Chapter 71 – The Retired Hunter (3)
The trauma center located on the mezzanine level of the Society’s headquarters did not look very welcoming to us.
Some Hunters shuddered as if they would start a match just by seeing us.
In particular, Tia’s name was a monster, so the reaction was even more severe.
“Now, wait! Special Forces don’t know, but hunter pets are prohibited! There are quite a few monster phobic patients here.”
“Eh…”
The head of the trauma treatment center immediately dragged us out to make it look as if we had made a grand entrance.
We were moved to the meeting room downstairs, and after being scolded for a long time, we were able to get to the point.
“But why do the special forces come to our center… “
“Of course I came to investigate. The center director just needs to confirm a few things.”
I smiled bitterly and recalled the images of the hunters receiving group therapy.
As I explained last time, the management of retirement hunters in Korea is very well done.
The Trauma Treatment Center not only treats Hunters for PTSD, but also provides counseling so that they can properly adapt to society.
In fact, it is the first line that prevents hunters from becoming criminals.
I started asking questions to confirm the opponent who had respect in my own way.
“I know that the Trauma Treatment Center of the Hunter Association is in charge of all hunters in the country, is that correct?”
“That’s right. Both former and current hunters are required to receive regular consultations at the center. The association’s center is the largest in Seoul, so Alice has come several times.”
Alice stood beside her and nodded her head in agreement.
“Then, how exactly does a retired Hunter’s counseling work?”
“Intensive care begins three months prior to the completion of the retirement process, and treatment and counseling will be conducted on a regular basis even after that for those who wish. Are you here because of Mr. Jeong Tae-han’s case?”
“You knew.”
“Because they’re famous. I even used the media to publicize what they were so unfair about, but when the circumstances were revealed, public opinion turned over again.”
The head of the center vented his resentment by revealing that he was in charge of counseling for Jeong Tae-han himself.
“How hard Mr. Jeong Tae-han and his daughter suffered from the bullying from these guys, and now they’re committing secondary harm like this…”
“Well, I think that’s wrong too.”
He could have suspected Jeong Tae-han. There was a corner that was stabbed before, so it’s possible enough.
But using the media before the verdict is out is certainly a cowardly crime.
Unfortunately, my role was not to judge the cowardly crime.
The special unit is a group that arrests hunter criminals.
“Are there any Hunters who received group medical treatment with Jeong Tae-han here?”
“Yes, there are many. Group psychotherapy is definitely helpful. Hunters often form a camaraderie with their teammates during their active duty days. Knowing that there is a comrade who is going through the same pain as you is, you will be able to open up a little easier. There is much less psychological rejection than individual counseling.”
“Comrades…”
I pretended not to hear the strangely troubling words and continued asking questions.
“Then show me the file. If you have CCTV footage of the inside, that too…”
“Now, wait a minute. Are you asking me to leak patient information?”
“It is to provide information on members of the association who are suspected of being a suspect in the Hunter crime case. The special forces have the right to receive that information. It is completely legal.”
The head of the center frowns slightly at my words.
In fact, as a psychiatrist, it is natural to feel rejected.
I didn’t want to push him like that.
“If a patient commits a crime, do you think covering it up is for the patient’s benefit?”
“…That’s not it.”
“You know well. We will take care of the damage to the center as much as possible.”
The head of the center finally convinced me and came down with the information.
I skimmed through it quickly and pointed out what I expected.
“Here you are. B-rank electric hunter. I had no contact with Mr. Jeong Tae-han during my active career, but I received treatment with him several times. This person has the ability to commit this incident.”
“Wait, just something like that…”
“It’s not just that. Look closely at the counseling.”
The content of the group therapy that the two men participated in… Was to care for families suffering from school violence.
From the beginning, people who suffered similar pains were gathered together and treatment was carried out.
It was natural since it was such a treatment in the first place.
I gave instructions to Seo Ji-yu.
“Send the security team to mark this person right now, and bring Jeong Tae-han back.”
“Yes, chief.”
Alice didn’t notice yet, but she didn’t say anything for now.
If you fret here, you understand that I have to explain twice.
I almost shed tears of joy at her growth.
“Our Alice has finally become a human.”
“Don’t say anything strange…”
After a while, Jeong Tae-han, who returned to the association, was clearly nervous.
This man… No matter how you look at it, he seems to have to give up his career as a full-time criminal.
First of all, the poker face is so terrible.
I moved to a separate room and seated him, and I began the interrogation again with Alice and Seo Ji-yu watching.
“Jung Tae-han, sorry for calling you again.”
“Oh, no. In case you’re curious…”
“Do you know what ‘cross murder’ is?”
“!”
Jeong Tae-han shudders at my question.
On the other hand, Alice and Seo Ji-yu tilted their heads.
“Cross murder?”
“There is B who wants to kill A. And there is D who wants to kill C.”
I have tried to explain as simply as possible.
A and C are victims. It is convenient to remember that B and D are murderers.
“However, no matter how secretly a murder is committed, Korean investigative personnel are very good.
“…”
Jeong Tae-han lowered his head and said nothing.
I calmly continued the story.
“That’s why they change their goals and commit murder. B kills C, and D kills A. This is cross-murder.”
“Now, wait a minute. Why did you do that…”
When Seo Ji-yu shouted as if it were nonsense, Alice, who was contemplating for some reason, noticed the advantage of cross-murder.
Yes.
Cross-killing had a great merit.
That’s right…
“So you’re securing an alibi?”
“Oh?”
“That’s right. The person who had a grudge against A was B, but the person who actually executed it was D. So B can secure a clear alibi in the event of a murder. You may be suspicious as you are now, but the evidence is not caught.”
Because, in fact, B never killed A!
So no matter how many times we investigate, no evidence ever comes out.
In this Hunter crime case, that strength is even more highlighted.
Of course, cross-killing isn’t just omnipotence.
First of all, the biggest difficulty is finding a colleague who can commit murder like himself.
Hunters, at least, have a lower threshold for murder.
“Because combat-type hunters actually have the experience of killing lives during their active duty.
“Oh, no. I don’t like mocking things like that…”
Jeong Tae-han belatedly tried to make an excuse… But it was too late.
I tried to explain the scenario I expected without accusing him.
The circumstances surrounding this case are very pitiful, so I want to solve it in the best possible way.
“These are the guys who drove my daughter to attempt suicide. Of course, she would have wanted revenge. That would have been natural for her as a parent.
“…”
“But it was a very wise choice not to do it yourself. Even for the sake of your daughter, you shouldn’t have done that.”
Fortunately, Jeong Tae-han’s daughter was alive.
If the daughter had died, Jeong Tae-han would have committed the murder himself.
“After his daughter’s suicide attempt, Tae-han got in touch with a colleague he met in group psychotherapy at the center. He was an electronic hunter with a similar grudge. I don’t know which of them suggested the cross-murder, but the other accepted it.”
“…”
“From then on, it’s as we all know. While his colleague carried out the crime, Mr. Jeong Tae-han proudly made up an alibi. It was so neat that it felt rather uncomfortable.”
I don’t know how to infiltrate the school, but it wouldn’t have been that difficult for active hunters.
This is especially true for electronic hunters who can neutralize security devices such as cameras.
I gave him one last chance at this point.
“Jung Tae-han. Our investigation is not yet complete. And confession is a factor that has a positive effect on sentencing.”
“… Er, betray that friend now?”
“It’s a betrayal, and you can’t carry out the one remaining murder anyway. Do you think I’ll let it go like that? I’ve already sent the crew to my colleague.”
At this point, it’s practically impossible to call it an option.
Jeong Tae-han, who was trembling with his mouth shut, barely nodded at his persuasion.
“Anyway, Tae-han’s grudge is settled, right? Now it’s Tae-han’s turn to commit murder, are you really going to do that?”
“I-I… No. Investigator is all right.”
“You’ve thought of it well. I’ll make sure both of you get the most extenuating circumstances…”
“However!”
Jeong Tae-han finally added a few words.
He couldn’t stand the words boiling in his chest.
“Then, who will avenge that friend’s grudge? The law only cares about the position of the state, so what should we do for victims like us?”
Jeong Tae-han uses the words he heard from me earlier.
I smiled bitterly and nodded his head.
“The school violence case is also very different from before.”
“Yes?”
“Remember when I said that if a crime becomes common enough, it ceases to be a crime in practice?
Jeong Tae-han stood there blankly, not knowing what I was going to say.
I said, being careful not to sound patronizing.
“The school violence incident has already become the cause of Hunter’s crimes, so I can’t say that our special unit has no authority to intervene. I can’t do it, but I’ll do my best to satisfy you.”
“Then… Are you saying you’re going to re-investigate?”
“Let’s start by writing the protocol.”
When I handed out the paper, Jeong Tae-han took up the pen without hesitation.
Actually, this one will be a bit of an overreach, but what about it?
When a crime becomes common enough, it is not, in fact, a crime. Can no longer be punished.
The meaning of the existence of the special unit is to prevent the hunter crime from happening like that.
I insisted on my own and prepared for the overtime shift.
Yeriel will surely understand with a broad heart.
