24H | SEVENTEEN

९१

Rumi followed into his steps as he guide her through the station. The building smelled of old paper, stale coffee, and a faint, metallic trace of cleaning solution, the universal scent of municipal authority. Soon an officer in crisp uniform greeted them. "Chief Gim, it's been long." He greeted all smiles shaking hand with Chief Gim. To Rumi's surprise Chief was wearing a smile—a real one, the kind that crinkled the corners of his eyes and softened the usually stern line of his jaw. It was a sight as rare and unsettling as a ghost in daylight.

"Not long enough, Inspector Lee," Chief Gim replied, his voice warmer than Rumi had heard it in years. He indicated Rumi with a slight, proprietary wave of his hand. "Inspector Lee, this is Agent Rumi." Rumi stepped greeting Inspector Lee with a respected bow. "Hello. Agent Rumi, I've heard things about you." He held his hand out in greeting. Rumi glancing at her chief while shaking his head. "Don't worry all good things." He laughed, his tone carried an easy charm. Not getting the reaction he had hoped for Inspector Lee turned towards Chief. "Chief Gim, are you agent as uptight as you?" Unconsciously a snort left from Rumi's mouth at that comment. She quickly cleared her throat trying to cover up. "I don't think so." He chuckled a genuine, friendly sound that put Rumi immediately at ease despite the gravity of their meeting.

"Agent Rumi here, was part of the team that worked on the Moon Club case." Chief Gim interjected, pulling the mood back to business, "Great work." Inspector Lee complimented. "Indeed it was but we all know there's more to it and you've been working on it since then." Chief said glancing at Rumi. Inspector Lee furrowed his eyebrows, "Where you getting at? Do you have something on it?" He asked curious. Chief turned towards Rumi who pulled out the silver pin she had found on one of the Kim Yohan's man.

"I am currently working with an entertainment company, while investigating regarding the leaking of information I came across a guy named Kim Yohan. Confronting him I found this on one of his guys." Rumi said placing the silver pin in Inspector Lee's palm. "This is the one..."

"Your guess is correct Inspector Lee. This pin was worn by the host and auctioneer." Rumi continued. "This is the software he is running to gather and use the information for his dirty deeds." She pulled up her phone to show shots of website they had been spying on for days. "He strictly target the entertainers using their information and selling them to anyone who's willing to pay. And if we pay attention to the victim of Moon club, all of them were idols or trainees." 

Inspector Lee's expression darkened as he scrolled through the images on her phone — screenshots of encrypted forums, coded listings, and hidden data trails that all led to one man. "Selling private data of entertainers," he muttered, jaw tightening. "Schedules, dorm addresses, private messages... this is worse than we thought."

Rumi nodded, her tone levelled but edged with restrained anger. "He's not just leaking. He's weaponizing their lives; selling fear, feeding obsession." Inspector Lee looked up at her, "You believe this Kim Yohan guy is behind everything."

"I don't just believe," Rumi replied. "I know. He left a trace, intentionally. Like he wants me to follow. He somehow believes this is a game and he's the controller."

Inspector Lee nodded to himself as if thinking hard. He let out a sigh before looking between to two agents. "So, what's the next move?" Chief Gim smiled hearing that. "We were hoping you would help us with that." Inspector Lee nodded and opened his mouth to speak when Rumi beat him to it.

"I would like to speak to Choi Jae-yeong."

Inspector glanced at Chief Gim and raised his eyebrow, "I like her. Straight to the point." Chief Gim shrugged his shoulders in answer, he couldn't agree more. Other than her reckless behaviour he saw great potential in Rumi. "Sure, this way." Inspector Lee guided the agents to meeting cell.