A Night of Major Crime

Just as the evening glow faded.

"A Major Crime occurred within the jurisdiction: attempted sexual assault of a Minor, wanted suspect apprehended in the act. The Detective Division was requested to dispatch."

An urgent radio call was transmitted to the Situation Room.

Wailing sirens—

Not long after, loud sirens wailed in the alleyways of the abandoned houses in Taewon-dong. Police cars and a 119 Ambulance rushed in. The female student, completely unconscious from how much she had drunk, was immediately loaded into the ambulance and taken to the hospital.

The front of the Abandoned House was already cordoned off with a Police Line, and two Detectives held the Perpetrator by both arms, leading him towards a black van.

"Choe Chungil. This bastard. I wondered where he'd been hiding, and he was here?"

A Detective who looked a bit older stomped out his cigarette and approached Yoo Gyeong-ho and Songtan.

"Annam Police Station's Violent Crimes Team 1 Leader Han Byeong-woo-woo. Could you please explain what happened?"

"Ah... well."

Yoo Gyeong-ho glanced at Songtan once, then opened his mouth.

"We received a dispatch request and were patrolling nearby when that man was drinking alone here. He didn't look like the owner at all, so we asked him to leave..."

Yoo Gyeong-ho hesitated slightly, then pointed at Songtan.

"My Junior Partner sensed something strange and requested an Identity Check. But then he suddenly pushed me and tried to run away. We almost lost him, but fortunately, we managed to apprehend him on the Field."

"Hmm..."

Han Byeong-woo's gaze fell on Songtan's shoulder.

"Police Officer?"

"Yes, I'm a Probationer who started today."

"First day?"

Han Byeong-woo, looking surprised, asked Songtan.

"How did you know he was a wanted suspect?"

"I didn't know he was a wanted suspect, but I definitely sensed something suspicious. He couldn't look us in the eye, and I got the feeling he was trying to get out of here quickly."

"And how did you know there was a female student?"

"Two soju cups were hidden under the sofa. When we first encountered him, he was drinking straight from the bottle, which I found odd. There were also too many cigarette butts on the floor for just one person."

"You've got sharp eyes."

Han Byeong-woo squatted down and looked at the discarded cigarette butts.

"That guy is Choe Chungil, a man with a record for Aggravated Robbery. He was wanted for robbing an empty house right after his release from prison. If it weren't for you, attempted sexual assault of a Minor would have been added to his charges. *Ugh*."

The Detective stood up and looked at the two of them.

More precisely, at Songtan's name tag pinned to his chest.

"Songtan... Is it because you just graduated? Your Initial Response was clean."

"Thank you."

"This friend is a Top Graduate, so he definitely has a unique edge."

"Top Student?"

The implication was, “Why is a Top Student slogging away here?”

"Well, never mind. Are you interested in being a Detective?"

"Of course, I'm interested. Once I gain more experience."

It wouldn't do to openly show interest in another department on his first day at the Police Substation.

"Right. You're just a Probationer now. But somehow, I have a feeling we'll meet again."

Han Byeong-woo let out a small laugh and turned his gaze to Yoo Gyeong-ho.

"You both worked hard. We'll handle the rest."

"Yes, good work."

Han Byeong-woo, who had coolly turned away, turned his head back again.

"Hey, Probationer."

"Yes?"

"You're lucky to have a Mentor like him. Just so you know."

With those words, he leisurely disappeared.

Yoo Gyeong-ho, standing there awkwardly, waved his hand.

"The Field is cleared, so let's go too."

"Yes, Senior Officer."

Only then did the two of them return to the patrol car.

***

*Inside the silent patrol car.*

Perhaps wanting to break the awkward silence, Yoo Gyeong-ho let out a hollow laugh.

"Ha! The more I think about it, the more ridiculous it is. Patrolling and catching a wanted suspect in the act. You really do live and learn. Should I call it bad luck, or good luck?"

Yoo Gyeong-ho, who had been muttering to himself, glanced sideways.

"Let's just gloss over skipping the Identity Check, okay? That neighborhood is full of people like that, so I just thought he was a common homeless person. How was I supposed to know he was a wanted suspect?"

"Yes. Understood."

Silence fell again.

Songtan, who had been thinking about something, subtly asked.

"But why did you say all that to the Detective earlier?"

"What? Oh, you mean why didn't I hog such a big achievement for myself?"

Yoo Gyeong-ho, who was holding the steering wheel, frowned sharply.

"It's embarrassing, damn it. Even if I'm a half-assed Police Officer... I'm not such a jerk that I'd steal a meal that a young junior, who just started, prepared. And honestly, if it weren't for you... what would have happened to that female student?"

When the car stopped at a traffic light, Yoo Gyeong-ho took his hands off the wheel and dry-washed his face.

"I have a younger sister too. A much younger one. If that female student had been harmed because of my negligence... *Damn it*... just imagining it is horrible. *Ugh*. *Shit*. I need to get my head straight."

Yoo Gyeong-ho, who had been tapping his own head, took the wheel again.

As the light changed, the patrol car began to move forward again.

"Want to hear a boring story? Actually, when I was a Probationer, I was a super enthusiastic Police Officer, running around like crazy. Hard to believe, right?"

"No. I believe you."

"Believe it, my ass. Even I can barely believe it. If I was ever really like that."

Yoo Gyeong-ho, chuckling to himself at whatever he found funny, continued speaking.

"A Democratic Police Officer full of a sense of justice. Even if not to that extent, I wanted to be a proper Police Officer. So I really worked hard, you know? To the point where there wasn't a day I didn't get a nosebleed. It was rewarding in its own way. Getting a thank you from Citizens for a job well done made all the fatigue just melt away."

A shadow fell across Yoo Gyeong-ho's face for a moment.

"Then there was this one time I arrested a guy for Dating Violence. The Perpetrator was taken to the Police Substation, and the woman was sent to the hospital. But two days later, I got a call. The Dating Violence Perpetrator's family filed a complaint, saying their son's Human Rights were Violated. They claimed I used excessive force on that bastard. All that happened was he got a slight scratch when I cuffed him, *damn it*."

Yoo Gyeong-ho smiled bitterly.

"Still, I wasn't too worried. There was CCTV and the Victim's statement. But do you know what the result was? I had to pay five hundred in settlement for Assault by Public Official and even received a Reprimand. *Pfft*, isn't that funny?"

His mouth was smiling, but his eyes, fixed on the road ahead, were utterly devoid of emotion.

"Strangely, similar things kept happening after that. That's when my head really got knocked straight. I realized that avoiding complaints was more important than upholding justice."

Yoo Gyeong-ho, who had been rambling, suddenly seemed to snap out of it and shook his head.

"Gyeong-ho, you idiot. What kind of nonsense are you spouting to a kid on his first day? *Sigh*. Anyway, from what I see, you're different. For a guy who was a Top Student to deliberately come here, it's one of two things: either you're crazy, or you're truly exceptional."

"Which one do I seem like?"

"I'd like to believe the latter. Having a crazy junior partner is incredibly tiring, you know."

"I'll try my best."

"Somehow, that sounds even scarier."

Chatting about this and that, the two of them eventually returned to the Police Substation.

Unlike before the dispatch, the Police Substation was in a very excited mood.

"We've handed over the Perpetrator to the Detective Division, the Victim was transported by ambulance, and the Situation Concluded."

Yoo Gyeong-ho's colleagues clapped at his report.

"Alright, everyone, let's clap."

Clap, clap, clap- *Whistle*-

"Whoa, Gyeong-ho, what happened? Catching a wanted suspect in the act? Are you really the slacker I know?"

Other patrol team Police Officers also gave Yoo Gyeong-ho a thumbs-up.

Yoo Gyeong-ho, however, shook his head.

"Not me, the Probationer caught him."

"What?"

"Ah, you punk. Don't joke around. A rookie on his first day, no way."

"You know I don't lie about things like this. Songtan here really did catch the Perpetrator. Even I was surprised."

Yoo Gyeong-ho, with a playful smile, put his arm around Songtan's shoulder.

"Really?"

Everyone's faces went blank.

Although Yoo Gyeong-ho-ho had a somewhat frivolous image, he wasn't the type to make things up.

"This guy, he's really not ordinary. The Perpetrator was about the size of Sergeant Noh, but he subdued him in one go."

"Huh..."

Only then did the Precinct Officers' gazes turn to Songtan.

"Is Gyeong-ho telling the truth? Did you really catch the Perpetrator?"

The Precinct Officers kept asking, their eyes filled with disbelief.

To this, Songtan calmly replied.

"It's true I cuffed the Perpetrator, but I was merely faithfully following my Senior Officer's instructions."

Yoo Gyeong-ho paused, then looked back at Songtan.

"My Senior Officer grabbed the Perpetrator's collar and bought me time, which is why I was able to catch him. Otherwise, he would have gotten away. That guy was incredibly strong."

"Ah? See? I knew it!"

Only then did everyone nod, as if convinced.

Yoo Gyeong-ho glanced over, and Songtan offered a faint smile.

Just then, another Probationer, Woo Seung-tae, who had been standing there like a sack of barley, subtly interjected.

"Um... Tani... he also caught the Weapon Rampage Perpetrator at Chungju Station once."

"What? Really?"

"Come to think of it, the one who caught that guy back then was a Central Police Academy Trainee, wasn't he? And that was you, Songtan?"

"Hey, you punk, why didn't you say anything?"

Songtan scratched his head, looking embarrassed.

"There wasn't a good time to mention it."

"Ah... now that you mention it, the Probationers haven't even properly introduced themselves."

Only then did the Precinct Officers start asking Songtan and Woo Seung-tae various questions.

Most of them were directed at Songtan, however.

"A truly unique character has joined us."

"Indeed. With a Presidential Award and a Commissioner's Commendation, couldn't he have gone straight to the agency headquarters?"

The Senior Precinct Officers, having learned of Songtan's extraordinary 'specs,' shook their heads in amazement.

"Anyway, Gyeong-ho and Songtan, thanks to you two, our Police Substation's prestige has risen significantly. I heard there's a chance this could even become an Exemplary Case for the entire Police Station?"

"What, really?"

"Is that all? I overheard the Precinct Chief's call earlier, and it seems our Superiors are looking very favorably on this incident. If things go well, the Police Substation might even get an award."

"Awesome."

Smiles appeared on everyone's faces at the unexpected good fortune.

"Lately, I've been so busy I've had a strong reality check, but this is a bit comforting."

"So, it seems our two new Probationers are good luck charms, huh?"

Inspector Kang Tae-won, a Senior Officer of 20 years, said, looking at the two of them.

"Well, as you've probably already heard, our Police Substation is one of the top three toughest places in the entire country. Since you've come to such a remarkable place, how about each of you share a word of determination?"

"Ahem..."

Woo Seung-tae, who had been subtly gauging the mood, stepped forward.

"I am Probationer Woo Seung-tae! My Field experience is still lacking, but I will learn step by step on the Field and adapt quickly. I will always take initiative and be a Police Officer who takes responsibility to the end, so as not to be a burden to my Senior Officers. I will work hard!"

"Just working hard won't be enough..."

"Ah? I will work hard, and *well*!"

"That's right. Working hard is a given, but you also need to do well and not cause trouble. Have you done any sports?"

"I boxed until high school."

"Oh~ a boxer? Wow, you must be good. But don't go throwing one-two punches at Complainants. That'll cause a headache."

"No, I would never do that."

The Senior Police Officers, who had been chuckling and making mischievous jokes, now looked at Songtan.

"What's the determination of our Top Probationer, who caught a wanted suspect on his very first day?"

To Kang Tae-won-won's question, Songtan calmly uttered a single sentence.

"With righteousness, establish order in the world; with chivalry, protect all people (義立天下正, 俠護萬人安)."

It was the motto of the Jeongmu Corps, the Armed Group directly under the Alliance Leader and the representative face of the Murim Alliance.

What Number Twenty-Eight-Eight, who had lived his entire life as a Shadow Agent, had so desperately wanted to shout.

"I will be a Police Officer who always carries these words in my heart. Furthermore, I will *Exert Myself to the Utmost*, running until sweat drips from my feet, so that my Senior Officers can rest even a little."

At Songtan's firm resolve, the Senior Officers clapped with somewhat awkward expressions.

"Wow, is it because he's a Top Student...? His determination is extraordinary. I thought I was reading a wuxia novel."

"Still, it's nice to hear. That our workload will decrease."

At that time, they couldn't have imagined that the absurd aspirations of that Probationer would actually become reality.