Infiltration Resumed (1)
Meanwhile, at the National Police Agency headquarters in South Korea, Jaehyuk was working in the Violent Crime and International Crime Investigation Division.
Let's see. The documents I need to organize this time... What else is there?
As Jaehyuk was sorting through the paperwork he needed to prepare on his computer, someone approached and handed him a cup of mixed coffee.
"Inspector Park. Take it easy. It's almost lunchtime anyway."
"Ah, thank you."
Seungchan, with several knife scars across his face and a fierce appearance that reminded one of the tough detectives from crime movies, looked intimidating at first glance. Yet beneath that exterior was one of the warmest hearts imaginable. To criminals, he showed only that terrifying side, earning him the nickname Yacha.
"By the way, the Investigation Planning Division was looking for you."
"The Investigation Planning Division?"
"Yeah. Go see them after lunch. I don't know exactly why they want you, though."
Investigation Planning... Is it finally starting?
Jaehyuk was certain the reason they were calling him had to do with the undercover operation against the Gangryonghoe.
Come to think of it, when I was twenty-six in my previous life, they called me in from Investigation Planning. Then they ordered me to infiltrate the Gangryonghoe. This is exactly that time period.
"Inspector Park, let's wrap this up and head down for lunch. I'm starving to death."
Just then, Jaehyuk's phone vibrated. After checking it, he turned to Seungchan.
"Team Leader, I'm sorry, but I'll come down a little later. I have an important call."
"Really? If it's important, then... Alright, take your time."
"Yes, understood."
Seungchan left to eat lunch, and Jaehyuk opened the message on his phone. Without realizing it, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.
It was a DM from Alina—the woman he had met in New York two years ago—sent through Instagram.
Ever since that encounter, Jaehyuk and Alina had kept in touch regularly through Instagram DMs.
But after reading that last message, Jaehyuk's expression darkened slightly.
If the reason Investigation Planning had called him was exactly what he suspected—an order to infiltrate the Gangryonghoe—then he wouldn't be able to keep in contact with Alina like this anymore.
He couldn't afford to casually flirt with her while preparing to embed himself in a dangerous criminal organization.
The moment he sent the messages, Alina—who had been replying almost instantly whenever she saw them—went silent for a while.
After some time, her reply finally arrived.
Below the message was a cute character emoji with teary eyes and a trembling lip.
After sending that, Jaehyuk closed the Instagram app and let out a deep sigh.
That's right. What business does someone like me have dating? Dangerous things are going to keep happening from now on... I should slowly start distancing myself from Alina.
Meanwhile, in an enormous mansion in New York.
In a spacious room that looked to be around seventy square meters, Alina sat on a single-person sofa, staring at her phone with a gloomy expression. Standing beside her was her chief bodyguard, Robert Han, who asked in English,
Alina let out a sigh. Robert spoke to her again.
"I've told you several times that I'm not interested in that man."
Robert closed his mouth. Alina continued,
"Anyway, once I get to Korea, I need to meet Jaehyuk in person."
"I'm not saying I'm skipping my education to go play. I'm saying I'll meet him when I have time."
"Haa..."
Robert sighed, then spoke to Alina, who was still seated on the sofa, with perfect courtesy.
With that, Robert left Alina's room. Outside, he addressed the bodyguards waiting in black suits, speaking in English.
"How heavily should we arm ourselves? Given Korea's level of public safety, I think carrying up to 9mm firearms should be sufficient."
Robert's expression hardened with concern as he continued.
Kane nodded.
"That makes sense. Korea is one of the places where they operate most actively."
"We'll make 5.56mm the standard armament. Also, have everyone set up the weapons they used during their active duty days as efficiently as possible and bring one each."
"It's been a while since we'll get to move like we did in our active days."
"However, to avoid any disruption to the young lady's education, let's keep the increased security level as quiet as possible from her."
The bodyguards except Kane answered in unison.
"Understood."
About two weeks later, after finishing lunch, Jaehyuk arrived in front of the office of Investigation Planning Officer Ma Seungcheol and knocked on the door slowly.
"This is Inspector Park Jaehyuk."
"Come in."
At Seungcheol's reply, Jaehyuk opened the door and once again faced that familiar face.
Chief Superintendent Ma Seungcheol. He used to be in the same Violent Crime and International Crime Investigation Division before becoming the Investigation Planning Officer.
He's the one who directed undercover operations against the Gangryonghoe like the Pig Project and the Big Brother Project.
He's also the one who ordered me to go undercover.
Seungcheol, wearing a police uniform and seated on a single-person sofa, had graying hair, a wrinkled face, and a gaunt frame. Yet his eyes, sharp like a lion's, radiated a charisma that made his early fifties seem irrelevant.
People said he had a good reputation within the police force, but the things he actually did were...
While Jaehyuk was thinking that, Seungcheol, who had been drinking tea, slowly set his cup down upon seeing him. He gestured to the sofa on his left and spoke in a dignified voice.
"Have a seat."
It was the kind of authoritative tone one might expect if a lion from a nature documentary suddenly spoke.
On the table in front of the sofa he indicated were several documents. Seeing them, Jaehyuk became certain.
He's ordering me to conduct an undercover investigation in the Gangryonghoe.
Jaehyuk sat down. Seungcheol asked him,
"How long has it been since you joined this division?"
"It's almost been a full year now."
"Time really flies, doesn't it?"
After saying that, Seungcheol continued,
"I've heard your reputation for doing good work is quite strong. Especially Inspector Choi Seungchan—he's been praising you a lot."
"You're too kind."
Then Seungcheol got to the main point.
"So, about that... Inspector Park. Let's do one job together."
"What kind of job?"
Jaehyuk pretended not to know and asked. Seungcheol replied,
"It's about catching gangsters. More precisely... Do you know what undercover means?"
"I do. It's when someone conducts secret intelligence activities for the police or the government."
"That's right. That's exactly what you'll be doing. Secret intelligence work for the police side."
Seungcheol pointed at the documents in front of Jaehyuk.
"The detailed explanation will come from the team that planned this operation soon, but think of this as a simple briefing and read through it."
Jaehyuk picked up the documents and scanned them. They contained various information about the Gangryonghoe and a list of undercover agents who had been selected to infiltrate it.
As he read the list of undercover personnel carefully, Jaehyuk saw a name that was all too familiar.
Lee Jeonghan...?
It was his best friend of over ten years—the one who had died helping him in his previous life as a gangster in the Gangryonghoe. After Jaehyuk's regression, he had saved Jeonghan's younger sister, Lee Suyeon, and changed his friend's fate. As a result, Jeonghan had become a non-commissioned officer in the Special Forces.
And now, his name was listed among the undercover agents scheduled to infiltrate the Gangryonghoe alongside Jaehyuk as a sergeant in the 707 Special Mission Group, one of the military's elite special forces units.
I heard he went to the 9th Airborne, but it looks like he transferred to the 707.
"The infiltration will take place one month after all personnel have been finalized. Once the team is set, the operation planners will call you in. From that point on, you will officially no longer be a police officer."
After saying that, Seungcheol pointed at the documents Jaehyuk was looking at and continued.
"Once the personnel are confirmed, according to the scenario, you will be dismissed from the police force on charges of accepting bribes."
"It's an unavoidable act to avoid suspicion from the Gangryonghoe, so I apologize in advance."
"In return, after the mission ends, there will be various rewards including a two-rank special promotion, so please don't think of it too negatively."
"If you're going this far with the act, does that mean the Gangryonghoe has identified most of the police personnel?"
"The influence the Gangryonghoe currently exerts over this country's public authority is far greater than you can imagine. Without putting on this kind of show, we won't be able to fool them easily."
Jaehyuk looked down at the documents with an expression that clearly showed his displeasure, then slowly opened his mouth.
"......After I'm dismissed and infiltrate the Gangryonghoe, can the safety of my family be guaranteed?"
"It will be guaranteed. I promise you."
Lies.
Thinking that, Jaehyuk recalled how in his previous life, while he was undercover in the Gangryonghoe, his younger sister Dahyun had been hit by a hit-and-run driver and fallen into a coma. Although it hadn't been done by the Gangryonghoe, the police's response to protecting his family's safety after he went undercover had been lukewarm at best. In the end, the hit-and-run driver received a slap on the wrist, and the Gangryonghoe members who considered Jaehyuk a colleague became furious upon hearing the news. They kidnapped and killed the perpetrator themselves. Fortunately, someone anonymously continued to cover Dahyun's hospital bills, but the incident became the reason Jaehyuk could never fully trust the police again.
This time, I won't believe any of you. The path to my survival... I'll find it myself.
About two weeks later, just as planned, Jaehyuk was dismissed from the police force on charges of accepting bribes.
When he left the police station, the glares from his colleagues were quite sharp, but it couldn't be helped for the sake of the operation. After all, to deceive the enemy, you must first deceive your allies.
Well... It's better than the other undercover agent who was dismissed for sexual harassment.
As Jaehyuk was about to leave the station with that thought, Chief Inspector Choi Seungchan grabbed his shoulder.
"Inspector Park Jaehyuk..."
Unlike the other colleagues, his eyes held no feelings of betrayal or anger. Still, Jaehyuk felt sorry for the team leader who had always treated him well and apologized. Even though he hadn't actually taken bribes, he felt guilty for deceiving him.
"I'm sorry, Team Leader."
"......It's fine. These things happen."
Then, with a hardened expression, he spoke to Jaehyuk in a low voice.
"I know everything. I'll take care of the team members, so you... Just focus on your own mission. Got it?"
They said some people would be informed... So Chief Choi was one of them.
Jaehyuk nodded and answered,
"Yes, Team Leader."
"Good. Come back safely."
And so Jaehyuk left the National Police Agency. Just like in his previous life, he was once again infiltrating the Gangryonghoe.
This time, to achieve the revenge for his uncle that he had failed to accomplish before.
After Jaehyuk left the police headquarters, a call came in for him.
"Hello?"
"......Jaehyuk. It's me, hyung."
It was Min Taeseok, the violent crimes detective at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency who was like an older brother to him.
"......I heard what happened."
"......I'm sorry."
"Sorry? What do you have to be sorry for? This is obviously a false accusation. Some bastard who doesn't like you must have framed you. Why are you sorry? You're not the kind of guy who would take bribes, for fuck's sake."
It looks like this hyung doesn't know anything... It's going to take some effort to convince him.
".....Let's grab a drink together later. My treat."
"Uh... Yeah..."
Taeseok hung up. While driving, Jaehyuk let out a sigh, feeling uneasy about deceiving him.
"Haa... This is going to kill me. How am I supposed to explain this?"
The car Jaehyuk was driving sped down the road, just as he hoped the path ahead would be free of obstacles.