“If not, then fine.”
Jungrok finally broke the uncomfortable silence, his gaze unwavering as he met Jung Yoon’s eyes.
The corners of his lips quirked upward, forming a playful, almost mischievous curve.
Jung Yoon, momentarily caught off guard, found his gaze lingering on Jungrok’s lips before he abruptly tore his head away, a flush rising on his cheeks.
“Just move,” Jung Yoon muttered, his voice low.
“People are looking at us strangely.”
Jungrok, ever quick to react, smoothly stepped back as Jung Yoon began to move, creating space between them.
Ignoring Jungrok’s lingering presence, Jung Yoon hurried into the passenger seat, seeking refuge from the confusing intimacy of the moment.
As he reached to pull the door shut, he saw Junhyeok and Hangyeol finally emerging from the station building, their figures growing larger as they approached.
Jungrok seemed to pay them no mind, indifferent to whether they got in or not.
He simply started walking, circling the front of the car towards the driver’s seat.
From inside the vehicle, Jung Yoon watched him, pressing his fingers to his throbbing temples.
The headache was relentless, a physical manifestation of his internal turmoil.
“Should we just ditch them and take off?”
Jungrok quipped, quickly getting into the driver’s seat and buckling his seatbelt with a practiced click.
Jung Yoon offered no reply.
He was too consumed by a growing sense of unease, desperately trying to comprehend why Jungrok was acting so intimately, so familiarly with him.
With no past information to contextualize Jungrok’s behavior, the unexpected familiarity, the bizarre misunderstanding, and a swelling wave of suspicion suddenly felt overwhelming.
This wasn’t his Jungrok.
Every time he witnessed Jungrok defending him, or felt Jungrok’s deliberate proximity, a sharp pang of pain, as if infected by the very knowledge of Jungrok’s death, shot through him.
The anachronism of the present Jungrok, so alive and so here, was a constant, unsettling reminder of a future that shouldn’t be.
Jungrok, who had been quietly observing Jung Yoon’s unusually pale complexion and strained expression, reached out a hand, his fingers extending tentatively.
A surge of injustice and profound unpleasantness welled up inside Jung Yoon, making him instinctively close his eyes, shutting out Jungrok’s gesture and the uncomfortable familiarity it conveyed.
“You son of a bitch, you were going to ditch us, weren’t you?”
Suddenly, the backseat door was flung open roughly, startling Jung Yoon.
Junhyeok, though clearly not running at full speed, must have walked quickly, as he got in huffing and puffing, a mix of exhaustion and indignation on his face.
Thankfully, Jungrok did nothing further, his hand falling from Jung Yoon’s direction as he gripped the steering wheel.
As they drove away from Deokdong Station, the verbal sparring between Jungrok and Junhyeok began, a flurry of hurled insults and exasperated retorts filling the car.
“Is Detective Woo sleeping?”
Hangyeol asked, his voice laced with curiosity about the motionless Jung Yoon.
He leaned forward, grabbing the headrest of Jung Yoon’s seat, attempting to get a better look.
“Agh!”
Jung Yoon exclaimed, a sharp jolt going through him as Hangyeol touched the headrest.
“Don’t touch him,” Jungrok commanded, his voice surprisingly firm.
“Let him sleep.”
“No, you could have just said it… my face…”
Hangyeol whined, rubbing his nose dramatically after Jungrok’s intervention.
“When something suddenly disgusting comes near, you can’t help but react,” Jungrok retorted, pressing Hangyeol’s face back into place with his palm, a casual yet firm gesture.
Hangyeol, whose face had been unexpectedly squashed, rubbed his nose again, whimpering softly in protest.
Beside him, Junhyeok chuckled, remarking that he had known Hangyeol was going to get hit.
Despite the escalating noise and playful banter, Jung Yoon kept his eyes tightly closed, trying to block out the present.
His mind was consumed by Jungrok’s expression, the one he had seen just before he closed his eyes to avoid him.
That unfamiliar dark and cold gaze, so unlike the Jungrok he knew from his memories, seemed etched onto his retina, refusing to leave him for a long, unsettling time.
It was a vision that both perplexed and disturbed him deeply.
The car, having deftly navigated the winding, narrow alleyways of the old neighborhood, eventually pulled up to the entrance of a quieter alley where Jung Yong-gil’s house was clearly visible through the sparse trees and fading light. Jung Yoon quietly opened his eyes only after the engine was turned off, the sudden silence inside the car a welcome reprieve.
The car rocked slightly as Hangyeol and Junhyeok unbuckled and got out, their movements creating a subtle tremor.
Jung Yoon unbuckled his own seatbelt, his gaze fixed on the firmly closed, uninviting main gate of Jung Yong-gil’s residence.
“If you’re still tired, stay here,” Jungrok offered, his voice softer now, devoid of its earlier teasing.
“We’re only going to be inside the house until the forensics team arrives to begin their meticulous work. You can rest in the car.”
“I’m fine,” Jung Yoon cut him off abruptly, his tone sharper than intended.
Jungrok’s consideration, while perhaps well-meaning, felt unwelcome right now. Jung Yoon didn’t want to appear weak, foolish, or inept, especially not in front of this Jungrok who was so bafflingly alive and familiar, yet terrifyingly unfamiliar.
With his curt reply, Jung Yoon opened the passenger door and stepped out. Jungrok likewise exited the car, his movements fluid, and locked the doors with a remote click.
“No one’s coming out,” Jungrok stated, a hint of impatience in his voice as he approached the gate.
“The warrant?”
Jung Yoon asked, his voice flat.
“Here.”
Jungrok produced the folded warrant from his back pocket, unfolding it with a crisp snap.
They rang the doorbell repeatedly, but as expected, there was no reaction from inside the house.
Jungrok scanned the document quickly, confirming its contents, then stepped back from the gate.
He looked over the tall wall, his gaze sweeping across the hidden property, before roughly folding the warrant and shoving it back into his pocket.
“Ring it three more times,” Jungrok instructed Hangyeol, his voice firm.
“If no one comes out after that, we’ll just force the door open. We have the legal authority to proceed.”
At Jungrok’s words, Hangyeol quickly pressed the doorbell again, a series of urgent chimes echoing in the quiet alley.
Still, no answer came from within.
Jung Yoon quietly stared at the large, curtained window set into the wall of the house.
Even if Jung Yong-gil or his elderly mother weren’t home, it was highly likely that Jung Yong-gil’s wife was present.
Her known reclusiveness and potential evasiveness were factors to consider.
“Two more times,” Hangyeol announced, making a ‘V’ with his fingers before turning back to press the doorbell once more.
Jung Yoon’s eyes remained fixed on the curtained window, his senses heightened.
The persistent sound of the doorbell reverberated loudly in the otherwise silent alley, a stark interruption of the neighborhood’s calm.
Just then, the curtain subtly swayed, a barely perceptible movement, and a shadow, like a dark stain, appeared behind it.
Jung Yoon’s eyes narrowed instantly.
There was definitely someone inside.
Considering the lack of any previous response and the immediate reaction to the doorbell, it was highly probable that it was Jung Yong-gil’s wife, attempting to remain unseen.
Jung Yoon subtly shifted his position a little to the side, and Jungrok, ever observant, looked at him, his brow furrowing in question.
Meeting Jungrok’s eyes, Jung Yoon gestured towards the window with a slight tilt of his chin, indicating his observation.
Jungrok let out a soft sigh, a sound of understanding mixed with a hint of exasperation.
“Last chance now,” Jungrok called out to the silent house, his voice carrying clearly.
“Forget it,” Jung Yoon interjected, stepping forward.
“Come out, there’s no point in waiting.”
“Huh? You said three times,” Hangyeol protested, confused by the sudden change in plan.
“I’ll go over the wall and open the gate myself,” Jungrok stated, ignoring Hangyeol.
“Ki Junhyeok, follow me immediately. Hangyeol, you wait below and bring the forensics team as soon as they arrive. They’ll need direct access.”
Jungrok stretched his arm over the wall, his fingers testing the top.
He seriously fiddled with the wall’s upper edge for a moment, his expression focused, then nodded, satisfied.
He was clearly checking for any broken glass shards or other deterrents that were sometimes embedded along the top of walls to prevent unauthorized climbing.
“Monster…”
Hangyeol mumbled under his breath, watching Jungrok’s assessment.
“If you’re jealous, just say so. Don’t be petty,” Junhyeok shot back, opening his mouth wide as if to playfully “eat” Hangyeol’s head.
Hangyeol, genuinely shocked, dodged away quickly and retreated down the alley with an aggrieved expression.
Jungrok, meanwhile, slowly retreated towards the wall of the opposite house, preparing for his attempt.
He was about to crouch down, ready to spring, when Jung Yoon swiftly moved to block him.
“I’ll do it.”
“…Why?”
Jungrok asked, surprised by Jung Yoon’s sudden intervention.
“I think it’d be better if I did it,” Jung Yoon explained, his tone firm.
“If you do it and there’s a problem, like an injury or an overly aggressive reaction, I’m the one who’ll have a headache dealing with the paperwork and fallout. It’s simply more efficient this way.”
“You’d throw yourself into the fire for my sake?”
Jungrok asked, a playful, yet probing, glint in his eyes.
This damn bastard, seriously.
Jung Yoon gritted his teeth, letting Jungrok’s nonsensical words flow in one ear and out the other, refusing to engage in the unexpected banter.
He ignored Junhyeok, who was beside them, silently clapping with admiring eyes, clearly enjoying the dynamic.
Jung Yoon simply crouched down, preparing himself.
Jung Yoon swiftly ran towards Jung Yong-gil’s wall, his movements precise and athletic.
He used his left foot to push off the base of the wall, propelling himself upward with surprising power.
He then lightly placed both hands on top of the wall, putting his weight on them, and effortlessly hoisted himself up.
He glanced towards the window where he’d sensed movement.
The curtain was still, but a distinct human silhouette was clearly visible now, frozen in place. “
Jung Yoon shifted the direction of his hands slightly and easily swung his legs over the wall, dropping neatly into the overgrown, unkempt garden on the other side.
He let out a short puff of breath, a minimal effort required for the feat.
“Oh, perfect. 10 points,” Jungrok called out from a distance, clapping his hands together with exaggerated enthusiasm.
Jung Yoon shot him a disdainful look, then released his hands from the wall.
He landed lightly, his feet barely disturbing the loose soil.
“Generous score, huh? …I’d give it 12.”
Junhyeok chimed in, equally amused.
“Oh… Agreed,” Jungrok responded, his voice filled with theatrical approval.
It was truly ridiculous, Jung Yoon thought, these two behaving like children despite the serious nature of their mission.
He briefly glared through the bars of the main gate at his two colleagues, who were still spouting nonsense even in this tense situation, before turning his attention back to the task.
He quickly located the gate’s internal release button and pressed it, opening the main entrance for them.
“There’s someone inside,” Jung Yoon stated as Jungrok and Junhyeok entered the yard.
“I know,” Jungrok replied calmly.
“I saw them too.”
“Looks like the wife, right?”
Jung Yoon asked, confirming his suspicion.
Jungrok nodded.
Junhyeok glanced up at the house, then stretched his neck to look around the back.
“I’ll check that side first. Is that a warehouse or another structure back there?”
“It doesn’t look like they’ll open the door for us willingly,” Jung Yoon commented, looking at the closed house.
“What do we do now? Force entry into the main residence?”
“We didn’t expect them to have anything incriminating inside the house anyway, not where it’s easily visible,” Jungrok reasoned, his gaze fixed on the upper floor windows.
“Let’s begin by searching the yard thoroughly until Jung Yong-gil arrives. She’s probably calling her husband right now, informing him that we’ve arrived and entered the property.”
Jungrok pulled out the warrant again, shaking the unfolded paper upwards, even though it wouldn’t be visible from inside the house, then shrugged at the bewildered Jung Yoon.
“Let’s begin.”
No sooner had Jungrok spoken than Jung Yoon pulled out a pair of nitrile gloves from his pocket and efficiently pulled them on.
As he moved to start his search, rapid footsteps were heard from outside the opened gate, followed by a dry, angry shout that cut sharply through the yard’s relative calm.
“What in the world are you doing?!”
It was Jung Yong-gil.
His heavily wrinkled face was flushed an angry red, clearly showing how hard and fast he had run.
His thinning hair was damp with sweat, clinging to his forehead.
A frustrated Jung Yoon clucked his tongue softly and subtly glanced at Jungrok, expecting his partner to be just as troubled by this premature confrontation.
But Jungrok’s expression, as he turned to face Jung Yong-gil, was incredibly bright, almost cheerful.
Crazy bastard, Jung Yoon thought, shaking his head slightly and turning away.
He’ll handle it.
Jung Yoon chose to ignore the impending confrontation, heading instead towards the area where several traditional Korean crocks, used for fermenting kimchi and other foods, were placed, a likely spot for hidden items.
“Hey, hey…! Don’t go in there! What is this…!”
Jung Yong-gil shouted, his voice a frantic mixture of anger and desperation.
He reached out, as if to grab Jung Yoon’s hair, a desperate attempt to stop him.
However, his attempt was futilely thwarted by Jungrok, who had seamlessly stepped in front of him, blocking his path.
Jungrok, his large frame physically blocking Jung Yong-gil from reaching Jung Yoon, immediately pulled out the folded warrant from his back pocket.
With a flourish, he unfolded the many-times-folded paper, fanning it open in the air, and thrust it directly in front of Jung Yong-gil’s face.
Jung Yong-gil’s eyes narrowed in confusion and alarm.
He craned his neck forward, trying to bring the document into focus, and began to slowly read the dense text.
To spare him the unnecessary effort, Jungrok spoke, his voice clear and authoritative.
“As of this moment, sir, we are conducting a legal search and seizure of all items within Jung Yong-gil’s residence and this cattle farm property, as authorized by this warrant.”
“…Sei-seizure… Seizure? By whose authority? No, I refuse! Get out, all of you get out! This is my property!”
Jung Yong-gil yelled, his voice rising in outrage.
“To be clear, we are not asking for Jung Yong-gil’s cooperation right now, nor is it required for the execution of this warrant,” Jungrok stated, his voice unwavering.
“Over there, open the front door of the house.”
He pointed towards the main entrance.
“…What?”
Jung Yong-gil spluttered, taken aback by Jungrok’s directness.
“Let me clarify,” Jungrok continued, his gaze firm.
“If you refuse the execution of this search and seizure warrant, which is a legally binding document, we will have no choice but to force the door open. And furthermore, if you touch an officer in the performance of his duties, as you just did by attempting to physically impede Detective Woo, it will be considered assault, and you can be arrested on the spot for obstruction of justice. You understand the implications?”
Jungrok even handed the warrant directly to Jung Yong-gil, forcing the man to hold it and read it, ensuring there was no misunderstanding of the legal authority they possessed.