204. 21. Family Gathering
The male executive was some pompous title holder called the "Incheon Autonomous Police Headquarters Special Operations Special Liaison Officer," and his name was Gwang Seok-jin. How did I remember that? Truth be told, I didn't. I'd just gotten reintroduced. I wasn't particularly itching to chat with the guy, but I had some business regarding items, and I figured it might be best to let the Namdong District Police Station handle everything from here on out. So I made the suggestion, and thanks to that, it turned into a three-way face-off between Gwang Seok-jin, me, and Do Yun-jeong.
I'd have preferred ditching this cramped-ass container for the spacious recovery site office, but they said security wouldn't allow it. Haha. But me being here is fine? Anyway, thanks to Gwang Seok-jin's weird stubbornness, I ended up holding this meeting in this rundown dump that didn't suit me at all.
Every time I said a word, those two fired back ten. "Well, that's a bit tricky for me as well. If it were about pooling our efforts to wrap things up, sure, but I can't let Namdong handle operations solo."
"Why not? The young master wants it that way, and this is Namdong. Isn't it obvious that Namdong business gets handled by the Namdong Police Station? That's what I think, anyway."
"I'm here to wipe out every last infiltrator in Namdong Industrial Complex, handle the cleanup, and oversee recovery. That's why HQ sent me."
"That's exactly what I'm saying— you've done enough already. You helped sweep the trash, racked up some merits, we've made progress on the purge, and recovery's underway. You've done your part; no need to stick around."
"HQ must be really invested, huh? Sending someone like Special Liaison Officer Gwang Jin-seok."
"...It's Gwang Seok-jin. Anyway, my position is clear: see the mission through to the end. My orders are to normalize Namdong Industrial Complex."
"Aah~ You're so frustrating. You gonna keep being this rigid?"
"I just don't get why you want Namdong handling it alone in the first place. If speed's the goal, more manpower is better. With HQ forces and Namdong's combined, you could get your desired results even faster."
That's not the point, you idiot. And quick recovery? Bullshit. I'm already footing the bill for all that. The cops are just doing mop-up sweeps and searches anyway, and since recovery's outpacing that, slowing down a bit won't hurt.
Do Yun-jeong let out a heavy sigh and dropped her tone, a hint of threat creeping in. "Hey, Gwang Seok-jin, Special Auditor."
"..."
"I'm saying this for your sake. Just do what the young master says. Got it?"
"..."
Gwang Seok-jin's face hardened. 'Whoa, way too blatant, Yun-jeong!'
Gwang Seok-jin snorted in disbelief. "Ha, now it's 'young master'? Still no principles, no loyalty."
At his words, Yun-jeong startled and shot me a quick glance. "What the...! What's that supposed to mean all of a sudden?"
"Wonder how long this 'master' of yours will last."
"You wanna die?"
"And your poker face still crumbles the second someone calls you out."
"You...!"
Do Yun-jeong shot to her feet in a rage but caught my eye and sat back down. '...What the hell's up with these two?'
There was some weird vibe between them. 'At least they're acquaintances.' And not recent ones, either. 'Makes sense. They've both been cops forever; bound to have crossed paths.'
"Let me be straight with you, Special Liaison Officer Gwang Jin-seok."
"...Gwang Seok-jin."
"A bunch of goods are gonna turn up while we're digging through Namdong Industrial Complex, and I want exclusive dibs."
"...Pardon?"
His eyes went wide in surprise. He had this lazy look with barely-open eyes, but now they were properly round, and I could finally see his pupils.
"In simple terms, I want all the spoils of war. But the troops you brought... controlling them might be tricky, right?"
"..."
"If they behave, no issue. But compared to Namdong forces under our Chief Do Yun-jeong's tight grip..."
"So that's your angle. But I don't quite follow. We've found plenty so far, but most was junk, and even the valuable stuff was too worn... Didn't seem fit for the young master's use."
"I don't need to explain that part. I've stated my terms."
"Hmm..."
Gwang Seok-jin leaned back in his chair, pondering. '...Ha, is this even worth agonizing over? Or are you fishing for merits? Want me to put in a word? As chief of security, bumping a superintendent up a rank should be doable.'
Do Yun-jeong jumped in, exasperated, and Gwang Seok-jin shot her a glare loaded with all sorts of emotions, just for a split second.
"You really hate the idea, huh."
"...If it's spoils, I'll issue orders. We'll collect as much as possible and hand it over to your recovery team."
"Appreciate it." I stood up. Gwang Seok-jin and Do Yun-jeong followed suit. "Oh, and don't just hand it over straight—set a nominal compensation fee to keep the recovery rate from tanking."
"Got it. I'll pass that along."
"Chief, you and I need to talk alone."
"Yes, young master."
Do Yun-jeong followed me out of the container, but Gwang Seok-jin called out. "...The two of you meeting separately raises security issues... Better talk here."
"Pfft, whatever. Let's go, young master."
"...Fine."
I ignored him and left anyway. Gwang Seok-jin didn't say another word.
"Sorry, Master. Did that piss you off? That guy... I mean Gwang Seok-jin, he's just so damn stubborn."
We were in a room at the recovery site office. Unlike the cops' container, this was a proper setup—closet, couch, table, and best of all, a bed.
"Yeah, seemed like it. Some self-righteous justice type?"
I'd gotten that vibe at first glance. Amid all the corrupt cops, he stood out as one of the rare clean ones. I'd chatted with Im Sua about it—how the police chief's mess had given this upright guy a shot to rise. Sua figured the corruption was too deep; he wouldn't last.
"He's an idiot. Frustrating as hell."
"..."
Her reaction confirmed it. He'd crash and burn soon enough.
"Forget that loser~." Do Yun-jeong's hands busied themselves stripping me, her knee skillfully teasing my crotch. "Let me ease you up nice and slow, Master."
"With what?"
"Whatever you want♥."
Her hand grazing my cock as she undressed me sent a jolt through me already.
"You two know each other?"
"Aww, c'mon, forget it already... Police academy classmates. Total enemies."
"Really? Didn't seem like pure enmity."
"..."
She finished with my shirt, slid my pants down, slipped her hand into my underwear, and started stroking. "Truth is," she confessed while working me, "we were CC."
"...Huh?"
The truth from way back.
Gwang Seok-jin stared blankly at the spot where Ko Mu-yeol and Do Yun-jeong had been. Their warmth still lingered, it felt like.
"..."
He mechanically lifted his cold coffee, took a sip, and set it down.
"Nothing's changed, Do Yun-jeong."
Namdong District Police Chief Do Yun-jeong. Despite being his classmate, she was a chief superintendent while he was barely a superintendent. His specs weren't lacking, so why the huge gap? Just her overwhelming talent? She had skills, sure, but not enough for two ranks ahead.
"Still whoring yourself out. Does your husband know?"
Obvious. She'd clawed her way up using every means, body included. Once appointed chief, she'd turned the station into her personal fiefdom, a den of corruption and crime. Probably eyeing higher now.
"Filthy slut."
He, who usually avoided profanity, spat it out. Couldn't hold it in. Faint memories flooded back.
To celebrate 100 days, he'd scraped together part-time cash for a gift, only to catch her entering a motel with a police academy professor. That devastation still haunted him. Later, he learned the prof pimped promising girls to police brass.
Just thinking about it made him nauseous.
"You lit the fire in my sense of justice."
Couldn't break up. Words wouldn't come. Dragged it to 200, 300 days. Around 500, she dumped him. Reason came later: her current guy found out about the boyfriend and hated it, so she cut him loose.
"Thanks to you, I became a cop, Do Yun-jeong."
Snapping from reverie, he closed his eyes briefly, then opened them. She was the same then as now—values, face, body.
"..."
Gwang Seok-jin picked up the paper cup she'd left. Red lipstick stain on the rim. He finished her coffee.