Chapter 72
Chapter 72
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: Sergeant Lee Jae-hyun
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Sergeant, Lee Jae-hyun.
In his previous life, Lee Jae-hyun had naturally gone through the rank of sergeant.
But in this life, he had achieved the rank far faster than before.
And thanks to that.
The substation was buzzing with jokes flying back and forth.
"Hey, if the maknae and Jun-ho end up with the same rank... what happens then?"
"What do you mean? The maknae's still the maknae."
Park Dae-hyung chuckled lightly as he spoke, and Kim Jun-ho shot back bluntly.
Thanks to Lee Jae-hyun's one-rank special promotion, he was now on the same level as Kim Jun-ho.
Of course, their seniority was different, and Lee Jae-hyun was definitely still the rookie.
Park Dae-hyung knew it, and so did Kim Jun-ho.
That's why Park Dae-hyung could tease so casually, and Kim Jun-ho could take it without issue.
"But they're the same rank now, so shouldn't the maknae call Jun-ho casually too?"
"Ehey! Come on, no, Inspector Park."
"Yeah?"
"If the maknae keeps racking up results like this, he'll be an inspector in no time. What are you gonna do then?"
"So, what's the maknae's rank right now?"
"...Sergeant."
"He's got a long way to go still."
Park Dae-hyung said it with a pleased expression.
In the end, Kim Jun-ho just shook his head with a sigh.
Everyone in Team 4 knew it was all in good fun, a conversation that meant nothing.
Just idle chit-chat.
That was the peaceful vibe in Team 4 over the past few days.
Maybe because of their recent accomplishments, or perhaps due to orders from Gyeonggi Northern Police Agency Chief Jeong Seon-bin, whom they'd met at the appointment ceremony.
Special paid leave for all of Team 4.
'They even made it paid leave.'
Lee Jae-hyun's lips curved up.
In the end, Team 4 could take their 'paid' leave on rotation.
They'd spent a week alternating shifts, resting up fully.
Everyone's condition was great as a result, and no major incidents had cropped up, so the days passed uneventfully.
Ding-a-ling.
Amid the idle talk, a clear bell rang out.
The chatting group fell silent at once, turning toward the front entrance.
And there, familiar faces were stepping in cautiously.
"Hello..."
A young boy bowed his head first in greeting.
The others let out soft chuckles.
Choi Dae-hyeon, the victim from the recent child kidnapping case.
He had come to Hanseong Police Substation with his parents.
Choi Dae-hyeon's parents greeted the officers too.
They kept bowing nonstop, repeating "Thank you" over and over.
The mother's demeanor was calm now, nothing like when she'd shaken off the police and fled.
Well, with their child safe and all the kidnappers who'd threatened them caught, it'd be odd if she were still scared.
"Teacher Lee Jae-hyun."
After circling the station thanking every officer, they spotted Lee Jae-hyun and hurried over.
The boy's father grabbed Lee Jae-hyun's hand in a firm shake and spoke.
"Teacher, things were such a blur back then, I don't think we thanked you properly."
"No, no. I've received more than enough thanks."
What parent could think straight with their child lying there like they were dead?
And sure, he'd said they hadn't thanked properly amid the chaos.
But the father had instinctively gone around thanking every officer nearby at the time.
"Thanks to you, teacher, our child... made it through safely. We truly, truly thank you."
The boy's father, Choi Min-hyuk, gripped Lee Jae-hyun's hand tightly as he said it.
The strength in his grasp was stronger than ever.
To a parent, a child was precious enough to be called another heart.
Something they'd sacrifice their own life for in a split-second choice.
And this young man before him had saved that child.
Unfathomable how happy he must be.
Lee Jae-hyun nodded awkwardly with a smile.
"Yeah, well... glad it worked out."
"We've prepared a small token of our gratitude."
Still holding Lee Jae-hyun's hand, the father spoke.
He gestured toward his wife.
The mother, Kim Ga-eun, held out the shopping bag she was carrying toward Lee Jae-hyun.
Only then did the father release his hand, letting him take the bag.
"No, really, sir. I was just doing my job. No need for a gift..."
Lee Jae-hyun waved it off upon seeing it.
"Please, you have to take it. Think of it as payment for our son's life..."
"..."
The boy's father, Choi Min-hyuk, was firm.
He forced the shopping bag into Lee Jae-hyun's hand.
Lee Jae-hyun protested that it was fine, but ended up accepting it.
When parents called it 'payment for their son's life' and insisted, who could refuse?
In the end, after hesitating, Lee Jae-hyun carefully took the bag.
"Go on, open it. I hope you like it."
The father gestured for him to look inside.
Team 4 colleagues gathered curiously, peering over.
'What did they prepare?'
With a shopping bag, it was clearly something substantial.
But from the outside, no clue what was inside.
Lee Jae-hyun carefully pulled out a box from the bag.
A box that looked expensive at a glance, luxuriously packaged.
And the logo on it... was familiar even to him.
'This is...'
Lee Jae-hyun's eyes widened at the stylish brand name on the fancy box.
The watch brand 'Alpa'.
Famous for the one James Bond wore in 007.
Watches that started at several million won each.
"This is too much. I really can't accept it."
Lee Jae-hyun looked straight at the father and said.
No, in this day and age, accepting a watch worth millions?
That would definitely violate the law...
'Huh?'
On second thought, this was ten years before Lee Jae-hyun's original time.
And 'that law' was enacted... 6 or 7 years ago.
Meaning, at least 3 or 4 years from now.
'Wait... can I actually take this?'
Lee Jae-hyun blinked, staring down at the watch box in front of him.
A box containing a watch worth millions—equivalent to gold—sat in his hands.
Various thoughts crossed his eyes as he looked at it.
After a moment, he glanced up to see the parents gazing at him, pleading for him to accept.
"Uncle, thank you for saving me."
Choi Dae-hyeon bowed his head once more in thanks.
There was no refusing now.
It couldn't be helped.
He'd saved a child more precious than life.
Restored a family's peace.
When they offered a gift of their own free will, not under duress, as thanks—how could he turn it down?
'I'd have refused back then.'
In his previous life, he'd have shut it down cold.
But not now.
Lee Jae-hyun smiled softly and reached out to ruffle Choi Dae-hyeon's hair.
"Listen to your mom and dad from now on, okay?"
"Yes!"
Dae-hyeon answered energetically.
At the same time, smiles spread across his parents', Choi Min-hyuk and Kim Ga-eun's faces.
They realized his gesture meant he'd accept their gift.
And Lee Jae-hyun's face shone even brighter.
* * *
Tick-tock.
The faint sound of the watch hands moving, so soft you had to listen closely.
Lee Jae-hyun smiled as he savored the pleasant noise.
"Nice, huh, maknae?"
"Yeah, it is."
Lee Jae-hyun nodded right away at Kim Jun-ho's words.
A watch he'd never dreamed of wearing in his past life.
Expensive watches didn't suit detectives running around crime scenes anyway...
Plus, the salary was low.
Though the latter weighed far more.
Anyway, before being a cop, Lee Jae-hyun was a man.
And weren't men suckers for watches and cars?
'Wonder who this guy's for. Perfect fit.'
Lee Jae-hyun fiddled with the watch on his wrist.
So intricately made, even the hour hand looked beautiful.
The one on his wrist was worth over 8 million won, nearing 9 million.
A watch that'd take months of his salary.
And he'd gotten it as a gift.
'I didn't even solicit it.'
Lee Jae-hyun thought as he stroked the watch.
Of course, if it were payment for some deal, he'd have refused.
Bribery, favors.
The things he despised most.
Dealing with criminals, no matter the excuse.
But as thanks for saving a kidnapped child... from the parents.
And not even illegal.
That, he could accept.
"Maybe I should hustle and buy myself a watch too."
"Just work hard saving people like the maknae."
"Aw, I know my place. Trying to keep up with him would rip my pants."
"...Can't argue with that."
Park Dae-hyung nodded in agreement with Kim Jun-ho.
Lee Jae-hyun chuckled listening to them.
It had been a few days since Choi Dae-hyeon's parents dropped off the watch.
Daily routine continued.
Drunks as usual, traffic accident reports, and so on...
Just everyday life.
That evening, as time passed.
Bzzz.
Lee Jae-hyun's smartphone buzzed.
Peering at his computer, he checked the caller.
And tilted his head.
'Inspector Oh Seo-hyun' lit up the screen.
No contact since wrapping up the school violence witness interviews for the Song A-ram case.
What could this be about after so long?
"Yeah, hello?"
―Patrol Officer Lee Jae-hyun? Oh, no—heard about your promotion. Sergeant Lee Jae-hyun now. Congratulations.
Even as she congratulated him, Inspector Oh Seo-hyun's voice wasn't bright.
Lee Jae-hyun blinked and spoke.
"Ah, thanks. Inspector Oh, is something wrong?"
―...A/S, just this once. Help me out.
Inspector Oh Seo-hyun let out a small sigh.
The moment Lee Jae-hyun heard her words, his face hardened.
Something had happened to Song A-ram.