NOVEL NEXT Chapter 86
Chapter 86
Jang Hak-ki didn’t even spare a glance at Park Cheol-gon, who greeted him with his head bowed.
His gaze quickly swept through the hall as if searching for something.
Finally, it fixated on one spot.
It was where Lee Si-hyun was.
Jang Hak-ki’s steps headed that way.
Park Cheol-gon, ignored in his greeting, stared at Jang Hak-ki’s back with a facade of calm.
Yet inside, he was boiling with confusion and anger.
Even in such a situation, he managed to keep his composure, all thanks to the cynical social graces he had developed to reach his current position.
He had experienced enough dealings with high-ranking nobles to be fed up with it.
“It’s been a while, Director.”
Jang Hak-ki extended his hand for a handshake first.
His face lit up as if he had met an old friend.
“Indeed, Representative.”
Si-hyun greeted him warmly, shaking his hand.
Watching this scene, Park Cheol-gon was taken aback, nearly failing to manage his expression.
… He ignored my greeting but goes out of his way to greet that correctional officer?
He couldn’t believe his eyes.
Could it be that the man he spoke with earlier, Director Jang, is Jang Hak-ki?
No way…
Absolutely no way.
There’s just no way a mere correctional officer would be the one to summon him over the phone like that.
No matter how hard he thought, it made no sense.
The expressions of others inside the tent were equally shocked.
Especially those like Kang Baek and the warden, who knew Si-hyun from work, were even more astonished.
They couldn’t imagine that he had connections with the ruling party’s leader based on his usual image.
And it didn’t seem like a mere casual greeting.
“I heard you finally caught Kang Tae-eun. I believe the public can finally sleep soundly now, so that’s a relief. And now the correctional officers can relax a bit, too. Congratulations.”
As Jang Hak-ki talked while shaking hands with the warden, his articulate speech flowed smoothly with a pleasant tone.
This was an unbeatable advantage for a politician.
Many politicians had solid education, social experience, or backgrounds.
But those weren’t the only important factors.
Politicians live off their images.
When it comes to voting, not many people know the candidates in detail.
The most crucial factor was the party, followed by the image.
A clean and honest image, a down-to-earth and humble image, a young and confident image… any positive image was good.
It was essential to appeal such positive images to the voters.
In that respect, Jang Hak-ki had a wealth of advantages in building his own positive image.
His charming, intelligent appearance, abundant hair, pleasant voice, tall stature with no belly, and well-toned body from regular exercise, along with adept expression management and natural smiles.
There were plenty of reasons why those entrenched in politics envied these qualities.
“It was initially our failure to transfer the suspect. I have always felt responsible. I merely did what I was supposed to do, and now you’ve come to offer kind words and encouragement. I’m truly at a loss for words,” the warden smoothly received Jang Hak-ki’s words.
He had always been good at keeping a friendly demeanor, which suited him well.
Beside the warden stood Park Cheol-gon.
This time, he anticipated Jang Hak-ki would greet him.
However, Jang Hak-ki’s political smile was only for the warden.
Ignoring Cheol-gon for the second time, Jang Hak-ki went and sat down in the seat Si-hyun had suggested.
Cheol-gon’s expression almost shattered after being ignored again.
But he wasn’t just any ordinary man.
He managed to suppress his emotions, not letting them show the surface.
He truly was a man who had survived fierce competition to reach this position.
Ironically, the detectives working beside him were the ones struggling the most.
Since they had received Jang Hak-ki’s greeting while their superior, Park Cheol-gon, was ignored, they felt as if they had done something wrong.
It felt like walking on thin ice.
What happened here would surely come back around.
What was taken from above would return below.
After Jang Hak-ki left, they couldn’t help but worry about the future.
“Alright, everyone, please take your seats.”
Jang Hak-ki said.
Just moments ago, Park Cheol-gon had been dominating the atmosphere in this space, but now it was clearly shifting toward Jang Hak-ki.
Starting with Kang Baek and Jeong Ah, people began to sit back down.
Park Cheol-gon also calmed himself and took his seat.
Once everyone was seated, Jang Hak-ki opened his mouth.
“I rushed here as soon as I heard the news that Kang Tae-eun has finally been caught. As the leader of the ruling party, I couldn’t sit idle upon hearing such great news.”
Starting with those words, Jang Hak-ki shared a few congratulatory remarks.
It was the usual bland talk a visiting politician would make.
But the conversation didn’t end there.
“But what were you all doing gathered here?”
His curious gaze fell on them.
“We were in the middle of an investigation,” Si-hyun replied as if he had been waiting for this moment.
Kang Baek nodded along with that statement.
“An investigation? At this late hour?” Jang Hak-ki looked puzzled and shifted his gaze to Park Cheol-gon.
“That’s correct,” he replied, as if insisting nothing was wrong.
That was to present it as a normal part of the investigation.
Stuttering from the beginning and admitting to some guilt would only lead to suspicion.
“Is that so? That’s strange. I understand this individual here is not a suspect but a key player in capturing Kang Tae-eun. So, what investigation could be happening at this late hour?”
Jang Hak-ki met Park Cheol-gon’s gaze directly.
His glare wasn’t fierce but carried a heavy weight that somehow felt imposing.
Park Cheol-gon averted his eyes, regurgitating the excuse he had given to the warden earlier.
“Well… this officer was the last person to have a conversation with Kang Tae-eun. There’s definitely information about the accomplice in that conversation. Now that Kang Tae-eun is deceased, we must rely on this officer’s recollection to apprehend the accomplices. We need to act quickly before memories fade.”
“Isn’t it true that enough statements have already been collected regarding this? Are you suggesting this individual might be concealing an accomplice connection within the conversation? Does that even make sense? Please remember who captured Kang Tae-eun.”
Jang Hak-ki’s voice rose.
Park Cheol-gon bit his lip, unable to find a rebuttal.
In fact, his answer had been a clumsy excuse shoehorned into an exemption clause.
Park Cheol-gon reluctantly shifted topics.
“Well, it’s not just that… it seems there are signs of assault on Kang Tae-eun as he passed away on the scene. Therefore, we’re conducting investigations concerning the assault in relation to Kang Tae-eun’s death…”
“Wait, aren’t you going to perform an autopsy? Wouldn’t an autopsy clearly establish the cause of death? Why conduct oral interviews, especially at this late hour? Is your judgment usually that flawed?”
Jang Hak-ki scolded Park Cheol-gon openly.
Park Cheol-gon, flustered, struggled to find words to respond.
In fact, it was the power that came from having investigation authority as a police officer and being the head of the Special Investigation Department that kept Si-hyun detained.
The logical support was weak.
Because of that, when faced with someone who wouldn’t budge, he found no words to counter.
“Lee Si-hyun, Director.”
“Yes.”
“Let’s end this here. There’s no need for you to be working hard here so late.”
With that, Jang Hak-ki stood up first.
Si-hyun quickly followed.
‘Damn…’
Park Cheol-gon cursed inwardly.
With the unexpected arrival of the uninvited guest, he found his composure shattered and was about to let Si-hyun go.
But was he truly an uninvited guest?
It was hard to believe, but that Director Jang seemed to match up with Jang Hak-ki.
How on earth that correctional officer had managed to build such connections was beyond him, but his frustration was boiling over.
“Uh, Representative.”
Park Cheol-gon, clenching his fists in an unseen corner, suddenly rose and spoke.
“What’s the matter?”
“I apologize, but as the person responsible here, I have some standing…”
Pushing his limits, Park Cheol-gon tried to take a stronger stance.
Normally, this was behavior he would never commit to, but his anger surged, and he let it out.
“Oh, I understand. There is such a matter, indeed. Your standing,” Jang Hak-ki smiled warmly.
“I can certainly understand that feeling, as I’ve held various duties and still do.”
“…Thank you for understanding.”
Preparations set to be shot down, he was relieved by Jang Hak-ki’s rather mild reaction.
“Director, you were at Yongsan Police Station before working at Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, right?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Park Cheol-gon felt oddly perplexed inside.
It was surprising that Jang Hak-ki was aware of his background, but he couldn’t understand the reason for bringing it up.
“How was Yongsan? Did you manage the entertainment venues well?”
Jang Hak-ki inquired casually.
However, the reaction of the person involved was anything but ordinary.
Park Cheol-gon’s face turned pale in an instant.
Suddenly, he began to tremble as if a cold wind had swept through him.
The strange behavior drew puzzled gazes from those around.
Only Si-hyun observed this with an amused grin, satisfied that his frustration had found release.
It appeared Jang Hak-ki might have done his homework on Park Cheol-gon’s vulnerabilities before coming here.
What it specifically was, he didn’t know, but it seemed utterly devastating.
From the way Park Cheol-gon turned pale and fidgeted like a man with his life at stake.
“Oh, you mentioned standing, right? Very well. I’ll respect that. I truly apologize, but definitely…”
That’s when it happened.
Shaking visibly, Park Cheol-gon bowed 90 degrees toward Jang Hak-ki.
He continued to repeatedly nod his head in that position.
His actions appeared to be of desperate urgency.
“I-I apologize, Representative! I’m sorry. Truly, I’m sorry.”
People wore surprised expressions at the sudden turn of events.
It was entirely bewildering.
Jang Hak-ki hadn’t said anything specific, yet Park Cheol-gon was apologizing with a desperation akin to someone whose feet were being set ablaze.
“Uh, what exactly are you sorry for?”
Jang Hak-ki asked, looking confused.
Even Si-hyun, who knew it was an act, couldn’t help but be astonished by his seamless performance.
It was almost like he should have pursued acting instead of politics.
How could he act so naturally was a mystery.
“All of it is my fault. I made an indiscretion during my conversation with you, Representative. Everything you said is right. I often make mistakes due to my poor judgment. Please, I beg you to show me some leniency.”
Park Cheol-gon was in a dire situation.
During his time at Yongsan Police Station, he had taken bribes from entertainment venues in exchange for tip-offs about inspections.
Having fallen into financial troubles due to stock market failures, this had been a desperate act back then, but now it cut sharply in this setting.
Were this secret to come to light, his career would be over.
He would be forced to leave behind his police uniform.
He was humiliated and desperately pleading in front of Jang Hak-ki for this reason.
“Um, I don’t understand your words. I don’t know why you’re apologizing. I suddenly don’t know how what was said about the responsible position turned into this.”
“I was foolish and said something horrendous without understanding my position fully. Please, forgive me.”
“This is quite something… Won’t it seem as if I’m oppressing the director? I believe you’ll all refrain from spreading unwarranted rumors since you all witnessed this, right? Image is crucial for a politician, after all. So, I kindly ask for your cooperation.”
After speaking to everyone around, Jang Hak-ki returned his gaze to Park Cheol-gon, who was double-bowing.
“Please, raise your head. I seem to be the only strange one here. Whatever this is, I’ll forgive you. Is that acceptable?”
“Thank you. Thank you. I won’t forget this kindness, Representative.”
“Well, this is frustrating. Let’s call the earlier incident nothing and I’ll take my leave now. Will that be alright?”
“Yes, yes. Of course. Please take care.”
Even after being told to raise his head, Park Cheol-gon still spoke with his head bowed.
Jang Hak-ki shook his head repeatedly.
“Lee Si-hyun, let’s go.”
“Yes, understood.”
As Si-hyun passed by Park Cheol-gon, he purposely turned around with a smirk.
With Park Cheol-gon in a state of stupor, he struggled to maintain a composed expression, trembling all the while.
It seemed he had scratched an itch that had been bothering him endlessly.
Regardless, this should mean he wouldn’t face any further nuisances from now on.
With his lifeline firmly in grasp, he couldn’t dare try anything clever.
“Hey, bro. Let’s go together. Come on.”
Kang Baek, who had been in a daze over this incomprehensible situation, finally snapped back to reality and hurriedly followed Si-hyun.