The call to action came faster than Ah Jeong expected.
By 11:30 PM, she was parked across from Café Mirae in Itaewon, dressed down in jeans and a hoodie—something that screamed "customer" and not "cop."
The café looked ordinary on the outside, warm lighting spilling onto the street, couples sipping coffee on the terrace. But according to Isoo's intel, the real business happened in the backroom after midnight.
---
"You're seriously coming?"
Isoo slid into the passenger seat like he belonged there.
"You're not licensed to bring civilians on ops," she said flatly.
"Relax, Detective Hardass," he replied, pulling up his hood. "I'm not a civilian, I'm your unpaid consultant."
"You're a liability."
"And yet, here I am." He grinned, pulling out his phone like this was just another night out. "I even dressed down for you. Look, no designer labels—well, except the shoes."
Ah Jeong exhaled through her nose. "You stick to me like glue. No wandering."
"Promise." He crossed his heart, which meant absolutely nothing.
---
Inside the Café
The bell above the door jingled as they stepped inside. The place smelled of roasted coffee and cinnamon, masking the fact that half the customers weren't there for caffeine.
A tall barista greeted them with a nod, but his eyes lingered a beat too long on Isoo. Recognition? Suspicion? Hard to tell.
"Two iced Americanos," Ah Jeong said casually, sliding into a booth near the back. Isoo followed, stretching like he owned the place.
"You're terrible at being inconspicuous," she muttered.
"I'm inconspicuous adjacent," he whispered back. "You're just tense."
"Because I'm doing police work and you're… here."
---
The Lead
Near midnight, movement started near a door behind the counter—customers heading in casually, one after another, flashing what looked like membership cards.
"Backroom," Isoo whispered. "Told you."
Ah Jeong's pulse quickened. "Stay here. I'm checking it out."
"Nope. We're a team, remember?"
"We're not a—"
Too late. He was already following.
They slipped past the barista just as a group entered the backroom. No one stopped them. Isoo held up a random metal card from his wallet with a cocky smile, and somehow, it worked.
The backroom was nothing like the cozy café—industrial lighting, music thumping low, and shelves lined with products that had nothing to do with coffee.
People were gathered around tables—trading, talking, cash flowing discreetly. It was clean, professional, and illegal.
---
The Name
A man in a leather jacket leaned against the far wall, watching over everything like a hawk.
Ah Jeong recognized him instantly from her file photo.
Juno Kim.
She pulled out her phone under the table, snapping a discreet shot. Got you.
But Isoo, being Isoo, leaned forward and whispered:
"That's him, isn't it?"
"Shut up," she hissed.
Too late again. Juno's eyes flicked toward them, suspicion sharpening.
"Crap," she muttered. "We're blown. Move."
---
The Chase
They slipped back through the café, but Juno followed. Outside, the humid night air closed in around them.
"Split," Ah Jeong ordered.
"Split? You said glue!"
"Shut up and move!"
She bolted left; Isoo reluctantly went right. Juno chased her, pulling a knife as he closed the distance.
Ah Jeong spun, sidestepping as his blade missed her ribs by inches. She caught his wrist, twisting sharply until he yelped.
"You're under arrest!" she shouted, pulling her cuffs—
—but Juno shoved her hard and broke free, sprinting down the street.
Isoo, somehow circling back, stepped out from an alley with a length of pipe in hand. "Hey! Try picking on someone your own… economic bracket!"
Juno swung at him, but Isoo ducked and swung the pipe low, catching the man's shin. He stumbled, giving Ah Jeong enough time to tackle him.
She cuffed him, panting, adrenaline still high.
Isoo stood there, wide-eyed. "Holy crap. I actually helped."
"You could've died," she snapped, shoving Juno up to his feet.
"Yeah, but you didn't." His grin was infuriating—and a little infectious.
---
Aftermath
By the time backup arrived, Juno was in custody, swearing in every language he knew.
Ah Jeong gave her statement quickly, making sure to downplay Isoo's involvement.
On the ride back, silence filled the car until Isoo finally spoke:
"So… you're welcome."
She glanced at him. "You disobeyed every instruction I gave."
"And still helped you get your guy. Admit it, Detective, I'm not useless."
She sighed. "…Fine. You're not useless. Happy?"
He smirked, leaning back in his seat. "Ecstatic. Also, you owe me dinner for saving your life."
"You swung a pipe at his shin. That's not saving my life."
"Close enough."
---
The Shift
When she dropped him off, he paused at the door.
"You know," he said softly, "I haven't felt this… useful in years."
The comment caught her off guard.
"What do you mean?"
He shrugged, looking away. "Usually, people just want me to stay out of sight and stop embarrassing the family. Tonight was different. Felt like I actually mattered to something."
For the first time, Ah Jeong didn't have a sarcastic comeback. She just nodded.
"You did good, Isoo."
He smiled faintly. "Careful, Detective. Sounds like you're starting to like me."
"Don't push it."
But she smiled too, just a little, as she drove away.