"Where's the body?" Min-Joon's voice cut through the stillness of the early morning air as he approached the scene. His eyes locked onto the figure lying motionless by the riverbank. The victim's chest bore a jagged four-sided star, carved with such precision it seemed both a symbol and a warning.
Min-Joon's breath quickened, his chest tightening as memories clawed their way to the surface. He clenched his fists, forcing himself to focus. Taking a deep breath, he whispered to himself, "You're finally back."
"Captain? Did you say something?" Jae-Hwan asked, his voice uncertain.
Min-Joon shook his head. "No. Who found the body?"
"A local fisherman," Jae-Hwan replied, gesturing to a middle-aged man standing a few feet away. "His name is Kang Dong-Won. He found it while checking his nets."
Min-Joon approached the fisherman, scanning him carefully. The man's hands trembled as he wrung them together, his eyes darting nervously to the body.
"Do you know him?" Min-Joon asked, raising an eyebrow.
"N-No… I don't know him," Dong-Won stammered, his voice shaky. "I… I just found him when I came here."
Min-Joon studied him closely. His words were unconvincing, his demeanor that of a man hiding something. "You know the consequences of lying to law enforcement, right?" Min-Joon's voice dropped an octave, his stare piercing. "If you don't tell the truth, we'll have no choice but to take you into custody for further questioning."
The fisherman's facade crumbled instantly. "I'll tell you! Don't arrest me!" he pleaded. "His name is Choi Min-Soo. He's… he was part of the Black Dragon gang. They're powerful—dangerous."
"Choi Min-Soo…" Min-Joon murmured, his expression darkening. "That bastard's name comes up everywhere. He's committed every crime imaginable—murder, smuggling, extortion. It's no surprise someone finally decided to end him."
Dong-Won's voice turned bitter. "He used his gang's name to shield himself from consequences. A person like him… it's no loss to the world."
Min-Joon nodded. "You can go for now, but stay available for questioning."
"Captain," Jae-Hwan whispered as Dong-Won walked away. "He's a suspect too. Why let him go?"
"He's not the killer," Min-Joon replied with confidence.
Min-Joon and Jae-Hwan walked along the riverbank, stopping at nearby businesses. They flashed their badges, asking owners about any CCTV footage from the night before. Most places lacked cameras, while others had broken equipment. Finally, they arrived at a private security company that had functioning cameras monitoring the area.
Reviewing the footage, they spotted a man in a restaurant uniform entering the vicinity at 1:10 a.m. and leaving at 3:21 a.m. The footage was startlingly clear—his face and the name of the restaurant on his uniform were easily identifiable.
"Conveniently clear," Min-Joon muttered, narrowing his eyes at the screen.
The two detectives visited the restaurant, where the owner immediately recognized the man. "That's Tae-Hyun. He used to work here, but he quit months ago to take care of his sick mother. Why are you asking about him?"
"He's a suspect in a murder investigation," Jae-Hwan replied.
The owner frowned. "Murder? No, that's impossible. Tae-Hyun's a kind soul. He left because the job was far from home, and his mother needed care."
"Do you know where he lives?" Min-Joon asked, ignoring the owner's defense of the suspect.
The owner called for an employee, who escorted the detectives to Tae-Hyun's residence. As they approached, they saw a figure dart out of the house and sprint away.
"There he is!" Min-Joon shouted, giving chase. "Cut him off!" he signaled to Jae-Hwan.
Tae-Hyun bolted into a narrow alley, only to find himself trapped at a dead end. Panting, Min-Joon cornered him. "Bastard… you run fast," he gasped, catching his breath. "But was it worth it?"
Tae-Hyun said nothing, his face emotionless. Jae-Hwan arrived moments later, slapping handcuffs on him.
In the interrogation room, Min-Joon placed a photograph of the victim in front of Tae-Hyun. "Do you know this man?"
"Yes," Tae-Hyun said flatly. "I killed him."
Min-Joon's eyebrows shot up. Most suspects denied everything until evidence cornered them, but Tae-Hyun confessed without hesitation. "Why did you kill him?"
Tae-Hyun's eyes gleamed with a strange light. "He was impure. People like him poison the world. They deserve to be punished—burned alive, cut into pieces, buried while they scream."
Min-Joon leaned forward, studying him. There was no anger in Tae-Hyun's voice, only cold detachment. His words felt rehearsed.
"What was your relationship with the victim?" Min-Joon pressed.
Tae-Hyun remained silent, staring at the table.
Min-Joon pulled out a photograph of the four-sided star carved into the victim's chest. "What does this symbol mean?"
Tae-Hyun's lips curled into a chilling smile. Then he began to laugh—a manic, unsettling sound that echoed through the room.
"This," Tae-Hyun said, pointing to the symbol, "is the mark of justice. God punished him. Sadly, he didn't suffer enough. He deserved an eternity of pain."
Min-Joon stood abruptly, fists clenched. His fury boiled over, and he lunged toward Tae-Hyun, only for Jae-Hwan to pull him back. "Captain! Don't lose control. You know the consequences."
Min-Joon glared at Tae-Hyun, his jaw tight, before storming out of the room.
Standing outside, Min-Joon let the cool air calm his nerves. "This case doesn't add up," he muttered to himself. "Why wear a restaurant uniform months after quitting? Why run into a dead-end alley when he knows the area? And that star… what does it mean?"
His thoughts were interrupted when a ball rolled into his leg. Looking down, he saw a young girl standing a few feet away, staring at him with wide, unblinking eyes. Slowly, a creepy smile spread across her face.
"Kim Min-Joon," she said softly.
A chill ran down his spine. "How do you know my name?"
Without answering, the girl turned and ran. "Hey! Come back!" Min-Joon shouted, chasing after her.
She stopped suddenly, turning back to face him. Her voice was flat and emotionless. "Which star caught your attention?"
Min-Joon froze, his blood running cold. The question was eerily familiar.
Behind him, a voice whispered, "The one that shines the brightest."
Min-Joon turned sharply, coming face-to-face with a man who bore dark under-eyes and the same chilling smile. Without warning, the man drew a blade and sliced his own wrist, blood cascading as he laughed maniacally.