The room was dimly lit, casting long shadows over the scattered documents and evidence boards. Park Ji-hoon sat at his desk, his fingers tracing the contours of a photograph. It was an old picture, worn at the edges, depicting a young woman with a radiant smile. Her eyes sparkled with life, a stark contrast to Ji-hoon's haunted gaze.
He clenched his jaw, the memories flooding back unbidden. Seo-yeon. Her name was a painful echo in his mind, a reminder of the night he had lost everything. She had been his fiancée, the love of his life, until a brutal, unsolved crime took her away. That night, his world shattered, leaving behind nothing but questions and guilt.
Ji-hoon had thrown himself into his work after her death, driven by a relentless need for justice. His sharp mind and unyielding determination earned him a reputation as one of the best detectives in Seoul. But the pain remained, a shadow that followed him through every case, every crime scene.
As he stared at the photo, a knock on the door pulled him back to the present. He quickly tucked the picture away and straightened up. The door opened to reveal his partner, Chief Yoon Seok-jin.
"Ji-hoon, we need to talk," Seok-jin said, his expression serious.
Ji-hoon nodded, gesturing for him to sit. "What's on your mind, Chief?"
Seok-jin took a seat, folding his hands on the desk. "Last night's case... there's something off about it. The evidence doesn't add up, and the crime scene... it felt different."
Ji-hoon's mind flashed back to the warehouse and the eerie encounter with Lee Hana. He hadn't mentioned her to Seok-jin yet, unsure of what to make of her himself. "I noticed that too," he said cautiously. "There was someone else there—a judge. She seemed to know more than she was letting on."
"A judge?" Seok-jin's eyebrows shot up. "What was she doing at a crime scene?"
"That's what I'm trying to figure out," Ji-hoon replied. "I have a feeling she's connected to all this. I need to talk to her again."
Seok-jin leaned back, his eyes narrowing in thought. "Be careful, Ji-hoon. This case feels like it's going to get a lot more complicated."
Later that day, Ji-hoon found himself standing outside the courthouse. He had managed to secure a meeting with Judge Lee Hana, but he couldn't shake the feeling of unease. There was something about her that intrigued and unsettled him in equal measure.
He was led into Hana's chambers, where she sat behind a large wooden desk, engrossed in a file. She looked up as he entered, her expression unreadable.
"Detective Park," she greeted, her tone neutral. "What can I do for you?"
Ji-hoon took a seat, his eyes locking onto hers. "I have questions about last night. You were there at the warehouse. Why?"
Hana sighed, closing the file and leaning back in her chair. "I could ask you the same thing, Detective. But I suppose we're both looking for answers."
"You know more than you're telling me," Ji-hoon pressed. "I need to understand what's going on."
Hana studied him for a moment, her gaze intense. "Very well," she said finally. "But what I'm about to tell you may be difficult to believe."
Ji-hoon nodded, bracing himself. "I'm listening."
Hana took a deep breath, her eyes darkening as she began. "There are forces at play that go beyond the mortal realm. The man you found last night was judged not just by human laws, but by ancient, supernatural ones. I am a part of that world—a judge with the power to deliver justice where the law cannot reach."
Ji-hoon's mind raced as he processed her words. "You're telling me you're some kind of... supernatural judge?"
"In a manner of speaking, yes," Hana replied. "My duty is to balance the scales of justice, both human and supernatural. And there is a darkness rising that threatens that balance. We are both caught in its path."
Ji-hoon leaned forward, his skepticism giving way to a desperate need for understanding. "How do we stop it?"
Hana's expression softened, a flicker of determination in her eyes. "We work together, Detective. We combine our strengths and face whatever comes. Only then can we hope to prevail."
Ji-hoon nodded slowly, a new sense of purpose taking root. This was more than just another case. It was a battle for justice on a scale he had never imagined.