The Cop Is Too Strong [EN]: Chapter 107

107. Gathering (1)

Shin Hae-soo used her Future Sight to watch Kang Jin making a phone call. The coldness in her voice was striking, a stark contrast to the warm smiles she gave the children at the orphanage, yet it was undeniably her.

“It’s Park Seo-young’s voice. Detective Oh, please head over there immediately. I’ll bring Park Seo-young.”

“Okay, go ahead. It’s a strange feeling, watching them destroy each other like this….”

* * *

In the pre-dawn darkness, Park Seo-young retrieved a pre-written will from her wallet and placed it beside her sleeping husband’s head. She gazed down at him for a long, lingering moment.

Drip, drip, patter-

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry for loving a woman like me. I’m sorry.”

Without wiping away the tears streaming down her face, she rose. Barefoot, she walked out the front door.

She stood motionless in front of the elevator until the sensor light turned off, then she moved again.

Shuffle, shuffle, shuffle.

She chose the emergency staircase over the elevator. The coldness of the stairs bit into her bare feet, chilling her to the bone.

Click, creak-

Opening the rooftop door, she leaned against the railing and looked up at the sky. The dawn sky was so dark it was impossible to tell if her eyes were open or closed.

“I hope this will ease things, even just a little.”

She muttered to the empty air and placed one foot on the railing.

At that moment.

Thump, thump, thump – thud.

She heard someone running, and then a rough hand grabbed her arm. The sky spun around her.

Whoosh – bang!

“Ugh!”

She was slammed onto the waterproof painted floor. The impact stole her breath and sent pain shooting through her. For a moment, she tasted the pain of jumping, even without the fall.

A large shadow loomed over her as she gasped for air.

A hand, large and firm, reached down. She hesitated, then took it.

Clank, clank.

Hercuffs [handcuffs] snapped onto her wrists. Hae-soo looked down at her, her eyes cold.

“Park Seo-young, I’m arresting you on suspicion of special homicide instigation. You have the right to a lawyer, and you have the opportunity to explain yourself.”

With dead eyes, she passively accepted the arrest.

* * *

Park Seo-young and Kang Jin didn’t attempt to conceal the facts of their crimes. As a result, the investigation proceeded smoothly.

“…I would investigate the people I wanted to deal with and tell Kang Jin how to handle them, and he would carry it out.”

Fifteen years prior, Seo-young’s relationship with the female student wasn’t just a casual friendship. She was the only friend who had reached out to Seo-young when she was being bullied.

But when the female student became a target herself, subjected to bullying and violence,

Seo-young, fearing she would become a target, took the lead in mocking her.

After that incident,

Seo-young lived with guilt for driving her best friend to her death. She volunteered to atone for her sins, but the guilt persisted, growing into annoyance and sadness. Recently, she had even begun experiencing hallucinations.

Ultimately, she decided to judge those responsible to ease her guilt.

The first target was Kang Jin.

-…I told you, there’s enough reason to die, right? Don’t be upset, you’re not even worthy of hell.

-Kill me quickly.

Kang Jin was already awake from the anesthesia, but he didn’t resist. He had lived a miserable life and humbly accepted death, seeing it as a welcome release. Seeing this, Seo-young decided not to kill him immediately but to use him instead.

The two were sentenced to life imprisonment for special murder and special murder instigation.

Goo Gwang-heon was traumatized by the events and developed a mental illness, leading to his confinement in a mental hospital.

His arm was reattached, but his anus had been partially severed, leaving him incontinent.

“Ehehe, eheheh, poop, poop is coming out, poop.”

Thud, thud-

“Aaaagh!”

* * *

[15 years ago, a female student was gang-assaulted and died. A furious judgment against the perpetrators; the culprit was a victim.]

[A bloody revenge drama orchestrated by a perpetrator who was best friends with the victim]

┗Does that bring her back to life?

┗Still, good job, but aren’t you going to die?

┗Wow, that’s amazing, I know this case. I was so annoyed, shocked, and frustrated, but they ended up killing each other. That’s great.

┗All you can say is ‘fucking,’ I hate you

┗But two are accomplices, and all six were attacked. The police are so incompetent?

┗I know, why are they so incompetent until the end? Why do they save the people who are trying to commit suicide?

┗No, no, no, suicide is too clean. They have to live and suffer.

┗Release the avenger of justice Park S and Kang J! Release them!

┗Petition for Korean heroes (link)

┗You crazy bastards, anyway, it’s premeditated murder, and they’re murderers who killed six people. Do you want to live next to them?

┗Not six, four. Two are alive, one is crippled and in a mental hospital

┗Great job, Violent Crimes Unit! Violent Crimes Unit, fighting!

Click.

The youngest detective pressed enter to post the comment. At that moment, Hae-soo grabbed his coat and got up from his seat.

“Are you leaving work, Detective?”

“Yeah, are you feeling okay?”

The youngest detective flexed his bicep to show Hae-soo.

“Of course, there’s no problem at all.”

“Okay, you’ve worked hard. You should go home soon too.”

“You’ve worked hard too, Detective! Goodbye!”

After Hae-soo left, the youngest detective looked at the comments in the dark headquarters for a while, then received a call from his girlfriend and finally left work.

* * *

“It doesn’t work, does it? You’re angry, right? You can’t do anything about it, right?”

Beep- Clunk.

Haru, engrossed in her game, threw her phone onto the sofa when she heard the door unlock. She quickly got up and went to the front door.

Screech-

As soon as the door opened, Haru placed her hand on her belly button and bowed deeply.

“Welcome back, Hae-soo.”

Hae-soo had returned home for the first time in three days after taking on the serial murder case.

Haru, having learned about the nature of the case, straightened up and immediately clung to Hae-soo, patting down his body.

“What, what is it? What’s wrong?”

“I heard that the culprit was a national judo athlete. Judo is a difficult martial art to subdue.”

Hae-soo grabbed her hands, which were reaching for his private parts, and pushed her away.

“Not a national athlete, a promising player. I’m not hurt at all. I’m fine.”

“I thought so, but I’m glad.”

Still, the fact that someone worried about him, even if awkwardly, melted away the hard and emotionally taxing days.

“You haven’t eaten yet, have you? I’ll make you something. Wait.”

“No. I’ll do it. I’ve already washed the rice and pressed the cook button.”

“Good job. I’ll make the side dishes. Sit down.”

“…Yes, the ingredients for kimchi stew with garlic ham are in the refrigerator.”

“Haha, okay, I’ll make kimchi stew.”

Hae-soo was slightly surprised that he had laughed out loud. How long had it been since he laughed like this? *Anyway, she’s a assertive woman.* [This sentence was kept as is because it seems to be an internal thought of Hae-soo]

As Hae-soo went to the kitchen, Haru sat back on the sofa and picked up her phone.

But her character was lying dead on the cold floor. Her beautiful brow furrowed.

“…Ah.”

@Harusari: Ah, so annoying.

@Banggakova: lol Haru, you got killed by a noob, water-view?

@Banggakova: I’m too embarrassed to hang out with you

@Harusari: Died while the landlord came to greet me

@Banggakova: Landlord lol How long are you going to be a servant, calling him landlord, landlord? Don’t you have money to pay the rent? Should I lend you some?

@Harusari: Shut up

@Banggakova: That little bastard always talks down to me. If you met me in person, you wouldn’t even be able to look me in the eye, you Haru bastard

@Janggeum: Oppas [term of endearment for older brothers/male friends], why are you doing this? Don’t fight, Janggeum is sad

@Taeagoon: Janggeum, have you eaten? What did you eat?

@HweoreC: Hello Janggeum

@Olimhs35: Welcome Janggeum

@Dokhaengnama: Janggeum, why are you here now? Did you go on a date with your boyfriend?

@Janggeum: What boyfriend? Ah, I wish I had a boyfriend

@Dokhaengnama: You have me

@Taeagoon: Janggeum, you can’t have a boyfriend until this game shuts down. That’s a betrayal of our guild

@Banggakova: Die? Die? You little shit, look at the way you talk. If you met me in person, you wouldn’t even be able to look me in the eye, you Haru bastard

@Janggeum: Ah, why are you fighting

@Harusari: Should I kill you?

@Janggeum: Haru oppa, please be patient. Janggeum is scared ㅜㅜ [Korean emoticon for crying]

@Taeagoon: Yeah, both of you be patient. Why are you doing this when Janggeum is here?

@Taeagoon: Haru, you know Bangga hyung [term of endearment for older brother/male friend] is a bit rough. You understand

@Dokhaengnama: Janggeum, (link) did you clear this quest? Should we go clear it together?

@Banggakova: Taeagoon, you son of a bitch, what’s a bit rough about me? I’m a fucking sweet guy, you know that

@Taeagoon: I know, hyung, you’re a manly sweet guy

@coso: Don’t fight here, fight in person. It’s our regular meeting this Saturday anyway

@Janggeum: Ah, I’m looking forward to what we’re going to eat

@Wangsimni70: There’s no way the mysterious Haru will come. He doesn’t even do D-Cons [Discord conversations] because he doesn’t want to show his voice

@Banggakova: He won’t come because he’s afraid of getting beat up by me

@Janggeum: Is Haru oppa coming? Ah, I wish he would come. Janggeum wants to see Haru oppa. I think he’s handsome

@Dokhaengnama: Haru? Really? I… um, I think he looks like he studies well

Haru touched her lips with her index finger, glanced at Hae-soo’s broad back as he cooked, and typed in the chat.

@Harusari: Going to the gathering. Banggakova, wear a mouthpiece.

@Taeagoon: Huh

@Wangsimni70: Awesome

“Let’s eat.”

“Yes!”

At Hae-soo’s words, Haru, who had been chatting with her eyes blazing, threw her phone down and jumped up from the sofa.

As Haru sat down in her chair, Hae-soo opened the pot lid at the right time.

Kimchi stew with garlic ham revealed its appetizing appearance.

“Wow….”

Haru’s sincere exclamation. She waved her hand and smelled it first.

“Huum… I don’t know why Hae-soo is so good at cooking.”

It was a tone that genuinely didn’t understand. As she said, Hae-soo’s acquaintances were surprised to see that Hae-soo was good at cooking, and unexpectedly so.

It was unimaginable to see her cutting small onions or carrots with her threatening muscles, and it didn’t seem like a busy detective would have time to put effort into cooking.

“I just do it by feel.”

Haru scooped up a spoonful of soup and slurped it down before even serving herself a portion. Then, she sparkled her eyes and raised her thumb.

“Ha… really, it’s, it’s really delicious.”

Haru’s admiration, which wasn’t mixed with even a penny of pretense, also contributed to the improvement of Hae-soo’s cooking skills.

As the touching meal came to an end, Haru stroked her bulging belly and subtly brought up the topic.

“I’m going out on Saturday.”

“Oh, okay, why is that.”

Haru now had a decent job.

She hardly reported where she was going or when these days.

“It’s a game gathering. Dinner meeting.”

“…Game.”

Hae-soo was reminded of the past by the word game.

“It’s not a real fight, is it?”

Haru was startled, but she lowered her gaze and shook her head.

“It’s a gathering. Eating delicious food.”

“Okay, eat delicious food, and call me when it’s over. I’ll pick you up.”

Now that he had a car with good ride quality, long distances were no problem.

Haru smiled softly at Hae-soo’s words that he would pick her up even though it was a dinner meeting and he didn’t know when it would end.

“Yes.”

* * *

A pub and restaurant that sold beer and food, with three tables connected on one side and men and women chatting boisterously.

A woman wearing a designer handbag and a short skirt, showing off her slender legs, approached the group.

“Hi oppas?”

“It’s Janggeum! Janggeum is here? Come here, come here, come next to oppa.”

“Wow… Janggeum is getting prettier.”

At her appearance, three men got up and made room for her.

“Oh, stop it. Don’t call me by my nickname outside.”

“Why, what’s wrong with that? I call you Taea, waaa”

“Ah, that’s so funny.”

“Janggeum, isn’t your skirt too short? All the men here are going crazy.”

“Unnie [term of endearment for older sister/female friend], I wore it to be seen. Look, look as much as you want.”

“Wow, you’re so pretty and kind.”

“But is Haru oppa here? He said he was coming.”

At Janggeum’s words, a man with a fierce impression, wearing a hat pulled down low, muttered.

“There’s no way that bastard will come. He just said it. If he comes, I’ll kill him. He’s probably shitting his pants right now.”

“Koba oppa, please stop it. We’re in the same guild.”

“He’s rude, he’s rude. What’s with the mysteriousness? He’s so young and has no manners.”

“But Koba, I’m older than you, but you talked to me right away.”

“Ah hyung! That’s that. Why? So you don’t like it? If you didn’t like it, you should have said it right away. Why are you suddenly being petty now?”

“No, it’s not that. I’m sorry.”

“What, what’s wrong with the atmosphere? Cheers cheers cheers~”

Janggeum raised her glass and changed the atmosphere, and they spent time talking about ordinary game things again.

At that time, a woman wearing a hoodie and leggings entered the restaurant.

Dokhaengnama, who had a radar for pretty women, naturally turned his gaze to her.

As she took off the hoodie she had pulled down low, Dokhaengnama’s mouth gradually widened. He poked Wangsimni70, who was sitting next to him, in the side.

“What.”

Dokhaengnama gestured with his chin while fixing his gaze, and Wangsimni also followed his gaze. Then, he opened his mouth after seeing the hoodie girl’s face.

“Wow, she’s so pretty.”

Even in the noisy atmosphere, several men who heard his sincere admiration naturally discovered the hoodie girl and couldn’t take their eyes off her.

Janggeum frowned, feeling that the atmosphere was strange.

“What? Why are you suddenly like that? What’s going on?”

However, even Dokhaengnama, who was usually Janggeum’s admirer, ignored her words and continued to fix his gaze on the hoodie girl.

“Oh, she’s getting closer. She’s coming. Oh? She’s coming here?”

“Really? Is it real? Who is it?”

Soon, when the hoodie girl arrived at their table, the eyes of everyone there were focused.

The hoodie girl slowly looked around them and stopped in front of a man with a fierce impression.

“Hey.”

The man, Banggakova, couldn’t hide his smile at the feeling of being chosen and pointed to himself with his index finger.

“Me?”

“I’m Haru, you bastard, clench your teeth.”