Underestimated the Smuggler...

Min-Hwan pulled into his driveway, his mind still reeling from the events of the night. He stepped out of his car and walked towards his front door, his eyes scanning the surrounding area out of habit.

As he entered his house, Min-Hwan couldn't shake off the feeling that he had stumbled upon something big. He walked over to his living room and collapsed onto the couch, his eyes fixed on the ceiling.

Min-Hwan tried to recollect the scenarios in his mind - the exotic animals, the documentation, and especially the dates. But his mind was a jumble of images and numbers.

He closed his eyes, focusing on the details. The boards with the documentation... they had double numbers, except for two or three with single numbers. And the single numbers... they were all September dates. Which was the current month. A sudden realization dawned on Min-Hwan. The shipping was going to take place day after tomorrow.

Min-Hwan's eyes snapped open, his heart racing with anticipation. He quickly grabbed his phone and dialed a number, his mind racing with the implications.

"Chief Inspector Bae," a voice answered on the other end.

"Sir, it's Min-Hwan. I think I've found something. The smuggling operation... it's going down day after tomorrow."

There was a pause on the other end of the line before Chief Inspector Kim responded, his voice firm and commanding. "Tell me more, Min-Hwan."

Min-Hwan took a deep breath and began to recount the events of the night to Chief Inspector Kim. "Sir, I received a mysterious phone call from the suspect, and I managed to track his location. I followed the lead to a warehouse on the dock, where I found evidence of the smuggling operation."

Min-Hwan paused, collecting his thoughts before continuing. "The warehouse had exotic animals, sir, and documentation with dates. The dates were all single numbers, and I realized that the shipping must be taking place day after tomorrow."

Chief Inspector Kim listened intently, his expression growing more serious with each passing moment. When Min-Hwan finished, the chief inspector nodded thoughtfully.

"Good work, Min-Hwan," Chief Inspector Kim said. "I think it's time we got everyone on board. I'm calling an emergency meeting for all officers tomorrow morning. We'll discuss the details of the operation and make a plan to take down the smugglers."

Min-Hwan nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. He had been working tirelessly to crack the case, and finally, they were making progress.

"What time is the meeting, sir?" Min-Hwan asked.

"8:00 hours, sharp," Chief Inspector Bae replied. "Be there, Min-Hwan. We have a lot of work to do."

Min-Hwan nodded, already mentally preparing himself for the meeting. He knew that tomorrow would be a crucial day in the case, and he was ready to do whatever it took to bring the smugglers to justice.

The next day~

The day of the meeting arrived, and the conference room was filled with officers from various departments. Chief Inspector Bae stood at the front of the room, surveying the crowd before beginning.

"Good morning, everyone," Chief Inspector Bae said, his voice commanding attention. "Today, we're going to take down the smuggling operation that's been evading us for months. We have reason to believe that the shipment is going to take place tomorrow."

The room erupted into murmurs, with officers exchanging nods and determined glances.

"To accomplish this, we'll be dividing into two groups," Chief Inspector Bae continued. "Officer Park Min-Hwan will lead Team Alpha, which will raid the ship. Officer Jin-Hyun will lead Team Bravo, which will provide backup in case things go wrong."

The officers nodded, taking mental notes of their assignments.

"Team Alpha, your mission is to infiltrate the ship and gather evidence of the smuggling operation. Team Bravo, your mission is to provide cover for Team Alpha and be prepared to intervene if necessary."

Chief Inspector Kim paused, scanning the room to ensure everyone understood their roles.

"Dismissed," he said finally, nodding to the officers.

The room erupted into a flurry of activity as officers joined their respective teams and began gathering information and arranging their weapons. Park Min-Hwan and Min Jin-Hyun stood at the front of their teams, issuing instructions and coordinating their plans.

The air was electric with anticipation as the officers prepared for the raid. They knew it wouldn't be an easy mission, but they were determined to bring the smugglers to justice.

The other side~

Seung-Ha moved with precision, packing his bags with the essentials for the long journey ahead. He carefully loaded his weapons, checking each one to ensure they were in working order. Clothes, food, and other supplies were also packed, as he knew they would be at sea for an extended period.

"The captain has plotted a course to avoid the navy and coastal police," Seung-Ha said to himself, studying the map.

The route would take them through international waters, utilizing the cover of darkness and adverse weather conditions to remain undetected. They would navigate through the Pacific Ocean, possibly taking a route near the Mariana Islands or the Marshall Islands, before entering American waters.

Some possible directions to reach an American port without detection could be:

1. Head northeast from the Korean Peninsula\, passing by Japan's eastern coast and entering the Pacific Ocean.

2. Navigate through the Philippine Sea\, utilizing the island chains as cover.

3. Enter American waters near the Hawaiian Islands or the Aleutian Islands\, avoiding major shipping lanes.

After finalizing his preparations, Seung-Ha lay down to rest, knowing the day ahead would be long and challenging. His mind was focused on the mission, and he was determined to see it through.

With a deep breath, Seung-Ha closed his eyes, letting the exhaustion wash over him. Tomorrow would bring its own set of challenges, but for now, he just needed to rest.

The next day~

Team Alpha, led by Min-Hwan, infiltrated the ship, scattering to search for evidence and apprehend suspects. Team Bravo, led by Jin-Hyun, remained outside, keeping watch for any suspicious movements.

As Min-Hwan and his team combed through the ship, a loud bang echoed through the corridors. Min-Hwan's instincts kicked in, and he shouted to his team members to evacuate the ship immediately.

But it was too late. The ship's engines roared to life, and the vessel began to move. Chaos erupted as some team members managed to escape, while others, including Min-Hwan, were trapped.

Min-Hwan and the remaining team members rushed to the ship's bow, where they were surrounded by Seung-Ha's men. In a desperate bid to save his team, Min-Hwan pushed some of the members into the ocean, hoping they would swim to safety.

However, 15 team members, including Min-Hwan, were taken hostage by Seung-Ha's crew. The ship continued to move, taking them further away from land and deeper into the Pacific Ocean.

(Think Seung-HA is standing in the place of pirate)

Min-Hwan's eyes locked onto Seung-Ha, who stood on the ship's deck, a triumphant smile spreading across his face. Min-Hwan knew he had to think fast, or risk being taken to who-knows-where, along with his captured team members.

Seung-Ha sauntered towards Min-Hwan, a sly grin spreading across his face. Min-Hwan's eyes narrowed, anticipating the worst. Seung-Ha's hand shot out, grasping Min-Hwan's cheeks with a harsh grip. Min-Hwan winced, trying to shake off the pain.

"Welcome, Jagiya," Seung-Ha purred, his voice low and husky. "I've been waiting for you."

Min-Hwan's eyes flashed with anger, but he kept his cool, refusing to give Seung-Ha the satisfaction of seeing him rattled. Seung-Ha's grip on Min-Hwan's cheeks tightened, his fingers digging deep into the skin. Min-Hwan's jaw clenched, his eyes locked onto Seung-Ha's, a silent challenge burning within them.

"What do you plan to do with us?" Min-Hwan spat, his voice firm and defiant.

Seung-Ha chuckled, his breath whispering against Min-Hwan's ear. "Oh, Jagiya. You'll find out soon enough."

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