The killer?

After a pleasant evening at Taeri's cafe, we returned home, feeling content and without worries about the upcoming day. As I drifted off to sleep, I found myself immersed in another vision. This time, the vision featured Mohan, who was portrayed as me, Aman, and a third person. It was evident that we were exceptionally close, forming a family of our own, away from our actual homes. We shared joyous moments, supported each other through tears, and were practically inseparable. However, in this vision, it seemed that one of us was taken to "level two," which left both Aman and me heartbroken. Mohan, the character I embodied in the vision, appeared excited about going to level two, along with the supervisor to reunite with his best friend.

The vision ended abruptly, and I woke up with a start. To my surprise, I found everyone in my room staring at me, their eyes filled with concern and curiosity. The sight of their collective gaze unnerved me even further, and I wondered about the significance of the vision and how it connected to our ongoing investigation.

I had experienced that dream, shouting and yelling in the night, and my teammates had been disturbed by my cries. When I woke up, they surrounded me, sharing their concerns. Taeri, in particular, sat close to me, offering her comforting presence. I told them I was okay and they left, leaving me alone with Taeri. I valued her support but hesitated to share the details of the vision until I had a clearer understanding of its significance.

At that moment, I had a strong conviction that I was Mohan, and Taeri was Niveditha. However, the other individuals in my dreams and the details surrounding them remained foggy. I decided to keep this information to myself, brushing it off as a mere nightmare, as I couldn't yet make sense of the entire picture.

With Taeri's unwavering support, I found solace in her presence during my restless night. She remained by my side, comforting me, and I felt a profound sense of gratitude for her kindness. I rested my head on her lap and she started drawing circles on my forehead. Eventually, exhaustion led me to drift into a deep slumber, my head resting on her lap while she tenderly stroked my hair.

The morning brought a renewed sense of refreshment, and I was reluctant to wake Taeri, who took care of me throughout the night. Instead, I decided to express my appreciation in a different way. I retreated silently to the kitchen to prepare a hearty breakfast for both of us, wanting to repay her for the care she had provided and she very much needed it and deserved it.

As I whipped up a delicious breakfast, the savory aroma filled the air. I had no doubt that this gesture would convey my gratitude for her unwavering support during a challenging night, offering her a bed and breakfast experience to savor. And I could not be more grateful for her in my life.

Once everything was ready, I carefully brought the tray to our bedside, hoping to surprise her with this small token of gratitude. It was the least I could do for the love of my life, my forever and my future who had brought warmth and comfort into my life.

As we indulged in a warm and hearty breakfast, Taeri's surprise and delight were evident. Our shared meal was not only a nourishing start to the day but also a symbol of our growing bond. After a moment of relaxation and connection, we both realized that it was time to get ready for work. With a gentle smile, Taeri retreated to her room to prepare for the day ahead, leaving me with a sense of contentment and the knowledge that I had a true friend by my side.

Amidst our gathering in the basement for an important discussion about the cases, my thoughts often wandered to the mysterious visions that had been haunting me. The confusion, sadness, and frustration clouded my mind, making it challenging to focus on the matter at hand. Taeri, perceptive as always, noticed my distraction and repeatedly brought me back to the present moment, ensuring that I actively participated in our group's crucial conversation. Her support was a constant anchor, helping me stay grounded even in the midst of my bewildering experiences.

As we were deep in our discussion, I received a phone call from the bureau, informing us that the case files we had been eagerly waiting for were finally ready for collection. The news brought a wave of relief and excitement to our team. Austin and Kang Woo volunteered to make the trip to the bureau, retrieve the files, and return home with them.

In the meantime, the rest of us decided to make good use of our time by delving into the case files from the 1980s. We diligently went through the documents, carefully summarizing the various motives and the details surrounding the victims or targets of the cases. Aman, our meticulous note-taker, began jotting down our findings on a whiteboard for clarity.

Our objective was to segment and categorize the information so that we could better understand the complexities of the cases. These discussions and summaries were essential for us to form a clear strategy for our investigation. The excitement and anticipation in the room were clearly visible as we worked together to unravel the mysteries concealed within these decades-old case files.

We discovered that the cases from the 1980s could be categorized into four groups. Each category had its own motives and targeted different kinds of people.

Category 1 involved the rich and greedy. These individuals were motivated by their greed for wealth and were enticed with exclusive properties and substantial discounts. Many tricks and tactics were used to lure them into the trap. Woo Shik Hyung noted that this modus operandi was similar to the cases from the 1890s, where money was the driving force. It made us realize that these cases might be more interconnected than we initially thought.

Category 2 focused on the underprivileged and desperate. People in dire circumstances were promised better job opportunities, which would improve their living conditions. These crimes seemed purely pleasure-driven. Myung pointed out that this pattern resembled cases from the 1960s, suggesting a common thread connecting them. It was becoming increasingly likely that the same group or clan was behind these incidents.

Category 3 involved local fishermen and supermarket owners. These were market-oriented targets who were lured with the promise of better supply sources. However, we couldn't pinpoint the exact motive behind these actions. I suggested that the culprits might need hideouts and resources, so maintaining good relations with local markets for supplies while perfecting their disguise was crucial for their survival. Aman agreed, and this theory seemed plausible.

Category 4 centered on young, attractive individuals. They were approached with offers of modeling contracts, claiming to be from an agency. The underlying motive behind these cases could be jealousy. Woo Shik Hyung drew our attention to the fact that similar crimes had occurred in the 1890s. This raised the possibility of a cult or group formed by people who were insecure about their appearances or were in extreme poverty.

Our discussion led us to a clearer understanding of the patterns and motives behind these cases. The connections between the categories raised more questions about the identity of the perpetrators. We were dealing with a group that seemed to have operated across decades, possibly driven by a complex web of motivations.

As we continued to dissect the cases, we couldn't help but wonder if there were more surprises and revelations awaiting us in our pursuit of justice and truth. The pieces of this intricate puzzle were slowly falling into place, but the full picture remained elusive, shrouded in mystery.

Just as we concluded that case, Austin and Kang Woo returned and Taeri refilled all our coffees. And it was time for the new case to be reviewed. It was Austin's turn to brief us. So he stood up and started talking...

Austin began with a grim overview of our new case, highlighting the victims' anonymity. These unfortunate souls could be among the countless missing persons reported at police stations. The perpetrator had already claimed eight lives, with the most recent murder fresh in our minds. Disturbingly, cryptic notes were discovered at every crime scene, concealed within the pages of books. The enigma deepened as we delved into the details of this heinous series of crimes.

Taeri, taking the lead, highlighted a disconcerting pattern in the methods employed to end the lives of these victims, mirroring those in previous cases we'd examined. This chilling consistency indicated a direct link to the sinister cult we were investigating. What puzzled us was the lack of any suspects, despite eight gruesome murders. The sinister killer managed to evade identification, leaving a perplexing trail of unsolved deaths.

"What about his friend? Why isn't he a suspect?" I added.

"But what made you suspect him?" Aman asked.

I decided to share a hunch that had been lingering in my mind. Recalling my time in the hospital, I couldn't shake the feeling that the friend mentioned in the interview might be connected to the crimes. I wondered why he hadn't been considered a suspect. Perhaps he was skilled at concealing his true nature and had put on an act during the interview, leading to a mistaken assumption of his innocence.

Taeri interrupted and pointed out an important detail from the case files. She highlighted that the friend in question wasn't academically inclined but excelled in sports, which led to him studying abroad in China as an exchange student. This information shed new light on the friend's background, suggesting a different path in life than initially assumed.

"But wasn't that what he said in the interview?" Kang Woo added.

Taeri dug deeper into the friend's background and presented her findings. She revealed that the friend's claims of making it to the national team weren't corroborated by the official team roster, indicating possible dishonesty. Additionally, she uncovered an article mentioning a teammate's drug-related issue that led to their removal from the team. This information cast doubt on the friend's credibility.

Taeri then proposed a compelling theory. She suggested that the friend might have become jobless, while his two childhood friends achieved significant success with their novel. Feeling overshadowed and left behind, he could have harbored intense jealousy and resentment. This emotional turmoil might have driven him to commit the murders, either alone or with the help of an accomplice. The theory offered a motive behind the crimes and a possible explanation for the friend's actions.

"Help from people who knew how to kill people, like the cult" Kang Woo added and raised a counter question

"Then why kill one?"

"Maybe there wasn't enough time?" Austin added.

"No, he wanted people to believe that he was innocent, so he put up this facade of saving one" I added

Austin shared a crucial piece of information he had obtained from his friend. He revealed that the local police department had been hesitant to interview the friend during their initial investigations. The reason cited was that he was mourning the loss of his best friend, who had become a victim of the cult's crimes, and the other childhood friend was residing in a mental asylum. This newfound insight shed light on the friend's emotional state and provided a potential reason why the authorities had initially excluded him as a suspect. It suggested that he might have manipulated their sympathies and kept a low profile to evade suspicion.

"Well bingo, there is our guy, let us officially get a warrant and arrest him," Hyung said.

After the successful arrest of the cult leader and the dismantling of the entire cult, our lives took a positive turn. Instead of returning to our normal routines, we chose to remain a close-knit group. We invested in a spacious and beautiful house that accommodated all of us comfortably. Maa and Aman's wife finally arrived in Korea, and Maa developed a strong bond with Taeri. Our relationship blossomed, and Taeri and I got married, sealing our love for each other.

Taeri continued her studies and eventually became a detective like the rest of us. Aman and his wife welcomed a beautiful baby girl into their lives, while Taeri and I became proud parents to a baby boy. Hyung found love and shared a special bond with Jin, caring for him like a mother. Myung and Maa relished the happiness of being reunited with us.

As for my visions, I learned to master the art of ignoring them, allowing me to lead a more peaceful life. We all enjoyed our happily ever after, living together as a chosen family, bound by our shared experiences and unwavering support for one another.

Or was it? Amidst this happiness, I received an anonymous letter saying "This ain't over anytime soon"