It was already getting dark.

In the conference room of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Major Crime Investigation Team 1, Hyunsoo and Police Officer Kim Yoojoon are having a conversation.

“Missing? Subcontractor worker?”

On the blackboard of the conference room were photos of Sangma Construction President Seo Jinsang, his secretary, Head Manager Park Jangwon, and other related people.

Next to them, Hyunsoo opened his mouth, writing ‘Missing Subcontractor’ with a marker.

“Uh, but there was nothing special about that case either. Since the worker's nationality is not Korean, it doesn't seem that a search operation was carried out.”

A case of the disappearance of a worker that occurred a few weeks before the death of Head Manager Park Jangwon.

Hyunsoo, who put down the marker, sat down on the chair, and Police Officer Kim Yoojoon, diligently taking notes in his notebook, said while pulling the chair.

“So, the issue in this case must be why Head Manager Park Jangwon, who committed suicide, was bullied?”

“Uh. I'm sure it's because of the whistleblowing case.…… I can't find any information about the whistleblower complaint. As if someone had deliberately erased it. So we have to gather as much information as we can. Even if it may seem irrelevant, such as the disappearance of a worker, we need to look into it.”

Police Officer Kim Yoojoon nodded.

A few hours ago, Police Officer Kim Yoojoon, who received a call from Hyunsoo, investigated Sangma Construction. And according to his research, Sangma Construction, which had the shell of a small construction company, was a huge illegal company. After that, the money rolling in was hundreds of millions to hundreds of billions.

Head Manager Park made a whistleblower complaint about such a company's secrets and was bullied.

“But in this situation…… Shouldn't we think about the possibility of the case of Head Manager Park Jangwon is not a suicide, but a murder?”

Police Officer Kim Yoojoon unfolded the file he had been investigating on the table.

“If you look here, it says he committed suicide by jumping from the apartment, but it was an apartment without CCTV, and the suicide note was printed. There’s…… a possibility?”

“Under the circumstances, that should also be considered. But first, we need to find out about the whistleblower complaint. If Head Manager Park Jangwon, who was murdered and disguised as a suicide, he would have put all the pictures together. So it's going to be hard to find clues there.”

Kim Yoojoon nodded at Hyunsoo's words.

The whistleblower case that made Head Manager Park Jangwon suffer enough to choose death.

Police Officer Kim Yoojoon rolled his eyes as he looked at the file. There were no rumors or even a single article about the whistleblowing case.

“I think there is too little information……. Should I do some searching around, find someone who might know about the case…….”

It was then.

Hyunsoo, frowning, uttered a word.

“If it’s……a reporter.”

“Reporter?”

“A reporter probably knows the information that the media didn't disclose. Even a small case.”

“Then I'll quickly look for the media outlets near Sangma Construction.…….”

After opening the map app, Police Officer Kim Yoojoon turned his phone screen to Hyunsoo.

“There’s one, Jungsan Daily.”

“Jungsan Daily…….”

Hyunsoo, who was looking at the screen, opened his eyes. Then he immediately took out his cell phone and called his friend from the Sangji Police Station whom he had just met.

-What now?

“Let me ask you one more question, my friend.”

-Say it, Sociopath Inspector-nim.

“What was the name of the reporter who often visits your office?”

* * *

‘Jungsan Daily’ was a fairly large newspaper publishing company located opposite the Sangji Police Station.

Fast and accurate reporting.

Their famous iron rule was that no matter how urgent the report was, they would not give false information. And located in the center of such trust of ‘Jungsan Daily’ was the ‘Ministry of Social Affairs’.

“This is La, Lamborg……! Yah, where did you…….”

A middle-aged man fiddling with a car key with a big logo on it. He was the director general of the Ministry of Social Affairs.

The young man standing in front of him was the ace reporter Han Wooseob of the Ministry of Social Affairs.

“You know, it went well with Congressman Kim this time.”

Han Wooseob, who was looking at the director general in a neat suit, took the car key from his hand.

“Anyway, I'm good at riding the line.”

The director general expressed regret with a smack of his lips.

“It's not the line, but your ability to collect information is good.”

Han Wooseob covered his mouth with his hand and uttered a secret voice toward him.

“You know that Congressman Kim's father-in-law is a huge big shot in the private loan market, right? That person is someone who can move the gangsters…… If such a person finds out that Congressman Kim left his daughter behind and cheated on her…… Aigoo.”

Han Wooseob shook his head with an expression saying no words.

“Lambor is noble. I was going to get a house in a good place in Gangnam, but I let Congressman Kim off the hook.”

As he put the car key in, the director general narrowed his eyes and spat out the words.

“You really get hooked after that. It's only once or twice that you can touch such people like that.”

“Don't worry. Isn't there a lifesaver in this time?”

Despite Han Wooseob's words, the director general looked at him with a worried expression. Then he grabbed the director general's arm and opened his mouth.

“Director General-nim, I'll buy you an expensive coffee for the first time in a while. Or, shall I distribute coffee to the Ministry of Social Affairs in the name of Director General-nim?”

“Even if coffee is expensive, how much…….”

“Well, if you really don't like it, you don't have to have it.”

“……Don't pass it on to the team, just buy something expensive for me.”

Pretending not to be able to win, the director general was led by Han Wooseob's hand into the elevator.

After a while, the cafe on the first floor.The director general, who received the coffee, looked tired of Han Wooseob's useless talk.

“That's why I got R*lex. So Director General-nim, please has a little sense…….”

Photos taken of the internal combustion scene of a congressman, the scene of a drug party by the children of political figures, and so on.

He was a vicious reporter who used the dirty work of those in power to extort money. For him, information was not publicized for the people's right to know, but a medium to satisfy his greed.

“And important things should not be carried on the body. There's a lot of information I know, so there's always a threat to my safety. So all the information is in that expensive and safe car…….”

Han Wooseob and the director general, each hold a cup of coffee, were leaving the ‘Jungsan Daily’ building.

And behind them.

There was a familiar face staring at them from a corner in front of the building.

“His name is Han Wooseob, what he does is not a reporter, but a bully who sells information……you say?”

Hyunsoo was talking on the phone in a quiet voice. The other party on the phone was Reporter Seo Gaeun.

-I don’t know if it’s because he has a lot of connections, but his ability to gather information is definitely amazing as a reporter. There's no information he doesn't know. His name is quite famous within our company. In a bad way, of course.

Hyunsoo followed Han Wooseob across the street and continued talking.

“Then that Reporter Han Wooseob is a nasty person who uses the information he knows for his own money.”

-What, nasty person……I don't want to say that, but as a fellow reporter, I'd say he's a disgraceful reporter.

“Well, was there any difference?”

-No, not really……. However, he did not seem to be a person with a serious moral problem because he was selling information.

“……We need to find out more about that.”

Hyunsoo's gaze turned to Han Wooseob, who was sitting on a park bench.

“If he knew about a tragic incident and pretended not to know it because of money, he would be a nasty guy both as a reporter and as a person.”

* * *

“So after that, I used a bug detector or CCTV at home…….”

Han Wooseob, who had been sitting on the bench and chatting for a while, shifted his gaze somewhere.

A shadow covered the bright sunlight.

Hyunsoo was standing in front of Han Wooseob.

“……Who?”

Han Wooseob, who stopped talking, tilted his head, and Hyunsoo handed him his ID.

“Police. Can I talk to you for a minute?”

* * *

“Ah…… Sangma Construction subcontractor missing case?”

A nearby cafe.

Han Wooseob drank coffee with a sour look on his face.

“I know that one, but I know that wasn't reported…… It seems that you heard it from the Sangji Police Station. Well, they probably don't know the details either.”

As if he knew the details of the case, Han Wooseob nodded and looked out the window.

‘It doesn't seem like he'll open his mouth as easily as expected.’

Han Wooseob was a reporter who extorted money from the venomous politicians.

To him, Hyunsoo was a simple police officer, and the case in question was also the case of the disappearance of a foreign worker, which no one was interested in. He felt that he couldn't afford it.

Hyunsoo tilted his upper body forward and opened his mouth.

“Let's give and take.”

Han Wooseob slowly turned his head at his words.

“Give and take is good. But it's me giving information, what does Detective-nim give me……? Ah, now that I see it, you’re the Star Detective-nim.”

Han Wooseob, who saw Hyunsoo's face properly, smiled only then.

“Right? The police who has screwed over a lot of those high-ranking people. Does such a star police have a private life he wants to hide?”

His eyes seemed to be interested in Hyunsoo, but Hyunsoo shook his head.

“There's a possibility there, but that's not what I'm going to give you.”

“Then what will you give me?”

“How about money?”

“Pardon?”

“Give and take. I will give Reporter Han money and you will give me the information.”

At the same time as Hyunsoo said, Han Wooseob scanned Hyunsoo up and down. Then, a reasonable suspicion ensued.

“You…… have a lot of money?”

“Well, more than most people.”

“More than…… most people?”

“I'm not trying to cheat, so don't worry about that. What do you say, money and information exchange?”

Han Wooseob's head turned quickly.

“How much……?”

“50 million.”

“50 million Won?”

Hyunsoo nodded. At the same time, Han Wooseob's worries deepened.

‘It's not like a joke…… If I can really get money…….’

This was important information that he wanted to come in person and ask. The side which was desperated was that side. Whatever he did, he wouldn't lose. Han Wooseob, who was raising his eyebrows, shook his head.

“Try some more, Detective-nim.”“Then 100 million.”

“A little more.”

“150 million.”

“Detective-nim.”

Han Wooseob, who raised the corners of his mouth, spoke slowly.

“It's Sangma Construction. Looking at it roughly, it seems like you're trying to snip it completely, but if there is no limit and no interest, use more.”

“It's not sniping, it's to catch the bad guys…….”

After thinking for a moment, Hyunsoo nodded.

“Okay, 300 million.”

At the same time, Han Wooseob's eyes widened.

‘What’s with this guy…….’

He just scooped it up, but in an instant, 300 million Won came into his hands.

In a few words.

‘This is a jackpot…….’

Han Wooseob's eyes turned quickly.

‘Isn't this detective something like the third generation of a chaebol hidden somewhere?’

There was doubt about the source of the money, but it didn't matter. The police said he'd pay for the information. Han Wooseob's eyes, which were filled with greed, turned to Hyunsoo.

“500 million.”

“……500 million?”

“Yes, 500 million.”

At Han Wooseob's words, a smile burst from Hyunsoo's mouth.

An ever-increasing amount.magic

Nevertheless, Han Wooseob did not back down.

“If you don't like it, forget it. Aren't you the one who's disappointed anyway?”

Han Wooseob's attitude had already become confident. He was so sure that he had a hold over Hyunsoo.

Hyunsoo said with a troubled expression.

“Good, then…….”

“550 million.”

“Look here, Reporter-nim…….”

“Detective-nim, think carefully. If I don't have any information, can I say the price like this? I'm saying because it's enough information.”

“…….”

“This could solve all the clues Detective-nim has been looking for. No one knows this information unless it's me.”

Hyunsoo burst into laughter at Han Wooseob's guts.

“Detective, this isn't the time to laugh like that. What if I increase…….”

“400 million.”

For a moment, Han Wooseob's eyebrows furrowed.

“What?”

“300 million.”

“What are you doing……?”

Hyunsoo's lips gradually went up as Han Wooseob widened his eyes.

“200 million.”

“Loook, look here Detective-nim!!”

“100 million.”

“No, no wait!!”

“10 million.”

“W, wait! All of a sudden, the amount…….”

“5 million.”

Han Wooseob jumped to his feet and slammed on the table with a Bang!.

“Okay! Okay!! 5 million.”

“1 million.”

“N, no!! I stopped at 5 million! Why 1 million?!”

“It's up to me.”

As Hyunsoo shrugged his shoulders leisurely, Han Wooseob chewed his lips hard.

“Do…… do you think I'm going to give you information?! Uh!! That much is the price of gum for me……!”

“Car.”

“What?”

Hyunsoo's fingers pointed out the window, down the road.

“Your car, it's towed. You parked in an illegal parking area. You must have been pretty busy this morning?”

“What, what……?”

Han Wooseob's head turned sharply.

His car, which he boasted to the director general, was not just a car. It was an expensive car, but inside it was information that was like a lifeline to him.…….

“Sh*t…….”

Hyunsoo slowly raised his body at the distorted face of Han Wooseob.

“What now, would you get 1 million and hand over the information? Or would you bury the information in your mind along with that expensive car?”