The Second Clue
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Major Crimes Unit office had a chill at 8 AM on Monday morning. It wasn't the air conditioning. It was the pressure created by the unsolved case list and performance graphs plastered on the walls.
Min-jun walked down the corridor, glancing at his wristwatch. Still 11:42. And the phone in his pocket kept vibrating. DEADLINE app notifications. The shadows under his eyes had deepened from a sleepless night.
He stood in front of the team leader's office door. He let out a sigh before knocking.
"Come in."
Bae Sung-woo's voice already had an edge to it.
Min-jun opened the door to find Bae sitting behind his desk, looking down at documents. Forty-eight years old, broad forehead with salt-and-pepper hair. He spoke without looking up.
"Sit."
Min-jun sat in the chair across from him. Bae turned a page, then finally raised his head.
"Min-jun."
"Yes."
"Do you know your arrest rate this year?"
Min-jun didn't answer. He knew.
"Bottom of the team. No, even looking at the entire agency, you're in the bottom 20 percent."
Bae tapped the graph with his finger. A red line next to Min-jun's name scraped the floor.
"At this rate, I'm really sending you to the provinces. Icheon or Pyeongtaek, your choice."
"I understand."
"Do you."
Bae closed the document. Then he looked straight at Min-jun.
"Catch something this week. Anything. Even if it's just for media play. Your name keeps coming up in the commissioner's office. Not in a good way."
Min-jun nodded. There was nothing more to say.
"You can go."
Min-jun stood up. As he reached for the door, Bae spoke again.
"Min-jun."
"Yes."
"That thing three years ago... I know about it. But you need to shake it off now. You're still young. Another chance will come."
Min-jun bowed his head instead of answering and closed the door.
In the corridor, Min-jun stopped for a moment. The phone in his pocket vibrated again. He took it out and checked.
T-67:45:12
A new message appeared on the screen.
[UPDATE]
Clue #2: "Victim profile: Male, 30s, works at S-Corp, commutes via Line 2."
Additional clue unlocked in 12 hours.
Min-jun stared at the screen. Male in his 30s. Works at S-Corp. Commutes via Line 2.
Specific. More than yesterday.
"Senior."
A voice came from behind. Min-jun pocketed his phone and turned around.
Park So-young stood there. Twenty-nine years old, in a neat navy blazer and white shirt. Her hair was neatly pulled back. She held a tablet in her hands.
"Finished the meeting with the team leader?"
"Yeah."
"How was it?"
Instead of answering, Min-jun walked toward the office. So-young followed.
"Senior, there was an attempted assault report near Hongdae last night. I'm going to get the victim's statement. Want to come?"
Min-jun stopped walking.
"Hongdae?"
"Yes. Specifically near Exit 2 of Hongik University Station. The victim reported being chased by someone while walking home at dawn."
Hongik University Station.
Min-jun's heart skipped a beat. The screen from his phone flashed in his mind.
Location: Mapo-gu, near Hongdae Station
"The victim... who is it?"
"According to the report, Kim Jae-hoon, 35 years old. His workplace is... he said it's an S Electronics affiliate."
Min-jun looked at So-young. So-young tilted her head.
"Why? Do you know him?"
"No."
Min-jun started walking again. But his mind was racing.
S Electronics affiliate. Male in his 30s.
A coincidence?
Back in the Major Crimes office, a few fellow detectives sat at their desks. Min-jun went to his seat and turned on his computer. So-young sat at the adjacent desk.
"Senior, should we go meet the victim this afternoon?"
"Let me see the report first."
So-young handed over the tablet. Min-jun scrolled through the screen.
Victim: Kim Jae-hoon (éćšćł), 35 years old
Workplace: S Electronics Display / Location: Pangyo Building, 12th Floor
Report Details: October 13, 2025, approximately 1:30 AM, near Exit 2 of Hongik University Station, suspected someone was following him. No direct assault, but felt threatened and reported.
12th floor.
Min-jun's finger stopped.
Red tie. 12th floor. S-Corp logo.
"Senior?"
So-young's voice interrupted. Min-jun looked up.
"Yeah?"
"Are you okay? You don't look well."
"Just tired."
Min-jun returned the tablet. Then he took out his phone again. He turned on the screen.
T-67:38:22
Min-jun stared at the screen. The countdown continued. 67 hours meant Wednesday at 2 PM. And the information the app provided matched the actual case.
Mapo-gu. Hongdae Station. S-Corp. 12th floor.
Too accurate to be a coincidence.
"Senior, are you really okay?"
So-young asked again. Min-jun pocketed his phone and nodded.
"I'm fine. Let's go meet the victim this afternoon. I have something to do before that."
"What is it?"
"Something I need to check."
Min-jun stood up. So-young tried to ask more, but Min-jun was already leaving the office.
Min-jun went to the smoking area behind the building. He took out a cigarette, put it in his mouth, and lit it. He inhaled deeply and slowly exhaled the smoke.
He took out his phone and scrolled through his contacts. He stopped at the name 'Oh Tae-sik'. He pressed the call button.
The call connected on the third ring.
"Hello?"
The voice sounded hoarse. Like he'd been drinking all night.
"It's me."
"Oh? Detective Kang? Long time no see. What's up?"
Oh Tae-sik. Forty-two years old. His occupation was used phone dealer, but in reality, he was an information broker. Police, reporters, and lawyers were his regulars. A man who teetered on the edge of legality.
"Can you get me some information?"
"Again? Detective, do you have something urgent going on? Your voice sounds different."
"It is urgent. I'll pay you."
"Ah, what money from you, Detective. Just tell me."
Min-jun exhaled more cigarette smoke.
"S Electronics Display, Pangyo building. Can you get me a list of employees on the 12th floor?"
Silence flowed from the other end of the line.
"...S Electronics? You're going after a big one. I can get the list, but what are you looking for?"
"Someone who frequently wears a red tie."
"What?"
"Among the 12th floor employees, someone who habitually wears a red tie. If there's CCTV or company photos, get those too."
"Detective... what case is this?"
"Not a case yet. Trying to prevent one."
"Prevent?"
Min-jun didn't answer. Oh Tae-sik sighed.
"Alright. Give me some time. I'll get it for you by tonight."
"Thanks."
"Detective."
"Yeah?"
"Be careful. These days, you... something's off about you."
Min-jun hung up. He took another drag of the cigarette and ground it out on the floor. The phone in his pocket vibrated again.
T-67:32:10
Min-jun didn't look at the screen. He just pocketed it and returned to the building.
At 2 PM, Min-jun and So-young met Kim Jae-hoon at a cafe near Hongdae Station. A man in his mid-30s. Well-dressed with glasses. But his face showed clear exhaustion.
"Detectives... did I overreact?"
Kim Jae-hoon asked, fiddling with his americano cup.
So-young opened her laptop and answered.
"No. You did well to report it. Do you remember the person's face?"
"Not really. It was dark... I just felt like someone kept following me."
"What about clothing or features?"
"I think dark clothing. Like wearing a hood or something."
Min-jun listened quietly, then spoke.
"Mr. Kim, have you recently been threatened or stalked by anyone?"
Kim Jae-hoon hesitated, then nodded.
"Actually... yes."
So-young stopped typing.
"By whom?"
"My ex-girlfriend. Lee Su-jin... we broke up last year, but she keeps contacting me. Asking to meet, to start over. When I refused, it gradually turned into threats..."
"Threats?"
"Yes. Through texts and calls... she even came to my office. So I requested a no-entry order from company security."
Min-jun made eye contact with So-young. So-young asked.
"Do you have her contact information or address?"
Kim Jae-hoon took out his phone and showed the address. So-young made a note.
"Could the person following you last night have been that ex-girlfriend?"
"I don't know. It was dark... but the height seemed similar."
Min-jun took out his phone and discreetly checked.
T-66:12:45
A new message appeared on the screen.
[UPDATE]
Clue #3: "Female perpetrator. Ex-relationship. Escalation pattern detected."
High-probability intervention window: 48-72 hours.
Min-jun's heart began to race.
The app knew. That the perpetrator was female. That it was an ex-lover. And that something would happen between 48 and 72 hours from now.
"Senior?"
So-young's voice interrupted. Min-jun looked up.
"Yeah?"
"Are you sick? You look pale."
"I'm fine."
Min-jun pocketed his phone and looked at Kim Jae-hoon.
"Mr. Kim, be careful for the next few days. Especially don't walk alone at night, and if you see anyone suspicious, report immediately."
"Yes... I understand."
After leaving the cafe, So-young asked Min-jun.
"Senior, should we go check Ms. Lee Su-jin's address?"
"No, let's go back first. We need to prepare a warrant."
"A warrant? No crime has been committed yet."
"We still need to prepare."
So-young looked at Min-jun strangely. Min-jun avoided her gaze and walked.
In the evening, a text came from Oh Tae-sik.
[Oh Tae-sik]: Got the list. S Electronics Display 12th floor, total 47 employees. Narrowed down to 3 who wear red ties. Photos attached.
Min-jun opened the attachment. Three faces appeared. One caught his eye.
Kim Jae-hoon.
Min-jun enlarged the screen. It was a company ID photo. Kim Jae-hoon was wearing a red tie.
"This is him."
Min-jun muttered. Then he opened the DEADLINE app.
T-64:33:17
A new button appeared on the screen.
[Target Identified. Proceed to Intervention?]
Min-jun stared at the button. His finger trembled.
He pressed the button.
The screen changed.
[INTERVENTION AUTHORIZED]
Next steps will be provided in real-time.
Stay alert.
Min-jun turned off the screen and looked at the ceiling. The office was already empty after work hours. Only the fluorescent lights glowed dimly.
He smiled slightly. The corner of his mouth lifted microscopically.
"It begins."
T-64:33:17