The Female Detective Who Wants to Catch the Hypnotist
Any cop working at Nakwon Police Station gets a constant barrage of tip-off calls. They were reports of some guy groping women on the street. For about a year now, these sexual assault cases by an unidentified man had been piling up. But the perp's identity remained a complete mystery. In an era with CCTV cameras everywhere on the streets and everyone carrying smartphones that could record video, it was downright bizarre that they couldn't catch a street harasser.
Normally, you'd ID and nab the guy within a day of the incident, right? That was the biggest puzzle nagging at Kim Dahyeon, the recent transfer to Nakwon Station.
"Women publicly masturbating en masse at an amusement park, VIPs about to board a cruise ship getting beaten with nightsticks by the staff... What the hell is going on here? The world's gone completely mad."
"Detective Kim, what're you staring at so intently?"
"I'm investigating these bizarre phenomena happening all at once."
"Ah— you're talking about the X Incidents, huh."
"X?"
"We call 'em that since these inexplicable cases keep popping up, but we can't get a single lead on the perp. It's our anonymous label for 'em."
The grizzled head of the investigation squad handed a cup of coffee to the fiery rookie detective Kim Dahyeon. She'd idolized cool detectives catching crooks since she was a kid, and now that she'd finally made it, her enthusiasm was burning bright.
Mister X? An unsolvable case no one's cracked? Dahyeon thought. If I solve this, I'll shoot to fame. Interviews on the news, maybe even a special promotion. And above all, cracking a cold case is my dream come true.
"I'll catch X."
With her hair in a neat bun pinned under her police cap, Kim Dahyeon dropped her bombshell declaration. Shockingly, no one batted an eye. Even the squad leader right in front of her sipped his coffee leisurely, as if he hadn't heard a thing.
"Whew~ This coffee's hot."
"Captain, didn't you hear me? I said I'll catch X!"
"X? Eh, no need to bother."
"What do you mean, no need? How many women has X assaulted? Victims everywhere, and not even a suspect? That make any sense to you?"
"Eh, doesn't matter, does it?"
"Doesn't matter...?!"
The civil service mindset was all about coasting for a paycheck, sure. But for cops responsible for public safety to be this nonchalant? It felt like her childhood dreams were shattering, giving Dahyeon a headache.
But she couldn't give up. Lose her spine, get swept along by the current, and it was over.
I'll change this police force... If I catch X, it'll prove it!
Right on cue, her desk phone rang. Fittingly, it was a tip about Mister X. A frantic, aggrieved man was venting his victim's plight.
"He ran off? Pardon me, sir, but what were you doing while your girlfriend was being molested?"
X. Dahyeon was certain. The outrageous, outlandish MO—incapacitating nearby men through some weird method and targeting only women—was X's signature.
"I'll head there right—"
"Detective Kim, hand me the phone a sec."
"Captain."
The squad leader, who'd seemed utterly uninterested in X, took the call. Dahyeon thought maybe her seniors were finally getting motivated. But the old man dashed her hopes disappointingly.
"Captain?! How can you say that...? Her girlfriend got sexually assaulted!"
"Detective Kim, you ignore this stuff too and get back to work."
"This is work! Catching sexual assault perps is the job!!"
"Sigh~ Still so green."
"Green?! What the hell do you think women's crimes are, Captain!!"
Fury boiling over, Dahyeon yelled at her much higher-up. Cops from other desks started paying attention.
"Ah, ignore her. She's throwing a fit about catching X."
The old squad leader calmed his colleagues, and the mood turned weird.
"Jeez, wasting time on nonsense."
"Got nothing better to do? That's women cops for ya."
"Probably just goofing off."
"I hang up X tip lines the second they call."
"Me too~~"
What... what is this vibe? Like I'm the crazy one? All I want is to catch the perp!
The bizarre flow was so alien, Dahyeon felt a chill of dread. The squad leader patted her shoulder like he was humoring a brat and dispensed advice.
"Listen, Detective Kim. You'll soon be like us—no sweat over X. I guarantee it. Plenty else to do. Next time a tip comes, just blow it off."
"Urk...!"
She couldn't take any more. It felt like gaslighting. Scribbling the caller's address on a notepad in a huff, Dahyeon flatly rejected his counsel.
"No way! I'll catch X! Wonder what you'll say when I drag him in!"
"If you insist."
"I'm off to investigate! Won't come back till I nab X!"
"Won't stop you."
The squad leader didn't snap at the rookie's zeal. Like any old-timer watching a prodigal wander, he just gazed wistfully. His colleagues were much the same.
"How many is this? Detectives bolting out to catch X."
"Dunno~ Kinda nostalgic now."
"Just ignore X and you're good."
"Yeah, yeah. Don't sweat it."
"Eh, Dahyeon'll end up like us anyway."
The detectives joked it off without a ripple of interest and returned to their tasks. Only the old squad leader lingered by her empty desk, coffee in hand.
"Hope she doesn't come back a devout X worshiper."
"Ah! There! You the victim who called it in?"
Rushing solo to the scene without backup, Dahyeon met the pair. On an ordinary street—nothing secluded or special—a couple was arguing. The difference was stark: the man greeting the cop eagerly, the woman looking uncomfortable.
"Yes! That's us!"
"No, it's not a big deal. You're making it weird."
The girlfriend seemed annoyed at her boyfriend's overreaction. Dahyeon pulled out her notepad and asked for details.
"What did X—the perp—do?"
"That psycho—"
"Babe! You're the psycho. Let me talk. Stay quiet so the detective doesn't misunderstand."
The woman took over for her excited beau. Her expression was so calm and serene, she didn't look like an assault victim at all. The only thing bugging her was her boyfriend's freakout.
"No biggie, Detective. He just groped my tits a bit and kissed me."
"That's not a big deal to you?! Are you insane?! Some stranger kneads your boobs, and you're chill?!"
"Sigh~ Not worth getting mad over. Plus, my face wasn't his type, so he politely backed off without touching down there. Not even really assault."
"Ha! Haha!"
The guy clutched his forehead in disbelief, laughing hollowly. He pointed at his girlfriend and tattled to the detective.
"See? She's nuts. Probably lost her mind from the assault."
"No... She's normal."
"Pardon? Normal?! Detective, are you nuts too?"
"It's X's handiwork."
Part of why X's identity was elusive was the police's shocking noncooperation—but mostly, victims refused to help ID him.
All victims insisted they had no intention of pressing charges. No wonder investigations stalled!
"Babe, I wasn't assaulted. You're the one embarrassing me, calling the cops over nothing. They're busy, you know."
This woman's zero outrage after a boob grope matched past victims perfectly. Bingo—X had struck.
"By any chance... know where the guy fled?"
"Yeah, I chased him. He's holed up in a house, not coming out. Looks like his place. Go nab him."
Jackpot. The tipster had tailed X and pinned the address.
"Thank you! I'll bring him in personally—trust the police!"
"Sigh, please do."
Dahyeon rang the bell at the house the tipster indicated. In her notepad: "Finally found X's house. Likely suspect's mother answers the door. Stunningly beautiful woman. Now storming in to interrogate and arrest X."
And so, the passionate rookie detective Kim Dahyeon stepped into Kim Hoyoung's home.