Han and I rush down the stairs, our footsteps echoing in the stairwell. As we enter the conference room, I stop short at the sight of Kang.
"Kang?" I say in disbelief. He looks haggard, with dark circles under his eyes and what appears to be a fresh bruise on his cheek.
Han looks between us, questioning. "This is Kang? The one who gave you the initial docunts about Choi?"
I nod. "Yes. Retired Chief Superintendent Kang, this is Inspector Han. He's been leading this investigation with ." Turning back to Kang, I can't keep the concern from my voice. "Where have you been? You disappeared without a word.
"Had to go off the grid for a while," Kang says, sinking into a chair with a grimace. "I've been... gathering information."
"Without telling anyone?" I ask, unable to keep the hint of accusation from my voice.
Kang looks at apologetically. "I had to. I've known about Choi's manipulation of cases for years. Couldn't prove it, but I knew. When all this started coming to light, I realized it was my chance to finally get concrete evidence."
He touches his bruised cheek gingerly. "Been visiting old colleagues, people who worked on cases Choi was involved with. Cases that never quite added up. Had to do it quietly - if Choi knew I was digging..." He gestures to his injuries. "Well, they caught up with eventually."
"Who caught up with you?" Han asks sharply, pulling up a chair.
"Three n, two nights ago. Very professional. No identification, but the ssage was clear - stop investigating." He reaches into his worn briefcase. "But they were too late. I'd already gathered what we need."
He pulls out a thick folder, spreading docunts across the table. "Testimonies from retired officers, prosecutors, even a judge. All of them noticed inconsistencies in Choi's cases over the years. Each ti soone tried to speak up, they were silenced - transfers, forced retirents, threats."
I start flipping through the docunts, my excitent growing. This is exactly what we need - concrete evidence that doesn't involve supernatural elents.
"There's more," Kang continues, his voice dropping lower. "Found connections between Choi's manipulated cases and certain wealthy individuals. People who mysteriously avoided prosecution, or whose competitors suddenly faced criminal charges."
Han whistles softly. "He was building a power base."
"And it's all docunted," Kang nods. "Dates, nas, paper trails - everything a prosecutor needs."
Looking at Kang's battered face, I'm reminded of just how dangerous this has beco. "You should stay here," I say. "At least until we can arrange proper protection."
Kang starts to protest, but Han cuts him off. "He's right. You're our key witness now. We can't risk anything happening to you."
"Kang," I ask, studying his bruised face, "why are you doing this? Putting yourself at risk like this? You're retired, you could have just walked away."
Kang straightens in his chair, and despite his battered appearance, there's a glint of pride in his eyes. "Do you know why I beca a police officer?" he asks, his voice steady.
Han and I exchange glances before shaking our heads.
"I believed in justice. Simple as that. Not the kind that can be bought, not the kind that bends to power or influence." He pauses, his expression hardening. "For thirty years, I wore this badge with pride. Then I watched Choi corrupt everything it stands for."
He leans forward, wincing slightly from his injuries. "I'm not doing this just to bring down Choi. I'm doing this because soone needs to remind people what being a police officer really ans. We're supposed to protect people, serve justice. Not... whatever Choi's been doing."
His words hang in the air, heavy with conviction.
"I may be retired, but I'm still a police officer. And I'll be damned if I let soone like Choi tarnish what that ans."
I feel a surge of respect for the old officer. Despite the beating he took, despite the risks, he's still fighting for what he believes in.
"Besides," he adds with a grim smile, "I'm too old to be afraid of thugs in dark alleys. What are they going to do, give more gray hair?"
Han chuckles softly, but his eyes are serious. "Still, we need to keep you safe. Your testimony, these docunts - they're crucial."
Kang nods reluctantly. "I know. Just... let's make it count. Let's make sure Choi answers for everything he's done."
"We will," I promise, looking at the evidence spread across the table. "Whatever it takes, we'll see this through."
Han is on the phone, coordinating with trusted officers to arrange protection for Kang, while I spread Kang's docunts across our conference room table. The fluorescent lights buzz overhead as we work with urgent intensity.
"I want our most reliable people on this," Han says into his phone, his voice firm. "No one outside our imdiate team... Yes, I know it's unusual, but this is top priority."
anwhile, I'm rapidly sorting through Kang's findings, creating piles of evidence by type and relevance. "Look at this," I call out to Han. "Testimony from Judge Park about a drug trafficking case from 2015. Says Choi pressured him to dismiss key evidence."
Han ends his call and joins at the table. "That's solid. Much better than trying to explain demonic voices to a prosecutor."
"Here's another," I say, pulling out a signed statent. "Forr Detective Yoon. Claims Choi had him transferred to traffic duty after he started questioning inconsistencies in a high-profile murder case."
"And it's all docunted," Han notes, picking up another file. "Dates, tis, supporting evidence. Kang did his howork."
I nod, feeling a surge of hope. "This is what we need. The church docunts might explain Choi's motives, his ultimate goals, but this..." I gesture to the growing piles of evidence, "this is what will actually bring him down legally."
"Money trails, witness tampering, obstruction of justice," Han lists off, flipping through more docunts. "Multiple witnesses willing to testify. It's enough to start a formal investigation."
"How long until Kang's protection detail arrives?" I ask, glancing at the retired officer who's dozing in a corner chair.
"Twenty minutes. I'm having him moved to a safe house. Only you and I will know the location."
I gather the most crucial docunts into a secure file. "We need to move fast. Once Choi realizes Kang's given us this evidence..."
"He'll co at us with everything he's got," Han finishes grimly. "Both legally and... otherwise." Your next journey awaits at empire
We share a knowing look, both aware that we're fighting this battle on two fronts - the tangible world of law enforcent and the shadowy realm of whatever supernatural forces Choi commands.
"At least now we have a chance," I say, securing the files. "A real way to stop him."
Han nods, already dialing another number. "Let's just hope we can move fast enough. Sothing tells Choi's plans, whatever they are, are nearing completion."
"Alright, listen up," Han announces to our assembled team, his voice carrying an authority I've rarely heard before. He's standing at the head of the conference room, Kang's evidence spread out before him.
"We're moving on Choi. Today. Now."
A murmur of surprise ripples through the room. Detective Kim raises her hand tentatively. "Sir, shouldn't we wait for approval from the superintendent? Protocol for investigating a senior officer usually requires—"
"No," Han cuts her off firmly. "We're not waiting." He pulls out a warrant from his jacket pocket. I recognize his signature at the bottom, bold and decisive.
My eyebrows raise. Han is technically ranked high enough to issue warrants, but going after soone of Choi's status without running it up the chain of command... it's practically unheard of.
"Sir," another detective begins, "the political fallout—"
"I don't care about politics," Han interrupts, his voice sharp. "We have solid evidence of multiple cris. Every minute we wait for bureaucratic approval is another minute Choi has to destroy evidence or worse." He looks around the room, eting each officer's eyes. "I'll take full responsibility for this decision."
I feel a surge of respect for Han. He's putting his entire career on the line, knowingly violating protocol because he understands the urgency of our situation.
"Teams of two," Han continues, handing out assignnts. "I want every inch of that office searched. Focus on financial records, case files, any docuntation that could corroborate Kang's evidence. Detective Park, your team takes his personal office. Detective Kim, focus on electronic devices. Detective Lee, you're on his secretary's desk and outer office."
He turns to . "You're with . We're going straight for his private files."
The room bursts into activity as officers gather their equipnt. Han moves to my side.
"We both know what Choi is capable of. What he's planning. If losing my badge is the price for stopping him, I'll pay it gladly."
I nod, feeling a renewed appreciation for my partner. In a system often paralyzed by procedure and politics, Han has chosen to act decisively, consequences be damned.
"Alright people," Han calls out to the room. "Move out. And rember - Choi is dangerous. Stay alert, stay together, and don't take any unnecessary risks."
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