Reunion
Today, Song Tan was riding a large charter bus to support an event.
And on that bus, he ran into someone he was not especially pleased to see.
"Well, look who it is. It’s been ages, hasn’t it? Almost a year, right?"
The man seated beside Song Tan held out his hand without even waiting to be introduced.
It was Han Gi-tae, the head of the 310th class at Jung-gyung.
"Yes, it has. Have you been well?"
"Come on, don’t talk so formally. Just speak casually. What’s the big deal between classmates?"
"Should I, Gi-tae?"
"Ahem. Even so, there is a bit of an age gap, so Gi-tae might be a little much..."
"Ah, sorry. You said to be casual, so I’ll call you Brother Gi-tae."
"Hahaha, you should’ve done that from the start. That feels much closer already. I like it."
Han Gi-tae flashed his usual friendly smile.
"I didn’t know you were with the Annam Police Station, though."
"I’m with the riot squad at Annam. You’re in the Macheon precinct, right?"
"Yeah, that’s right."
"But for someone like you, couldn’t you have gone to the Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police Agency? Do you have some sort of connection up top? Otherwise, that doesn’t make sense."
He looked almost desperate to find something he could pry into.
At least, that was what he thought he was hiding.
"I volunteered. I asked to be sent to Macheon Precinct."
"Huh? Wait, why...?"
"Because the policing demand is high?"
"What?"
Han Gi-tae let out a dry laugh, then lowered his voice and leaned in.
"You’ve gotten lucky and caught a wanted criminal or two, so I guess your head’s gotten a little too big. As your classmate—and as someone a little older in life—let me give you a word of advice. The police don’t just reward you for working hard the way you think they do."
When Song Tan only stared at him blankly, Han Gi-tae went on, sounding almost proud of himself.
"My father, my uncle, even my grandfather—they were all high-ranking police officers. So I’ve heard plenty about how this world works. I’ll tell you straight: in the police, it’s all about connections. You have to ride the right line."
"Is that so? I’m not very interested."
"Good grief, you dense fool. You’re still young, so you don’t understand how the organization works. Why do you think cops fight so hard to get into the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency or headquarters? It’s all so they can climb the ladder more easily by hooking up with the right people."
Han Gi-tae launched into a long lecture, as though he were teaching Song Tan a grand lesson in life.
"I’m planning to stick it out in the riot squad for another two years or so, then transfer to the Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police Agency."
"Oh, really?"
"You’ve got to play in deeper waters if you want to match your size. You can’t keep running around doing the same old riot-squad loop forever."
"But you can just go if you want to?"
As though he had been waiting for that question, Han Gi-tae’s eyes sparkled.
"Normally, it’d be tough. But like I said, there are a lot of police in my family. They said they’d help me get into the investigative division at the Southern Agency later on."
"Oh, that’s great."
Song Tan’s flat, lifeless response made a faint crease appear between Han Gi-tae’s brows.
He clearly disliked the response.
"Don’t take it too hard if I get promoted before you. They say a friend is a nation’s treasure, right? If they ask me to recommend someone sharp after I get in, I might even mention you."
"You really don’t need to do that."
"Don’t worry about it, man. Still, you graduated first in the 310th class, so you ought to show some success. That way the rest of us classmates can get motivated too. Right?"
Even after that, Han Gi-tae kept rambling endlessly about his rosy roadmap for a police career.
Then, glancing sidelong at Song Tan, he asked casually, "But you’re not seriously planning to keep doing grunt work at a precinct forever, are you?"
Since it was still public knowledge that Song Tan would be moving to the violent crimes unit, Han Gi-tae had no way of knowing.
"I’m being transferred to Annam Police Station next month."
Han Gi-tae paused.
"Where?"
"Violent Crimes."
"You’re going to detective work the moment your probation period ends?"
"That’s how it worked out."
"What kind of nonsense is that...?"
Han Gi-tae’s mouth fell open in disbelief.
Creaaak—
Had they arrived? The bus came to a stop.
"And in a month, I’ll be promoted to police sergeant."
"What...?"
"You didn’t know yet? Come to think of it, the announcement should be out tomorrow or so. Anyway, that’s what’s happening. You don’t need to act awkward around me just because there’s a rank gap. All right?"
"All right! We’ll be getting off now."
Song Tan gave the man’s shoulder a light pat and got off the bus, while Han Gi-tae stared after him in a daze.
***
Main Stadium of Gumo Stadium.
It was just past noon, but the area around the stadium was already sweltering with human heat.
GOLD K-POP Concert.
The organizers had expected roughly forty thousand attendees.
It was a massive event, with the district office, police, fire department, and medical personnel all mobilized.
Song Tan, wearing a fluorescent vest with a radio clipped to his shoulder, was assigned to security duty at the rear gate perimeter of the stadium.
"Northern Sector 3 has no issues."
After finishing a brief report over the radio, Song Tan turned his gaze toward the main gate, which was only faintly visible in the distance.
Murmur, murmur—
There was still quite a bit of time left before the main performance, but the crowds had already gathered in such numbers that the place was packed wall to wall.
People holding cheering sticks, fan clubs dressed in matching T-shirts.
The line stretched so long that its end couldn’t even be seen.
"Amazing..."
Song Tan let the words slip out before he realized it.
If the leader of the Murim Alliance and the cult master of the Demonic Sect held an official duel, could they draw this many people?
He found himself thinking useless thoughts like that.
Still, Song Tan had been assigned to a good spot.
He was stationed on the outskirts of the stadium, where the crowds were relatively thinner, and even among those, at the rear.
There was an access road here, but it was used as a freight unloading zone, so ordinary civilians couldn’t use it.
Today, it would be reserved for event staff only.
Song Tan’s job was to control the crowd and turn away any unauthorized vehicles.
And on top of that, one more little stroke of luck had come his way.
"Heh heh heh, I never thought I’d get to see our dear youngest again in a place like this."
By coincidence, he had been assigned to the same sector as a classmate he had shared a room with in Jung-gyung.
And not just any classmate, but Lee Seung-ho, the oldest among them.
"Tan, I guess precinct life suits you?"
Lee Seung-ho, standing close beside Song Tan, whispered low.
"Why do you think that?"
"Take a look at the other guys’ faces. Do those look like human beings to you?"
Lee Seung-ho pointed at a few of the officers.
Song Tan didn’t remember them, but they were all probationary officers from the 310th class.
"I just went over and asked them. They said they’re suffering like hell. They’re having a huge crisis of faith about whether this is really why they became cops."
Song Tan turned his head and studied Lee Seung-ho.
"You’re the one who looks like precinct life is easy. Your face is so smooth you look like a seasonal hairtail fish."
"It’s manageable enough. The people are decent, too."
Song Tan nodded unconsciously.
The Lee Seung-ho he knew could survive anywhere, thanks to his absurdly strong talent for getting along with people.
"And honestly, our precinct is on the easy side, too, compared with yours in Macheon."
"A precinct is a precinct. They’re all about the same."
"No, they’re not, you idiot. That place is the worst hellhole even in all of Annam."
"People live the same anywhere."
Seeing that his youngest junior was still the same even after heading out into the field, Lee Seung-ho snorted with laughter.
"True enough. You’re the man who caught a violent felon on your very first day at work, so I suppose I can’t expect anything less. I heard you’re getting a special promotion this time, too? And that you’re being assigned to the violent crimes unit?"
"Huh? How did you know?"
"Man, you don’t know? This older brother has every bit of news coming out of the Gyeonggi Southern Agency sitting right in the palm of his hand."
He knew Lee Seung-ho had a wide social network, the sort of person who could charm his way into any crowd, but he hadn’t realized it was this extreme.
"Anyway, congratulations. As expected, the pride of the 310th class! Just like my favorite little brother."
"Thanks, hyung."
"That doesn’t mean you should get too comfortable, though. Your big bro’ll be nipping at your heels."
Song Tan accepted the congratulations without hesitation, because he knew exactly what kind of person Lee Seung-ho was: a genuinely good soul with no edge to him at all.
That was why Lee Seung-ho was easy to like.
"By the way, did you hear that shocking news?"
"What news?"
"They say Iris is performing at today’s concert!! Damn! You know Iris, right?"
"Well... more or less?"
"More or less? This is serious, man. Don’t you know that if you don’t know Iris these days, you’re practically a spy? Are you a spy?"
"That much...?"
Song Tan tilted his head.
He had zero interest in idols, let alone the entertainment industry, so that reaction was only natural.
"Good grief, you little brick. Aren’t you twenty-four now? Isn’t this the time when you’re supposed to be drooling over girl groups?"
"I don’t particularly want to do that..."
Looking at his stone-faced junior, Lee Seung-ho clutched his chest.
"Listen carefully, and wash out your ears while you’re at it. I’ll educate you. Our Iris, see, they’re such incredible artists it’s embarrassing to even call them rookies. Their singing, their dancing, their visuals—there’s not a single weak point. That’s why they swept the music charts from the moment they debuted."
"You really know a lot, hyung."
"Of course I do. I even joined the fan club."
Lee Seung-ho puffed his chest out proudly.
"I’ve been into idols for ten years, and these girls are different. They’re going to be huge. Especially one of them, Seorin. She’s the team leader, and she’s a total enchantress."
For an instant, Song Tan’s body froze.
No one else noticed.
"What about her?"
"Her charisma is no joke. It’s hard to even catch her smiling, you know? She’s seriously cool. But then, every so often, she gives a smile, and—damn! That’s enough to make everyone go weak in the knees."
"Charisma...? Her...?"
"What would you know? You idiot who doesn’t even know the first thing about idols."
Clicking his tongue, Lee Seung-ho asked, "You do know the identities of all the wanted criminals on the wanted posters, right?"
"Isn’t that obvious?"
"It is not obvious! You idiot!"
The moment Lee Seung-ho was about to tear into his tragically criminal-obsessed junior,
"We were wondering where you’d gone, and here you are, all gathered together."
Han Gi-tae waved as he walked toward them.
Behind him trailed three female officers.
"Han Gi-tae? You were here, too?"
"Seung-ho, long time no see. I already said hello to Song Tan back there."
"Since when do you call our youngest that? You two aren’t even that close."
"We got friendly on the bus just now. And what’s the problem with classmates?"
With his trademark shameless ease, Han Gi-tae introduced the female officers standing beside him.
"Say hello to each other. They’re from the class just below ours."
"Hello."
The female officers greeted them awkwardly.
Lee Seung-ho smiled broadly and gave a casual wave.
"Ah, yes. Nice to meet you. You must be having a hard time. But where are you headed? Aren’t you on duty?"
"We’re moving to the performance venue. They said they need more personnel inside."
"Ah, I see? Then I guess you can just keep going where you were headed."
Lee Seung-ho, only belatedly realizing that Han Gi-tae’s nature was not particularly admirable, reacted a bit sharply.
But Han Gi-tae ignored that and leaned in with a smile, whispering to the two of them.
"You idiots. Why are you both so clueless?"
"What?"
"Pick one decent-looking girl each. I’ll set you up."
"Heh."
Lee Seung-ho let out an incredulous laugh.
"Quit talking nonsense and get going. The staff vehicles will be coming in soon."
"Tsk tsk. Anyway, some people really are the type to reject even free food."
"What did you say, punk?"
"Forget it. You two can stay here and do your grunt work. I’m going to enjoy the concert and live the easy life."
Han Gi-tae turned away with a smug expression.
Leading the three female officers he’d brought with him.
"Ugh, that bastard. When I first met him, he seemed decent enough. How did he end up like that?"
Lee Seung-ho frowned before he could stop himself.
Han Gi-tae’s petty intentions were written all over his face.
"Hey, don’t bother with that jackass. We just have to do our jobs properly."
As soon as he finished speaking,
"Aaaah!! They’re here!!"
The fans waiting outside the access-road fence screamed at the top of their lungs.
The vehicles carrying the singers who would be taking the stage had begun to arrive.
At the fans’ cheers, the singers lowered their windows and waved lightly.
"Aaaah!! Oppa Eun-ho!! He smiled at me!!"
Lee Seung-ho, who had been standing expressionlessly in front of the fence, had his eyes darting around just as feverishly,
filled with the hope that the one he was waiting for might appear any moment now.
By the time the incoming vehicles had become sparse,
a glossy black van appeared.
"Aaaah!! It’s Iris!!!"
A cheer so loud it seemed to split the eardrums erupted.
The black van came to a brief stop, and its window slowly rolled down.
"Yura unni!! Lauren unni!!!"
"Seorin!! We came all the way up from Busan to see you!!!"
And then four girls of striking, almost unreal beauty showed their faces.
With his cap pulled low, Lee Seung-ho whispered to Song Tan.
"Hey, hey, hey. That’s Seorin. The one with the red hair—the one who looks like she’d bleed no matter how hard you stabbed her. She’s insanely pretty, right?"
Song Tan lifted the brim of his own cap and looked at the woman Lee Seung-ho was pointing out.
Was it fate playing a prank? Just then, the woman’s cool eyes also turned toward Song Tan.
Their gazes collided.
Then the woman’s eyes widened like those of a startled rabbit.
"Tan oppa!!!!?? No way!! What are you doing here!? Are you on duty today!?"
The fans, stunned by the first time they had ever seen their beloved idol act so wildly off-brand, froze in disbelief.
Then, following the direction of her finger, all their heads turned at once.
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