Jimin flipped through the file Hoseok handed him. His eyes scanned the documents and photographs until they landed on a particular page. A photograph of a hidden compartment in the museum wall revealed something Jimin hadn’t expected: a ledger.

“What’s this?” Jimin asked, his voice low.

Hoseok glanced around before leaning in. “We found it near the spot where Yoongi was held. It contains detailed records of transactions—names, dates, and amounts. But that’s not all.”

Hoseok pulled out another photograph, this one showing a name scrawled hastily in the corner of the ledger.

“Kang SeoHa.”

Jimin froze. His mind raced. Kang SeoHa—wasn’t she a professor at the university? A respected member of the arts community? What could her connection be to Namjoon, Jungkook, or the Kim case?

Hoseok continued, his tone cautious. “The ledger lists her as a recipient of several payments. Large sums, Jimin. And here’s the twist: it matches some of the deposits we traced to Lady Kim’s missing accounts.”

Jimin’s brows furrowed. “Are you saying Kang SeoHa might be involved in laundering money from the Kim family?”

“It’s possible,” Hoseok said. “But it doesn’t stop there. The last entry in the ledger mentions an upcoming meeting—a rendezvous set for tomorrow night at a warehouse by the docks.”

Jimin gripped the edge of the file. “Namjoon and Jungkook aren’t the only ones in this game. Kang SeoHa might be playing a bigger role than we thought. We need to act fast before she vanishes.”

Jimin sat in his office, the weight of the discovery pressing heavily on him. Kang SeoHa’s name stirred memories of their fleeting interactions at art exhibits. She’d always been poised, intelligent—a woman who commanded respect. Could someone like her truly be entangled in a web of crime?

Jimin’s phone buzzed, breaking his thoughts. It was Taehyung.

“Jimin, you’re not going to believe this,” Taehyung’s voice was urgent. “I just found some old correspondence between my sister and a woman named Kang SeoHa. They were close—too close. SeoHa was helping her with an ‘investment project,’ but something doesn’t add up. Those projects led to Lady Kim losing large sums of money right before her death.”

Jimin leaned back, piecing it together. “Taehyung, this might be the break we need. Stay close to the trial tomorrow, but leave the rest to me.”

Before heading out, Jimin made his way to the interrogation room where Namjoon and Jungkook sat in tense silence. Namjoon’s calm demeanor clashed with Jungkook’s restlessness.

Jimin entered, holding the ledger in his hand. He placed it on the table, tapping the name Kang SeoHa with his finger.

“Care to explain how she fits into your little operation?” Jimin asked, his voice icy.

Namjoon glanced at the name and smirked. “You’re reaching, Detective. SeoHa’s got nothing to do with this.”

Jimin leaned closer, his eyes locked onto Namjoon’s. “I have evidence tying her to Lady Kim’s missing funds, and now I know about the meeting at the docks tomorrow. Don’t play coy, Namjoon. You’re not the mastermind here—she is.”

Jungkook shifted uneasily, his eyes darting to Namjoon. “Hyung…” he began, but Namjoon shot him a warning glare.

Jimin caught the exchange and smirked. “Ah, cracks in the partnership already? You’d better start talking, Jungkook. Namjoon won’t protect you when the ship sinks.”

Jungkook opened his mouth to speak, but Namjoon cut him off. “Enough. You’ve got nothing, Jimin.”

Jimin stood, his expression cold. “We’ll see about that.”

The sting operation

The following night, Jimin led a covert operation at the docks. With Namjoon and Jungkook in custody, all focus was on catching Kang SeoHa. Officers surrounded the warehouse, positioned for a swift takedown.

Inside, the dimly lit space revealed a small group of people gathered around a table. At the center of the group stood Kang SeoHa, poised and commanding, her voice steady as she gave instructions.

Jimin watched through the surveillance feed, his chest tightening. SeoHa wasn’t a pawn—she was the queen.

“On my mark,” Jimin whispered into his earpiece.

The officers moved in, surrounding the warehouse. “Police! Hands where we can see them!”

Panic erupted among the group, but SeoHa remained calm, her gaze locking with Jimin’s as he stepped forward.

“Well, Detective Park,” she said, her voice smooth, “you’ve finally caught up. But you’re far too late.”

Before Jimin could respond, a loud explosion shook the far side of the warehouse, plunging the scene into chaos. Smoke filled the air as officers scrambled for cover.

SeoHa used the distraction to slip away, disappearing into the shadows. When the smoke cleared, Jimin found a single piece of paper left behind on the table.

He picked it up, his eyes scanning the words:

“You’ve uncovered the surface, Mr. Park. Let’s see how far you’re willing to go. — K.S.”