The Cop Is Too Strong [EN]: Chapter 204

< #204. New Transfer >

Myungsik’s friend, struggling to rise, gripped the faucet. Just then, Shin Haesoo slammed the fish tank lid against his hand.

“Kkeueuaaaak!!!”

“Ah, shit!”

Regaining consciousness, Myungsik shoved his friend aside and tried to stand, but Haesoo struck him under the chin with the fish tank lid.

Thwack!

Myungsik’s eyes rolled back as he collapsed. Haesoo squatted, gripped the lid with both hands, raised it high, and brought it down with brutal force.

Whack! Whack!!

“Keoheoeoeok!!”

The lid crashed against Myungsik’s ankles. Unconscious just moments before, Myungsik’s eyes snapped open, and he screamed in agony, the sound echoing in the small space.

“Does it hurt? You’re not the only one in pain.”

Haesoo’s gaze dropped to his own wrist. Myungsik followed his gaze and shook his head, fear flooding his eyes. He couldn’t move to protect himself; his body was paralyzed.

Haesoo raised the fish tank lid again.

“Your friend is waiting. I’ll make sure you two are in the same condition.”

Thwack!!!

*

Thud, thud, thud.

As the screams faded, Haesoo emerged from the bathroom, the broken fish tank lid in his hand. His face and hands were smeared with blood, undoubtedly belonging to the criminals.

Outside, Oh Gyeong and Woo Gangcheol had arrived. The victim, Jang Hayeon, sat huddled in a corner, a detective’s jacket wrapped around her shoulders.

The ambulance hadn’t arrived yet.

Swish.

Seeing Haesoo, she slowly rose. She grasped his sleeve with a trembling hand, her voice barely audible.

“Th-thank you… Thank you.”

A trembling voice, trembling hands. Despite the horrific trauma she had endured, she found the strength to express her gratitude.

Haesoo took her wrist, met her gaze, and nodded.

“I’m glad you’re safe now. You’re okay.”

*

Myungsik and his friend, who had brazenly threatened people with awls [ice picks] in broad daylight to kidnap, rape, and murder, were responsible for the deaths of three people.

The first victim was a woman living alone in the same multi-family house. They had hidden her body in a rubber tub.

They confessed to the murders and body disposal and received the maximum sentence: life imprisonment.

At Haesoo’s request, they were assigned as roommates to Cell Leader Masil in Hyosung Prison.

*

Some time later.

“Reporting for duty! Police Officer Kim Hamin! As of today, I’ve been transferred to Violent Crimes Unit 4!”

Clap, clap, clap, clap!!

Oh Gyeong and Woo Gangcheol applauded enthusiastically. Violent Crimes Unit 4 was unique, consisting of only three members, including the team leader, instead of the usual four.

They were often understaffed, frequently joining other violent crime units as temporary support, like in the Special Task Force.

But with the arrival of the new recruit, the team was finally complete.

“Wow!! Kim Hamin! What a great name!”

“Thank you, Team Leader!”

Unlike the muscular Woo Gangcheol, the new recruit had a sharp, modern style and bright, eager eyes.

“You look sharp. I’m Woo Gangcheol, welcome aboard.”

“Oh, our youngest junior is already trying to act tough.”

“Hehe, no, Team Leader.”

The arrival of the new recruit filled Violent Crimes Unit 4 with a sense of optimism. The day passed without any major incidents.

“It’s a relaxing day. We might even get off work early [퇴근 – pronounced ‘toe-geun’, means ‘leaving work’].”

Oh Gyeong grumbled at Woo Gangcheol’s words.

“…Don’t jinx it. There’s not much time left until 퇴근. Are you going to take responsibility if we get called out?”

About five minutes later.

Ring, ring, ring.

The internal line rang, and Squad Leader Kwak immediately answered.

“Yes, Violent Crimes Unit.”

Squad Leader Kwak pointed at Violent Crimes Unit 4, who were on standby.

“Emergency dispatch on the new recruit’s first day! Hurry to Gangjin Station Exit 3! Code Zero wanted fugitive!”

“Yessir!”

*

Dash, dash, dash.

A man ran urgently through the subway.

-Kyaaak-!

A sharp scream echoed from a nearby car. The man frowned and opened the connecting door.

Several people huddled together, red blood splattered across the floor.

The man pushed through the crowd and approached the scene.

In the corner, a young man leaned weakly against a seat, blood gushing from wounds near his lungs and heart.

“New recruit, new recruit!”

“Huk, huh- Senior…”

The new recruit grabbed Shin Haesoo’s sleeve with his last strength and pointed towards the subway window.

Following his finger, Haesoo saw a hooded man holding a knife to a pregnant woman’s neck outside the subway.

The hood obscured his face, revealing only his nose and mouth.

Wiiiing-

The subway began to move. Shin Haesoo glared at the criminal, his eyes bloodshot.

The corner of the criminal’s mouth curved upward in a cruel smile.

Zzzzz-

He lightly drew a bloodline on the pregnant woman’s neck as if playing a game.

-Kyaaaaak-!

The blood sprayed across the subway window, horrifying the passengers inside.

Haesoo swallowed his rage and murderous intent and whispered to himself.

‘…Reset.’

*

“…Don’t jinx it. There’s not much time left until 퇴근. Are you going to take responsibility if we get called out?”

The Violent Crimes Unit office at Gangjin Police Station: team leader grumbling, team members giggling.

Shin Haesoo immediately checked the time.

‘7:57 PM’

One hour before facing the criminal through the subway window.

Haesoo retrieved a stab-proof vest from the equipment cabinet and approached the new recruit.

“New recruit.”

“Yes!”

The new recruit, usually aloof and intimidating, stood rigidly when Shin Haesoo addressed him.

Haesoo stared into his eyes for a moment, then tossed him the vest.

“Why suddenly this…”

“Wear it.”

“Yes!”

Despite the lack of a dispatch and the approaching 퇴근 time, the new recruit immediately put on the vest without question when ordered by a senior officer.

The team leader and senior team members exchanged serious glances.

Oh Gyeong started to put on his dress shoes, then changed back into his athletic shoes, muttering.

“Ah, when Haesoo does that…”

Ring, ring, ring-

The internal line rang, and Squad Leader Kwak answered.

“Yes, Violent Crimes Unit.”

-Code Zero, wanted fugitive Kang Joo-sik reported. Near Gangjin Station Exit 3, wearing a black hooded jumper and navy blue cotton pants.

“I knew it.”

Before Squad Leader Kwak could relay the message, the team members were already preparing for dispatch.

Oh Gyeong grabbed his jacket and muttered.

“Kang Joo-sik… who was Kang Joo-sik again?”

Haesoo answered immediately.

“He’s the Goam-dong 발바리 [Balbari – Korean term for a type of thief or pervert, often a peeping tom or someone who commits petty theft]. Publicly wanted fugitive.”

“Ah, that’s right. Did you bring your gun?”

“Yes.”

“Let’s go.”

The Violent Crimes Unit 4 team members piled into the 봉고차 [Bongocha – Korean term for a van]. Shin Haesoo, however, mounted his motorcycle parked nearby.

The new recruit, sitting in the passenger seat, asked.

“Why does Senior Shin Haesoo always go alone? Isn’t a two-person team the basic principle?”

Woo Gangcheol bristled at the question.

“Senior is worth two people, no, twenty people alone. He’s more than enough on his own; he’s saved a truckload of people.”

“Wow… is that so?”

Oh Gyeong chimed in.

“That’s why we let him wander around alone. Otherwise, he would have been kicked out a long time ago.”

While the team members fastened their seatbelts, Shin Haesoo donned his helmet and sped away from the police station.

*

Drrrruuuum-!

Shin Haesoo raced towards the scene on his motorcycle, taking the lead.

The road to the scene after the reset was dangerous, inevitably meaning facing the criminal alone.

“Kyaaak-!”

A sharp scream. Two subway security guards lay collapsed at the bottom of the stairs leading to the waiting area. Fortunately, they appeared unharmed.

Arriving earlier than before, Haesoo couldn’t determine if this was a repeat of the previous timeline or a new deviation.

Haesoo jumped down the stairs.

Swish-

The moment he reached the last step, a black hood leaped from the shadows and lunged at Haesoo with a knife.

The knife aimed for the carotid artery – professional skill, a dangerous opponent.

Haesoo reflexively tilted his head and reached out. The blade grazed his cheek, leaving a thin cut.

Tteodeok, whoosh-

Haesoo grabbed the attacker’s wrist with one hand and his collar with the other, executing an over-the-shoulder throw.

The black hood spun through the air and slammed into the floor.

Thud!

‘Break fall?’

Even with one arm pinned, he performed a break fall using his feet and remaining hand.

During the throw, he had resisted by placing his hand on Haesoo’s back to prevent a complete fall.

This was a guy that had to be caught today.

Swisik.

The black hood released the knife, caught it mid-air with his other hand, and slashed at Haesoo’s forearm.

He couldn’t penetrate the activity uniform, let alone the stab-proof vest, but he managed to break free.

They quickly rose to face each other.

As Haesoo reached for his baton, the knife flashed out again.

Tuk-

Anticipating the attack, Haesoo abandoned the baton, jerked his head back to avoid the knife, and lunged forward with a fist.

The punch landed shallowly but accurately on the black hood’s nose.

“Keuk.”

The black hood staggered back. Haesoo seized the opportunity and charged in for a body slam.

Pow-!

The black hood flew through the air for about three meters before crashing to the floor.

Dash, dash, dash-

He immediately scrambled to his feet and ran, grabbing a mother and daughter and throwing the child onto the railroad tracks without hesitation.

“Kyaaak!!”

Unfortunately, the screen door was under construction and open.

He was a heinous criminal, but no murder had occurred yet. The child’s mother, in shock, tried to jump onto the tracks.

-The train bound for Daebang is arriving.

An announcement blared. There wasn’t time to draw his gun. Haesoo made a split-second decision.

Whoosh.

Haesoo yanked the child’s mother back by the scruff of her neck, then jumped onto the tracks himself.

The child sat crying, unable to stand due to injuries.

The train lights grew brighter. Haesoo scooped up the child and threw him upwards.

Bbang Bbang Bbang!!

The subway operator, realizing the situation, slammed on the brakes. But it wouldn’t be enough to stop in time.

Tuk-

In a precarious moment, as some closed their eyes, Haesoo’s hand touched the edge of the platform and he pulled himself up.

Thuuuuuuung-

Almost simultaneously, the subway roared past the spot where Haesoo had been. The brakes were engaged, but a direct hit would have been fatal.

“Heo, heoeok.”

The mother, who had nearly lost her child, saw Haesoo climb back onto the platform, hugged her child tightly, and sat down, speechless.

Haesoo ran past them in the direction the black hood had fled.

“헐… [Heol – Korean expression of disbelief or shock]”

“Crazy, awesome, who is that 아저씨 [Ahjussi – Korean term for middle-aged man]?”

Some people filmed the scene with their cell phones, repeatedly calling it awesome.

‘Where is he, where is he!’

Unlike the past, he had intervened early, so he no longer knew what the future held.

The image of the bleeding new recruit and the pregnant woman’s blood spraying across the subway window flashed through his mind, fueling his anxiety.

At that time.

Jijik-

-This is Chick, 택배 [Taekbae – Korean term for delivery] found! Sinyeonghaeng waiting area!

Haesoo’s expression hardened. His experiences had shown him that fate was resilient. Even when twisted or cut, past events tried to reassert themselves.

The fact that the new recruit had found the criminal was a continuation of that damn fate.

“New recruit, don’t get close.”

Haesoo muttered into the radio and ran.

*

Sinyeonghaeng waiting area. The new recruit frowned at Shin Haesoo’s radio message.

‘Then how am I supposed to catch the criminal? What’s so scary about 발바리 [Balbari]?’

The new recruit chased the black hood onto the subway and quickly located the car where the criminal was.

Swisik.

He found the black hood holding a knife to a woman’s neck. Seeing her pregnant belly, he knew he had to act.

The new recruit raised his taser gun and aimed at the criminal.

The criminal ignored him and slowly moved towards the open subway doors.

“Wait, wait a minute.”

The new recruit raised both hands, signaling he wouldn’t fire, and slid the taser gun towards the criminal.

Dealing with a knife-wielding criminal for the first time, the new recruit’s fingertips trembled.

The criminal smirked and bent down to grab the taser gun.

“Hap!”

Summoning his courage, the new recruit charged and collided with the criminal.

The two bodies tangled and rolled, the new recruit ending up pinned to the floor.

The criminal didn’t hesitate to plunge the knife into the new recruit’s heart.

Pak-