Chapter 121

Chapter 121 – Divergent #1

“It has been one month . You made sure to keep the promise . ”

Tae-hyuk looked at Kang-suk as they rode the boat leaving Blue Dragon Prison . He seemed deep in thought and showed no reaction to Tae-hyuk’s words . The reply came from a man in a trench coat .

“Phantom? No, should I call you Kim Cheol-su? The promise compensation will be guaranteed . ”

“Hrmm . I hope something like last time isn’t planned . ”

The expression and tone of words was so creepy that Joo Hyun-ho couldn’t help gulping . That face was a fake that was created . Was it like the special makeup used to shoot movies? He would know clearly if he touched it, but unfortunately he didn’t have that courage .

Hyun-ho smiled and said,

“It’s not like you will be caught if that happens again . ”

Tae-hyuk gave a meaningful smile instead of answering . Then Hyun-ho felt regret . He was a specialist in terms of identifying the criminal’s feelings and analyzing them . He didn’t show it, but he was very proud of that fact .

But Kim Cheol-su… No, he couldn’t tell anything about Phantom despite questioning him . However, this wasn’t enough to make Hyun-ho give up . Phantom, whom he wanted to meet so much, was within a touching distance . He needed to at least find out what midnight snack Phantom liked to eat .

“By the way, do you know Shin Chang-ho?”

“The name is famous, so I’ve heard it a few times . But is the commissioner healthy these days?”

“He has a pollen allergy so it is a little tough… Hup . ”

Hyun-ho realized that he made a mistake while talking about the police commissioner’s recent problem . Conversely, he was the one being interrogated . This was a rudimentary mistake that showed the other person wasn’t a beginner . Hyun-ho’s eyes trembled .

As Hyun-ho panicked, Tae-hyuk gazed at the screen of the Demon Revealing Mirror floating in the air .

‘Isn’t this a completely fraudulent skill?’

He rolled his eyes and gazed at the Demon Revealing Mirror again . There was a detailed description of the abilities and current psychological state of Joo Hyun-ho .

[No… It seems like the commissioner’s secret mission is a bust…]

This was the ability of the [Hawk Eyes] attribute . Tae-hyuk took advantage of it so that Hyun-ho would make mistakes that he wouldn’t normally make . It hadn’t been possible to use it until now because he needed 10 affinity points to acquire .

However, he gained those missing points with the end of the prison war . He guessed it was because he saved Park Sung-yul, who Shin Chang-ho was supposed to kill .

‘But when I think about it, two points were added . ’

He only got eight points for dealing with the Triads killer . Then he got two points for saving Park Sung-yul’s life . He thought that he got affinity points by saving the lives of people who were destined to die .

‘But the first one is too low, while the second incident gave too many points . ’

Did Big Brother only kill eight more people in the future? It didn’t make sense . There was still some uncertainty regarding the affinity points that strengthened crime skills .

‘Anyway, the characteristics of ‘Hawk Eyes’… This is the full jackpot!’

If he activated it, he could grasp the state of the opponent, almost like mind-reading . In the eyes of Hyun-ho, who didn’t know about the crime skills, Phantom literally seemed like a monster .

Cho Kang-suk, who was quietly sitting beside Hyun-ho, opened his mouth .

“At any rate, I was able to finish the Park Sung-yul case due to Kim Cheol-su . Thank you very much . ”

It was true that they solved the crime with the help of a criminal . Even though he solved a tough case, Cho Kang-suk didn’t seem pleased .

“There is no need for thanks . I am getting paid for this after all . ”

“If it wasn’t for your help, it wouldn’t have been so easy to find the identity of the victims . ”

The image of the landlord after they found her daughter popped up in Kang-suk’s head . Now Park Sung-yul would pay for his sins . All of it was due to Phantom’s help .

As Kang-suk made a subtle facial expression, Joo Hyun-ho suddenly interrupted .

“By the way, the investigation headquarters is having a get together next week . Kim Cheol-su, why don’t you come? You were also crucial in solving this case . Furthermore, it will be very entertaining if you join…”

Kang-suk applied a headlock to the smiling Hyun-ho . It was a bit much to recommend Phantom attend a party with cops who were trying to catch him .

“Hrmm . A dinner party . Not bad . ”

“Do you see? Phantom thinks it is a good idea . ”

“Unfortunately, it will become a crime if I attend, so I have to politely refuse . ”

“O-Of course… Keok! S-Sunbae! I really will die!”

“Haha! Cheol-su . Forget about this idiot’s words . ”

Unfortunately, Kang-suk and Hyun-ho didn’t correctly interpret Phantom’s words .

Phantom literally meant those words, since it was illegal for a minor to attend a drinking party .

@

Time passed by like the wind, and it had already been a week since Tae-hyuk returned from Blue Dragon Prison . He lied that he was studying abroad for one month, so there were no problems at all .

Forgery meant that he could come up with the necessary documents . He wondered about what had happened while he was away, since he gave some instructions to Kang Han-seong . They did better than he thought .

Even though Tae-hyuk had the crime skills, he was only one person . He could cover that disadvantage with them and the Bomber to some extent .

‘I’ll have to use it often in the future . Are these clothes enough?’

Tae-hyuk smiled at his appearance in the mirror . He had returned to his original appearance after looking like Kim Cheol-su for one month . However, the outfit he was wearing was slightly different . He was wearing a dark blue suit instead of his normal skinny jeans and leather jacket . Every year in spring, the three siblings would participate in a family event, and he was currently dressed up for it .

“Tae-hyuk! Are you ready?”

Ha-ran’s voice was heard outside his door . Tae-hyuk flicked back his long bangs and exited .

Ha-ran and Tae-min, who were ready to attend the event, were waiting at the front door . Tae-min pouted and said,

“What man takes longer to get ready than a woman? Detective Cho Kang-suk is waiting . ”

Tae-hyuk laughed at his brother’s reaction, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time . It was the feeling that Tae-hyuk had returned to where he should be .

“I have to say thank you to Kang-suk for driving us . ”

“Hah! Ah right, did you remember to bring the barley tea for Detective-nim?”

“Ah! I nearly forgot! It is in the fridge . Can you take it out for me?”

When he saw Ha-ran and Tae-min treating Kang-suk like family, Tae-hyuk realized that many things had changed in the past month . Tae-hyuk grabbed the bag on the floor and walked outside .

Cho Kang-suk was sitting in the driver’s seat of a shining new car . The black sunglasses and white gloves made him look like a chauffeur .

“Eh? Kang-suk hyung . When did you get a car?”

“Just recently . It is because I was sleeping at the office every day after missing the last train . I weighed the pros and cons and bought it . ”

“Aye, isn’t it for a different reason?”

“Really!”

Tae-hyuk didn’t ask anymore questions, although it seemed like Kang-suk bought it to go on dates with Ha-ran . Tae-hyuk put his bag in the trunk and sat in the back seat . Ha-ran carefully climbed into the front passenger seat .

“Kang-suk, thank you for doing this favor today . ”

Tae-min instantly started to question Kang-suk .

“Detective-nim! You solved another case? It appeared on the news . You look very good on screen!”

Kang-suk laughed and started the car .

“Haha . Then don’t forget your seat belts . We are departing . ”

Kang-suk drove the car in the warm sunshine .

@

After an hour, the party was able to arrive at their destination . Once the left the city and arrived at a wooded place, the air was completely different .

Ha-ran spoke cautiously from her seat next to Kang-suk .

“You have been very busy for a while… Thank you for taking us on such a long drive during your break . ”

Kang-suk smiled gently and replied,

“It is nothing . I wanted to come with you . ”

Tae-hyuk took his bag from the trunk and headed for the familiar place that he visited every year . It was a city run tomb where the ashes of the dead were kept .

Tae-hyuk headed to the place where his parents’ remains were . It wasn’t difficult to find the familiar names . It was a good location, not too high or too low .

[Seo Dae-han, Nam Ji-soo’s Tomb]

Tae-hyuk pulled out a framed picture and placed it in front of the urns . The two people had been returning from the same workplace when they got into an accident . He remembered Ha-ran’s face when his parents were first brought here .

–You will be together for the rest of eternity… After you die, stay on the royal floor .

Tears had flowed from Ha-ran’s eyes as she said this .

Tae-hyuk muttered quietly,

“Don’t worry . I will protect Noona and Tae-min no matter what . And…”

“Eh? I’ve already finished the preparations . ”

“Sorry Tae-hyuk! Noona will do the rest!”

The rest of the group that arrived late started bustling around . They spread a mat on the floor and placed the prepared food on it .

Every year, on this day . It was the day to visit their deceased parents . The family gathered together and had a good time sharing stories .

“Kang-suk . Please try some fruit . ”

“Ah, I’m sorry . I need to do something first . I will eat the fruit later . ”

“Huh?”

Kang-suk, who had been watching the family talking, got up from his seat . His black suit and sunglasses gave him a daunting appearance . However, he had a look of determination . Kang-suk stopped in front of the urns and slowly opened his mouth .

“Mother-nim, Father-nim . Nice to meet you . I am Cho Kang-suk and I work as a detective at Gangdong Police Station . Although I don’t have anything else, I am confident that I can support Seo Ha-ran . ”

Ha-ran’s face turned red as she watched from the side .

“Omo, Kang-suk is really…”

Kang-suk slowly bowed to Seo Ha-ran’s parents . Then he declared with all his will .

“I will surely make Seo Ha-ran happy . Father-nim, Mother-nim . Please give me your daughter!”

“……”

“D-Detective-nim?!”

“Whoa!”

The family showed various reactions to Kang-suk’s words . Kang-suk slowly got up and pulled out something from his pocket .

“I’m sorry Ha-ran . This should be done in a place with a little more atmosphere . Nevertheless, I wanted to greet Ha-ran’s parents . ”

Kang-suk gazed at Ha-ran with passionate eyes . Then he kneeled in front of Ha-ran and asked, There was a ring box on his palm .

“I felt something the moment that I met you . Will you please marry me?”

Ha-ran stood without saying anything while Tae-hyuk interrupted the two .

“Wait a minute, Kang-suk hyung . You shouldn’t do this yet . I wish you would have consulted me on such an important matter . How can you even propose this way? You should at least rent a five star lounge and do a romantic event… Ah! I don’t know! Noona! Erase this day from your head . You will meet again next week . In the meantime, I will surely educate…”

Ha-ran, who was standing quietly for a while, suddenly threw herself into Kang-suk’s arms .

“Yes! I will!”

In Tae-hyuk’s mind, he had the perfect proposal planned for Cho Kang-suk and Seo Ha-ran, yet Kang-suk had destroyed it all at once .

“Ugh… If you accept… The precious proposal… My plan… Ah, ahhhhh!”

Tae-hyuk literally fell to the ground and moaned .

Kang-suk placed the ring on Ha-ran’s left ring finger . Thus, the two people promised to marry .

Kang-suk laughed excitedly and said,

“Now, everybody must be hungry . Let’s go eat meat! How about beef? Meat!”

Tae-hyuk rose from his seat with a sigh . The situation was good for both parties so there was nothing he could do .

Then Tae-hyuk realized that his plan was a success . With this, Kang-suk was now part of the family of three . Unlike the previous life filled with despair, he had changed their fates perfectly . As Tae-hyuk’s chest warmed, the Demon Revealing Mirror screen appeared in front of him .

[4 affinity points have been acquired . ]

[You can use the affinity points to enhance crime skills or activate hidden attributes . ]

‘What? Affinity points?’

He had gained unexpected points from Kang-suk proposing to Ha-ran . Tae-hyuk gulped and started thinking about the affinity points .

‘It don’t get it simply if I saved someone who was destined to die . That explanation doesn’t work with the four points I got now . This means…’

In the end, he finally saw what the true condition was for acquiring affinity points .

‘…By changing fate, the crime skills become stronger . ’

The power to change fate . This was the hidden identity of the affinity points .