The Tenth Case (6)

Ko's eyes widen. "Go on."

"We've been focusing on elderly victims, people our killer perceives as vulnerable," I explain. "But what the killer is attempting to switch the target while still targeting those society often overlooks?"

Understanding dawns in Ko's eyes. "The red light district," she breathes.

I nod grimly. "Sex workers, hostesses, people who might not be immediately missed or whose disappearance might not raise immediate alarms. It fits with our killer's pattern of targeting the vulnerable.

Ko's expression turns serious. "That's... a concerning possibility. And given the Yakuza's involvement in those areas, it could complicate our investigation significantly."