Red-Handed
Kim Chan-yeol and Choi Hoon stood guard at the entrance to the Work Leader's house.
Their faces were complicated.
Kim Chan-yeol, watching the people passing by peacefully, spoke without shifting his gaze.
"Sergeant Choi, but is this really something to handle so seriously?"
"What are you talking about?"
Choi Hoon asked with a puzzled look.
"I mean, how many people have died so far? Isn't it weird? And the dead guy was someone people were already talking a lot about."
"Hey, you... "
Choi Hoon, about to snap back, let out a short snort and calmly lowered his voice.
"Does a lot of people dying mean you can just kill anyone? All the deaths so far were from zombies. This is different."
"I know. I get it, but a death's a death, right?"
"This guy's got some weird ideas. So, if I don't like you, I can just kill you?"
"That's not what I... "
"What do you mean 'not'? That's exactly what you're saying. Even if the guy had issues, that's just our perspective. From his side, he had his reasons. Even if it was a huge crime and self-defense, killing someone still lands you in jail, man."
Kim Chan-yeol grimaced.
"Come on, self-defense and still going to jail? That's the judges being crazy. If someone's trying to kill me, how am I supposed to just stand there?"
"Yeah, yeah, you're right on that. But the point is, you shouldn't think like that. If someone kills me, can you understand it? Skipping the investigation entirely?"
"I'd kill them. Whoever kills you, Sergeant Choi."
"This guy's impossible to talk to."
Choi Hoon shook his head in frustration.
"Forget it. What's the point of us getting all serious? Anyway, hasn't he been in there a while?"
"News should come soon."
As if on cue, both turned to look at the front door.
Beyond the firmly shut door, Jaejeong sat face-to-face with the Work Leader.
"Why'd you have them pat me down?"
The Work Leader asked, recalling Kim Chan-yeol and Choi Hoon tapping him all over.
"Well... let's take it one step at a time. Remember the day the power went out?"
"Yeah."
The Work Leader replied with a face that showed he had no clue why.
"Where were you that night?"
"On patrol. Why?"
"Fog was thick as hell."
"It's my job every day. And with fog, I have to go out more. Who knows what might happen."
"Someone might die?"
Jaejeong stared sharply into the Work Leader's eyes.
Meeting that gaze for a moment, the Work Leader soon burst into hollow laughter.
"Wait, why are you suddenly coming at me like this? Director, you suspecting me right now?"
"Yeah."
"What the hell did I do for you to suspect me?"
"Think about it. Thick fog, who's wandering around late at night? You know security here's a mess."
"That's my job. What can I do?"
The Work Leader answered with an incredulous look.
"But why didn't you see it?"
"See what?"
"Someone getting killed."
"Of course not! The safe zone's huge. Normal not to see everything."
"Right when you were patrolling elsewhere, someone dies?"
"Aigoo, I don't know. You can't just accuse me without saying if I did it or not. At least show some evidence that points to me, right? I ran around everywhere trying to help."
"I wish you'd just come clean."
Jaejeong leaned back, lit a cigarette.
Then tossed one to the Work Leader.
The Work Leader lit it and shook his head.
"Nothing to say. I manage the whole boundary zone. Why would I kill someone here? What good does it do me?"
"Motive's plenty."
"What's that? What motive?"
"Every time the tattoo guys caused trouble, your heart was in your throat, right? And the victim was fighting with people when you were with the director. But the director saw it too? I heard rumors your predecessor vanished quietly for not managing well."
"Yeah, true. I felt the pressure, sure. But kill someone over it? I'm not crazy. If it was me, I wouldn't make a big scene by killing."
Jaejeong leaned forward, whispering.
"Dump the body in the river. No one would know. So why think it'd get noisy?"
"Ah, seriously! Why are you doing this to me?!"
The Work Leader raised his voice, patience gone.
"You really a detective? No proper evidence... That guy you locked up yesterday, you railroaded him like this too?"
Jaejeong didn't answer, just leaned back and crossed his arms.
"If you've got nothing, get out. You know what this suspicion means to me? What the tower will think."
"...There is. Evidence."
Jaejeong murmured softly.
"What? What evidence?"
"Before I pull it out, while I'm still treating you like a person, you should've spilled first."
Finishing, Jaejeong suddenly stood.
Startled by the intimidation, the Work Leader swallowed dryly and leaned back.
"What's this?"
Thud!
A clear ziplock bag hit the table.
Inside was a bloody kitchen knife.
"Wh-what's this doing here... "
The Work Leader's face filled with dismay.
Sure, any house might have a kitchen knife, but this one—he knew it. The one he'd gotten from the supplies manager.
Ergonomic handle, crack at the end.
No one else might notice, but he did.
"As of now, you're under arrest for murder, threats, assault, rape... fuck, long list. Anyway, stand up and turn around."
Jaejeong muttered, pulling out cable ties. The Work Leader jumped up in panic.
"I didn't do it!"
"Got it. We'll talk outside."
"You bastard, I didn't do it. Come closer and I'll kill you."
Backing away, the Work Leader grabbed the knife in the bag and threatened.
Seeing the blade, Jaejeong shook his head.
"This hurts only you. For the tower? I'll keep it quiet. Just come out... "
"Shut your bullshit. If I stab, I stab for real."
The Work Leader's eyes flashed wildly.
Fierce enough to stab anyone right then.
"Get out while I'm asking nice."
The moment Jaejeong reached out—
Whoosh!
Bright red blood dripped from Jaejeong's fingertip to the floor.
His hand's back was slashed.
In an instant, Jaejeong's eyes twisted like a beast's.
His hand shot out like lightning, grabbing the Work Leader's wrist.
Clack!
The knife hit the floor, and Jaejeong seized his throat.
"Guh! Kkgh!"
Unable to withstand the crushing grip, the Work Leader gurgled death rattles and swung at Jaejeong.
Thud! Thud!
A few hits to Jaejeong's face, but no real damage.
Jaejeong slammed him against the wall, then lifted him off the ground with just that one hand on his throat.
Incredible strength.
"You rude fuck. When did I say banmal? Wanna die?"
He glanced at the fallen knife.
The bag torn, his blood on the blade.
Sudden irritation surged.
"Nope. You need a beating today."
"Gak! Gak!"
The Work Leader clawed wildly at Jaejeong's arm amid pained groans.
Watching briefly, Jaejeong tossed him aside like a pet.
Crash!
Crashing through junk, rolling on the floor, the Work Leader coughed violently as he stood.
"Cough, cough! Fuck! A cop doing this to me?"
"Yeah. Can. Come here. If you wanna live, now."
The Work Leader, face set, pulled a hiking knife from his ankle.
"Ah, how the hell did you guys search him?"
Fatigue crossed Jaejeong's face at the sight.
"How's that kitchen knife prove I'm guilty? Someone coulda planted it!"
The Work Leader yelled desperately.
But Jaejeong ignored it.
"You think I'd go off one knife? Got a witness."
"Witness? Who? No way... Lee Yeon-hui?"
"Guess you'll have to promise anonymity."
"Repaying kindness like this. Let's all die today. I'll take your head, and that bitch Lee Yeon-hui too."
Unlike the Work Leader's resolve, Jaejeong stood casually relaxed.
That nonchalance felt like mockery, fueling the Work Leader's rage.
His words and demeanor were totally off from usual.
The cruel smile, the wild eyes—disgustingly so.
But to Jaejeong, zero threat.
It just piled up payback.
"You're in deep shit now. Obstructing justice, attempted murder. Keeps stacking."
"Might as well. Can't die alone, right? Say I didn't, no one believes!"
With that, he charged, swinging the hiking knife at Jaejeong.
'Huh?'
Dodging, Jaejeong backed up fast.
That wasn't amateur swinging.
Movement of someone experienced with knives—used to injuring people multiple times.
"Hey, what the fuck are you?"
The Work Leader smirked at Jaejeong's startled voice.
Behind that smile, he was sure of victory.
Watching him grip the knife left-handed, Jaejeong was sure too.
"One thing's clear: you did the killing."
"No. I wouldn't stab that many times!"
The Work Leader charged again.
In the narrow room, his knife swings were plenty threatening.
Can't dodge more than three charges with a knife coming to kill.
Continuous? Two's the limit.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
One, two.
After the second dodge, Jaejeong ducked and lunged.
As the Work Leader, slammed down, tried to swing—
Grip!
His knife wrist caught in Jaejeong's knee, immobilized.
Panicking, he looked up.
Above, Jaejeong sighed long, slowly raising his fist.
"Fuck! I'll kill you!"
He flailed his free hand, screaming desperately, but it did nothing.
Then, fist like a missile.
Thud! Thud!
Two hits: nose bone crushed, blood spraying, out cold.
Thump!
"You okay?!"
Hearing the Work Leader's scream, Kim Chan-yeol and Choi Hoon burst in.
Inside, Jaejeong overlooked the fallen Work Leader, blood dripping from his fingertips.
"D-did you kill him?"
Choi Hoon flinched at the bloodied face.
"Nah, passed out. Hey, how'd you search him?"
They stared blankly, so Jaejeong picked up the hiking knife from the floor.
"Pulled this from his ankle. Missed it?"
"Uh, first time for us... "
Kim Chan-yeol trailed off.
"Whatever. I'm off to see the director. Tie this fucker up at the front gate where meals come in."
"Just tie him?"
"Sit him in a chair or whatever. Your call. Search properly next time. Nearly died."
Grumbling, Jaejeong left. The two pondered moving the body.
Looking around, Kim Chan-yeol said,
"No way he fought a knife guy in this tiny room and won?"
"Why else would he be the one standing?"
"Man, total legend."
"Hey, grab him first. How do we drag this?"
They wrestled the unconscious Work Leader for a while.
Infected People