Chapter 8: The Name on the Screen

Unlike the subzero cold outside, the temperature inside the conference room—where all the members of Team Three had gathered—was stiflingly warm.

“They’ve been pretty notorious around Gangnam and the Gyeonggi area for several years now.

At first, it was just acquaintances trading quietly among themselves, but as the scale of profits grew, it seems they turned it into a corporate, organized operation like this.

Their methods grew bolder too—starting from luring runaway youths with promises of jobs that included food and lodging, to outright kidnappings like now.”

Squad Leader Hwang continued speaking as he placed additional documents in front of Cha Seowan.

“Anyway, the biggest problem right now is that aside from the reporter Lee Haesu and the deceased Choi Eunbyeol, we’re having trouble identifying other victims.

They were kids without families, without guardians—basically left to fend for themselves—so there aren’t many people around who knew them.

Detective Kang and I have been cross-checking three years’ worth of missing children lists, but so far there’s been no real progress….”

“There’s no need to identify them right now.

We can figure that out directly once we get a confession.”

Cha Seowan cut him off in a flat tone as he listened.

Question marks bloomed across everyone’s faces, including Squad Leader Hwang’s.

They all looked utterly baffled at where his confidence was coming from—how could he guarantee a confession from suspects they hadn’t even caught yet?

“A confession alone has its limits.

Wouldn’t it be better to have at least some outline prepared so the interrogation goes smoothly?

Besides, it’s questionable whether those vicious bastards would confess so easily.”

“They’ll confess willingly.

Don’t worry—just narrow the scope to the two incidents for now and investigate more efficiently.”

What an ill-mannered bastard.

No matter how hierarchical this organization was, the way he spoke to someone old enough to be his uncle was beyond the pale.

Jiwon shot an irritated glance at Cha Seowan, who sat there with his legs crossed, eyes fixed on the data projected on the screen.

As expected, more infuriating words flowed smoothly from his nicely shaped mouth.

“Judging by how things are going, it’s easy to tell how you’ve been working so far.

Whether it’s identifying victims or securing evidence, none of that’s too late to start after you bring in the suspect.

Stop working mindlessly like machines and figure out your priorities first.”

The room’s atmosphere froze instantly under his icy rebuke, delivered without a shred of tact.

Everyone fell silent, exchanging covert looks and clicking their tongues.

‘That mouth on him is truly something else.’

‘Wow… I didn’t know he was this legendary.’

‘This is brutal.

Absolutely brutal.’

Countless silent conversations flowed through the chilled air.

Jiwon joined in too, subtly shaking her head side to side as her eyes spoke for her.

‘I’ve dealt with him for a few days now.

That man is way more of a lunatic than you’re all imagining….’

That was when it happened.

Bzzzt.

Bzzzzzt.

A loud vibration rang repeatedly from her pocket.

Startled, she nearly hung up right away—until she saw the name on the screen.

She couldn’t bring herself to do it.

Attorney Cha Sumin (Cheongsong Law Firm)

Wasn’t it me who had asked an already busy man for a difficult favor?

Cha Seowan lifted his head irritably, staring at her with a look that clearly said You again?

That pointless defiance flared up inside her, and Jiwon abruptly pushed back her chair and stood.

“I’m sorry.

It’s an urgent call.”

She stepped out of the conference room and answered the phone.

The stares burning into the back of her head through the glass were intense, but she didn’t care.

It wasn’t like she had any intention of ever pleasing Cha Seowan anyway.

And honestly, she was already beyond saving in that regard.

Groveling was only worth it if it actually worked on the person.

Cha Seowan was hopeless.

Completely.

— “This is Cha Sumin, Officer Song.

Is now a good time to talk for a moment?”

Cha Sumin’s voice came through the receiver, and Jiwon hurried to respond.

“Yes, sir.

I can talk briefly.

Please go ahead.”

— “About the person who filed the complaint against Ms. Yang Hyeongja.

I don’t think persuasion is going to be easy.”

The words were unexpected.

She hadn’t thought it was a serious case—she assumed that talking directly to the person involved would resolve it easily.

If it wasn’t going to be easy, was it about money after all?

“Why?

Are they asking for a settlement?”

— “That’s not it….

I contacted them personally, but they said they have no intention of meeting Ms. Yang and told me not to contact them again.”

“What about money?

Did you bring it up?”

— “Yes.

I did, but they said they don’t need it.

They said they won’t be satisfied unless people who commit crimes pay the full price.”

“That’s insane.”

Jiwon quickly covered her mouth.

The words had slipped out before she could stop herself.

“I’m sorry.

That wasn’t directed at you, sir….

Anyway, then what happens now?

If they refuse to settle no matter what, could criminal charges be recognized?”

— “There’s a high chance.

Intentional or not, the fact is Ms. Yang took the complainant’s package.

She could be indicted for misappropriation of lost property.”

“That makes no sense.

She just made a mistake and took it.”

Grandma Hyeongja had simply mistaken the neighbor’s package for the one belonging to the homeowner who employed her.

She even returned it later and apologized—yet they still wanted to punish her?

— “Unfortunately, cases like this do happen.

If the lack of intent is acknowledged, it’ll be fine, but in unlucky cases, people are found guilty.”

“Then does that mean settlement is the only real option left?”

— “For now, yes.

That’s the best option.

But… that person doesn’t seem like someone who’d agree to it, so I wanted to let you know.”

What should I do…?

If she told Grandma Hyeongja about this, she’d definitely blame herself endlessly.

And Grandma Hyeongja wasn’t just anyone—she was her own grandmother’s closest friend.

“Sir… I’m sorry, but could I get the complainant’s contact information?”

— “Why?

Are you planning to contact them yourself?”

“Yes.

I think I should at least try speaking to them directly.”

— “I don’t know.

They’re not someone you can reason with.”

“It’s okay.

I’ll give it a try anyway.

They might’ve changed their mind.”

— “Alright.

I’ll text you the number.”

“Thank you.

I really appreciate your help, sir.”

— “It’s nothing.

If you need anything else, feel free to ask.”

There really were countless varieties of terrible people in this world.

What kind of life did someone have to live to harass an elderly woman over a misdelivered package, even going so far as to file a lawsuit?

Jiwon pressed down on the number that had just arrived in a message.

Then—

Her eyes widened at the bewildering name that popped up on the screen.

Team Leader Cha Seowan

“…What?”

Thinking she’d pressed the wrong thing, she pulled the phone away from her ear and rapidly hit the end call button.

Then she pressed the number in the message again.

Once more, the name Cha Seowan appeared clearly on the screen.

She whipped her head around to stare at Cha Seowan through the glass.

He glanced down at his phone, irritation plainly visible in his eyes.

A chill ran down her spine.

Then she saw him lift his head, frowning directly at her.

That cold gaze seemed to be asking what the hell she thought she was doing.

As he raised his phone to his ear with an elegant motion, she reflexively slammed the end call button again.

Don’t tell me…

That lunatic and this lunatic were the same person?

She stood there blinking dumbly, stunned by the absurd yet disturbingly plausible realization—

When suddenly—

Bzzzzzt.

The phone in her hand vibrated loudly again.

Seeing the look in his eyes that suggested he’d come storming out if she didn’t answer, she reluctantly picked up.

— “What are you doing?

Are you bored?”

“Why… why are you answering the phone, Team Leader?”

Cha Seowan replied with an incredulous expression.

— “Because you called me.

Why wouldn’t I answer?”

“Then why did I call you?”

— “Is that a question you’re asking me?”

“No, I mean…

Where do you live?”

— “What are you even talking about?”

“Do you live in Seocho-dong?

In that really expensive palace apartment?”

— “What.

Are you going to ask how much I paid for it too?”

The sense of dread crept in heavier by the second.

If her suspicion was right, then the person tormenting her grandmother and Grandma Hyeongja these past few days was this very man—Cha Seowan.

— “I’m busy, so stop saying useless things and get back in—.”

“Team Leader, you filed a complaint against the helper grandma next door a few days ago, didn’t you?”

— “What?”

“The package theft complaint against Grandma Yang Hyeongja.

That was you, wasn’t it?”

Through the glass, she could clearly see Cha Seowan’s dark eyebrows twitch upward.