Back in Seoul, the station felt the same as always—busy, loud, slightly messy in a way nobody ever really fixed.
But today, there was a different kind of attention in the air.
Mi Na could feel it the moment she walked in.
"Ah, Detective Kim," one officer called out casually. "You're back already?"
Another one leaned back in his chair. "So? Did she come with you this time or not?"
Mi Na didn't answer. She just walked past them, jaw tight.
Do Hwan followed behind her, licking his lollipop like nothing in the world was serious enough to stress him.
"Relax," he muttered. "You look like you're about to explode."
"I am," Mi Na replied flatly.
Do Hwan grinned. "Noted."
They didn't talk much after that.
By the time they reached the Chief's office, the mood had already shifted.
Chief Kang didn't shout this time.
That alone made Mi Na more nervous.
He simply looked at them for a moment, then slid a thick file across the desk.
"This case," he said, tapping it once, "has been sitting for too long."
Mi Na frowned. "We've already been working on it."
The Chief didn't react.
"That's the problem," he said.
Silence.
Then he added, slower this time, "We didn't bring her here just because she's smart."
Do Hwan tilted his head slightly.
Chief Kang continued, "We brought her here because she's already connected to it."
That line settled heavy in the room.
Mi Na felt it immediately. Something about it didn't feel good.
Before she could ask anything else, the door opened.
Annie walked in.
No announcement. No hesitation. Just calm steps like she had every right to be there.
The room went quiet.
Mi Na turned slightly, watching her carefully.
Do Hwan looked more curious than serious.
Annie didn't greet anyone.
She just walked straight to the table, picked up the file, and flipped it open.
Page by page.
Silent.
The room stayed still while she read.
No one interrupted her.
Not even the Chief.
Then she stopped.
Looked at the file for a second longer.
And said, "Board."
The word landed in the room like it didn't belong there.
Mi Na blinked. "What?"
Annie didn't repeat herself immediately.
She just looked up slightly. "Do you have a board?"
Chief Kang exchanged a look with one of the officers. "Get one."
Within moments, a whiteboard was rolled into the office.
Markers followed.
Annie took one without asking.
And then she started writing.
At first, it didn't make sense.
Just lines.
Dates.
Names.
Small notes.
Crossed-out points from the file.
The room slowly shifted as everyone began to pay attention.
Mi Na stepped closer without realizing it.
Do Hwan followed behind her.
Annie didn't stop.
She kept writing, connecting things that weren't connected in the file.
Then she stopped and pointed.
"This is wrong."
No explanation yet.
She moved the marker again.
"This too."
Another pause.
"This shouldn't be here."
An officer finally spoke up. "But that's what the report concluded—"
Annie didn't even look at him.
"You concluded wrong."
Silence again.
No anger. No emotion.
Just certainty.
She stepped slightly to the side and added more markings.
After a few seconds, she tapped a section of the board.
"Start from here instead."
Mi Na stared at it.
Slowly, it started making sense.
Not fully.
But enough to realize—
the original file was missing something important.
Something obvious.
Something they all missed.
Do Hwan stopped chewing for once.
Even Chief Kang didn't speak.
Annie dropped the marker onto the table.
Clink.
She stepped back, scanning the board once.
Then closed the file.
And turned away like she was done.
Mi Na hesitated. "Wait—"
But Annie was already walking toward the door.
No extra words.
No explanation.
Just leaving them with everything rearranged in their heads.
And for the first time since this case began—
the room didn't feel like they were chasing answers anymore.
It felt like they were finally seeing the question properly.