Chapter 443: I Think I Know That Person

Three stars adorned the cap of the man in military uniform.

But An Hyun-soo didn’t notice them at all.

His gaze was fixed on the man in the suit.

“Chief An Hyun-soo, what are you doing here? This isn’t even your jurisdiction.”

The man in the suit spoke up.

“Who gave you permission to come here? Did Commissioner Han send you? Since when does Incheon Police send their SWAT team to my area without approval?”

A barrage of mocking questions disguised as inquiries poured out. An Hyun-soo bit his lip hard and saluted.

“Sir!”

The man in the suit was Lee Seong-jae, the Commissioner of Gyeonggi Provincial Police Agency I had mentioned earlier.

Lee Seong-jae casually returned An Hyun-soo’s salute and continued speaking.

“I asked what you’re doing here.”

When An Hyun-soo still hesitated to answer, Lee Seong-jae’s face contorted angrily as he growled.

“Not going to answer, huh? Then I’ll just call Commissioner Han and ask him myself.”

As Lee Seong-jae pulled out his phone, An Hyun-soo hastily spoke up.

“We received a report of a gunfight here and rushed to the scene.”

“A gunfight? What nonsense is this?”

Lee Seong-jae frowned and turned to the man in military uniform beside him.

“Lieutenant General, was there any training in the area?”

“We had shooting practice today. Of course there would be gunshots.”

“Is that so? Ah, you should introduce yourself too. This is Lieutenant General Park Ji-hoon, in charge of the 5th Corps covering Gyeonggi and Gangwon provinces.”

An Hyun-soo’s gaze finally turned to Lieutenant General Park Ji-hoon.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Lieutenant General Park Ji-hoon.”

Park Ji-hoon said, curling up the corners of his mouth.

An Hyun-soo’s face turned pale for a moment, but he quickly composed himself and saluted.

“Yes, it’s a pleasure to meet you. But why are you here?”

“Well, I was having dinner with Commissioner Lee at the promotion hall when we got word that armed suspects were headed this way. I quickly mobilized my subordinate units and came here.”

Soldiers were already pouring out of military transport trucks, securing the perimeter.

“…Does the Corps Commander personally move for such matters?”

“Armed suspects entered my jurisdiction without permission. Of course I should move personally for the safety of our citizens.”

It was rare for a Corps Commander to move personally. Yet he responded as if it were only natural.

Something seemed off about this situation. Feeling the gazes of the two men, An Hyun-soo swallowed his anger and asked:

“You mentioned armed suspects?”

“Can’t the team leader see them?”

Park Ji-hoon said this while turning his gaze towards the police SWAT team.

“Wait, are you calling our police SWAT team suspects? We’re a special operations unit that exists to protect citizens from terrorism and crime!”

An Hyun-soo raised his voice after confirming where Park’s gaze was directed.

“That might be true for a normal deployment. But is this a proper deployment? From what I hear, this was an unauthorized operation. Unless I’m mistaken, in which case I’ll apologize.”

“…”

An Hyun-soo took a sharp breath at Park Ji-hoon’s chilling gaze.

He couldn’t readily answer. It was true that he had moved the SWAT team on his own without reporting to his superiors.

He had even moved the SWAT team to an area outside their jurisdiction. This could potentially cause big problems later.

“Why can’t you answer? Speak up.”

When there was still no response, Park Ji-hoon turned to Lee Seong-jae beside him and asked:

“Commissioner Lee, is this a proper deployment?”

“No, it’s not. There’s no reason for Incheon Police Special Operations to deploy to Gyeonggi Province without my permission. They should send a cooperation request and get my approval before any operation.”

Park Ji-hoon glared at An Hyun-soo again and said:

“Commissioner Lee says it’s not. What do you think?”

“…The situation was urgent, so we couldn’t follow proper procedures.”

“Then the answer is clear. Will you continue the operation? Or will you withdraw now?”

When An Hyun-soo just bit his lip and said nothing, Park Ji-hoon raised an eyebrow.

“I’m the one who needs to protect this place.”

“It’s overstepping for the military to interfere in police matters.”

An Hyun-soo took issue with the military’s involvement in this affair.

“Overstepping? Commissioner Lee, am I overstepping?”

“No, I requested your assistance.”

“You heard him, right? The head of Gyeonggi police personally requested military assistance. Is this still overstepping?”

It was overstepping. Even a Corps Commander couldn’t mobilize troops recklessly.

But An Hyun-soo couldn’t say that out loud.

“Still, we need to verify. We came because of a report. We can’t just withdraw like this. We need to at least check inside.”

Lee Seong-jae picked up on An Hyun-soo’s words.

“Oh really? Then let’s all check together. Have your men fall back.”

“B-but…”

“Team Leader An Hyun-soo!”

Lee Seong-jae bellowed before kicking An Hyun-soo hard in the shin.

An Hyun-soo staggered but quickly straightened up after seeing Lee Seong-jae’s fierce glare.

“Just because you’re in charge of the SWAT team, you think you can ignore rank? Or do you find my words funny? Did Commissioner Han tell you to disrespect me?”

“No, sir!”

“I outrank your commissioner, you bastard!”

“I apologize. That wasn’t my intention.”

“Don’t think this will blow over quietly!”

Lee Seong-jae addressed the SWAT team members behind An Hyun-soo:

“This is Commissioner Lee Seong-jae of Gyeonggi Provincial Police. Everyone get back in the bus and standby.”

Despite Lee Seong-jae’s order, the SWAT team members hesitated, glancing around nervously.

“You bastards! Have you lost your minds? What are you? I outrank your commander! Are you disobeying?”

When Lee Seong-jae raised his voice, they began lowering their weapons one by one.

“Go wait in the bus. We won’t hold you responsible.”

Only then did the SWAT team members salute Lee Seong-jae and move towards the bus.

“Team Leader An Hyun-soo.”

“Yes, Commissioner.”

“You said we need to check inside. You come along too. I’m curious what made you come here ignoring all procedures.”

There was nothing An Hyun-soo could do now.

While Lee Seong-jae was talking with An Hyun-soo, Park Ji-hoon had already started walking.

“Sir!”

Team Leader Kim Dae-seong saluted as Lieutenant General Park Ji-hoon approached. Park Ji-hoon returned the salute and lowered his hand.

“I heard you joined Black Secret, Colonel Kim. It’s good to see you.”

“Yes, Division Commander.”

“Hey, hey. I’m Corps Commander now.”

“Is that so? Come to think of it, you’ve been promoted to Lieutenant General. You have three stars now.”

An Hyun-soo could tell they were quite close from how friendly Kim Dae-seong’s voice was, unlike when dealing with him earlier.

“Are you going to stop me too?”

“I’m sorry. I was ordered not to let anyone in. It’s not something I can decide on my own.”

“Well, well. Still as stubborn as ever, I see.”

Kim Dae-seong spoke firmly, but Park Ji-hoon just laughed.

Just then, a voice came from the entrance.

“You’ve arrived, Lieutenant General.”

* * *

“Seo Jae-hoon, things aren’t going your way, are they?”

Seo Jae-hoon furrowed his brow as he saw the military forces that had arrived shortly after the police SWAT team.

It was clear he was trying to assess the situation.

“This is what happens when you try to clumsily implicate me.”

Instead of explaining, I just sneered and turned away.

“Where are you going? I warned you not to move.”

“Now that all the spectators have gathered, we should let them in, don’t you think?”

“Stop. If you move, I’ll kill Lee Seok-min.”

I just turned my head and smiled at Seo Jae-hoon’s words.

Seeing my smile, Seo Jae-hoon frowned.

“If you want to save Lee Seok-min, send everyone away.”

Left alone for a while, this bastard seems to think he can treat people like fools. I shrugged nonchalantly and retorted:

“Seo Jae-hoon. Do you think I’m an idiot? Why would I send them away when I can trap you here? Kill him if you want. Then you’ll die too.”

I turned and headed towards the noisy villa entrance.

Manager Ma followed behind me, keeping watch on the surroundings, while one team remained in place, guns trained on Seo Jae-hoon.

I could hear Han Ji-ho questioning Seo Jae-hoon from behind:

“What should we do?”

“…Stand by.”

How amusing. He treats other people’s lives as worthless, but his own life seems precious.

It was just pathetic how Seo Jae-hoon was being more cautious than usual, probably knowing the guns aimed at him would fire the moment Lee Seok-min died.

Reaching the villa entrance, I spoke up:

“You’ve arrived, Lieutenant General.”

At my voice, not only Lieutenant General Park Ji-hoon, but also Commissioner Lee Seong-jae and Team Leader An Hyun-soo turned their gazes towards me.

I greeted Lee Seong-jae as well.

“Senior, you’re here too. You’ve arrived just in time.”

There was no way Seo Jae-hoon would reveal himself so easily.

His actions felt oddly unsettling, so I contacted Park Ji-hoon and Lee Seong-jae, who were closest.

Luckily, they were together, and they came here with a direct corps unit that could move faster than the police.

They were insurance I called just in case guns needed to be used, but things seem to be working out better than expected.

After confirming that Kim Dae-seong was still blocking the entrance, I nodded to Manager Ma.

Manager Ma, catching my eye, instructed Kim Dae-seong:

“Team Leader Kim, clear the way.”

“Yes, understood.”

Team Leader Kim Dae-seong, who had been stubbornly guarding the front, stepped aside.

“Only you three may enter.”

An Hyun-soo glared at me, but I just smiled, raising the corners of my mouth.

“Colonel Kim.”

“Yes, General.”

“It pained me when you left the military. I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you.”

“Not at all.”

Park Ji-hoon patted Kim Dae-seong’s shoulder once before walking through the open door towards me.

Seeing this, Lee Seong-jae followed behind him and said to An Hyun-soo:

“Let’s go too. Didn’t you say we need to check inside?”

“Should we go by ourselves? It could be dangerous…”

“Stop talking nonsense. With Lieutenant General Park Ji-hoon here, what madman would start shooting? Unless they have a death wish, no one would do such a thing, so come along.”

As Lee Seong-jae took the lead, An Hyun-soo reluctantly followed.

When the three entered, the door closed again. Kim Dae-seong stood guard in front of it.

“CEO Kim Mu-hyeok. It’s been a while.”

Park Ji-hoon, walking beside me, smiled and spoke jovially.

“Yes, Lieutenant General. It’s the first time since Grandfather’s funeral.”

“Right. Thanks to you, I’ve been promoted to Lieutenant General and become the 5th Corps Commander, but I couldn’t even call you.”

“Not at all. It’s all because you’ve served well in the military.”

When the military’s internal faction linked to Choi Seon-man was purged, many people left the military.

Park Ji-hoon had a small connection with my grandfather, so I recommended him through my contacts to fill the vacancy.

Thanks to that, Park Ji-hoon was promoted to Lieutenant General and became the 5th Corps Commander.

“Haha, no way. Thanks to CEO Kim, our military has become cleaner.”

I smiled as I watched Park Ji-hoon laugh loudly.

“CEO Kim. If you two are being all chummy, I’ll feel very left out.”

Lee Seong-jae joked as he approached with a smile and extended his hand.

“Ah, Senior. It’s been a while.”

Lee Seong-jae had the unique background of graduating from Korea University’s Law School, passing the Bar Exam, and then entering the police as a superintendent.

“We saw each other at the last alumni meeting, right?”

“Yes. We met at Myeong-dong Hotel.”

“Come to think of it, I heard the President-elect has set up his transition committee at Myeong-dong Hotel.”

He didn’t say more, but I could guess what he meant.

Of course, I had allowed it.

“Yes, that’s right. They’ve rented two entire floors for the transition committee.”

“I was surprised when you suddenly called. But when I arrived, this fellow was here. Do you know him?”

Lee Seong-jae asked, placing his hand on An Hyun-soo’s shoulder. I turned my gaze towards An Hyun-soo.

An Hyun-soo’s eyes seemed to waver, as if he was flustered.

“No. This is my first time meeting him.”

“Is that so? But where are we? And…”

Lee Seong-jae, upon seeing Seo Jae-hoon, asked in a low voice:

“Isn’t that Vice Chairman Seo Jae-hoon of Il-seong Group? And next to him is Director Lee Seok-min. But why is there a gun pointed at Director Lee Seok-min’s head…”

“It’s complicated to explain. But I think I know that person.”

I pointed at An Hyun-soo as I spoke. An Hyun-soo’s face turned pale.

Lee Seong-jae also looked at An Hyun-soo and asked:

“Really? Do you know something?”

“…”

“Why are you suddenly keeping quiet? You said we needed to come in here. You said you received a report?”

An Hyun-soo swallowed dryly, cleared his throat, and then spoke:

“This is Vice Chairman Seo Jae-hoon’s villa. The person in front trespassed without permission and…”

“No, who asked about that? Over there, over there.”

Lee Seong-jae pointed towards Lee Seok-min and Han Ji-ho as he spoke.

“I’m asking what’s going on there.”

“That’s something I also don’t really…”

Hearing An Hyun-soo’s ambiguous answer, Lee Seong-jae cursed with his eyes and let out a deep sigh before taking a step forward.

“Vice Chairman Seo Jae-hoon. I’m Lee Seong-jae, Commissioner of Gyeonggi Provincial Police. I don’t know what’s going on, but let’s put the gun down first and talk. Why are you doing this when you’re such a well-known person?”

Seo Jae-hoon’s face contorted. But he seemed to have no options left.

To think even An Hyun-soo, his own man, would be overwhelmed by Kim Mu-hyeok’s forces.

Seo Jae-hoon sighed deeply, ruffled his hair, and looked at Han Ji-ho.

“Director Han, lower the gun.”

“…”

“Director Han.”

“Vice Chairman. I’m sorry.”

Bang!

A single gunshot echoed through the air.