Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Ji-ah is in Danger (3)
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The person reflected in the CCTV footage was unmistakably Ji-ah.
"…."
Ji-ah walking toward our store.
Then, in the midst of that, some guy approached her and started talking.
"…She looks just like her."
Not just the hair color—the overall facial features and vibe were pretty similar.
Just as the customer said, he seemed highly likely to be her dad.
Of course, there was no audio on the CCTV, so no way to know what they were saying.
But it was clear they were arguing…
"…."
The two of them tussled for a bit.
The man presumed to be Ji-ah's dad made a quick phone call to someone, then roughly grabbed her wrist and dragged her into the alley.
"…Hold on a sec. What the hell are those guys doing?"
And a few minutes later, a black van appeared on the CCTV screen. Then three guys with tattoos got out of it.
They looked like the type who definitely weren't up to anything legal.
They glanced around briefly before following straight into the alley.
Blatantly suspicious behavior.
…Those three guys had to be connected to Ji-ah's disappearance.
While checking the CCTV for any further evidence,
"Hey, hold up. Officer Lee! Come here for a sec?"
The cop who had been staring intently at the screen suddenly seemed to remember something and called out for Officer Lee.
"Yes?"
Soon, a pretty burly guy walked over.
He must be Officer Lee.
"Weren't you in homicide? You ever seen these tattooed punks before? Not just any irezumi."
Officer Lee closed his eyes, as if rummaging through his memory at the middle-aged cop's words.
"Uh… hang on. That spider tattoo looks familiar."
Then, as if it hit him like a bolt, he spoke up.
"Ah, those bastards. The Earth Spider Gang."
"Earth Spider Gang?"
"Yeah. They've been stirring up trouble around here lately… but not like outright violent crimes. Hard to pin down. They run some shady entertainment spots. Anyway, our department's been gunning for them."
Yoon Seol reacted to Officer Lee's explanation.
"What do you mean by shady, exactly?"
"Wha—?! No way… Yoon Seol? And… Hwa-young too?!"
"Ah, come on, kid. You see heroes once or twice on the job? Just answer her."
'You were just asking Hwa-young for an autograph yourself.'
Despite the middle-aged cop's prodding, Officer Lee kept sneaking glances at Yoon Seol and Hwa-young before finally answering her question.
"Ah, yeah. Actually, we got a report just recently."
"A report?"
"Yes. Some passerby saw a guy from a black van carrying a woman on his back into one of their places."
"Tell us more details."
Officer Lee continued.
"Sure. At first, they thought she was just drunk, but on closer look, the woman slung over his back was completely limp—arms and legs dangling like she'd passed out. The guy was covered in tattoos, which looked sketchy. So they called it in just in case."
Kidnapping. Human trafficking. False imprisonment… Unpleasant words flashed through my mind one by one.
"…Yeah, that's definitely suspicious."
Hwa-young and Yoon Seol looked just as grim, listening intently to Officer Lee with serious expressions.
"So we caught wind and mobilized right away… but no one was there. We tore the place apart for nearly a week after. No evidence, and they kept filing complaints about us searching without a warrant… So we had to pull back."
Officer Lee still sounded pissed recalling it, his tone heating up a bit.
If what he said was true…
'…Ji-ah's in real danger.'
I'd hoped it was just her runaway dad forcing her home.
But Ji-ah seemed to be in even worse trouble than I'd imagined.
"Excuse me, could you tell us where that entertainment venue is?"
I tried to steady my anxiety and asked Officer Lee directly.
"…You a hero too?"
He responded with a somewhat reluctant look.
I could guess his intent. Who the hell are you?
"He's with us. Officer. We're tracking a villain who seems connected to this Earth Spider Gang."
Hwa-young answered for me.
"Ah, got it. Sorry about that. If villains are involved… yeah, some of those guys have abilities mixed in, so one of them could be it."
Officer Lee's expression shifted to immediate agreement at Hwa-young's words.
…It rubbed me the wrong way a bit, but now wasn't the time to care.
.
We got the location of the venue from him after that.
"…Let's go. Seol-ah."
"Yes."
Hwa-young and Yoon Seol immediately prepared to leave the station.
…I moved to follow them, but
"Leave this to us. Honey."
"She's right, Boss. It could be dangerous… no, it will be dangerous. Let us handle it."
The two spoke to me firmly.
Fair enough. I got why they were trying to stop me.
Apparently, the Earth Spider Gang weren't just regular thugs—some had abilities.
But,
"…I can't just sit around waiting. Ji-ah's not just our part-timer… she's family."
I bowed my head with all the earnestness I could muster.
"Please."
Hey, I'm an ex-cop. I've got basic hand-to-hand skills drilled into me. I could at least avoid being a burden.
And…
"I can't shake this anger. Not unless I land a punch on those bastards myself."
Right now, even I was surprised at how fired up I was.
I wanted to smash my fist into that guy's face—the one who dragged Ji-ah away—and those three who followed.
"…."
The texture of the necktie around my collar felt vivid.
The blue necktie Ji-ah gave me yesterday.
The moment that soft fabric brushed against me, the emotions churning in my chest crystallized.
Yeah, this was rage.
Rage born from the fear of losing another precious person.
"…."
How much time passed?
Hwa-young spoke first among them.
"Fine, honey. But you stick right by me and Seol."
"Hwa-young sis, even so, it's too dangerous…."
"…He used to be a cop, so he'll be okay. If it gets risky, our Seol can protect him. I've got his back too."
"Huh?"
Yoon Seol glanced at me in slight surprise upon hearing I'd been a cop.
Then, with a resigned deep sigh, she spoke softly to me.
"You have to stay right by my side. Got it?"
'Phew. Thank goodness.'
I'd worried she'd keep refusing.
She was only objecting for my safety anyway, so I was grateful.
I met Yoon Seol's eyes straight on and said,
"…Yes. I'll stick right by you, Yoon Seol. I promise."
After hearing that, Yoon Seol's expression blanked out for a second.
"Yoon Seol?"
"…Ugh."
Was she mad? Her face was a little red.
"…Honey, you're such a pro."
"Huh?"
"Nothing. Anyway, let's hurry. Time's critical."
A short while later, we arrived in front of their entertainment venue [Spider].
The entrance was decked out in red lights and flashy neon signs.
"…."
A burly guy sat out front, smoking a cigarette.
The tattoo visible on his arm, sleeve rolled halfway up.
'No doubt about it.'
…It was that same spider tattoo from the CCTV.
"Let's head in and check it out first."
Hwa-young glanced at the entrance and said to me and Yoon Seol.
"Even if Ji-ah's not there, we grab a few and… interrogate them. We'll find out."
A bit brutal, but Yoon Seol seemed to agree. She nodded quietly.
(For the record, so did I.)
"Then I'll go first—"
"No."
I stopped Yoon Seol as she tried to take the lead.
"I'll go ahead. Yoon Seol… you'd stand out too much."
No matter how much we'd masked up on the way here, some faces just couldn't be hidden.
Those guys would get suspicious if Yoon Seol or Hwa-young walked in first.
"Looks like that guy's security, so I'll probe him a bit. Confirm if Ji-ah's inside."
Hwa-young and Yoon Seol pondered briefly after hearing me out, then nodded.
"…Yeah, that makes sense. Honey, signal if it feels off. I'll come running."
"Be careful, Boss."
I nodded to them and slowly approached the guy at the entrance.
Step, step.
"…Hm?"
A moment later, as I stood before him, he looked up at me.
'Probe my ass.'
This wasn't the time for subtlety.
"Customer? Head on in. Rooms are open."
He spoke dismissively, so I cut straight to it.
"You seen a pretty girl with black hair and yellow eyes?"
"…The fuck you on about, asshole."
He stubbed out his cigarette on the ground, baffled.
Then he spoke to me with open hostility.
"Not a customer? Then fuck off. I'm already in a shit mood."
I asked again.
"You really don't know? White blouse, black skirt."
"…."
His face twitched at my words. He knew something.
"Haa… fuck. What the hell do you want?"
But irritation quickly took over as he stood, shoving his face close to intimidate me.
"Hey. You wanna get hit?"
Then, deliberately provoking, he put a hand on my shoulder and whispered in my ear.
"Fuck. Why you looking for some brat you couldn't even keep tabs on? Probably got turned out or sold somewhere."
Snap.
The thread of my patience snapped the instant I heard that.
"What? Gonna throw a punch… huh?"
I immediately dropped into a low stance, bending my knee. He lost balance slightly and pitched forward.
I seized the opening, grabbing his collar and wrist, tensed my core, and spun my body.
"Huh?"
His dazed voice rang in my ear.
His body lifted into the air, tracing a clean arc—
Thud—!
—and moments later, hit the pavement with a heavy smack.
Seoi-nage. The judo throw I'd learned thinking it might come in handy as a cop shone right then.
"Aaaagh!!! Y-you fuck…."
The impact must've been solid—he couldn't even get up. Still dazed, dumbstruck look on his face.
"…."
I approached him slowly, trying to calm my excitement as I spoke.
"Bring me Ji-ah, you fucking bastard."
…Sadly, I couldn't calm down.