Criminal Boy (7)
The wave of protests spearheaded by the Yuseong Foreign Language High School Mothers' Association was growing fiercer by the minute, rippling outward uncontrollably. A collective madness, like mass hypnosis, clouded the faces of every demonstrator.
No one can stop this now.
Station Chief Na Sang-yeon nodded, well aware of just how powerful the calling card of "elite high school parents" was in Korea. As a car halted at a traffic light began to move forward again, his phone rang. Checking the caller ID, Na Sang-yeon straightened up in the back seat and cleared his throat.
"Yes! Chairman Jin, this is Na Sang-yeon... What?!"
His eyes, narrowed in subtle anticipation, widened in shock in an instant.
"Wh-what do you mean? Cancel all schedules and stay put...?!"
– I won't say it twice. Stop all the propaganda, agitation, and attacks on Kang Cheol-gu right now!
"...Yes. Understood."
The hand holding the phone dropped limply. They were almost there. His glorious second act in life had been right within reach. But Na Sang-yeon felt his future slipping through his fingers like grains of sand.
* * *
After ending the call, Chairman Jin Hwi-jae bowed his head and clutched his skull with both hands. Just thinking of Park Man-cheol, who wasn't there, made his breath quicken involuntarily.
"That punk Kang Cheol-gu—how the hell did he wrap that bastard Park Man-cheol around his finger?!"
Jin Hwi-jae shut his eyes tight, breathing raggedly.
'I've heard about your son. How's Woo-cheol doing physically?'
It was Park Man-cheol's greeting, showing up unannounced late at night. They had once been close, but it had been ages since their relationship turned awkward. They weren't the type to inquire after each other's sons anymore.
'What brings you here at this hour, Man-cheol?'
'No need for formalities between us, so I'll get straight to it. Drop the complaint against Kang Cheol-gu and halt the media play immediately.'
'What?'
Jin Hwi-jae's eyebrows twitched, then a hollow laugh escaped him.
'I heard the cop who cleaned up Ha Yeon's mess back then was this Kang Cheol-gu. But showing up out of the blue over some minor connection like that? You've gone all sentimental, Man-cheol. Pretend I didn't hear it—have some tea before you go.'
'What if it's not a request, but a threat?'
Park Man-cheol's low voice reached Jin Hwi-jae as he shook his head.
'I have every record of Yeongjin Construction's illegal builds from the past.'
'...Are you in your right mind? You helped approve those yourself, Park Man-cheol!'
'Exactly. That's why it's a threat. I'm here ready to go down with you!'
'Why go this far? ...Have you forgotten what kind of man I am?'
Jin Hwi-jae's voice turned icy. Those who knew them said it: college classmates, but really lifelong enemies and rivals. But Jin Hwi-jae had never acknowledged it. To him, Park Man-cheol was eternally the number two.
Park Man-cheol had dreamed of becoming a successful venture capitalist in college. Jin Hwi-jae knew exactly why he'd suddenly pivoted to politics instead. He lacked the confidence to compete in the same arena.
And now, that same Park Man-cheol was baring his teeth at him. Park Man-cheol met Jin Hwi-jae's flushed, blazing eyes with a smirk.
'I know exactly what kind of man you are, Hwi-jae. And how you see me. But after staring down a tiger, even a fox doesn't cut it anymore.'
Park Man-cheol sipped from his long-cold teacup. His lips curved softly, as if envisioning something.
'Ha Yeon asked me. Said we can't undo past mistakes, but we shouldn't keep making the same ones. Ha! I thought I wasn't a doting dad, but turns out I am. Think it over. If we hold hands and march into prison together, at least I'll have a daughter to smuggle me food—but you? No one around you.'
Flash! Jin Hwi-jae snapped his eyes open and took a long, steadying breath. He grabbed the TV remote. Outside Gangcheon Police Station, where broadcast vans from every network clustered, the protests raged on.
[Rampaging Cop Kang Cheol-gu, Apologize to the Citizens!]
[No Need for Apologies—Kang Cheol-gu, Resign!]
All protests start as criticism of injustice. But as numbers swell and voices amplify, that initial critique devolves into blind rage. Color slowly returned to Jin Hwi-jae's pale face.
Right. A massive people's tribunal has already begun. Even without me, that fury will tear Kang Cheol-gu to shreds like a sharpened spear!
Jin Hwi-jae composed himself quietly.
It's not over yet.
* * *
"How's the body holding up? Doc said it's just bruises—rest up and you'll be fine."
"Yeah, this is nothing. Who do you think I am? The legend of Jungcheon-gu!"
Park Hyeong-jun, head wrapped in bandages and propped up in bed, grinned as he sat up.
"What legend gets kicked around like the neighborhood soccer ball? Every punk passing by takes a shot—what kind of legend is that?"
"...I let my guard down."
He scratched his head sheepishly.
"But is this okay? Things blew up bigger than we thought. That Jin Woo-cheol bastard's dad is a big shot too—he won't sit idle."
"Don't worry about that."
I pulled up a chair and sat beside him.
"How's the thing I ordered going?"
My voice dropped low.
"No sweat. The top dogs from every school in Jungcheon-gu are working the SNS, and they're tracking down the ones who aren't picking up. Any minute now, that Buk-san High kid Dae-man should show... "
As Park Hyeong-jun checked the time on his phone, the hospital room door swung open. Behind a high schooler with a buzz cut, a couple of middle schoolers peeked in. Spotting Hyeong-jun, the kids gasped.
"Whoa! It's really Park Hyeong-jun hyung!"
"No way, I didn't believe it!"
Park Hyeong-jun glanced at me and shrugged smugly.
"Alright, looks like we're all set. Let's move out."
"We're really doing this?!"
Hyeong-jun's eyes gleamed as he threw a jacket over his hospital gown.
"Yeah. A beast that's tasted blood just gets wilder. Cut off its air now, or it'll bare its claws again someday. We end Jin Woo-cheol today. Tell the kids to sync up their timing."
"Got it!"
The Jeep, loaded with all the kids, roared to life with a guttural engine growl.
* * *
[Yes, I'm here at Gangcheon Police Station where the protests are in full swing. What started with about 100 people has now swelled past 300, spilling not just inside the station grounds but overflowing outside the main gate.]
The reporter gripping her mic flushed red with excitement. Cameras from every network fanned out, capturing participants' faces and placards.
[Lieutenant Kang Cheol-gu was once hailed as the hope of the police, charging ahead fearlessly. From busting serial killer Yoo Hyeong-cheol to tackling crimes by chaebol heirs—untouchable bastions—and recently exposing corruption in an isolated island village, he rose as this era's hero. But has power gone to his head? Just days ago, he sparked nationwide outrage by firing his gun at a scene involving teenage offenders. An anonymous police source, speaking after a site inspection, pointed out there was no need for a firearm in that situation—calling it an abuse of authority.]
"...Team Leader Hwang, that anonymous cop has to be Gwak Du-sik from Jungcheon, right?"
"Who else? Anyway, where the hell is Lieutenant Kang?"
A low groan escaped Team Leader Hwang as he gazed out the window at the protest. Operations had ground to a halt long ago; patrol cops had to sneak out the back door.
"Hey! Isn't that Cheol-gu hyung's car?"
Detective Lee Gyu-cheol's quiet exclamation had the entire Violent Crimes Unit 3 crowding the window. A black Jeep barreled toward Gangcheon Station.
"My God! Why charge in so openly in this mess?"
"What do you mean why? Frontal assault!"
As Team Leader Hwang bit his lip and sighed, Detective Kim Gwang-il raised his voice.
"You all know what kind of guy Kang Cheol-gu hyung is! Straight ahead, no detours in his dictionary! He'll handle it somehow!"
The roar of Sinseon Island waves echoed in Kim Gwang-il's ears. It had been the same back then. When everyone said it was impossible—even he wanted to give up—Kang Cheol-gu had pushed through.
Show 'em, hyung!
He bit his lip hard.
"Yes, let's hear from the citizens."
The camera panned wildly over the crowd before zeroing in on a 40-something woman in an obviously expensive suit. Beside her stood a student in Yuseong Foreign Language High uniform, protesting too.
"Hello, this is SBA News special report, Kim Hyun-young. Could you introduce yourself briefly?"
"Yes, I'm Seo Mi-ja from the Yuseong Foreign Language High School Mothers' Association. I know the kid that cop shot."
"Some reports say the victim kidnapped another teen. Your thoughts?"
"That's the media's sin! Look beyond the surface. Do you know who that other teen was? A delinquent—a criminal record holder!"
The woman's face turned beet red, her tone escalating.
"Why would he do that unless that delinquent tormented him? This is my son—he skipped cram school to come protest with me."
The name tag read Go Seon-u in bold letters. The mic swung to him.
"Quick interview. What was the victim like?"
"Just a normal friend. That delinquent kept bullying Woo-cheol, so Woo-cheol finally tracked him down. He was scared alone, so he brought friends, but then the cop shows up out of nowhere and shoots. Woo-cheol's so traumatized now, he can't see anyone... "
"That's all lies!"
A young voice cut through from somewhere, silencing Go Seon-u. The noise until then seemed fake; the area fell deathly quiet in a heartbeat. Heads turned.
In front of the black Jeep, a middle schooler stood fist clenched, breathing hard. As eyes traveled up from the kid, a low gasp escaped someone.
"I-it's Kang Cheol-gu!"
Instantly, the station's front yard erupted like a dam bursting, flooding with curses and vitriol. Thick rage and malice oozed out.
"You shot an innocent kid—where do you get off crawling out?!"
"The boy's catatonic from trauma. Do you feel responsible?"
"Take off that uniform now!"
"Admit the excessive force!"
Camera flashes popped; reporters' screams rang out amid the protesters. Cops from Gangcheon formed a massive human wall, curses exploding everywhere. A breathless standoff unfolded between those pushing forward and those holding the line.
"Whoa! Sunbae, can't get audio! They're totally feral!"
Jeong Seong-gyu from Kangseong Daily, who'd charged in mic-first, nursed his swollen cheek as he approached Cha Mi-ran.
"Seong-gyu, how long since your training?"
"Six months! Why bring that up now?"
"And you still can't read the room?"
"Huh?"
Cha Mi-ran, Kangseong Daily's senior social affairs reporter, shot a sharp glare over her glasses.
"See Kang Cheol-gu there? What's his face say?"
"Calm as hell. Stone-cold like the rumors."
"...That's why I still can't send you solo. Kid!"
"......"
"Kang Cheol-gu isn't here to bury this. He's here to flip the board."
"What?!"
Leaving Jeong Seong-gyu slack-jawed, Cha Mi-ran crouched toward one kid—the one who'd interrupted Go Seon-u's interview, who'd come with Kang Cheol-gu.
"Hey, kiddo. Wanna chat with big sis for a sec?"