The Cop Is Too Strong [EN]: Chapter 1

The Overpowered Cop – Part 1 (1/255)

A spacious pub.

People are chatting boisterously.

A reunion for thirty-year-olds, a gathering of the successful. Those who haven’t made it don’t even bother attending.

“So, you’re buying, right? Got promoted, didn’t you? Something like a police sergeant?”

“Not a sergeant, a police superintendent. Haesu is a sergeant.”

“Oh, right, Haesu was a cop too? So, how much of a difference is there in rank between you two?”

“Why are you even asking that? Haesu got in through the regular police exam, and Namcheol here is from the police academy.”

Dong Namcheol, a police academy graduate, glanced at Shin Haesu and smirked, extending his fingers one by one.

“Haesu is a sergeant, then there’s a police master [a rank above sergeant], a police inspector, and then a police superintendent. Three ranks. It’ll be quick, I’m sure.”

“Three ranks? Isn’t that a huge deal? Like a private versus a battalion commander in the army? Haesu, are you even allowed to sit at the same table as Namcheol right now?”

Haesu didn’t even look at his taunting classmates, silently downing his drink.

Namcheol chuckled at the sight and took the lead in the atmosphere.

“Hey, hey, none of that here at the reunion. Haesu failed his promotion exam today, so don’t mess with him.”

“Oh, really? You got promoted today, and he failed? That must suck.”

Bang!

Just then, someone slammed a beer glass down hard. Everyone’s attention turned to the source of the sound.

A man in a black suit with a long scar across his forehead, Haesu’s best friend, Hwang Jangsu.

He flashed a menacing grin.

“Friends, let’s have a good time on this good day, alright?”

Those who had lived ordinary lives could never overcome the aura of Hwang Jangsu, who had rolled around in a field of knives [a metaphor for a life of crime and violence]. They quickly backed down and turned their heads.

Dong Namcheol was also intimidated by his presence, but as a high-ranking police officer, he couldn’t show fear.

“Hey, hey, what’s with the atmosphere? This guy got promoted today, you know? My treat! Cheers!”

“Oh, oh! That’s our Dong Namcheol!”

“We’re counting on you today, Namcheol!”

The stiff classmates quickly agreed with Dong Namcheol’s words, and the atmosphere naturally softened.

Haesu was still sitting alone, sipping his drink. Then Hwang Jangsu approached and sat next to him.

“I didn’t expect you to come.”

Hwang Jangsu used to go to the same gym as Haesu. In high school, they were always together and were often called ‘Ssangsu’ (Twins) [a nickname highlighting their close bond].

The reason Haesu attended the reunion, which he had never done before, was to see with his own eyes the rumors that his best friend Hwang Jangsu had given up his career as a martial arts fighter and become a gangster.

Seeing it for himself, he felt more emptiness than anger or disappointment.

Haesu muttered without looking at him.

“I don’t associate with gangsters.”

Hwang Jangsu’s eyebrows twitched slightly, but he quickly relaxed his expression and said,

“…Yeah, it’s not a good look for a gangster and a cop to be together. But I heard something, so I couldn’t just pass it by.”

He placed his business card on the table and pushed it towards Haesu.

“If you need money, contact me. No interest for a friend.”

Haesu’s brow furrowed deeply. He finished the drink in his glass and slammed it on the table.

“I… I’d rather starve to death than take a gangster’s money. Get lost.”

Hwang Jangsu stared at Haesu for a moment, then stood up.

“…Okay, I understand.”

As Jangsu left, Haesu picked up his business card and crumpled it immediately.

After some time, Dong Namcheol approached this time.

“Are you still living at Chaeyeon’s place?”

“Are you Chaeyeon’s older brother?”

“Are you that broke? Do you want to live in your girlfriend’s cramped apartment?”

Haesu’s eyes widened at Namcheol’s words.

“How do you know it’s cramped?”

“Huh? Well, of course, since she’s young, her place must be small. What new graduate would live in a fancy house?”

*Too much talk. His eyes are shaking too. Something feels dirty.*

But Haesu wasn’t in the mood to care about trivial things today. He ignored his words and poured himself a drink.

However, Dong Namcheol didn’t give up and continued to provoke Haesu.

“Hey, I heard your nickname is ‘Overkill Cop.’ How long are you going to live like that, with no tomorrow? I heard you’re thousands behind on settlement money, and you’re always getting your pay docked. Should I help you out a little?”

Haesu’s hand, which was holding the glass, stopped. Haesu’s narrowed eyes were fierce.

“What’s dirtier than a gangster’s money is money from bastards like you.”

Namcheol swept his hair back with his hand and said,

“Seriously… you’re still the same as you were in high school, strong pride with nothing to show for it. Haven’t you figured out your place after seven years in the workforce? That’s why you’re still living this kind of miserable life. Chaeyeon is too good for someone like you.”

Smash!

The beer glass in Haesu’s hand shattered. He stood up and straightened Dong Namcheol’s collar with his bleeding hand.

“Dong Namcheol, you need to know when to stop. A guy with a lot of sins… shouldn’t mess with a detective.”

Dong Namcheol flinched but couldn’t shake off his hand. Now that he thought about it, Haesu knew too much about his weaknesses.

How he cheated to get into the police academy, how only the female officer was disciplined after he sexually harassed a fellow female officer, how he got promoted this time by pushing aside a top performer with his father’s connections—this guy somehow knew all of it.

*He doesn’t bite like a mad dog because there’s no evidence, but if he decides to dig in with a do-or-die attitude, it’ll be a headache. He has more to lose than this guy.*

In the end, his expensive shirt was stained with blood, but Namcheol couldn’t say a word, like he had swallowed a fly [a common idiom for being unable to speak due to discomfort or anger].

Haesu patted him on the shoulder and made eye contact.

“I enjoyed the drink.”

Namcheol belatedly watched Haesu’s retreating figure as he left the pub, grinding his teeth.

“That worthless bastard dares…”

***

Outside the pub.

Shin Haesu called a driver and staggered towards the parking lot.

“Hoo…”

*What about me…*

Haesu had never seen his mother, and his father had been murdered disguised as a suicide a decade ago.

After that, he became a police officer with the grand motive of catching the criminal who killed his father, but the revenge and spirit of that time had long subsided.

Now, he was just a detective struggling with debt.

Sigh. He leaned against the car, smoking a cigarette while waiting for the driver. Before he could finish it, a young man approached.

“Did you call for a driver?”

“Huh? Yeah… you’re here fast.”

Haesu handed over the keys, got into the back seat, and closed his eyes.

On the way home, the driver stared intently at the photo attached to the center of the car and asked.

“Is that your wife?”

“Ah… girlfriend…”

Haesu squinted and answered before closing his eyes again.

“She’s pretty. And those legs…”

Haesu’s eyebrows twitched slightly. He didn’t feel good, but he ignored it because his head was dizzy.

Then, he heard the driver muttering.

“She’s way too good for him. The guy looks like an idiot…”

Haesu’s eyes opened slightly.

“What was that?”

“Huh? I didn’t say anything? Haha.”

Haesu frowned, leaned back against the seat, and closed his eyes.

Swishhhhh-

As if to wash away Haesu’s gloomy mood, heavy rain suddenly began to pour down.

He squinted and watched the cool rain, but the driver spoke again.

“Your girlfriend must be good in bed. Right? She looks like she can move her hips well…”

He hadn’t misheard earlier. This guy was just trying to pick a fight.

“Hey, pull over.”

“Huh?”

Haesu kicked the back of the front seat hard.

Bang!

“I said pull over!”

“Okay, okay. Let’s talk it out.”

Screech-

It was a deserted road. As the car stopped on the shoulder, Haesu roughly opened the door.

“Get out.”

“Yes, yes.”

Haesu tried to get into the driver’s seat after kicking the driver out. But instead of moving aside, the driver pushed Haesu and his smiling face changed completely.

“Mister, did you want to die that badly?”

He gave a cold look and reached into his chest. Was he aiming for this situation?

“Don’t act tough and get lost.”

“Pfft, this crazy bastard doesn’t know he’s going to die!”

He rushed in, pulling something out of his chest.

Haesu couldn’t see clearly what it was because of the pouring rain and his impaired mind.

He just instinctively dodged his attack and threw a punch. If he had been sober, he would have broken his arm, but he didn’t know why he threw a punch.

Thwack-!

Even though he was drunk, the power of his punch was still there.

The driver’s body slightly lifted and flew back several meters before collapsing with a groan.

At the same time, something fell from the driver’s hand, but Haesu didn’t see it.

“It’s not over yet…”

Haesu stopped as he tried to grab his hair and lift him up. It was cold. There was no strength in his body.

In an instant, the surroundings became silent. Not even a small moan could be heard.

Red blood flowing from his head onto the asphalt.

Blood was coming from the back of his head. Why? Looking around, he saw a guardrail that he probably hit when he fell.

The end of it was torn like paper, as if there had been an accident, and its edge was very sharp.

A piece of the driver’s scalp was stuck there.

“Damn it…”

Haesu was out of his mind. His head was throbbing as if his body was trying to force itself sober, and his heart was racing like crazy. He was even short of breath.

He checked the driver’s pulse by putting his hand on his neck, but it wasn’t beating. He wasn’t breathing either.

His head was bursting with confusion and complexity.

“He’s dead…”

Only then did regret wash over him, but it was already too late. He looked around and picked up his phone.

And just as he was about to dial 119 [the emergency number in South Korea, similar to 911] and press the call button.

Bzzzz Bzzzz

A call came from an unfamiliar number. Haesu answered the phone, as if possessed, at the perfect timing.

Click.

-Hello, this is Palpal Driver Service? I’m a bit late, but I can’t see you even after waiting. Where are you?

“…What?”

*Then who the hell is this…?*

<#1. Who the Hell is This> End