Negotiating the Blockade

Sergeant Kim eased the cruiser to a stop behind the orange‑vested officer. The engine idled low, and a thin mist hung over the cracked road. The traffic officer stepped forward, his badge catching the early light.

"License and registration," he said, his voice flat. "What are you doing out here at this hour?"

Kim reached into his pocket and pulled out the empty black box. He held it out, the metal cold in his hand. "We have a very urgent matter," he said. "We need to get to Lee headquarters before the board meeting. There are documents in this car that could save a lot of people."

The officer glanced at the box, then at the cruiser’s windshield. He seemed unsure. "Urgent?" he repeated. "You can’t just barge through a restricted area. I need proof."

Detective Lee, sitting in the passenger seat, opened the cruiser’s window a crack. He spoke calmly, "Officer, we’re from the Financial Crimes Unit. We have evidence that the Lee board is about to sign a contract that will move billions out of the country. The flash drive in Sergeant Kim’s pocket contains the proof. If we’re stopped, that evidence could be lost."

The traffic officer’s eyes flicked to the cruiser’s interior, then back to Kim. "A flash drive, huh?" He raised his hand, as if to call for backup, but his radio crackled with static. "All units, suspect vehicle heading to Lee headquarters. Possible high‑profile crime. Intercept now."

Kim felt the weight of the flash drive in his pocket tighten. He knew the board would start in about thirty minutes. If they were delayed any longer, the deal would be signed and the money would disappear.

"Listen," Kim said, lowering his voice. "I’m willing to cooperate. Let me give you the box. You can take it to your superiors. In exchange, you let us pass. We’ll turn over the flash drive later when it’s safe."

The officer hesitated. He looked at the box, then at the SUV behind them where Dong‑won was shifting in his seat, bruises still visible on his cheek. "You want me to take this box and then let you go?" He asked.

"Yes," Kim replied. "We don’t have time for a chase. The board is about to sign. If we lose the evidence, the whole family will be ruined."

A soft thud sounded from the SUV as Dong‑won tapped his steering wheel. He whispered, "We could push the truck again, but that will take time."

Kim glanced at the traffic officer, then at the road ahead. A thin line of cars was beginning to crawl forward, their headlights blinking in the fog. "If you let us through now, we’ll be out of your way in ten minutes. You won’t have to spend any more time here."

The officer seemed to weigh his options. He pulled out his radio and spoke into it. "Control, this is Unit 12. I have an unmarked cruiser with two civilians claiming urgent business. They’re offering a black box as evidence. Requesting guidance."

There was a pause, then a voice answered, flat and distant. "Unit 12, hold the vehicle. Do not let them proceed until backup arrives. We need to verify the claim."

Kim’s heart hammered. The board meeting was ticking down. He could feel the flash drive’s tiny rectangle pressing against his thigh. He looked at Min, who was still holding the drive in his own pocket, his fingers white with tension.

"We can’t wait for backup," Kim muttered. "If we lose ten minutes, the contract will be signed."

The traffic officer stared at him, his expression hard. "I have orders," he said. "I can’t let you go until I get a sign‑off."

Just then, a low rumble echoed down the road. A large delivery truck, its side doors open, began to inch forward, its driver shouting something in Korean that Kim could not catch. The truck was heading straight into the lane that the cruiser needed to take.

The officer raised his hand, signaling the truck to stop. "Move!" he barked. The driver hesitated, eyes flicking between the officer and the looming buildings.

Kim saw his chance. He slipped his hand into his pocket and pulled out the flash drive, holding it up so the officer could see the tiny black rectangle. "Look," he said, "this is the proof. If you let us through, you’ll have the evidence you need to stop the illegal transfer."

The traffic officer’s eyes widened a fraction. He glanced at the cruiser’s interior, where Detective Lee nodded subtly. "All right," he said, after a long pause. "I’ll let you go, but you have to leave the box with me. I’ll take it to my superiors and call them back."

Kim placed the black box on the passenger seat. It clinked softly against the metal. He nodded quickly. "Thank you," he said, his voice low.

The officer stepped back, raising his hand to signal the truck driver to move aside. The delivery truck groaned and pulled into the shoulder, clearing the lane.

Just as Kim turned the key, the cruiser’s radio crackled again. A new voice, urgent and harsh, shouted, "All units, suspect vehicle is moving! Do not let them reach the headquarters!" The sound was cut off by a sudden, deafening screech of metal on metal.

A black SUV, its windows tinted dark, slammed into the rear of the delivery truck, sending a cloud of dust into the air. The impact knocked the truck’s driver to the ground and sent the vehicle swerving into the lane that the cruiser needed to use.

Kim slammed the brakes, the cruiser shuddering as it tried to stop. The traffic officer shouted, "Stay back!" and raised his baton.

Min’s eyes widened as he saw the black SUV’s driver step out, a tall man in a crisp suit, his face hidden behind a mask of calm. He lifted a hand, and a small device on his wrist blinked red.

The scene froze for a heartbeat, the fog thickening around the sudden chaos. The board meeting was now only minutes away, and the road ahead was blocked by a new, unknown threat.

Choices:

A. Kim decides to hand over the black box to the traffic officer and then drives through the debris, hoping to outrun the black SUV.

B. Kim refuses to give up the box, argues that the officer is being manipulated, and attempts to force his way past the traffic officer.

C. Kim asks Dong‑won to use the SUV to create a diversion, hoping the black SUV will be distracted while they slip by.

D. Kim decides to abandon the cruiser, have Min and Dong‑won run on foot toward the headquarters, leaving the vehicles behind.