In front of the restaurant.

Hyunsoo, who came out after some calculations, was on the phone.

“Find out if he's a guy with different faces or if you can trust him.”

The caller was President Park.

He asked for an investigation into the President of TN Media, Reporter Seo Gaeun’s company. Even if Reporter Seo Gaeun was trustworthy, he couldn't trust her president, whom he had never met. If it was a company that he invested money in to build up its body, he had to thoroughly investigate the president.

“It was an unexpected method, but it would be okay to grow in size itself……. Somehow, Grandma came up with a good idea.”

-Pardon? Who?

“Nah, forget it. Call me when you're done investigating.”

-Yes, I understand.magic

Hyunsoo put down his cell phone.

Then a little later.

Reporter Seo Gaeun and the grandmother, each holding a cup of vending machine coffee, left the restaurant side by side.

“……So you said that even Detective-nim couldn't catch it? That's unexpected.”

Friendly atmosphere.

The grandmother glanced at Hyunsoo and said.

“Even though he looks like this, he is very afraid of bugs. He pretended to be strong, but when he saw the bug, he ran away with his tail between his legs.”

Then Reporter Seo Gaeun and the grandmother smiled at each other. Of course, Hyunsoo stared at the two with his eyebrows raised.

“Let's stop talking nonsense and go home now.”

* * *

At that time.

Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Deputy Chief of Investigation Park Seunggil's office.

“That case……?”

Heo Insung's eyes widened as he listened to Deputy Chief Park Seunggil.

“Then, if Inspector Lee can solve it…… He’s going to be a real national star.…….”

“He can't.”

Deputy Chief Park Seunggil firmly shook his head.

It was about the case brought by Deputy Chief Park Seunggil. The case that Hyunsoo would be entrusted with the momentum of his success. However, Hyunsoo would fall into the abyss because of this case, no, he had to be.

“Stop him. By any means.”

The case that Deputy Chief Park Seunggil would hand over to Hyunsoo was a fairly recent unsolved case.

Corpses continuously appeared on the golf course. What the corpses had in common was that they were all women and all have signs of sexual assault. But that was the end. There was no clue about the criminal, and the investigation fell into a labyrinth like that.

“Do you know why a cold case is a cold case, Team Leader Heo?”

“It couldn't be solved…… Isn't it like that?”

“That's right, a case the police can't solve. It's a case that can't be revealed for 10 years, 20 years, or for the rest of your life.”

Deputy Chief Park Seunggil leaned over to Heo Insung and said.

“How does Lee Hyunsoo solve such a case? He thinks he's done something because he's solved a few things, ha.”

Park Seunggil's snort was heard, disregarding Hyunsoo.

“Anyway, that Inspector, he’s just a kid who just graduated from the Police Academy and is struggling in the field. Is that kind of kid able to solve a cold case?”

Deputy Chief Park Seunggil shook his head. No matter how long he soared, Hyunsoo was just a hound with no backing and only ability.

When Deputy Chief Park Seunggil straightened his back again.

“……Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Inspector Lee Hyunsoo and Seoul Commissioner Kim Taek's interview.…….”

Deputy Chief Park Seunggil and Heo Insung turned their heads at the sound of news coming from the TV in the corner.

[……Seoul Commissioner Kim Taek, who supported Inspector Lee Hyunsoo with his full support, will continue to work as a walking cane for the people, regardless of who the suspect in the case is…….]

The announcer continued. Then, the center of the screen turned from Commissioner Kim Taek to Hyunsoo.

[……Public interest in Inspector Lee Hyunsoo of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, who is famous for investigating allegations against various powerful people, is also extremely high. Let's hear from the citizens…….]

Then, the screen changed, and images of citizens doing interviews appeared on the streets of the city.[It's good to have such a young police officer. The more young police officers there are in Korea, the brighter the future is…….]

[I saw him break the trunk to prevent the destruction of evidence. It was like a movie…… I like it because it's refreshing.]

[I wish there were more police like that. As with the arrest of the Incheon Commissioner this time, it is also important to raise awareness within the police and to train police officers like Detective Lee Hyunsoo-nim…….]

Beep-

The TV went off.

Then, Deputy Chief Park Seunggil put down the remote control with a relaxed face.

“This will be the last time for such a reaction. If he jumps into the cold case and dig through everything for no reason and fail to solve it, he will simply become an enemy of the people.”

A smile was drawn on the lips of Deputy Chief Park Seunggil. This was because he imagined an interview with citizens who were filled with disappointment about Hyunsoo who failed to solve the case.

[So why does he touch a case that can't be solved and only make it harder for the bereaved family…….]

[I knew it from the time he smashed the trunk. He's going to be a star.]

[He took on a case that was way too much for his abilities.I heard that evidence is important in an unsolved case, but since he’s been stirring around, all the criminals must have run away…….]

Originally, people tend to focus more on one failure than nine successes. If you add Deputy Chief Park Seunggil's media play to it.

‘It's completely over.’

Deputy Chief Park Seunggil, who was smiling, continued.

“And Inspector Lee Hyunsoo will be in charge of this briefing.”

“Are you talking about the Sangma Construction briefing…….”

“That’s right.”

“But wouldn't it be dangerous? At this rate, he could be covered beyond our grasp before he can be dragged down.…….”

“No.”

Deputy Chief Park Seunggil shook his head.

“It hurts more when you fly high and fall. The disappointment and discouragement of the citizens will be great.”

Deputy Chief Park Seunggil shook the documents on the table.

“If he were to take on this case, the media would be very excited about it. Some people may want to see how Lee Hyunsoo, whose value has risen, goes to the abyss.”

He had to make a lot of people look forward to it. To the extent that it felt natural that Hyunsoo would solve the case soon.

“I'm going to gather as many reporters as possible. For the whole nation to know. The famous detective Lee Hyunsoo is in charge of this case. And if he fails…….”

Bang!

If an airplane flying high crashes to the ground, it will break into more pieces.

“There's no turning back. If that happens, Commissioner Kim Taek won't be able to use Lee Hyunsoo to go to the Commissioner General's post, and there will be no reason to protect him.”

* * *

The next day.

The briefing room of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency was filled with a large number of reporters, ranging from major media outlets to small media outlets on the Internet. There was a buzz of reporters who maintained their cameras, turned on their laptops, and settled down.

“I heard Inspector Lee Hyunsoo was in charge of the briefing. Does an inspector normally brief the case? He took the initiative in solving the case, but there's a team leader…….”

“He’s such a hot cop, isn’t he? Starting with the CCTV of breaking the trunk, his popularity is similar to idol-level. He's handsome, too. Kyah- It's an enviable life.”

“Jealous of what, how much would the people at the top peck at him? If a cop who has no backing or anything goes around like that.”

“Yah, but isn't that weird?”

“What?”

“That. A cop with no background. How can a cop like that catch criminals like this? Only those in power, too. Isn't there a huge background, not a small one?”

“He's writing a novel again. Hey Reporter Kim, then we would have known. Wasn't there at least a rumor going around?”

There was a lot of speculation about Hyunsoo. In the room next to the briefing room, Hyunsoo was preparing for the briefing with materials.

Rustle-

Just before the briefing.

Hyunsoo, who was waiting to enter the briefing room, was approached by Team Leader Heo Insung.

“Are you nervous? The crazy guy of Seoul Police Station.”

“Are you here to cheer me on?”

“Well, I came here to cheer for something. Still, I'm your team leader.”Heo Insung patted Hyunsoo's arm with a mischievous smile.

“Don't be scared and do well. It's your first briefing. It can't be the last one.”

“Don't worry. Still, wouldn't I be better than Team Leader-nim? Probably because I'm better at investigating cases.”

Heo Insung's face turned red at Hyunsoo's words. He wanted to speak out loud right away, but now there were a lot of reporters. If he made a loud noise for no reason, it would only cause more trouble.

Heo Insung nodded with a forced smile.

“Yeah…… Then work hard and come back. Deputy Chief Park is also looking forward to it.”

“Sure, I think there are a lot of people looking forward to it, so I'll live up to that expectation.”

Hyunsoo turned and headed to the briefing room. Heo Insung looked at Hyunsoo's back.

“Do your best. Your first and last briefing.”

* * *

“This is Inspector Lee Hyunsoo, a member of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Major Crime Investigation Team 1. From now on, we will begin a briefing on the corruption funds of Sangma Construction, the murder of Head Manager Park Jangwon, and the accident of a worker due to poor construction. First, Sangma Construction President Seo Jinsang…….”

Hyunsoo's briefing continued.

It was his first time, but the reporters moved their hands busily while watching Hyunsoo continue the smooth process without shaking at all.

And the very back row.

“I guess he’s more of a broadcaster than I thought, but he won't be able to go far anyway.”

It was Deputy Chief Park Seunggil. His eyes were smiling, but he was looking at Hyunsoo with a cold smile.

“He wouldn't even dream of it. To think that he would be in charge of such a case, that he would fall into the abyss because of it.”

It was Heo Insung's words who sat next to Deputy Chief Park Seunggil. Listening to Hyunsoo's briefing, the two smiled happily.

“Then we'll have to do it before tonight. You deliver the case to Inspector Lee, and I'll tell the reporters.”

When Deputy Chief Park Seunggil spoke in a small voice, Heo Insung nodded.

“I understand. But…… he’s not saying he won't take it, right? Noticing the trap we dug…….”

“He will do it anyway”

Park Seunggil was sure. Hyunsoo was always sincere about the case. With that sincerity, he was a man who was obsessively chasing criminals. For such a man, an unsolved case would be like a poisoned chalice.

“He knows he can't solve it, but he wants to solve it anyway. And he’s going to rush to solve it.”

It was when Deputy Chief Park Seunggil nodded with a slight smile.

“……!”

For a moment, Park Seunggil frowned. It was because Hyunsoo, who was in the middle of the briefing, looked at him and smiled.

‘Am I mistaken?’

Maybe he saw it wrong, and when he got rid of the gloomy feeling, unbelievable words came out of Hyunsoo's mouth.

“……That concludes the briefing. And I have one more thing to tell you.”

The hands of the reporters, who were typing at high speed, stopped all at once. Then, as they looked up at Hyunsoo, Hyunsoo picked up some of the documents under the briefing papers.

“The golf course serial murder case, a case that made headlines across the country a few years ago.”

“……?”

The confused Park Seunggil and Heo Insung turned their heads.

“I intend to re-investigate this case.”

“What……?”

Park Seunggil frowned. At the same time, reporters in the briefing room raised their hands and started asking questions.

“Why are you re-investigating the case?”

“Is there any hidden mastermind behind the culprit?”

“Why are you bringing up the case again? Was there anything wrong with the investigation process at the time?”

“Why investigate the case again? What's the reason?!”

Hyunsoo raised his hand to restrain reporters' questions. Then he said.

“Ju Hankwon, who was identified as the culprit of the case, was sentenced to life imprisonment.”

Everyone in the briefing room listened to Hyunsoo with bated breath.

“Ju Hankwon is not the real culprit.”

“……?!”

“There's a separate culprit. I'll catch the real culprit.”

At that moment, reporters' flashes began to explode from all sides.