The mall looked quieter the second time.
No smoke.
No chaos.
Just damage.
CID stepped inside again, moving carefully through the burned sections.
Kang Min's eyes scanned the ground floor.
"We missed something," he said.
Ara nodded.
"We go through it again."
Bong Soo looked around.
"…still can't believe we don't even know how it started."
Kang Min turned to one of the staff on-site.
"The internal camera footage," he said. "We need it."
The man hesitated.
"…about that."
Ara frowned slightly.
"What about it?"
The man shifted uncomfortably.
"The system was compromised."
Silence.
"What do you mean?" Kang Min asked.
"We tried to recover the recordings," he said.
"But everything inside the system was wiped."
"Wiped?" Ara repeated.
The man nodded.
"There was a system error earlier that day… something like a malware attack. It corrupted the storage."
Bong Soo frowned.
"…so there's nothing?"
"Nothing usable," the man replied.
Silence filled the space.
Kang Min's expression didn't change.
But his thoughts did.
Something was wrong.
Because accidents don't erase evidence.
They left shortly after.
CID – MAIN OFFICE
Back at the station—
Kang Min stood still for a moment.
Thinking.
Then—
He reached into his pocket.
The flash drive.
The one the woman had given him.
He looked at it briefly.
At the time—
It didn't seem important.
Now—
It might be everything.
He walked toward Su Young.
"Check this."
She looked up.
Took it from him.
"What is it?"
"Found at the scene," he replied.
She nodded and plugged it into her system.
Files began to load.
At that moment—
The door opened.
Two men walked in.
"Detective Kang Min?"
Kang Min turned.
"Yes."
"We're from the insurance company."
Ara stepped closer.
"What is it?"
One of the men spoke,
"The mall owner filed for claims this morning."
A pause.
"For both the property damage and his mother's insurance."
Bong Soo frowned.
"…that was fast."
The man continued,
"We wanted to confirm if there are any findings from your side."
Kang Min replied calmly,
"The cause of the fire is still under investigation."
The men nodded.
"We understand. But if there's anything that suggests otherwise—intentional or accidental—we'll need that information."
Ara crossed her arms slightly.
"We'll inform you when we have something."
They nodded.
"Thank you."
They stepped aside, waiting.
Behind them—
Su Young was still working.
Files loading.
Her eyes scanning quickly.
Then—
She paused.
"…Captain."
Kang Min turned.
"There's something here."
Everyone moved closer.
"What did you find?" Ara asked.
Su Young didn't answer immediately.
She just played the file.
The screen lit up.
Footage.
Inside the mall.
Clear.
From the ground floor.
Silence filled the room.
Because this—
Shouldn't exist.
The video played.
A man appeared on the screen.
Walking calmly.
Carrying something.
He moved toward the storage area.
Bong Soo leaned forward slightly.
"…is that—"
Ara's expression hardened.
The man stopped.
Looked around.
Then—
He poured something onto the floor.
A liquid.
Spread carefully.
No panic.
No hesitation.
Then—
He stepped back.
Took out something else.
A lighter.
Click.
Flame.
And in seconds—
Fire.
The video ended.
Silence.
No one spoke.
Because they all saw it.
Clearly.
Kang Min's voice was calm.
"…it's him."
The mall owner.
The room shifted instantly.
Ara turned to Kang Min.
"We move now."
He nodded once.
Already turning.
"I'll get the warrant."
Minutes later—
The team was ready.
Weapons secured.
Movement sharp.
Kang Min stepped forward.
"Let's go."
They left the station immediately.
Because now—
It wasn't an investigation anymore.
It was an arrest.CHAPTER 33: What Was Hidden
The mall looked quieter the second time.
No smoke.
No chaos.
Just damage.
CID stepped inside again, moving carefully through the burned sections.
Kang Min's eyes scanned the ground floor.
"We missed something," he said.
Ara nodded.
"We go through it again."
Bong Soo looked around.
"…still can't believe we don't even know how it started."
Kang Min turned to one of the staff on-site.
"The internal camera footage," he said. "We need it."
The man hesitated.
"…about that."
Ara frowned slightly.
"What about it?"
The man shifted uncomfortably.
"The system was compromised."
Silence.
"What do you mean?" Kang Min asked.
"We tried to recover the recordings," he said.
"But everything inside the system was wiped."
"Wiped?" Ara repeated.
The man nodded.
"There was a system error earlier that day… something like a malware attack. It corrupted the storage."
Bong Soo frowned.
"…so there's nothing?"
"Nothing usable," the man replied.
Silence filled the space.
Kang Min's expression didn't change.
But his thoughts did.
Something was wrong.
Because accidents don't erase evidence.
They left shortly after.
CID – MAIN OFFICE
Back at the station—
Kang Min stood still for a moment.
Thinking.
Then—
He reached into his pocket.
The flash drive.
The one the woman had given him.
He looked at it briefly.
At the time—
It didn't seem important.
Now—
It might be everything.
He walked toward Su Young.
"Check this."
She looked up.
Took it from him.
"What is it?"
"Found at the scene," he replied.
She nodded and plugged it into her system.
Files began to load.
At that moment—
The door opened.
Two men walked in.
"Detective Kang Min?"
Kang Min turned.
"Yes."
"We're from the insurance company."
Ara stepped closer.
"What is it?"
One of the men spoke,
"The mall owner filed for claims this morning."
A pause.
"For both the property damage and his mother's insurance."
Bong Soo frowned.
"…that was fast."
The man continued,
"We wanted to confirm if there are any findings from your side."
Kang Min replied calmly,
"The cause of the fire is still under investigation."
The men nodded.
"We understand. But if there's anything that suggests otherwise—intentional or accidental—we'll need that information."
Ara crossed her arms slightly.
"We'll inform you when we have something."
They nodded.
"Thank you."
They stepped aside, waiting.
Behind them—
Su Young was still working.
Files loading.
Her eyes scanning quickly.
Then—
She paused.
"…Captain."
Kang Min turned.
"There's something here."
Everyone moved closer.
"What did you find?" Ara asked.
Su Young didn't answer immediately.
She just played the file.
The screen lit up.
Footage.
Inside the mall.
Clear.
From the ground floor.
Silence filled the room.
Because this—
Shouldn't exist.
The video played.
A man appeared on the screen.
Walking calmly.
Carrying something.
He moved toward the storage area.
Bong Soo leaned forward slightly.
"…is that—"
Ara's expression hardened.
The man stopped.
Looked around.
Then—
He poured something onto the floor.
A liquid.
Spread carefully.
No panic.
No hesitation.
Then—
He stepped back.
Took out something else.
A lighter.
Click.
Flame.
And in seconds—
Fire.
The video ended.
Silence.
No one spoke.
Because they all saw it.
Clearly.
Kang Min's voice was calm.
"…it's him."
The mall owner.
The room shifted instantly.
Ara turned to Kang Min.
"We move now."
He nodded once.
Already turning.
"I'll get the warrant."
Minutes later—
The team was ready.
Weapons secured.
Movement sharp.
Kang Min stepped forward.
"Let's go."
They left the station immediately.
Because now—
It wasn't an investigation anymore.
It was an arrest.