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“Mm...! Mm...!”
Despite the window being fully open, the dark studio apartment remained dim with little sunlight coming through.
Inside the closed bathroom door.
A woman’s faint moans could be heard from within.
One had to strain their ears to hear it. Even with the front door wide open, the sound was that faint.
Immediately, Kang Hanna rushed into unit 102.
Then, when she suddenly flung open the bathroom door—
“!? “
Inside the opened bathroom, a young woman with her mouth and limbs bound with duct tape was shedding tears.
She was the real owner of unit 102 and the one who had sent the text alert to the command room.
“Damn it!”
The man in his thirties, caught in the act, immediately tried to stand up and run away.
But, unfortunately for him, Haejun was right beside him.
“Ugh!”
Haejun, moving like lightning, grabbed the suspect by the collar.
And then, astonishingly, he lifted him straight into the air.
Because of that, the suspect, who was now dangling midair, made a choking sound, gasping for air.
[...Was my arm strength always this strong...?]
Watching his body display such incredible strength after finding its new master, Suho was left dumbfounded.
Kang Hanna, standing next to him, was equally shocked.
What Haejun had just done seemed like something straight out of a movie.
“Cough...! Let go...! Let go...!!”
The suspect cried out, making a choking sound.
In response, Haejun asked with a puzzled expression.
“Really?”
“H-hurry up and let go...! I-I feel like I’m going to die from suffocation...!”
The suspect struggled and pleaded.
At this, Haejun loosened his grip with a resigned expression.
Then,
Crash!
The suspect’s body fell to the ground and tumbled down the villa stairs.
Unfortunately, he had been hanging precariously right above the stairs.
“Ugh!”
The suspect screamed as he rolled down the stairs.
Judging by how his ankle was twisted backward, it seemed like his ankle bone was shattered.
Watching this, Haejun smiled like a devil.
Then he slowly descended the stairs and twisted the man’s right arm behind his back.
Click-
A pair of silver handcuffs was fastened into the hands of the suspect in his thirties.
It was Haejun’s first arrest.
An unforgettable moment of glory for any police officer.
However, at this moment, oddly enough, Haejun wore a disappointed expression.
“What a shame.”
“......?”
“If I were my past self, I would have made you a eunuch by now.”
“........!”
Haejun whispered into the suspect’s ear.
In that characteristic voice, full of coldness, like a cave.
He spoke because this type was the kind Haejun despised the most on the battlefield.
‘W-what kind of police officer is like this...?’
Hearing that voice, the suspect trembled involuntarily.
Because the whisper didn’t sound like a mere bluff.
It was the voice of a man who would truly do what he said.
And watching from the side, Kang Hanna also got goosebumps.
‘Haejun-ssi... Are you really the person I knew...?’
***
A man in his 30s, arrested at the scene, was dragged to the police station.
Surprisingly, he had a neat appearance and was a former theater actor.
‘...So that’s why he could act sleepy so casually.’
Above all, this man in his 30s was already a convict with a previous record of sexual assault.
He had been spying on the victim’s house for a long time and, in the end, couldn’t resist his urges, broke the victim’s window, and entered.
He had committed the crime after confirming beforehand that the screws on the victim’s window security bars were loose.
Fortunately, the victim had sent a text report just in time.
If the victim had hesitated whether to report until the suspect approached the security bars, she might have missed her only chance to report to the police.
“Sergeant Kang, Officer Gu, you did a great job. Since the violent crimes division is asking to transfer the suspect, I’ll go with Sergeant Lee. Let’s talk more later.”
After receiving the call from the violent crimes division, Team Leader Park Seokgi, along with Sergeant Lee Baekho, put the suspect in the patrol car and headed to Dongjak Police Station.
Now, the only people left in the precinct were Haejun, Kang Hanna, Hwang Cheolsu, and the victim who had yet to calm down.
“Phew... A criminal with a previous record doing such a thing... I guess scum like that can’t be rehabilitated. We should just catch them all and crush their balls.”
Kang Hanna said with a flushed face.
Despite her cute appearance, her attitude toward criminals was as tough as any detective in the violent crimes unit.
However, she soon regained her usual gentle tone.
This was because she noticed the victim, still trembling until then.
“You’ve been through a lot.”
“...Thank you for saving me.”
“No, it’s nothing. We were just doing what we were supposed to do.”
“.........”
“In any case, it’s a huge relief. All thanks to you, Kim Yeeun-ssi, for staying calm and reporting it in time.”
“...When the man removed the security bars and entered the room, I actually regretted it. I thought I should have called instead of texting... Of course, you arrived just in time, but still, I was anxious until the police officers showed up. I wasn’t sure if my report had been properly received...”
“Was there a reason you reported by text instead of calling?”
“The room is so cheap that it’s not soundproof at all. So I was afraid the man outside the window might hear me if I called...”
It was only after hearing the victim’s explanation that Kang Hanna nodded, understanding.
When she reported to the 112 Command Room, the suspect was just standing still, wearing a raincoat, staring into the room.
In other words, it was a situation where no one could tell if he was going to commit a crime or not.
In such a situation, if she had recklessly called the police and the man found out?
Even if he had no intention of committing a crime, wouldn’t he retaliate out of spite?
“I understand how you feel, Yeeun-ssi. The world is vast, and there are plenty of lunatics out there.”
“..........”
“If possible, it’s better to report it by phone in a way that the criminal can see. Just the fact that the criminal is aware of the report can significantly help in crime prevention.”
“...Yes. Thank you.”
“I have requested the department in charge to protect your identity, so there is no way the suspect will ever know who you are, Yeeun-ssi.”
At the calm tone of Kang Hanna, the female victim finally began to calm down a bit.
The trembling of her shoulders gradually subsided.
Her expression also changed from one of fear to one of relief.
Eventually, the female victim turned her gaze towards Haejun.
Then, she bowed her head slightly more than she had done towards Kang Hanna, expressing her gratitude.
It was because she had heard that she was saved thanks to Haejun’s quick thinking.
“Thank you so much for saving me. I survived thanks to you.”
Haejun felt a bit strange at the woman’s words.
The second life given to him, as a police officer.
It was the first time he felt a sense of fulfillment while doing this job.
‘...I never thought I would hear these words while working as a police officer.’
Muttering to himself, Haejun recalled the hostages he had rescued during his mercenary days.
And that’s why these words just slipped out.
“You might develop trauma, so please consider seeing a psychiatrist.”
“Pardon...? Oh, yes. Thank you...”
“If anything happens, contact me here.”
Haejun handed the woman his business card as he spoke.
It was an action he used to take during his mercenary days to guarantee after-service for his clients, and it appeared here as well.
Of course, this was not the usual behavior of a typical police officer.
[Seoul Dongjak Police Station, Heukseon District Patrol Officer, Gu Haejun]
The woman who received Haejun’s business card stared at it for a while.
As if there was something written on it that was out of place.
Then, she suddenly looked up at the tall Haejun and asked,
“...If anything happens again, can I call you?”
“Feel free to contact me anytime.”
Hearing Haejun’s cheerful response, the woman finally looked completely relieved.
Moreover, her face even flushed slightly red.
A smart young patrol officer, Gu Haejun, who was as handsome as an idol.
He had saved her from a life-or-death crisis, handed her his business card, and reassured her.
At that moment, Suho, standing behind Haejun, shook his head and said,
[...You treat her completely differently from how you treat me. You seem to be especially kind to women?]
It was a remark full of sarcasm, but Haejun just gave a slight smile.
Then he said something unexpected to Su-ho.
‘You did pretty well.’
[What...?]
‘Your reasoning, I mean. It was quite useful.’
[Oh... um. Well, my reasoning is quite good, but... I didn’t expect you to compliment me?]
‘In my past life, I was the kind of team leader who generously praised capable team members.’
[So, are you saying that until now, I seemed incompetent to you?]
‘You just figured that out now?’
[.........]
‘Anyway, today you scored 80 points.’
[Why 80 points?]
‘Because all the facts you deduced were things I already knew.’
[Sigh...]
‘If you’re going to be my guide, shouldn’t you know more than I do?’
[…Next time, I’ll show you my true abilities. I’ll definitely demonstrate investigative skills that will leave you speechless...!]
***
While Haejun and Suho were exchanging warm moments and playful bickering like this…
“Yeeun!”
The victim’s family, who had been contacted, rushed into the police station.
“Mom! Dad!”
Tears streamed down the victim’s face once again upon seeing her parents.
It was because they were faces she had longed to see so much.
Soon, the victim began to tell her parents about Haejun’s resourcefulness in rescuing her.
Naturally, it was a story of heroic actions that would surprise anyone who heard it.
“Sniff... Thank you...! Thank you so much, officer!”
Having heard the entire story from her daughter, the mother repeatedly bowed in gratitude to Haejun.
Feeling awkward in such a situation, Haejun could only scratch the back of his head.
[How does it feel?]
‘…What do you mean?’
[This is the fulfillment that only a real police officer can feel.]
Looking at Haejun’s embarrassed face, Suho said these words.
But then, the victim’s father suddenly handed Haejun his business card.
“Thank you very much, officer. I am a journalist who has been writing for the Shingu Ilbo for 20 years.”
“A journalist…?”
“For the incredible actions you displayed for our daughter…! I will make sure to write a prominent article about it! I’ll come to this precinct with my staff around tomorrow or the day after, so please agree to an interview.”
Upon hearing the words of the victim’s father, Suho and all the officers in the precinct were taken aback.
Such a positive news article was a fast track to promotion.
However, unaware of these circumstances, Haejun waved his hand and refused.
“I’m sorry, but I’m not interested in being known to the world.”
This was also in line with his habits from his mercenary days.
Why would a mercenary, who must complete tasks secretly, want his name known to the world?
But unlike the past, Haejun was now a police officer.
And this attitude of his made him seem, to anyone who looked, like the ‘model of a humble police officer’ who doesn’t reveal his achievements.
So the moment he heard Haejun’s answer, the victim’s father made up his mind.
‘...I will definitely make you a big star soon. A righteous person like you should be at the top of the police force…!’
Jo Gapsu, the head of the social affairs department at the Shingu Ilbo newspaper, who was always burning with a sense of duty.
He looked at Haejun with eyes blazing like fire.
It was a misunderstanding that Haejun would later come to know, one that he was quite... pleased with (?).
T/N: Will only update once the reading list on Novel Updates increased. Like once it reached 80, 90, 100, etc. Kind of hard to translate a novel when no one is reading. So, yeah. (￣▽￣||)
