Gathering Evidence
Team Leader Na couldn't hide his sense of emptiness as he walked out of the Minister of the Interior and Safety's house.
"Well, of course he wouldn't be home on a weekday afternoon."
The busy Minister was nowhere to be seen.
Instead, the Minister's wife had handed them a small gift.
"She said she baked these while making dog treats?"
Team Leader Na stared blankly at the cookies in the Ziploc bag, muttering to himself like a man who had lost his soul.
They say joy shared is doubled, and grief shared is halved.
"Try one. They're better than they look. Lieutenant Choi, Detective Park? Here, take this."
"You should have them all, Team Leader."
"They're good. I'm telling you, try one!"
As Team Leader Na desperately tried to force the cookies onto them with a grimace, Lieutenant Choi Doyeong reminded him of something he had forgotten.
"Aren't you going to report to the Division Chief?"
"Ah, right. I need to call him. Hold this for a second."
Team Leader Na shoved the cursed Ziploc bag into Lieutenant Choi's hands and pulled out his phone.
"Chief, this is Team Leader Na. We just returned the Minister's dog and are on our way out."
"Ah, good job. You found it faster than I expected. Who found it?"
Normally, one might claim the credit for themselves, but Team Leader Na was not the shameless type to steal a subordinate's achievement.
"It was Detective Min. He established a 'lupo' with the kid who got caught stealing the dog..."
"You mean rapport."
"Ah, was it rapport? Anyway, he got a confession out of him. Just as headquarters suspected, it wasn't a simple theft. School violence and even gangs are involved."
"School violence and gangs? The scale is bigger than I thought."
"Yes. We explained the situation to the Yeonan Police Station, and we just left after returning the Minister's dog to his residence."
"Alright. Good work. Keep your evening free. I'll treat Violent Crimes Team 1 to dinner."
"A team dinner? Ah! Could we postpone it to another day?"
"Why? Do you have plans?"
"We're fine, but I don't think Detective Min will be able to make it."
"Why?"
"He said he had to go somewhere to buy something secondhand."
"Hmm. Throwing a party without the guest of honor is... Oh, hold on. The Chief wants to speak with you."
Team Leader Na had no idea the Detective Division Chief was with the station Chief.
"This is Chief Lee."
"Salute, sir!"
"Weren't you coming back with Detective Min?"
"Yes, sir. He said he had some business in Incheon, so we split up."
"When did you find out he was going to Incheon today?"
"Well, after receiving the Division Chief's orders this morning..."
"So you didn't know this morning. Does Detective Min often attend to personal matters during duty hours?"
"Ah, no, sir. Never."
"You said this case is related to school violence, correct?"
"Yes, sir. The metropolitan school gang coalition mobilized victimized students to steal dogs..."
"Team Leader Na."
"Yes, Chief."
"Have you already forgotten why Detective Min became a cop?"
"..."
School violence!
The Chief's low, heavy voice jogged Team Leader Na's memory, bringing back what he had completely forgotten.
The Chief asked again.
"Where is Detective Min right now?"
While Cha Donbaek was coaxing the school gang members and instigating them to betray the Shindae-ryuk Gang, I was watching from nearby when my phone rang.
It was Chief Lee Chungki.
"Hello?"
"Detective Min. Did you forget that I told you to come to my office after work?"
"No, sir. I remember."
The dashcam footage containing my mentor's final moments.
Tonight was when he had promised to show it to me.
"Are you coming?"
"I'm in Incheon, so I think I'll be a bit late."
"That sounds like you're saying you can't make it."
"I'm sorry, sir. Would it be alright if we met tomorrow instead?"
"It's saved on my computer, so anytime is fine. But what are you doing in Incheon right now?"
"Ah, I'm meeting someone on personal business."
"Personal business. Right, I understand."
"Is there anything else, sir?"
"No. I'll see you tomorrow."
It was a phone call that left a lingering feeling.
What did he want to say to me?
Before I could even think, my phone rang again.
This time, it was Team Leader Na.
"Hello?"
"Hey, you punk!"
Team Leader Na immediately started swearing.
"Why are you acting like this?"
"Why am I acting like this? Where are you right now?"
"Where else? Incheon."
"Where in Incheon?"
"Why do you need to know?"
"Why? Is it somewhere I shouldn't go?"
"It's not that, but why are you suddenly like this?"
"Be honest with me. You're planning to cause trouble, aren't you? No, are you already causing it?"
"Where, from whom, and what did you hear to make you say this?"
"Detective Min. Listen to me carefully. You can't just throw your fists around because you're angry. Okay? If you really can't hold back, tell me first. I'll handle it for you."
"I have no idea what you're talking about..."
"Forget it. Just tell me where you are. Are you still at the Yeonan Industrial Complex?"
"I told you, I'm not. My coffee order just came out, so I have to go pick it up. I'm hanging up. See you tomorrow."
"Hey, Detective Min! Suho!"
I hung up after dodging the question, but it practically amounted to admitting I was about to cause trouble.
"Ah, things are taking a weird turn."
The Chief and Team Leader Na had called one after another.
They seemed to know something.
How on earth did they find out?
"I need to speed things up."
I called Cha Donbaek, who was in the middle of his passionate performance.
Little devils who measured right and wrong solely by money.
In front of money, seniors and gangsters didn't matter.
"I'll go first."
"Me too."
They raised their hands, competing to be the first to betray.
"Oh, hold on a second."
Right on cue, a call came from Detective Min.
Cha Donbaek stepped slightly away from the kids to answer the phone.
"Yes, Boss."
"Tell them to call all of them at once."
"All of them, sir?"
"It looks like the police might show up soon. We need to adjust the plan slightly."
"Understood."
"And don't forget to confiscate their phones once they're done calling."
"I'll keep that in mind."
Turning back, Cha Donbaek asked Oh Min-uk, the leader of the school gang coalition.
"How many members does the Shindae-ryuk Gang have in total?"
"Probably around thirty."
"Really? That's not many. Let's call them all at once then."
"All at once?"
"Why waste time on small fry? Let's get them out of the way quickly so we can talk business."
"If all thirty show up, it might be a bit much for us to handle..."
"Do you think gangsters march out in perfect formation all at once just because you call them?"
"Well, that's true, but..."
They were confident in ganging up on people, but did they want to avoid an all-out war?
"Hey, don't wimp out. The moment you call those bastards, you become members of our organization. Do you think we'd just stand by and watch our future family get hurt?"
"So you'll help us?"
"Of course. I just want to see what you guys are made of. I'm not telling you to risk your lives, though. You're the precious future of the Gukje Gang. It wouldn't do to have you get hurt over something like this."
"The Gukje Gang?"
It was a name made up on the spot, but the kids' eyes sparkled as they listened.
"Aren't you sick of running errands for lowlifes and just bullying kids?"
"We're totally sick of it. Dog hair gets all over our clothes, and the smell, ugh!"
"Let's cut ties with those bastards cleanly today and make a fresh start with us. Let's have some real fucking fun. Internationally. What do you say?"
"Whoa, my heart is literally racing."
"Racing? That means you like it, right?"
"Of course. My chest is pounding."
"Good. Keep that feeling. If things look even slightly dangerous, we'll step in immediately, so don't worry and call them all."
"Understood. Salute!"
"Hahaha. Full of energy, I see. Now, hurry up!"
"Yes, hyung-nim!"
Dreams, hopes, and the fishy scent of money paralyzed the reasoning of the already foolish kids.
Incheon Port International Passenger Terminal.
The man who had just returned from Tianjin, China, was Jeong Cheolyong.
Two men squatting in front of the terminal stood up and bowed deeply upon seeing him.
"Welcome back, hyung-nim!"
"Keep your voices down, you bastards. Are you trying to advertise to the world that there are gangsters here?"
"We're sorry, hyung-nim."
The ones who came to greet him were Jeong Cheolyong's right and left hands.
Even though Jeong Cheolyong had told them not to act like gangsters, he was secretly disappointed by the meager welcoming committee.
"Is it just the two of you?"
"Given the circumstances, we thought it best to be cautious, so we kept it quiet. We're sorry, hyung-nim."
"Ah, no. You did well. Where's the car?"
"It's circling around right now. The area right in front is a no-parking zone."
"The Shindae-ryuk Gang has really lost its edge. Keeping the boss waiting just because you're scared of a measly fine."
"We're sorry, hyung-nim."
"No, it's my fault. I can't blame you guys when I've been hiding abroad for half a year and only just returned."
"But is it really okay for you to return already?"
"The ID I got from President Ma is a fake that looks so real it's fine. I went to the Philippines, then came back through China, and the immigration officers didn't say a word."
"As expected of President Ma."
Just then, a black sedan pulled up in front of them.
"Is this the car?"
"Yes, hyung-nim. Please get in."
Once inside the car, Jeong Cheolyong had a lot to tell his men.
"Do you know who I met in the Philippines?"
"Who did you meet, hyung-nim?"
"Kelly Um."
"Who is that, hyung-nim?"
"Ah, you wouldn't know. The master of Abanggung, the largest network in the East. You've never heard of it, right?"
"Are you talking about the drug wholesaler?"
"Oh, you know about him too? I just opened a trade deal with him yesterday."
"Then are we finally moving up to the major leagues?"
"Yeah, you punk. You've worked hard all this time. Kelly Um is going to set up a branch in Korea soon, so we just need to secure some smart couriers and wait."
"I'll take responsibility for procuring the couriers."
"Do you know some kids?"
"Yes. They're high schoolers, but they're fearless."
"High schoolers?"
"They'll do absolutely anything if there's money in it."
"Perfect. When can I meet them?"
"Of course. Even tomorrow..."
Speak of the devil, a call came from the very 'high schooler' they were just talking about.
The right hand excused himself to Jeong Cheolyong and pressed the call button.
"Yeah, Min-uk. What's up?"
"Hyung-nim. You need to come down here right now."
"Where is 'here'?"
"The dog warehouse in the industrial complex."
"It's a bit difficult right now. The big boss just arrived, and I'm picking him up."
"Can't you bring him along? Someone wants to buy all the dogs in the warehouse. We're not very good at bargaining."
"Hmm. Alright, I got it. I'll call you back."
"Thank you, hyung-nim."
After hanging up, the right hand hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to break the news to Jeong Cheolyong.
Noticing the hesitation, Jeong Cheolyong spoke first.
"What is it? What's going on?"
"Hyung-nim, well..."
"Are you confessing your love to me? Why are you hesitating?"
"Actually, we've been running a bit of a pet business using those high schoolers."
"A pet business? You're raising dogs?"
"Not raising them, selling them. Well, to be precise, we didn't sell them; we returned them after receiving reward money."
Since they had known each other for a long time, he didn't need a detailed explanation to understand what that meant.
"You stole other people's dogs?"
"Yes. We had the school gang do it."
"Ha. Gangsters doing something so embarrassing."
"I'm sorry. We had to put food on the table, and you weren't around, hyung-nim."
"Forget it. You must have been desperate. So?"
"Someone came by wanting to buy all the dogs at once. They want us to do the bargaining."
"They want us to come and sell them for a good price?"
"Yes."
"Ugh. I've seen it all now. Let's go. Let's go see what these kids look like."
"Understood. Hey, turn the car toward the Yeonan Industrial Complex."
"Yes, hyung-nim."
As the car carrying the boss made a U-turn toward the Yeonan Industrial Complex, the gang members who had arrived earlier had already fallen into the school gang's trap and were engaged in a bloody, chaotic brawl.
The Shindae-ryuk Gang members arrived in small groups of three to five at different times.
The volunteer group played their roles perfectly as customers looking to buy dogs, while the cunning school gang members casually lured the gangsters into the crowd.
The gangsters were beaten to a pulp the moment they arrived, without even knowing why.
A few of them showed some grit by pulling out knives and swinging them, but they were quickly subdued by Cha Donbaek's group and subjected to an even worse beating.
"Fuck, these weak bastards!"
Believing this was all due to their own strength, the school gang members grew even more arrogant.
"Throw the knocked-out bastards into the container so they're out of sight."
"Yes, hyung-nim!"
The kids faithfully executed the orders of Cha Donbaek—who had lied about being from the Gukje Gang—as if they were imperial decrees.
"How many in total?"
"Seventeen, hyung-nim."
"Hmm. Only thirteen left then?"
"Yes."
"You guys can handle it without us, right?"
"...Where are you going?"
"To get some cash. The money for your signing bonus. I'm going to the bank to withdraw a hundred million won."
"Ah, you could just give us that later."
"What are you talking about? Unlike those lowlifes, we pay immediately once the job is done."
"The Gukje Gang really is on another level."
"There's something else that's different. We're thorough in everything we do. That's why we need to collect your phones for a bit."
"Why the phones?"
"Out of fifteen people, there's bound to be at least one oddball. Who knows, there might be a model student among you who secretly reports this to the police."
"Ay, hyung-nim, come on. There isn't a single model student here."
"It's not that I don't trust you, it's just how the Gukje Gang's system works. Cooperate with us."
"Still, taking our phones right in the middle of a fight is a bit..."
They say people only see what they know.
To a thief, everyone looks like a thief.
They were undoubtedly worried that he would take their phones and never return.
"What did you say your name was?"
"Oh Min-uk."
"Right, Min-uk. Since you seem to be the leader, I'll leave five ten-million-won checks with you."
"Fifty million won?"
"Think of it as a deposit for the phones. We'll be paying you that money as part of your signing bonus anyway."
"Oh... Guys, hand over your phones. Hurry!"
Cha Donbaek turned to Manager Kim standing behind him and silently mouthed a question.
Did you write down all their patterns?
He had instructed him to peek over their shoulders when they were calling the gangsters.
Instead of answering, Manager Kim gave a brief nod.
Before long, a pile of phones collected from the school gang members stacked up.
"I'll be back soon. When the lowlifes show up, don't wimp out and give them a good fight. Treat it as an entrance exam."
"Yes, hyung-nim!"
The place the volunteer group went to was not a bank, but the van where I was waiting.
I told them to unlock the passwords of the phones they had brought.
"If there are any school violence videos or photos, transfer them all to my phone. It shouldn't take more than two or three minutes, right?"
"I'm not sure if we can do it that fast."
"We need to send them to the National Police Agency and the Office of Education before the police arrive. Please hurry."
"You're coming with us when this is over, right?"
"Go ahead first. I need to stay behind and wrap things up here."
It was time to go back to being a detective.