192 – 192. Voluntary Appearance (1)
What is the logic of a company? If you ask entrepreneurs that question, you’ll probably get several answers, but the answers will naturally boil down to one principle.
In the end, it is said that a company moves according to profits and losses.
In that sense, Yeo-il came up with a very ‘corporate’ countermeasure against Min Chae-ryeong’s threats.
While she accepts her request, she covers up the crime and erases the traces with time. On the other hand, she investigated Min Chae-ryeong and Ahn Su-ho more closely, and dug up and dug up how she found out those crimes.
In the meantime, according to Yeo-il’s acceptance of the request, the situation of the police’s investigation into An Su-ho also changed significantly.
The number of people assigned to the investigation is reduced. Like instructions from the upper level to prioritize other cases. Or there are voices coming out here and there saying that there is no need to re-detain him after he has already been released after safety verification.
The front-line detectives instinctively felt the changes that were not revealed on the outside but were clearly visible inside.
It’s open.
It seems that the higher ups decided to bury this matter.
The lack of police power was a more prominent problem in the , Where the violent crime rate was higher than on Earth due to the existence of ‘Superman’. Because of this, if you assign the insufficient number of people, some cases are relatively alienated, and there were many cases that ended abruptly while others were not interested in it.
And there were a lot of attempts to bury the case from the top using that point. Detectives also knew that this was nothing special.
If at all, if it were clear that this case was a heinous crime, at least some detectives with a sense of justice would have tried to investigate on their own.
However, this case was, anyway, for now, anyway, it was closed once. Apart from public voices calling for re-arrest, there were already several verification materials on Ahn Su-ho and Silbi within the police.
A professional agency’s verification that the actual expenses are completely under the control of Ahn Su-ho, and there is no concern that they will run out of control any more.
In other words, from the point of view of the police, it was a situation where they were re-examining what had already been done. Among those who participated in the investigation, there were those who thought that they were wasting manpower in the middle of their busy schedule, and the change in attitude of the upper management served as a catalyst to further reduce their motivation.
Thanks to that, the investigation into Ahn Su-ho went into obsolescence faster than Min Chae-ryeong expected. It became famous, but…….
“Once the re-investigation has started, it will be impossible to do something that never happened.”
“You know it well. It is not an institution of omnipotent power. You can start a fire on dry wood or control the direction it spreads, but you cannot extinguish a fire that has already burned.”
At the end of midsummer, Ahn Suho nodded. He also had exactly the same idea.
“Besides, there must be some in the police who are still suspicious of me, who has been missing for two weeks. Therefore, in order to get rid of doubts and return to normal life, it would be better to get caught once…….”
“If you intend to appear voluntarily, it is better to wait a week or two longer. By that time, not only the police, but also the media and the public would have lost interest in it.”
“Even Yeoil said that. I will guide you in the direction of releasing them after a simple test or experiment after they are only formally restrained. It’s probably a repetition of the procedure you were given when you were first arrested.”
“Is there a possibility that Yeo-il will change his words?”
“As an entrepreneur, if you are well-informed, you won’t. I heard that Seong Yu-jin will also be stripped of his directorship as a punishment for this incident, but wouldn’t it be okay?”
“Yes. She mentioned that list, and I can’t help but be intimidated.”
A deep smile hung on Midsummer’s lips.
Midsummer also had the list Min Chaeryeong presented to Yeoil for intimidation. Therefore, just like Min Chae-ryeong did, it is said that she can also threaten Yeo-il.
Of course, in the meantime, Yeo-il will cover up the traces of her crime as much as possible, but she only used half of the list Min Chae-ryeong used to blackmail her. Only Ahn Soo-ho and Han Yeo-reum knew the remaining half, and An Su-ho had no intention of using it, so everything was no different from Mid-summer’s hand.
“By the way, if I were to wait another two weeks from today… …. By the time you leave here, the academy must have finished its semester.”
At those words, Ahn Suho wondered if time had already passed that way. Since he is living in a secluded villa, he seems to have lost his sense of time.
‘It deserves it. Even though I’ve been busy up until now, I’ve been very busy.’
Ahn Suho’s life has been a series of incidents since his possession. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the so-called world revolved around him. However, for the past month or so, most of the places where Ahn Soo-ho has been have been places away from the center of the world, such as inside a detention center or a villa.
Of course, even without Ahn Su-ho, the world moves on its own.
Midsummer’s End The academy entered the final exam period, and Kang Ha-neul was also eager to prepare for the final exam. Kang Ha-neul called Ahn Soo-ho once a day unconditionally, and most of the topics she brought up were about preparing for the arduous and exhausting exam. In particular, the scope of the theoretical subjects is so vast that it makes your head explode.
It was Ji Ye-Won who helped her this time as well. Ji Ye-won was wary of being exposed to the media and diligently worked at her part-time job, while occasionally taking care of Kang Ha-neul’s studies whenever she had free time. At that time, Kang Ha-neul, even though her pride was hurt, she had no choice but to depend on Ye-Won Ji, and Ye-Won Ji showed condescension to that fact every time she called and boasted that she would one day double or triple. Used to
Meanwhile, Seol Ah-hyun was in the middle of preparing for an S-class dungeon attack that appeared in the middle of Seoul around May 20th. She was still worried about An Su-ho, but as a guild master, she couldn’t just care about An Su-ho. Still, asking after him once every two days was just a thank you to Ahn Su-ho, who lived alone in a secluded remote area.
Unlike Ahn Su-ho, who stopped in one place, everyone else was living their own life.
Xiao Mei finally boarded a stowaway flight to Japan a few days ago, and except for when she comes to see Ahn Su-ho once every few days in mid-summer, she has been busy with academy and guild internships and company work.
Min Chae-ryeong continued to extort various interests from Yeo-il through threats under the guise of negotiations, and Chae-yeon, who lost a partner named Ahn Su-ho, temporarily formed a two-man cell with Lee Tae-ho and got along well, but sometimes as if he missed An Su-ho Looking at the vacant seat, she wept.
“Then I’ll just go. The next one will probably be around the weekend.”
At that time, Han Yeo-reum stood up, leaving Ahn Soo-ho behind, who was soaked in thoughts. It was late at night, so you can sleep here today, but she said that she had her job from tomorrow morning and that she would go up to Seoul right away.
Nevertheless, is it her own consideration that she continues to take time to meet Ahn Su-ho, or is it an expression of interest that she covets him?
“Ah, come to think of it, Winter asked me to deliver it. ‘Let’s see. I really will win this time.’ It could have been said over the phone, but why did you bother to tell me about it?
With those words, Midsummer waved her hand without regret and left the villa, as if her business was finally over. Ahn Su-ho looked at her back and chewed on her midwinter message.
‘This time I really win… ….’
Even though he thought it was a relief that Midwyeol seemed to have come out of frustration, An Su-ho felt that her real world was busy leaving him behind.
And in the midst of that, the thought that he was the only one standing still.
Of course, I didn’t just kill time by doing a pastime just because I was Ahn Soo-ho. Even while living in seclusion, he did not miss a single day of basic training, and he also added practice to deal with primordial silver. The Frost Spirit was still silent, but during the two weeks of seclusion, Ahn Su-ho was clearly moving forward little by little.
However, the reason why he feels nervous is probably because the flow of time that flows helplessly is so fast.
‘There won’t be any dangerous events until the final exams of the first semester, but from around the vacation, the villains will start to work in earnest.’
Such as encountering monsters on a summer vacation trip. Like a confrontation with a foreign spy who infiltrated the academy.
Among them, the climax was the episode of ‘Bloody Winter Vacation’.
Starting from the 213th episode of the original work, Is the starting point where the drift begins in earnest.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that all of Ahn Su-ho’s actions were exaggerated and he was preparing for the winter vacation. Ahn Su-ho couldn’t even easily imagine how much more insane the episode in which a lot of people were dying would go crazy because of the Heavenly Demon of Pleasure.
‘No matter how much I know the details of the development, he will cause unexpected incidents to piss me off. If you think about it, the fact that the academy stayed quiet while I was here is nothing short of a miracle.’
The quest window that was strangely quiet during the detention center and secluded life.
Ahn Soo-ho was relieved by that fact, but worried that this might be the calm before the storm, a harbinger of a great crisis to come. Besides, he could have rushed to the academy in case of emergency now that he is confined to a villa, but if he is arrested by the police, even that will be impossible for the time being.
‘In case you don’t know, I should inform Haneul in advance about the development of the summer vacation and precautions.’
Thinking so, Ahn Suho picked up his smart phone. Soon, the three letters of Kang Ha-neul’s name appear on the screen.
‘If things go well, I’ll be released before July, but just in case.’
Suho Ahn called her as she swallowed her anxiety coming up quietly.
And time goes by.
Two weeks later. June 15th.
Thousands of people were walking in front of the Seoul Jongno Police Station, where the investigation headquarters for the concealment of the parasitic monster was set up. Ahn Su-ho, wearing a mask and a hat pressed down, passed through the busy people and entered the police station.
At Suho Ahn’s suspicious appearance, several policemen’s eyes turned to him. But that gaze did not last long. Most thought that Ahn Su-ho was a suspect who was present for a minor misdemeanor or a citizen who came to make a statement.
Thanks to that, Ahn Soo-ho was able to reach the reception desk at the police station without being disturbed by anyone. Nam-gyeong, who was sitting at the reception desk, asked at his suspicious-looking appearance.
“What are you here for?”
“I am voluntarily appearing.”
“Yes?”
Ahn Soo-ho took off his mask and hat as he looked down at the police who questioned him in surprise.
“Wait, wait, you can’t-!”
It didn’t take long for the bewildered police officer to remember the face of the suspect in a tumultuous incident about a month ago.
***
-Tiriririri.
Sung Eugene’s office located at the headquarters of the Winter Alliance.
Seong Yu-jin, who was burying herself in a chair and closing her eyes at the cell phone ringing loudly, gently raised herself up. After a few days, he began to feel gloomy, and he answered the phone with weak movements.
“…… What’s going on, Inho-san?”
– Director. Ahn Soo-ho appeared.
-Break!!
At Park In-ho’s words, Seong Yu-jin jumped up from her seat.
“Where is the place?”
-Seoul Jongno Police Station. According to the official, he came to embroider himself.
“Embroidery… …. I bet it is. As long as you can’t cover up the investigation that started once, you will have no choice but to return to society.”
Sung Yu-jin, who roughly estimated the situation, immediately prepared to go out. Sensing that sign, Park In-ho asked cautiously.
– Director. Do you really intend to lay your hands on Ahn Su-ho? At the last board meeting, wasn’t it decided that there would be no further involvement with Ahn Su-ho?
“Inho. Have I ever done anything harmful to Winter Alliance or Free Days?”
-Absolutely never. But Mr. Director, the case is different this time. To go against the decision of a secret board is tantamount to protest….
“As long as it doesn’t harm the company, they will condone it.”
Even with Park In-ho’s dissuade, Seong Yu-jin’s will was firm. As he left his office, he ordered Park In-ho.
“Inho. I’m going to the lab from now on. You should prepare the things I talked about last time without a hitch.”
-…… I don’t know why the director is so obsessed with primordial silver, but if that’s the director’s order, I’ll follow it.
“Let’s see it in the underground parking lot.”
With those words, the call ended. Seong Yu-jin headed for the underground parking lot with unstoppable steps.
‘I will make up for the mistakes I made.’
Those eyes burned with her blazing will, just as they did when the secret board ended.
***
At the same time. There was another person who received a report from her subordinates that Ahn Su-ho appeared like Seong Yu-jin.
“…… Aegis. They say the target has appeared.”
In a dark room with only a brightly lit monitor as the light. The member of the Dawning Corps, who was ordered to take care of the Aegis, spoke cautiously to him as he fixed his eyes on the monitor. However, Aegis’ gaze did not know how to leave the monitor.
-…… ! ………… !!
On the monitor, a recorded live video of singer Miya, an avid fan of Aegis, was playing. Hearing the loud music leaking through her headset, she wondered if he hadn’t heard her, so she spoke to him again.
“Aegis-sama. The intelligence department contacted that the target who stole the silver from the beginning appeared-“
“Hey.”
The subordinate, who was urging him to speak, had no choice but to shut his mouth at the bleak voice that leaked out of his mouth. Aegis stopped playing the video and looked back at his subordinate with burning eyes.
“Do not disturb. Unless you want to die.”
Aegis, who threatened without taking off his headset, focused his eyes on the screen again. Seeing that he was like an otaku, even though his momentum was bloody, the low-ranking member let out a deep sigh without realizing it.
‘f*ck. I can’t eat it, really.’
It was the moment when he first felt skeptical about his life as an organization after devoting himself to the Dawning Corps in accordance with a burning sense of mission.