Haesin University Hospital
7:38 AM – Cardiothoracic Wing
The morning light filtered through the tall windows of the hospital's east wing, casting a soft glow over the polished floors. Dr. Seo Yoon walked down the corridor in her pale coat, clipboard in hand, nodding calmly at each nurse who greeted her with a bow.
> "Good morning, Doctor Seo."
"Doctor, the patient's vitals stabilized overnight."
"There's a thank-you card for you in Room 512."
She acknowledged them all with polite nods and gentle replies, her voice never rising above a calm murmur. It was the kind of presence that brought order without trying. Like gravity.
At the end of the hallway, a boy sat cross-legged in bed, clutching a teddy bear. His chest had been opened and stitched just two days ago. He smiled when she entered.
> "Doctor!" he beamed.
"How's my favorite patient this morning?" Seo Yoon asked, kneeling beside the bed.
She checked his chart, listened to his breathing, and adjusted his blanket with quiet care. The child's mother stood nearby, bowing deeply.
> "Thank you. We thought we'd lose him. But… you were so calm. Like you knew it would all be okay."
Seo Yoon gave a faint smile, her eyes unreadable.
> "He was strong," she replied. "That helped."
---
Gangneung Police Station
9:11 AM
Detective Hyun Woo stared at the photo board again. The faces of the three dead men glared back at him from glossy printouts. All of them had gone through the legal system untouched. All of them now silenced.
He knew better than to believe in coincidence.
> "You look like you haven't slept," Sergeant Bae muttered as he walked in with two coffees.
"Didn't," Hyun Woo replied, accepting one.
> "You think the press will catch wind of this?"
"They already have. But they don't know it's connected."
He sighed and flipped open his notebook. The victims had no clear links on paper. No same neighborhood, business, or even circle of friends. But their sins overlapped. Things that never made it into the court files.
The detective leaned back, tapping his pen on the desk.
> "Someone out there knows. Someone saw what the law didn't. And they've started... correcting it."
He didn't know yet that the person he was looking for was only a few blocks away — scrubbing in for her next surgery.
---
Haesin Hospital – Surgery Boardroom
11:20 AM
The hospital director, a thin man with greying temples, stood at the head of the conference table, smiling with pride.
> "Our department has received special mention in the National Cardiac Excellence Review. Particularly, Dr. Seo's post-op recovery numbers — highest in the region."
The applause around the table was immediate. A few of the junior surgeons clapped harder than others, eager for proximity.
Seo Yoon bowed politely but said nothing. Recognition meant little to her. She had other metrics for success.
Still, she allowed herself a glance at the sunlight hitting the table. For a moment, it felt… warm.
---
City Café – Late Afternoon
It wasn't his usual time, but Hyun Woo needed the caffeine. He'd just finished interviewing the family of Shin Kyung Ho, and the amount of denial he heard was exhausting.
> "My brother would never hurt anyone!"
"He ran a charity, Detective!"
"What's this about old allegations? That was just jealous women trying to ruin him!"
He scoffed under his breath as he stirred sugar into his cup.
The doorbell chimed.
She walked in again. The woman from before.
Same elegant coat. Same serene eyes.
She didn't see him at first. Ordered her tea, turned around — and then their eyes met again. Brief. Soft.
She gave him a small, polite nod. Like strangers acknowledging each other in a shared world.
> I've definitely seen her before, he thought.
But where?
She sat at the same table by the window.
Something about her made time feel slower.
---
Seo Yoon's Apartment – 9:05 PM
She returned home quietly. Her apartment was minimalist — muted grays, soft whites, a few books on a single shelf. There were no photos on the walls. No signs of a personal life. Only order.
She changed out of her coat and turned on the kettle.
As she waited, she picked up a medical journal from the table and flipped through a page on nerve damage and recovery time.
But her eyes didn't read it.
They focused elsewhere.
On something inside her.
A quiet calculation.
A balancing of scales.
---
Police Station – Records Room
Hyun Woo pushed open the old storage room, the scent of dust and paper heavy in the air. He was looking into old testimonies against Shin Kyung Ho — all dismissed.
Then he noticed a familiar name.
Nam Tae Jin — the first victim.
Both Nam and Shin had crossed paths once, five years ago. At a private investor dinner.
He scribbled the note quickly.
> "Two links. Just a thread. But that's enough."
---
Haesin Hospital – Rooftop
Seo Yoon stood beneath the stars, her hair tied back, her expression still. Down below, the city moved like clockwork — unaware, unbothered.
A nurse stepped out to take a call and paused when she saw her.
> "Dr. Seo?"
"Just clearing my head," Seo Yoon said quietly.
The nurse nodded and moved away.
Seo Yoon leaned on the railing, watching the lights shimmer across the Namdae River.
From here, the world looked peaceful.
Clean. Controlled.
Exactly how she preferred it.