When Money Comes Calling (1)
“Aigoo, thank you so much. I’ll explain the details once we’re on the move. There’s a car waiting outside—if you can head out right now, I’d be happy to give you a ride.”
“Uh, going right now might be…”
He’d only just started his morning duties, and there was still a mountain of work left. Kang Jin-ho was about to politely decline when—
“Sure thing! Let’s go right now! Get dressed, Jin-ho.”
Park Eun-young accepted on the spot and started shrugging on the jacket she’d taken off earlier.
“Thank you. I’ll wait outside, then.”
Grandpa bowed repeatedly as he led the way out of the substation.
“S-Senior? Is this really okay?”
Kang Jin-ho asked Park Eun-young with a deeply uneasy expression. She might be a villain who didn’t care if she got fired from the force, but if he got canned, his entire plan for the future would go up in smoke.
“Huh? Of course it’s fine. Didn’t you hear what the chief said?”
Park Eun-young tilted her head as if he was the weird one.
“He said yesterday during roll call that if you have a case to solve or get a request, we’re supposed to give you every convenience possible. It’s cleared from the top, so don’t worry about it. Ring any bells?”
“...Huh. Did he?”
The public servant world was usually rigid to the extreme, but thanks to the President’s directive to “push the genius newbie,” Kang Jin-ho had been granted a certain degree of autonomy. He still had to handle his basic police duties, of course, but if a case came up, he could prioritize it.
The other officers had nodded along when the chief mentioned it yesterday, thinking, Kang’s earned that much... But Kang Jin-ho himself had been dozing off during roll call and missed it entirely.
“We’ll be off, then!”
Park Eun-young waved cheerfully, like a kid heading out on a field trip, and dashed after Grandpa. Kang Jin-ho scrambled to follow.
The remaining officers at the substation peeked out the window at their retreating figures, murmuring among themselves.
“Man, is Jin-ho a hero or what? He’s getting personal requests now. Did you see that old guy’s clothes? Designer brands.”
“Jin-ho’s better than your average hero. Word is... that Grade 1 villain who popped up in the alley backed off because of something Jin-ho did.”
“Come on, does that even make sense? Kang Jin-ho’s powerless, right? No matter how smart he is, how could he pull that off?”
“It’s just a rumor. But what other explanation fits?”
The seniors watched him go, a mix of envy and pride in their eyes.
“I just don’t get why a guy like that’s working as a cop.”
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
On the asphalt in front of the substation sat a sleek black sedan, gleaming heavily under the sunlight. It was probably the kind of car that Kang Jin-ho couldn’t afford even if he saved his entire salary for life.
As he marveled inwardly, Grandpa politely opened the rear door.
“Please, have a seat.”
“No, no, sir. We can follow in the patrol car.”
Kang Jin-ho waved it off, feeling awkward, but Grandpa was firm.
“I insist on driving you myself. I’m the one asking for a favor here. Besides, our restaurant’s near the city center—your patrol car from the outskirts would get held up at the access gates with all the procedures.”
Light City’s outskirts and core were like different cities entirely, with security being one of the biggest differences. Even as cops, vehicles from the lower zones often got bogged down at checkpoints—scans for bombs, invisible villains hiding inside, cars that might actually be transformed villains, and so on.
“Guess we have no choice, then. Hop in, Jin-ho.”
Park Eun-young nodded briskly and slid into the back seat. Kang Jin-ho hesitated a moment longer before climbing in after her.
“Alright, then, Driver Kim. To the restaurant.”
Once they were settled, Grandpa gave the order to the chauffeur and took the front passenger seat.
Vroom.
Inside the top-tier sedan, even the engine was nearly silent. Kang Jin-ho had ridden in something this luxurious only once before, and he still couldn’t quite get used to it.
“Jin-ho, Jin-ho.”
Park Eun-young, still in high spirits regardless, leaned toward him.
“That guy standing at the crosswalk up ahead. Doesn’t he look kinda suspicious?”
She jerked her chin toward the window, her voice brimming with mischief. Kang Jin-ho swallowed the urge to say, We’re on our way to solve a case, you know? and glanced out anyway, out of habit.
“Uh... you mean that guy? The one in the blue cap.”
“Yeah, the one with the mask. His walk just seems off, doesn’t it?”
Kang Jin-ho scanned the man’s silhouette for a moment. He wasn’t expecting to spot anything—just going through the motions.
He wasn’t a superhuman who could discern everything at a glance, and there were only so many tells you could pick up from someone’s outward appearance.
“...Hmm?”
But as he looked closer, something did catch his eye—unexpectedly.
A thick turtleneck wildly out of place for the weather, oddly custom-made shoes, and a glimpse of pristine white gloves peeking from his pocket...
The surprising part was spotting those fine details from this distance. Kang Jin-ho blinked, wondering when his eyesight had gotten this good.
“Uh... that’s gotta be the C-rank hero Cool Guy.”
“For real? How’d you spot him?”
“The turtleneck doesn’t match the weather, so I figured ice powers first off. I’ve heard cold-affinity supers have poor temperature regulation—they feel the chill no matter what. White gloves sticking out of his pocket, and those shoes look like hero-grade ice cleats modified for skating on frost. Among ice heroes who wear white gloves, that narrows it to Cool Guy.”
Kang Jin-ho kept going, amazed at his own deduction. Cool Guy was a hero he’d hired often in the early game for his cost-efficiency back when he played Heroishi. Seeing him in real life hit different.
“Heh, pretty far away, and you nailed it.”
“I didn’t used to have eyesight this sharp... Guess it’s from working as a cop.”
“Doing good deeds pays off, huh.”
“...Ahem.”
The old man in the passenger seat, who’d been listening quietly, let out a surprised cough, wondering if he’d misheard.
It was hard to buy. Sure, a genius rookie cop, but IDing a masked pedestrian from afar like that?
To him, it sounded like the young officer showing off to impress.
What’s he gonna do when he’s embarrassed later, spouting nonsense like that.
The old man tsked inwardly and turned away—right as—
“Help! That man stole my bag!”
A scream rang out, and a man bolted with nimble strides, clutching what looked like a high-end designer bag.
“You picked the wrong mark.”
The turtleneck man—the one Kang Jin-ho had pointed out—sprang into action. He leaped high into the air, yanking off his gloves. A sheet of white ice erupted beneath the fleeing thief, freezing his feet solid.
“Argh!”
The thief toppled spectacularly as his feet locked in ice. The turtleneck hero retrieved the bag, pulling off his mask. Onlookers recognized him and started whispering, “Hey, isn’t that Cool Guy?” as they clapped.
“Whoa, Jin-ho. You actually got it right.”
“Yeah, wild.”
Kang Jin-ho and Park Eun-young nodded, equally stunned that it had panned out.
“...Hmm.”
The old man, baffled, kept stealing glances at Kang Jin-ho via the rearview mirror.
It was real...? Not just bluffing?
Kang Jin-ho’s reflected face was utterly nonchalant, like he’d confirmed something utterly predictable. An indescribable feeling washed over the old man—shock? Unease? Intimidation? Mystery?
Whatever it was, the newspapers hadn’t exaggerated calling him a “genius.”
The old man nodded to himself, satisfied he’d picked the right person.
“Oh? What about that guy in front of the convenience store, Jin-ho?”
“That’s just some part-timer handing out gym flyers, isn’t he?”
“But his muscles are ripped.”
“...Muscles don’t automatically make someone suspicious.”
Oblivious to the old man’s awe, Kang Jin-ho and Park Eun-young bantered idly.
—Cleared.
With a hero aboard passing inspection, the sedan smoothly crossed the gate dividing Light City’s outskirts from its core.
The scenery outside shifted in an instant. Luxurious street trees lined avenues packed with skyscrapers piercing the sky. The difference was viscerally felt.
“This the heart of Light City?”
“Not the absolute center, but close enough.”
Park Eun-young answered casually, like she’d been there a hundred times.
The car soon pulled up to a street lined with extravagantly ornate buildings. There stood the ultra-luxury French restaurant The Chef. Directly across was its rival of similar scale, Le Grand.
“The Chef, right there, is the one I own. Le Grand next door—we’ve been rivals for years. Not exactly on great terms...”
The old man spoke from the front seat without turning.
“Mind if I brief you on the request before we get out? I wanted to wait till we were in the car.”
“Of course.”
The old man glanced around and whispered,
“Truth is... my head chef of over twenty years seems to have defected to Le Grand.”
“Th-there’s probably another traitor involved.”
“...Pardon?”