The Cop Is Too Strong [EN]: Chapter 230

< #230. Hwang Jang-soo's First Day at Work >

The Oh Sung-ju Assemblyman kidnapping case, which had the whole nation buzzing, was concluded as the sole act of a company employee arrested by Shin Hae-soo.

The arrested employee, as before, had no genetic or fingerprint information.

After the joint investigation with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s Special Investigation Unit.

Team Leader Kwak, back in the Violent Crimes Unit, shouted, holding his phone.

“So, damn it! Which bastard ordered it?!”

He was on the phone with the head of the Special Investigation Unit, who had investigated together. The rookie’s eyes sparkled at Team Leader Kwak’s rare ferocity.

‘As expected, there’s no one who can be left out, charisma daebak [amazing]…!’

“Yeah, you son of a bitch! Who do you think is going to be intimidated? Tell them to call right now!”

Team Leader Kwak hung up and glared at the special team, huffing and puffing.

Oh Geng massaged Team Leader Kwak’s shoulders, who had worked hard, and asked.

“What did they say? Are they going to reinvestigate? Are they going to hand over the investigation rights to us?”

“No, the person who ordered it called…”

Before Team Leader Kwak could finish speaking, his phone rang.

“Hello. This is Kwak Soo-cheol, team leader at Gangjin Police Station… Yes? Sir, loyalty!”

Unlike before, Team Leader Kwak saluted the person on the other end of the line with his hand and bowed repeatedly as he answered the phone.

“Ah… I understand, but… my team members are disappointed, yes, thank you for understanding. Ah yes, thank you for sharing your precious time. Yes, goodbye.”

The rookie’s sparkling eyes dimmed at Team Leader Kwak’s 180-degree change in attitude.

Team Leader Kwak hung up, and only then did he check how much his posture had shrunk. He cleared his throat, straightened his back, and raised his shoulders.

Hae-soo couldn’t contain his curiosity and asked first.

“Who was it?”

“Um… the Minister, Ministry of Justice.”

“……”

Silence fell among the special team members at the sudden appearance of a big shot.

Oh Geng asked, tasting bitterness again.

“What did they say? Let’s at least hear the reason why those high-ranking officials are closing this case.”

“Well, it’s confusing. It’s more… honest than I thought. Anyway, it seems like Chief Cheon ordered it, but even when we formed a proper joint special unit, we couldn’t catch him, so how can we catch him when he’s even more hidden?”

“Crazy, are you saying we shouldn’t catch him because we can’t catch him anyway? Is this a joke?”

No matter whose head it came from, there were quite a few grounds for closing the investigation.

The reason was that if the investigation continued without catching the real culprit, the anxiety it would cause to the entire country would increase, as this case was of great interest.

And, in any case, the title of victim of the kidnapping did not have a good impact on Assemblyman Oh Sung-ju himself, so he did not want it.

Finally, Team Leader Kwak appeased them by saying that they would not leave the case to the police, but would conduct an unofficial investigation to catch Chief Cheon.

“Unofficial?”

“They must be talking about the National Intelligence Service.”

It was unknown whether the National Intelligence Service would actually investigate this case, but the last reason certainly eased the special team’s anger.

Hae-soo slipped out and called Assemblyman Oh Sung-ju directly to confirm the truth.

“…Is that so?”

-Assemblymen may seem very high up, but it’s like building a sandcastle. If you get out of the public’s eye, you’ll collapse to the bottom in an instant.

“……”

-There are too many people in the world who want me to have suffered this because I’m the kind of guy who deserves it. Before the sandcastle collapses… I have no choice but to divert the water.

Hae-soo nodded, listening to the bitter voice.

Like celebrities, assemblymen are public figures, so suspicions turn into facts. The truth doesn’t matter.

Assemblyman Oh Sung-ju eventually became suspicious, and since explanations didn’t work, he said he wanted to divert attention.

“I understand. Take care of yourself.”

-I’m sorry I couldn’t help you.

“It’s okay.”

Ziiiiiing-

As soon as he hung up, a text message arrived on the burner phone inside.

-Jung Young-soo: Checking the phone number with restricted caller ID / I’ll send you the location.

But that’s just the position of the police and Assemblyman Oh Sung-ju.

Although the special team and the Special Investigation Unit could no longer be involved in this case, Hae-soo’s personal team, the hideout team, was continuing the investigation.

* * *

Hyosung Prison.

The man who took all the blame as the Oh Assemblyman kidnapping case was ruled as a solo crime, number 3198, was scrubbing the toilet bowl in the solo bathroom.

“Nine-Eight, are you done cleaning?”

He was called Nine-Eight here, using the last two digits of his number. Nine-Eight quickly straightened up and answered.

“Yes, I just need to spray water.”

“Okay, hurry up and come out, let’s eat bread.”

“Yes!”

When he sprayed water and came out, two red bean buns were placed in the middle of the room. Roommate handed him a bun.

Nine-Eight stared blankly at the red bean bun in Roommate’s hand, lost in some unknown emotion.

“What are you thinking about? Do you want to get hit?”

“Ah, no! Thank you.”

Crunch crunch.

The sound of two inmates eating bread echoed softly in the room.

Room Leader Ma Sil-jang was not there. Just hearing his name, just looking at the things he used, made them shrink back. The prison guard often took him out.

They didn’t dare to ask what he was being called out for.

Nine-Eight chewed on the bread blankly and looked at Roommate next to him. He was also from the same company. He was a senior who didn’t seem like he would bleed a drop even if you pricked him with a needle back in the field, but for some reason, he seemed like a different person here.

Like a normal person.

“Senior.”

“Huh? Uh? What?!”

His number was 2477, and he was called Seven-Seven here.

Seven-Seven was startled by the title of senior and looked around before blocking his lips with his index finger.

“Let’s not talk about outside stuff, Room Leader doesn’t either.”

“So… why don’t Room Leader and Senior ask anything?”

Nine-Eight thought he would be horribly tortured when he came here. Moreover, wasn’t Ma Sil-jang a person who had been abandoned by the company? But there was no torture, and if he just worked hard on the tasks given to him, there was no interference.

Unlike when he always had to risk his life outside, it was so peaceful that he was uneasy.

Seven-Seven stared at Nine-Eight with serious eyes, approached him, and opened his mouth.

“I don’t know either.”

Seven-Seven’s empty eyes were as innocent as a child’s. He clearly didn’t know.

Nine-Eight vowed to ask Room Leader directly when he came in.

And, Room Leader Ma Sil-jang came in during dinner time.

“Room Leader, you’re here!”

“You’re here!!”

Ma Sil-jang came in with the same expressionless face as usual, without even acknowledging their greetings. Then, he made eye contact with Nine-Eight.

“Do you have something to say?”

He asked quietly, but it echoed loudly in Nine-Eight’s chest like thunder. The vow from a moment ago was nowhere to be found, and he reflexively shook his head.

“N-no! I’m sorry!”

“Okay.”

Nine-Eight bit his lower lip after Ma Sil-jang passed him, regretting that he had missed the timing to ask.

Life fell asleep, and a quiet dawn filled the air.

Nine-Eight got up silently because he had to urinate, and then he found Ma Sil-jang sitting with his back against the wall, looking out the small window.

‘Is he not sleeping?’

“The moon is bright.”

Ma Sil-jang, who didn’t even turn his head, answered as if he had read Nine-Eight’s mind. Nine-Eight was startled and shrugged slightly.

“Yes, yes.”

He went to the bathroom and came out, and saw Ma Sil-jang still there. He felt like he could ask now for some reason.

“I have something to ask.”

“Don’t ask.”

“Yes, I’m sorry.”

Nine-Eight immediately answered and turned around in 0.1 seconds. If he told him not to ask, he wouldn’t. There would be no more questions in the future. The question was neatly erased as he turned around.

As he was returning to his seat, Ma Sil-jang’s thick voice was heard.

“Nine-Eight.”

“Yes, Room Leader.”

“Where is prison for you?”

“……!”

Nine-Eight couldn’t answer easily. He was currently living in prison, but relatively, life here was too peaceful for him.

He hadn’t met many ordinary people in his life, but he knew that prison life was hard and that people hated going in there.

If he felt so comfortable in such a place, it had been quite a while since he was able to judge more specifically what kind of life he had originally lived.

Nine-Eight kept his head down for nearly a minute, then raised his head again.

“Ma Sil-jang.”

Ma Sil-jang’s head turned at his determined voice and unusual title.

He looked at Ma Sil-jang with determined eyes and opened his mouth.

“I have something to tell you.”

* * *

The Hideout.

Thump-

“…Me? Why?”

Hwang Jang-soo slammed the dumbbell down roughly and glared at Hae-soo.

“Just until we catch Chief Cheon.”

“Who knows when that old man will be caught? What if he’s never caught? Are you saying I should do it forever?”

“The treatment won’t be bad.”

Hwang Jang-soo turned away and picked up the dumbbell again.

“No way. You want me to cater to the whims of a princess who grew up pampered at my age? I can’t do it. There are a lot of bodyguards these days who are former special forces or NIS [National Intelligence Service] agents, right? Use them. You have Haru too.”

Hae-soo shook his head.

Haru was a career bodyguard for Ahn Seo-eun, so she was suitable to be a bodyguard again, but she was currently in charge of infiltration, disguise, and stealth in the hideout team’s investigation process. Moreover, she was an indispensable investigator because she knew the habits of the company employees in detail, even if she didn’t know their current information.

Clearly, the most surplus manpower in the hideout team right now was Hwang Jang-soo.

Hae-soo placed a contract that he had received from Ahn Seo-eun in advance next to his seat.

“Take a look at it.”

Hwang Jang-soo glanced at the contract only after Hae-soo left. And his eyes widened.

* * *

A few days later, the CEO’s office at Daesung E&M.

Hwang Jang-soo, dressed neatly in a Daesung Guard uniform, stood tall in front of Ahn Seo-eun.

“It’s even nicer to see you here. Thank you for coming. Guard Hwang Jang-soo, I’m Ahn Seo-eun, CEO of E&M. I look forward to working with you.”

Jang-soo stared blankly at the pure white hand extended in front of him before shaking it.

“Um, CEO, I have a question.”

“Yes, please feel free to speak.”

Jang-soo scratched his head and hesitated before asking.

“Can I do this for life?”

As much as he had heard from Hae-soo that Hwang Jang-soo’s refusal was severe, Ahn Seo-eun’s big eyes widened a little more at his question, and then softened gently.

* * *

The addition of three seats to the bodyguard position of Director Ahn Seo-eun, which had been Kim Guard’s permanent position, caused a huge competitive storm in Daesung Guard.

This was what Daesung Guard bodyguards thought of Ahn Seo-eun.

Unlike a third-generation chaebol [conglomerate heir], she was not arrogant, and like a third-generation chaebol, she was dignified, and her beauty, which made ordinary visual celebrities look like extras, was like a panacea just by looking at her from the side.

Moreover, the recently renewed salary was well over twice the average, so there was no one who didn’t covet the position.

However, the reason why the salary was high was complex, but the most contributing factor was the risk.

This was because she was a target of the company employees called Chief Cheon’s personal guard, but this did not realistically resonate with the guards who had never directly dealt with company employees, even though they had been warned. They just saw her as a client with a high salary and the best conditions.

However, the Daesung Guard bodyguards couldn’t help but be dissatisfied with him when a mountain bandit-like man, whom they had never met before, suddenly took one of those best positions.

Of course, Ahn Seo-eun knew this fact, and she tried to take action herself. But Hwang Jang-soo stopped her.

“No. I’ll take care of it myself. I’m a parachute [someone hired due to connections] anyway, and if the female president, ah, I’m sorry. My speech is dirty… if that CEO covers for me, they’ll just not say it in front of me, but that dissatisfaction will remain in their hearts.”

“Ah… yes, I understand.”

“So, CEO, don’t worry and just work hard and make money in your position. I’ll take care of it neatly, I’m a pro at handling those kinds of people.”

“Yes… I see. Haha.”

Ahn Seo-eun smiled awkwardly, and Hwang Jang-soo bowed to her and left the office.

Seo-eun stared blankly at the door he had left through.

Something was fresh. The scary impression, the steel-like muscles, the bear-like physique, and the energy that emanated from him were exactly like Shin Hae-soo, but his way of speaking and thinking were completely different.

It was like seeing a different version of Shin Hae-soo, and Seo-eun was in a fresh shock.

As she was blankly frozen, Secretary Kang, who was standing next to her, slipped in.

“No matter how much Detective Shin recommended him, I don’t like that person very much. The way he walks is somehow delinquent, and the way he says ‘I, I’ at the end of every sentence is rude. I’ll have to say something to him later.”

Seo-eun chuckled and replied.

“It’s okay. I don’t mind. He’s a precious person who stopped what he was doing for me and came here.”

“He doesn’t seem that precious… I understand. If the CEO says so….”

* * *

Hwang Jang-soo’s working hours were 12 hours a day. He worked during the day, and he stopped by Daesung Guard at 8 p.m., his quitting time, to change out of his uniform.

Whether it was because everyone’s schedules ended similarly today, the guards were crowded in the locker room.

Among them were the guards who were also in charge of guarding Ahn Seo-eun.

Team Leader Lee was a guard who had been appointed to be Ahn Seo-eun’s guard this time, but he had been deprived of his position thanks to Hwang Jang-soo.

He was changing clothes next to Jang-soo when he muttered to himself as if he was talking to himself.

“He has a lot of scars. Did he live by eating knife rice [live a dangerous life]?”

Jang-soo stopped changing clothes, turned around, and looked around. He thought he was talking to him, so he answered.

“Well, roughly.”

Team Leader Lee frowned at Jang-soo’s insincere answer and slammed the locker door roughly.

Thump.

“Where does a newbie scribble informal speech to a team leader?”

The atmosphere in the locker room turned cold at the same time. But Jang-soo didn’t seem to care at all, and he took off his pants, showed off his fancy drawers [underwear], and said.

“You scribbled informal speech first, and also.”

Jang-soo held the training pants he had been wearing instead of the uniform in his hand and looked around at the people around him and said.

“If you have any complaints, tell me now. This hyung [older brother/male friend] will accept them all.”