Year 1988 in South Korea was a complete nightmare for the people. The division of the land and the inefficiency of the government created a golden age for criminals.
"Inspector Choi Yong-gi, sir. The suspects are a group of tattooed men living in the old village of Hangi near the crime scene where another mysterious murder has been discovered. On the victim's body there is a symbol a cross over the number one on the left side of the chest, just like the previous victims, sir."
"It has to be them. Those Tong Hanbon bastards. Their tattoos are a tiger with the number one. A bunch of violent psychopaths. No matter how many times we put them in prison, their lawyer gets them out every single time. They're the criminals of this Korean land. I will make sure they are caught and face the death penalty!"
People with tattoos seem to find pleasure in pain whether they inflict it upon themselves or on others. Anyone who willingly accepts pain like that… is no different from a demon.
Choi Yong-gi currently serves as an inspector in the Violent Crimes Suppression Unit. He was transferred from Daejeon and has only been stationed in Gangnam District for a few months.
He is known for an outstanding record in suppressing numerous serious crimes. His name is well known among offenders in Daejeon.
No matter how powerful someone might be even the notorious mafia gangs in the area none of them dared act recklessly without careful planning. His relentless nature, sharp instincts, swift actions, and exceptional investigative skills allowed him to track evidence and connect cases with precision. Because of his remarkable achievements, he was promoted through merit alone, without relying on connections or having to pass the usual promotion exams like other police officers.
Meanwhile, the capital city of Seoul had been facing a series of violent incidents in one of its most important districts, Gangnam. A chain of murders had occurred, yet the authorities were unable to convict the suspects, even though the clues surrounding the killings were relatively clear.
As a result, a special effort was made to suppress the situation by bringing in highly skilled detectives from various regions to work alongside the special suppression units in Seoul. Their mission was to dismantle powerful criminal influences and capture the murderer as quickly as possible before the wicked could take control of the city and restore peace for the people of South Korea.
However, because of the young inspector's fiery and hot-blooded nature, he charged straight at those criminals and swept them up without regard for who they were. No matter how powerful they were even influential allies or members of major gangs he refused to spare them, determined to uphold the oath he made on the day he took office: to protect the people and justice with his life.
"May I ask what charge you're going to arrest me for this time, Inspector Choi Yong-gi?"
"On suspicion of four murders within the Gangnam District area. Based on the evidence and witnesses who saw you and your associates with those victims before they were later found dead in different locations."
"You know you'll have to release me anyway, so why waste your time… stubborn as ever."
Tong Hanbon a name on the blacklist whose reputation Inspector Choi had heard about since his days in Daejeon. Many in the police force suspected him to be the leader of an illegal gang and an influential figure in the capital city of Seoul. Local officers rarely dared interfere with him and had always warned the inspector not to get involved with those tattooed men, saying they were far more brutal than anyone could imagine.
Those rumors spread widely because the condition of the bodies discovered was far from an ordinary killing. The victims were not simply shot or stabbed. Their flesh had been sliced and carved, their skin cut apart, their bodies dismembered. Some had their heads smashed until their skulls burst and their brains spilled out like a watermelon dropped from a great height. The sight was so horrifying that both villagers and officers were left shaken, unable to even look at the bodies.
Yet the newly assigned, ambitious inspector continued to pursue evidence and witnesses that could link the crimes to Tong Hanbon's gang, determined to bring him to justice. Time and again he arrested the man, and each time the suspect offered no resistance.
Those handsome yet wicked eyes, that cold and cutting smile so disturbingly unhinged never showed the slightest fear. Within a single day, the man whom he had just imprisoned would walk free again, strolling outside as if nothing had ever happened.
Even when there were eyewitnesses who clearly saw that a tattooed man like him was the perpetrator, it never lasted long. Before long those witnesses would be silenced either becoming the next corpse… or disappearing without a trace. Eventually, not a single person dared come forward to testify against the gang anymore.Everyone feared those with tattoos. No one dared to start trouble with them not even the police.
No matter how disappointed they were with the justice system at the time, even if only a handful of people remained who had truly sworn to serve the public, they still stood firm and refused to let go.
Without realizing that the brutality of certain individuals would one day leave wounds that would destroy them for the rest of their lives…
…
One bright morning, the sky was its usual beautiful shade of blue. In a lovely family, the father was a police inspector in the Violent Crimes Suppression Unit a seemingly perfect head of the household. Handsome and cool, he was an idol to his two sons, even though both boys were gentle and well-mannered, taking after their beautiful mother.
"Chagi, Seolmun, come eat breakfast, boys. You can go to school with your father afterward."
"Yes, Mom."
The two boys, aged ten and thirteen, were handsome and adorable. With fair skin, narrow eyes, small lips, and neat noses the typical features of native Koreans they walked out of their room with their arms around each other's shoulders. They lived in a penthouse they had moved into only a few months ago after their father was transferred to Seoul, so the children had moved there to study as well.
"I might come home late today. Are you used to the transportation here yet? Can you get home on your own?"
"Mm… not really yet, but I'll take my younger brother home myself, Dad. Don't worry. We're the sons of the best inspector in South Korea we're not afraid of anything."
"Good, that's my boy."
"Is that really okay?" his wife asked.
"They need to learn to rely on themselves. You have to let them grow."
"I have a bad feeling today. Should I go pick them up?"
"Mom isn't feeling well, so you shouldn't go out. Seolmun will take Chagi home. Please trust me, Mom."
"Alright then, dear. Take care of your brother."
"Yes, Mom."
The three father and two sons drove together while chatting like a close and loving family. Laughter and conversation filled the car the entire way. The two young boys were always fascinated whenever they looked out the windows at the sights along the road beautiful buildings, towering houses, and large shopping malls so different from their hometown of Daejeon.
Screeeech!! Thud!!
"Hey!"
Suddenly, their father slammed on the brakes with a loud screech. The younger boy cried out as the older brother quickly pulled him into a tight embrace, afraid his little brother might have been hurt.
"Are you two okay? Chagi, are you hurt anywhere? Seolmun, check on your brother. I'm going to step out and take a look something made me brake suddenly."
They had been driving through a tunnel lit only by dim orange lights. About halfway through, the car in front of them suddenly braked, causing the young inspector's car to crash hard into its rear. Then another car behind them likely unable to stop in time rammed into them from the back, trapping their car in the middle with nowhere to go.
Fortunately, they had not been driving very fast, so the injuries were minor. Still, the youngest son was shaken, tears welling in his eyes from the sudden impact from both the front and the back.
"Dad!!!"
While the inspector was focused on the car in front of him, a group of men dressed in black suddenly approached from behind and struck the back of his neck with the butt of a gun.
Thud!!
The young inspector nearly collapsed on the spot, falling onto the road. As he tried to turn around..
Thud! Thud!
"Daaad!!!"
The last thing he saw and heard before losing consciousness was the sight of his two sons with guns pointed at their heads, being forced to walk toward a car behind them.
No matter how desperately he wanted to get up and save his beloved sons, he could do nothing not even save himself.
And then everything went dark as his consciousness faded away, leaving him unable to perceive anything ever again…