murderers doing the torturing?”

“That’s right.”

“They look the same, though?”

“Of course, they look the same.”

To be precise, it’s impossible to distinguish them because of the bulky clothes and mask. Plus, their trademark large rubber apron is always the same, right?

“Their tastes changed.”

“Tastes?”

Park Do-joon again divided the six videos into two groups.

“This side does more direct torture. You could say they like blood?”

They directly inflict wounds or induce bleeding. This side is the one who kills people quickly.

“In contrast, this side doesn’t have much blood. They’re doing non-lethal sadistic acts like breaking bones or pulling out fingernails.”

“Is that different?”

“It’s different. Very different. These are clearly people with paraphilias [unusual sexual interests or desires]. And the actions of these paraphiliacs are abnormal to anyone.”

Those with paraphilias, especially extreme ones, can’t simply be said to have different sexual preferences.

“Ordinary people still love and marry even if it’s not their preference.”

Even if they like women with big breasts, they might marry a woman with small breasts, and even if they like tall men, they might marry someone short.

For ordinary people, preference is just one consideration, not an absolute.

“But not for those kinds of people.”

Their preferences are extreme, and that’s all that matters. To satisfy them, they’ll kill.

“Those kinds of people don’t change their preferences and torture methods.”

Two methods of torture?

Then it’s safe to say there are two torture experts.

“You didn’t say that before?”

“With the data you had, it was ambiguous to classify with certainty.”

But with the two additional videos, it becomes significant when viewed taxonomically [in terms of classification].

“There are two perpetrators?”

At that, the police officers began to buzz. Two sadistic paraphilic killers, plus one police officer. No matter how you look at it, the physique of the person in the video isn’t that of a woman.

And if one person is needed for filming… that means it’s a criminal organization of at least four people.

“What is this…”

They’d heard about the organization at the beginning, but never imagined it would be so systematic.

“Then, is there no way to track them?”

“For now, the most likely thing is to search adult stores.”

“Adult stores?”

“Yes.”

“Do you even know how many adult stores there are in the country?”

Adult stores are subject to reporting, not permission, when starting a business. So, as long as there are no schools or educational facilities nearby, they can open as many as they want.

“It sounds bad to say this, but there are a lot.”

“So, we should still track them down.”

“There must be tens of thousands across the country. And why are you suddenly talking about adult stores?”

“Because of collectivity.”

“Collectivity?”

“Do you think it’s possible for those with such paraphilias to gather in one place?”

“Through the dark web, like this…”

“The general public doesn’t know how to access the dark web.”

The dark web can only be accessed with a specific program. You can never enter it by simply typing in an address. And even that program can’t be downloaded just anywhere.

Generally, you buy a computer with the access program already installed in the shadows. Experts can break through it somehow, but otherwise, you have to buy it separately.

“Generally, these individuals cannot reveal their sexual preferences.”

“Isn’t that obvious? How can you reveal that without being crazy?”

“That’s my point. How did they happen to gather?”

“Huh?”

Everyone tilted their heads, not understanding Park Do-joon’s words. He clicked his tongue, seeing their confusion. Even Lee Ji-soo was misunderstanding.

“But you said the goal was money, Senior?”

“I did.”

“Then that’s completely different from what you said, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it is when there’s only one killer. But if there are two, the story changes.”

“Yes?”

“There are definitely underground groups that make these snuff films [films depicting real murder]. Those guys gather for money.”

Those who film, oversee, edit, etc., usually about five people, gather to create and distribute these films.

“In that case, the purpose is financial.”

“And then?”

“But if it’s simply for financial purposes, there’s no need for people to take turns doing sadistic acts. It’s an unnecessary risk.”

It’s not easy to find someone who will do this kind of thing. Their identities could be revealed during the contact process, and the police could notice something.

“Ah, you mean the increased risk.”

“Yes.”

The risk increases just by considering the possibilities in this kind of collective murder. But hiring two killers with different tastes in that group?

“Oh? It’s definitely very strange.”

Lee Ji-soo immediately understood. She wouldn’t bring in additional personnel from the outside, increasing the risk, regardless of how often they make these videos.

“How would you talk about your sexual fetish for murder? The moment you talk about it, even if they’re close friends, they’ll cut you off.”

Talk to your family? Maybe they’ll forcibly put you in a mental hospital.

“That’s true. That’s why those paraphilic murder cases are difficult to track.”

“That’s right.”

Lee Ji-soo nodded, but still didn’t understand.

“There’s still something I don’t understand. According to you, Senior, how do they talk about this to those people? This isn’t just a matter of adult products.”

If you go to an adult store, there are all sorts of bizarre things, but even there, there are no paraphilic products related to murder.

“They secretly sell sadistic products.”

“Sadistic products?”

“Yes, with very high intensity.”

Such items exist, and there are people who have relationships with them.

“Then, when they think you’re in this field to some extent, they also sell snuff films.”

“Are you crazy?”

“You’re selling this offline?”

Everyone was shocked. Selling snuff films offline, putting aside the lack of profit, you’re screwed if someone reports it.

Even they are buying it anonymously from anonymous accounts, right? Park Do-joon told the shocked police officers something they hadn’t considered.

“Not all snuff films involve murder.”

“Isn’t that the same thing?”

“No. There are snuff films that are made like a rigged game.”

“Well, that’s…”

Even the Metropolitan IT Team, who had purchased these films, had been fooled by such fakes more than once.

There were cases where people thought to be dead reappeared later, or in other videos.

“Snuff films make money.”

It’s a minority taste, but because it’s a minority, they’ll pay a lot to indulge.

“Those of you who are older have seen Japanese porn at least once when there was no internet, right? Where did you get that video back then?”

The younger officers looked clueless, and the older ones started clearing their throats.

“Ahem, that’s…”

“There’s a saying online: ‘Let he who has not watched porn throw the first stone.’ Regardless of legality, everyone knows it’s reality.”

“Ahem!”

They awkwardly looked at each other.

As if there was no other choice, Kim Si-deok spoke.

Job is Profiler