chapter 21: Past

Hazel's eyes widened with astonishment as she read the message scrawled on the floor. She turned to Taewoo, her voice hushed but filled with surprise, "Are we going to catch her?"

Taewoo responded with unwavering confidence, "Hazel, can I ask a favor from you?" Hazel, puzzled, inquired, "What favor?"

Taewoo's tone remained resolute as he instructed, "Wash the floor and leave no trace of this message near his body. Hazel, are you listening? I'm saying, leave no evidence of this message."

Hazel, shocked and incredulous, asked, "Are you asking me to remove the proof that Chin is the murderer? Are you serious, Taewoo?"

Taewoo's voice remained firm, "Hazel, I'm your superior. If I'm asking you to do this, then do it. Make sure to clean it before the police arrive. I will meet you at the base station."

Hazel, torn between her duty and ethics, objected, "Taewoo, I'm not going to do anything that goes against the law. We can't tamper with evidence at a crime scene."

However, Taewoo was undeterred. He swiftly moved to the body and emptied a glass of water onto the floor, then began cleaning the bloodstains with a cloth. Hazel attempted to stop him, but he succeeded in his mission. Frustrated and distressed, Hazel pleaded, "Stop, Taewoo! What are you doing?"

Taewoo responded with determination, "I'm doing what I believe is right. Now, listen carefully. When the police arrive, tell them you came here alone and haven't touched anything. If they have any doubts, do your best to dispel them. Understand?"

He then rushed toward the door, left the building, and got into his car. Meanwhile, Chin received a call. When she answered, she found Taewoo on the other end, who simply said, "Chin, can you meet me near Elizabeth Tower? I'll wait for you there." With an air of sudden urgency, Chin accepted the request.

Chin donned her long coat and left her apartment. As she drove, she had a feeling she was being followed, but she paid it little attention. She arrived at the location where Taewoo had directed her to go. There, she found Taewoo sitting on a bench, waiting for her.

Chin greeted him, and Taewoo wasted no time, saying, "Tell me everything about you, the map, and how you're connected to it."

Chin, taken aback by the sudden request, countered with a question, "First, tell me what you know about Devil."

Taewoo answered, "I know everything about him, except where he is right now."

Chin locked eyes with him and proceeded to share her story, seemingly in one breath. She then asked, "Why are you looking for Devil?"

Taewoo revealed, "He killed my parents. On the day the map was stolen, my parents were also killed. He murdered my parents and the other architects that day. I was searching for Devil because I thought the map was with him, but now I realize that I should focus on finding the map, as Devil also needs it."

Chin, with a horrified look in her eyes, inquired, "So your parents were killed by Devil?"

Taewoo confirmed, "Yes, I'm sure of it."

Chin's expression became somber, and she revealed, "I'm also searching for him because he killed my mom."

Taewoo, equally surprised, asked, "But I studied your history; your mom committed suicide."

Chin corrected him, "No, it was made to look like she committed suicide, but she was brutally murdered."

Taewoo suggested, "Then your mother might also be related to the map, isn't she?"

Chin affirmed, "Yes, because my mom is the real owner of the map."

Taewoo gave a knowing smile and chuckled softly. "There is no real owner of the map other than the Korean government," he explained. Chin didn't attempt to correct him, and they let the matter pass with a shared understanding.

Taewoo then relayed the news of Alex's death to Chin, who reacted with surprise, "What?!"

Taewoo recounted the details of the crime scene, and Chin was left processing the grim situation. She wondered aloud, "Why don't you think that I'm the killer? Why did you remove the evidence?"

Taewoo approached her, looking into her eyes with sincerity. "Because I believe that your enemy is more clever than you but he cannot become better than me in this game. Back then, I knew that you didn't kill Mr. Kate but I investigated you on purpose, asked about your mother, even though I already knew that Devil killed her just because I wanted to confirm something. Now everything is clear. Hope to see you again."

Chin looked at him with a kind of terror in her eyes, "No, you are unaware of a fact, and I'm not gonna tell you about it because I know that after that you are going to exit the game."

Taewoo passed a smile, "I will find that out soon. Are you heading back home?" at which Chin nodded, and then Taewoo said, "Let me drop you home, there are many hunters out there waiting for you."

His words were cold as usual, but it melted the heart of Chin; she felt as someone cared about her after her mother.

Back at Mr. Mark's office, he was engrossed in his work when Miss Lewis entered. She informed him that a girl was waiting to see him. Mark, seemingly uninterested, sipped his black coffee before finally acknowledging her presence. He got up and headed toward the visitor area,when he was passing by Miss Lewis he addressed her :" I thought only Chin was surrounded by traitors but I was wrong", then near visitor area he bumped into a girl. He stared at her, a hint of recognition in his eyes.

The girl greeted him warmly, "Long time no see, Mark." Mark, unimpressed, pushed her away, retorting, "Get out of my way. You reek of blood. Are you drinking blood instead of alcohol now?"

The girl remained undeterred, stating, "Don't act like you're innocent. You, too, have blood on your hands. Don't you remember, Mark?" Mark, refusing to engage further, continued on his way, leaving the girl behind.

Back at the forested house, the man sat in a room adorned with red-painted paintings. A girl entered the room, holding an envelope. She smiled at the man and declared, "I received the picture of the person I have to kill next."

The man smiled in response, saying, "You met the person today whom I truly hate."

The girl hinted at her own hatred, "You hate him because he killed Miss Red. I hate him because he likes the person I hate the most. Our reasons are quite different, man."