Lines Blurred, Traces Found

Chapter 4

The Hunt for Champ

Vince followed Hyunjie outside, finding her pacing down the corridor, her footsteps echoing off the sterile walls. "Hyunjie!" Vince called out, his voice gentle but firm, as he caught up to her. She stopped, her back still to him, her shoulders tensed in anguish. Vince approached her cautiously, concern etched on his face.

"Calm down, okay? I know what happened is still painful for you, but we're here. You're here; you're starting this mission," Vince said, his hand on her shoulder, offering comfort.

Hyunjie slowly turned, wiping away tears, her eyes red-rimmed from crying. "I'm sorry for how I acted earlier," she said, her voice trembling, barely above a whisper.

Vince offered a reassuring smile. "You don't have to apologize, Hyunjie. We understand. It's only natural to feel overwhelmed."

Hyunjie's gaze dropped, her voice laced with frustration. "The more I thought about those things, the more I couldn't stop myself from bursting out." She paused, taking a deep breath. "But I know I still have a long way to go. My annoyance, hatred, and anger... they're still not gone. To this day, they still surround me, consuming my thoughts."

Vince's expression turned sympathetic. "We'll get through this together, Hyunjie. One step at a time."

Hyunjie's determination resurfaced, her eyes burning with intensity. "Vince, help me find out what's the real identity of that Champ," she said again, her voice firm. "With all my questions, I want him to be the only person I can face to answer them. I need closure, Vince. I need justice for Harry."

"We need more evidence and gather some information, Hyunjie," Vince said, his tone measured and cautious. "We can't just act without a trace of that Champ; we don't even know his profile yet. Calix Reynolds said Champ can't just be recognized outside; that's why we'll have a hard time identifying him."

Hyunjie's eyes narrowed, her mind racing. "Some vehicle number plates were captured, right?" she asked, her voice laced with determination. "That CCTV footage is a big piece of evidence for us to know the exact location of the hideout of those syndicates."

Vince nodded, pulling out his phone to check the footage. "We've got a few plates, but we need to enhance the images to get a clearer read."

Hyunjie turned her head to the other side, lost in thought. "With the next step of this investigation, we need Calix Reynolds because he is our only source of evidence, and after that..." She trailed off, her gaze drifting back to Vince. "I'm going to make being an asset count. I'm responsible for my duty, Vince. I'm determined to do everything, just to get justice for my brother's death."

Vince's expression turned serious, his brow furrowed. "Is that what you say you have in mind, the plan?" he asked, his tone probing. Hyunjie's silence spoke volumes. Vince already knew the answer; he saw the fire in her eyes, the unwavering resolve.

"I know you're driven, Hyunjie," Vince said, his voice softening. "But we need to proceed with caution. We can't risk compromising the investigation or putting yourself in harm's way."

Hyunjie's jaw clenched, her determination unyielding. "I understand, Vince. But I won't back down. I owe it to Harry."

Vince nodded, his expression somber. "I'll support you, Hyunjie. We'll work together to bring justice to your brother's memory."
 
On the other hand, as the moment there was a disturbance in the town, news of the incident swiftly reached the police headquarters. The Criminal Investigation Division (CID) police quickly sprang into action, responding to the town of San Antonio, Texas, where a fierce exchange of fire had erupted.

A team of police officers, including Eros, was dispatched to investigate the incident. However, his companions were unaware that he had been at the scene when the incident unfolded. Eros's expression remained neutral, concealing his prior involvement. Steve, his police colleague, approached him with a curious gaze. "Where were you earlier?" he asked, his tone casual.