The Seventh Case (1)

I stand there, speechless, my mind racing with a thousand thoughts and questions. The familiar face of the old man - now revealed to be Chief Superintendent Kang - looks back at me, his eyes searching mine with an intensity that makes me uncomfortable. The gentle breeze rustles the overgrown garden, filling the silence between us.

After what feels like an eternity, Kang speaks, his voice gravelly yet soft. "Why are you here, young man?"

His words snap me back to reality. I blink, remembering my purpose. "I... Are you Chief Superintendent Kang?" I ask, though I already know the answer. My voice sounds strange to my own ears, a mix of nervousness and awe.

He nods slowly, the movement deliberate. "I am. Or was, rather. Time has a way of changing titles, doesn't it?"