Chapter 9

Mingi leaned back in his chair, scratching his head in perplexity. "Who exactly is this Lee guy?" he asked, his curiosity piqued by the latest case that landed on their desks like a cryptic puzzle.

Their target: Mr. Lee, a mysterious figure shrouded in the haze of Seoul's business landscape.

At 50, he owned a hefty chunk of the city's skyscrapers, with whispers suggesting his influence spread even further across Korea.

But what caught Mingi's attention was how this seemingly untouchable mogul ended up on their suspect list.

At first glance, it seemed like a minor issue—a few complaints here and there about Mr. Lee's hired muscle roughing up foreigners.

But as they dug deeper, layers began to peel away, revealing a hidden underworld of illegal dealings and secret strongholds.

Suddenly, what appeared to be a tiny blip on the radar morphed into something much larger and more sinister.

"Guess we've got ourselves a rich maniac on the loose," Y/N quipped with a playful smirk, her eyes flickering mischievously. "Well, lucky for you all, I'll see what I can drum up. Technically, I'm not on the force, but hey, who's keeping track?" She shot a teasing glance at Wooyoung, who lounged across from her, flanked by Mingi. Mingi, catching the camaraderie, couldn't help but chuckle.

"But first, food!" Y/N declared, her stomach rumbling in agreement. "Let's refuel, folks. We can brainstorm better on full stomachs." With a theatrical groan, she dove into her lunch bag, extracting her meal with gusto.

Mingi, noticing her enthusiasm, couldn't resist commenting. "You seem extra pumped for lunch today!"

Y/N grinned, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Oh, you have no idea," she teased.

Wooyoung, seizing the opportunity to stir the pot, joined in, unveiling his own lunch with a wicked grin. "So, here's the deal," he began, sliding his meal toward Mingi. "We had a little cook-off earlier. Y/N here had the audacity to claim she could outdo me in the kitchen. So, naturally, we had to put it to the test. Now, it's your turn to be the judge." Y/N just rolled her eyes in mock annoyance.

"Alright, Mingi, go ahead. Today's the day we settle this once and for all," Y/N said with a hint of determination, nudging her lunch closer to Mingi, who sat there feeling like he'd stepped into a whirlwind.

Mingi cursed himself silently, wondering why he ever got involved in this drama between his two friends. "Um, sorry guys, I just remembered my mom packed me lunch," he began, inching away from the table.

But before he could escape, Y/N and Wooyoung both raised their voices in unison, commanding him to sit back down. "We both know your parents are off holidaying somewhere," Y/N pointed out, while Wooyoung added firmly, "So park it and play judge for once."

Mingi found himself sinking back into his seat, eyeing the spread before him with a mix of trepidation and resignation. Glancing around, he noticed the intense glares being exchanged between his friends. Then, just as Yongbok passed by their table, Mingi seized the opportunity.

"Yongbok!" he called out, hoping for a distraction.

Turning with his trademark smile, Yongbok faced his friend, his uniform perfectly pressed as always. With those adorable freckles peppering his cheeks, he was like a walking charm factory, earning him adoration from all who knew him.

But beneath that cute exterior lay a surprise—a voice that could rival the force of twenty generators combined. "Hey, Inspector Song," he greeted in his deep, rumbling tone, a contrast to his gentle demeanor.

Y/N couldn't help but chuckle at the sight. It was as if Mingi and Yongbok were destined to be friends, their voices perfectly complementing each other. Once, in a fit of curiosity, Y/N had jokingly asked if they'd swallowed megaphones as kids.

"Come eat with us," he said, his voice carrying a genuine sense of camaraderie. Y/N and Wooyoung chimed in, their encouragement echoing Mingi's invitation.

Yongbok, ever the polite one, tried to gracefully decline. But when it came to Y/N, he knew better than to think he could easily escape her insistence.

"Wait, Yongbok, have you eaten?" Y/N's question hung in the air, her tone both teasing and caring. Yongbok shook his head, a sheepish grin playing on his lips.

Without missing a beat, Y/N adopted her trademark humor. "Then bring your ass here and eat with us," she declared, her words punctuated with a playful exuberance that always seemed to break through any resistance.

Yongbok chuckled, unable to resist her infectious energy, and made his way to the table, expressing his gratitude. Y/N flashed him a mischievous grin. "I can't let my little brother starve now, can I?" she teased, her affection for him shining through.

But Wooyoung, ever the instigator, couldn't resist stirring the pot. "Oh, please, we all know why you called him," he interjected with a smirk, earning himself a sharp glare from Y/N. "To have an extra judge who will vote for you."

"Come on, guys, dig in," Y/N urged, flashing a hopeful smile at Mingi and Yongbok. With a gentle nudge, they picked up their chopsticks and fork, eyeing the lunches in front of them. The tension in the air was palpable, like the calm before a storm.

Mingi and Yongbok hesitated for a moment, exchanging uncertain glances. Then, with a shrug, they each took a tentative bite from their respective lunches, much to the relief of Y/N and Wooyoung. The two of them watched anxiously, waiting for their verdict.

As Mingi and Yongbok chewed, Y/N and Wooyoung held their breath, waiting for the inevitable reaction. It was a make-or-break moment, with the fate of their teasing rivalry hanging in the balance.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Mingi and Yongbok nodded in approval, their faces lighting up with delight. Y/N let out a sigh of relief, while Wooyoung couldn't help but smirk triumphantly.

With a gentle clink, Mingi laid his chopsticks down, shooting Yongbok a grin across the table. Wooyoung and Y/N leaned in, anticipation dancing in their eyes as they awaited the verdict.

"I've reached a verdict," Mingi announced, casting his gaze between Wooyoung and Y/N. "You both really impressed me, but..." He paused for dramatic effect, drawing out the suspense. "I have to say, Yongbok's brownies take the cake."

Wooyoung and Y/N exchanged playful glares, then turned their attention back to Mingi, their voices blending in a chorus of mock outrage as they teased him for his choice.

Amidst the lively chatter of their lunch group, Yongbok's voice cut through the commotion like a spotlight on stage. "Hey, guys, hold up a sec," he said, holding up his lunchbox with a grin. Wooyoung chuckled, already sensing some mischief afoot, and shot a glance over at Y/N.

"This right here," Yongbok declared proudly, "is the real deal. Authentic Korean goodness that has that special flavor every Korean craves." His words were met with a cheer from Wooyoung, who shot a playful glare at Y/N. "I'm telling you, this is the winner," Wooyoung exclaimed, triumphant.

But just as the celebration started to peak, Yongbok raised his hand, silencing the room. He reached for Y/N's lunchbox, causing her to lean in with anticipation. The room's energy shifted from jubilation to a hush of curiosity. Wooyoung's applause faded into an uncertain silence.

"This," Yongbok continued, holding up the lunchbox with a twinkle in his eye, "is something different. It's like a fusion of flavors from around the world—a whole new experience that people will go crazy for." Y/N's face lit up with delight, bouncing in her seat, as the suspense built. What could be inside this extraordinary lunchbox? The room held its breath, waiting for the reveal.

"So, I guess you could say, I love 'em both," Yongbok concluded with a grin, "being half Korean and half Australian, you know?"

Mingi, ever the theatrical one, pretended to wipe away tears. "I knew inviting you was a stroke of genius," he exclaimed dramatically, earning groans from both Wooyoung and Y/N.

"Nice move, Mr. Jung," Y/N said, extending her hand for a handshake to Wooyoung.

"Yeah, well played," Wooyoung replied, though there was a hint of disappointment in his voice. "But did he have to hype you up so much?"

"You're too much," Y/N teased, retracting her hand with a playful smirk. "Man, Mingi, I've got this crazy craving for Yongbok's brownies," she declared, shooting Yongbok a grin.

Yongbok chuckled. "Well, I could whip up a batch for you tomorrow."

"She's like family to me, you know?" Yongbok continued, a fond smile playing on his lips as he reminisced.

The coffees in front of them were slowly losing their steam, but the memories they shared were keeping them warm.

"She always looked out for me, never made me feel different because of my accent."

Yongbok's words struck a chord with them all, a reminder of the bond they shared and the moments that had brought them together. "Count me in," Yongbok said eagerly, leaning forward. "Let's find her. And hey, if there's anything I can do to help, just say the word."

"Okay, let's piece this together," Yunho began, leaning against the table as they discussed the peculiar case. "We're suspecting Mr. Lee's involvement in her kidnapping, right?"

"But Mr. Lee is gone," Yongbok interjected, scratching his head in confusion.

"True, true," Yunho nodded, tapping his chin in thought. "But what about his crew? They could still be out there, holding a grudge or maybe even a family member seeking payback."

Yongbok and Mingi exchanged glances, processing Yunho's words. Mingi's eyes widened suddenly, as if a lightbulb had flickered to life in his mind.

"Wait a minute," Mingi exclaimed, straightening up in his seat. "What about the Twin Lees?"

"The Twin Lees?" Yunho echoed, intrigued.

"Yeah, when Y/N and I were deep into this investigation," Mingi began, excitement lacing his voice, "we stumbled upon this mystery: Mr. Lee had these two shadowy figures, dubbed the Twin Lees. They were like his right-hand men, but nobody ever laid eyes on them. We never could figure out who they were because, well, the case closed when Mr. Lee bit the dust."

Yunho's brow furrowed in contemplation. "So, Twin Lees... Could they be the missing link we've been searching for?"

"Hey, I'm not sure about this, but we've gotta take a shot," Mingi said with a shrug, and Yongbok gave a nod of agreement. "Let's start by talking to the folks at the Incheon department."

So, Mingi, Yunho, and Yongbok kicked back in the café, hashing out their plans before finally deciding it was time to take action.

They strolled out, café doors chiming behind them, and made their way across the street to the police station.

Mingi wasn't too keen on the idea at first, but Yongbok was persistent, promising that the chief wasn't lurking around.

Just as they were about to step into the station, a woman stepped right in front of them.

Her eyes were swollen from crying, her hair in disarray, and she looked utterly exhausted.

"Sir, please, you have to find my son," she pleaded, her voice cracking with emotion.

Yongbok, ever the calm one, tried to reassure her. "Mrs. Kim, we're doing everything we can. We won't give up."

"It's been over two weeks now, officer, and still no news about my son Sangie," the lady sighed, her voice tinged with exhaustion.

Despite her weariness, her eyes blazed with determination, a fire fueling her quest to find her son.

"Mrs. Kim, please trust us," Yongbok reassured her gently, his heart aching at the sight of her distress.

Tears streamed down her face as she collapsed onto the bench, her hands trembling with emotion.

Mingi and Yunho exchanged glances, their sympathy mirroring Yongbok's.

"Please, ma'am, come with us," Yongbok urged, guiding her into the station with care.

The other officers watched with heavy hearts, knowing all too well that this wasn't the first time the distraught mother had sought answers here.

They couldn't help but feel for her, and for Yongbok, who always took it upon himself to console her.

"Here, have some water," he offered, passing her a glass in an attempt to offer some small comfort amidst the turmoil.

The woman stood in the police station, her eyes heavy with worry, her words trembling with emotion.

"He's the only family I have left. I lost my husband and my daughter. I can't lose him too, or I'll die," she confided. "I'm certain he is behind all this."

The officer, Yongbok, shook his head gently. "That's not possible, ma'am. He's dead."

"But his battalions are still alive. I testified against him. That's why he kidnapped my son," she insisted, her voice carrying the weight of past trauma.

This wasn't the first time she had made such claims, and Yongbok and the other officers were sadly accustomed to her suspicions.

Yunho and Mingi, however, exchanged surprised glances but kept their thoughts to themselves until the woman had left the station.

"Who was she talking about?" Mingi finally ventured.

"Lee," Yongbok answered with a heavy sigh. Mingi and Yunho shared a look, both of them arriving at the same conclusion.

Yongbok caught on to their silent communication. "It could be the twin Lees," he suggested, and his companions nodded in agreement.

"That means everything points to the Twin Lee. We have to find them soon."

Yunho slouched on the couch in Mingi's cozy living room, his brows furrowed in frustration as he muttered to himself.

"Seriously, how many people did he manage to mess with even from beyond the grave? It's like he orchestrated this whole revenge plot from the great beyond," he grumbled, shaking his head at the sheer audacity of it all.

He'd just come back from chatting with Yongbok, leaving Mingi behind to sift through old case files on the computer.

Yunho couldn't shake the feeling of disbelief as he replayed their conversation in his mind.

"And seriously, why is Wooyoung ghosting me?" Yunho groaned, tossing his phone onto the coffee table in annoyance.

For two whole days, he'd been trying to get a hold of Wooyoung, and not even a single text back.

It was starting to drive him up the wall.

Yunho leaned back in his chair, swirling his coffee absentmindedly as he mulled over the pieces of information he'd pieced together.

"If Mr. Lee's the queen ant of this whole mafia scene, and those two twins are his trusty ant soldiers, then they're not just expanding the colony. They're cooking up something huge," he mused aloud.

"Sakura," he muttered, the name rolling off his tongue as he sifted through his mental notes.

"That old guy? He spilled the beans about his grandson, how he was paid off to claim he knew Sakura, only to end up silenced. But by who? That's the million-dollar question, and the answer seems to point right back to Mr. Lee and this mysterious Sakura character."

With a thoughtful expression, Yunho tapped his pen against the edge of the table.

"It's like a puzzle, and we're missing a crucial piece. Who the heck is Sakura, and what's her connection to Mr. Lee's operation? The way those Lee twins are carrying on, it's like they're picking up where Mr. Lee left off, continuing his unfinished business. But without knowing who Sakura is, we're just spinning our wheels."

Taking a sip of his coffee, Yunho glanced out the window, lost in thought.

"We need to dig deeper, find out who Sakura is and what role she plays in all of this. Once we crack that, maybe the whole picture will start to make sense."

As Yunho sifted through Mr. Lee's logbook, his mind raced with questions. The constant donations to a demand home piqued his curiosity.

Could Sakura be involved somehow? Yunho pondered, trying to connect the dots.

As Yunho delved deeper into his thoughts, he was jolted back to reality by a sudden phone call from Mingi.

He picked it up quickly, expecting some breakthrough, but instead, he was met with a shock.

"Yunho, help." Those were the only words Yunho could make out before the line went silent.

Mingi's voice sounded pained, filled with muffled groans.

Heart pounding, Yunho grabbed his jacket and raced to the station.

When he arrived, he found Mingi unconscious, lying in a pool of blood in the archive room at the back of the police station.

Panic surged through Yunho as he quickly got Mingi to the hospital.

Though the wounds weren't fatal, the fact that Mingi had been attacked out of nowhere was alarming.

This Lee case was proving to be anything but simple, bringing danger to everyone involved.

As Yunho sat by Mingi's side, the weight of the situation pressed heavily on his heart.

Mingi woke up with a groan after two hours, finding himself in the emergency ward with a bandage around his head.

His eyes quickly found Yunho, who looked lost, teetering on the edge of a panic attack. Mingi's worry surged as he called out softly,

"Yunho, are you okay?"

His voice was barely a whisper in the heavy silence, but Yunho didn't respond, trapped in his own thoughts.

Desperate to reach him, Mingi called out again, a bit louder this time,

"Yunho, I'm asking, are you okay?"

Yunho blinked, shaking off his reverie. "Oh, yeah, I'm... I'm fine," he mumbled, running a hand through his hair in frustration, his cheeks flushing slightly.

He shifted uncomfortably, fidgeting with his fingers. "But what happened to you at the station? Who attacked you?"

"I really don't know," Mingi replied. "After I left the Incheon police station, I had some data related to Mr. Lee's case. I wanted to review it, but suddenly someone attacked me from behind. I fought back and managed to injure him in the right foot, but I couldn't stop him. He got away."

"That means there was something important in those files, and he was trying to stop you from seeing it. But when I reached you, the system was completely broken. Someone must have come back after you passed out to finish the job. And there weren't even any cameras," Yunho said, punching the air in frustration.

"This Lee guy has a network everywhere."

Yunho zoned out again, and Mingi could tell there was something else bothering him.

Gently, he asked, "Yunho, what else is troubling you?"

Yunho looked at him, hesitating before asking, "Can you tell me how Mr. Lee died?"

Mingi nodded and gestured for Yunho to sit down. "Let's talk," he said softly.

"So, Y/N and I received a mysterious note. It claimed that if we went to a specific location, someone would reveal Mr. Lee's grand plan." Mingi paused, the tension evident in his voice.

"It was a make-or-break moment. We had to gamble on whether the person was telling the truth or leading us into a trap. So, we headed there, near Mr. Lee's headquarters. Thankfully, we had that gold coin—it was our key past several obstacles."

Yunho listened intently as Mingi continued. "When we arrived, we found Ju Kyung standing at the crossroads, looking terrified. But he wasn't alone.

There was someone else there, someone who arrived just moments before Ju Kyung was shot." Mingi's eyes narrowed as he recalled the scene.

"Before that, we had a heated argument with Ju Kyung. Y/N even raised her gun at him, but she didn't fire. It was someone else who pulled the trigger.

And then, in an instant, the other man vanished. We didn't even catch a glimpse of his face."

Mingi took a deep breath. "After that, we received the coordinates for all of Lee's bases. It was almost as if he handed them to us himself.

Some of the intel was provided anonymously. We managed to seize his bases and arrest him.

Everything went smoothly, almost too smoothly. Everyone was relieved—except for Y/N and me.

Wooyoung isn't usually like that, but I get why he wanted the case closed quickly. He couldn't let Y/N and me work together anymore."

Mingi's voice carried a tone of sadness and longing for resolution. Yunho leaned in, curiosity piqued. "Hey, what happened after Mr. Lee was busted?" he asked, the suspense hanging in the air.

"It was strange," Mingi began, his voice tinged with a mix of frustration and disbelief. "He spent just over a week in jail, completely isolated. No one visited him, no one even tried to contact him. He'd sit there, alone, staring blankly at the walls.

He always cooperated with the police, never caused any trouble. Then, during one of our routine checkups, he was oddly calm, compliant as ever.

They performed the regular checks, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. But then, out of nowhere, when they called everyone for lunch, he just collapsed and died on the spot.

The doctors ruled it a heart attack. But to me and Y/N, it felt... off. We pushed to reopen the case, but no one was on board. They shut it down without a second thought," Mingi recounted, the memory of five years ago still fresh in his mind.

Yunho listened intently, his mind racing.

Every detail seemed to bring him closer to the truth, like a crucial piece of the puzzle had just fallen into place.

He felt a surge of hope, a sense that he was on the brink of uncovering something big.

But then, his phone buzzed with a new notification. As he read it, the blood drained from his face, leaving him cold and numb.

He checked the message on his phone, and his eyes widened at the bold letters declaring,

"Y/N case is closed." Mingi noticed Yunho's expression and asked what happened.

Yunho showed him the text, and Mingi's face now reflected Yunho's shock.

"We need to tell Wooyoung," Mingi said softly, his eyes welling up with tears.