The Cop Is Too Strong [EN]: Chapter 64

Thud, thud, thud.

While the police chief had coolly told him to leave, the team members who had been waiting on the stairs, not even entering the office, rushed towards Shin Hae-soo as he came down.

“What’s going on?”

“What did the chief say?”

“He has a dinner appointment with the commissioner.”

The team members’ eyes widened at Hae-soo’s calm reply.

“Have they finally recognized you upstairs, Senior!”

“Dinner with the commissioner? I’m jealous! You’ll eat something delicious, right?”

“Is that all you’re thinking about? Anyway, this is a great occasion for our team. Oh, Officer Shin’s great occasion? So, is it Gyeongsan [Shin Hae-soo’s hometown]?”

“You’re not funny, sir.”

*

A scenic ribs restaurant on the outskirts of Gangjin City.

Creak.

“It’s here.”

“Yes, yes, thank you…”

The Gangjin Police Chief entered the room with a troubled expression. The commissioner, who had arrived earlier, stood up with a smile to greet him.

“Oh, nice to meet you. I believe this is the first time we’ve met privately.”

“It’s an honor to meet you, sir.”

“Ah, but where is Officer Shin?”

“That’s…”

The chief sweated profusely and glanced back before answering.

“There was a dispatch right before departure, and he said he had to go… I’m sorry.”

“Ah, ah? Hahaha!”

The commissioner laughed good-naturedly and offered the chief a seat.

“You’re really as I’ve heard. If the Violent Crimes Unit is dispatched, it must be urgent. Of course, he has to go; if he’s a police officer, it’s understandable.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

However, the chief was on pins and needles. The commissioner didn’t even order meat, saying he would wait for Shin Hae-soo to arrive, so the awkwardness was at its peak.

After ten minutes that felt like an hour, a knock was finally heard.

Knock knock.

“He must be here.”

Swish-

The door opened, and Hae-soo appeared. He bowed sharply to the commissioner.

“I’m sorry I’m late.”

“Oh, Officer Shin, who is diligently bringing honor to the police, nice to meet you.”

The commissioner reached out his hand first, and Hae-soo hesitated before shaking it. There was blood on his hand. He quickly wiped the blood on his pants and shook it.

“It’s an honor. I’m Officer Shin Hae-soo.”

“The honor is mine. Sit down. Sit down; please bring the food now.”

“Yes, I will bring it.”

The interior was neat, the surroundings were quiet, and the scenery was good. The staff even grilled and cut the ribs before stepping back.

“Eat up. I wanted to take you to a better place, but these days, the police are wary of gathering and eating expensive things.”

The chief quickly replied.

“It’s really delicious. I didn’t even know it was in Gangjin City.”

“You haven’t even taken a bite yet; eat quickly. Officer Shin, too.”

The commissioner put a piece of meat on Hae-soo’s plate only.

“Thank you.”

The commissioner pointed to Hae-soo’s clothes with his index finger and asked.

“Whose blood is that?”

“It belongs to a suspect who attempted murder on the spot. It splattered during the process of subduing him as he charged with a knife.”

“I see, I see, haha, as expected, when someone from the field comes, the stories from the field are vivid! It reminds me of my passionate days, and I like it.”

“Thank you.”

Next to him, the Gangjin Police Chief was eating meat diligently, speechless.

He also knew. The main focus was Officer Shin, and he was called as an extra to save face. But the chief loved meat very much.

‘Delicious. As expected, someone else buying is the best.’

“I heard Officer Shin’s nickname is ‘physical therapist’? He messes up the joints of criminals here and there.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Ah, there’s no need to be sorry; I think so. When the police catch a criminal, I don’t want them to think about whether he has the will to attack, whether he’s hiding a weapon. I don’t want them to think about all that and subdue him. This is what the country is doing wrong, so the police are protecting themselves.”

He had been repeatedly disciplined and warned by his superiors for excessive force, but now the head of the Chungnam Provincial Police Agency, who could be said to be the highest authority, was taking his side? Hae-soo felt something hot welling up from deep within his heart.

He looked at him with sincerity for the first time since coming here and replied.

“It’s something I’ve always wanted to fix. Thank you for thinking that way.”

“I’m sorry. I couldn’t fix it because I was too busy protecting myself even after rising to this position. It would be great if there were more real police officers like Officer Shin.”

Hae-soo swallowed the ribs in his mouth and replied.

“I’m not a real police officer. From the beginning, my goal wasn’t the safety and maintenance of public order or strengthening public security. I’m not a righteous police officer.”

At Hae-soo’s words, the commissioner narrowed his brow slightly and leaned forward even more.

The chief, who was diligently eating ribs, paused.

“Then what is Officer Shin’s purpose in doing police work? It didn’t seem like power or money, so is it for a special promotion?”

“If I get too many special promotions, I might not be able to run in the field, so I’m worried about that too. My current rank doesn’t matter when catching criminals.”

The commissioner’s eyes widened, and Hae-soo continued.

“As you know, the recidivism rate is increasing every year. I’m amazed when I see ex-convicts with nine or ten previous convictions. I thought there was only one answer: the punishment is weak.”

The commissioner listened intently to Hae-soo, as if possessed.

“So?”

“So I thought, to lower the recidivism rate, the only thing I can do is… to catch bad guys badly.”

“You want to catch bad guys badly…”

The commissioner was lost in thought. Then, the chief spoke up for once.

“Actually, since Shin has been in my station, he’s caught a truckload of criminals, and the recidivism rate is extremely low. They committed crimes with their hands and feet, but now they can’t use their hands and feet.”

“Aha!”

As soon as he accurately understood the meaning of Hae-soo’s slightly roundabout words, the commissioner widened his eyes and clapped his hands as if he had discovered wild ginseng [a metaphor for something rare and valuable].

“Excellent! He works hard to catch criminals himself to prevent recidivism. All the people around me are only thinking about moving up or just killing time. There aren’t even real police officers to do the work. I met that precious manpower today; it’s beyond my expectations. Officer Shin, is there anything uncomfortable while working? Tell me if there’s anything you want.”

Hae-soo put down the meat he was holding and pondered for a while before cautiously opening his mouth.

“There is one thing…”

“What is it? I’ll grant you anything I can.”

“It’s for search and seizure warrants to be issued quickly. There are often times when it buys time for the suspect to flee or destroy evidence.”

“Hahaha! You’re a consistent detective; I like it very much, I like it very much. I’ll try my best to help with the Serious Crime Investigation Unit. Are you married?”

“I’m single.”

“Do you have someone you’re seeing?”

“No.”

The commissioner took out his cell phone, flipped through the photo album, and showed him a photo.

A woman with a bobbed haircut and resembling a squirrel is wearing a police uniform and making a V sign.

“My daughter is also a police officer, Jo Ara. Is she a year older than Officer Shin? That’s right, she’s a year older. She takes after me, so she’s still single because she’s busy catching criminals in the Violent Crimes Unit. Would you like to meet her?”

“I’m sorry. Not yet…”

The commissioner frowned slightly, as if he didn’t like Hae-soo’s answer for the first time, and closed the photo album.

“Ahem, yes, yes, young people these days like that whatchamacallit, spontaneous meeting? Since you’re in the same industry, there will be a time when you meet someday; she’s headstrong.”

“Yes.”

Only then did Hae-soo eat the meat to his heart’s content.

***

The next day, as soon as he got to work, the Serious Crime Investigation Unit detectives rushed at him.

“Hae-soo, was it delicious? What did you eat?”

“Senior, are you going to enter the commissioner’s office now?”

“Striker, what did the commissioner say? Did he tell you to come to the agency?”

Hae-soo grabbed each of their shoulders, lined them up, and answered while making eye contact with each one.

“Beef ribs. I’m not going in; nothing happened.”

“Wow, I like beef ribs too! Didn’t you bring any?”

“I’m glad, Senior! Without you in the Serious Crime Investigation Unit, it’s like kimbap [Korean seaweed rice rolls] without perilla leaves and bibimbap [Korean mixed rice dish] without perilla seeds!”

“What, those are all unnecessary? I think he’s your intellectual anti [someone who pretends to support you but actually undermines you].”

Hae-soo sat down and continued.

“I felt uncomfortable because it seemed like only I was taking credit for the team’s achievements. The meat was delicious. I’ll treat you after work today.”

“Wow, as expected, loyalty! Our Striker is very loyal; tonight is beef ribs!”

While the team leader was giving him double thumbs up, Oh Gyeong-i received an internal call. His expression gradually hardened.

“Damn it, it looks like tonight is triangle kimbap [cheap and simple meal], support request for a mob fight in Yangjin.”

“Why suddenly in Yangjin?”

“Hyung [older brother or male friend], we’re the Serious Crime Investigation Unit now; let’s get up quickly!”

“I’ll drive!”

The detectives of Violent Crimes Unit 1, now the Serious Crime Investigation Unit, got up with their heavy bodies and went on a dispatch.

*

Many things happened even after meeting the commissioner.

The Traffic Division building was remodeled into the headquarters of the Serious Crime Investigation Unit, and Gu, the chief of staff, brought in a professional tailor to measure the body sizes of the Violent Crimes Unit and Serious Crime Investigation Unit detectives to make special stab-proof vests.

Even after changing from the Violent Crimes Unit to the Serious Crime Investigation Unit, it was almost the same, but the work process changed subtly.

The support response and processing from the Intelligence Division became faster, and cooperation in investigations in other regions became easier.

After spending an ordinary day like that and heading home from work, he saw a black sedan parked at the entrance of Lead Building.

‘I’ve seen it before…’

Hae-soo didn’t go to the underground parking lot and approached the car. Then, the back door opened, revealing smooth legs.

“Hae-soo, it’s been a while.”

It’s Ahn Seo-eun, wearing silver high heels and a sky blue two-piece suit.

“Did you come to see me?”

“Of course. Why didn’t you have a housewarming party after moving?”

Hae-soo rummaged through his memories to see if he had told her about his new house.

“Haru told me.”

“I see. Would you like to go up?”

“Yes, I want to look around. I also have something to say.”

“Yes, then.”

Seo-eun followed Hae-soo to the underground parking lot, parked the car, and took the resident-only elevator to the tenth floor.

There were no bodyguards today; only Chief Kang was with her.

“Come in… um?”

Haru was waiting in front of the door, having been contacted by Ahn Seo-eun in advance.

However, she is wearing the shimmering outing clothes she bought at the department store before. Her hair was neatly combed, with not a single stray hair sticking out.

“Welcome.”

“It’s been a while, Haru. You’re still pretty.”

“Yes.”

Strangely, Haru’s behavior is awkward.

Hae-soo handed a banana-flavored milk to Ahn Seo-eun and Chief Kang.

“Do you keep these milk stocked up?”

“Not a lot; I keep a box stored.”

“I see… nice house.”

Ahn Seo-eun drank a little and then carefully looked around the house.

Haru took the lead and opened the doors here and there without saying anything, guiding her. It was as if a child was showing off their house.

“This must be Hae-soo’s room.”

“My room.”

“Ah, it’s Haru’s room; I’m sorry. You must be happy to have your own room.”

Haru glanced at Hae-soo and shook her head.

“It’s nice that the house is big, but I don’t like that because we can’t sleep together.”

“Yes… yes?”

Haru stared at Ahn Seo-eun without saying anything. Her empty eyes felt strangely burdensome. Seo-eun eventually avoided her gaze.

After touring the house, Hae-soo and Seo-eun faced each other again.

Seo-eun’s eyes were full of seriousness, as if she was about to say something.

“Hae-soo, what is your reason for being a police officer? No, what is Hae-soo’s purpose as a police officer?”

It’s a question that deserves to be asked with serious eyes. Hae-soo rubbed his chin at the rather heavy and deep question and slowly opened his mouth.

“Purpose? I can answer right away because I’ve answered it before. My purpose is to catch bad guys badly.”

Seo-eun stared at Hae-soo for a moment, then nodded deeply as if that answer was enough.

“Then, can you spare some time on Friday night?”

“Friday night? What… Haru, do you have something to say?”

Haru had been wandering around while Ahn Seo-eun was talking, and now she was sitting on the sofa table, covering Ahn Seo-eun’s face.

“No.”

She flinched at Hae-soo’s question and then got up from her seat.

Seo-eun glanced at Haru and then spoke to Hae-soo again.

“It’s a congratulatory party for the inauguration of the president of Geonyeong Corporation. All the third-generation chaebols [family-owned conglomerate] in Korea will be attending. There’s something I want to show you there.”

That’s the real reason she came here today.

Hae-soo nodded without hesitation. Ahn Seo-eun is a great helper. There’s no reason to refuse her request.

“I’ll attend if there are no cases.”

< #64. Catching Bad Guys Badly. > End