Chapter 111

As Kang Jin accurately called out the numbers Bae Yongsoo was reading aloud, Choi Kwang-hyun hastily looked around himself. However, there were few people on campus on Sunday, and nobody was nearby.

“You…what’s going on here?”

Kang Jin observed Choi Kwang-hyun before replying.

“Hyung, I see ghosts.”

‘Let’s go straight to the point.’

Kang Jin decided to be direct. He chose to reveal the truth to Choi Kwang-hyun and seek his assistance. More precisely, he aimed to gain help from Professor Lim Sang-ok through Choi Kwang-hyun, as she had extensive connections within the police force.

“I see ghosts, hyung.”

Initially stunned, Choi Kwang-hyun then laughed at Kang Jin’s words.

“Dude, stop joking around. Where did you learn such tricks?”

“How can magic show me the numbers hyung wrote?”

“That’s…I don’t know how you’re doing it, so I assumed it was magic! If I knew, then maybe it would be my magic!”

“Alright, stay here.”

With that, Kang Jin sprinted away. After reaching approximately fifty meters from Choi Kwang-hyun, Kang Jin called him on his phone.

“What is it?”

“Put your hands behind your back and play rock-paper-scissors.”

Choi Kwang-hyun looked at Kang Jin skeptically before placing his hands behind his back and making a fist. In response, Bae Yongsoo raised his hand high with a fist gesture towards Kang Jin.

Despite the distance, Kang Jin could clearly see the fist and declared:

“Fist.”

Hearing this, Choi Kwang-hyun quickly opened his hand.

“Pap—”

“Scissors.”

“Pap—”

“Fist.”

As Choi Kwang-hyun rapidly changed his hand gestures, Sung Yongsoo swiftly mimicked them, causing Kang Jin to grumble while calling out each move.

“Hyung, you’re going too fast!”

“You…do you really see ghosts?”

“Yes.”

“No…wait, then how do you know what I am going to throw next?”

“The ghost beside hyung told me.”

Kang Jin’s words caused Choi Kwang-hyun’s body to freeze stiffly.

“Hyung? Hyung?”

“There is…a ghost…beside me?”

“How else would I know your moves?”

“Ahhhhh!”

Shocked, Choi Kwang-hyun started swinging his fists wildly around him. Kang Jin shook his head and approached Choi Kwang-hyun.

“Do you think a ghost will get hit by your punches?”

“I…is it still with me now?”

“Don’t worry. It isn’t malevolent.”

“How…are you not scared of ghosts?” asked Choi Kwang-hyun as he looked at Kang Jin.

“Then, you believe my words?” replied Kang Jin.

Choi Kwang-hyun glanced furtively around before answering.

“I don’t believe in ghosts but…you do.”

Kang Jin smiled at Choi Kwang-hyun’s words.

“It’s…a bit embarrassing.”

“Shut up…and can you ask that ghost to move over there?”

Following Choi Kwang-hyun’s gaze, Kang Jin looked towards Bae Yongsoo who felt uncomfortable under their stares.

“You’re abandoning me?”

“Move aside.”

Bae Yongsoo glanced briefly at Choi Kwang-hyun before stepping away. Choi Kwang-hyun, with a grim expression, stared in the direction where Kang Jin was looking - directly beside him.

“Was it…here?”

“How else would I know what hyung is doing?”

“…Keep it from coming near me.”

“Understood.”

Sighing deeply, Choi Kwang-hyun looked at Kang Jin.

“So, you claim to see ghosts?”

“Yes.”

“Then the tip-off also came from a ghost?”

Kang Jin nodded affirmatively.

“Yes.”

“And you know who the culprit is?”

“Yes.”

“Do you have any evidence?”

“The victim’s hair was hidden behind the sink in the culprit’s house.”

“Are you sure?”

“It’s as certain as it gets, since the murdered ghosts told me about it.”

After pondering for a moment, Choi Kwang-hyun picked up his phone.

“Professor, it’s Gwanghyun. Yes, I need to urgently discuss something with you. What? Oh…then I’ll come over to your area. No, sir. It’s not suitable to discuss this over the phone. Understood.”

After ending the call, Choi Kwang-hyun turned to Kang Jin.

“You wanted me to relay something to the professor, right?”

“Yes.”

“And you…don’t want others knowing about your ability to see ghosts?”

“That’s correct.”

Although Choi Kwang-hyun often appeared clumsy, he was a graduate student in psychology. Moreover, as Lim Sang-ok’s favored disciple, he had a keen eye for understanding people’s minds. Through Kang Jin’s behavior and conversation, Kwang-hyun accurately grasped his intentions.

“But the professor needs to know this information. It’ll make it easier to catch that villain.”

“I understand.”

“Then why didn’t you contact him directly instead of going through me?”

“Who would believe that you see ghosts? Wouldn’t Professor Choi be more inclined to trust you if I vouched for your claims?”

Choi Kwang-hyun observed Kang Jin before nodding his head.

“You’re right.”

Kwang-hyun had known Kang Jin for quite some time and trusted him. Although he still harbored doubts, based on their past interactions, Kang Jin was not one to make frivolous statements. Thus, despite not believing in ghosts, he believed in Kang Jin.

“Okay! Got it now. You were planning to convince me first before approaching Professor Choi, correct?”

“Yes.”

Following Kang Jin’s response, Choi Kwang-hyun made a phone call somewhere.

“Hey, brew some tea at my desk and toss it out the window.”

At Choi Kwang-hyun’s words, a window opened on one side of the building, and his junior colleague leaned out.

“Throw it!” At Choi Kwang-hyun’s command, the junior cautiously dropped the car key and wallet.

Tap! Tap!

After catching the items, Choi Kwang-hyun said, “Let’s go.”

“Where is the professor?”

“I’ll call her while we’re on our way.”

As they headed towards the parking lot, Choi Kwang-hyun made a phone call to Professor Lim Sang-ok.

“Professor, it’s Gwanghyun. I have something important to tell you. Yes? You’ve seen the news? The police seem quite urgent as well. Good timing. Yes, understood.”

Upon ending the call, Choi Kwang-hyun opened the car door and spoke.

“It worked out perfectly. The professor is currently at the Nooncheon Police Station.”

“Nooncheon Police Station?”

“It appears reporters received a tip claiming that yesterday’s arrested criminal might be the culprit. Consequently, the police contacted the professor for a psychological evaluation.”

As Choi Kwang-hyun spoke, Kang Jin got into his car beside him.

At a convenience store near Nooncheon Police Station, Kang Jin and Choi Kwang-hyun were drinking coffee together.

Ding!

The bell chimed as Lim Sang-ok entered the store.

“Oh, Kang Jin is here too.”

Lim Sang-ok waved at them as he approached, and Choi Kwang-hyun handed him a cup of coffee.

“Let’s talk over there at the café.”

“I don’t have much money, you know.”

“Yes, what brings you here?” Choi Kwang-hyun asked.

“Kang Jin can see ghosts,” Lim Sang-ok replied unexpectedly.

This caught Lim Sang-ok off guard, causing him to turn towards Kang Jin.

“You can see ghosts?”

“Yes.”

Lim Sang-ok studied Kang Jin for a moment before asking,

“When did this start?”

“About two months ago.”

“That’s not long.”

Kang Jin seemed puzzled by Lim Sang-ok’s nonchalant demeanor.

“Aren’t you surprised?”

“Are there only one or two people who claim to see ghosts?” Lim Sang-ok casually responded while glancing briefly towards the police station.

“There’s one person inside this police station who claims to see ghosts.” Lim Sang-ok raised a finger. “Can you look at this for me?”

Lim Sang-ok moved their finger back and forth while observing Kang Jin’s eyes.

“I’m not feeling sick or anything.”

“There’s nothing better than examining someone’s eyes to assess their mental state. If they’re anxious, their eyes will twitch; if they’re nervous, their pupils will constrict; if they’re happy, their pupils will dilate. These reactions can’t be hidden.”

As Lim Sang-ok spoke, they nodded while studying Kang Jin’s eyes. There were no signs of tension or unease in her pupils. Lim Sang-ok then took out their wallet, found a business card, and handed it to her.

“He’s my junior colleague, specializing in this field. Go see him for some counseling. If you continue seeing ghosts afterward, let me know.”

In response, Choi Kwang-hyun said:

“Professor.”

“This isn’t my area of expertise.” Choi Gwang-hyun responded while observing Lim Sang-ok, who was a psychology professor but admitted this type of mental counseling wasn’t her specialty.

“Kang Jin is the informant.”

“Informant?”

“A corpse.”

Lim Sang-ok’s expression subtly shifted upon hearing Choi Gwang-hyun’s words. She discreetly glanced around and leaned closer to the makeshift table.

“You reported finding a body, Kang Jin?”

“Yes.”

“The Dokgo Mountain corpse featured on today’s news?”

“Yes.”

“It was you?”

“Yes.”

Lim Sang-ok looked at Kang Jin after hearing his words and asked, “He claimed to have decisive evidence. What is it?”

“The victims’ hair was hidden behind the sink in the culprit’s house.”

Upon receiving this specific location of potential evidence, Lim Sang-ok scrutinized Kang Jin closely before asking:

“Is that true?”

“Yes,” Kang Jin affirmed.

After a moment, Lim Sang-ok inquired further, “How did you know about this?”

“A ghost told me.” Having decided to be direct, Kang Jin didn’t beat around the bush.

Lim Sang-ok regarded Kang Jin with a serious expression, suspicion evident in his eyes. He murmured, “A ghost told you?”

Kang Jin acknowledged Lim Sang-ok’s skepticism and responded, “I understand why you find it absurd. You doubt my claim, and under these circumstances, I would likely be considered the prime suspect.”

“That’s correct.”

“But during the Suwon female university student murder case, I was on a boat in Busan.”

“So you have an alibi. However, there is no connection between the Dokgusan bodies and the Suwon female university student murder case. Only…”

Lim Sang-ok looked at Kang Jin.

“It’s based solely on your tip-off.”

“I don’t know when the Dokgusan victims were killed and buried… But regardless of the time frame, I have an alibi.”

There couldn’t be any doubt about his alibi. After all, Kang Jin had barely any free time lately. Apart from sleeping for five hours a day, he spent every moment working part-time jobs.

In response to Kang Jin’s statement, Choi Kwang-hyun said:

“It would be faster to show you rather than explain.”

Kang Jin nodded at Choi Kwang-hyun’s suggestion.

“Could you please write down any number on your phone’s notepad?”

“A number?”

“Please write either millions or billions. Hyung, let’s go outside.”

Kang Jin led Choi Kwang-hyun out of the convenience store. From a window where they could still observe inside, Kang Jin spotted Lim Sang-ok. As soon as their eyes met, Lim Sang-ok subtly turned away and bought a notepad and pen. After glancing around, he moved towards the snack corner and began writing something.

Shhhf!

Lim Sang-ok then looked back at Kang Jin. Following his gaze, Kang Jin noticed Sung Yongsoo standing beside him.

Sshh!

Sung Yongsoo emerged from the door and spoke to Kang Jin.

“It’s quite long.”

“What number is it?” Choi Kwang-hyun hastily moved aside as Kang Jin stared into space.

“The ghost is here?”

“Yes.”

Kang Jin looked at Bae Yongsoo who replied,

“35623452… There’s more after this, but I can’t remember any further.”

Based on Sung Yongsoo’s words, Kang Jin typed the numbers into his phone and held it up to the window.

< 35623452… He said there were too many digits, so he could only recall these. >

Lim Sang-ok read the message displayed on Kang Jin’s phone and checked the numbers against his notepad. Surprise was evident on his face. He then stepped back again and continued jotting down notes. Observing this, Kang Jin glanced at Bae Yongsoo, prompting him to re-enter the store.

Swish!

Lim Sang-ok continued jotting down notes while glancing at Kang Jin. Bae Yongsoo stepped outside again upon sensing Lim Sang-ok’s gaze on him.

“What’s going on?”

“The ghost is beside me right now, and it tells you what I’m writing, isn’t that correct?”

Kang Jin nodded towards Lim Sang-ok as per Bae Yongsoo’s words.

“Yes.”

Lim Sang-ok shook his head, gesturing for Kang Jin and Choi Kwang-hyun to enter the convenience store. Once they were inside, he addressed them:

“What was my question?”

“‘There’s a ghost next to me, and the ghost tells you what I’m writing, am I right?’ And your answer was ‘yes’.”

Kang Jin’s words matched Lim Sang-ok’s notes. Even without checking, it was clear they were identical.

“Where is this ghost?”

“Over there.”

When Kang Jin pointed to his side, Lim Sang-ok glanced in that direction and sighed.

“A ghost…”

He pursed his lips and looked back at the notepad. In truth, Lim Sang-ok had encountered many people claiming to see ghosts before. Some genuinely suffered from mental health issues, while others fabricated stories about seeing or being commanded by ghosts to feign insanity. Consequently, he remained skeptical of such claims.

“I actually don’t believe in ghosts. If they existed, how could these wicked individuals survive?”

Lim Sang-ok’s argument made sense, but…

“I couldn’t see any ghosts.”

Lim Sang-ok looked at Kang Jin and nodded understandingly.

“Fine. For now…”

He glanced down at his notes. It was hard not to believe what he saw there. If it wasn’t a ghost, one would have to consider the possibility of psychic powers.

Shhh…

Lim Sang-ok gazed towards the Nooncheon Police Station.

“The culprit claims they saw a ghost over there… And our witness is said ghost.” Lim Sang-ok muttered quietly while stroking his chin, then chuckled. “A ghost as a witness… How intriguing.”