Ch.27Chapter 27. You’re in the Wrong

“Mr. Jinsoo. Actually I…”

My hands are trembling.

My heart pounds violently, shaking my body.

My vision narrows until all I can see is Jinsoo’s face in front of me.

Does everyone get this nervous when making such a confession?

Or am I the only one being dramatic?

I need to say it now.

It has to be now or never.

I’m worried someone else might hear us.

No, that’s why I deliberately reserved this secluded table.

“Hmm…”

I took another deep breath.

There was a hint of impulsiveness in bringing this up, but I have no regrets.

I had to tell him eventually anyway.

Now I’m truly ready.

“Actually, I work for the Department of Justice. I’m an agent assigned to monitor you because of your criminal record.”

“…”

I said it.

I finally said it.

I wonder what expression Jinsoo Kim is making right now.

Is his face red with anger?

No, Jinsoo isn’t that kind of person.

He’s probably looking surprised, and soon he’ll casually say, “Come on, don’t joke around like that.”

I slowly raised my head, swallowing hard.

But Jinsoo’s expression was…

“Huh?”

Still the same indifferent, expressionless face.

Did he not hear what I just said?

“Is that so? I didn’t know.”

“You… you really didn’t know?”

“No.”

This is impossible.

What’s with this man?

Why is he so calm?

No, it’s not even calmness—it’s complete indifference.

“Ah. Do you need to retrieve the cameras and bugs installed in my house? If so, feel free to come by anytime to collect them.”

“No, that’s not what I—”

“I won’t see you outside of that. It must be hard on you, Juliane. Having to stick around an old man like me because of your mission.”

“…”

Something welled up inside me at Jinsoo Kim’s self-deprecating smile.

Earlier I was just annoyed, but now why am I so angry?

“No. You’ll have to see me for a bit longer, Jinsoo Kim.”

“I have no intention of doing so.”

“You’ll have to. Because I know that you weren’t the perpetrator of that mother-daughter rape and murder case from ten years ago.”

“…”

I’ve said it all.

I felt relieved, but simultaneously, something sank inside me, and I thought, “Oh no.”

But there’s no turning back now.

Having come this far, I need to see it through.

With that thought, the trembling in my hands subsided, and my heart stopped pounding so hard.

“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

This time, Jinsoo Kim was clearly shaken.

Though he tried to maintain a neutral expression, he was definitely caught off guard.

Does he think I’m just fishing?

If so, I need to convince him that I’m on his side, that he can trust me.

“I told you I work for the Department of Justice. Your investigation and trial were all conducted by the military police and military court. Don’t worry. The Department of Justice and the military court are completely different entities.”

“…”

First, I reassure him by explaining that we belong to different organizations.

Though both are judicial institutions, the Department of Justice can certainly expose the military court’s wrongdoings.

It might not be as effective as a report from the Audit Office, but with enough evidence, we could create an issue significant enough to be labeled a “scandal.”

Then promotion would be guaranteed.

“I know you served time for a crime you didn’t commit. To resolve this injustice—”

“Heh… hahahahaha!”

“…?”

As if he’d been holding it in, Jinsoo Kim burst into laughter.

It was almost eerie how loudly he laughed, disregarding the stares from around us.

I could only wait silently until his laughter subsided.

“A false accusation? Hmm… Who told you that?”

“I obtained an interview with the CPO who testified at the time. The investigation had already determined you as the culprit before it even began. The entire investigation was conducted solely to frame you.”

“CPO… you mean Guided Missile Armament Officer James Cliff of the Cleveland-class?”

“Uh, yes?”

“Don’t bother looking for him. He’s suffering from cancer.”

“No, I actually obtained a recording of an old interview—”

“I’m telling you not to try contacting him again. What you’re doing right now is completely pointless.”

“What do you mean?”

Jinsoo Kim gave me a look of contempt.

His face showed resignation, as if he had let go of everything.

“You said I was falsely accused. Why do you think that?”

“Well, the investigation process was absurd, trying to frame you as the culprit—”

“And that’s evidence of my innocence?”

“…”

His bitter smile left me speechless.

He wasn’t wrong.

The military prosecutors and police definitely framed Jinsoo Kim unfairly.

But that doesn’t necessarily mean he wasn’t the real culprit.

It’s entirely possible that the real perpetrator, who cleverly eliminated evidence, was caught in a forced investigation due to bad luck.

“There was no evidence. You should have been found not guilty.”

“No evidence? I wrote a detailed confession.”

“That confession—”

“October 18th, 5 PM. I went to a villa one mile away from the petty officers’ quarters.”

With a snort, Jinsoo Kim began reciting mechanically, as if reading from a text.

There was something eerily robotic about his tone.

“I dug a hole under the back fence to avoid CCTV and security systems, and infiltrated the garden. While digging my way out, I first encountered the 12-year-old daughter, Catherine.”

“Wait, Jinsoo.”

“I first knocked Catherine unconscious by hitting her forehead with a shovel. Unable to suppress my rising sexual urges, I lifted Catherine’s skirt and rubbed my penis against her underwear. The wife, Emma, came running out after hearing Catherine’s screams…”

“Jinsoo. Calm down. That’s enough.”

“Emma tried to flee back into the house as soon as she saw me. I followed her inside and subdued her by breaking her wrist. However, she kept trying to operate her internal mobile device, so I cut off Emma’s ear with a pocket knife to remove the chip. I beat Emma’s face twenty-seven times as she writhed in pain. I placed the unconscious Emma on the table, pulled down her pants…”

“Jinsoo!”

I jumped up and grabbed his hand tightly.

Only then did his vacant gaze return to normal.

I was scared to death.

I thought he was possessed or something…

But now I’m certain.

Jinsoo Kim was falsely accused.

The confession he just recited must be the result of brainwashing by military prosecutors or police.

Otherwise, how could he remember such specific details, like twenty-seven strikes, from a case over ten years old?

“No. I’m guilty. It wasn’t a false accusation.”

“It was! You can be honest with me. I can really help you.”

“Help? Ha. You seem to be misunderstanding something.”

Jinsoo Kim stood up, his face contorted.

Though he had shown surprised or startled expressions before, this was the first time I’d seen him genuinely angry.

His demeanor was so threatening that I felt a chill, as if he might throw a punch at any moment.

It didn’t matter that we were in an upscale restaurant.

What mattered was that Jinsoo Kim had lived in such a harsh environment that he wouldn’t hesitate to throw a punch regardless of his surroundings.

“What you’re doing right now is not helping me at all. You talk like you’re doing me a favor, but this is for your career advancement, not for my happiness. I’m happy now. Fucking happy. So please, stop interfering in my life and disappear? Please. I’m begging you. Please!”

“…”

Jinsoo Kim was sincere.

He truly didn’t want my help.

I could feel his desperation, his urgency.

I… I hadn’t considered his feelings at all.

What I thought was helping him was actually destroying the precious daily life he had built.

I hung my head, unable to respond.

Ring ring…

“Excuse me.”

Jinsoo Kim turned around, taking out his phone from his pocket.

***

It was an unknown number.

But anyone would do.

Any call that could get me out of this fucking situation would be welcome, whether it was Team Leader Kim Mi-young offering a loan or whatever.

“Hello?”

“Is this Subject 001’s father?”

“Yes, that’s me.”

“This is Saint Catalina School~”

It was a voice I’d heard before.

Definitely the young teacher who had supervised Cuss’s class during the entrance ceremony.

School should still be in lunch period, so why now…?

“The thing is… Cuss has caused some trouble… If possible, it would be good if you could come now.”

Here we go.

I closed my eyes tightly upon hearing this.

Did she break some porcelain worth hundreds of thousands of dollars on display at school?

Or did she tear off the principal’s balls?

If I could choose, the latter would be better.

“I understand. I’ll come right away.”

I hung up and quickly left my seat.

If a teacher was contacting me directly, it must be serious, and I couldn’t ignore it when I had no special plans anyway.

I frantically rushed to the elevator.

Thunk!

A hand shot out to block the door.

As the elevator doors reopened, it was Juliane, as expected.

I couldn’t hide my momentary displeasure.

“What is it?”

“I was just about to leave too.”

“The food we ordered hasn’t even arrived yet.”

“That doesn’t matter.”

Juliane sighed heavily and tucked her hair behind her ear.

Damn… she’s so fucking beautiful.

This is the problem with pretty women.

Just looking at them makes your anger disappear.

So we stood in awkward silence in the elevator, keeping our distance from each other.

As soon as we reached the underground parking lot, I looked for my car.

I was worried she might follow me and try to get in the passenger seat, but fortunately, Juliane had disappeared from my side at some point.

Did she get upset because I wouldn’t cooperate?

I hope so.

What good would come from digging up something that’s already over?

“Please. Please don’t let it be something that costs money…”

I prayed desperately as I headed to the school, so intensely that anyone watching would think I was a fanatic.

Jesus, Buddha, Allah, and… who’s the Hindu god again? Anyway, the gods of Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, and the Unification Church.

Please don’t let this cost me any more money.

Paying just 30% of Cuss’s tuition is already breaking my back.

Praying earnestly while driving, I soon arrived at the school.

I hurried to the classroom where Cuss was supposed to be.

Cuss, who had been sitting quietly at her desk, turned around and greeted me.

“Jinsoo!”

“Oof.”

Cuss ran over and bumped her head against my chest.

“Hold still.”

“Ugh… what is it…”

After grabbing her cheeks and examining her all over, I was relieved to see no injuries.

At least she wasn’t called in because of a serious injury.

“So what happened?”

“Cuss severely beat up a classmate.”

The homeroom teacher pointed to one side of the classroom.

Only then did I notice other people in the room.

Two parents glaring at me with vicious eyes, and between them, a kid with a bandage on his face.

“He started it first.”

“Really? Then good job.”

You won, huh!

Well done, Cuss.

Though much younger, the opponent was a boy after all.

I roughly patted Cuss’s head.

“Um… Mr. Cuss’s father.”

“Yes?”

The homeroom teacher came closer and spoke in a voice only I could hear.

What is it?

“That child’s father is a former senator…”

“CUSS, YOU LITTLE BRAT!!! WHY AREN’T YOU BOWING YOUR HEAD RIGHT NOW?!”

You messed up, you little shit.