Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Accident
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Up to episode 8 of the script, the suspects in the serial murder case are narrowed down to three.
A chaebol third-generation heir with a squeaky-clean image, a partner lawyer at a major law firm, and a doctor affiliated with one of the Big 5 hospitals.
People who had likely spent their entire lives hiding their true selves and putting on an act, to boot.
People with more than enough resources to protect themselves—and the wealth to make it worthwhile.
Because of that, no decisive evidence had turned up yet.
Then one day, a tip comes into Violent Crimes Unit 2.
The chaebol heir and the doctor are set to meet at an abandoned factory.
The tipster's identity was unclear, but they couldn't just brush off news of two suspects meeting up.
In the end, the entire unit gears up to verify the tip and heads to the factory.
"Let's go."
"Yes, sir."
The whole team grabs their gear and is about to head out.
Helena climbs into the car right behind them.
"...What is this?"
"I'll come along too."
"It's dangerous. Stay back at the station."
"I need to see something on-site. And I can protect myself."
"That self-defense stuff you picked up? It'll get you killed in one hit if you rely on it."
Kim Du-han shoots her down flat and tries to leave without her.
But Kim I-seo and Kang Ho-su take her side.
"Hold on, Team Leader. Hear her out. What does she need to see on-site?"
"Their split-second reactions when the detectives barge in. If they're not accomplices, they'll suspect each other before they even think to run. And only I can spot that. Not some desk-jockey brute who just studies books."
Helena sniped at Team Leader Kim Du-han, with whom she still wasn't on good terms.
Kang Ho-su and Kim I-seo had to step in to stop the two from fighting again.
"She's not planning anything weird... It's for the case. I'll watch out for her."
"It's not like we're hunting gangsters. We have an extra stab vest—give her that, and we're good, right?"
"...Kang Ho-su, Kim I-seo. Whatever happens on-site, you two protect this princess first."
"Yes, sir!"
No matter how much he disliked Helena, he had to ensure her safety.
She was an untrained civilian consultant.
He hadn't wanted to bring her because anything could happen.
But she had a point, and with a stab vest and protection from Kang Ho-su and Kim I-seo, it should be fine.
Kim I-seo handled her telescopic baton like an extension of her body and rarely lost sparring matches against the male detectives.
Kang Ho-su was, without a doubt, the best fighter in the Seocho Station.
Still, he looked displeased.
Bang bang!
"All right!"
"...Where'd you learn that?"
"Huh? I saw it in Korean dramas sometimes."
Seeing Helena's innocent act only made Kim Du-han harden his expression further, wondering if bringing her was a mistake—but the car was already moving.
Whether he liked it or not, he'd made the call to let her ride along.
"We walk from here. Double-check your gear. Once I give the signal en route, communicate with hand signs only."
"Yes, sir."
"Ho-su, give the princess the stab vest."
Helena takes the vest from Kang Ho-su after getting out of the car.
"Uh, do you even know how to put that on? I-seo, help the princess with..."
"What?"
Unable to hold back, Kim Du-han snarks again.
Helena scoffs, then dons and checks the vest with practiced ease.
Site visits were routine when she consulted for the FBI.
And during her time as a psychiatrist, she'd frequently volunteered overseas in war zones.
Given her turbulent life, Helena might have worn one more times than even Kim Du-han.
"...Let's move out."
Speechless, Kim Du-han leads the way to the factory.
Upon arrival, they see more than just a couple of cars.
A trap, maybe?
But peeking through the windows, they spot the chaebol heir and the doctor actually meeting inside.
They can't make out the words clearly.
But several familiar 007 bags sit beside the chaebol heir.
"...Request backup now. Two of you on the front gate, two on the back. Helena... hide here."
"I'd be more help inside."
"Absolutely not. This is already dangerous enough."
Kim Du-han and Song Su-chan take the front; Kang Ho-su and Kim I-seo, the rear.
Helena hides behind, watching.
The doctor hands something over, and as the chaebol heir takes it, his bodyguard stabs the doctor.
No time to wait for backup amid the urgency.
"Freeze! Police!"
They storm the site from both ends.
The chaebol heir issues orders to his gangsters—
"Kill them all. Just four of them—you can handle it, right?"
"...They're cops."
"I'll take responsibility. Kill them all."
—and prepares to flee with his bodyguard.
The gangsters draw knives; a fight seems imminent.
Bang!
"Drop the knives, you punks! The rest are live rounds!"
Kim Du-han fires a warning shot into the air, flipping the mood.
They hesitate, lowering their blades one by one...
Then the bodyguard tosses out a line.
"STRV9 model. One blank, two rubber rounds, two live per regs. Rush 'em before the live ones. Ten billion per neck."
"...!"
Now Violent Crimes Unit 2 faces dozens of knife-wielding gangsters—one hand on their guns, the other gripping batons.
True to drama form, the gangsters nobly avoid stabbing from behind.
The heroes shrug off multiple hits and stand right back up.
The villains crumple from a single blow, bones seemingly shattered, rolling on the ground.
The four heroes battle valiantly against dozens...
But the chaebol heir and bodyguard slip through a gap the gangsters create.
"...!"
Kang Ho-su spots them and gives chase.
"No! Ho-su! Don't!"
"Kang Ho-su! Stop! Let 'em go!"
His eyes wild, Kang Ho-su pursues to the end and blocks the bodyguard.
But he's no pushover like the gangsters.
Stab—
Kang Ho-su collapses, stabbed through a gap in his vest.
"Ho-su! You bastards!"
"Kang Ho-su! Hang on!"
But Kim Du-han and Song Su-chan have no time to check on him.
Nor does Kim I-seo.
Judging one stab not enough, the bodyguard winds up for another.
Helena dashes out from hiding toward Kang Ho-su.
Somehow, she's grabbed a steel pipe in one hand.
Whoosh!
With her running momentum, she leaps like a bird and swings the pipe at the bodyguard.
"Guh..."
He blocks with his arm, but it clearly hurts.
Helena steps in front of Kang Ho-su as he staggers.
"You okay?"
"Ugh. It's nothing."
"Showing off in front of a beauty... Just lie there. This cool big sis will save you."
She winks at Kang Ho-su, then levels the pipe at the bodyguard.
"...You should just leave if you're smart? Getting beaten by a girl would get you fired on the spot."
Catching the perp took a backseat to protecting Kang Ho-su.
She's ready to let him go...
"Enough playing. Wrap it up."
"Yes, sir."
"Ah, this is bad... Whatever. I've tanked a hit or two as an FBI consultant. Whew. Ho-su, if we get out alive, you owe me for life. For real."
The bodyguard senses something off in her grinning face.
But orders are orders—he charges.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Abandoned factory exterior scene.
Kang Ho-su's collapse doesn't make the cut, so only the early part needs filming.
But I insist on sitting next to the director to watch my action up close.
Geum Yu-na watches me with worried eyes too.
I've already rehearsed the choreography perfectly with the actors playing the bodyguards.
Whoosh—
Knife and pipe slice through the air multiple times.
Eventually, both drop their weapons.
"Cut! Okay! Take a breather! Bare-handed fight next!"
Yoon PD calls cut with a satisfied look.
I catch my breath, regulating my breathing after holding it.
"Winter! You okay?"
"Yeah, just... out of breath."
Did I look like I was in pain?
Yoo Jun-seung and Kim Gyu-jin rush over to check on me.
Yoo Jun-seung holds out a towel like he's wiping sweat.
Time to give a lecture on 'a manager's true duty'?
There's plenty to teach.
Not that I want to dump the academic stress I get from Geum Yu-na onto Yoo Jun-seung.
Really...
"Uh... wiping sweat breaks continuity. Just water for me."
The break is brief.
Filming resumes.
The bodyguard actor and I continue the bare-handed fight.
As long as we stick to choreography, no one gets hurt in fight scenes.
Our moves sync perfectly.
No NGs; we're flowing smoothly.
Fists fly, kicks connect.
I spin half a turn, aiming an elbow at his head, but he blocks easily.
But that's a feint.
'Low kick here!'
Next, he takes my kick and swings his right arm; I duck into an uppercut counter.
The final beat of our scripted sequence.
My first action scene as a woman.
This was top-tier; I could say so proudly.
Thwack—
Right after the kick, I duck low.
'...!'
Why are you throwing the uppercut...?
"Whoa!"
Only after throwing the punch does he realize his mistake.
I'm leading with my face right into his powered fist.
We'll collide before he can pull back.
Anywhere else, a bone break is fine—but not the face.
'No! My face!'
I step forward with my right foot, powering my legs.
Lift my torso with core strength.
The best move I could think of in that instant.
The only one possible here.
Crack—
I take a glancing hit on the jaw's edge, but evade the full-powered impact point. Solid recovery.
'Action Director Bae Gi-young... your efforts saved my face.'
Weren't all my blood, sweat, and tears for this moment?
Relief at saving my face?
Or the jaw hit?
My legs give out; I collapse.
"Argh! What the hell!"
"Jeong Gyeowol-ssi!"
"Winter!"
Kang Ho-su, monitoring from off his scene.
Geum Yu-na, watching worriedly.
Yoo Jun-seung, Kim Gyu-jin, and the crew.
All rushing to me.
"I'm fine. Dodged well... just barely grazed..."
But... why is my body... tilting...?
"...Car! ...Call!"
"You ... what kind of ... bullshit..."
"...Agency ... protest..."