I’m Obsessed With the Suspect - Chapter 32

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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32

 

The store, which was usually frantically busy every day, was quiet today.

 

After 10 PM, when the underage customers left, it became even more noticeably empty. In the idle store, only the sound of computers running echoed noisily.

 

Se-yeon stood at the counter with her arms crossed, anxiously looking around the store.

 

“Bokseon. Is there some important game today…? Or did something happen in the neighborhood? This isn’t the time for it to be this empty.”

 

“Uh…”

 

A considerable number of customers who seemed like they would come to level up even if a war broke out were nowhere to be seen in the PC bang.

 

It seemed the aftermath of yesterday’s police sweep through the store still lingered.

 

However, telling Se-yeon about that was out of the question. From part-timer ‘Bokseon’s’ perspective, all that happened was carrying a collapsed customer to the hospital last night.

 

“Wow, the store is quiet today?”

 

At the voice from the entrance, both Se-yeon and Cheong-a’s heads turned simultaneously.

 

“Manager!”

 

Cheong-a made a surprised sound seeing Wujin, who had come to work early despite there being plenty of time left before the shift change.

 

“Hello.”

 

And there was one more person.

 

Rachel poked her head out from behind Wujin’s large back and greeted them.

 

“Boss!”

 

“Hello.”

 

Cheong-a bowed her head in greeting, while Se-yeon ran out from the counter and embraced Rachel tightly.

 

“Se-yeon, it’s been a while. Have you been well?”

 

“I’m always doing well thanks to you, Boss. But I don’t know why there are so few customers today.”

 

Se-yeon looked like she was about to burst into tears as if it were her fault. Rachel gently patted her shoulder.

 

“It’s okay. There are days like this and days like that.”

 

To Se-yeon, who looked genuinely upset, Wujin casually added:

 

“Yesterday some drunk collapsed, so the police came by.”

 

“The police?”

 

“Yeah. Don’t worry. It’s nothing serious, so things will return to normal in a few days.”

 

Rachel moved to sit in front of the counter PC. Wujin and Se-yeon followed behind her.

 

The counter became bustling with the three people gathered there. Cheong-a squinted her eyes for a moment.

 

It was dazzling.

 

With three people who seemed like they’d never experienced any unreasonable incidents anywhere just based on their looks alone, it almost felt like they were sparkling and glowing.

 

‘Wait. Doesn’t this make me the only one with a different art style…!’

 

Cheong-a unconsciously took a step back behind the counter.

 

She almost doubted how she had gotten hired at this place. But her attention immediately shifted to Rachel’s next words.

 

“Manager Wujin. You said you organized the CCTV footage, right?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Ugh, the police station has been calling since morning and pestering me so much. Let’s give it to them quickly and get it over with. Play the footage you saved.”

 

Cheong-a’s heart began beating rapidly.

 

It was Senior Sung-min from the 2nd Team who was supposed to handle the cooperation document. But as far as she knew, it hadn’t been sent yet?

 

As Yushin picked up the counter PC’s mouse and started clicking, Cheong-a hurriedly rushed inside the counter.

 

The monitor screen began playing footage from last night, the moment that man entered.

 

“What’s this? There’s nothing much to see?”

 

After checking all ten-plus minutes of footage, Rachel spoke in an unimpressed voice.

 

“There’s nothing to see, so why did they make such a fuss asking for it to be submitted quickly? Ugh, annoying.”

 

“Right? To me, he just looks like a drunk old man. Bokseon, you saw it that way too, right?”

 

“Ah. Yes. I also thought… that way.”

 

Cheong-a awkwardly agreed with Se-yeon’s question.

 

But inwardly, she was thinking completely different thoughts.

 

‘What is this? What’s going on?’

 

PC POP PC bang had quite a few CCTV cameras installed. And Wujin had selected 4 screens from among them, capturing Hong Sehwan’s appearance without missing anything.

 

It could be considered pure luck that only screens showing Cheong-a diligently cleaning and cooking udon weren’t selected.

 

But there were definitely missing scenes.

 

The scenes where Cheong-a rolled up the man’s sleeve to check injection marks, received Inkyu’s call, then kicked his shin and struck his neck to knock him unconscious.

 

These didn’t exist in the footage.

 

‘Even if it’s a low-performance CCTV, it should be at least 15 frames per second, right?’

 

She couldn’t understand how those actions weren’t caught by any camera for even a single moment.

 

If the footage had been clumsily tampered with, there’s no way Cheong-a wouldn’t have noticed.

 

After all, checking CCTV daily to track criminals’ movements and find clues was her main job.

 

For that reason, Cheong-a could be certain.

 

Min Wujin had edited the footage. Very cleanly at that.

 

Wujin naturally removed the USB from the PC, seemingly unaware of the suspicious gaze directed at him. Then he casually held it out to Cheong-a.

 

“Bokseon. Please submit this to the police station.”

 

“Eh? Me?”

 

“Yeah. You. Just need to give it by tomorrow morning.”

 

Then Rachel waved her hand at Wujin with a displeased expression.

 

“Wujin. I didn’t see you that way. Making Bokseon do your grunt work?”

 

“Ah…”

 

After a moment of awkward silence, Cheong-a quickly raised her hand.

 

“No! Boss. I’ll go!”

 

Cheong-a snatched the USB from Wujin’s hand almost like she was stealing it.

 

“Wow. I really, really wanted to visit a police station. This worked out great. Hehe…”

 

During the day at Central Police Station, Police Inspector Kim Cheong-a would be on duty. So it wouldn’t do for Wujin or Se-yeon to visit the police station.

 

Hmm.

 

Absolutely wouldn’t do.

 

Wujin making her do this grunt work was incredibly appreciated.

 

***

 

Thud, thud thud thud.

 

Two people’s loud footsteps echoed in the Central Police Station corridor.

 

“No, why did it end up in Inspector Kim Cheong-a’s hands?”

 

Walking quickly down the corridor were Violent Crimes Unit 1’s Team Leader Kim Sinbok and Deputy Team Leader Han Yeongsu.

 

“I don’t know either.”

 

“Yeongsu, didn’t you contact that store’s owner?”

 

“Right? Since dawn yesterday, I called dozens of times asking for the materials, saying it was urgent.”

 

“But.”

 

“Out of nowhere, I got contacted through KakaoTalk messenger.”

 

“What did they say.”

 

Han Yeongsu, who had hesitated for a moment, continued with a low sigh.

 

“That I’m too ugly and they don’t want to meet me.”

 

At those words, Kim Sinbok’s steps stopped dead.

 

Then his head whipped around to look Yeongsu up and down.

 

“What kind of bullshit is that?”

 

“That woman really said that. Then she said she’s allergic to ugly men and contacted Inspector Kim Cheong-a separately.”

 

“Ha!”

 

With a loud sigh, Kim Sinbok picked up his pace again.

 

“Is she crazy?”

 

“That’s what I’m saying.”

 

“Did I ask for a blind date? I was asking for investigation materials! Damn it.”

 

However, Han Yeongsu, branded as an ugly man, had nothing to say in response. He silently sighed heavily while walking hard to keep up with Sinbok.

 

It was the moment when, after grumbling and hurrying for quite a while, they threw open the door to the Violent Crimes Unit office.

 

Numerous gazes from inside the office turned toward the entrance. All of the 2nd Team and the remaining members of the 1st Team.

 

They were all gathered around Hong-nam’s computer, waiting for the two of them.

 

“Hey, come over here quickly.”

 

Hong-nam, seated in front of the computer, waved his hand to call the two over.

 

“Alright. So everyone’s here now? Should I play the video?”

 

Hong-nam’s voice trembled slightly.

 

As the USB was inserted into the PC, a single folder appeared on the screen. And when he clicked on it, the surroundings instantly fell silent.

 

Click, click.

 

Only the sound of mouse clicks and someone swallowing dry saliva could be heard.

 

There were four videos in total.

 

The detectives from Central Police Station’s Violent Crimes Unit displayed all four videos on the large screen and began playing them.

 

“Oh, he’s going down there.”

 

In the video that 1st Team’s Park Duhee pointed to, Hong Sehwan could be seen descending the staircase with unsteady steps.

 

More than ten detectives all held their breath as they followed his movements with their eyes.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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