Chapter 1: Fogbound Wharf

A night thick with sea fog in every direction.

From the stern of a small cargo ship docked at the pier, furtive footsteps echoed.

When two men emerged from the darkness and flashed a small light as a signal, the headlights of a waiting sedan flickered on and off in response.

Moments later, the rear door of the sedan opened.

Jiwon’s eyes gleamed sharply as she watched from between stacks of containers where she lay hidden.

She was certain the man stepping out was Jang Gapsu, currently wanted for the murder of Dongjin Faction’s operations chief.

Judging by his appearance, the intel that he would attempt to stow away tonight didn’t seem false after all.

Clutching her phone tightly, Jiwon spoke in a low, urgent voice.

“They look like they’re about to board.

What should we do?

If you’re going to be late, I could go in and at least buy us some time—”

– Time, my ass.

Are you crazy, girl?

Stop talking nonsense and just keep reporting the situation!

Team Two Leader Jo Young-bae’s irritable voice rang in her ear.

It wasn’t an unexpected reaction.

With his mandatory retirement looming and fire under his feet, there was no way he’d allow an excuse for another team to interfere in his case.

Just then, with a screech of rusted metal, the closed deck door began to move.

Watching the suspects grow more hurried, Jiwon’s own heart tightened with impatience.

At this rate, they might let a prime murder suspect slip away right before their eyes.

“Two crewmen and one broker team.

Including the suspect, that’s six total.

Six people is something I could stall for a few minutes on my own.”

– Hey, Song Jiwon.

I said wait, didn’t I?

“If this keeps up, it’ll be over in seconds.

Even if Team Two makes the arrest, shouldn’t we at least stop him from boarding the ship?”

– You little shit!

Are your ears clogged?

Didn’t you hear me say wait?

“But sir—”

– Move even one step from where you are!

I’ll write you up for insubordination and make sure you never set foot in the Gwangsu Unit again!

At the sharp outburst, Jiwon bit down hard on her lip.

The nightmare from the past month came flooding back—being suspended from all duties, forced to report to the inspectors’ office every day and stare at white walls from morning till night.

Just a few days ago, she had finally returned to active duty.

But this unspoken probation period meant stirring up trouble now would be disastrous.

If she got kicked out of the Gwangsu Unit for good, it would be the end.

Just like Captain Hwang had said, lying low for a while was the right move.

Jiwon clenched her teeth and squeezed her eyes shut.

“Yes, sir.

I’ll stay put and continue monitoring.”

Right.

It’s not even our team’s case anyway.

Catching him wouldn’t add to my record.

How many times have I dealt with bullshit like this?

Stay still.

Don’t act up.

Just stay still, Song Jiwon.

She forced her racing heart to calm, repeating the order like a mantra as she chewed on her lip.

Meanwhile, the men’s covert exchanges grew faster.

As Jiwon brushed her wind-tossed hair aside, the tension in her fingertips betrayed her inner conflict.

“Ha… shit.”

What should I do?

The thought surfaced suddenly.

No matter how important job security and safe promotions were, did it make sense for a cop to stand by and watch a criminal escape right in front of them?

If she was going to end up back in front of those inspection office walls anyway, wouldn’t it be better to at least catch the bastard first?

After a brief struggle, Jiwon made her decision.

She yanked the earpiece from her ear and started to rise—

When tap, tap—

The sound of unfamiliar dress shoes approached from behind her head, far too close.

Before she could react, a tall, slender shadow strode past her and headed straight for the men gathered on the deck.

‘What the hell…?’

Before Jiwon could even flinch, the man crossed the distance in just a few long strides, grabbed one of the hulking figures who stood frozen in confusion, and slammed him into the concrete.

Thud!

All eyes snapped toward the tall stranger.

The men were just as startled by his sudden appearance.

Who is that?

Ally or enemy?

Jiwon frowned deeply, trying to make out his identity, but in the pitch-black darkness, it was impossible.

“Using kids for this.

In every way.”

A resonant voice slipped from between the man’s teeth as he swept his gaze around.

“Who the hell are you?”

Instead of answering, he crouched slightly and glanced down at Jang Gapsu, who was watching him warily.

Even in the dark, it was clear his attention was fixed on the duffel bag in Gapsu’s hand.

Gapsu staggered backward, clutching the bag protectively.

Jiwon’s eyes sharpened.

If her instincts were right, that bag held something important—likely critical evidence in this case.

Running through the calculations in her head, Jiwon sprang to her feet.

Gapsu might flee into the ship in the chaos, or this unknown man might steal the evidence and escape.

She had to stop it.

The stranger was already fighting the other men.

Jiwon planned to slip in, grab Gapsu, and snatch the bag.

Team Two was supposedly on the way—she’d have to trust that for now.

She lowered her body and held her breath.

The moment she stepped forward, trying to move silently, two newly arrived brutes blocked her path.

‘Of course.’

Nothing ever went according to plan on the field.

Letting out a long breath, Jiwon grabbed one man by the nape and drove her fist into him.

Thud!

When the other lunged at her, she yanked out the collapsible baton at her waist, shoved him back with all her strength, and kicked him down.

Having cleared them out, she whipped her head around—

And froze at the sight before her.

At some point, the stranger had brutally subdued three gang members and even knocked Gapsu flat.

He was now calmly holding Gapsu’s bag.

Jiwon shouted in alarm.

“Police!

Drop the bag!”

At the word “police,” the bloodied Gapsu flinched and lifted his head.

Frowning, he weakly raised a hand toward Jiwon, as if begging for help.

“S-save… me… guh!”

A heavy dress shoe slammed down on that raised hand.

It was the stranger.

“Ugh!”

Ignoring Gapsu’s cries and Jiwon’s shouts, the man casually unzipped the bag.

He pulled out several documents and began flipping through them without care.

When Gapsu writhed in pain, the man pressed down harder with his polished shoe.

The motion was disturbingly natural, like crushing an insect.

“Ugh—!”

The sickening crack of bones and Gapsu’s choking screams echoed vividly.

“Hey!

Can’t you hear me?

I said put that down!”

Unable to stand by any longer, Jiwon strode toward him.

She reached out, aiming to snatch the papers from his hand—

Snap!

In a split second, the man’s left hand shot out and seized her wrist.

As her wrist was wrenched tight, the baton slipped from her grip and clattered to the ground.

She hadn’t expected that.

She’d assumed his hands were full.

“Ha!”

She twisted reflexively, trying to break free, but his grip was ironclad.

This wasn’t just a matter of raw male strength.

She’d fought countless men—colleagues and criminals alike—but rarely had her breath caught like this from a single hold.

Straining with all her might, she shoved again.

Instead, she was yanked forward and slammed into him.

His body felt as solid as stone.

“Let go—!”

A surge of danger made her jerk her head up.

In the darkness, she caught a glimpse of his face—head tilted slightly, eyes looking down at her with arrogant calm.

Long, narrow eyes.

A sharply rising nose bridge beneath them.

Firmly set lips.

She couldn’t see him clearly, but the deep shadows sculpting his bold features gave him an unnervingly vivid presence.

He was someone she should have subdued—

Yet his elegant, icy aura stole her focus for a split second, leaving her momentarily speechless.

It didn’t fit the situation at all, but somehow… he felt unfamiliar and familiar at once.

“Since when do you get to give orders?”

A cold voice broke the silence.

The flat tone and contemptuous gaze made it clear—he was mocking her.

Snapping out of it, Jiwon thought fast.

She couldn’t win this physically.

What she needed now was a weapon.

One she still had on her.

Keeping one hand still free, she slowly reached behind her back, fingers searching her waistband.

The moment her fingertips touched cold metal in the holster—

Jiwon drew and shoved the muzzle straight into the man’s chest.

“Step back.”