The call ended, but the weight of it stayed with them.
Rain still fell around the cemetery entrance as Kang Min and Ara moved quickly toward the car. The brief moment of quiet they had just left behind disappeared almost instantly, replaced by urgency.
Ji Won stood beside Ara's sister, watching as Kang Min unlocked the car.
"Go with her," he told Ji Won, his tone calm but firm.
She nodded without hesitation. She understood what it meant when work called like that.
Ara turned to her sister. "Take her home first."
Her sister nodded. "Don't worry."
There was no need for anything more.
Kang Min and Ara got into the car, doors closing almost at the same time. The engine started, and within seconds, they were already pulling away from the cemetery.
The rain followed them onto the road.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Ara looked out the window, the images from earlier still fresh in her mind. The quiet of the cemetery hadn't fully left her yet, but the shift back to work had already taken over.
"Another one," she said quietly.
Kang Min kept his eyes on the road. "We'll know more when we get there."
She nodded.
The drive didn't take long.
By the time they arrived, the area had already been secured. Police tape stretched across the entrance of a narrow residential building, and a small crowd lingered at a distance, whispering among themselves.
Kang Min parked and stepped out immediately. Ara followed, closing the door behind her as she took in the scene.
They moved past the officers at the entrance and into the building.
Inside, the air felt different.
Still.
Measured.
Forensic officers were already at work, moving carefully, documenting everything with precision. The body lay at the center of the room, surrounded by equipment and quiet movement.
Su Young and Bong Soo were already there.
Su Young stood slightly to the side with her tablet, while Bong Soo had his attention on the forensic team.
"You're here," Bong Soo said as they approached.
Kang Min nodded. "What do we have?"
Before Bong Soo could answer, one of the forensic doctors stepped forward.
"I'll brief you."
Kang Min gave a small nod.
"Male, mid-thirties," she began. "Estimated time of death late last night."
Ara looked toward the body.
"Cause?"
"We're still confirming," the doctor replied. "But there are clear signs of physical struggle. Multiple injuries, inconsistent impact points."
That was enough to shift Kang Min's attention immediately.
He stepped closer to the body.
Ara followed beside him.
The condition of the victim was unmistakable. Bruises marked the arms, uneven and scattered. There were defensive wounds—clear attempts to fight back.
It didn't match.
Kang Min's eyes moved carefully across the details.
Then he saw it.
The mark.
Placed on the body.
Deliberate.
Familiar.
Ara noticed it too, her expression tightening slightly.
"They copied it."
Kang Min didn't answer immediately. He crouched slightly, examining the mark more closely, then looked back at the injuries again.
"This isn't him," he said.
Ara turned to him. "You're sure?"
"Yes."
Bong Soo stepped closer. "Because of the struggle?"
Kang Min nodded.
"He doesn't leave this kind of scene."
Su Young joined them, glancing at the body before looking at Kang Min.
"So this is someone trying to imitate the case."
"Not imitate," Kang Min said. "Make it look like the same thing."
Ara crossed her arms slightly, thinking it through.
"They knew about the symbol."
"Yes."
"And they used it to mislead us."
Kang Min nodded once.
The realization settled among them.
Bong Soo exhaled slowly. "That means we're dealing with a copycat."
Su Young added, "And that complicates everything."
Ara looked at the body again, her thoughts steady.
"It also means the original is still out there."
No one disagreed.
The investigation at the scene continued, but the direction had already changed. Every detail now had to be questioned more carefully.
By the time they left the location, the rain had stopped, leaving the streets damp and reflective.
They returned to the station without wasting time.
As soon as they stepped inside, Kang Min spoke.
"Call the prosecutor. We're meeting now."
Su Young was already moving. "I'll get him."
Within minutes, the team gathered in the conference room. The board at the front displayed images and details from previous victims. Now, a new section had been added.
The latest case.
Similar, but not the same.
Prosecutor Lee Tae Jun entered shortly after, taking his seat with a calm expression.
"What have you found?" he asked.
Su Young stood, connecting her tablet to the screen.
"A new victim was found this morning," she began. "Initial appearance suggested a continuation of the Ghost Eyes case."
The image appeared on the screen.
She continued, "But there are inconsistencies."
Ara stepped in. "There are clear signs of struggle. That hasn't been present in previous cases."
Bong Soo added, "This victim fought back."
Kang Min spoke next. "The pattern doesn't match."
Tae Jun looked at the screen, taking in the details.
"So this isn't the same offender."
"No," Kang Min replied.
Su Young highlighted specific points on the display.
"In previous cases, the victims showed no defensive wounds. No disruption of environment. Everything was precise."
She pointed to the new case.
"This one is different."
Tae Jun nodded slowly.
"But the mark is the same."
"Yes," Ara said. "That's the only consistent detail."
Tae Jun leaned back slightly.
"Then someone is using the mark to create confusion."
Kang Min nodded.
"That's what it looks like."
The room settled into thought.
Bong Soo spoke again. "So now we have to separate the cases."
Su Young had already begun updating the board.
A new label appeared.
Copycat.
Placed beside the existing case structure.
Ara watched as the board changed.
"It's going to affect how we read the next victim," she said.
Kang Min agreed. "We can't assume anything anymore."
Tae Jun spoke again.
"Treat them as separate until proven otherwise."
It was a simple direction, but it gave structure.
Kang Min nodded. "That's what we'll do."
The meeting continued, moving into strategy. Tasks were assigned, angles reconsidered, possibilities discussed.
By the time it ended, the day had already begun to fade into evening.
Ara stepped out of the station alongside Kang Min. The sky had darkened, the air cooler now.
"I'll drop you," Kang Min said.
She nodded. "Alright."
The drive was quiet.
Not uncomfortable.
Just reflective.
Ara leaned slightly against the seat, her mind still processing the details from the scene.
"Whoever did that," she said after a while, "they're trying to get attention."
Kang Min kept his eyes on the road.
"Or redirect it."
She considered that.
"That too."
They reached her place not long after.
She unbuckled her seatbelt and paused for a moment.
"See you tomorrow."
"Tomorrow," he replied.
She stepped out and closed the door, watching briefly as his car drove away before heading inside.
Her sister was already home.
"You're back," she said, looking up from where she sat.
Ara nodded, placing her bag down.
"Yeah."
Her sister studied her for a moment, noticing the tiredness in her expression.
"Long day?"
"A bit."
She walked closer, her tone gentle.
"Did something happen with the case?"
Ara gave a small, understanding look.
"You're really curious about this case."
Her sister smiled slightly. "It's hard not to be."
Ara nodded.
"I know."
She sat down across from her.
"I can't go into details," she said calmly. "You know that."
Her sister nodded slowly.
"I figured."
Ara softened her tone.
"But… it's getting more complicated."
That was all she allowed herself to say.
Her sister didn't push further.
"Then you should rest," she said. "You look like you need it."
Ara let out a small breath.
"I do."
"I'll make something light for you."
"You don't have to."
"I know. I want to."
Ara smiled faintly.
"Okay."
She stood up and headed toward her room.
"I have to be up early tomorrow."
Her sister nodded.
"I won't keep you long."
As Ara walked away, the house settled into a quiet rhythm again.
Outside, the night deepened.
A figure stood at a distance across the street, partially hidden by the shadows.