“The tea tastes very good.”

The office of the team leader of Seoul Police Agency’s Major Crime Investigation Team 1.

Team Leader Heo Insung, who was sitting on the sofa, was very ready to die. This was because the head of the district was sitting in front of him.

“Ahaha, yes. Head of the District-nim came so I especially brought out a very precious tea.”

As soon as Lawyer Baek Jin headed to the interrogation room where Park Seokhyun was located with Hyunsoo, the head of the district headed straight to Team Leader Heo Insung.

The aim was one. His son, Park Seokhyun.

Team Leader Heo Insung was also aware of this.

“You even serve me precious tea, as expected I have a good eye for people. Team Leader Heo knows I really care about you, right?”

“Haha, thank you. Head of the District-nim.”

Team Leader Heo Insung lowered his head.

After taking a sip of tea, the head of the district slowly turned his head.

“Team Leader Heo, You know why I'm here.”

“…….”

“My son. If the evidence comes out, you yourself…….”

Team Leader Heo Insung swallowed his saliva.

The head of the district and he had a win-win relationship. If Team Leader Heo Insung covered up the crime of the head of the district, the head of the district would be responsible for the promotion of Team Leader Heo.

It was a relationship that helped each other illegally, and they were tightly bound by interests that could not be recklessly disclosed.

“Head, Head of the District-nim…… That…….”

“What’s the matter?”

But this time it was different. As Inspector Kim Jinhyuk of the Major Crime Investigation Team 2 said, it was too dangerous.

A minor sexually assaulted a classmate, and the victim died.

It was a case of great repercussions, and it was clear that if it was covered, there would be a bigger impact. And the repercussions would hit Team Leader Heo Insung.

“I can't help you this time…….”

“What?!!”

When the head of the district shouted, Heo Insung quickly bent down.

“I’m, I’m sorry!”

However, Team Leader Heo Insung did not want to turn his back on the head of the district.

Park Seokhyun's case was certain to be prosecuted, but the trial was unknown. If the head of the district used his power well, he might escape with a suspended sentence even if he was indicted. And if that happened, the head of the district would return to the political arena even if he suffered a little damage.magic

Team Leader Heo Insung was afraid of that.

He had neither the power to turn his back completely and face the aftermath of the head of the district nor the power to receive criticism from the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency for not turning his back. Therefore, even though it was pathetic, Team Leader Heo Insung had no choice but to play both sides vaguely.

“I’m, I’m really sorry…….”

“Look, you can’t do that! How much did I help Team Leader Heo!!”

“I’m, I’m sorry. But, but I'll talk to Inspector Lee Hyunsoo so that he won't be able to put in his indictment……!”

The head of the district leapt to his feet.

There was no more time to waste here. The case would go to the prosecution. The only way to save his son was to use his hand at the prosecution.

When the head of the district left the team leader's office with a ‘Bang!’, Team Leader Heo Insung grabbed his hair with both hands.

“Haa, sh*t…….”

* * *

“He is accused of violating the Special Act on Cases of Sexual Violence and Murder.”

Interrogation room.

Hyunsoo, Lawyer Baek Jin, and Park Seokhyun sat face-to-face across the table.

“The murder charges are pretty high, so maybe…….”

As Hyunsoo continued, Lawyer Baek Jin laughed.

“Detective-nim, you're going out of your mind. What murder? That's not true. How are you going to prove the murder charges?”“That's because Park Seokhyun-gun…….”

Lawyer Baek Jin shook his hand and cut Hyunsoo off.

“Yes, let's say that sexual assault is a mistake that children made while drinking with their young hearts. But did Student Park Seokhyun leave the motel knowing that the victim would die? No, he never thought she would die. Isn't it nonsense that the murder charge applies?”

“……Didn't even think about it?”

Hyunsoo's eyes turned to Park Seokhyun. Then, Park Seokhyun, who hurriedly lowered his head, began to cry.

“I’m, I’m sorry……. I accidentally…… N, no! I was wrong! In a fit of rage after drinking…… I don't know if it's because I'm still in puberty, but I can't control my emotions well…… I’m sorry, I’m really sorry.”

This was, well, Baeksang Arts Award’s* Grand Prize-level acting. However, Hyunsoo saw Park Seokhyun's devilish naked face. The scene where he committed a crime to the powerless female student and left happily.

“You’re sorry…… Come now.”

“Look, isn't Park Seokhyun-gun sincerely reflecting on himself? I mean, it's ridiculous that the murder charges…….”

Hyunsoo stared at Park Seokhyun quietly at Lawyer Baek Jin's desperate defense.

No matter how much they pretended not to be, there was another reason why they shamelessly put on such an act.

“Then let's take a look at the phone.”

“…….”

“!”

Lawyer Baek Jin only closed his mouth at Hyunsoo's words, but showed no reaction. However, Park Seokhyun's expression hardened for a moment.

Hyun-soo, who did not miss it, continued to talk to him.

“As far as I know, there's one more cell phone besides the one you submitted as evidence?”

“What, what’s that…….”

“Did you lose it? Where did you lose it? If you tell me, I can find it for you.”

“That…….”

“Do you just hand it over to the prosecution as an indictment? Then Detective-nim would be comfortable too.”

Lawyer Baek Jin blocked Park Seokhyun's words and rushed in.

He was a lawyer at Daesang Law Firm.

Befitting a law firm that was a subsidiary of a conglomerate, it was a law firm that boasted the current best winning rate and was filled with seniors who could receive privileges from former officials. Almost all prosecutors were this lawyer’s seniors and juniors.

That was why Hyunsoo had to find and hand over the evidence for sure. Otherwise, if the case was passed to the prosecution, it was clear that it would end in vain with only a small sentence.

“Detective-nim, let's make it easy for each other. This happened just because the indictment doesn't matter, so if you hand it over to the prosecution…….”

Evidence was needed to tie their ankles firmly.

Just then, Hyunsoo's cell phone rang. There was only one reason for a call now. Hyunsoo answered the phone right away.

“Excuse me for a second. Hello?”

-Inspector-nim! This is Police Officer Kim. I found the cell phone!

“Already?”

-Yes! I'll request forensics right away.

“All right, good job.”

When Hyunsoo put down his cell phone, Lawyer Baek Jin opened his mouth.

“Have you found something?”

And in a moment, the atmosphere was down and everyone was silent. Lawyer Baek Jin's grim expression caught Hyunsoo's eyes.

“You seem busy. Go ahead, Detective-nim.”

Lawyer Baek Jin's smile seemed brighter than before. It was evident that there was an ulterior motive somewhere. Looking at his face like that, Hyunsoo smiled.

“Thank you for caring about me. I'll be back as soon as I can.”

* * *

Hyunsoo was heading to the analysis room where forensic tests of the found cell phone were underway.

‘I found the evidence, and yet he's laughing…….’

The evidence was found, and the case seemed to be unraveling smoothly. No, it was rather strange that the case seemed to be working out so well. Moreover, the guy who was Park Seokhyun's lawyer was strangely confident.

‘As if I fell into the trap that they made…….’One corner of Hyunsoo's mouth went up.

‘He deserves to remain in Daesang Law Firm.’

For some reason, he feel like he could clearly see into Lawyer Baek Jin's head. Hyunsoo, whose eyebrows were twitching, stopped walking.

‘I'll have to check though.’

Then he turned around and started walking in the opposite direction. The room he arrived at was the office of the team leader of the Major Crime Investigation team.

“Why aren't you doing anything?”

When the door burst open, Team Leader Heo Insung, who was putting his legs on the desk, flinched and turned his head.

“You bastard comes into the team leader's office, but you don't even knock!”

“Knock knock, satisfied?”

“Ha, you cheeky…… What? What's wrong with you?”

“I’m unruly here and there, but this time you’re especially quiet about it.”

As Hyunsoo plopped down on the sofa, Team Leader Heo Insung said, turning over the documents that had been unfolded for no reason.

“I'm busy, too. Do you think I'm following you around? Lee Hyunsoo, wake up, I'm the team leader of the Major Crime Investigation team.”

“When Ji Soobin, the son of the chairman of Jisang Construction, was arrested, you ran wild. You interfered with everything I did, and threatened the team members not to help me.”

“When did I threaten……!”

“Did Inspector Kim Jinhyuk of the Major Crime Investigation Team 2 say that?”

“What?”

“It's dangerous anyway, so let's leave quietly this time?”

“This, this is really”

It was obvious.

There were things that came naturally after working in the same team for several years.

Heo Insung, the team leader of the Major Crime Investigation Team 1, and Inspector Kim Jinhyuk of Team 2, were close. And the two of them covered up the crimes of big shots and made collusive corruption.

“I see you're angry. It's a video if you don't watch it.”

“Yah! Lee Hyunsoo, do you really want to cross the line?!”

“Team Leader-nim, do you not know who the head of the district is?”

“What?”

“He’s not going to stay still. You might think that he looks a little rough because he came up from a bad place, but you know. The head of the district, rumors say he has a pretty close relationship with gangsters.”

Team Leader Heo Insung’s gaze shook sharply. The head of the district already thought he had turned his back on him. Then he would definitely…….

‘He will retaliate.’

So there was only one way left.

“If you want to turn your back, you have to turn it completely. If you turn it vaguely, hurk**! You know, right?”

To completely knock the head of the district down.

It would be fatal for a politician whose reputation was vital to the media by revealing all of Park Seokhyun's crimes.

Team Leader Heo Insung, who was quietly licking his dry lips, looked at Hyunsoo.

“But are you not afraid? To casually touch such a person’s family?”

“That's why you have to do it neatly. You won’t get hurt that way.”

Hyunsoo got up from the sofa.

“First, please apply for a warrant for Park Seokhyun's arrest. It's an emergency arrest, so if you don't get it within 48 hours, we'll have to release him.”

“Arrest warrant? I would do it, but it would be rejected……. You know that the power of the head of the district is stronger than you think.”

“I know, so you have to do one more thing.”

Hyunsoo got up from the sofa and stood in front of Team Leader Heo Insung.

“One…… more? What?”

Hyunsoo smiled at Team Leader Heo Insung, who opened his eyes wide.

__________

*The Baeksang Arts Awards are awards for excellence in film, television and theatre in South Korea. They are regarded as one of the most prestigious entertainment awards in South Korea.

**I’m not sure how to transcript this sound, but generally, this sound is made when you want to describe that someone may die. You know, you use your hand or finger, bring it to your throat, and move horizontally as if your throat is sliced???