Paint It Black - Jeongcheol

chapter 15

The precinct was quiet, the kind of silence that made every sound echo through the halls. Seungcheol stood in front of the whiteboard, a marker in his hand as he traced the lines connecting Seojoon's real estate empire to the drug trade. Each property, each name, was another piece of a puzzle that was slowly coming together.

"We're close," he muttered.

Mingyu nodded, spreading out photos of the properties they had been investigating. "These buildings—they're all fronts. They look clean, but we've tracked the money. It's all connected to Seojoon's operation."

Wonwoo, leaning against the desk, studied the map. "We've got records of transactions, but we need something more. We need to catch him in the act, or find someone who's willing to talk."

Seokmin frowned, crossing his arms. "He's careful. He's covered his tracks well. But he's getting sloppy. We just need to push him a little more."

Seungcheol looked at the map one last time before turning to his team. "I'll go see him. If he's slipping up, we need to put pressure on him. Make him nervous." he pointed at a place in the map, "and I know exactly where he is"

★★★

The bar was dimly lit, the kind of place where people went to disappear for a while. Seungcheol pushed open the door, the familiar creak of old wood under his feet. The air smelled of cheap alcohol and smoke, and the hum of quiet conversations filled the room.

At the far end of the bar, Seojoon sat alone, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp. He looked like he belonged there, like this dark, hidden corner of the city was his kingdom. Seungcheol walked over, his steps steady and sure, and slid onto the stool next to Seojoon.

"Detective Choi," Seojoon said without looking up, a small smile playing on his lips. "What brings you here?"

Seungcheol wasn't surprised, Seojoon must have done his research too. He motioned to the bartender for a drink, his eyes never leaving Seojoon. "Just thought I'd have a drink. And maybe a chat."

Seojoon chuckled, finally turning to face him. "You're not exactly the friendly type, Seungcheol. So, what is it you really want to talk about?"

"Oh, the usual," Seungcheol said, taking a sip from his glass. "Real estate. Business. The occasional illicit drug operation."

There was a brief flicker of something in Seojoon's eyes—annoyance, perhaps—but it was gone as quickly as it had appeared. He leaned back slightly, his posture relaxed, though Seungcheol could sense the tension beneath.

"Bold, Seungcheol. Accusations like that require proof, and from what I've seen, you're still grasping at straws."

Seungcheol leaned in, his tone laced with danger. "Straws are enough to light a fire if you know where to strike. And we've found your pressure points. Those properties of yours—they're not as secure as you think. Renovation crews? They talk. And soon, so will you."

Seojoon's expression darkened, but he recovered with a sly grin. "You've always been ambitious, Detective. But I can't help but wonder—why the sudden focus on me? Wasn't your original mission to take down the Black Lotus? Or did you develop a soft spot for Jeonghan?"

The mention of Jeonghan made Seungcheol's grip tighten around his glass, but he didn't flinch. "My job is to clean up this city, one piece of scum at a time. You just happen to be next on the list."

"Interesting," Seojoon mused, his eyes glittering with malice. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks like you've been playing house with the Black Lotus instead of hunting them down. Especially with your new... friendship with Jeonghan. Or should I say, infatuation?"