Ten minutes later, Jung was sitting down in one of the chairs of an unused classroom and facing the two People's militias. One was a grizzly veteran who barely spoke but smoked like a chimney. He’ll start one, and then his partner will chide him, so he throws the cigarette away, only to start another one absentmindedly a few minutes later. He wore the normal brown uniform of the law enforcers, but he wore it in such a way that he could barely be bothered to fix it. One side of his collar is tucked under his neck, while the other side is folded up. Either way, his uniform stanks of old cigarette smoke, and there are small red stains on the side of the old jacket. Jung simply hopes that the stain is just ketchup and nothing more sinister.

The other one, who is facing Jung, is almost his partner’s opposite. His brown uniform is immaculate and well-pressed. His slick hair is well-brushed back cleanly, and if not for Jung’s high observation skills, he wouldn’t notice that the guy is wearing light powder and mascara. But the smile on his face was just plain artificial. It wouldn’t have been bad, except when combined with his own observant eyes, his looks gave him a deadly aura.

“I’ve talked to over a dozen kids now before you, and you know what their primary observation is about Miss Song? For as long as they can remember, she has an avid admirer who, based on my opinion, is bordering on stalker level. And do you know who those kids mentioned? ... you.”

Jung didn’t say a word. Instead, he stared back at the law enforcers. The larger militia growled at Jung, while the one facing him simply smiled wider. To them, Jung was challenging them, but the truth was that Jung was simply looking at them to see if they knew anything substantial to help Eun Mei.

“Oh? Did I hit a nerve? ” the officer asked, delighted. His uniform mentioned the name Park Byeong-ho as he leaned closer to Jung.

“I heard the young flower has chosen someone else to pluck her leaves. A certain..." the man looked at a small notebook in his hand. "... Cho Garam."

Then he turned back to Jung, looking for any reaction.

"Do you know the guy? Maybe he is even a friend of yours? Did that make you angry? Huh? You’ve been courting the bitch for years, and then she'll just spread her legs to someone else? That is just not fair! Did that hurt your pride? Didn't that unfairness make you think it was time for the bitch to learn a lesson? ”

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For the next 30 minutes, they grilled Jung hee. Their insults and subtle threats didn’t bother him. But what he finds alarming is that 10 minutes into the interrogation, Jung realizes that these two don’t know anything.

More importantly, they didn’t want to know. This is a tedious task for them, and the only question on their minds is: who should they prosecute? the boyfriend or the stalker? They are surely not going to waste any more energy finding out the truth about another unimportant peasant girl.

They asked him where he had been at a specific time on a certain date, and they raised their eyebrows when he gave detailed information. “It’s like you prepared for exactly a situation when the officers of the fatherland will question you about this girl. Why is that? ” Jung knew that being too precise because of his memory skills would raise eyebrows, but he just couldn’t help it. It might be a long shot, but if it actually helps these people find Eun Mei any better, then he had to try.

“I don’t know what you are talking about. I just want to be as helpful as I can.”

“Are you being smart with me, little man? Because if you are, then-”

Little? I’m even taller than you now, Jung wanted to say, but he kept his mouth shut and his face serene.

It took another 20 minutes, but it was clear to both interrogators that Jung didn’t know anything more. It was clear to Jung 10 minutes before they began their interrogations that this farce was useless, but he kept his calm and let them do whatever they wanted.

The lean one glared down at Jung, obviously not satisfied with the information Jung had given them. “You can leave, for now,” he said. “But don’t go too far. We are not yet finished with you. Not for a long shot.”

Jung nodded quietly. He stood up, arranged himself without hurry, and bowed to them, which the militia ignored before Jung left the small room. Outside, he met a pale-faced Garam. He brightened slightly when he recognized Jung, but became worried again. "Wha, what do they want? " he asked in a timid, fearful voice.

Jung sighed. “You’ll be okay,” Jung said immediately. “They look scary, but they always do that to get the information they want. Just relax and tell them what they want to know. You’ll be fine. You are innocent, and you won't get into trouble.”

"And... and Eun Mei? ”

Jung shook his head grimly. “They don’t have any news yet,” He said.

Garam nodded numbly. "The principal told the students that after being questioned by the militia, they should return to their classroom and resume their studies," he said. "The finals are in a few days."

Screw that, Jung thought darkly.

“I understand,” Jung said instead. After reassuring Garam once more, Jung walked out of the corridor, down the stairs, and calmly to the back of the building, where the delinquents hang out. He ignored the kids who were there as he vaulted out of the 5-foot wall surrounding the school and walked quietly out of the street. When he was out of sight of the school grounds, Jung started running into the forest.

If the militia cant find her, then he will find her himself.