Alice had been sitting beside Jubal, watching him go through the case file. When JJ warned them, she didn't immediately react—until Jubal flipped to the crime scene photos.
"Oh my God. What happened to her face?" She instinctively turned away, only to feel that such a reaction was unprofessional for an FBI agent. Gritting her teeth, she forced herself to look back.
The photos were crystal clear—too clear. The sharpness only amplified the visceral discomfort, especially after just seeing Jessica Townsend's cheerful everyday photos.
The body had been discovered at least three to four days post-mortem and was already showing early signs of marbling. Her eyes were wide open, slightly bulging, while her swollen lips and protruding tongue hinted at possible strangulation or asphyxiation.
Though her clothing obscured most of her torso, the telltale greenish-black branching veins of decomposition stretched from her neck up to her face.
But it wasn't just the natural process of decay that made the images disturbing. The most horrifying aspect was her mutilated face. Jessica Townsend's once-beautiful features were covered in deep knife wounds.
One particularly long cut ran from her temple down her cheek, stopping at the jawbone—almost as if the killer had attempted to skin her face.
"There must be at least a hundred knife wounds," Jack observed calmly as he examined the photos. Besides him, only Jubal seemed able to maintain composure.
"Itaewon is Seoul's most famous entertainment district," Jubal noted. "The suspect's identity could be... complicated. Local, foreigner, maybe even—"
He trailed off, but the implication was clear to everyone.
Itaewon was located in the southern part of Yongsan District, on the eastern slopes of a mountain. It sat right next to what used to be one of the largest US military bases in South Korea—Yongsan Garrison.
This base, just a few kilometers from the Blue House (South Korea's presidential residence), had been like a bodyguard for the nation. But maintaining this bodyguard came at an enormous cost.
Feeding, housing, and entertaining thousands of young, strong men required... additional services.
Thus, Itaewon had flourished. Initially filled with tea houses and bars, it later transformed into a neon-lit district packed with nightclubs and entertainment venues.
Back then, South Korea's economy was struggling, but the bodyguards had money to spend. A single pack of Marlboro cigarettes could buy a night of royal treatment in Itaewon. Soldiers flocked there in droves.
But even the strongest bull could be worked to exhaustion, and not all fields were of equal quality. Soon, diseases spread like wildfire.
When infection rates among soldiers hit 60%, the US government panicked. A massive cleanup effort followed—Itaewon's rundown shacks were bulldozed and replaced with a modern commercial district.
At the same time, over a million young women were recruited and trained in English and hospitality services. These civilian diplomats were officially recognized as contributors to national morale, security, and economic growth.
To ensure their continued productivity, regular health checkups were implemented. High-dose penicillin treatments were provided to the unfortunate few who fell ill—encouraging them to continue their patriotic efforts.
Even though Yongsan Garrison had since relocated, with over 20,000 US personnel and their families now living in Camp Humphreys (Pyeongtaek), Itaewon remained South Korea's premier nightlife hub.
The district had simply evolved. It was now a fashionable area, attracting foreign tourists eager to indulge in its vibrant bars and clubs. US soldiers still frequented the area, but they were now just part of a larger, diverse crowd.
Jack suspected that the KNPA's eagerness to cooperate with the FBI stemmed from this sensitive backdrop. If the suspect's identity was too problematic, no South Korean prosecutor would want to handle this hot potato.
And prosecutor was the key word—because in South Korea, it wasn't actually the police who held power.
Anyone who had watched even a few Korean dramas would know that South Korean police were among the most powerless in the world. They didn't even have independent investigative authority.
All criminal cases had to be initiated and completed under a prosecutor's name. The prosecutor alone had the final say on investigations and indictments.
In other words, even if a criminal committed murder right in front of a police officer—with the entire incident recorded on the officer's body cam—the suspect couldn't be detained unless the prosecutor approved it.
And of course, the less power an institution had, the more Korean dramas glorified them. In countless TV series, righteous, incorruptible prosecutors were portrayed as the people's last hope against the tyranny of the chaebols (powerful family-run conglomerates).
In reality? South Korea's independent prosecutor system was nothing more than a convenient tool wielded by the US government—much like Japan's Special Investigation Department.
The long list of disgraced and mysteriously deceased former South Korean presidents could certainly attest to that.
A nation with a large foreign military presence could never truly have full sovereignty. Their independent prosecutor system had been a distorted creation from the very start.
But none of this concerned the FBI. Their only job was to find the killer. Whatever political fallout ensued—that was for the higher-ups to sort out.
After reviewing the case files, the atmosphere grew grim. They didn't need to worry about why they were invited into this case. But judging purely from the MO, this was going to be a problem.
"Let me guess," Jack said lazily, leaning back on the couch and handing the file to Clay. "This case got picked up by the media, public pressure is mounting, and now they can't cover it up anymore?"
"Organized body disposal like this usually means a serial killer," he added. "I'll bet you $20 this isn't the first victim."
"It's probably not a military suspect," Clay noted. "At least, there's no evidence pointing that way yet. If it were, NCIS or CID (Army Criminal Investigation Division) would be handling this, not us."
"It also doesn't seem like a cult killing," Hannah remarked. "There are no religious symbols or ritualistic elements in the crime scene photos."
She turned on the TV and flipped through several news channels. Sure enough, one station was already covering the case. None of them could read Korean or understand the language, but Jessica Townsend's face was prominently displayed on-screen.
"If this is a serial killer, media coverage like this could push them to accelerate their killings," Jubal noted. "We need to move fast before more bodies turn up."
Standing up, he took one last look around the luxurious suite, as if mourning its inevitable loss.
"The KNPA and the US embassy will be delivering our firearms and credentials soon. Aubrey, Alice—you two find us a place to rent as our base of operations. Make sure it has a solid internet connection."
"Why not just stay at the hotel?" Aubrey asked, puzzled.
Jack gave him a look that screamed Are you an idiot? before sighing.
"How many people do you think are watching us right now, waiting for case updates?"
Pausing for effect, he added, "We're working overseas, Aubrey. Did you already forget everything you learned about counterintelligence at Quantico?"
(End of Chapter)
[Unlock +20 Advanced Chapters on Patreon.com/Mutter]
[For every 100 Power Stones, 1 Bonus Chapter will be released]
[Thank you for reading!]