Chapter 82 – Reaction – Part 10

Chapter 82 – Reaction – Part 10

Seeing Choi Gicheol’s troubled look, Woojin spoke again.

“This is also about catching criminals. As always, I want to catch that criminal.”

Choi Gicheol ran a hand through his hair and leaned his back against the cold wall.

“If I tell you, Senior Kim will kill me, or I might even die.”

“I’ll keep it a secret.”

Choi Gicheol let out a long sigh and brought his cellphone to his ear.

It seemed Woojin wouldn’t back down.

“Oh, it’s me. You have Kwak Hanyoung’s photos and CCTV footage, right? Send them to my phone now…”

While Choi Gicheol was on the phone, Woojin observed his inner self moving without trying to control it.

As his breathing became slightly faster, excess oxygen accumulated and turned into reactive oxygen species.

Adrenaline was secreted, increasing his heart rate more than before.

Due to this effect, nutrients such as zinc, magnesium, and vitamins were rapidly consumed.

Testosterone hormone was produced and Cortisol decreased.

Under the influence of these hormones, he could concentrate better and utilize his body’s energy more effectively than usual.

So, this emotion right now is anger.

‘In other words, it’s rage.’

Choi Gicheol, who had briefly finished his call, looked at Woojin.

“You really can’t tell anyone?”

“Yes.”

“His name is Kwak Hanyoung, and he’s 32 years old.”

“What are his characteristics?”

“As you can see in the video, he’s about 178 cm tall, a muscular build like a ‘muscle pig’? He also has tattoos on both arms.”

At that moment, a video was sent to Detective Choi Gicheol’s cellphone.

Kwak Hanyoung’s photo was also included.

There were a total of five videos, none of which exceeded one minute in length.

Choi Gicheol showed the videos to Woojin and began to speak.

“He was watching Senior Kim at the convenience store. He stabbed him from behind and fled. The place he moved to using his own car was here, where he bought a hat and a mask…”

Choi Gicheol, explaining while his eyes were fixed on the video, couldn’t tell.

That Woojin’s eyes were changing like those of a wild beast.

Lee Hyerim, who was standing next to him, was also the same, but she definitely felt something.

Woojin was unfamiliar.

Woojin, who was staring at the cellphone like a stone statue without blinking an eye, seemed to not even be breathing.

It felt as if he was looking at a photograph.

And it was understandable, as this was a situation Lee Hyerim had never experienced before.

Woojin exchanging words with the detective about needing to catch the criminal, and the detective seemingly asking Woojin for advice, created a sense of disconnect.

“The last place he was seen was a room salon. As you can see, he went in and came out. After this, his whereabouts are unknown…”

Woojin, who had been motionless like a statue, slowly nodded his head.

“You mean it’s difficult to track him down from the room salon onwards?”

Choi Gicheol, who had nodded, spoke with an expectant voice.

“Exactly. Is there anything we might be missing? What do you think, Woojin, from your perspective?”

Woojin then took his eyes off the video and said calmly.

“It seems that what’s visible is all there is, as Detective Choi said.”

Choi Gicheol gave an awkward laugh.

He had thought Woojin would definitely be able to find a clue, but it seemed even Woojin couldn’t get anything from just CCTV footage. No, that was only natural.

It wasn’t the scene, nor was it evidence; what could possibly be found with just CCTV footage?

“I wanted to help, but it’s a shame.”

“No, no. Woojin, you’re not a Fortune Teller, how could you know just from this?”

“I’m sorry.”

Choi Gicheol shook his head vigorously and placed a hand on Woojin’s shoulder.

“It’s really okay, and Woojin, what do you have to be sorry for? I understand your feelings, but you don’t need to worry too much.”

“I’ll be going now. I have something to do.”

“Alright, alright. When Senior Kim is discharged, let’s see each other again then. The three of us can eat something delicious after a long time.”

“Yes.”

Woojin greeted him and then turned around.

Lee Hyerim also bowed slightly before getting into the elevator with Woojin.

“Woojin, are you okay?”

“Yeah. I’m okay.”

“Are you going home? I’ll take you.”

“No, I have some business elsewhere.”

Lee Hyerim felt a slight sense of unease.

“Where is it? I’ll take you.”

“It’s okay, it’s close.”

[The door opens]

Upon arriving in the lobby, Woojin greeted her.

“Go home safely.”

“Uh…”

Lee Hyerim, who had been watching Woojin’s retreating back as he exited, quickly held the elevator door.

“Woojin, you’re not going to do anything dangerous, are you? You’re a smart person.”

Woojin turned around, looked at Lee Hyerim, and smiled faintly.

“Of course. I don’t like dangerous things. Peace. Drive safely.”

Lee Hyerim’s smirking face disappeared as the elevator doors closed.

* * *

Woojin, who had hailed a taxi, was wearing a mask and a hat, his gaze fixed out the window.

Next to him, several shopping bags were visible, indicating he had bought something.

The criminal watched Detective Kim Taehyun from the convenience store, then stabbed him in the back as he entered an alley.

He immediately fled in his own car, and was caught on CCTV buying a hat and a mask.

He visited three other places, and was last seen leaving a hostess bar.

After that, his whereabouts became unknown.

But for Woojin, that was enough.

Sight can deceive the brain, but if one can look at the essence, one can get close enough to the truth.

And Woojin’s apology to Detective Choi Gicheol was sincere.

It was because he wanted to move before the police.

He wanted to.

The taxi drove on and on, eventually dropping Woojin off.

It was a place a little distance from his destination.

Woojin looked around.

No CCTV was visible, but a small hardware store caught his eye.

Woojin headed to the hardware store, bought a crowbar, and changed into work boots and clothes in a bathroom he had previously scouted, as if he were a laborer.

Woojin stared quietly at his reflection, where only his eyes were visible, then left the bathroom.

And he started walking towards his destination.

Thump.

Arriving at his destination, Woojin propped the crowbar on the ground like a cane and looked up at the sign.

[Space Hostess Bar]

It was the hostess bar that Kwak Hanyoung had left, a little distance from downtown.

The time was 4 PM.

As he descended the stairs into the basement, a chilling iron door greeted Woojin.

There was no back door; this was the only entrance.

Woojin’s hand knocked on the iron door.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

“I’m here to find someone. If you don’t open it, I’ll break it down.”

The knock was faint, and his voice was monotone, so even if someone was inside, they wouldn’t have heard it clearly.

Woojin continued speaking.

“Then, as I warned, I will break it down. You can call the police. Though you probably won’t be able to.”

Woojin wedged a crowbar into the iron door and began to pry it open.

Creeaaak!

With each pull of the crowbar, the iron door let out an eerie sound.

Creeaaak!

When the interlocking seams finally separated completely, Woojin unhesitatingly grabbed the doorknob and pulled.

Bang!

The door slammed against the wall and swung wide open.

And the waiting thug immediately came into view.

His expression looked fierce at a glance; half of one eyebrow was gone, and a clear knife scar showed, hinting at whatever he had been through in the past.

“Who are you?”

Woojin pulled on his work gloves and replied.

“Mr. Kwak Hanyoung, where is he?”

His eyebrow twitched.

Judging by his attire, he didn’t seem to be a police officer or a detective.

“Are you one of Byeongcheol’s people?”

Woojin was certain after his question.

The thug’s expression and movements told him that Kwak Hanyoung was indeed there.

“No. Just an ordinary person.”

He didn’t want to know about Byeongcheol or his family.

The thug chuckled as if dumbfounded.

Suddenly, two more thugs appeared.

“Hey, kid, did you come alone? Come in. Shall we come in and talk?”

Woojin slammed the door he had opened with the crowbar shut again, blocking the entrance.

Then he looked at the thugs and said,

“I didn’t come to talk. I came to use violence on Ae Candle.”

Woojin usually preferred to process, think, and make judgments with his head, but he hadn’t come here to rack his brain.

“Puhahaha!”

The middle thug burst into laughter that echoed throughout the world.

“Wow… You’re going to do something to us all by yourself? I’m scared to death, you bastard, hahaha! This friend has watched a lot of movies. A lot.”

He stopped laughing and his expression changed abruptly as he said,

“Pull out all that bastard’s teeth.”

One thug confidently rushed at Woojin.

Woojin changed his mind and muttered to himself to save even a minute.

‘Come out.’

*

A loud noise began to echo from inside the iron door Woojin had torn off.

Bang! Bang!

“Kuaaaak!”

“You fucking bastard!”

“Kill him!”

Bang!

Cursing erupted along with the sound of glass and objects shattering.

Bang! Bang!

Less than ten minutes later, silence fell. No, the iron door rattled.

It was none other than the gangster’s hand gripping the doorknob.

Woojin grabbed him by the scruff of his neck as he crawled to open the door, dragged him, and threw him back to where he was.

“Cough!”

The scene inside was gruesome.

Glass shards were scattered everywhere, and the sculptures carved into the walls were covered in blood.

One thug was hanging over the front desk like laundry.

There were a total of five thugs, half-conscious and collapsed.

Each of them had a broken shin or collarbone, preventing them from standing up.

Woojin, wearing blood-soaked work gloves, grabbed the thug with a knife scar on his eyebrow by the collar.

And he grinned.

“Wow… these guys are brutal. They don’t back down when using their weapons.”

Woojin’s foot mercilessly stomped on another thug’s wrist.

It was because he tried to grab the knife that had fallen to the floor.

“Mister, I don’t have much time, you know?”

To gain recognition from Woojin, who had brought himself out, he had to quickly find Kwak Hanyoung.

Only by making himself desire him more and more could he come out into the world like this.

For now, this seemed to be the only way.

“Where is Kwak Hanyoung?”

He smirked, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth.

“Go to hell.”

Woojin nodded as if pleased.

“I’ll find him myself, then.”

Wham!

Woojin, who had struck the thug’s jaw, stood up.

He also didn’t forget to pick up the crowbar.

Scrape. Scrape.

With the sound of metal scraping the floor, Woojin said,

“Mr. Kwak Hanyoung, where are you?”

Scrape. Scrape.

“I really want to meet you face to face.”

Suddenly, Woojin’s steps stopped abruptly.

And he smiled broadly, looking at the firmly closed door on one side.

It looked like a warehouse, probably for storing alcohol.

It was a small sign of presence, but it couldn’t deceive Woojin’s keen hearing.

Woojin approached the door and turned the doorknob.

Click, click.

It was locked and wouldn’t open.

At that moment, Woojin laughed in exasperation.

“So the boss monster is yours, huh? Well, fine. I’ve had a proper warm-up after a long time, and I’m satisfied.”

Woojin’s vision was instantly plunged into darkness.

And in an instant, Woojin’s pupils dilated as if absorbing the golden light.

He had returned to his original personality, Woojin.

Woojin kicked the wooden door.

Bang! Bang!

Soon, the door wobbled ungracefully and collapsed, revealing a thug standing in front of several liquor boxes.

It was Kwak Hanyoung.

He had a beer bottle in his hand.

Smash!

He struck the beer bottle against the wall, turning it into a sharp weapon.

“Come on! You son of a bitch! Get in here! I’ll slice you into sashimi!”

Woojin chose the right words for his feelings and said,

“You’re really pissing me off.”