THE8 | Junhao | *EDITING*

NINETEEN

| CHAPTER NINETEEN |

Seungkwan looks at Minghao, an unreadable expression on his face, "So," He smacks his lips, staring at him unsurely, "You want to join us on our next mission?"

"Yes." Minghao is quick to say, leaning up in his seat, eyes locked with the chief's, "And I want us to look into a more difficult case... one that you have yet to solve."

Seungkwan furrows his brows, "Why so?"

Minghao shakes his head, "Why not?" He rephrases Seungkwan's question, "I scrolled through everything, sir. There are so many cases that have yet to be solved. Don't you think we should look more into them?"

Seungkwan pauses for a moment at that.

He looks down at his desk, hands clasped together as he thinks.

He looks up, eye to eye with Minghao, "May I ask why you're so intent on the older cases?"

Minghao sighs, "It's so unfair to the victims, sir."

"Fantastic." Seungkwan grins at that answer, slapping a hand on his desk, "That's the answer I was looking for. I'm glad you're so determined. It's nice to have you on the team."

Minghao closes his eyes for a moment in relief, leaning back in his seat, "Thank you sir."

"No, thank you." Seungkwan says in all sincerity, "I'm glad you've reminded me to touch up on the cases I haven't. And you're right, the older ones deserved to be looked more into."

"Exactly." Minghao nods, leaning up again, "There are worst things than car hijacks, chief." He looks at his boss seriously, "Like homicides." He breathes, "Cold hearted murder, sir."

Seungkwan takes his bottom lip between his teeth, huffing. He looks away, frustrated with himself, "You're undeniably correct, The8." He shakes his head, "I've been so caught up in 2022, that I've forgotten what happened in the past years... and I'll never be able to forgive myself for my grave mistake."

Minghao nods, "Thank you for taking this into consideration, sir." He sighs, "I'm very glad you're taking my words into thought, it means a lot that you're listening." He looks away, "People didn't listen back at my old place, so I'm glad I'm being heard now."

"I'll always listen to anything my team have to say, The8. Believe me." He nods in all seriousness, "And your thoughts have already run through my brain. I'll instruct all officers in your team to look more into some old cases. We'll go one by one and do everything we possibly can to solve them."

Minghao sighs in content, smiling, "Thank you so much, sir."

Seungkwan nods, and Minghao stands, excusing himself from the room, walking towards the door to leave.

But Seungkwan stops him, "Wait." Minghao twirls around in his spot, looking at his boss, waiting for him to continue. Seungkwan stares at him in curiosity, mind bubbling with questions, "Let me ask you something."

Minghao turns around fully, all attention on Seungkwan, "Of course."

Seungkwan smiles, captivated, "Why do you want to work with us?"

Minghao lets the question sink in, his brain and heart swarming, mind already forming a quick and cold blooded answer.

"I want to catch someone." He doesn't meet Seungkwan's eyes, but he can feel the stare.

Seungkwan sits in his spot, nodding slowly, "That answer alone is why I like you, The8." Minghao meets his boss' eyes in surprise, "You're incredibly witted. And you have this shocking amount of determination— some in which I don't see in some of my employees, and they've been here much longer than you."

Minghao just looks at him, bewildered.

"You may go, now." Seungkwan says, "And please tell everyone that there will be an important meeting tomorrow... one in which every unit must attend."

Minghao furrows his brows, "What for?"

Seungkwan grins, "We'll be deciding on some old cases to look into." Minghao practically freezes in his spot when the words ring through the air.

Seungkwan shrugs, "That's what you asked for, correct?"

Minghao gulps, nodding, "Yes sir."

"But," Seungkwan looks at Minghao, brows twisted in unsureness and concern, "Are you sure you're ready to take this on? I mean, you've only just started a week ago." 

"I'm beyond ready." Minghao takes a breath, nodding in determination, "I swear on everything I have."