By Zephyria 
“When did you two become like that?”
As soon as he arrived at work, Nam-soo grabbed Lee-eum and bombarded him with questions about his relationship with Choi Won-joon. He had suspected something for a while, but he was convinced yesterday when he saw them feeding each other lettuce wraps at the barbecue restaurant. Lee-eum sighed at the news that Team Leader Oh had also noticed.
“We’re close, but that’s all there is to it.”
Nam-soo’s eyes gleamed as he sat closer, as if stalking prey, and Lee-eum waved his hand dismissively, telling him to stop. Then, Team Leader Oh, who had gone to meet the chief, returned and called for Lee-eum.
“Detective Kim, let’s talk for a moment.”
He went into the conference room, and Lee-eum, wondering if it was about yesterday, stood up from his seat with a tense expression. When he entered the conference room, Team Leader Oh even closed the blinds and personally made coffee for Lee-eum.
“I met with the chief. Did you know that the commissioner ordered you to be excluded from the promotion list?”
Ah, so that was it…
Lee-eum bit his lower lip and nodded. When he first revealed his intentions to his father, he had exploded in anger. He threatened to come up to Seoul immediately and break his legs, but his mother barely managed to stop him. He had raised his voice, calling him a deficient bastard, and hung up the phone first, and since then, there had been no contact, so he had resigned himself to it to some extent.
“Why are you doing this? Everyone else is desperate for a promotion, don’t you have any ambition? Do you know how easy it is to become a police captain at your age?”
“If only Team leader is okay with it, I’d like to stay here a little longer. There are many unsolved cases, too. If it’s because of my Rut, don’t worry too much. I won’t cause you any trouble with that. I promise.”
Park Eon-soo was one such case. There was even a witness who said he had fled overseas, but his whereabouts were never found. He didn’t show it outwardly, but deep down, he was harboring the suspicion that Choi Won-joon might have taken Park Eon-soo.
“Who’s saying it’s because of your Rut? Frankly, I don’t care if you’re an Omega or an Alpha. It’s just a waste for you to rot here.”
“I’m sorry…”
“Does Kim Malk-eum know?”
“Yes…”
“You’re siblings, but you don’t have any similarities. Oh, wait, there’s one. You’re both good at catching criminals. Have as much ambition as your Noona. It’s not a bad thing. You’re capable of it.”
Lee-eum felt sorry because he could sense that Team Leader Oh was genuinely concerned. He knew that the things Lee-eum easily gave up were desperately needed by someone else. But catching drug offenders, revealing Kim Ji-cheol’s additional crimes, and several other cases were mostly solved by Choi Won-joon taking the lead. That’s why he couldn’t be more proud.
In the meantime, Team Leader Oh lowered his voice and subtly probed.
“But when did it start?”
“What…?”
“With CEO Choi, I mean. When did you two become like that?”
If he pretended not to know, his conscience would prick him, and if he admitted it, he kept wondering if it was okay to do so. On top of that, Choi Won-joon’s mother had even brought up the topic of marriage, which made him even more disturbed.
“We’re friends…”
“Oh, Detective Kim. Don’t lie so much. You can’t scam anyone. Your eyes are just so uneasy that they can’t stay still.”
Lee-eum smiled awkwardly, and Team Leader Oh smiled along. After that, they had more conversations, but the conclusion was to continue to do well in the future. When he came out, Jeong Nam-su was curious about what they had talked about and kept asking questions.
But that was short-lived. A tip came in that a wanted suspect had appeared at a public bathhouse, and the two hurriedly went outside, started the car, and headed to their destination.
“Oh, did you hear about Team Leader Nam?”
“What news?”
“Detective Yook from Team 1 sent Team Leader Nam’s children to the same school as his. They said the children are immigrating to New Zealand. A detective’s salary is obvious, but I don’t know when he saved so much money. Maybe his in-laws are rich.”
Listening to him, Lee-eum felt puzzled. He had talked to him briefly once, and he had complained that he was struggling with the cost of his children’s tutoring. He also mentioned that his wife had a chronic illness, so the medical expenses were not insignificant.
Had his circumstances improved in the meantime? He didn’t want to carelessly talk about other people’s stories without knowing the exact situation, so he didn’t respond to Nam-soo’s words, and in the meantime, the car arrived near the destination.
He got out of the car and entered the bathhouse. When he showed his ID at the entrance, the person who had reported it told him that the suspect was currently inside the sauna. In addition, he meticulously checked whether there was a reward for reporting.
He opened the door to the bathhouse in plain clothes, and people’s eyes turned to him. He gestured to the murmuring people not to mind him and to go about their business. When he arrived at the sauna, he noticed a man with a towel on his head and half of his upper body covered in tattoos.
“Kim Seung-hwan?”
The man frowned and glared.
“What the fuck.”
Lee-eum held out his ID.
“I’m from the Western Police Station. Don’t make a fuss and come with me quietly.”
❖ ❖ ❖
A black sedan was driving up a dense forest path for a long time. Choi Won-joon, who had been leaning back in his chair, turned his gaze outside. The scenery, filled with summer sunlight, was dazzlingly green, and the birch trees, stretching straight into the sky, resembled someone.
A smile appeared on his lips, and Director Lee, who was in the driver’s seat, glanced at him. It was understandable, since the superior he served had been smiling aimlessly more often these days.
“What happened to that detective? Was it Team Leader Nam?”
“The immigration preparations are all complete, and he’s scheduled to leave the country next month.”
“Make sure there are no loose ends. I’m sure you’ll handle it well.”
People were completely unaware that the detective had played a crucial role in smuggling Park Eon-soo out while he was being transferred to the detention center. No, they might suspect it in their hearts, but since there was no evidence to support it, no one would come forward.
The car had already arrived in front of the villa, and Choi Won-joon entered with Director Lee. When the two appeared, the employee who was stationed inside greeted them politely and gave them directions.
As soon as the door opened, the smell of disinfectant greeted them first. After that, there was also a fishy smell, and Park Eon-soo’s haggard face, lying on the bed, came into view. He had bandages wrapped around his hands, and his ankles and neck were tied to the bed with ropes.
After sending the employee out, Choi Won-joon put a cigarette in his mouth and lit it. As he exhaled smoke and approached, Park Eon-soo’s eyes became bloodshot.
“You look better than I thought.”
“You son of a bitch! Come here! I’m going to kill you! Come here!”
Park Eon-soo thrashed about as if having a seizure, and every time he moved, the metal chains rattled loudly.
“Your voice is loud and clear.”
Won-joon’s gaze was fixed on his bandaged wrist. With his hand cut off, he was now left with only his arm. Next week, they would cut off below his elbow. Won-joon pointed to the area that would disappear in a few days with the hand holding the cigarette.
“Take a good look. Because I’m going to cut it off right here.”
Park Eon-soo’s lips trembled, and he screamed at the top of his lungs.
“Why are you doing this to me! I apologized! You son of a bitch! I said I was wrong! Isn’t it enough that you killed my brother! You don’t have to do this to me! You bastard!”
Won-joon crooked one lip while smoking a cigarette.
“That’s why you should have lived a good life. If you had lived a good life, we wouldn’t have met like this, and I wouldn’t have recognized you. Don’t you think?”
“Ha! Is that what you’re going to say to me? So, you lived a good life? Hey, let’s get this straight! Huh? You’re the same as me! Who doesn’t know? Don’t do that and negotiate with me. I’ll tell you where I buried the rest of the bodies! Let me go, huh? President Choi! I’m really sorry. Yes! I’m sorry! Please untie this! Please! You son of a bitch!”
Looking down at the raving Park Eon-soo, Choi Won-joon smiled with a joyful expression.
“Hey, Park Eon-soo. You saw the broadcast. You’re currently listed as having fled abroad. I even hired someone who looked similar and spent money to put on a show, but you’re telling me you want my boyfriend to find out you’re in Korea first? I barely managed to win his heart, and I can’t ruin things because of you. So, think of it as fate and watch your body slowly being cut off here. Got it?”
Won-joon stubbed out the cigarette on Park Eon-soo’s head and turned around. All sorts of curses and tearing screams were heard, but they soon subsided. Coming outside and looking at the darkened forest, Choi Won-joon was lost in thought for a moment.
The forest, faced at night, was so dark that he couldn’t see an inch ahead, as if it would swallow everything. He stared at it blankly and sent a message to Kim Yi-eum. When he asked what he was doing on his day off, Kim Yi-eum didn’t reply for over three hours. He frowned and resent the message.
【Are you busy? Are you going to be late today? Am I all alone again?】