I’m Obsessed With the Suspect - Chapter 73

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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73

Doksah held up the tablet to show Cheong-a.

“The information about the ship was compiled based on data gathered by Officer In Yeon-hee and Chamkkae.”

The screen displayed a ship’s structural diagram.

Cheong-a scanned it with her eyes several times, committing it to memory.

Sitting next to Doksah was the Coast Guard officer in charge.

“I’ll handle all the explanations about the ship. Please ask questions immediately if there’s anything you don’t understand. All decisions at the scene will be entirely up to Detective Kim Chung-a.”

…What?

It was already overwhelming enough trying to cram all the ship information into her head.

The stories just kept making her shoulders feel heavier and heavier.

“The ship currently heading to North Port is a medium-sized bulk carrier with around twenty crew members. At most, it won’t exceed thirty people.”

“Yes… Yes. Thirty people.”

If she were extremely lucky, she could assume that none of them were armed. Even so, if nearly thirty people rushed at her all at once with knives, there would be no answer for Cheong-a.

Finally, a sigh escaped from Cheong-a’s lips.

“Excluding the navigator, engineer, deck crew, and engine room staff, the combat personnel might be relatively few.”

Oh, relatively.

So that means there could also be many.

Cheong-a’s legs began trembling even faster under the table.

Tap tap tap.

The sound of her toes hitting the floor echoed, but no one pointed it out.

“However… A ship transporting drugs of this scale would definitely have armed personnel secured.”

“As you can see, the passages inside the ship are narrow, and securing visibility won’t be easy.”

Now Cheong-a couldn’t even let out a sigh.

“Use the transmitter we’ve given you to confirm if the goods are there, identify the armed personnel, then contact us… From that point on, the Coast Guard Special Forces will be deployed. Until then-.”

“W-wait a moment.”

Cheong-a hurriedly interrupted the man.

“Yes?”

The gazes of Doksah and the Coast Guard officer, which had been fixed on the tablet, turned toward Cheong-a.

“What if this communication breaks down?”

“The device is configured with dual systems. If possible, please send Morse code through this transmitter.”

“…”

“But if the situation isn’t good, use this one. Just press this button once. This sends a strong signal, so there’s absolutely no worry of it being blocked or lost.”

Sweat formed on Cheong-a’s hand as she picked up the button.

“But I’m not really going in alone, right?”

***

Putt putt putt putt.

Putt putt.

The sound of a small fishing boat’s engine crossed the night sea.

Well, they said they got something decent for Rachel to ride, so calling it a fishing boat feels a bit wrong. But no matter how generously you looked at it, it was undeniably a motorboat.

“Oh my, there are some waves.”

The Navy Special Forces warrant officer at the helm muttered.

Dark, tanned skin with deeply carved wrinkles.

Having taken off his uniform and gripping the steering wheel, he looked exactly like a seasoned sailor.

“It might be a bit uncomfortable, but this has low radar reflection, so it’s perfect!”

“Ah…”

“We need to go a bit further, so tear open another hot pack and keep it with you.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Cheong-a raised the collar of her coat over her cheongsam and squeezed the hot pack.

‘Ah, it’s cold! I’m really going to die!’

Her whole body was trembling mercilessly, and she couldn’t tell if it was from the cold or fear.

−Of course, we’ll attach personnel from our side.

Doksah’s last words echoed in her head.

−As Rachel’s bodyguard.

Cheong-a slowly turned her head.

There was Yushin with both hands shoved deep into his pockets.

Silently keeping his position, wearing only a black suit and thin coat.

Right.

He was tall and quite handsome, perfectly suited for the role of a bodyguard that the appearance-conscious Rachel would personally hire. He wouldn’t look too threatening to the Yongyon Gang members either.

According to Doksah, Yushin could speak some Chinese too.

Being tall, there was less risk of his earpiece being spotted.

Being a doctor, he would know about drugs well.

He really did seem just right for the job.

The only problem was that his fighting skills were absolutely terrible.

‘I… I feel like I’ll barely be able to handle myself.’

Would Mr. Min Yoo-shin be helpful in this operation?

Wouldn’t he just be a burden instead?

Ugh, this is driving me crazy.

Watching Cheong-a’s constantly changing expression, Yushin asked.

“What? Why do you look like that?”

“…Nothing.”

Cheong-a slowly turned her head and pressed the hot pack to her cheek while muttering quietly.

“I was just wondering why Mr. Min Yoo-shin is participating in this operation…”

“Why? Because I’m the most suitable person.”

“D-don’t lie! You’re the worst at fighting. You could barely beat me… No wait, if I hadn’t let my guard down then, I would have won. Sigh.”

“If it comes to physical fighting, we’re all dead anyway. My job is to make sure it doesn’t come to that.”

“Oh, how reassuring.”

“Right?”

He took a step toward Cheong-a and silently grabbed both ends of the scarf around her neck. Then he untied the loose knot and pulled it up. After wrapping the scarf around her head once to keep the wind out, he tied it securely in place.

“Isn’t this a style that was popular in the 60s…”

“I don’t know about that, but you’re cold. I picked out this scarf, you know? It suits you well.”

Yushin smiled broadly at Cheong-a. It was an expression that absolutely didn’t match this situation.

“Ah, I can see it there.”

At the warrant officer’s voice, both Cheong-a and Yushin’s gazes turned immediately.

“Alright, turning off the engine now.”

With a click, the engine shut off and silence fell over the sea.

Soon only the sound of water brushing against the hull remained.

The boat continued forward on momentum for a bit longer before slipping under the shadow of the large vessel.

The Yongyon Gang’s bulk carrier.

Cheong-a looked up at it and gulped, swallowing dry saliva.

The massive hull stood like a wall on the night sea. It was incomparably larger than the motorboat she had arrived on.

Cheong-a and Yushin waited there for a while.

And how much time had passed?

Ropes and a ladder began descending from above.

Cheong-a took a deep breath.

Yushin was the first to climb the ladder.

The moment he gripped with his hands and lifted his body, a small groan escaped from him.

“A-are you okay?”

Cheong-a’s gaze fixed intently on Yushin.

Come to think of it, he said he had cracked bones. Why was he assigned to this kind of work? Does the National Intelligence Service really have so few people?

“I’m fine. Please climb up carefully.”

Yushin looked up and spoke in a very formal voice.

It seemed like a statement made with awareness of whoever might be listening to their conversation.

Cheong-a nodded as if she understood and reached for the ladder.

The cold sensation transmitted through her palm with a stinging feeling.

Throughout their climb up the ladder, flashlight beams continuously shone down on Cheong-a and Yushin from above the ship.

Yushin, who boarded the ship first, seemed to exchange some conversation with the people, then turned around and extended his hand to Cheong-a, pulling her up.

‘It must hurt. Is he okay?’

As a bodyguard, it would be natural for him to extend his hand to escort Rachel. But for Yushin right now, it probably wasn’t an easy thing to do.

Yushin showed a rather cold expression as if ignoring Cheong-a’s concern.

Standing on the deck were two men.

‘They have… guns.’

Her gaze instinctively dropped downward.

Today, even if Yushin wore a bulletproof vest, it might be meaningless.

The presence created by the large chunks of metal and the damp sea breeze made her chest feel heavy.

The man among the two who wasn’t holding a gun approached Yushin without saying a word, taking large steps. Then he grabbed Yushin’s arm, ran his hands over his waist, and soon his hand reached Yushin’s ear.

The removal of the in-ear device from Yushin’s ear happened in an instant.

‘Ah…!’

Cheong-a had to swallow a string of curses internally.

One of the men shoved it into his own ear and began listening quietly to the sound.

A brief silence passed, and the man wearing the in-ear device let out a snicker.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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