Chapter 6: Burning Questions

“Ha….”

Letting out a long sigh, Jiwon stepped out of the elevator as the doors slid open.

She walked out into the parking area and swept her gaze around, but judging by the absence of that unnecessarily long silhouette anywhere in sight, Cha Seowan didn’t seem to have arrived yet.

From somewhere nearby came the deep roar of an engine—vroom.

Turning her head, she spotted a supercar with an unmistakable presence.

Its matte-black body, formed of sleek, flowing curves, rounded the corner smoothly and approached her.

She stared blankly, wondering what kind of person would drive a supercar like that to a police station—

and then the car stopped right in front of her.

What the…?

She took a step back just as the heavily tinted passenger window slid down.

From beyond the half-lowered glass came a familiar voice.

“Get in.”

“…Team Leader?”

She was flustered.

Back in school, she’d often heard rumors about Cha Seowan—

that he was the secretly hidden youngest son of a chaebol family,

that his grandfather was a massive moneylender kingpin in the Myeongdong private loan market,

that he was a genius who’d already made a fortune through stocks while still in high school.

But still… to think he was this rich.

Just how much money does he have?

Frowning, she stared hard at his overly sharp, striking features.

Soon, an almost scolding look came back at her, as if asking why she was just standing there like an idiot.

“Aren’t you getting in?”

Only then did Jiwon snap back to her senses and hurriedly pull the door handle.

She climbed into the passenger seat, startled when the door opened in a way she hadn’t expected.

Click.

With the clear sound of the door shutting, the car began to move.

She tugged at the seat belt with an awkward creak-creak and buckled it in, sneaking glances around the interior.

Soft leather seats that seemed to envelop her entire body,

luxurious interior materials,

and even dazzling lights and instrument displays that made her feel as though she were aboard a spaceship.

She could feel it in her bones.

This was not the kind of supercar one got to ride easily in a lifetime.

Staring at Seowan’s side profile as he focused on the road, she asked,

“Is this your car, Team Leader?”

“Yes.”

“You drove this to work today?”

“And?”

“If you don’t mind me asking… how much did you pay for it?”

“Why. Thinking of buying one?”

“No way… You know how much I make, don’t you?”

“Well. It’s not a car you could buy on that salary.”

It was true—

yet somehow, it sounded infuriatingly obnoxious.

Of course someone like this could casually drive a car you’d normally only see at a motor show.

And it wasn’t just the car.

From head to toe, he looked drenched in money.

Did this man even realize how jarring his very existence was within a public-service culture that prized frugality?

“If you’ve got something to say, say it out loud.”

“Don’t grumble with your eyes while sitting next to someone.”

“Ah—”

Jiwon cleared her throat and looked away.

“…I don’t have anything to say.”

The man glanced over at her, lifting an eyebrow deeply.

At this point, it felt like her body was instinctively rejecting his sheer obnoxiousness.

Just sharing the same space with him was suffocating.

She quickly turned her gaze out the window, changing the subject.

“So where are we going right now?”

“To the scene. The location where the initial report came in from the victim.”

“You mean the motel district near Sageum Station, right?”

“Looks like you at least read the report.”

“Of course I—”

She had no idea how far down he was placing her in his estimation.

“Team Leader.”

“I know you don’t have a great first impression of me, but I’m not as lazy or incompetent as you seem to think.”

“No matter what, I’m still a police officer living off taxpayers’ money.”

“That’s a relief.”

“I was worried you were just carrying around an extra bump for decoration.”

Swallowing her rising anger, Jiwon clenched her fist tightly.

“Leaving that aside—may I ask why you specifically brought me along?”

“If you dislike me so much, why insist on taking me with you?”

“So you can try working uncomfortably with an uncomfortable superior.”

“…What?”

“You said you’d accept any punishment without complaint.”

“This is that punishment.”

“……”

If a trash-tier personality were molded into human form, would it look like this?

Hearing words she could hardly believe, Jiwon swallowed hard.

She repeated to herself that she absolutely must not lose her composure to this man.

“For me, fine.”

“But won’t this be uncomfortable for you too?”

“Are you really okay working with me?”

“As if.”

“If it really doesn’t work out, I can always return you to Captain Hwang.”

It was astonishing how someone could provoke this much anger with just a few words.

How could a human being be this irritating?

Unable to hold it back, Jiwon whipped her head toward him and snapped,

“Then why did you suddenly switch to informal speech?”

“Because you did.”

“Me?”

“When did I ever?”

“Looks like you’ve got a special ability to delete only memories that are inconvenient for you.”

“Or your memory’s just single-celled.”

“Single-celled….”

“You were the one who dropped honorifics first.”

“Since yesterday.”

“Try to remember. I know it’ll be hard.”

Click-clack.

Having delivered that calmly, the man turned off the engine and stepped out of the car.

“…Ha!”

A suppressed, useless breath burst out of her.

Fanning herself irritably, she looked around—

and realized they’d already arrived at their destination.

Whether it was the smooth ride or the sheer rage induced by Cha Seowan, she hadn’t even noticed the car stopping.

It was a motel near Sageum Station, the site of the initial report.

Given the hour, the entire street was eerily deserted.

Jiwon got out of the car and followed after the man, who was already walking far ahead.

Whether his partner followed or not, he strode off at will, blessed with long legs.

It was exactly the kind of personality she’d expect.

But something about the motel he was heading toward felt off.

Jiwon pulled out her phone and checked the motel name she’d saved.

Sure enough, Cha Seowan wasn’t entering the motel from the initial report—

but the one right next door.

What on earth was he thinking?

Frowning, Jiwon followed after him.

“Police?”

Inside, she saw two people already in conversation.

As the young man eyed Seowan’s excessively lavish appearance from head to toe with suspicion, Seowan pulled out his official ID from inside his jacket.

“There was a report yesterday that minors were being confined and illegal prostitution brokered at the motel next door over the past few months.”

“I came to ask you a few questions regarding that.”

The male owner let out a long, irritated sigh.

“Why come asking me about that?”

“It’s not like prostitution happened here.”

“You don’t seem very surprised.”

“Looks like you already knew what was going on next door.”

“What would I know?”

“I just saw some thug-looking punks in black clothes wandering around day and night.”

“I figured they were up to no good, that’s all.”

“Then why didn’t you report it?”

“Report what?”

“I didn’t see anything with my own eyes.”

“Do you think I want to ruin my business?”

Annoyance was clear on the man’s face.

Unbothered, Seowan calmly held a photo up in front of him.

“You’ve seen this person before.”

The owner glanced at the photo dismissively—

then froze.

Seowan caught the flicker in his eyes, his brow twitching.

“No.”

“I’ve never seen him before.”

“Look closely.”

“You have seen him.”

“I told you I haven’t!”

“Hey—are you interrogating me right now?”

“It’s just a question.”

“You seem quite defensive.”

“If you want, I can make it an interrogation.”

“What?”

“Hey, get out!”

“My business is already dying, and now some damn cops come in here causing trouble!”

Grumbling irritably, the owner brushed past Seowan and pulled out his buzzing phone.

After checking the message on the screen, a long sigh slipped through his teeth.

From her angle, Jiwon could clearly read the message on the screen.

「Notice of overdue credit loan interest payment.
Collection and asset seizure scheduled in 30 days.
– OO Capital」

Looking around the empty motel—so barren it seemed like not even an ant lived there—

it didn’t sound like an exaggeration when he said business was bad.

“Um, Team Leader?”

Jiwon quietly called out to Seowan.

She was just about to suggest that the man could still be a meaningful reference witness, and that it’d be better to formally summon him later and coax him properly—

“Hourly rental available, right?”

Suddenly, Seowan said something completely out of left field.

He casually pulled out several yellow bills from his wallet.

The owner paused and turned around, his eyes locking onto the cash in Seowan’s hand.

“How much is it?”

“I’m not too familiar with Korean prices these days.”

Even as he asked, the handful of bills in his grasp looked to be at least ten or so.

The owner swallowed dryly.

“Here.”

“Hourly fee.”

“Keep the change.”

Is he insane?

Watching Seowan deliberately show off the wad of cash, Jiwon let out a stunned breath.

So this is how rich people conduct investigations?

Throwing money around like lunatics.

As expected, the owner, who seemed to be wavering for a moment, suddenly twisted his face and waved his hand angrily.

“No!”

“I don’t need that money!”

“Get out!”

“I won’t rent a room to someone like you!”

He snapped and turned his back completely.

Suspicion welled up in Jiwon’s eyes.

Cha Seowan was one thing—but the owner, who clearly needed money yet refused it outright, also felt deeply suspicious.

It seemed Seowan had reached the same conclusion.

A strange glint flickered across his face as he glanced over.

Jiwon had just started thinking they should head back and dig into this owner immediately—

when an unsettling voice cut in.

“You really don’t need it?”

Like a final warning, Seowan asked again, staring at the turned-away owner.

A dangerous madness glimmered in his eyes.

Jiwon knew that look well.

It was the same look he’d had when he obsessively demanded her name and rank.

“I said I don’t need it!”

“What, are cops trying to bribe people with money now?”

“Ah.”

“So you really don’t need it.”

That was when—

Pop!

With a clear metallic snap, a Zippo lighter flipped open and a bright red flame bloomed.

Jiwon’s eyes widened so much they felt like they might burst.

She couldn’t even imagine what he was about to do with a lighter.

Seowan calmly brought the flame to the edge of the yellow bills in his hand.

There was an almost elegant grace to the way he did it.

Whoosh—

The fire spread in an instant.

The motel owner and Jiwon stared in horror—

while the man who’d lit the fire looked utterly at ease.