The Reason for Coming to Korea

Inside the Foreign Affairs Team's Interrogation Room at Annam Police Station.

A small room with gray walls, just a single desk, and a few chairs. A Chinese person with a receding hairline and a menacing expression was half-slumped in a chair. His face was deeply furrowed, as if greatly displeased.

A translator sat quietly beside him.

Inspector Pyo Sejun tidied some documents with a tap, then asked casually.

Why did you come to Korea?

The man blinked and looked at the translator. Soon, a gruff Chinese utterance followed.

"How many times do I have to say I'm here for tourism? Are all Korean Police deaf?" "Didn't you say you came for work yesterday?"

The bald man let out a snort of laughter.

Did I? Well, if tourism counts as work, then yes.

Pyo Sejun, barely suppressing the irritation rising in his throat, continued his questioning.

Let's assume that's true. But do tourists usually rent an officetel for a short stay?

"What's the problem? My friend told me it was cheaper that way, so I did it." "And you barely packed any clothes, just a laptop?"

I'm just not the type to bother packing a lot when I go anywhere.

Pyo Sejun, who had been silently watching the man, placed three cell phones on the table.

"Why are you carrying so many cell phones?"

"Because collecting cell phones is my hobby."

"Does that make sense?" "Why wouldn't it? I don't know about Korea, but in China, there are plenty of guys who do that, who like collecting things."

It'll all come out anyway once we search them. It would be more advantageous for you to just tell us.

The bald Chinese man snorted.

You'll search my phone without my permission? Go ahead if you dare. I guess Korean Police don't follow the law when they investigate, huh? Hmph...

Pyo Sejun's expression hardened at the man's sneer.

BANG!

Suddenly, the man slammed his hand on the desk.

Anyway, how long are you going to keep me here? I already admitted I made a mistake while drunk! I said I'd pay for all the damages! Isn't this a human rights violation?! The consulate! Contact the Chinese consulate!

The bald Chinese man suddenly began to act out. The translator stammered something, but the man, as if unwilling to listen, made even more of a fuss.

Haa...

Pyo Sejun let out a faint sigh and glared at the man. Veins bulged on the back of his hand beneath the table.

*These are standard procedural questions*. Tell him he'll be released soon, so there's no need to make a fuss. Unless he wants to stay here longer.

The man, having heard the translation, curled his lips into a smirk.

Should've done that sooner.

Thump!

The man casually propped both feet on the desk and hummed a tune. Pyo Sejun, pushing back his hair, took the translator and stepped outside for a moment. Detectives from the Intelligence Team were waiting for him outside.

Pyo Sejun shook his head, his face grim.

He has no intention of opening his mouth. He skillfully evades all leading questions. It seems he knows Korean law surprisingly well.

It's frustrating. If only we could communicate directly, I'd give him a piece of my mind.

Moon Dongcheol, the Team Leader of the Intelligence Team, pounded his chest in frustration.

"How many hours do we have left?"

"About five hours. After that, we'll have to release him, come what may."

The maximum time we can hold him under arrest for a flagrant offense is 48 hours. Within that time, we either have to release him or get an arrest warrant.

Can't we get a warrant?

Moon Dongcheol sighed.

It's difficult right now. We don't have direct evidence...So what do we do? Do we just let him go like this?

Haa, I'm sure it's him... This is driving me crazy.

Moon Dongcheol scratched his short, graying hair vigorously. All the circumstances pointed to it. That Chinese person is clearly an intermediary who relays the mastermind's instructions to the handlers.

First, there's the officetel he's using as his lodging. Many suspected Voice Phishing Organization members were living in that vicinity. They're likely Handlers or Remitters, and their movements overlap with that Chinese person's to an unusual degree. Even just looking at his entry and exit records, it was clear that they were full of suspicious points. He shows a very consistent pattern, and the intervals are too frequent. Could all of this really be a coincidence?

No way.

Moreover, the seized cell phones were divided into reception-only and outgoing-only. Even more suspicious was that a person supposedly here for tourism hadn't taken a single photo with his phone. There was a high probability that something more definitive would emerge if they delved into his call history and financial transaction records. Of course, that would only be possible with a warrant.

Haa... This is a headache.

They had been chasing these guys for a full two years. Even now, if they put their minds to it, they could easily round up the small fry. But that would be largely meaningless.

As always, they would sacrifice their subordinates and conspicuously find other replacements. Ultimately, if they didn't remove the root, the branches would just keep growing.

If that guy really is the Intermediary... this might be our only chance to catch the Mastermind.

For him, it was desperate. He wanted to catch them so badly it drove him mad. The criminal proceeds these guys earned from Voice phishing amounted to tens of billions of won, by conservative estimates.

Among the victims, there were even those who, unable to bear the self-reproach, made extreme choices. If they missed this chance, there was no telling when another would come.

Team Leader. Should we at least try asking the prosecutor? If we plead our case, won't something work out? That's right. Prosecutor Uhm isn't that rigid of a person, is he?

The Intelligence Team Detectives pressed Moon Dongcheol because everyone equally wanted to catch the Mastermind.

He understood their feelings, but Moon Dongcheol could only shake his head. It's impossible. No matter how clear the circumstances are, there's nothing beyond that. They'll never issue a warrant. Not unless that guy goes crazy and confesses."So we just let him go like this? This might be our last chance.

At his subordinate's outburst, Moon Dongcheol merely sighed silently. Just then.

Knock, knock, knock—

The door opened, and someone entered—someone completely out of place in this atmosphere, a man in a Police Substation Uniform, wearing a fluorescent vest.

Oh!? You're here?

Pyo Sejun's face lit up when he saw Songtan, and he approached him.

Police Officer?

The Intelligence Team Detectives, seeing Songtan's rank insignia, tilted their heads.

"Inspector Pyo. Who is this person...?" "Ah, this is the Precinct Officer who arrested that Chinese person causing a disturbance at the Field while drunk."

Salute, Songtan, a Probationer Police Officer from Macheon Precinct." "Probationer?"

A look of awkwardness spread across the Intelligence Team Detectives' faces. They couldn't understand why a Police Officer was here, and to learn he was a Probationer made them even more flustered.

"Ahem, Inspector Pyo. Even so, time is of the essence, and having a Probationer practice now is a bit..." "It's not like that. I called him out of desperation."

What do you mean?

That arrogant man, the Chinese guy, actually talked to Police Officer Song. Remembering that, I requested support from the Police Substation.

Everyone's faces were filled with bewilderment. Hadn't they just seen it? That Chinese person was playing games with the police officers. He couldn't speak Korean, yet he was strangely well-versed in Korean law.

Even so, a Probationer is a bit much... Why else would I have done this? I absolutely cannot let that guy go like this. I'll try everything I can. By any means necessary.

Seeing the fierce determination in Pyo Sejun's eyes, Moon Dongcheol could only nod. He knew that Pyo Sejun's own mother had suffered a serious illness in the past after falling victim to a Voice phishing crime. And there were no other alternatives anyway.

Probationer. No, was it Songtan? You heard the situation, right? Yes, I heard that man is suspected of being a member of the Voice Phishing Organization.

He's a very cunning and tenacious guy. Try to shake him up so he makes a slip of the tongue. Don't feel too pressured, we're not expecting much anyway. I'll give it a try.

Good. Go on in.

As Moon Dongcheol gave the signal, Songtan smoothly took off the hat he was wearing, adjusted his uniform, and walked towards the Interrogation Room. The Intelligence Team Detectives whispered amongst themselves.

Inspector Pyo, this is incredible. To think you'd bring in a Probationer of all people. He wants to catch him that badly. Perhaps even more desperately than we.

Anyway, that Chinese bastard... if he's released, he'll obviously flee straight back to China... Then won't we have to start all over again? There's a high chance of that. Haa. My head hurts just thinking about it.

While the Intelligence Team Detectives exchanged whispers, Songtan grasped the doorknob of the Interrogation Room.

Hoo-hoo-hoo~ Swa-swa-swa-sa.

The bald Chinese person was still humming, his feet propped on the desk. Hearing the door open, the man raised his voice as if he'd been waiting.

Damn it, let me out already! If I miss my flight, are you going to buy me a new ticket?! Huh?! I'm really not going to let this slide! Do you think I'm lying!?

The man, who had been shouting at the top of his lungs, froze like ice when he saw who had entered.

"Y-y-y-y-you! Why are you here!?" "What if you don't 'let this slide'?"

Songtan, his eyes crinkling gently, sat opposite him and asked in a friendly tone.

It's nice to see you again like this. I was sad we parted ways so quickly.

"Ah... ah..."

The bald Chinese man could only gape, unable to utter a single word. Those watching from outside tilted their heads.

"Why is he like that?"

"I don't know...? He just said hello..."

The translator relayed the exact words in response to Moon Dongcheol's question because there really wasn't anything special about it.

First, how about you put your feet down? Wouldn't that be a matter of mutual respect?

At the gentle words, the man was startled and lowered his feet. And the man sat up straight, his back rigid. The detectives watching from outside were simply dumbfounded.

"No, why is that guy suddenly acting like that? Did he scare him?" "No, he just told him to put his feet down and talk. And very politely, too."

But why is his reaction like that? He looks like a trainee being reprimanded by an Instructor.

"........"

There was no rebuttal because anyone could see that was his attitude. The Detectives, sensing something unusual, held their breath and focused on the situation inside.

***

But... why are you... here...?"I'm also a Police Officer; is there a problem with that?"

"Your job is different!" "It's not different. Catching criminals, that's what a Police Officer does."

Songtan's demeanor was strangely calm and polite. In contrast, the Chinese man showed endless tension.

I-I didn't do anything! Really! I really just came here to play! I said I'd pay for all the damage I caused at the Restaurant! What's the problem?! Can you just do this in a democratic country?!

Songtan, who had been listening silently, leaned forward and put his index finger to his lips.

Shh. Your voice is too loud. It's hard to have a proper conversation like this. Should we just... not talk?

The man flinched and suddenly trembled uncontrollably. It was because his body and mind remembered the terrible pain that, just thinking about it, made his hair stand on end.

And the devil-like Police Officer in front of him had warned him if he wanted to taste that hellish pain again.

The man shook his head so violently that it looked like his neck might break.

"I-I'll talk! I'll definitely talk!" "Good. Ah! Before we begin, let me just say one thing."

"Yes, yes. Go ahead." "If you don't answer my questions properly, or if you tell clumsy lies... I think I'll feel very, very disappointed in Mr. Haoyu. I hope such a thing doesn't happen."

Haoyu's body stiffened completely as his eyes met Songtan's, like a roe deer standing before a predator.

It was a horrifying pain he had never once felt in his life. Even more terrifying was that he couldn't even guess what that devil-like Police Officer had done or how he had done it.

All the color drained from Haoyu's face. And he vowed. He would rather die than experience that pain again.

Mr. Haoyu, are you a member of an organization that commits voice phishing crimes targeting Koreans?

The faces of the Intelligence Team Detectives watching from the Observation Room crumpled.

No, what is he doing?! Where do you ever just ask that so directly?! Unless that guy's crazy, why would he answer truthfully?! Ugh, this is why rookies are no good!

One detective, who had been fuming, then saw...

Y-yes, that's right! I merely receive instructions from the Mastermind in Shandong Province and relay them to the Handlers in Korea. It's true!

For the first time in his life, he saw a suspect answer a Police Officer's questions docilely.