Chapter 67.2

Seo Yi-soo… Seo Yi-soo!”

Hyun-seong’s urgent knocks reverberated through the officetel’s door. Twenty minutes had elapsed in a relentless barrage, yet silence persisted within, offering no response.

The anticipated meeting, slated to extend beyond midnight, unexpectedly concluded before 11. Simultaneously, his attempts to reach Yi-soo via phone were thwarted by the disheartening message that her device had been switched off. An unusual occurrence, given she hadn’t powered down her phone in over six months. Could her battery have ran out entirely?

Despite the early end to the meeting, enough time had passed for Yi-soo to return home. The fruitless attempts at communication only fueled Hyun-seong’s growing anxiety. The suspicion crept in when he confirmed she wasn’t at his place or her own.

Worry etched across his face, Hyun-seong retrieved his phone. The watch he had given Yi-soo just a day ago not only possessed a recording function but also boasted a GPS feature linking to the wearer’s location.

“Paju?”

Upon opening the app, an eerie map sprawled across the screen, indicating a location that should have been Seoul but was now tagged in Paju. The incongruity set off an alarming sensation, a knot tightening in Hyun-seong’s stomach.

In that critical moment, Hyun-seong’s instincts flared, a stark realization dawning upon him that Kang Jin-won’s machinations had ensnared Yi-soo.

“Damn… No. Seo Yi-soo, please.” He exhaled the plea with urgency, a fervent hope echoing through the words. As he swept his bangs aside, the tension etched on his face unveiled a canvas of blood vessels standing out on his large, firm backhand. Though no clear evidence presented itself, the unmistakable certainty lingered that Jin-won had orchestrated a move.

Amid the turmoil, the imperative to retain composure clawed at Hyun-seong’s consciousness. Despite the emotional storm raging within, he recognized the need for rational judgment.

Yi-soo mentioned Detective Ahn. The echo of Yi-soo’s voice reverberated in his mind, a lifeline amid the chaos.

On the day they returned from the Colosseum, she had entrusted Detective Ahn’s contact details to Hyun-seong, emphasizing his status as a trusted police officer. Swiftly accessing his contacts, he scrolled down.

“Detective Ahn Se-young…” The decision was resolute as his hand pressed the green call button, initiating a sequence of tense rings. Seconds stretched into an agonizing eternity, and soon, a young man’s voice resonated from the other side of the phone.

  • Yes, hello.

“Is this Detective Ahn Se-young?”

  • …Yes, but may I ask who’s calling?

Hyun-seong released the breath he had been holding, his chin slightly lifted as he spoke. The atmosphere, already sharp, seemed to intensify every passing moment.

“I apologize for reaching out at this late hour. I am Yoon Hyun-seong, the fiancé of Prosecutor Seo Yi-soo. Prosecutor Seo shared Detective Ahn’s contact information with me.”

  • Prosecutor Seo? Is there something wrong with Prosecutor Seo? I’ve been trying to call her continuously, but her phone is off.

“Not sure, but… she may have been kidnapped. I need your help.”

  • Kidnapped?

Se-young’s voice carried surprise, quickly morphing into a more serious tone. Sighs punctuated the intermittent flow of sentences.

  • Just a few hours ago, the suspect in the murder of Prosecutor Seo’s sister was arrested. I called her right away, but she didn’t answer, which got me worried. Do you have any evidence that Prosecutor Seo has been kidnapped? We’ll set up a strong team and rush there immediately.

“Prosecutor Seo’s location is showing as Paju. It seems to be quite a remote area with few buildings or facilities nearby. And most importantly… there are people who seem to be targeting Prosecutor Seo.”

  • Unbelievable. Alright, I understand. You mentioned you’re her fiancé? May I ask your name?

“Yoon Hyun-seong.”

The sounds of bustling movements echoed through the speaker as Hyun-seong pressed the elevator button.

  • Yes, Mr. Yoon Hyun-seong. Can you both come to the station? It seems we need to go together.

“Yes, let’s go right away.”

Hyun-seong swiftly ended the call, his gaze fixed on the LED display in the elevator. Impatience mounting, he abandoned the slow ascent and opted for the stairs, the low sound of his shoes resonating endlessly in the silent building.

***

“It should be around here… The exact building isn’t coming up. Inspector Park, did you bring your revolver?”

“Hopefully, there won’t be a need to use it… We might have to search through all the villas here. Is it better to split up the team for the search?”

“Attorney Yoon, will you stay in the car? There shouldn’t be any issues, but it could be dangerous.”

“No, I’ll go with you.”

A resolute voice echoed. In response to Hyun-seong’s determination, Se-young, seated in the passenger seat, nodded lightly as if acknowledging his choice.

The dispatched rapid-response team comprised five members, including him. While dividing into pairs for the search could expedite the location of the hostage, it equally amplified the risks and pressures involved.

Detective Ahn, contemplating the logistics as the team leader, placed a walkie-talkie in his chest pocket.

“I, Officer Kim, and Attorney Yoon will form one team. Park, Officer Shim, and Officer Jin will make up the other team. Remember to report immediately if you find any traces of the hostage or kidnapper. Everyone understands that using force is the last resort, right?”

“Yes, of course.”

“It’s Prosecutor Seo we’re talking about… Oh, we must rescue her without any problems.”

“Right. Let’s all disembark. Attorney Yoon, please follow me.”

Guided by Detective Ahn, the police officers swiftly exited the van. Hyun-seong clenched and released his fist repeatedly, displaying visible signs of tension.

It had taken several hours to reach Paju. During that time, Yi-soo’s location hadn’t changed. In the early morning hours, past 3 o’clock, the detectives of the special response team stealthily moved under the cloak of darkness. An indescribable tension permeated the atmosphere.

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