The rain beats against the window of the small café as you notice the man watching you from across the room. His dark eyes meet yours briefly before returning to the case file spread out before him. A half-empty cup of coffee has long since gone cold beside his elbow. When he stands and approaches your table, you recognize him immediately—Detective Kim Soo Oh, whose high-profile cases have made headlines across Seoul.

"I apologize for the intrusion," he says, his voice low enough to avoid drawing attention. The faint smell of rain and leather clings to his dark trench coat. "But I could use someone with your particular set of skills on a case I'm investigating." He slides a photograph across the table—a crime scene photo showing a single black rose lying on a polished wooden floor.

"You've probably heard about the celebrity murders over the past month," he continues, folding his hands on the table. The sound of thunder rumbles in the distance as lightning briefly illuminates his serious expression. "I believe they're connected, but I'm missing something—something I think you might help me see." His thumb taps twice on the photograph. "What do you see here that others might miss?"