There were signs that the victim had been struck in the head with a blunt weapon.
The skull cap area showed damage similar to that found in victims who died twenty years ago.
It was assumed that the weapon used was the same or had a similar shape and weight.
There was another similarity.
The victim’s chest had been severely mutilated—his right nipple was completely severed, and although an attempt had been made on the left, it had not been fully cut off.
The weapon was a multipurpose pruning shear commonly used for gardening or industrial purposes.
Bloodstains from the victim were detected on the small scissors.
Several other substances were found, but no fingerprints.
However, the red coating material from a type of work glove was detected, allowing investigators to infer the kind of glove the perpetrator had worn.
Another newly identified detail was that the perpetrator was likely left-handed.
Based on the cut direction, the snipping had probably been done with the left hand.
“I don’t think I’m the only one who thinks so. It’s the same perp—I’m sure of it.”
After seeing the autopsy report of the new victim, Yang Sun-hwa, I was convinced.
The perpetrator was indeed the same one from twenty years ago.
Even the unknown details of the method were identical.
At that moment, the possibility of a copycat became significantly less likely.
Seeing no one object, Hyun-chul nodded in agreement.
“The guy who’s been silent for twenty years suddenly started killing again. And the timing—he started right after Detective Woo and I visited the village.”
“Seems like we need to go back to the beginning.”
“The beginning?”
“It’s someone familiar. You know just as well as I do—there’s more than a few odd things about the people in that village.”
The detectives’ eyes turned to Jung-rok, then back to Hyun-chul.
Flipping through the reports, Hyun-chul rubbed his forehead, then brushed his lips.
“Start with the people who lived there both twenty years ago and now. See if any of them have a record of being incarcerated in the meantime. Han-gyeol, you assist with questioning witnesses around Yang Sun-hwa.”
Hyun-chul slammed his notebook shut and stood up, giving instructions to the team.
When the meeting ended, Jun-hyuk followed the team leader to attend a meeting at the Deokdong precinct.
Han-gyeol also headed to the interrogation room as instructed.
Jung-rok and Jung Yoon began preparing to return to the village.
Expecting to be turned away again, they made sure to bring the warrant carefully prepared in advance.
[A man in his 50s was found dead in the trunk of a taxi near the Hangang Bridge. The perpetrator dumped the body along with the taxi in a corner of a parking lot and fled the scene. Police are currently investigating the exact motive. Reporter Choi Do-chan has more.]
[In an open-air parking lot near the Han River, police vehicles are seen entering between parked cars. Around 10:30 last night, the body of a man in his 50s, Mr. A, was found inside the trunk of a taxi parked in a corner. Mr. A was…]
Just as they were about to head out to the parking lot, the television in the back of the office began broadcasting news of the body found the previous night.
At a particular word that caught his ear, Jung Yoon suddenly froze and turned his head.
“What is it?”
“…No, it’s nothing.”
Jung-rok looked puzzled as Jung Yoon abruptly stopped walking. Glancing briefly at the TV, Jung Yoon relaxed his furrowed brow and shook his head.
He was just being overly sensitive.
Playing detective, which was so unlike him, had made him more on edge than usual.
Jung Yoon quickly caught up to Jung-rok.
Now that another incident had occurred, there was no time to hesitate or waste.
***
As the sun was setting, a few children were still lingering by the village pavilion, seemingly reluctant to go home.
When their car pulled up, the kids who had been dragging sticks across the dirt looked up like meerkats.
Jung Yoon was the first to step out of the car parked near the pavilion.
He raised his head and looked up at the sky, then scanned the village.
Darkness would soon fall.
At a glance, there weren’t many streetlights in the village.
Once the sun set, complete darkness would come.
“We better move quickly.”
The car gave a loud rumble before turning off.
Jung-rok got out and waved at the children, whose eyes had widened like saucers.
Hello, bet you’ve never seen a guy this handsome before, huh?
Take a good look today, kids.
This handsome uncle—
At the nonsensical remark, Jung Yoon immediately frowned.
The kids threw down their sticks and jumped to their feet.
Grabbing each other’s hands, they ran off in a hurry.
Jung Yoon clicked his tongue.
I knew it.
Shaking his head, he gave Jung-rok a look of exasperation.
“Why are you trying to scare me like that?”
“It’s just because it’s the first time we’ve met. Do you think it’s easy to see a guy this handsome in Korea?”
“If that’s the case, I wish it had been a lot harder.”
Jung Yoon spoke seriously, resting his chin on his hand.
Jeong-rok, who had the back of his hand under his chin, narrowed his eyes.
“So you do think I look handsome?”
Jung Yoon kept his gaze fixed on Jeong-rok, frowned, and let out a sigh.
“Objectively speaking, probably.”
Jung Yoon didn’t need to look far—he just recalled the detectives back at the office.
A deep sigh escaped from within.
After shaking off the dreadful mental image, Jung Yoon pulled out his phone.
He looked up the address of the new victim, Yang Sun-hwa, from his contacts.
At the same time, he scanned the area for street signs and quickly matched the road name with the address.
“Then tell me subjectively.”
“Ah, over there… huh?”
“From your perspective, Detective Woo, are you saying I’m not that good-looking?”
Jung Yoon, who had been checking the map, turned his eyes to Jeong-rok.
That expectant look on Jeong-rok’s face was burdensome.
Jung Yoon frowned slightly and said with exasperation,
“Is that really a necessary question for the job?”
“I think it’s extremely necessary.”
“In that case, no. I’m not interested in men’s faces. Just follow me.”
Jung Yoon answered with firm sincerity.
He didn’t bother hiding his fatigue, smiled faintly, and walked past Jeong-rok.
Clicking his tongue, Jeong-rok immediately followed behind and leaned his face over Jung Yoon’s shoulder.
“Are you sure?”
Jung Yoon felt the warmth, but didn’t care.
He double-checked the address and turned in the right direction, entering the second narrow alley past a major street.
“Sure about what?”
“That you’re not interested in men’s faces. Are you really confident about that?”
“Why would I even need to be confident about something like that? Yes, I’m sure.”
“Wanna bet on it?”
“Bet on what, now…”
Just then, a list of local residents with prior convictions arrived from Hangyeol.
Without much expression, Jung Yoon moved his fingers across the screen, filtering out those recently released.
“Let’s bet. If you ever take interest in a man’s face—yes or no. If you’re confident, it’s a win-win for you, right?”
“Well… it’s just that you sound way too confident yourself. Kinda suspicious. This way.”
Jeong-rok slung an arm loosely over Jung Yoon’s shoulder and pointed to a name on the screen.
Jung Yoon nodded without realizing and copied the name into his notes.
“So you’re not really that confident, huh?”
“About what?”
Jeong-rok grinned slyly.
Jung Yoon, who had been calculating the age of someone whose name matched a possible suspect, froze mid-thought.
A deep crease formed between his brows.
“…A man’s face…”
“Oh, come on.”
The math wasn’t adding up.
Jung Yoon raised an eyebrow, ruling out one man who would’ve only been six years old at the time of the crime.
“I said I’m sure.”
“Eh, sounds like you’re not, though?”
Jeong-rok kept teasing with his sly smile.
Jung Yoon knew better than to let him get to him, but something about that expression made staying silent feel like a loss.
“Fine. Let’s bet.”
No way was he just letting that go.
Shaking his head at the seemingly endless banter, Jung Yoon sighed.
This guy was seriously a headache.
He glared coldly and slipped out from under Jeong-rok’s arm.
As he walked backwards facing Jung Yoon, hands in his back pockets, Jeong-rok’s features were cast into silhouette by the backlight.
“If you ever become interested in a man’s face—you grant me one wish.”
“And if I don’t?”
“Then I’ll grant you one.”
Among all the annoying parts of their conversation, that was the one thing that actually piqued Jung Yoon’s interest.
His frown eased noticeably.
Looking at Jeong-rok’s overly confident expression, Jung Yoon’s eyes sparkled.
“How long’s the bet?”
“One month.”
“…One month? That’s kind of a cheap game. You sure about that?”
“Absolutely.”
Jeong-rok gave a brief smile.
It was the same smile Jung Yoon had seen recently—one that looked genuinely happy, but also somehow bitter.
A smile tinged with quiet pain.
Jung Yoon stopped walking for a moment.
A dull headache crept in.
He shook his head as if to shake it off, and Jeong-rok approached.