The Cop Is Too Strong [EN]: Chapter 225

< #225. Wedding Crasher >

The woman seemed torn, glancing between Oh Ji-yeon and the tattooed thug approaching from behind, frozen in place.

“Hey, get over here, unless you want to see that bitch die too.”

The woman’s eyes widened, fear evident.

Oh Ji-yeon’s gaze remained fixed on the tattooed thug. The woman understood that look. Like so many others, she’d likely seen him and lost the will to fight, paralyzed by fear.

She couldn’t let her own crisis endanger others. Resigned, the woman took a step back, intending to close the front door.

But then…

Thud.

Oh Ji-yeon grabbed her wrist and yanked her inside.

“Hup!”

With surprising strength for such a slender wrist, she pulled the woman into the living room.

The tattooed thug sneered, watching Oh Ji-yeon enter without bothering to close the door.

“What a joke.”

The path from the front door to the living room formed an L-shape. A man’s head popped out from the living room, meeting the tattooed thug’s eyes.

The tattooed thug smirked. He found it hilarious that they’d gone inside without even securing the entrance, just because they had one guy with them.

“What, what the fuck? You want to die too?”

The tattooed thug sneered, brandishing the knife. But the other man, strangely unfazed by the intimidating size and the blade, simply beckoned him forward.

“Heh heh, look at this guy. If I go in, your house will be a bloodbath.”

The other man nodded and disappeared.

How arrogant. The tattooed thug, eager to stretch his muscles for the first time in a while, rolled his shoulders and stepped inside.

“These fucking bitches are teaming up. First, I’ll beat…”

He stopped short as he swaggered into the living room.

Inside, four men with rock-hard muscles stood waiting.

The tattooed thug froze, momentarily stunned.

Beep-click-

-The door is locked.

Before he knew it, Woo Kang-cheol had slammed the front door shut and locked it, preventing any escape.

“Ha, haha, so you had backup, you bitch.”

The tattooed thug was briefly rattled, but his murderous intent remained.

The woman, dragged in by Oh Ji-yeon, also saw the muscular men, but her face remained dark with worry, not relief.

The tattooed thug’s intimidation came not just from his size and tattoos, but from his skill. He was capable of toying with three healthy college students like they were children, which made him even more terrifying.

The tattooed thug sneered and pointed the knife at Shin Hae-soo, assuming Hae-soo was the leader.

“Hey, do you know who I am?”

Hae-soo, unexpectedly singled out, narrowed his brows slightly and asked,

“Who are you?”

“I’m Red Ax from Yongsu-dong. Red Ax. You guys just pump iron at the gym and act tough, but I’ll put a hole in your neck. Hand over that bitch if you don’t want to die.”

Still, the tattooed thug’s initial aggression, the feeling that he’d start stabbing the moment he walked in, had definitely lessened.

Unable to guarantee a win, he was trying to negotiate, using the knife to intimidate them in a way that ordinary people couldn’t easily withstand.

But the woman didn’t notice this subtle shift. Having been tormented by him for so long, her fear was deeply ingrained, and she trembled, hiding behind Oh Ji-yeon.

Hae-soo tilted his head and asked again.

“Red Rabbit?”

The other team members snickered. Annoyed by the mockery, the tattooed thug pulled his knife-wielding arm back.

“You fucking bastard! Die!”

Just before he swung at Hae-soo…

Thud- Whoong-!

The tattooed thug’s vision blurred.

Koo-oong!!

Then, with tremendous force, the ceiling rushed into view. He couldn’t breathe, and his vision went black.

As his sight returned, he found himself staring into the eyes of the man who had peeked out earlier.

That man, Woo Kang-cheol, looked down at him with a devilish grin and said,

“How dare you wield a knife in my house?”

The tattooed thug struggled, his body still unresponsive, trying to attack Woo Kang-cheol.

Thud. Crunch.

Woo Kang-cheol grabbed his wrist and twisted it sharply.

“Aaaargh!!”

“It’s not over yet, you bastard.”

The tattooed thug had never been outmatched in strength before, but now he felt like a child.

No matter how hard he strained, his body was being tossed around by the muscle-bound man in front of him.

Crunch-

“Aaaargh!!”

Woo Kang-cheol spun him around and pinned his wrists together. The rookie detective, understanding the situation, rushed over and secured them with a cable tie.

He glanced at Team Leader Kwak, who nodded.

Then, Woo Kang-cheol pressed his knee firmly into the tattooed thug’s neck and announced,

“Red Rabbit from Yongsu-dong, I’m arresting you on charges of aggravated assault and attempted murder. You have the right to remain silent, the right to an attorney, and the opportunity to explain…”

The woman, bewildered, widened her eyes and looked around. Oh Ji-yeon gently took her hand and said,

“These people are all detectives from the violent crimes unit. You’re safe now.”

Team Leader Kwak displayed his police ID. Only then did the woman’s legs buckle, and she collapsed.

“Ah, ah…”

Belatedly, a wave of relief washed over her.

Tears wouldn’t even come. The woman, blinking blankly, felt as though she’d used up all her luck for the rest of her life.

Meanwhile, Hae-soo called the police station, and uniformed officers arrived to take the tattooed thug into custody as a flagrant offender.

The detectives had collectively witnessed him wielding the knife, ensuring he wouldn’t be released during the investigation.

“The violent crimes unit detectives are working even after 퇴근 [quitting time]. But I’m sorry, but we…”

“Ah, yes, of course, we’ll all go to the police station together right away.”

The team members readily agreed to the police’s cautious request.

The victim and related parties needed to provide statements at the station.

The housewarming party was officially over.

Then, Woo Kang-cheol whispered to Oh Ji-yeon, who quickly retrieved something from the 안방 [main room/master bedroom].

Woo Kang-cheol held up his hands at the entrance, blocking everyone and saying,

“Just a moment, just a moment. Today’s invitation actually had a purpose. We must fulfill that purpose.”

“What is it? Purpose?”

“Oh, really? Tell me.”

Woo Kang-cheol accepted a thick envelope from Oh Ji-yeon and spread it wide for the team to see.

“Ta-da! We’re finally getting married! These are wedding invitations.”

A pink flower adorned the invitation, and in the center was a picture of a man and a woman holding hands.

Wedding invitations, unusually cheerful given the circumstances, were revealed.

“Ooh!”

“Whoo-hoo!!”

“Oh, but then Deputy Woo is getting married before Section Chief Shin?”

Why did the rookie, always quick-witted and socially adept, have to say that now? At his words, not only Shin Hae-soo but also Haru flinched, and silence descended on the house.

“Congratulations. Congratulations. Sister-in-law.”

Shin Hae-soo broke the silence first. His words eased the tension, and Woo Kang-cheol began handing out the wedding invitations one by one.

Everyone pretended not to hear the rookie’s comment, united in their awkwardness.

Oh Ji-yeon offered an invitation to the woman next door.

“It was a noisy first greeting. Please feel free to come if you’d like.”

The woman stared at the wedding invitation, her eyes welling up. Seeing the happy couple, so unlike herself, filled her heart with complicated emotions.

Oh Ji-yeon hugged her warmly, offering silent comfort.

* * *

“Repeated violence and sexual assault, why didn’t you report it?”

“…I was scared.”

The tattooed thug and the woman weren’t legally married, but they were living together.

According to the woman, they had dated years ago and broken up, but he continued to pursue her, eventually forcing her to live with him.

Witnessing his ruthless violence against neighbors and friends, the woman believed she could never escape him and gave up.

She couldn’t report him, fearing retaliation, and lived in hell.

Leaving the police station after giving her statement, Shin Hae-soo pulled Woo Kang-cheol aside and handed him a business card.

“This is… CEO Savior?”

“Give this business card to that woman and tell her he’ll help her make a new start.”

“Me?”

“It’s better coming from a neighbor than from me.”

“As expected, 선배님 [senior/mentor], how can you think so deeply… I understand!”

At Hae-soo’s request, Woo Kang-cheol gave the woman next door a business card with CEO Savior’s direct number.

“That man will be charged with all his previous crimes, so he’ll get at least 10 years in prison. But I’m giving you this in case you’re still 불안 [anxious/uneasy]. If you contact this number, they’ll help you make a new start.”

“Ah… even this much.”

“It’s something we have to do.”

“Thank you. Thank you…”

Woo Kang-cheol delivered Hae-soo’s usual line and turned away, feeling proud.

CEO Savior, 미리 언질 [having been forewarned] by Hae-soo, helped the woman change her resident registration number, phone number, name, and address to prevent her from being tracked after the trial, and even found her a new home.

* * *

“Uwaaaahm.”

Haru had finally acquired the spicy stir-fried noodles + cheese + tuna mayo triangle kimbap [Korean convenience store snack] she’d been craving.

She rolled it up with chopsticks to make it look like a ball, and just as she was about to open her mouth wide enough to devour it…

“Stop.”

Thud-

Hae-soo, emerging from his room, grabbed her wrist.

“Ah, uh, oh!”

Haru, unable to eat the kimbap right in front of her face, stared intently at it, her teeth chattering.

But Hae-soo held her wrist firmly and said,

“It’s not time to eat that. It’s today. Woo Kang-cheol’s wedding.”

Haru’s mouth, which had been moving uncontrollably, stopped. She stepped back, checked her cell phone, and her eyes widened slightly.

“Ah!”

Haru had been eagerly anticipating Woo Kang-cheol and Oh Ji-yeon’s wedding.

It was the first wedding she’d ever attended. Calming her excited heart, she put on the clothes she had prepared.

A pastel pink dress that flattered her figure, flat shoes, and a coat.

Hae-soo also wore a neat black suit and coat, and they headed to the wedding hall together.

* * *

The wedding hall was the Crystal Hall on the 2nd floor.

At the entrance, Woo Kang-cheol, wearing a tuxedo that seemed about to burst at the seams and sporting a wide smile, was busy greeting guests.

“Yes, hello. Thank you for coming. Oh, Jjackey! You’re here? Where are the others?”

In the bride’s waiting room across the hall, Oh Ji-yeon, radiant in a dress as white and bright as heavenly robes, was waiting.

Since she was from the aviation department and a current flight attendant, many of her friends, equally stunning women, were present.

The groom’s friends stared, their jaws dropping at the sight.

Where there’s a strong scent of flowers, bugs also gather.

Five men in black suits appeared on the grand staircase leading from the 1st floor to the 2nd floor of the wedding hall.

As the muscular, short-haired man at the front frowned and ascended the stairs, people hesitated and moved aside, clearing a path.

Seeing this, the muscular man shrugged his shoulders with a smug sense of superiority and muttered,

“Oh Ji-yeon, you fucking humiliated me like that, and now you’re getting married? I’ll ruin your wedding today.”

He was a senior at the same university as Oh Ji-yeon, a social sports major and the president of the judo club, Park Jin-sang.

The men flanking him were equally muscular and intimidating.

One of them licked his lower lip and said,

“But if she’s a stewardess, doesn’t that mean she has a lot of pretty friends?”

“That’s why we’re going. Let’s enjoy some of the flight attendants this time.”

“I’m already drooling… Huh?”

As they reached the top of the stairs, they saw a woman standing tall, looking at her cell phone.

Jet-black straight hair like ground black pearls, mysteriously sparkling eyes, gracefully curved eyelashes, a coat that accentuated her slightly defined waistline, and even her snow-white calves.

As if she had been sculpted, the appearance of this perfect ideal woman seemed to freeze time.

Park Jin-sang and his friends, who had come determined to seek revenge, forgot their purpose and stopped, staring blankly at her.

Park Jin-sang, recovering first, swept his short hair back with his hand, pointed at her with his index finger, and declared,

“I’m spending tonight with her.”

He exuded unfounded confidence and strode towards her, saying,

“Hey-”

“Get lost.”