Before departing, Min-Jae expressed, "Ma'am, I've heard people say that 'The Huntress' is unreasonable and can do anything she wants. For criminals, she's like a god of death. However, I believe these are false accusations aimed at tarnishing your reputation."
Ji-Won listened with her beautiful eyes squinted and a subtle smile on the corner of her mouth.
As Min-Jae observed the cold look in Ji-Won's eyes, his heart stopped. He realized he might have said something he shouldn't have.
"Oh... Then, what are your thoughts about me?" Ji-Won asked, maintaining a smile.
Min-Jae hesitated, sensing the weight of the question. "I... I didn't mean to offend, ma'am. I just heard stories, you know, rumors among people. I'm sure they're just exaggerations."
Ji-Won's smile remained, but her eyes revealed a hint of curiosity. "Exaggerations, you say? What kind of stories have you heard, Min-Jae?"
The former suspect shuffled nervously, searching for the right words. "Well, they say you're ruthless, like a demoness, and that you have this aura of unpredictability. Some even claim you're like a god of death for criminals and hunt hem like a Huntress. But, ma'am, I don't believe it. It's just talk, right?"
Ji-Won's smile widened, and she leaned back slightly, as if enjoying the intrigue. "Rumors tend to exaggerate, don't they? People love to add drama. I'm just doing my job, ensuring justice is served."
Min-Jae, still uneasy, managed a weak smile. "I appreciate you letting me go, ma'am. I didn't mean to question your methods or anything. It's just... you have quite a reputation."
Ji-Won chuckled softly. "Reputation can be a double-edged sword. Sometimes it helps, and sometimes it creates misunderstandings. Don't let hearsay cloud your judgment, Min-Jae. Now, you're free to go, but stay out of trouble, alright?"
Min-Jae nodded vigorously, expressing his gratitude before quickly making his way out of the room.
As he left, Ji-Won's gaze lingered, thoughtful. She knew that her reputation could be intimidating, but she also understood the importance of maintaining a balance between fear and respect in her line of work.
"Mam, why did you release him? It's troubling me. We've examined all delivery patterns, and he's been there every week for the past three months. He delivers, and no one else follows his route," Sergeant Choi voiced his concern.
Ji-Won snapped back from her thoughts and calmly replied, "I know he's supplying drugs, but we lack concrete proof."
Detective Kim, showing a deeper understanding of Ji-Won's methods, interjected, "You used him for a reason, right?"
A subtle smile played on Ji-Won's lips as she acknowledged Detective Kim's insight. "As always, you know me."
"I believe he'll leave here and head to his original hideout," she continued, glancing around the room to ensure they were on the same page. "Our main target isn't Min-Jae; as we know he is also a pawn in the source. By releasing him, we're giving him a false sense of security. He'll lead us straight to the heart of the operation."
Sergeant Choi, though still puzzled, nodded in understanding. "So, we're letting him unknowingly guide us to the bigger fish?"
"Precisely," Ji-Won affirmed. "We'll tail him discreetly, observe his movements, and gather the evidence we need. This way, we can dismantle the entire operation, not just apprehend one small player."
Detective Kim grinned, appreciating Ji-Won's strategic thinking. "Well played, Captain. Let's get ready to tail him discreetly and make sure we have eyes on every move he makes."
"There's no need to be so hasty; leave him and let him go some distance before doing anything," Ji-Won said to all of them when she saw that they were planning to follow Min-Jae.
"But why not? If we delay here, then he might leave our jurisdiction," Sergeant Park said in a confused manner.
"Eun-Ho, show them," she called Eun-Ho.
Eun-Ho came to Detective Kim's side with a tablet in his hand, displaying a red dot flickering on it, representing Min-Jae's location on a map.
"When did you do all of this?" All the team members looked at Eun-Ho and the captain in disbelief.
"When Captain entered the room, she gave me these instructions and handed me the handling of the criminal she caught. But in reality, it was to place this bug on Min-Jae to track his location," Eun-Ho explained.
Sergeant Park and Sergeant Choi gave thumbs up to their captain, amazed by her thinking. "We admit it, Mam, you are a blockbuster as always."
"Thank you all for your praise," she said happily.
"Okay, let's see where our fish is going when freed," she said, indicating them to calm down and continue to focus on Min-Jae's pattern.
As the team prepared to follow Min-Jae's trail, Ji-Won remained focused on the larger picture. She knew that sometimes the best way to catch a big fish was to let the smaller ones swim freely, unwittingly leading the way to the true mastermind.