I’m Obsessed With the Suspect - Chapter 40

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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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40

 

For a moment, such thoughts flashed through Cheong-a’s mind.

 

Even the disappearance of the Cheongwha Faction Boss was said to be a classified case with security clearance.

 

Yeonhui also seemed to hesitate for a long time before bringing up that topic.

 

The strength slowly drained from the hand that had been gripping Inkyu’s collar.

 

Cheong-a decided to convey only the facts that would ease Inkyu’s worries, as concisely as possible.

 

“What are you thinking? Nothing happened, and I just drank a bit and slept at the CEO’s Villa. You’ve been in and out of the PC Bang so many times that Rachel and the manager there all know your name. So I couldn’t take out my phone because I was afraid we’d get caught.”

 

At that moment, tears like chicken droppings began pouring from Park Inkyu’s eyes.

 

Wait, what’s this?

 

“I. I thought. Ugh. Last night you. Sniff. Something went wrong. Until morning. Uugh. Hic!”

 

“Inkyu! Calm down! Why are you like this!”

 

As his large frame shook while sobbing, the car swayed along with him.

 

“Ah, Inkyu! The car’s shaking! Don’t cry while heaving your shoulders!”

 

Sure enough, passersby were glancing at Inkyu’s car with suspicious eyes.

 

Cheong-a had to spend quite a long time after that comforting Park Inkyu and clearing up his misunderstanding.

 

***

 

The PC Bang was quiet today as well.

 

Several days had passed since the police visited, but it seemed like it would take a bit more time for operations to get back on normal track.

 

Having cleaned every corner of the quiet store for days, there was nowhere left to clean.

 

Cheong-a sat in a corner of the PC Bang, staring blankly at the store while lost in thought.

 

‘This afternoon…’

 

She had gone to the detention center with Park Inkyu.

 

The drug users they had caught at Wanggildong Landfill.

 

Cheong-a visited them, showing photos of Yang Dongjun and Hong Sehwan, asking if they knew anything about them.

 

−What? You want me to be an informant?

 

Informant – a term referring to drug criminals who act as informants for law enforcement agencies.

 

With deeply furrowed expressions, they asked Cheong-a that.

 

−If I was going to be an informant, I’d do it for the prosecutor who could reduce my sentence, not for our pretty detective here. What would I gain from that?

 

−Right. Nothing, huh? But it’s okay. I came here to see your reactions anyway. I got my answer, so I’m leaving. Bye.

 

She hadn’t expected to get any great answers from such visits anyway.

 

She just needed confirmation.

 

Both drug dealers showed different expressions when looking at Yang Dongjun and Hong Sehwan’s faces respectively.

 

They clearly recognized Yang Dongjun, and showed subtle expressions at Hong Sehwan’s photo.

 

Exactly the kind of expression change when asked about something they didn’t know.

 

It seemed Hong Sehwan really was just thrown into it as he claimed, and wasn’t someone who participated in sales.

 

Well, even so, he did commit a crime, so he should naturally be punished.

 

The more fair and clear the punishment, the lower the probability of repeat offenses, and the cleaner South Korea becomes.

 

‘Sigh, I need to catch that Yang Dongjun bastard quickly too, but it’s not easy. Not easy.’

 

Cheong-a let out a sigh.

 

Just then, the voices of two part-timers passing by her interrupted Cheong-a’s long thoughts.

 

“Isn’t Manager Se-yeon being a bit dramatic?”

 

“I know, right. Just because it’s been quiet for a few days, she’s acting like someone died. It’s making us feel awkward…”

 

“Well, I guess it makes sense. Manager Se-yeon receives a lot from the boss. She probably lives in housing the boss provided for her, right?”

 

“Oh, really?”

 

“She’s raising a child there alone.”

 

“What?”

 

Minjoo began whispering something in an even smaller voice.

 

She couldn’t hear the conversation after that, but she could tell the content just from Hye-rin’s expression and mood.

 

Se-yeon raising a child alone.

 

And Rachel helping such Se-yeon.

 

Cheong-a quietly recalled Rachel’s face.

 

The Cheongwha Faction Boss’s lover.

 

And probably a woman deeply involved in drug distribution.

 

But at the same time, she was also someone who carefully looked after and helped her employees who weren’t well off.

 

‘She’s a complicated person.’

 

The slowly flowing time soon pointed to the two part-timers’ quitting time, leaving only Se-yeon and Cheong-a in the store.

 

Se-yeon approached Cheong-a, who was blankly guarding the counter, and spoke.

 

“You heard the conversation earlier, didn’t you?”

 

“…Not in detail.”

 

Cheong-a smiled awkwardly, and Se-yeon received it with a bitter smile.

 

“It’s all true. I live with just my daughter, and I receive a lot of help from the boss.”

 

“…”

 

“I receive so much that. It feels like I have a family I never had… But there’s not much I can do for her.”

 

Her trembling voice continued.

 

“On top of that, the boss isn’t feeling well and asked me to take care of the store while she goes for treatment. So I’ve been a bit sensitive.”

 

“Ah…”

 

“I really want to do well, but suddenly the sales have dropped so much…”

 

Cheong-a gently patted the shoulder of Se-yeon, whose eyes were welling up with tears.

 

“Was the boss originally not feeling well?”

 

“No, she suddenly became very sick.”

 

“…Around when?”

 

“She wasn’t well since around this time last year, but she’s been really struggling for the past few months.”

 

“Around this time last year…”

 

Cheong-a’s words quietly trailed off.

 

Around this time last year.

 

That was exactly when she was transferred to Central Police Station. And according to Yeonhui, the Cheongwha Faction Boss’s disappearance was a few months ago.

 

The timing of the incidents matched exactly.

 

‘What she asked for help with…’

 

Probably the Cheongwha Faction Boss’s story.

 

No, the probability of that being almost certainly the case was getting higher and higher.

 

***

 

After finishing work that day, Cheong-a carefully brought up the topic to Wujin.

 

“Manager. I’ll work until today and then quit.”

 

Wujin, who had been leaning back leisurely in his chair, shot up instantly.

 

“What are you talking about, all of a sudden?”

 

“The boss isn’t feeling well and is taking a break. Manager Se-yeon is worried about sales too.”

 

“But why are you quitting?”

 

“The store has fewer customers anyway, and having me here just means more labor costs.”

 

Actually, the reason for wanting to quit this place was simple.

 

Because the police had been here.

 

Those cockroach-like drug dealers wouldn’t come near this store for a while to protect themselves.

 

So staying here to continue the investigation would be a waste of time.

 

Even Rachel said she wouldn’t be coming to work, and she couldn’t get anything out of Se-yeon, who cared for her terribly.

 

Trying to extract information by appeasing Wujin was also not going to work.

 

‘I’d rather grab some fish cake skewers and go fight the Yongyon Gang.’

 

Wujin looked at Cheong-a’s rather determined expression and ran his hands through his hair several times.

 

“Well, if that’s what you want to do, Bokseon, I can’t help it. Will you come help if I contact you later saying I need a substitute?”

 

Cheong-a couldn’t answer and hesitated.

 

“Right. I’m asking too much when you don’t even check the messages I send.”

 

Wujin, who smiled with a troubled expression, took a step closer to Cheong-a.

 

Then he rummaged through his pocket, pulled something out, and placed it on Cheong-a’s palm.

 

“A gift.”

 

What was placed on her palm was a USB. The same model as the one Wujin had handed over to be submitted to the police station a few days ago.

 

“…Why this?”

 

“Ah, it’s nothing special. Just my sincere feelings I wanted to convey to Bokseon?”

 

Cheong-a, who had been staring down at the USB blankly, looked up at Wujin with a face full of suspicion.

 

“What is this. If there’s anything weird on it, I’m reporting you.”

 

At Cheong-a’s suspicious expression, Yushin couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

 

“Ah, I’m in big trouble. This time I might actually get handcuffed?”

 

Wujin brought his arms together and laughed loudly, while Cheong-a scrunched up her face and fled from the store as if escaping.

 

As Yushin stared at the entrance where Cheong-a had disappeared for quite a while, Chamkkae’s low voice flowed into his ears.

 

[Are you sure it’s okay to give her that?]

 

“Don’t worry. She’ll figure out what it means.”

 

[Ah, shit. I’m anxious though.]

 

Yushin shook his head.

 

“She’s a hundred times smarter than someone like you.”

 

[Mes, my IQ is 139.]

 

“Yes. The person whose Mensa qualification got suspended for forgetting to pay the annual membership fee?”

 

[…Ah, right. How do I reactivate that?]

 

“…”

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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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