The Scion of East

Uzumaki household, City S, Country O

Jihoo rang the doorbell, and after a moment, it was answered by a tall, graceful woman with striking black hair. "Good morning, Dr. Kanaya," Jihoo greeted her, a rare, relaxed smile on his face.

Kanaya returned his smile warmly. "Morning, Jihoo. Nice to see you and Ji A. Warm welcome." Her gaze shifted to Ji A, who stood a little behind Jihoo, taking in the elegant facade of the house.

Jihoo and Ji A stepped into the inviting warmth of the Uzumaki Home. Ji A looked around, a silent question in her eyes, clearly surprised by the unexpected destination.

Jihoo, noticing her quiet bewilderment, turned to Dr. Kanaya. "Dr. Kanaya, as I mentioned, would it still be possible for Ji A to stay here during her time in City S?"

Kanaya nodded reassuringly. "Of course, Jihoo. We've already made all the preparations for her stay here. Her room is ready."

Jihoo let out a visible breath of relief. "Thank you. Thank you so much." He glanced at his watch, his professional demeanor returning. "Alright, I'm running late. I'll see you both later. Ji A, please make yourself comfortable."

Ji A, still processing the revelation that she would be staying in her cousin's therapist's home, managed a nod. "Be careful," she said, her voice a little subdued. Jihoo nodded back, offered a quick wave, and then hurried out the door, leaving Ji A to her newfound, surprising accommodations.

Western City S Police Department Headquarters

Jiho reaches the HQ and waits in the line. Soon , he gets his turn. The receptionist officer asks , "What's your complaint , sir?"

Jiho says , "I am here to join this department." The officer asks , "Your name , sir?"

Jiho replies , "Jihoo Taeyang . I come from Town I division."

Realizing this is the new detective joining their department, the officer gets up and salutes .  Still bowing down she says , "Extremely sorry , sir. We were expecting you by evening , so couldn't make much preparations."

Jiho nods his head and  says , "Eh, no need to apologize . Anyway , can you tell me where my cabin is?"

The officer says , "Let me take you there , sir." The officer takes Jihoo to his cabin where another woman officer is working.

The woman, tall and poised with striking black hair, turned to face him, extending a confident hand. "Hello," she began, her voice crisp, "I'm Snow Shiroi, your partner and deputy here. Nice to meet you."

Jihoo met her gaze, his grip firm as he shook her hand. "I'm Jihoo Taeyang. Looking forward to working with you."

Snow gave a slight nod, brushing a strand of hair from her eyes. "I had emailed you with the case details. Did you get a chance to go through it?"

Jihoo nodded grimly. "I did. This case is even more complex than I anticipated. Let's discuss it in the cafeteria, over some hot coffee."

"Okay," Snow agreed, and they headed for the cafeteria. Jihoo ordered two cups of coffee, the aroma a welcome distraction. As he took his first sip, he turned to her. "Can you brief me on your opinion of the case so far?"

Snow's brow furrowed. "I believe this is the work of a crazed serial killer. However, I haven't found any clear modus operandi."

Jihoo took another slow sip, his gaze intense. "Ms. Snow, you might be partially correct. This isn't just a crazed killer; this is a planner. They know exactly what they're doing. There's also the possibility they're an assassin."

Snow's eyes widened slightly. "How can we possibly determine that?"

Jihoo leaned back, a thoughtful silence settling between them. "Let me think on it. But first, I need to re-examine all the forensic results." He finished his coffee, already formulating his next steps.

"The choice of victims doesn't make sense for a crazed serial killer," Jihoo declared.

Snow shook her head in confusion. " I am sorry what?"

Jihoo smiled and said, " Serial killers generally choose a victim much weaker than them, physically and mentally. They operate more like animals, preying on a particular gender or an age group. These victims were an upcoming MMA fighter, a famous body builder and a ex special forces operative. So, this ain't a serial killer's work. There might be a link between these three and I am just trying to figure out what that is. "

Snow nods slowly, a new understanding dawing in her eyes, "I see"

"Lets get back to the precinct, we will discuss it there," Jihoo offers, to which Snow agrees.

Jihoo stood before a large whiteboard in the precinct's war room, Snow at his side. Forensic reports, victim photos, and crime scene diagrams were meticulously laid out across a table. "Let's review the forensic findings again," Jihoo stated, picking up a file. "What did the medical examiner note about the cause of death for each victim?"

Snow quickly consulted her notes. "All three died from a single, precise blow to the neck, severing the carotid artery and jugular vein. No signs of struggle. No defensive wounds."

Jihoo's eyes narrowed. "Exactly. This isn't a frenzied attack. This is precise, calculated. Someone with expert knowledge of human anatomy and combat techniques. A quick, silent kill." He tapped a photo of the MMA fighter. "An MMA fighter would instinctively fight back, even if ambushed. The bodybuilder, too. And the ex-special forces operative? They'd have heightened situational awareness."

"So, the attacker must have been incredibly skilled," Snow mused, tapping her chin.

"Or had an overwhelming advantage," Jihoo added, walking to the whiteboard. He began jotting down bullet points:

Victims: Peak physical condition.

Cause of Death: Single, precise strike to neck.

No signs of struggle/defensive wounds.

Attacker: Expert combatant or significant advantage.

"What about CCTV footage near the crime scenes?" Jihoo asked, turning to Snow. "Anything at all?"

Snow shook her head grimly. "Nothing conclusive. A few blurry figures, but no clear identification. It's like they vanished into thin air."

"And witnesses?"

"Minimal. The areas are fairly secluded. A few late-night hikers reported odd noises, but nothing specific that helps us."

Jihoo ran a hand through his hair. "Alright. We need to shift our focus from 'who' to 'why.' If it's not a serial killer, then these individuals were targeted. What connects them beyond their physical prowess?"

"Their professions?" Snow offered. "All three were involved in physical, combative fields."

"Perhaps," Jihoo agreed. "But that's too broad. We need to dig deeper. Check their financial records, their social circles, any past conflicts or rivals. Any recent high-stakes competitions or deals they were involved in. Someone wanted them dead, and they wanted it done cleanly." He paused, his gaze sweeping over the evidence. "This killer isn't just strong; they're intelligent, patient, and highly disciplined. If I had to describe them, they are like a cobra, waiting silently for its prey."

Snow added, her voice a little hesitant, "There's also something else in the reports. Something subtle but consistent. All victims had minor bruises – almost negligible – not typical of a struggle. And their expressions were frozen in a state of shock, as if they'd seen something truly terrifying just before they died."

Jihoo's head snapped up, his eyes locking onto Snow's. This new detail changed everything. "Minor bruises and an expression of terror?" he murmured, walking back to the whiteboard. He added two more crucial points:

Minor, unexplained bruises.

Expressions of profound shock/terror.

"That complicates things," Jihoo said, his mind already spinning through new possibilities. "It suggests they weren't just ambushed. It suggests something... else. Something that broke their composure, something they reacted to, however subtly, before the final blow. What could scare an ex-special forces operative to their core?"

Jihoo stared at the two new bullet points, a cold dread beginning to coil in his gut. Minor bruises, expressions of terror. It was a combination that whispered of things beyond simple human capability, a chill that resonated with the forgotten parts of his own heritage. To induce such terror in hardened individuals, just before a swift, clean kill, spoke of something... profoundly unsettling. The lack of struggle, the "vanishing into thin air" of the attacker – it all felt like pieces of a puzzle he recognized, yet couldn't yet name in this setting.

"Snow," Jihoo said, his voice lower, more contemplative. "You mentioned reports from the Green Mountains. About a seven-foot-tall figure." He turned to her, his gaze intense. "I want to speak to those who made those reports. The hikers, the park rangers, anyone who saw anything out of the ordinary. Get me their names, their contact information. Every single detail."

Snow nodded, immediately pulling up a digital map of the Green Mountains and tapping on a cluster of red markers. "The sightings are concentrated in the deeper, less-traveled sections, particularly around the Northern Peaks," she explained. "The first report was about two months ago, roughly a week before the first murder. Most dismiss it as misidentification or fear playing tricks on their minds, but the sheer consistency of the 'seven-foot-tall' description is unusual."

"Consistency is key," Jihoo murmured, his eyes fixed on the map. He pointed to the areas of the sightings. "Are any of these locations near where the victims were found? Or along paths they might have taken?"

Snow quickly cross-referenced the data. "Two of the victim's bodies were discovered within a five-kilometer radius of the most frequent reported sightings. The third was slightly further, but still within the broader Northern Peaks area."

"And the specific times of the sightings?" Jihoo pressed. "Were they always at dusk or dawn, as you mentioned?"

"Predominantly, yes," Snow confirmed. "One report described it as a fleeting shadow, moving with impossible speed, just as the sun dipped below the horizon."

"We need to investigate this, I need the witness reports of all the hikers or park rangers who reported these sightings by today evening," Jihoo said.

"I will catch up with one of my friends here."

Snow nodded her head, although she was quite confused why Jihoo left,

After a grueling week of initial investigation, the Green Mountains still held their secrets, shrouded in a chilling silence. Jihoo felt the familiar weight of the unsolved pressing on him, but he knew he needed a moment of respite. He decided it was time to visit Minsu, his childhood friend, whose café was supposed to be a haven of familiar comfort.

He found "The Daily Grind" nestled on a quiet side street, its quaint facade a welcoming sight. As he pushed open the door, the aroma of roasting beans enveloped him. He scanned the bustling space, expecting to see Minsu's usual bright, easygoing grin, perhaps cracking a joke with a customer. Instead, behind the counter, operating the espresso machine with a practiced, almost mechanical precision, was Minsu.

"Hey Minsu," , Jihoo said, although his voice didn't seem to reach him.

Jihoo studied his friend,. He was providing customers with snacks, coffee, tea .... whatever they asked but there was a darkness in his friend, something that was slowly consuming him.

His friend's movements were slower, his shoulders a little slumped. The usual sparkle in his eyes was muted, replaced by a distant, weary look. The easy laughter, the quick wit Jihoo had always associated with him, seemed entirely absent. He looked... depressed, almost broken. The sight sent a sharp pang through Jihoo's chest.

Minsu finally looked up, his gaze sweeping over the few customers before landing on Jihoo. A flicker of recognition, then a faint, almost strained smile touched his lips. "Jihoo? Well, I'll be. Long time no see. What brings you to City S, besides my world-famous coffee?" His voice was flat, lacking its usual vibrancy.

"Work," Jihoo replied simply, stepping up to the counter. "And a desperate need for that 'world-famous' coffee. You good, Minsu? You seem... quiet." He deliberately kept his tone light, observant, already planning how to gently probe the reason for his friend's obvious distress. He wouldn't push, not yet. He would watch, listen, and slowly unravel the mystery of Minsu's changed demeanor.

"do you still add more milk to your coffee or you like darker ones now, " Minsu teased, although his voice sounded more broken than jovial.

Jihoo smiled, knowing for a fact that he wouldn't be uncovering any of friend's secret soon.

"Espresso, give me espresso. Use palm sugar or honey instead of normal white sugar."

Jihoo ordered his coffee, his mind already drifting, caught between the chilling enigma of the Green Mountains murders and the profound sadness emanating from his best friend. How do I even begin to approach Minsu? And this case... it's like chasing smoke. The weight of it all settled heavily upon him.

Just as Minsu turned to prepare Jihoo's order, a rich, resonant voice cut through the café's background murmur, surprising Jihoo. "Ah, the famously complex Detective Jihoo," the voice boomed, imbued with an ancient warmth, "lost in thought even amidst the divine aroma of coffee. Still pondering the existential dread of a missing sock, or perhaps something more… murderous?"

Jihoo's head snapped up. Standing near a sun-drenched table was a tall, well-built man in his middle years. His skin was a warm, earthy tone, hinting at Indian heritage, and a neatly trimmed black beard framed a strong jaw. But it was his eyes that held Jihoo's gaze—not merely golden, but shimmering with an inner light that was unmistakably, unequivocally divine. It was the light of his own essence, amplified. His Father, Surya, the Sun God, stood before him, not in the guise of an old man, but in a form of vibrant, powerful maturity.

A ripple of surprise, and a touch of something akin to exasperation, passed through Jihoo.'Father? Here? And cracking jokes about my inner turmoil?' Surya offered a subtle, knowing smirk in Jihoo's direction, a silent acknowledgment of their shared connection and his son's bewildered expression, before turning his golden gaze back to the window, as if merely enjoying the morning light.

"Father...." , Jihoo said .

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