Three years ago, my father, a detective, was murdered.
My father was pursuing a boss who had many assassins under his command, but was shot dead by the boss before he could get to the truth.
If he had investigated together with other detectives and conducted a formal crime scene investigation, he would not have died so senselessly.
But that's as much as I know.
Who was the boss, why was my father pursuing him so relentlessly, and why was he conducting his investigation in secret on his own?
His father's death was ruled a suicide, and no matter how much he asked other detectives, not a single one seriously investigated the case.
They all just said they were busy.
— Detective, about the incident three years ago...
— The case has already been solved. There's no point in talking about it now.
- But you were a detective in the same department. Why are you so indifferent? Just once more...
— Please go away. Look here. We're busy. Please go away.
— My father's case is also important! How can you be so cold towards him?
— …Let's talk outside for a bit.
The detective suddenly called me outside.
It seemed like he had something he wanted to talk about, so I followed him with a mixture of hope and anxiety.
— Don't come here anymore.
We didn't want it to end like this either, but since Detective Ha was investigating the case alone, we had no information and no way to help.
- So in the end, no one will ever find out the truth about my father's death.
— Yeah... sorry.
— Okay, thank you for your time.
That day I made a decision.
I will expose this incident.
I was old enough to understand and I thought it was right to figure it out for myself.
Prove that his father's death was not a suicide, but a murder.
Although too much time may have passed, I believe this is a promise to my late father and a responsibility to my mother who lies in her hospital room.
— Sigh...
But now I didn't even know where to start.
All I know are two words: "hitman" and "boss."
If someone asks, "Why didn't you tell the detective?" the answer is simple.
Because it's obvious that they won't do anything even if I say something.
There's no way any detective would be so busy as to dig up a case from five years ago.
"Piron♪"
Suddenly, I got a message from an unknown number.
💬 Don't try to find out. Don't do anything. If you don't want to get hurt.
I was surprised that the call was sent from a normal number, rather than from a hidden caller number.
However, judging from the tone of the message, it didn't seem like the boss himself was speaking.
That means...it must be one of his subordinate assassins.
But what was even more puzzling was its content.
"If you don't want to get hurt, don't do anything."
Is this a warning?
Or is it a threat?
I couldn't decide.
However, in this situation, the only way to get even the slightest bit of information is to contact this person.
I had already made up my mind, and there was no reason to be afraid.
The first thing to do is to check.
💬 Who is it?
I received a reply immediately.
💬 You don't need to know that either. Go home now.
At that moment, I realized.
This person is looking at me now.
I called immediately.
Ring, ring... ring, ring...
📞 You're looking at me right now, right? Then let's meet in person and talk.
📞 Do you know who I am and act so confident?
📞 He's not the boss, is he? He's probably an assassin at best. Anyway, let's meet.
📞 What if I really was a hitman? Do you know that would put you in danger?
📞 I know, but...
📞 I sent you my address. If you want to meet me, come here without anyone noticing.
"What...it's just a normal house?"
When I arrived at the address that was sent to me, it was just an ordinary house.
However, when I stood in front of the door, it opened automatically.
I entered the building cautiously, and the elevator doors opened automatically, taking me down to the basement.
"Welcome?"
"...Are you the one who sent the message?"
"Yeah, it is. But it seems a bit freaked out, doesn't it?"
"What? There's no way I'd be scared!"
"So, what do you want to see me for?"
"Are you going to…kill me?"
"Well, I guess."
"Are you really a killer?"
"ah."
"Then take me to the boss."
"Then you'll die."
"I'll kill you first."
"...I don't get it. No one can defeat the boss. Not me, not anyone. And yet you're the one to kill the boss?"
"...In the end, you're no good at all."
"Maybe you should become a hitman too?"
Those words deeply shook my heart.