The Special Promotion Awards (1)
Not only that, but the entire team was going to get special promotions.
So instead of their musty t-shirts, they had all changed into their dress uniforms.
As they say, clothes make the man, and everybody looked like they were practically glowing.
Especially their faces, which were bright with irrepressible happiness and excitement.
“Of course. I’ve even put on a new pair of socks today.”
Black bragged as he lifted his feet up for us to see.
Instead of his usual ragged navy-blue socks, he really did have on a new pair of dress socks.
As Mong-Doo saw these, his face stiffened as he mumbled.
“Hyungnim. Until now, it hadn’t really sunk in for me. But once I saw your socks, it finally hit me.”
Ever since he had become a police officer, this was his first award.
His eyes gradually welled up with emotion.
“My wife is still celebrating the fact that I’ve finally been promoted. Yesterday, for the first time in a long time, I was actually served a side-dish which had meat in it.”
Team Leader felt the exact same way.
Starting today, he would finally get to tear off his label as the eternal team leader.
“Oh yeah. I’ve heard that they’re turning today’s awards ceremony into a big deal. Even the higher-ups of the Gangnam Police Station and Joongbu Police Station will be attending.”
Although Exodus was in Gangnam and the Silla Hotel was in Joongbu, they would be coming here because the operation was helmed by us.
While doing up my buttons, I asked.
“Ah. By the way, did you find out about the thing that I asked for?”
“The palm tattoo?”
As soon as I opened my eyes in the hospital, I had asked them to find out about that person.
Mong-Doo shook his head in apology.
“There are a total of seven secutirty companies that are being investigated due to having a presence at the scene of the incident. As their employees are all contract workers, it seems to be taking a long time to identify that person?”
Black also added on something.
“I thought he might have been one of the gangsters, so I checked all of the guys that we caught. However, although there were guys with tattoos on the backs of their hands, there were none with tattoos on their palms.”
If only I hadn’t lost consciousness back then, it would have been easy to pursue it.
There was nothing for it.
For now, I would just have to sort out this case and then start slowly investigating.
“Ahem.”
Team Leader noticed my regret, so he turned on the TV as a distraction.
These days, he had developed a new hobby of watching the news.
Because they were constantly reporting on the ‘Thugs and Drugs Party case’ that we had cracked.
The announcer calmly read the latest news report.
[It is being called the second Gogo Nightclub incident. Among the attendants of the ‘Thugs and Drugs Party’, a famous idol has been identified, creating a huge impact-]
A love triangle between two gang leaders.
The ugly side of celebrities.
And the public war against drugs.
It was probably because all of these things were good material for people to gossip about.
From morning to night, the heat of this incident stayed high.
“Weren’t there less VIPs than we expected?”
“That’s right. Our newbie was the highest S-class VIP there.”
Most of those who had been arrested were the children of prosperous, mid-sized firms.
The companies listed on the stock market had their prices fluctuate and the politicians involved made apologies in front of the cameras.
Our roundup had brought quite a stir to society.
“In any case, Newbie, once today’s awards ceremony is over, get some rest before you return to work.”
Team Leader said this without taking his gaze off the television.
Even though I’d be getting some time off as a reward anyway.
“It’s fine. My arm’s already most of the way there.”
When I rejected his offer, Black jolted in surprise and started dissuading me.
“Hey. I know this from being stabbed quite a few times, but when you first get stabbed, you have to make sure it heals properly. If you don’t, then the wound will keep opening.”
“Crazy bastard. It’s like he’s talking about dumpling skins.”
As Team Leader mocked Black, Mong-Doo brightened up.
“Oh. Dumplings sound good. Should we eat dumplings as our beer snacks today?”
“Poor Mong-Doo. Do you really think dumplings are what you should eat on special occasions? On a day like this, you have to eat meat. Not just any meat, it has to be Hanwoo1!”
“Will it be Black-hyungnim’s treat?”
“No? For something like this, of course the boss has to pay for it.”
Everyone was making a racket and joking around like children.
On a day like this, anything can seem like fun.
I tucked in my shirt and picked up my usual clothes.
Just in time, Chief Kim opened the door and came in.
“Are you done preparing?”
I nodded my head.
Our team members also got up while adjusting their indigo-coloured jackets.
Cool. As expected, uniforms need to be worn as a group.
Chief Kim’s eyes were on the verge of tears.
I smiled and said.
“Let’s go. Our promotions are waiting.”
***
Footnote:
1. Hanwoo basically means Korean beef, but it specifically refers to a high-grade breed of beef cattle that are raised only in Korea. Basically, the Korean version of Wagyu beef.