Meeting Room – 10 Minutes Later
Photos of Cha Xiu Min, crime scene shots, and a blurry security still were pinned across the whiteboard. The air was thick with tension.
"Victim: Cha Xiu Min. Cause of death—blunt trauma and multiple stab wounds. We believe he was targeted," Soo Hyuk began.
Do Hyun added, "The victim was likely tortured before death. We recovered a strand of hair from his hand—could be the killer's. DNA results pending."
He glanced around the room.
"We need background checks on anyone tied to Cha Xiu Min—friends, employees, enemies. Focus on the company he worked for, MinTech Travel Group. It might be a front for illegal activities."
"Already on it," Woo-Jin said, typing rapidly.
"Find the cracks in this organization," Do Hyun said firmly, "and maybe... we'll find the reason someone wanted him dead."
Soo Hyuk folded his arms. "This is more than just a murder. Let's dig in."
Inside the briefing room of the Major Crimes Unit, fluorescent lights buzzed softly as Detective Soo Hyuk stood at the front with a digital board behind him, displaying Cha Xiu Min's photo and the bloody scene left behind. The rest of the team sat, eyes sharp, notebooks ready. Do Hyun leaned back in his seat, arms crossed, already analyzing.
"Alright, listen up," Soo Hyuk began. "Two nights ago, a man was found murdered in a private gambling den linked to an underground travel company. The victim—Cha Xiu Min—is the son of Korea's ambassador to France."
That drew murmurs around the room.
"He was found with multiple stab wounds, a broken jaw, and—get this—a smile carved into his cheek. No cameras, no witnesses. Just a room full of bloody floors and one hell of a cleanup job."
Do Hyun stood. "The scene wasn't random. This wasn't rage. It was tactical. Whoever did this moved like he knew the place, like he had a reason."
Soo Hyuk nodded. "There's more. The forensics just came in." He gestured to one of the officers. A young tech came forward, holding a clear evidence bag. Inside was a small ziplock…with a strand of black hair."DNA result's still running, but we're looking at someone who got in close enough to leave that behind."
Do Hyun turned to the team. "Starting today, we treat this like organized murder. That building is tied to more than gambling. I want names—owners, employees, clients. Someone knows something."
Soo Hyuk added, "And dig deeper into Cha Xiu Min's father. He might be protecting someone or hiding something."
The room grew tense.
"Let's get to work."
After the meeting dispersed, the room slowly emptied. Laptops snapped shut, chairs scraped against the floor, and quiet chatter faded into the hallway. But Do Hyun remained. He stood in front of the digital case board, arms folded, eyes narrowed on Cha Xiu Min's photo.
"This doesn't feel like revenge. This feels… strategic." He mumbled to himself.
He glanced at the evidence photo of the bloodied room again. "What if this killer isn't done? What if he's… looking for someone?"
Cut to:
Busan College of Architecture – 3:00 PM
The bell rang through the modern stone building. Professor Lee Chae Min stood by the podium, arms behind his back as his students sluggishly closed their books.
"Don't forget your assignments on structural load distribution—due Monday," he said flatly.
Groans filled the air.
"Sir, it's Chuseok weekend..." one brave student muttered.
Chae Min blinked. "Buildings don't care about holidays."
The students laughed awkwardly and filed out. Chae Min watched them go, his face unreadable.
Once the last student left, he returned to his office and locked the door. The moment the handle clicked, his calm mask dropped.He sat heavily at his desk, turned on his laptop, and searched:
"Keunsa Financial Group – CEO Kim Tae Won"
A list of business articles popped up. He clicked on one.
"Mr. Kim: The Ghost Accountant of Korea's Elite"
But it wasn't the headlines that sent chills down his spine—it was the photo. A photo of a man face he never wants to remember,the one he was looking for.
He stared. His pupils dilated. His hands slowly reached for his hair, gripping tight.
Tug. Tug. Yank.
Flashes.
A child's scream. A dark warehouse. Rain. Blood.
"Let go of my sister!"
Two men dragging a little girl into a van.
A tall man in a trench coat standing behind them.
"Should we get rid of the boy too?"
That same man looking down at a bloodied, terrified boy—Chae Min.
"Dump him in the river. He's already dead inside."
Back in the present, Chae Min's hands trembled.
His breathing turned ragged.
He looked again at the man in the photo.
"Kim Tae Won… it was you."
A storm brewed in his eyes.
"You took everything from me."
Knock knock knock.
Chae Min's blood ran cold for a moment—still haunted by the memory as he continues to pull his hair and breathing deeply.
Then he heard it again. Knock knock knock.
He quickly minimized the article on his laptop and tucked his emotions away with a smile behind his usual cold mask.
"Come in," he said flatly.
The door creaked open. In walked a tomboyish student with short-cropped hair dyed teal at the tips, hands in her hoodie pockets, a red lollipop lazily rolling in her mouth.
"Yo, Prof. Lee," she greeted, not bothering with formality.
"I need my blueprint file. The group one. I think I messed up my part and need to double-check something."
Chae Min gave a small nod. "Wait."
He stood up and walked to the cabinet near the bookshelf, unlocking it and searching through several large folders labeled by group numbers.
The student—Ha Rin, one of the sharper and intelligent student in Chae Min class but most rebellious in his class—took the chance to glance around the office, bored. Her eyes lazily drifted to his still-glowing phone on the desk.
She blinked.
A paused article headline was still visible.
"Kim Tae Won – The Ghost Accountant of Korea's Elite"
And beneath it—a face she vaguely recognized.
Why is prof looking at a Mr Kim from a Accountant firm…?