The Ninth Case (1)

I step into the bustling office, feeling a mix of anxiety and determination. Before I can even reach my desk, I notice a flurry of activity. Detective Kim rushes past me, jacket in hand, followed closely by Detective Lee.

Suddenly, Seo emerges from his office, eyes locking onto mine. Without a word, he nods towards the exit.

"Follow me," he says tersely, already moving.

Confused but intrigued, I fall in step behind him. We make our way to the parking lot in silence, climbing into Seo's unmarked car.

As we pull out onto the street, Seo finally speaks. "Didn't know you were coming back today. Sick leave over?"

"Yeah," I reply, studying his tense expression. "I'm ready to get back to work. Where are we headed?"

Seo's grip tightens on the steering wheel. "Glad to have you back. We could use you on this one." He pauses, then adds, "Actually, the team needs you."