Zee's POV
Zee leaned back in his chair, watching Joong with an amused glint in his eye.
"For now?" he repeated, quirking an eyebrow.
Joong smirked. "We're working together because it benefits us both. But once this case is done, we'll go back to being competitors."
Zee let out a quiet chuckle. "Fair enough. But let's be realâyou'd rather work with me than against me."
Joong scoffed, crossing his arms. "That's a bold assumption."
Zee smirked. "No, it's just a fact. You know I'm good at this. And judging by the fact that you called me first, you knew you'd need me on this."
Joong didn't respond right away, and for a moment, Zee thought he'd struck a nerve. But then Joong just exhaled a quiet laugh, shaking his head.
"You're insufferable."
Zee grinned. "And yet, here we are."
Joong rolled his eyes but didn't argue. Instead, he grabbed his coffee, took a slow sip, and leaned forward. "Alright, let's get to it. We've got enough to confirm that Thanapon and Nattapong aren't working alone. The staged accident was just a piece of a larger operation. Now the question isâwho's pulling the strings?"
Zee flipped open Joong's file again, his fingers tracing one of the names listed near the bottom. "You mentioned that a previous claimant used to work for Thanapon's fake business. If that's the case, we should be looking at employee records. These fake companies may not have real operations, but they probably have a paper trail."
Joong nodded. "I already put in a request for additional data, but it'll take a few days to process. And that's assuming they approve it."
Zee tilted his head. "That's assuming we wait for it."
Joong narrowed his eyes. "What are you suggesting?"
Zee smirked. "You're new to this industry, so let me clue you in on something: waiting for approvals is a waste of time. We go around it."
Joong folded his arms. "And how exactly do you plan to do that?"
Zee leaned in slightly. "I have a contact in the corporate registry office. If these businesses exist on paper, they had to file somethingâemployee records, financial statements, tax documents. It won't be easy to get access, but it's faster than waiting for Sownpo's compliance team to move at their usual snail pace."
Joong considered that for a moment, his fingers tapping against his cup. Zee could see the gears turning in his headâcalculating, weighing the risks.
Finally, Joong sighed. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but fine. If you can get us those records, do it. But if this backfires, I'm blaming you."
Zee chuckled. "Noted." He pulled out his phone and sent a quick message to his contact. "And what about you? What's your next move?"
Joong's smirk returned. "I already have one of my own. While you're getting corporate records, I'm going to check hospital records."
Zee raised a brow. "That's a tough one. Medical data is locked down."
Joong shrugged. "Not if you know where to look. Most of these staged accident victims get treated at small private clinicsâplaces that don't have the same tight security as major hospitals. If I can find a pattern in where these 'injuries' were treated, we might be able to link them back to the fraud ring."
Zee nodded, impressed. "Not bad."
Joong smirked. "Told youâyou'll get used to it."
Zee shook his head, laughing under his breath. He liked this kid. Joong had a sharp mind, a competitive streak, and just enough arrogance to keep things interesting.
But that didn't mean Zee was going to let him win.
"Alright," Zee said, standing up and sliding his jacket on. "We each have our leads. Let's meet back here once we have something concrete."
Joong stood as well, adjusting his sleeves. "Fine. But next time, you're buying the coffee."
Zee smirked. "We'll see about that."
As they stepped out of the café, Zee couldn't help but feel a thrill at the thought of working with Joong. This wasn't just about catching fraud anymore. It was about who would get there first.
Joong's POV
Joong shoved his hands into his pockets as he stepped out of the café, inhaling the cool evening air. Zee walked beside him, exuding that same unshakable confidence he had on the phone. It annoyed Joong more than he cared to admit. Because Zee was good.
Joong had met plenty of fraud investigatorsâsome sharp, some lazy, most predictable. But Zee? Zee was none of those things. He had an edge, the kind that made Joong uneasy. Like he was always two steps ahead, waiting for Joong to catch up.
And Joong didn't like being second.
"So," Zee said as they reached the sidewalk, "let's see who finds something first."
Joong gave him a sidelong glance. "You turning this into a competition?"
Zee smirked. "Aren't you?"
Joong scoffed but didn't deny it. Instead, he pulled out his phone, already texting one of his contacts.
"Where are you headed?" Zee asked, curiosity in his tone.
"Private clinics," Joong replied without looking up. "If our fraudsters are staging injuries, they'll need medical reports to back up their claims. Big hospitals keep detailed records, but smaller clinics? They're easier to manipulate."
Zee hummed in approval. "Not a bad angle."
Joong rolled his eyes. "I don't need your validation."
Zee chuckled. "Relax, Joong. I'm just saying you're thinking like a pro."
Joong clicked his tongue, but the compliment lingered longer than he wanted it to. Damn him.
They stopped at a crosswalk, the city lights reflecting off the pavement. Joong felt the weight of Zee's gaze on him, like he was studying him, assessing.
"What?" Joong asked, exasperated.
Zee just shook his head, that knowing smirk still in place. "Nothing. Just curious to see how far you'll go to beat me to the truth."
Joong narrowed his eyes. "I don't lose, Zee."
"Neither do I," Zee replied smoothly.
The light changed, and without another word, they went their separate ways.
But as Joong walked toward his next lead, a thrill crept into his chest.
This wasn't just about the case anymore.
It was about proving himselfâto Zee, to everyone who had ever doubted him.
And Joong wasn't about to lose.