A sinister silence pervaded the halls of KAVA Entertainment, broken only by the ragged breaths of the CEO, Ji-hyun, behind her bolted office door. Tension clung to the air like a heavy fog until it was pierced by a steady, dignified knock. A man in his forties entered, preceded by the commanding presence of his formal suit and a brown leather briefcase that looked as though it carried secrets far heavier than its contents.
The CEO motioned for him to sit, her eyes wandering into the room's empty void, as she whispered in a trembling voice:
"Counselor Jung... what we feared has happened."
The lawyer replied with professional coldness, maintaining his marble-like expression:
"This was the expected course of events. There is no need for alarm, Ms. Ji-hyun; we are facing a purely routine procedure. Your mission now is confined to muzzling any wagging tongues and maintaining absolute control over the flow of news to the media."
Ji-hyun's terror did not subside; instead, panic etched itself deeper into her features as she continued:
"As you told me before, the police have questioned everyone who set foot in the building on that ill-fated night. What truly shreds my nerves is Min-soo... I fear his testimony will clash with the other witnesses. You know how he lacks focus when it comes to details."
At that moment, the door swung open and Min-soo entered in training gear. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and his labored breathing told a story of violent physical exertion—an attempt to flee his own reality. He looked from the lawyer to the CEO, and with the intuition of one who senses a predator, he realized the moment of reckoning had arrived.
The CEO sat up, trying to gather her scattered wits in an attempt to project a false sense of serenity for Min-soo's sake; she knew a single wrong word under pressure could send them all plummeting into the abyss.
Min-soo spoke, his voice laced with agitation:
"What is the matter, Counselor?"
Jung offered a stern, joyless smile and said:
"Nothing to warrant panic." He flicked a glance at the CEO, who closed her eyes and nodded, giving him the green light to reveal the truth.
The lawyer continued:
"The police are requesting your official statement regarding the murder of the broadcaster, Lee Woo-jin."
The moment the name was uttered, fragments of memory exploded in Min-soo's mind: Woo-jin's necklace glinting under the dim lights, the howl of the electric saw tearing through the silence, and the screams of terror that still rang in his ears. He swallowed hard, struggling to steady his crumbling composure as he whispered:
"I... I will testify. Can you explain further?"
The lawyer's gaze grew sharper:
"Mr. Park Min-soo, controlling your fear is your primary weapon. The information indicates the broadcaster never returned home after his interview with you. Everyone has undergone interrogation; from the director to the production crew."
Min-soo rubbed his palms together, trying to warm the sudden chill in his extremities, and asked hoarsely:
"When?"
The CEO answered firmly:
"Tonight."
Min-soo's eyes widened in surprise, his brows knitting together:
"Tonight?! Don't you think there is a suspicious haste to this?"
The CEO's tone was final, brooking no argument:
"The case is extremely sensitive, and time is not on our side. I have coordinated with Detective Kim; you will give your statement here, within the walls of the company, far from the police stations and the eyes of the press. Counselor Jung will be your shadow during this session."
The lawyer added in a cautionary tone:
"The questions will be general... about the behind-the-scenes events of that night, the nature of the conversation between you, and any strange observations. Therefore, you must recall every second that passed since you began. We will review everything now."
At exactly ten o'clock that night, Detective Kim and his assistant, Lee, cut through the silence of the KAVA Entertainment corridors. They wore civilian clothes; the detective trailed his black coat behind him with an air of indifference, while the rhythmic thud of his shoes on the marble floor sounded like a countdown to an unknown fate.
The receptionist greeted them and led them to where anxiety lay coiled in the CEO's office. There stood Ji-hyun with a sycophantic smile, attempting the usual rituals of hospitality:
"Please, have a seat... I'll order coffee immediately."
Detective Kim cut her off with a dry tone, stripped of all pleasantries:
"I only agreed to come here to avoid the media noise. Can we begin immediately?"
The CEO faltered for a moment but maintained her mask:
"Of course... Would you prefer to stay in my office, or shall we move elsewhere?"
He replied coldly:
"It doesn't matter, as long as we have total privacy."
In that moment, there was a knock at the door. Counselor Jung entered, followed immediately by Min-soo, who walked with quiet steps—a false calm hiding an inner hurricane of dread. Min-soo was wrestling with a buried monster in his chest, fearing that at this critical juncture, his old hallucinations would strike.
He feared the appearance of the "Blue Jay." For if it appeared now, and his masks fell before the cold eyes of Detective Kim, it would undoubtedly be his inevitable end.