133.
and a few days later in the morning.
Team leader Seo In-na said something unexpected to me when I went to the office.
“Go to the police station by 10?”
“okay. It’s the commissioner’s call.”
Going to the police station itself was a frequent occurrence.
Since the special edition is under the direct control of the National Police Agency anyway, there were many things worth going to, such as visiting Sofia from the analysis team.
However, the call from the police chief was the first since the last time, after solving the kidnapping case.
“Suddenly, the commissioner asked me why… ”
“I don’t know. I haven’t heard why.”
Seo In-na said as if it were natural.
I thought for a moment about why.
Now the Commissioner of Police, Kim Jun-seong, did that man have something to call me?
There shouldn’t have been any big cases among the recent cases.
“Do you have any guesses?”
I didn’t know anything right away, so I asked.
Then, Seo In-na sighed and drool, and continued talking.
“In my opinion, that is. I wonder if he wants to entrust the case to you.”
“A case?”
I tilted my head.
After all, it’s work, so instead of calling me to the police station, shouldn’t I just give orders to team leader Seo In-na?
“Do I really need to call and talk about it?”
“Of course, this is not an ordinary case. Confidentiality intertwined, or something like that.”
Security is an important case, so you’re trying to entrust it directly to me.
If so, it was a story that made sense.
“Are you leaving that to me?”
It was strange that the target was me.
Of course, there are definitely areas where I am recognized within the police organization.
But that’s just a matter of ability.
There was no memory of building trust deep enough to take on a security-critical case that even the team leader Seo In-na didn’t know about yet.
Wasn’t it about a year or so at most since I became a police officer in the first place?
Even an ordinary company would not entrust company secrets to a new employee.
“There’s nothing I can’t entrust with Inspector Kang.”
But Seo In-na said so.
It was with a burdensome gaze that I could entrust anything to me.
So I unknowingly avoided that gaze.
“Well, anyway, it’s just speculation. The only way to be sure is to go and see for yourself, right?”
“I guess so.”
So, I went to the police chief’s office at the appointed time.
The Commissioner’s Office, where you step foot after a long time.
But when I arrived there, there were two more guests besides the police chief.
“You came on time, Inspector Kang.”
I greeted Police Commissioner Kim Joon-seong and made eye contact with the guests.
The two were not strangers.
“Good morning.”
It was Lee Hyun-ah who greeted me like that.
He was the executive director of Hwarang, an exorcist group belonging to the Hwain Group.
Meanwhile.
“… … ”
The rough-looking old man sitting next to me looked at me closely as if observing me.
I had never met him in person, but I knew the old man.
An old man in his 80s whom I have seen many times on TV.
However, the person who reminds me of an old bear, with a height that is not suitable for his age and a strong physique.
It was Lee Hyun-ah’s grandfather, Lee Seong-min, the chairman of the Chinese group.
“My name is Inspector Kang Jin-woo.”
“I am Lee Sung-min. Nice to meet you.”
At my words, he calmly nodded.
Although he seemed to be interested in me, Sungmin Lee was smiling lightly, probably not giving a bad impression.
And I checked the level indicator floating above his head.
72 levels.
Was Chairman Lee Seong-min also a former exorcist?
Moreover, it was a fairly high level, surpassing Seo In-na’s team leader.
At that age, I wouldn’t work as an exorcist, but… In the past, he must have been a fairly skilled exorcist.
“I called Inspector Kang because I have something urgent to say. It’s about these people, so let’s sit down.”
Following Kim Jun-seong’s words, I took a seat at the table where they were sitting around.
Then Sungmin Lee, who was observing me, opened his mouth first.
“Chief Yangban. Can I explain the circumstances myself?”
“of course.”
“Yes, Inspector Kang. Why did you come to this place, do you have any guesses?”
Sungmin Lee asked me with an expressionless face.
guess
If the chairman of the Fine Group is to find me personally… Is it also related to the Hwarang?
With that thought in mind, I glanced at Lee Hyun-ah, who was sitting next to me.
However, she only smiled softly and showed no sign of anything.
So I shook my head neatly.
“No, I don’t know.”
“hmm… It will.”
“… … ”
“Actually, I came all the way here because I wanted to express my gratitude to you.”
thanks?
Did I do something to hear such words from the president of a large company?
However, Lee Sung-min’s explanation continued from there.
Listening to the story, it seems that one of the dog tags I found while defeating the demons was Lee Seong-min’s.
In addition, excavation of the remains around the iron fence was started with this as a clue, and Lee Seong-min came to me as the representative of the bereaved family.
He got up from his seat with a calm expression and bowed his head to me.
“thanks. Thanks to you, I’ve relieved one of the grievances I’ve been carrying in my life.”
The one who lowered his head was Lee Hyun-ah, who was next to him.
Something unexpected for me.
Nothing bad though.
Even coming to see me like this meant that he would give me something.
So I first shook my head as if it was nothing.
“I just did my job.”
“Hey, do you know how many things there are in this world that I can’t even do? If you’ve done your job, you deserve praise. Isn’t that right, Commissioner Kim?”
“hahahaha, you are right.”
Lee Seong-min sat down again, and Kim Jun-seong casually agreed to his words.
It didn’t seem like it was because Lee Sung-min was older, but it seemed like they had a personal relationship.
Well, if Lee Seong-min was also an exorcist in the past, they wouldn’t have known each other.
“So I ask straight forward. Is there anything you want from me?”
Sungmin Lee asked me that.
To say what you want to the president of a conglomerate.
When I thought about it like this, it seemed as if I would give you a huge gift, but it wasn’t.
Isn’t the police chief sitting right next to him?
The reason why he dared to ask such a question in such a place meant that he should only say what he could legally ask for.
then… At least to the extent of novelty.
I had already seen Hwarang’s storage for new items.
There would be something useful if you searched there, but there was not enough information to ask for something right away.
So I tried to postpone the answer.
“… well”
“They say they are careful about receiving something, and that’s true. That’s a smart move.”
Lee Seong-min said that as if he knew that.
“But I’m not that kind of person, so I’ve been preparing in advance.”
“Are you ready?”
“I heard from my granddaughter that they are collecting forbidden books, right?”
At that, Lee Hyun-ah brought something wrapped in a luxurious cloth onto the table.
It was no ordinary fabric.
Apparently, a kind of magic that blocks the curse inherent in forbidden books.
But even so, if you see the black light leaking out… It seemed really forbidden.
“Are you going to give me this?”
“okay. Don’t you like it?”
I shook my head.
If it was a forbidden book, it was worth more than most sacred books to me.
New skills, of course, are related to quests.
In addition, unlike sacred books, forbidden books are spread all over the world and cannot be obtained even if you want to get them right away.
If I could get one of them for free, it would be undesirable for me.
“no. That’s enough.”
“Good thing. But why are you collecting this ominous thing? It’s not a nice thing to have.”
“I want to hear the answer too.”
Even Kim Joon-seong, who had been quiet at the word forbidden, intervened.
From that appearance, I could understand the police commissioner’s intentions.
I thought I was here because I was asked by Lee Sung-min.
He also seemed to have doubts about my abilities.
According to team leader Seo In-na, didn’t the police say that there was a lot of talk about my numerous traditions?
In addition, it was Kim Jun-seong, the commissioner-general of the National Police Agency, who covered up the controversy.
However, since he is also the head of the organization called the police, he wants to do the minimum confirmation himself.
Then I had no reason to avoid it.
It’s a problem that needs to be convinced once and for all.
This was far more gentlemanly than holding and interrogating.
“To destroy. As you said, it’s not a nice thing to see in this world.”
So I decided to show it myself.
I took off the cloth of the forbidden book in front of Lee Hyun-ah.
When the magic that was blocking the curse of the forbidden book was removed, the explanation of the forbidden book finally appeared in front of my eyes.
＜The Fourth Forbidden Book＞
One of the 13 banned books that exist in the world.
It contains the forbidden arts related to Jainism.
Only those who have practiced Jain penance can read forbidden books.
Those who do not read or touch forbidden books will be cursed and die.
“Can you find out which religious book is forbidden?”
“It’s a forbidden book in the Jain religion.”
“Hoo… ”
Looking at me who recognized the identity of the forbidden book at once, Kim Jun-seong’s eyes lit up.
From nob le mt l. com
Jainism is one of the religions of India, which focuses on enlightenment through self-mortification.
In particular, since it is a religion that values karma, that is, karma, it is a religion that puts immortality, which does not kill anything, as the first teaching.
I had my hands on such a Jain forbidden book.
Then, the forbidden book of Jainism turned into light and disappeared as if sucked into my hand.
This is the fourth volume.
not bad.
“This… ”
“her… !”
Meanwhile, Lee Seong-min and even Kim Jun-seong’s eyes widened at the sight.
It was Lee Hyun-ah who asked me the question first.
“How did you do it?”
“It is my ability.”
I then explained that some of the lore associated with the destroyed forbidden books could be recreated.
Then, Kim Junsung’s brow furrowed slightly.
“Isn’t that bad?”
He was aware of his concerns.
The only transmission that the forbidden book possessed was the forbidden technique.
And in fact, voodoo taboos extract souls, Zoroastrian taboos collect deaths, and so on.
It was also true that insidious skills were added.
But there was a reason I said that.
It was because the newly acquired skill was extremely simple and common sense.
＜Forever＞
When the skill is activated, see through the truth and lies in the opponent’s words.
“You don’t have to worry about that. For example… Now, the tradition that I have acquired through the forbidden books of Jainism is ‘The Word of Forgiveness’.”
“It’s one of the five vows of Jainism.”
At Lee Sung-min’s words, I nodded.
The five vows, which are religious obligations of Jainism, are:
won’t kill
not to own
won’t tell lies
don’t steal from others
will not be obscene.
Among them, never-ending means not telling lies.
“That means… Are you saying you can tell lies?”
“Would you like to try it?”
“It’s good.”
Immediately, Sungmin Lee asked me a few questions.
It is said that the dinner menu he ate last Sunday was lunch.
It was all just a test to gauge my ability, never to know the truth.
But I clearly discerned the truth from the lies in all of those words.
“It was right this time too. I guess that’s true.”
Lee Seong-min soon came to acknowledge the effect of my tradition.
He laughed, but quickly returned to his serious face.
“Distinguish true from false. Isn’t that a good ability for a cop?”
“That is true. It’s a skill I envy.”
Kim Junsung said that and looked back at me.
“So you’re saying you get a new tradition every time you get a forbidden book?”
“That’s it. It is also possible in some ghosts.”
“To the nobles? Hmm, that’s right. so… ”
Now he nodded his head as if he understood the story behind how I possess so many legends.
Was it an unspoken signal?
Lee Seong-min suddenly changed the subject of the story.
“Then, the story seems to have been sorted out, so let’s move on.”
“What next?”
“okay. It’s true that I came to thank you, but actually I have one more business. There is something I want to entrust to you. Of course, Commissioner Kim also agreed.”
Lee Sung-min said as if this was the main point.
It’s a case I want to entrust.
Also, the experience cannot be ignored.
It was the moment when Seo In-na’s expectations were exactly met.
“Is it an important event?”
“It is not a number that can be said to be important. There is a problem with our factory site. However, it is a cumbersome problem that cannot be solved by force alone.”
At Lee Seong-min’s words, Kim Jun-seong nodded as if he did.
So is it just a hassle?
But there, the quest button flashed.
I quickly opened the quest window.
＜Main Quest＞
– Pass Chairman Lee Sung-min’s test.
The quest content was short and concise.
However, it contained more information than expected.
The first is that this case he is entrusting to me is a test.
Even though the incident itself may not be a big deal, it meant that Lee Sung-min intended to peek at my skills through it.
And the second is that this is the main quest.
If it’s a main quest, there’s a high probability it’s related to socializing.
Then, is the reason Lee Sung-min is trying to test me has something to do with it?
“How can you take care of it?”
The quest was also a quest, and there was no room for rejection in the part where the Commissioner of Police had allowed it.
There was no need to refuse.
So I nodded.
“of course.”
“Thank you. Let Hyuna accompany you in the case. No matter how much the police step in, Hwarang can’t just sit still.”
Saying that, Lee Seong-min naturally attached Lee Hyun-ah to me.
But it wasn’t too much of a surprise to me, who already knew it was a test.
“All right.”
“Okay then wait for good news.”
The conversation with them ended there.
After leaving the police station, I headed straight to Chungcheong-do, where there is a factory site, following Lee Hyun-ah’s guidance.