The Cop Is Too Strong [EN]: Chapter 67

As Shin Hae-soo arrived at work, the Violent Crimes Unit team members stood up in unison.

Hae-soo’s wrist, as well as his fingers, throbbed. He’d found out that his ligaments were strained, so he wrapped his wrist in a bandage.

“I can’t believe it! Am I seeing things?”

“N-No way…”

“Did he get into a traffic accident with a dump truck or something?”

The team leader rubbed his eyes, and the youngest member tore at his hair, shocked.

Oh Gyeong, the most composed of them all, approached, examining his hand and asking,

“Are you okay?”

*Indeed, Oh Gyeong is the most normal one here.*

“I’m fine.”

“No, I’m asking if the guys who did this to you are okay.”

*As expected, the Violent Crimes Unit has good teamwork.*

“They probably haven’t woken up yet.”

“Savage.”

Hae-soo vaguely told his team members that he had fallen down the stairs. Unless he had rolled from the top of the 63 Building [a famous skyscraper in Seoul] to the first floor, he wouldn’t have sustained this much injury, but the team members understood Hae-soo’s feelings and let it go.

However, their curiosity didn’t easily disappear, and the team members glanced at Hae-soo from time to time.

Lunchtime, rooftop after eating in the main building.

Hae-soo was on the rooftop, looking at the sky because he felt suffocated.

Squeak

The team leader saw Hae-soo going up the stairs and followed him. The team leader leaned against the railing next to Hae-soo and asked.

“What’s wrong? Even if you don’t want to talk about it because you just want to move on, everyone is dying to know who made your face and fingers like that. Is it even a person? Some kind of martial arts champion…?”

Hae-soo thought that might be possible. Hae-soo sighed deeply and opened his mouth.

“There are guys I want to catch… but I’m troubled because I don’t know how to catch them.”

“To think there would be a time when our Dauntless [referring to Hae-soo’s fearless reputation] would show such weakness. Who are these guys? Tell me, I’ll catch them all and throw them in.”

“They’re the kind of guys you can’t even touch with illegal gambling charges.”

“Come on, tell me. I’m the captain, okay? The Violent Crimes Unit captain?”

“The youngest daughter of JL Group.”

“Hmm…”

“The second son of Hyeseong Group.”

“Ooh, is there another one?”

“The eldest son of Geonyeong Group.”

“Woo-hoo~”

Hae-soo turned his gaze back to the sky at the team leader’s amusing reaction. The team leader patted him on the shoulder.

“Our Dauntless has been through a lot. You’ve endured well.”

He didn’t even hear the details and offered comfort that cut to the core. Hae-soo wondered if this was the wisdom of experience.

“Team leader…”

Hae-soo told the team leader about what he had experienced at the party. He hoped that his stifled feelings would be relieved even a little.

The team leader’s voice became a little calmer.

“…Hmm, I understand your feelings well. I understand. But stirring up trouble and catching those guys is the job of a prosecutor, and we need to prevent the dangers that are right in front of the citizens right now.”

“…I know. That’s why it’s even more painful.”

“Ah, I’m not saying give up. I know those guys well. You didn’t punish them directly, but they probably feel like they’ve been slapped twenty times by you.”

The team leader pointed at Hae-soo with his index finger and continued.

“They’ll definitely move. To trample on you. The higher-ups value their pride more than money or life. You prepare and wait, and then catch them at that time. Then we can catch them. Catch them and beat them. Beat them up real good.”

“…Thank you.”

He wasn’t sure if there would be a reaction, but he felt a sense of hope.

Beeep Beeep

Just then, the team leader’s phone rang.

“Yeah, what is it?”

-Hyung [Korean honorific for older brother/male colleague], where are you! Dispatch! Come quick!

“I’m going!”

The team leader hung up the phone and immediately opened the rooftop door and ran down. Hae-soo followed right behind him, and he shouted as he ran.

“You report the situation from the office!”

“I’m fine!”

As the team leader said, a detective’s work is separate. Even now, incidents are happening all over Korea, waiting for him.

This case was a violent drunk with a weapon. A drunk was causing a ruckus in a restaurant, saying he would kill all the happy-looking people with a knife.

His eyes were half-closed from how much he had drunk, and his face was so red that it looked like blood would spurt out if you poked it with a toothpick.

He was sitting at a table, holding a kitchen knife in one hand and a spoon in the other, eating steamed eggs.

Outside, the restaurant owner with an apron was bleeding from his forearm.

He had been cut while trying to stop him.

Outside the restaurant, people were filming him. They didn’t seem to know that they could become victims in an instant.

As the Violent Crimes Unit arrived, the drunkard raised his sleepy eyes and muttered.

“What, are the cops using patients these days?”

He was talking about the cast on Hae-soo’s arm. Hae-soo approached him and said.

“This isn’t a cast, it’s a riot control gauntlet.”

Hae-soo didn’t hesitate and slammed the drunkard’s knife-wielding hand with his cast.

Thump!!

“Aaaagh!!”

The drunkard’s hand was crushed, and the knife fell to the floor. At the same time, the youngest member rushed in and twisted his wrist back.

“You are under arrest for aggravated assault. You have the right to an attorney, and you have the opportunity to explain yourself.”

The longer you are a police officer, the stronger your hatred for alcohol becomes.

He gritted his teeth when he saw programs that glorified Korea’s drinking culture.

***

After work, Reed Building lobby.

He stopped by the convenience store to buy snacks for the three siblings. After buying a bunch and heading to the elevator, he bumped into a woman who suddenly popped out.

“Kyaa!” [Korean exclamation of surprise]

Of course, Hae-soo was standing there unharmed, and the woman flew backward after running into him.

Clatter

Her handbag and cell phone were scattered haphazardly on the floor.

Hae-soo was so dumbfounded by the sudden misfortune that he stared at her for a few seconds.

“Ugh…”

Only after hearing her groan did he come to his senses and approach her.

“Are you okay? I’m sorry.”

“Oh, no. Oh… I’m, I’m okay.”

Hae-soo picked up her belongings, put them in her handbag, and handed it to her.

“Still, you should go to the hospital and get checked out.”

“Oh, I’m really okay. I’m leaving now… Oh my!”

She picked up her cell phone and was startled. The screen of the cell phone was completely shattered.

Hae-soo was at a loss.

“I’ll pay for the repair if you take it in.”

The woman teared up and quickly waved her hands, saying.

“No, no. It’s my fault. It’s okay. Sniff…”

She pressed the phone a few times and glanced at Hae-soo with a troubled expression.

“Oh, but… the phone won’t turn on at all, so, I’m sorry, but can I borrow your phone for a second?”

“Yes, use it.”

Hae-soo unlocked the screen and readily lent her his phone.

She dialed a number in front of him as if to reassure him and pressed the call button to talk to someone.

“Oh, it’s me, Hye-jung, oh, I dropped my phone and it’s broken, where are you? Yeah, mine too, no, just one serving, what am I going to do with two servings when I live alone, yeah, I’ll be right there.”

She finished the call, smiled brightly, and handed the phone back to Hae-soo.

“Thank you. I’m sorry. Were you surprised?”

“No, I’m the one who’s sorry.”

“Well, anyone can see that only I got hurt.”

She covered her mouth and giggled, and Hae-soo also forced a smile.

“By the way… you’re in great shape? What do you do?”

“Yes, I am…”

“Oh, I’ll guess. A trainer at the gym on the 3rd floor!”

Hae-soo shook his head and replied.

“People often misunderstand. I’m a public official.”

At his words, she clapped her hands and was surprised.

“Ah ha! You’re a public official! I’m sorry! Hehe.”

*Haru has never seen it and can’t even imagine it, and Ahn Seo-eun sometimes smiles with her eyes, but this woman is almost automatic.*

She seemed to have been born with natural charm.

“Are you sure you don’t need to go to the hospital?”

“Oh, I’m really okay. Look at this.”

She rolled up her sleeves to her forearms, showed her slender forearms, and struck a pose to make her biceps stand out.

Of course, only her slender forearms stood out.

“Yes, haha.”

“But, if you’re not a trainer… do you live here?”

“Ah, yes.”

“I see… this is a nice place, I’m jealous. Invite me over later.”

“…Pardon?”

“I’m kidding, I’m kidding, anyway, I’m sorry. I’ll be going now.”

“Yes, please contact me if anything happens. I’ll pay for the treatment.”

At Hae-soo’s words, she tilted her head.

“How do I contact you?”

“With the number you just called your friend…”

“Oh, you have to give me your number directly to show sincerity.”

“Um, how do I give it to you?”

“I’ll tell you my number. Leave a message. With your name.”

“…Yes, I will.”

After sending her a text message, she finally left.

“I’ll be going now. See you later~”

“Go safely.”

She’s a strange person. Hae-soo watched her back, thinking she seemed to be limping a little, and then turned around.

“Ah, you scared me.”

Right in front of him, Haru was standing still with expressionless eyes.

“How long have you been down here? Are you going out somewhere?”

Haru didn’t answer and slightly turned her head, pointing her index finger at the woman’s back.

“Is that woman’s figure pretty? You were watching her for a long time.”

“I was looking because she seemed to be limping.”

“Are her legs pretty? They’re pretty.”

“I’m telling you, they’re not.”

As they got on the elevator, Haru followed and muttered while looking straight ahead.

“That woman is suspicious.”

“What is?”

“I saw it on the internet. What she’s doing now is called being a *fox* [a woman who uses her charms to seduce men]. It’s a trick to seduce a man she likes.”

“Why is that suspicious?”

Haru replied with confident eyes.

“There’s no way a woman as pretty and charming as her would like a burly, fierce, and scary landlord. She definitely has other intentions.”

“…Let’s get off.”

Hae-soo and Haru got off on the 9th floor instead of the 10th floor. The three siblings’ house is 904.

Ding-dong

“Waaah!!”

“Uncle!! Sister!”

“Sister!”

Except for the youngest, who was properly pranked in the outdoor bath, the second and first, Jian, clung to Haru and hugged her.

Haru isn’t that kind of affectionate style, so it’s a mystery how the children follow her so well.

*

That night, a text message came from an unknown number.

-It’s me. Hye-jung

Hae-soo felt that the name of the strange woman was not unfamiliar, and he rummaged through his memories. He remembered that the woman he had bumped into earlier had used this name when she was on the phone.

┗Yes, what’s the matter? Are you hurt anywhere?

-Oh, how did you know my name? Were you listening carefully?

┗I have a good memory.

-I see~ Just checking the number. Have a good night~^^

Hae-soo narrowed his brow slightly. He was awkward because no woman had ever approached him so actively before.

He saved Hye-jung’s number.

[Collision Victim]

*

The next day, it was almost midnight.

Beeep Beeep

The phone rang while he was trying to sleep.

[Collision Victim]

Why is this woman calling at this hour? Hae-soo remembered that she had said she lived alone. A myriad of reasons why a woman living alone would call late at night came to mind. All of them were related to crime.

Hae-soo immediately got up and answered the phone.

“Yes.”

-It’s, it’s me, Hye-jung.

Sure enough, her voice was trembling and full of fear.

“What’s the matter?”

-I, I had a drink with a friend and came home, but there’s a strange man knocking on my door. I’m so scared. What should I do?

“If you call 112 [Korean emergency number], the police from the nearest police box will be dispatched to protect Hye-jung safely.”

-I called the police when something similar happened before, and they just kicked the person out and left. I don’t trust the police… I’m really sorry, but could you come over?

“I understand. Tell me the address.”

-Yes, it’s close to there. Haetnim Mansion 301 across the street… Oh my, oh my, kyaa!

“Hye-jung, Hye-jung!! What’s wrong?!”

The call ended with Hye-jung’s scream. Hae-soo quickly put on his pants and burst out of the room.

If it’s Haetnim Mansion, it’s slower to go by motorcycle. As soon as the elevator stopped on the first floor and the door opened, Hae-soo ran at full speed.

Haetnim Mansion 301, which was a bit old, had its door half-open this night. Hae-soo burst open the door and entered the room.

Inside, Hye-jung was on the bed, wearing only her underwear and hugging a blanket, and the house was a mess, and the clothes she had been wearing were torn.

Hae-soo approached her and said.

“Hye-jung, are you okay?”

At that moment, Hae-soo made eye contact with Hye-jung and froze for a moment. Fear and contempt flashed in Hye-jung’s eyes.

She took a breath and then opened her mouth wide.

“Kyaaaa-!!”

As she screamed, people popped out from both sides of the room as if they had been waiting.

“Miss! What’s wrong?!”

“This person, me, me, just! Sniff!”

Her index finger was pointing at Hae-soo.

<#67. The Setup> End