Morning came in quietly, filling the apartment with soft light.
Ara stepped out of her room, already dressed for work, adjusting her sleeve as she walked into the living room. Everything looked normal at first glance—until she noticed Ha Eun.
She was already awake.
Sitting on the couch with her laptop open, a few papers neatly arranged beside her.
Ara didn't stop.
She walked past her toward the kitchen, poured herself a glass of water, and took a sip before speaking.
"You're up early."
Ha Eun looked up.
"Yeah."
Ara nodded slightly and walked back into the living room, sitting down across from her.
Her eyes went to the laptop for a second, then back to her sister.
"You're still on the case."
Ha Eun didn't try to deny it.
"Yes."
Ara held her gaze briefly.
"I told you to stop."
"I know."
"And you're not stopping."
Ha Eun shook her head.
"No."
Ara leaned back slightly.
"Alright."
That made Ha Eun look at her more closely.
Ara continued calmly,
"If you're going to keep doing this, you won't do it alone."
Ha Eun blinked once.
"What?"
Ara's tone remained steady.
"We work together."
No build-up.
No long explanation.
Just direct.
Ha Eun straightened a little.
"You mean… on the case?"
"Yes."
Ara's gaze didn't shift.
"If you continue, that's the condition."
Ha Eun looked at her for a second, processing it.
Then a small smile appeared.
"Okay."
Ara watched her.
"That was fast."
"I thought you were going to say I should stop again," Ha Eun replied lightly.
Ara shook her head slightly.
"You've made your decision already."
Ha Eun nodded.
"I have."
Ara stood up.
"Then we do it properly."
Ha Eun closed her laptop halfway.
"Alright."
The conversation ended as simply as it started.
⸻
Ara's phone vibrated.
She picked it up and checked the message.
Her expression changed immediately.
Ha Eun noticed.
"What happened?"
Ara grabbed her keys.
"Another victim."
Ha Eun's posture straightened.
"Ghost Eyes?"
"Yes."
Ha Eun stood up quickly.
"I'll come with you."
Ara shook her head.
"Not now."
Ha Eun paused.
"But we're working together—"
"We are," Ara said. "We'll go over things properly first."
Ha Eun nodded.
"Okay."
Ara gave a small nod.
"I'll call you."
And she left.
⸻
By the time Ara arrived, the location was already secured.
Police officers were in place.
The forensic team had started their work.
Kang Min stood near the body, observing carefully. Bong Soo was beside him, while Tae Jun stood a short distance away, taking in the scene.
Ara walked up to them.
"What do we have?"
Kang Min glanced at her.
"Another one."
She stepped closer.
The body was positioned in a familiar way.
No signs of resistance.
No disturbance around the area.
Ara's expression settled.
"It's him."
Kang Min nodded.
"Same pattern."
Bong Soo added,
"No difference."
Tae Jun spoke calmly,
"Execution remains consistent."
Ara looked around the area.
"Time?"
"A few hours ago," Kang Min replied.
She nodded.
Just as she was about to say something—
Su Young approached quickly.
"I found something."
Kang Min turned.
"What is it?"
She held up her device.
"On my way here, I checked nearby data points."
Ara stepped closer.
"And?"
"There's a recurring spot close to this area," Su Young said.
Kang Min didn't waste time.
"Show us."
⸻
They followed Su Young to the location she pointed out.
At first glance, it looked like any other part of the area.
Nothing unusual.
Nothing noticeable.
But Su Young brought up her screen.
"This place shows up in multiple cases," she explained.
Ara looked around again.
"He uses this point."
Kang Min nodded.
"Before everything happens."
Bong Soo frowned slightly.
"So he stays here first."
Tae Jun added,
"It's part of his routine."
Su Young lowered her device.
"It's not everything, but it connects."
Kang Min looked at her.
"That's enough for now."
⸻
Back at the station, the team gathered again.
The board was updated.
Another victim added.
New images placed.
Fresh notes written.
Ara pinned the photographs in place.
Bong Soo updated the timeline.
Su Young added the new data.
Tae Jun stood nearby, reviewing everything quietly.
Kang Min stepped forward.
"We're getting closer to how he operates."
Ara nodded.
"But not to who he is."
Su Young added,
"We still don't know how he chooses them."
Bong Soo said,
"And we don't know where he goes after."
Tae Jun spoke,
"The pattern is clear. The identity is not."
Kang Min looked at the board.
Everything was there.
But something was still missing.
He turned slightly.
"We continue from the contact points."
Ara nodded.
"And build from there."
Su Young added,
"I'll refine the data again."
Bong Soo said,
"I'll check possible access routes."
Tae Jun remained steady.
"I'll support where needed."
Kang Min looked at all of them.
"We keep moving."
Because the case wasn't slowing down.
And neither could they.