Chapter 22: Tears of the Guilty, Steps of the Hunter

When Lee Jaehyun returned to the Capital Region Police Station with Han Seona, his fellow officers inside stared at him with wide eyes.

It’s not unusual for a police officer to bring someone in.

After all, incidents can happen anywhere, anytime, and if something goes wrong at the scene, it’s only natural to escort people to the station.

But there was a problem…

The person leading the way with someone in tow right now was Lee Jaehyun.

Even though Kim Junho, his clear superior, was present, Lee Jaehyun was walking at the front, taking charge of the incident.

“This is a bit embarrassing.”

Lee Jaehyun tried his best to ignore the stares directed at him, and avoided everyone’s gaze as he headed toward the interrogation room.

It was nice to be able to take the lead in an investigation, but being the center of attention like this wasn’t his intention.

Things had turned out this way because, as soon as Kim Junho got out of the car, he suddenly pushed the responsibility onto Jaehyun, telling him to handle the case personally.

So, without even knowing the reason, Lee Jaehyun ended up leading the way.

“Well, at least I can investigate freely, so it’s not all bad.”

He shrugged his shoulders at his colleagues, as if saying it was no big deal, and then led Han Seona into the interrogation room.

The room was divided by glass covered with opaque privacy film.

After Lee Jaehyun took a seat in front of the computer, Kim Junho, who had followed them in, gestured for Han Seona to sit across from him.

“Alright, let’s start with the basics. Name: Han Seona, age: 26, residing in Hanseong-dong, correct?”

“Yes, yes. That’s right.”

With Kim Junho observing as a supervisor, Lee Jaehyun began the interrogation.

Han Seona looked around the police station nervously, and hurriedly nodded in response to his question.

Basic questions continued after that.

How old are you? What’s your family situation…

She answered Lee Jaehyun’s questions sincerely.

After giving Han Seona a small nod, he continued.

“Why did you take the Nutrient Solution from the hospital?”

“That… Well, sometimes when we’re working at the hospital and get tired, we give each other Nutrient Solutions. Of course, we can’t use the regular supplies, so we use the ones about to be discarded…”

When Nutrient Solution came up, she started explaining even things he hadn’t asked, flustered.

It was a stark contrast to her previous short answers or simple nods.

Lee Jaehyun took his hands off the keyboard, where he’d been typing her words, propped his elbows on the desk, and spoke.

“Seona.”

“Y-yes?”

He called Han Seona’s name in an unusually serious tone, setting the mood.

He had no intention of wasting time here.

Han Seona was important, but his true goal was to catch Park Chunbeom.

For that, her cooperation was essential.

In a gentle voice, Lee Jaehyun continued.

“Let me be honest with you.”

“Um… okay…”

“I’ve handled a lot of cases like this before. What do you think usually happens?”

“Most people try to deny it until the end, but later, they break down in tears and beg for mercy, asking for leniency just once. If only they’d cooperated earlier, maybe things would’ve gone a little easier for them.”

As Jaehyun spoke in a quiet, even tone, Han Seona’s pupils trembled.

Because there was genuine feeling in his voice.

Of course, Kim Junho, who knew Jaehyun had only been here a month, shot him a dubious look.

Lee Jaehyun mostly ignored him and went on.

“I saw you at the hospital, and also at the Senior Citizens’ Center. We’ve got the 007″/ and secured a Witness Statement. I’m no fool—at this point, I know everything I need to.”

“Then why not just arrest me right away? Why go through all this?”

At the mention that all the evidence was already there, Han Seona hunched her shoulders and asked.

With a sigh that seemed to say “why don’t you get it?” Lee Jaehyun answered.

“Don’t you get why I’m doing this? I’m not trying to dig up dirt just to put you away, Seona. I’m trying to give you as much of a chance as I can.”

Normally, that kind of talk wouldn’t move anyone.

But right now, Han Seona was clearly cornered, mentally and emotionally.

In that situation, and with someone familiar like Lee Jaehyun treating her kindly, her defenses inevitably loosened.

“If you just tell us honestly, we’ll do our best to emphasize that in our report.”

Of course, he wasn’t actually saying this to help her.

This was a kind of test.

If she was truly connected to Park Chunbeom’s crime, she would deny it to the end, no matter what evidence they had.

After all, this wasn’t just any crime—it was murder.

No excuse could ever earn forgiveness for that.

With that, Lee Jaehyun fell silent.

He was giving Han Seona time to make her decision.

After a brief moment of thought, she dropped her head and started to cry.

“Huk, huk…!”

At first she only sniffled, but soon, overwhelmed by sorrow, she broke down, sobbing uncontrollably.

But Lee Jaehyun’s eyes, watching her, remained unchanged.

“Wow… She’s the one who did wrong, and now she’s crying all of a sudden? Doesn’t seem like she’s really sorry, so why is she doing that?”

Se-re-hen, who had appeared, looked down at Han Seona and tilted her head.

Lee Jaehyun already knew the answer.

“It’s a miracle.”

Someone truly remorseful wouldn’t cry like that.

If you genuinely regret your crime, you carry that guilt every day.

Such a person, when the police come, feels almost relieved and confesses their guilt, not break down only after being cornered.

That’s why, just as Se-re-hen said, Han Seona’s tears held no real remorse.

She was simply resentful that her crime had been discovered.

***

A short while later, after her sobs subsided, Han Seona wiped her tears and began explaining her situation.

“I’m sorry, I really am… I didn’t mean for it to happen at first. I really tried to live honestly. That’s why I got a job at Myungseok Hospital. But I still have student Loan debt, and a rental deposit Loan too…”

Han Seona poured out her hardship and sorrow, explaining how she’d ended up committing a crime.

Lee Jaehyun mechanically moved his fingers, typing her words into the computer.

Her personal circumstances didn’t matter to him at all.

He let her justifications wash over him, filtering them out.

When Jaehyun’s patience was about to run out, she finally finished.

With a quiet sigh, he asked the last question.

“Alright. Then… your accomplice? You wouldn’t have been able to distribute Nutrient Solution at the Senior Citizens’ Center all by yourself.”

“There was someone who recommended people and took a commission. I honestly tried to quit in the middle, but that person convinced me to keep going. I was afraid if any secrets leaked, I’d be reported, so I had no choice but to continue.”

She slapped the interrogation table with her palm, spitting out the words rapidly.

Out of excuses, she conveniently shifted the blame.

Han Seona pushed the responsibility onto her accomplice.

“Is that accomplice Park Chunbeom?”

“Yes, yes! The village chief. That guy is really strange. His eyes, he totally looks like a criminal, I’m telling you!”

Having found someone else to blame, she raised her voice.

Jaehyun looked at her with a cold, emotionless gaze and spoke.

“Don’t forget that you’re a criminal too.”

Lee Jaehyun said in an icy voice as he stood up from his seat.

A completely different attitude from the kindness he’d shown so far.

Perhaps startled by his sudden change, Han Seona hesitated, but Jaehyun gave her no attention.

There was nothing more to get from her.

“I’ve heard all the Witness Statements I need.”

She had confessed, and she’d tied Park Chunbeom into it as well.

Now that he had reason to bring the man in, there was no need to be nice anymore.

“From what I can tell, Han Seona doesn’t seem to be involved in the murder. The rest, I’ll have to find out from Park Chunbeom.”

Judging that there was nothing more to gain from her, Lee Jaehyun left the rest to Kim Junho and headed out of the interrogation room.

Or rather, tried to.

“What are you all doing here?”

Lee Jaehyun let out a laugh when he saw people with their ears pressed to the interrogation room door.

Even if there’s privacy film on the glass, about half is still visible—you can easily tell if someone’s outside.

When Lee Jaehyun looked at them with exasperation, only then did his fellow officers realize the questioning was over and scramble away from the door.

“What were you all doing here?”

“Oh, I was just passing by and, uh, my shoelace happened to come undone right in front of the door…”

“Ah, yeah…”

Park Daehyung coughed awkwardly and made a nonsensical excuse.

Jaehyun just nodded, not even bothering to laugh at it.

Then he turned to scan the others avoiding his gaze.

Park Daehyung, Oh Cheol-jin, even Min Ji-hye was there.

“I thought that one wasn’t interested in other people?”

Jaehyun chuckled to see Min Ji-hye pretending to be oblivious, gazing out into the distance.

He hadn’t expected the cold one to act like this—it was unexpected.

“Ahem! Team Leader, I’ll go with Ji-hye sunbae and bring in Park Chunbeom!”

“Yeah, sure. You know I trust you, right?”

As Lee Jaehyun looked at them with an expression of disbelief, Park Daehyung coughed loudly and spoke in a booming voice.

Oh Cheol-jin nodded, then turned to Jaehyun and said, “We’ll take care of it,” clearly trying to change the subject.

Jaehyun just gave a brief smile and nodded.

“Of course, Team Leader.”

He then turned to face Park Daehyung.

If he had to pick one person in this station he could fully trust, there was no hesitation.

Jaehyun smiled broadly at Park Daehyung and spoke.

“I’m counting on you.”

“Alright, finish up the investigation and wait. We’ll bring him in soon.”

“Yes, be careful.”

Park Daehyung gave his shoulder a firm pat.

Jaehyun saluted in response.

“What’s there to be careful about?” Park Daehyung let out a quiet laugh.

Even though it was a murder case, and he was worried,

As far as Jaehyun knew, there was no one stronger than Park Daehyung.

***

With Park Daehyung and Min Ji-hye heading out to catch Park Chunbeom,

Jaehyun went back into the interrogation room, keeping an eye on Kim Junho as he finished up Han Seona’s statement.

“I was planning to personally bring in Park Chunbeom.”

It was a little disappointing not to catch him himself.

But the team members who’d been eavesdropping outside would handle it instead.

Jaehyun decided to wrap up Han Seona’s investigation.

There might be other crimes she hadn’t confessed to yet, and at this point, no one knew more about her offenses than he did.

In any case, under Jaehyun’s supervision, Han Seona’s questioning came to an end.

Seizing a brief moment, he slipped out of the station for a breath of air.

No sooner had he stepped outside than Se-re-hen appeared at his side.

“Hm, as a simple Appetizer, she was just right.”

With a sly smile, she spoke.

Apparently, she’d already devoured Han Seona’s karma.

But it seemed that wasn’t enough, for Se-re-hen licked her lips and continued.

“So, when’s the Main Menu coming out?”

“The Main Menu, huh…”

To a demon, karma was no different from a meal.

If Han Seona was the Appetizer, then Park Chunbeom would be the Main Menu.

Just as Jaehyun was drawing out the words, thinking that,

“Excuse me, officers! I don’t know what I’ve done wrong!”

“Yes, yes, we understand. Please, have a seat for now.”

Park Chunbeom was brought into the station by Park Daehyung.

As Park Chunbeom was led into the interrogation room, Jaehyun watched him sharply and muttered in a cold voice.

“…I’ll be able to eat soon.”

Jaehyun clenched his fist.

No matter what that guy was hiding,

He would reveal everything—and make sure he faced justice.