Dangerous Investigation Diary

Ep. 71 ° Strong Team 1, Things They Can't Withstand

Officer Kim and Patrolman Jeon were immediately rushed to the emergency room. The 1st Violent Crimes Unit, disoriented and seemingly under the chairman's command, even accepted a ride to the parking lot. And then there were the piercing words he left behind.

배용현 [35]

“Have you seen him? He may seem so polite now…”

배용현 [35]

“Look at what your teammates have done. This is truly their final warning.”

배용현 [35]

“You don’t usually do this when we first meet.”

배용현 [35]

‘“Anyway… please don’t rush in so recklessly.”

배용현 [35]

“If you come at me again, you must come not with this level of resolve, but with the resolve to see the end of your life.”

Did we really dare to stir up something so high up in the air? Is that why we're being punished like this? It's fortunate he survived, but if by any chance it's determined his finger can't be sutured... I know it will be a huge blow to both Officer Kim and Officer Jeon's future police careers.

Were we too hasty? Was it a mistake to send only the two of us to that building in the first place? Or perhaps we should never have dug into this place in the first place? What if we hadn't gathered, what if we had remained just old colleagues?

As complex thoughts filled our minds, the door to the operating room opened and the surgeon who was performing the surgery walked out. The team members who had been sitting all stood up and awaited the doctor's opinion.

“The stitching went well, but… since they’re police officers, there’s a chance of problems if they’re used carelessly.”

“I hope you'll take good care of me in the future, and I'm glad it's not too late.”

“Patients, don’t worry, we will move you to a special VIP ward.”

김석진 [33]

"…thank you."

정호석 [31]

“Could you tell me how long it took to regain consciousness and how much pain there was after regaining consciousness?”

“You will probably wake up in an hour, as the anesthesia will have to wear off before you fully regain consciousness.”

“The pain… probably won’t be that bad.”

“Please watch over me carefully and call me if you are in too much pain.”

정호석 [31]

“…I see. I understand.”

The doctor's opinion was... positive, that the sutures were successful because it wasn't too late, and negative, that due to the nature of the job, he had to use his hands a lot, there could be problems later. The atmosphere became gloomy again as the negative, which had been worrying, overshadowed the positive. I didn't have the confidence to face the two of them.

Thanks to the hospital's consideration, we were able to safely reach our room without being noticed. This kind of consideration should be provided by the police station... Once again, I hated where we belonged.

The two of them lying in the hospital room had their hands wrapped tightly in bandages, and the two of them, who had been so bright, lay unconscious in the bed with bandages plastered all over their faces. Just thinking about what you must have been feeling as you pressed the earbuds at that moment, made us break down.

김석진 [33]

“…Detective Jeong. Did you hand over Han Seo-in’s autopsy?”

정호석 [31]

“Yes. It takes about 4 hours.”

김석진 [33]

“…..Good work. You must have been out of your mind.”

정호석 [31]

"no."

민윤기 [32]

“How is Officer Ha’s condition?”

정호석 [31]

“I was diagnosed with hyperventilation due to anxiety.”

정호석 [31]

“They say you might have a mental illness.”

정호석 [31]

“I’m currently resting in the infirmary while getting an IV.”

정호석 [31]

“I left it with Inspector Kim of the medical team.”

김석진 [33]

“Good job.”

김석진 [33]

“…Make sure that the fact that they are both injured doesn’t leak out.”

김석진 [33]

“I get tired even when I write articles.”

김석진 [33]

"I'll guard the sickroom on my way back. Who wants to be there today?"

민윤기 [32]

“There’s me and… Sergeant Park.”

민윤기 [32]

“Team Leader, Officer Jeong and Officer Kim, take turns checking on Officer Ha’s condition.”

민윤기 [32]

“Shouldn’t there be someone by Officer Ha’s side?”

김남준 [31]

“I can stay here.”

김남준 [31]

“Inspector Min, shouldn’t you look at the autopsy results on Han Seo-in?”

민윤기 [32]

“…Then will you do that?”

김남준 [31]

“Well, I’m fine.”

박지민 [30]

“I’m fine too.”

민윤기 [32]

“Thank you. Can I ask you a favor?”

정호석 [31]

“Call me when the kids wake up.”

박지민 [30]

“Don’t worry and have a good trip.”

In this situation, Detective Jeong's words that we can only trust each other were perfectly true. "Detective Park, I guess we have no choice. I know it's crazy, but I know full well that doing this is our only way to survive."

To break out of this stagnant situation, Team 1 of the Strong Forces took care of each other even in the midst of chaos. Everyone was more concerned about the team members in front of them than about themselves.

Lieutenant Min headed to the autopsy room in the west, while Inspectors Kim and Jeong went straight to the infirmary. They'd received a call from Lieutenant Kim informing them that Officer Ha had woken up. They hurried over, but they cautiously opened the sliding door, fearing that slamming it open might startle Officer Ha.

하여주 [29]

“……”

But, seeing Officer Ha leaning against the bed, his face somewhat dazed, made Superintendents Kim and Jeong unable to step foot into the infirmary. It wasn't the starry eyes they knew, the ones in Officer Ha's eyes.

김원필 [31]

“Are you here?”

정호석 [31]

“Ah, ah yes… that…”

하여주 [29]

“…Officer Kim and Patrolman Jeon, I heard your condition isn’t very good.”

정호석 [31]

"…..uh?"

김석진 [33]

“How can that be, when there wasn’t even an article about it?”

김원필 [31]

"…a moment ago…"

Not long after Officer Jeong left the infirmary, Officer Ha regained consciousness. Seeing this, Officer Kim abandoned his other duties and began checking Officer Ha's basic condition.

김원필 [31]

“Are you coming to your senses?”

하여주 [29]

“Ah… yes. That…”

김원필 [31]

“Don’t move. The medicine is starting to work.”

하여주 [29]

"Our seniors... What happened? Why am I here?"

김원필 [31]

“You were on the phone with Detective Park, and you started to feel anxious and collapsed from hyperventilation.”

김원필 [31]

“Do you normally take any medication for mental illness?”

하여주 [29]

“No. Not really…”

김원필 [31]

"If you faint, it's serious, so be sure to see a psychiatrist later. Understood?"

하여주 [29]

“I’m sorry, but our seniors…”

김원필 [31]

“I found their headquarters and went to the building there.”

김원필 [31]

“It must have been not long since we left.”

하여주 [29]

“Ah… I, I have to go too.”

하여주 [29]

“If we just stay here like this…”

김원필 [31]

“Officer Ha.”

김원필 [31]

“Your seniors left you here solely for your own good.”

김원필 [31]

“If I go there with you, who knows you’ll get anxious again and collapse?”

김원필 [31]

“Right now, I have no choice but to trust my teammates and wait.”

김원필 [31]

“And we must pray for everyone’s safe return.”

김원필 [31]

“That’s the best you can do right now.”

하여주 [29]

“But… that place is really dangerous, and there are only five of us…”

김원필 [31]

“You have to stay here so that all the team members can return safely.”

김원필 [31]

“I would have felt better if I had left you safe.”

김원필 [31]

“So… please. Just listen to me this once.”

Only then did Officer Ha lay his body back on the bed, and Officer Kim followed suit, continuing to monitor Officer Ha's condition. Up until this point, Officer Ha seemed to be somewhat receptive. But...

최종호 [34]

“Oh my~ Who is this?”

The 3rd Violent Crimes Unit suddenly stormed into the infirmary. Officer Kim, taken aback, asked who they were, but they were confident. They introduced themselves to Officer Kim as the 3rd Violent Crimes Unit, but then they began to approach Officer Ha.

김원필 [31]

“I’m sorry, but please refrain from approaching the patient.”

송민기 [31]

“Hey, I just wanted to talk for a minute~”

송민기 [31]

“Shouldn’t this kid know what kind of a mess his seniors are in?”

김원필 [31]

"…yes?"

하여주 [29]

“…..What happened?”

손나은 [30]

“I guess you’re curious about the appearance.”

손나은 [30]

“Even though you’re lying down like this.”

하여주 [29]

"that…!"

이수담 [30]

“I heard that your seniors who went there survived.”

이수담 [30]

“But what, did they cut off each finger one by one?”

하여주 [29]

“…What did you say?”

이수담 [30]

"The article won't be published. The hospital took care of it instead of the stupid police force."

이수담 [30]

“But what can I do? They say a full recovery is difficult.”

최종호 [34]

“Do you know what this means now?”

최종호 [34]

“While you were lying here, your seniors were going through life and death.”

최종호 [34]

“Just because of you.”

김원필 [31]

“Why is it Officer Ha’s fault?”

최종호 [34]

“It’s almost like the team was merged because of him~”

최종호 [34]

“If we hadn’t combined teams, this wouldn’t have happened.”

최종호 [34]

“Your seniors’ fingers would have been fine too.”

최종호 [34]

"Stupid choices have led to this outcome. Including yours."

From the moment the word came out that his finger had been cut off, Officer Ha's mind had already been half-disturbed. He didn't cry, he didn't get angry. He didn't respond to the additional words that were gnashing his nerves. But those words, like nails, were driven into his heart.

김원필 [31]

"Please leave now. This situation requires absolute stability."

손나은 [30]

“Okay, okay~ I’ll go out now.”

송민기 [31]

"Think carefully. Ultimately, the team came back because of your selfishness."

As the 3rd Violent Crimes Unit continued to fire its final shots, Superintendent Kim remained vigilant until the very end, then tried to check on Officer Ha. Seeing his empty eyes and motionless body, Superintendent Kim abruptly halted any action he was about to take. For now, it seemed best to leave him alone.

And not long after that, Superintendent Kim and Officer Jeong entered the infirmary. Officer Ha still hadn't regained consciousness, and he couldn't even look his seniors in the eye, fearing he'd lose what little sanity he had left.

I really feel like this is all my fault.

After hearing the full story from Officer Kim, Superintendent Kim couldn't contain his anger. He turned to leave the infirmary, eager to beat the hell out of them, but Officer Jeong stopped him.

정호석 [31]

“No, Team Leader.”

김석진 [33]

“Let go.”

정호석 [31]

“Sergeant Ha is first now.”

정호석 [31]

“Didn’t you say, Inspector, that the goal this time is, above all, the safety of our team members?”

김석진 [33]

“…..”

정호석 [31]

“Even if we rush in now, we’re the ones at a disadvantage.”

김석진 [33]

“…..Detective Jeong.”

정호석 [31]

"yes."

김석진 [33]

“Officer Ha… You take good care of me.”

정호석 [31]

“Inspector Kim, what did you take from what I said?”

김석진 [33]

“This is also one of the things we protect.”

김석진 [33]

“I’ll be back soon… Please take care of me. Okay?”

정호석 [31]

“…Okay. Take care on your way.”

In fact, even Officer Jeong was barely holding back, so he couldn't stop Superintendent Kim any further. Perhaps Superintendent Kim's claim that this was all to protect Officer Ha was also true.

Meanwhile, about an hour later, as the doctor had predicted, Sergeant Kim and Officer Jeon woke up. With the anesthesia wearing off, the two writhe in pain. Officers Kim and Park, who had remained in the hospital room, could only hold them back to prevent them from colliding with other people and injuring themselves.

김남준 [31]

“It’s okay, it’s okay…”

김태형 [30]

“What should I do… It hurts so much… Officer Kim, Jimin, please…”

박지민 [30]

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry…”

Another agonizing day was passing for Team 1. The worst-case scenarios, so dire they seemed unpredictable, had arrived all at once. Team 1, always so hard-line, wondered if they could rise again this time. Even they themselves couldn't be certain of that.

_ Number of characters: 4802