Criminal Boy (6)
Detective Lee Gyu-cheol hurriedly flung open the window. Over a hundred middle-aged women, headbands tied around their heads and placards in hand, were raising their voices at the main gate of Gangcheon Police Station. Some handed flyers to passersby, while under a makeshift awning, they collected signatures. Signs reading 'Yuseong Foreign Language High School Alumni Association' and 'Blue Mothers' Association' caught the eye.
A woman jabbing her finger at the station snatched up a megaphone and bellowed,
"Kang Cheol-gu, apologize!"
"Apologize! Apologize!"
"The police chief must explain! Explain! Explain!"
The roar from everyone on site followed right behind.
"T-Team Leader! This isn't a joke right now. Where the hell is Lieutenant Kang anyway?"
"No idea. The disciplinary committee's about to kick off, and he's not answering his phone! Shut the window first."
"…By any chance, did Lieutenant Kang get hurt bad too?"
Officer Heo Seon-sil asked Detective Kim Gwang-il in a calm voice that cut against the tense office air.
"You think that hyung would come back banged up from scrapping with a bunch of punks? Not a mark on him."
"It's odd. There was no physical threat, no need for a preemptive strike—why blow it up this big? Lieutenant Kang knows better than anyone how massive a deal police opening fire is in Korea."
"Yeah, tell me about it."
Kim Gwang-il nodded, his face flashing ashen for a split second before draining completely white.
"…That crazy hyung! He did it on purpose. He's dead set on escalating this shit!"
* * *
[Citizens! Please punish the Republic of Korea police. I too will gladly accept that punishment.]
Beep!
At the top floor of the Taehwa Building, Hong Gye-young gave a bitter smile and switched off the TV. She was always called Ice Flower, but right now, she seemed wrapped head to toe in frost. Secretary Yang Jin-ho swallowed hard and approached her.
"That Jin Hwi-jae from Yeongjin Construction—he's going all in. Not just suing Lieutenant Kang Cheol-gu, but pressuring every high-up he can reach."
"Hmm. Is that so?"
Hong Gye-young rose and stood before the massive window. Her high heels echoed in the silent office.
"…But why's the media piling on so viciously? Truth is, Lieutenant Kang Cheol-gu's just about the only cop they've ever treated favorably. This feels like a full-on witch hunt."
"That's the nature of the media—or more precisely, people."
"Pardon?"
Ignoring Yang's question, she furrowed her brow and stared out the window. After a long pause, she finally spoke.
"When Napoleon became emperor, Beethoven changed the name of his symphony he'd dedicated to him—from 'Bonaparte' to 'Hero.' People clap and empathize with heroes doing what they can't. But what they love even more…"
A cold smile curled Hong Gye-young's lips.
"…is the hero's downfall. The applause for heroes inevitably breeds self-loathing and a harsh look at reality. After clapping till their palms sting, they glance at themselves and feel pathetic. That patheticness turns to envy of the hero. Y'know, they say the scariest antis are ex-stalkers. …Anyway, what about the intel on Yeongjin Construction?"
Regaining her usual composure, she sat back down.
"…Well, Yeongjin's got some pull, but nothing worth Taehwa's attention. No real dirt either. Should we start digging now?"
Yang scratched his head as he asked.
"No, too little time for that. The one's hyping this mess is the Jungcheon Police chief, right? Dig into him."
"Yes, ma'am."
Even as Yang Jin-ho bowed, her gaze stayed fixed outside. Once the door clicked shut, Hong Gye-young finally bit her red lip softly. She craned her neck as if searching for someone.
Why'd you make that choice? What do you want so bad you're turning the whole country against you!
Her fingers trembled faintly as she toyed with her phone.
* * *
"Uncle! You okay?!"
"Ha Yeon, shouldn't you be at cram school by now?"
"Who gives a damn about cram school! Uncle, you're public enemy number one right now! They say you could get fired—or worse, thrown in jail if you're unlucky. Just apologize and move on, seriously—your damn temper's the problem!"
She must've been right at the front door; the moment he rang, it flew open with a bang. As he crossed the wide garden, she kept nagging, eyes still damp.
"Ah! Come on in, Lieutenant Kang. Been waiting since you called. What possessed you to mess with Jin Hwi-jae's kid? You know what kind of bastard he is!"
Councilor Park Man-cheol let out a heavy sigh, his face etched with worry. Ha Yeon sat quietly beside him, watching carefully.
Park Man-cheol and Jin Hwi-jae were college classmates—longtime friends and bitter rivals who knew each other better than family.
"I hear you're close with Chairman Jin Hwi-jae."
"…Ha! Not many know that. Where'd you hear? So that's why you're here—want me to mediate?"
Park nodded with a quiet click of his tongue.
"Less mediation, more… blackmail from you, sir."
"…Blackmail. Ha! So you're saying grab him by the collar and tell him to back off you?"
"Probably closer to what I have in mind."
"Hmm! I know you're bold and don't give a damn about others' opinions. But isn't this a bit rude? I don't know how you found out about me and Jin Hwi-jae, but we're less classmates and more…"
"I know. Rivals, sworn enemies. That's why I'm asking for blackmail. If we were friends, I'd say 'favor.'"
Park had chased politics, Jin money. Politics and money help or hinder each other depending on the winds—and no one knew each other's dirt better than these two.
Park Man-cheol's face hardened.
"Ha Yeon, go to your room."
"Dad!"
"Grown-up talk. Go on."
Ha Yeon pouted off to her room but left the door cracked. Park Man-cheol rubbed his temples, gathering his thoughts, then spoke gravely.
"How much do you know?"
"Enough to know if one falls, the other does too."
"Ha! And you still come asking me for that? Bold as brass."
A chuckle escaped him, then his voice dropped. He pulled his chair closer, leaning in.
"You're gutsy, but not thoughtless. If I go nuclear on Jin Hwi-jae, self-destructing—what do you offer me?"
"A seat in the National Assembly."
"What?!"
His voice cracked. National Assembly member—the lifelong dream of incumbent city councilor Park Man-cheol.
"More precisely, the qualification to become one."
"Ha! Lieutenant Kang, anyone over 25 can run for Assembly. What 'qualification'?"
"True. But a prison sentence or heavier, unextinguished, kills your eligibility."
"What the hell are you saying?!"
Park's eyebrows twitched; the table shook hard. He stood as if done talking.
"Drop the Jangcheon Apartment redevelopment plan."
"…!"
His head lowered slowly, eyes locking on. His pupils shook wildly.
"…H-how do you know about that?!"
"No detailed blueprints yet, as far as I know. But it won't go how you plan. Money flows like water—one leak means pulling from elsewhere. You've been coaxing one side, pressuring the other. Problem is, they're doing the same, and the police are watching."
The Jangcheon Apartment redevelopment, mired in controversy for 20 years, got rebuild approval in 2014 from the urban planning committee. Park, beloved by locals, lobbied hard—but when the builder's corruption surfaced, his bribes did too. In the original timeline, he'd end up a felon.
Park toyed with his cold teacup and cleared his throat.
"…You sure? Nah… won't ask how you know. But say…"
He frowned and asked lowly,
"What if I take your tip, play dumb—then what?"
"Wouldn't have come if you were that type. I know you keep to the code, sir."
Now was the time to pull, not push. Leaning toward him as he massaged his neck with a deep sigh,
"I don't know politics. But I know we pick the lesser evil, not the best. Among those, you're the straightest I know."
"Ha! Insult or compliment…"
"I've said my piece. Pity your efforts and make the wrong call, or risk self-destruction to keep ties with a guy like me—that's your choice, sir."
As he headed out the front door, Ha Yeon peeked through the cracked gap, fist pumping a silent cheer.
* * *
An old Sonata struggled up the ramp into SBC Broadcasting's indoor parking lot. Years on the road meant thick exhaust choked the entrance.
"Chief, I said I'd drive my car—why drag out this piece of junk and suffer?"
"Team Leader Gwak, you got no eye for the game! A police chief's a grade-4 civil servant—high-up to regular folks. Gotta set an example. Look at me: squeaky-clean public servant, right?"
"Haha! My thinking was too small, sir."
Gwak Du-sik, team leader at Jungcheon Police Station, chuckled and cranked the wheel. Yeah, screw the car. Screwing over Kang Cheol-gu was what mattered.
"Next schedule?"
"Yes, sir. Local paper interview. Feels like I'm an idol manager these days—more time in studios than the station. All thanks to you, Chief. Haha."
"Cut the bullshit and drive straight."
He scolded Gwak, but Na Sang-yeon's lips curved high. Since that broadcast interview days ago, calls poured in. The cop who'd exposed internal corruption despite the backlash—true police material. He hummed unconsciously.
Kang Cheol-gu's lawsuit's on Yeongjin Construction's legal team. My job: keep hammering his excessive force, shake public opinion.
His future, soaring with Yeongjin's exec title, swelled with pride.
Yeah. Act one was power; act two's money, in style.
Leaning back, eyes closing—then a familiar roar hit.
Already into Gangcheon District!
He stifled it, but laughter coughed out. Protests sounding this sweet—who'd have thought.
"Rampaging cop Kang Cheol-gu, apologize to the citizens!"
"No apologies—Kang Cheol-gu, resign!"
Na Sang-yeon's lips quivered uncontrollably at the massive crowd packing Gangcheon Police Station.