My Calling Is Profiler [EN]: Chapter 716

The Beginning of Revenge

Some time later, the bereaved families volunteered to hold a press conference. Of course, this wasn’t their first time; they had tried several times before, voicing their grievances. However, reporters rarely attended, and even when they did, their stories were never published.

Eventually, no matter how much they contacted reporters, no one came. The bereaved families had almost given up. But recently, the situation had begun to change.

“Since taking over the company, I’ve received many reports,” Hong Geun-jong said, looking devastated.

“I apologize first.”

“Apologize? What are you apologizing for?”

“For what my father did… and for what my brother did.”

At those words, the bereaved families were initially furious. They cursed, cried, and made a scene. But Hong Geun-jong calmly spoke and tried to reason with them.

“My father may have covered up the incident, but I cannot let it stand.”

“How can we trust you!”

The bereaved families were initially reluctant to believe him. But Hong Geun-jong offered them everything he could.

“I lost fingers and legs to someone. And I believe you know who that is.”

“What are you saying?”

“Once someone commits murder, the second time is easy. The third and fourth times are even easier.”

Hong Geun-jong told them everything about what he had experienced, what his younger sister had experienced, and finally, about Hong Chang-sik’s death as well.

Of course, he didn’t expect the bereaved families to believe everything. Park Do-joon had told him to tell the whole truth, but he was still the son of their enemy.

But what he didn’t know was that the bereaved families already harbored resentment towards Hong Woo-jong, making them naturally inclined to believe the worst about him.

Truth? They didn’t really care about that. They had a psychological aversion to the guy they hated and were predisposed to see him as a villain.

Especially since he was the one who beat their children to death. There was no way they could feel good about him, so it was natural that all those words sounded like the truth.

So, they joined forces. More precisely, Hong Geun-jong would provide the resources, and the bereaved families would add the moral justification.

“The Daeguk Group will do its best to support you both,” Hong Geun-jong said to the parents. In fact, a huge number of reporters flocked to the press conference where they made their claims. Watching that, Park Do-joon chuckled.

“They came because I called them.”

Hong Geun-jong looked somewhat uneasy.

“It won’t be easy to get it published.”

The target is Hong Woo-jong. So, it’s not easy to attack him with just claims without any evidence.

“I know. In fact, there’s almost no chance.”

It’s a case that the police have already closed, finding no suspicion. If there hadn’t been a verdict at all, it would be different, but at this point, with the lack of suspicion clearly established, no matter how much the victims say they are wronged, it’s not enough to warrant a press conference.

In fact, the reporters who came here came because Hong Geun-jong gathered them, not because they really wanted to publish this.

They may cover it, but there is almost no possibility that they will publish it.

“Most likely, even if the reporters want to publish it, the editors will kill the story [prevent it from being published].”

“Probably.”

Hong Geun-jong frowned and said, “But why are you telling me to do it anyway?”

“From the beginning, the reporters aren’t the only ones who will latch onto this.”

“What do you mean?”

“Newspapers may kill the articles, but other members of the National Assembly [South Korea’s legislative body] will know about this.”

“Other members of the National Assembly? Aha!”

It is not illegal for members of the National Assembly to raise suspicions. Even if they are raising suspicions on their own, they can do so based on sufficient grounds. For example, if there is a press conference like now, whether it is published or not.

“At this point, we can cut off the reporters’ coverage, but we cannot stop the members of the National Assembly from talking about it.”

“That’s for sure.”

The press conference now is about the truth, and reporters and the media won’t be interested in that. But if members of the National Assembly start talking about it, it becomes a political issue, not a matter of truth.

“And as you know, members of the National Assembly are virtually immune to political issues.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes, we cannot administratively corner Hong Woo-jong from the start.”

Because the case is already closed.

But Hong Woo-jong is a politician. And the biggest weakness of that politician is the rivals who will talk about his weaknesses.

“Moreover, Hong Woo-jong is a clear presidential candidate.”

The presidential election is still far away, but nevertheless, Hong Woo-jong’s approval rating is virtually the same as a presidential candidate’s.

A young and powerful leader. That’s Hong Woo-jong’s current image.

“Politicians won’t like Hong Woo-jong’s situation.”

Hong Geun-jong immediately understood. From the perspective of other presidential candidates, they cannot give up the fight before even starting the presidential race.

“So, the reporters weren’t our intended mouthpiece from the start?”

Hong Geun-jong exclaimed without realizing it. When he called the reporters, he never thought that this would be published, but to think that he was planning to use the members of the National Assembly as his mouthpiece.

“The thoughts of the members of the National Assembly are obvious. They will want to increase their value in any way possible and, conversely, suppress those who threaten their political position. And in such a situation, this is a very interesting situation.”

Whether it is published or not, the members of the National Assembly have grounds to talk about it.

“And Hong Woo-jong will become impatient when he starts to be attacked.”

He has to hide the situation at all costs. Otherwise, he might be ruined.

“But why do I have to stand behind them?”

Hong Geun-jong was puzzled by that part. Because Park Do-joon told him to stand behind the bereaved families who were holding the press conference.

“I don’t understand no matter how I look at it.”

At Hong Geun-jong’s level, it is common to hold a press conference himself or have someone else hold a press conference, but there is no reason to stand behind someone holding a press conference as a backdrop.

“I don’t know people’s minds well, but then people’s attention will be focused on me, not the bereaved families, right?”

“That’s right. And that’s the purpose.”

“Purpose?”

“From the beginning, the position of the bereaved families cannot be conveyed even if they hold a press conference. As I have said several times.”

In this situation, if you make a mistake, everything will be meaningless.

“But if the CEO stands there, the attention will be focused on the CEO.”

“Even if that happens, news about Woo-jong will not be released.”

“Of course not. But who will the members of the National Assembly contact when they see that?”

“Huh?”

“To bite, you need a reliable and strong person on your side.”

“Are you serious?”

“Isn’t it time to settle the score [liquidate the karma]?”

Hong Woo-jong has numerous irregularities and secrets that have been accumulated over the years. And he has been hiding them well every time.

“If one explodes, two can explode.”

Numerous possibilities related to Hong Woo-jong.

The pack of trained dogs that attacked Hong Geun-jong, the criminals belonging to the terrorist group that tried to kidnap Hong Min-young, and the terrorist who bombed Hong Chang-sik.

“There is no hard evidence, but there is testimony.”

This is a very strong pressure.

The organization that trained the dogs that attacked Hong Woo-jong is a domestic organization and was disposed of by someone.

And Wang Woo-hwan was in charge of that disposal.

And Wang Woo-hwan testified about it.

However, there is no evidence other than the testimony, so the evidentiary power is insufficient.

And the terrorist organization that attacked Hong Min-young is an Islamic group. Hong Geun-jong secretly deployed bodyguards to protect Hong Min-young.

The subdued guys admitted that they were paid and instigated by someone.

However, they said that they themselves do not know the guy who instigated them.

Finally, Hong Chang-sik, who was bombed to death. He has already received testimony and evidence related to the perpetrator from the CIA. He was asked by someone to target him. And the only information he knows is that that someone is Asian.

Of course, there is also evidence that it is officially a Chinese violent organization.

“But suspicion is not like that.”

If you think about it, it’s strange. Even if a Chinese terrorist organization kills Hong Chang-sik, nothing really changes. Daeguk Group will continue to make weapons, and even if he dies, Daeguk Group will not close down its military-related business and stop supplying weapons.

It would have been better to terrorize the factory than to kill the chairman.

“When analyzing a crime, do you know what is the top priority? It’s the motive [interests].”

If you track down and investigate the motives, the culprit will be revealed. That’s not 100% correct common sense, but it’s more than 80% correct.

“Then what is the biggest key in this case?”

“Who gained the benefits [interests] in all these cases.”

“Yes, that’s right. To be exact, who gains the benefits when all of this is successful.”

And that’s only one person, Hong Woo-jong.

If Hong Geun-jong and Hong Chang-sik die, Hong Woo-jong is the only heir. In fact, a considerable amount of property was transferred to Hong Woo-jong as Hong Chang-sik died.

As a result, Hong Woo-jong was able to fill the insufficient election funds. Support was cut off as Hong Geun-jong survived and controlled the Daeguk Group, but enough money came in to make up for it.

And through the virtual enemy of China, he has solidified his political position and has become a major member of the National Assembly in an instant, and based on such anti-China sentiment, he is even being mentioned as a next-generation presidential candidate.

“Strangely, all the benefits are focused on him. However, the reason why this is not coming to the surface is because of political infatuation.”

“Political infatuation….”

“When judging politics, do you know what is the most similar object?”

“What is it?”

“Religion.”

Religion and politics operate with almost similar operating systems. They are collectivized, idolized, and distinguish between allies and enemies. In particular, when compared to the operating method of monotheistic religions, it can be said to be almost identical.

“Clearly, someone felt the warning signs. However, it is taboo to raise issues about Hong Woo-jong, who has already been idolized to a religious level.”

“Is that so?”

“There are actually such cases.”

In the case of a certain politician, he experienced his father being murdered in his childhood. And based on such sympathy, a solid support base was created.

But there is a political trap there. Although it was childhood, the politician was already an adult at that time. And from a social point of view, it is not the time when the image of an orphan is created.

However, the politician was able to receive a lot of support because that image was strong.

“To put it accurately, that’s an excuse.”

It’s not that he is an orphan, so they support him, but it’s just a suitable excuse for the supporters. Even if his father was alive, the supporters would probably support him with the excuse that ‘he will do well in politics because he resembles his father.’

“The cause and effect have been reversed.”

Hong Geun-jong had a strange expression at Park Do-joon’s words. He understood it. Often, when he sees people who support him, there are more than a few people who find the cause after supporting him.

“Support is like that. And once it becomes sanctified, it cannot be touched. Hong Woo-jong has been in such a situation until now.”

From a political psychological point of view, Hong Woo-jong is the so-called trend, and it is psychologically very uncomfortable for people to speak out against that trend.

“Do you know why politicians are sensitive to the announcement of approval ratings?”

“Well? Because of the next election?”

“Half wrong and half right.”

“Half and half?”

“Yes, opinion polls also play a role in creating public opinion in themselves.”

Many people have firm political positions.

“It’s not for nothing that the unshakeable [immortal] 30% was created.”

But the remaining 30% to 40% are floating voters, so they move around.