CT Entertainment Office.
The atmosphere was far from ordinary. The tense standoff between Yang Ha-rin and the CEO, facing each other, was particularly noticeable.
“….”
It seemed as though they had just had an intense conversation; both their expressions were scrunched up, but now, it appeared they had momentarily entered a lull. Both sides were merely taking deep breaths.
“Hooooo….”
Yang Ha-rin exhaled slowly and asked again.
“Did you just say what I think you said?”
At this, the CEO lit a cigarette.
“I said, let’s end the contract when the drama finishes. Why, what’s the problem?”
“So are you saying that….”
Yang Ha-rin chose her words carefully before uttering them.
“Our contract is until the end of this year, isn’t it?”
“Who doesn’t know that?”
The CEO glared, eyes wide open.
“If it’s about a penalty or anything, I’ll cover it. My meaning is simple—I want to terminate the contract early. Take the money and leave, Yang Ha-rin. Is that so hard to understand? How many times do I have to explain?”
“….”
Yang Ha-rin trembled with clenched fists.
“Are you crazy?”
“Are you calling me crazy? Is that what you’re saying?”
“I’m Yang Ha-rin. I came from Glaucia.”
The CEO broke into laughter.
He suddenly grinned, grinding his teeth, and turned serious.
The glint in his eyes sent a shiver down Yang Ha-rin’s spine as he abruptly threw a flowerpot.
Clang—!
The flowerpot, having narrowly missed Yang Ha-rin, shattered against the wall.
“You’re the one who’s crazy, you damn woman!”
“What, what did you say….”
“Who doesn’t know you’re from the girl group Glaucia? And look at them now, thriving ever since you left? Celebrating chart positions every day!”
“It’s not because I left that they’re doing well. I left because I wanted to act….”
“Is that any excuse? Look at you now!”
The CEO screamed, his face contorted like a demon.
“You can’t even produce results with those funded short films. Missed out on the rookie award, and your drama’s sinking without a trace… The money I’ve sunk into you is wasted. You disgrace.”
“….”
“You had the gall to parade around like some once-in-a-century genius, so I poured money into you. I even got the directors you wanted, but now I see—it’s all laughable.”
He took a deep drag from his cigarette.
“What do you think you are? Asking for inspiration or something? You, vermin? You, a washed-up has-been?”
Yang Ha-rin was biting her lips fiercely.
“The chairman agreed back then, didn’t he?”
“Agreed? I was duped. I thought I could trust you, so I bet on you and burned my connections pushing for you, but is this the result? Get out now. I don’t even want to see your face anymore.”
“You were using me too….”
Yang Ha-rin spun around after a short retort, acknowledging her own misconduct but finding the CEO’s pretense of being a victim nauseating.
Who had been hyping her up every day if not him?
Right at that moment.
“You have your pride, but you won’t go out to entertain clients with drinks.”
Yang Ha-rin froze in her tracks upon hearing the CEO’s words.
“Crazy hag. You’ll never climb the ladder on your talent alone. It’s all downhill from here. Do you know how many others like you have met bad ends? You’ll end up working in bars eventually.”
Without realizing it, Yang Ha-rin picked up a fragment of the shattered flowerpot from the floor.
It was only a hair’s breadth away from being hurled at the CEO.
“Son of a bitch!”
Her farewell from CT Entertainment was far from graceful.
Later, after stepping out of the building, Yang Ha-rin fumbled with her phone, ignoring the cuts all over her palm.
There was nothing specific she wanted to look at and no one to contact. Her actions were merely a compulsive reflex driven by inner turmoil.
“‘Special Mobile Unit 808,’ finally the finale. The 12-episode journey has come to an end.”
“‘Special Mobile Unit 808,’ Can everyone get the happy ending they wish for?”
Meanwhile, the world remained fixated on Special Mobile Unit 808. There was no time or kindness left for Yang Ha-rin; the world had no room for anyone pushed aside.
KBM, SBT, MBQ
Sighs echoed through every broadcasting station, regardless of the network.
“Haa….”
“Aaah….”
The provocative articles they pushed before airing turned into regrettable history as they were saddled with disgraceful results.
Special Mobile Unit 808 was overwhelmingly dominant, and they were nothing compared to it.
They were merely ‘witnesses’ or ‘observers’ at best.
“It was funny, honestly. Well-structured, but it just feels like bad timing, you know? How do you even beat that….”
“I’ve come to terms with it. The script was good, and the actors delivered well. It was a well-made show. Frankly, it was a show meant to succeed.”
Of course, the world was not so simple.
For every clean acceptance of defeat, there were even more who refused to embrace this situation.
Particularly so from the staff of rival broadcasting stations.
“If only they stumbled in the final episode….”
“Yeah, is there any way they could fail?”
“Didn’t they skyrocket too quickly? A sudden fall will be a massive betrayal of trust. Honestly, it’d be a good outcome if that happened.”
Because they had been harshly criticized by their superiors and their own tables had grown lean, it was easier to blame the other side rather than reflect and improve.
They chose the easier option.
Ugly, but it was reality.
“Please collapse already….”
[Special Mobile Unit 808]
[─Episode 12─]
Special Mobile Unit 808, after breaking through the elusive 30% audience ratings benchmark and reaching 40%, began its final episode, encompassing the entire spectrum of human emotions.
The starting point was Ha Yun-jin’s (Seo Yeon-joo’s) brief impression.
Standing tall opposite Yeon-joo’s desk was Lee Kang-cheol, who had just been complimented by her.
Lee Kang-cheol.
He had changed from his past self, evolving so much that it was almost unrecognizable. His ability to apprehend criminals had improved significantly in every aspect.
Lee Kang-cheol offered a faint smile.
“『Did you have some kind of epiphany? Very impressive.』”
“『It’s just a few more principles added to my repertoire.』”
“『Really? I wonder what those principles are.』”
“『It’s hard to explain. They change based on the situation. Now that I think about it, calling them principles is questionable. Nonetheless, they’re there.』”
It was the truth.
Lee Kang-cheol had transformed through a series of events and was no longer someone who only acted within set principles.
He now created principles to act upon depending on the situation.
To put it simply, this was his current ‘principle’. In the past, principles controlled him, but now he controls them.
Seo Yeon-joo burst into laughter.
“『Interesting. Who would’ve thought you’d say something like this, Kang-cheol.』”
She tapped her nail tips against the desk.
“『I particularly like the part about how principles can always change. Regardless, you need to keep putting effort.』”
Seo Yeon-joo rose from her seat and approached Lee Kang-cheol, extending a hand.
“『There’s an event to celebrate today’s results, you must join. The protagonist can’t be absent, right?』”
“『Of course.』”
Both exchanged a hearty handshake and smiled.
The real-time chat erupted in cheers.
[Great start!]
[The atmosphere is saturated with a happy ending.]
[Feeling like I’ve raised a child, ㅠㅠ.]
[Heartwarming is always best!]
[They deserve happiness! What an emotional moment!]
.
.
.
.
.
The office of Team 808 transformed into a party venue today. It was a celebration for their toil and a wish for the future — everyone was completely drunk and having a blast.
“『Huuuu, I’m still fine!』”
“『Senior Officer Kang-cheol, you’re truly respected! Yes!』”
[Their drunken antics are hilarious!]
[I also want to join a drinking party like theirs, ㅠ.]
[Our office doesn’t even have drinks.]
[They really look like family, haha.]
The scene suddenly shifted then.
.
.
.
.
.
The cheerful background music stopped suddenly.
Deep night.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh—
Lee Kang-cheol was thoroughly going through a drawer in the darkness.
He wasn’t just rummaging but doing it meticulously. There was a flashlight lodged in his mouth, and his expression was serious.
From his earpieces came Kim Yu-han’s voice.
“『Senior, did you get in alright?』”
“『Yeah, I’m searching now.』”
Articulating was difficult with the flashlight in his mouth.
“『Great work. Though, just in case, you’re not drunk, right?』”
“『Is it concern or suspicion?』”
“『Maybe a bit of both. I was thinking, if you’re not too drunk, we could have one more drink after this. No pressure.』”
Lee Kang-cheol couldn’t help but crack a smile. A private drink with Kim Yu-han — not bad at all.
Ssssh—
But he quickly refocused on the task at hand.
They had obtained fresh clues from the latest suspect apprehended, and it was in line with previous leads found from Park Do-hee’s Lee Ga-ram.
In short, there might be more than one traitor.
Upon removing the flashlight from his mouth, Lee Kang-cheol spoke.
“『Looking back, I was too complacent. Why did I assume there would only be one traitor? Having more wouldn’t be strange.』”
“『You trusted Team 808 too much.』”
“『…You’re right.』”
Lee Kang-cheol agreed.
And at that very moment,
“『….』”
Lee Kang-cheol’s face grew serious.
An unsettling intuition washed over him as he pulled out a stack of documents. The scrutiny under the flashlight was brief, but revealing.
“『…!』”
And his gaze turned to one of shock.
“『There’s another traitor.』”
Though composed as he spoke, the conclusion was astonishing.
Before his eyes were too many pieces of information that shouldn’t have surfaced. The locations, car plates, assets, private tastes and hobbies, and relationships of team members — everything was exposed.
“『The traitor…』”
Just as Lee Kang-cheol was about to announce the name,
Click.
A cold sensation settled at the back of his head.
Slowly raising his hands, Lee Kang-cheol said,
“『That comment about principles always changing…』”
A familiar voice.
“『…still applies now, right?』”
Seo Yeon-joo.
The traitor wasn’t under her nose but above her.
.
.
.
.
.
The chat room was already abuzz.
They had all taken their seats with light hearts.
At most, they predicted that Lee Kang-cheol and Kim Yu-han would secure honor while hinting at a budding romance; it was supposed to be a simple, happy ending.
But,
[What? Is Seo Yeon-joo the traitor?]
[How come things are unraveling so fast?]
[My head’s spinning.]
[Only 10 minutes left in the drama?]
[What can they possibly do in 10 minutes?]
[Are they just throwing out another tease?]
Meanwhile, Seo Yeon-joo’s car arrived at the harbor. Lee Kang-cheol was in the passenger seat, reviewing the information.
Seo Yeon-joo broke the silence first.
“『How does it feel to face the truth?』”
“『…』”
“『Speechless from betrayal?』”
Lee Kang-cheon didn’t say anything, leaving viewers puzzled. What was he thinking, and how would he act next?
“『You should carefully consider who you feel betrayed by. Kim Yu-han is a criminal. The kind you dislike the most. They tortured and killed people.』”
Seo Yeon-joo smiled as she stared at Lee Kang-cheol.
“『You did say that principles can change, didn’t you? That’s why I led you here.』”
It all led back to Seo Yeon-joo’s master plan.
Even the fresh clue they obtained, the moment she was questioned, and the point of capture — all were carefully orchestrated invitations.
It was a precise invitation.
It was then that Kim Yu-han arrived.
“『Senior! I’m here!』”
Shouting, Kim Yu-han ran towards the car.
Seo Yeon-joo handed Lee Kang-cheol a gun.
“『The choice is yours.』”
Lee Kang-cheol simply looked down at the gun.
“『Are you thinking a lot? You might kill me, but if you do, you won’t leave alive either. My people are everywhere, hoping you won’t disappoint me.』”
This was a scheme to deliberately stain Lee Kang-cheol’s hands with blood.
It would give her a leverage against him as proof of murder while also significantly weakening Team 808. But during this time, Lee Kang-cheol had already made his decision.
He soon stepped out of the car with a determined expression.
“『Senior, did you store the evidence elsewhere?』”
“『Yes.』”
“『It was frustrating when the radio cut off. Tell me, who is the traitor?』”
And then,
Bang!
A gunshot rang out.
Next, they heard the sound of someone splashing into the sea.
By the time Seo Yeon-joo stepped out of the car, Lee Kang-cheol was the only one still standing at the harbor.
Seo Yeon-joo burst into laughter.
“『You’re smart, and that’s just wonderful.』”
Afterward, Seo Yeon-joo took Lee Kang-cheol onboard a giant ship. Though looking forlorn at the ocean, Lee Kang-cheol found no trace left.
Splash—
The calm water reflected, as if nothing had happened.
[Special Mobile Unit 808]
[Thank you for your love.]
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[What kind of damn ending is this…!?]
The internet exploded into chaos in an instant.
