“It’s hardly a challenge,” he scoffed. His gaze turned frigid, each word dripping with disdain. Slowly, he inclined his body, his movements deliberate. With precision, his left knee gracefully met the ground at a perfect 90-degree angle.
Hyun-seong, now fully kneeling, bowed his head—a rare display of submission. Throughout his life, he seldom knelt before anyone, particularly in his adulthood where he habitually looked down upon others from a position of authority and stature. Yet, in this moment, he found himself humbling without a second thought. It was a shameful act, yes, but the prospect of saving Seo Yi-soo left no room for hesitation.
“Hyun-seong,” Yi-soo’s gaze bore into him, her eyes filled with a tumult of emotions. Why kneel? The anguish was palpable.
In stark contrast, Jin-won, witnessing Hyun-seong’s compliance, emitted a low chuckle before bowing his head in mockery.
“How dreadfully uninteresting,” he lamented, boredom etched onto his features. This wasn’t the scenario Jin-won had envisioned. He had anticipated witnessing Hyun-seong’s inner turmoil, torn between his pride and his affections for Seo Yi-soo. Yet, it concluded so swiftly and anticlimactically. Disinterest clouded his gaze from behind his glasses.
Then, without warning, two gunshots shattered the air. Simultaneously, a pained cry pierced the silence.
“Argh!”
A bullet tore through Jin-won’s right arm, causing his grip to slacken, the firearm slipping from his grasp.
Yi-soo’s countenance blanched with shock, her eyes darting towards the source of the gunfire alongside her fellow officers.
“Officer Park!”
“Secure the weapon!”
Amidst the commotion, Officer Park Seong-hyun, stationed at the rear, tightened his grip on the revolver, urgently commanding the retrieval of Jin-won’s firearm.
With a fluid motion, Hyun-seong swiftly retrieved the fallen gun as if plucking it from the air, promptly rising to his feet.
Meanwhile, Jin-won, his right arm seeping blood, emitted agonized groans.
“Kk, argh… ggh.”
Seizing the opportunity presented by Jin-won’s distraction, Officer Park didn’t hesitate. As Hyun-seong knelt and Jin-won’s laughter echoed chillingly, Officer Park pulled the trigger twice. The initial shot served as a warning, swiftly followed by a decisive second bullet.
Observing the unfolding events, Detective Ahn, positioned at the forefront, nodded in approval. While resorting to force was a measure of last resort, in such unpredictable circumstances, it became an unavoidable imperative.
“…Kang Jin-won.”
Hyun-seong raised the firearm, his gaze penetrating as Jin-won, now writhing in pain on the ground, suffered the consequences of his actions.
In less than a minute, the power dynamics had shifted entirely. The metallic chill of the gun against his palm served as a stark reminder of the gravity of the situation.
Fury ignited within Hyun-seong’s eyes as he stared down at Jin-won. His jaw clenched tightly, muscles twitching with the desire to pull the trigger and mete out justice then and there.
Yet, after a moment’s contemplation, he relented. He couldn’t arrogate the role of judge and executioner. Jin-won would face justice on the scales of the law, as dictated by due process.
Taking a deep breath, Hyun-seong relinquished the gun to the awaiting police officer. Simultaneously, Se-young swiftly advanced, twisting Jin-won’s arms behind his back and securing his wrists with handcuffs procured from his back pocket. With a firm tone, he recited the Miranda rights, his voice cutting through the tension.
“Mr. Kang Jin-won! You are under arrest for confinement. You have the right to remain silent and to consult with an attorney. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. Officer Kim, take him away.”
“Yes. Kang Jin-won… Get up!”
“These bastards…” Jin-won’s retort was cut short by a stern rebuke.
“Shut your mouth! Where do you think you are, cursing at the scene of a crime?”
With Officer Kim catching his breath, he seized Jin-won’s left arm, hauling him to his feet despite his evident pain.
Meanwhile, Jin-won’s bloodshot eyes bore into Hyun-seong with palpable malice, but Hyun-seong’s attention remained solely fixed on Seo Yi-soo. With trembling hands, he began the task of untying the rope binding her ankles.
However, the knot proved stubborn, resisting Hyun-seong’s efforts. Frustration boiled within him, and he couldn’t stop the string of curses leaving his lips.
“Damn it… Ha, please!”
“Mr. Yoon! Come out for a moment. I’ll handle this.”
A patrol officer motioned for Hyun-seong to step aside, swiftly producing tools to cut through the stubborn rope. With a decisive snip, the binds fell away.
As soon as her limbs were freed, Yi-soo rose from her chair and enveloped Hyun-seong in a tight embrace. At that moment, a floodgate of emotions burst open, overwhelming her composure. Tears cascaded down her cheeks, tracing a path along her jawline, as the weight of the ordeal finally found release.