Chapter 30.2

Simultaneous Disappearances (2)

“However, they’re hoping that this won’t become a big deal. Since it might be an embarrassment, if she ends up just being a runaway.”

Ah. I just recalled.

That’s right. This sort of thing did happen.

At that time, the news didn’t identify Jang Man-Chun, but instead only reported that she was the granddaughter of a famous legislator.

Leaving the public with only a few unconfirmed guesses as to who that legislator might be.

Since the granddaughter wasn’t a child, and she usually caused a lot of troubles in her daily life, the initial response was lukewarm.

However she ended up being lost forever.

Or at the very least, I hadn’t read any articles about the granddaughter returning before I died.

‘So Congressman Jang Man-Chun was involved in this.’

“Whether it’s for you or for the Gogwang Group, there’s nothing wrong with having a congressman owe you a favor.”

“That should be the case.”

“So that’s why, we’re hoping that you spare some attention to this case. If you agree, I’ll call the congressman and let him know.”

Hm. Although everyone seems to benefit from this, doesn’t it feel like she’s only treating me civilly because she needs something from me?

At that moment Go Dae-Han, who had been keeping his silence, chipped in from the side.

“There is a new bill that is being introduced to the Assembly. It aims to significantly increase the tax rate on exported items, so if it’s passed, it will be of great help to the Gogwang group. The problem is that, although it has been proposed…”

Even though almost everyone in Lee Mi-Sook’s family carries a badge for the National Assembly, it looks like they might still fall a little short if it comes to a vote?

“Well, for now, I’m aware of it. I’ll take care of the case.”

“That’s good. Thank you.”

How much pressure were they under to come to me with a request like this.

Appearing satisfied with my reply, the whole family once again lifted their spoons.

It was at that moment.

My handphone started buzzing in my pocket.

Buzz- Buzzzzz-

“Go ahead and take the call. It might be something urgent.”

“I’m sorry.”

I left the dining room and checked who was calling me.

It was an unknown number.

“Hello?”

-Ah… Is this Detective Go Ji-Hun’s phone?

“Yes. You’ve got the right person.”

-This is Park Han-Dong. From the Hae-Soo case. I managed to borrow a handphone by asking the warden.

The cash I had slipped the warden was proving its worth.

Because if he was calling me like this, then it had to be for something urgent.

“You did well. What’s going on?”

Park Han-Dong spoke in a trembling voice.

-That is… I can’t get into contact with my dongsaeng.

“Please tell me the whole story.”

-I usually get a visit from my dongsaeng every Wednesday. However, she didn’t show up last week or this week as well.

“Have you tried calling her?”

-Her phone is turned off. Just in case, I even sent her a letter, but… there’s been no news at all.

Just now, we had been talking about the disappearance of Jang Man-Chun’s granddaughter, but now Park Han-Dong’s dongsaeng had disappeared as well.

I felt that something unusual was going on.

When I didn’t reply, Park Han-Dong continued speaking in an almost tearful voice.

-We lost both our parents when we were young. We didn’t even have any relatives to help us… With how we were forced to live, we couldn’t afford to make any proper friends. Back then, you asked me to call you if there was anything you could help me with, so I just thought…

“No. You did the right thing. I’ll try to find her.”

He himself was locked up in prison, and he didn’t have anyone on the outside to ask for help.

Under these circumstances, I must seem like his last hope for salvation.

“What is your dongsaeng’s name?”

-It’s Park Sae-Bom.

“Please send me her phone number and address by SMS.”

Her address should probably be in the Dongsu Neighbourhood.

I could still recall it from when I had gone there because of the Spaniel.

-Yes. Thank you, detective. Really, thank you so much. I’m begging you, please find her.

“It probably isn’t a big deal. Don’t worry about it. If there is something going on, I’ll give you a call.”

Hanging up the phone, I stood facing the window.

Since the mansion was built on a hill, I could clearly see the town below.

There were countless lights and rivers of cars.

In my gut, I felt that something was going on.

On top of that, something about the disappearance of Jang Man-Chun’s granddaughter was strange.

According to my previous life, I recalled that it hadn’t occurred yet at this point in time.

Hm. Could my slight changes to the present have caused something to go off course?

Ding-

A message arrived from Park Han-Dong.

It was Sae-Bom’s phone number and address.

As expected, it was in Dongsu Neighbourhood.

For now, I planned on stopping by on my way back, after the meal ended.

As I returned to the dining room, Go Dae-Man turned to look at me in askance.

“Could it be that something urgent has come up?”

“Not at all. Everything is fine.”

“There’s no need to overburden yourself. If you need to go, then go. I know that’s just how it is for police officers. Your job doesn’t have regular hours.”

I smiled and lifted my spoon.

I was showing him that I intended to at least finish the meal before I left.

The meal was already almost over, and my father’s birthday only took place once a year after all.