My Calling Is Profiler [EN]: Chapter 715

“Ah!”

Lee Ji-soo immediately realized her mistake.

“I didn’t know.”

“Well, most security guards are older.”

They often don’t understand such legal processes. Many assume that if you’re innocent, cooperating with the police is common sense.

“But high-end apartments aren’t like that anymore.”

They hire young, well-trained security guards who are rigorously trained in all aspects of building management. This, of course, includes how to respond to police requests.

“Then it would be impossible to kidnap someone from their home?”

“That’s right.”

“It would also be impossible to kidnap someone from the police station.”

Lee Ji-soo seemed deep in thought. If the criminals really wanted to kill Kim Song-rim, there seemed to be no easy way to get to her at this point.

“It would be difficult to kidnap her from outside, right?”

“Very difficult.”

The difficulty of kidnapping definitely impacts the likelihood of the crime.

“Then, the police are….”

“No.”

“No?”

“Right now, the fact that some of them are police is just one aspect of the criminals’ strategy, not the defining one. We can analyze their behavior patterns, but we can’t assume that’s all there is to it.”

“Yes?”

“If a police officer commits murder, are they acting as a murderer or a police officer? Which identity do you think is driving them?”

“That’s… obviously a murderer.”

If their sense of duty as a police officer were stronger, they wouldn’t be able to kill someone.

“But why are you so sure that they’re using their position as police officers as their primary tool?”

“Ah! That’s right. Their position as a police officer is just a convenience.”

“Exactly.”

It’s definitely convenient to use when it suits them, but it’s not a rigid constraint that dictates their every move.

“Then?”

“What’s the easiest way to get someone out when you want to? Target what they want to protect the most, or what they want to hide the most.”

“What they want to protect the most….”

At this point, there isn’t anyone Kim Song-rim seems desperate to protect. She has a family, but kidnapping a family member to force Kim Song-rim out would escalate things dramatically. And there’s no guarantee she would even comply. Besides, criminals often have little regard for their own families.

“Still, it’s family.”

“No. In fact, I don’t think Kim Song-rim is likely to cooperate even if her family is kidnapped.”

“Really? Why?”

“Look at where Kim Song-rim lives: a luxury apartment in her own name. But her parents still live in a run-down villa, paying monthly rent.”

“Ah!”

With the money Kim Song-rim earns, she could easily buy them a house, or at least cover a substantial deposit to reduce their monthly rent. But she hasn’t done that.

“Her affection for her family seems to be waning.”

“Yes, of course, she wouldn’t just let them die, but she’ll only act within what she considers a reasonable level.”

And the first thing you do when someone is kidnapped, within the bounds of common sense, is to report it to the police.

“Then it must be something she wants to hide.”

“And what does she want to hide the most right now?”

“The perjury issue.”

The police don’t know about it, but Hong Geun-jong keeps digging into it and even pressuring her to confess. The stress from that must be immense.

“If someone tells her to come out in connection with that, she can’t refuse.”

“Someone…. That someone must be Hong Woo-jong?”

“At this point, Hong Woo-jong is the one who knows the situation best.”

And if Kim Song-rim is summoned by Hong Woo-jong… no, even if someone sent by Hong Woo-jong calls her out, she’ll have a hard time refusing.

“Will she try to come out to prevent blackmail?”

“No. It’ll be the opposite.”

“The opposite?”

“Yes, Hong Woo-jong is the one who can cover it up.”

“Really? How can he cover up his murder?”

“He can’t cover up the murder itself. But what’s the reason Kim Song-rim can’t run away right now?”

“Reason?”

“Yes.”

“That’s….”

Lee Ji-soo pondered for a moment, then nodded as if she understood.

“She can’t leave because she’s under investigation.”

Hong Geun-jong is constantly calling her and trying to persuade her, and she’s going crazy because there’s no way to avoid him. But she can’t fight Hong Geun-jong directly.

“What’s the most common method to choose in that case?”

“I don’t know?”

“Fleeing abroad.”

It’s definitely the most reliable way to escape because she hasn’t been formally indicted, and Hong Geun-jong can’t legally follow her overseas. Kim Song-rim isn’t short on money, and she has never been indicted even though she engaged in prostitution [illegal in South Korea], so if she wants to leave the country, there’s no real obstacle.

“But why isn’t she leaving?”

“Other lawyers will advise against it. The client isn’t just Kim Song-rim.”

“Ah~!”

Fleeing abroad is a common tactic, but it’s also seen as a tacit admission of guilt. So if you believe you’re innocent, you usually don’t run.

“But right now, the most troublesome thing for Kim Song-rim isn’t the police, but Hong Geun-jong.”

At this point, even within the police, there’s debate about whether her actions even constitute prostitution mediation, so the chances of her being punished are quite low. The lawyers don’t want her leaving their control, but Kim Song-rim’s biggest problem right now isn’t the police; it’s Hong Geun-jong.

“And Hong Woo-jong can take care of that.”

If Hong Woo-jong exerts pressure on the case and secures a not-guilty verdict on the prostitution mediation charge, she can flee abroad without worrying about her lawyers’ objections. And even if she does run, there’s a limit to how far Hong Geun-jong can pursue her.

“In fact, it’ll be hard to touch her.”

Because in the current situation, the only person who can directly testify about Hong Woo-jong’s murder is Kim Song-rim.

“That certainly sounds plausible.”

“Yes, it sounds plausible. From Kim Song-rim’s point of view, that is.”

Once things calm down and the succession battle within the Daeguk Group is over, she can come back. Kim Song-rim will probably think that way.

If Hong Geun-jong wins, she’s not needed. And even if Hong Woo-jong wins, there’s no one to threaten her, so she’s still not needed.

“The problem is that Kim Song-rim doesn’t know Hong Woo-jong very well.”

Hong Woo-jong is not the type to leave loose ends. I don’t know why he has spared Kim Song-rim until now, but now that this has become a problem, Hong Woo-jong will almost certainly kill Kim Song-rim.

“And that’s what the police will do.”

“That’s right.”

If she dies, there will be no one to investigate the murder case. Of course, Hong Geun-jong will continue to dig, but few people know the truth, and even if he makes accusations, the court won’t believe him.

If a random office worker claims, ‘In fact, Hong Woo-jong is the murderer,’ no one will believe it. Especially if that person is an employee of the Daeguk Group, where Hong Geun-jong is firmly entrenched; the claim will be dismissed as ‘Hong Geun-jong is framing Hong Woo-jong.’

“And in that case, it’s politically advantageous to Hong Woo-jong.”

He lost his father, and now his brother is attacking him for money? The sympathy votes that are already pouring in are likely to increase even more.

“But Kim Song-rim is a witness.”

And it seems plausible enough that Hong Chang-sik [Hong Woo-jong’s deceased father] was the one who initially requested her services.

“Kim Song-rim doesn’t know Hong Woo-jong well enough to understand the danger, so she’ll probably try to get his help.”

“Hong Woo-jong won’t miss that opportunity.”

“Then should we keep monitoring Kim Song-rim?”

“I don’t think that’s possible.”

Realistically, it’s impossible to effectively monitor Kim Song-rim. First of all, her apartment complex has multiple entrances, making it difficult to track her movements. And there are no cafes or businesses nearby where we could set up surveillance.

She lives in a large, exclusive apartment complex, so there isn’t even a convenience store, let alone a cafe.

In addition, all vehicles entering the complex must go through an identification checkpoint. In that situation, continuous surveillance of Kim Song-rim is impossible.

Even the entrance to the apartment complex has six separate access points, making constant monitoring unrealistic.

“And to properly monitor her, we’d have to request official cooperation from above, but will that be approved?”

“I doubt it.”

Officially, the police can never admit that there is a murder conspiracy within their ranks. That’s not just a corruption issue; it’s an existential threat to the police force itself.

“Approaching Hong Woo-jong directly is impossible, right?”

“Hong Woo-jong is impossible.”

He’s constantly surrounded by people, including journalists. In that situation, Hong Woo-jong is unlikely to act rashly.

“We don’t even know who the actual culprit is.”

Lee Ji-soo muttered, looking frustrated. When the person you’re trying to protect is actively refusing protection, it’s impossible to anticipate attacks that could come from anywhere.

That’s why the old saying goes that ten people can’t stop one determined person. The attacker can choose the time and place, but the defender has to be ready everywhere, all the time.

“In that case, a preemptive strike might be a better method.”

“A preemptive strike?”

“We’re currently in a defensive position. But all wars have two sides.”

If someone attacks, you defend. But does that mean the defending side is unilaterally weak and unable to counterattack? That’s not war; it’s a slaughter.

“I don’t understand?”

“Those guys are very likely to try to kill Kim Song-rim. If so, it might be possible to provoke them into acting, forcing their hand.”

“Are you suggesting we get Hong Geun-jong to provoke her? Do you think Kim Song-rim will suddenly confess just because he pressures her?”

“Kim Song-rim isn’t the key here.”

Park Do-joon smiled.

“What’s important is the bereaved family [the family of the deceased].”

“Yes?”

“The bereaved family is convinced of the injustice, but they’ve been powerless to do anything.”

No one was willing to help them, and no one reached out. The bereaved family knows the truth, but no one believed them. Or, more accurately, no one wanted to acknowledge it.

“In that case, their resentment will be overwhelming.”

The bereaved family will do anything if it means getting revenge. They’ll bet everything, even for the sake of avenging their children.

“Hong Woo-jong will hate having this brought to light. And if it is, he’ll want to stop it at all costs.”

“Won’t the bereaved family be in danger?”

“No, he can’t touch the bereaved family directly.”

If the person who raises the issue dies, especially under suspicious circumstances, it becomes a much bigger problem.

“But if Kim Song-rim dies, the story changes.”

“Why? If Kim Song-rim is killed by someone….”

“Yes, if that happens, people might suspect foul play. But what if there’s a will stating that the bereaved family was harassing her so relentlessly that she couldn’t live anymore?”

“Ah….”

Of course, the entire nation will likely condemn and pressure the bereaved family. From their perspective, after demanding the truth, it would be difficult to even survive, let alone get revenge.

“If you completely eliminate the bereaved family and Kim Song-rim, Hong Woo-jong’s future will be secure.”

“To that extent….”

“Hong Woo-jong will choose that path. Because that’s the kind of guy he is.”

Hong Woo-jong is meticulous and uses his intellect to survive in any situation. Wasn’t he the one who salvaged his political career by effectively sacrificing his own father when he was cornered?

“He’ll definitely calculate that aspect too.”

Let’s use Kim Song-rim, who is going to be killed anyway, to our advantage.

“And in order to do that, the bereaved family must first come forward and attack her.”

“The bereaved family is attacking at this point… Ah, they will.”

No one listens to them. So they were giving up. But then Hong Geun-jong meets them, listens to their story, and promises to reveal the truth together?

Hong Geun-jong is the son of Hong Chang-sik, who initially covered up the case, and the brother of the likely culprit, Hong Woo-jong, but who cares? They can finally get revenge.

“They’ll do anything soon.”

And if Hong Woo-jong finds out about that, he’ll have no choice but to become impatient. It’s a serious political threat for this case to resurface.

“So we just have to wait. Hehehe.”

Profiler by trade