03: BAIL
paid, freedom, money

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You chose
| PAY THE BAIL |

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Seo Changbin.

That's his name.

The newest free man in Seoul.

"A-are you serious?" Changbin couldn't believe his ears. His mouth was agape as he looked at the detective just across him, holding a stack of cash and a paper. A small case was shown to be at the door of Changbin's cell, open, to show the money in it.

"Absolutely," Chan smiled warmly at Changbin, the previously hard-headed criminal, now turned into a glossy-eyed, happy man.

Chan held up the cash and the paper, proving that both of them were real, then signed the papers and handed them to the officers once they had come back.

Changbin sat up straight like an expectant puppy. You could practically see a phantom tail wagging around excitedly as the head officer took the paper and money from the case from Chan.

The head officer raised an eyebrow, not expecting that Chan, the greatest detective in Seoul, would be the one to liberate Changbin, but he just shrugged.

He walked into Changbin's cell with a special keycard.

Looking closely at the chains and shackles Changbin had, you could clearly see that there was a place for something to be scanned for them.

Changbin was all sunshine and smiles and the officer noticed this with a chuckle.

"Excited, Mr. Seo?"

"Absolutely, Minhong. Who wouldn't?"

Changbin was a free man.

Chan chuckled at his new friend's expression when the shackles were removed from him and he stood up and practically bounced all the way to Chan, who he realized was much taller than him.

"So, Changbin?" Chan had a bemused smile playing on his lips as he looked at the excited man.

"Well, I'd say thank you first, but I do have a question," He seems to have mellowed out, Chan noted to himself. Chan just nodded, letting Changbin speak out his thoughts.

"Why'd you choose me? To let me be free?"

Changbin had a neutral expression on his face, a glint of curiosity with an undertone of fear. Chan studied Changbin's face, eyes scanning the former criminal's features just in case of anything he should take note of.

"I have my reasons. Haven't you heard? I'm taking up the Chae Woodae case," Chan said, barely above a whisper so no one else could listen in on them.

Changbin's eyes widened. "So why do you need me . . . Chan-hyung? Can I call you that?"

Chan laughed and ruffled Changbin's hair. "Yes, you can call me that. And I need you, because you're the only person I can trust to be able to know the criminal world, inside and out."

Changbin's happy demeanor dropped when he heard Chan's words.

"Don't worry, I won't have you do things you don't want to," Chan assured him and he let out a sigh of relief. "All you need to do is stay by my side and give me information when I need it, alright?"

"Yes hyung, I'll keep that in mind," Changbin smiled at Chan.

Chan had his hand on Changbin's shoulder, guiding him out of the prison.

"Come, new dongsaeng! We need to get you new clothes, a new phone, some place to sleep . . ." Chan rambled as the two got to his car. "Well, you can probably sleep at my condo. It's awfully lonely there. I could use the company."

Changbin nodded along, sitting in the shotgun seat.

Chan went to the driver's seat and looked at his phone. 7:19 p.m. Perfect.

He started the car and drove back to his office to pick up a few things, then back to his condo, where he provided Changbin a place to sleep in the condominium.

Chan looked at his phone. It was time for him to recruit the next person on his team.

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Who will Chan text ?
| A CHILDHOOD FRIEND |
or
| A REALLY CLOSE FRIEND |

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