The Rogue, Genius, Chaebol's Daughter is a Baby Master Detective! - Chapter 1

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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A Fool, a Genius, and the Daughter of a Tycoon Walk Into a Baby Detective!
Episode 1
A black limousine pulled to a stop in front of a shabby one-room apartment building.
The man who stepped out from the rear seat surveyed the structure, and a hairline crack of displeasure appeared across his otherwise expressionless face.
“Living in a place this rundown? I need to get a Black Card made for my baby right away.”
‘My baby, he says.’
Park Secretary suppressed a shudder and bowed his head.
“Yes, I’ll see to it at once.”
Kang Tae-jun clicked his tongue and adjusted his already-pristine suit jacket again.
“Does this make me look like a father?”
“I—yes, sir.”
Park Secretary answered reflexively, but confusion bloomed in his chest.
Was it really Kang Tae-jun—the man who never lost his composure in any negotiation—asking if he looked like a father just now? What did that even mean?
Oblivious to Park Secretary’s bewilderment, Kang Tae-jun wore a satisfied smile as he was about to enter the building, when a loud engine roar shattered the moment.
Screech.
A red sports car veered out of the parking area and came to a hard stop at the alley entrance.
As a man descended while removing dark sunglasses, Kang Tae-jun raised one eyebrow.
The man was strikingly, flamboyantly handsome—Lee Hyun-woo, CEO of South Korea’s largest entertainment company. At the sight of the piercings dangling from his ears, Kang Tae-jun’s lip curled.
“Park the car properly.”
Lee Hyun-woo ignored the remark and pointed accusingly as he shouted.
“What are you doing here?”
“That’s what I was about to ask you.”
“You’re not seriously claiming Ha-ru is your daughter, are you?”
Kang Tae-jun’s brow furrowed.
“Ha-ru is my daughter. If you’re going to spout nonsense, then get lost.”
“Jang Mi told me I was her father!”
“She said the same to me.”
“You’re engaged anyway. You’re not actually thinking of leaving Ha-ru with that woman, are you?”
“I’m breaking the engagement.”
“Is that really something you can decide so easily?”
Lee Hyun-woo glared at Kang Tae-jun, then suddenly whipped his head toward the building. He swept his bangs aside irritably as he spoke.
“You’re raising a kid in a dump like this?”
As Lee Hyun-woo habitually reached for his pocket in search of cigarettes, Kang Tae-jun let out a contemptuous laugh.
“You’re actually looking for cigarettes? And you call yourself a father?”
“I’m quitting.”
He nervously stuffed the cigarette he’d retrieved back into his pocket.
When he looked up, Kang Tae-jun was already striding purposefully toward the building entrance.
“Hey, wait! I’m her father!”
Lee Hyun-woo hurried after him, but a silent electric vehicle glided into view, hovering in front of the sports car blocking the alley entrance.
The commanding presence drew both men’s eyes toward it.
They recognized the car. That vehicle from T Corporation, the global tech giant that had made such fanfare about producing only three units worldwide.
The man who stepped out of the electric vehicle came rushing forward in a fluttering checkered shirt, but stopped short when he spotted two men blocking the building entrance.
At the same moment, sound spilled from a tablet tucked under the man’s arm.
“It’s important to discipline with both kindness and firmness. Consistent educational methods….”
The man, adjusting his crooked horn-rimmed glasses, opened the tablet and pressed the pause button before speaking.
“Please make way for me.”
“Where are you going?”
Lee Hyun-woo’s sharp question prompted a response.
“…To see my daughter.”
The moment the horn-rimmed man tried to pass, hands from both sides shot out and gripped his shoulders.
“Hold on—is your daughter’s name Ha-ru by any chance…?”
Three men stood in silence, studying one another.
“Were you contacted by Jang Mi as well?”
Gong Dae-in, the man with the horn-rimmed glasses, adjusted his spectacles and began to speak slowly.
“If you know Jang Mi, who went missing five years ago, there’s a high probability you were someone close to her. However, it seems you have no interest in learning who you are. Were you to pursue such curiosity, you would likely forfeit a considerable amount of time. So, would you please step aside?”
They regarded one another with an odd intensity.
The moment each realized the others were competing to be her father, all three began scrambling up the stairs in a chaotic race.
***
“Mom! Look, there’s a dumpling stall over there! Can Ha-ru go eat one too?”
The child bounced excitedly at the smell of grilling dumplings, her plump cheeks flushed and her eyes sparkling with eager anticipation.
Yet Jang Mi spoke with unwavering resolve, not batting an eye.
“Ha-ru, you can’t run in the Mart.”
Jang Mi, who had been loading items into the cart, turned and stopped short. The child’s soft, bare hand pointing at the sampling corner was fully exposed.
“Ha-ru, where are your Gloves?”
“Huh? I dunno. I lost ’em.”
Ha-ru clasped both hands together and squirmed innocently, then sneaked a glance at her mother.
Her eyes drifted slyly toward the trash bin behind her mother.
She’d only meant to take them off for a moment when it got hot and stuffy and her mother wasn’t looking—but they’d accidentally fallen straight into the bin.
It definitely wasn’t Ha-ru’s fault on purpose!
“I told you to wear your Gloves at all times, even when it’s hot.”
When her mother’s expression turned stern, Ha-ru flinched and her shoulders trembled.
“Ha-ru has a special ability. When your hands touch something, you can know many things about it. But I like Ha-ru being normal. So you have to wear your Gloves always, understand?”
Her mother had said Ha-ru’s Genius must never be discovered, that she must always wear Gloves—but that special ability her mother spoke of had never actually appeared even once.
‘Ha-ru is five years old now and understands perfectly well how the world works!’
A while ago, she’d heard some woman on television say something.
“When kids are young, every parent thinks their child is a genius.”
According to that woman, her mother had caught a case of ‘my-child-is-a-genius syndrome’!
“This won’t do. Let’s go home and get your Gloves, then come back.”
Ha-ru’s face crumpled.
“But if I just don’t touch anything, it’s fine, right? Ha-ru will be real careful, I promise?”
Ha-ru grabbed the hem of her mother’s clothes. Just as Jang Mi’s heart was about to soften at those large, pleading eyes gazing up at her…
Jang Mi’s eyebrow twitched as she noticed something.
“Ha-ru. What’s this.”
Ha-ru’s eyes darted away. The Chocolate Puff Snack she’d hastily hidden in the corner of the cart was now in her mother’s hand.
“Ha-ru doesn’t know anything! Someone must’ve given it to me as a present!”
Her skill at playing innocent was flawless. Jang Mi flicked her gently on the forehead. “You ate one yesterday.”
—
“Ow.”
Ha-ru whimpered and rubbed her forehead with both hands. Then she peeked at her mother’s mouth.
When Mommy’s lips got that straight line, no amount of pleading would help.
Taking the Chocolate Puff Snack, Ha-ru dashed toward the snack aisle, calling out as she ran.
“I’ll put it back right now!”
Just as she was rounding the corner—
Crash!
Her foot caught and she tumbled hard. Ha-ru’s bare hand, no longer holding the Chocolate Puff Snack, landed on something soft and furry.
Flash.
A brilliant light erupted, and a massive Magnifying Glass materialized, hovering above a scraggly puppy.
‘Isn’t that the Magnifying Glass the Baby Detective used to carry?’
Ha-ru yanked her hand back in shock, her mouth falling open.
At the same moment, transparent words cascaded down from above her head.
Whoosh—
[Ha-ru’s Case Notebook]
Case Alert♪
A puppy separated from its sister is scared
☞Help the puppy
☞Just pass by
Ha-ru reached out as though entranced.
Ding♪
☞Help the puppy
At the same moment, the Magnifying Glass doubled in size.
Gathering additional information…
Suddenly her head prickled and the world spun.
Her perspective shifted downward in an instant.
A warm hand stroked her head.
“Choco, wait just a moment. I’ll go buy your favorite snack.”
The beige skirt of the ‘older sister’ disappeared beyond the Mart’s entrance. Her tail trembled nervously as unfamiliar people rushed past and strange smells filled her senses. Then.
Vroom—
The shadow of a massive truck bore down toward her.
I’m scared—!
“Oh no, the puppy’s running away over there!”
“Shouldn’t we catch it?”
Ha-ru struggled desperately, broke free from the leash, and bolted into the Mart. The lights blazed bright and the aisles swarmed with shoppers, but her sister’s scent was nowhere to be found.
Where could her sister be?
The fleeting memory from the dog’s perspective sent Ha-ru’s heart thudding against her ribs.
‘So this is the ability Mom was talking about!’
Ha-ru really was a Genius!
Ha-ru shook her head to clear it, then reached out cautiously toward the puppy.
“Don’t worry. I’ll find your sister for you.”
The puppy licked the back of her hand as if it understood every word.
Baby Detective Ha-ru’s First Request♪
Requester: Choco
Please Find My Guardian
Ha-ru cradled the puppy carefully and glanced around, searching. From the memory she’d glimpsed, Choco’s sister had long hair and wore a beige skirt.
And since she’d mentioned going to buy Choco a snack….
“I’ve got it!”
Ha-ru set off with determined steps.
“Hmm….”
But when she finally reached the dog snack aisle, it was empty.
“Maybe she already bought it and left.”
At times like this, the famous Baby Detective Dodo would push up his glasses to hunt for the next clue—but unfortunately, Ha-ru had no glasses to adjust.
Just then, the puppy’s nose twitched and her tail wagged. Ha-ru shifted Choco in her arms and asked.
“What? You smell your sister, Choco?”
Woof!

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