My Calling Is Profiler [EN]: Chapter 98

‘Come to think of it, this kind of incident didn’t happen in the original timeline either.’

In the original history, the case would have ended without Park Do-joon. The team leader probably would have arrested the criminals anyway. He’s a skilled profiler, after all.

However, it’s highly unlikely that Heo Kang-soo would have been involved.

“Let’s wait a bit. The data itself should be out soon.”

“Yeah, it’ll be out in a day or two,”

The team leader nodded at Park Do-joon’s words.

***

Checking asset details wasn’t difficult. The judge knew the importance of the case and how much media attention it was receiving, so they issued the warrant more easily than expected.

And as Park Do-joon expected, strange signs were discovered relatively quickly.

“Jo Deuk-ja? This woman, she lives alone, right?”

After the results came out and he confirmed them, the team leader spoke with a serious face.

“Yes. And her address is at Gangwon Fillio Lake.”

Park Do-joon clicked his tongue while looking at the confirmed address.

“Under normal circumstances, she would never be able to afford to live there.”

“Is it that expensive there?”

“Yes. It’s in Gangwon Province, but an apartment costs as much as 2.8 billion won [approximately $2.1 million USD]. It’s a very expensive apartment, especially for Gangwon Province.”

It’s a 64-pyeong apartment [approximately 2,278 square feet]. First of all, there aren’t many apartments of that size in Gangwon Province. Of course, it’s even rarer for them to be available for monthly rent.

“According to the records, Jo Deuk-ja is not a wealthy person. She originally lived alone and was widowed after marriage. She has no children either.”

Her work history itself only shows records of working as a cleaner and a cafeteria assistant.

Such a person living in a 2.8 billion won apartment? Moreover, someone who was completely penniless when leaving the religious group?

“Unless she won the lottery, that’s impossible. No, considering the lottery winnings these days, it would still be impossible even if she won.”

“But isn’t it a bit much to suspect her based on that alone?”

Han Sung-gi said, seemingly annoyed.

‘Why is that bastard acting like that again? Think a little, you idiot.’

Park Do-joon felt somewhat pathetic looking at Han Sung-gi. He is a profiler. He has to deduce how criminals and those around them think and use that to track them down.

Not nitpicking on his colleague’s words at every turn.

‘It’s worse than before. Well, I know why, though.’

He is quite sensitive to inferiority complexes. Even before the regression, he sold his life to the devil because of his inferiority complex.

Even before the regression, when Park Do-joon wasn’t particularly outstanding, he was envied. There’s no way he wouldn’t feel inferior to Park Do-joon, who is now rising so rapidly.

“I think that’s why it’s even more certain.”

“More certain?”

“Yes. It will be. Heo Kang-soo isn’t the type to cook and do laundry for himself.”

“That’s definitely true.”

“And he can’t just let anyone in.”

If possible, he shouldn’t be seen by people.

“He can’t accept people as a family unit either. It would be inconvenient anyway.”

“True. Jo Deuk-ja would be a good fit in that regard.”

The team leader immediately understood Park Do-joon’s words.

“She has cleaning experience and cooking skills enough to work as a cook. She must also be a devoted follower.”

People who are alone don’t have anyone around to put on the brakes, so once they fall into brainwashing, they can’t escape.

So Jo Deuk-ja would have tried to protect him until the end.

“The address may be under Jo Deuk-ja’s name, but the owner of that place is probably Heo Kang-soo.”

“Then can’t we just go in and arrest him?”

“Of course, we can, but…”

Park Do-joon said with a troubled expression. Then, he cautiously said,

“This is an apartment. It would be difficult if a hostage situation were to occur here. Access is not easy either.”

“Hostage situation?”

“Team Leader, don’t you know? There’s something that never fails to be present in these cult-related cases.”

“What is it?”

“Lust.”

“Lust? Ah, right. That’s right.”

Whether the cult leader is male or female, they almost always create their own harem.

In fact, there were places in the past where there were female cult leaders who would pick handsome members and use them as their sex toys.

“There’s also a possibility that there’s a security group inside to protect Heo Kang-soo.”

“Well, I don’t think so. If there were, they would likely rent another apartment and live separately.”

These fraudsters never easily show their territory. Moreover, if they are turning the inside into a harem as Park Do-joon said, they would be doing dirty things with the women inside, and it would be religiously burdensome to show that to the guards.

Showing such physical desires by a sacred god can cause the followers to waver.

“Surprisingly, humans want to hide such things regardless of power, it’s human nature.”

Even North Korea’s so-called pleasure squads do not officially operate. With the power of North Korea’s leaders, that wouldn’t be a problem, but because humans don’t want to reveal such things to the outside world, the pleasure squads are operated very quietly.

“Then what should we do? We can get a warrant, but it won’t be easy to get inside.”

Due to the nature of the apartment, there is only one entrance, and if they force their way in and a hostage situation occurs, it will be very complicated.

“Should we go in pretending to be delivering a package?”

“These days, they all use parcel lockers, so you won’t be able to get in.”

“Then what should we do?”

“There’s a sure way, even if it takes time.”

“A sure way?”

“People have to eat to live. Hehehe.”

***

Park Do-joon’s plan was simple. Wait for a delivery to arrive. Of course, Jo Deuk-ja would cook for Heo Kang-soo. But people don’t just eat home-cooked meals every day.

“And there’s a possibility that he’ll come out of the house.”

If they’re lucky and he comes out, they can arrest him right away, and if he doesn’t, they’ll wait until someone orders something.

“But will they order delivery?”

“They will. There’s no one who dislikes delivery food.”

And sometimes, people want to eat something different from the home-cooked meals they eat every day.

“Even if your cooking skills are good, there are foods that you can only eat through delivery.”

Jokbal [pig’s trotters] or pizza are difficult foods to make at home.

So they are bound to order delivery at some point.

“And when they order delivery, they tend to bring it inside.”

That way, they can secure the entrance.

“I wonder when it will come…”

After waiting there for about eight hours, a motorcycle was seen approaching the entrance. He skillfully got off the motorcycle, opened the container on the back, and started taking out the food. Park Do-joon quickly ran towards him.

“Just a moment.”

“Yes?”

“I’m a police officer. Where is this going?”

“Oh? This? It’s going to 103-dong, 1605-ho [dong refers to the building number, and ho refers to the unit number].”

Park Do-joon clenched his fist at those words. It was Jo Deuk-ja’s address.

“I’m sorry, but I’m confiscating this item.”

“Yes?”

“Here’s the warrant.”

The delivery man was caught off guard and had his food taken away. Park Do-joon opened the metal delivery box and checked the inside.

“Five bowls of jajangmyeon [black bean noodles], two bowls of jjampong [spicy seafood noodle soup], one tangsuyuk [sweet and sour pork], one palbochae [stir-fried seafood and vegetables in a light sauce], one nanjawanse [a type of braised bird’s nest soup]… That means there are at least seven people.”

Generally, when delivering food, especially Chinese food, the number of meal items matches the number of people, and the dishes are ordered for the purpose of sharing. Of course, they may not order if they don’t feel well, but still, that means there are at least seven people.

“Hey, you can’t take this.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll take it.”

Park Do-joon said that and turned his head to the delivery man.

“And can I borrow that helmet?”

***

“Delivery is here.”

When Park Do-joon pressed the intercom, the entrance opened, and Park Do-joon went straight up. After getting off the elevator and pressing the intercom, the door opened, and an elderly woman came out.

“Why did it take so long?”

“The deliveries are backed up today.”

Park Do-joon followed her inside, skillfully opened the metal delivery box, and started taking out the food.

“Food’s here.”

“Wow, jajangmyeon.”

“Tangsuyuk looks delicious.”

At the sound of the food arriving, people seemed to be coming out from inside, and after a while, women came out, took the food, and started going inside. Park Do-joon was dumbfounded seeing that.

‘What a crazy bastard….’

As expected, there were only women. If there were male guards, they would have come out.

Of course, that was expected. But what dumbfounded Park Do-joon was that one of the women looked like she was around middle school age. There was also a woman who looked like she was around high school age, and the common thing between the two was that their stomachs were slightly bulging.

Park Do-joon, who roughly knew how the situation was going, pretended not to know and got up, saying,

“It’s 198,000 won [approximately $150 USD].”

“What?”

“198,000 won. Will you be paying by card?”

“What are you talking about? We already paid.”

“Yes? Just a moment. It says here that it’s a card payment on site.”

“That can’t be?”

Jo Deuk-ja looked puzzled.

“Check it. We already paid. We paid with our phone.”

“Yes? No. It’s really a payment on site.”

“No, that’s…”

Jo Deuk-ja was flustered, and the women, thinking something was wrong, peeked out and looked.

“I’ll check it out first.”

“I’m sorry, but the cost is so high that I can’t leave if you don’t pay.”

“No, that can’t be…”

Jo Deuk-ja was restless. At that moment, a shout was heard from inside.

“What’s all the noise!”

“Oh…? Excuse me, elder.”

A man came out of the room wearing only his underwear, staggering. It was none other than Heo Kang-soo.

‘It’s as expected.’

Heo Kang-soo was here.

He glared with an annoyed look.

“What’s the problem?”

“Ah, elder, the payment hasn’t been processed.”

“What are you talking about? The payment hasn’t been processed?”

“If you look here, it says the payment hasn’t been processed.”

Park Do-joon said, shaking the receipt.

Heo Kang-soo frowned at those words and approached.

“That can’t be. I ordered it myself…”

‘Yeah, I know, you bastard.’

He already knows that he ordered through the app. Nevertheless, the reason Park Do-joon is doing this is simple.

‘He’s finally stepping up himself.’

In these cult groups, cell phones are a sin. That’s because cell phones are now devices that can access the internet. They allow people to learn about the world, know reality, and also send out requests for help.

Of course, these cults try to take away cell phones unconditionally. In fact, the teachings of the Cosmic God Church teach that cell phones are the whispers of the devil.

‘So there’s no way he’d give a cell phone to someone else.’

As a result, Heo Kang-soo had no choice but to order, and if there was a payment problem, Heo Kang-soo had no choice but to step up.

“That can’t be…”

“It’s true. Check the receipt here.”

Park Do-joon shook the receipt, and Heo Kang-soo approached to check it. And the moment Heo Kang-soo snatched the receipt, Park Do-joon jumped and grabbed Heo Kang-soo.

A Profiler’s Calling