My Calling Is Profiler [EN]: Chapter 659

However, it’s well-known that Chinese weapons often lack durability. Therefore, it’s impossible to determine if the information is reliable just by looking at it.

“Then we need to bring him in.”

“If it comes out during the trial that this was an operation sanctioned by the National Intelligence Service [South Korea’s primary intelligence agency], his life will be in grave danger.”

“Ah, don’t worry about that. He’s already in Korea.”

“In Korea? Ah, I guess he was dismissed?”

“You know him well.”

“Is this a new tactic from China?”

“They offer money for information, luring people from Korea to China with promises of wealth. But what happens when they arrive?”

“Of course, they extract everything they can, from insignificant details to valuable technology.”

“China’s strategy is to employ them for two to three years, then discard them once they’ve exhausted their usefulness.”

“Nevertheless, people are still willing to provide information from Korea because of the substantial sums offered in a short time.”

“After all, even if they’re researchers at a company, their salaries are limited. But in China, they might receive a lump sum of one billion won [approximately $750,000 USD].”

“Of course, they rarely get to keep that money.”

“So, no one will be harmed.”

“However, there are government secrets related to that information that they want to keep hidden.”

“I need to ensure my own survival first, right?”

“That’s right.”

Park Do-joon nodded at Hong Geun-jong’s words.

“And if everything goes according to plan, the information shouldn’t leak to anyone else in the first place.”

“That’s right.”

Hong Geun-jong nodded in agreement.

“With Hong Woo-jong placing me in an increasingly precarious situation, I have no choice.”

Hong Geun-jong had always tried to avoid crossing the final line, especially since they were brothers. But by orchestrating their father’s death, Hong Woo-jong had passed the point of no return.

“Then please hand over the relevant materials.”

“I’ll prepare them and deliver them to you. Is there anything else you need?”

“Have the National Intelligence Service monitor me. And deposit some money into my account discreetly.”

“Into your account?”

“I need to create the impression that I’m trying to cover up the case.”

“I understand.”

He needed to make Hong Woo-jong believe he was attempting a cover-up. And the most convincing way to do that was with a substantial bribe.

“Hong Woo-jong will realize that.”

“He can’t possibly miss it. He must have informants everywhere.”

“So, let’s wait for him to take the bait.”

“And once he does, all I have to do is spring the trap.”

# Trap in a Trap

“Park Do-joon is trying to hide something?”

“Yes, it’s information originating from within the police force. It’s certain.”

“There are several officers within the police who are hostile to Park Do-joon. Since the information comes from them, it must be accurate.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m sure. Park Do-joon has already acquired a significant amount of money.”

“You don’t mean he transferred it directly to his account, do you?”

Wang Woo-hwan asked, wondering if it was too obvious a setup. Hong Woo-jong responded with a look that implied he thought Wang Woo-hwan was naive.

“Of course not. Who accepts bribes that way these days?”

“Then?”

“I heard he purchased gift certificates at Gelgaria Department Store. As much as two billion won [approximately $1.5 million USD].”

“Is that what Park Do-joon used?”

“Yes. I even verified the card number.”

“These days, no one transfers money directly for bribes. Cash is difficult to store, and accidents often occur when transporting large sums, so it’s rarely used.”

“In the past, they would hide money in flowerpots, and some still do, but if they’re caught in the act, there’s no way out, so that method is becoming less common.”

“So, what method do they use? Department store gift certificates.”

“But don’t picture ordinary gift certificates worth 100,000 won [approximately $75 USD] or one million won [approximately $750 USD].”

“The gift certificates they use are cards.”

“If you go to a department store, you can create a gift card. Officially, there’s a limit to how much you can load onto it. But if you discreetly mention it’s for a bribe, the department store will exceed that limit.”

“Because that money contributes to their revenue.”

“So, even if the legal limit for a gift card is one million won, if you have a certain social standing and are trustworthy, you can load 100 million won [approximately $75,000 USD] or even one billion won onto the card instead.”

“Of course, once you hand it over, the recipient can use it as they please. It’s impossible to trace because it’s an anonymous gift card.”

“And if someone suspects it? Even if you inquire at the department store, they’ll simply say, ‘That card is a 100,000 won card.’”

“The card number is managed separately, and all data related to that number is deleted. As a result, that card effectively becomes a 100,000 won gift card with unlimited funds.”

“Of course, humans are involved in this process, and it’s not difficult to approach those individuals and obtain information.”

“Since Daeguk Group is a defense company, it frequently interacts with politicians, so it often used this method for bribes. That’s why Hong Woo-jong was secretly receiving information from that employee.”

“Acquiring a card through him indicated that someone had received money, and if someone used that card, it would be evidence of bribery, making it politically valuable information.”

“However, he never suspected that Park Do-joon had anticipated all of this and set a trap.”

“The Gelgaria employee said they created two one-billion-won cards. Park Do-joon used one of them.”

“That means Park Do-joon accepted the bribe.”

“Then… the information he’s trying to hide is…?”

“He can understand that much. He knows there’s an information network. Wang Woo-hwan wasn’t aware of it until now, but Hong Woo-jong wouldn’t reveal everything to him.”

“However, simply providing money doesn’t guarantee information will leak.”

“It’s information from the police.”

“From the police?”

“Yes, Park Do-joon and Geun-jong had a falling out, and he was investigating his past.”

“Aren’t they close?”

“Close? You don’t understand what kind of person Hong Geun-jong is. Trust means nothing to him. It’s only about whether someone is useful or not.”

“And as Park Do-joon anticipated, Hong Woo-jong was judging Hong Geun-jong based on past experiences. While that’s generally accurate, Hong Woo-jong failed to grasp how much the ordeal of facing death and fear can change a person.”

“He’s the kind of person who will shake your hand and then stab you in the back the next day if he thinks you’re no longer useful.”

“That’s…”

“Of course, Wang Woo-hwan knew that. He had never contacted Hong Geun-jong directly, and there was no reason to.”

“Naturally, Hong Woo-jong was the only source of information about Hong Geun-jong, and based on the information Hong Woo-jong provided, similar conclusions were inevitable.”

“Do you know what kind of information it is?”

“He sold national secrets to China to secure his own shares.”

“What? To China?”

“Yes, and his shares have actually increased significantly.”

“They’re competing fiercely. Like any large company, succession battles are unavoidable, so it’s common for potential successors to create slush funds and accumulate shares held by external parties.”

“Of course, he didn’t actually use money from China to buy the shares. As always, the source of the funds used to purchase the shares is a secret.”

“But coincidentally, the timing overlapped suspiciously, so Hong Woo-jong couldn’t help but suspect it.”

“If I can uncover that… I can regain control of Daeguk Group.”

“No matter how much Hong Geun-jong currently controls Daeguk Group, realistically, if he’s accused of treason, he won’t be able to escape the consequences.”

“Of course, if a reporter or prosecutor reveals it, Hong Geun-jong will likely be able to cover it up without much difficulty.”

“But what if I reveal it?”

“What if the brothers tearfully accuse each other for the sake of the country?”

“Then he won’t be able to cover it up.”

“His every word will shake Korea. And the shareholders will support me, not Hong Geun-jong.”

“Then I might be able to get Daeguk Group back into my hands.”

“Once he’s accused of treason, he’ll never be able to return to management. Hong Min-young? She doesn’t even know the basics of management [gyeongyeong in Korean]. If that happens, I can control Daeguk Group.”

‘And my dream of running for president will be one step closer.’

“What could be a more patriotic act than accusing his brother for the sake of the country? Moreover, he lost his father because of China.”

“What better way to appeal to patriotism than that?”

“Hmm…”

“But Wang Woo-hwan felt uneasy listening to those words.”

‘It’s too coincidental.’

“A bait that he can’t resist appeared at the exact right time. Moreover, Park Do-joon, the guy he knows, isn’t the kind of person who would take money.”

“If he were the kind of person who could be swayed by money or power, the police wouldn’t have tried so hard to eliminate him.”

‘But he took money and covered it up?’

“It doesn’t make sense. He’s even using it?”

“Moreover, isn’t Gelgaria the most luxurious department store in Korea?”

“But Park Do-joon isn’t the type to be interested in luxury goods. If their information is correct, he owns enough shares in Haneul Industries to live comfortably for the rest of his life, even if he doesn’t work as a police officer.”

“But that kind of guy takes money and shops for luxury goods?”

“It’s suspicious. It might be a trap.”

“A trap?”

“Yes. No matter how I think about it, it’s too coincidental.”

“The information they want appeared at the exact right time. Information that could destroy Hong Geun-jong in one fell swoop.”

“Intuitively, Wang Woo-hwan could sense that this was a trap.”

“What’s the basis?”

“The basis is…”

“This is the problem. Profiling is analysis, and the basis is weak. So, it’s only slightly more reliable than saying it’s a feeling.”

“Why haven’t they used it as evidence for decades, even though they use it as a reference in investigations?”

“Think about Park Do-joon’s character. He’s not interested in money or luxury goods. He’s not even someone who lacks money. It’s suspicious that he would suddenly shop with a gift card he received.”

“Wang Woo-hwan explained as calmly as possible. But in fact, his mind was already made up.”

“Are you telling me to dismiss this opportunity based on such flimsy grounds? Do you think I’m stupid? I just received information that the National Intelligence Service is also tracking Park Do-joon. That’s proof he’s hiding something.”

“Even the National Intelligence Service?”

“There’s nothing more to say.”

‘This is definitely a trap.’

“It’s a trap. But it’s such a meticulously crafted trap that you can’t ignore it. Such a powerful card that, if it’s true, everything will be resolved.”

“What do people think when they see that? Doubt? No. Even while doubting, they reach for it.”

“Among the monsters in fantasy novels, there’s a monster called a Mimic. It transforms into a treasure chest and devours the person who approaches it.”