My Calling Is Profiler [EN]: Chapter 540

“The fundamental principle of interrogation is to first destabilize the subject psychologically.”

Whether it’s the classic bad cop, good cop routine from movies and TV shows, trying to persuade them with a comforting bowl of *seolleongtang* [ox bone soup], or even bringing in their parents, the goal is always to disrupt their mental equilibrium.

“Should we bring in his parents?”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea. He strikes me as the type who believes his life was ruined because he didn’t get a proper education. And guess who he blames for that?”

“Ah~!”

Since his parents likely couldn’t afford to support his studies, he probably harbors resentment. People like that don’t think, ‘I’ll work hard to improve my family’s situation despite our poverty.’ Instead, they think, ‘Damn my family, my life is a mess because I was born into this.’

“So, you can assume that bringing in his parents would be a waste of time.”

Parents can influence those who committed crimes by mistake or when a situation spiraled out of control.

“But this was a premeditated crime fueled by anger at the world. His parents showing up won’t change anything.”

“It might even backfire. He’s probably already considered that possibility.”

Park Do-joon said, watching Chang So-man through the window, who looked increasingly irritated.

“He’ll try to manipulate the media using his parents. He’ll claim they’re trying to pin a murder charge on an innocent man. That the police are blaming his son because they can’t catch the real serial killer who’s already killed four people.”

Imagine his parents giving interviews like that. The media would jump on it, and the crime the police were trying to keep quiet would be exposed.

“And someone on the inside will get a fat envelope of cash to leak the real culprit’s profile.”

The criminal has turned this into a game for the police, a story the public can’t resist clicking on. From that moment on, he becomes the victim, claiming the incompetent police framed him.

“If we can’t prove his guilt, that is.”

“Exactly.”

“So, what do we do?”

We can’t afford to waste time.

“People tend to slip up when faced with the unexpected.”

Chang So-man is convinced he’s a genius. But in Park Do-joon’s opinion, while he’s clever, he’s not smart enough to outwit everyone.

“So, we have to create an opportunity for him to make a mistake.”

Park Do-joon glanced at his watch. Three hours since he was brought in.

“Let’s give it another three hours. Hehehe.”

“What’s going on?”

Chang So-man was bewildered. Six full hours had passed. Six hours alone in this interrogation room, and not a single person had come to question him. He had expected them to burst in and demand a confession, but this silence was unnerving.

“What is this? What are they playing at?”

Anxiety sets in the moment plans go sideways. Usually, people suppress it and move on. But when the stakes are high, when their future hangs in the balance, they fixate on the worst-case scenario.

Because that’s how they prepare for the worst and devise countermeasures.

‘Did they find the murder weapon? No way. I was too careful.’

There’s no way his fingerprints are on the victims. He collected all the ropes and burned them. He bought a different knife from the market with cash each time and disposed of them in different streams.

Since it was a stream he passed on his way to work, there was no chance that the police would find it by chance. Even if they did find it, he wiped the knife several times, soaked it in bleach, and then burned the surface with a torch several times in case there were any fingerprints left, so there was no possibility of anything remaining.

‘Did they crack the code? Even if they did, they wouldn’t know it’s me, would they?’

He was careful to leave no trace when sending the shoes to the police stations in boxes.

‘What are they up to?’

Just then, the door opened, and a woman walked in. Chang So-man smirked.

‘I knew it.’

There’s no way they’d skip the interrogation. It’s absurd for the police to just make him wait. Chang So-man felt a wave of relief.

“Mr. Chang So-man?”

“Yes.”

“I’m Attorney Jung Yi-yeon.”

“An attorney? Are you my court-appointed attorney?”

He hadn’t requested a lawyer. So, is she a public defender? But they usually don’t show up unless you specifically ask for one. Why is an attorney here?

Amidst his confusion, Jung Yi-yeon explained her presence.

“I’m here to discuss a settlement.”

“A settlement?”

“Yes, the victim’s family is seeking a settlement of 40 million won [approximately $30,000 USD].”

“Wait, what?”

A settlement offer before the interrogation even begins?

“What are you talking about?”

“Just what I said. The victim’s family wants 40 million won to settle.”

“Am I crazy? Tell them to get lost!”

He studied basic criminal law to become a police officer. He knows that shedding a few tears in court could get him a suspended sentence.

Even if they filed a civil lawsuit, they’d be lucky to get 5 million won [approximately $3,700 USD], let alone 40 million.

“Is that so?”

Jung Yi-yeon studied Chang So-man’s face. Then, she abruptly stood up.

“Then, goodbye?”

“Wait, where are you going?”

“Is there any reason for me to stay? The negotiation failed.”

“What?”

“Goodbye.”

Jung Yi-yeon left Chang So-man standing there, dumbfounded. He could only stare blankly after her.

Outside, Jung Yi-yeon approached Park Do-joon.

“*Oppa* [term for older brother or close male friend], I did as you asked, but… you know the settlement won’t work, right?”

“I know. It’s just to rattle him.”

“But how are you going to prove anything?”

“I’m trying to provoke him into making a mistake.”

“Does me offering a settlement really lead to that?”

“Yes.”

Park Do-joon glanced at his watch.

“First, he’ll be surprised. Then, he’ll get confused.”

“Just by not interrogating him?”

“It’s more than that. He thinks he’s got the police figured out. But what happens when he’s completely ignored?”

He believes he has achieved something. But imagine being ignored by such a target.

“Usually, anger slowly simmers. It’s like when you thought someone was your rival your whole life, and then you find out they’ve been laughing at you, saying, ‘You? My rival?’”

“Ah, that would be incredibly infuriating.”

Jung Yi-yeon nodded in understanding.

“Exactly, and he’s not the type to feel relieved.”

He committed murder to get revenge on the police who rejected him and tried to manipulate them in a twisted game.

Underlying that emotion is the feeling that he is superior to those guys. But what if that feeling is completely ignored?

“Then his inferiority complex flares up.”

When an inferiority complex is triggered, people make mistakes.

“They get discouraged, and sometimes they lash out.”

“And he’s the type to lash out.”

“That’s right. But he can’t control his anger.”

If he could control his anger, he wouldn’t have said he would kill someone to prove himself.

“Sometimes, ignoring someone can be a form of interrogation, hehehe.”

Park Do-joon said, watching Chang So-man through the one-way mirror, a dumbfounded expression on his face.

Chang So-man was seething. He had waited a full 16 hours. He expected to be interrogated, but he never imagined being ignored for sixteen hours.

“Hey! You bastards! What are you doing!”

Complete and utter indifference.

Chang So-man raged at the blatant disregard. Anger towards the police surged within him.

‘You damn bastards! Do you know who I am!’

He’s the one who outsmarted the police. He’s the one who committed murder and deceived them, proving he’s superior.

But to be treated like this?

“You bastards! I know you’re in there! Come out here right now!”

Chang So-man screamed at the top of his lungs, staring at the mirror. After an hour of shouting, the door finally opened, and a woman appeared.

“Oh, this is annoying. A petty criminal……”

“What?”

Chang So-man was momentarily stunned by her opening words. But Lee Ji-soo spoke with confidence.

“If you’re just a petty criminal, know your place and wait. Why do you keep yelling?”

“You bastard, what are you doing? Don’t you know this is illegal!”

“Illegal, my ass. You’re a criminal caught in the act. You’re under emergency arrest.”

Of course, they can hold him for 24 hours without a warrant.

“And if you wait a little longer, a warrant will be issued, so just be patient. I’ll take you to the detention center later.”

“Detention center?”

“Yeah, we don’t have time to deal with petty criminals.”

Deceiving the other party to get away with it and the other party ignoring him are completely different issues. It was normal for the other party to cling to him and ridicule him, saying he was innocent, but it was really infuriating for the other party to tell him to shut up until he went to the detention center because he was a petty criminal.

If he were a petty criminal, and his priority was to escape, Chang So-man would probably have shut his mouth. But the next words scratched his nerves, and he finally exploded.

“We’re busy with the shoe killer right now, so we’ll deal with you later. Once the arrest warrant comes through, we’ll send you to the detention center.”

Lee Ji-soo waved her hand dismissively. Chang So-man couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

“The shoe killer?”

“Yeah, we caught a guy like that a while ago.”

Chang So-man’s anger reached a boiling point at Lee Ji-soo’s words. He knew who the shoe killer was because he heard what the reporters were saying.

A guy who kills people and sends shoes, the so-called shoe killer. But that’s him.

He meticulously planned everything and mocked the incompetent police. But he’s here, and they’re busy with someone else?

“What nonsense are you talking about! I did it!”

“Yeah, you probably tried to break in and steal something. You’re just a petty criminal anyway.”

Lee Ji-soo said, sounding utterly bored. Chang So-man seethed inside. He couldn’t accept that these losers who couldn’t even catch him were ignoring him.

Of course, if he shut his mouth, he might be released. No, he knew he would be released to some extent. But that rational thought was overwhelmed by the surging anger and vanished completely.