Chapter 24: Rage

Chin returned from her meeting at Mrs. Jack's office, the weight of her recent revelations weighing heavily on her mind. As she approached her apartment door, an unexpected presence sent shivers down her spine.

A momentary panic set in, suspecting that this might be another one of Devil's sinister agents sent to eliminate her. Her hand instinctively reached for the concealed gun in her bag. But as the figure turned toward her, she was met with a familiar face – Taewoo.

Her relief was palpable as she sighed, "Oh, you almost terrified me. I was about to call the police." Taewoo, with his usual calm demeanor, replied, "No need. Just try to learn your instincts, Chin. You can tell from footsteps and a person's aura who is a friend and who is an enemy."

Chin wore a rueful expression, her past filled with paranoia and mistrust. She admitted, "Actually, I haven't met a friend for a long time, so all this time, I've heard the footsteps of enemies, and every footstep toward me feels like someone is coming to spill my blood on the floor."

Taewoo acknowledged her history but urged, "We can discuss this topic another time. I'm here for something important. Can we talk about that?"

Chin nodded, and they entered her apartment. Taewoo began explaining his findings about Devil, using Chin's window as his makeshift whiteboard. She listened intently but interjected, "But what about the map? Aren't we supposed to find that first?"

Taewoo, a master of strategy, enlightened her. "The map is Devil's bait. We were trying to hunt both the map and Devil simultaneously. But I've come up with a new plan. Let Hazel and the NIS team find the map, while we focus on tracking Devil."

Chin questioned the logic behind this approach. "But isn't the map our best chance to lure Devil out? If we have it, we can bait him."

Taewoo responded, "Cheese is not the only bait for a mouse. There are many other things we can use."

Perplexed, Chin asked, "What do you mean?"

Taewoo, with confidence, explained, "The map is not Devil's only bait. He's been killing people who know about the map or are related to it. When they can't provide the information he wants, he eliminates them. For example, Mr. William Sung was killed because he claimed to know where the map was. So, Devil approached him, and when he couldn't get the information, he killed him."

Chin, recalling the death of Alex, inquired, "Then why did they kill Alex?"

Taewoo clarified, "Alex had become useless to Devil, and he knew something about Devil that he didn't want others to know."

Chin proposed a risky plan. "Why don't we contact him and tell him we have the map? He'll send someone or come himself."

Taewoo, however, warned her about Devil's cunning. "He's not going to fall for that. He's likely aware that you don't have the map. He's got people tailing you wherever you go."

Chin was determined. "Then let's catch those tailing me and make them tell us where Devil is."

Taewoo's response was a revelation. "The reason Devil hasn't been caught isn't that he's exceptionally smart. It's because he has loyal followers who would choose death over disloyalty. There's no sense in catching them to find Devil."

Chin, not satisfied, tried to understand Taewoo's perspective. "So you're not seeking revenge? Are you willing to let Devil go free?"

Taewoo's answer was enlightening. "No, I don't want to kill him. I want him behind bars. I don't believe in personal rage because it's still considered murder."

Chin made her argument. "But what if the police can't deliver justice? What if he escapes?"

Taewoo countered, "In that case, you should let the legal system do its work and know that you've done your best for your loved ones. Revenge is consuming. Bury your rage and revenge with the person who's gone."

Chin wondered if Taewoo had managed to bury his own anger. "Have you buried your revenge with your parents?"

Taewoo's response revealed his transformation. "I came here for revenge initially, but it was blinding me. So, a few days ago, I went to my parents' graves in Korea and buried my rage and revenge there."

Chin, struggling to comprehend, asked, "Then why are you looking for Devil? Why not find the map and return to Korea?"

Taewoo made his intentions clear. "I'm looking for Devil to save someone, not for revenge."

Chin probed further, "But I'm looking for Devil because I want to end something. Let's see who reaches him first."

Taewoo sought clarity. "I thought we were working together."

Chin explained, "We'll work together to find him, but we have different motives for confronting him."

Taewoo smirked, acknowledging her stance.

Later, Taewoo departed, when Chin got a call from Mark, who summoned her to his office.

In the dimly lit office, Mark donned a black suit. A vase of black flowers adorned his desk. He regarded Chin in a solemn tone, "Come in, Miss Chin. You're a special guest at today's ceremony."

Chin, puzzled, inquired, "Ceremony? What's this about?"

Mark, with a hint of coldness in his voice, replied, "It's been half a year since my father passed away. I was alone in commemorating it until I thought of you. You were close to my father, so you deserve to be part of this."

Chin nodded and took a seat on the sofa in his office. Mark, in a formal black suit, sat across from her, studying her closely.

"What do you think, Chin? Why did the Devil kill my father?" he asked.

Chin hesitated, not anticipating such a question, "I don't know. Maybe he was connected to the map."

Mark continued, "So, the Devil is eliminating everyone related to the map?"

Chin pondered, "Maybe. It seems that way."

Mark chuckled loudly, "Oh, this is interesting, Miss Chin. Then it appears we're the only two left who are related to the map and still alive. Why do you think he hasn't killed us yet?"

Chin responded, "Maybe because he thinks we can find the map faster than he can. That's why he's keeping us alive."

Mark interjected, "Wrong answer, Chin. You seem unprepared for today's ceremony. Let's set some consequences for wrong answers. If you give two more wrong answers, I'll kill Taewoo."

Frustrated, she retorted, "If this is a joke, Mark, it's in extremely bad taste. I'm not in the mood for games."

Mark grabbed a remote from his desk and turned on a live video feed. In the video, Taewoo was entering the police station. A professional sniper was shown behind the camera.

Mark pointed to the screen, taunting, "It seems you care about this detective a lot. If you want to save him, answer my questions correctly, and I'll let him go."

Chin implored, "What do you want from me? If you want to play fairly, don't involve him."

Mark continued, "A woman in love becomes blind. You don't trust someone who'd sacrifice his life for you, but you trust a person who deserts you when you need him. The Devil has caused him the greatest loss among us, yet he's not playing dirty like the rest of us."

Chin retorted, "You're not playing fair either."

Mark reminded her, "I'm here to question you, not the other way around. Just answer my question, or this detective's life will end today."

Chin reluctantly asked, "What do you want to ask?"

Mark, comfortably reclining, questioned her, "Why did you kill my dad?"

Chin's face drained of color, her breath hitched, and her heart rate surged, "What? What do you mean I killed him?"

Mark gave her one last chance, "This is your final chance to answer correctly, or the sniper will end Taewoo."

Chin stammered, "Because... he killed my mom."

Mark pressed further, "Okay, you've passed that question. Now, where is the map?"

Chin admitted, "You know I don't know where the map is."

Mark delivered his final verdict, "Wrong answer." As he said this, a gunshot echoed from the video displayed on the screen, leaving Chin in shock.