The Cop Is Too Strong [EN]: Chapter 87

Haru was from an orphanage. She was adopted by a mysterious man at the age of five, and that place was hell.

Haru was from an orphanage. She was adopted by a mysterious man at the age of five, and that place was hell.

-Survive, and wealth and honor will follow.

-Survive, and wealth and honor will follow.

-What about Mom?

-What about Mom?

-I am your mom.

-I am your mom.

Under the guise of adoption, children were bought from orphanages by a martial arts training group. They were trained from the age of five, before they could even read Korean.

Under the guise of adoption, children were bought from orphanages by a martial arts training group. They were trained from the age of five, before they could even read Korean.

The reason was that there were many tasks that could only be done when they were young.

The reason was that there were many tasks that could only be done when they were young.

-Forget your old name. The number on your left chest is your name.

-Forget your old name. The number on your left chest is your name.

-What is this called?

-What is this called?

-Number 11, and use honorifics, kid.

-Number 11, and use honorifics, kid.

Haru trained with about twenty other children. By the time the training was over at the age of twelve, only six of them were still alive.

Haru trained with about twenty other children. By the time the training was over at the age of twelve, only six of them were still alive.

-What about Mom?

-I am your mom.

Under the guise of adoption, children were bought from orphanages by a martial arts training group. They were trained from the age of five, before they could even read Korean.

The reason was that there were many tasks that could only be done when they were young.

-Forget your old name. The number on your left chest is your name.

-What is this called?

-Number 11, and use honorifics, kid.

Haru trained with about twenty other children. By the time the training was over at the age of twelve, only six of them were still alive.

From the age of twelve, she received individual missions, and within a year, four of her peers had died.

-We have to escape from here, or we’ll die.

-You’ll die even if you run away.

-It’s better to die trying to escape than to die here. If you die here, I’ll die trying to escape.

-Don’t go, I don’t want to be alone…

-I don’t want to die, come with me.

-I don’t want to die either. I’m not going.

-Coward.

Haru ran away alone, leaving Number 11 behind, but was caught by the instructor.

-Number 17, you are outstanding. If you go back now, I’ll pretend nothing happened.

Squeak-

-Ugh!

Haru inflicted a fatal injury on the instructor’s eye when he was off guard and ran away. However, Haru was also seriously injured, so she collapsed while running away and was discovered by the boss of another organization.

-This kid has murder in her eyes. Take her.

That’s how she entered the underworld. From the age of thirteen, she lived there as a fighting dog for 10 years until she met Hae-soo.

*

“Even in the orphanage, in the training center, and in the underground, I was not a person. This one year is more valuable than my entire 23 years of life.”

Shin Hae-soo’s heart ached as he listened to Haru tell her story so calmly. The 10 years in the underworld were not the only hell she had endured.

The 8 years in the training center before that were even worse. Even in the orphanage where she had been since birth, she hadn’t been given enough to eat, was forced to work, and was routinely beaten.

God is so unfair. Hae-soo’s heart ached that she had lived such a miserable life since she was born, while still a child.

Whether she knew Hae-soo’s feelings or not, Haru looked around anxiously and continued to speak.

“If they find out about me, they won’t let me live. They will annihilate not only me but also everyone around me. They have the power to do that. I’ve put the landlord and Ahn Seo-eun in danger…”

Swish

Hae-soo wrapped his arms around Haru’s slender shoulders and patted her back once.

“You’ve been through a lot.”

“Hic…”

Something hot rose from the depths of Haru’s heart, and she burst into tears.

Forgetting about the urgent situation, her shameful past, and the present she wanted to protect, she leaned on Hae-soo and cried.

The person who gave her light for the first time, the person who allowed her to live like a human for the first time, the person who made her feel happiness for the first time—and now that she thought that sweet dream was over, her tears wouldn’t stop.

“I… I don’t want to leave. But I have to leave.”

Hae-soo let go of her and met her gaze with a firm one.

“Why do you have to leave?”

Hae-soo’s eyes, which had been looking around, were now filled with a terrible murderous intent.

“They’re the ones who should leave—from this world.”

Haru had only seen Hae-soo in actual combat once, but she knew his skills quite specifically through his long morning training sessions.

Haru lowered her head and shook it slightly.

“It’s not possible. It’s dangerous. They are not people that an individual can handle.”

“Who said anything about an individual? Don’t worry, just trust me.”

“…”

Comforting Haru emotionally ends here; there is not much time. If they find out that that man is not at the police station, they will look for him, and the first search will be around Hae-soo.

Before that, the man must be exposed in some way.

“So, the only people who can recognize your face are that man and the instructor?”

“Yes. There is a 3-year difference between me and the other trainees, so we use separate training and accommodation. I only see them passing by occasionally, so they won’t recognize me now.”

“Okay, no matter how big they are, I’ll catch them. Until then, we have to hide your existence from the enemies. The key is the aftercare of that guy…”

As Hae-soo pondered, Haru grabbed his wrist and looked at him with a serious expression.

“I’ll try to win him over.”

“You’re going to step up yourself?”

“Yes, he wasn’t hesitant. He was sure. He is sure of my existence.”

“Let’s go for now.”

Hae-soo headed to the warehouse where the man was being held with Haru. The man’s eyes trembled violently when Hae-soo appeared with Haru.

When the gag was removed, he glared at Haru and said.

“I knew it, I knew it. It was Number 17. To think you were so close…”

Haru stared down at him quietly before turning her head to Hae-soo.

“Please leave us alone.”

“Okay.”

Hae-soo left, leaving Haru and the man alone. Haru knelt down in front of him and met his eye level.

“Long time no see. You’re still alive.”

“I know. If Ma Instructor knew you were alive, his eyes would pop out.”

Ma Instructor was the instructor who trained Haru and Number 11. He was the one Haru inflicted a fatal injury on his right eye when she escaped.

“That person knows I’m alive. He let me live.”

“…What?”

“Even if that person was injured, do you think he would make a mistake against a thirteen-year-old?”

Haru’s words are correct. No matter how talented Haru is, the same goes for Ma Instructor. He is not someone who would make a mistake against a mere thirteen-year-old child.

“He let you go.”

Why did he only now realize such a simple truth?

“There’s no way. You were a strong candidate for the next instructor…”

Why would they release such a talented person in a place where escape was punished by execution? It didn’t make sense.

Yes, since he didn’t understand, he naturally accepted the words that he had missed it at the time. Also, the words that he would die soon after suffering a fatal injury.

“I don’t know either. I went through another hell after that, so I thought this was also the price of escape.”

Haru stared at the confused Number 11 before reaching out her hand.

“Let’s get out of there. I’ll help you.”

Number 11 stared silently at Haru’s hand. His fingertips were trembling. Number 11 let out a cold sneer.

“Now? When did you abandon me? Do you know how I survived alone?”

Haru’s beautiful brow furrowed slightly.

“You’re still a coward.”

“What!!”

He flared up at Haru’s words. The word ‘coward’ remained a trauma.

However, Haru was not one to leave him alone. She opened his mouth wide and put a knife in it.

Number 11 realized it only after something cold touched his tongue.

The tip of the knife touched his tongue, and the blade slightly pushed against one corner of his mouth.

Zz-

The corner of his mouth tore a little, and blood flowed out. Haru brought her face close to him and said in a cold tone.

“Aren’t you afraid of me?”

“…”

Number 11 avoided her eyes and looked down silently. When he met her murderous eyes, the past he had forgotten came to mind.

She was not a comrade with a strong sense of camaraderie who overcame training together, but an unapproachable being that everyone feared.

Haru slowly took the knife out of his mouth. Then, she wiped the blood flowing down the corner of his mouth with her thumb. Thanks to this, his mouth was all red.

“Now you’re ready to talk. Where is Ma Instructor?”

“Ma Instructor… I don’t know. I only heard rumors that he was assisting VIPs up close.”

“That means he’s not working in the field, so I’ll be fine if you keep your mouth shut.”

It’s a different dimension when Hae-soo talks and when Haru threatens. Number 11 was already imagining how his body would be disposed of.

“If you kill me, the company will suspect the detective and search around. It’s the same thing—you’ll get caught anyway.”

“You’re trying to live.”

“It’s best if I’m released and I don’t say anything. Don’t you think so…”

As Haru raised the knife again, Number 11 hurriedly continued.

“Wait, wait! Save-”

Sizzle-

Number 11 squeezed his eyes shut, then opened them again at the strange feeling. Both hands were free.

Rustle-

Haru also untied the rope that was tightening his ankles. Then, she put the knife in his hand and said.

“I’ll let you go. Live well.”

“…What?”

Haru said that and turned her back on the armed enemy and walked out.

Number 11 watched her back and couldn’t do anything.

Creak-

Haru left the door wide open so Hae-soo could see inside the warehouse. She released the man and even gave him a knife.

Hae-soo judged that Haru had a plan and headed to the elevator with her.

As they disappeared, a terrible silence flowed through the underground parking lot.

Swish

Number 11 was silent for an hour before peeking his face out the door. No one was visible. It could be a trap.

He moved his steps outside one step at a time with extreme caution.

It was only after he was more than 1 kilometer away from Reed Building that he realized that he had really been released.

Then, his head, which had been hardened by fear, turned around.

‘I was caught by Detective Shin, and I was released after being locked up in a remote warehouse, not a police station. The company abandoned me because they thought I was being caught by the police, and if I go back and insist that Number 17 is alive and needs to be dealt with?’

He realized the reality and tore at his hair with both hands.

‘Everyone except Ma Instructor, who knows Number 17 well, will dismiss it as nonsense. The fact that I was caught by Detective Shin, who the company is observing these days, and released in a few hours is important to them, not other police officers. The company will torture me to find out what I said, and even if my innocence is proven… it can’t be proven.’

Now he realized why Haru had released him so easily. Even if the company had worked so hard to raise the hornet, it was a place that was ruthless to the rules.

The hornet is literally abandoned after stinging, and will be easily abandoned if there is even a slight flaw at any time.

He could be killed just because he was caught by someone for a while. Number 11 collapsed on the spot.

“I’ve been struggling to live, but so futilely…”

But he can’t go back to Haru. Detective Shin will be eliminated someday, and if he is with Haru at that time, he will eventually be eliminated as well.

The best way to survive is…

Ta-da-da-dak Kwang!!

Number 11 ran to the convenience store in front of him and kicked the door as if to break it.

“Kyaak!!”

Then, he stretched out his knife to the convenience store clerk and shouted.

“Give me the money!! Money!”

*

A few days later, the Violent Crimes Division headquarters.

The team leader approached and tapped Hae-soo on the shoulder.

“Strike, that guy you asked me to check on last time, the convenience store robber who turned himself in.”

“Yes.”

“Oh, this time he went to Hyosung Prison, but what a coincidence… he went into the room with Mo Chang-gui?”

“Is that so?”

Hae-soo smiled. There was no need to ask to move the room separately.

< #87. Number 11 > End