My Calling Is Profiler [EN]: Chapter 573

“But they’re not part of the Daehan Glory Faction.”

The Daehan Glory Faction is in the construction business, but the construction business isn’t booming like it used to be. And if they beat people and drag them out of their homes like they did in the past, the country will be in an uproar.

And these days, the laws are well-defined, and with so many housing options available, tenants are more likely to demand their due compensation before leaving. It’s not like the old days where they’d be left with nothing if they didn’t get it.

“Besides, where are the shantytowns these days?”

Of course, shantytowns or cramped room villages still exist, but construction companies prefer redeveloping old downtown areas rather than dealing with such dangerous and volatile places.

It’s easier to handle legally. If news gets out that they’re beating and dragging out local residents like in the past, any company would face severe backlash and potential bankruptcy.

“And construction companies don’t hire ‘demolition men’ [hired thugs] these days.”

They can simply call the police in cases of illegal occupation. Trying to solve these problems outside of the legal system can only lead to significant repercussions.

“But you said they’re connected to high places?”

“I guess so. But are the higher-ups stupid?”

It’s not like they need them like they used to, and if they involve the Daehan Glory Faction, they have to share the profits. And like dealing with gangsters, that money won’t be just a small amount.

Due to the nature of the construction industry, a large workforce is required, and a large workforce translates to significant expenses.

“If they’re trying to do something risky, it must involve the Daehan Glory Faction.”

“Correct.”

Park Do-joon said, reviewing the documents he had received.

“They definitely don’t have a stable source of income recently. Their primary source of income must be construction site extortion.”

Construction site extortion refers to groups that use force to extract money. It’s common for these groups to be in collusion with the police in the construction industry.

In the past, even if these thugs beat people with wooden sticks in plain sight, the police would rarely intervene. In fact, those who resisted the thugs would often be arrested for assault.

If disputes arose within a redevelopment association, they would hire these thugs and engage in violent clashes.

But that’s outdated now. The proliferation of the internet and camera phones makes such actions much riskier. A bystander could easily film the violence and upload it online, potentially leading to the police chief’s dismissal.

No matter how large the bribe, they won’t risk a 100% chance of getting caught. Their position is their priority. Moreover, the apartment reconstruction market has significantly declined due to the economic downturn.

“Surely they can’t be making a profit this way, can they?”

“That’s right. That’s what makes it so strange.”

“Why?”

“Why would they increase their manpower if they’re operating at a loss?”

“Oh. I guess so? Those construction site thugs are mostly using part-timers these days, right?”

“That’s right.”

People often assume that all construction site thugs are gangsters, but that’s not always the case. Many construction gangsters use part-timers instead of directly participating in the violence themselves.

In simple terms, construction site thugs are like subcontractors for construction gangsters.

“After all, extreme physical conflicts are relatively rare.”

People often imagine construction site thugs solely as individuals who beat people up and destroy property, but that’s only an extreme scenario.

More often, they engage in prolonged periods of confrontation and intimidation. They file lawsuits, stage protests, and generally create obstacles.

Then, when the eviction date arrives, they resort to violence, beating and dragging people out.

“So they usually just use part-timers for the initial intimidation.”

It involves standing around all day and watching the other party, so anyone can do it. They need to conserve their energy for the eventual confrontation.

In fact, there are many cases where college students who initially take on these part-time jobs are shocked by the violence they witness and end up quitting, suffering from depression.

They’re fine with the initial intimidation, but they’re traumatized by the sight of people resisting and being forcibly removed, often bleeding.

In a way, aren’t they the same generation as their parents?

“But they hired a large number of people…”

Sayings like ‘turn a crisis into an opportunity’ and ‘invest more when things are tough’ are for legitimate companies, especially research-oriented ones, not for these construction gangsters.

The bigger they get, the more they have to steal to maintain their lifestyle.

“Oh ho. I didn’t think of that.”

Jae Sang-soo, who was listening to Park Do-joon’s words, perked up, showing interest. The fact that the guys they had left alone to manage were starting to make moves was something they couldn’t ignore.

“Where did they hold their inauguration celebration party? Was it at a club like Soyu Nightclub?”

“No. The Daehan Glory Faction doesn’t own a nightclub. They used to, but an officetel [a multi-purpose building with both office and residential units] was built there.”

“An officetel?”

“Yeah.”

Park Do-joon fell into deep thought at those words.

“They wouldn’t sell a nightclub unless they absolutely had to.”

“Yeah, usually.”

“Why?”

“Because of the consistent cash flow.”

It’s not just about whether the business is profitable or not.

“Is it that important?”

“It’s important. What’s the first problem that arises when a company is acquired?”

“Employee issues. Ah, I see.”

If a company is sold, the buyer will try to lay off employees, and the employees will resist to avoid being fired. Labor unions often strongly oppose company sales, and it’s now standard practice to address employee concerns during acquisitions.

“But would gangsters care about that?”

“Ah!”

If they sell the nightclub, they’ll receive a large sum of money, but they won’t share it with their members. But they can’t simply dissolve the organization either.

“In the end, they’re losing money in the long run.”

A nightclub is more than just a business. It provides a regular source of income. The influence it wields is significant.

“Wait, then what’s strange?”

Lee Ji-soo listened to those words and pondered for a long time. Then she lowered her voice and said.

“So, they sold the nightclub, which was a reliable source of income, and increased their membership, even though it’s not a financially sound decision, right?”

“That’s right.”

They’re not in a position to do that, yet they’re doing something? That suggests there’s something happening behind the scenes that they’re unaware of.

“Probably there’s an opportunity that requires a lot of manpower and a lot of money, something that can generate significant profits.”

And because it promises high returns, they’re willing to pursue it at any cost.

“Drugs?”

“Unlikely.”

Of course, drugs are highly profitable. And desperate criminal organizations are often involved. But drug trafficking doesn’t necessitate expanding the organization. It’s safer to operate with a small, elite group.

“I don’t know what it is, but first…”

“First?”

“We have to catch them for eating and running without paying.”

“No, Detective Park? Why are you suddenly focusing on a dine-and-dash case after all this speculation?”

“The Daehan Glory Faction has political connections. What would the higher-ups say if we reported that we’re investigating something big?”

“Ah!”

The higher-ups, who are already looking for an excuse to disband the profiling team, are assigning them trivial cases. They’ll immediately transfer Park Do-joon or reassign him to another case.

“So the most reliable approach is to catch them for skipping out on the bill and then get their testimony. And I doubt the higher-ups are aware of the Daehan Glory Faction’s current activities.”

“They don’t know?”

“Yeah.”

If they knew, they would try to take down the Daehan Glory Faction. Since they don’t know, they’re more likely to help them and cover up the case, because they’ve likely accepted bribes.

“But if we obtain their testimony, there’s no reason for them to do that.”

Regardless of the bribes they’ve received, there’s always a line they won’t cross. No one wants to protect an organization that has crossed that line.

“And there are two sides to every coin. Bribes are a double-edged sword in that sense.”

As long as they’ve accepted a bribe, they’ll generally try to help and cover up the case. But if the situation goes beyond a certain point, the bribed party will try to thoroughly destroy the other party to conceal their involvement.

So if we can prove the crime, they’ll handle it themselves without us having to intervene.

“So in order to do that, we have to catch the people who skipped out on the bill.”

“That’s right.”

There’s no point in trying to deduce the organization’s larger scheme at this stage. Even if we did, we couldn’t suddenly shift the direction of the investigation.

“But we can’t even track down the people who skipped out on the bill, can we?”

Their movements seem random and without purpose, making them difficult to trace.

“We have to try anyway.”

Park Do-joon scratched his head and said.

“And people are simpler than you think.”

Park Do-joon was confident that he could track them down.

# Trying to Eat and Run?

Eat and run [dine-and-dash].

He had never caught such criminals before, and he had certainly never put them on a wanted list and tracked them down. So when he tried to track them down, he was at a loss.

“Ugh, annoying.”

Park Do-joon could hardly believe his ears when he heard the policewoman reading a book say that.

“Annoying?”

“That’s right. It’s unlikely to lead to anything worthwhile.”

‘Oh, really?’

Park Do-joon clicked his tongue, glancing at the book she was reading.

‘I don’t even need to see it to know.’

A book related to the police promotion exam. She’s the type who’s solely focused on getting promoted, regardless of her actual work.

Even during work hours, she’s neglecting her duties to study for the exam. Given the constant shortage of police officers, her behavior is particularly egregious.

‘She’s deliberately avoiding her responsibilities.’

Moreover, she’s annoyed by the case.

The so-called ‘sweet men’ [those who get preferential treatment] must have assigned her easy cases that require minimal effort.

‘That’s a long-standing problem.’

Cases that require fieldwork, are dangerous, or are considered unpleasant are typically assigned to male police officers, while cases that can be resolved remotely with a few phone calls are given to female police officers. This unequal distribution of cases is a persistent issue.

“So are you not going to solve the case?”

“I have to. But there’s a priority, right? It’s just a 21,000 won [approximately $15 USD] case.”

7,000 won for ramen and a bowl of rice. Three people who ate that and ran away. The incident occurred at a small snack bar, and there’s no security footage.

So it’s difficult to track them down.

“It seems like the priorities are skewed, considering it’s being pushed to the bottom of the list?”

Lee Ji-soo couldn’t help but comment, prompting the policewoman to quickly hide her promotion exam book.

“No, I just saw an example in that book related to another case…”

The policewoman’s voice trailed off.