The Rooftop Encounter

As I stand on the rooftop, the cool night air of Gwangju gradually giving way to memories of Gwangju, I find myself lost in thought.

The Kim case changed things. There's a newfound respect in the eyes of my Gwangju colleagues now. They can't deny the results, even if it stings their pride that an outsider from Seoul cracked the case they'd been struggling with for so long. I can see it in their reluctant nods, hear it in the grudging compliments. They might not like it, but they have to acknowledge my achievement.

This shift has opened doors. I'm being included in more cases, privy to information that was once kept from me. On the surface, it seems like progress, like I'm finally being accepted into the fold.

But the more I see, the more uneasy I become.