Derin… what about those matching cups and stuff you mentioned?
Before Derin could answer, Ben cut in, "Chief, I already found and collected them for DNA testing—as they weren't washed maybe we can find the dna of the one used or fingerprints."
His eyes flicked toward Derin, who was standing behind Mary with a murderous glare.
Ben made a slow thumb-slice motion across his neck. You're gonna die, bitch.
Derin's glare deepened, but Ben ignored it, continuing smoothly, "Rest of the forensic team will handle the rest. I've done almost all the checks here. They told me they'll send the full report by tomorrow."
"That's great. What about the details?" Mary asked, folding her arms.
Suddenly, Mary's phone rang—RING RING RING.
She pulled it out, glancing at the caller ID.
"Excuse me for a moment," she said curtly, stepping into the corridor.
Derin cracked his knuckles loudly and grunted, "Hey Ben, wanna die? First you interrupted me, then you ignored me."
Ben adjusted his glasses without looking back. "I really don't have time to settle with the likes of you."
Derin smirked darkly, "What do you mean 'likes of me'? Where can you find a man like me, huh?"
Their argument heated up as Mary moved further down the corridor, phone pressed tightly to her ear.
"Hello, Director General… Chief Mary speaking."
The voice on the other end was gruff and teasing. "Haah, stop calling me that—I'm your father, not some fancy title. Don't always run off chasing cases. Mary you're a woman in your thirties like when are you even going to get married? I'm dying to have grandchildren and see you in a happy family. Every time you disappear, it's for a new investigation, you don't even come home for days...it's really been enough"
Mary's grip on the phone tightened so hard her knuckles whitened. "Director General, as I said, I'm on duty. Please don't disturb me."
"Mary, haah, what can I do with you… fine. But listen, come back home this evening. I arranged a meeting with someone—you have to attend. No excuses."
"Dad! How can you just decide that without asking me? I told you, I don't want a political marriage. Do you even listen?"
"Haah, now you're talking back. I don't want to hear it, Mary. You will come back. Or your father dies. Understand?"
Mary's breath hitched. She bit her lip so hard it almost bled. Her blue eyes, usually icy and composed, now shimmered with a flicker of red—anger mixed with helplessness.
"Hey, Chief, calm down," Derin's voice cut through the tension, as he appeared behind her, twirling a phone in his fingers. "That's a Pineapple 18 Pro—really expensive to throw or break...people like me who use Bananazung...can only understand..hoho" he said teasingly.
Mary whipped around, eyes narrowing sharply at him. "Are you spying on me?"
"Spying? Me? Do you think I'd still be alive if I did?" Derin grinned mischievously.
"Shut up," Mary snapped, voice low and fierce.
"Woah, why the angry bird vibes all of a sudden?"
Mary shot him a glare so intense it could freeze fire. Her blonde hair framed a face that was the perfect picture of absolute beauty—a living princess—but right now, her fury was palpable.
Derin smirked, leaning closer. "Honestly, it's hot."
"Wh—what the hell?" Mary's cheeks flushed a faint pink as she took a step back, crossing her arms defensively. "How dare you harass your senior like that? You want to die, huh?"
Most people wouldn't dare call Mary hot—and it wasn't just because of her fierce reputation as a respectful and professional chief. Her absolute beauty was undeniable: flowing blonde hair, piercing blue eyes like a living princess. But her commanding presence meant she was always treated with reverence, never flirted with or teased. That's why Derin's cheeky remark cut through the usual respect like a knife.
Derin chuckled softly to himself. What the hell… why do I even find this devilish woman attractive...come out derin she is a witch who can stab you 100 times still laugh like a witch...?
Ben who was watching from sidelines cleared his throat making both of them return to reality
Mary cleared her throat and huh.."Is everything done..?Let's head to the department and compile the clues. Has Luther's team finished collecting evidence?"
"Yes, Chief," Ben replied. "They're working on it. Should have everything ready by evening after gathering statements from everyone close to Drill and the information provided online."
Mary exhaled deeply, smoothing her jacket. "Good. Let's move. I might have to leave early today."
"Understood, Chief."
Ben glanced sideways at Derin, who still looked like he was fighting the urge to spark another argument.
"Hey Derin, what's up with Chief? She looks scary."
"How would I know? I'm not her boyfriend or something," Derin grumbled. "It's her life, her face, her mouth...you should ask her not me."
"But weren't you just talking to her just now?" Ben pressed.
Derin waved him off with a groan. "Shut up."
They pulled up at the National Crime Department just as the evening sun dipped behind the skyline. The crime scene had been sealed, police on guard, the house already just another silent witness.
As the trio stepped inside, two guards at the entrance straightened."Salute, Chief!" they said in unison.
Derin jabbed a thumb at himself. "Uh, hello? I'm here too—"
"Salute, Inspector Ben," one of the guards said, completely skipping him.
Derin froze, glaring. "...This bastard." He opened his mouth to fire back—only for the guard to finally give him a half-hearted salute.
Mary smirked but didn't comment. Everyone knew Derin's standing in the department was… complicated. He neither was hated, nor liked—just is remembered for all the wrong reasons. He was the guy who'd pick a fight with a vending machine if it ate his coins, the guy who flexed his muscles just to win an argument. People didn't see the years of boxing training he'd once hoped would take him pro, or how he'd thrown it away after his parents' divorce to protect his little sister. Brittney had followed him into the force—something he'd fought against—and when a case left her with the scar on her cheek, his guilt had been carved in just as deep. Since then, his grump had only gotten sharper.
Inside their section, Luther and Brittney were already hunched over their desks. They both stood as Mary entered."Salute, Chief."
"How's it going?" Mary asked.
Derin cut in before anyone could answer. "Before that—Chief, I'm starving. We've been running on fumes for days because of those bastards. Let's eat before I drop dead."
Brittney smiled—soft, almost teasing. She'd seen him furious, reckless, ready to punch his way through a wall. But whining over things? That was the side she liked best."I agree," she said, grinning. "Besides, I cracked the phone's lock. Let's eat."
Luther leaned back in his chair. "Yeah, I'm in."Ben gave a quiet nod.
Mary gave in as it was really going hard for them and she knew that well. "Fine. Let's eat."
The tension in the room snapped instantly, replaced with the low hum of relief.
Brittney walked over to Derin and handed him a lunchbox. "Here, I made this for you. Eat well."
Derin scoffed. "Who said I wanted it? you think I can't cook for myself? Tch."
She didn't answer—just walked away, knowing exactly how he worked.(He was already thinking: Finally..some real food after days....haha rest in piece takeouts)
They all gathered at the side table, cutlery clinking, warm food filling the air with a comfort none of them would admit they needed.
"Chief," Brittney began between bites, "do you think this is murder?"
Derin groaned. "We're eating. Can't you just… chew silently for once?"
She glared at him, then turned back to Mary.
Mary speared a piece of broccoli from her lunchbox. "I'm not sure yet. Nothing's clear. But there's a chance."
Luther leaned forward. "If you hear the info I've dug up so far, I'm sure you'll think there's something suspicious. Drill's background wasn't too hard to trace. But Lyla? I still can't find anything solid on her."
Mary sighed. "Later. Right now—eat. We'll get back to work soon enough."
"Brittney, what about the diary? How's it going?" Mary asked, her voice breaking the quiet clink of cutlery. Everyone's eyes turned toward Brittney, expectant.
"Woah, woah… it hasn't even been a week yet. Trust me—it's really difficult to crack," Brittney said with a faint smile, leaning back in her chair as if to shield herself from their stares.
"Umm… she—emm—chew—chew—she's just incomp… koff-koff—" The man coughed mid-sentence, trying to talk through a mouthful of food and I guess everyone knows who's this man.
"Just eat your food first," Ben said, pushing a glass of water toward him with a sigh.
"Well," Brittney lifted her glass, "then everyone—let's do our best to solve this case. Cheers."
"Cheers!" The chorus rose from around the table as glasses clinked.
"Of course, Chief," Ben added with a confident grin. "There's no case we can't solve."
With that amidst all seriousness a slight laughter took place.