While DooSan cleaned her wounds, SolHi looked in front, thoughtful. She had a lot to think about at that moment while lots of ideas and regrets were spinning in her head, like, „I would have liked to have the power to turn back time. Thus, I would have had the right to dream. I would have had the right to dream about a future next to this man although he seems to hate me. Yet, I can’t change the past. Why? Because… love is something forbidden for me, in this life and maybe in another life too. Yes, SolHi: you don’t have such a right. So, stop dreaming about the impossible…” She winced eventually when DooSan asked her:

„What are you thinking of so intensely?”

Hearing the question, SolHi looked elsewhere, still feeling his glance focused on her. Then, eventually, when DooSan forced her to look at him to put some ointment on the red cheek, SolHi stuttered, „At nothing and at everything at the same time.” And, as though she felt awkward next to him, she pushed him away from her, trying to stand up.

Used to her way of doing things, DooSan anticipated her intention. And, grabbing her wrist, he forced her to sit on the bench. After that, he hissed through his teeth, „Don’t move and let me finish my job!” A demand that made SolHi frown because she hated to be treated like a child. Her reaction made DooSan mumble, „Yes, you look at me like an enemy now while you allow others to hit you. Look at how you look right now!” He protectively scolded her.

Such words made SolHi feel guilty. At the same time, she would have liked to have the chance to hit the pike, something DooSan wouldn’t have allowed her to do for anything in the world. Understanding this, SolHi decided that it was wiser to stay quiet, next to the man who scolded her but still took care of her wounds. Those soft touches on her skin made her feel weird, something that made her look at his lips eventually - those lips that were mumbling incomprehensible words at that moment, but which made her dream about him so suddenly.

The moment she saw Doosan staring at her, SolHi looked elsewhere. She did that afraid that DooSan would notice her awkwardness. Something impossible not to notice once she suddenly blushed as though a bonfire was ignited in her soul. Seeing her so clumsy and ashamed, DooSan smiled and asked, „Are you okay?” Then, he stretched his hand toward her, intending to touch her forehead as though he wanted to check if she had a fever. This made SolHi suddenly pull back - so suddenly that she’d been about to fall off the bench, and she would have fallen if DooSan hadn’t stretched his arm and grabbed her by the waist. After that, laughing with all his heart, DooSan said, „You are worse than a child. Did someone tell you this?”

„Yes, you! Always,” she mumbled barely heard, looking elsewhere.

„And, as far as I see, I’ve always been right. If you don’t believe me, look in the mirror. More than that, if I hadn’t risked my life to catch you, you would have hurt your ass too, and not only your palms.”

SolHi showed him her fangs. „I would prefer you to not exaggerate. I’m not an elephant to crash you if I had fallen over you. Even if I was one, you would have fallen on something soft. So…”

The fact that DooSan suddenly bent over her made SolHi hiccup. DooSan smiled instead. After that, slowly pulling her toward him to straighten her back, the man told her in a playful voice, „I got it right from the beginning. It wasn’t necessary to explain it. Even so, falling on something soft, it seems something damn interesting and tasty.”

„Ia,” SolHi shouted. After this, suddenly standing up, she told him in a demanding voice, „Don’t even try!” Her reaction made DooSan laugh. This made SolHi frown and then turn her back to him, scolding herself eventually, „You are an idiot, SolHi! He’s making fun of you and you, like the stupid you are, have believed it!” Seeing Kan not that far from them, she swallowed hard, understanding that her reaction meant giving herself away in front of her boss.

Looking at him and seeing him strangely staring at them, SolHi understood that Kan was probably there right from the beginning and saw not only part of their game but everything. This made SolHi frown again and Kan did the same, as though he was the father who caught his teenage daughter kissing a boy in the backyard. He even asked them in a stern voice, „May I know what you are doing here?”

Hearing the question, SolHi suddenly looked at DooSan. She even shook her head, letting that one know that it was time to keep his mouth shut. Because of this, DooSan smiled and, while putting the tap on the ointment recipient, said, „Just a talk among colleagues.”

„And I’m the elephant in this story,” Kan said in mockery, squinting at DooSan. SolHi furiously looked at Kan instead. „Yeah, yeah, I know you hate to be kept tied, but sometimes it is necessary. If not, you bite.”

„She not only bites. Yet, this is another story. Now I’m more interested in finding out why each time we do something she hates, we have a purple eye while others don’t even receive a slap.”

SolHi squinted at him. „You took care to make him walk like a duck. Why should I have bothered then?”

„Do you really believe what you say?” Kan asked. „I don’t think so!”

„Sombe, who’s your friend in this story?”

„Me. So, answer: why didn’t Nam Yun Ho receive even one slap from you?”

„I didn’t want to make a scene here?”

„I’m an eagle if you don’t make a scene!” Kan hissed through his teeth. „Anyway, although you have tried to avoid the scandal, you will have it.”

„Why? Did he complain already?” SolHi asked in an irritated tone. „If I catch him again…”

„Stay in line!” Kan demanded her. „And… I think it’ll be better for all of us if you stay away from him. Why? Because you punched him.”

DooSan burst into laughter. „I can’t believe this!” Kan squinted at him because he didn’t understand what DooSan meant. He, paying no attention to Kan, looked at SolHi, to whom he said in a playful voice, „I see you are taking advantage of my work. Congratulations, Mrs. Ian: your butcher preferred to say that he’d been punched by a woman than accept that he’d been beaten by a man. What can I say?! You have great former colleagues.”

„Wait a minute!” Yelled Kan. „What do you mean by „he preferred?” Not SolHi punched him, but you?”

„I thought I was clear when I said to SolHi that she painted our eyes purple each time we made fun of her while others went without a slap. Well, it seems I have been wrong. Actually, if I had not interceded, I think he would have left the place calm and smiling after leaving her looking like after the war.” Then, he frowned when Kan burst into laughter. „Did I say something funny?”

„Absolutely because… if you knew what poor Nam Yun Ho suffered two years ago you hadn’t…” The rest of what Kan said was just a simple mumbling after SolHi covered his mouth with her palm.

After that, furiously, SolHi looked at Kan and hissed into his ear, „Sombe, I think it would be a damn good idea to keep your mouth shut.”

„Why? I’m really interested to find out what happened two years ago.”

„Nothing of public use!” SolHi growled the answer and then screamed when Kan bit her palm. „Sombe!”

„What? I hate it when someone gags me. More than that, Prosecutor Han has the right to know who you are. And, to make it for public use, I’ll tell you this: for daring to kiss her, Nam Yun Ho walked like a duck for a week. Who took care of this? Ian SolHi, who used her knee to caress his… sensible parts. Honestly, not even dead, I want to know what he must have felt then.”

While Kan was reporting DooSan about her past deeds, SolHi decided that it was the right time to hit the pike. Something she couldn’t do eventually because of DooSan, who grabbed her by the hood when he saw her intending to leave. Thus, glaring at him to show him her anger, SolHi saw him grinning. Yet, she said nothing. She just leaned back a little when she saw DooSan bending toward her. Not to kiss her he did that, but to whisper into her ear, „You are definitely someone to be afraid of, girl! Castrating someone just to punish him for a kiss… it’s criminal, no other.”

SolHi devilishly grinned while looking at him, something that alerted DooSan. Moreover, she made him attentive when she said, „If you don’t want to feel the same „pleasure” as Nam Yun Ho, I suggest you let me go!” She growled such words at DooSan, who just shrugged as an answer. Then, passing by her, he headed toward the entrance. While doing this, DooSan looked back several times, grinning satisfied. This made SolHi hiss through her teeth eventually, „Idiot!” Then, she stared at Kan.

„Is it my fault now?”

„Not mine!” After that, reproachfully shaking her head, she followed DooSan, taking the things he left on the bench with her.

„Yeah, yeah, it’s always my fault when I try to defend you. That’s why, Kan Gi Yon, if you keep your mouth shut more often, you’ll do yourself a favor. Who knows?! By doing this, you’ll live longer!” After scolding himself so sweetly, Kan followed the two.

***

TWO DAYS LATER. AFTERNOON.

„Are you sure that’s here?” DooSan asked SolHi, whispering. They were hiding behind a car at that moment, a car parked not that far from the entrance of a place that seemed abandoned.

Feeling the distrust in his voice, SolHi frowned. „I’m sure!” She confidently said. „Otherwise, I would have passed by here first to check the place. More than that, Dja Iun indicated the same address in the message. If you don’t believe me, take a look!” She said, giving him her phone.

„It looks like being so,” DooSan mumbled, reading the message once again. „Yet, it seems abandoned.”

„It not only looks abandoned, but it is,” they heard Yoon Suk’s voice behind them. Because of this, they winced.

SolHi even growled at Yoon Suk. „You’ll kill me one day. Why are you sneaking around?”

„Why? Do you have things to hide?” Yoon Suk asked, grinning. „If no, I say to enter. At least we’ll find out what’s in that club and we won’t waste our time in vain.” Yet, when he wanted to pass by them, SolHi tripped him with her leg. If DooSan hadn’t grabbed him by the coat, poor Yoon Suk would have gone heels over head. Then, when he kept his balance again, he furiously looked at SolHi, mumbling something pleasant about her.

At all bothered by his mumbling, SolHi turned her back to him. Not silent, but mumbling, „It’s what you deserve for not listening to the orders of your superiors.”

„Is it my fault that you haven’t told everybody about this?”

„Did I say something? No, right?! More than that, you had it well deserved. Why? Because, if you come here, you have to listen to orders. His orders!” She growled, pointing at DooSan. „Or what? Do you think that you are so smart to venture into a ghost place on your own?”

„Would you mind to finish this childish quarrel?” DooSan scolded them. „We have to focus, not argue.” Seeing two men leaving the place they were spying on, DooSan pulled SolHi and Yoon Suk to shelter again.

„Where did they come from?” SolHi furiously asked.

„From hell,” Yoon Suk had the genius idea to tease SolHi. Seeing her angry look, he turned his back to her and told DooSan, „It’s not empty. The place, I mean, not someone’s head because…” He kept silent eventually because of SolHi, who covered his mouth.

Then, he became attentive when SolHi hissed into his ear, „If you don’t want to check your head if it’s not empty, I suggest you keep your tongue behind your teeth! And you, Prosecutor Han, ask for backup! I think we’ll need help because damn interesting things happen in that place and we won’t have any chance to check it with only three chicken brains. I mean… alone.”

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

„It’s why I said to come here with the whole team. You no: you said to check it first!” After that, nervous, he sneaked further from them to give a phone call.

Alone with Yoon Suk, SolHi squinted at him when he told her, „Did someone tell you that you were a vampire?”

„Why? Are you eager to check what it feels to have my teeth stabbed into your throat?” After that, she pounced on Yoon Suk, forcing that one to pull a little back because he knew what SolHi was capable of when she wanted something. He even covered his neck with both palms, making SolHi laugh. „Too bad!” She said, „It looked tasty!”

„Start then with him!” Yoon Suk told her, pointing with his head toward DooSan. „I’m sure he tastes better!”

„Who?” DooSan asked, making both of them wince. SolHi, instead of answering that question, turned her back to him because she didn’t want to let DooSan know that he was considered a delicious prey. Not after the night when they had been in the small park in front of Kanam police station alone.

***

Sitting on one of the multiple stairs that served as seats for the spectators, Kan sweetly yawned. He was in a kind of improvised amusement park at that moment, so loved by the cycling practitioners, by skateboards, and by the lovers of racing and other small competitions. Yawning continuously, the detective carefully looked around, trying to understand where exactly the Parkour competition would take place.

Suddenly he looked at Lee, who was sitting two stairs down, when that one said, „You look nervous!” And, trying not to look suspicious, he pretended to check his phone. Yet, his eyes were still spying on the skateboarding arena. Not listening to an answer from Kan, the Captain glanced back. Thus, he saw Kan leaning back, with his cap over his eyes, pretending that he was „sleeping,” although Lee was sure it wasn’t like that because he heard the Detective moving not long ago.

He was right in thinking so because he saw the other spectators taking their seats soon after this. Only then did Kan answer, „The one who looks nervous is you, Tomcat! And… there are our mice!” Looking in front, Lee saw Yu Ra and SilGi appearing in the arena.

Seeing the two couriers, Lee smiled. „I think it’s the same baby who was stabbed by her boyfriend a few days ago and you took care she’d survive. Am I right?”

„Yeah,” Kan hissed through his teeth. „Anyway, not he stabbed her, but she did this to herself. And, I’m sure I won’t ever forget this.”

„Why? Did you fall in love with her so suddenly?” Lee said this jokingly.

„I’m dying because of her, not the other,” Kan mumbled, upset. „It would have been better to be so. Yet… eh, I’m still shaking when I remember that I have been so afraid she’ll die before we reach the hospital that day. If I had known who she was, I would have gone that day, letting her agonize in her own blood and apartment.”

„Something I doubt.”

„Why? Don’t you think I’m capable of this?”

„Absolutely! Why? Because you have that face of a „good boy,” murmured Lee, smiling. „More than this, those like you don’t leave anybody behind them if they know their life is in danger.”

„Who would have done this then? Those like you?” Kan said, feisty. Seeing Lee looking at him, Kan seemed surprised and afraid that they could be discovered. That’s why he suddenly said, „Look in front, Tomcat! Or what, do you want us to be caught?”

Lee smiled. „Don’t worry, Tomcat: nobody will catch us. Why? Because we are simple spectators. It would have been even more suspicious if we hadn’t talked to each other.”

Both of them kept silent the moment a shriek was heard around them. This made Kan frown. „Are they trying to announce the end of the world?”

„Only the start of the competition,” said Lee, smiling. Then, he whispered in his headphones, „Everybody in position!”

Looking to his right while yawning, bored, Kan saw Lee’s team taking their places among the spectators. Then, when everybody took his place, each of them coughed, letting Lee know that they were ready. Only then did Kan look at Lee again when the Captain said, „Now that everybody is in position, let’s work clean and fast, boys! Especially, don’t lose sight of the couriers! I don’t really want to leave this place with no fish in my bag.” After that, standing up, Lee headed toward the area where he could see Yu Ra and SilGi better while the two were laughing after a joke made by one of their friends. Yet, even if Lee seemed „busy” to apologize because he bothered the spectators in front of whom he passed by, he still kept an eye on the two. Later, finding his place, the Captain sat down and put the sunglasses on, pretending that the sunlight bothered him. He did that to film the two couriers with the help of the small camera he had installed on the lens.

Eventually, Lee coughed, letting his team know he was also ready and attentive. And, looking at the entrance, they saw Gi Hiok appearing in the arena. He wasn’t alone, but along with one of Lee’s agents.

Seeing Gi Hiok coming toward them, Yu Ra tapped on her boyfriend’s shoulder and told him to look back. Then, grinning, she whispered, „He’s the most punctual man alive. I think he works better than a Swiss watch.”

„Why are you so surprised?” SilGi said drily. „He has always been like that.” After that, the two headed toward Gi Hiok. Two steps from him and the agent, the two lovers stopped and SilGi ironically said, „Ia, Ko Gi Hiok, I thought you wouldn’t show up! Yet, I see you have some cold blood in your veins if you hadn’t run away.”

Gi Hiok smiled after SilGi’s words. Then, staring at him, he said, „Why should I have done this?! I’m not a chicken like… others, who exchange their girlfriend only to make sure he won’t be killed.” A commentary that made SilGi nervous. „Don’t worry! I’m not here looking for a fight, only for businesses! Only and only for businesses! So, as I don’t like to waste my time, I’ll say this: tell me you have what I’ve asked you for!”

SilGi squinted at him. „More than a Swiss watch, you are „in a hurry” guy too. Well, such things happen. Yet, before answering your question, answer mine: why are you doing this? I mean… what made you enter this job?”

„Money?”

„Well, yes, I must accept that you have always had a good nose for money. You are as good as a fighting dog.”

„I’ll take this as a compliment,” said Gi Hiok, smiling. „Did you bring or not?”

„He’s definitely a rushing guy,” said Yu Ra in mockery. „I hope you don’t rush in bed too. Yet, let’s go to business: the money first, baby!”

„Your „baby” is by your side,” Gi Hiok told her in a serious tone. „And yes, I have the money.” After that, he made a sign to the agent, who unzipped the bag he wore on the shoulder. He unzipped it only a little just as Yu Ra to be able to see the money.

„Perfect then!” Murmured Yu Ra, satisfied. „Yet, you will have to wait a little, because… the goods are still on the way here. Meanwhile, enjoy the party! When we are ready, I’ll let you know!” After that, she turned her back to Gi Hiok and the agent, leaving with SilGi.

„Wow, these two are worse than the Italian mafia!” Lee heard Kan’s voice in the headphones. „I get chills only with hearing them!”

Lee smiled and calmly said, „They are only kids playing the adult role. If they were the Italian Mafia, we would have swam in a pool of blood now and not watched such a bad show.”

„I don’t think they are playing!”

„I agree this time: they aren’t definitely playing! Even so, I would have liked to see how far their madness called game can go,” whispered Lee, sadly smiling. After that, when the Parkour competition started, he whistled and clapped like the other spectators.

What amazed Kan more than seeing Lee acting like a kid in front of a famous K-pop group was seeing Yu Ra yelling like an idiot trying to encourage SilGi. This one, tightly holding the edge of the skateboard, approached the start line where a young man with a drone was waiting for him. Thus, side by side, the two men looked at each other with hatred. Only SilGi grinned eventually, weirdly, as though he was planning something against the other one.

SilGi focused on the competition eventually when the arbitrator started the countdown. Then, when the arbitrator shot, SilGi spectacularly jumped in the air getting to the level of the drone next to which he floated for a few moments. Then, both SilGi and the drone dizzyingly descended, touching the skate park, smoothly sliding on it as any skater on ice.

Eventually, seeing that Yu Ra rushed after a young man who whispered something into her ear, Lee told the other agents, „Everybody in position! The real show is just about to start!”

„Got it, Captain!” The agent who was not that far from Yu Ra said. Then, pretending to have a phone call, he stood up and headed toward the parking lot where they saw Yu Ra and the young man heading. Kan did the same eventually.

***

Sneaking down the wall of the parking lot, Kan managed to approach the place where Yu Ra and the other three men were. Thus, he could hear their talk. What amazed him the most was to see Yu Ra acting so calmly while doing bad things. Because of this, Kan shook his head eventually when he heard her telling one of the men that were next to a black van, in which they brought the goods, „Open it!” That one, to whom Yu Ra spoke as though he was a dog or something, nodded and opened the cooler bag. „Wonderful then!” She said, seeing the goods inside. „Call the guest now!” She demanded the young man who summoned her there and that one ran to call Gi Hiok and his partner there.

Seeing the young man leaving the parking lot, Kan hid. Then, he told Lee in the headphones, „Bring them here!” A few moments later, a group of masked agents was seen approaching that place. Yet, they stopped a few meters from the entrance at Kan’s order. Even so, they were so close to Yu Ra and the other three men, ready to arrest them in case they suspected something or intended to run away.

Five minutes later, Kan saw Gi Hiok, the agent who was accompanying him, and the young man who went to summon them appearing in the parking lot. Seeing them, Kan coughed, giving the signal. This made the masked agents prepare their weapons.

Meanwhile, Gi Hiok and the agent approached Yu Ra. Something bothered Kan in Yu Ra’s manner of looking at Gi Hiok: arrogantly and superiorly. He felt the same in her voice when she said, „Maybe SilGi blindly believes in you because of the common past, but I don’t think the same about you, Ko Gi Hiok. Why? Because I know who you are. And, as I know you well, I don’t trust you.”

Gi Hiok grinned. „It’s only your problem,” he confidently told her. „I’m not here to convince you of the contrary but to do my job. Something I’m waiting for from you too. Yet, you do the contrary, buying time. For what?”

„To make sure you won’t deceive us. Something I know you can do. So: show me the money once again! I want to make sure they aren’t fake!”

„The doubting Thomas!” Gi Hiok hissed through his teeth. „If you want to check it, check it!” After that, taking the bag with money, he threw it at Yu Ra’s legs.

„Asshole!” Yu Ra sworn. Then, squatting, she unzipped the bag and checked the money. „It seems to be everything here! Give them the goods!” She demanded the three men.

At Gi Hiok’s sign, the agent took the cooling bag and rushed toward the exit. Gi Hiok didn’t follow him, but stretched his hand to Yu Ra, telling her with a satisfied grin on his face, „I hope we will work better in the future!”

His weird grin seemed suspicious to Yu Ra. That’s why she told him, „Something I doubt!” Then, she turned her back to him.

After a few steps, Yu Ra stopped and, looking back, saw Gi Hiok with his hands at the back of his head and lying on his stomach. This let her understand that something was wrong there. To run away she didn’t have time because Kan ordered the agents to arrest them and the masked agents entered the parking lot right away, surrounding them.

„Rat!” Yu Ra shouted when she saw one of the agents cuffing Gi Hiok, but he didn’t struggle with him. Because of this, she approached her accomplices and pulled the gun from his waist, intending to shoot Gi Hiok. She didn’t have time even for this because she’d been knocked down by one of the agents. This made her scream blue murder, demanding them to let her go because she didn’t do anything wrong.

„As though someone believes your words,” Kan ironically said. Then, he told Lee in the headphones, „We are done here!”

„Wonderful then! It’s our turn, guys!” He gave the order to the other agents. After that, standing up and followed by the other agents infiltrated among the spectators, he headed toward the place where SilGi was competing.

They didn’t manage to get next to SilGi imperceptibly because the young man, seeing the agents standing up and that Yu Ra wasn’t seen anywhere, understood that something suspiciously happened there. Because of this, he grabbed the drone after jumping. After that, when the agents approached him more, he threw the drone toward them, intending to run away through the corridor that they might have formed while avoiding being hit by the drone.

The moment the drone hit the ground in front of Lee, it broke into pieces. One of its pieces made a deep cut on Lee’s arm eventually, making him furiously hiss through his teeth, „Damn jerk!” And, grabbing the arbitrator’s chair, he threw it toward SilGi.

Hitting the cement, the chair bounced off and hit SolHi’s leg, forcing him to kneel. Even so, gnashing his teeth and swearing because of the pain felt in his ankle, SilGi stood up right away. After that, limping, he tried to run away. And, to make sure he’d make it eventually, SilGi started to throw everything his hand could grab at that moment toward the agents.

Thus, focused on finding something else to throw at the agents, he’d been inattentive. When he tried to turn right, he hit his head on the chest of one of the agents. The agent, not waiting to see what SilGi would do, grabbed his arm and threw the young man over his shoulder, making SilGi gnash his teeth again when his back painfully hit the ground. Even so, with all the pain felt in his bones at that moment, SilGi didn’t have time to complain because the agents cuffed him off right away, although SilGi, who understood that it was his end, started to struggle with them and, releasing himself, to run away.

Eventually, lifted off the ground, SilGi had to face another enemy: Lee. This one, grinning, told him with superiority, „I suggest you to be calm, boy! Otherwise, you lose your arm for sure. And… it’s useless struggling so much when you know already that not even the rats can run away from us.”

„Trash!” SilGi yelled. „You don’t even know who you are dealing with!”

„If you say so! Now, take him away from here until I don’t twist his neck for the wound he made me!” Lee demanded his agents, feeling the wound stinging.

Hearing Kan saying, „You can breathe a sigh of relief now,” Lee looked at the Detective and smiled again.

„You are actually right because… one more trash is taken from the streets. Yet, I’m not totally satisfied.”

„Why? Did you hope to catch the big „fish” along with these two?”

„I won’t deny that I would have liked this. Yet, I must be thankful for what I have, right?”

„Not that you would have had any other choice. More than this, you have the chance to be promoted now,” Kan teased him, pointing with his head at the bleeding wound. „Injured in the line of duty, right?!” Then, Kan gave his handkerchief to Lee.

Lee laughed. „I’m more than okay now, bandaged by a „baby” like you,” he jokingly said, winking.

„In your dreams, old fox,” Kan feistily told him. „Why? Because you can handle this alone.” After that, throwing the handkerchief to Lee, he turned his back and left.

„As testy as ever,” murmured Lee, smiling, catching the handkerchief on the fly. Then, helped by one of the agents, Lee bandaged his arm. He was happy because he knew that he won a friend that day - Kan.