Chapter 51
Chapter 51
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: Claws of Justice
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Sensing the ominous atmosphere, Aji's owner quietly stood up and tried to slip out the entrance.
But before he could, Go Gi-jin called him back.
"Aji's guardian, looks like we're all done here. You can head into the exam room now. Gotta see how clean those ears are, right?"
As Go Gi-jin spoke to Aji's owner, he strode over and planted himself squarely in front of the door.
With his bear-like bulk blocking the way, Aji's owner panicked.
"Uh......"
But he quickly composed himself and opened his mouth.
"Uh...... I gotta run to the bank real quick. Something just came up. I'll be right back, so please watch Aji for me."
"It'll be over quick. Just listen to the rundown and take him home."
"I can't bring Aji to the bank. I'll be right back."
"Aw, first time here and all—if the guardian ain't around, Aji'll get scared. He'll think you ditched him."
"Haha...... That guy's got a good temperament, he'll be fine. Thanks."
Aji's owner figured Go Gi-jin would step aside, of course.
"Just listen to what the director says first."
As an officer stepped out of the car, the desperate owner shoved Go Gi-jin.
"Move!"
Go Gi-jin's face darkened in an instant.
"Why'd you go shovin' folks? I ain't movin'!"
"Uh, uh......"
Go Gi-jin growled like he was about to grab the guy by the collar, and Aji's owner stumbled back, cowed by the intensity.
That was when Lee Jun emerged from the exam room.
"Go, let him pass!"
Uniformed officers and others were already stepping out of the car and heading into the hospital.
Even if Go Gi-jin moved, there was no escape for Aji's owner.
As soon as Go Gi-jin stepped aside, the group surged into the hospital.
"Police here. We got a report suspecting animal abuse."
"You're here?"
Lee Jun greeted the officers.
"Who is it?"
"This guy."
Lee Jun pointed at Aji's owner, and an officer stepped up to him.
"Sir, we'll need to see some ID."
"ID? Why should I?"
Aji's owner snapped at the officer.
But after being told he'd face penalties for refusing, he reluctantly handed it over.
The officer confirmed it matched the hospital records for Aji's guardian and turned to Lee Jun.
"Any evidence this dog was abused?"
"Right here."
Lee Jun pulled up photos of the bruised skin and X-rays on the monitor.
"Vet, you agree with Dr. Lee here?"
The officer asked Han Na-hyuk, who'd come along.
"Absolutely. Look at those fracture images—the bones are all misaligned. Proof it broke and never got treated."
"N-no, that's not it. I never hit that mutt—er, Aji."
"Then what happened if it wasn't gettin' beat? You sayin' Aji did this to himself? That it?"
Go Gi-jin, who'd been glaring ferociously from the side, bellowed.
Just then, the bell on the hospital door jangled wildly.
Ding-a-ling-ding-a-ling-jingle-jangle.
Every eye in the hospital turned to the door, and Kim Eun-ji strode in, drawing all those gazes.
"Huff, huff, pant!"
Gasping ragged breaths, Kim Eun-ji asked,
"Hah...... huff. D-did I...... make it?"
After contacting Namgung Hyun, Lee Jun had immediately called Kim Eun-ji too.
He'd reached out to the reporter for one reason.
He knew animal abuse penalties were laughably light.
Up to three years in prison or 30 million won fine—but only if it led to the animal's death.
For Aji's case, the punishment would be a slap on the wrist.
'No way we're lettin' him off with pocket change. Gonna make sure he can't show his face anywhere.'
And right now, Kim Eun-ji—here to make it happen—was panting, drenched in sweat.
Sweat-soaked and heaving, but her eyes gleamed like a hyena spotting prey.
Kim Eun-ji asked the officer,
"Is that the animal abuse suspect, Kim I-seok......?"
"Yes."
Hearing his full name and "abuse" thrown out there, Aji's owner exploded.
"W-what? Animal abuse? Suspect?"
But Kim Eun-ji, who didn't flinch at undercover stings for a scoop, fired right back without blinking.
"Kim I-seok, why'd you abuse an animal? Your own dog, no less."
"I-it's...... I'm innocent. Reporter, think about it—if I was an abuser, would I bring a sick dog to the vet?"
It was a fair point.
As Kim Eun-ji hesitated, Lee Jun swept Aji's fur aside in front of everyone.
Revealed along the clipper path: a skeletal frame, skin and bones, covered in bruises everywhere.
The crowd's faces crumpled at Aji's wretched state.
"Whoa!"
"Gasp!"
"......No way, unbelievable!"
Amid the gasps, Lee Jun glared at Kim I-seok and snarled.
"If this ain't abuse, what is?"
"Come on. How many times I gotta say it? I didn't do nothin'!"
Kim I-seok kept denying it, thinking to himself,
'No one caught me in the act. What're these nobodies gonna do?'
As if reading his mind, Lee Jun's glare sharpened.
"Fine. Hold on."
Lee Jun handed his phone to the officer.
"Officer, there's CCTV in this alley, right?"
The officer nodded at the map on the screen.
"Probably. One sec."
He radioed it in and nodded.
"Yeah, there is."
"Then check from 3 to 4 p.m. today."
Puzzled, the group in the animal hospital watched as footage arrived on the officer's phone.
The second he played it, Kim I-seok's face twisted.
The video showed a man kicking and stomping a black dog—Kim I-seok himself.
With Aji's pitiful state plus the beating footage, outrage poured down on him.
"Crazy bastard."
"Demon in human skin."
"How could a person......"
Go Gi-jin was no different.
"You really are hopeless. Where'd you get off beatin' this little thing?"
Lee Jun held back Go Gi-jin, who advanced on Kim I-seok with murder in his eyes.
"No violence."
"Let go! How much pain you think Aji was in? This scum needs a taste himself!"
As Go Gi-jin shook off Lee Jun's grip—
Kyaaaaooong!
Kyao!
Gray and Shadow leaped from the cat tower straight at Kim I-seok.
"Aaack!"
[Graaaooong! Can't forgive a punk who stomps animals!]
[Feel it yourself!]
"Ah, aaack! Ow, it hurts, you bastards! Someone stop 'em! These cats are tryin' to kill me! Help, somebody help......"
Kim I-seok screamed bloody murder, but no one lifted a finger.
No—they cheered as Gray and Shadow clawed and bit.
Some even clapped in delight.
Clap-clap-clap.
"Refreshing! First time seein' animals dish out justice."
"Man, I wanted to sock him, but the cats beat me to it. Feels so good!"
"Haha, who knew."
Go Gi-jin clapped loudest of all.
"Uahaha! Good job, you two! Real good!"
Revenge without laying a hand—pure satisfaction.
Everyone in the hospital was thrilled.
Even the cops watched leisurely, chests light.
Lee Jun too.
He could've stopped the cats anytime but didn't.
He watched contentedly as they turned Kim I-seok into a bloody mess.
As the cats wrapped up, the officer cuffed his wrists.
"You're under arrest for animal abuse."
The crowd followed as police dragged him out, applauding, and Kim Eun-ji shouted,
"Kim I-seok! How's it feel gettin' attacked by animals? Looks like no broken bones, so probably hurts less than Aji, right?"
"......"
"Come on, say somethin'. Kim I-seok from Eunpyeong-gu. One word, please."
Kim Eun-ji hammered "Kim I-seok, Eunpyeong-gu Kim I-seok" until they loaded him into the car.
To burn it into everyone's minds.
The cops knew and moved slow; the car door closed leisurely.
As Kim I-seok got in, Lee Jun thanked the officer.
"Thanks."
"No, thank you. Cases like this always bugged us—punishments too light. But not today."
The officer smiled at Lee Jun and drove off.
The rest looked relieved but bittersweet too.
"Whew, he'll probably skate with less than a million-won fine anyway."
Han Na-hyuk said glumly.
"I'll make sure the article hits hard. That jerk won't show his face anywhere."
Kim Eun-ji vowed, and Lee Jun chimed in.
"Please do. Guys like him just get another dog and repeat. And thanks for naming him nonstop."
"It's not just you askin', Director—these types need to suffer. They keep at it 'cause they know penalties are a joke. Best to expose 'em so they can't face folks."
"That's why you kept yellin' his name."
"Yeah, thinkin' of that scum sours my mood again."
Kim Eun-ji took a deep breath and continued.
"Once this hits the news, tons'll recognize the abuser. Even if we can't print the face, people who know will spot him."
She scowled and added,
"Would be perfect if we could run his photo!"
"Didn't get why you called a reporter, brother, but you had a plan."
"Scum like him still cares about face."
"Anyway, feels good today."
Animal protection group folks thanked Lee Jun.
"Yeah. Can't thank you enough."
"You should be grateful. Nearly ended up in the same cruiser as that creep on assault charges."
"No way! I ain't ridin' with filth like that!"
Go Gi-jin hopped mad.
To them, animal abusers were the worst of the worst.
"So what about him now?"
"We'll take him. That's why we waited."
Han Na-hyuk worried over Aji, and a group member replied.
"Do abused ones like him get adopted easy?"
"Not sure. Most abused animals lack socialization. Some bite out of fear, others tremble at people, or have severe separation anxiety."
[We'll look after him!]
[Where you sendin' a scaredy-cat? Plus, he's skin and bones.]
They wanted to protect Aji.
Lee Jun felt the same.
"I'll keep him till he recovers."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Aji clings to Gray and Shadow—they're his saviors. Better for him to regain strength and heal his heart beside them."
"Sniff! Brother!"
Go Gi-jin was moved to tears by Lee Jun's kindness.
"I'll fatten that pup up good till he's pMongchi!"
"Sounds good. We'll take Aji for now."
"Perfect. Relieved knowin' vets got him."
"We'll treat him right. But those two'll do more than us?"
Following Lee Jun's gaze, everyone saw Gray and Shadow hugging Aji tight.
"Oh my god......"
Kim Eun-ji clutched her hands, eyes misty, staring at the trio.
Others too.
"Ha, wow."
"They're meltin' me."
"Like the doc said—cats'll fill gaps we can't."
"Yeah."
Lee Jun was certain.
Gray and Shadow would give Aji what he couldn't.
"Kim, got connections at a station? 'Animal World' or 'Animal World Forever' would be great."
"Tippin' them off?"
"Yeah. Your article'll reach many, but more eyes the better."
"I got PD Park from 'Animal World Forever'."
"Nice."
"Saw him recently—he's big on animal abuse. Plannin' a special."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"If it's a series, not one-off, film Aji's recovery too. Keeps Kim I-seok's name out there."
"Sounds great, brother."
"Could help find him a public adopter. But you'd have to go on TV—cool with that?"
"No problem. If it gets Aji a good home, worth it."
"Good opportunity."
Lee Jun turned to Kim Eun-ji.
"Reporter, why not go big? PD Park's into abuse prevention—ask about a campaign?"
"Campaign?"
"Expose abusers, treat victims, educate on how bad it is. Lots abuse outta ignorance."
"Sounds good. Hold on."
Kim Eun-ji dialed PD Park right away.