Chapter 106
Chapter 106
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 106
Chapter Title: Trapped in the Archives
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Hmm, hmm.”
It was late afternoon, and Administrative Director Park Ok-hee was sipping her tea while humming a little tune.
Bang!
“Section Chief Jang Chi-hoon here! Director, we’ve got a major problem!”
Splash.
The liquid in her teacup sloshed over.
“Oh dear! Section Chief Jang?”
Startled, Park Ok-hee shot to her feet without realizing it, scalding her hand on the hot tea, but she didn’t even notice as she stared at him.
It wasn’t every day that Jang Chi-hoon came charging into the director’s office with his sleeves rolled up and no report in hand.
“Something’s gone wrong at the Citizen Assistance Office!”
“Gone wrong? What happened?”
“A man came in wielding a knife, and...”
Jang Chi-hoon hesitated amid the urgency, unable to continue, so Park Ok-hee pressed him.
“Out with it!”
“He... he just grabbed Kang Hyun and dragged him off somewhere.”
“Kang Hyun? You mean... the student who just started volunteering here?”
Blood rushed to the nape of Park Ok-hee’s neck, her head spinning as she staggered for a moment, barely steadying herself.
But she pulled herself together and said,
“Let’s head down there—now!”
“It’s still dangerous, Director.”
“What about me? If that student gets hurt, that’ll be the real disaster! Have you contacted Security?”
“Yes, Security and the Fugitive Apprehension Team have been notified.”
“Got it. First, contact them to seal off any temporarily open doors. If it comes to it, request police assistance. Use every means necessary.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
As Jang Chi-hoon rushed out, Park Ok-hee paced anxiously, racking her brain for solutions.
“Oh god... please let everything be okay.”
She pressed a hand to her forehead, breathing heavily as she closed her eyes.
Kang Hyun paused his steps toward his destination after finalizing his plan.
Typically, investigation departments were upstairs, administrative offices downstairs.
The Citizen Assistance Office was toward the outer edge, and a bit further in and up, you’d find the records storage room around the intermediate floors.
‘That spot would be perfect...’
Kang Hyun was plotting to lure the man there.
But potential variables made him uneasy.
What if someone was there?
What if the Incheon District Prosecutors’ Office records room had a different layout from others, defying his expectations?
He forcefully suppressed the rising anxieties and resumed walking calmly.
“Follow me.”
“Try anything funny and you’re dead.”
“What would I do? Watch your step on the stairs.”
Step, step.
The emergency stairs were dimly lit and empty.
They weren’t used much by people, and since the offices were on higher floors, staff naturally took the elevators.
The man might sense something off, but Kang Hyun kept chatting slowly to prevent that.
“One more floor up, and there’s a direct elevator for the executives. It’ll be more comfortable going that way.”
“Lie to me, and you die.”
“Why would I lie? I’m just a student volunteering here. Whatever you’re planning has nothing to do with me. And if you think the Chief Prosecutor here needs to pay for his crimes, I’ve got no reason to stop you. I’ve got plenty of gripes living in this world myself. Why else would I end up volunteering at a place like this?”
“...What gripes do you have?”
“I don’t have a dad. It’s just me and my mom.”
Kang Hyun kept talking to distract him as they carefully climbed the stairs, reaching the second floor.
Then he guided the man inward and opened a door.
‘Jackpot!’
An empty space, its entrance blocked by shutters, bore a prominent sign: “Records Preservation Section.”
“Left here is the case records department. We need to go this way.”
Kang Hyun naturally led him toward the warehouse.
The man, realizing he needed an access card to open doors several times, followed Kang Hyun’s instructions quite obediently.
Records Preservation Warehouse.
Toward the back, paper records bound with iron straps were systematically sorted by number into blue and gray boxes, stacked like mountains far taller than an average man.
Given the size of a district prosecutors’ office, it was a massive warehouse resembling a library.
Perfect for hiding, and once inside, finding the exit amid the dense stacks was no easy task.
“There’s an elevator at the far end inside. Hold on a sec—I need to operate it, so wait deeper in, okay?”
The man eyed his surroundings suspiciously but, thanks to Kang Hyun’s ploy, moved cautiously inward.
‘Got him.’
Just as a smooth resolution seemed in sight,
Creak, creak.
‘Damn it!’
Cold sweat trickled down Kang Hyun’s body.
The warehouse was usually empty, but now cart wheels squeaked from deeper inside.
‘Someone sorting case records?’
Kang Hyun gritted his teeth and glanced toward the sound.
To make matters worse, the cart was heading their way, a silhouette gradually emerging.
“What’s that?”
“Don’t worry about it. Just staff.”
The man glared at Kang Hyun, Japanese sword slung over his shoulder, but Kang Hyun met his gaze with the same calm expression.
Then the moment arrived.
The other person approached close enough to recognize them.
“Oh! You scared me. Who are you?”
She seemed to be the junior staffer in Preservation—short stature, pulling a cart up to her chest height loaded with record boxes.
“Sorry, but who are you? Outsiders aren’t allowed here.”
Worse, she frowned at them, oblivious to the situation.
This could escalate into a bigger disaster.
Kang Hyun had to decide.
“Hello. This gentleman has business at the Chief Prosecutor’s office.”
“...?”
“We just need to pass through here.”
Kang Hyun spoke to her in a subdued tone, and she started to laugh in disbelief but stopped short.
“The Chief Prosecutor’s office?”
“Yes. Don’t ask for details.”
Her eyes sparkled at his words.
Luckily, she’d caught on to his intent and the situation instantly.
She nodded slightly and said naturally,
“Go ahead. Tough job, huh.”
“Yes, thank you.”
The cart passed Kang Hyun and the man, and oddly, the man now seemed to trust Kang Hyun more because of it.
“Well done. Keep leading.”
Prod, prod—he pushed Kang Hyun forward, and Kang Hyun leisurely extended a hand, drawing the man deeper in.
Step, step.
Deeper and deeper into the maze.
‘This’ll do.’
Past the midpoint, Kang Hyun felt confident the man couldn’t find the exit easily.
Fortunately, aside from that earlier staffer, the warehouse was empty—the deeper in, the louder their footsteps echoed.
Kang Hyun fell back slightly and pointed to a closed iron door.
“Here it is.”
“...In a place like this?”
The man grabbed the handle and shook it.
Clank, clank.
“What the—this won’t...”
And in that instant—whoosh!
Kang Hyun bolted.
He veered sharply to gain line of sight, then sprinted toward the exit.
“You bastard! Stop right there!”
Surprisingly quick on the uptake, the man pursued, the sword’s scabbard clanging furiously behind Kang Hyun.
Kang Hyun gritted his teeth.
‘Just a bit more!’
Twisting through the stacks toward the outer area, record bundles on the floor occasionally snagged and fluttered.
The man’s pounding footsteps seemed to close in, but Kang Hyun stayed composed.
“You bastard!”
Whoosh! Clunk, slam!
Beep!
Kang Hyun burst out and slammed the door shut.
The records warehouse’s iron door, equipped with an auto-lock, clicked shut effortlessly, and Kang Hyun double-checked it couldn’t be opened.
Soon, the man reached the door, panting.
“You son of a bitch! Open this door!”
Bang bang bang! Bang bang!
“...Hoo.”
Kang Hyun’s legs gave out, and he slumped to the floor.
Right call or reckless risk?
Either way, he’d bought time by trapping the guy inside.
“Kang Hyun!”
“Student Kang Hyun! There he is!”
Staff found him after a couple of minutes.
The staffer with the cart had pieced it together and alerted everyone, allowing them to pinpoint Kang Hyun in the vast building.
Security personnel and the Fugitive Apprehension Team arrived with defensive gear, and Kang Hyun could finally exhale in relief as they reached him.
“You okay?”
“Any injuries?”
“I’m fine. That guy from earlier is locked in there.”
“Get ready to breach once the police arrive!”
A team leader barked the order.
Then he thanked Kang Hyun.
“Glad you’re safe.”
If Kang Hyun had kept leading him, someone could’ve been stabbed or slashed.
Of course, Kang Hyun’s actions were risky too—plenty must’ve had their hearts skip a beat seeing it.
But he’d pulled it off, so all that was left was awe and admiration.
“You okay?”
“Good job, good job.”
“Really glad you’re safe.”
Staffers who’d been clutching their chests helped the seated Kang Hyun to his feet, brushing him off.
“Yeah, sorry for worrying you. I’ll wash my hands first... and report the details to the Citizen Assistance Team Leader.”
“Go on, go on. Hurry back.”
They expressed their gratitude and cleared a path for him.
Whoosh.
Cool water gushed from the faucet.
Followed by Kang Hyun’s sigh.
“Haah, no more of this stuff.”
It wasn’t procedurally right, and it wasn’t his job anyway.
If the man had caught on or tried something else, Kang Hyun could’ve been in real danger.
He wiped his sweat-soaked hands and hair, sighed in relief, and headed back out.
But then,
“Kyaaah!”
Had he thought it was over too soon?
Kang Hyun rushed out and ran toward the scream.
“You bastards! Don’t mess with me!”
“P-please... spare me...”
Someone must’ve rashly opened the door, and now a woman was taken hostage.
It was the staffer from before.
“St-stay calm and let’s talk!”
“Calm? Shut up! You’re all screwed now—back off!”
“P-please... spare me...”
“What floor’s the Chief Prosecutor’s office? Lead the way!”
“P-please... spare me.”
The hostage woman.
The staffer who’d met Kang Hyun with the cart. She struggled to escape his arm but was helpless.
“This is bad...”
Kang Hyun instinctively stepped back a few paces.
Out of fear?
No, far from it.
Instantly, a map of the building interior unfolded in his mind again.
He moved on instinct, turning and sprinting in the opposite direction.