Chapter 1

Monday morning bursts into Seoul with the typical bustle of a new week. The police department is already buzzing with activity as Seo-jun walks through the glass doors. His brown leather jacket, crisp over a light blue shirt, pairs perfectly with his dark jeans and well-kept boots, projecting an image of casual professionalism.

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee mixes with the smell of paper and ink as Seo-jun scans the office with his brown eyes, a mix of determination and slight nervousness in his gaze. Captain Park emerges from between the maze of desks, his presence commanding immediate respect.

"—Detective Lin," the Captain greets, his deep voice cutting through the background murmur. "—Welcome. I hope you are ready to dive right into work."

Seo-jun bows respectfully, his posture upright and neat. "Yes, sir." I'm looking forward to getting started."

Captain Park leads him through the office, introducing him to several officers. Seo-jun exchanges bows with each, maintaining Korean etiquette precisely. Finally, they stop in front of a cluttered desk, where Detective Kim, with his rumpled shirt and days' worth of beard, looks up.

"—This is Detective Kim," the Captain announces. "—He'll be your partner on this case."

Kim slowly stands up, his narrowed eyes assessing Seo-jun. "—So you're the new prodigy," he murmurs, his voice rough from years of coffee and cigarettes. "—I hope you're ready for the real world, kid."

Seo-jun bows deeper, showing respect for Kim's age and position. "—It's an honor to work with you, Detective Kim," he says, his voice firm but respectful. "—I hope we learn a lot and that we can work well together."

Seo-jun straightens up after his bow, But Detective Kim has already turned his attention to the pile of papers on his desk, effectively ignoring the newcomer. The scuffing of his pen over the reports fills the brief silence that follows.

Captain Park, noticing the tension, clears his throat. "—Okay, Detective Lin, your desk will be this one," he says, pointing to an empty table right next to Kim. The desk, though clean, shows signs of long use with a few coffee cup marks and small scratches on the surface.

Seo-jun nods, moving to his new workspace. As he sits down, Captain Park places a cardboard box full of folders on the desk.

"—To start, I need you to sort these files by date," the Captain instructs. "—They are cases from the last six months. Arrange them chronologically and be sure to note any unusual patterns or details you notice."

"—Yes, sir," Seo-jun replies, already examining the contents of the box.

"—When you're done, report to me," the Captain adds before turning to leave. "—And Detective Kim," he says, addressing the veteran who is still engrossed in his work, "—feel free to give our new partner some guidance if he needs it."

Kim grunts something unintelligible without looking up from his papers. Captain Park shakes his head slightly before walking away, leaving the two detectives in an awkward silence, broken only by the sound of papers being shuffled and the constant hum of office activity.

.....

Half an hour later, as Seo-jun is immersed in the task of sorting files, the constant hum of the office is interrupted by Captain Park's firm voice.

"—Detective Kim, Detective Lin, to my office. Now."

Seo-jun looks up from the documents spread out on his desk, his brow slightly furrowed in concentration. He glances sideways at Detective Kim, who is already standing up with a barely audible grunt, stretching his back as if he's been in the same position for hours.

In one fluid motion, Seo-jun stands up, unconsciously smoothing his shirt. He follows Kim through the maze of desks, noticing the other officers staring at them.

Arriving at the office door, Kim enters unceremoniously, while Seo-jun pauses briefly to knock softly before following. Captain Park's office is an austere space, dominated by a large, dark wood desk covered in files and folders.

"—Sit down," the Captain orders, gesturing to the chairs in front of him. Seo-jun complies, sitting up straight, while Kim slumps into his seat with a tired sigh.

Captain Park laces his fingers together on the table, his expression grave. "—As you may know, the Unknown Vigilante case has been plaguing our department for months. We need to solve it, and quickly."

The Captain pauses, studying Seo-jun with a piercing gaze. "—Detective Lin, I understand that you were already aware of this case prior to your transfer. Is that correct?"

Seo-jun nods, his posture even straighter. "Yes, sir. Given the nature of the case and its importance, I took the liberty of studying it in depth prior to my arrival." I knew this would probably be my first assignment here."

Detective Kim arches an eyebrow with skepticism on his face. "—Impressive, Detective," Captain Park says, his tone approving. "—Your reputation precedes you. I hope that fresh perspective will help us move forward on this case."

Seo-jun leans forward slightly, his watchful eyes taking in every detail as the Captain details the murders, the false leads, and the mounting pressure from the public. Detective Kim, for his part, remains reclined, his face a mask of skepticism.

"—eight victims in the last month," the Captain continues. "—All with criminal records, all acquitted on legal technicalities."

"—Or bribery," Kim interrupts, his voice laced with cynicism.

The Captain shoots him a warning glance before continuing. Seo-jun, ignoring Kim's comment, focuses on the files in front of him.

"—Is there a pattern to the selection of victims?" Seo-jun asks, his fingers running over the photographs of the crime scenes.

Captain Park shakes his head. "—That's what we need you to uncover." So far the only commonality of the victims is that they are acquitted criminals, but your choice of victims seems random."

Seo-jun frowns at this comment, and says seriously. "—We will find a pattern. There has to be one."

Captain Park nods, a spark of approval in his gaze. "—That is the attitude we need, Detective Lin. I want you two to work together on this. Go through every detail, every clue, no matter how insignificant it may seem."

Kim snorts softly, but says nothing more. Seo-jun, for his part, is already flipping through the files with renewed vigor, his mind working at full speed to look for some pattern of behavior in his target.

After being dismissed by the captain and returning to his desk, Seo-jun sinks into his chair, surrounded by a fortress of files on the Unknown Vigilante case. His eyes frantically scan the photographs and reports, as if he expects the papers to come to life and whisper the solution to him.

A young officer approaches the desk, moving with the grace of an elephant in a china shop. Seo-jun, absorbed in his work, doesn't notice until the officer trips over a stack of files, sending papers flying through the air.

"—Sorry, sorry!" the officer exclaims, bending down to pick up the mess. "—Detective Lin, you… uh… I was at the scene of the third murder. If you need any additional information…"

Seo-jun looks up, a mix of irritation and amusement on his face. "—Thank you," he says, helping the officer pick up the papers. "—Actually, I could use a break. How about we go to the cafeteria?"

In the cafeteria, Seo-jun finds himself surrounded by officers eager to share their "valuable" observations.

"—In the third scene," the young officer says, leaning in as if to reveal a state secret, "—there was a strange smell. Like lavender soap, but stronger. It could be the key to the case!"

Seo-jun nods seriously, suppressing a smile. "—Fascinating. Anything else?"

A middle-aged female officer interrupts. "—I was at the fifth scene. The victim had mismatched socks. One red and one blue. Do you think the killer is sending a color-coded message?"

Seo-jun scribbles furiously on his notebook, his expression a mask of concentration. "—Mismatched socks. Could be crucial. Anyone else?"

A burly officer raises his hand like a child in class. "—In the seventh scene, the wall clock had stopped at exactly 3:27. It must mean something!"

"—Or maybe the battery died," Seo-jun mutters, but writes it down anyway.

As the afternoon progresses, Seo-jun finds himself at the center of an ever-growing group of officers, each eager to share their "crucial clue." The theories range from the improbable to the absurd, but Seo-jun jots them all down with mock seriousness.

"—Remember," he finally says, looking down at his notebook filled with meaningless scribbles, "—every detail counts. Even… the color of the curtains or the brand of toilet paper in the victim's bathroom."

The officers nod enthusiastically, clearly proud of their contributions. Seo-jun sighs internally, wondering if among all this chaos of useless information there might be some real clue hidden. Meanwhile, your coffee grows cold, forgotten amid the avalanche of "crucial evidence."

Seo-jun manages to slip away from the group of enthusiastic officers, his ears still ringing with theories about mismatched socks and stopped watches. He heads to the cafeteria line, eager for a coffee to replace the one that went cold during his impromptu "briefing."

As he waits in line, rubbing his temples, a female voice startles him.

"—Detective Lin, is it? I'm Ji-eun from Seoul Daily. Any comments on the Vigilante case?"

Seo-jun turns to find a shrewd-looking young woman, notebook in hand and a smile that suggests she already knows more than she should.

Blinking in surprise, Seo-jun maintains his professional composure. "—I'm sorry, but how do you know I'm on that case?"

Ji-eun smiles enigmatically. "—I have my sources."

Seo-jun arches an eyebrow. "—I'm glad for your sources, but I'm sorry I can't comment on an ongoing investigation."

Before Ji-eun can press further, a familiar, gruff voice interrupts.

"—Be careful of the press, rookie. They can be more dangerous than criminals."

Detective Kim appears as if by magic, his expression a mix of amusement and exasperation.

Ji-eun smiles slyly, shooting a glance of recognition at Kim before gracefully walking away, her notebook disappearing into her bag.

Seo-jun and Kim pick up their coffees and sit at a nearby table. Seo-jun glances over to where Ji-eun disappeared, frowning.

"—Are there always journalists hanging around here?" he asks, taking a sip of his coffee.

Kim snorts. "—No, but she's the niece of a judge, and that judge is friends with the captain. That's why he comes and does whatever he wants." —Seo-jun nods slowly, processing the information. "—I see."

"—But she's good at what she does," Kim adds, his tone suggesting a mix of respect and frustration. "—Sometimes too good." —Seo-jun looks at his partner curiously. "—Has she caused trouble before?"

Kim takes a long drink of his coffee before answering. "—Let's just say she has a knack for finding information we'd rather keep under lock and key. Last year, she almost ruined an undercover operation with one of her articles." "—Sounds like someone to keep an eye on," —Seo-jun comments, his mind already working on how to handle this new variable.

"—More than you think," —Kim growls. Then, abruptly changing the subject, he asks, "—So? What brilliant insights did you get from your fan club session?"

Seo-jun can't help but smile a little. "—Well, now I know our killer might have an obsession with lavender soap and mismatched socks."

Kim lets out a short, harsh laugh. "—Ah, the crucial details we always overlook."

"—Hey, you never know," Seo-jun replies, half joking, half serious. "—Sometimes, the most insignificant details can be the key."

"—Optimistic to the end, huh?" Kim shakes his head, but there's a hint of a smile on his lips. "—Well, as long as you keep that enthusiasm focused on the case and not on chatting with nosy reporters, maybe we have a chance."

Seo-jun nods, his expression turning serious. "—Don't worry. I'm here to solve this case, no matter what it takes."

"—I hope so, rookie," Kim says, getting up from the table. "—Because I have a feeling this case is going to cost us more than we think."

As Kim walks away, Seo-jun remains at the table, his mind already returning to the details of the case, determined to find the pattern that everyone else has missed.