My Calling Is Profiler [EN]: Chapter 517

The warehouse was right next to the building.

But as soon as they opened the door to enter what was disguised as a warehouse—in reality, a makeshift surgery room—a chilling coldness swept out. Inside, several National Forensic Service agents were meticulously searching for materials and collecting evidence.

“Sedatives and anesthetics. And the sewer…”

All the equipment needed to dismember and dismantle a person was present.

“What’s that?”

“What are you referring to?”

“It looks like a hammer?”

“A medical hammer. The parts sold from a human body aren’t just organs; bones are also sold at a high price.”

“Crazy bastards.”

There wasn’t much for them to investigate in the surgery room, or rather, the dismantling room. This was primarily an area for the National Forensic Service to handle, not the profiler.

They left the place shortly after.

Then, a police officer approached them.

“The National Forensic Service has released its findings.”

“What did they say?”

“It’s a match.”

Even without a specific subject, they understood the implication.

“The reporters will flock here.”

“Yes, they will.”

“It’s a relief.”

If they hadn’t caught them today, the criminals would have likely escaped.

“It’s fortunate.”

Park Do-joon agreed, nodding in acknowledgment.

# A Dirty Stronghold

Hong Woo-jong had been accumulating a lot of dissatisfaction recently. Enjoying his secret hobby hadn’t been easy.

To be precise, he hadn’t been able to indulge since Wang Woo-hwan’s escape. Of course, there was Han Sung-gi, but he wasn’t someone he could fully trust with sensitive work yet.

Due to Han Sung-gi’s background as a former police officer, Hong Woo-jong hesitated to entrust him with confidential matters. Therefore, Wang Woo-hwan’s contact was like a godsend.

“What the hell is going on right now? Do you know what I’ve been through because of you?”

As rumors spread that Wang Woo-hwan worked under Hong Woo-jong, his position within the party became precarious. He felt ostracized, as if he were invisible within the party’s ranks.

“At this rate, my seat is in danger!”

Hong Woo-jong couldn’t contain his anger at the secretly arranged meeting place. While he was still a member of the National Assembly and couldn’t be outright dismissed, no one would likely nominate him in the next election.

“I’m sorry. We didn’t expect things to turn out this way either,” Wang Woo-hwan said with a frown.

“That Park Do-joon guy dug deeper than we thought. Our organization is also being pursued within China.”

“What? You said there were no problems on the Chinese side?”

“Well, that’s true to some extent. But there’s no way to operate there for the time being.”

If it hadn’t become an international issue, or at least a problem in the foreign press, no one in China would have dared to touch Wang Woo-hwan’s organization.

However, because the issue had gained international attention and even offended China, which claims to be one unified entity, the Chinese Communist Party [CCP] was now tracking down Wang Woo-hwan’s organization.

“We’re trying to mitigate the damage with money, but it’s not easy. But we were able to block it to some extent.”

Of course, the organization had to suffer enormous losses to do so. About one-third of the members had to be handed over to the CCP, and many of them had their organs harvested and sold by the CCP.

‘Actually, it’s not the manpower that’s the problem.’

There are plenty of expendable people everywhere. With a little effort, you can easily find trash to work for the organization. However, the serious problem was that most of the money earned had to be funneled to corrupt politicians.

“So, is it resolved?”

“To some extent.”

Wang Woo-hwan said that and then spoke leisurely.

“That’s why I brought a gift.”

“A gift?”

Wang Woo-hwan gestured to his subordinate, and after a while, a woman with her eyes and mouth covered was dragged into the room. Hong Woo-jong’s eyes gleamed with a predatory madness when he saw her.

“This won’t cause any problems, will it?”

“It’ll be clean. I’ll leave you to it.”

Wang Woo-hwan said that and went outside. Shortly after, muffled thumping sounds began to emanate from inside. When he came out, Han Sung-gi was standing there with a stiff, pale face.

‘Was he finally broken?’

Well, it’s understandable. Even he was criticized for working with Hong Woo-jong. How could Han Sung-gi, working under such a man, lead a normal social life?

Of course not. In the end, they were bound together, for better or for worse.

“Is this the first time we’ve met like this, Profiler Han Sung-gi?”

“Do you know me?”

“‘Know’…”

A smile appeared on Wang Woo-hwan’s face at those words. At that moment, the organization member next to him punched Han Sung-gi in the stomach.

“Cough.”

“This Korean bastard doesn’t even know how to use honorifics? Give him some education.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Ugh.”

Han Sung-gi was dragged away. The sounds of screams and beatings echoed from the distance. As if to drown out those sounds, Wang Woo-hwan turned up the volume on the TV that his subordinates were watching.

-The criminals arrested today have been engaged in organ trafficking for many years for the purpose of wealth….

“Hmm, are they perhaps our affiliates?”

Wang Woo-hwan asked, wondering if it might be a surviving cell of their organization, hearing the news about organ trafficking.

“No, they’re not our people. It seems they were running a small operation in Korea.”

“Really? I guess something happened while I was away from Korea?”

“They were cutting open bellies and kidnapping children, I heard?”

“Ah, I see what you mean.”

Wang Woo-hwan, who immediately understood, chuckled.

“It’s nothing.”

Such incidents are more common than you think in China.

“What a fuss.”

“By the way, sir.”

“Why?”

“Is the headquarters really okay?”

“You should consider yourself lucky.”

“Yes?”

“All the guys of similar rank to you were handed over to the Party as scapegoats.”

“Pardon?”

“You were in Korea with me, so you survived. The others were handed over to the Party by the organization.”

They had to. Now that things had escalated, they had to show that they were taking action, and they couldn’t cover it up with just one or two people.

They had to demonstrate that they were arresting at least 100 people or more, and they had to hand over a significant number of mid-level and active members.

“Then the headquarters….”

“It’s been reduced by about half.”

The man’s face turned pale at those words. Wang Woo-hwan said leisurely to the man.

“Think positively. Many of your superiors have disappeared, so all that’s left for you is to move up.”

“Is that so? Thank you, sir.”

“Hoo~”

Wang Woo-hwan said that and leaned back on the sofa.

“Even so, the situation isn’t good. It’s impossible to expand our power in the home country again for the time being.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, the Party is keeping a close watch.”

They handed over a whopping 100 or more organization members as scapegoats. It would be difficult to return alive, given the nature of punishment in China.

“Are there not enough people?”

“It’s not that there aren’t enough people.”

There are plenty of lives that are worth less than a fly’s in China. There’s no shortage of people.

“The problem is that the Party will not look favorably on us for the time being.”

“Then….”

“So, the Party wants us to find a way to revive the Korean line for the time being. That’s why I came back.”

If things had gotten this big, they couldn’t help but be aware of it, no matter how strong their guanxi [connections] and bribes were. So, it is impossible to operate within China for the time being. The problem is that other organizations will rush in to devour them, and to prevent that, they have to bribe the Party and request protection.

The problem is that they have spent all the money they had to resolve this situation.

“Is there anything in Korea that can make money right away?”

“We have to sell drugs.”

“Drugs?”

“Yes.”

“Does that make money?”

At those words, Wang Woo-hwan said with a face full of ridicule.

“If we’re the only ones selling, the price is bound to go up.”

“Ah, you’re going to unify the market?”

“We have no reason to let Korean bastards or other miscellaneous gangs thrive, do we?”

There are hardly any organizations in Korea that can be called nationwide. It’s not that there aren’t any at all, but those places receive political protection.

“The Korean police won’t just stand by.”

In fact, Korea is a tempting land for the Chinese Triads [organized crime syndicates], and there have been attempts to unify the market. But unfortunately, every such attempt has ended in failure. The police aren’t stupid either, so they wouldn’t just stand by and watch the Triads swallow Korea.

“Of course, they will. Korean police bastards—do they call them cops in Korea?”

“Yes,”

“There’s no way those guys will stand still. But we have Hong Woo-jong, right?”

“Well, sir. As you know, Hong Woo-jong is now a discarded card.”

“That’s right.”

He certainly seemed like a liability. But the organization’s situation is dire right now. They have to use every resource they can.

“Anyway, in the current situation, it’s difficult to control other guys enough to shake them down, and it costs a lot of money.”

If they had the money to give to other gangs, they wouldn’t be in this predicament.

“Then?”

“First of all, we have to stabilize Hong Woo-jong’s position.”

Hong Woo-jong has made too many enemies. He even has enemies within his own party, making it difficult to secure the next nomination.

“So, we have to get him nominated.”

“How?”

“We have to figure that out now.”

He leaned back on the sofa and waited, and after a while, Han Sung-gi was dragged out, trembling.

“Hey, Korean bastard.”

“Ye… Yes?”

Han Sung-gi trembled in fear.

‘This isn’t it.’

He joined hands with Hong Woo-jong to survive and out of jealousy for Park Do-joon. But at some point, he was spiraling. The problem is that he can’t escape from here now.

“I’ll ask you simply. Who is Hong Woo-jong’s biggest enemy right now?”

“That….”

The moment his words faltered, Han Sung-gi’s face contorted as someone kicked him.

“These days, kids are slow to learn.”

“I’m sorry, sir.”

“I’ll ask again. Who is the enemy?”

“Hong Geun-jong. That Hong Geun-jong is the biggest problem.”

“Hmm, is it enough to just kill that guy?”

“No. That bastard registered his marriage and smuggled his wife and daughter to the United States….”

Han Sung-gi said, trembling. Of course, he wasn’t concerned about them either.

“Well, just kill those bitches too.”

“Armed guards are protecting them 24 hours a day.”

“Armed guards?”

“Yes,”

“Hmm. That’s a bit much.”

In order to fight armed guards, they have to arm themselves as well, which gives the US government an excuse to intervene.

Even though the Chinese government is watching their organization with their eyes wide open, targeting individuals under US protection is a surefire way to invite disaster. Furthermore, if it’s an American armed guard, they wouldn’t employ clumsy gun-toting thugs like China.

“It’s too risky to touch them. He used his head well.”

“Park Do-joon coached him.”

“Who did you say?”

Wang Woo-hwan frowned at the mention of the unwelcome name.