Chapter 4

‘It doesn’t seem that just touching each other makes it a skill to learn . ’

Tae Hyuk touched Yoo Cheol Ho’s hand when he received the money .

But there was no reaction from the mirror .

‘Then just what is the condition?’

Is there only [The Robbery] as a skill?

There were too much unknowns .

‘First, let’s only think about Yoo Cheol Ho . ’

It’s unreasonable to catch him alone .

It would be a suicidal act to try to fight him trusting only on The Robbery that he didn’t even know how much success rate it had .

Then there’s only one thing left .

The Prosecutor’s Office talks big that they would catch Yoo Cheol Ho right away be it tomorrow . But according to Tae Hyuk’s memory, Yoo Cheol Ho will be escaping across the whole country for more than a month from now on .

And meanwhile, he will kill 3 more innocent civilians .

The most important for Tae Hyuk was to get out from the decided “future” .

If Yoo Cheol Ho is caught today, the 3 victims who were supposed to die will be saved .

There’s a hope of being able to change the future .

Tae Hyuk hasted .

‘Yeah . Let’s call a trustworthy police detective . ’

Tae Hyuk searched in his pocket while thinking of who he could call .

he took the handphone out to make a call .

“⋯⋯the battery is out . ’

It was an old model folder phone he received from his older sister . It’s a junk that has the battery instantly depleted even if you charge it everyday .

Tae Hyuk went to a nearby convenience store and charged his phone . A few minutes were enough since he only needed to make one single call .

News about Yoo Cheol Ho were continuously diffused on the shop’s TV .

– And finally, there’s even a bounty of 50,000,000 Won on his head but his whereabout is still unknown .

‘The bounty!’

Tae Hyuk almost fell back at that word .

‘Why didn’t I think about it? An escaping convict like him would of course have a bounty!’

Thinking about it, it seems his little brother said the same thing this morning .

At the beginning, it was just to check what he saw was just a dream or not .

And then during the process, he learned a strange thing called crime skill but that wasn’t that a very important thing .

‘If it’s 50 million Won⋯⋯ . ’

It was an amount that would allow not only to buy a cloth for his hard working sister but even get out from the monthly rent semi-basement one room .

Now one, the one he’ll call will be considered as “having rendered a greatly distinguished service” . If so, he wanted to give this rather to someone he knew .

‘Right . Let’s call Jo Kang Suk-hyung’

He was a serious crime squad detective so Tae Hyuk has met him several times for interrogations . He was one of the very few people who treated Tae Hyuk as a human and not as a death sentenced convict .

His promotion luck was as bad as his overflowing sense of justice so he was still on the field although being in the late 40’s .

‘He should be roughly in the 30’s as of now . ’

Tae Hyuk pressed the number after he checked the battery was charged a little .

– Yes, this is Jo Kang Suk from the 2nd serious crime squad of the Guangdong police station .

“Do you really receive a reward if we catch Yoo Cheol Ho?”

Tae Hyuk said it direct and straightforward .

– If you catch him personally or give decisive information for his arrestation⋯⋯ . Hey, you are a high schooler, right? Where are you trying to make a prank call?! If I get you, you’ll pay dearly for this!”

A reaction that was as expected of Jo Kang Suk .

Feeling that he’s more like a neighbourhood older brother than a detective .

“It’s real . But do you give in cash? How much is the tax rate?”

–Big bro is busy, I’m hanging up .

“It’s really Yoo Cheol Ho . Anyway, aren’t you in situation that you have to find even a grain of rice he dropped? What about going together and check first?”

– Okay but if it’s a prank, know that I’ll make you pay for it .

“Yes . ”

– How have you seen him?

“Delivering chinese food . ”

– Well, even an escaped convict has to eat .

Tae Hyuk smiled gloatingly .

Even if he talks lightly, detective Jo Kang Suk’s personality was thorough . He check himself, going to the field for any petty clue there can be .

Tae Hyuk informed Kang Suk on the blighters position .

.

.

.

“Damn . It was true . So he was hiding in that kind of place, that son of a bitch . ”

Kang Suk took the radio and asked for reinforcement to the investigation headquarters .

“We found where the blighter is hiding . The position is⋯⋯ . ”

Kang Suk patted Tae Hyuk’s head .

“Sorry for doubting you . ”

“It’s alright . Just make sure to catch him, please . ”

“Yeah . Just watch this big bro catching the guy . ”

Tae Hyuk watched the progression of the arrestation while licking the ice cream Kang Suk bought him .

The rest went like a dashing flow of torrents .

The investigation was in difficulties because there were no traces and not even a single witness . But then they got the exact place where he was hiding .

Jo Kang Suk reacted quickly .

Maybe it was reported to the Special Investigation HQ, dozens of police cars swarmed in no time .

Tae Hyuk watched them breaking the building’s door and entered in .

Yoo Cheol Ho took off his clothes and tried to quickly escape .

Jo Kang Suk jumped and forced Yoo Cheol Ho down . It was a movement like a hawk attacking his prey .

Yoo Cheol Ho yelled while he was being taken handcuffed .

“Fuck! Who is the son of a bitch who denounced me I was here?! Say it! I’ll fucking chew him to the bones!”

Yoo Cheol Ho was arrested and taken by 5 policemen .

Tae Hyuk watched that and put the last piece of the ice cream in his mouth .

“Ah, it’s refreshing!”

So sweet, so tasty .

Policemen were continuously going in and out of the church as if there were more evidences inside after Yoo Cheol Ho was taken away .

Jo Kang Suk continued to turn around to check if there would be any more threat to Tae Hyuk, the witness .

Tae Hyuk thought it was a good idea that he reported to him .

‘Wow, detective . You’ve rejuvenated . No potbelly there . ’

It was a whole different image from the Jo Kang Suk he had in his memory so he giggled . But the eyes burning with the sense of Justice were the same .

“Detective Jo Kang Suk, I guess you’ll get a promotion now . ”

“Haha . If there’s anybody bullying you in class, contact this big brother . ⋯⋯but you don’t look like the type who’d be bullied . Ah, right . Have you already eaten lunch? Want a bowl of Jajangmyeon?”

“Wah, I made you the ace today for catching this wanted convict and you are only buying me a jajangmyeon?”

“Mm . Then Tangsuyuk as well?”

“Nah, in fact, I already ate . I wouldn’t say this is an ‘instead’ but help me get the bounty money, please because this is a first time . ”

Jo Kang Suk laughed . He seems to like the bold Tae Hyuk .

“Boy, you are saying like you’ll get another time again, you know?”

“⋯⋯ . ”

“Pf Haha . What is that kind of face? Anyway, you said your name was Tae Hyuk, right? Thanks a lot . Yoo Cheol Ho, that bastard, is a really dangerous guy . For sure he would have committed more murders in his run . We could catch him without any casualties thanks to your report . ”

At the moment, Tae Hyuk felt something hot overflowing in his heart .

He didn’t think about because his mind was occupied by the bounty reward but,

Tae Hyuk saved the life of the 3 victims of the murders that were to happen later .

The tragic future has changed .

Then .

The mirror vibrated .

‘Huh? I didn’t bump in anything . ’

The crime skill The Robbery activates regardless of Tae Hyuk’s will .

But there’s a condition that he has to be in direct contact with the other party .

When he took the mirror and check, there were several words on it .

[You have earned 3 relation points . ]

[You can use the relation points to either enhance a crime skill or activate a hidden ability . ]

“What is this again?”

Translator’s note

Have changed the previously “The pickpocketing” to “The Robbery”

Anybody who’s interested in translating novels?

Glossary

Jajangmyeon (자장면; 짜장면; jjajangmyeon), a Korean Chinese cuisine, is a noodle dish topped with a thick sauce made of chunjang(a salty black soybean paste when unheated), diced pork and vegetables, and sometimes also seafood .

Tangsuyuk (Korean: 탕수육, Chinese: 糖醋肉), the Koreanized version of sweet and sour pork or orange chicken . Unlike theAmericanized Chinese dish of the same name, tangsuyuk can be made with either pork or beef .

Hyung : Big/older brother . Kind of an equivalent to the japanese “onii-san” but only used between male (male to male) .