NOVEL NEXT Chapter 152
Episode 152
“America?”
Si-hyun looked at the Security Department Head with raised eyebrows, a bit surprised.
He had just returned from a short training session in Texas last year.
That’s why he thought this year would be somewhere else, not America.
“Yes.”
The Security Department Head tilted his paper cup and sipped his green tea before continuing.
“Honestly, I was a bit surprised to hear the location too.”
“Really?”
Upon hearing that, Si-hyun reflexively asked back.
While it was indeed surprising for America to be the training ground again, it wasn’t shocking enough to warrant a second glance.
“What do you think? Do you have any idea where it might be?”
The Security Department Head asked with an amused smile.
“Well….”
Si-hyun took a moment, pondering. Ultimately, he shook his head.
“Honestly, I don’t have a clue.”
“I thought you might guess since I said I was surprised…. Haha, anyway, this year’s training ground is the Alcatraz Special Detention Center.”
“…Alcatraz?”
Si-hyun’s eyes grew wide.
That’s when he began to understand why the Head was surprised.
Alcatraz was a prison located on Alcatraz Island in the middle of San Francisco Bay.
It had a notorious reputation for housing the worst of America’s most violent criminals.
It was also known as an escape-proof facility.
Globally, it was a famous prison, often depicted in movies, dramas, and novels.
Originally closed in 1962 and turned into a popular tourist spot, it reverted back to being a prison after the Gate incident.
The first special detention center exclusively for awakened criminals was built there on Alcatraz Island.
Korea’s Ganghwa Island Special Detention Center was significantly influenced by it.
“They asked you to inspect that place in the U.S.?”
Si-hyun said incredulously.
While they had been having regular short training sessions or inspections as part of a 20-year mutual exchange program with the U.S., that had always been the chat about regular detention facilities.
He never imagined that foreign correctional officials would be allowed to inspect a place like Alcatraz.
“Yeah, that’s why I was surprised. But you could say it’s partly because of you.”
The Security Department Head wore a mysterious smile as he gazed at Si-hyun.
“Because of me?” Si-hyun looked puzzled.
“It seems the higher-ups in the U.S. correctional system were quite shocked to hear about your achievements.”
The Head continued, gulping down the remaining green tea.
“Wouldn’t you agree? To have that many ex-convicts with zero recidivism for years would be shocking. They know it’s practically impossible. They’re proud of being a leading correctional nation, yet here comes a correctional officer from a country they viewed as a correctional backwater pulling that off, naturally they’d be shocked and interested.”
The Head spoke triumphantly.
The U.S. was one of the leading nations in correctional administration, alongside Germany and Sweden.
To them, South Korea was simply seen as a country that was struggling to imitate and catch up to advanced correctional practices.
Yet, Si-hyun had achieved what they deemed impossible.
And not with regular inmates but with awakened ones.
It was a well-accepted notion that dealing with awakened inmates was significantly harder than regular ones.
“No way, how did that get out….”
Si-hyun muttered, incredulous.
He had heard it was introduced in foreign media, but he never imagined it would have such an impact that it would circle back to influence him like this.
“Seems they’re quite interested in how you usually handle inmates and your workflow. But it wouldn’t look good if they just bluntly asked us to inspect our special detention center, right? So, they’re opening up their facilities to us first.”
“That makes sense now.”
Si-hyun nodded.
They likely came to an agreement under the pretense of special correctional facility mutual exchange since it wouldn’t look good to unilaterally request to see the facilities on their side.
“Anyway, it’s a good opportunity, so the headquarters instructed me to join the ten-member short training inspection team along with the Warden and you. When else would you get a chance to see how a country like the U.S. operates its special correctional facilities?”
“Yes… that’s true.”
“Of course, you’re going too.”
“Understood.”
“They’ll probably keep a close watch on you, so it’s best to act confidently and with composure. You’re basically representing Korea.”
“I will definitely do my best.”
◈ ◈ ◈
“Only three remain in the end.”
Si-hyun looked at the neatly lined-up list of guild members and chuckled wryly.
Two were Eun-hye and her husband, and the last was a twenty-something woman who claimed to be a true fan of Cheol-hyung.
She was the one who commented how cool their guild leader was online.
Though her skills were at the C-rank, it was still a relief that someone showed willingness to join.
“Going back to my roots and starting over might be the best approach.”
Cheol-hyung spoke with a smile.
“Absolutely. Let’s go with that.”
Si-hyun set the papers he had been reviewing down on the table.
“Oh, but Chief.”
Cheol-hyung seemed to suddenly remember something.
“Yes?”
“Since it seems this matter is wrapping up, it’s about time we find out who conducted the background check on our guild.”
“Hmmm… Do you think we can trace that?”
There’s no way a background check would have been conducted carelessly.
They would have been discreet about it.
“I’ll give it my best shot.”
Cheol-hyung replied.
“Alright, I’m counting on you.”
After a moment of contemplation, Si-hyun said that.
If someone did indeed conduct a malicious background check, they couldn’t just sit back and do nothing.
It was essential to find out.
“Understood, Chief.”
“Then take care. I’ll see you next week….”
As Si-hyun stood up and spoke as usual, he suddenly recalled next week’s schedule and paused.
“What’s wrong?”
Cheol-hyung inquired.
“I almost forgot to mention it, but I just remembered. I’m going on a short training trip to the U.S. next week.”
“Really? Off to the U.S. again?”
“Yes, that’s the plan. And to a rather special place.”
Si-hyun said with a smile at the corner of his mouth.
“A special place? Now I’m curious!”
Cheol-hyung looked at Si-hyun with eager eyes.
“Have you heard of Alcatraz?”
“The Alcatraz Special Detention Center?”
“Yes, that’s the one.”
“Wow…. I’ve heard that’s not a place just anyone can enter. You’re in for a unique experience.”
At Cheol-hyung’s words, Si-hyun couldn’t help but chuckle.
“It’s not like I’m heading to a scenic tourist spot; it’s a prison. Hearing you say that is amusing. But anyway, I’ll be sure to take care of things while I’m gone, so you manage the guild well.”
“Yes, and don’t forget to share your experiences when you return. I’ve heard it’s known as the prison of hell.”
“I feel like people in America have a tendency to exaggerate and boast. A prison is still just a prison; it’s not like we’re back in World War II.”
Si-hyun thought of Cheol-hyung’s words as mere fanciful rumors and brushed them off lightly.
◈ ◈ ◈
“Hyung… I still can’t believe it. Am I really in the U.S. right now?”
Kang Baek said, looking as if he were dreaming.
He was part of this short training inspection team and had set foot on American soil.
He always thought that training trips were someone else’s affair.
He imagined that only elite, language-proficient correctional officers were chosen to enjoy the glamour of overseas trips in the name of training.
Yet, he suddenly found himself selected to go to such a place.
“Can’t you feel the air? It feels different.”
Si-hyun said with a smile.
In fact, Kang Baek’s selection this time was due to the Security Department Head’s consideration for Si-hyun.
Since he was a key member of this inspection team, they paired him with his closest colleague at work.
Even though Si-hyun himself hadn’t requested it, the Head took the initiative to ask the Warden to include him as part of the team.
Thanks to that, Kang Baek was getting to experience traveling abroad for the first time in his life.
“Hyung, thank you! I really appreciate it. I will never forget this favor!”
It was a gratitude he had already heard too many times.
Si-hyun waved his hand.
“No, it’s not like I did anything. You should just relax; it’s thanks to your hard work as a correctional officer.”
“Me, being a good correctional officer? Sadly, that’s just not true….”
Kang Baek said, reluctantly admitting the truth.
Seeing that, Si-hyun chuckled softly.
“Anyway, just relax. Of course, with the Warden and the Security Department Head around, it might be a bit nerve-wracking.”
He remembered feeling that way at first too.
Since at least one or two high-ranked individuals accompanied overseas training trips, it was natural to feel some pressure.
It wasn’t easy to be around those kinds of people for extended periods outside of work.
But as he continued to go on training sessions every year, he gradually got used to it.
“This way.”
An official from the California Department of Corrections, looking like the characters from American dramas, guided them.
He introduced himself as James Jones.
Though Si-hyun wasn’t fluent in English, he could understand everything he said.
That was thanks to the blue earring hanging from Si-hyun’s left ear.
It was an item enchanted with translation magic.
Clearly, the headquarters was taking special care for this trip, providing such an expensive item.
Of course, he had to be careful with it and return it immediately upon returning to Korea.
Among the group, the Hunter correctional officers all wore the same kind of item as Si-hyun.
Regular citizens couldn’t use such items, so even if they wanted to, they couldn’t wear one.
Thus, a Hunter correctional officer next to the Warden and the Security Department Head was serving as the interpreter.
“We need to take a boat from here.”
James said, stopping his steps.
Si-hyun noticed the dock before him.
On the surface, it appeared to be just another ordinary dock.
However, it was notable that there wasn’t any other person around besides them.
Just then, as if responding to Si-hyun’s thoughts, James started to explain.
“This dock used to be bustling with tourists wanting to visit Alcatraz Island. But since it turned into a special detention center, you can’t just set sail without the country’s permission.”
“Mr. Jones, how are visitations conducted?”
The Warden raised his hand and asked with clumsy English.
“Visitation? Only once a week.”
James raised his finger, emphasizing “only once.”
He smiled broadly, showing his white teeth, though the meaning behind the smile was unclear.
“Seriously?”
The Chief beside them asked with wide eyes.
For correctional officers in Korea, who were often busy with visitation six days a week due to the Human Rights Commission’s recommendations, the notion of so little visitation was unimaginable.
“Haha, it’s true! Due to security concerns, we have no choice but to operate this way.”
James continued smiling as he spoke.
“Now, please board the boat.”
He pointed to a white cruise ship that looked like it was meant for tourists.
“This was specially prepared for our guests who came from afar. Originally, there was a suggestion to let you take the boat used by the inmates for a more special experience, but I vehemently opposed that. You should be grateful. I think you know enough about what kind of boat the inmates usually take….”
James made a light-hearted joke as they walked towards the cruise.
“I’m so jealous of the once-a-week rule…. We have to learn about that aspect from advanced countries….”
As he followed James, Kang Baek grumbled.
“Whoa, come on, but seriously, once a week is too extreme.”
Si-hyun smacked Kang Baek lightly on the back.
“Don’t you feel anything about the once-a-week thing?”
“What do you mean?”
“It seems like it wouldn’t be a very good environment for the inmates.”
In the U.S., the quality of correctional facilities varied dramatically from state to state.
Particularly strict states treated inmates in a rather harsh manner.
Some states even crammed inmates into facilities resembling refugee camps.
While California was known to be better than that, special detention centers appeared to have their own standards.
“…Does that really happen?”
Kang Baek tilted his head in confusion.
“Anyway, we’ll see for ourselves soon enough.”
With that, Si-hyun glanced briefly towards Alcatraz Island.