Octoperci Gate (10)
Precision had vanished, leaving only primal fury. The textbook footwork of stand-up fighting was nowhere to be seen. The bastard closed the distance in a no-guard stance.
Fast.
In the instant I drew a short breath, Park Seung-hyun's fist tore through the air.
But reckless.
Modern combat sports had evolved by absorbing the strengths of other martial arts. And MMA could be called the pinnacle of that evolution without exaggeration. But in the beast charging with bloodshot eyes, there was no trace of his usual standardized techniques.
I slipped the wildly swung long hook over my shoulder, then drove a snapping short uppercut into his jaw. Power enough to rattle his brain inside the skull. Yet as if utterly unfazed, he grabbed my collar and started choking me. A foul booze stench wafted through his ragged breaths.
I twisted my elbow in reverse. Crack! The sound of tearing muscle. But his arm kept squeezing my throat like an industrial press.
I wrapped my arms around Park Seung-hyun's waist and hurled us down the steep slope at the mountainside's base. A snapped branch stabbed my eye socket, dirt flew into my gaping mouth.
Thud!
Our endless plummet finally halted after slamming into a massive dead tree.
Huff huff! Park Seung-hyun rose like a berserker, gasping for air.
"Thought you were a smart psycho. Turns out you're just a plain old psycho."
"Kuhaha! Kang Cheol-gu, still got that punchable look in your eyes!"
His right fist flew with mad laughter. Even with my guard up, my body flew back over 3 meters. His punching bones must already be shattered, useless now...
As I raised my head in bewilderment, I saw him grinning down at his own fist. Shards of broken bone pierced through his flesh. Bathed in moonlight for the first time, they gleamed eerily amid the red blood.
"So that's what my bones look like. Kuhaha!"
Adrenaline overdose—he was beyond normal now.
* * *
"You gonna let go? Do you know who I am?!"
Station Chief Jang Sing-gu bellowed at the black-clad riot squad in their suppression gear.
"We know exactly who you are. Superintendent Jang Sing-gu of Yangsan Station. Anyway, put some proper clothes on. Aren't you embarrassed in front of these young rookies?"
Gangcheon Station's Hwang Woo-sik responded in a flat tone, focused on directing the scene.
His opponent was a superintendent—the flower of the police force. Normally, a rank that'd make you shrink away, unable to even meet their eyes. But Team Leader Hwang showed no hesitation.
Have I grown balls hanging around that guy Kang Cheol-gu?
He smirked, then startled himself and shook his head. Gangcheon only needed one hothead cop.
"You're from Gangcheon Station, right? I remember seeing you at the last appointment ceremony. No need to make this ugly between fellow cops, is there? I was just here for a drink with a friend of a friend!"
When his shouting failed, Chief Jang switched to a coaxing whisper.
Then a riot officer ran up, breathless. "Vehicle search complete as ordered. Cash stuffed in apple crates in every trunk. Overflowing!"
Hwang shook his head and approached the underwear-clad chief. "Fellow cops?"
"......"
"Guys like you make our hardworking rookies over there—busting their asses like the riot squad—get called mutts! You get that?"
"Th-that's not—!"
As if he had no interest in excuses, Hwang snorted and turned away sharply. But the corner of his eye twitched faintly, avoiding the chief's gaze.
Did I just mouth off to a superintendent? What if he walks on no charges? I'm not even this type usually...
Somehow, the whole Violent Crimes Team 3 was turning into "Kang Cheol-gu clones." Hwang resolved to keep some distance.
But where the hell is that guy right now? Off causing more trouble somewhere...
* * *
Each blow landed heavy. No thought of defense—just indiscriminate attacks like he wanted us both dead.
My precise counters hit countless times, but Park Seung-hyun pressed on as if pain didn't exist.
My breath grew labored, a metallic tang in my mouth.
This drags on forever. End it with one big shot.
No wind-up—my right foot slammed the ground hard. The recoil lifted my left, and at its peak, my hips twisted my body the opposite way. With taekwondo's pivot, the back kick—boasting max destructive power—shot straight into his solar plexus at point-blank.
Splat!
Done.
All mammals breathe with lungs. In other words, none can endure without it.
But he stood. Face purple, wheezing like an asthmatic, Park Seung-hyun endured.
"...I, I told you! I'm killing you, Kang Cheol-gu! Gonna sell your eyes!"
Madness crushes madness. Faced with his drug-fueled fake frenzy, my own fighting spirit reared up stiffly.
"You know what? My old nickname was Gangcheon's Hothead. Know why they call hotheads hotheads?"
I stepped toward him.
"'Cause nothing's off-limits."
My lip curled like his.
"If you thought I'd bow to that half-assed frenzy."
Memories of my past life flashed by.
"You were wrong."
He stepped back. I planted fear overriding his madness.
My tensed body whipped like an arrow; taekwondo's high roundhouse nailed his temple.
As I drew a short breath for the follow-up, his face suddenly contorted. Park Seung-hyun's whole body shuddered. Tears poured from burst blood vessels in his eyes; he convulsed like an epileptic.
Howling, he clawed the ground madly. Nails ripped off, blood welled on all ten fingers, but he didn't stop.
Overdose aftermath. Penalty for exceeding human limits—his body was going haywire.
Left like this, hyperventilation could kill him anytime.
Then Hwang's voice crackled over the radio receiver.
—Uh, Inspector Kang. Where are you? Scene's wrapped here. Caught a police exec, sitting congressman, Seoul City Planning Director—big fish all around. But...
Hwang's voice shook.
—We lost Park Seung-hyun. He's the ringleader...
"I've apprehended Park Seung-hyun."
—Ah! Good work. But...
His tone dropped.
—Is he... okay?
"Yeah, you need to come here."
A long sigh came through the receiver.
"Oxygen saturation under 80%! 10L oxygen mask, 18 breaths per minute. Patient's critical!"
The 119 paramedics moved urgently. Four clung to his thrashing limbs, but he twisted like a gut-shot beast, roaring.
As they strapped him with leather bands and loaded him into the ambulance, a familiar voice came from behind.
"...Never imagined Park Seung-hyun ending up like that!"
A woman's voice out of place here. Reporter Cha Mi-ran—whom I'd gotten help from in the Joker murders—spoke with a pale face.
This case wouldn't end with just Park Seung-hyun's arrest. With high officials from politics and business involved, delays would taint the truth. Before his accomplices manipulated it, we had to blast all evidence to the press and ignite public outrage.
"News up?"
"Oh please! To the ace social affairs reporter Cha Mi-ran of Kangseong Daily? 'The Truth of Top Star Park Seung-hyun: Octoperci Gate Devours Korea's Elite.' Two pieces, softly posted. Boards are exploding already!"
The Cha Mi-ran swallowing dryly at his spasms was gone. Her eyes crinkled with scoop glee.
"Backlash will be fierce. Went full names and photos, so defamation suits incoming."
"I'm prepared. For reporters, lawsuits are badges of honor—no regrets. If anything, thanks to you, Inspector Kang."
She extended a hand, eyes shining.
"Our crap laws prioritize perp rights, so we can't even publish suspect IDs. No wonder they call us hack journalists. But thanks to you, we struck hard this time! Tomorrow morning, Korea flips."
I shook her hand.
"...Speaking of, that Yangsan Chief Jang Sing-gu we nabbed today."
"Yeah, they're hauling him now."
Hwang Woo-sik scratched his head, joining in.
"Caught a glimpse—his crime's nasty. Gotta investigate deep and strip his badge!"
Uncharacteristically fired up for the probe.
* * *
[Breaking news. Park Seung-hyun, the idol-turned-actor riding high, was emergently arrested yesterday at a Gyeonggi villa on drug charges. He fled a police riot squad's arrest order and was caught after a fight with Gangcheon Station Detective Kang Cheol-gu, who pursued alone. At capture, he was unconscious from overdose, with severe brain damage; docs say normal life post-treatment is unlikely. And it gets worse: the villa's booze-and-drug orgy drew top cops, political and business brass—heavy hitters. Public shock intensifies.]
Comments flooded under the anchor's report.
ㄴ Park Seung-hyun's dark circles were sus from day one.
ㄴ Knew it when this prick was clowing on variety shows.
ㄴ Who's the "top brass" tho?
ㄴ Why don't our hack journos name names?
ㄴ Check Kangseong Daily site. Full names, faces exposed. One in his panties. Pure gold. lololol
ㄴ Just saw. Holy shit! Octoperci Gate!
Gangnam Station Chief Yoon Hak-do's jaw trembled as he checked the news.
Octoperci Gate—the club under Bang Gyu-tae. If Park Seung-hyun was the hidden owner, Yoon—bribed for protection—would be stripped next. Just a matter of time.
It's not just losing the badge. Criminal charges!
The image of Yangsan Chief Jang Sing-gu, head bowed, dodging cameras in rags, overlapped his own face.
"Get Violent Crimes Team 2's Jeong Gi-su here now. ...What? He's out?!"
Time to align stories.
Where's that lunatic off to now?!
Chief Yoon paced his vast office madly.
* * *
"Inspector Kang Cheol-gu. Why'd you want to see me?"
Despite the burn, Team Leader Jeong Gi-su—chugging iced Americano in early winter—asked cautiously.
Even in the rank-obsessed army, seniority rules. Same in police. With a decade more service than me, he couldn't meet my eyes, head down.
"You know how things are shaking out?"
"I swear I didn't know Octoperci tied to Park Seung-hyun! Just took some payoff cash...!"
"Team Leader Jeong, there's a way you survive."
He snapped his head up with a gulp.