Chapter 12
Han Gitae, Overall Head Trainee of the 310th Class at the Central Police Academy.
He came from a rather prestigious police family.
His grandfather had served as Chief of Investigation Division at the National Police Agency Headquarters before retiring, his father was the Head of Public Safety Department at the Regional Police Agency, and his paternal uncle was currently working in the Investigation Planning Office at the National Police Agency Headquarters.
Naturally, whenever they gathered for holidays, the conversation always revolved around police matters.
It created an atmosphere where the children of the family naturally dreamed of becoming Police Officers.
The problem was that there were too many accomplished people in his family.
His older brother, a Police University graduate, was on an elite track, rising through the ranks, and his cousins, of similar age, also either entered Police University or passed the Police Executive Candidate Exam.
In contrast, Han Gitae had botched his college entrance exam, couldn't even apply to Police University, and failed the Police Executive Exam five years in a row, eventually turning his attention to the Police Officer Exam.
Therefore, even after seeing the two characters for 'Pass' that he had so dreamed of, he felt more humiliation than relief.
*Damn it, this is a path for failures.*
Han Gitae considered himself a failed child of a police family.
Even though no one in his family had ever blamed or reprimanded him.
The moment he entered the Central Police Academy, he made a vow.
Even though he entered as a Police Officer (rank), he would earn the recognition of his family with overwhelming performance.
From then on, Han Gitae became a completely different person.
His test scores were always top-tier, and his understanding of school regulations was more thorough than even the Instructors'.
In group life, he displayed such perfect conduct that he became a role model for others, naturally rising to the position of Head Trainee.
His goal was singular.
*I will be the Top Graduate and receive the Presidential Award. Absolutely.*
Han Gitae's self-awareness operated like this.
*I am the family's failure. So I must prove myself now. Otherwise, I have no reason to exist.*
He was more desperate than anyone, capable of committing any act without hesitation.
Thus, Han Gitae used his position as Overall Head Trainee to suppress his rivals.
So subtly that no one noticed.
Whenever he saw someone who could threaten him, he observed them very carefully.
He persistently observed them, trying to find even the slightest fault, and if he found something, he would report it to the Instructor, feigning concern.
Because even minor things could certainly affect evaluations.
The position of Overall Head Trainee was the official channel connecting Instructors and Trainees.
There was nothing particularly unusual about it.
As graduation drew nearer, Han Gitae became certain.
*Top Student is definitely me. I'll keep soaring like this.*
While his other Classmates would go to Police Substations or Mobile Police Units, he could be placed directly into the Regional Police Agency's Investigation Division.
If everything went according to plan, he could even catch up to his brother someday.
Han Gitae believed that.
*I'll do it. I'll definitely do it.*
His eyes burned with madness.
As he cruised towards his goal of becoming Top Student, he encountered an unexpected reef.
No, at first, he considered it merely flotsam.
But at some point, that flotsam began to annoy him greatly.
“Perfect! That posture just now should be in a textbook.”
The Arrest Techniques Instructor, known for being demanding and fearsome, looked at one Trainee with honey-dripping eyes.
His name was Songtan. He had recently become a significant disturbance to Han Gitae's peace of mind.
At first, he didn't even know his name.
But then he started making his presence known in Arrest Techniques, and began to excel in all Practical Subjects.
“What the hell is he?”
First, he dug for information about the guy.
*What? He was just a kid?*
He was far too young.
Han Gitae felt a secret sense of relief.
“A budding sprout must be gently trampled.”
It was too much to simply overlook: Marksmanship, Martial Arts, Arrest Techniques, Investigation Practice, and even driving.
His scores in all Practical Subjects were excessively high.
Of course, being selected as an Outstanding Trainee (Top Student) isn't just about good test scores.
Other factors like conduct, attitude, and leadership are also considered, so he couldn't possibly compare to him, the Overall Head Trainee.
Nevertheless, Han Gitae wanted to crush Songtan.
Because he couldn't stand the idea of some worm daring to be above him, even if it was only in a few subjects.
Han Gitae began to target Songtan's acquaintances.
As he always did, very naturally.
“Hey, Lee Seung-ho.”
“Huh? Gitae!?”
Lee Seung-ho brightened at Han Gitae's call and approached him.
“That time you were a little late returning from your outing? I talked to the Instructor and got it reduced to just a warning. Just so you know.”
“Seriously!? Thanks, Gitae. I was so scared I'd get demerit points, haa... You saved me.”
Han Gitae patted Lee Seung-ho's shoulder with a friendly smile.
“Dude, I told you to trust me. I said I could handle it.”
“Having you as our class's Head Trainee might be the greatest luck of my police career, huh? Haha, anyway, thanks a lot. I'll definitely repay the favor.”
“Repay what? It's fine, man.”
Han Gitae waved his hand dismissively, then casually asked.
“By the way, that Songtan in your room? What kind of guy is he? How can he be such a practical skills monster?”
“Ah~ our Youngest Member? He's like that for a reason. He's seriously diligent.”
“Diligent? He seems to take classes pretty casually.”
“It's easy to misunderstand him that way, but that's not the reality. He's a tough guy who gets up alone every dawn to review.”
“He reviews at dawn...?”
Han Gitae trailed off, surprised by this unknown fact.
“Once, I woke up briefly because I had to pee, right? And he was sitting on his bed with his eyes closed. At first, I thought he was sleepwalking, but no, he said he was reviewing what he learned yesterday while Meditating? I was genuinely dumbfounded.”
Lee Seung-ho let out a small laugh and muttered in a voice barely audible.
“Still, he has his admirable qualities. For a guy who dropped out of school because of a School Violence Incident...”
“School violence?”
Han Gitae's head shot up, his eyes widening.
As if he had finally caught something.
“What kind of school violence? Tell me more.”
“I don't know the full details. I just heard it in passing from the Youngest Member.”
“Tell me what you know, even that. It's fine.”
At Han Gitae's insistence, Lee Seung-ho tilted his head.
“But since when have you been so interested in our Youngest Member?”
As Lee Seung-ho-ho squinted at him, Han Gitae pursed his lips.
“Is it wrong for the Head Trainee to be interested in a Trainee? And can't I even ask you that much? You're making me feel hurt, man.”
Lee Seung-ho, looking troubled, scratched his head.
“It's really nothing much... He just got caught up in a serious School Violence Incident back in high school... and things got twisted, so he ended up as the Perpetrator...”
“Hoo!?”
Han Gitae, who had unconsciously brightened, quickly composed his expression and raised his wrist.
“It's almost time for the Education Operations Meeting. Sorry. I'll go first.”
Han Gitae, giving a perfunctory greeting, vanished like the wind.
Lee Seung-ho, left alone, stared at his retreating back with a bewildered expression.
“Why did he even ask if he wasn't going to listen to the end?”
Lee Seung-ho, grumbling to himself, walked back towards the Dormitory.
Unaware of the butterfly effect a single thoughtless remark could unleash.
***
A few days later, Songtan's footsteps stopped before a door at the end of the hallway.
On the nameplate, “Student Affairs Office Conference Room” was written.
He had been unexpectedly summoned for an interview.
Knock, knock, knock—
From beyond the door, a voice said, “Come in.”
*Inside, four people were seated beyond a long table.*
In the center was the Head of Student Affairs, to his right sat the Guidance Section Chief, and to his left, the Guidance Officer.
They were, in effect, grim reapers holding the power of life and death over the Trainees.
In a slightly separate seat, Han Gitae, the Overall Head Trainee, sat demurely.
“Why are you standing there blankly? Sit down.”
At the Guidance Section Chief's gruff voice, Songtan sat opposite them.
It felt like an interview, or perhaps, an interrogation.
“Trainee Songtan of the 310th Class. Do you know why you've been called here?”
“I do not.”
The gazes of the three men simultaneously fixed on Songtan.
Their eyes were cold, as if looking at a criminal.
“Now, you must answer our questions honestly. If there's even a hint of falsehood, you could face severe disadvantages. Understand?”
“I understand.”
It was a heavy pressure for a mere Trainee to bear.
Songtan nodded calmly.
“We received a report... that Trainee Songtan was involved in a School Violence Incident during his high school years... Is that true?”
Songtan nodded indifferently.
“It is.”
“It is?”
The three men looked at each other's faces.
They hadn't expected such a ready admission.
“Ahem, but why is there no record of it?”
“I don't know about that. My guardian handled the rest.”
At Songtan's answer, the three men put their heads together and whispered.
“Could it be that they silenced it with money?”
“Even so, there should be at least one line in the Student Record Book... How much money did they pour into it, exactly...?”
The misunderstanding deepened, and the three men stared at Songtan with even colder eyes.
“Overall Head Trainee. What is Trainee Songtan's reputation among his Classmates?”
Han Gitae opened his mouth as if he had been waiting.
“I understood him to be living quietly... However, some Trainees have reportedly felt discomfort and fear around him.”
“Elaborate.”
“He occasionally displays a condescending gaze and an overbearing attitude... but it's truly occasional. Perhaps he was very stressed or not feeling well on those days.”
He pretended to defend him, but in reality, he implied negative connotations.
The expressions of the three men grew even more serious.
“Listen, Trainee Songtan.”
“Yes.”
“This is a very serious problem. A Police Officer, who should uphold justice, involved in school violence?”
Thump, thump—
The Head of Student Affairs slammed the desk and spoke accusingly.
“You seem to be relieved that there's no record, but the situation isn't that simple. If we pursue this properly, you could be expelled on the grounds of concealing a Serious Misconduct Record during the application process. Right now.”
Songtan, the person in question, was simply dumbfounded.
They had already jumped to conclusions without even intending to properly hear his side of the story.
*Is it because of him?*
Songtan glanced to his right.
Overall Head Trainee Han Gitae, whose lips kept twitching.
*Why...?*
Why would someone he'd never even met show such malice?
He couldn't understand it at all.
“Do you have anything else to say, Trainee Songtan?”
Songtan opened his mouth with a calm expression.
“It's true that I dropped out of school because of a School Violence Incident, but that's because I was the victim, not the Perpetrator.”
[Ding~ Diririring~ Ding ding~]
Songtan's explanation was futilely buried by the loud ringing of a phone.
The Head of Student Affairs, frowning, checked the caller and hastily answered the phone.
Respectfully, with both hands.
“Yes~ I've answered the phone, School Principal. Ah, I was just having an interview with a problematic student.”
Soon, his eyes widened as if they would tear.
“What!? The Deputy Director is here right now!? No, without any prior notice?”
As his voice grew louder, silence descended.
“Who, who are they looking for? Trainee Songtan of the 310th Class?”
Naturally, everyone's gaze turned to one person.
“The hero who subdued the Weapon Rampage Perpetrator...? Trainee Songtan?”
Everyone was left speechless, mouths agape.