Chapter 168
Chapter 168
Snake (6)
Beep, beep-beep-beep!
(You idiot. That’s not it. The code is...)
Being able to hear thoughts, it was easy to figure out the passcode without having to ask Son Jin-ho. He didn’t know where this ability came from, but it would have been dangerous if it had fallen into the hands of someone who would misuse it.
When he opened the door, a flood of sounds poured out. Han Yu-jun furrowed his brow.
(What, he’s been drinking again?)
(This guy is always wasted.)
(Give him a break. Why do you think he’s like this? He abandoned his own daughter and ran away to save himself!)
(That’s why he got divorced, right?)
In the messy, disorganized living room, information about the team leader he had felt so distant from came pouring out. Han Yu-jun tried to ignore the unpleasant laughter and laid Son Jin-ho down on the bed.
[You can’t catch the culprit like this.]
[Why not! If you can’t do it, the investigation is over!]
In truth, Han Yu-jun had felt a sense of aversion toward Son Jin-ho. He reminded him of his own overbearing father.
‘So the tunnel accident was connected to Snake...’
But after hearing the information from the house’s sounds, learning that he had been investigating the tunnel accident all this time, and seeing that the picture frame with his daughter was free of dust, he felt a sense of pity.
The drama ‘Snake’, which started with higher-than-expected ratings, faltered briefly in the middle before rising slightly again to a stable level.
Reporters published articles claiming that Yu Yeon-seo’s eye for picking projects had finally failed, but the drama itself was already profitable before it even aired due to overseas sales. It was solely because of Yu Yeon-seo’s name value. This was why Hallyu stars were the top priority when casting lead roles.
-Wow, look at that chemistry even in that situation lol
-They’re pushing the Imperial Seal ship here too;; Isn’t this too much?
-Shin Ye-won is busy filming a movie, and she makes a cameo in between?? Are they really dating?
└Delusional shippers, get lost.
└Nah~ they said it was because of the drama director’s connections.
-If you’re going to be negative, do it on your own board, not here.
The reaction to Shin Ye-won’s special appearance was explosive. Her cameo drew interest, and people who started watching ‘Snake’ because of Yu Yeon-seo and Shin Ye-won found it surprisingly fun, and it gradually gained word-of-mouth buzz.
However, some fans felt it was too deliberate, complaining that it was just creating more delusional shippers.
-Wow, but the way they directed the drug addict’s inner thoughts was so bizarre, it startled me.
-Anyone see the police uniform in the preview?
-We need to preserve Yu Yeon-seo in that police uniform. Preserve that gun holster.
-But why is he wearing the uniform? Does someone die?
-Honestly, you have to admit Yu Yeon-seo has a good eye for projects.
But it feels like his works are just average. Considering it’s Yu Yeon-seo, he doesn’t have that many massive hits, does he?
└The writer’s skill might be a factor.
└It’s true his filmography is a bit lacking, yeah.
└What’s with this thread? Did Snake flop?
└└No, it didn’t flop.
└But isn’t it amazing that several of his works come to mind when you think of Yu Yeon-seo? There aren’t any other male actors at his level with that many hits, are there?
└└Jin Su-ho: ?
└└It seems like the standards are higher because it’s Yu Yeon-seo. He must really be a top star, people are always trying to put him down.
They caught some minor drug offenders and found a lead on ‘Snake’. Then, the episodes corresponding to the second act were aired.
As writer Kim Dae-seong had shown in ‘White Tiger’, he was strong with action. He finally got to blow up cars and include gunfights to his heart’s content. And it was all brought to life by the hands of the director and staff.
-Wow, the action is insane.
-When is next week coming lol
-Damn, are we getting blood, sweat, and tears?
-What’s this? Why did the genre suddenly become noir?
(Inpo Police Station, Excessive Investigation Controversy? Suspect Dies During Narcotics Investigation)
While the investigation was struggling due to Park Woo-jun’s sudden death, an unexpected article filled the web portals.
“What the hell? Who leaked this?”
“Wasn’t this classified?”
For Narcotics Team 3, already demoralized by the death of a key witness, the news came like a bolt from the blue.
“Narcotics Team 3, terminate the investigation.”
(They’re really handing me a perfect excuse.)
“But, Prosecutor.”
“I’m sorry too, but this is an order from above.”
(Tsk, they don’t even realize it’s for their own good to back off now...)
Han Yu-jun tilted his head at the discrepancy between the man’s words and his inner thoughts. As expected, Prosecutor Park Ki-hoon was here to obstruct the investigation. But a prosecutor involved with a drug ring? That would mean ‘Snake’ was connected to the higher-ups.
After Prosecutor Park left, the remaining team members grew restless.
“Chief, are we really going to end it like this?”
“We have to find out the truth about Gyeong-sik’s death...”
“Please say something.”
To them, Son Jin-ho, cupping his chin with a firm expression, must have looked like he was deep in thought. To Han Yu-jun’s ears, only the inner thoughts of a man suffering from a hangover could be heard.
“Of course, we can’t just drop it like this.”
But he hadn’t given up on avenging his daughter and former colleague. However, the authority for narcotics investigations lies with the prosecutor. They went to another prosecutor who was more receptive to their requests.
“Prosecutor Lee Ah-hyeon, please help us.”
“...I’d like to help, but you know how it is.”
Prosecutor Lee Ah-hyeon sighed at the two officers who had suddenly appeared in her office.
“We’ll take responsibility for Prosecutor Park.”
“You think that’s possible?”
“Didn’t you notice anything strange while investigating with him?”
With Prosecutor Park Ki-hoon, he just needed to read his thoughts to find a weakness. Lee Ah-hyeon pressed her lips together. When the two of them interrogated suspects, Prosecutor Lee Ah-hyeon had been watching closely.
“That is...”
She didn’t know how they did it, but they had a knack for drawing out suspects’ thoughts. It was as if they could read people’s minds. Staring into Han Yu-jun’s confident eyes, Lee Ah-hyeon sighed.
“You understand, right? We need something solid to put them away. If this goes wrong, it’s my neck and yours on the line.”
“Yes.”
Having managed to persuade Prosecutor Lee Ah-hyeon, Narcotics Team 3 was officially disbanded, with its members returning to their original teams, but they continued to investigate ‘Snake’ under the radar.
After setting up a separate office to quietly investigate ‘Snake’, Han Yu-jun looked into the suspicious Prosecutor Park Ki-hoon and finally located ‘Snake’s’ headquarters.
“The operation begins tonight at 8 PM. Get some rest until then.”
After the team members, fully prepared, went to sleep, Han Yu-jun draped a blanket over Oh Tae-seong, who was exhausted and had his head down on the keyboard.
“Hey, Han Yu-jun.”
“Yes.”
He approached Son Jin-ho. He sat down when told to and politely accepted the can of beer Son Jin-ho offered. The rebellious attitude he’d had when they first met was gone. Now, he seemed to trust and follow Son Jin-ho. Son Jin-ho chuckled at the sight.
“If we manage to catch ‘Snake’...”
“Yes.”
“Don’t do narcotics investigations. Stay with your original team.”
Han Yu-jun tilted his head at the unexpected remark.
“This line of work is too dangerous. It’s physically demanding, and you’re surrounded by people who do nothing but lie.”
He knew that from listening to his other colleagues. They said drug offenders would cry and scream, insisting on their innocence, and that they’d almost been fooled by it before. But when tested later, they all came back positive.
Moreover, criminals high on drugs were dangerous. Hadn’t Han Yu-jun himself been in danger while apprehending the knife-wielding Park Woo-jun?
“But I can already hear thoughts.”
“Right, that’s true... So, you’re determined to keep doing this, huh?”
“Yes, I think I’ve found my calling.”
Son Jin-ho stared at him intently. True, for a former special forces member who could read minds, it was a perfect fit.
But he didn’t want him to walk the same path he had. And Han Yu-jun was reading those inner thoughts.
“Then what will you do, Chief, after you get your revenge?”
“Did you hear my thoughts?”
“You told me everything when you were drunk.”
In truth, he’d learned more from reading the sounds in the house, but he pretended not to know. Son Jin-ho hung his head low.
“I have to retire. I was planning to take a break anyway.”
“...”
“The ability went to you, so I’m useless now, aren’t I?”
“You’re skilled even without the ability, Chief.”
“That’s only because you’re here.”
“Then please continue to guide me. I’m still lacking.”
Son Jin-ho looked up and studied Han Yu-jun’s serious expression. Even though his ability to read thoughts was gone, he felt as if he could tell what Han Yu-jun was thinking.
What was this feeling? Was this what it felt like to raise a disciple? When Son Jin-ho had the ability, he had naturally developed a distrust of people. It was a natural consequence of constantly encountering people whose insides didn’t match their outsides.
And that was still the same, even now that he’d lost the ability. What is that person thinking? The question would form in his mind, but the Han Yu-jun he knew was always the same. Steadfast and righteous.
“...Get some sleep. Today’s going to be tiring.”
That’s why he was pleased by the pure look in Han Yu-jun’s eyes, a look that said he needed him.
And so, Narcotics Team 3, having decided to raid ‘Snake’s’ headquarters, split up to stake out their assigned areas.
“Why is it so empty? Do you think they found out we were coming?”
“No way... Found him.”
Son Jin-ho spotted someone running somewhere in a hurry and ordered Han Yu-jun to radio it in. But Han Yu-jun was frozen stiff, staring at the back of the running figure.
“What’s wrong?”
“That person...”
At this distance, he should definitely be able to hear something. But...
“I can’t read his thoughts.”
“What?”
The moment he finished speaking, multiple sounds overlapped where Son Jin-ho and Han Yu-jun were. To Son Jin-ho’s ears, it was silent, but the ‘sounds’ were screaming, much like the way Son Jin-ho had interviewed him. It was as if they knew he could read people’s minds.
“...Ugh.”
Son Jin-ho placed a hand on the shoulder of Han Yu-jun, who had suddenly clutched his ears and groaned. Son Jin-ho’s eyes glinted with a sudden realization.
This is...
“It’s a trap.”
The number of sounds entering his ears grew larger and larger. Han Yu-jun groaned again and collapsed to his knees. Son Jin-ho looked around. The number of people visible to the naked eye was quite large. They were surrounded.
“Thanks for stopping me back then.”
“Huh? What did you say?”
Han Yu-jun, his eyes meeting Son Jin-ho’s, sucked in a breath. He could hear his thoughts. Who he suspected, and what he was about to do.
“You saved my life, but I can do what I want with it, right?”
“Wait, Chief...!”
Han Yu-jun urgently tried to grab him, but Son Jin-ho had already dashed forward, making himself the bait.
The radio crackled with calls from his colleagues who had noticed the commotion, but Han Yu-jun just watched Son Jin-ho’s retreating back, hearing his thoughts until the very end.
“Yeon-seo, are you ready?”
Yu Yeon-seo nodded at the staff member’s question. Dressed in a black turtleneck and a bulletproof vest for ‘Snake’s’ final action scene, he fiddled with the prop gun.
<Hello, Master. This is Beta-9.>
“...Just a moment.”
What’s up with it all of a sudden?
Beta only ever appeared when he was synchronizing memories or would offer a formal message of concern when he was unwell. Otherwise, it was so quiet that he himself often forgot it existed.
<There is a message from the Time Travel Management Server.>
<...Verifying...>
Management Server? A message? What could possibly be coming to me from the future? Yu Yeon-seo stared into the empty air with a serious expression. I have a feeling Beta isn’t contacting me with good news.
<...Verifying...>
Something feels wrong.