Chapter 104
Chapter 104
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 104
Chapter Title: Fateful Audition and Mountain Gore
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Han Hyo-jeong's case wrapped up faster than expected.
The article's impact was massive.
Especially since it involved celebrities in the entertainment industry, public interest was sky-high.
Thanks to that, the police moved with unusual speed and efficiency to handle everything.
Lee Jae-hyun was able to relay real-time updates to Han Hyo-jeong from inside the department, keeping her informed on how things were progressing.
Of course, that only lasted two days.
In just two days, they had completely crumbled.
After that, internet news and broadcasts were more accurate anyway.
"It's scary how fast it all fell apart... but also impressive."
Han Hyo-jeong said as she quickened her pace.
Lee Jae-hyun walked alongside her, making their first lap around Lake Park.
Police shifts made daily visits impossible.
But whenever he could, he walked one lap or jogged two before heading to work.
His time was limited anyway, so he usually jogged two laps.
Today, though, Han Hyo-jeong seemed content with a leisurely single lap, chatting away at a steady pace.
"It's because it wasn't a tower they built themselves. No solid foundation. That's why it collapses so easily."
Towers built by stealing from others always come tumbling down.
Lee Jae-hyun saw the downfall of such greedy people every day, so he knew it all too well.
Han Hyo-jeong nodded slightly at his words.
"But I feel like I'm only focusing on the foundation. It won't collapse... but it won't reach any heights either."
"Ha ha."
Lee Jae-hyun burst out laughing at her words.
She blinked up at him, puzzled by his laughter.
He shrugged and spoke.
"No one thinks you won't make it, Hyo-jeong."
"Come on. Who wouldn't think I'd fail?"
"What do you mean? People who think you'll succeed?"
"Everyone else thinks we'll all crash and burn. You're the only one who believes I'll succeed."
Lee Jae-hyun let out a soft chuckle at her response.
Just then, a man came running up behind them as they walked side by side.
"Hyo-jeong!"
At the sound of someone calling her name, she and Lee Jae-hyun turned around to see Jeong Han-gyeol huffing and puffing as he caught up.
He quickly fell into step beside Han Hyo-jeong and opened his mouth.
"Hyo-jeong! I found an amazing script. Let's at least audition for it."
"Auditions sound good, but you didn't pick up something weird again, did you?"
Han Hyo-jeong asked in a suspicious tone.
This had happened several times in the past few days already.
Manager Jeong Han-gyeol had been persuading her relentlessly, insisting he'd always watch her act, no matter what.
Even now, he kept bringing scripts for projects he liked and pushing them on her.
Some were truly bizarre, others seemed decent.
It was about fifty-fifty.
At least, that's how it looked to Lee Jae-hyun.
In this industry, fifty-fifty odds were exceptionally high.
Nine out of ten flopped, and one hit big.
"So, what audition is it today?"
"It's a historical drama. It's killer. Called 'The King Who Wears the King's Mask'..."
"Huh...?"
Lee Jae-hyun froze at Jeong Han-gyeol's words and turned to look at him.
'The King Who Wears the King's Mask' was a movie Han Hyo-jeong had starred in.
Her first film to break ten million viewers, and it remained her signature role even years later.
He hadn't expected to hear about it like this.
But since it had come to her, fate was clearly at work.
"The title's 'The King Who Wears the King's Mask'? What even is that...?"
Han Hyo-jeong sounded baffled by the title alone, but Lee Jae-hyun turned to her and spoke.
"Hyo-jeong."
"Yes...?"
"How about giving it a shot? Audition for it."
His expression was firm as he said it.
Lee Jae-hyun usually let her choose her own projects.
But as a fan of actress Han Hyo-jeong, he couldn't let this one pass.
'The King Who Wears the King's Mask' was her film.
He couldn't imagine anyone else playing the King Who Wears the King's Mask.
"Jae-hyun?"
It was the first time he'd recommended a project, so Han Hyo-jeong looked surprised for a moment before nodding.
"Sure. Sounds good. I'll do it."
She replied in a bright voice.
Lee Jae-hyun smiled at her.
Her passion for acting was genuine, and it seemed the role was returning to its rightful owner.
And so, her life continued onward.
* * *
"Oppa, my legs hurt."
A whiny voice echoed through the mountain path.
An older woman in hiking gear coquettishly complained to the man ahead of her.
The heavily made-up woman spoke in a tone far too youthful for her age, and the man smiled at her.
"Yeah? Where? Here?"
He dropped to one knee in front of her and lifted her leg onto his thigh.
He began massaging it.
From calf to thigh.
It was a sight that would make any onlooker cringe.
But the two didn't care.
The mountain they chose was a rugged area few people visited.
Especially this spot—an even more desolate path off the beaten track.
There wasn't even a proper trail.
Perfect for a private lovers' rendezvous.
"Oppa, you said the top is just up ahead, right?"
"Yeah. Tired already?"
"No, I just wanna get up there quick, snap some pics, and head back... you know."
"Heh heh. Got it. Let's hurry up, take the photos, and go."
The man chuckled and climbed with her.
They clung tightly to each other, supporting one another as they moved.
Giggle.
Ha ha ha.
Their laughter rang out across the mountain.
Even ascending the towering peak, they strode forward without tiring.
Finally, they reached the summit.
With a panoramic view of nature, the man and woman pressed close and snapped photos.
Click click.
As the shutter sounds softly echoed in the mountains.
"Huh...? O-oppa, look! Over there!"
"What? What is it? Whoa!"
The woman spotted something and urgently called the man.
His body tensed as he whipped his head around at her frantic voice.
Not far off, huddled between trees, was a dark figure.
Its sharp gaze glared at them, making them stumble back.
"W-what the hell! Who are you?!"
The man mustered his courage and shouted boldly.
But the figure they stared at said nothing.
Scraaaape.
Something dragged across the ground as it stepped forward.
The man could see it now.
A person in a black mask and black cap.
And in their gloved hand, a silver baseball bat.
"Who the hell are you?! Come any closer and I'll call the cops!"
The man yelled, pulling out his smartphone.
At the same moment.
Crack!
"Arghhh!"
The fingers holding the phone snapped.
The assailant had swung the bat.
"O-oppa!"
The woman screamed.
The assailant swung the bat at her with an expressionless face.
Thud, crunch!
Bones shattered and flesh tore.
Without stopping, the assailant brought it down on the man's head.
Crunch.
The bat swung again and again.
Until their heads were pulverized.
Crunch, smack!
Breathing heavily, the assailant finally stopped after beating their faces beyond recognition.
The assailant let out a giggle, then shouldered the bat and stowed it in their backpack.
Grabbing one leg from each cooling corpse, they dragged them down the mountain.
Blood trails stretched long from the corpses' heads.
Vrrr, vrrr!
As the assailant descended from the summit.
The man's abandoned smartphone buzzed loudly on the ground.
[Darling Wife.]
The cracked screen flickered.
Below the name, a photo of a woman holding a young child.
The phone blinked on and off repeatedly for a long while.
* * *
Clink!
Glasses clashed, ringing out noisily.
Lee Jae-hyun tilted his beer mug and chugged the contents.
It was a beer mug, but filled with soju.
As today's star, he started by filling it to the brim with soju.
"Whoa, down the hatch, our maknae!"
Kim Jun-ho clapped briefly and cheered.
Lee Jae-hyun slammed the mug down with a thud and laughed.
"Thanks, everyone."
"You're buying, so we're the ones who should thank you."
Min Ji-hye flipped the meat in front of her as she spoke.
It was team dinner night.
Lee Jae-hyun's treat.
A gathering to celebrate his promotion.
The whole team was there.
From Team Leader Oh Cheol-jin, to Inspector Kim Seok-hyun, Inspector Park Dae-hyung, Sergeant Min Ji-hye, and Sergeant Kim Jun-ho.
And surprisingly, one unexpected guest.
"Seriously, why are you here?"
Park Dae-hyung asked Team Leader Oh Min-seok, sitting beside him.
Oh Min-seok shrugged and picked up a piece of meat with his chopsticks.
"More the merrier. It's a celebration."
"Exactly."
Lee Jae-hyun nodded in agreement with Oh Min-seok.
Sure, too big a crowd would strain the budget.
But one extra like Team Leader Oh Min-seok wouldn't make much difference.
They'd crossed paths multiple times since the Myeong Jin-han case, collaborating often.
His promotion owed much to cases solved alongside Oh Min-seok.
The child kidnapping incident, where Lee Jae-hyun took the lead—his merits there earned him the fast-track.
Having Oh Min-seok there felt natural to Lee Jae-hyun.
Park Dae-hyung and Oh Min-seok chatted as they ate.
Min Ji-hye was already devouring the meat aggressively.
Kim Jun-ho wrapped a ssam with gusto, determined to enjoy every bite.
Just as he stuffed a huge one into his mouth.
Vrrr.
Oh Min-seok's phone rang.
"Yeah, yeah? Got it."
"Something up?"
He ended the call, set down his chopsticks, and clicked his tongue.
Park Dae-hyung read the trouble in Oh Min-seok's face, hardening his own as he asked.
"Body found on Gobong Mountain."
At his words, everyone shot to their feet.