[……Ju Hankwon is not the real culprit. There's a separate culprit. I'll catch the real culprit.]

This was a news screen showing the scene of Hyunsoo briefing. Hyunsoo appeared with the reporter's words.

[……It was a sudden and unexpected announcement, but as a star police that public opinion is paying attention to, Detective Lee Hyunsoo's announcement of the investigation is becoming a big topic.…….]

Public opinion was hot.

Then, was Ju Hankwon living an unfair prison life, who on earth was the real culprit, the real culprit was Ju Hankwon after all?

There was a mixture of concern and support. Everyone's attention was focused. All of this was what Deputy Chief Park Seunggil wanted. However, all of this was done by Hyunsoo.

Hyunsoo's smile, which he didn't know what the hell he was thinking, was projected through the news screen.

* * *

After the unconventional announcement, Hyunsoo walked leisurely out of the briefing room. Seeing him like that, the police standing in the hallway turned their heads.

“Is he crazy? He’s going to bring up a closed case and turn it over?”

“He’s going to take this opportunity to become a national star.”

“But if the real culprit is caught, all the police officers who investigated that time will lose their heads.…….”

Most of the responses were unfavorable.

What Hyunsoo was trying to do was to overturn the closed case. If the real culprit was caught, everyone might have to take responsibility except for Ju Hankwon who had been unfairly caught.

“Anyway, just humiliate the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, then he’s really out of this organization.”

“But is it confirmed that the investigation is starting? He’s not doing that alone, is he?”

In such an atmosphere, Hyunsoo headed to the office of the Major Crime Investigation Team 1 with a smile on his face.

“Team Leader-nim?”

Then he could see Team Leader Han Daesung of Team 2. He was looking at Hyunsoo with worried eyes that were deeper than last time.

“Are you really going to do that? I've told you so many times…….”

At that time, Team Leader Han Daesung, who stopped talking, bowed his head toward Hyunsoo's back.

“Deputy Chief-nim.”

It was because Deputy Chief Park Seunggil was standing behind Hyunsoo. Hyunsoo, who turned around, also bowed his head.

“Do you have anything to say, Deputy Chief-nim?”

“Thank you for the briefing, and the surprise announcement.”magic

Deputy Chief Park Seunggil drew a faint smile.

“You're going to re-investigate the case all of a sudden? To reveal such a thing in a briefing that the whole nation sees, you must really have high ambitions.”

But there was one thing that caught him.

“But why did you choose the golf course serial murder case? Do you think there is a real culprit?”

Park Seunggil had chosen another case to trap Hyunsoo. However, Hyunsoo chose to re-investigate. It was a more difficult case than the cold case.“Even if the real culprit doesn't come out, it won't do you any good. Why?”

“There is no particular reason. Isn't that the job of the police to find the culprit through an accurate investigation? The reason I chose this case is just that there is a person who is falsely imprisoned.”

Park Seunggil nodded at Hyunsoo's words.

It didn't matter what case Hyunsoo took on. After all, the result would be the same.

“Yeah, I'm rooting for you. Do your best. I hope you can solve the case.”

Hyunsoo wouldn't solve the case. No, even if he solved it, he'd stop it himself.

Park Seunggil, who was uttering soulless words of encouragement, moved on.

“Anyway, he’s cheering you on with no sincere.……. Is there anything Deputy Chief Park hated about you?”

These were the words of Team Leader Han Daesung, who was watching the conversation from the sidelines.

Hyunsoo smiled at his words.

“I know. It's not a cheer to solve the case, but a cheer to not solve it.”

In fact, Hyunsoo knew of Deputy Chief Park Seunggil's plan.

The day before, when the scene of Deputy Chief Park Seunggil assaulting Team Leader Heo Insung flashed through his mind, Hyunsoo heard Park Seunggil's last words.

‘Uh, you know that case last time? Bring me the data. Yeah, that's right. I think I've found the right person…….’

Deputy Chief Park Seunggil was calling someone. After hanging up the phone, Park Seunggil continued in a low voice.

‘Golf Course Serial Murder Cold Case…… Let's see if he can solve that too. Of course, he can't because I won't let him do it.…….’

Park Seunggil's intention was for Hyunsoo to fall into crisis.

He couldn't move according to his intentions.

The golf course serial murder case was a famous case that the whole nation knew at the time. However, it was a particularly memorable case for Hyunsoo.

“A case that flashed through my mind.”

It was a case that happened when Hyunsoo was in the police academy and was receiving practice.

Hyunsoo passed by the golf course where the case happened by chance. Scenes of the case flashed through his mind. And Hyunsoo saw clearly.

‘The culprit’s face’

And a few days later, the criminal was caught. Ju Hankwon, a golf practice desk clerk. However, the face of the criminal that Hyunsoo saw belonged to a different person.

Hyunsoo, who sensed something was wrong, reported it to the police. But the problem was that there was no evidence. Evidence that someone other than Ju Hankwon was the culprit. Thus, Hyunsoo had to see a citizen falsely accused in front of his eyes go to prison without able to do anything.

As time passed, Hyunsoo, who became a police officer, tried to find evidence of the case. However, the case had already been closed. It was a case that someone might have worked hard to close the case quickly.

‘So all the remaining evidence was useless evidence, but…… It's different this time.’

Hyunsoo, who became a star, said in front of numerous media that there was a separate culprit in the golf course serial murder case. If the topic became a hot issue, surely the culprit would also watch the news. If so, this time was different.

‘I can catch him.’

Hyunsoo and Team Leader Han Daesung sailed to the conference room.“Are you really going to help me? I don't think the team members of Team 2 will look at it well.”

Han Dasung, who was worried that Hyunsoo would become a public disgrace, burned his will to help Hyunsoo.

“Is that a problem now? My favorite junior is about to fall into the abyss. Don't believe in popularity, the scariest anti-fans are fans who turn their back on you.”

And when the two were entering the conference room, someone grabbed Hyunsoo by the shoulder.

“No, what do you mean there is a separate real culprit?! Did you really know something?!”

It was Reporter Seo Gaeun.

When Hyunsoo left the briefing room, she, who followed him, breathed and said.

“Although the case became a national topic of discussion…… But how can you say there's another real culprit! Then what about the detectives who caught Ju Hankwon as the culprit at that time?!”

Team Leader Han Daesung was surprised by Reporter Seo Gaeun, who was talking at a high speed with a worried face.

“Who is this…… Ah, Reporter-nim. I thought it was Inspector Lee's wife.”

Team Leader Han Daesung scratched his head after seeing Reporter Seo Gaeun's press ID.

“Let's go in first. Except for the two of us, I don't think there's anyone who's worried about this.”

Han Daesung opened the conference room door and entered.

“Me too!”

Then, Police Officer Kim Yoojoon ran in a hurry, waving his hand at the end of the hallway.

“Ah, the new member of Team 1?”

“Hello! I am Police Officer Kim Yoojoon!”

“Yeah, come on in.”

In the conference room, Hyunsoo, Team Leader Han Daesung, Reporter Seo Gaeun, and Police Officer Kim Yoojoon sat around.

“What Reporter Seo said earlier is correct. I don't know why you're doing this, but it's good for the case to attract public attention. But on what grounds did you say there was a real culprit?”

Team Leader Han Daesung was the person who saw the investigation of the golf course case at that time. Although he did not participate in the investigation directly, he watched the police's investigation process in person. And there was no problem.

Ju Hankwon was the only one who had no alibi among those who were on the list of suspects and was the most connected to the golf course where four consecutive murders took place.

Reporter Seo Gaeun spoke this time.

“I've heard a lot about this case when I was at KM Broadcasting Station. I heard that all four golf courses where the murders took place were visited by Ju Hankwon. I heard that he even confessed later?”

Hyunsoo nodded. However, he only smiled without saying anything. Han Daesung, who was watching this, tilted his upper body as if he was frustrated.

“So how the hell are you gonna catch the real culprit? Don't just nod your head.”

Everyone in the conference room looked at Hyunsoo. They seemed to be waiting for Hyunsoo's answer with the same expression. Then Hyunsoo slowly opened his mouth.

“There's something I know.”

“What? What do you know?”

“The real culprit's face.”

“……What?”

All three people’s eyes widened.