Chapter 58: Breaking News
The smell of simmering broth filled the modest apartment as a woman hummed softly, ladling steaming soup into bowls. The clatter of chopsticks and plates echoed in the kitchen while a young boy set the table, his hands moving quickly out of habit.
His father, a middle-aged man with tired eyes and a slight paunch, walked into the living room, adjusting his shirt. "Let's see what's happening in the world today." he muttered, picking up the remote and switching on the television.
The news broadcast flickered to life, showing a serious-looking anchor behind a sleek desk.
[Breaking news from earlier this morning: A shocking bank robbery took place in broad daylight, leaving citizens and authorities stunned. The suspect? A mere teenager.]
The family froze.
"What started as a seemingly harmless prank escalated into a full-scale confrontation with law enforcement. Our reporters have gathered footage from the scene. Viewer discretion is advised."
The screen shifted to security camera footage from inside the bank.
A grainy, black-and-white clip played, showing a young boy storming into the bank, screaming with a banana in hand. The family blinked in confusion before the mother scoffed, "A banana?"
"At first, bystanders believed the suspect was playing a joke. However, things quickly took a serious turn when he effortlessly overpowered multiple security personnel, demonstrating inhuman strength."
The footage cut to a different angle, this time in color, recorded from a witness's phone. It showed Jin grabbing a fully grown security officer by the collar and lifting him off the ground with one hand before tossing him onto a chair. The chaotic screams in the background were muted as the news anchor continued.
"After subduing the guards, the suspect made his way to the vault. But before he could escape, police units arrived at the scene."
The screen changed again, showing dashcam footage from the responding officers. Jin sprinted out of the bank, carrying a large duffel bag, dodging moving police vehicles with ease. The officers pursued, but Jin weaved through traffic like a ghost, disappearing into alleyways.
The young boy watching the news widened his eyes. "Whoa… that's so cool!"
His mother shot him a glare. "There's nothing cool about robbing a bank."
"The suspect then engaged in a high-speed chase with authorities, escaping multiple attempts at capture. Our sources confirm that despite law enforcement's efforts, the stolen money has not been recovered."
The father frowned. "They still haven't found the money?"
The screen switched to a panel of experts, one of whom was a former police investigator.
"It's baffling." the man admitted, adjusting his glasses. "We've seen criminals hide money before, but for a kid, just 14 years old, to outmaneuver an entire police force and stash millions without leaving a trace? That's no ordinary delinquent."
The father hummed in thought. "He's got brains, then."
"The most shocking part came during the final confrontation between the suspect and the police captain, Mu-Jin, known for his mastery of Taekwondo and his long history of dealing with South Korea's most dangerous criminals."
The footage changed again, now showing shaky phone camera recordings from the crowd that had gathered at the plaza.
The hushed murmur of spectators was quickly replaced by shocked gasps as Mu-Jin launched a devastating roundhouse kick, only for the teenager to block it. The impact sent a visible shockwave rippling through the air.
The family's eyes widened.
"No way." the son muttered.
The footage continued, now showing the full exchange between Jin and Mu-Jin.
The camera zoomed in, capturing Mu-Jin's fast kicks, each one dodged, blocked, or countered with unnatural precision. Jin's strikes landed in precise weak points, joints, and pressure areas.
Then came the moment that made the news explode.
Mu-Jin disappeared. A faint blue streak flashed across the screen.
Jin barely had time to react before a devastating roundhouse kick struck the side of his head, launching him across the plaza.
The mother gasped. "He hit him so hard the kid flew!"
The father with his arms crossed, exhaled through his nose. "And that's a trained officer. A kid shouldn't be able to last that long against him."
The footage cut to Jin lying on the ground, dazed and coughing. Then, Mu-Jin raised his foot and brought it crashing down in an axe kick.
The screen froze.
The news anchor returned, a grim look on his face.
"This fight has sparked major controversy. While some praise Captain Mu-Jin for successfully subduing an incredibly dangerous suspect, others question whether it was excessive force, considering the suspect's age."
The screen shifted to interviews with onlookers.
A woman in business attire shook her head. "I know he robbed a bank, but he's just a kid. That last kick? That was overkill."
A young man with dyed hair grinned at the camera. "That was insane! I didn't even know people could fight like that in real life! I thought superhumans were only in movies!"
A police spokesman appeared on screen, speaking at a press conference.
"Captain Mu-Jin executed his duty as necessary to ensure public safety. The suspect demonstrated a high level of physical combat ability and was classified as a priority threat. The use of force was justified."
Then, another interview played, this time, with an elderly man.
"That boy… isn't normal. No kid should be able to fight like that. What if he's not human?"
The young son at the dinner table gasped. "Wait, wait, what if he's like, an alien?"
The mother rolled her eyes. "Don't be ridiculous."
The broadcast continued.
"With the suspect unconscious, he was taken into custody and escorted to the most secure juvenile correctional facility in the city, a prison designed to house and rehabilitate Seoul's most violent and dangerous youth offenders."
Footage showed Jin's unconscious body being handcuffed and carried into an armored vehicle. Multiple armed officers stood around him, as if expecting him to wake up and fight his way free.
"This facility has housed some of Seoul's most infamous juvenile criminals, from organized gang leaders to violent delinquents. Whether this young suspect will be reformed, or become even more dangerous, remains to be seen."
The father sighed, leaning back. "Hmph. So he's not going to some regular youth detention center."
The mother shook her head. "And rightfully so. Did you see how he was fighting? A normal school isn't going to fix that boy."
The son, still staring at the frozen footage of Jin's final kick, leaned forward. "I bet he's gonna take over that prison."
His parents gave him an unimpressed look.
"Eat your food." his mother scolded.
The news broadcast ended with the anchor's final statement.
"While the suspect's identity remains largely unknown, one thing is certain: the events of today have shaken the public. Who is Jin Lee? And more importantly… will this be the last we hear of him?"
The screen faded to black, replaced by commercials.
The family resumed their meal.
But outside, across the city, Jin Lee's name was already spreading.
----
I know that this chapter progressed nothing to the story but i wrote it to add depth.
Don't complain!
Patreon: Mr_Graythorn