Chapter 28 …
Ma Deokho’s gaze felt like it was piercing my side.
I awkwardly turned my head toward him, hearing the “krrk krrk” sound, then quickly lowered my eyes and picked up the cat.
“Oh my, it’s vomiting a lot. Must be sick. I should take this little one to the vet…”
“I already took it last time. It’s fine. It’s just a habit.”
“…….”
“Lulu said that Investigator Lee Yuji came with both snacks and food that day. But suddenly brought it into the lobby.”
So he heard that far!
Suddenly, it felt like my vision cleared.
Right.
Ma Deokho is an animal communicator, not a communicator of gods, so he can’t guess the situation after I became Lulu!
“……But in the statement, it said that you left the food and came in with the tracking dog.”
He even read the statement.
I had assumed he was one of those MZ investigators who just put on a headset and left work early—but he’s meticulous!
But even if you’re bitten by a tiger, you survive if you keep your wits about you.
I’m not very good at speaking, but if I make something up carefully…
“Are you… in some kind of information guild?”
“Huh?”
Ma Deokho, showing a disinterested expression, took the cat from me again and placed it on the flower bed.
“Or did you make some sort of deal with Team Leader Kwon?”
“……Uh… well…”
He’s misunderstanding things.
He’s even considering the possibility that the statement itself was contaminated.
But I didn’t have anything to say to clear up that misunderstanding, so I stayed silent.
“It doesn’t matter.”
Ma Deokho spoke calmly, looking at the flower bed.
“Investigators who enter the Criminal Investigation Unit usually have some kind of backstory. And people obsessed with results tend to have even more.”
“Oh. I see.”
So that’s the direction.
A secretive investigator who entered the unit with a purpose. Someone who probably takes on undercover work for higher-ups and even risks their life to achieve their goal… perhaps revenge or something like that.
‘Oh… that sounds kind of cool.’
I’m not like that at all, but I’ll pretend.
“T-Thank you.”
When I bowed, Ma Deokho glanced at me like a slightly broken person, unsure where to place his eyes. The atmosphere quickly became awkward again.
Emotional conversations are difficult. Got it.
“You know, if a spot opens up in Team 1, consider transferring there. Staying in our team might make you… stand out too much.”
He rested his chin on his squatting knees.
“……Team Leader worries about you. Investigator Lee Yuji. A lot.”
“……!”
“Also, because you’re partners.”
The word “also” made me frown.
I see. The person who died back then was a partner too. And this time—
‘He’s worried I might die.’
“You don’t look worried at all.”
“Well. You just don’t show it.”
Ma Deokho said this and stood up.
“Oh, by the way.”
“Yes?”
I had developed a small sense of respect for him, so I looked up at him with bright eyes.
“Should secrets be kept for free?”
“……Huh?”
“I think when dealing with people at work, it’s better to keep accounts clear. I even bought bandages and ointment for you. That totals 6,000 won.”
Respect: canceled.
I reached into my pocket to pull out my wallet.
“Keep the money. The cat’s gone.”
Ma Deokho pointed at the cats on the flower bed.
“There were originally five. Now there are four.”
“Uh… but why are you telling me…?”
Wouldn’t it be faster to ask someone like Senior Lulu? She’s an animal communicator!
“A man in his 50s, estimated, who entered the Criminal Investigation Unit, took it.”
“Then maybe the investigator adopted it…”
“But why only one?”
True, but even if it’s suspicious, asking me won’t solve anything.
He pointed toward the CCTV near the flower bed.
“That. You can see it, right?”
“Me?”
“Because you have something with Team Leader Kwon.”
Ma Deokho said in a low voice.
“……!”
Ah, right. I’m playing the role of a secretive investigator right now.
“If you confirm that person’s identity, I’ll keep the secret.”
Ma Deokho returned with a mechanical expression and put on his headset.
“Lunch break’s over, so I’ll get going.”
A Ma Deokho Quest Begins
Is this what it feels like in a quest window?
Side Quest: “Find the Black Kitten!”
Reward if completed: Secret maintained
Penalty if failed: Caught by Team Leader Kwon, re-investigated, secret skill revealed, or worst-case scenario, accused as an accomplice to the terrorist
Time limit: Whatever Ma Deokho decides
Ugh.
I currently have 700 million won in my account through illegal channels and will soon receive another 300 million legally—and now I get this quest from Ma Deokho?
The only good thing is that, since I’m temporarily excluded from work, I have plenty of free time.
The other team members were out on tasks or in the investigation room, swamped with work I unexpectedly brought in. Meanwhile, I sat alone in the office thinking.
How can I check the CCTV without raising suspicion?
‘I have no clue…’
At that moment, a message popped up in the lower-right corner of the screen from Hamina.
Hamina:
Hunter Ji Won-gil was investigated and released. No suspicious points were found.
It was a message informing me about the investigation of Hunter Ji Won-gil, which Team 1 had handled.
This Kevin Choi illegal fighting ring case required coordination with Team 1. Since Team 1 had handled the Geumho-dong case, they had all the information about how Kevin Choi illegally distributed monsters.
‘Kevin Choi was summoned first to secure the person.’
Therefore, Ji Won-gil had given a statement once to Team 5 and once to Team 1. Hong Ban-jang told me there’d be no problem, but I contacted Hamina just in case.
Thank…
Ah, wait.
Should I probe a little?
While I was thinking, another message arrived.
Hamina:
If you have any other requests, please let me know. I’ll help as much as I can. Thanks to you, Team 1 is basically out of crisis. Really… thank you.
This is… such a good opportunity.
“Can I check the backdoor CCTV of the Criminal Investigation Unit building?”
“CCTV?”
If asked why, I can say I want to check the footage of a terrorist entering the backdoor on their first day.
If asked why, I can say I want to look for traces of accomplices!
Create the atmosphere that something’s up.
“Cognitive investigation.”
I just learned the power of that phrase!
…It’s all about momentum!
Just then, Hamina’s message appeared:
Hamina:
I’ll tell the support team in the data room. But you may have to come with me. Is that okay?
Huh? Without asking why?
