The Grudge and the Target

Do Guk watched the sobbing man while holding a cigarette between his fingers.

“Heh… ugh……”

President Park, no longer possessing the strength to struggle, hung limply as the men standing in line hauled him up.

“Ugh……”

Do Guk withdrew his foot from the crushed fingers and lowered his body.

He slowly scanned President Park’s face, which was a mess of tears, snot, and saliva, and met his half-conscious eyes directly.

A smile spread across his previously expressionless face.

He looked exactly like a man offering a kindness.

“Still, the Chairman gave you this first and last chance because you are blood.”

He pulled a handkerchief from his inner jacket pocket and brought it to the ruined face.

He dabbed carelessly at the bloodied lips before the smile vanished in an instant.

“Mmph!”

He shoved the handkerchief deep into President Park’s mouth.

The man’s pupils dilated with terror, but pinned down by both sides, he could not even squirm.

Rising to his full height, Do Guk dropped the cigarette from his mouth and crushed the ember with his shoe.

“Three billion won. Fill it back up within this month.”

“Mmph…!”

“If you do not, next time it will be your neck flying off, not just your fingers.”

It was a measure to show that if one committed a wrong, they must pay the price.

It was to let him know that Lee Ja Cheong was a human being who would cold-heartedly discard even his own blood.

Withdrawing his gaze from President Park, Do Guk took a step forward, and Chi Oh, who was guarding the rear, gave a slight nod.

At that signal, a gang member bowed deeply and pulled out a knife the size of a finger.

A clean blow with an axe would end it quickly, but nothing compared to a knife for making someone feel the pain vividly.

“Mmph! Mmph! Mmmph!”

The handkerchief stuffed in his mouth acted perfectly as a gag, swallowing his screams.

Walking out of the warehouse with long strides, Do Guk furrowed his brow at the humid air that greeted him.

He turned back toward Chi Oh, who followed him out as the warehouse doors closed.

“Tell Chief Choi that the President Park matter will not be an issue.”

“Yes, Brother.”

Chi Oh checked his wristwatch and spoke cautiously.

“If we leave for Juji Temple now, I believe we can arrive before the spirit-consoling ceremony, Brother.”

A dark eyebrow went up.

Juji Temple was the temple where they held funerals and enshrined deceased gang members.

As Cheongun had grown into a respectable corporation, the deaths of gang members had naturally decreased, but just three days ago, one had lost his life.

No, to be precise, a policeman masquerading as a gang member had been discovered and executed by Lee Ja Cheong’s right hand, Go Je Won.

Do Guk rubbed the deep crease between his brows and let out a hollow laugh.

“……Honestly, those guys never let you forget they are gangsters.”

Of course, the police would not be able to bring this matter to the surface easily either.

Because this was not the first time a policeman undercover in the organization had lost his life, the world would be in an uproar if it were revealed.

Even so, Do Guk did not think Go Je Won’s actions were right.

The Cheongun Group had grown into a major group influencing the Korean economy while leaving its past behind. At least on the surface.

And yet, he killed a cop?

Cheongun also had nothing to gain if that fact came to light.

That was likely why they were holding a funeral at Juji Temple, disguised as the death of a gang member.

The idea probably came from Lee Ja Cheong’s sister, Lee Ja Yun, rather than the brainless Go Je Won.

Feeling a stinging headache, Do Guk pressed his temples firmly.

“And the Chairman?”

“He said he would not be attending.”

“Does he have another schedule?”

“No, nothing has been identified.”

Even for a new recruit who had not been in the organization long, Lee Ja Cheong was the type to change his schedule to attend a spirit-consoling ceremony, yet he was not coming today.

Do Guk dared to guess that a foul mood was the reason.

After all, it was the funeral of an undercover cop who had been leaking the organization’s information.

Dropping his hand from his eyes, Do Guk spoke in a flat voice that matched his indifferent expression.

“Do not contact Chief Choi. I will contact the Chairman directly.”

“Yes, understood.”

It was because he knew he was the only one who could coax and soothe Lee Ja Cheong right now.

Giving him the words he wanted to hear would be enough to clear his unpleasant mood.

Do Guk twitched an eyebrow and turned his path.

“Let us go.”

As he stepped forward, the rear door of a black sedan clicked open immediately.

The moment the office door burst open and he walked in, Detective Hong erupted with a disgruntled voice.

“Seriously, why are the guys from Headquarters so obnoxious? ‘It would be better to describe this as a special cooperation situation.’ I thought he was reciting a line from a movie.”

He mimicked Superintendent Jeong’s words in a ridiculous voice, shuddered, and flopped down into his chair with a series of squeaks.

Leaning the backrest all the way back, he clutched his already messy hair.

“A life with a commute in but no commute out. I should just quit the force.”

Jae Woong, who set his clutch bag down on the opposite desk, pulled out his chair.

“I bet my life you stay until retirement.”

“What, kid?”

“You said you would be kicked out of the house if you do not get your pension.”

“Ahem.”

Clearing his throat, Detective Hong glanced sideways at Hae Su with narrowed eyes.

He threw a word at her, as she had been silent the whole time, seemingly lost in deep thought.

“Jo Hae Su. Happy now? You kept singing about wanting a big case, a big case. Well, a massive one just landed in your lap.”

Her eyes, which had been floating in space, finally landed on Detective Hong.

He was a man whose personality was twisted, but she knew that even if his tone was grumbly, he wasn’t being sarcastic.

Hae Su replied while organizing her scattered documents.

“Yes, I like it. With a scale like this, promotion is a given.”

“I am telling you, I have never seen a female officer as obsessed with promotion as you. Then again, if you were not like that, you wouldn’t survive in the Violent Crimes Unit full of d*mn men.”

“Phew, do not even get me started. She was so angry when she got the call to return during her undercover work today.”

Sharp eyes pinned Jae Woong as he waved his hand and clicked his tongue.

Startled by her cold gaze, Jae Woong raised a finger and widened his eyes.

“Look! Look at that! Where in the world is there a junior who looks at her senior like that?”

As the words ended, a heavy thud echoed as Hae Su set down a thick stack of files.

Hae Su raised one corner of her mouth, a faint crease appearing between her brows.

“Did you forget that I was famous at the Yeocheon Southern Station for insubordination?”

“Oh boy, how could I ever forget that.”

Team Leader Ki Young Do, who had just closed the door after walking in, chimed in on Hae Su’s words.

“The rumor spread all the way to the Agency. There were plenty of staff members who opposed bringing in the kid who files internal reports on her superiors.”

The reason Director An had valued her highly enough to accept her into Team 1 of the 3rd Investigation Division, despite the opposition, was because she was a tenacious fighter who didn’t hesitate to jump into the fray.

The organization labeled her actions as insubordination, but she herself viewed it as justice that could not tolerate wrongdoing.

Born in the lawless zone of Sogol, she had witnessed countless people living without the protection of the law.

Because of her environment, Hae Su longed for those within the boundaries of the law and wanted to belong there.

That was why she prepared for the police exam immediately after passing her high school equivalency.

Of course, the fantasy shattered the moment she realized that cops are only as good as the individual.

There were those in the police organization who used the law to commit illegal acts and engaged in unfair deeds using their status as an excuse.

Even the senior she worked with as a partner was like that.

Most people turned a blind eye and stayed silent because getting involved brought no benefit.

That was the way to survive for a long time.

But Hae Su could not do that.

Unable to look away from wrongdoing, she walked into the Internal Affairs office herself to file a report.

A brave junior who stepped up to correct a superior’s mistake.

Such a thing was not welcomed in this place, which was more conservative than any other group.

From then on, Hae Su was relegated to the “ugly duckling” of the organization—someone who ignored rank and committed insubordination.

“Han Jae Woong, he opposed it too, you know?”

“Ah… ah! Team Leader! When did I ever oppose it!”

“I heard you, kid.”

“Hah! Even the Detective… Hey, Hae Su. I did not oppose it, okay? I just… worried that it might be hard for a girl, that is all. And honestly, except for the Director who actively recommended you, everyone was the same.”

“Ah… yes.”

Still, things had definitely changed since she moved to the Violent Crimes Unit.

Though they were tough, rough, and sometimes so laid-back it made her wonder if they were allowed to be, they were people who knew exactly how to distinguish between what a cop should and should not do.

That simple fact helped Hae Su endure, and thanks to that, she had a goal once again.

It was to gain enough power to root out the corrupt police who shook the foundation of the organization.

“Alright, stop the small talk and head home for today. Once the Cheongun Group files are transferred, it will be madness. Rest while you can.”

The team members each replied to the smiling Team Leader.

Among those hurrying to get ready to leave, Hae Su didn’t even start—instead, she turned on her monitor.