Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Joining the Violent Crimes Unit
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The reactions from the other members of Team 4 varied.
Park Dae-hyung nodded as if he had expected it, accepting it without resistance.
Min Ji-hye looked a bit baffled.
“You all seem to be forgetting something. Jae-hyun was knocked out by sleeping pills from the kidnapper and only woke up a short while ago, right?”
“Even so... given his recent track record, wouldn’t the Violent Crimes Unit want him?”
Min Ji-hye spoke with a displeased expression, as if she couldn’t send him off knowing something might be wrong.
But Kim Jun-ho immediately chimed in.
Considering the accomplishments Lee Jae-hyun had racked up lately, it made sense that the Criminal Affairs Division might request support.
“Shouldn’t the priority be getting him to the hospital for a check-up just in case, rather than heading to support the Violent Crimes Unit right now? What do you think, Team Leader?”
Min Ji-hye wasn’t wrong.
Naturally, Team Leader Oh Jin-cheol had no choice but to hesitate.
But Park Dae-hyung spoke up first.
“If he says he’s fine, then it’s probably best to let him go if he can.”
Park Dae-hyung was usually the type to worry greatly about his colleagues’ injuries.
But the moment he heard Lee Jae-hyun’s plea to help him live like a cop...
In the end, he had to side with Lee Jae-hyun.
“So, what does the maknae think? Want to head to the hospital now?”
Team Leader Oh Cheol-jin shifted his gaze to Lee Jae-hyun and asked.
The other team members turned their eyes to him as well.
The choice was Lee Jae-hyun’s.
And, as expected...
“I’ll go. For support.”
Min Ji-hye let out a small sigh, and Park Dae-hyung gave a slight nod.
“I get how you feel, so I won’t try to stop you anymore. But head straight to the hospital once this is over.”
Min Ji-hye looked at Lee Jae-hyun, speaking as if she had no choice.
Lee Jae-hyun nodded at her words.
“Yes, thank you for your concern.”
“Whatever.”
Min Ji-hye returned to her usual expression, as if she wouldn’t bring up the hospital again.
Her face didn’t show much change, so she looked a bit stiff...
But everyone in Team 4 knew Min Ji-hye wasn’t really that rigid.
And so, Lee Jae-hyun’s support for the Criminal Affairs Division was decided.
He headed to Ilsan West Police Station.
Of course, he didn’t go alone. Min Ji-hye came along for internal support, and Choi Dae-hyeon’s parents joined them too.
As they traveled, Lee Jae-hyun organized his thoughts.
For starters, since he had originally been a detective, heading to the Criminal Affairs Division wasn’t a bad thing for him.
No, it was actually a good thing. It would give him far more freedom to act than as a mere patrol officer...
‘Even looking at it long-term, it’s definitely a plus.’
He had a lot ahead of him.
Events to prevent, mountains of criminals to catch.
And in the long run, targets for revenge.
For revenge, he needed to rise quickly, no question.
To do that, the Criminal Affairs Division—where he could operate freely—was advantageous.
It also helped fulfill his contract with Serhen.
After all, the division dealt with violent criminals far more than a regular substation.
The only odd part was why they specifically wanted him.
There was Park Dae-hyung Inspector, whom he was close with, and plenty of veteran detectives who knew Team Leader Oh Min-seok’s seniority.
Of course, Oh Min-seok made sense.
‘He met me during the Myeong Jin-han case last time... He might’ve liked what he saw then.’
Not a total stranger—they’d crossed paths and worked together briefly, so it wasn’t incomprehensible.
They’d surely factored in the cases Lee Jae-hyun had solved so far.
Or maybe it was to draw him into the division by building rapport from here on out.
‘Whatever the reason, it’s a stroke of luck for me.’
Lee Jae-hyun thought to himself as he kept walking.
Ilsan West Police Station came into view ahead.
* * *
Even though it was called a temporary office, it was actually the office used by Team Leader Oh Min-seok’s team inside the station, so everything was fully prepared.
All the equipment was already set up, and people were there.
They looked exhausted, but with a child kidnapping case on the line, they were pushing through the fatigue.
Team Leader Oh Min-seok, bustling about, spotted Lee Jae-hyun entering and approached with a welcoming face.
“Hanseong Substation Patrol Officer Lee Jae-hyun...”
“Yeah, good to see you. Come on in.”
Before Lee Jae-hyun could finish greeting, Team Leader Oh Min-seok grabbed his hand for a shake.
He patted Lee Jae-hyun’s shoulder with his other hand and gestured inside the office.
“Grab any empty seat. I can get you a laptop if you need one... but I didn’t set up a computer since you probably won’t need it right away.”
“Yes, got it.”
They’d have set up a computer for CCTV searches or paperwork.
But this was a child kidnapping.
And the next call was due any moment.
They needed sharp judgment and quick feet, not a computer.
“We’ll brief in three minutes, so get a feel for things and head to the meeting room when ready.”
“Got it.”
Lee Jae-hyun replied simply to Team Leader Oh Min-seok.
Violent Crimes Unit detectives were rougher and warmer than expected.
It might sound contradictory, but it was true.
Dealing with violent criminals made them tough, and walking the tightrope with colleagues made them warm toward each other.
And in cases like now, when an unexpected stone rolled in...
‘They don’t even bat an eye.’
Not a criminal, so no roughness.
Not a colleague yet, so no warmth.
They’d nod in greeting since they’d met before, but that was it.
Basically treated like he wasn’t there, but Lee Jae-hyun didn’t mind the detectives’ attitudes.
He’d expected it, and he’d been through it multiple times in his previous life.
He was used to it.
And he knew how to handle it.
Though he said briefing in three minutes, Team Leader Oh Min-seok started after just over one.
Lee Jae-hyun sat at the far end of the meeting room, watching him.
“Alright, an 11-year-old kid, Choi Dae-hyeon, got kidnapped. The suspect’s demanding 50 million won ransom. Suspects: Go Hyun-sook, female in her 60s, and Park Ye-chan, male in his 30s. Looks like they’re working together. The phone they’re calling from is a burner...”
Team Leader Oh Min-seok began the briefing.
He summarized everything they knew so far in a steady, level voice.
“We’re tracking the vehicle registered to Park Ye-chan via Traffic Division. Hanseong Substation Team 4, who first caught the case, predicts the suspects are heading toward Icheon. I agree.”
The other detectives nodded briefly at Team Leader Oh Min-seok’s words.
They shared the same view.
Naturally, he continued.
“They probably don’t expect us to have ID’d them already. We got the info fast thanks to Patrol Officer Lee Jae-hyun over there suspecting the cat incident and pulling the details together. Give him a hand.”
Clap clap.
Two short claps echoed.
The sight of burly men mechanically clapping twice with straight faces was striking.
Lee Jae-hyun bowed and lifted his head mechanically, as if used to it.
Team Leader Oh Min-seok smirked at the squeaky-clean response and continued.
“Anyway, what we need to do is clear.”
It had to be.
Catch the criminals.
“We’re catching them no matter what. If we know who they are and still screw up, we’re the idiots.”
The difference from his previous life was Lee Jae-hyun—everyone knew the culprits’ identities because of him.
Tracking and targeting were easier as a result.
Failing in this situation would be ridiculous.
They weren’t juggling other cases either; everything was on hold for Choi Dae-hyeon’s kidnapping.
They’d catch them for sure.
But... timing mattered.
Team Leader Oh Min-seok tapped the table lightly and spoke.
“But the key isn’t just catching them—it’s protecting the kid. We grab them fast and clean to keep him safe.”
Everyone nodded in unison at Team Leader Oh Min-seok’s words.
He grinned and looked around at his team.
“For criminals.”
As soon as Oh Min-seok said it, the other detectives in the room responded in unison.
“Custody only.”
Lee Jae-hyun froze at the slogan-like chant.
He looked up at Oh Min-seok.
Oh Min-seok was looking back at him.
“Our Patrol Officer Lee Jae-hyun hasn’t said it yet? For criminals!”
“...Custody only.”
Only then did Team Leader Oh Min-seok nod, clapping his hands once.
“Briefing over! The call’s due any second—stay sharp, everyone.”
With that, Team Leader Oh Min-seok ended the briefing.
The detectives rose from their seats in unison.
Lee Jae-hyun stared at Team Leader Oh Min-seok’s back as he left the meeting room.
‘Custody only for criminals...’
For some reason, Team Leader Oh Min-seok gave off a welcoming vibe.
In an era where more and more cops treated it just as a job, he smelled like one of the few “real cops” left.
‘Come to think of it, he reacted the same way at Myeong Jin-han’s pet shop last time.’
Oh Min-seok had cheered when Lee Jae-hyun smashed the window to get in.
He’d even held back his subordinate trying to stop him.
His zero-tolerance stance toward criminals this time was quite appealing too.
‘The support request came from Team Leader Oh Min-seok himself.’
Amid not being accepted as a team member yet, he was the only one greeting him warmly.
Sure, he’d requested the support, so it was expected.
But some places treated requesters like dead weight if they didn’t mesh.
In that light, publicly crediting Lee Jae-hyun’s contributions with applause was impressive.
‘The reason for hyping me up... Probably wants me to join this team, right?’
It seemed Team Leader Oh Min-seok had his eye on Lee Jae-hyun since they met at Myeong Jin-han’s pet shop.
And that was something Lee Jae-hyun wanted too.
‘Then I need to make a strong impression in this case.’
From the looks of it, Team Leader Oh Min-seok was keen to bring him onto the team.
Nailing this would help, even if he didn’t join right away.
As Lee Jae-hyun clenched his fist with that thought—
Bzzz.
A loud vibration filled the meeting room.
Everyone’s faces hardened instantly, eyes locking on the source.
Ahead of the important briefing, all notifications were silenced.
There was only one reason for a vibration now.
Kidnapper Park Ye-chan was calling back.