THE8 | Junhao | *EDITING*

TWENTY

| CHAPTER TWENTY |

"We'll be going after Choi Seungcheol, otherwise known as S.Coups, The crime lord."

Minghao practically shoots up in his seat, eyes blown beyond wide. Even though it's hard, he stays silent, already having found his reaction alone quite attention grabbing.

He sits back down awkwardly.

Each unit just stares blankly at the chief.

Seungkwan sighs, slapping the pointer on his palm, "C'mon guys, don't be so bummed. We've been after him for a while, yeah? We know all his techniques and moves."

"Yet, we haven't caught him." Dino slumps his shoulders, "How are we supposed to catch him if we couldn't even do it the first time?"

"Well, have the spirit first." Seungkwan smiles, "We can catch him, I promise you. We just really have to try this time around."

"Why are we even digging into old cases?" Minghao's eyes flicker to the brunette boy near the corner of the room. His eyes light up at the person, "Shouldn't we focus on the most recent ones?" Joshua asks.

"That's why I'm assigning you all different missions." Seungkwan says, "Some of you will help with this case... different units will help with others, and the rest may take on the most recent cases." Seungkwan sighs, "We can't leave any unscathed."

"Who will have what?" Mingyu asks, curious.

"Well, does anyone want to volunteer?" Seungkwan slaps the pointer on the projector, right between Seungcheol's eyes.

The room is silent, and Seungkwan whines, "Oh, come on guys, don't be so discouraged. Have confidence in yourselves."

Jun clicks his tongue, "I just don't think—"

"Don't think. Just do." Seungkwan huffs, nodding with pursed lips, "You won't get anywhere with hesitation. Act, Junhui. Don't hold back on anything, even if you think your ability will only take you so far."

Minghao doesn't catch the way Jun's eyes linger on him.

"Sir?" Minghao raises a hand.

"The8?" Seungkwan smiles happily. 

Minghao sighs, running the tip of his tongue across his top teeth. He lowers his hand, "I want my unit to take on this mission."

Jun, Wonwoo, Mingyu, and Dino sit straight.

"The hell?!" Dino scoffs, "No way!"

Minghao sighs, "It's a challenge."

"That doesn't mean we should act on it." Wonwoo shakes his head in disbelief.

"That guy's on another level, seriously." Mingyu adds.

Minghao looks at his four colleagues, ignoring all the stares in the room, "Didn't you just hear what the chief said?" He motions a hand towards Seungkwan, "Don't hesitate on your actions, guys. Act before you think."

"Usually it's the opposite." Minghao's eyes flicker to Jun, "We have never gone up against anything more harsher than S.Coups. He's the crime lord of all crime lords."

"That doesn't mean we can't catch him." Minghao manages to hide the shakiness in his voice. He'll pat himself on the back later, "Just give it a try," He looks at his unit, "Please."

Mingyu furrows his brows, "Why are you so intent on this case?"

Minghao takes a moment, scratching the back of his head, "I told you, this would be a challenge." He clears his throat, "I want to test the waters... I want to show my abilities... I want to catch all the ones who did wrong. I want them to pay for their actions. especially the worst of them all— as you say."

There's a small silence in the room, and Minghao holds his breath.

But then, clapping.

He turns around, Joshua stood up, "Wow." He shakes his head, humming with a smile, "He's amazing." Minghao raises his brows in surprise, "Honestly the best officer here."

"Huh?" Dino gasps, standing up, "Over me?"

"You're alright." Joshua shrugs, sitting back down.

Dino pauses before a scoff, plopping back down in his seat, arms crossed as he mumbles under his breath in frustration.

Minghao chuckles, looking at Jun.

Jun stares at him for a moment before sighing deeply, leaning back in his seat, "Fine, okay fine." He huffs, fingers thrumming on the surface of the table, "We'll take it."

"Are you on S.Coups' drugs?" Dino scoffs, "You know how many times I'm gonna stress? My hair will be as thin as paper by the time we'll be done."

Jun nods, "By the time we'll be done." He smiles, folding his lips, "That means you think— No, you know we'll finish this mission, don't you?"

Dino doesn't answer, just rolls his eyes, slumping in his seat, eyes ahead.

"Thought so." Jun smiles, turning towards Seungkwan, "We'll do this. Write us up for it, will you chief?"

Seungkwan salutes, "Will do."

Minghao's lips turn up in a soft grin, and his fingers graze Jun's shirt, gaining his attention. He shrugs awkwardly, "Thanks... I guess."

Jun smiles, nudging Minghao's chin with his knuckles, "Let's do this, 8."