The Cop Is Too Strong [EN]: Chapter 219

< #219. The Man of Ambition >

The wealthy man couldn’t immediately process the unexpected news and blankly asked again.

“What do you mean…?”

Shin Hae-soo calmly opened her mouth.

“Fortunately, you will be able to receive the full amount back. Please visit the Gangjin Police Station as soon as possible when you have time.”

Hae-soo politely handed Kang Hyun-seok her business card, then turned and walked down the stairs.

Squeak- Clunk

Thud

As soon as the door closed, Kang Hyun-seok collapsed to the floor. His son slowly knelt down to meet his father’s gaze.

“Father…”

A tear streamed down Kang Hyun-seok’s cheek. He slowly turned to his son, reached out, caressed his gaunt face, then hugged him tightly, weeping silently for a long time.

“Thank… Thank goodness. I’m… so grateful. Thank you…”

* * *

The Violent Crimes Unit office at Gangjin Police Station.

The office was filled with victims, not criminals.

“…Please fill out the part circled with a highlighter here, put your thumbprint on it, and give it to me.”

“Oh, thank you so much…”

“Detectives, I will never forget this kindness.”

“I really thought my life was over…”

The fraud victims repeatedly bowed and expressed their gratitude to the detectives, some holding the detectives’ hands warmly.

Many burst into tears upon confirming the compensation amount on the documents.

In a corner of the office, Chief Kwak and Oh Geng were looking around at the scene with proud expressions.

“It’s a great relief that those guys were talented in investment.”

“I know, right? It’s common to not even get half of the damages back even when you catch the scammers, but giving back the principal and compensation is really legendary.”

“Not really legendary.”

“Hey, what do you know, hyung [older brother or senior colleague]?”

Chief Kwak twitched an eyebrow and looked at Oh Geng.

“Hey? Look at this? You’re getting cocky now that you’re a team leader?”

“You need to watch your words. It was like this even before I became a team leader, okay?”

“Right, I forgot. Let’s get you beat up in front of the victims today.”

“Try it if you dare.”

As Chief Kwak and Team Leader Oh glared at each other, Hae-soo slipped in between them.

“Uh! What is it?”

“Oh my, you need to turn on your blinkers before coming in, you startled me! Tell me before you charge in!”

Hae-soo looked at them alternately with her unique expressionless face and replied.

“The new detectives are making fun of you.”

“Where, where?”

Hae-soo grabbed Chief Kwak’s shoulder, turned him towards the door, and pushed him forward.

“Let’s go eat.”

“Uh, uh…”

Chief Kwak was forcibly led away by Shin Hae-soo, and Oh Geng made eye contact with Oh Mi-yeon, the new female member of Team 3, cleared his throat, and hurriedly chased after Hae-soo.

“Ahem, l-let’s go together! Section Chief Shin!”

* * *

Lunchtime. Today was a good day, so they decided to eat out to celebrate.

“Here you go~ Enjoy your meal.”

Today’s menu was bibimbap [Korean mixed rice with meat and vegetables]. Chief Kwak quickly grabbed his bowl and said.

“Bibimbap came all the way from Jeonju [a city famous for bibimbap] to Gangjin so fast, hehe.”

“Hey, don’t say things like that-”

Just as Oh Geng was about to say something out of habit,

“That’s right. It must have come with the siren on.”

The new recruit casually responded to Chief Kwak’s words.

Chief Kwak’s eyes widened as the new recruit acknowledged him, and he became excited.

The taciturn special team members had never properly acknowledged Chief Kwak’s jokes.

“Oh? Ahahaha! That’s right! If it comes with the siren on, it’ll be fast! That’s why it’s so hot!”

“Ah, Chief, you’ll burn your hand. If you don’t mind, I’ll mix it for you!”

“Oh? You know how to mix?”

The new recruit raised both arms like a surgeon about to go into surgery and said solemnly.

“My arms are also bibim noodles [a pun, implying his arms are skilled at mixing].”

“What? Euhahahah! Then you must be good at mixing! Okay, I’ll leave it to you!”

Chief Kwak excitedly spoke loudly and handed the bibimbap bowl to the new recruit, who really started mixing it skillfully like a master.

Oh Geng, Hae-soo, and Section Chief Woo stared at the scene with blank faces.

Unlike the dumbfounded Oh Geng and Hae-soo, Section Chief Woo’s expression was serious.

‘I can feel an enormous ambition from that new recruit.’

Section Chief Woo felt a sense of crisis.

Even after that, the new recruit’s ambition was revealed from time to time.

The gazebo in the police station parking lot, the smoking area.

Click, click

“Ah, out of gas.”

Oh Geng was about to light a cigarette, but the lighter ran out of gas, leaving him in a difficult situation.

Click-

The new recruit appeared out of nowhere and held out a Zippo lighter with a steady flame.

Oh Geng asked, slightly surprised.

“What is it, new recruit? You don’t smoke, do you?”

“I carry it around because there are many times when it’s needed.”

“Oh… Sense, good, good.”

Oh Geng praised the new recruit’s sense with a thumbs up.

Section Chief Woo was hiding behind a pillar of the gazebo, glaring at this scene.

‘He’s no ordinary guy…’

“Muscle monster, what are you doing there?”

“Yep? Ah, nothing!”

As Section Chief Woo hurriedly ran away, Oh Geng muttered, looking at his bear-like back.

“Did that guy think that body could be hidden?”

Oh Geng tilted his head and put the cigarette back in his mouth.

The new recruit’s ambition didn’t discriminate when it came to time.

The Violent Crimes Unit office.

The special team was returning from supporting the traffic division because there was no work.

Oh Geng threw off the traffic police safety vest and grumbled.

“Yeah, I’m a cop, I’m a cop! I heard the word ‘cop’ at least a hundred times today, chirp chirp chirp!”

At that moment, the new recruit quickly approached and said with a serious expression.

“Team Leader, then may I offer you some birdseed?”

“Huh? What birdseed?”

As Oh Geng looked dumbfounded, the new recruit brought out chocolates that he had bought at some point, even unwrapping them and offering them.

Oh Geng’s face, which had been distorted by the nuisance, quickly softened.

“Wow… this is something, just when I was running low on sugar.”

The new recruit quickly distributed chocolates to Hae-soo and Section Chief Woo as well.

Section Chief Woo took it absentmindedly, then put it down and said.

“Ah, I’m okay…”

At that moment, the new recruit approached again and placed the chocolate in Section Chief Woo’s hand.

“Please take it. You didn’t have much sugar in your lunch today, so you’re lacking sugar intake.”

Section Chief Woo flinched. He even remembered his menu.

“How did you know…?”

The new recruit covered Section Chief Woo’s hand with both of his, and said with sparkling eyes like Puss in Boots [reference to the Dreamworks character known for their large, pleading eyes].

“Section Chief Woo, no, Senior, you are my… wannabe. I want to be like you, so I’m watching your every move. I respect you.”

“Wh-what…?”

Section Chief Woo sometimes heard that he was oblivious or insensitive to emotions, but he thought he had a great ability to judge the truth.

However, he could feel sincerity in this new recruit’s eyes and tone.

Section Chief Woo was shocked by his sincerity and stood there blankly for a long time.

The new recruit quickly moved around even in that short time, taking care of this senior and that senior.

Section Chief Woo’s eyes twinkled for a moment.

‘This is… no ordinary ambition. I need to treat this guy well.’

The reason why Section Chief Woo became the new recruit’s wannabe was after his stewardess girlfriend appeared at the police station, but Section Chief Woo didn’t know that.

Chew chew-

Hae-soo was looking out the window and eating the chocolate the new recruit had given her.

Vibrate vibrate vibrate

Feeling the vibration, she took out her cell phone from her inner pocket and checked the saved name. One corner of her lips twitched, but Hae-soo didn’t notice.

“Yeah.”

-Can I bring Ahn Seo-eun to the hideout today?

She gets straight to the point without preamble. Typical of her. Hae-soo tried hard to suppress the laughter that was about to burst out and replied.

“Yeah, you don’t have to ask for permission next time.”

-Really?

“Really.”

-Okay. When are you coming, Hae-soo?

“I’m going straight home after work today.”

-Okay.

“When are you…”

The faint static noise that could be heard during the call is gone. Hae-soo took the phone away from her ear and looked at the screen. The call had already ended.

She looked at the screen blankly and chuckled.

* * *

Tap tap tap

Click clack

Two different footsteps echoed in the deserted alley.

Haru, with her hair tied up high and wearing comfortable sweatpants and sneakers.

Behind her, Ahn Seo-eun, with her curled goddess hairstyle, sophisticated two-piece suit, a coat over it, and white heels, followed behind.

Haru was holding a black plastic bag in her right hand and skipping like a child.

Today is the day to taste the trinity of spicy stir-fried noodles, triangular kimbap [Korean rice ball wrapped in seaweed], cheese, and convenience store delicacies for the first time in a long time.

She was already excited about introducing this taste to Ahn Seo-eun, the third-generation chaebol [Korean term for a wealthy family conglomerate heir] who was far from these trinity foods.

As a result, she was so engrossed in that thought that she didn’t even notice that she was getting farther away from Ahn Seo-eun.

Ahn Seo-eun, who was barely keeping up with small steps due to her narrow skirt, couldn’t stand it and reached out her hand.

“L-let’s go together.”

Chuck-

Haru, with her keen ears, turned around and looked at Seo-eun’s heels and said.

“Well, high heels can be used as weapons in an emergency, but they have very poor mobility.”

“Yes, uh… I know. So slowly…”

“Shall we switch shoes?”

“Pardon? Ah, no. It’s okay.”

Haru and Ahn Seo-eun have the same shoe size, so they can switch shoes. Haru had lent her shoes to Seo-eun before when she had to fill in for a bodyguard urgently.

Seo-eun paused when Haru casually suggested switching shoes, then her slightly narrowed brow relaxed.

Haru then matched her pace with Seo-eun and headed to the hideout.

“Hae-soo isn’t here today?”

Haru nodded her head greatly and replied brightly.

“Yes, the gangster ajusshi [Korean term for middle-aged man, often used informally] is also out, and Kkabuli said he’s going somewhere. It’s just the two of us. Oh, and Young-soo is here too.”

“Ah.”

Seo-eun was a little disappointed, but she liked this member too. Haru, of course, and Young-soo was the most comfortable among the members.

The two women got into the elevator, and just before the door closed.

Thud-

A large work boot came in.

Beep beep-

As a result, the elevator door reopened, and five burly men entered.

“Excuse me.”

Seo-eun instinctively shrank and huddled close to Haru.

The men glanced at the sight and sneered, but the two women didn’t see it.

As soon as two of the five burly men entered, they took their places on the back wall of the elevator, so Haru and Seo-eun ended up standing in the center.

Tick tick-

Haru had no choice but to press the 4th floor, where Hwang Jang-soo’s temporary residence was, instead of the basement.

The men positioned on the sides and back glanced at Haru and Seo-eun. Haru didn’t care because it was always like this when they were together.

Two in the back, two on the sides, and one in the front.

Ding Dong- 4th floor.

Even before the door opened, the two burly men on the sides stepped forward and blocked the entrance with their broad backs.

The action is unusual. Ahn Seo-eun sent a wary look and said.

“What is it?”

At the same time as her question, the two burly men standing behind covered the two women’s faces with black cloths.