My Calling Is Profiler [EN]: Chapter 529

“Korea was a bit different.”

If China and Japan’s loyalty was about doing as they were told, Korea’s loyalty was about risking one’s life to speak frankly. Even with that difference, absolute monarchy wasn’t disappearing or being denied.

“Hmm, I don’t know. What does this have to do with the current case?”

“It’s about the difference in how you treat a large group, an organization.”

Asian countries pledge allegiance to large organizations. Even if speaking the right words could cost them their heads, they don’t easily try to overthrow or kill the organization.

Of course, there are rebellions. Rebellions by the nobility or the people certainly exist.

“But most of those rebellions were committed to save themselves.”

The number of people who commit rebellions for their own power was not that high.

“In contrast, Europe is different.”

Because they had their own armies and knights, ready to fight the king if necessary, the royal family had to be mindful of the nobles.

“And the police are a national organization and a force representing the state. So, the response is different.”

In countries like Europe and the United States, even state power is often ignored or overturned depending on the situation. In fact, France alone is known as the country of protests, and protests are frequent and often extremely fierce.

“But in Korea, people are loyal to the organization, and there aren’t many people who try to resist. That also affects the behavior patterns of criminals.”

“So, Korean criminals try to flee.”

“Yes. In contrast, European and American criminals resist more actively.”

“Resistance against powerful organizations……”

Only then did Lee Ji-soo realize what Park Do-joon was talking about.

“You’re saying they think they’re resisting us.”

“It’s closer to provocation than resistance. ‘I’m here. So come and catch me.’ Since there hasn’t been such a case in Korea until now, most police officers are bound to be confused by this situation.”

If it’s fleeing, it’s fleeing, and if it’s hiding, it’s hiding, but provocation? Appealing to be caught? Most profilers in the Korean police have never experienced a situation that is neither surrender nor provocation.

“Wait? But why aren’t you telling me that? No, that’s information that could help catch him?”

Of course, it may not identify him specifically, but it would be better than wandering around in completely the wrong place. But why is Park Do-joon hiding it and pretending not to know?

“This is where the problem lies.”

Park Do-joon lowered his voice and said.

“This provocation has two possibilities.”

“What are they?”

“Provocation against an individual, or provocation against a group.”

“Individual? Group?”

“At first glance, the provocation is against the police organization. It’s a kind of game, telling them to come and catch him.”

“Is that a problem?”

“That’s not a problem. The problem arises in the case of provocation against an individual.”

“Why?”

“He’s picking a fight with a recognized rival within the police. He wants to have a battle of wits with you.”

Park Do-joon said that and then smacked his lips bitterly. Then, he poured the remaining coffee into his mouth and said.

“If that’s the case, he’s targeting someone in our station. The victims’ belongings all ended up at our station. The quick delivery drivers who received them are all different in region and age. But they picked them up.”

“Yes.”

“If it’s the latter, that is, if he’s provoking an individual, who is the person the criminal is targeting?”

“I don’t know?”

“The person who fits that condition must meet three conditions.”

First, they must be known externally. Even if there are many police officers, they must be noticeable. Second, they must have demonstrated their abilities and become famous. And third, they must be able to come into contact with such cases.

No matter how capable they are, it’s meaningless if they can’t come into contact with such cases.

“Uh……? Wait, that person is?”

Only then did Lee Ji-soo realize why Park Do-joon said he didn’t know either.

“It’s you, Senior?”

“That’s right.”

He is already a famous troublemaker externally, and at the same time, he is capable. There are rumors that even large corporations are supporting him, and he has actually solved cases that no one else could solve.

And in the meantime, his face has been shown in the media several times.

“You’re saying he’s targeting you, Senior?”

“To be exact, he’s provoking me. Telling me to catch him if I can.”

Of course, if sending it here is simply a coincidence, and he’s not targeting Park Do-joon, there’s nothing to worry about.

But if Park Do-joon’s prediction is correct, it’s a problem that would completely change the profiler’s judgment.

“And the biggest problem is that the moment I tell this to the higher-ups, everything will become meaningless. You’re starting to see how the police work.”

“If you say this, Senior…… that’s right, the police will exclude you from the investigation because of the connection.”

“Generally, that’s not a bad thing.”

It’s a perfectly possible thing to happen.

In fact, it’s the rule for those involved to be excluded.

“But will the criminal care about that?”

There’s a high possibility that he’ll get angry that the police have interfered in his game with Park Do-joon.

“If that happens, he’ll start killing indiscriminately and without any traces. As revenge against the police.”

“We’re already in this mess because there’s no evidence?”

“Yes, we’re not even able to get our bearings right now, but what if I suddenly drop out?”

At that time, will the police even be able to recognize a case with no direction?

“The number of victims will increase exponentially.”

“Yes.”

That’s why Park Do-joon didn’t say that he knew, that he was the target.

‘It would be a relief if it was just the police……’

‘The problem is that there’s a high possibility that it’s not.’

If that were the case, the criminal would have sent the shoes, which were the belongings, to several police stations. But he didn’t, and only sent them to this one place.

‘It could be another police officer.’

But there are always variables, and minimizing them as much as possible is what a profiler has to do.

“So, for the time being, I need to be able to access the case.”

If the higher-ups think that Park Do-joon might be involved, their actions will be twisted in a direction that completely blocks the investigation.

Because they’ll simply think, ‘No Park Do-joon = No murder.’

“But I’m just an excuse.”

Will he really stop killing and disappear just because Park Do-joon disappears?

“That’s impossible.”

At Park Do-joon’s words, Lee Ji-soo sighed deeply.

“We can’t keep this a secret forever, either.”

“That’s true. But I can’t be sure that I’m the target either.”

“You’re saying it could be someone else?”

“I can’t ignore the possibility of personal grudges either.”

From the perspective of a criminal who is targeting a challenging target, who to target is entirely a personal choice. So, I can’t just do something that’s bound to be excluded from this possibility.

“I don’t understand. It’s not your fault, Senior? But they’re excluding you?”

“Generally, that’s the case. But the problem is the bureaucracy.”

“Bureaucracy?”

“In a bureaucracy, the people are not the object of protection. The person in power is the object of protection.”

If it were a normal person, they would just leave the capable person alone and have them catch the criminal first. At the very least, they would monitor the area around them and try to find a possible criminal.

“But that’s not the case in a bureaucracy.”

They have no choice but to cut it off in advance, fearing that a problem will arise because they didn’t exclude the person involved. In fact, to be exact, a problem is bound to arise 100%. Because it’s a serial killer.

“Even if 99 people say it’s normal to use that person, the moment one person says they’re uncomfortable, the bureaucracy will crawl on the floor.”

“Well, that’s true.”

Lee Ji-soo is no longer a complete novice and knows everything, and knows how roughly the system works, so she can only sigh.

“So, I have to either find out as much as I can and drop it, or catch him, one of the two.”

“Then what are you going to do?”

“I have to go to the scene first.”

“The photos and everything else have already been submitted?”

“Sometimes there are things you can’t see at the scene. I told you before. There are things that photos and videos can’t capture.”

Park Do-joon said that and got up from his seat.

“I’ll leave right away tomorrow morning, so first submit a business trip request. They won’t say anything if I say I’m going.”

If they can catch the criminal, the police will do anything right now.

“If I go to the scene, something will come out.”

Park Do-joon crumpled the empty cup and threw it into the trash can.

“Anything.”

The way the criminal sent the items to the police was none other than through quick service [courier]. And all the quick delivery drivers said that they received money and only took the items, and that they didn’t receive them from anyone.

“This is the first place.”

The first place was a park. A place with no people. The quick delivery driver took out the item from under the bench and took it to the police station.

“He received the money by account transfer, but it was a borrowed-name account [an account opened under someone else’s name].”

“Yes. And the point of the account transfer is Ulsan.”

“That’s far.”

Of course, they secured the video at the time of the account transfer, but even that was covered up and the account transfer was made, so the local police testified that it was impossible to track.

“Hmm……”

Park Do-joon said that and looked around. A quiet park. And the people in that park.

“This chair, huh.”

Park Do-joon went to the seat and sat down.

“Is it okay to sit like that?”

“It doesn’t matter. The National Forensic Service has already swept it all away. Look. There’s no police line. No police line means there’s nothing to get.”

“That’s true, but……”

Lee Ji-soo frowned as she sat next to him.

“He brought it all the way here and gave it to them. I don’t think there’s anything here?”

“Yes, there won’t be anything here.”

Sitting on the bench, Park Do-joon said leisurely. Then, he raised his head and looked at the gazebo [a small, roofed structure] on the bench.

“The scenery is nice.”

“Yes?”

“No, just saying. But don’t you think something’s strange?”

“What is it?”

“Well, in many ways.”

Park Do-joon turned his gaze back and looked out from the gazebo. You can see tiny people moving around below.

“What did the quick delivery driver say?”

“He said he had something to report to the police, but he had to deliver it due to anonymity issues.”

“All three of them said that?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm.”

“Why would they say that?”

“Quick delivery drivers aren’t stupid. They don’t want to get involved for no reason.”

“Yes?”

“Isn’t this the heyday of drugs? Even if a member of the National Assembly’s daughter brings in kilograms of drugs, she gets a suspended sentence. What method do you think they prefer the most?”

“Ah. That’s right.”