SYNOPSIS:

When 'Kamin' is the new station inspector and the impulsive captain
'Jess', they have to work together to solve the mysterious case of eight
friends that
happened after drinking, partying, and playing TRUTH OR DARE, a
game that's supposed to be fun. It's terrifying when someone dies after
playing. From eight o'clock at night, only seven remained the next
morning.
However, the game didn't end that night; it still continues, with each life
being
a pawn in the game.
There are many puzzles that make you think, and they need to find
answers
quickly. Before it's too late.
 CHAPTER 1

Inside the police station, people were walking around. Both the officers
handling cases and solving problems for those in need made the last hours of
the day seem busier than usual. Besides having to wait for the new inspector,
there was also a fight at the station.

“You’re the one who took my stuff!!!”

“What the hell? I said I didn’t take it. Did you get drunk and misplace it
yourself?”
“Damn you, Chatmai!”
“You’re the evil one!” The sound of shouting and cursing continued until an
officer had to step in to stop it.
“Both of you, calm down first. If something happened, report it to the
authorities. There will be mediation and further investigation.”
“Calm down?! How can I stay calm? Hundreds of thousands of dollars are
missing!”
“Did you get drunk and misplace it yourself, you stupid bastard?!” The chubby
man was about to act, but I turned away because I was tired of arguing. I
didn’t even notice that the person who was once his close friend now ran to
grab scissors and held his shirt with an outstretched arm, hoping to save his
life this time.

“Damn it, Mew!!!” Before he could even strike with the tip of the knife, his
abdomen was kicked with such force that he doubled over, his weak hands
dropping the scissors. He then knelt on the ground, clutching his stomach.
“Wouldn’t it be better to talk nicely?” A soft, deep voice caught everyone’s
attention. They turned to look at a tall, slender young man. His jet-black hair
was combed back, revealing an oval face with a sharp jawline and smooth
honey-colored skin paired with sharp brown eyes. His nose bridge was
prominent, with full lips. He wore a white shirt and a black suit, looking perfect
in every way.

“Are you going to stab me, you damn friend?! Don’t just stand there.” The
chubby man crouched and grabbed the scissors angrily. But he groaned
when his palm was crushed by a black sneaker stomping on it with full force.
The man was about 188 cm tall, with beautiful tanned skin and sharp eyes as
dark as night. His sharp face and furrowed brows showed unease, and he
held a paper coffee cup in his mouth. His messy hair, tight black shirt, and
jacket indicated he didn’t need a uniform like everyone else.
“Captain,” an officer standing helplessly immediately greeted the newcomer.

The person known as the station captain kicked the wrist of the man about to
pick up the scissors, then kicked the sharp object away from the two
perpetrators in frustration.
“I just went out to buy a cup of coffee.”

“These two were fighting over the missing hundred thousand baht. The
complainant reported that his friend stole it because they were drinking
together last night, but when he woke up in the morning, the money was
gone.”

“Isn’t that hundred thousand baht in the back of the car?”

“Ah… what?!”
“Probably because I accidentally overheard this man on the phone talking
about trying to scam him out of a hundred thousand baht.” Jade gave an
irritating smile to the person who asked.

Earlier, he had gone out to buy coffee. Then he accidentally overheard a man
kneeling on the ground talking on the phone. It wouldn’t have been interesting
if the conversation wasn’t about scamming someone. The victim, asleep in
the driver’s seat, didn’t wake up and knew nothing. He noticed the bag of
money because the car was parked right next to his.
“Hey, I don’t know. He’s drunk. Wait for him to return the hundred thousand
and then flee to another province. I’ll talk about the content you mentioned. Is
it okay to make a phone call?” His impatient attitude and words were good
evidence that everyone noticed. “Do you want to report it?”
“Report it! I’ll definitely put you in jail, you bastard!”

Jade smiled at both of them before nodding to his subordinates to continue.

As for him, he turned and smiled at the people who were also there.
“And you? Did you come to report a crime or do you have some errand?”

“I’m here to work.” Jade looked the person in front of him up and down. This
kind of attitude...
 “Come on, I’ll take you to the room.” Jade led the way to the upstairs room,
which had been cleaned and organized but still seemed empty because no
one dared to redecorate it, fearing he wouldn’t like it and would criticize them.

“I’m Jade Charuwat, the boss here.”

“I’m Kamin.” Jade observed the back under the white shirt of the person who
entered to inspect different areas. Based on his attitude and way of speaking,
he wasn’t sure if he’d be arrogant and pretentious. If so, working together
might be difficult, as Jade didn’t like that type of person.

“Do you want an ID badge right away, or is the room too small?” Jade tested
with a question.

Kamin, who heard this, sighed before turning to look with a respectful gaze.
“If I say it’s too small, do you have another room for me?”
“If you plan to just sit and work at a desk, I think this room will be enough.”
“Then what size room does an unemployed commander need to be here
talking to me?” Jade smiled with satisfaction because that answer matched
his arrogant face.

Kamin leaned on the desk before looking at the man in front of him. The
provocative attitude and disheveled appearance didn’t seem like someone
easy to work with, but his subordinates downstairs probably respected and
obeyed his orders, as seen in the incident below. So, he decided to stay.

Kamin thought the best way to avoid trouble was to get along, as he’d have to
work there for a long time.
“If you need something... do it yourself, but if you have any questions, I’m in
the next room.” Jade pointed to the adjacent room, separated only by a
transparent glass window. Maybe he should buy a curtain to install.

When Jade left, Kamin sighed at the bad start to the day. He was sent there
to replace the previous inspector because the central office thought he was
just a young man who had gotten his position too quickly. No one knew how
hard he had worked to reach that position.

Kamin began inspecting the room to ensure there were no listening devices
or cameras installed. In this business, you couldn’t trust anything—it was like
clear water on the surface but full of mud underneath.

Jade watched the new inspector as he inspected the room for a while before
sitting in a chair with a relaxed attitude. He was meticulous. He was about the
 same age but had already reached a high position, indicating he had been
through a lot. Jade wondered if he had earned his position through merit,
luck, or by doing favors for the right people.

The documents Kamin needed to review were delivered to him at ten in the
morning. He spent time reading and reviewing everything until noon when
there were three knocks on the door before it opened without waiting for his
permission.

“Shouldn’t you wait for my permission first, Officer Jade?”

“It’s fine.” Jade stepped back before closing the door and knocking again.
Kamin shook his head in frustration before closing the documents.

“Come in.”
“That’s it. I came to invite the new inspector to lunch.”
“I have work to do.”
“With just those documents, that’s not called work.”
“To me, whether it’s office work or fieldwork, it’s work.”
“Leave your complicated documents, and let’s do real work.” Jade extended
the documents toward the person sitting at the desk. Kamin was about to take
them, but they were pulled back. “Read them later.”

Kamin’s perfectly shaped eyebrows furrowed at the person who walked away
with his hands in his pockets. Kamin had no choice but to follow him. As they
passed the officers in the station, everyone greeted the man in front warmly
but still felt tense around him.
“Hey... Inspector, are you going to lunch?”
“Yes.”
“Going with Officer Jade guarantees you’ll eat something delicious. He loves
to eat.”
“It’s true, especially with drinks... Ouch!”
“Why are you telling the inspector that? The boss will hit you on the head!”

Kamin watched the two officers joke before looking at the man who had
walked ahead.
“Then I’ll take my leave. You all carry on.”
“Yes!”
“Yes!” The energetic voices of respect made Kamin feel a little uncomfortable,
as in the police department, even though his rank was high, people there
always tried to pressure him.
“This way.” The voice came from the side of the station. When Kamin arrived,
he saw Jade on a large black motorcycle. The tall man wore a black helmet
and handed a white one to Kamin.
“What’s this?”
“Are you a real police officer? Don’t you even know what a helmet is?”
“I mean, why are you giving it to me?”
“Are we going to solve a case or not? You talk too much! If there were a
criminal waiting, they’d have already fled the country.”
“I brought my car.” Kamin pointed to his white Maserati. Jade looked and then
showed an irritated face.
“If you take that, you won’t even make it to the red light before losing me. Get
on quickly, I’m hungry, and there’s work to do. Let’s not waste time.” Kamin
rolled his eyes, put on the helmet, and got on the motorcycle behind Jade.

“If you sit so far back, I won’t pick you up if you fall.”
“Let’s just go.”
“As you wish.” The engine roared before slowly moving out, but once they
passed the station, Jade suddenly accelerated, making the wind roar. Kamin,
who was sitting without holding on, almost fell backward and grabbed Jade’s
waist, shouting.
“Are you crazy?! Did you buy your driver’s license?!”
“I can’t hear you, I can’t hear you,” Jade shouted against the wind,
accelerating more. Kamin had to use both hands to hold onto Jade’s waist,
while a satisfied smile appeared under his helmet.

After twenty minutes, they arrived at a beachfront restaurant. Kamin watched

Jade walk into the restaurant, whistling and greeting the staff familiarly.
“The usual, Officer?”
“The usual. Today, I want two.”
“Have you ever not ordered two? And who is he?” The restaurant owner, with
a robust body, looked at the person still standing in front of the restaurant with
a helmet in hand.
“If you prefer to stand there and stare, go ahead.” Jade went to pour himself
some water before returning to the table and winking at Kamin.
“Come in, sit down. What would you like to drink?” Kamin smiled politely at
the restaurant owner before sitting at the table with Jade.

“Order whatever you want. Everything here is delicious.” Jade slid the glass of
water he had poured for Kamin. “Consider this a welcome for the new
inspector.”
“Ah, are you the new inspector? Then, order whatever you want. This meal is
on me.”
“Thank you. I’ll have a seafood broth.”
“Alright, wait a moment.” When the restaurant owner left, Kamin looked back
at Jade.
“Where are the documents you wanted me to see?”
“Here.” Jade handed the documents in an envelope to Kamin, who frowned
as if everything in life were serious. After reading for a while, Kamin looked up
and saw Jade watching him with his arms on the table.
“When do we start working on the case?”
“Tonight.”
“Then I’ll see you there.”
“The case is at the club, not in court, so you don’t need to dress formally, in
case you didn’t know.”
“Just because I’m the inspector here today doesn’t mean I’ve been a police
officer since yesterday. I know what I should and shouldn’t do.”
“I can handle this case alone if you feel uncomfortable working with me.”

“I just want to evaluate the new inspector. I want to know if what they say is
true.”
“And what have you heard? That way, I’ll know if it’s true.” Jade smiled before
leaning in, and Kamin didn’t back away either.
“They say you’re very smart, organized... but also arrogant, stubborn, and
self-centered, making it difficult to work in a team.” Jade’s smile made Kamin
feel a pang of discomfort.

“Now I can confirm two things: one, you’re smart, and two, you’re as charming
as they say.”
 CHAPTER 2

In front of a famous club in the province, people began arriving early in the
evening. Kamin was also there, standing, having received the case about half
an hour ago. The owner of the navy blue shirt had unbuttoned two buttons,
revealing his white chest. His black pants matched his dress shoes of the
same color. His hair, which was usually combed, now fell naturally, giving him
a more youthful appearance. As he raised his watch to check the time,
someone approached with a lit cigarette.
“I don’t smoke,” said Kamin, looking at the young man who seemed younger
but had a defiant attitude.
“Can I have your number?”
“I’m not available.”
“Not available for what? Just give me your number,” the young man exhaled
smoke in Kamin’s face before moving closer and inhaling nicotine again. But
just as he was about to exhale the smoke, Kamin raised his hand and
forcefully covered the young man’s mouth, pushing him against the wall. In an
instant, the smoke that was meant to be exhaled was inhaled again, causing
the young man to cough and his eyes to fill with tears. Still, he tried to
maintain his defiant attitude.
“This isn’t a place for smoking; there’s a sign that says so,” Kamin
extinguished the cigarette on the ground while the young man got up and
prepared to attack the new inspector. But before he could do so, a hand
wrapped around Kamin’s waist to block the blow, and then pushed him to the
ground.

“Who the hell are you?” As he turned to see who had pushed him, the young
man was left speechless. “Jade? Did you come to have fun today?”
“Yes, what’s going on here?” Jade ran his hand through his black hair, his
tight black shirt revealing his muscles, matching his pants of the same color.
“He started it. I just asked for his number,” the young man got up and dusted
off his jeans, pointing at Kamin with a serious expression.
Jade looked at the person in his arms, surprised at how small he was. “And
why do you want my guy’s number?”
Kamin looked at Jade, but before he could deny it, Jade gently squeezed his
waist.
“This is your guy?”
“Yes.”
“Then I won’t interfere. Sorry,” said the young man, scared and respectful,
making Kamin wonder if Jade was a police officer or a mafia boss.
 “Can you let me go now?”
“Tonight, you’re mine. If I let you go, people will suspect,” Jade whispered
intentionally into Kamin’s ear. “Tonight, let your waist be my refuge.”

Both entered without separating an inch. Kamin accepted because he thought

it would be more convenient for the case. He didn’t want any trouble like the
previous incident. Jade, on the other hand, only thought about how fun it was
to tease the person in his arms.

The famous club, Drink Me, was a well-known club-restaurant in the area.
Although it was a weekday, there were many people. The interior was divided
into two floors. The first floor had a bar, many tables, and a stage for the
band. The second floor was a mezzanine from which you could see below. In
addition to a variety of alcoholic drinks, they also served food. There was a
clearly marked smoking area outside, so the interior wasn’t suffocating.

People walked back and forth, some drunk, almost bumping into Kamin. But
thanks to the strong arm around his waist, he wasn’t knocked over. Both sat
at a table not too far from the bar but discreet enough. Once seated, Kamin
immediately moved away from Jade.
“Relax, what do you want to drink?” Jade asked calmly, leaning back on the
red velvet sofa and looking at Kamin beside him.
“I’m working.”
“As you wish,” Jade poured himself his favorite drink and looked around
without focusing on anything in particular.
“Are you sure it’s today?”
“That’s what the source reported.”
“The documents don’t specify the time. Do you know what time it is?”
“Why? Do you have to go to bed before nine?” Jade raised his glass and
smiled, making Kamin look at him with disgust.
“Can you stop bothering me for a minute?”

“I can stop, but I won’t. Any problem?” Kamin rolled his eyes and sighed. If
this was only the first day, he didn’t know what the future would be like. “Stop
sitting so straight, with your hands on your knees and looking around. You
look like a ‘I’m a police officer’ sign.”
“And what should I do? Drink while working? Act casually?”
“The ones coming to deliver drugs here aren’t locals. They don’t know who’s
a police officer. But your suspicious attitude will make them doubt.”
 Jade grabbed Kamin and sat him on his lap before wrapping an arm around
his waist. The more Kamin tried to struggle, the tighter the arms around him
became.
“Stay still, they’re already here,” said Jade as he raised his glass of liquor, not
taking his eyes off the group of people entering. They were dressed like
ordinary tourists, but each carried a black bag in their hand.

He had received a report from an undercover agent about where today’s

meeting would take place. The table was only two tables away from them,
and they would have to pass their table first, so Jade chose that table.
“Damn it, Jade.”
“What?”
“Do you see the guy in the white Hawaiian shirt? He’s the owner of a local
cattle farm. He knows I’m a police officer,” Jade considered using the menu to
cover his face, but before he could do so, the person on his lap had already
cupped his face and leaned in so close that he could feel his warm breath and
the tip of his nose.

“This method is quite interesting.”

“Stay quiet.”
“You’re not covering me completely,” Jade joked, pulling Kamin’s waist closer.
‘Better now?’
“Shut up, Jade,” Kamin stiffened, their faces inches apart. If he moved too
much, it would be a mistake.
“Are they gone?”
“No,” replied Jade, looking past Kamin’s charming face and seeing that the
drug traffickers had already sat down.
“If you’re lying to me, I’ll transfer you.”
“Abuse of power, huh?”
“That’s my business.” Kamin looked behind him and saw the suspects sitting
at their table. He stood up, pushing Jade’s ribs with surprising force.
“Ouch! That hurts.”
“Focus on them. I’m calling for backup,” said Kamin, standing up and heading
to the bathroom to make the call.

This case involved catching drug traffickers and intermediaries selling drugs
to locals. Previously, no one could act because the suspects always escaped
the raids. Now, with a new inspector and a raid planned close to success, it
was clear why they had failed before.

“Sergeant, prepare the team. Wait for Jade’s signal and then move in.”
(Understood.)
 When the conversation ended, a young man entered. He was about 185 cm
tall, wearing a white shirt and earthy tones, with smoky gray hair and a
charming dimple on his cheek.
Kamin didn’t pay much attention. He chose to wash his hands to avoid raising
suspicions. After finishing, he went out the door, but upon opening it, he saw
one of the drug cartel’s henchmen about to enter. He didn’t know if they were
coming to the bathroom by chance or because they noticed something, but
Kamin decided to go back inside and dragged a young man who knew
nothing into the bathroom to avoid any unexpected incidents.

“Wait here,” said a new voice, making Kamin even more alert and raising his
hand to cover the young man’s mouth. The boy he had dragged into the
bathroom looked at his hand and frowned, making Kamin feel strangely
familiar with his attitude.

The sound of someone relieving themselves and then the flush of a toilet from
another stall was heard. After that, the sound of a door opening and closing
allowed Kamin to release the young man from his grip.
“What’s going on?” asked the boy.
“A little hiccup,” replied Kamin, trying to unlock the bathroom door. But the
young man stopped him.
“I need a better explanation than a ‘little hiccup.’ You dragged me into the
bathroom without my consent,” said the boy, crossing his arms and looking at
him seriously.

“I let you go, didn’t I?” replied Kamin, rolling his eyes.
“But I didn’t consent in the first place. I could report you,” said the boy, still
serious.
“Escaping someone. Happy now?” said Kamin.
“Escaping who?” asked the boy.
“Someone I broke up with. I don’t want to see him. Now go, I have things to
do,” said Kamin. But instead of leaving, the boy smiled, showing a dimple on
his right cheek.
“So you’re running away?” asked the boy. The phone in Kamin’s pocket rang;
it was a call from his team waiting outside. He had to hurry.
“Move!” said Kamin, pushing the boy aside before opening the door and
running out. The boy stayed smiling behind him.

The black phone in the boy’s pocket rang, and he answered it without looking.
“Where are you, Jay? Come back to the table right now,” said a voice on the
other end of the line.
“Yes, I’m coming. I found something interesting in the bathroom,” replied Jay.
“No, you can’t stay out today. Tomorrow is the last day of initiation,” said his
friend.
“I know,” replied Jay, regretting not asking for the other guy’s contact. But at
least he had found something cute to brighten his night.

֍~~~~~~~~֍

When Kamin returned to the table, he saw a pair of black eyes staring at him.
Upon arrival, he was met with a stern look, just as he expected.
“I only ordered the subordinates to prepare. Why does it take so long to talk?
From now on, it will be difficult to work, don’t you think?”
“Have they finished exchanging?” Kamin decided to ignore the sarcasm and
pulled out his gun when he saw the officers infiltrating the place and starting
to escort the guests out.
“All set,” said Jade, drinking the last sip of brandy before standing up to
prepare for the raid.

They separated, Jade surrounded the drug trafficker while Kamin positioned
himself behind the distributor’s chair. Both looked at each other before giving
the signal to the officers in the area.
“You’re under arrest for possession with intent to distribute drugs,” said
Kamin, aiming his gun at the criminal’s head, who raised his hands. The
distributor, who was about to pull out his weapon, stopped when he felt the
cold barrel on his temple.
“Drop the weapon,” said Kamin firmly, pressing the gun against the
distributor’s head, who tilted his head slightly.

All the subordinates trying to help their boss were surrounded by the officers.
This capture would lead to further progress in the case of other distributors in
the future. This was the new inspector Kamin’s first case.
“Take them all to the station.”

“Understood!” replied one of the officers. As the mission ended, Kamin

secured his gun and put it away. He had to rewrite the case report and
proceed with the detention, but a hand on his shoulder stopped him.
“What’s wrong?”
“The case is over.”
“Catching them doesn’t mean it’s over.”
“It’s your first case, aren’t you going to celebrate?”
“I have to keep working,” said Kamin. Jade offered him a glass of brandy that
seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. Kamin frowned before clinking
glasses and drinking it all in one go.
“Consider this an honor for drinking with me. Then, I’ll accompany you to
work,” said Jade. Kamin looked at him before taking another glass and
drinking it all. At least, Jade had helped a lot in this case.
“Happy now?”
“Yes, I’m happy.”

As they left, Kamin grabbed Jade’s arm.

“Are you going back on the bike?”
“Or do you prefer I carry you in my arms?”
“I only drank one glass.”
“Less than the other times.”

“Leave the car here. Let’s take mine,” said Jade, smiling before tossing the
keys to a subordinate who approached.
“Lieutenant, take the car to the station.”
“Why don’t you drive it yourself, Captain?”
“The new inspector invited me to go with him,” said Jade, resting his arm on
Kamin’s shoulder again, but this time Kamin kicked him in the shin, forcing
him to let go.
“See you in the car,” said Kamin, walking toward the car without paying
attention to Jade, who was rubbing his shin.
“Captain, do I really have to take your bike? I only drank one glass. Are you
drunk?”
“Only three.”
“Ah, so you’re not drunk. Are you pretending?”
“Ken.”
“Sorry, sorry. What do we do then? Go back with the inspector?”
“Yes, let’s get things in order.”
“In order? He kicked you a moment ago and you screamed.”

Jade glanced at his subordinate, who laughed and started his bike, assuring
that he wouldn’t crash it into the ground or any poles.

Jade got into the luxury car he had seen at the station earlier and sat in the
passenger seat. He leaned toward Kamin until their noses almost touched.
His brown eyes looked at him without wavering, with a hint of annoyance.
“What are you going to do?”
“What do you expect a drunk person to do?”
“If you keep playing around, I’ll leave you in the middle of the road.”
 “You won’t,” said Jade, smiling and showing a dimple on his right cheek, a
smile that Kamin found strangely familiar.

The cold barrel of the gun pointing at his head made Jade laugh before
raising his hands in surrender and buckling Kamin’s seatbelt.
“Driving without a seatbelt is dangerous. I just want to help you.”
“I hope you work with the same efficiency as you talk.”

What Jade discovered that night about the new inspector was that he worked
with the same precision he had heard about, and his brown eyes shone in a
captivating way.
 CHAPTER 3

The atmosphere at the university was filled with smiles and laughter.** It was
a time of transition between being a child and becoming an adult, a time of
learning and experiencing new things on your own. In the classroom, the first-
year engineering students began packing their books into their bags and
planned to grab something delicious to eat after class. But when a group of
people in navy blue jackets entered the room and stood in front of the class
instead of the professor, all thoughts and activities came to a halt.

“Today is a special occasion, guys. We, the seniors, are going to take you to
a welcome activity. Stand up and follow that classmate,” said one of the
seniors, pointing to his peer. The serious attitude of the seniors made the new
students, who had only been at the university for a week, hurry to obey.

When they arrived at the engineering faculty auditorium, everyone was

organized to sit in an orderly manner. Once they made sure all the
mechanical engineering students were present, the second-year seniors
closed the doors and surrounded the first-years.
“Guys! Do you know why we called you here today?” The loud, firm voice
made the atmosphere turn silent. Not even a sigh could be heard. “When I
ask you, answer!”
“We don’t know, sir!”

“You don’t know anything! Do you want the emblem or not? Ouch!” Upon
hearing the senior’s shout, the new students, who were looking at the ground,
immediately raised their heads.
“Why are you shouting like that, idiot? Doesn’t your throat hurt?”
“It’s to make it more intimidating, so the kids respect us.”
“The kids are here to study, not to be the target of your bad mood,” said a
young man with smoky-colored hair, his sharp face matching his navy blue
jacket, as he leaned on the stage with his arms crossed.
“Lift your heads, guys.”
“Look who thinks he’s handsome! Jay, always stealing the spotlight,” said a
boy as tall as Jay, with fiery red hair combed back, showing his well-formed
forehead. His sharp face and slanted eyes made him look even more
intimidating as he stood next to Jay in the same posture.
“Why are you butting in, Jay? There’s enough space for Tar to run,” said a girl
with black hair and pink highlights, long down to the middle of her back. Her
honey-colored skin and model-like height attracted the gaze of all the new
students. She pointed to a sturdy boy walking behind her, with long black hair
tied carelessly with a pencil at his neck. All the seniors were used to his
appearance.
“I’m not a rabbit, Bell.”
“I meant a buffalo.”

“You fight like dogs!” exclaimed the golden-blonde-haired girl with a sharp
face as she raised her coffee cup to drink. But when Bell pushed her
shoulder, the coffee spilled into her mouth. “Bell!”
“I couldn’t help it, beautiful Jean. You’re the one who talked nonsense,”
Cherine looked at her friend with a warning.
“Everything’s dirty now,” said the tall, thin boy with a buzz cut, offering a
handkerchief before walking away with a cold attitude.
“This idiot is another handsome one. You’re too cool, Glah. I’d love to kick
you instead of slapping you. I wish I could look that cool,” said Time, throwing
a paper at Tonkla, who caught it easily.
“Enough already. All the freshmen are confused. We’re the fourth-year
seniors. Today, the second-years brought you here because we have
something important to announce. Champ, bring it to me,” said a girl with
shiny black hair and a sweet smile. Anyone who saw her would fall in love
with that smile. Her small stature made her look even more delicate next to
the tall boy, about 187 cm, with a sharp face and a scar on his eyebrow.

Champ handed a shiny silver metal necklace with a gear-shaped pendant to

the girl, then stayed close to her.
“Today, the eight of us seniors represent the fourth-year students to give you
these gears. This gear is a symbol of our faculty, representing who we are.
It’s not that important in itself, just a piece of metal, but what really matters is
the tradition it represents. It’s something passed down from seniors to juniors,
showing that, in this faculty, you have friends, seniors, and juniors who
support you. I hope that one day, when you’re in our place, you’ll pass it on
with the same feeling.” Puifai spoke with a smile, looking around.

The ceiling lights dimmed to let the candlelight from the seniors shine. The
faculty song played softly, harmonizing with the bright flames of the candles
as they passed them to the juniors, who then walked to receive the gears
from the eight seniors.

This was the last day of orientation for the new students. The first-year
students showed joy, excitement, and pride for the activities they had
participated in for months. The constructive and safe approach of the
 activities, avoiding shouting or dangerous old traditions, made the freshmen
appreciate the tradition even more.

After almost an hour, everything was done. The lights came back on, and
seniors and juniors mingled freely.
“Senior Mind, what are the names of the seniors here today?” asked a
freshman.
“Oh, you want to know them?” Mind shouted to the fourth-year students who
were discussing the night’s party.
“Are you deaf or what? Fine, I’ll introduce them myself.” Mind cleared her
throat theatrically before introducing the eight seniors one by one.
“Do you see the senior holding a water bottle under his arm with red hair,
looking cool like a big rooster at the end of the alley? That’s Time. The
handsome guy with gray hair next to him is Jay. The one with a buzz cut who
looks like a gangster but has a heart like Kitty is Tonkla. The beautiful girl who
started the ceremony is Puifai, and her close friend with blonde hair is
Cherine. The girl with pink highlights, super sexy, but with a mouth like she
has ten dogs, is Bell. The one carrying a water bottle to Puifai, with a serious
face, is her boyfriend Champ. And finally, the one wearing glasses with long
hair down to his neck is Tar. This is the complete team of the Mechanical
Engineering Avengers.”
“Are all the seniors friends?” asked a freshman.
“Yes, they’ve been friends since their first year,” replied the group, looking at
the seniors with admiration.

֍~~~~֍

“I should go home,” said Jay, looking at his watch.

“Not allowed. You have to stay and drink with us. Captain Jade won’t kill you,”
said Time, spinning the car keys.
“Where are we going to drink? If it’s the corner again, I’ll go crazy with the
mosquitoes,” said Bell, tying her hair into a high ponytail.
“At the storage room. I already asked the guard for the keys,” said Champ,
showing the keychain.
“Perfect, so we can turn on the air conditioner.”
“I already left the drinks and snacks there. Let’s go after we finish,” said
Champ before separating to go to the bathroom.

The creative orientation ended at eight in the evening. The second-years

made sure to send the freshmen home one by one and cleaned the place. By
around nine-thirty, everything was clean.
 “Jay, I already closed the auditorium,” said a freshman.
“Okay. Let’s go home. Leave me the keys; I’ll return them to the guard,” said
Jay.
“Thank you. Are the seniors leaving too?”
“In a bit. Go home,” said Jay to the second-years, who separated to go home.
When he turned around, he found Time looking at him.
“What do you want?”
“Let’s go drink, Jay.”
“What about the others?”
“They’re in the storage room. I waited for you because I was afraid you’d run
away,” said Time.
“I can’t stay long. I don’t want Captain Jade to find me,” said Jay.
“He’s working a lot. There’s a new inspector at the station.”
“New inspector? Who?”
“Does your face look like a police officer’s?”
“Yours doesn’t, but your dad’s does,” said Jay, spinning the keys next to
Time. He knew so much because his father was also a police officer at the
station.
“I don’t know; I haven’t asked him yet.”

Both arrived at the storage room under the classroom building. Here,
electronic equipment used in classes is stored, most of it metal, so there’s air
conditioning. It’s known that if someone needs to work urgently at night or
organize a small party, they bribe the guard to get the key and must return it
in the morning.

When they opened the door, the cold air from the air conditioner, set to a
lower temperature than necessary, hit Jay’s face, making him frown. His six
friends were sitting in a circle on the floor, with a variety of snacks and alcohol
in the center, courtesy of Tonkla, whose father owned a large grocery store.
“Sit down, Jay,” said Belle, pulling Jay’s hand to sit next to her and offering
him a glass of strong golden liquor.
“Damn, we’re already fourth-years! Goodbye to living off my dad’s money,”
said Mai, who had just sat down, as she took a big gulp of alcohol.
“This year there aren’t many classes, but the work is terrible. Grades depend
entirely on performance,” said Puifai, eating a snack.

“Just thinking about it stresses me out. What are we going to do after we

graduate?” asked Cherine, pouring liquor for Puifai.
“Are we even going to graduate?” interrupted Belle, throwing a triangular
snack at Tar, who was sitting across from her.
“Seriously, does anyone already have plans for the future? Except you two,”
said Mai, pointing at Puifai and Champ, who were sitting together.
“One is the son of a car dealership owner, and the other is ridiculously rich.
Are you getting married after graduation?”
“Marry so soon? We just graduated,” said Puifai, blushing and looking at her
partner.

“Let’s wait until we’re ready, okay?”

“Yes,” smiled Champ, hugging Puifai as their friends watched and joked.
“What about you, Jay? When are you going to propose to me?” asked Time,
leaning on Jay, only to be pulled back by Belle.
“Sorry, but Jay is mine, and so is Captain Jade,” said Belle.
“Really, Belle?”
“Yes, any problem?”
“Champ, you’re going to inherit your dad’s business, right?” asked Jay,
passing his glass to Tonkla, who was next to him.
“Yeah, I guess.”
“What about you, Tar?”
“I’m going to do an internship. If I like it, I’ll stay. If not, I’ll look for another
company in Bangkok,” said Tar, drinking carelessly.
“Tonkla, are you going to get Jay drunk so he doesn’t go home?” asked
Cherine, seeing Tonkla pouring a large amount of pure liquor into his glass.
“Let’s stop talking about the future. It’s too stressful. I have a game,” said
Time, getting everyone’s attention.
“What game?”
“The game...” he paused dramatically, “of the bottle!”

“Wow, I thought you’d have an original idea,” sighed Belle, resigned.

“How are we going to play?”
“Let’s play ‘Truth or Dare,’” suggested Cherine quietly, but everyone agreed
except Time.
“How do you play?”
“You can ask anyone a question. The person has to choose between telling
the truth or accepting a dare.”
“Dare?”
“Then, Time, tell me the truth. The other day, when we had group work, were
you really sick or did you go out to eat with a girl from dentistry? Truth or
dare?” asked Cherine with a smile, as Tonkla and Bell stared at him.
“Well, I...”
“Answer properly,” pressured Belle, making Time hesitate until he finally took
a big gulp of liquor.
“Dare! I choose dare.”
“I dare you to write her real name,” said Time, reluctantly but finally accepting,
and he stood up to write the name as everyone laughed.
“Wow, you got me. Now I ask. Jay, is it true that you don’t get along with
Captain Jade?”
“Why are you asking that all of a sudden?”

“Answer right now or I dare you to dance on the entrance pole,” said Time
seriously, hoping to get revenge.
“I’ll answer. It’s not that I don’t get along with him, it’s just that when he acts
like my dad, it annoys me.”
“Well, with that answer, I can’t do anything,” said Time, laughing along with
the others, as Jay had dashed his red-haired friend’s hopes.
“Jay, it’s your turn to ask.”
“I’ll ask Champ. Where did you go last week when I called you and heard an
announcement like from a hospital?” Champ stopped with the liquor glass in
his hand, looking at Jay.
“I went to the doctor.”
“What doctor?”
“No more questions.”
“The soda’s gone. I’ll get another pack,” said Cherine, standing up from the
circle and going to get more soda from the back table.

The game continued until midnight. The questions became bolder, and some
chose to answer with the truth, while others accepted extravagant dares that
caused laughter all night. Everyone was drunk and started talking nonsense.

Jay, who initially planned to go home at midnight, had to abandon his plan
due to drunkenness. Driving in that state would not only be illegal but also
dangerous.

Finally, everyone collapsed on the floor, some hugging, others using their
friends as pillows, looking for a corner to sleep.

Jay, on the verge of losing consciousness, decided to call his brother to let
him know he wouldn’t be coming home that night.

“What’s up?”
“Bro, I’m not coming home.”
“Speak clearly, where are you?”
“At the faculty, I’m not coming back.” And the call ended. Jay collapsed on the
floor, unconscious like the others, unaware that what would happen next
would be something they would never forget.!
 CHAPTER 4

Jay woke up disoriented. He shook his head slightly to clear the confusion.
Looking at his friends sleeping on the floor surrounded by liquor and beer
bottles, he remembered how drunk they had been. He got up and went to the
bathroom to try to shake off the dizziness.

He had completely forgotten what happened before he fell asleep. No matter

how hard he tried to remember, he couldn’t. He splashed water on his face to
clear his head and then went out to wake his friends one by one.
“Time, wake up.” After waking Time, who was lying with one leg over Bell, Jay
went to find his phone to check the time. He remembered his phone was
about to die. When he pressed the button, the screen was black, so he went
to wake Bell and took her pink-cased phone to check the time. It was four. He
didn’t know if everyone could make it home in that state.
“I’m freaking drunk,” said Time, getting up along with Bell, who was
complaining and stretching.
“My back hurts. What’s wrong with me?”

“Maybe you’re turning into a ghost.”

“Come on, someone who’s in hell can’t insult me,” Belle retorted irritably
before waking Cherine, who was next to her.
“Time, help wake the others.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Time got up, shaking his fiery red hair, and went to wake the
others, until he reached Puifai, who was lying next to a cooler.

When he touched her skin, he immediately pulled his hand back because it
was abnormally cold, colder than it should be in an air-conditioned room.
“Puifai, why are you so cold? Are you okay?”

The others slowly woke up, stretching to relieve the discomfort of sleeping on
the tiled floor, not paying attention to Time’s shouts.
“Puifai, can you hear me?”
“Why are you shouting, Time?”
“Guys, Puifai isn’t waking up, and her body is freezing.” Time looked at Puifai
again before putting his hand under her nose. He immediately jerked back.
“Guys! Puifai isn’t breathing!”
“What are you saying, idiot? Wake her up so we can go home.”
 “You don’t believe me, come see!”

Bell sighed irritably and walked over to Puifai, who was lying on the floor with
a pale face. She stopped when she saw how different her friend looked, who
had been full of life before and now seemed lifeless. Bell put her hand under
Puifai’s nose as Time had done, and when she didn’t feel her breath, she
screamed loudly and jerked back.
“She’s dead! Puifai is dead!”
“This isn’t funny anymore,” said Cherine, her expression serious as she saw
her friends’ reactions.

“It’s not a joke! What do we do, Jay? This is insane!” Belle started panicking
and pacing back and forth. The situation was tense, and everyone looked at
Puifai’s motionless body.
“Call an ambulance,” said Jay, looking at Puifai.
“Tonkla, call an ambulance!” Tonkla, still in shock, took his phone, but
Cherine stopped him.
“I’ll call. Go check on Champ,” she said as she dialed the number.

Champ was in shock, pale and with tears in his eyes.

“Champ, calm down.”
“What are we going to do? Are we going to jail?” said Tar, standing up.
“Jail? We were just drinking!”
“Was it your fault, Tar? Did you give her alcohol that was too strong?”
“This is crazy! Is she going to die from alcohol?”
“Who knows?! She was never that strong!” The voices of shouting and
arguing filled the room.
“Time, give me your phone. I’m going to call Jade.”
“Wait, are you calling the police?” Tar said immediately.
“I’m calling Jade. He can come along with the ambulance.”

“Are you crazy?! What if they blame us? Are we going to jail?” Bell shouted,
trying to leave, but Jay grabbed her arm.
“Are you just going to leave Puifai like this?” The room fell silent, only
Cherine’s sobs could be heard.
“Puifai, please wake up. Wake up, please. Don’t do this to us.” At this
moment, the small hope that it was all a joke was fading. Everyone was
trapped in their own thoughts, confused, scared, uncomfortable, stressed,
worried, and distrustful.
The sound of the ambulance outside the building made everyone look at each
other. Jay ran to open the door to call the ambulance and encountered a
paramedic running toward them with a medical equipment bag.
“Where’s the injured?” he asked in a grave, hurried voice. Although he was
wearing a mask, the seriousness of the doctor could be guessed, as Cherine
had reported that her friend had hypothermia and had stopped breathing after
drinking alcohol with the group.

The doctor approached the motionless person, placed the stethoscope on the
left side of the chest, frowned, and then moved it below the chest. He
examined various parts of the body as the seven friends watched anxiously.
After a thorough check, he removed the stethoscope and looked at the young
people watching him.

“The victim... has passed away.” The last hope vanished. Everyone showed
their sadness and disappointment in different ways: crying, silent, in shock.
“Hello, can I speak to Captain Jade, please?”
(What do you want to report?)

“This is Jay, Lieutenant Prai.”

Since he had been to the station many times, he recognized the voices and
names of the officers there.
(Oh, Jay, wait a moment, I’ll transfer the call to the Captain.)

Jay waited on the line and soon heard a familiar voice.

(Where have you been drinking that you haven’t come home?)
“Bro... I want to report something.”
(What do you want to report? Are you drunk and lost the car, or was there a
fight?)

Jay sighed before looking at the situation in front of him.

(What’s wrong?)
“Puifai... she’s dead, bro. We were drinking last night and got really drunk.
When dawn came, she wasn’t breathing anymore. We’ve already called the
ambulance.”
(How many are there?)
“Eight people.”
(Are you sure everyone was so drunk they fell asleep?)
“I’m sure, because I remember I was the last one to fall asleep.”
 (I’m on my way. Don’t touch anything, and everyone stays in that room. No
one leaves.) The noise on the other end of the line made Jay know his
brother was doing something.

(Is the doctor still there?)

“Yes.”

(I want to talk to him.) Jay brought the phone to the emergency doctor who
had arrived.

“Hello, I’m the emergency doctor from xxx Hospital.”

(Hello, I’m a police officer. Can I get details about the deceased’s body? Are
you sure she’s really dead?)

“Yes, you can send your forensic doctor to confirm, or I can take her to the
hospital’s autopsy department.”

(Not yet, I need to inspect the scene first. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.)
“Okay.”

After the conversation, the young doctor handed the phone back to Jay.
When he hung up, the atmosphere immediately became tense. Everyone was
shocked and confused by what had happened and began thinking about the
first thing they needed to do: run away from the problem.

“Where are you going, Tar?”

“I’m going home.”

“How can you leave? The police haven’t arrived yet.”

“You stay, I’m leaving.” Jay grabbed his friend’s arm and pushed him against
the wall in frustration.

“What’s wrong with you, Tar? Puifai was your friend too. She was drinking
with us last night. Shouldn’t we stay until the police arrive? What are you so
afraid of?”

Everyone fell silent. It wasn’t like they had never drunk together until they
passed out before, but something this serious had never happened.
“Doctor, do you know the cause of my friend’s death?”
“Right now, we can’t say the cause of death because we haven’t investigated
anything. But, given the situation, there could be several causes, like
hypothermia or acute heart failure. Did the deceased have any pre-existing
conditions?” Everyone looked at Champ, who was holding Puifai’s hand
without saying anything.

“No... I don’t know.”

“How can you not know, Champ? You were the closest to her.”
“I told you I don’t know!”

“Puifai had anemia... and I don’t know more.”

“It’s your fault for inviting her to drink,” Belle shouted in the middle of the
group of friends.

“And yours too. You knew she was sick and still let her drink.”

“That’s not fair, Bell. No one stopped her, and everyone agreed. You can’t
just blame Cherine.” Tonkla stood up and stepped between Bell and Cherine
when he saw Bell about to confront Cherine.
“Regardless of whether she died from a pre-existing condition or something
else, at least we shouldn’t be held responsible, right? We’re not involved. At
worst, we could be charged with negligence resulting in another person’s
death. That’s it, I think.”

The arguments continued endlessly. The group of friends, whom many

envied, were now insulting and blaming each other. The sound of a car
outside made everyone quiet down and gather nervously. The first person to
enter was Jade, followed by the new inspector and two more police officers.
The forensic doctor and two evidence collection team members entered the
scene and began working.

“Jade,” said Jay as he approached his older brother, before glancing at the
person next to him. He remembered this person; it was someone he had seen
at the pub the night before.

“I can’t be in charge of this case because you’re my brother. Inspector Kamin

will take the case.”
“The inspector?”

“Hello, I’m Kamin. Now we need everyone to cooperate by staying in the area
until we’ve collected all the evidence. It’s possible everyone will have to go to
 the station to give statements before we have the autopsy results to
determine the cause of death.”

“But... but we have a wedding tomorrow, and there’s also the matter of our
parents.”

“I’ll handle that. Now everyone stay calm. Officer, please take care of the
forensic part.”

“Okay.” Jade looked at his brother once more before heading to the forensic
officers from the police department to make sure the body lying there was
truly lifeless.

“The deceased is named Pawarisa, twenty-two years old. She has passed
away, likely from acute heart failure.” Jade nodded and then allowed the
hospital doctor to take Puifai’s body to the autopsy room to determine the
cause of death, and he would follow later.

“The seven of you must go to the station to give statements first. Once we
have the autopsy results and confirm it was a natural death, we’ll let you go.”
“What?” Cherine, who had just stopped crying, paused.

“Why do you have to detain us when it was an accident? We didn’t do

anything to Puifai,” said Tar firmly.

“It’s standard procedure. We need your cooperation.”

“What if I refuse?” Kamin raised an eyebrow, looking at the young man in
front of him.
“Why are you so nervous if you say you didn’t do anything? What are you
afraid of?” Kamin’s question made the young man stop immediately.

“Tar, enough. Why are you picking a fight with the officer?” Jay intervened
before looking at Kamin.

“Sorry about my friend, he’s upset about losing our friend.”

“No problem. Everyone, follow the officers to the car.” Kamin ordered two
officers to take the seven young people in two cars to the station, and he
would follow.

Observing the place, there was only one entrance and exit. The air
conditioner was set to eighteen degrees. Around the room were some small
welding equipment. In the center, there were liquor bottles, beer cans, snack
 bags, and plastic food containers scattered around. It looked like a typical
social gathering.

“I want to work on this case too.”

“Your brother is still a suspect, so you can’t.”

“I have the right to work on this case because you need my help.” Kamin
looked at Jade, who was next to him. The latter looked at him more seriously
than ever, with his arms crossed.

“Give me a reason why I should need your help.”

“One, I’m the officer in charge of this police station. Two, I’m good at my job.”
Kamin rolled his eyes, not hiding his irritation.

“And finally, Jay called me saying he and his friends were drinking until they
fell asleep. Before that, he called to say he wouldn’t come home, but he fell
asleep before finishing the call. I heard footsteps and the sound of a beer can
being kicked before the line cut off.”

“Are you saying someone wasn’t asleep?”

“Yes, someone woke up after everyone fell asleep.”

“So, could it have happened at that time?”
“Will you let me help now?”
“Fine. But if I see you cross the line in this case, whether for your brother or
any other reason, I’ll remove you from the case immediately.”
“Understood.”
“There are two things we need to do from now on. First, separate the seven
young people and interrogate them one by one.”
“And second, get the autopsy results to determine the cause of Puifai’s death,
right?”
“Yes.”

“I know your thoughts so well, it seems we’ll work together without issues.”
“Knowing me so well, you’ll probably become very annoying.” Kamin forced a
smile before turning to give orders to his evidence collection team, ignoring
Jade behind him. Jade stopped smiling and looked at the liquor glasses
scattered on the floor. All the glasses were empty, which was unusual. Not a
single drop of alcohol was left in any of the eight glasses.
 CHAPTER 5

The police station in the early hours of the morning, aside from the officers on
duty, didn’t have many citizens present.** In the waiting room, five fourth-year
students were sitting separately in different corners, their faces tense, as two
of them were being interrogated.

Jay and Mai were the first to be called in to give their statements. If they were
called one by one, they feared the next ones on the list would argue about
who was to blame, which would complicate the case.

Time was waiting in a separate room, as instructed by the police, while they
prepared some documents. Jay was sitting in a room with a one-way mirror
on one side, connected to the observation room. It didn’t take long before
Kamin entered with a relaxed attitude, sat across from Jay, and offered him a
bottle of water.
“Drink some water, don’t get nervous.”
“Thank you.”
“Are you still feeling dizzy?”
“No, not anymore.”

Kamin didn’t adopt an intimidating attitude, as that would only make the
person being interrogated more nervous and cause them to forget or distort
the facts.
“What about my brother?”
“He’s waiting outside.” Jay nodded, understanding.

“Shall we start? It seems you’re already familiar with police work.”

“Something like that.”
“Before the gathering, what were you doing at the university?”
“It was the last day of orientation for the new students.”
“Around what time?”

“Around four in the afternoon.”

“Normally, that room is locked, right? How did you get the key?”
“That room is a faculty storage room. It’s often used for secret gatherings. We
just bribed the guard and got the key. Champ was the one who got the key.”
Kamin nodded, understanding.
 “What time did you start drinking?”

“If I remember correctly, around eight in the evening.”

“You and your seven friends have been close since when?”

“Since our first year.”

“That’s quite a long time. Have you ever had fights?”

“Like any group of friends, we’ve had some, but never anything serious
enough to hurt each other.”

“Can you tell me what happened last night while you were drinking?” Kamin’s
soft voice made Jay relax and focus more. Jay began to respect the person in
front of him, even though he didn’t know him well yet.
“We started drinking and talking about the future and other topics. Then we
played a game.”
“What game?”
“We played ‘Truth or Dare.’”
“I know that game.” Kamin didn’t rush the interrogation or push too hard. He
tried to ask direct questions while keeping the conversation casual to avoid
creating too tense an atmosphere.
“And then what happened?”
“We played until midnight and started getting drunk because we were made
to drink straight liquor several times as punishment.”
“Do you remember what time you passed out?”
“Around one, I think. I don’t remember well because I was very drunk.”
“Your brother said you called him, right?”
“Yes, I called Jade to tell him I wouldn’t be coming home, but I don’t
remember what happened after that.”
“You said you were the last to fall asleep, are you sure?”

“Yes, even though I was drunk, I remember seeing everyone on the floor
before calling my brother.”
“Okay. What time did you wake up?”
“I’m not sure, but when I woke up, I felt very dizzy, so I washed my face and
woke everyone up. It must have been around four.”
“Describe your dizziness to me.”
“The usual hangover: dizziness, a bit of nausea, headache. Everything was
blurry in my memories.” Kamin nodded, a doubt in his mind.
“Who was the first to notice that Puifai had died?”
“I asked Time to wake Puifai, and he started shouting that she was dead. Bell
and Cherine confirmed it, so I called an ambulance.”
“Your brother is a police officer, why didn’t you call him first if someone had
died?”
“I intended to call, but...”
“But?”
“But we called the ambulance first, waited for it to arrive, and when the doctor
confirmed Puifai was dead, then I called Jade.”
“Why didn’t you call your brother first?”
“I was afraid it might have been our mistake and it would turn into a big
problem.” Kamin glanced briefly at the mirror before looking back at Jay.

“Who did you ask to call the ambulance? I don’t think I heard that clearly.”
“I asked Tonkla to call.”

“Okay, that’s all for today. If I have more questions, we’ll talk again.”
“Do you think it wasn’t an accident?” Jay asked worriedly.

“What do you think?”

“I don’t know.” Kamin placed his hands on the table and leaned forward,
looking Jay in the eyes as if he were a helpless puppy.
“Everyone has things on their mind that they don’t tell anyone, not even their
friends.” Kamin’s expression changed after speaking, and he left the room to
go to the connected room.

In the adjacent room with the one-way mirror, Jade was standing, watching
his brother through the glass with a serious expression.
“Did you write everything down, Lieutenant Ken?”
“Yes, Inspector.”
“He didn’t tell everything.” Kamin looked at the one who had sighed.
“Someone stopped him from calling.” Jade, with his arms crossed, didn’t take
his eyes off his brother.
“How do you know it wasn’t him who decided not to call?”
“I know my brother well.”

“I warned you not to mix personal feelings with the case, or I’ll remove you.”
“What personal feelings? Familial or... ours?” Jade smiled, but received a
forced smile in return.
“I never said I don’t like you, but I don’t let my feelings interfere with the case.
Don’t worry.”
 “You have a lot to say, Kamin.”
“You too, Jade.”

Lieutenant Ken, sitting and taking notes of the interrogation, watched his
superiors excitedly. He rarely saw someone argue with the Captain so evenly,
and it was even rarer to see the Captain being reprimanded.
“Should I call the next one?” Lieutenant Prai, who had just entered and saw
her superiors in a heated argument, felt nervous and spoke softly.
“Please, Lieutenant Prai.” Kamin looked away from Jade to look toward the
door.
“Yes, Inspector.”
“I won’t bother you anymore. Let’s work together amicably,” said Jade, raising
his hands in surrender.
“I hope you can do that for at least ten minutes.”

“What do you think caused those symptoms? I don’t think they were just
drunk and hungover; they wouldn’t have all passed out at the same time. Jay
has quite a high alcohol tolerance.” Kamin thought for a moment before
answering.
“Midazolam.”
“Why do you think it was that drug?”

“It’s just a guess. But first, we need to interrogate everyone and send the
liquor glasses to forensics for analysis.”

“After the interrogations, we’ll collect the autopsy results from the hospital and
the information from the forensic department.”

“Understood.” Kamin looked at the red-haired young man who had just
entered the interrogation room. He seemed nervous, looking around and
clenching his hands.

“Go ahead.”

“Do you want to see my skills?” Jade smiled at Kamin before leaning on the
edge of the mirror.
“Yes, with all your talk, I want to see if you have more than just words. Go
ahead.”
Jade shrugged and entered the interrogation room.

When the door opened, Time jumped. Jade approached and patted him on
the shoulder, offering him a bottle of water with a relaxed attitude.
 “Jade! I didn’t do anything, I swear!”

“Calm down, Time. Stay calm. The more useful your statement is, the better it
will be for you.” Jade knew how nervous Time could get, as he had seen it
many times since Jay entered university.
“What about Jay?”
“He’s in another room giving his statement. You drank last night, right? What
did you do before?”
“Before, we had a medal ceremony for the new students. Puifai was fine at
that time.”
“During the drinking, did anyone do anything strange or act unusually?”
“No... but...” Time hesitated before continuing. “I don’t know if it’s strange, but
at one point we ran out of ice, so I went to buy more at the store outside the
university. When I came back, I saw Champ talking to Cherine outside. It
looked like they were arguing, but when they saw me, they said they were just
smoking.”
“Champ, Puifai’s boyfriend?”
“Yes.”
“You were the first to touch Puifai, why did you think she was dead?”
“Because her body was so cold! And when I put my hand under her nose, I
didn’t feel her breathing. But I didn’t do anything!”
“Just because of that, you thought she was dead? Didn’t you try to check her
pulse or listen to her heart?”

“Who would have the calm to do that? My friend was cold and not breathing!
If I didn’t pee myself from fear, that’s already a lot.”
“What were you doing around midnight?”
“I didn’t check the clock or touch my phone. Who knows? I was probably
drunk and playing. It was my turn to answer questions.”
“Questions? What game were you playing?”
“Truth or Dare.” Jade began asking the same questions Kamin had asked Jay
earlier. Their answers matched in everything. Until Jade reached a question
that still intrigued him.
“Why didn’t you call the police or me when you found out Puifai was dead?”
“It was Tar and Belle, they stopped Jay.”
“Tar and Belle?”
“Yes, they were probably afraid of being accused too.” Panic and confusion
are common reactions, but if someone tries to run when their friend has died,
that’s suspicious.
“One last question. Who prepared the drinks last night?”
 “Tonkla.” Jade nodded and asked Lieutenant Prai to take Time to the waiting
room with Jay, who had already finished his statement. Both didn’t know what
their friend was doing or what he had said.

Kamin entered the room to talk to Jade about Time’s statement. Although the
details matched, the argument between Champ and Cherine outside was still
suspicious, as were Tar and Belle. Tonkla, who prepared the drinks, was also
a key piece, as he could have put something in the glasses without anyone
noticing.
“Who’s next?”
“I think Tar and Belle. They seem the most worried. Whether out of fear,
anxiety, or nervousness, we might get something from them.”
“Okay.”

֍~~~~֍

In the waiting room, the five students were sitting separately, growing more
worried as time passed.
“Why is this taking so long? When can I go home?” Tar got up from the couch
and started pacing back and forth under the others’ gaze.
“I’m not waiting anymore. I’m calling my mom,” said Belle, also standing up.
But before she could reach the door, it opened.
“Belle and Tar, please come in to give your statements.”
“Wait, what about Jay and Time?”
“They’ve already finished giving their statements.”
“Why them first? What did they say?”
“I’m just here to take you to the interrogation room. Please follow me.” Belle
and Tar looked at each other before following Lieutenant Prai.

This time, Jade and Kamin decided to interrogate both together. The
impulsive and nervous attitude of these two might make them reveal things
they were trying to hide.
“Hello, both of you.”
“He... hello,” said Tar, a bit nervous, while Belle seemed more annoyed.

“Hello.”
“Shall we start?”
“If we give our statements, can we go home?”
“Yes, we can only hold you for forty-eight hours.”
“Can we call our parents?”
“We’ve already notified them. They’re on their way.” Both relaxed a little, and
Kamin took the opportunity to continue the interrogation.
“How long have you been friends?”
“Since our first year,” Bell answered, and Tar nodded to confirm.
“Have you ever had fights?”

“No.”

“No.”

“Then, can you tell me what happened from when you started drinking until
you realized Puifai had died?” Both looked at each other, as if deciding who
would speak first. Finally, Tar began.

They took turns recounting what had happened without interruptions,

complementing each other, until...
“Bell was the one who touched Puifai and said she was dead.”
“Why are you saying that?! I wasn’t the only one who touched her!” Bell
shouted.
“You didn’t touch her? Only Time touched her?”
“You also shouted when the doctor said Puifai was dead!” Bell stood up and
yelled at Tar.
“Who knows?! Maybe you did something to Puifai! You almost did it before!”
“Damn it, Belle!”

Seeing that both were about to fight, Kamin stepped between them, while
Jade held Tar back.
“If you use violence, you’ll face real charges,” said Kamin, separating them.
“One more question, Tar. Did you call the ambulance?”
“No.”
“Then who did?”
“I don’t know!” Tar glared at Belle angrily before trying to break free, but he
couldn’t overcome Jade’s strength.
“Go calm down.” Jade took Tar to the waiting room, leaving Belle and Kamin
alone.
“Belle, what did you mean?”

“Someone like him, I’m not surprised he gets nervous talking to the police.”
“Why?”
“Because he uses drugs! He had drugs that night. Who knows? Maybe he
drugged Puifai. Or ask his friend Cherine, who cried so much. I don’t know if
 she was really sad or pretending.” Belle finished speaking and left the
interrogation room, pushing past Kamin.

It seems the group of friends that many envied is no longer what outsiders
see.
CHAPTER 6

**The tall man with the buzz cut that made his face look more attractive
entered the interrogation room.** Tonkla’s calm demeanor made Jade’s
eyebrows rise slightly. Kamin, who was observing from the observation room,
also noticed the same thing.

Tonkla seemed too calm despite being in the middle of a police interrogation
and the recent death of a friend in the group. However, the guy in front of
them didn’t seem sad or nervous at all.
“Sit down.”
“Yes.”
“Do you want some water or prefer coffee?”
“No, thank you. Ask whatever you want, brother Jade.”
“Okay.” Jade crossed his arms and looked at the guy in front of him with a
relaxed attitude. “Tell me what happened while you were drinking together.”
“After the welcome ceremony, we went to that room. We all helped set up the
room, unpacked the food, and then sat down to drink as usual. Time and Jay
arrived later. Then we drank, played, and fell asleep. When we woke up, we
found Fai dead.”
“Where were those two?”
“I don’t know.”

“What did you drink?”

“Liquor and beer, as usual.”
“Did you prepare the drinks for everyone?”
“Yes.” Every question Jade asked, Tonkla answered immediately without
hesitation. There were two reasons for this: one, the guy was honest and
could answer without issues; two, he was blatantly lying and had prepared
everything in advance.
“How much did everyone drink to fall asleep at the same time?”
“We decided to drink until we were exhausted to celebrate the end of the
welcome ceremony. No one worried about going home, so we drank without
restrictions.”
“According to what your friends said, you played ‘Truth or Dare,’ right?”
“Yes.”
 “Then let’s play.” Jade leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table and
looking at the guy in front of him with an empty gaze. “I ask you, besides you,
did anyone else handle the drinks?”
“What if I don’t answer?”
“Then I dare you to stay in this room with me for an hour.” Being with a cop
who could ask questions at any moment for more than twenty minutes was
already exhausting. If there was something to hide, it wouldn’t be good.
“No, no one else touched the drinks. I prepared the liquor and poured the
beer all night.”

“I see. Then, let me ask you, when you found out Fai had died, were you the
one who called the ambulance?”
“Yes, it was me because Jay told me to call.”
“Okay, you can go rest.”

Jade leaned back in his chair as the tall guy left the room. He looked at the
clean white ceiling, closed his eyes slowly, and then laughed.
“What are these kids up to?” Kamin looked at Jade, who was laughing alone
in the room, and sighed. The events the kids recounted matched, but there
were some details that didn’t add up. The difficulty of this case was that there
were no security cameras in the room, and the only exterior camera that
should have captured the entrance was pointing at the sky. This had been the
case for over a month, probably because the students who used the room
secretly didn’t want to be caught.
“Earlier, when we interrogated Tar, did the captain also ask him if he was the
one who called the ambulance?”
“Yes, Inspector.” Jade probably asked random questions to ensure his
brother’s testimony was correct, but it was clear that at the time, no one was
conscious enough to know what the others were doing due to panic and
worry. The testimony about Jay and Tonkla calling the ambulance matched,
but Kamin still didn’t rule out any suspicions.

Kamin walked to the interrogation room and approached Jade, who was still
leaning back with his eyes closed.
“Get out of here, Jade. I’ll interrogate the other two.”

With no response, Kamin approached Jade’s chair and looked at him with
irritation. “Captain, is it nap time?”

Jade’s black eyes opened and looked at Kamin without looking away. His
serious face and playful smile left Kamin speechless.
 “There are two people left, one is the boyfriend and the other is the best
friend. Who seems more suspicious?”
“Aren’t they all suspects? I won’t make random guesses.”
“You’re no fun.” Jade stood up and stretched. It was already seven in the
morning. The kids’ parents were waiting outside. They couldn’t waste any
more time. Without clear evidence, they couldn’t hold anyone.
“This is a waste of time.”
“Quick, interrogate the last two people, Inspector. I’m hungry.”
“If you’re hungry, go get something to eat. I don’t have you chained up.”

Kamin was too tired to argue, so he ordered Lieutenant Bpraay to bring

Champ in for questioning.
“Breakfast is important. If you skip it, your brain won’t function well, and you
won’t be able to solve the case.” Kamin didn’t respond but sat across from
Jade, resting his chin on his hand and looking at him with an exasperated
expression.
“Do you always work like this?”
“Like what?”
“Like it’s all a game. This is a murder case, Captain.”

“Do I seem like I’m playing?” Jade leaned toward Kamin, his eyes filled with
seriousness and intensity. There was no trace of the earlier joke in his voice
or behavior.

“The more you push, the more the kids will resist and hide. Do you really think
every answer you’ve gotten so far is true? If this case was an accident, fine.
But if it’s murder, it means one of the seven planned it from the start. Do you
really think the killer will confess, Inspector?”

The two stared at each other in silence until there was a knock on the door,
and Lieutenant Bpraay entered with a tall, disheveled young man with black
hair.
“I’ll go make some coffee.” Jade smiled at Kamin and stood up, but before
leaving, he stopped in front of Champ and smiled at him. “Make yourself at
home.”
“Thank you.”
“Sit down.” Kamin stopped worrying about the police station captain and
focused on interrogating the other two people. “Champ, right?”
“Yes.”
“Tell me about your relationship with Puy Fai.”
“I’m her boyfriend.”
“Did you have any problems or arguments?”
 “Sometimes.”
“Can you tell me about them?”

**Dare You To Death ไขคดีเป็ นเห็นคดีตาย / MTRD.S**

**Translations Bleistas_Blackrose85 / From Fans for Fans / Do Not Rename**

“Puy Fai is jealous, so we sometimes had issues because of that.”

“Did you sit next to Puy Fai last night? Did you see anything strange or notice
her acting differently?”
“No, nothing.”
“Did Puy Fai drink a lot?”
“Not much.”
“If she didn’t drink much, she shouldn’t have died, right?”
“Lately, Puy Fai was stressed about her final year of studies and job hunting,
so she had trouble sleeping. She took medication, but I don’t know what
kind.”
“I see.” Kamin nodded and continued. “Tell me what happened last night after
the welcome ceremony.”

Champ recounted the events of the previous night from start to finish. The
details matched what the others had said, but he omitted the part where he
went out to talk with Seren.
“That’s the whole story.”
“What’s the relationship between Puy Fai and Seren?”
“They’re close friends.”
“Since when?”

“Since high school, I think. Puy Fai told me they became friends in high
school and promised to attend university together.”
“So they’re quite close.” Kamin leaned back in his chair, more relaxed. “Your
girlfriend died. Are you very sad?”
“Of course. We made plans for the future together, work, moving in. I can’t
believe Puy Fai is dead.” People express grief in different ways, but the
indifference he showed seemed a bit cold for someone who claimed to have a
future together.

In the waiting room, only Cherine remained, sitting on the couch, nervously
rubbing her hands. Her large, slanted eyes looked around cautiously. When
she made sure the room had security cameras, she stood up and walked
toward the trash can. With her hand in her skirt pocket, she seemed to be
 pulling something out, but a greeting startled her, and she quickly pretended
nothing was happening.
“I see you’ve been waiting a while. Would you like a sandwich?”
“Thank you.” She returned to the couch and took the sandwich Jade offered
her.
“What were you doing just now?”
“Just throwing away a tissue.”
“I’m sorry about your friend.” Cherine didn’t respond, only nodded slightly. Her
red eyes, a sign she had been crying a lot, made Jade offer her a tissue to
wipe her tears. “I understand you’ve been friends for a long time.”
“Yes, we’ve been friends since high school.”
“Had Fai ever had any similar problems before?”

“No, normally when we went out drinking, Fai drank without issues. But lately,
Fai has been stressed about exams and future work, so she’s had insomnia.
I’ve seen her buy sleeping pills. I’m not sure if that had any effect.” Jade
listened attentively, his face unreadable.

“When the incident happened, you must have been very scared.”
“Yes, I was so scared I didn’t know what to do.”

“Then Jay asked Tonkla to call the hospital, right?”

“Tonkla, right? Yes, Tonkla was the one who called.” Jade nodded, holding
two cups of coffee, and stood up with a smile.

“Don’t worry. Relax. I’ll leave before the inspector complains about the late
coffee.” Jade spoke with a look of boredom before excusing himself and
leaving the room. Once the door closed, his smile slowly faded. During
Champ’s interrogation, Jade was also present, so he knew all the answers
and the cadence of the responses. This indicated that the two guys had
already talked beforehand and possibly agreed on a narrative. If one wasn’t
lying and forcing the other to follow a story, then both were collaborating to
hide the truth.

After Champ left, Cherine was taken to the interrogation room. Her account of
the events matched in every detail, but like Champ, she omitted the part
where she went out to talk with him outside.

“Do you normally smoke?”

“No.”
“Really? I must be confused, because earlier Time said he saw you smoking
outside with Champ.” Kamin kept his expression impassive as Cherine began
to feel nervous.
“I just went out for some fresh air. It was cold inside, and I ran into Champ
outside. I thought it wasn’t important, so I forgot about it.”
“Let me ask you a couple more questions. Everyone’s parents are already
waiting. Had Fai ever had any conflicts with anyone before?”
“No, Fai wasn’t the type to look for trouble.”
“And in the group? Did the eight of you ever have any conflicts?”
“No, we never argued.”
“Okay, that will be all for today. We’ll be in touch if there are more questions.”
“Yes.” Seren was taken to the waiting room with the others. The silent
atmosphere didn’t surprise Kamin. It was a mix of distrust and wariness, so
no one spoke first.

“That’s all for today. After we receive the forensic autopsy results, we’ll inform
you. If there are still doubts, we may need to invite you to testify again...
individually.” Jade entered the room and handed Kamin a cup of coffee.

“Your parents are waiting outside. Go home safely.” No one said anything;
everyone stood up and hurried out, except Jay, who approached his brother
with a tense face.

“Let’s grab something to eat, and then I’ll take you home.”
“When will we get the autopsy results?”
“Soon.”
“Have you already informed Fai’s parents?”
“Yes.” Jade looked at his brother without smiling. “Tell me the truth, what are
you hiding?”
“Nothing.”
“Then why did you hesitate during the interrogation?”
“When did I hesitate?”
“When I asked you why you didn’t tell me first.” Jay remained silent, looking at
Kamin, who was drinking coffee and listening to the conversation.
“I was afraid the inspector would distrust Tar and Belle. Even though they
have bad tempers, they wouldn’t hurt anyone.”
“How can you be so sure? You’re not even the same as you were an hour
ago; how can you trust the others, Jay?”
“I’m their friend.”
“How well do you think you know your friends?” Jade stopped paying
attention to his brother and turned to Kamin. “Let’s grab something to eat.”
“I don’t have time.”
 “I’m going to eat and then to the hospital. Join me if you want.”

“Come on, Inspector Kamin, you’ve been working all night.” Kamin looked at
the brothers alternately. Aside from their physical resemblance, their
personalities were like from different worlds.
“I’ll drive.” Kamin sighed tiredly.
“It was just an invitation to eat, not to sleep together.”
“With that mouth, I thought you ate croquettes.” The brothers watched
Kamin’s back as he walked away until he was out of sight.
“He’s cute, Jade.”
“Cute? Do you need glasses, Jay? With that mouth, how can he be cute?”
“Yes, he is. From the first day I saw him, I thought he was cute. Today, even
though the situation is bad, I still think he’s cute.”
“The first day?”
“I saw him at the Drink Me club. His eyes are beautiful.” Jade narrowed his
eyes and looked at his brother before making a face.
“Sure, sure. How did you see his eyes in such a dark club?”
“In the bathroom.”
“Wait and see. When he yells at you, you’ll forget how cute he is.”
“So, you also think Inspector Kamin is cute?” Jay looked at his brother as they
walked to the parking lot. When they arrived, they saw Kamin talking on the
phone. When he saw them, Kamin rolled his eyes.

“Is that your cute guy?”

“Yes.”

The brothers stopped arguing about how cute the new inspector was as soon
as they got in the car, fearing that if they talked too much, Kamin would leave
them on the road. And by the look on Kamin’s face, it seemed like he would.!
 CHAPTER 7

Kamin rolled his eyes as he watched the two brothers sitting across from him,
arguing over breakfast.** He was about to finish eating, but the two in front of
him wouldn’t stop bickering.
“Eat your food, Jade. Why are you stealing mine?”
“I paid.” Jade took a meatball from Jay’s plate and ate it, raising an eyebrow
with satisfaction.
“Damn it. Brother Min, did you just arrive as the new inspector here?” Jay
muttered, complaining about his brother, then turned to Kamin, who was
watching the cars pass by outside.
“Yes.”
“Are you going to handle this case?”
“Yes.”
“Do you think this is a murder?” Kamin looked across the table and sighed.
“You’re still a suspect, you know.”
“A friend of mine died. I need to know what happened.” Jay’s seriousness
didn’t soften Kamin at all.
“The inspector won’t say anything. The case is under investigation.” Jade
finished his last spoonful of rice and looked at Kamin.
“Can I go to the hospital with you? I promise not to cause trouble.”

**Dare You To Death ไขคดีเป็ นเห็นคดีตาย / MTRD.S**

**Translations Bleistas_Blackrose85 / From Fans for Fans / Do Not Rename**

“Ask your brother. I’ll wait in the car. Follow me when you’re done.” Kamin left
a purple bill on the table and walked out, leaving the brothers staring at each
other with different expressions.
“Is he always this serious?”
“I don’t know. I just started working with him. Hey, pay the bill.” Jade called
the restaurant owner, picked up the money Kamin had left, paid with his own
money, and pocketed the change.
“Can I go to the hospital with you?”
“What for? You won’t be able to get in anyway.”
“I just want to know.”
“Jay, I’m asking you seriously, do you really not know, or are you just hiding
something about the problems among your friends?” Jay looked at his
brother, whose face was more serious than usual.
 “Of course there are problems, but do you think it would lead to murder?”
“Let me ask you, who had the most problems with Fai, in your opinion?” Jay
thought for a while as his brother paid the restaurant owner.
“Ugh, I don’t know if the others had issues, but Tar and Fai had a fight in our
second year.”
“Why?”
“During the welcome ceremony. We, the second-years, were the leaders of
the activities. After the ceremony, we went to Tar’s house to celebrate. There
were almost twenty of us.” Jay ran a hand through his gray hair and
continued. “In the second or third round, those who could went home, and
those who were drunk stayed. When Time and I were about to leave, we
heard a scream and ran upstairs. I saw Tar on top of Fai.”
“What did you do?”
“We stopped him. I remember Time and I held him back. Then he apologized
to Fai. At first, it seemed like they would stop being friends, but Champ asked
for it.”
“Champ, Fai’s boyfriend?”
“Yes, after the incident, when Champ helped Fai, they became a couple.”

Jade listened silently, taking in all the information. When they got to the car,
they saw Kamin on the phone.
“Yes, I’m on my way.”
“Who was it?” Jade asked when Kamin hung up.
“The forensics department. They said the analysis of the liquids in the glasses
and bottles from the scene is ready.”
“And what did they say?” Kamin looked at the guy in the back seat and drove
without saying anything else. Jade understood and didn’t press further.
“Where do I drop your brother off?”
“At home. I’ll give you directions.”
“Brother Min.”
“What?”

**Dare You To Death ไขคดีเป็ นเห็นคดีตาย / MTRD.S**

**Translations Bleistas_Blackrose85 / From Fans for Fans / Do Not Rename**

“If you need more questions, you can call me.”

“Why should the inspector call you, Jay? Does he have your number?”
“It should be in my file. Are you really a cop?”
“Which way do I turn, Jade?”
“Right.” Kamin followed the directions and picked up the phone vibrating in
the cup holder.
 “Hello.”
[Inspector Kamin, I heard you’re investigating the death of the student at the
university. Just a group of kids drinking. I don’t think it needs this much time
to investigate.]
“It hasn’t even been forty-eight hours. Do you call that a long time?”
[One of those kids’ parents is someone important. You should close the case
soon.]
“I have my investigation methods. Thanks for the advice, but I can handle it.”
Jade watched Kamin at the wheel. Although his face remained impassive, his
tone showed he was holding back frustration.
[I think it’s nothing more than an accident. You should spend your time on
something else.]
“Is that all, Commander? I’m working.”
“Inspector, hang up. We’re almost there.” Jade raised his voice and pointed to
the neighborhood.

“That’s all, Commander.” Kamin hung up and carelessly tossed the phone
aside.
“So annoyed? He must have said something you didn’t like.”
“Yeah.”

In the parking lot were two motorcycles and two luxury cars, probably
belonging to the two brothers in the car.
“I’m leaving, Brother Min. Thanks for bringing me.” Jay leaned toward the
front seat and smiled at Kamin, until his brother pushed him away in
annoyance.
“Get out already.”

After dropping Jay off, they headed to the hospital where Puy Fai’s body was.
They needed to collect the autopsy results to determine the cause of death
and then return to the forensics department to review the evidence from the
scene. All of this would tell them whether it was an accident or murder.
“Jay told me the victim and a guy named Tar had issues before.” Jade broke
the silence in the car.
“What kind of issues?”
“Harassment and attempted assault.” Kamin looked at his partner. Such a
serious incident—he didn’t believe they could remain friends. Jade recounted
everything he’d heard from his brother so they could analyze it.
“How could they stay in the same group after something like that?”
“Jay said it was because Champ asked for it.”
“If it happened once, it could happen again.”
 “Let’s wait for the autopsy results.” They arrived at the hospital’s forensics
department at nine in the morning. Upon entering, they saw the forensic
doctor signing a report next to a body covered with a white sheet.
“Ah, you’re here. One moment, please.” The young man in a lab coat
removed his cap, gloves, and mask, then picked up a folder and approached
Kamin and Jade. “It’s not common to perform autopsies like this. Normally,
we only deal with natural deaths. The last time was a gruesome murder at the
beach.”

Jade nodded, understanding. That case had been shocking for the police and
forensic doctors, but since it was a special unit case, the body wasn’t there for
long.
“Have you already done the autopsy?”
“Yes. I’ll explain it part by part. If you have questions, let me know. But first,
let me introduce myself. I’m Yotphon, you can call me Phut. I’m the forensic
doctor here.”
“I’m Kamin, and this is Captain Jade.”
“Nice to meet you. It’s not appropriate to talk here. Let’s go to my office.” Phut
led them to his office, cluttered with disorganized documents. “Sorry for the
mess. I don’t usually have visitors. Would you like coffee or water?”
“No, thanks. Can you tell us the cause of death? We have other matters to
attend to.”
“Sure. Let’s start.” Phut swept the documents off the desk and opened a
brown folder. “I hope you haven’t registered the case as an accident.”

Kamin and Jade exchanged glances, then looked at the forensic doctor, who
adjusted his glasses.
“Because this is a murder.”
“No need for the drama, Doctor. The criminal might escape while you’re
talking.” Jade complained, puffing his cheeks in frustration.
“I don’t want you to stress. The cause of death is more concerning.”
“Tell us, Phut.”
“The cause of Puy Fai’s death was heart failure.”
“And?” Jade pressed him.
“If it were normal, it would be an accident. But look at this.” The doctor
pointed to a document with hard-to-read values, but one medication name
was clear.
“I analyzed the victim’s blood and found three medications. They’re normally
used in medicine, but in proper doses and under supervision. In this case,
whoever injected them wasn’t careful.”
“Injected?”
 “Yes. Let me explain.” Phut showed a photo of the thigh with a red mark and
a needle puncture. “These three medications are used in criminal executions.”
“Sodium Thiopental.”
“Pancuronium Bromide.”
“Potassium Chloride.”

Kamin read the names and listened as Phut continued.

“Sodium Thiopental is a medication used to induce anesthesia. Pancuronium
Bromide is a muscle relaxant that stops respiratory function. Potassium
Chloride causes hyperkalemia, and if used in excessive amounts, it can lead
to cardiac arrhythmias and, eventually, heart failure and death.”
“Were they all injected together?”
“According to the results, they weren’t injected at the same time. If it was a
murder, the perpetrator might have wanted the victim to appear asleep to
avoid suspicion.”
“Is it related to alcohol?”
“No, no alcohol levels above the limit were found in the victim’s blood.”
“Time of death?”
“Between 12:45 and 1:00 a.m.” This matched Jay’s testimony, who said he
passed out around 1:00 a.m. “There are no other external injuries, just the
needle mark in the photo.”
“And internally?”
“I’ll perform the autopsy tomorrow.”
“Inform me of the results.”
“Of course.”

Kamin left with the report, visibly tense. He needed to return to the station and
check if the substances found in the glasses and bottles from the scene
contained any of these three medications.
“I’ll drive.” Jade stepped in his way.
“I can drive.”
“Drive or read? I don’t want to end up in the hospital because the inspector
reads documents while driving.”
“Fine.” Kamin handed over the keys and kept reading the report.

As they left the forensics department, an emergency gurney rushed past.

Kamin was pulled into a strong chest and hugged around the waist.
“Sorry, sorry!” The nurse apologized as he pushed the gurney with the
patient.
“I understand you’re stressed about the case, but be careful.”
“Let me go.”
“Not even a thank you.”
 “Thank you.”
“More sweetly.”
“If you don’t let me go, you’ll walk back to the station, Jade.”
“Sorry, but I have the keys.” Kamin broke free with irritation. Jade just laughed
and let go, taking his hand instead. “Let’s go, so you don’t crash into anyone
else.”

Kamin let himself be guided while continuing to read the report intently. He
had to figure out who and why committed this murder. He hoped it wouldn’t
get more complicated.
 CHAPTER 8

Kamin and Jade returned to the police station, but this time they headed to
the forensics department to get the results of the chemical substance tests
and fingerprints from the scene of the incident.**
“Where are you going so fast?” Jade walked with his arms crossed, watching
Kamin’s back as he almost ran.
“The faster we review everything, the faster we’ll find the culprit.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Jade pretended to clean his ears and rolled his eyes, annoyed
by Kamin’s attitude, as if he were carrying the weight of the world alone.

They arrived at the forensics department, and before entering, they heard
voices.
“Did you spill water on the report, Maan Mai?”
“I’m sorry, Miss Mirin. I’m so sorry. I’ll clean it up.” Kamin opened the door
and saw two women in lab coats arguing. One had long black hair, with
makeup that enhanced her beauty. The other held a paper, trying to dry it with
a tissue. She had a cute face and big eyes, looking at the other with sadness.
“Forget it. Destroy that document and bring the ones from my office.”
“Did you make two copies, Miss Mirin?”
“With a clumsy assistant like you, I have to be prepared.” Mirin lightly tapped
Maan Mai’s head with a pencil.
“You’re amazing, Miss Mirin. I’ll go get the documents.”

**Dare You To Death ไขคดีเป็ นเห็นคดีตาย / MTRD.S**

**Translations Bleistas_Blackrose85 / From Fans for Fans / Do Not Rename**

“Hello.” Kamin got the attention of the two women. “I’m Inspector Kamin.”
“The new inspector!” Maan Mai exclaimed excitedly, still at the door.
“Hello, Inspector. I’m Mirin, head of the forensics department. This is Maan
Mai, my assistant. The others are out for lunch.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m here for the test results from the university case.”
“One moment.” Mirin addressed Kamin and then looked at her assistant, who
was staring at the new inspector with admiration. “Are you going to get the
documents?”
“Oh, yes.” Maan Mai smiled at Kamin and went to the staff office.
“Have a seat, Inspector. Would you like coffee?”
 “Yes, please.”
“And you?” Mirin asked Jade, who was yawning.
“The usual.” They had worked together for a long time and knew each other
well, without needing formalities.
“One moment.” Mirin went to prepare coffee, leaving Kamin and Jade in the
waiting room in silence. Maan Mai returned and handed the documents to
Kamin, blushing.
“Thank you.”
“The inspector is younger than I imagined. I thought he’d be older and
stricter.”
“Frustrated?”

“Yes, Captain. With the previous inspector, our department was almost
empty.” Maan Mai spoke animatedly, looking at Kamin, who was reading the
documents intently. She hadn’t seen someone of high rank work so seriously
in a long time.
“Captain, is it true that the case of the eight kids is a murder?”
“How do you know?”
“From the results. Who would mix drugs into their friends’ alcohol?”
“Summarize it.”
“Wait for Mirin to explain. I don’t want her to scold me.”
“I heard you.” Mirin returned with two cups of coffee, placed them on the table
in front of Kamin and Jade, and sat next to Maan Mai.
“The tests found Midazolam in the glasses and bottles. It was likely mixed into
the alcohol or mixer and then poured into the glasses. As for fingerprints, no
others were found besides those of the eight kids.”

“We just came from forensics. The doctor told us the victim had three types of
medication in her body. They’re common medications, but combined, they’re
like an execution.” Jade showed the forensic documents to Kamin.
“If it’s those three medications, they’re specific. Where would the culprit get
them?”
“And the Midazolam? Where did they get that?”
“It’s easy to get. It’s sold online. Although it’s not illegal, many people misuse
it.”

**Dare You To Death ไขคดีเป็ นเห็นคดีตาย / MTRD.S**

**Translations Bleistas_Blackrose85 / From Fans for Fans / Do Not Rename**
 “What do we do now, Captain? This case is a mystery.” Maan Mai asked
worriedly. She had only been working for a year and had never handled a
serious murder case.
“First, we’ll review the remaining evidence. Let me know if you find anything
else.”
“Of course.” Kamin bid farewell to the two women and returned to his office.
He needed time to connect the pieces, but he was sure it was a murder.

Kamin entered with two documents, but before the door closed, someone
else came in.
“What are you doing here?”
“Working.” Jade replied, sitting on the couch and putting his feet on the table.
“You seem close to those two forensics ladies.”
“We’ve been working together for a while. We’ve been scolded for the same
thing.”
“Why?”
“For trying to solve murders, but the cases always got closed.”
“I see. Go back to your office.”
“No.”
“I don’t have time to argue with you, Jade.”
“Good, because I don’t want to argue either.” Kamin sat at his desk, ignoring
Jade’s annoyed gaze. “From the kids’ testimonies, some match, and some
don’t. We need to figure out who’s lying and why.”

**Dare You To Death ไขคดีเป็ นเห็นคดีตาย / MTRD.S**

**Translations Bleistas_Blackrose85 / From Fans for Fans / Do Not Rename**

“Let’s start with your brother.” Kamin reviewed Jay’s interrogation again, then
looked at Jade. “Your brother said he asked Tonkla to call the ambulance.
Tonkla also said he called. Cherine also said Tonkla called.”
“And?”
“But Dr. Phut, the emergency doctor, confirmed he received the call from a
woman, not a man.” They looked at each other. Jade leaned over Kamin’s
desk and took the documents without asking. Kamin was already used to his
manners.
“So, we need to talk to Cherine. If she called, why lie?”
“Let’s review everything first. The kids should be at home today, right?”
“Yes.”
“See you at one. I won’t wait if you’re late.”
“Tell me, in your old job, did you have friends or colleagues?”
“No.”
 “I figured. Would being friendly kill you, Inspector?”
“If you’re done, leave.” Jade looked at Kamin and stood up. Instead of
leaving, he lay down on the leather couch, took a gun magazine, and put it
over his face. “What are you doing, Jade?”
“Sleeping.”
“Go sleep in your office.”
“If you leave without me, what will I do?”

“Do you think I’m a two-year-old?”

“No, you’re way too grown for that.”
“Jade!”
“Do your paperwork and pretend I’m not here.”
“Jade! Jade!” Jade covered his face with the magazine and didn’t respond.
Kamin sighed repeatedly. He had never had someone so persistent.
Normally, people would back off at first, but not Jade. It was frustrating.

֍~~~~֍

The smoke from Tar’s cigarette rose in the community playground.** He was
still upset because Belle had blamed him. Luckily, the police were still unsure
about Puy Fai’s death, so they didn’t suspect the medication. He spoke well,
but he wasn’t much different from Tar.
“Hello.”
[What’s up, Tar? Why didn’t anyone from your group come to class today?]
The police had arrived at the scene early in the morning, so no student had
gone there yet. It wasn’t news yet.
“There was a problem. What’s up?”
[Same place tonight? Chai has something special to try.]
“Tonight?”
[Yeah, it’s not easy to get. Besides the special stuff, Chai got a lot of girls. He
said he won the lottery.]

[Him? More believable that he sold a lot of drugs.]

[Come on, are you coming or not? I’ll tell Chai to get girls for you too.] Tar
thought for a moment. He was already in a bad mood, so going out wouldn’t
hurt.
“Yeah, I’ll go.”
[Great, see you at eight at the usual spot.]
“Yeah.”

After hanging up, Tar thought about the fun that night. He threw the cigarette
on the ground, stomped it out, and walked home.
At the entrance of his white house, there was a motorcycle. Tar was about to
enter, but he saw a white envelope on the seat. It was addressed to him,
which made him frown.
“What’s this?” He opened the envelope without thinking much, but upon
reading it, his face paled.

TRUTH OR DARE
TAR

“What the hell?” Besides the paper, there were photos of Tar that he didn’t
know existed. If they got leaked, he’d go to jail.

The first photo was in a club, pouring sleeping pills into a girl’s drink as she
went to the bathroom.
The second photo was him injecting drugs.
The third photo was him carrying an unconscious girl to a motel.

**Dare You To Death ไขคดีเป็ นเห็นคดีตาย / MTRD.S**

**Translations Bleistas_Blackrose85 / From Fans for Fans / Do Not Rename**

The last photo was him with his group of friends, his face cut out to be
unrecognizable.

He pulled out another black paper from the envelope, sweating nervously.

TRUTH
“Is it true, Tar, that you drug girls and take them to hotels unconscious? Is it
true that you’re like a dog in heat with no control? Is it true that you drugged
Puy Fai with sexual intentions without her consent? Is it true? Is it true? Is it
true?”

DARE

“Tar!”

Tar threw the paper, looking around with paranoia. No one knew this except
his drug-addicted friends. If he got caught, they’d fall too. Why do this? He
tried to calm down, picked everything up, and ran to his room. He called his
closest friend.
[What’s up? I’m not in the mood to talk.]
 “Champ! Are you playing a joke on me?”
[What joke, Tar? If you’re high, go to sleep.]
“This damn envelope! Are you messing with me?”
[What envelope?]
“The damn Truth or Dare envelope! Is this a joke? Are you messing with me?”
[You’re delusional. If you called just to annoy me, goodbye.]

“Champ! Wait, damn it!” Tar threw the phone on the bed, frustrated. He
looked at the envelope again, put it in a drawer, and locked it.

He thought someone from the group was playing a prank on him because it
was the game they played last night. It had to be them. Tar paced nervously
around the room, sitting and lying down. When he realized it, the sun had
already set.

Seeing that nothing happened, he calmed down, thinking it was a stupid

prank. He decided to shower and get dressed to go out.
“Where are you going, Tar? Haven’t you caused enough trouble?”
“Don’t complain, Mom. Just for a bit.”
“If I don’t complain about you, who will? Your friend just died, and you’re
going out.”
“The dead are dead. I’m leaving.” Tar took his helmet and motorcycle keys
and hit the road.

The road was emptier than usual, with no cars. The streetlights flickered,
making it hard to see. The air was colder. Tar remembered the message in
the envelope and felt a chill. He shook his head to clear it, but he saw a car in
the wrong lane. The high beams blinded him, almost causing a crash. He
swerved in time and stopped to calm down. Fear and anxiety haunted him.

But Tar wasn’t thinking clearly. Recovered, he headed to the club, unaware
that the envelope demanded an answer: the truth or a deadly dare.
 CHAPTER 9

Kamin closed the file after recording everything in the database. He glanced
at his wristwatch and saw that it was late in the afternoon. When he looked
up, he saw Jade sleeping comfortably on the sofa and sighed. He put
everything away and approached the sofa.

“Jade.” The person with the book over their face and arms crossed didn’t
move.
Kamin decided to give them a gentle tap on the arm. “Jade, wake up.”
“Five more minutes.”
“No.” Kamin took the book away and saw that Jade was already awake,
smiling at him.
“Did you have fun?”
“Relax a little.” Jade pointed at Kamin’s furrowed brow. “Your eyebrows are
almost touching. Hearing you grumble for hours kept me awake.”
“I told you to sleep in your office.”
“I don’t have a sofa in my office.”
“Then where do you receive your guests?”
“I don’t receive guests.”
“Where do you usually sleep?”
“In the testing room.” Kamin rolled his eyes and grabbed the car keys from
the table.
“I’m leaving. Come if you want.”

Jade stretched. Although the sofa was comfortable, their long legs weren’t.
“If I weren’t going, I wouldn’t be sleeping here.”
“To annoy me, I suppose.”
“I can do that anytime.” Jade took the keys from Kamin’s hands and left the
room, leaving the new inspector trying not to lose his patience.
“Are we going to see Cherine?”
“Yes.”

Both headed to Cherine’s house. Kamin tried calling her, but she didn’t
answer.
 “She’s not answering.”
“Call her parents.” Kamin searched for Cherine’s parents’ number and called
the first one he found.
[Hello.]
“Hello, this is Inspector Kamin. Are you Mr. Surasak, Cherine’s father?”
[Yes.]
“I’d like to know if Cherine is at home.”
[No, she went out to see a friend.] Kamin looked at Jade and signaled them to
park the car.
“Do you know which friend?”
[I think it’s Champ. She said they were going to make an offering for Puy Fai.]
“I see. Thank you.” Kamin hung up.
“What did he say?”
“She’s probably with Champ.”
“So?”
“I’ll call Champ.” Kamin dialed Champ’s number, and this time he answered
quickly.
[Hello.]
“This is Inspector Kamin.”
[Yes.]
“Are you with Cherine right now?”
[Yes, she’s with me.]
“Where are you? I need to ask you some additional questions.”
[At the temple, we’re making an offering for Fai.]
“Alright, I’m on my way.” Kamin told Jade the name of the temple mentioned
in the call before resting his head and closing his eyes.

Jade glanced at their partner. Since yesterday, Kamin hadn’t had a chance to
sleep or rest. His usual seriousness had faded, leaving only signs of
exhaustion. Jade adjusted the air conditioning so it wouldn’t blow directly on
Kamin and drove toward their destination without bothering him as they
usually did.

At the temple, not far from the city center, a group of young people sat in a
pavilion by the water with tense expressions. A cool breeze blew, rustling the
leaves and accompanying the sighs of a young woman.
“What are we going to do?”
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t know? Fai is dead, Champ.”
“Didn’t you want this to happen?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Stop talking.”
 “Are you blaming me when we were together?”
“Shut up, Cherine, I need to focus.”
“Ha! I should’ve known how cold you are.”
“Even with the autopsy results, we won’t be guilty.”
“Are you sure it’s not because of that?”
“Or do you think it’s something else?” Cherine looked at Champ and then
looked away.
“No.”
“Shut up, the police are here.” Champ and Cherine saw the two officers
approaching.
“Hello, have you finished the offering?”
“Yes, I thought the investigation was over.”
“We’ve got more information, so we need to confirm a few things.”
“What information?”
“Cherine.”
“Yes?” Her nervousness made Kamin even more suspicious.
“In the interrogation room, who did you say called the ambulance?”
“Um... Tonkla.”
“I received information from the emergency doctor. He said the person who
called wasn’t a man... but a woman.” Cherine looked at Champ before turning
back to Kamin.
“I must’ve remembered wrong. I was confused and scared. When Jay said to
call the ambulance, I got nervous.”
“So, who called?”
“I did.”
“I see.”
“Is that all? Can we go?”
“After the interrogation, has anyone contacted your friends?”
“No.”
“I... Tar called me.”
“Tar? Why did he call?”
“He complained about a prank letter.”
“A letter? Tell me the details. I know Tar and Fai had issues.” Champ and
Cherine exchanged glances before Champ stepped in.
“That was a long time ago. Fai got over it. Tar was upset about a letter... He
said it was a Truth or Dare letter.”

Jade frowned. It was the game they had played before the death.
“What else did he say?”
“Nothing, but he seemed nervous. I thought he was overthinking it.”
“Where is he now?”
“I don’t know.”
 “Go home. I’ll contact you for more statements.”

Jade called Tar as soon as they got back to the car, but he didn’t answer.
“No answer?”
“No.”
“Do you think it’s related to this?”
“I’m not sure. That letter seems too intentional.”
“Let’s go to his house. Maybe we’ll get more information.”
“Yes.”

Jade drove quickly, and in less than half an hour, they arrived at Tar’s house.
They had a bad feeling, so they sped up more than usual.
“You can drive fast.”
“Tell me next time, and don’t worry about the tickets.”
Kamin sighed and rang the doorbell. Peering through the gate, he felt that Tar
wasn’t there.
“Hello, how can I help you?”
“Hello, I’m a police officer. Can I speak with Tar?”
“What did my son do this time?”
“I just need to ask him a few questions. Is he home?”
“He left a little while ago.”
“Do you know where he went?”
“Probably with his friends.”
“Did he mention anything about a letter?”
“I saw him with a letter, but I don’t know what it was about.”
“Thank you.” Kamin returned to the car and saw Jade on the phone. Jade
raised an eyebrow in question. “He’s not here.”
“Hello, Jay.”
[What’s up?]
“Do you know where Tar is or who he’s with?”
[Tar? Why are you asking?]
“Just answer.”
[At the Drink Me club, he goes there often. Why?]
“Nothing, thanks.”
[Wait, what’s going on?]
Jade hung up and drove to the club. The sun was beginning to set, and they
needed to hurry.

At the famous club in the city, night owls drank and danced frantically. The
deafening music enveloped them. There were private areas for large groups
or discreet activities, like Tar’s.
“This is great, bro! I’m so drunk.”
 “Yeah, if we sell this batch, I want it. Right, Tar?” Tar was snorting white
powder without speaking. “What’s wrong with you today? You haven’t said a
word.”
“My business.”
“Frustrated because you haven’t spilled anything? Ha, ha, ha.” Everyone
laughed. They knew each other well because they were all the same.
“If you’re so frustrated, go vent. I didn’t hire girls just for you to look at them.”
The leader, smoking with two girls by his side, looked at Tar. “Are you
scared?”
“No.” Tar, high, stood up and took the hand of a girl in a tight red dress,
leading her outside.

They went to a private room in the club, known for being used for intimate
encounters.
“Smile, slowly.”
“Take off your clothes.”
“Do you have condoms?”
“No.”
“Wait, I can’t without a condom.”
“Don’t be difficult. Take the pill.”
“Wait! No, I have one in my bag. Let me... ah... let me find it.” The girl tried to
avoid Tar’s hands.
“Damn it! Hurry up!” Tar was frustrated by Puy Fai’s death and the letter. He
needed to vent. As the girl searched for the condom, Tar lit a cigarette and
kicked a bucket.

The sound of the door made Tar turn around. Instead of the girl, he saw
someone in a black cloak and a white mask.
“Who are you?” The cloaked figure, covered from head to toe, tilted their head
slightly before spraying a chemical in Tar’s face. “What the hell is this?”
Tar struggled a bit, trying to fight back, but soon felt dizzy and disoriented.
The hooded figure in front of him began to multiply. One became two, then
three. Just as he was about to collapse, the stranger pulled out a sharp metal
rod and drove it into Tar’s right palm, pinning him to the wall.
“Aaargh!” Tar’s scream of pain echoed in the storage room, but unfortunately,
the music outside was much louder, and the people there paid no attention to
anything but alcohol and fun.

Another metal rod was lifted. At its end was a wire, and along the wire were
sharp blades. Tar began to feel a fear so deep that his body trembled. His red
eyes filled with tears, and his lips babbled incoherently.
 “Who... who are you? Why are you doing this?” The figure simply tilted their
head before driving another metal rod into Tar’s other hand. The young man’s
body hung with his arms pinned to the wall above his head.
“Truth or Dare,” said a distorted voice from a device on the stranger, making
Tar sob even more.
“No... I don’t know... I’m not playing... Let me go, please.”
“Truth or Dare,” the voice repeated over and over, no matter how much Tar
begged.
Another metal rod was driven into Tar’s thigh, causing blood to slowly run
down his leg and drip onto the floor.
“Please... I beg you.”
“Truth or Dare.”
“Truth.”

“Is it true that you drugged Fai?”

“No... It’s not true,” Tar denied, shaking his head. “Aaargh!”
The fourth metal rod was driven into his other leg. The pain spread and left
him numb.

“Is it true that you drugged Fai?”

“Damn it! It’s true! It’s true.”

“Is it true that you tried to assault Fai?”

“Is it true that you tried to assault Fai?”

“Is it true that you tried to assault Fai?” The question repeated over and over,
making Tar cry louder. The blood loss and the effects of the drugs disoriented
him, and he finally began to confess.

“It’s true... It’s true, but I didn’t succeed. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. Forgive me,
forgive me.” Tar mumbled apologies over and over without meaning.

The hooded figure pulled out the last metal rod. In the center of it, the other
four rods already embedded in Tar connected. They began to twist it slowly.
The more they twisted, the tighter the wire in the center became. The blades
began to cut into Tar’s flesh, making him scream in pain.
Blood flowed abundantly and pooled on the floor. The screams faded along
with his breath. The blades stopped, unable to cut beyond the bone.
The stranger dropped the rod and pulled out a black paper, a hammer, and a
nail.
 The paper was placed on Tar’s forehead, who, barely conscious, shed one
last tear of despair. The sound of the hammer echoed as the nail was driven
into his forehead. Tar, with his eyes rolled back, exhaled his last breath as he
heard a soft whisper.

CHAPTER 10

Kamin took off his tie and unbuttoned two buttons of his shirt before tossing it
onto the back seat of the car. This messy behavior made Jade laugh.
“What are you laughing at?”
“I just realized you have a messy side too.”
“I’m not a robot, you know.”
“I didn’t know that.”
“Who do you usually work with?”
“Alone. Why do you ask?” Kamin tilted his head and looked at him coldly, as
usual. Upon getting the answer, he smirked disdainfully.
“I knew it.” That expression and sarcastic tone were more direct than anything
else. This exchange showed Jade that, although Kamin seemed detached, he
actually held grudges.

When they arrived at the club, both prepared themselves. Then they began
searching for the person they needed to find. The chaos inside the club, with
the crowd and the lights, hadn’t changed since the last time. Kamin tried to
push through the crowd while looking for Tar, though it was difficult.
“Excuse me.” Kamin apologized when someone dancing wildly bumped into
him.
“No problem.” When the person turned around, Kamin frowned.
“Tonkla.”
“Oh, Inspector.”
“What are you doing here?”
“My friend died, I’m a suspect, and my friends aren’t talking to me. I need to
vent.” His slurred speech, red face, and the smell of alcohol showed how
drunk he was. “Inspector Kamin also comes here to have fun? You didn’t
seem like the type who’d come to a place like this.”

Without control, people act on their impulses. Tonkla caressed Kamin’s cheek
and smiled, but before he could do more, Kamin twisted his wrist, making him
scream.
“Ow! Hey!”
“Who did you come with? Tar?”
 “No.”
“Have you seen your friend?”
“No.” Kamin looked around and saw that Tonkla was alone.
“Go home.” The new inspector let go of Tonkla and continued searching for
Tar.

“Aaaah!” A woman’s scream cut through the music, catching Kamin’s

attention. He ran toward the sound.
When he arrived, he found a crowd blocking his way.
“Excuse me, I’m a police officer.” Kamin tried to push through, but a hand
pulled him, bringing him to the front of a storage room with a gruesome
scene.
“Here’s the guy you’re looking for.” Jade let go of Kamin and pointed at the
young man’s body.
Tar’s hands were nailed to the wall with metal rods, as were his legs. Wires
with blades cut into his flesh, causing blood to pool on the floor. The strangest
part was a nail in his forehead with a paper that read “TRUTH.”

“I’ll call the forensics team and the coroner. Don’t let anyone near the body.”
“Understood.” Jade watched Kamin push through the crowd until he
disappeared. Earlier, he had been searching for Tar on the other side of the
club. Upon hearing the woman’s scream, he ran toward the sound and found
the young woman collapsed in front of the storage room, where there was a
horrifying corpse.

After the police, the forensics team, and the coroner arrived at the scene,
Kamin ordered everyone in the club to be detained. Then, he allowed those
who had seen Tar or had clues to come forward before letting them go,
except for the woman who was with Tar, the club staff, Tar’s group of friends
in the VIP room, and finally, Tonkla.
“Did he come alone?”
“Yes, he usually comes here, to the same room, with the same group, every
week.” The employee answered Kamin willingly.
“Was there anyone else here today besides the regulars?”
“Just the girls. The group’s leader always brings new girls. When they’re
drunk enough, they go somewhere else.” Kamin nodded, understanding what
“somewhere else” meant.
“Why was he in the storage room? Did anyone see him before?”
“I don’t know. Normally, after serving drinks, we don’t bother customers in the
special rooms unless they press the call button.”
“Thanks for the information. We’ll send someone to get more details from you
and your staff.” Kamin walked to a nearby table where a woman in a sexy
dress was trembling. “Hello.”
“He... hello.” She startled and looked at Kamin.
“I’m Kamin, a police officer. Can I ask you a few questions?”
“Yes.”
“Did you know the victim?”
“No, it’s my first time.”
“What were you doing in the storage room?”
“We were going to... have sex. We were both very drunk and wanted to vent.”
“Where were you when it happened?”
“I went to get a condom from my bag, but the guys in the room asked me to
prepare more drinks, so I got delayed. When I came back and opened the
door, I saw that.”
“Did you see anyone entering or leaving the area?”
“No, I didn’t see anyone. When I came back, it was already like that...” Her
fearful expression made Kamin nod understandingly.
“We might call you to give your statement at the station. Thank you.”
“Yes.”

Meanwhile, Jade was with Maan Mai, watching Mirin collect evidence at the
scene and chatting.
“Captain, is this already considered a serial murder case?”
“Yes.”
“Finally, our team has a real case.”
“Don’t you usually work on real cases?”
“Captain, you already know. Why ask?”
“Maan Mai, pass me the bottle.” After photographing and measuring the body
and objects at the scene, Mirin asked Maan Mai for an evidence collection
bottle.
“Sure.”
“What did you find?” Jade approached the two women, looking at Tar’s body
again.
“We found several fingerprints, but we need to analyze them to know whose
they are. This also needs analysis.” Mirin showed a glass bottle and a swab
to Jade. “We’ll take the body to the coroner.”
“Understood.” After moving the body to the vehicle, Jade returned to where
Kamin was interrogating the last witness.
“Didn’t you arrange to come here with Tar?”
“No.”
“Didn’t you know he was coming?”
 “I already said we didn’t talk.” Tonkla was in shock, sitting at the table. He
barely realized that the earlier chaos had been caused by his friend, and it
was a terrible event.
“Did Tar call or message you before?”
“No.”
Kamin looked at the young man before concluding.
“Alright. I thought he had called you about a letter. If not, forget it.”
“What letter?”
“Ask Champ.” Kamin walked away but kept observing the pale young man.
That letter must be found.

“What are you thinking about?” Jade stepped in his path, almost colliding with
him.
“I think you’re in the way.”
“This is a hallway. Where do you want me to walk?”
“What happened to the body?” Kamin sighed audibly, hoping Jade would hear
it.
“Mirin is collecting the remaining evidence. The body was sent to the
coroner.”
“You can go. I’m heading to the station.”
“Where are you staying?”
“Why do you ask?”
“Just answer.”
“At a daily rental hotel nearby.” Jade frowned, thinking Kamin would already
have a permanent place before starting work.
“Give me the name of the place. I’ll take you to get your things.”
“Why?”
“How long do you plan to stay there?”
“Until everything is settled.” When they got to the car, Jade offered to drive
back, observing Kamin.
“Tell me, why haven’t you found a place? The transfer order came weeks
ago.”
“I thought I’d be transferred again. It’s a waste of time to move things.”

Silence filled the car until they arrived at a small daily and monthly rental
hotel. Although it wasn’t in bad condition, it seemed the new inspector only
used it to shower.
“Why did you bring me here? I said I was going to the station.”
“I didn’t bring you here. I came to get your things.”
“Where to?”
“Just pack your things and check out.”
“Where will I stay?”
 “With your lifestyle, you don’t need a permanent place. You just need to
sleep. Pack your things; staying here is a waste of money.”
“But...”
“No buts, Kamin.” It was the first time Kamin heard Jade say his name without
sarcasm.

He didn’t want to waste time arguing with Jade. Besides, if he got a

permanent and cheaper place, he’d save money. Jade, being local, would
probably find a good place for him.
Kamin packed his clothes into the suitcase. He hadn’t actually unpacked
much, only bringing essentials for a few days. He went downstairs to check
out and pay, and when he returned to the car, Jade had just hung up a call.
“The coroner says we can see the body and the results tomorrow afternoon.
Mirin will also need more time.”
“I understand.”
“So rest today. I’m not the only one who needs sleep; you do too. If you say
you’re not a robot, rest.”
“I know. Take me to the place you recommended.”
“You’ll like it.” Kamin was suspicious of Jade’s mischievous tone but decided
to ignore it. Jade had always been playful since they met.

But Kamin was wrong. He should’ve suspected. Upon seeing the familiar
white house and a young man in a white shirt and gray pants smiling, he
immediately knew what Jade had meant.
“Why did you bring me to your house?”
“This is the place I recommend: a comfortable room, free, free electricity, free
water, and plenty of food.” Jade parked and turned off the engine, not looking
at Kamin’s serious face.
“It’s not funny.”
“I’m not laughing. Get out; I’m tired.”
“Jade! Jade!” Jade got out of the car with a smile, twirling the keys and
entering the house, leaving Kamin bewildered in the car.
“Where are your things, Kamin? I’ll carry them.” Jay opened the car door and
smiled kindly.
“How did you know I was coming?”
“Jade called and asked me to prepare a room.” Kamin puffed his cheeks in
frustration.
These brothers!

With no options, because Jade had taken the car keys to his room, Kamin
resignedly carried his suitcase into the house.
“I’ll take your things to the room. Have you eaten?”
 “No, I can sleep on the sofa.”
“I prepared a room. After a day of work, rest well.” Jay smiled kindly and went
upstairs with Kamin’s suitcase.
Kamin looked around. It was a spacious house, with a living room, separate
kitchen, light wood furniture, and white walls that gave a sense of calm. He
didn’t see the brothers’ parents and didn’t want to be a bother. As he
observed, Jade came down in a tight black shirt, revealing part of a wolf tattoo
on his left arm.
“Do you want to shower or eat first?”
“Talk first.”
“Go to the table.” Jade headed to the kitchen, ignoring what Kamin wanted to
say.
“I’ll stay one night. Tomorrow I’ll find another place.”
“Fried rice will be fine; it’s easy.”
“Jade!”
“Don’t waste money on another place. If you get transferred again, you move.
Staying at my house or the hotel is the same; you only have one suitcase.”
“I don’t want to bother, your parents and brother...”
“Our parents died. And Jay...”
“The room is at the end of the hallway, Kamin. I don’t mind you staying; I’m
tired of seeing only Jade. It’s nice to have someone else in the house.”
“I don’t want to be a bother.”
“Then how much do you pay per night at the hotel?”
“A thousand.”
“I’ll charge you ten thousand a month. That way, you consider it rent.
Satisfied? Now, go upstairs, shower, and change for dinner. Jay, cut the pork
for the fried rice.”
“Can we have something else?”

“No, I’m tired.” The brothers argued about the menu while Kamin sighed and
went up to the room prepared for him. He flopped onto the bed and wondered
how he had ended up like this.
 CHAPTER 11

Last night, after dinner, Kamin retreated to his room to shower and rest. He
had no trouble sleeping in a new place, as he fell asleep as soon as his head
hit the pillow. But the brothers were the problem, especially the younger one,
who kept knocking on his door. This morning was no different.
“Kamin, what are you doing?” The sound of knocking on the door made
Kamin, who was getting dressed, look toward the door. He hadn’t unpacked
his clothes and belongings from the suitcase yet, as he wasn’t sure if he’d
stay. The room wasn’t small; it had a bed, a closet, a multifunctional desk,
and a private bathroom. It was more comfortable than the hotel and wasn’t far
from the station.
“What’s up?”
“Come down for breakfast.”
“I’m coming.” Kamin was wearing a black shirt and pants of the same color.
His hair, still damp, was combed as usual. When he opened the door, he was
met by the owner of the house.

Today, Jade was wearing a white T-shirt and faded jeans. In one hand, he
had a leather jacket slung over his shoulder. His black hair was wet, with
water droplets because he hadn’t dried it, though he had a towel around his
neck.
“You look like you’re about to scold me.” Kamin rolled his eyes at the morning
greeting.
“Come down.”

Kamin went down to the kitchen, where the young man in a school uniform
was setting the table. He glanced at Jade, who was following him, and spoke
quietly.
“Did you tell your brother?”
“About his friend? No.”
“What will you do?”
 “I’ll tell him this morning.” Jade walked past Kamin and sat at the table.
Seeing this, his brother started complaining.
“Jade, why didn’t you dry your hair? Now there’s water all over the floor.”
“You’re complaining early.”
“Isn’t it worth complaining about?”
“Jay, did any of your friends call?”
“Call for what?” Jay looked at Kamin and smiled. “Sit down, Kamin.”
“Thanks.” Kamin sat in the left corner next to Jade, his expression neutral. He
let the brothers talk.
“About Tar.”
“Tar? Is this related to what you asked me yesterday?”
“Yes.”
“What’s going on?” Jay frowned and sat across from his brother, staring at
him intently.
“Did Tar contact you yesterday?”
“No, he didn’t call. What’s going on?”
“Tar died last night.”
“What? He died? How? I’m not joking, Jade.”
“We found his body at the club last night. We’re investigating.” Kamin, seeing
Jade’s indifference, decided to explain.
“But... we just lost Fai.” Jay, shocked, covered his face with his hands.
“Did Tar call you or send you a letter?” Jade asked while drinking coffee.
“A letter?”
“Did you know Tonkla was there too?”
“Tonkla? Who did he go with?”
“Alone.” Jay’s confusion made Kamin pay more attention to the conversation.
“He doesn’t usually go to the club alone; it’s expensive. He said drinking
alone is too costly.”

Jade looked at Kamin, who frowned at the new information. He recalled that,
besides the drinks and mixers, there were several snacks on the table. He
knew Tonkla lived with his aunt, worked to pay for his studies, and didn’t have
money to spend on luxuries. Going to the club and ordering so much must
have cost a lot.
“How did Tar die? Does anyone else know?”
“I thought Tonkla would call the others. Tar’s death is under investigation; I
can’t say much. I just want you to be careful.”
“Careful?”
“Yes, I have work early. I’m leaving.” Jade finished his coffee, took Kamin’s
car keys, and left the house, leaving Kamin sighing.
 “I’m going. Take care.” Kamin patted the young man, who was still sitting at
the table, lost in thought. In less than a week, he had lost two friends and
faced many problems. The guy must be very worried.

As he left the house, he saw his car parked in front of the entrance, with Jade
comfortably in the driver’s seat. Kamin opened the passenger door and got in,
immediately looking at Jade.
“You could’ve just told your brother the news; you didn’t have to be so cold.”
“How did you want me to say it? Happily?”
“Where are we going now?”
“To the station. Mirin called; the results are ready. Then we’ll go to the
forensics department.” Jade drove to the police station. Although it wasn’t as
big as a special investigation unit, it had everything needed and was under
the police department. It followed standards and had staff rotations, like any
other station. This brought issues of corruption and bribery. Jade hoped the
new inspector would be more upright than the previous ones.

When they arrived, Jade guided Kamin to the forensics department. They
always heard screams when approaching. This time was no different. Jade
opened the door just as Maan Mai fell against him, and he caught her by the
waist.
“Maan Mai, careful!”
“Mirin started it!”
“What’s going on?” Maan Mai looked at Jade and pointed at Mirin.
“Mirin annoyed me, Captain.” Kamin noticed that the three seemed very
close.
Jade helped Maan Mai stand, and Mirin approached, leading her back into
the department. She put on a white lab coat before entering.
“Are you waiting here or coming in?”
“I’ll go with you.” Kamin followed Jade into the department. Before, he had
only waited in the reception area. He hadn’t imagined it had such complete
labs.

The white room was filled with evidence cabinets. In the center was a large
counter with papers and photos. There were tables and counters with
microscopes and sample jars. Kamin didn’t recognize many of the devices.
“These are the results from the scene. There are many fingerprints; the room
has been used a lot and isn’t cleaned often. Identifying the culprit among so
many prints will take time. You’ll have to interrogate about fifty people.” Mirin
pointed at the fingerprints and then showed Jess a list. “On the victim’s face,
there were traces of this, though they’ve disintegrated a bit. It’s PCP.”
“Ketamine?” Kamin asked.
 “Yes, ketamine. It’s a depressant used in medicine as anesthesia. It can
cause hallucinations. It comes in liquid, tablets, capsules, and powder.”
“Is it the same drug the victim consumed before dying?”
“No, according to the autopsy, the victim consumed a mix of marijuana and
morphine, which is also a depressant. It’s not the same.”
“Why would the killer want the victim to hallucinate?” Kamin asked. It wasn’t
necessary to use more drugs if the goal was just to kill.
“Anything else?” Jade asked.
“The objects found on the body: four metal rods, a long nail, and the paper
had no fingerprints. The paper was printed, so no fingerprints can be traced.
The cause of death and the wounds need to be discussed with the coroner,
but I must say there’s little evidence. The killer didn’t improvise; it was
planned.”
“Let me know if you find anything new.” Jade left, leaving Kamin reviewing the
documents.
“Where can this drug be obtained?”
“In hospitals. But buying it illegally isn’t hard.”
“Please investigate more about the drug found.”
“Yes, Inspector.” Kamin followed Jade and saw him talking to Lieutenant Prai.
“Keep an eye on those kids. Inform me of any updates. Don’t alert them.”
“Yes, Captain. What if they’re not together?”
“The one with the strangest behavior.”
“Understood.” After Prai left, Kamin approached Jade with a question.
“You put the lieutenant on surveillance for the group of six kids?”
“Yes.”
“Are you sure the killer is one of them?”
“I don’t know if the killer is one of them, but I’m sure the next victim will be one
of them.”

Kamin and Jade arrived at the entrance of the forensics department. The
atmosphere was gloomy, silent, and deserted. What was inside the room
scared everyone, so no one passed by there.
“You’re not afraid of ghosts, are you?” Jade got so close to Kamin that their
faces almost touched.
“You’re scarier than any ghost, didn’t you know?” Kamin didn’t back down,
just kept his gaze fixed on Jade calmly. This made Jade smile.
“Don’t be so sweet; you’re making me feel lonely,” said a deep, slow voice
from the door. Kamin looked and saw a young man in a long lab coat, messy
brown hair down to his neck, round glasses that seemed about to fall off, and
an attractive face with a bit of stubble. The young man yawned twice.
“This is Thanakorn, the only medical examiner here,” Jade introduced
casually.
 “The only one?”
“Yes, I’ve requested more staff several times, but they never respond.”
“So I work alone. Hi, new inspector, finally we meet.”
Thanakorn shook Kamin’s hand and returned to the room.
“He’s like that; don’t take it personally.”
“I haven’t said anything.”
“Just in case.”
“I can tell the difference.”
Jade smirked slyly and wrapped an arm around Kamin’s waist. “Does this
count as making friends?”
Kamin smiled broadly, but it was clearly sarcastic. A second later, he elbowed
Jade in the stomach, making him double over.
“You’re the only one I don’t make exceptions for, Jade. Congratulations.”
Jade, holding his stomach, watched Kamin enter the forensics room and
laughed. The inspector didn’t hold back.

When the pain subsided, Jade followed Kamin. The forensics room was
organized like the forensics department, with a reception area and a door
leading to the autopsy room.
Kamin watched Thanakorn pull Tar’s body out of the refrigerator. The body,
covered with a sheet, was paler than the first time he saw it, after all the
procedures. The smell of formaldehyde, blood, and decaying flesh made
Kamin shake his head. Thanakorn began explaining the wounds.
“There are several wounds. The hands and thighs have wounds from the
metal rods that went through the tissue from front to back. There are concrete
fragments in the flesh because the rods were driven into the wall. The
wounds from the wire with blades didn’t cut the bone.” Thanakorn pointed at
the wounds with a small rod, yawning as he spoke. Jade, leaning against the
door, asked:
“Did you sleep?”
“No, I just started.” Thanakorn yawned again and continued. “On the
forehead, the long nail went through the skull into the brain. It wasn’t a single
strike but several, which is why the wound is irregular.”
“Cause of death?”
“Shock from blood loss. The nail in the forehead wasn’t the cause.”
“What did you find internally?”
“I sent flesh and blood samples for analysis. It’ll take one or two weeks. In the
stomach, there was food, mostly liquids... alcohol.”
“Let me know when you have results.” Jade looked at Kamin, who seemed
thoughtful.
“What’s wrong?”
“Do you remember Champ mentioning a letter from Tar?”
 “Yes.”
“It was a Truth or Dare letter. What if the paper is related to the letter?” Jade
had also thought about that. He hadn’t expected Kamin to notice.
“Let’s check Tar’s house.”
“Get a search warrant, Jade. I’ll wait for you in the office.”
“Using me?”
“Yes, I’m your boss.” Kamin smiled slightly at Thanakorn. “Thank you. Let me
know if you find anything and get some rest.”

After Kamin left, Thanakorn put Tar’s body back and approached Jade, who
was watching the inspector.
“He’s cute.”
“You too?”
“Who else can scold you like that? I think he’s your type.”
“My type?”
“My type.” Jade lightly pushed Thanakorn’s head before leaving with his
hands in his pockets.
“Go to sleep.”

He had to go to work according to the new inspector’s orders. That attitude

really made him want to follow orders.
 CHAPTER 12

The atmosphere at the university was filled with chatter and laughter from the
students. They talked about what they would eat for lunch, their class
assignments, or where they would go in the afternoon. Unlike them, six
people sat at a wooden table in the garden, silent, after receiving the news of
their friend's death.

“Is it true, Jay? Is Tar really dead?” Time was shocked by what Jay had said
ten minutes earlier.

“Yes, that’s what Jade said.” Jay looked at the group’s leader, who acted as if
he knew nothing, which infuriated him even more. “Is it true, Tonkla?”

“Yes.”

“Just yes? You should’ve told us; you were there. We should’ve heard it from
you, Tonkla.”

“What does it matter if you hear it from me or someone else?”

“Enough! What do you gain by fighting? Jay, calm down. Tonkla, stop
provoking him.” Champ intervened to keep the argument from escalating.

“How did he die?” Belle asked, her voice trembling.

“I don’t know. Jade said it’s under investigation.” Everyone was in the same
situation, hands clasped, thinking about many things. “But he said Tar
received a letter.”

“A letter? What letter?”

“A Truth or Dare letter.” Champ clarified the doubt.

 “How do you know, Champ?”

“Tar called me, complaining about a letter. I thought he was hallucinating from
drugs.”

“What did the letter say?”

“I don’t know.” Silence returned. No one looked each other in the eye. Fear
turned into paranoia.

“I’m leaving.” Belle stood up hurriedly.

“There are classes this afternoon.” Time tried to stop her, but Belle ran off
without looking back.

“I’m going to smoke.” Champ walked away, followed by Cherine.

“Tonkla, how did Tar die? Jay said you were there. You must know. Was it an
accident? Or some illness?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t see him, okay? The police detained me for questioning;
how would I know?”

Tonkla stood up and left, leaving only Jay and Time at the table. This was
their usual spot, where they used to laugh, joke, and chat. Now it was empty,
filled with bitterness, sadness, paranoia, and secrets.

At the police station, the inspector’s office, once quiet, was now filled with
complaints from the newcomer.

“I want coffee.” Kamin sighed, closing the file on the crime scene and the
club’s testimonies.

“There are no chains here.”

“There are invisible chains. They’re called bosses.” Jade leaned over Kamin’s
desk and handed him a search warrant. But before Kamin could take it, Jade
pulled his hand back, making Kamin roll his eyes.

“What now?”
 “Let’s get coffee on the way to Tar’s house.”

“Fine.” Kamin stood up and headed to the station’s entrance but stopped
when he saw two people arguing.

“He started it!”

“No, you started it!”

“You!” Two boys were being held back by officers but kept trying to fight, their
faces bruised.

“Don’t stop them; let them fight.” The officers looked at the inspector, then at
each other, and let the boys go. “Go ahead, when you’re done, we’ll take you
to the cell. Tomorrow I’ll call your parents. Go ahead.”

Kamin’s calm tone wasn’t intimidating, but the pressure made the two boys
return to their seats at the complaints desk.

“Take care of them, please, Sergeant.”

“Understood, Inspector.” Kamin walked out to the parking lot, watching Jade
approach with a smile, not opening the car door.

“I didn’t know we had such a cool inspector.”

“Stop joking, Jade.”

“Stop surveilling the suspects to surveil me?”

“If you’re not going, give me the keys.” Jade laughed and opened the door for
Kamin.

They stopped at a café near the station. The interior, decorated in blue and
white with light wood, was cozy and elegant. The aroma of coffee and freshly
baked pastries relaxed Kamin after hours of reviewing documents.

“A cold Americano. And you?” The young officer ordered his drink and looked
at his partner.

“A cold latte. I’ll pay.”

 “You’re treating?”

“Yes, for last night’s stay.”

“Whatever you say.” Jade, a good ten centimeters taller than Kamin, took
both coffees and headed to a table.

“Why not drink in the car?”

“Because we have another matter to discuss.” Jade pulled a crumpled

document from his jeans pocket and spread it on the table, leaning back in his
chair as he sipped his coffee.

“A rental contract?”

“Yes, in case you think I’d scam you on the rent. And in case you decide to
leave before the end of the month.”

“Do you really want me to rent a room in your house?”

“I made the contract; it’s not for fun.”

“No talking about work at home unless necessary. What does that mean?”

“I don’t like talking about work at home. It’s a place to rest, not to work.”

“But I have to work.”

“I’m not stopping you from bringing work home. If you can read Thai well.”
Kamin thought about throwing his coffee at Jade.

“Report any problems. Is that a rule too?”

“Housemates should support each other with problems.”

“Don’t rely too much on Jay. Is that a rule?”

“Yes.” Kamin shook his head slightly and continued reading the contract.

“Only ten thousand a month, not including water and electricity. Is that
enough?”
 “Sign and stop asking.” Jade handed Kamin a pen and drank his coffee,
smiling as he watched the other man mutter while signing. Jade put the
contract in his pocket. He didn’t care if Kamin paid or moved out, but
someone like Kamin needed a formal agreement to feel comfortable.

After sorting out the coffee and the contract, they headed to Tar’s house.

Upon arrival, they showed their purpose and the search warrant to Tar’s
mother. Once allowed inside, they began searching the entire house while
she cried on the sofa. Since learning of her son’s death, she had collapsed
several times. Knowing it wasn’t a natural death devastated her.

Kamin and Jade went up to Tar’s room. They looked at each other before
opening the door. The room wasn’t large, and it seemed like no one had
touched anything. Clothes were on the floor, and papers were scattered on
the desk. They put on gloves and started going through everything.

“Where do we start?” Jade asked, avoiding a shirt on the floor.

“Just be careful.”

“Look what I found.” Jade pulled a box from under the bed and showed it to
Kamin. It contained various drugs and paraphernalia.

“Do you think the letter is important?”

“I don’t know. We need to find it. If Tar was so upset when he called Champ,
it must have useful information.” They searched every corner but found
nothing.

Kamin went through the scattered papers. Some were about drugs, others
were university assignments. His eyes grew tired from reading. He put the
papers down and opened the drawers one by one.

“This kid is quite the Casanova,” Jade said from behind as Kamin opened the
first drawer, filled with condoms of various brands. Kamin gave him a
disapproving look while Jade laughed and continued searching the closet.

The second drawer had school supplies with nothing unusual, but in the third
drawer...
 “I found it.” A white letter addressed to Tar. Kamin carefully opened it, with
Jade behind him. “Now I understand why he was so upset.”

Jade looked at the photos Kamin showed him, frowning. The photos didn’t
seem recent, meaning the killer had known Tar for a long time.

Kamin read every word on the black paper before handing it to Jade.

“That photo,” Kamin said, pointing to a photo of the eight friends, with Puy Fai
and Tar’s faces cut out. “You should call your brother, Jade, to see if he
received a similar letter.”

“We should ask all the kids if they received a letter.”

“Let’s go back to the station. We need Mirin to check the fingerprints on this
evidence.”

“Agreed.” They went downstairs and saw Tar’s mother still crying with her
son’s photo.

“I need to ask you a few more questions, can I?” Kamin sat across from her,
with Jade behind him.

“Yes, of course.”

“Did Tar mention anything strange about a letter or his friends?”

“No, he never talked about that.”

“Before he left the house, did he say anything?”

“He was upset, as usual. But... I didn’t think it would be the last time.”

“Did you see anyone strange in the neighborhood?”

“No.” Kamin nodded and handed her a tissue.

“We’re leaving. If there’s any news, we’ll let you know.”

In the car, Jade called his brother. He answered in a low voice.

“Are you in class?”

 “Yes, what’s up?”

“Did you receive any letters?”

“A letter? What letter?”

“Answer the question.”

“No.”

“Alright.”

“Wait! Is this about Tar? Is it a Truth or Dare letter?”

“How do you know?”

“Champ said Tar called complaining about it.”

“Did anyone else receive a letter?”

“Time, did you get any strange letters?” Voices could be heard. “No.”

“If anyone gets one, let me know.”

“Yes.” Jade hung up just as the traffic light turned green.

In an apartment in the city center, trembling hands held a white letter in the
kitchen. Anxiety and fear surged as they remembered that morning, the
building management had called to say there were uncollected packages.
When they brought them to the apartment, they didn’t pay attention because
they had class. But after hearing about their friend’s death and the mysterious
letter, they remembered that among the packages was a white letter.
 CHAPTER 13

After handing over the letters for Mirin to review, Kamin decided to rest in his
office, but someone walking beside him grabbed his arm.

"Let's go eat."

"You go ahead, I have work to do." Although he said it to get rid of the
annoyance, when he saw the other person remain silent, Kamin couldn’t help
but look at him. "Khun Jade?"

"Are you coming to eat with me, or do you want me to bring the food to your
office?"

"You really are annoying." Jade suddenly stopped, then turned to look at
Kamin.

"Am I annoying?"

"Yes."

"Then do whatever you want. If you don’t want to go, I won’t go." Jade let go
of Kamin’s arm and left, leaving Kamin confused, wondering if what he had
just said had upset someone.

Kamin returned to the office and collapsed onto the sofa, exhausted. Since
starting this case, he had barely slept a few hours. Problems kept piling up
endlessly.

The sound of the phone snapped him out of his thoughts, and he answered
without even opening his eyes to see who was calling. He was too tired.

"Hello."
 [With that tone, don’t tell me you ran into another boring person over there
again.]

"Yes, but less so than at the police department. Did the documents I sent you
arrive?"

[I just received them ten minutes ago. I asked a friend to review them; it’ll take
some time.]

"Thank you."

[How’s it going since you moved there?]

"Fine, the people here work hard, though some can be irritating."

[I heard there are several talented officers there, but the previous inspector
took bribes in almost every case involving important people, on top of
covering up his own negligence. So they couldn’t show their skills. With
Inspector Kamin, they’ll probably work so hard they won’t have time to rest,
right?]

"I don’t think it’s as tough as the special investigation unit led by Nikolai."

[I’ll call you if there’s any news.]

"Thank you." Kamin hung up the phone from his old friend, who was the head
of the special investigation unit. He had known Nikolai since he moved to the
branch in Thailand, but at first, it was only superficially. Until both started
having issues with the police department and began talking more when
Nikolai transferred to headquarters. It seemed both recognized each other’s
potential and grew closer.

Kamin had sent the test results and the substance found on Tar’s body for
review, hoping to get information more quickly. At the very least, he hoped it
would help find clues about the culprit before another incident occurred.

The station captain came in with a plastic bag containing almost fifteen boxes
of food, looking bored. One of the subordinates who saw him immediately
joked.

"Hey, hey! It’s been a while since we ate with the captain. We missed you, we
missed you!"
 "Wow! How are we supposed to eat? The captain went to eat with Inspector
Nun." Laughter echoed among the officers at their desks. Jade just grabbed a
nearby water bottle and threw it.

"Didn’t you go out to work on a case with the inspector today?"

"I went out and already came back. I’m waiting for information. Here’s the
food; distribute it." Jade handed the bag with several food boxes to his
subordinates before heading upstairs with another bag to the inspector’s
office, whom the others had been joking about.

When he arrived, he looked inside and, not seeing Kamin at his desk, opened
the door and entered. He found Kamin, who had kicked him out earlier,
sleeping on the sofa. His face, usually full of determination and seriousness,
now only showed exhaustion.

"And you still don’t want to eat," Jade muttered before placing the food box on
the table. The sound of the plastic bag made Kamin slowly open his eyes.
Seeing who was there, he turned toward the back of the sofa.

"Do whatever you want, I’m going to sleep," Kamin said in a sleepy voice,
making Jade laugh.

"Sleep if you want, I just brought food. When you wake up, come eat." Jess
turned off the light and left the room. Kamin remained still for a while before
looking at the bag on the table. Although he was sleepy, hunger was greater.
He got up, stretched a bit, and opened the food box, eating slowly.

The information he had was limited, and he couldn’t make much progress in
the investigation. He would have to wait for the forensic and lab results.

Jade changed in the station’s shower. There was a shower and locker room
for all the officers. Previously, this area had been removed because the
higher-ups didn’t use it, but Jade requested it be considered a benefit for the
officers, and a small additional budget was approved, along with Jade’s
personal money, to improve it.

Jade, in sweatpants and a tight black T-shirt, clearly showed his muscles and
a wolf tattoo on his arm that extended to his back. He wrapped his hands with
black tape and began warming up on the punching bag, which already
showed signs of wear.
 After ten minutes of warming up, he began training seriously.

"Captain."

"What’s up?"

Lieutenant Prai, who had just entered, saw the big man punching and kicking
the punching bag with force. She had to shout to be heard over the noise of
the hits.

"I’ve been watching the students at the university! Can you hear me?"

"I hear you. And then?"

"The student named Belle, Champ, and Cherine didn’t attend classes. They
scattered."

"I see."

"But the strange thing is, I saw one of them receive a call and then seem
upset before returning to his room."

"Did anyone strange follow that student?"

"No one."

"Thanks, you can rest." Jade thought the call must have been important and
decided to investigate further into what the students might be hiding.

The station captain finished his training and went to shower. Before getting
dressed, he heard a familiar voice from outside.

"Jade."

"I heard you calling, so I came out."

"Get dressed first, then come out."

"We can talk like this; I don’t mind."

 "But I do." Jade lifted Kamin’s chin to look him in the eyes, smiling. Kamin
also smiled, placing his hands on Jade’s waist and gently caressing it.

"I’ll give you five minutes to get dressed. See you in the car." Kamin let go of
Jade’s towel and left the bathroom with it in hand.

"Kamin!" Kamin didn’t pay attention to Jess’s shouts as he left the gym.

His phone vibrated in his pocket, catching his attention. He handed the towel
to an officer who was drinking water, unaware of what was happening.

"What’s up, Inspector?"

"Return this to the captain. Hello, Jay." The officer, confused, blushed as he
saw the captain follow Kamin with an annoyed expression.

"Ca... Captain."

"What?"

"The inspector asked me to return this to you." The new recruit handed over
the towel, avoiding Jade’s gaze, who took it and followed the thief to the car.

"Naughty." Kamin was already in the car, talking on the phone.

"Are you sure it’s a white envelope with the words 'Truth or Dare'?"

[I think so, Min. Come see it.]

"Are you with Tonkla?"

[Min called me and told me about the letter. I came right away. I tried calling
Jade, but he didn’t answer, so I called you.]

"Lock the door and don’t open it until I get there. Understood?"

[Understood. Drive carefully.]

"Thanks." Just as he hung up, the car door opened, and someone drenched
got in.

"You’re late, more than five minutes, and you’re getting my car wet."
 "Who do you think you are?" Kamin didn’t pay attention and drove following
the GPS.

"Your brother called."

"Jay?"

"Do you have another brother?"

"Why did he call?"

"He said Tonkla received a letter."

"Where are they now?" "In Tonkla’s room."

"Could it be that kid is involved?"

"Maybe. Let’s see the letter and we’ll know."

In the student dorm room, not very large, there was a living room, bedroom,
kitchen, and bathroom. Jay looked at the white envelope on the table,
intrigued. It was addressed to the room’s owner.

"When did you get this letter?" Jay asked as Tonkla offered him a glass of
water.

"I picked it up from the dorm office this morning."

"What’s inside?"

"Look for yourself." Jay sighed, not wanting to touch it to avoid leaving
fingerprints.

Tonkla understood and emptied the contents onto the table, showing each
sheet.

TRUTH OR DARE TONKLA

Jay reviewed the letter, white and black sheets, two photos, and a USB drive.

The first photo showed Tonkla stealing at a club where he worked.

The second photo showed the eight friends, but the faces of Pui Fai and Tar
were crossed out. Jay looked at his friend, who, though not seeming nervous,
was clearly worried.

"What’s on the USB?"

"A video of me."

"What kind of video?"

"Promise me you’ll keep it a secret, just between us. Don’t tell Jade."

"I can’t promise that. Are you crazy? This is serious. You want me to hide this
from the police? What if someone dies?"

"Death or jail, there’s not much difference. What do you decide? Do you
promise or leave?"

"Open it." Jay sighed as Tonkla turned on his laptop and continued reading
the black letter.

TRUTH

"Your love is so great that it doesn’t matter if others die, right, Tonkla? You
know what your friends have done. You know what they’ve lost. You know
Champ cheated on exams. You know Tar drugged a girl. You know Belle hurt
a girl who approached her boyfriend. People like you are bought with money.
Use that money in hell."

Jay frowned as he finished reading. He knew about one of the incidents,

when Belle hurt a girl. He had intervened once himself. But he didn’t know
about the others.

When he looked up at the laptop screen, he was even more surprised. The
video that opened showed the workshop where Tonkla worked. He had taken
a customer’s car for a spin, and he didn’t want Jay to tell Jade because, a few
minutes later, he had hit an elderly man, throwing him to the side of the road.
There were no cars or people around. Tonkla got out of the car, visibly
nervous, and after a few minutes, got back in and left.

"What the hell did you do, Tonkla?"

 "It wasn’t intentional. I called an ambulance afterward."

"Is there anything else I don’t know?" Jay saw his friend still frozen, so he
grabbed him by the collar of his shirt.

"I asked you a question!"

"There’s nothing else!"

"Are you sure? Because right now, I don’t know who you guys are."

"I told you, there’s nothing else." Jay let go of Tonkla’s shirt and went out to
the balcony to calm down, not knowing there was something else he didn’t
know...

Inside the letter, a part was missing.

The DARE part was gone.

 CHAPTER 14

When Kamin and Jade arrived at Tonkla's room, they knocked softly three
times. When the door opened, it wasn’t the room’s owner who greeted them,
but Jay.

"You got here fast," Jay said with a forced smile.

Kamin noticed it, so he simply moved Jay aside and entered the room. Inside,
he found Tonkla sitting on the sofa, relaxed, with an open letter on the table.

"Who opened the letter?"

"I did," Jay replied.

"Jay, did you touch the letter?"

"Yes," Kamin nodded before putting on gloves and examining each piece.

There was only white paper, black paper, and a photograph, just like what Tar
had received, but this time it only said TRUTH** and not DARE.

"Is this everything that was in it?"

"Yes," Tonkla replied before getting up to go to the kitchen. Kamin turned to

Jay.

"Is this everything?" Kamin’s voice was calm but full of pressure, making Jay
start to sweat, feeling like he was in an interrogation room again.

"Yes."

"Alright," Kamin signaled for Jade to examine the room as well.

The young inspector pretended to inspect the room while accepting a glass of
water from Tonkla and drinking it to avoid making the boys uncomfortable.

"Does anyone else know Tonkla received the letter?"

"Charmb called me earlier, when I was with Time, but he had headphones on
and didn’t hear. The others had already left."

"All of this is illegal," Jade commented as he reviewed the three photos.

"You guys only came to check the letter, right? The other stuff doesn’t have
much to do with the current case, does it?" Jay said.

"I’ll take this letter for investigation. Do you have any family or friends you can
stay with for now?"

"No, I can stay alone."

"Two of your friends are already dead, and now you’ve received a threatening
letter. Aren’t you scared?"

"I think it’s nonsense. Fai died in an accident. Maybe Tar died because he
messed with someone at the club while he was high. That’s all."

"No one else would know what that letter says, only someone close, don’t you
think?" Jade interjected before putting the letter in the evidence bag.

"I’ll send officers to check every two hours. If you need anything, call us. Is
there anything else you want to say or any additional information?" Kamin
looked at Tonkla and then at Jay, who was clearly uncomfortable.

"No."

"Alright, I’ll leave then. Are you coming?" Kamin asked Jay, who was still
standing.

"I’ll stay with Tonkla a bit longer, then I’ll leave. Do you want me to make
something for dinner?"

"No, I’ll take you out to eat."

"You didn’t say anything," Jade interjected.

 "I’m saying it now," Kamin left the room followed by Jade.

In the elevator, Jade moved closer to Kamin even though there was plenty of
space.

"Why do I feel like your intention isn’t just to invite me to eat?"

"My intention is to invite you to eat as a new tenant."

"And?" Kamin sighed before finishing the sentence for the person next to him.

"And to get the truth out of your brother."

"We can do that at home."

"As long as he has an excuse to run to his room, we won’t be able to ask him
anything."

"All we have to do is go in and ask him in his room," Kamin looked at the floor
number on the elevator door as he answered Jade’s question.

"One, that would be too much pressure and might make him never trust us
again, which would make it harder to work together in the future. Two..."
When the number reached one and the elevator door was about to open,
Kamin looked at Jade to finish his answer, "I have manners, and I don’t
invade other people’s bedrooms."

Jade watched Kamin’s small figure step out of the elevator after it stopped.
He felt even more impressed because it had been a long time since anyone
had argued with him like that. And even though the opponent wasn’t just
being stubborn, their arguments were reasonable.

When they arrived at the condominium management office, Kamin began

questioning the staff about the reception of letters for tenants. The manager
informed him that packages were placed on the table in front of the office at
six in the evening, and the staff collected them to sort them by room number
and notify tenants to pick them up the next day.

When asked about security cameras, Kamin obtained footage from the last
two days. He would need to review it for more information, but he already had
a clear idea that the culprit didn’t deliver the letters themselves.
After handing the letters over to Mirin for review and collecting documents he
needed to work on at home, Kamin went up to his room to put his things away
and take a shower to fight off the fatigue. But before entering the bathroom,
he heard a knock on the door.

"What’s up?" Kamin asked without opening the door.

"I brought you something."

"Can I get it after I shower?"

"It’ll be quick." Having no other choice, Kamin opened the door, wrapped only
in a towel. When he opened the door, he noticed the person in front of him
was surprised but quickly regained their composure.

"What is it?"

"Why aren’t you dressed properly?"

"This is my room, and I was about to shower."

"I brought you the house key."

"Just that? You could’ve waited; there was no need to rush."

"Yeah, yeah," Jade replied quickly, leaving the key in Kamin’s hand and
heading downstairs, while Kamin watched him with annoyance.

Jade went downstairs, opened the fridge, and drank water to quench his dry
throat. He hadn’t expected to find Kamin in that state; he thought he was just
getting ready to shower, not that he was already prepared. The smooth skin
and well-defined muscles were still on his mind. What madness!

Jade stayed in the kitchen for a while, then saw his younger brother enter the
house. He knew his brother well, which is why he didn’t stop Kamin from
trying to get the truth out of the boy in front of him.

"Where’s Min?"

"Taking a shower."
 "So, where are we going for dinner? Should I shower and change?"

"Up to you. Min must be tired, which is why he’s showering before going out,"
Jay replied, slumping onto the table.

"Don’t you ask him?"

"Will you tell me if I ask?"

"Maybe."

"Then why waste time? Go shower and change if you want."

The two brothers went their separate ways to attend to their personal
activities, unaware that someone else had already received a letter.

Belle paced back and forth in her room after reading the letter addressed to
her. The content, the photos—everything terrified her because they were
things she thought no one else knew, except her best friend. Belle looked at
all the objects on the table and waited for her phone call to be answered.

TRUTH OR DARE BELLE

A photo of her and the group of people she hired surrounding a young girl in a
student uniform. Her hair was disheveled, her face covered in handprints and
blood, her clothes wrinkled and stained. Belle remembered that day well. The
girl who was crying and raising her hands was a classmate from another
faculty who had gotten involved with her ex-boyfriend. A small lesson she
didn’t think anyone would see had been captured by someone unknown.

Another photo made Belle even more terrified than the first. Although it was
just a photo of an old poster from a photography store, for her, it was like a
reminder. A reminder of someone who had already died.

No matter how many times she tried to call, there was no sign of anyone
answering, until Belle started to get angry. From pacing like a trapped mouse,
she began stomping loudly because she didn’t know how to vent her
frustration.

"Damn it! Why aren’t you answering, Cherine?"

 Another photo was of her and her friends, but two people’s faces had been
crossed out until there was no trace of them left. They were Pui Fai and Tar.
At first, she thought it was a joke or that someone wanted to play a cruel
prank on her, but it wasn’t when a paper appeared with clear information of
names, dates, and places. Only three people knew what it meant. Belle threw
the phone onto the sofa in anger. She wanted to scream as loudly as the
anger and fear she felt in her heart.

Belle decided to pick up the phone again before leaving a message for
Cherine, who wasn’t answering. All the papers were put back into the
envelope as before, except for the black rabbit that had her options.

"Cherine, was it you who sent this damn letter? It’s not funny. Do you think I’m
the only one guilty? You cheated on him too!" Belle spoke angrily as she
picked up a pen and prepared herself. "I’m not going to suffer alone, you
know."

TRUTH

"Beautiful university star, confident, admired by everyone. Who would know

how rotten you are behind that facade? Right, Belle? The phrase 'speak
sweetly while stabbing in the back' fits you perfectly. You say everything in a
charming way to convince people, but behind the scenes, you do terrible
things. Do you remember the boy who lost his future because of your acid? A
boy who never saw the light of day. Do you remember? Is it true, Belle, that
you told Cherine about Fai’s pregnancy? Is it true, Belle, that you said you
wanted to help, but in reality, you drugged your friend and took her to a clinic
for an abortion?"

DARE

Choose a color. Choose who will die in your place.

Choose, Belle: JAY or CHERINE.

The anxiety and anger made Belle choose without hesitation. She used a pen
to circle Cherine’s name before tearing it up and throwing it on the floor in
frustration.

Two hours of worry and waiting passed slowly. When nothing happened,
Belle began to think it was just a joke. She decided to leave everything on the
sofa and went to drink water to calm her anxiety. She didn’t plan to contact
anyone today, as she wanted to relax in the water after being so distressed.
Belle slowly removed her clothes until only her torso was bare. Her chest and
face were tear-shaped, just the right size to perfectly fit her narrow waist and
wide hips. Her figure always attracted the gazes of both women and men until
they looked back. Her slender toes slowly dipped into the tub of warm water.
And it was pink from the famous Bar Khom brand. It emitted a relaxing scent
for the person soaking in the tub. Belle slowly closed her eyes before letting
out a slow sigh. If she had looked at herself a little, she would’ve known. The
trance that had occurred was normal.

It was unusual since she drank the water from that pitcher.

The door to the room was opened by an uninvited guest. A person dressed in
a black robe from head to toe.

They entered the room unhurriedly. A hand wearing extra-thick rubber gloves
reached out to pick up the envelope and letter placed on the table before
turning to look toward the bathroom. The soft music playing in the background
made it hard for Belle to hear anything. Or you could say she was barely
conscious at that moment.

The bathroom door slowly opened, and a masked person entered and looked
at Belle. With a smooth, emotionless face. The two glass bottles in their
hands were uncapped and placed on the floor. The words from the voice
converter made Belle move slowly. She opened her eyes to look at the
newcomer.

"Truth or Dare."

"Who are you?" The effects of the hallucinogenic drug made Belle try to get
up, but her legs were so weak she couldn’t stand.

"Truth or Dare."

"Get out! I’ll call the police!" Belle tried to get up again. But this time, the
person sitting on the edge of the tub, her head hit the edge of the tub hard.
Until the blood slowly flowed heavily.

The word "friend" that was never real…

 CHAPTER 15

Kamin watched the two brothers bickering back and forth at the table of the
upscale restaurant. At first, they were talking fine, but after a while, the
younger brother started serving him food, which prompted the older brother to
make sarcastic comments. From there, they started arguing.

“Brother Min, do you want dessert?”

“No, thanks. Order whatever you want.”

“If he wants something, he can order it himself.”

“I want to order it. If you don’t have any manners, shut up, Brother Jade.”

“Expecting something in return isn’t kindness.” Jade raised his eyebrows at

his younger brother before looking away toward the window.

“Damn brother.” Jay turned and ordered two desserts from the waiter, then
looked at Kamin as before.

“Brother Min, can I ask you something?”

“Go ahead.”

“Why did you move here?”

“The previous inspector was dismissed, so I was assigned here.”

“Just that?”

“It’s far from the city.”

“And working here doesn’t worry you that your boyfriend might miss you a
lot?” Jay interrupted with a flirtatious joke.
 “I don’t have a boyfriend.” Jay smiled widely before resting his chin on his
hands and looking at Kamin with pleading eyes.

“Really, you don’t have a boyfriend?”

“What kind of answer do you want?”

“One where you say you don’t have a boyfriend and give me a chance to win
you over.”

“I’m going to throw up.” The desserts were served on the table after Jade
finished speaking.

“Eat quickly so we can go home.”

“Since you got here, you haven’t gone anywhere, right? Do you want me to
take you somewhere?”

“I have to work.”

“I don’t have classes tomorrow, maybe at noon. I’ll pick you up.”

“Why don’t you use the time you have to chase someone to pass your
exams?”

“For your information, Brother Jade, I always get good grades, and my scores
are excellent.”

“And for your information, Jay, adults work every day.”

“Keep arguing, brothers. I’m going to answer a call.” Kamin showed the
phone screen that was receiving a call. Then he got up to answer it outside.
The two brothers looked at each other and winked.

Kamin left the restaurant and answered the call that wouldn’t stop ringing.

“What’s up, Nick?”

“I found the information you asked for, I sent it by email, but I wanted to let
you know too.”
 “Thanks.”

“It seems this matter also involves high-ranking officials. Be careful; there are
a lot of people who don’t like us.”

“Alright. At first, I just wanted to gather information, but now that I know this, I
want to finish it once and for all.”

“Go ahead, Inspector Kamin. I also want to see those guys running around. If
you need anything, just let me know.”

“Thanks, Nikolai.” After hanging up, Kamin sighed. When he was about to
return to the restaurant, a young man his age blocked his way.

The man, tall and slim, was dressed in a stylish suit and tie, but the smell of
alcohol and his flushed face indicated he was too close.

“Excuse me, can you let me pass?”

“Let’s talk first.” The slurred tone made Kamin sigh.

“If you’re drunk, call a car to take you home. I’m leaving.” Kamin tried to walk
away, but the young man grabbed his arm.

“Take me home, and I’ll reward you generously.” The man’s face got so close
it almost brushed Kamin’s cheek, but a hand pushed the man’s head away,
and another hand pulled Kamin toward them.

“Are you okay, brother?” Jay, the owner of the hands and the chest Kamin
was leaning against, asked.

“If you’re causing drunk trouble, do you want to go home or spend the night in
jail? Choose.” Jade stepped between Kamin and the man, his broad back
seeming very reliable. After receiving the look and the threat, the drunk young
man regained his composure and ran to call a taxi.

“Why did you come out?”

“I saw you leave earlier, so I thought it’d be better to come out and go back
together.”

“Who paid for the meal?”

 “I did.” Jade returned and separated Kamin from his brother’s arms.

“I’ll give you the money.”

“First, get in the car; it’s going to rain.” The three got into the car and returned
home.

Kamin still wasn’t used to living with other people, but it wasn’t so bad, as the
two brothers didn’t bother him much when they were in the room. It was quite
private.

After showering and putting on his pajamas, Kamin prepared his wallet and
went to knock on Jade’s room door. It didn’t take long before Jade opened the
door, wrapped in a gray towel around his waist. Again...

“When will I stop seeing you like this?”

“What’s wrong with seeing me like this?” The tanned skin, the chest and arm
muscles, the broad shoulders, the well-defined abs, and the V-line that
extended to the part covered by the towel, and of course, the tattoos on the
arms, all looked good. But Kamin was simply annoyed.

“How much was the meal? I’ll give you the money.”

“Come in.”

“No.”

“The receipt is in the bag.”

“Tell me the price.”

“I don’t remember.” Jade leaned slightly to make space for Kamin to enter.

“Do what you want, come in or not.” Kamin didn’t want to owe Jade anything.
After all, he had said he’d pay for the meal.

Kamin decided to enter and looked at Jade with disdain.

“Go get it quickly.”

 “Who are you to give orders?”

“I’m your boss.”

“This isn’t work, and we’re not on work hours.”

“Jade.”

“Do you want to try another status?” Jade stepped closer, lowering his face to
Kamin’s level.

“What status do you want?” Kamin not only didn’t avoid the gaze but also got
closer, teasing.

“What status do you think suits us?” Jade smiled and got closer until their
noses touched.

“The status of someone who can suspend another and the suspended.”
Kamin raised his hand and stepped back.

“Alright, alright. When Jay flirts, you don’t respond as strongly as you do to
me.”

“He’s a kid. Go get the receipt quickly; I’m not staying up.”

“It’s lost.”

“Are you messing with me, Jade?” Jade pretended not to know anything and
leaned on the table.

“I don’t know where it is. I’ll treat you to another meal.”

“Then take three thousand.”

“Where does a meal cost three thousand?”

“Didn’t you say you didn’t remember?” Jade shrugged slightly before looking
at Kamin.

“Take it quickly.”
“My hands are busy.” Kamin pushed his cheek with his tongue to release the
frustration. He walked toward the tall man and stuffed three gray bills into the
edge of the towel, making Jade laugh.

“You’re the first one to do this to me.”

“You’re the one taking your time. It’s not my fault.” Kamin looked at the
transparent board behind Jade. There were photos and notes neatly pasted,
all related to the cases they were working on.

“Do you have any new information?”

“No, but I have a suspicion.”

“About what?”

Both stopped arguing and looked at the board with information about the
mysterious murder case.

“If everyone died after receiving the letter, then Fai, who was the first, should
have received it too, right?”

“It should be.”

“Where is that letter?”

“According to Fai’s parents, he went back and forth between his house and
the university. Sometimes he stayed in Charmb’s room. If the letter is in
Charmb’s room, she should know first. I think the letter might still be in the
house.”

“Tomorrow we’ll get a search warrant.”

“Can you describe Tar’s letter?”

“Yes.”

“There were black and white photos, everything the same as the letter Tonkla
received, but a part was missing.”

“Dare, right?”
 “Yes. I don’t think the killer would change the format. If Tar had to choose
between Truth and Dare, the others should have had that option too.”

“There are two possibilities: either it doesn’t exist, or the kid didn’t tell us
everything.”

“Does your brother know anything about this?”

“Let’s ask him.” Jade left the room without listening to Kamin. After a few
steps, he stopped in front of his brother’s room door and knocked. Jay, in
gray sweatpants and no shirt, opened the door.

Kamin, who saw him, wondered how the two brothers kept their bodies in
such good shape. He had spent half his life in the gym to get those muscles.
It wasn’t fair.

“Why are you like this? And why is the money there?” Jay looked at his
brother in confusion and then at Kamin.

“Brother Min, did you come out of Jade’s room?”

“Answer, Jay. Tonkla’s letter didn’t just have that, right?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Don’t lie to me. If you open your mouth, I can see your tongue. Answer, or I’ll
arrest you and your friend.”

“Tell them, Jay. This is important. If we miss something, they’ll be in danger.”

“Come in first.” He didn’t know if it was luck, but in one day, Kamin had
entered both brothers’ rooms. Jay’s room was completely different from
Jade’s. It was full of lights, posters, and things young people liked. Jade’s
room was simple, with few things, except on the desk.

Jay sat on the edge of the bed and looked at the two men in front of him. One
was his brother, a good officer, and the other, though cuter, was a sharp
inspector. Even without a lie detector, both could tell if he was lying.

“Can you promise me you won’t arrest Tonkla?”

“I don’t promise anything.” Jade responded immediately.

 “Can you hear his reason before making a case?”

“Stop beating around the bush. Say it.”

“Alright. The letter didn’t just have that.”

“What did it say?”

“What message?”

“Dare.”

“Dare? What do you mean?” Kamin and Jade looked at each other and then
at the boy on the bed.

“What do you mean?”

“The letter had a USB with a video of Tonkla crashing a customer’s car into a
person. But he said he called an ambulance and that it wasn’t intentional.”

“And you thought of hiding it from the police, Jay?”

“He asked me to.”

“If you love your friends, set boundaries for them. Someday they’ll get you
into serious trouble.”

“What do you mean, Jade?”

“Call Tonkla and tell him I’ll pick up the USB tomorrow morning.”

“Got it.” Jay responded irritably as he dialed Tonkla’s number.

“Jay, did the letter only have that? Is there anything else you’re hiding?”

“Tonkla only showed me that. What does Dare mean from what you
mentioned?”

“Nothing, keep calling.” Jay waited, but no one answered. He murmured

worriedly.
 “He’s not answering.” Kamin frowned and looked at Jade.

“I’ll check with the officers on watch.” Kamin watched Jade leave while
examining the room. He saw a photo frame on the desk that looked familiar.

“That photo...”

“Yeah, it’s the photo we took together at the end of the first year. It’s the photo
that was in that letter.”

“Where was it taken?”

“At the university.”

“Does everyone have this photo?”

“Time made a copy for everyone.”

“Time?”

“Yeah, it was taken with Time’s camera.”

“Kamin nodded and stored the information.”

“Chamchay said there was nothing unusual in Tonkla’s dorm. He didn’t leave,
and no one entered his room.” Jade returned after the call. Kamin still felt
something was wrong, a suspicion he couldn’t resolve.

“Let’s rest, Jade. Tomorrow we have a lot to do. And you, if there’s anything
else, say it. Don’t hide anything, because besides being a suspect, you’re
also a possible victim.”

“Do you still think one of us did this?”

“I’ve never ruled any of you out as suspects.”

“Do you think Tonkla will be next?” Kamin hesitated, unsure of the impact of
Dare’s absence.

“I don’t know.”

“Go to sleep.” Jade told Kamin before leaving.

 “I’ll go tomorrow too.”

“If you wake up.” Jade slammed the door in his brother’s face before following
Kamin to the bedroom.

“Your room is over there.”

“I came to say goodnight.”

“Say goodnight or pray?”

“I came to see you.”

“Goodnight, Jade.” Kamin tried to close the door, but Jade’s hand stopped it.

“What else?”

“Take your money.”

“No.”

“Will you take the money or stay in my room tonight? Choose.”

“Will you take the money or work alone tomorrow? Choose.” They stared at
each other until Jade gave in, since Kamin wasn’t going to budge.

“You said we have something to do early tomorrow. Is there something I don’t

know?”

“Yes.”

“What?”

“My friend from the special investigation team got information about the drug
found in Tar’s body.”

“You know someone from the special investigation team?”

“Yeah, someone. And you?”

“Yuki.”
 “An old friend?”

“Something like that.” Kamin could tell they weren’t just friends, but it wasn’t
his business.

“Let’s split up. I’m going to sleep.”

“Goodnight.” Jade patted Kamin’s head before returning to his room, leaving
Kamin uncomfortable.

No one had done that before!

 CHAPTER 16

The morning should be bright, filled with soft sunlight, the aroma of fresh
coffee, and calmness. It should be a time to be with oneself before facing the
hectic and busy outside world. But for Kamin, it’s not like that, because now
he’s sitting drinking coffee on the kitchen counter, watching the two brothers
endlessly argue about breakfast.

“Brother Jade, you’re in the way.”

“I don’t like runny fried eggs.”

“I know!” Jay stopped talking to his brother and turned to Kamin in a different
tone. “Brother Min, how do you like it?”

“I don’t eat breakfast. Just coffee and bread.”

“That’s not healthy. I’ll make you a sandwich, then.” Jay smiled sweetly at the
new housemate, while his brother frowned before sitting next to Kamin.

“What are we doing today?”

“First, we’re going to the station. I want to see if Mirin got any additional
information from the letter. You handle the search warrant for Fai’s house.
Then we’ll go see Tonkla.”

“Got it.”

“And me?” Jay placed the sandwich, cut into small pieces, in front of Kamin.

“Why do you want to go?” Jade looked at Jay before taking the sandwich from
his hand and eating it himself.

“I already said I’m going. Tonkla is my friend.”

“Wait for me in my office. I’ll call you when we go see Tonkla.”

 “Alright. I’ll save the rest of the sandwich for you.” Jay put the neatly made
sandwiches into a small box.

“Do you usually do this for Jade?”

“No, he fends for himself.”

“I’m the same age as your brother, in case you forgot.”

“You’re a special case.” Kamin shook his head slightly at the joke before
grabbing his coat and car keys to wait outside.

“Are you really going to win him over?”

“Yes. Why?”

“What makes you think that?”

“Brother, Min is cute. You’re not thinking of competing with me, are you?”
Though it sounded like a question, his eyes showed he was testing his
brother.

“Nonsense.” Jade wasn’t bothered by his brother’s question and finished his
coffee before following Kamin outside.

The three headed to the police station. Kamin was driving while Jade
prepared the documents for the search warrant. Jay kept chatting with Kamin,
asking about his life. All the answers and information were stored in Jay’s
memory.

“Are you allergic to shrimp? I haven’t made anything with shrimp lately.”

“I thought about eating out, so I didn’t tell you. Sorry.”

“Is there anything else you’re allergic to?”

“Nothing else.”

“But it seems like I’m allergic to something now.”

“To what?”
 “To the...”

“Should I specify?” Jade interrupted before Jay could finish his joke.

“Yes, specify.”

“You’ve been in the police for years. Did you suddenly forget how to write a
search warrant?”

“Yes.” Jay lightly hit Jade’s seat before moving to the middle space to keep
talking to Kamin.

“Brother Min, did you know Jade tried to join the Special Investigation Unit
before working here? Do you know it?”

“Yes, I know it.”

“But you were only a substitute, so you didn’t get in. Otherwise, you’d have a
relationship with Brother Yu.”

“Brother Yu?”

“Yeah, Jade has been interested in him for a long time.” Jade glanced at his
brother before reclining his seat.

“Wake me up when we get there.” Jay, happy to have annoyed his brother,
smiled and settled into his seat. If he couldn’t bother Kamin, he wouldn’t let
Jade score points either.

When they arrived, Kamin accompanied Jay to his office. There was nothing
to worry about in the room; the important documents were in a locked cabinet.
Jade went to handle the search warrant.

“If you need anything, call me. Don’t wander around. Understood?”

“I’m not a kid.” Jay proved it by getting close to Kamin until they were
centimeters apart, their noses almost touching. “See?”

“You’re still younger.” Kamin stepped back. Jay watched the small figure in a
white shirt until he disappeared. He really liked Kamin, not just for his looks,
but also for his personality—someone firm yet kind. He felt that if they spent
more time together, he’d easily fall for him.

Jay’s phone rang, and he answered while examining the inspector’s office.

“Hello.”

“Jay, has Belle called you?”

“No, why?”

“I lost my phone yesterday, and when I found it in the car, there were a lot of
missed calls and messages from Belle.”

“She must be complaining as usual.” Jay picked up Kamin’s badge and

smiled as he read the name "Kamin Kananon." But Cherine’s words stopped
him.

“She mentioned a letter, Jay.”

“A letter?”

“Yeah, she was really upset. Now she’s not answering.”

“Do you think she’s in her apartment?”

“I don’t know, but I have her key. I was thinking of going to check.”

“I’ll meet you there.” Jay called his brother, but with no answer, he decided to
go to Belle’s apartment.

Jay left Kamin’s office, calling Belle as he walked. No one answered, and he
started to worry. If the letter was the same as Tonkla’s, it meant two letters
were sent at the same time. What was going on with Tonkla?

Jay changed tactics and called Tonkla, but he didn’t answer either. Worried,
he didn’t watch where he was going and bumped into Kamin at a corner.
Kamin almost fell, but Jay caught him in time.

“Brother Min, I’m sorry.”

“I told you not to wander around. What are you doing here?”
“It’s good you’re here. Cherine called me, said Belle called her and mentioned
a letter.”

“A letter? Wasn’t it Tonkla who received a letter?”

“That’s what I thought.”

“Let’s get to the car.” Both ran to the car and left the station. Jay gave
directions to Kamin while he called Jade. When he finally answered, Kamin
didn’t have time for complaints.

“Jade, is the officer still watching Tonkla’s dorm?”

“Why are you asking?”

“Answer me.”

“Hold on.” Jade moved before responding.

“No, he’s back already.”

“Jade, can you go check on Tonkla?”

“Where are you?”

“I’m going to Belle’s apartment with Jay. Cherine said Belle mentioned a
letter.”

“Why didn’t you wait for me?”

“Why didn’t you answer when Jay called you?”

“Brother Min, turn right.”

“Call me when you know something. We’ll talk later.” Jade sighed and took
the station car keys to go to Tonkla’s dorm. He was handling the search
warrant, so he hadn’t answered. And with Jay, he thought it wasn’t urgent.

When he arrived at the dorm, Jade went up immediately. He knocked on the

door for a while, but there was no answer. He went down to ask the concierge
for the key, explaining that he was a police officer investigating an important
case. The concierge agreed to open the door.

Inside Tonkla’s dorm, there was no one. He tried calling Tonkla’s number, but
the phone was there.

“Tonkla isn’t here.” Jade called Kamin to inform him.

“He’s not? // He might be at the workshop.” Jay’s voice interrupted, making

Jade roll his eyes.

“I’ll go check. Where are you?”

“At Belle’s apartment. Can you go to Tonkla’s workshop?”

“Yes, be careful.”

“You too. Call me if anything happens.”

After hanging up, Kamin entered the apartment. The security was good; a
card was needed to enter.

“Hello, I’m a police officer. I need to check a room...” Kamin showed his
badge and explained his purpose, but he didn’t know Belle’s room number, so
he asked the receptionist.

“Room 0909, under Belle Pannita.”

“Is there a problem?”

“We’ve called several times, and she’s not answering. We’re worried.”

“One moment.” The receptionist consulted with the manager. Even though
Kamin was a police officer, it would be hard to enter without a search warrant.

“The manager says you can go up, but I have to accompany you.”

“Understood.” They went up together to Belle’s room. When the receptionist

used the card to open the door, Kamin stopped her.

“I’ll open it.” His instinct told him to preserve the evidence.
 When he opened the door, the smell of chemicals hit him. He drew his gun
and guided the receptionist and Jay behind him. The room seemed normal,
except for a letter on the table and the bathroom door slightly ajar.

“Stay here.” Kamin approached the bathroom, one hand on his gun and the
other slowly pushing the door open.

The chemical smell was strong, so he covered his nose with a handkerchief.
Inside the bathtub, the water was red. The body was unrecognizable, with
coagulated blood and stiff muscles. The corpse had been dead for hours. The
skin was decomposed, the hair loose, the eyes white, and the lips gone,
leaving the teeth exposed. There were several brown bottles nearby. On the
corpse’s forehead, a nail held a black paper, just like in Tar’s case, but this
time it said **DARE**.

“Brother Min, can I come in? Did you find Belle?”

“Don’t come in!” Kamin closed the door and holstered his gun. He called
someone who needed to know what he had found and also wanted to know
the situation on the other side.

“I’m on my way.”

“Call Mirin and the forensics team.”

“What happened?”

“Come see for yourself.” Kamin sighed, not knowing how to describe the
corpse. “And over there?”

“He’s at the workshop. He’s been working since early morning and left his
phone in the locker. I’ve left an officer watching.”

“Alright.” Kamin went to the living room and looked at the letter on the table.
Then he looked at Jay.

“You should come, Jade.”

“What’s up, Min?”

 “Your brother’s name is on Belle’s letter.” Jay looked at Kamin, confused.
Even though he was on a call, his eyes showed surprise at hearing the name
in the letter.

“And I think the corpse in the bathroom is Belle.”

CHAPTER 17

“Where’s Jay?” Jade asked urgently as he arrived.

“Over there.” Kamin pointed to where Jay and Cherine were sitting. Jade felt
relieved seeing his brother but remembered what Kamin had told him about
the letter.

“What did you mean about the letter?”

“The forensics team has it. We’ll review it at the station. Now you should
focus on this.” Kamin led Jade to the bathroom, where Thanakorn and Mirin
were struggling with how to examine the corpse.

“It’s been twenty minutes, and we still can’t examine or move the body. We’ve
only collected some tissue, hair, and teeth samples.”

“What caused this?”

“Acid, but we need to confirm what kind.”

“How do you know it’s Belle?” Jade didn’t recognize the body.

“Even though the body is unrecognizable, circumstantial evidence helps.”

Kamin pointed to several items in the bathroom. “The items are set up for a
bath. The killer wouldn’t know where things are or what Belle uses. Cream,
wine, bath salts, candles. Everything suggests Belle was preparing for a bath
when it happened.”

“Did the killer leave any clues?”

“No. No fingerprints, not even shoe prints or dirt traces. Only two people have
the access card. How did the killer get in?”
 “Who has the card?”

“Belle and Cherine.” Kamin looked at the two young people giving statements
on the sofa. Jay was comforting Cherine, who was crying. Though Jay was
shaken, he tried to stay calm for Cherine.

“Let’s start with you, Jay. How did you get here?”

“I came with Inspector Kamin. Cherine called about Belle’s messages, and we
decided to come.”

“Did anyone else come to Belle’s apartment?”

“I don’t know. I don’t come here often.”

“And you, Cherine? Do you have Belle’s card?”

“Yes, we’re close friends. Sometimes I have to wake her up.”

“Did you come earlier?”

“No, I didn’t come.” Cherine cried as she spoke.

“Can you show me the messages?”

“Yes.” Cherine showed her phone. The officers checked both phones.

“Belle called you several times last night. Why didn’t you answer?”

“I lost my phone. This morning, I found it in the car. I saw Belle’s calls and
messages, but she wasn’t answering, so I called Jay.”

“Thank you, Sergeant Chai. I’ll take it from here.”

“Yes, Inspector.”

“I’ll be direct. Are you hiding anything? If you are, it’ll be harder to solve the
case, and you’ll be in danger.” Kamin looked more severe.

“I’ve already told you everything.”

 “I don’t know anything.”

“You didn’t know Fai was pregnant?” Cherine stopped, surprised, before
calming down. Kamin showed the letter addressed to Belle.

“I don’t trust Cherine or Jay. I’m sorry.”

“Do you trust me, Jay’s brother?”

“I hope you respect your duty and profession, Jade.” Jade didn’t respond, just
examined the items. They were similar to Tar’s, with the word **DARE**.
Tonkla didn’t have that word.

**DARE**

“Choose who will die in your place, Belle. JAY OR CHERINE.”

“Why choose between them?”

“That’s what we’re investigating.”

“If Belle and Cherine were such good friends, why choose one to die?”

“Friendship can mean different things to different people.”

“Are we friends?” Jade looked at Kamin.

“No.”

“How not? We’re living together.”

“Living together doesn’t mean we’re friends. Why should I be your friend?”

“Don’t you think I should be your friend?”

“As a colleague, I have no problem.”

“I don’t bring colleagues to my house.” Kamin looked at the man who had
been watching him since they stopped.

“You’re still thinking about your friend from the special investigation team?”
 “Jay just talks nonsense.”

“I don’t see Jay being wrong.”

“You call him affectionately, but you almost call me by my title. Do you like
him?”

“Yes, he’s a cute kid.”

“You like him?”

“Why so many questions?”

“If we’re living together, do things equally.”

“Like what?”

“Call me by my name.”

“Captain Jade.”

“Without ‘captain.’”

“You want me to call you by your name?”

“I want you to call me as a housemate, not someone from the department.”

Kamin looked at the green light and accelerated. He didn’t speak or call Jade
as he wanted, so Jade thought he wasn’t comfortable.

When they arrived at the station, Kamin got out of the car and grabbed his
coat. He stopped and looked at Jade, who was reluctantly getting out.

“Take the evidence, Jade.”

“I know. What did you call me?” Kamin shrugged and walked in without
looking back, even as Jade shouted his name.

“Kamin! Min! What did you call me?”

Jay and Cherine were about to get into the police car when Tonkla arrived
and took Cherine’s hand.
 “How did you get here?” Jay asked, surprised.

“I need to talk to Cherine. Go to the car.” Cherine, cold, looked at Jay.

“Same as always, Jay. Go to the car. I’ll come later.” Cherine and Tonkla
walked away to talk privately.

“Did you see Belle’s letter?”

“A letter? No, Kamin said it had my name and Jay’s.”

“Damn it!”

“What’s going on, Tonkla? Why did you tell me not to answer Belle’s calls?”

“You don’t need to know.”

“I have to know! My friend is dead!”

“Friend? Do you know what Belle said when I told her I liked you? She invited
me to sleep with her. She said you were boring. Do friends do that? Do they
steal from each other?”

“What?”

“Do you know why you’re alive? Because the letter gave me a choice
between you or Belle to die. I chose Belle. If Belle’s letter had your name and
Jay’s, who do you think she’d choose? If I didn’t choose Belle, you’d be dead,
Cherine.”

Cherine almost collapsed, but Tonkla held her. He had loved her in secret,
knew everything about her. He wanted to protect her no matter what.

“If you get a letter, tell me. We’ll solve this together.”

“I’m scared, Tonkla.”

“Don’t be afraid. I’ll be with you.” Tonkla hugged her and stroked her back.

“And you? If the letter has my name and Champ’s, who would you protect?”
“You, always you.” Cherine spoke shakily, but her eyes showed no emotion.

“Do you like me more?”

“Yes.”

“I love you. You can tell me anything. I’ll protect you.”

“Thank you.”

“Including Fai.”

“What about Fai?” Cherine tensed and pulled away from Tonkla.

“I mean what you and Fai did to mess with others. I saw Fai give you a bottle
before entering the room. I know it was an accident. I just...”

“Shut up! Don’t mention this again, understood?” Cherine’s tone shifted from
sweet to severe.

“Alright.”

“Go back to the room. I’ll see you tonight.”

“Okay.” Cherine watched Tonkla leave. She clasped her hands to hide her
nervousness. She never thought someone would have seen it. What she and
Fai planned was just a prank.

But who could have known it would go so wrong!

 CHAPTER 18

Kamin, Jade, Mirin, Marnmai, and Thanakorn were observing the newly
placed body on the autopsy table. It wasn’t exactly a body, as the fragments
of skin and organs were scattered.

“There’s still acid on and around the body. Let me handle it alone. If you have
questions, ask me.” Thanakorn put on a mask, gloves, and goggles before
starting to examine with tweezers.

“What kind of acid can destroy tissue like this, Mirin?” Marnmai asked,
trembling and looking away.

“I think it’s sulfuric acid, partly.”

“Partly?”

“Yes.”

“I agree with Mirin. Look here.” Thanakorn pointed to the arm, torso, and thigh
of the corpse, which were starting to turn gray and black. “Sulfuric acid turns
the skin white, gray, and then black. But in other areas, like here, here, and
here, the corrosion is too severe. This would take a week of immersion.”

Thanakorn used a rod to point to the ankle, wrist, neck, and face, where the
acid had corroded down to the bone.

“I’ve sent tissue samples to the lab. I’ll report when we have results.”

“Hydrochloric acid.” Jade, who had been silent, suddenly spoke, surprising
everyone.
“It’s possible. Hydrochloric acid can also cause severe skin necrosis. I’ll look
into it.” Mirin nodded.

“These acids can be purchased, but in controlled quantities. Who could get so
much to submerge a body?” Mirin looked at Belle’s corpse.

“What kind of hatred does the killer have for these kids to be so brutal?”
Marnmai sighed. She had never worked on such a violent case.

“And this paper?” Thanakorn handed an envelope with paper and a nail to
Kamin. He had taken it from the corpse’s forehead at the crime scene.

“The first corpse also had one, but with a different word.” Kamin examined the
paper, thoughtful.

“What if it refers to what they chose?” Jade compared the paper with his.

“Tar had TRUTH because he chose the truth. Belle had DARE because she
chose the dare.” Kamin looked at Jade. “She chose Cherine to die in her
place.”

“What if the next victim is Cherine?” Jade called his brother. The officers were
taking Cherine and Jay to the station for more questions. Jay answered but
didn’t speak.

“Where are you?”

“In the car.”

“Why are you taking so long?”

“Tonkla came to see Cherine. They talked.”

“Tonkla was there? Why?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t hear.”

“Are you close?”

“Almost there. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Hurry up.” Jade hung up and looked at Kamin, who was observing
the letter, thoughtful.

“What’s wrong?”

“If Tonkla lied about the USB, why wouldn’t he lie about the missing DARE
part?” Kamin headed to the door, but Jade stopped him.

“Where are you going?”

“To make the liar talk. Do you have the USB?”

“No. Tonkla said it was in his room. I was going to get it when you called.”

“Good, then it won’t be a wasted trip.”

“I’ll go with you.”

“You stay and interrogate Cherine and Jay. They’re suspects too.”

“It’s dangerous.”

“If I avoided danger, I wouldn’t be an inspector. I’ll call you if I find anything.”
Jade watched Kamin leave the autopsy room.

The only one who had received a letter and was still alive was Tonkla. They
didn’t know if anyone else had received a letter. The kids’ secrets made the
investigation harder and increased the danger.

“Inform me of any progress in the autopsy. Mirin, do you have the results of
the substances found in the previous victim?”

“Yes, I was about to tell you. You won’t like it.”

“Tell me.”

“I asked an undercover officer to investigate if they were sold there. And yes,
they’re sold at The Wild Hunt. You know what happens there.” Jade cursed.
He wanted that club gone. It wasn’t just a club for drinking, dancing, and
eating. It was much worse.
It was an illegal club with drugs, prostitution, gambling, and human trafficking.
They organized fights for the gamblers’ entertainment. Every new inspector
was quickly bribed. They paid bribes and only received small fines. Jade
hated that place and hoped Kamin would respect his duty more than his
predecessors.

Kamin was driving to the workshop where Tonkla worked. The kid wasn’t
answering his phone, clearly avoiding him. According to Jade, Tonkla had
been at the crime scene. How did he know? Jay and Cherine hadn’t called
anyone.

While thinking, a black car approached his. Kamin grabbed his gun and pulled
over when the black car got closer.

Kamin stopped and watched the car stop in front. Two men in black got out
and opened the back door. A man in a long, unbuttoned suit stepped out,
smoking. Kamin sighed, anticipating trouble.

A knock on the window made Kamin lower it halfway, not letting his guard
down.

“Hello, new inspector. It’s an honor to meet you. Where are you going in such
a hurry?” the suited man said, joking and exhaling smoke into the car.

“If you see I’m in a hurry, you shouldn’t stop me.”

“I didn’t know the new inspector was so handsome. Shall we step out and
talk?”

“I don’t have time.”

“Step out.” The joking tone turned serious. Kamin sighed and opened the
door, almost hitting the man outside.

“That’s more like it.” The man said.

“I’m in a hurry. You have five minutes. Speak.”

“You scare me with your seriousness.” The man stroked Kamin’s chin.

“You have four minutes left.” Kamin’s calmness made the man stop.
“Alright. We’ll have time to have fun. I’m Sonjae, manager of The Wild Hunt.”
Kamin showed no surprise. He already knew everything. “I want to invite you
to the club to talk.”

“Is that all?”

“I’d like more, but I have to get back to the club.” The man took out a black
card and slipped it into Kamin’s pocket. “I hope to see you soon. I don’t like
waiting.”

Kamin looked at the man and got back in the car. As he drove, he called a
friend from the special investigation team. These guys came sooner than
expected.

“What’s up?”

“I ran into someone from there.”

“What did he say?”

“He wants to meet. Probably to bribe me as usual.”

“The case I’m working on is also related to that place. They found the body of
an 18-year-old boy with bruises on his face and body, and chain marks on his
ankles and wrists. Everything points to the body coming from that club. The
cause of death seems to be a severe beating. They have an illegal fighting
ring there.” Kamin listened to his friend describe the case and nodded, though
the other couldn’t see him. Underground fights were like that: if you survived,
you won money, but if not, you were treated like trash. That’s why he wanted
to shut that damn place down.

“Are you coming?”

“I’ll send two field agents, Leo and Yuki.” Kamin recognized the second name.

“Alright. I’ll call you tonight to discuss the details.”

“Where are you?”

“Working on a case.”
“Good, we’ll talk later.” Kamin hung up just as he arrived at the workshop. It
wasn’t big or fancy, and it was out of the way. There were black, white, and
silver cars parked, probably waiting for repair or already repaired.

Kamin parked and entered. Two employees were drinking in front of a blue
car with the hood open and the engine exposed.

“I told you we should charge more. With these prices, we’ll never get rich.”

“If we charge more, they’ll go to the dealership. We get cheap parts and
charge a bit more. That’s how we keep the workshop full.”

“We’re older, but Klah and I won’t work here forever, right, Glah?” The blond
boy looked at the black car next to Kamin, who had just entered. Glah came
out from under the car, dirty and with tools in hand.

“Yeah.”

“Customer! Welcome to Chanchai Auto. What’s wrong with your car?” The
workshop owner greeted Kamin warmly.

“My car’s fine. I’m looking for Klah.”

“What do you want? Isn’t sending someone to watch me enough?”

“If it were enough, how did you escape without my officers knowing?”

“Are you a cop?”

“Yes. I need to talk to him. May I?”

“Sure. Klah, talk to the officer.” Klah wiped his hands and left the workshop to
sit on a bench under a nearby tree.

“What do you want? First the captain, now the inspector. Am I a suspect?”

“You could be. You’re acting suspiciously, aren’t you?”

“Here’s the USB.” Klah tossed the USB to Kamin carelessly. “Let me know
when you arrest me. I’ll pack my clothes.”

“When did you get it? When did you go see Cherine at Belle’s apartment?”
 “What if I did?”

“I’m just wondering how you knew about Belle without anyone telling you.
How did you know Cherine would be there?”

“I just dropped by.”

“You dropped by for no reason? Or was there something that made you go?”
Klah paused for a moment before returning to normal.

“Belle called me, but I didn’t answer.”

“When did Belle call you?”

“Last night. She probably called everyone.”

“You don’t seem surprised by your third friend’s death.”

“What can I do? Being surprised won’t bring Fai, Tar, or Belle back. I’d rather
worry about the names on the letter.” Kamin smiled and approached Klah,
taking the cigarette he was about to light. He had inhaled enough smoke for
today.

“I didn’t mention the letter. How do you know?” Kamin spoke calmly, but his
tone was accusatory, making Klah uneasy.

“I’m just talking.”

“Will you tell the truth or spend a night at the station?”

“I don’t know anything.”

“Think carefully, Klah. You might not be the only one who received a letter.
You’re not the only one who can choose. Who do you trust?” Kamin didn’t
know how the relationships between the kids were, but he was sure they
shouldn’t trust each other. Klah seemed to think the same, pondering for a
while. “First Fai, then Tar, and now Belle. Who knows if Cherine, whose name
is on the letter, will be next?”

“No.”
 “Why do you think that?”

“I have to get back to work.” Kamin watched the young man get up and return
to the workshop. From his attitude and words, Kamin could guess a few
things. The kid must have received a letter with the "Dare" part and probably
wasn’t much different from Belle’s. If he had to guess, one of the names on
Tonkla’s letter would be Belle, and the other was surely Cherine.

Kamin was about to return to his car. He had to organize his investigation at
the Korean’s club, who had invited him earlier, and check the USB in his
hand. But he noticed something in the nearby silver car: a jacket from the
school Jay attended. He immediately wondered:

Whose car is this?

 CHAPTER 19

With all the recent events, Kamin had to reorganize his priorities and ask for
help from his colleagues.

“Where are you?”

“Outside. Come out.”

Kamin rested his arms on the steering wheel, looking toward the police
station where he had been working for a while. Before, in the police
department, he was used to working alone, whether in the office or in the
field. He lived alone, worked, ate, and handled his problems alone. When he
arrived here, he thought it would be the same, but he found a friendly team,
willing to help. For the first time, he had field partners, although one of them
disrupted his life in unexpected ways.

The car doors opened, and two tall men got in. Kamin saw that they were the
brothers he was temporarily living with. Jay leaned between the front seats,
looking at Kamin as he stretched.

“Did you go see Klah?”

“Yes.”
“What did he say? Did he mention talking to Cherine?”
“Why so curious?”

“I saw them talking seriously, and I got worried. Glah received a letter, and
Cherine is mentioned.” Kamin glanced at the person in the passenger seat.
“I already told him.” Jade raised his hands in surrender.

“I didn’t say anything.”

“What did you find out?” Jade asked, more serious than usual.
“We’re going to Fai’s house.”
 “Fai’s house?”

“If Fai was the first to die, we need to find the first letter to understand the
situation.” Kamin appreciated working with Jade because he always
anticipated his actions, like now, handing him the search warrant without
needing to ask.

On the way, the atmosphere in the car was calm, different from the morning.
Kamin played soft music to avoid the awkwardness between the brothers. He
noticed their strange behavior since the interrogation but decided to ask later,
one-on-one.

They arrived at a large white house. The closed door made Kamin get out to
ring the bell. Soon, a maid came out to greet them. Without prior notice, she
had to consult with her employers. Kamin returned to the car and asked Jay,
although he already knew part of the story.
“What’s Fai’s family like?”

“The mom is kind, the dad is strict but also kind.”

“Were you close to Fai?”
“Yes, we were close.”

“In what way?” Kamin noticed Jay’s pause in the rearview mirror.

“The door is open.” Jade pointed to the entrance. The white door opened,
revealing a large European-style house with a garden and fountain. Kamin
drove to the main entrance, where Fai’s parents were waiting. He had seen
them before when he reported on the case, but they didn’t talk much because
they were grieving.

“Hello, I’m Inspector Kamin.”

“Hello, I remember you. Any progress on the case?”
“We’re investigating. Today we’re looking for clues Fai might have had.”
“What clue?”
“A letter addressed to Fai.” The parents exchanged glances and invited them
in.

Kamin still had questions but feared adding to the parents’ pain. Fai’s mother
led them to her daughter’s room. With trembling hands, she opened the white
door. Everything was as if Fai were still alive: the bed neatly made and the
desk full of books. Kamin nodded to Jade to start searching for the letter. Jay
waited downstairs, still a suspect. Kamin spoke with the mother, who was still
 pained as she looked at the empty room. After talking, Kamin and Jade
searched for the letter and found it.

TRUTH OR DARE FAI

DARE
"To know someone’s true nature, observe them in difficult times. To know
their soul, observe them in death. Do you want to try, Fai? Do you want to
die? :)"

The content was brief, torn from a page. If Fai was the first to receive this
letter, what did she choose? The lost truth or the dare?

Kamin looked at Jade and asked him to wait downstairs. He wanted to ask
the mother more questions.

“We found something related to the case. Can I ask you a few more
questions?”

“Of course.”

“Did Fai mention this letter?”

“I never saw it.”
“Before the incident, did Fai say anything or act strangely?”
“She thought for a moment, looking at her daughter’s room.”
“Normally, Fai was cheerful, always smiling. But suddenly she started to
change. She cried a lot, got irritated easily, spoke little. Sometimes I saw her
walking in the backyard at night. I asked her, and she said she had just fought
with her boyfriend. I thought it was typical teenage stuff and didn’t pay
attention. I never imagined this would happen.” Fai’s mother began to cry.
Kamin accompanied her downstairs and said goodbye to continue with his
work.

“We’ll inform you of any progress. If you remember anything else, call me.”
“Of course.”

Outside, Kamin didn’t see the brothers. He found them arguing.

“I told you I didn’t know.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“How was I supposed to know Fai was pregnant?”
“Jay, don’t talk nonsense!” Jade grabbed Jay by the neck. Kamin intervened.
“Enough, Jade. Talk at home.” Jade let go of Jay and got into the car.
“Get in, Jay.”
Kamin sighed and took the wheel. The atmosphere in the car was tenser than
before. He knew something had happened during the interrogation.

The phone rang, interrupting the silence. Kamin answered.

“Hello?”
“It’s Mio. Nick told you, right?”
“Yes.”
—The abrupt voice confused Kamin, but he understood when Mio introduced
herself.
“See you at nine at the club entrance.”
“I can get in without a problem, what about you?”
“I’ll figure it out.” A background voice was heard, probably a teammate. “If you
want me to keep things quiet, don’t complain.”
The noise made Kamin move the phone away. Jade watched as Kamin
handed him a black card. Kamin returned to the phone.
“See you at nine.” He hung up, tired of hearing the argument.
“Who was it?”
“Someone from the special investigation team. They’re coming to look into the
case.”
“When did you see them?” Jade held up the card.
“At Klah’s workshop.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“I’m telling you now. They’ll probably try to bribe me, as usual.”
Kamin spoke calmly, unafraid. “I’ll investigate. You look into the drugs we
found.”
“You don’t know how they are.”
“You don’t know how I am.” Jade looked at Kamin before turning his gaze
forward. When they arrived, Jay left without a word. Kamin took the
opportunity to ask about the interrogation. Jade slumped on the couch and
closed his eyes. The coolness on his neck made him open them and see
Kamin with a cold can. Jade took it and tapped the seat for Kamin to sit down.
“What happened during the interrogation?” Kamin opened his can, loosening
his tie.
“He shouldn’t join us in investigations anymore.”
“Why?”
“He’s a suspect.” Jade replied, annoyed. “You know Fai was pregnant.”
“Yes.”
“I interrogated him until he confessed. They got drunk at a party. Fai too.
Everyone was drunk.”
“And?”
“Jay was with Fai. Who do you think the father is?”
 “But Fai was dating Champ.”
“I don’t know, but it’s serious, and he didn’t tell me anything.”
“Calm down. Let’s focus on the killer’s intentions. All the letters point to Fai. If
it’s not someone who loved or hated her, it could be both. If Jay doesn’t know
about the pregnancy, worry about when he’ll receive a letter.”

The sound of footsteps coming down caught Kamin and Jade’s attention. Jay
just took the car keys and left without listening to his brother. He got on his
motorcycle and left without looking back.
“Jay! Jay!” Jade tried to stop him, but it was useless.
“Will you follow him? I can go to the club alone.”
“No, I’m going with you.”
“Then tell Sergeant Chai to look for your brother. You’re not the only one
upset; Jay is too.”
“Yes.” Both went inside to organize the search for Jay and plan their entry into
The Wild Hunt club. He had to be more careful than ever because the man
who invited Kamin was an old enemy of Jade.

֍~~~~֍
Jay sped on his motorcycle, weaving through cars. He wanted the wind to
clear his confusion. He knew nothing about what had happened, not about
Tar, Klah, Bell, or Fai. He didn’t know who to trust. He was upset because Fai
had assured him she wasn’t pregnant, and he didn’t know if the problem was
his or Champ’s. Only he and Fai knew; Champ had no idea. After riding for a
while, Jay decided to go to Klah’s workshop to talk. Klah knew a lot about the
group; he just needed to speak.

֍~~~~֍
The sun had set, and the sky was dark. Only the light from the workshop
illuminated the street. Klah was working under a car, wanting to finish.
“Are you leaving, Klah? You can finish tomorrow.”
“Just a little more. Then I’ll go.”
“Alright. I left the keys on the table. Don’t forget to lock up.”
“Yes.” Klah, alone, put on headphones and continued working. He thought
about going to see Cherine after finishing.

He remembered the day it all began. He was going to get a box of beer from
the car when he saw Cherine and Fai talking and passing a vial. Although he
didn’t hear everything, he understood they planned to drug everyone and fake
passing out. There were two vials, but he didn’t know what the other
contained. He didn’t think the prank would go so wrong. He believed Tar’s
 death was also an accident, but when he received the letter and chose for
Bell to die instead of Cherine, and it happened, he knew it wasn’t an accident.

*Creeeek*
The sound of something dragging snapped Klah out of his thoughts. He
removed his headphones and tightened the screwdriver in his hand.
“Is that you, uncle?” No response. Klah felt a chill. “Who’s there?”
He looked around from under the car but saw nothing. The sound continued.
Klah tried to get out, but feet in a black cloak blocked him.
“Who are you?”
“Truth or Dare.” The distorted voice made Klah’s heart race.
“I asked who you are!”
The car descended, reducing the space between Klah and the chassis. He hit
and pushed, but it was futile. He screamed, terrified, his hands cold and his
forehead sweaty.
“Truth or Dare.” Klah tried to get out but was grabbed by the legs. He
struggled, but it only made things worse.
“Let me go! Ahhh!” The pain in his legs made him writhe. He couldn’t move in
the confined space. His leg was struck repeatedly, breaking the bone. He
screamed in agony.

The lift rose, increasing the space, but Klah didn’t feel relieved.
“Truth or Dare.” The question repeated as the man in the cloak dragged Klah
under the car until his legs dangled.
“The truth... Truth.” Klah pleaded.
“Is it true you knew everything but hid it? That only money bought your truth?”
“No, it’s not true.”
“Didn’t you sell Fai’s video?” The voice repeated the accusation, and Klah
covered his ears. “Here’s money for hell.”
The lift descended sharply, without safety. The car fell, crushing Klah. Blood
splattered. There was no skull to pin a paper. The killer placed it on the
remains of his face.

“Hey!” A shout didn’t faze the hooded killer.

Jay saw his friend crushed under the car. Blood was spreading. His hands
trembled. He was about to run, but a blow to the back of his neck stopped
him. He fell unconscious.
The killer disappeared without a trace.
 CHAPTER 20

Jade watched Kamin step out of the car. Tonight, the inspector was dressed
unusually: a satin shirt unbuttoned to the third button, revealing his chest, and
tight pants of the same color, accentuating his figure. His hair fell naturally,
making him look younger.
“What are you looking at?”
“Is it necessary to dress like that?”
“In a place like this, how do you expect me to dress? In full police uniform?”
“Do you know how perverted that guy is? Do you think he’ll let you go if he
sees you like that, Kamin?” Jade crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow.
“Stay in contact over here.” Kamin ignored the comment and handed Jade a
small earpiece for emergencies, avoiding the use of a phone.
“Can you hear me?”
“No.”
“I’m going in to find that guy.”
“And who’s going to investigate the drugs?” Kamin asked as he put on the
earpiece. Jade wasn’t dressed much differently: a black shirt, leather jacket,
jeans, and sneakers. His hair slicked back made him look more serious.

“If you don’t do your duty, I’m ordering you as the inspector.”
“Don’t ask for help later.” Kamin watched Jade walk away, shaking his head.
He knew Jade was familiar with the place, but if the plan failed, it would be
harder to work there. They needed to get information tonight.

They arrived at a large building in an isolated area. Entry was only allowed
with a card or accompanied by someone from the place. Kamin had a recent
invitation, but Jade and the agents from the special investigation team would
have a harder time getting in.

Two guards at the entrance eyed Kamin suspiciously until he showed

Sonjae’s card.
“Go ahead.” Jade watched from a distance, pretending not to be with Kamin.
After Kamin entered, Jade headed to the side to smoke, where five or six
people were gathered, a mix of night tourists and employees.
 “Got a lighter?” Jade approached a young man smoking. He had a bruised
face and looked annoyed, a common sight for Jade in that place. The young
man handed him the lighter and exhaled smoke. Jade lit his cigarette,
returned the lighter, and sat down.
“What happened to you?”
“I just asked who I’d be fighting tonight.”
“Did you bet?”
“Yeah, a lot. Any interesting fights?”
“Maybe. The manager said there’d be a special fight.” Jade got interested and
asked more.
“Who?”
“I don’t know. He didn’t say.” Jade tossed his cigarette without smoking it and
stood up, heading to the entrance with a card he’d stolen from the young man
without him noticing.

Inside, he looked for Kamin. They had agreed to meet in the bathroom at the
back, just like with Mio and Yuki. The atmosphere was the same as the last
time he’d tried to shut the place down. There were separate zones: a bar and
tables for drinking, a stage with women dancing sensually, and small stages
with poles. Further in, a casino where many had lost everything.

The place had three floors. The second floor was for rooms, not for guests,
but for sexual services of all kinds. The third floor was Sonjae’s office, where
he would take Kamin.

Jade headed to the bathroom and knocked on the last stall door. When it
opened, he found Kamin inside.
“You’re late.”
“If you’re in such a hurry, why didn’t you ask for two cards?” The sound of
people entering the bathroom made Kamin pull Jade into the stall.
“The new ones are amazing. I’ll come back for more.”
“What number?”
“B, triple six.”
“B? A guy?”
“Yeah, incredible. Small, white, very skilled.”
“Makes me want to try.” Kamin listened to the conversation outside with a
neutral expression. He glanced at Jade, who was just inches away. The stall
was too small for two people.
“Prostitution too?” Kamin whispered.
“Everything illegal is here.” Jade whispered into Kamin’s ear, catching a whiff
of his cologne.
“They’ve been causing trouble for a long time. No one stops them because of
their power and money. I hope you’re different.”
“You think I’ll take bribes?” Jade looked at Kamin’s face, just inches away.
“That’s up to you. But if you do, you’ll disappoint me.”
“Get used to disappointment.” They stared at each other until they noticed the
bathroom had gone silent.

*Knock, knock, knock.*

The sound made them look down, seeing two pairs of shoes.
“If you’re in there, come out.” Jade unlocked the door, recognizing the voice.
“I don’t want to see you.”
“I do.” It was Leo, with Yuki behind him.

Leo and Yuki were agents from the special investigation team, a secret
organization that worked with the police on difficult cases. Leo, a tall, blond
foreigner, and Yuki, with black hair streaked with blue, were field agents. The
three had trained together years ago, but Jade had only been a substitute due
to an ankle injury, so he became a cop instead.
“I’m Yuki, and this is Leo.” Yuki introduced herself to Kamin.
“I’m Kamin, inspector from the local police station.”
“Hi, Jade.”
“Hi, Yu.” The familiarity reminded Kamin of what Jay had said about Jade and
someone named Yu. So, this was him.
“He’s mine.” Leo stepped between Yuki and Jade.

Kamin checked his watch. It was almost time for the meeting, so he stepped
out of the stall. He saw that Leo and Yuki had knocked out the men and
stuffed them into other stalls.
“I need to meet with the manager. Will you investigate your case?”
“Yes.”
“Good, I’m off. Take care.” Jade watched Kamin leave until Yuki spoke.
“Shall we split up? Are you investigating the drugs?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll go to the second floor. You head to the ring, Leo.” They split up for their
tasks. Leo and Jade didn’t get along because both had tried to win over Yuki.

Kamin headed to Sonjae’s private elevator. Though he called himself the

manager, he was the owner of the place. He had fled Korea with a lot of
money and expanded his business. Kamin showed the card to the elevator
guard and entered easily.
On the third floor, the elevator opened to a black-carpeted hallway leading to
a door. Kamin took a deep breath and entered without hesitation. Two men in
black stood guard. The place was decorated in black, with a glass wall
showing the outside. A large desk in front of the glass had a chair that turned,
revealing Sonjae, smiling maliciously.
“You’re here? I’ve been waiting for you.”
“I came to talk business, and I’ll leave when I’m done.”
“Why the rush? Relax, let’s talk all night. Sit.” Sonjae’s voice was a mix of
invitation and command. Kamin sat across from him, looking out the window.
It seemed like an open area used for fights.
“Want a drink, Inspector?”
“No, thanks. I won’t drink anything here.”
“Haha, why so cautious? I’m not a bad person.”
“What I’ve heard says otherwise. Let’s get to the point.”
“As you wish.” Sonjae sipped his golden whiskey and called his men, who
placed stacks of money in front of Kamin.
“Ten million for two years of silence about everything that happens here.”
“Only ten million for everything you’ve done? I don’t think that’s enough.”
“You’re more interesting than I thought. I’ll offer fifteen million. What do you
say?”
“Did the previous ones accept that amount?”

Sonjae leaned closer to Kamin, their faces almost touching.

“How much do you want, Inspector? I’ll pay whatever you ask if it’s worth it.”
Sonjae brushed Kamin’s neck and chest.
“Did the previous ones not negotiate?”
“No. They got excited seeing the money. You’re the first to negotiate.”
“Good, because I have a lot of conditions.”
“Tell me.” Sonjae looked at him with lust.
“My only condition is to shut this place down.” The amusement in Sonjae’s
eyes turned hard.
“I think you don’t understand. I don’t take no for an answer.”
“You don’t understand either. I didn’t come for bribes. I came to demand this
place be shut down and to prosecute everything you’ve done.”
“You dare?”

Kamin stood up, facing Sonjae. He pushed the money, scattering it.
“I wouldn’t have come if I didn’t dare.”

Sonjae raised his hand but stopped when he felt the cold barrel of a gun
against his forehead. Kamin had taken Sonjae’s pistol and was calmly aiming
it.
 “Before you get excited, don’t you look behind you, Inspector?” Two of
Sonjae’s men were pointing guns at Kamin.
“I’m faster than your men. Don’t worry.”
“You might escape.” Sonjae smiled and looked out the window. “What about
your partner?”

Kamin looked and saw Jade in the ring, surrounded by fences, facing a
muscular, furious man.
“I knew that lunatic would follow you, so I prepared a special fight. What will
you do, Inspector? Watch your partner die or keep talking?”

Kamin thought carefully. He didn’t know what else Sonjae had up his sleeve.
“Shall we make a bet?”
“Deal. If he loses, I’ll resign. If he wins...” Kamin sighed and lowered the gun,
looking at the fighters. “Get ready for jail.”

֍~~~~֍
Jade was looking for information about the drugs in the corpse. He needed to
find the seller among the employees. He went to the bar and ordered a strong
drink.
“Here you go, on the rocks.” The bartender handed him a glass of brandy with
ice.
“Stronger than alcohol.” The bartender nodded, understanding the code for
buying illegally. Soon, a bodyguard led him through the casino.

A black door separated the area. Entry required a card. Inside, there were
weapons, drugs, alcohol, and prohibited tools.
“What do you want?”
“Phencyclidine.” Jade asked for the drug Mirin had mentioned.
“How much?”
“Same as last time.” The man checked his computer.
“No one’s ordered it before.”
“If no one ordered it, how do I know you sell it?” Jade stayed calm. The man
nodded to his guards.
“What do you need it for? Wasn’t the last batch enough?”
“For several people.” Jade answered vaguely to avoid raising suspicion. After
a while, the assistant returned with a 20 ml glass vial of white powder.
“How much?”
“Fifty thousand.” Jade put the money on the table. It was more than expected,
but enough.
“Thanks.”
“If you need more, come back. Or send the boy.” Jade observed the man and
noticed barrels on the second shelf.
*Hydrochloric acid.*
There was enough to commit murder in a bathtub.

With the information, he was led back to the bar. He stashed the drug in his
jacket and tried to contact Kamin, but there was no response.

Jade noticed a group of men in black watching him since he sat down. Now
they were approaching.
“Come with us.”
“Let’s go, I just came to drink.” Jade acted carefree but stayed alert.
“The boss invited you.”
“Let him come himself.”
“Are you coming, or should we bring the Inspector?” Jade stopped his hand
when he heard them mention Kamin.
“Where to?” He put down his glass and took off his jacket, leaving him in a
black shirt. He tossed the jacket to Leo when the men weren’t looking.

He followed them to a new area of the building. It wasn’t deserted but filled
with people cheering. A three-meter fence surrounded a ring.
“And the winner is... Hong Wei!” The crowd applauded the large man in the
ring, fists raised. He only wore white pants stained with red, likely blood from
his recently removed opponent. “The next brave soul to challenge the ten-
time champion is... a captain from our local police station!”

Boos echoed as people gave Jade thumbs down. It was an illegal place, and
the fight was too. It wasn’t surprising they didn’t like someone who wanted to
shut it down. Jade was pushed toward the fence, which closed and locked
behind him.
“What are the rules?”
“Rules? Hahaha, you’re asking for rules, Officer? He asked for rules,
everyone!” The laughter echoed, and Jade clenched his jaw to calm his
frustration.
“Look, Officer, the only rule is: if you’re knocked out, you lose. And if you die,
you lose too. No rules, no restrictions. Got it?”
“Yes.”
“Since this is a special fight, we’re adding a bet to entertain the crowd. If the
Officer loses, not only does he lose, but so does the person upstairs.” The
referee pointed up, and Jade saw Kamin in a glass room with Sonjae.
“Damn it.” Jade muttered, not taking his eyes off Kamin.
 “Remember, no rules. So be careful, because the blood from the last fight
hasn’t been cleaned yet. Hahaha.” The announcer spoke to attract more bets.
“We start in three, two, one... Fight!”

Jade looked at his opponent and raised his guard. Before removing the
earpiece, he heard a voice cheering him on.
“Take care, Jade.”
It was Kamin’s voice.
CHAPTER 21

In the ring, lights shone down on the two combatants. Screams echoed as the
referee stood down, signaling that the fight would only end when someone
was knocked unconscious or dead.

Jade looked at his opponent, a large, furious man, who was jumping around
and maintaining a basic guard.

“Give up now and you’ll get hurt less.” Hong Wei sneered, raising an
eyebrow.

“Do you always fight with your mouth?”

Hong Wei stopped smiling and lunged at Jess mercilessly.

His punches were slow, but powerful. Jade dodged the punches, knowing that
one would leave him seeing stars.

Jade blocked the Chinese man’s kicks and countered with a kick to the face,
sending Hong Wei reeling back. The screams from the crowd were deafening,
not knowing who they were rooting for.

“How many fights have you won to be so bad?” Jade asked, pacing in circles
to distract his opponent.

“Forget about getting out of here. You’ll die here.” The taunt worked. Hong
Wei became faster and more aggressive, grabbing Jade and throwing him to
the ground.

Jade grabbed his stomach in pain and rolled to avoid a kick. It was said that
the bigger he was, the harder he fell. Jess didn't get up right away, but
instead kicked Hong Wei's knee, knocking him down. Jade wasted no time
and slammed his sweaty neck into the ground. But Hong Wei didn't give up,
punching Jade' ribs and throwing him into the fence.

They stared at each other, not daring to look away. Jade spat out blood. He
needed to end the fight quickly.

"You're stronger than before, but you're still weak."

"You'll die without knowing it."

"Let's do this. If you touch me once, you answer one question."

"Okay! But survive first." It was said that those who only used strength
thought less. Hong Wei proved it.

The giant lunged at Jade, who dodged and twisted his arm, exposing his
torso. Jade kicked his head, leaving him stunned.

"First question. Are the rules the same for everyone? Unconscious or dead to
get out?"

Jade walked over as Hong Wei recovered from the blow.

"Yes!" Hong Wei, furious, lashed out with kicks and punches.

Jade blocked some and dodged others, with no serious injuries.

He took advantage of an opening and punched Hong Wei's ribs, breaking

them.

"A boy fought here before. He came out in bad shape. Why?"

"You, you!" Hong Wei's screams excited the audience. If Jade couldn't defeat
him, they wouldn't come out alive either.

The entire fight was under the watchful eyes of Leo and Yuki. With the
information Jade had gotten from Hong Wei, Leo gave the signal for his
partner to begin the agreed operation. Yuki nodded and headed to a room
marked as forbidden, taking advantage of the fact that the guards were
distracted by the fight.

He walked down a dark hallway, lit only by lights on the floor. Upon arriving,
he found three separate rooms.
 He entered the third and discovered the cause of the case they were
investigating. Twelve young men, no older than twenty, lay on the floor,
injured. Each had an IV at their side and syringes scattered about. Examining
them, he saw that they contained adrenaline.

"Leo, I found them. Call for reinforcements."

"Yes. Go see the inspector. Jade needs to stop fighting."

“Understood.” Yuki turned around, but a large guard was blocking the door.
“No entry is allowed here.”

“Really? I didn’t know.” The guard raised his gun, and Yuki raised his hands
in surrender. As the guard approached, Yuki kicked the gun away from him,
hitting him in the face and immobilizing him. Within minutes, the guard lost
consciousness.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Kamin watched the fight below, attentive, but not letting his guard down. He
noticed Sonjae's men moving and braced himself.

"You don't need to be so alert. I keep my word."

"Your words can't be trusted."

"Your partner is good. He's endured a lot." Sonjae lit a cigarette.

"As long as your men don't play dirty, he won't lose."

"Didn't you hear the referee? There are no rules here. I'll do anything to win."
Sonjae pulled another gun from his ankle and pointed it at Kamin. The
inspector raised his gun as well, but Sonjae's men were aiming at Kamin.

"This is the man who keeps his word?"

"Did I say that?"

"I told you that exchanging lives is no big deal."

"Don't you have anyone waiting for you at home, inspector?"

No one waiting for you?" "No." Kamin showed no fear, even with the gun to
his forehead.
 Bang!

The gunshot made Jade look towards the sound, losing his concentration.
Hong Wei, his head broken and his left arm fractured, hit him in the ribs. Jade
dodged, avoiding having them break. The gunshot came from the upper floor.
Jade didn't know what was going on outside, so he could only stall for time.

“Jade, we have the information. Stop messing around.” Leo shouted from
outside. Jade relaxed his fists.

“I don’t have time to mess around.” He walked over to Hong Wei, something
he hadn’t done before. He didn’t know how Kamin was doing, and the shot
worried him.

He struck with incredible speed, knocking Hong Wei down. Jade pinned him
down and punched his face repeatedly, until his teeth flew out.

He was one of the best substitutes in the special investigation team, so his
skill was no less.

Only his official position limited him.

While Hong Wei was stunned, someone threw a knife. Hong Wei took it and
slashed Jade on the side.

Jess didn’t back down, but instead pressed his knee on Hong Wei’s throat,
blocking his breathing. Hong Wei struggled, but Jade controlled him. For the
first time, Hong Wei felt fear before fainting.

The stadium fell silent as he watched the undefeated man defeated by a

policeman.

Jade kicked the knife away and went to the closed door.

“Open up!” The guards rushed to open the door. Screams from the crowd
echoed. Someone grabbed Jade, who wanted to see the inspector.

"Where are you going?"

"I heard a shot. I'm going to see Min. Let me go."

"Why walk?" Leo pointed at Yuki and Kamin, with reinforcements, leading
Sonjae in handcuffs.
 "You think you can do something to me? Do you know who works for me?"
Sonjae didn't seem worried.

"Tell me."

"Politicians, higher-ups in the police. Why do you think this place is still
open?"

"Then, I expect you in the special investigation unit to give details like that."
Kamin unbuttoned a button on his shirt and handed it to Yuki, who was
walking beside him.

"Here you go, Yuki. Images, audio, and confessions to prosecute him and his
accomplices."

"Thank you, it's very useful." Kamin looked at Sonjae, who seemed surprised.
He didn't plan on confronting him directly.

"This case isn't mine, it's the special investigation unit's. So, no matter the
rank of your protectors, they will be prosecuted." Kamin looked at Sonjae,
who was no longer as composed as when he arrived.

"I heard gunshots." Jade turned to Kamin.

"I shot him." Kamin pointed at one of the men in the room.

Earlier, when Sonjae threatened, Kamin saw a man approaching. He

deflected the gun and shot the guard's leg, then held Sonjae down and aimed
his gun at him. Yuki arrived and helped stop Sonjae. Reinforcements from the
special investigation team

arrived.

"I told you to be careful." Kamin saw blood on Jade's shirt.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes. Let's go. The investigation team will take care of it.

Did you get the information?"

"Yes."

"Are you okay?" Yuki asked seeing Jade injured.

 "Do you need medical attention?"

"It's minor." Kamin went to the car, but Jade stopped him.

"When you're done, I want the list of buyers from the warehouse. Can you do
it?"

"Yes, I'll take care of it." Yuki replied.

"Thanks, Yu."

"No..."

"Don't talk to my boyfriend." Leo, who was coming back from ordering his
team, grabbed Yuki.

"I talk to whoever I want." Jade taunted Leo. Kamin, surprised, didn't ask.

"Inspector Kamin, this way."

"Yes." Kamin pushed Jade' hand away. "Go get checked out.

I'll be back."

Jade watched Kamin leave. Leo and Yuki noticed.

"Idiot." Leo scoffed.

"Enough."

"Inspector Kamin is determined." Yuki admired.

"Yes."

"He bet high on you."

"Bet?"

"The club owner bet on whether you would win or lose. The inspector said
that if you lost, he would quit." Jade frowned, looking at where Kamin left. "He
trusts you too much to bet like that."

"I don't want him to quit, but I'd like to see you hurt more." Leo said spitefully.
They didn't get along because of Yuki.
 "I'm leaving. Take care of the rest." Jade walked out, looking for Kamin. He
found him talking to an officer, worried.

"Kamin."

"I told you to check yourself."

"What's wrong?"

"Something in Klah's workshop."

"Dead?"

"Yes. Jay was there. He was found unconscious near the corpse. He was
taken to the hospital."

"Which one?"

"Get in, I'll take you." Kamin ordered to secure the scene and called Thankun,
Mirin, and Marnmai. He then drove to the hospital, watching Jess. At a traffic
light, he took a cloth and put it on Jade's wound.

"Press until you reach the hospital."

"Min."

"What?"

"You bet that you would give up if I lost?"

"Yes."

"What if I had lost?"

"You lost?" Jade didn't answer, just looked at Kamin.

"Be more careful." The traffic light turned green. "I worry."

Kamin's heart beat faster.

 CHAPTER 22

When Jade and Kamin arrived at the hospital, they quickly went up to Jay's
room. They still didn't know for sure how Klah died, and Jay was the only
surviving witness. Security was tight.

Upon arrival, the guards stood up.

"Anybody in or out?"

"Just the doctor and nurses."

"Go eat, I'm staying." Kamin entered the room, followed by Jade. Jay wasn't
too bad, but Jess was.

"I won't be staying long, I need to go to the scene. Stay with Jay."

"Okay." Jade looked at her brother closely. Even though they argued, she had
been taking care of him ever since their parents died. This was the worst
wound she had seen on Jay.

"Sit down, let me see your wound." Kamin brought a chair over for Jade, who
seemed to be in no pain.

"I'm fine."

"I'm your boss."

Jade sighed and sat down. Kamin knelt down and lifted the torn black t-shirt,
examining the wound. It wasn't deep, but it needed attention.

"How did Jay get to the scene?"

"I don't know. We'll ask when he wakes up. I'll talk to the doctor and get a
nurse for your wound." Jade patted her brother's head. Soon, a nurse came in
with supplies.
 "Please sit down."

"Where are my brother's things?"

"I'll get them. Inspector Kamin ordered them checked and fingerprinted."

"Thank you." Jade let the nurse treat his wound.

Kamin returned.

"I talked to the doctor. Jay was hit in the head, but he has no serious injuries
or bleeding.

They'll check him out more when he wakes up... and question him." Kamin
returned the jacket Leo had left behind.

"I'm going to the scene. Stay here."

"This is the drug from the warehouse. Have Mirin check it out. It was
expensive, so the culprit must be resourceful."

"Yes."

"Wait, help me with the shirt." Jade put the shirt on, but couldn't move one
arm. Kamin walked over and helped him, standing very close.

"Call if you need anything."

"Yes."

"Call when you leave the scene."

"Why?"

"The killer is still out there. It's dangerous to go alone."

"Worry about your brother. If Jay isn't involved in Klah's death, the killer might
try to silence him or send him a letter."

“It’s late. Take care of yourself.” Kamin nodded and walked out. He ordered
the guards to only let the doctor, nurses, and Jade in, with prior permission.

“Understood.”

Kamin drove to the scene, where officers had already secured the area.
 “Hello, Inspector.” Thankun saluted and continued photographing Klah’s
mangled body.

“Any clues?”

“Nothing new. No footprints.” Thankun sighed and stood up.

“The skull is smashed. The face and neck are unrecognizable. The legs were
beaten to a crisp. Here’s the paper on his head.”

Thanakorn handed over the paper with the word “Truth.” Kamin looked at
another cordoned-off area.

“Where’s Mirin?”

“Checking around.”

“When you’re done, take the body to the station. I’ll follow you.”

“Yes, Inspector.” Kamin went to the other area, where there was a stick and a
silhouette in white spray, indicating Jay’s position before he was taken to the
hospital.

"Mirin."

"Yes, Inspector."

"This is the drug the captain got from the club.

Check it out."

“Understood.” Mirin handed it to Marnmai, who had a box of evidence.

“Any clues here?”

“Jay was attacked from behind. Someone hit him in the head with that stick.”

“The killer doesn’t usually leave evidence. Why leave the gun?”

“Maybe because of haste.” Kamin didn’t answer, just looked around. He

noticed something missing.

The car with the engineering jacket had disappeared.

“Where is the owner of the workshop?”

 “At the station, giving his statement.”

“There was a silver car with an engineering jacket.

Did anyone see or move it?”

“When Marnmai and I arrived, we ordered to cordon off the area and prohibit
moving anything without permission. If it’s a car, no one moved it.”

“I’ll go back to the station. You and Thanakorn collect the evidence and
examine the body and the drug I gave you.”

“Understood.”

Kamin returned to the station, looking for information about the missing car. I
had a feeling something was going on between the killer's attack and the
assault on Jay.

~~~~~~~~~~~

At the hospital, Jess was watching over his brother. The nurse who had
attended to him returned with two bags.

“Here are the patient’s belongings.”

“Thank you.” After checking Jay’s IV, the nurse left.

One bag contained Jay’s clothes, the other his belongings: wallet, phone, and
motorcycle keys. Jess found something unexpected: four Polaroid photos of
the murdered victims.

Fai, Tar, Belle, Klah How did they get here?

“Jade.” His brother’s voice made him look up. Jay was waking up and moving.

“Don’t get up.” Jade called the nurse, reporting that Jay had woken up.

“How did I get here?”

“What do you remember?”

“I left the house, drove… went to Klah’s shop. Klah! I saw someone attacking
Klah!” Jay remembered what he saw before he passed out.

“What did you see?”

 “I parked outside because there was a car blocking the entrance. I saw
someone in a mask…”

“Doing what?”

"Pulling a lever, dropping a car on Klah..." Jay cringed at the memory.

"And then? Do you remember what happened to you?"

"I screamed and he looked at me. Then I got hit in the head and I don't
remember anymore."

"You sure you didn't fight?"

"Sure." "I'll call the doctor."

Jay grabbed his brother, worried.

"And Klah?"

"Dead." Jade walked out. Jay would know anyway. The images were clear,
he just didn't want to accept it.

Jade found the doctor and left his brother in his care.

He went to the emergency stairs and called Kamin. He was slow to respond.

[What's wrong?]

"Jay woke up."

[How is he?]

"The doctor evaluated him. I asked him about the incident."

[Do you think there are two killers?]

"How do you know?"

[When I went to get Klah's USB, I saw three cars waiting for repair. One had
an engineering jacket of Jay's. But when I got there, it was gone.]

"Jay said he couldn't park because there was a car blocking him.
[I talked to the shop owner. He said that Klah accepted that car for repair. It
was there two days before the incident and no one touched it.]

"Do you know who it is?"

[The owner remembered the license plate. We have the information.]

"Whose is it, Kamin?"

[It's registered to Champ.]

"Where are you?"

[At the station. I have to handle the recent case and wait for the search
warrant for Champ's house. Stay at the hospital.]

"I'm going to look for him."

(As you wish. And what else did Jay say?)

"He said that when he saw the criminal attacking Tonkla, someone hit him on
the head until he was unconscious. After that, he doesn't remember
anything."

(And the description of the criminal?)

"He was wearing a black cape and a white mask." Jade again gave orders to
his subordinates to keep watch, and then quickly left to call a car and head to
the station immediately.

(I'm going to the autopsy room. See you there when you get there.)

"Min."

(Now you call me by my name so familiarly.)

“uhm.” Since the other person didn’t seem to be serious, Jade decided to
continue.

“I found something in Jay’s bag.”

(What thing?)

“A close-up Polaroid photo of all the victims…

 dead.”

(Did you take it?)

“Yeah.”

(I don’t want to push you, Jade, but being at a crime scene with no witnesses
and having pictures of the victims in your possession… I’m going to have to
stop you this time.) Jade sighed and leaned back in the car seat. He knew the
process well, and Jay’s involvement in this case was too big to let go. Kamin
was still trying to be considerate by not saying that his younger brother was
already a suspect.

“I get it.”

(How’s the wound?)

“Jay’s or mine?”

(Who do you think I’m talking to?) Jade looked at his own wound, which, while
not very serious, still caused him discomfort.

"It hurts a lot. I think I need someone to take care of me."

(Uhm, go to the infirmary to get checked out. I have to go to the autopsy room
now.)

“Yeah…” Beep, beep, beep. The sound of the call being cut off made Jade
frown. Too cold!

Kamin, who had just hung up, put the phone back into his pants pocket before
smiling lightly at the empty space in front of the autopsy room. Teasing the
other a little was a way to relieve the stress of the whole thing, even if it was
temporary.

Torkhun was trying to assemble the body parts on the autopsy table as best
as he could. The previous corpse had already given him a headache.

“How is it going?”

“I want to give up.”

“Heh, not for now. I need your skills.”

“I’m trying to assemble the skull and face back into their original place. From
the looks of it, the leg wound must have happened first, seeing the mark
there.”

Tankhun pointed at the leg with the exposed bone and the foot bent inwards
from the lack of bone.

“The criminal acted without thinking, from the force applied, he didn’t show
any hesitation.”

"If I had any doubts, I would have done it from the first victim."

"Speaking of the first victim, I think we should gather all the victims' bodies.
We might find something that will help us identify the criminal."

"I'll talk to the hospital's forensic department."

"And the captain?"

"He's on his way. Let me ask you something."

"Go ahead."

"You took the photos of all the victims, right?"

"Yes, in case something gets lost or changed after the autopsy process. That
way we'll know where the mistake was."

"Just you?"

"Yes."

"And the photo files?"

"After taking them, I save them on that computer." Tankhun pointed at the
computer connected to the screen on the autopsy table.

"Why?"

"I just want to make sure that the photos we see are the originals, not stolen
from us."

"Don't worry. I usually work alone. Whoever enters or leaves this room, I'm
always present."
 "I understand."

So, the photos in Jay's bag were taken by the criminal. If Jay isn't the
criminal, why would the real criminal do that? To frame him? Or to divert
attention from the suspects?

Of the eight people, four are already dead.

There are four left who could be the killer. Jay, Time, Cherine, Champ

Who might have received the letter?

And what will they choose, to tell the truth or to accept the challenge?

And if they accept the challenge... what will that challenge be?
 CHAPTER 23

“Yes, it’s the same one.”

“With this amount, it could make the person who takes it hallucinate for days.”

“Did you find anything on the piece of wood at the crime scene?”

“Rin, wait a bit. This takes time.”

“If you weren’t so worried about eating, we’d have the results already.”
Arriving at the forensic science department, Kamin heard voices inside.
Needless to say, the cheerful voice was Rung’s, and the one scolding was
Mirin.

“How’s everything going?” He entered and found the two girls standing
together.

“You came just in time, inspector. Here are the results of the analysis of the
drug the captain brought and the one on the victim. It’s the same drug, no
doubt.”

“Then it only remains to find out who bought these drugs.” Kamin called Yuki,
who had left his number. After a while, the call was answered.

[Hello.]

“I’m Kamin. Am I bothering you?”

(No, no. Are you calling for the list of buyers from the illegal warehouse?)

"Yes, my unit confirmed that it is the same drug that the criminal used in the
case."

(I will send you the list in an hour.)

 "Thank you, Yuki."

"Kamin." A voice behind him made him turn around.

"I'll call you later." Kamin hung up and walked over to the drenched, panting
person.

"What happened to you?"

"It's raining outside, so I ran to see you." Jade tried to catch his breath. The
rain had started suddenly, and he had to run from the taxi to the station.

"Mirin, let me know when you get the results of the blood and the prints on the
wood."

"Yes."

Kamin took Jade's hand and led him along without saying a word.

One walked in front without letting go of the other's hand, while the one
behind kept staring at him.

Reaching the office, Kamin had Jade sit on the couch, then went to a closet
and took out a change of clothes and a new towel. He also brought a first aid
kit.

"Take off your shirt." Jade took off his jacket and then his soaked t-shirt,
revealing a bloody bandage.

"I'll heal you first, then you change."

"Is this your clothes?"

"Yeah, I brought spare ones. I've never worn them." Jade, without asking
permission, grabbed Kamin's waist and looked at him.

"You're so small. Will it fit me?"

"If you're complaining so much, go naked." Kamin pulled Jade's hand away
from his waist and began to carefully remove the bloody bandage.

"If I go naked, you'll be the first to see it."

"Did the rain brainwash you?" Kamin didn't look up as he healed the wound,
but he felt Jes's playful gaze.
 "I ran to see you."

"Should I thank you?"

"What you're doing now is a form of thanks, I think." Kamin looked up and
saw that their noses were inches apart. Jade's smile, showing his small fangs,
matched perfectly with his piercing eyes.

"Right?"

"If you keep playing, you'll do the healing yourself."

"You wouldn't be so cruel."

"How do you know?"

"Because I'm the only one who knows you well." Jade moved his face closer
until their noses touched. He could see Kamin's serious eyes, which matched
his long eyelashes.

“Ow, Kamin!” Jade cried out as Kamin pressed the gauze down hard. Kamin
slowly pulled away and finished dressing the wound in silence.

“Change in your office and then we’ll talk.” The inspector stood up and sat at
his desk, writing on some paperwork. Jade licked his cheek, feeling mocked.

“What are you doing?”

“Changing.”

“I told you to change in your office.” Jade ignored the command and began
undoing his belt without taking his eyes off Kamin. He undid the buttons on
his pants and slowly pulled down the zipper, expecting Kamin to blush or look
away, but Kamin…

“Aren’t you going to take any more off? Come on, Jade. You’ve already
started.” Kamin put down his pen and rested his chin on his hand, looking at
the muscled man in front of him.

“I really will.”

“Yes, I’m waiting.”

“I’m serious, Min.”

“I know. Do you want me to help you?” Jade saw a spark in Kamin's eyes that
he had never seen before and paused.

When Kamin stood up, Jade stepped back.

"What are you going to do?"

“Weren’t you teasing me just now?” Kamin walked over to Jade and slid his
hand down his chest, down to his abdomen and reaching the edge of his
unbuttoned pants.

“Kamin!”

“Yes?”

Jade’s seductive smile and expression made Kamin frown slightly, trying to
control his rapid breathing. Kamin continued to caress the waistband and
edge of Jade’ pants before pulling them off, leaving only the black underwear.

“Do you need me to take off the last item of clothing as well?”

“Stop it, turn around.” Jade grabbed Kamin’s shoulders and turned him to
face the door. The sound of clothes being put on behind him made Kamin
laugh softly and shake his head.

He didn’t usually give in easily, but he had to admit that this joke had been a
little strong. He felt the heat on his face and knew he had to look at Jade so
he wouldn’t see other things.

“Where are the pictures you said you found in Jay’s bag?” Kamin asked as he
kept his back turned.

"In the bag." The sound of footsteps told Kamin that Jade was probably
already dressed.

Then, the color Polaroid photos were handed over along with other items. All
the photos showed the bodies of the victims, focusing only on the faces with a
piece of paper on their foreheads.

Tar Truth

Bell Dare

Tonkla Truth
"Why doesn't Fai's have paper like the others?" Jade came up behind Kamin
and looked at the photos again.

It was one of his suspicions as well.

"Remember I told you that on the day of the incident Jay called me and before
I hung up I heard a noise?"

"Yes, I remember."

"If someone rushed the scene of Fai's death and destroyed evidence, I might
have forgotten those little details."

"It's possible. And the motivation? If there are two criminals, what led them to
start these crimes?"

"Everything seems to revolve around Fai. Every letter mentions Fai. But if
someone wanted revenge for Fai, why kill her?"

"I'm going to talk about moving Fai's body to forensics and having Tankhun
examine it again. Do you have the number of the hospital's forensic doctor?
What's his name?"

"Puth. I don't have his number. Let's go to the hospital later. It's late, let's go
back to rest."

"I'm going to sleep here. Tomorrow, if we get the order, I'll go to work right
away."

"Where are you going to sleep? At the desk?"

“Are there no rooms at the station?”

“There are only four rooms. Two are under repair, three are for the policemen
on duty.”

“One is mine.”

“Then go back home.”

“I own the room. If I want to sleep here, I will.” Kamin looked at Jade, who
was wearing his baggy sweatshirt, but it fit Jade just right. The sweatpants
that were loose on Kamin, looked tight on Jade.
 Arriving at the small staff rest area, Kamin took in the surroundings. It was
compact, but not too small. Three rooms were occupied, two under repair,
and one free. Everyone knew it was the captain’s room that he usually took a
nap in after solving cases.

“Come in.” Jade opened the door and smiled at Kamin.

The room was mostly white, with a bed, closet, and desk all neatly organized.
It also had its own bathroom. It wasn’t ideal for living, but for resting it was
quite comfortable.

“Go back home.”

“No.”

“Then I’m leaving.” Kamin turned around, but paused.

"You won't make it in time for the search warrant."

"Then I'll sleep here. Find somewhere else to sleep."

Kamin crossed his arms, annoyed.

"I'm sorry, Inspector, but the answer is no." Jade smiled and raised his
eyebrows, getting revenge for the pants.

"But if you want to sleep with me, I don't mind." Jade thought Kamin would
give up, but before he could say he was joking, Kamin lay down beside him
on the bed.

"Min."

"Quiet, I'm going to sleep." The three and a half foot bed was small for two
men. As they moved, their bodies touched.

"What's your plan for tomorrow?" Kamin didn't answer, he turned around to
face outside. Jade didn't mind and continued talking.

"I think we should talk to a guy named Champ about the car. Then, go to the
illegal clinic mentioned in Belle's letter to investigate Fai's abortion and then to
the hospital."

"Yes."
 "Yes?"

"That's right. Now be quiet, I'm going to sleep."

"It's not smart to sleep with your back to me."

Kamin sighed, pulling his gun out of the holster at his waist and placing it next
to his pillow, eliciting a laugh from his bedmate, Jade.

"I'm not bothering you, good night, Kamin." Jade decided to turn his back on
him as well, so as not to feel so uncomfortable. But who could have imagined
how their positions would change during the night.

~~~~~~~~~~

On a night when the moonlight was hidden by clouds, in a room decorated

with warm-toned furniture, a young girl sat hugging her knees on the bed,
worried.

Cherine looked at the table full of things scattered on the floor, the result of
her own outburst a few hours earlier.

But what really scared her was not the scattered stationery, nor the broken
lamp, nor the textbooks she had not touched in a long time. It was the bottle
of sleeping pills she was sure she had thrown away and the white envelope
with her name on it.

TRUTH OR DARE CHERINE

She still didn't dare open it after seeing it on the table.

When she asked her mother, she said she had found it in the mailbox that
morning when Cherine went out with Champ. No matter how hard she tried to
call Champ, she got no answer. And that was after they had gone out to eat
together and everything seemed normal. She also tried to call Tonkla to
comfort herself, but got no answer.

“Hello.”

[What's wrong?] After many attempts, Champ answered.

"Where are you, Champ?"

(Outside.)
 "Can you come see me now?"

(What's wrong?)

"I got a letter, I got it, Champ." Champ was silent, which made Cherine even
more worried.

"What should I do?"

(I'll come find you tomorrow. Come to my condo to spend the night.)

"Yes, come soon."

(Did you arrange everything at the clinic? Are you sure it's already closed?)

"Yes, I went yesterday. The clinic moved a while ago."

(Well, if the clinic appears in Belle's letter, we'll be in trouble.)

"Yep."

[There's something I want to ask you.]

"What thing?"

(The day Fai died, what did they talk about?)

Cherine got nervous, but she tried not to show it in her voice.

"General things, about his health."

(Don't lie to me.)

"We talked about..."

(I saw that you took a bottle of Fai. If you don't tell the truth, even my lawyer
won't be able to help you.) The deep voice on the other end made her feel
even more anxious. Seeing the bottle just like the one on the floor, she felt
like Fai was stalking her.

"Fai and I planned to pretend that he had a heart attack.

He gave me the bottle of sleeping pills and told me to empty it into his glass."

(And then?)
 "I didn't know how much to put in, so I put it all in. I thought he would just
faint."

(If he just fainted, why did he die when everyone woke up?)

"Because... the doctor who came, we hired him... to tell us that Fai was
having a heart attack.

But I didn't think he would really die. I didn't mean to, Champ." Cherine
started crying.

At first she believed it was all part of the plan, but when the doctor, hired by
them, looked surprised and shook his head, she realized that the game had
ended in tragedy.

(Okay, I'll pick you up tomorrow.)

"You're not angry, right? You said you didn't love Fai, you loved me, right,
Champ?"

(We'll talk tomorrow.) Cherine felt even more desperate when the call was
suddenly cut off.

She and Champ had been secretly dating before Fai told her about her
pregnancy. Fai had asked her many times not to tell Champ about the
pregnancy, but jealousy made her confess. After that, everything fell apart. A
fall that brought everyone to today's hell.

Tonight, she wasn't the only person filled with fear. A silver car pulled up to a
warehouse on the outskirts of town. The driver was shaking after what he had
done. He held a letter, looking around in paranoia. He opened the car door
and stood in front of the lights of two vehicles.

"I did what you told me!" There was no reply. Only the sound of rain hitting the
zinc roof echoed in the area.

"I don't know anything else!" He threw the letter to the ground in fury and
panic. But when he looked back at the car, he saw that the driver's seat had
been occupied by someone in a black cape and a white mask with a smile
that stretched to his ears.

The other man tilted his head in a creepy manner. Fear paralyzed the young
man from head to toe.
The car's lights switched to high beams, forcing him to raise his arm to cover
himself and back away.

When he was out of range of the lights, the figure in the black cloak had
disappeared.
 CHAPTER 24

Kamin moved a little, feeling the discomfort that surrounded him. When he
opened his eyes, he saw the cause: a strong and tanned neck, with an
Adam's nut that added a sexy touch to the person in front of him.

He remembered that before sleeping, they had both turned their backs, but
now they were in this position. The more he tried to tree himself, the stronger
the hug was.

"Captain,Jade, Jade!"

"Mm." "Wait up."

"Five minutes."

"Then let me go." Kamin tried to free himself, but stopped when a deep voice
sounded above his head.

"If you move so much, do you know what's going on?"

"I have to go to work."

"Get up in half an hour." Jade spoke with his eyes closed.

"The lieutenant said he will bring the search warrant in half an hour."

"I'm going to wait in the office."

"I need my pillow."

"AND?"

"There's no other here, just you." Kamin rolled his eyes and hit Jes on the
side, but instead of letting go, Jade hugged him tighter.

"Jade!"

"Are you going to keep hitting me?"

"I'm not your close friend, you got the wrong person."
 "My close friend? Who do you mean?"

"Whoever it is, let me go."

"Answer first, then I'll let you go."

"I won't answer." Jade looked at the person who was trying to free himself
and smiled mischievously.

"Do you mean Yuki?"

"You're really annoying."

"I liked Yuki, but that was a long time ago, when we trained together in the
special unit. Now he has a boyfriend, that blond one who follows him like a
dog. So l'm single."

"I didn't ask."

"I say it so you know."

"Won't you let me go?"

"No." Jade smiled when Kamin stood still, but soon he screamed and let go.

"Oh! Kamin, that hurts!"

"You deserve it." Kamin got up and bit Jade' neck. When he freed himself, he
got out of bed immediately.

"Don't play like that."

"I'm going to report you for assaulting an officer."

"Send me the summons, I'll pay the fine."

Kamin answered without interest and left the room, leaving Jade rubbing his
neck and Adam's nut. The warmth of Kamin's lips still did not fade, and Jade
smiled before getting up and following him.

The station inspector, with wrinkled clothes and messy hair, seemed in a bad
mood, which made his subordinates avoid it. Kamin returned to his office and
took a spare shirt and pants out of the closet, since he was still wearing the
clothes from the night before. Toc, toc.
 "Go ahead." He wasn't the cunning captain.

"Inspector, I brought the search warrant. Eh..."

"What?"

"Nothing." Kamin was about to change when someone interrupted him,

leaving him with a bare torso. Everyone at the station knew that the inspector
was not as big and muscular as the captain, but no one had seen his true
figure. When they saw him, they couldn't look away, but soon a big hand
covered their eyes.

"Out." The deep voice made the young policeman startled and turn around.

"I'm sorry, captain!" Jade looked at the subordinate who had just run away
and then at Kamin, who was putting on a new black shirt but still did not
button it because he was

focused on two documents.

"Why don't you get dressed?"

"This is the search warrant for Champ's house, and this is for the store that
covers up the illegal abortion clinic, but it seems that it has already closed."
Kamin handed the documents to Jade and then buttoned his shirt.

"Let's go to Champ's house first. He's probably sleeping."

"Wait." Kamin grabbed Jade' arm before he left.

"Change or come home to change."

"Didn't you say we were in a hurry?"

"Are you going to go out like this?" Jade looked at his clothes and understood
what Kamin was saying. The tight shirt showed his figure, and the gray
sweatpants fit so much that his masculinity was visible.

"Aren't you looking at me to give orders, inspector?" Jade' playful voice made
Kamin sigh.

"Change and I'll see you in the car."

"Aren't you looking at me to talk, Kamin?"

 "Get out, captain."

"Min." Jade laughed when Kamin threw a towel at him and left the room. He
loved it when Kamin got angry or upset. It was... interesting.

Kamin walked to the bathroom with his pants in his hand, swearing Jade.
Even with a quick look, it was impressive. I didn't want to think about what it
would really be like. Why was I thinking about that?

"You're crazy, Kamin." The inspector murmured as he changed his clothes,

washed his face, brushed his teeth and got ready. He decided that he would
take a shower after inspecting both places.

When Kamin returned, he found Jade in his usual clothes, reading documents
with his arms crossed.

"I told you to wait in the car."

"I was afraid you would get scared and run away in another car." Kamin rolled
his eyes, took the keys to the car that Jade offered him and went to get his
belongings, including his badge and his gun.

They arrived at a large house, belonging to a politician and Champ's father. It

was seven o'clock, an hour early for a teenager to be awake. The first person
they found was Champ's mother.

"Good morning, Inspector Kamin, Captain Jade . What is the reason for your
visit?"

"I'm coming to see Champ."

"Is something wrong with my son?"

"I need to ask you some questions about the case." She stopped and her
smile disappeared.

"Didn't my husband tell you that we don't want to get involved anymore in this
case?"

"We can't do that. He's one of the suspects. Not cooperating would only
increase suspicions."

"I'll call my husband." Kamin didn't answer, he just displayed the search
warrant on the glass table.
 "It's better to cooperate with the authorities." Jade added.

"What's up, mom?" Champ appeared in satin pajamas, with his hair fixed, and
looked at Jade and Kamin.

"Are you awake yet? Go up."

"Is something wrong, brother Jade?"

"Let's get to the point. Sit down." Champ nodded and sat next to his mother,
trying to calm her down.

"Where were you last night?" Kamin began to ask when he saw that Champ
was ready.

"I went to dinner with Cherine."

"Details?"

"I was with Cherine all day. I picked her up at her house, we went to the mall,
watched a movie, had dinner and then I took her home."

"Is Cherine your alibi"?

"Call her and ask her."

"Have you contacted Tonkla?"

"No."

"Do you know this car?" Kamin showed a photo of the car that the workshop
owner had taken before repairing it.

"Yes, it's my car."

"This car was in a workshop on the outskirts, the Tonkla workshop. But last
night he disappeared."

"Are they looking for me for a stolen car? That's the inspector's job, not mine."

"If only I had disappeared, I wouldn't be here. He disappeared from the crime
scene."

"Crime scene?"
 "Tonkla died last night. Jay was also attacked."

"What?!" "Did he die?!", exclaimed mother and son.

"At the crime scene, your car is the only one missing. The owner of the car is
the only suspect."

"I'm the owner, but I haven't driven that car in two weeks."

"Who drove it?"

"Time." Kamin looked at Jade.

"Why did Time use your car?"

"I bought a new car last month, so I didn't use that one.

Two weeks ago, Time's motorcycle went down, so he borrowed my car."

Champ didn't seem nervous or suspicious in Kamin's eyes.

"Why was he in the workshop?"

"I don't know. Maybe he had problems and took him to repair. Tonkla worked
there. Did Tonkla really die? And Jay?"

"We can't give more information now. If there is anything, we will contact you."
Kamin and Jade went out to continue the case. The new information was
useful to quote Time for more questions.

"Are we going to the illegal clinic or to see Time?"

"Let's see Time first. I have a bad feeling."

"Wait, Inspector." Champ called from behind and approached with a neutral
expression.

"I think you'll want this."

"What is it?" Jade took the USB stick that Champ offered him.

"Open it and look at it. I could help with the case." Jade' phone rang, and
Champ took the opportunity to return to the house.

"What's up?"
 (We have found the missing car.)

"Where?"

(In an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts. A scrap collector found him

and called the police.)

"AND?"

(There is a corpse, it looks like a young man, naked. Probably killed.)

"Has anyone identified the dead man?"

(You'd better come and see for yourself.) Jade nodded to Kamin to get into
the car and drove to the indicated location.

"What happened?" Kamin asked, noticing Jes' urgency.

"They found the missing car and a corpse nearby."

"Who?"

"We don't know yet."

After half an hour, they arrived at the abandoned warehouse. Two policemen
guarded the entrance.

"Inspector, captain, good morning."

"Is the corpse inside?"

"Yes, we informed the forensic unit and they are on their way. We're securing
the area."

"Why don't they watch inside?" The police looked at each other with fear
before opening the door and inviting their superiors to come in.

Inside the dark warehouse, with sealed windows, the sun filtered through
holes in the zinc roof. The smell of rust, stagnant water and mold was
nauseating.

In front of Kamin and Jade there was a car with the doors and front lights
open. They separated to investigate.
 A bunch of old televisions were stacked like a macabre work of art. In the
center, a naked young man was sitting, with his arms and legs extended over
the televisions. Red blood slowly dripped down his chest.

Instead of head, I had a TV with the word "Dare" on the screen.

Kamin put on gloves and went to the trunk when he heard a noise.

"It's not Jay." Jade recognized his brother.

"Yes, it's not Jay." Kamin opened the trunk.

"It's Time." Time's head was in the trunk, with his eyes, ears and lips sewn.

A cassette player emitted a distorted sound. The murder case now had only
three suspects.
 CHAPTER 25

Kamin watched his subordinates collect evidence and photograph the crime
scene, without taking his eyes off Time's corpse. He looked at the cassette
tape in the test bag.

The sound was so distorted that he couldn't understand, but he was sure they
were words. The murderer did not kill for no reason and focused on the young
people of the group. Where was the problem?

"Kamin."

"What's up?" Kamin looked at Jade, who was approaching.

"We found something by removing the TV from the neck of the corpse. Are
you coming to see him?"

"Yes." Kamin followed Jade to where Tankhun moved Time's body to a bag.

"Here, inspector. The TV was hollow and this paper fell."

Kamin took the paper and saw that it was a letter addressed to Time.

TRUTH OR DARE TIME

Kamin didn't open it, he had to check the fingerprints first.

He put it in the bag with the tape and looked at Jade.

"Let's go to the illegal clinic and then to the station."

"And the hospital forensics?"

"This is more important. I want to check the letter, the tape and the USB
memory."

"I drive."

"Mirin, check the fingerprints and call me when you're done."

"Yes, inspector."
Jade and Kamin got into the car and went to the place mentioned in Belle's
letter. At a traffic light, Jade gently touched Kamin's frow.

"What are you doing?"

"Frown so much that it looks like a bow."

"Drive."

"I don't usually drive for anyone."

"I'm very grateful." Kamin smiled falsely and rolled his eyes.

Instead of getting angry, Jade gently stroked Kamin's head.

Kamin took Jade' hand and put it on his neck.

"You have a fever."

"A little."

"Did you take medicine?" Kamin looked at Jade' bandage.

Since he healed him, he had not checked the wound or seen Jade take
antibiotics.

"I haven't had time."

"If you get infected, don't say I didn't warn you."

"If you worry so much, be my nurse."

"Why should I take care of you?"

"If I die, you'll feel alone."

"I don't know. Try to die and I'll tell you." Jade laughed at Kamin's serious
joke.

"Three suspects remain, Jade. Your brother is one. Can you stay calm?"

"Raiging or joking doesn't mean you're calm. If I get upset, I'll make
mistakes."

"Did you call Jay? How is it?"

 "Do you care so much about him?"

"And why not?"

"But you don't care about me."

"Yes, I worry." Jade stopped and looked at Kamin.

"You are my subordinate." Jade smiled while Kamin looked out the window.
He decided to keep the first part of the answer and forget the second.

They arrived at their destination and parked near the building. Before, this
place was full of shops, but with the arrival of shopping centers, people left
and now it was almost abandoned.

"Here it is." Kamin looked at his phone. The store still had a poster of
photography and printing services.

"It's closed." Jade went to the car, took a shear and cut the padlock. He
looked at Kamin, who seemed surprised.

"We can go in now."

"You're a policeman." Jade left the shear and stretched out his hands.

"Will you arrest me?" Kamin sighed and opened the door, ignoring Jade.

The building was full of dust and cobwebs. Kamin covered his face because
of the smell of mold and blood. He took out his gun and explored.

There wasn't much, since everything had been removed.

He went up and found a closed door. He looked at Jade and moved on.

The smell of blood was stronger. He opened the door and saw an illegal
abortion clinic. There were few teams, but it was obvious.

"This gives chills." Jade pushed an old stretcher with his gun.

"The police were never informed of this clinic."

"Never. Either it was well hidden or the previous inspector accepted bribes."
Kamin nodded and continued exploring.
 There were three rooms: a reception, an operating room and a small room
with a bathroom.

"Kamin." Jade was holding a box of CDs.

"Let's go. If the criminal left this, there is nothing else to investigate."

"Are we leaving?"

"I forgot something."

The sound of a bell below made them look at each other.

They took out their guns. Jade protected Kamin and they went down in
silence, listening to footsteps on the lower floor.

"Stop, don't move!" Jade jumped from the landing and pointed his gun at the
suspect.

"Hey, hey, I didn't steal anything! I haven't stolen anything!" The old man,
dressed in raggy and dirty clothes, raised his hands in surrender when he
saw Jade’s gun.

Kamin ran after Jade and lowered his gun to prevent the old man from having
a heart attack.

"Who are you? What are you doing here?" "I... collect old things here. I saw
the door open and went in to look. I wasn't going to steal anything."

"There's nothing here. Better leave."

"It's okay. I saw people here twice and I thought there would be something."

"Wait." Kamin stopped him.

"Did he say he saw people here twice? What does it mean?"

"Yes, I saw the police here. And a week ago, someone else came. I was
collecting bottles and I saw them."

"Can you describe the person?"

"What was it like?"

"What was his face like, height, clothes, what was he wearing?"
 "I don't remember well, but... she was a woman."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cherine was waiting for Champ in front of her house. After talking on the
phone, he packed his suitcase and told his mother that he would not return for
a while. When the luxury car arrived, he went up without hesitation.

"List?"

"Yes." Champ drove and stopped at a gas station near Cherine's house.

"Sool it, please." When the employee left, Cherine asked:

"Where are we going?"

"To my condo."

"Your condo is not far away. Why fill the tank?"

"Will you stay in the condo all the time?" Cherine didn't ask anymore and
looked out the window.

"Do you still love Fai?"

"Why do you ask?"

"I just want to know."

"I don't want to answer." Silence filled the car until Champ paid.

"Stop in a store. I forgot my toothbrush and I'll buy food for your condo."
Before Cherine could go down, Champ stopped her.

"Did you open the letter?"

"No... I'm afraid."

"Well, go down to buy things." Cherine nodded and went to buy food and
necessary items.

Cherine looked at the alcoholic drinks in the fridge with a blank mind. He took
four cans of beer and went to pay.
 "Why did you buy so much? We could go to the mall." Champ commented
when he saw Cherine with her hands full.

"I don't want to go out."

"As you wish."

They arrived at the condo near the university. Champ's parents bought it for
him. Cherine put the drinks and food in the fridge, and took her suitcase to the
bedroom. When he returned to the living room, he saw a photo of Champ and
Fai.

"Why do you still have that photo?"

"I forgot to throw it away. Come, sit down."

Champ hugged her and kissed her shoulder.

"Why are you so stressed?"

"I'm not."

"Are you still worried about that letter?"

"You know it's not just a letter."

"Why didn't I get one?"

"I don't know." Cherine lay back on Champ's chest and closed her eyes.

"My father is handling this. Don't worry."

"Well, it's over soon. So we can start again."

Cherine opened her eyes and looked at Champ.

"Are we still going to study in the United States together?"

"Yes. Fai was also going to go."

"She's dead. Why mention it?"

"You asked if I still loved her."

"I just wanted to be sure."

 "Are you sure of what?"

"Nothing." Cherine lay back on Champ's lap and they talked about living
together temporarily. Before, I could only stay when Fai wasn't there. Now,
she didn't have to worry about being discovered, but she did worry about
being with Champ.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In the hospital, people came and went. In a room guarded by the police, Jay
looked out the window, lost in his thoughts. The door opened.

"Hello, Jay. Awake? I came to change your bandage."

"Yes."

"Do you want to bathe or clean yourself? I'll bring clean clothes."

"I'll bathe alone."

"Well, the bandage first." Jay let the nurse attend to him.

She spoke, and he answered occasionally.

"I'll bring clean clothes. The doctor will come tonight."

"Thank you."

When the nurse left, Jay opened the balcony door to breathe fresh air. I was
tired of being there. He called his brother, but Kamin answered.

(Hello, Jay.)

"Why are you answering Jade’s phone?"

(Jade went to buy. Do you need anything? I can take it.) Jay smiled when he
heard Kamin.

"No, thank you. Are they working on the case?"

Do you have something new?"

(not yet.)

"So, take care of yourself and Jade."

 (I will. Rest.)

"Can I come in, please?"

"Go ahead." Jay answered the person at the door. The doctor was supposed
to arrive in the afternoon, but he had arrived earlier than the nurse had said.

"I have to hang up, Min. The doctor is here."

Jay hung up and sat on the bed, sighing again. He didn't like being in the
hospital.

"Don't expose yourself too much to the air, you can catch a cold."

"I wanted to breathe fresh air." The doctor, dressed in a white coat and a
mask, was not familiar to him.

"You're not my usual doctor."

"Dr. Vichai had an urgent surgery, so l'm here to review your condition and
give you the results." Jay nodded.

"Your state is stable. The CT scan shows no brain abnormalities, and the
wounds are healing well. You could go home in two days."

"Really?"

"Yes, congratulations." Jay smiled when he heard that he could go home.

"I'll talk to Dr. Vichai about your discharge."

"Thank you."

"With permission."

Jay lay down in relief. He knew that Jade would send police to watch him at
home, but at least it would be his house, where he would feel freer.

The door opened again and the nurse came in with clean clothes for Jay.
Before leaving, he stopped.

"Is this yours, Jay? I found it in front of the bathroom." Jay took the envelope,
confused, but when he saw it, his heart raced. It was his, clearly directed at
him.
 TRUTH OR DARE JAY

CHAPTER 26

Kamin hung up with Jay, feeling uneasy. After getting clues from the scrap
collector, they immediately headed to the station. Before arriving, Kamin
asked Jade to stop at a nearby store to buy a few things.

"This is for you."

"It's not mine, it's yours." Jade glanced at Kamin, who was reading emails on
his phone, and then at the shopping bags.

"What?"

"Medicine." Kamin looked at Jade.

"You need it."

"Then, the bread and water..."

"Yes, eat something. We’ll be at the station for a while."

"Didn’t you say you didn’t want to be my nurse?" Jade raised an eyebrow,
smiling.

"I don’t want to pick up your corpse if you collapse. Jay called. Why don’t you
call him back?"

"What did he say?"

"He just asked how we were doing. You should call him; he might want to
talk."

"I’ll do it when we get to the station."

When they arrived at the station, they went straight to the investigation room,
equipped with technology and databases. Kamin had been using a private
room to store evidence since the start of the case.

"Where do we start?" Jade asked, biting into the bread.

 "With this." Kamin showed Champ’s USB drive and plugged it in. After
verifying it, he found an audio file. Kamin put on his headphones and handed
another pair to Jade.

"Sit down." Both listened to the file, which started in silence before a woman
spoke. Kamin glanced at Jade, recognizing Cherine’s voice.

"Hello."

"What’s wrong?"

"Where are you, Champ?"

"Outside." It was a conversation between Champ and Cherine.

Kamin paid closer attention when he noticed Cherine’s worried tone and
sobbing.

"I got the letter, Champ. What do I do?"

"I want to ask you something."

"What?"

"The day Fai died, what did you two talk about?"

"About her health."

"Don’t lie to me."

"We talked about..."

"I saw you take a bottle from Fai. If you don’t tell the truth, not even my lawyer
can help you."

"Fai and I planned to fake a heart attack. She gave me sleeping pills to put in
her glass." Kamin and Jade frowned, surprised by Cherine’s confession.

"And then?"

"I didn’t know how much to put, so I put it all in. I thought she’d just pass out."

"If she just passed out, why did she die?"

"We hired a doctor to say Fai was dead, but I didn’t think she’d actually die. It
wasn’t my intention." The conversation ended there. Kamin listened to it again
to be sure and handed a note to Jade. Jade left the room and immediately
called Tankhun.

"Where are you?"

(I’m in my room. What’s up?)

"Go to the hospital and find the coroner who was at the crime scene that day."

(More details?)

"He’s the first coroner who arrived. His name is Puth, full name Yosapon."

(Got it. I’ll go look for him.)

"Request Fai’s body to bring it to the unit."

(Understood.)

"And... check on Jay too."

(With this much work, my salary should go up.) After hanging up, Jade went
to the forensics department. He entered without knocking, startling the
occupants.

"Captain!" Manmai screamed, hiding in Mirin’s chest.

"Such bad manners, Captain."

"How was I supposed to know what you were doing?" Mirin covered her
girlfriend with a blanket and put on a shirt over her black lingerie.

"Ready?"

"What do you need?" Jade looked at Mirin, now dressed.

"The letters and the tape." Mirin rolled her eyes and brought the items along
with a report.

"The letters have the deceased’s fingerprints. The tape has no prints."

"Thanks. What about the latest body?"

"The same drug as the other victims. I don’t know why the killer uses drugs if
they’re going to kill."

"Maybe they want them to remember something. I’m leaving." Jade stopped
before exiting.

"Next time, close the door." Manmai blushed and covered herself with the
blanket. Even though Jade knew about their relationship, it was still
embarrassing.

"Shall we continue?"

"No, Rin. I don’t want to." Mirin laughed and closed the door.

"Think again." Mirin caressed Manmai’s leg, moving up to her bare thigh.
Manmai blushed as her girlfriend kissed her knee.

"I don’t know anything!" They continued their activity without interruptions.

Jade returned to the investigation room and saw Kamin listening to the same
file. Jade gently removed the headphones and handed him the evidence bag.

"Listening again won’t change the conversation."

"You said you heard something when you talked to Jay on the day of the
incident, right?"

"I forgot."

"Did you ever think it could be the sound of someone moving?"

"It’s not a voice, it’s the sound of footsteps and movement. Could be anyone."

"Call Cherine, ask where she is, and bring her in for questioning about what
happened." Kamin handed the tape to Jade and carefully opened Time’s
letter.

Inside were black and white papers and photos of the eight young people.
The faces of Fai, Tar, Belle, and Tonkla were crossed out. Another image had
a white background with a username and password, and a blue bird symbol.
Kamin entered the website and used the credentials, accessing an account.

Kamin left the page open and read the letter, sure they were related.

TRUTH OR DARE TIME

TRUTH

"Do you like secretly recording? How about you step in front of the camera?
Would you like your last photo to be at your funeral, Time?

"Is it true you record your partners and upload the videos online without their
consent? Is it true you recorded your friends Fai, Belle, and Cherine? Is it true
you posted videos of Fai with Jay and Champ? Voyeurs don’t change. How
about you become the center of attention?"

DARE

"If you value your life, retrieve the car. Go to your friend’s workshop and take
it to the warehouse outside the city. If you think you can do it, give it a try."

Jade, who had placed the tape in the player, used the mouse to check the
page Kamin had opened. The last pinned post showed a photo of Time’s
corpse. The comments speculated it was a prank or a photoshoot, unaware it
was a murder victim.

As they scrolled down, they found many secretly recorded videos, both of
men and women.

"Have the IT team investigate and shut down this account." Kamin said,
running his hand through his black hair, trying to relieve stress.

"Shall we take a break?"

 "No, I’m fine."

"Wash your face, Min." Jade gently brushed Kamin’s hair aside, his frown not
relaxing since they entered.

"I’ll go." Kamin stopped before leaving and touched Jade’s forehead.

"Did you take your medicine?"

"Yes." Kamin nodded and went to the bathroom to wash his face.

The cold water cleared his mind. Kamin looked at himself in the mirror,
reviewing the information.

If Champ also suspected Cherine, where were they now? In the recording,
Cherine said she received the letter, but she contacted Champ first, not Jay,
whose brother is a cop, nor Kamin, who gave her his number. Also, the scrap
collector mentioned a woman in the abandoned building. If Cherine received
the letter, what’s the truth and the dare?

At this point, everything is getting worse and more violent. The scary part isn’t
the truth about to be revealed, but the dares in the letters. The criminal seems
to have foreseen everything. If they don’t know their friends well, they must
have planned carefully. Making Time retrieve the car from the workshop was
surely to kill Tonkla there. Whether to make him see the crime scene, divert
police attention, or stop Jay, the result was that, choosing truth or dare,
everyone ended up dead.

Jade tried to decipher the sounds on the tape. It wasn’t the damaged cassette
or incomprehensible words. "It’s... er..." He was so focused he didn’t hear
someone approaching.

"Ow, Jade, it’s me!" Jade let go of the hand he’d grabbed and helped Kamin
up.

"Sorry. Did I hurt you much?" Kamin rotated his shoulder gently. He knew
Jade was strong, but not this strong. Luckily, he’d shouted, or his shoulder
would’ve dislocated.

"What are you doing?"

 "Listen to this tape. It sounds like something..." Kamin sat next to Jade and
put on the headphones. The choppy, distorted sound didn’t form words.
Kamin adjusted the player to increase the speed.

"Lo... Se..." Kamin sped it up more.

"Sorry... Cherine... let me..." The words were clearer. Kamin maxed the speed
and finally understood. "Sorry, Cherine, let me go."

"Inspector, Captain, trouble!" Chaichai shouted, entering without knocking.

Both looked at the alarmed officer.

"What’s wrong?"

"Someone wants to see the Inspector."

"Who?"

"The deputy and... the commissioner."

"Alright. Take them to my office. I’m coming."

"Yes, sir." Kamin sighed. He knew this would happen since he decided to see
Champ at home.

"I’ll go with you." Jade took Kamin’s hand, worried.

"No. Go and summon Champ and Cherine. Find the coroner from the hospital
that day."

"Kamin..."

"I’m the boss, and you’re my subordinate. If you don’t obey, I’ll remove you
from the case and put someone else in." Kamin spoke firmly and left without
looking back.

At least, if someone were removed from the case, Jade would stay.
 CHAPTER 27

Kamin stood in front of the door to his room. He sighed before opening it. The
voices inside stopped immediately when he entered.

"Are you here already?"

"Yes."

"I heard you issued a search warrant and went to interrogate the deputy's son
at his house. Is that true?"

"Yes, it's true."

"I told you this case shouldn’t go too far."

"I don’t understand what you mean by 'too far,' sir. The deputy’s son is also
one of the suspects. Going to interrogate him shouldn’t be considered going
too far."

"Inspector Kamin, it’s good to do your duty, but you need to know your limits.
This case is very delicate. If it reaches the ears of journalists and they get the
deputy’s son’s name, it will only bring negative consequences." Kamin looked
at the commander, who had many badges on his uniform but lacked honor.
The other man was a representative of the people, but he used his power
only for his own benefit.

"What negative consequences, sir?"

"Do you know how much time I’ve wasted? Remove my son’s name from this
case right now."

"I’m sorry, but I can’t do that."

"What are you going to do with your subordinates?" said the man in the
expensive black suit, his voice pressing.

"Calm down, sir. I’ll handle this." The high-ranking officer stood up and walked
toward Kamin.
The rough hand struck Kamin’s soft cheek without mercy. The taste of blood
in his mouth didn’t make Kamin show any expression of pain.

"Don’t think that just because you were transferred here, you can ignore your
superiors. Remove the deputy’s son’s name from the suspect list, and I’ll let
you continue with this case."

"And if I don’t?"

"I’ll remove you from the case."

"Currently, there are five murder victims and one injured person. Therefore,
the deputy’s son can only be two things: the next victim or the killer. I don’t
think we should remove him from the case."

"Inspector!" Kamin’s shirt collar was grabbed tightly before he was pushed
against a cabinet.

"If the commander can’t control his subordinates, I’ll have to choose another
representative next quarter."

"Deputy, please calm down." After flattering the deputy, the commander
turned to Kamin with a hard look. "I’ll take this matter to court to have you
stripped of your rank. Until there’s a court order, you’re suspended
indefinitely. Hand over your badge and gun."

Kamin had already anticipated this. It was good that he hadn’t brought Jade.
With trembling hands, he handed over his badge and gun without hesitation.

"Who else is working on this case with you?"

"No one else."

"And I don’t want to hear that you’re bothering the deputy’s son again." Both
men left the room, leaving Kamin alone. In the police department, he always
tried to do the right thing and handle cases impartially according to the law.
But things like this always happened when cases involved people in high
positions. Getting this far had cost him a lot emotionally, and now he was
numb.
Slowly, he began to gather his things scattered around the room and put them
in a cardboard box. A few minutes later, the door opened again.

"I told you to continue with the case, didn’t I?" Kamin asked calmly as he
closed the box to take it to his car.

"What happened?"

"From now on, you’ll have to work on this case alone. It might be difficult..."
Kamin was interrupted when someone lifted his face to look at him.

"Who did this?" Jade’s eyes burned with anger as he saw the red mark on
Kamin’s cheek. "I asked you, who did it?"

"It doesn’t matter. I’ll leave all the information I’ve gathered..."

"Kamin, stop talking about work. Who hit you?" Jade’s voice made Kamin
sigh. "Was it those two?"

"Jade!" Kamin grabbed Jade’s arm when he saw he was about to leave. "I
didn’t let myself get hit so both of us could get fired."

"Well, let them fire me if they want!"

"Captain, please calm down."

"And how do you expect me to calm down?!" Jade shouted in the room before
everything fell silent. "Damn it!"

Jade let go of Kamin’s arm before kicking a trash can, a chair, a table, until
the things Kamin had picked up fell to the floor again. But that was better than
the impulsive Jade going out to pick a fight with the commander, because not
only would he be removed from the case, but he’d probably be fired from the
service.

After pacing back and forth, not knowing what else to destroy, Jade turned
back to Kamin. He lifted his hand and gently held his face, brushing the red
mark with his thumb.

"Does it hurt?"
 "No."

"I’m not talking about the wound."

"Then a little." Yes, the wound didn’t hurt at all, but his heart did.

"Damn it, I shouldn’t have let you come alone." Jade hugged Kamin, who
stood still in his arms before resting his forehead against Jade’s chest to feel
his warmth, even if only for a few minutes.

"I’m fine, really."

"I don’t like anyone touching you, Kamin, especially if they hurt you like this."
The deep voice whispered in his ear, making Kamin let out a soft laugh.

"I thought you’d be happy to work alone without me bothering you."

"At first, it was annoying, but now I want to work with you." Jade pulled away
and looked at Kamin, gently caressing his cheek as if a little more pressure
could hurt him further. "I want to work with you forever."

Both looked at each other in silence. Jade’s dark eyes reflected Kamin’s
image, moving closer until their foreheads touched, comforting each other in
that moment. Jade felt guilty and worried, while Kamin felt comfort and
support.

Kamin gently pushed Jade’s chest and looked up, noticing Jade still had a
frown. Kamin reached out to gently massage Jade’s brow until it relaxed.

"Go to work. I’ll go see Jay at the hospital and then head home."

"I’ll take you."

"It’s not necessary. Find Champ and Cherine. I don’t think their father will let
them stay here until the case is over. If they leave the country, it’ll be harder."

"You’re so stubborn."

"That’s my nature."
Jade helped Kamin carry the box to the car. He leaned against the door for a
while until Kamin, behind the wheel, sighed. "Are you going to let me go today
or not?"

"I’ll find a way to get your badge back."

"I know you will," Kamin smiled.

"And I’ll also find a way to make that bastard pay."

"You’re a cop, in case you forgot."

"Now I don’t have a badge."

"What do you mean you don’t have one?" Kamin looked at Jade’s badge,
which had been thrown into his lap.

"Take it with you."

"Jade! Jade! Come get your badge!" No matter how much he shouted, the
person walking away didn’t listen. Kamin could only watch the broad back
before sighing. Whoever said he was the only stubborn one was very wrong;
the station captain was no different.

The pearl-white car drove slowly to the hospital. Despite being suspended,
without a badge or the right to investigate the case, Kamin didn’t plan to leave
things like this. He could find small clues without needing a court order.

As he walked toward the hospital, Kamin saw Thanakorn approaching with a

serious expression and a folder in hand. He called out to him.

"Thanakorn."

"Oh, Inspector, what are you doing here?"

"I came to see Jay. Are you here to get information from the forensic doctor
on the captain’s orders? What have you found out?"
 "He’s a forensic doctor, but he shouldn’t have been the one at the crime
scene that day. And most importantly..." Thanakorn looked at Kamin with
concern. "A week after the incident, he resigned."

"Go report to the captain and issue an arrest warrant. What about the first
victim’s body?"

"We’re processing the transfer of the body. They’ll contact us soon."

"I see. Inform the... captain of any updates." Kamin almost forgot he’d been
removed from the case.

"The captain also asked me to keep an eye on Jay. I’ll go up with you,
Inspector."

Both entered, and Kamin noticed the forensic doctor glancing at him
frequently, which was starting to irritate him.

"Is there a problem?"

"Uh... nothing’s happened at the station, right?" Thanakorn pressed the

elevator button and then pointed to his own cheek. "Your cheek doesn’t look
naturally red, Inspector."

"There was a small incident. I think from now on, you’ll be working with the
captain in my place." When the elevator doors opened, both headed straight
to Jay’s room.

"Oh, Inspector, good morning."

"Did you just eat?"

"Yes, I already checked on Jay. He’s sleeping, so I took the chance to buy
some food."

"I’ll visit him for a moment."

"Go ahead, Inspector."

Kamin entered the room and saw someone in bed covered with a blanket, but
the figure underneath didn’t look human. The room was silent, the curtains
closed to block the light, with only a small light coming through the door and
the bedside lamp. Kamin approached the bed and, carefully, lifted the blanket
to find Jay.

"Damn it!"

Jay had disappeared. He was no longer there.

"Call the sergeant!" Tankhun ran to find a police officer.

"Where’s Jay?"

"He was here just now. Before I went to eat, I checked on him, and he was in
bed."

"How can a person disappear? Call everyone to look for him! Who was the
last to enter?"

"The nurse."

"Tankhun, go back to the station and inform the captain. Call more people to
search."

"Understood."

"Sergeant, come with me." Kamin went to the nurse’s station. "Are you the
nurse for the special room?"

"Yes. What’s wrong?"

"The patient is missing. Did anyone see him? Who was the last to enter? I
need the security footage."

"Yes, of course." The nurse took him to the control room. Each floor had
cameras to monitor patients in the hallways. "Three hours ago, I changed his
bandage. After that, a doctor checked on him. No one else entered."

They reviewed the footage, and it was true. The nurse entered and left after
changing the bandage. Twenty minutes later, the police officer went to buy
 coffee, and a doctor entered the room. "What?!" The nurse exclaimed,
continuing the recording. Kamin understood why she was surprised.

"There’s only one doctor assigned to that room."

"Yes, only Dr. Vichai."

"Then who was the other one?" Kamin reviewed the footage of the man in a
lab coat, mask, and glasses.

"Why did he return to the room?"

"I brought clean clothes for Jay."

"Anything strange after?"

"No, nothing." Then she remembered something. "I found a letter on the floor
when I left. I thought it was Jay’s; it had his name on it." I knew it!

"Here, this is the doctor checking on Jay. He was still there." Kamin saw the
real doctor enter with the nurse and leave minutes later. Half an hour later,
the sergeant entered and left. Ten minutes later, the footage showed
something that made Kamin frown.

No one has been attacked. No one has been kidnapped. There’s no violence
or murder here. Just Jay escaping from the room and leaving. No matter what
the letter says, this isn’t good.

"If the police come here, tell them everything I saw. I’m going to check the
security cameras at the front of the hospital. Where can I find them?"

"Let me take you," said the nurse, leading Kamin to the hospital’s IT section
to review the security cameras around. While they waited for the staff to
prepare the images, Kamin asked a few questions.

"Do you know any doctors from the forensic department?"

"Yes, I know a few. Why do you ask, Inspector?"

"Then, do you know someone named Phut, Yotpong?"

"Ah, I know him a little, but no one wants to get too involved with him because
he’s a very reserved person. He doesn’t interact much with anyone. But he’s
very skilled." Kamin nodded, understanding. When he and Jade met Phut, he
didn’t seem like a reserved person at all, but rather cheerful and excited.

Wait.

"But, fortunately, he has a girlfriend. Recently, he doesn’t seem as gloomy as

before. It’s a shame he resigned and went abroad."

"Inspector, here are the security camera images," the IT staff interrupted.
Kamin saw Jay leaving the hospital and taking a taxi. He noted the license
plate number and vehicle description before excusing himself from both to
return to his car.

Kamin followed the path he saw the taxi take while calling Jade.

"Miss me?"

"Jade, I need you to stop a green and yellow taxi, Toyota, license plate DYA
246, right now."

"Understood, what happened, Kamin?"

"Jay... Jay received the letter, and now he’s disappeared from the hospital,
Jade."
 CHAPTER 28

Jade gave orders to his subordinates with a serious expression. He had

received a call from Kamin half an hour ago. Now, he was rushing to find his
younger brother and gather the information Kamin had sent him. Just then,
Thanakorn returned to hand him a file on Phut.

“Are you sure, Captain, that this doctor is really one of the killers?”

“Yes.”

“An arrest warrant has already been issued. Now we just have to wait.”

“We can’t just wait. The other criminal must be one of these eight kids. If we
can catch him, we can stop the other one too.” Jade paced back and forth in
Kamin’s office, where a pile of files lay scattered. Where did they go wrong,
and what had they overlooked?

“I’ll go make some coffee,” said Thanakorn, seeing the tension in his boss
and feeling the same pressure.

Jade sat at Kamin’s desk and spread out the papers, which contained
information and evidence, in a messy manner. However, this allowed him to
see all the information clearly.

Starting with the case, Jay was the one who called him when he was about to
pass out. Normally, no matter how much he drank, he never passed out like
that. According to the audio Champ gave him, Cherine said that she and Pui
Fai conspired to trick their friends by putting sleeping pills in Pui Fai’s glass to
make her actually pass out. Cherine pretended to call an ambulance, but she
had actually planned everything with Phut, who was a forensic doctor. Then,
Phut helped deceive the friends by confirming that Pui Fai was dead. But
something went wrong because Pui Fai really died, which neither Cherine nor
Phut had anticipated. This means there was another person who also
drugged the others. That person is the one Jade heard on the phone, and that
person was the one who injected the three poisons into Pui Fai, which
opened this murder case.
 After that, he and Kamin, along with the police forensic doctor, went to the
crime scene to confirm Pui Fai’s death and took everyone to the station for
questioning. Then, they let them go because they hadn’t filed charges yet, so
they couldn’t hold them for long.

He and Kamin went to see Phut at the hospital to hear the autopsy results.
The result was that Pui Fai suffered a sudden cardiac arrest due to the effects
of the three drugs used in the execution process. The question is, who didn’t
pass out that night? If it was really Phut, why did he do it? And are the
autopsy results true?

The second murder occurred with Tar at a club. Tar was the first to inform
them about the Truth or Dare letter. The investigation found hallucinogenic
drugs in his body, the same drug found in all the corpses after that, whether it
was Belle, Tonkla, or Time. But there were no reports of this in Pui Fai’s body.
When following the remaining six kids at the university, they found that all of
them had changed their attitudes since before the murder, especially Tonkla.
After that, they received a call from Jay saying that Tonkla had received the
next letter.

Jade assumed that the moment Tonkla received the letter was the same time
Belle received hers. Earlier, Rin had tried to piece together the paper
fragments at Bell’s death scene and put them together as best as she could.
There were fragments of paper indicating a different name from the letter she
received, which was her own name.

Jade thought that the challenges Tonkla and Belle received were similar
messages, just with different names. But how did the criminal know who to
choose if he didn’t ask Belle and Tonkla to return the letter? How did the
criminal know everyone’s movements?

“Hello, Sergeant,” said Jade, deciding to call one of his subordinates who was
patrolling outside.
 “Yes, Captain.”

“I’m going to send an address. Go check these places and look for small
hidden cameras in the rooms. Check thoroughly.”

“Understood, Captain.”

The criminal can’t know the movements just by observing behavior or

movements outside the building.

Jade dropped the papers that seemed less important to the floor to move
other information. Then, he focused on a paper with Kamin’s handwriting and
a big red circle. It was an image from the security camera in front of Tonkla’s
house. A person in a black cloak covering their face and body was standing
where letters and packages were left. It seemed like a normal action, but
Kamin had written: “Suspicious attitude. Took several packages but not the
letter from one. Stayed next to Tonkla’s room.”

After reading this, Jade called the same sergeant to ask him to investigate the
tenants in the room next to Tonkla’s and bring the information. The sergeant
agreed and hung up.

After finding Belle’s body, they got information that Pui Fai was pregnant and
that her friends took her to a shady clinic to have an abortion.

Wait.

There was a CD that he and Kamin found but hadn’t opened yet due to the
previous events. When Jes realized this, he ran to the investigation room and
found that the CD was still in its place. He sat down, inserted it into the
computer, and put on headphones.
 It was a recording from the security cameras at the clinic before it closed. In
the video, there weren’t many patients, almost no one, except for a nurse
sitting at the counter. After a few minutes, Pui Fai was brought in by Champ
and Cherine, with Belle following them. They handed over money and what
looked like an appointment to the nurse. Pui Fai seemed dazed and not fully
conscious, as mentioned in Belle’s letter.

Did these kids really drug their friend to take her to have an abortion? My
God!

Jade frowned as he watched the video until the image stopped on the three
sitting outside without talking. Cherine looked worried, Belle played with her
phone carelessly, and Champ sat with his arms crossed and a tense
expression. After a while, Pui Fai was brought out in bad condition, and the
three took her back in that state.

Whoever left this CD wanted them to know that Pui Fai was treated unfairly.
But who left it? Of the three, two were already dead: Pui Fai and Belle. The
other two were still the main suspects because they hadn’t been able to
contact them.

Jade returned to Kamin’s office and reviewed the remaining documents while
calling Kamin. After several attempts, Kamin finally answered.

“Where are you?”

“At the checkpoint before leaving the city. Someone reported seeing the taxi
we were looking for, so I came to check. Now we’re searching for it.”

“I’m going to investigate the hospital’s forensic department because I’m sure
one of the criminals is there.”
 “The nurse told me he’s a reserved person, doesn’t interact much with
anyone, but lately he’s been seen with a woman, probably his partner, which
has changed his behavior.”

“Who?” asked Jade, sure that Kamin already knew who it was.

“Fai, it’s Fai’s boyfriend.”

“Then why would he kill Fai?”

“I’m not sure, but I have two theories: one, that he found out Fai was still
seeing Champ and, in a fit of rage, planned the murder because he felt
betrayed; or two, that Fai died because of someone else, and he’s trying to
get revenge by revealing information about the other seven friends and
committing murders to avenge her.”

“So, is he collaborating with someone?”

“That’s what you need to investigate. He could be collaborating with Cherine

because she’s Fai’s close friend, or with Champ because he wants revenge in
the same way. Or...” Kamin left the sentence unfinished before the call cut off.
Jade tried calling Kamin again, but there was no answer.

Kamin looked at his phone, which had died due to low battery, and tossed it
onto the passenger seat. He drove to the shopping center where someone
had reported seeing the taxi they were looking for. Upon arriving, Kamin got
out of the car and started searching immediately.

“There aren’t many people here. I’m going home to sleep.”

“Yeah, yeah, drive safely.”

“Excuse me, who’s the driver of that taxi?” Kamin approached a group of taxi
drivers and asked, pointing to the taxi that had taken Jes.

“That’s me. Where do you want to go?”

“Did you pick up a young man in front of the hospital earlier? A teenager,
around 184 cm tall, wearing blue hospital clothes and with a bandage on his
head?”
 “Oh, yes, yes, I picked up that young man. Is there a problem?”

“Where did you drop him off?”

“Outside the city, near a place with farms. There aren’t many houses there,
but I dropped him off at a big house that looked a bit run-down. He said he
had an appointment with a friend.”

“Can you take me there?”

“It’s far, and I was about to go home.” Kamin sighed and showed his badge to
the taxi driver.

“I’m a police officer, I’m working on a case. You don’t have a choice.” The
driver looked surprised but quickly nodded, afraid of getting into trouble.
Kamin had the driver lead the way while he followed. During the trip, Kamin
charged his phone to contact Jes and call for backup in case something
happened.

He hoped Jade would uncover more information that would lead them to the
culprit.

Jade grabbed his jacket and car keys and left the office. Before reaching the
front of the station, Thanakorn ran toward him, looking worried, with two
almost empty coffee cups.

“Lieutenant! Captain!” Thanakorn was out of breath, which indicated that

forensic doctors probably didn’t exercise much.

“What’s wrong?”

“Wait, let me catch my breath first.” Jade rolled his eyes in annoyance and
answered his phone.

“Yes, Sergeant?”

“Captain, I’m calling to report on the investigation. You were right, there were
hidden cameras in all the suspected places.”

“I knew it.”
 “Did you recover all of them?”

“Yes, we’re bringing them back to the station. I also found out that the tenant
in the room next to the murder victim’s was named Yotpong, but he moved
out several weeks ago.” That explained why no one suspected when the
letters were placed, as it was someone familiar with the building who knew
Tonkla’s movements.

“When you return, have the IT department check the origin of the cameras
and report to me.”

“Yes, Captain.” Jade hung up and turned to Thanakorn, who had already
caught his breath.

“Can you talk now?”

“The hospital called to inform us that the person who entered Jay’s room was
Dr. Phut, the forensic pathologist. He was driving a black Mazda with license
plates BJA 610.” Jade ran to the traffic department and checked the hospital’s
security cameras to track the car. The last recorded location was at an
intersection outside the city, leading to farming areas on one side and out of
the city on the other. Jade ordered the officers to stop the car and all units to
search their respective areas.

“Where are you going, Captain?”

“To catch that guy.”

“Be careful.” Jade sped out of the station on his motorcycle, trying to catch up
to Kamin while contacting his friend for help.

“What’s up, Jade? Why are you calling?”

“I need your help, Yuk.”

“What do you need?” Yuki responded, followed by a commotion in the

background. It was unmistakably D.O.

“Locate Kamin’s phone for me.”

“I have his number. I’ll ask Sam to track it.” Jade waited anxiously at a traffic
light, knowing Kamin wouldn’t give up easily. He was also worried about Jay.

“I sent you the last known location of Kamin’s phone.”

“Thanks.” Jade saw that the location matched the route he was taking. Damn
it.

Jes increased his speed but had to stop to answer his phone, even though he
wanted to ignore it for more important matters.

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s important, Captain. They called from the hospital’s forensic department.”

“What happened?”

“Pui Fai’s body disappeared from the morgue.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, they confirmed it.” Jade hung up and accelerated, disregarding traffic
laws.

He knew what Kamin was going to say before the call cut off.

Kamin was going to suggest that Phut and Pui Fai were working together.
 CHAPTER 29

In the car, soft traditional Thai music played, creating a calm atmosphere for
the driver during the night. The air conditioning cooled the interior, while the
deserted road added to the solitude of the journey, forcing the driver to
occasionally check on his passenger, picked up from the hospital, to make
sure he was still there.

Jay looked out the window, not at the scenery, but to calm his mind. When he
received the letter, he suspected it would be similar to the previous ones, and
he was right. However, this time, it didn’t just contain paper and photos but
also a key.

"Excuse me, what brings you here?" asked the driver as they drove down an
increasingly deserted street with fewer streetlights and vehicles.

"I’m meeting a friend here," Jay replied.

"And how do you plan to get back? This place is quite isolated," the driver
added. Jay didn’t respond, as he wasn’t sure if he’d have the chance to
return.

After about twenty minutes, the taxi stopped in front of a large white house.
Although the fence was covered in vines, the house didn’t seem terrifying.

"It’s a nice house, but quite remote," the driver commented.

Jay paid with money he had stolen from a police officer guarding his room
and got out of the car. He watched as the taxi drove away before opening the
gate. The entrance had scattered grass, and after the taxi’s lights
disappeared, the surroundings turned dark again. Jay fumbled his way to the
door, took out the key, and tried it. As he suspected, the key worked because
whoever sent the letter had instructed him.
 TRUTH OR DARE JAY

DARE

“Futile efforts to see only the good in your friends, but you don’t need to
ignore their bad actions, do you? Let’s see what you’ll discover, Jay. Choose:
CHERINE or CHAMP.”

The letter included only that message, a group photo, and the key. Inside the
house, though not new or cozy, it wasn’t run-down. The furniture was covered
in dusty plastic. Without electricity, Jay walked carefully. Suddenly, a door lit
up. Though it seemed like an obvious invitation, he had no choice. Dressed in
hospital clothes and slippers, he headed toward the light, like an insect drawn
to it.

He went downstairs and found a wooden chair facing five TV screens with red
letters alternating between TRUTH and DARE.

As soon as Jay stepped onto the last stair, the first screen showed an image
of Tar, revealing his past actions: attempted rape, despicable acts, screams
of agony, and pleas before dying. The images were from a hidden camera in
the club, showing his torture until death. Jay stopped but couldn’t turn back.

The second screen, showing DARE, revealed Belle’s story: jealousy that
caused suffering and disfigurement to others. It showed how Belle verbally
abused Cherine, chose victims to cause their deaths, and witnessed Pui Fai’s
pregnancy, information she shared with Therjin. The images of Belle being
corroded by chemicals were unbearable.

The third screen, with TRUTH, showed Tonkla’s story. Jay thought he knew
him, but there was more: not just a fatal hit-and-run but also his collaboration
with Time in recording and selling videos of Pui Fai. He thought their mistakes
 were accidents, but Tonkla and Time acted intentionally, even setting up
cameras while Jay and Pui Fai were together.

What made Jay feel his legs weaken was the image of Tonkla’s death, his
face so disfigured it was almost unrecognizable. The camera then showed
Jay, shocked, as Time lifted a stick and struck him hard. That day, Jay
discovered that the culprit was someone he had always considered a friend.

Jay collapsed on the last step, staring at the screen showing the word DARE,
which faded to reveal Time’s image. Time, who used to make jokes to make
his friends laugh, was reading his letter with a fearful expression. Without
hesitation, he chose to follow the dare instead of confessing the truth to the
police. The next image showed Time lifeless, like the others.

All the screens turned off except the last one, which displayed in red letters:
TRUTH OR DARE. Before Jay could do anything, the sound of a door behind
him made him turn quickly.

“What’s up, final TRUTH?”

“You, the doctor!” Jay stood up and looked at the man in a white shirt, dress
pants, and black-rimmed glasses, standing at the top of the basement room.

“Yes, it’s me. Or should I introduce myself as Put?”

“Why are you doing this?” Jay grabbed an iron bar leaning against the wall to
defend himself.

“Think carefully about why I’m doing this.”

“We never did anything to you!”

“That’s true, but you hurt someone I love.” Put adjusted his glasses, and his
smile disappeared, replaced by a cold expression as he looked at Jay with
disdain.
 “Do you want me to tell you a story?”

Jay tried to climb up but stopped when Put pulled out a gun and aimed it at
him. Any wrong move, and Put wouldn’t hesitate to shoot.

“Listen to the end, and you’ll understand. The story is about a girl who
dreamed of a happy university life. She worked hard to be loved to make her
dream come true, until she joined a group of friends that many would envy.
But it wasn’t like that.”

Jay listened, confused, not understanding how this related to them.

“Her body and mind were destroyed, until one day she asked to die. The only
thing I offered her was a small hope. I told her: ‘Even if you die now, it won’t
mean much. Better watch how those who ruined your life get what they
deserve. And that’s about to happen soon.’”

Put smiled arrogantly, as if he controlled others’ lives, sending a chill down

Jay’s spine. The screen behind him lit up, showing a room with weapons
hanging around. But what caught Jay’s attention the most were two
unconscious bodies in the center: his friends Cherine and Champ.

“What are you planning to do?”

“Me? Hahaha, it’s not me. It’s you who’s doing something.”

“What do you mean?”

“In the letter, there’s a choice. Choose wisely.” Jay looked at his letter, then at
Put.
“The game is fun because of that, right? People rarely tell the truth because
they think the dare is easier.”

“I choose the truth!”

“Really? Then that’s fine.” Put smiled again, tapping his head lightly with the
gun and laughing. But instead of him asking, someone else came through the
door.

“Is it true, Jay, that when Tar and Champ planned to fake raping me to play
the heroes and win my affection, you heard Champ talking on the phone with
Cher about taking me to have an abortion? You heard it, didn’t you?”

The stick in Jay’s hand fell to the ground as he saw someone who shouldn’t
be alive, someone he didn’t expect to see today, someone with a look of
madness and a face full of anger.

“Fai.”

“Surprise.”

֍~~~~֍

In the room surrounded by bars, the unconscious ones began to wake as the
effects of the drug wore off. Both shook their heads to clear their minds and
looked at each other before backing away in opposite directions.

“Where are we? What happened?” Cherine asked fearfully.

“I don’t know.” Champ looked around cautiously before noticing the weapons
hanging.
 “Is anyone there? Help!” Cherine tried to stand up despite her dizziness,
screaming for help, though she saw no way out.

“Shut up! Do you want the killer to know we’re awake?”

“And what do you want me to do, stay still?” Both raised their voices, the
sweetness in their words gone.

Cherine felt something in her pocket and pulled it out, just as Champ found
something similar in his jacket.

**TRUTH OR DARE**

**CHERINE**

**DARE**

Your life or another’s, I want to see how much you love each other. CHERINE
OR CHAMP

**TRUTH OR DARE**

**CHAMP**

**DARE**

Your life or another’s, I want to see how much you love each other. CHAMP
OR CHERINE

As they read, fear took hold of them. It wasn’t the first time they’d seen such a
letter, but seeing the messages were identical, they knew what came with
them would be the same.

“Did you drug me?”

 “And you drugged me?”

What came with the letter was the same drug Pui Fai used that night.

“Cherine.” Champ was about to run toward the frightened girl but stopped
when she took a knife from the wall and pointed it at him.

“Don’t come closer.” Champ puffed his cheeks to release his anger before
looking at Cherine again.

“Put the knife down, and let’s talk.”

“Didn’t you say you didn’t receive a letter?”

“And you said you hadn’t opened it? Liar!”

“How brave, Champ! You’re not so different.”

“If you want to die here, go ahead. I won’t stay for some stranger to kill me.”
Champ turned to grab a saw and tried to cut the bars. Cherine, seeing this,
also looked for a way out but didn’t stop watching Champ. She no longer
trusted anyone, not even him.

*Bang!*

A gunshot made both stop and grab their weapons, looking at each other
worriedly. The footsteps outside the door made their hearts race. The door
slowly opened, and a man entered.

“Put? Doctor Put! Help us get out!” Cherine shouted, relieved and happy, not
knowing death was in front of her.

“Help? Why?”

“Who is this?” Champ asked, confused.

 “Aren’t you going to tell him, Cherine?”

“It’s... it’s the doctor Fai and I hired to trick everyone.” Cherine replied without
looking at Champ, clinging to the bars. “Help us get out, and I’ll pay you
whatever you want.”

“You talk as if you have a lot of money.”

“What if it’s me? You know who my father is. I’ll pay you whatever you want.”
Champ intervened.

“Do you remember this house, Champ?”

“What do you mean?”

“Ah, what a pity.” Put shook his head and dragged a chair to sit, looking at
them coldly. “Let’s play the final game.”

“What game? I won’t play. If you don’t let us out, you’ll regret it.” Champ
approached the bars, furious.

“Hahaha, calm down. How about I let someone else play?” Both looked at
each other, confused.

The doubt dissipated when a woman in a white dress entered, smiling softly
but with eyes full of hatred and amusement.

“It’s been a while.”

“Fai! Why?” Cherine exclaimed, shocked. Champ also froze upon seeing her.

“Surprised I’m still alive? I thought you wanted me dead. Didn’t you say that to
Belle, Cherine?”

“What...?” Champ could barely speak, while Put laughed without restraint.

“Hahaha, surprised? The day I almost bled to death, when I called for help,
you didn’t seem so surprised, Champ.” Fai’s sweet smile turned into a
grimace in seconds. “Since we’re here, let’s finish the last game. This time,
there’s only DARE.”
 Fai looked at them coldly before giving them the final choice of the game.

“Don’t you love each other so much? Didn’t you hurt me for love? Let’s see
how much you love each other. Go ahead, Champ. Go ahead, Cherine. This
last game is yours.” Fai emphasized each word with pain.

“The challenge is... whoever survives will be set free.”

 CHAPTER 30

The same taxi took him to his destination. Kamin paid the driver and looked at
the house in front of him. The atmosphere was cooling due to the light rain.
Without his badge or gun, he had to find an improvised weapon and be
extremely cautious. He walked through the tall grass to the house, tried the
doorknob, but it was locked. He searched for another entrance while listening,
though he heard nothing, which didn’t reassure him.

He reached the back, where a kitchen window was slightly ajar. He opened it
carefully and climbed inside. Once inside, he searched the kitchen drawers
for a weapon. Although the house seemed abandoned, it had complete
furniture, so he hoped to find kitchen utensils. He found a sharp knife and left
the kitchen.

He walked toward a door from which light was coming and stopped when he
heard voices, though they didn’t seem like normal conversations but rather
several overlapping voices. He opened the door slowly and found stairs
leading down to the basement. The light was still on. He took a deep breath
and prepared himself, knowing that only he could face any problems until Jes
and the other officers arrived.

Each step down the stairs increased the pressure. The further he descended,
the louder the voices became. The light from the TV screens repeatedly
showed images of murders, while another screen only displayed the word
TRUTH in red.

Kamin saw bloodstains on the floor leading to a chair in the center, where
someone was tied up. He recognized the person, and his heart raced.

“Jay!” Kamin dropped the knife and ran to the young man, who was pale but
conscious. Kamin knelt and saw a gunshot wound near the heart. “Jay, can
you hear me?”
 He used the knife to cut the ropes and laid Jay on the floor, pressing his
jacket against the wound to stop the bleeding. The blood on the floor
indicated Jay had lost a lot.

“Jay, don’t fall asleep.” Kamin patted Jay’s face to keep him awake. Jay’s
eyes slowly opened, and upon seeing Kamin, tears rolled down his cheeks.

“P’Min.”

“I’m here, hang on.”

“I didn’t answer... I didn’t answer.” Kamin stroked Jay’s cheek, who was
delirious from blood loss and shock.

Kamin searched for something to stop the bleeding, but there was only the
empty basement and the screens. Jay was about to fall asleep again.

“Don’t fall asleep, Jay.” Kamin lifted Jay’s head and pressed harder on the
wound. The wound was near the heart, and he didn’t know if it had affected
any vital organs. If he didn’t act quickly, it would be dangerous.

“I’m glad you’re here. I don’t want to die alone.”

“You won’t die.” Jay fell silent, looking at Kamin, remembering what had
happened...

Jay watched the two people without looking away. He thought he was
dreaming, but it was real.

“Surprised, Jay?”

“Why aren’t you dead?”

“Fooling those who think they’re smart is easy, especially those used to doing
evil and thinking no one will find out.”

“Why are you doing this, Fai?”

“Why? Try being me. You saw what they did to me. Do you know how many
times I almost died because of those so-called friends? And when I really
died, did any of them apologize for what they did?”

“If you didn’t like it, if they hurt you, you should have called the police, Fai! Let
the law handle it!”

“The law? Hahaha, do you think just because your brother is a cop there will
be justice for everything? Don’t be naive. If the law worked, Champ would
have been in jail long ago.”

Fai got angry and threw a paper at Jay.

“You won’t escape this, Fai.”

“Why not? I have everything ready. After this, I’ll leave and leave behind all
the horrible memories.”

“Are you planning to kill us all?”

“No, what kind of person do you think I am? Only one of you will go to jail as
the killer.”

“Who?”

“You decide, Jay. Choose between Champ and Cherine. Who will you give
the role of killer to?” Jay looked at Fai’s sarcastic smile, realizing how big his
mistake was.

Fai wasn’t a monster; they had turned her into one.

“I won’t choose, Fai. I won’t choose anyone. This game must end. If you want
Champ or whoever to pay for their crimes, I’ll help you, but enough games.”

“Do you know the punishment for not playing, Jay?” Fai put a hand on Phut’s
shoulder as a signal.

Bang!

“Death.”
Jay looked at his chest, seeing the blood flow. The pain made him fall to the
ground.

Both lifted Jay and tied him to the chair, replaying the videos again.

“If you choose to watch others’ lives without doing anything,” Fai whispered in
Jay’s ear, “then watch until you die.”

Everything remained in his memory. After Fai and Phut left, Jay had to watch
his friends’ deaths repeatedly. Even if he closed his eyes, the screams
tormented him.

“Jay, don’t fall asleep.” Kamin’s voice kept him awake.

“P’Min.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m tired.”

“I know you’re tired, but you can’t sleep. Jes will be here soon. Hang on.”

Jay didn’t want to see more deaths. He pointed to the fifth screen.

“What? What is it?”

“Fai.”

“Fai isn’t dead?” Jay nodded.

“Helping others? I’ll go when the others arrive.”

“Please...” Kamin looked at the young man in his lap. Jay’s eyes pleaded.

“Alright, wait here.” Kamin picked up some nearby duct tape and helped Jay
sit up. “Hold your shirt. It’ll hurt, but I need to make sure it stops the bleeding
until I come back. Understand?”
 Jay nodded and grabbed his shirt. He groaned softly as Kamin wrapped the
tape around his torso, then leaned him against the wall.

“Jade should be on his way. Stay awake, okay? I don’t want your brother
blaming me.”

Jay smiled weakly. “He won’t...”

Kamin wiped the blood from Jay’s cheek gently.

“I’ll be back.” Kamin took the knife and looked at Jay once more before
heading upstairs. If Fai was alive, she must be collaborating with Phut.

Upstairs, Fai watched a couple in a cage with a smile. After telling them only
one would survive, both became distrustful, just what she wanted.

“I’m your friend, Fai,” Cherine said from the left side of the cage.

“Really? When did you consider me a friend?”

“I never hurt you!”

“Liar! Who slept with my boyfriend behind my back? Who told everyone I was
pregnant when I asked her not to? Who ignored me when I had problems? Do
you call that friendship?” Cherine fell silent, knowing Fai was right.

“Why aren’t you dead? Cher said you tried to trick us and failed.”

“Do you want to know, Champ? Let my new boyfriend explain it to you.” Fai
pulled Put close and kissed him passionately.

“It wasn’t hard. I just had Fai give you sleeping pills.”

“No, I was supposed to drug Fai,” Cherine protested.

“The vial you received only had saline solution.”

 “What?” Phut smiled and began to tell them what had happened that night,
before the game truly began.

The night before the initiation, Cherine stayed at Fai’s house to go to the
university together. Although Fai hated her, she pretended to be innocent to
follow the plan with Put.

“Time tricked me about the dress code for tomorrow,” Cherine complained
while reading the group chat.

“Should we get back at him?”

“How?”

“I know a doctor at the hospital. He’ll be free tomorrow.”

“Are you going to make him pretend I’m dead? How funny.”

“No, not you. Me.” Cherine stopped looking at her phone to see Fai.

“How?”

“Just put sleeping pills in my drink. When I fall asleep, pretend I’m not
breathing and call an ambulance, but actually call my brother.”

“Do you think they’ll believe it?”

“Yes, definitely. I won’t wake up anyway.” Seeing Cherine’s doubt, Fai added,
“It’ll be fun to see how they react. Who will be scared? Who will care? It’ll be
interesting.”

“True, it’s just a prank.”

“Yes, a prank.”

“Where will you get the sleeping pills?”

“I had trouble sleeping for a while.”

“Because of that?”

“Yes.”
 “And what did the doctor say when Champ took you to the hospital?”

“Bad news. The clinic damaged my uterus. I won’t be able to have children.”
Fai looked at the ceiling, pretending indifference, but inside she was
shattered.

“I’m sorry.”

Fai gave Phut’s number to Cherine, and both went to sleep.

From morning to night, Fai acted normally: a good friend, an ideal girlfriend.
But when the sleeping pills were mixed into the liquor, everyone fell.

When Fai made sure everyone was unconscious, she opened her eyes
coldly. She put on gloves, cleaned the glasses and bottles, and went out to
meet Put in a place out of the cameras’ reach.

“Everything ready?”

“Yes. When will they wake up?”

“At 3:50. Are you sure?”

“Yes. If they die, they die. If not, everyone must die.”

“There’s no room for error. Every second counts.”

“Understood. When you tell them to call the police, inject the potassium.”

“Are you sure, Fai?”

“Yes.” The determination in Fai’s eyes was unshakable. She only thought of
revenge.

At 2:00 a.m., Fai returned to the room, and Phut injected her with a smaller
dose of Midazolam. It would last an hour and a half, just when the others
would wake up and think she was dead.
 Everything went according to plan. While they argued, Put knew Fai was
conscious.

When the ambulance arrived, Put injected potassium into Fai, causing
arrhythmia that the forensic doctors didn’t detect, declaring her death.

Phut transferred Fai in the ambulance, claiming she needed an urgent

autopsy. He tried to revive her with insulin and calcium to balance the
potassium. Everything had a time limit; one mistake, and the farce would
become real.

At the hospital, Phut took Fai to the autopsy room, where he had everything
prepared. He worked for almost an hour until Fai’s pulse returned to normal.
Now, all that was left was to wait for her to wake up.

It was her last bet. If she died, it was her fate. If she survived, someone else
would die in her place.
 CHAPTER 31

Jade drove toward the destination Yuki had sent him, along with information
about the area. He knew it was a farming area, far from the city, with beautiful
landscapes and fresh air. It was a quiet place, with houses of people seeking
peace and many vacation homes. He was worried about Jay and Kamin, both
stubborn and prone to getting into trouble.

The phone rang, and Jade answered.

“Where are you, Captain?” It was Thanakorn.

“Looking for Kamin.”

“You need to hurry.”

“Why?” The urgency in Thanakorn’s voice made Jade speed up.

“I’m in Put’s room, the suspect. There’s information about how he killed each
victim and medical equipment stolen from the hospital.”

“Did you verify it?”

“Yes, we also found names and photos of the victims.” Jade frowned and
turned into a lonely alley.

“Captain, go find Inspector Kamin! I found pyrophoric material in the room.

The suspect might use it.” Mirin’s voice interrupted.

“Understood. Collect the evidence and take it to the station.” Jade hung up
and parked in front of a solitary house.

He got off his motorcycle, left his helmet, and checked Kamin’s car, finding a
phone charging. That must have been why Kamin’s call got cut off.
 Jade called for backup and drew his gun, entering the house carefully. The
door was locked, so he circled the house until he found an open window. He
knew who had opened it.

Inside, he followed broken duct tape forming arrows toward a door. Kamin
must have left it. He opened the door and found stairs leading to the
basement. He went down, seeing bloodstains and hearing groans from a
television.

“P’Jade...” Jay’s weak voice made Jade turn. Seeing his brother covered in
blood, he was alarmed.

“I’m here.” Jade knelt and saw the wound on Jay’s chest, covered with duct
tape. The blood was coming from there. He used his radio to call for urgent
help.

“P’Jade...”

“Don’t talk, save your strength.”

“P’Min... he’s upstairs...”

“I know, be quiet.” Jade tried to get Jay to stop talking, seeing his pain.

“P’Jade, I’m sorry... I’m really sorry.”

“It doesn’t matter. Listen, everything will be fine. Just hang on, okay?” Jay
nodded as Jade wiped his tears.

“Turn it off... turn it off.” Jay used all his strength to point at the screens in
front of him. He couldn’t bear to see the deaths and hear the screams
anymore.

Jade went to the cables and yanked them out, returning to sit in front of Jay
and gently stroking his head. The amount of blood on the floor told him Jay
would soon go into shock from blood loss.
 “Go help P’Min.”

“How can I leave you?”

“You’re not leaving me. You’ve never left me.” Since their parents’ death, Jay
only had his brother. No matter how much trouble he caused, Jade always
supported him.

The noise upstairs made Jade look up worriedly. He didn’t know what was
happening, and Jay had said Kamin was upstairs.

“Go.” Jade looked at his brother and handed him the radio.

“I told them to enter quietly so the suspect wouldn’t notice. When they arrive,
you need to respond and give your location. Understand?”

“Yes.” Jay replied weakly.

“Don’t fall asleep. If you don’t respond, I’ll take your motorcycle keys.” Jay
smiled weakly. His brother still believed he’d survive.

“Yes.”

֍~~~~֍

Kamin watched from his hiding spot. He saw Put and Fai sitting with their
backs to the door, facing a cage with a couple who seemed to be losing their
sanity.

“Hahaha, you’re wrong. You’re just getting yourself into trouble.” Fai laughed
and picked up an axe Cherine had thrown, missing and hitting a chair instead.

“How could you trick me?”

 “Just a little trick. You tricked me, leaked my photos, took me to have an
abortion, slandered me. I didn’t complain.” Fai spun the axe in her hand and
looked at the couple.

“We’ve wasted too much time. Let’s finish the game. Champ, Cherine, Dare
or Dare.”

“I won’t play your stupid game.”

“No? Fine.” Fai took Put’s gun and shot Cherine in the left shoulder.

Bang!

Cherine screamed in pain. Fear overwhelmed her as she realized Fai was no
longer the weak girl she knew. She hadn’t thought Fai would actually do
something.

“Fai!” Champ shouted and went to check on Cherine.

“You love each other so much, don’t you? No wonder you slept together
behind my back.”

“Stop this. I know you’re better than this.”

“Good? What’s the point of being good? Does being good mean being a
victim? No, thanks. It’s boring.” Fai aimed at Champ and shot him in the right
shoulder.

Bang!

“I’ve already helped you enough, Cherine. See how good I am? Champ is
injured in his dominant arm, so maybe he can’t kill you easily.”

“What?”
“I said only one of you will leave here. Choose if you want to die...” Fai’s eyes
gleamed with madness, and both Champ and Cherine knew they had no
choice. “...or let the other die.”

“What do we do, Champ? Do something!” Cherine began to cry in fear, but

when she turned to her lover, she felt a chill. Champ’s expression had
changed; it was now cold, like a tiger trapped in a cage trying to survive.

“I think he knows what to do. Fight, Cherine.” Fai smiled and sat on Put’s lap,
waiting to enjoy the final game she had planned.

Champ stood up and walked to his side. After a moment, he let go of his
injured shoulder and picked up a mallet.

“Ch... Champ.”

“My father will send me abroad. I have a bright future. I can’t die.” Seeing
Champ’s expression, Cherine knew he hadn’t chosen to die.

She backed away, throwing anything she could at Champ as he approached.

“Do you think I don’t have a good future?”

“Look at our families. Who has a brighter future? I don’t have many options!”
Both began to shout, fear consuming them, trying to survive at any cost.

Kamin, watching, felt someone behind him and threw a punch. The sound of
the hit coincided with Champ’s mallet hitting the ground in front of Cherine.
Neither Put nor Fai noticed the two police officers outside.

“It’s me, Min.”

“Jade! Why are you sneaking in?” They whispered to avoid being heard. Jade
rubbed his jaw and looked at Kamin, relieved to see he was okay. “Did you
see Jay?”

“Yes, backup is coming. We need to stop them.”

 “We can’t rush in. They have guns. They might shoot Champ or Cherine.”

“I’ll call Put. You handle Fai.”

“Alright.” Kamin looked at Jade and touched his red jaw. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine. But when this is over, you owe me one.”

“Will you hit me?”

“No, something else.” Jade kissed Kamin’s cheek and went downstairs with
his gun. The noise below made Kamin hide. Put went out to investigate,
following Jade’s plan. Kamin began his part.

“Don’t expect help. Jay is dead downstairs.” Fai watched the couple fighting.

“Keep going. I’m waiting for the winner.”

Cherine was in a corner of the cage, crying and trembling in fear but still
holding onto the knife. If she hadn’t moved, the mallet would have hit her.

“Stop, Champ!”

“You’re the one who needs to stop running.” Champ ran his hand through his
hair. At first, he doubted whether he should act, even after taking Cherine to
the condo. But if his secret was revealed, his father would be furious and
disown him. That’s why he decided to drug Cherine, but he forgot he
shouldn’t trust someone like that. He accepted the beer from that cunning
person. “Stay still, and I won’t hurt you.”

Champ lunged at Cherine, but she, agile and small, dodged the attack and
stabbed him in the side, leaving only a scratch.

“You’re trying to stab me, Cherine?” Champ, enraged, couldn’t control

himself. He grabbed Cherine and threw her against the cage, making her
drop the knife. She tried to crawl away, but he grabbed her ankle and
dragged her back.

“Champ, no! No!” Champ raised his arm, looking at Cherine mercilessly.
 “Stop! I’m a police officer.” Kamin appeared behind Fai, holding her and
pressing a knife against her back.

“Ah, the inspector.”

“Stop, Fai. Let them go. The game is over.”

“Over? Hahaha, how can it be over without a winner?”

“Even if someone dies, the winner is you, right?” Fai smiled, looking at
Champ.

“No, one of them must survive. The one who doesn’t die is the winner.” Fai’s
words fueled Champ’s madness.

“Champ, I love you. Please, stop.”

“What will you do, Champ? Will you kill to win or let her stab you?”

“Champ, please.”

“I’ll survive.” Champ looked at Cherine coldly. “I’ll be the one who survives.”

“Stop, Champ!”

!!!

Too late. The mallet hit Cherine’s head with force. The scream stopped
immediately. Champ didn’t stop, hitting repeatedly until the skull cracked and
brain matter spilled onto the floor.

“Let me out. I won.” Champ said, still standing over Cherine’s body.

“See, inspector? I told you there’d be a winner.” Fai took out a key. “Do you
want it? Take it.”

Kamin suspected how easily Fai gave in, so instead of taking the key, he
pressed the knife harder against her back.

“You’re so distrustful, inspector? Hahaha, you’re very smart.” Fai threw the
key into the cage for Champ and smiled. “Go, you won.”
Champ hurried to pick up the key and ran to the door, but as he touched the
bars, he was thrown back by an electric shock.

“Hahaha, did you really think you won, Champ? I can’t believe you’re so
stupid.” Fai looked at Kamin with amusement, seeing his serious expression.
“I guess you didn’t come alone, did you? The noise downstairs must be from
another cop, or the captain? Do you want me to tell you what’s going to
happen now?”

Fai no longer feared death. She had faced death so many times that she had
become numb. She smiled at Kamin and pointed the knife at her own chest.

“Phut didn’t just go to investigate the noise the captain made; he also
activated the electricity in the cage. And...” Fai stared at Kamin. “The
basement is about to catch fire. Do you think the captain will go down to save
his brother or keep chasing the criminal?”
 CHAPTER 32

Jade was behind the kitchen door. The sound of a whistle approaching
irritated him. Remembering what Thanakorn had said about the objects and
information in the disturbed doctor’s room, Jade deduced that Phut had
already been mentally unstable while working as a forensic doctor. His advice
and words to Fai were nothing more than incitements to crime.

“I also like playing hide and seek, especially at night.”

*Crash!*

The sound of objects being knocked over grew closer. Phut’s cold, mocking
voice tried to intimidate his prey.

“When someone hides and is about to be found, their heart races, they feel
excited and fearful. Instinct tells them to find another hiding spot... and that’s
when they’re caught. Isn’t that right?” Jade tightened his grip on his gun.
Capturing Phut alive would be useful for the trial, but he wouldn’t hesitate to
shoot if necessary.

“Shall we play a game, Captain? It’s called This or That. There are only two
options. Easy, right?”

Jade pushed his cheek with his tongue to release his pent-up anger. He was
tired of these games. He stepped out from behind the door and aimed his gun
at Phut.
“Heart or head? Where do you want the bullet?” Phut showed no fear, smiling
as he thought about the answer.

“I’d choose the head. There’s a small chance of survival.” Phut answered
honestly. “My turn... Between your brother and Inspector Kamin, who do you
choose?”

“What do you mean?”

“That breaks the rules. You can only choose, not ask.” Phut stood in front of
the basement door, a gun in one hand and a glass vial with black powder in
the other, ready to throw it.

“Put that down!” Jade remembered what Mirin had said. The vial contained
pyrophoric material. If it fell and broke, Jay would be in danger.

“Decide.”

*Bang!*

Jade shot between Phut’s legs and aimed at his head again.

“Put it down.”

“Ah, Captain, you don’t respect the rules. That’s why the police can’t be
trusted.” Phut’s smile faded. “Choose. Your brother, who has little time left, or
Inspector Kamin, who’s also in danger. If you choose the inspector, I’ll let you
go, but the vial will fall with your brother. If you choose your brother, I’ll keep
the vial and let them have fun upstairs. What’s your decision?”

Jade closed his eyes and sighed. He lowered his gun and began to laugh like
a madman.
 “Choose? Hahaha, is this a choice?” Jade laughed as if it were a joke.

“You know? I’m not good at games.”

“Really?” Put didn’t know what Jade was planning.

“Yes, I prefer to break the rules.” In an instant, Jade raised his gun and shot
Put’s left arm, then his right leg.

*Bang! Bang!*

The vial fell and shattered. Jade pushed Phut into the basement without
hesitation. Phut tumbled down the stairs, and Jade followed, stepping on his
chest.

“Five minutes. That’s all I have.” Mirin had said the pyrophoric material would
react in five minutes. Jade had time to get Jay out and then help Kamin. He
wouldn’t choose between them; he’d save both.

“No one’s leaving here alive!” Phut crawled toward the turned-off TV,
smashing the screen with a rock and pulling out several vials of chemicals,
throwing them to the ground and laughing maniacally. “We’ll all die!”

Jade picked up his brother and carried him upstairs. Jay’s radio crackled, and
Jade grabbed it.

“We’re at the entrance, coming in now.”

“Hurry, call the fire department too.” Jade glanced at the stairs. Though he’d
saved Jay, he was still worried about Kamin. But losing focus would mean
saving no one.
Jade closed the basement door to buy time and carried Jay outside, leaving
him by a visible tree.

“I’ll go help Kamin. The officers are coming. Don’t turn off the light,
understand?” Jade turned on his phone’s flashlight and placed it on Jay’s lap.
Jay nodded weakly, too exhausted to do more.

Jade returned to the house. He had only five minutes before everything went
up in flames.

Upstairs, Kamin tied Fai to a chair with a rope, fearing she’d escape or do
something else. He was worried about Jade but trusted he’d be fine. Though
he heard gunshots, he believed Jade was safe.

“Even if you don’t say anything, I know you’re worried.” Kamin ignored Fai,
searching for a way to disable the electricity in the cage to free Champ.
“Helping someone like that? Do you think it’s right, Inspector Kamin? I’m the
one who needs help, justice, and compassion.”

“Have you counted how many lives you’ve taken for revenge? Does it hurt
less?”

“It doesn’t matter if it hurts less. What matters is that others feel my pain.”
Kamin saw the electrical connection point by the window and opened it to
disable it from outside.

“Stop, Inspector. I won’t let you free him.”

Fai, tied to the chair, grew desperate. If Kamin freed Champ, it would ruin her
plan and end the game. She took advantage of Kamin being at the window
and rushed at him, pushing him. Kamin, with his police reflexes, grabbed the
window ledge. When he tried to climb back in, Fai appeared with a furious
look. She disappeared and returned with her hands free.
 “I warned you.” Fai lifted Kamin’s knife and placed it over his fingers on the
window. “Everyone will pay for what they did. Whoever gets in the way will
die.”

“Ah!” The knife cut slowly from the pinky finger. Kamin bit his lip against the
pain, blood staining the window.

Fai looked at his fingers coldly and then at Champ, who was starting to wake
up. Only one step remained to win the game.

The knife reached Kamin’s index finger, cutting to the bone. His left hand
slipped, leaving only one hand to hold on. The weight and gravity were too
much for one hand. Kamin tried to pull himself up, knowing falling from two
stories wouldn’t kill him, but he wouldn’t be able to help Champ again.

“I like your work, Inspector. You’ve done your best in this case. But if you fall,
I’ll still be the culprit, and Champ will be the victim. He’ll live as a martyr, even
though he’s as guilty as the others.”

Fai pulled a remote control from her clothes and disabled the electricity she’d
connected weeks ago. “You know? When Champ found out I was pregnant,
he was so happy I thought we’d really start a family. I brought him to this
house and told him I bought it for us to live in after we got married. But now,
instead of being our home, it’ll be a tomb.”

Fai lifted the knife and stabbed it into Kamin’s hand, leaving it there. She
ignored the policeman’s fate and picked up the key from the floor to open the
cage and enter.

“Hello, Champ.”

“Fai.”
“This is the last time we’ll see each other like this. The last time one of us will
live.” Fai picked up an axe and approached Champ, who tried to back away
until he was next to Cherine. “Look at your love, Champ. Now she’s in hell.”

“You’re the one who’s going to hell!” Champ shouted, and Fai laughed softly
at the change in his tone.

“Hell is too easy. Death is too easy. Someone like you should live in hell on
earth.” Fai swung the axe at Champ’s right leg, making him scream.

At that moment, Jade rushed in. He saw the knife stuck in someone’s hand at
the window and, not seeing Kamin, ran to help.

“Min!”

“Jade.” Kamin saw the worry on Jade’s face and understood Champ’s
screams were the cause. “Pull out the knife.”

“It’ll hurt.”

“Pull it out and stop those two. Hurry!”

Jade looked at Fai and then at Kamin’s hand with the knife. He grabbed the
handle and looked at Kamin.

“I’ll count to three.” Kamin nodded quickly. “One, two...”

“Ah!” Jade yanked the knife out quickly, not waiting for three. He lifted Kamin
and leaned him against the wall.

“Hang on.” Jade used his handkerchief to wrap Kamin’s wrist.

“Stop Champ.”

“The one with the axe isn’t a child.” He glanced at Fai, who was watching
Champ’s nearly severed leg with indifference.

“Jade, Fai doesn’t want to kill Champ.”

“What do you mean?”

 “She wants Champ to be the killer in this case.” Jade frowned and stepped
into the cage. Fai dropped the axe and turned to Jade with a neutral
expression.

“Fai, it’s over. Everyone has paid for what they did. This is finished.”

“No, it’s not over.” Fai’s eyes filled with tears. “No matter how many of them
die, it still hurts. No matter how painful their deaths are, I still feel like the day
they hurt me.”

“Come here and confess everything. Your punishment will be lighter.” Jade
tried to calm Fai, but she only smiled and shook her head.

“He doesn’t deserve to walk free and keep hurting others.” Fai knelt and
closed her eyes. She knew Champ had picked up the knife next to Cherine’s
body and now held it in his hand.

“I’ll kill you, Fai!”

“Stop, Champ!” Jade shot Champ in the shoulder, but it was too late. The
knife slashed Fai’s neck, and blood gushed out.

The sirens of ambulances and police cars blared outside. Jade rushed to Fai,
taking off his shirt to press against the wound, but the cut was too deep. Fai,
in her last breath, handed Jade a USB drive and glared at Champ with hatred.
Her red eyes made Champ tremble, muttering that he didn’t do it.

Even in her last breath, Fai was filled with hatred, and she died with the game
unfinished.

Kamin closed his eyes. Fai had never planned to escape. She saw herself as
the final victim of this pain. By dying at Champ’s hands, he’d become an
intentional killer.
 The police entered and began cleaning up the scene. Seeing the fire in the
basement, the bodies, and the weapons, they realized this was one of the
biggest cases in years.

“Captain, we’ve cleared the basement. The fire’s out. We found a man
severely injured but alive.”

“What about Jay?”

“We took him to the hospital in another ambulance.”

“Go to the inspector.” Jade removed his hand from Fai’s neck, making sure
she was dead. He closed her eyes and looked at Champ. “Take him to the
hospital and hold him as a suspect. No bail, no visits, no contact except with
me.”

Jade ordered his men and helped Kamin stand. They walked silently to the
entrance. In this game, no one won. The victims died at Fai and Put’s hands.
Put didn’t win, suffering severe burns and facing trial. Jay didn’t win, haunted
by memories. Champ didn’t win, losing a leg and facing murder charges. The
police didn’t win, allowing a young woman to suffer so much. Fai, believing
she’d won, also lost, unable to free herself from her pain even in death.

The game ended without winners, only losers at different levels.

Jade sat in the third ambulance, on the way to the hospital. He let the
paramedics tend to Kamin’s hand, staring distractedly.

“Captain, Jade, Jade!” Kamin gently touched Jade’s hand to get his attention.

“What’s wrong?”

“Go see Jay at the hospital. I’ll handle the case.”

“Don’t worry, I’m fine.” Jade stroked Kamin’s cheek, worried about his
critically injured brother.
Kamin looked at Jade with concern. Though he’d been removed from the
case, he could still help with coordination. He knew the brothers only had
each other and hoped they’d stay that way.

This case had already claimed too many lives and needed to end.
 CHAPTER 33

The hospital, which is usually not very busy at night, was this time filled with
uniformed and undercover police officers. The nurses and doctors were
bewildered by the events but had no time to ask questions. Jay was rushed
into the operating room, as his heart had nearly stopped several times in the
ambulance. His life now hung by a thread. Champ, who also arrived at the
hospital in critical condition, and Put, severely burned, were screaming in
pain, frightening the patients waiting for treatment. The three were receiving
intensive medical care and were under police surveillance.

Kamin was taken to the emergency room to treat his injuries, while Jade gave
orders to his subordinates, both at the hospital and at the crime scene.

“The place is a mess, Captain.”

“Take the bodies and all the evidence back to the station.”

“Understood, Captain.” Jade hung up and sat down in front of the operating
room. He leaned back in the chair and slowly closed his eyes. When the
phone rang again, he answered without moving. He felt a shadow in front of
him and, upon opening his eyes, saw Kamin.

“Do you want me to keep you company?” Jade didn’t respond immediately,
looking at Kamin’s bandaged hands. He gently took them, signaling for him to
sit down.

“Has the doctor or nurse said anything?”

“Not yet.” Jade continued to hold Kamin’s hands carefully. “Did they give you
stitches?”
“Yes, several.” Kamin let Jade caress the bandages. The anesthesia was still
in effect, so he felt no pain. Looking at Jade’s tired face, he knew he had
been running around to manage the case.

“Do you want to go rest? I’ll take you.”

“Don’t worry. Did you forget I’m suspended? I’m completely free now.” Kamin
leaned back in the chair, just like Jade. They remained silent, letting time
pass slowly. Though they didn’t speak, their joined hands reminded them that
they supported each other.

After half an hour of silent waiting, the anesthesia made Kamin start to nod
off. Jade let go of his hand and wrapped an arm around his shoulders.

“Use my shoulder.”

“Just borrowing it?”

“You can keep it if you want.” Kamin chuckled softly and rested his head on
Jade’s shoulder, closing his eyes. “What will you do after this, Min?”

“Not much. Maybe I’ll ask to stay at your place until my suspension is over,
then I’ll look for another job.”

“I only take orders from one person.” After a while, Jade responded.

“Oh?” Kamin murmured, almost asleep.

“Only from you.” He would not only close the case but also get Kamin’s job
back.

---

After two hours, the door to the emergency room opened. Jade woke Kamin,
and they went to hear from the doctor. There were three people they were
waiting for, and Jade truly hoped they would all survive.

“Hello. The nurse informed me about the patients. Champ is in critical

condition due to blood loss from his amputated leg. We had to amputate his
right leg. He’s out of danger.”
 “Thank you.” Safe... but not Jay.

“After two hours in the ICU, we’ll move Champ to a room. You can send
officers to wait there.”

“Understood.” Jade returned to his seat without showing emotion. Kamin, still
drowsy, asked worriedly.

“Who?”

“Champ. He survived.”

“Two left.” Jade nodded and crouched in front of Kamin.

“Do you want to rest a bit? You’re starting to feel warm.”

“It’s fine.”

“Stubborn.” Jade gently pinched the tip of Kamin’s nose but stopped when
Kamin cupped his face with his bandaged hands. Kamin’s almond-shaped
eyes stared at him without looking away.

“Jay must be safe.”

“He’s all I have.”

“And he only has you. So I’ll stay here with you, okay?”

Jade rested his head on Kamin’s knees, letting him stroke his hair to comfort
him. He tried not to think of the worst, but it was hard. He just didn’t want
Kamin to see him at his weakest.

---
 The operating room door opened again. Jade stood up with a racing heart.
The doctor had a neutral expression, and Jade didn’t know what to expect.

“The patient is out of danger.”

“Who?”

“The burned patient. The injuries are severe, and he’ll be transferred to a
sterilized room in a larger hospital. He’s stable now.”

“Thank you.” Before Jade could sit down, the door opened again. This time, it
had to be his brother. He felt a comforting hand on his back; Kamin had also
come to listen.

“Are you the patient’s relative?”

“Yes.”

“The patient lost a lot of blood. His heart stopped several times in the
ambulance, which worsened his condition. The chest wound was close to the
heart but didn’t touch it. He’s out of danger now.”

Jade let out a sigh of relief. The heavy weight on his chest disappeared.
Kamin, though drowsy and in pain, also smiled in relief.

“Due to the episodes of cardiac arrest, the patient will need intensive care and
a thorough examination when he wakes up.”

“Thank you, doctor.” When the doctor left, Jade collapsed to the floor, freed
from the anguish and fear that had consumed him. He only had his brother
and didn’t know what he would have done if the outcome had been different.

Jade and Kamin waited in the recovery room for Jay to come out of the ICU. It
was already 2 a.m. The crime scene was under control, and everyone had
returned to their tasks or to rest. Only they remained.
 “Do you want to rest a bit more?” Jade suggested when Kamin yawned for
the third time.

“I’ll go rest in the chair outside.” With the relief of knowing Jay was safe,
Kamin felt overwhelmed by exhaustion. He planned to sleep until sunrise and
then finish what was left. But as he stood up, Jade stopped him.

“Why go outside?”

“You can sleep here. While Jay comes out of the ICU, you can rest a bit.”

Jade shook his head and pulled Kamin to sit beside him.

“As if we’ve never slept together before.” Jade wrapped his arm around
Kamin’s waist and leaned back on the sofa. Everything was like the first time
they slept together, except this time Kamin didn’t try to escape.

“I don’t have the strength to fight you.”

Jade smiled and hugged Kamin. It wasn’t to tease him but because he
genuinely wanted to hold him.

“I’m sorry for being late and thank you for helping Jay. If you hadn’t stopped
the bleeding, his condition would be worse.”

“What can I say? Your brother is adorable.” Jade held Kamin closer, leaving
no space between them.

“I have something to tell you.”

“Can it wait?”

“No, now. When you recover, you’ll kick me out.”

Kamin rested his forehead on Jade’s chest. He knew he was right. Still under
the effect of the painkillers, he let Jade do as he pleased. At another time,
Jade would be on the floor.
 “I don’t pay attention to small details. I say what I think. I take every case
seriously, which is why I live at the station.”

“Are you listing your flaws?” Kamin looked at Jade, who was stroking his
back, almost asleep.

“So you understand how I am.” Jade looked into Kamin’s brown eyes. “So you
know what kind of person your boyfriend will be.”

“What?”

“Do you want to be my boyfriend, Kamin?”

“Now?”

“When I saw you fall from the window, I was scared. Just like when I saw Jay
injured in the basement. If I can’t lose my brother, I can’t lose you either.”
Jade looked at Kamin seriously.

“I...”

“You don’t have to answer now. I won’t pressure you. I just wanted you to
know and think about it.”

“What if I say no?”

“Then you’ll break my heart.”

“Like Yuki?”

“We didn’t even start dating. Jealous?”

“Ridiculous.” Kamin shook his head. The warmth of Jade’s lips on his
forehead surprised him. “That’s too much, Jade.”

“Really?” Jade kissed Kamin’s nose.

“Jade.”

“Yes.” Jade’s lips gently brushed Kamin’s eyelids.

“Enough.”
 “After tonight, I’ll be very busy.”

“I know.”

“So give me a little encouragement.”

“Haven’t you been working for a week? You didn’t need encouragement
before.”

“But now I have you.” Kamin grimaced and snuggled into Jade’s chest.
“Tomorrow, when the painkillers wear off, you won’t pamper me.”

“Shut up. I want to sleep.”

“I’ll hug you like this.”

“Yes.”

“I’ll kiss you.” Jade laughed when Kamin shivered. “It’s fine, I won’t kiss you.”

Both set aside their roles as police officers and the tension of the case. All
that remained was the comfort and warmth of each other’s embrace.

!
 CHAPTER 34

After a week of intense events, everything has almost returned to normal.

Both Champ, Put, and Jay were transferred to a large hospital in the city to
continue their treatment. Jade had to return to his duties, as the investigation
was still ongoing. He had to gather evidence, wait for testimonies, and
prepare the charges against Put in court once his condition stabilized. As for
Champ, despite his father's high rank and numerous followers, Jade firmly
opposed any bail requests. He managed to negotiate this with the help of
Nikolai, the head of the special investigation unit, who used his authority to
assist.

“I'm here to check on the patient," said the nurse as she entered Jay's
recovery room.

"Go ahead."

"Have you had lunch, Kamin?" the nurse asked Kamin, who was reading on
the sofa.

"Not yet."

"There's a great restaurant next to the hospital. Do you want to go together?"

"Thank you, but I'm not very hungry." Kamin put his book down and
approached Jay's bed. "How is he?"

"Still stable, but we can't say when he'll wake up." The nurse checked the
equipment and cables around the bed as usual. "Everything's ready."

"Thank you." Kamin gently stroked Jay's head and sighed.

He still hadn't regained his position, so his daily routine consisted of staying
by Jay's side in the hospital to keep his mind occupied and away from the
case. He wasn't sure what the future held for him or what he would do if he
were permanently dismissed. Jade usually came home late, carrying stacks
 of files, and left for the station early. The conversation they had that night
hadn't been continued.

Knock, knock.

The door opened, followed by the sound of footsteps and the clinking of ice.
Jade, dressed in uniform and well-groomed, entered.

"Have you eaten? I brought lunch."

"Not yet."

Jade put the food on the table and approached Kamin. "How is he?"

"Stable, but still unconscious." Jade gently stroked his brother's head. He
visited whenever he could: in the mornings if he had time, during lunch
breaks, or in the evenings if he was busy. "How's the case going?"

Jade turned to Kamin. Lately, he had been under a lot of pressure, not only
from higher-ranking officers but also from the victims' families and himself.
Sometimes it was exhausting to look around and see no one. The high-
ranking officer hugged Kamin and rested his face on his neck, seeking
comfort.

"I need a break." Kamin didn't respond verbally but remained as Jade's
support. "Can you wait?"

"Wait for what?"

"I'm going to get your position back." Kamin sighed and gently pushed Jade.

"That's not the priority now, Jade. Focus on closing the case."

"We started this case together." Jade stroked Kamin's cheek. "We'll finish it
together."
 "I know the pressure you're under. The commander must be desperate to
help his son."

"Yes." Jade hugged Kamin's neck again and swayed slightly. "You're
amazing."

"I'm not your boyfriend, Jade."

"I already asked you. Why not?"

"I haven't said yes yet." Jade kissed Kamin's neck stubbornly and led him to
the sofa.

"This is from your favorite restaurant. I brought it for you." Jade offered Kamin
the food he had bought. The table was filled with savory and sweet dishes.
Jade kept talking, trying to please him. "All your favorites."

"How do you know?"

"Because I like you, so I notice every time you push something off your plate."
Kamin paused when Jade said "like" as easily as if it were normal.

"Jade."

"Yes?"

"Do you really like me?"

"Do you want me to say it again?"

"Is it not because I'm a substitute for someone else, right?" Jade, who was
drinking water, choked a little at the question. Wow, his future boyfriend really
holds onto things.

"Okay, let's talk seriously." Jade put his things aside and took Kamin's hands.
Both looked at each other seriously. After the night they talked on the sofa,
they hadn't had time to talk about their feelings or their status. Jade
 sometimes hugged Kamin or did things that couples do, but they were only
missing the title.

"I used to like Yuki, but that was a long time ago. Now he and I are just good
friends. You have nothing in common. I like you, the meticulous inspector, the
one with steady hands, the one who seems serious but is very kind, the one
with a sense of justice and responsibility, the one who frowns when he's
thoughtful."

Jade's hands gently massaged Kamin's brow, then slid down his nose and
cheeks.

"The one with soft cheeks that I like."

Jade gently stroked Kamin's lips.

"You have soft lips but your words hurt." Jade leaned in until their noses
touched. "I like you, Kamin. I like everything about you."

Their lips were about to meet. Their looks said it all: what he had just said
was sincere. They were inches away from a kiss that would confirm their
feelings.

"Why don't you answer the phone, damn it? What do you have it for?" Leo's
voice broke the moment. Kamin backed away and quickly stood up. "Oh,
Inspector Kamin, you're here too!"

"Hello, Leo, Yuki."

"I was investigating a case nearby, so I brought the documents Jade asked
for."

"Oh, right... then, you talk. I'll go buy coffee." Kamin smiled at both and left the
room, though he knew the two officers from the special investigation unit were
still watching him.
"What were you doing? Proposing?" Leo joked and threw the documents into
Jade's lap.

"If I had proposed to Kamin and you interrupted me like that, one of us would
be in the hospital, Leo."

"Coward. Shall we talk business?"

"Let Yuki talk."

"Don't mess with my boyfriend, Leo."

"Shut up." Yuki shook his head at his colleagues, who couldn't get along no
matter how many times they saw each other. He decided to leave the room to
accompany Kamin.

Down in the cafeteria, Kamin was still thinking about what had happened a
few minutes ago. He had always been focused on his work. It wasn't that he
had never had an intimate relationship, but they had always been one-night
stands. But this was different. What he had with Jade was different.

"Be careful, don't spill it." The deep voice behind him startled him a little.

"What are you doing here, Yuki?"

"I got tired of those two fighting, so I came down to help you. Why don't we
have coffee down here and then go up?" Kamin nodded, understanding that
the matter they had come to discuss probably had to do with a case.

"What case are you and Leo working on?" Kamin asked to break the silence.

"A human trafficking case at the port."

"Have you coordinated with Jade? He's probably busy closing his case."

"No, actually we already have all the information. We're just doing a final
check." Yuki drank his coffee and looked at Kamin. "Before, Leo, Jade, and I
 were candidates for the special investigation unit. Jade is someone who,
when he takes something seriously, gives it his all."

Kamin listened silently as he drank his coffee. He knew what Jade was like
since he had started working there. There was something about Jade that
had allowed Kamin to open up.

"With me, it was never like that. He never tried to develop our relationship
beyond friendship. But with you, Kamin, he gives it his all."

"How so?"

"When you were suspended from the case and facing disciplinary action,
Jade used his position to ensure you had the qualities needed to remain an
inspector. He even called Leo, despite not getting along, to ask for his help.
He gathered evidence against the commander for bribery, fraud, and abuse of
power. He traveled between Bangkok and here without telling you so you
wouldn't worry. He gave it his all for you, Kamin."

"He..." Kamin thought Jade came home tired just because of the case itself.

"So, whatever he's doing, he's serious." Yuki smiled as he saw Kamin
reflecting. "Shall we go up? I'm worried Leo will cause trouble."

"Sure."

Loud voices could be heard from the recovery room. Kamin opened the door
and saw the two men arguing, pointing at each other with rolls of paper.

"What's going on?"

"Damn it, what are you doing!"

"He says I'll never find a boyfriend." Jade said, turning to Kamin.

"He started." Leo complained to Yuki.

 "Are you done? It's time to get back to work." Yuki rolled his eyes, tired of
Leo's changing attitude. "See you, Jade. We have things to do."

"Thank you." When Yuki took Leo away, the room fell silent with only Jade,
Kamin, and the sleeping Jay.

Jade slumped onto the sofa and closed his eyes. Remembering Yuki's words,
Kamin sat beside him in silence, watching his tired face.

"Jade..."

"Hmm?"

"Are you tired?"

"A little," Jade replied without opening his eyes.

"Is there anything I can do to help you feel less tired?"

"Well, if you hug me tight, I might feel... Kamin." Jade opened his eyes when
he felt the weight on top of him. "You talked to Yu, didn't you?"

"Yes."

"I didn't do it to make you love me. I did it because I wanted to."

"Shut up." Jade laughed at Kamin's tone, which sounded more like an order
than a request.

They stayed like that, hugging. After almost twenty minutes, Jade lifted
Kamin's chin to look into his eyes. The chin rested on his chest, and the
beautiful eyes looking at him made him smile uncontrollably.

"Did you know I have good news for you?"

 "What good news?"

"You'll be able to give me orders like before." Kamin tilted his head, not
understanding, until Jade showed him a document. "The commander has
been investigated for corruption and was removed an hour ago. Also,
Champ's father was removed from his position as a parliamentarian. This
means we can proceed with the case without problems, and you can be my
inspector again."

Kamin took the document and read it carefully before sitting up straight. Jade
was right; the documents were real. Kamin smiled at Jade, a smile full of joy
and gratitude. In the past, he always faced problems alone. No one
understood him, no one was by his side, no one fought for him. This was the
first time, and Jade was the first person to do so.

"Tell me, what's the inspector's first order?" Jade looked at Kamin jokingly,
not expecting him to lean in and take his face.

"I agree."

"What?"

"My first order as inspector is... kiss me, Jade. Kiss me right now."

Jade, surprised by the unexpected order, slowly smiled more and more until
his dimples showed.

Jade pulled Kamin in for a kiss. Their lips met in a tight embrace, pressing,
sucking, and biting to make up for lost time. They adjusted their heads to be
as close as possible, their noses brushing, their lips never parting. Jade used
one hand to touch Kamin's chin, signaling a deeper kiss. Kamin opened his
mouth, allowing Jade's tongue to explore and play inside. Jade's tongue
intertwined and teased, just like his hands holding Kamin on his lap, touching
his waist and hips skillfully. If the TV had been lower, they might have heard
their hearts beating fast.
Kamin pulled away, almost breathless. Jade gently wiped the saliva that had
dripped from their passionate kiss.

"If the first order is this intense, how will I survive the next ones?" Jade
lovingly stroked Kamin's waist.

"Do you want to hear the second order?"

"Will this order be as bold as the first?"

"Do you want to be my boyfriend, Jade?"

"Can I hug you right here?"

Kamin smiled and brushed a strand of black hair from Jade's forehead.

"So, does that mean I now have a boyfriend who's an inspector?"

"I guess so."

"And what privileges come with being an inspector's boyfriend?" Jade joked
before gently kissing Kamin's chest. Though there was a shirt in the way, he
could still feel the warmth of his lips. Kamin's face began to blush slightly,
making him even more adorable.

"You can't hug anyone until this case is over."

"Really?"

"Really."

"Kamin."

"Jade."

"I must be able to hug you."

"Okay."
 "I must be able to kiss you."

"Agreed."

"I must be able to..."

Kamin's hands covered Jade's mouth before he could finish speaking. Kamin
got up from his lap upon hearing a sound from Jay's bed.

"That's it until the case is over." Kamin approached the bed and saw he
wasn't mistaken. Jay was starting to move. "Go call the doctor. Your brother
is waking up."

Jade quickly nodded and ran to call the nurse outside, quickly returning to the
room. He wanted his brother to see him first when he woke up, so he would
know he was there.

"Jade."

"What's up, little one?" Jade gently stroked Jay's head. "Welcome back."

Though he knew his brother would face challenges in the future, he was
happy he was safe.

Finally, everything had been resolved.

 CHAPTER 35

"Where is the inspector?"

"In his office, Captain," replied Lieutenant Prai. Jade nodded and headed to
the office of the man who had been reinstated as inspector two weeks ago.

After Kamin resumed his position, they began organizing the case. It turned
out to be easier than expected when the USB drive that Pui Fai had handed
over before her death contained information she had gathered about her
actions. The photos, audio clips, and videos served as evidence in court to
strengthen the case against Champ, proving his intent to kill Pui Fai. Champ's
case was now in its final stages, and aside from losing his leg, he would
spend many years in prison.

As for Phut, after his wounds improved and the doctors deemed him fit for
legal proceedings, Jade and Kamin wasted no time interrogating him.
Although he remained defiant, he broke down upon hearing that he could face
the death penalty. Psychiatrists diagnosed Put with a mental disorder, and his
lawyer argued that his actions were due to his condition and brain chemistry,
making the death penalty too severe. Kamin had to restrain Jade to prevent
him from causing a scene in court. Recently, the court ruled that Phut would
be confined to a psychiatric prison for life, regardless of his mental state.

Jade entered Kamin's office and found him asleep at his desk after a week of
hard work. Dressed in a black t-shirt and ripped jeans, Jade approached and
gently touched his lover's cheek.

"Mm."

"Let's go home."

"Don't bother me," murmured Kamin, turning away.

"Do you want to wake up or should I carry you?" Jade whispered in his ear.

"Did you finish your work?" Kamin stretched and pushed Jade's face away.
Since they started dating, Jade always found ways to surprise him.

"Yes, and now it's time to go home." Jade watched Kamin get up, admiring
his well-fitted white shirt and black pants that accentuated his hips and rear.

"Then let's go. Tomorrow we'll take Jay to the doctor in the morning."

"Alright." Kamin noticed that Jade's teasing tone had softened and turned to
him.

"He chose this, Jade. He really wants it."

"I know." Jade hugged Kamin for comfort.

After leaving the hospital, Jade had Jay take a break from school to recover.
But on the first night, she heard Jay screaming from his room. He found him
terrified and crying all night, having nightmares that made him scream to
wake up. This had been happening since he left the hospital, so Jade and
Kamin took turns watching him at night, leaving Kamin sleep-deprived.

"You've done your best, Jade. Now it's time for the experts to take over."
Kamin patted Jade's back gently.

"I'll sleep with Jay tonight so you can rest."

"Alright. If you need anything, come get me." They separated, and Jade
kissed Kamin's lips as he liked to do.

They hadn't announced their relationship, but they didn't hide it either.
Everyone at the station could tell from Jade's actions. He used to spend his
 time sleeping, going to the gym, and riding his motorcycle around the city.
Now, he stayed still, always asking about the inspector, smiling more, and
focusing on one person. It was obvious to everyone.

When they got home, they found the house completely dark. Kamin and Jade
looked at each other before cautiously entering.

"Jay, where are you?"

"Jay!" Both called out to the person who was home alone today. Kamin went
to turn on the lights and search around the house, while Jade went upstairs to
check Jay's room. He found Jay sitting in a dark corner, his long, unkempt
hair covering more than half of his face. His beard had grown, hiding the
once-attractive features. His eyes were red from lack of sleep and constant
crying. Jade sat beside him without saying a word, waiting for Jay to speak
first.

"Jade."

"Yes?"

"Do you think it would have been better if I had died or stayed like this?"

"In what context? If it were Fai, I'd want you dead like the others." Jade
looked at his brother's bed as she answered. "But as your brother , I'm glad
you survived. It will take time, but I'm here. I'll always be here as your
brother."

Jay stared ahead, tears streaming from his tired eyes. Every time he closed
his eyes, he saw his friends' deaths over and over. Every word Fai said, every
scream still haunted him as if it had happened yesterday. He couldn't forget.
 "Come downstairs and eat something. Tonight, I'll sleep with you and help
you pack." Jade gently stroked his brother's head before standing up. He
helped Jay up and led him to the dining room. They turned on the lights,
illuminating the room and reducing the sadness.

Kamin entered the room and sat next to Jay with scissors and a razor in
hand.

"If you're going to see people, you should look good, right?"

Jade watched as his lover cut Jay's hair, revealing his face again, and then
shaved his beard. Kamin carefully applied shaving cream to Jay's jaw and
chin.

The activity was carried out in silence, with only the sound of the razor cutting
hair and their breaths.

"Kamin."

"Yes?"

"Thank you."

"Don't mention it."

"Even though my brother can be tough, rude, and bossy, can you take care of
her for me?" Kamin paused, wiping the shaving cream from Jay's smooth jaw.
He smiled and gently stroked Jay's cheek.

"Of course, I'll take care of him."

 "Thank you." Jay's first smile in two weeks appeared, bringing joy to both
Jade and Kamin.

After dinner, Jade helped his brother pack everything for the next day. He
noticed Jay standing still for a long time and went to see what was wrong. Jay
was looking at a photo of his group of friends, all smiling and joking like
typical teenagers.

Jay gently touched the photo before putting it away in a drawer. He no longer
saw the bright smiles in that image. It was full of lies, betrayal, manipulation,
indifference, blood, and death. Everyone faced the consequences of their
actions, past deeds connecting to the present. He also faced the
consequences of those actions.

"The suitcase is ready. Do you need anything else?"

"No."

"Then let's sleep." Jay nodded and lay down on the left side of the bed, with
Jade on the right. The two siblings stared at the ceiling for most of the night,
knowing the other wasn't sleeping but not speaking. Finally, Jay began to
express the thoughts that had been swirling in his mind.

“P'Jade.”

“Hmm?”

“Are you disappointed in me?”

“Disappointed?” Jay nodded as he let tears fall from the corners of his eyes.
Of course, his older brother would be disappointed. Even he was
disappointed in himself.

“I’m so sorry.”
“I told you to forget it because it’s in the past. It’s not fair to Fai, but I’ll tell you
that everything that’s happened will be a lesson for you to learn how to live in
the future. I can be disappointed, but I can also have new hopes. Don’t
worry.” Jade leaned on his arm, staring at the ceiling, spending the night with
his younger brother for the last time.

Kamin had slept deeply, so he had energy to get up and prepare breakfast
early. The first to come down was Jade, with messy hair and a tired face,
which made Kamin know immediately that she hadn’t slept a minute the night
before. Jade approached and hugged Kamin by the waist from behind, before
snuggling into his shoulder as he had done since they started dating.

“Did you sleep?”

“No.”

“Today is a day off. Why don’t we take Jay and then stay home?”

“Come sleep in my room.”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because if I move to your room, I won’t be able to sleep, Jade.”

“We’ve solved the case, haven’t we? So I can pamper you.”

“Keep dreaming.”

“I’m not dreaming. Tonight, you’ll move to my room.”

“No.”

“You won’t move tonight?”

“No.”

“Then I’ll pamper you right now.”

“Hey! Wait, Jade!” Before he could stop him, Jade lifted the person in front of
him and sat him on the kitchen counter, before positioning himself between
Kamin’s legs. His thick lips slid along Kamin’s fragrant neck, eliciting laughter
that echoed throughout the kitchen, creating a warm atmosphere in the
house. “Hahaha! Jade, you’re tickling me! Stop, stop!”

"I won't stop until you agree to sleep with me tonight," Jade whispered softly
into Kamin's ear, her hands gently caressing his neck before moving to his
waist, a spot he knew was sensitive.

"Alright, I agree," Kamin finally relented, his laughter subsiding as he gave in

to Jade's playful persistence.

"Good," Jade said with a satisfied smile, pulling back slightly to look into
Kamin's eyes.

"Just sleeping," Kamin added, raising an eyebrow.

"Just sleeping. What do you think I’m going to do?" Jade wrapped his arms
and legs around Kamin, trapping him in a warm embrace before kissing the
tip of his chin affectionately.

"Are you sure about that?”.

"I'm not sure. Actually, I want to fuck you every day. Now too."

Jade did as he said and kissed Kamin on both his left and right cheeks. Day
by day, he fell more and more in love with the person in front of him. It would
probably be like this for a while.
 "Jay's about to get off." Kamin was preparing to jump off the counter, but
before that, his delicate feet caressed Jade's sides. His arms wrapped around
his partner's neck seductively.

"Let's save our conversation for tonight."

Jade remained still, even though Kamin had already jumped down from the
counter and was placing breakfast on the table. Jade's face flushed slightly as
he remembered the whispering tone he'd spoken in his ear. If Kamin was
teasing him now, how would he resist tonight?

Breakfast passed peacefully, with small talk at the table until it was time to
say goodbye. The psychiatric hospital car was waiting in front of the house.
After helping load the suitcases into the car, Jade approached his brother,
who was saying goodbye to Kamin.

"If you need anything, call me."

"Yes, P'Min, take care of yourself. And don't spoil P'Jade too much, he gets
spoiled."

"Okay."

“I heard you,” Jade protested as he joined the conversation.

“I don’t know when I’ll get better, but I’ll try to come back as soon as
possible.”

“Sure, this is your house. You can come back whenever you want.” Jay
hugged his older brother.

He hadn’t shown this much affection since he entered middle school, but now
he didn’t have anyone else. He only had his brother. Jade also stroked his
brother’s head affectionately. Although he didn’t usually show his love, he had
always wanted the best for Jay since he babysat him as a child.

“Crybaby.”

Jay pulled away before smiling at those in front of him. He had decided to get
treatment for his PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) because it was
affecting his life and causing problems for Jade and Kamin. Although they
didn’t say so, he knew his screaming at night and the fact that someone had
to wake him from his nightmares repeatedly was a problem.
 “I’m leaving now.”

“I’ll be waiting for your call to pick you up,” Kamin said affectionately.

“I’ll wait.”

Jay smiled at his brother before getting into the car. Everyone had been
affected by the events that had occurred, but no one blamed themselves
because they knew it had been a result of their own actions, one way or
another.

Jade watched the car that had taken Jay until it disappeared from view.
Although he couldn’t see it anymore, he was still looking in that direction.
Kamin had to reach out to grab Jade’s hand and guide him back to the house.

“It’s rare to have a day off. What do we do?”

Kamin looked around the house before leading Jade to the couch. Normally,
he worked day and night, dedicating his life completely focused on work
because he had nothing else to think about. But now, he just wanted to sit
next to the tall man who was daydreaming.

“Jade.” “Do you want to go somewhere?”

“No, not really.”

“Me neither.” Jade leaned into Kamin’s lap, taking his delicate hand and
holding it against his chest.

“Then let’s just sit here and not think about anything for a while.” Since they
had closed the big case, they had no new cases to work on. This was a rare
free time for them. Later in the day, Kamin’s phone rang, catching both of
their attention on the couch.

“Hello?”

“Hello, Inspector Kamin. Sorry to bother you on your day off. My name is
Kong. I’m an investigator with the police department.”

“Yes, come on.” Jade looked up at the owner of the lap he was lying on,
because he heard a man's voice on the other end of the line.

"I'm working on a murder case and would like your cooperation in gathering
information. Would you be a bother?"
"Right now?" Kamin looked at the clock on the wall, whose hands pointed to
twelve.

“Yes.”

“Please wait a moment. I'll be right there.”

“Where are you going?”

Kamin tapped Jade on the shoulder to get him up.

“To the station”.

Someone from the police department needs information for a case.”

“Now?”

“Yes. Get up quickly.”

“I'll go too. I don't want to be home alone.” Jade stretched a little.

“You didn't sleep at all last night, did you? You can stay home. I won't be
long.”

“I'll go. I'm possessive.” Jade leaned over to kiss Kamin's cheek before going
upstairs to shower and dress in his room, leaving Kamin shaking his head
slightly with a smile.

They arrived at the station in half an hour. Kamin went to the reception room
and met the guest waiting for him. After greeting each other, they began to
discuss the case.

Meanwhile, Jade was pacing back and forth, and now he was in the station
kitchen with the sergeant and the lieutenant, who were drinking coffee with
him.

"I'll go again. You've been talking for over an hour and you're not finished
yet."

"If you go again, the inspector will scold you. You haven't stopped pacing."

"But, Captain, the officer who came seems to admire the inspector a lot.
When he asked for the inspector, he was smiling broadly."

"Really?"
 "Yes, especially when they were on the phone, it seemed like they were
talking to their boyfriend." The lieutenant tilted his head toward the captain,
who was being annoying, and sighed when he saw his superior frowning with
an annoyed expression. He had really angered him.

Jade returned to Kamin's office once more, but this time, as soon as he
opened the door, he heard his lover's scolding voice.

"Captain, I already told you not to come in until I've finished discussing
matters. Does my order not seem important enough?" Kamin's serious
expression made Jade stop.

"Sorry."

"Go ahead, and I hope I don't have to repeat myself until I've finished my
business." Kamin looked at his lover's wounded puppy-dog face before the
door closed. He sighed lightly and returned to his business.

"The inspector really is serious about his job."

"Yes, these are all the documents. That club has been closed for so long now,
I'm afraid if you go there won't be much to investigate."

"This is already very useful."

"Then I'll have one of my subordinates take you."

"Isn't the inspector coming with me?"

"I have other matters to attend to, so it's not convenient for me to go."

“I... Can I treat you to dinner as a thank you?”

Kamin arranged the documents on the table.

“No need. This information isn't confidential.”

“Uh, how about some coffee?”

“I can't right now. I have to go reconcile with my boyfriend.” The person in

front of him was a little surprised.

“Does Inspector Kamin have a boyfriend?”

 “Yes, and he's very sensitive. With your permission.” Kamin smiled politely
before leaving the office to order one of his subordinates to take the
investigator to the scene.

He then went to look for his offended lover, but searched hard, he couldn't
find him.

So he returned to the kitchen.

“Oh, Inspector, are you done talking?”

“Have you seen the lieutenant?”

“He said he was in a bad mood and was going to let off steam.”

“Thank you very much.” Kamin now had an idea of where to find his sensitive
lover.

֍~~~~֍

The sound of the punching bags echoed throughout the gym. At that moment,
only the station captain was there, punching and kicking the bags as if his life
depended on it, unaware that someone had approached from behind.

“If you break the punching bag, you’ll have to buy another one.”

“Why are you here, Inspector? Have you finished discussing the important
matters?” Kamin smiled as the way she addressed him suddenly changed,
emphasizing clearly.

“Yes, I’m done.”

“Oh, right.” Jade continued to vent his frustration on the punching bag,
unaware that the eyes of the person watching him were shining brightly.

His skin was tanned and beautiful, with the muscles in his arms and legs
clearly visible.

Plus, his abs and chest were impressive, without a shirt covering them,
glistening with sweat, further increasing Jade's appeal.

"Will that punching bag interest you for long, Jade?"

"A little while, yes."

 "Okay, then I'll go wait in the room. Before you go, take a shower, okay?"
Kamín walked away with a smile. He was sure that in no more than twenty
minutes, that punching bag would no longer be interesting.

And it turned out to be just as he thought.

While he was showering in the room, the sound of the outside door was
heard. Kamín wrapped a towel around his waist before opening the bathroom
door and finding Jade sitting on the bed with a disgruntled expression.

"I'm going to sleep now," Jade said before lying back on the bed and turning
his face toward the wall.

"Are you really going to sleep?"

"Really."

“Are you sure?”

“Sure…” The towel that was usually wrapped around Jade’s waist was thrown
in front of Jade, causing the angry person to quickly turn around to face their
lover, almost breaking their neck.

“Kamin.”

“Didn’t you say you were going to sleep?”

Jade looked like his heart was about to stop. His honey-colored skin was soft
and uncovered. His well-defined abs matched his slim waist and wide hips.
Kamin was irresistible!

Jade threw herself into carrying his lover to the bed before mounting him. The
tall figure hurriedly removed his shirt and pants. That was why Kamin had told
him to take a shower earlier.

It was a good thing that, even though he was upset, he still obeyed him.
Otherwise, he would have wasted his time fighting with the person in front of
him instead of showering.

“I don’t know if the people from the police department will do anything weird
again, so it’s better if you don’t "Involve me," Kamin explained, brushing back
some hair

that fell over his handsome face.

 "I think I'm going to die."

"If you die now, you're missing out."

"Then I'd rather die in your arms." Jade leaned down and kissed Kamin's full
lips.

His tongue slid out to gather the sweetness of Kamin's mouth as always.
Their strong hands worked together, parting Kamin's long, beautiful legs.

Jade pulled away from his lips because he wanted to taste other parts of his
lover's body.

His warm lips ran down Kamin's neck, chest, and abdomen, until they
reached Kamin's member, which was beginning to erect because his hands
had been caressing it for so long.

Jade looked up at Kamin once more before letting out a sigh. His face
flushed, his eyes shone, and his lips were swollen and erotic, making his
heart race.

"There are condoms, but no gel."

"It doesn't matter."

"It's going to hurt." Jade pulled Kamin's legs toward his chest, exposing his
rounded bottom and pink entrance.

"Jade, no... Yes!" Before she could finish his warning, Jade leaned down and
licked his pleasure entrance with gusto. The warmth and wetness created a
sensation of pleasure Kamin had never experienced before. He brought his
hand to his mouth for fear of letting out a moan others could hear. His chest
lifted off the bed because she could no longer control his body.

Even more so when Jade pulled away from his lips and instead inserted a
finger that slowly entered him. Kamin felt himself getting closer and closer to
reaching his destination.

"Really? That soft? Don't tell me you've already prepared yourself."

"No! Don't talk!"

"You're adorable, Min." Jade increased his fingers from two to three, moving
them around inside his lover. The more he watched Kamin squirm, the more
he wanted to play with him.

“It’s only three fingers, Min. Mine’s bigger than this. Can you hold back your
moans?”

“Jade, again! Ah!” Kamin wanted to say something, but as soon as he got out,
Jade was already pressing his fingers into the sensitive spot, leaving him
speechless.

“Lift up a little, baby.” Jade removed his fingers from the tight entrance before
standing up fully so the man on the bed could see his erect member, which,
although not yet fully hard, already made Kamin flinch.

“Your mouth.”

Jade gestured to his member, alternating with Kamin's lips. With just that, the
little boy understood.

Although a little embarrassed, Kamin wanted to know, wanted to taste more,

how big Jade would be when he was fully erect. With his delicate hands, he
gently stroked him before wrapping his lips around it. He could barely lift his
head and feel a pressure on his lips. Kamin was about to go crazy.

“Smile, good man, your tongue again!” Jade moaned softly in pleasure.

The more he looked down and saw Kamin trying to fit his entire length into his
mouth, the more he felt like he was in heaven. Jade picked up the phone and
made a call before rubbing his head. Min continued softly.

[Yes, Captain.]

"Is anyone in the room today?"

(No, all the police officers on duty are out today.)

"Oh, that's it." Jade hung up the phone before casually throwing it away.
Because right now, she's almost at the end of her dream. "That's enough,
Min."

Jade pulled his core out of Kamin's mouth and straddled him, loving him, one
hand wearing a condom. The other hand parted Kamin's legs, his body erect
and ready to be used, aiming for the glistening canal before gently lifting him.
 "If it hurts, tell me."

Jade kisses Kamin's temple before pushing his core into the canal. Only the
head feels like it's on the shore of dreams because it's warm, soft, and tight.

"Oh, it's... again, it's too big."

"Relax, Min, I can't get this in hard."

"Again, try to stay still." Jade kissed Kamin's forehead, eyelids, the bridge of
his nose, his cheeks, down to the tip of his chin, the nape of his neck, and his
luscious chest.

"Scratching his back like a cat."

"It hurts." "Good, I want to show the others that the cat in the house is very
daring," said Kamin.

"And the cat in the house moans too."

"Oh!" Jade pulled out his core almost completely, before pushing in until he
reached its full length. It made Kamin poor. The white of the brain was
completely exposed. After that, the sound of flesh hitting flesh mingled. Low
moans and sweetness mingled for hours.

After changing the condom three times, Kamin was so tired he was almost
exhausted, and his only thought was the person in the bed.

No signs of fatigue. Jade grabbed Kamin and sat on his lap before kissing the
chest that was undulating up and down in a sympathetic manner.

"Another round."

"I'm tired. Where did you get so much energy? Didn't you sleep last night?"

“Just seeing you gives me strength, Min.” Kamin felt the scent of his body.

He’d been sitting up for several hours. Now he was stiffening again and
rubbing himself against her buttocks. He’d heard of Jade’s reputation for
being a tiger in bed, and Kamin wrapped his arms around Jade’s neck before
lifting his hips and gripping his lover’s core in his own canal.

“Last round.”
 “Yes.”

“And from now on, don’t be stubborn.”

“Yes, I am.”

“Where’s the tiger? This is a cub.”

Kamin sat on his core and hardened until he slowly inserted himself into the
soft canal, his hips pulling down before rising and falling in a repetitive
rhythm, but he nicely elicited a low moan from the person below.

“Again, Min, mmm, I’m almost done.”

“How sensitive, huh?”

“Don't act like that, good boy.”

“Like that?” Kamin inhaled deeply, because not only was Jezz enjoying it, he
was too. The depth that reached the peak of desire and the thickness that
filled the passage made him truly happy.

“Ahh, I'm going to finish, Min. Move faster.”

Jade held Kamin's waist so the person on top could move comfortably. The
sound of Kamin's moans near her ear increased the intensity of this sexual
experience until they reached climax.

"I love you, Jade."

"I love you too."

And they both reached the shore of their dreams together.

 CHAPTER 36

It's been two months since the murder case was resolved. Many things have
happened that changed everyone's lives forever. The legal cases and
compensations were handled by the court until their conclusion. All the
victims were returned to their families for religious rituals, and the guilty
received the appropriate punishment. The affected people are still seeking
healing.

“What did you bring, Jade?”

“Min asked me to bring this.”

“And Minn didn’t come with you today?”

“Min is working.”

“And why aren’t you working?”

“Because my boyfriend is an inspector.' Seeing the bright expression on his

older brother's face, they returned to using the same term they always did
between them. 'And how have you been here?”

“Good.”

Jade took a quick glance at his younger brother. Although he said he was
fine, it seemed like he would have to stay there a bit longer. Before, Jade
visited Jay once a week. If he was too busy, he managed to make a one- or
two-hour visit. He had spoken with Jay’s psychiatrist; although he showed
some improvement, he still relied on sleeping pills at night. But he no longer
suffered panic attacks during the day. When Kaminn didn’t come with him, he
always left food and books for Jay.

'It’s good to know you’re getting better.'

“I miss Min.”

“And you never tell me you miss me.” Jay laughed a little at his older brother’s
possessive attitude. Although he initially liked Kamin, now he only felt a small
admiration. His older brother seemed to take it more seriously.
 The two brothers chatted in the hospital garden. The light breeze made the
leaves rustle occasionally, which made Jay startle.

“Shall we go inside?”

“No, it’s fine. Sometimes, I just hear sounds.”

“What sounds?” Jay looked up at Jade before glancing at the trees and
flowers ahead.

“The sounds of all my friends.” Jade nodded understandingly. “Ah, I have to

go talk to the doctor. You should go too.”

“Alright.”

“Take care. Thank Min for the sweets and books.”

“Next time, he’ll come with me”'

“I’ll be waiting.”

Jade stayed until his younger brother entered the building, then walked to the
parking lot. He got on his motorcycle and called someone who was probably
at the station.

[What’s up?]

"Do you have time?"

[No.]

"Please." The laughter on the line let him know that Kaminn had already
finished his work.

[How’s Jay?]

"Improving little by little, but it’ll take time."

[Are you done? Are you heading home?]

"Yes, do you want anything?"

 "Don’t worry, I’ll eat at home." Just hearing that common but familiar phrase
made Jade’s lips curve into a smile.

"See you at home, then."

"Drive safely."

Kaminn hung up the phone and got up from the table with some difficulty. The
sound of a knock on the door made him respond as he gathered his things.

"Are you leaving already, Inspector?"

"Yes, please take care of what’s left, Lieutenant."

"It’s just... it’s just..."

"What’s wrong? Say it."

"I’m so sorry, Inspector! I’m really sorry!"

Kaminn shook his head slightly and handed his bag to the person in front of
him.

"If I had been more careful, you wouldn’t have had to replace me. I’m really
sorry. I’ll do anything, even accept a suspension."

"Anything?" Kaminn looked at the officer, who was trembling and lowering her
head in fear.

"Yes, anything."

"Then, take my bag to the car."

Lieutenant Prain looked up at her boss, almost on the verge of tears. Earlier,
there had been an altercation at a restaurant with drunk people. The inspector
was there and offered to help. While she tended to the injured, one of the
drunk men pulled out a gun and fired. The inspector, seeing what was
happening, stepped in to protect her, kicked the gun away, and handcuffed
the aggressor. She only realized what had happened when she saw blood on
the inspector’s arm and took him to the hospital.

"Do you want me to drive you, Inspector?"

 "No, it’s fine. Take care of writing the report for the shooting case." Seeing
that she was about to bow again, Kamin raised his uninjured arm to stop her.
"Enough, you don’t need to apologize anymore, Lieutenant. These things
happen. Just be more careful next time."

Lieutenant Prain watched as the inspector’s car drove away, feeling

impressed. It had been a long time since she respected someone in her
profession with a higher rank. The first was Captain Jade, and now there was
another: Inspector Kamin. But... oh no! I didn’t tell Captain Jade that the
inspector was injured!

When Kaminn arrived home, he saw the familiar motorcycle in the garage. As
he opened the door, the aroma of food made him smile. He left all his things
in the living room and took a deep breath as he reached the kitchen. He
hadn’t told Jade about the shooting, so he was probably going to get scolded.

"Are you going to stand there or are you going to try my tom yum soup?" The
deep voice called him without even looking.

"How do you know it’s me? It could be a thief."

"Because the look you gave me said I’m very handsome and adorable."

"Enough, please." Kamin approached the man who seemed to be enjoying

cooking. When he arrived, Jade offered him a spoonful of soup. "It’s
delicious."

Jade accepted the compliment by leaning in to kiss Kamin’s cheek before

turning off the stove and serving the food in a bowl. Kamin, dressed in a black
shirt, sat at the table without mentioning his injury. He didn’t want the dinner
to be overshadowed by worries, so he decided to wait until after eating to tell
him.

"Do you want more rice?"

"No, that’s enough." Kamin raised his uninjured arm to receive the plate of
rice from Jade. As they ate, they talked about Jay and the day’s work until
they finished the meal.

"I'll wash the dishes. Do you want to go up and shower first?" Jade suggested
after turning toward the sink. Kamin took a deep breath and approached
Jade, leaning against his broad back. "What’s wrong? Why are you being so
affectionate?"

"Shower with me." Jade dropped what he was holding, making a loud noise.
He left everything and washed his hands before turning to his partner.

"Is this a provocation or a request? Because we ran out of condoms

yesterday, don’t forget." Kamin chuckled softly at Jade’s enthusiastic
expression.

Kamin’s elegant hands began unbuttoning his shirt, while Jade’s eyes didn’t
leave him. Kamin’s tanned skin was covered with bite marks and kisses on
his neck, chest, and abdomen. Jade, looking at him with desire, raised her
hands to hug Kamin’s waist, but when the shirt fell to the floor, revealing a
bandage, her expression changed. He frowned and tightened his grip on
Kamin’s waist.

"Today there was an altercation at a restaurant. The suspect was drunk, but
no one knew he had a gun." Kamin began to explain when he saw that Jade
wasn’t saying anything. "The bullet only grazed me; it wasn’t deep."

"Kamin."

"What?"

"Why didn’t you tell me when you got shot?"

"Everything was chaos. We had to protect the civilians and handle the
suspect. I didn’t want to bother you."

"I’m your partner, Kamin. Everything about you is important to me. It’s not a
bother. If it had been more serious, when would you have told me? At the
end?"

"I’m sorry." Kamin, seeing the worry and anger in Jade’s eyes, hugged him.

"Go up first." Jade gently let go of Kamin’s hands and went back to washing
the dishes. Kamin, biting his lip, decided not to bother Jade anymore and
went up to the room.

Kamin had moved into Jade’s room a month ago because Jade used to stand
at the door of his room every night. Finally, Kamin gave in. Kamin, being an
only child, had always been independent and didn’t think about how his
actions affected others. Jade, on the other hand, had taken care of her
 younger brother, so she was more considerate and concerned. Kamin often
forgot that he wasn’t alone anymore.

Kamin took off his clothes and wrapped himself in a towel, preparing to
shower, but the bedroom door opened. Jade came in with a box of medical
supplies and sat on the edge of the bed next to Kamin.

"Give me your arm." Kamin extended his arm and smiled at Jade’s face. Jade
had never really been angry with him.

"Jade." The first time he called, Jade ignored him.

"Jade, please." The second time, Jade shivered a little but remained focused
on applying the waterproof bandage to the wound.

“Jade, talk to Min a little."

Game Over.

“You’re so mean, Kamin.” Kamin let out a clear laugh when the person in front
of him looked up and met his gaze. Even though his face was impassive, his
red ears couldn’t be hidden.

“I’m sorry for not saying it, and I’m also sorry for making you worry.”

“It’s good to know you care, so I can do fewer risky things.”

Jade used his hand to gently squeeze Kamin’s cheek before standing fully.

“I’m going to shower you.”

Kamin didn’t hesitate.

He let Jade lead him to the bathroom before removing the only garment
covering his body. The shower water began to fall slowly on his soft skin,
followed by the clean-scented liquid soap that Kamin had personally chosen
because his lover had repeatedly said he liked its scent, so he decided to buy
it so they could bathe together.

Jade's rough hands rubbed the soap over his body, being careful with the
areas that were more sore than usual. Without realizing it, Jade swallowed
several times. Despite having seen the person in front of him naked countless
times, he still felt his heart pounding.
 "Are you so tense that you'd rather I take the bath alone?" Kamin said in a
playful tone.

"You know I'm not tense because I'm afraid you'll get hurt." The person being
rinsed shifted his gaze to the crotch of the sweatpants, realizing that what
was inside was taking shape again.

"Can you turn around for a moment?”

Jade exhaled once more as Kamin turned his back to him. His neck, back,
waist, hips, and buttocks—everything had an angle he loved.

Especially when they were together, he could watch Kamin from this angle as
his own body thrust in and out, only at that moment Jess accidentally
squeezed Kamin's waist, leaving a handprint.

"You're not thinking about something lewd, are you?"

"Yes, I am." Jade held his breath as he finished bathing Kamin and then took
a towel to wrap him, leaving only his head uncovered.

" “Do you need help?” Kamin’s soft hands gripped the hem of the sweatpants
and pulled them closer.

“You’re hurt, could you please stop touching me so much?” Jade hugged
Kamin’s neck before leaning in to blow on both cheeks, causing the person in
his embrace to break into a smile.

“Go get dressed, I don’t want you to catch a cold. When you’re done, we’ll go
outside.”

Kamin gently kissed his lover’s chin before leaving the bathroom, leaving
Jade staring at him with puppy dog eyes. Jade stripped and began focusing
on relieving the pressure in his own crotch, but after so much time, there
seemed to be no sign of release. Kamin heard the deep moan coming from
the bathroom, along with his name. Although he’d heard it before, he couldn’t
help but feel embarrassed.

As he was busy taking off his clothes, the bathroom door burst open,
revealing the person completely soaked with nothing to hide their body.

“I’m not finished.”

“What do you mean by that?”

 “Can I ask for your hand?” Kamin smiled mischievously before moving his
hands back to his sides.

“Kamin, please lend me your hand, I hurt all over.”

“I have something better than my hands.” His full lips parted before she stuck
out her beautiful pink tongue, making Jess nearly lose her mind.

“Yes, that’s provocative! Tease me until I lose my mind! I can’t wait any
longer!” Jade approached the person who was barely wearing a sleepshirt,
his lower half still wrapped in a white towel. He pressed Kamin’s uninjured
shoulder so that he knelt on the floor.

His sweet face was right in front of his erect crotch, which gently brushed
against Kamin’s cheek before being captured in her warm mouth.

“Ugh, ugh.”

“Another amazing tongue, Min,” Jade moaned in her throat with satisfaction.
He sat in the lotus position, taking a long time and still with no signs of
finishing, but just being in Min's mouth for a few minutes was driving him
crazy with pleasure.

"Good boy, don't lick the head like that."

"Uhm, uhm, uhm."

"And you talk so much with something like that in your mouth," Jade leaned
down to look at Kamín, who was looking up defiantly. He watched him eagerly
before holding Kamín's head and moving his hips in and out.

"I'm close to finishing, Min." Although he tried not to go too deep, as the
excitement built, he almost forgot himself. Jade moved his member in and out
of Kamín's small mouth, and finally, he was close to climax.

With his thumb, he stroked the clear liquid that was oozing from the corner of
Kamín's eyes before escaping into his lover's mouth, letting it spill over his
lips.

"Spit it out?"

"It's gone."
Jade smiled before crouching down in front of Kamín and placing a soft kiss
on his well-defined forehead.

"You're incredibly cute, you know that?" His large hand caressed the tip of
Kamín's nose tenderly.

"Yeah, sort of."

"Come on, please, I'll get some water."

"..."

"What's wrong?" "It should calm down now, right?" Kamín pointed at Jade's
crotch, which should have been calm after his release, but remained the
same.

"Don't break it."

"What if I do?"

"If you do, someone will get tired." Jade turned to look at Kamín.

"I've already been embarrassed," Kamín joked.

"It's your choice: sleep or get tired. There are no condoms."

"Sleep." Jade was surprised by the response he had just received.

“You must choose again.”

“Sleep.”

“Try choosing again, Min. Again.”

“Sleep.” Jade’s serious gaze turned like that of an abandoned puppy, almost
making Kamín laugh. “Sleep after we’re done, are you ready?”

“You’re going to give me a heart attack one day.”

“I can’t leave him.”

“Then don’t die. Hug me like a cat instead.”

Jade threw himself at Kamín, turning him around before gently placing him on
the bed and straddling him.
 As much as he wanted to hold him tightly, Jade was still worried about his
lover’s injuries, so he decided to be gentle with Kamín all night until he tired
out and fell asleep.

His responsibility was to make sure Kamín’s body was clean, put pajamas on
him, and check that his injuries hadn’t been affected by previous activities.
After making sure everything was in order, he lay down next to his lover, as
he did every night.

"Sweet dreams, Kamín."

 CHAPTER 37

The vibrant atmosphere, the booming music, and the night owls moved and
danced on the club floor, just like the young inspector who had left behind his
strict police image to become the most attractive guy in the place, drawing the
gazes of men and women alike. Kamin looked different than usual, with his
hair loose and natural, a mint green satin shirt unbuttoned down to his
abdomen, and a necklace adorning his neck, brushing against his chest and
highlighting his smooth skin. His slim waist and defined hips stood out even
more in the tight pants he was wearing. At that moment, Kamin was moving
on the dance floor with Brindy, each holding a drink in their hand. (I need to
see Dunk like this in the series.)

"Can I buy you a drink?" A tall man approached from behind, holding a drink
and whispering into Kamin's ear.

"I don’t want to be a bother," Kamin replied.

"I don’t consider it a bother, unless you didn’t come alone."

"I have a boyfriend, but it turns out he’s not behaving well, so I ran away."
Kamin turned to look at the man behind him, raising a hand to wrap around
the neck of the gray-haired, slanted-eyed man who was looking at him boldly.

"I like committed people," the man whispered into Kamin’s ear, while his hand
slid toward his hips. "Shall we go somewhere quieter to talk?"

"Are there quiet places here? I’ve never seen them."

"My car is very quiet, and we can keep the party going. Interested?" Kamin
smiled and let the man wrap his arm around him, leaving the club through the
crowd.

A dark blue sports car was parked in the lot. Before they could open the door,
Kamin was pushed onto the hood of the car, and the man positioned himself
between his legs with determination.

"So impatient."

"Do you like excitement? If so, let’s try it in the parking lot," the man said with
desire-filled eyes, his hands roaming over Kamin’s thighs.
 "I have something more exciting."

"What’s that?"

"Is this your car?"

"Yes, do you like it?"

"I don’t really like cars that transport illegal stuff."

"What?"

"I’m a cop. You’re under arrest for drug possession." The man tried to
escape, but it was too late. Kamin pointed a silver gun at his head, reflecting
the moonlight.

"If you don’t take your hands off my boyfriend, you’ll go from jail to the grave,"
a deep voice said behind them. The man immediately let go of Kamin. Jade,
Kamin’s boyfriend, immobilized the criminal, handcuffed him, and pushed him
against the car. While cuffing him, he turned to Kamin, who was watching
calmly. "Didn’t you say you’d just lure him here, Min?"

"Well, here he is."

"I saw everything, both the visuals and the audio. Don’t play dumb."

"Without bait, how will the fish bite?"

"Get ready, because when you get home, you’re in trouble."

"Sorry, officer, but the bait isn’t going home." Kamin playfully tapped Jade’s
nose before hopping off the car hood. "Sergeant, take the suspect to the
station along with all the evidence in the car."

"Understood, Inspector."

Jade pushed the handcuffed suspect against the car hood once more before
grabbing Kamin by the waist and walking toward his motorcycle.

"Your boyfriend isn’t behaving well, so you ran away?" Jade repeated
Kamin’s words that he had heard through the listening device, while buttoning
up his partner’s shirt.
 "What did you want me to say? That I have a boyfriend and he’s listening in
the car?" Kamin let Jade put the helmet on him without protest.

"Dancing provocatively, getting close to him. I almost broke the listening car,
Min."

"It’s just work, you know that."

"I don’t care, I’m going to be mad at you until we get to the station." Jade put
on his black helmet and got on the motorcycle. When Kamin got on behind
him, Jade stayed still, not starting the bike.

"Aren’t we going?"

"Hold onto my waist; I don’t want you to fall."

"Weren’t you mad?"

"I’m mad, but I still care about you." Jade took Kamin’s hands and placed
them around him waist before starting the bike and leaving the club. Kamin
smiled tenderly as he held onto him.

Jade was always like that.

When they arrived at the station, they handed out the bags of food they had
bought for their colleagues on duty that night before heading upstairs to catch
up on pending work.

"There’s a new case the special investigation unit has requested our
collaboration on. Do you want to read the details?" Kamin looked up from the
documents and saw Jade already staring at him coldly. Kamin decided to
ignore the attitude, knowing his partner wouldn’t stay silent for long.

And he didn’t. A few minutes later, Jade approached Kamin’s desk.

"Are you going to apologize to me?"

"I think I’ve spoiled you by always apologizing." Jade rolled his eyes slightly
before circling the desk and approaching Kamin, who was still signing
documents calmly. Jade leaned on the desk and gently stroked Kamin’s
cheek.

"Where did he touch you? Where, Kamin?" Kamin smiled but didn’t turn to
look at him.
 "Here? Or here?"

Jade slid his fingers over his cheek, neck, shoulder, and then slipped her
hand into his shirt to playfully caress Kamin’s chest.

"Tell me, Min, who made you feel better?"

"We’re in the office."

"Oh," Jade replied briefly before locking the door and lowering the blinds.
"Now?"

"That’s not what I meant, Jade." Kamin closed the folder and looked at Jade.
"I won’t apologize for work matters."

"You’re cruel."

"But if it’s a gift, it might be different."

"A gift?"

"Today’s your birthday." Jade paused, remembering he had forgotten his own
birthday. To him, it was just another day, dedicated to work. He only received
greetings from her colleagues and shared a meal with Jay. But this year, he
had neither.

"Happy birthday, Jade. I hope all your days are peaceful and safe."

Kamin stood up and wrapped his arms around Jade’s neck, while Jade
hugged his waist and gently caressed him.

"I love you."

"Thank you, I love you too, Min."

"I wanted you to blow out a candle, but you don’t eat sweets. It would be a
waste to buy a cake." Kamin lit a colorful candle and brought it close to Jade.
"Make a wish."

Jade peered through the flame and met Kamin’s light brown eyes staring
back at him. Kamin’s face reflected the soft candlelight in a captivating way.

“I wish for Jay to recover soon and go out to live the life he wants. For you
and me to never hurt each other while working on cases, because I care
 about you. For you to love me a lot.” Kamin let out a laugh that made the
candle flame flicker. Jade couldn’t help but smile at the person in front of him;
Kamin had received all his affection and love.

“A gift?”

Jade blew out the candle, but instead of just gray smoke dispersing, a smooth
silver ring fell out along with a matching necklace right in front of him.

“A set?”

“A birthday gift.”

“A ring?”

“I saw you like being jealous and possessive, so I had to save you a little.”
When Kamin raised his hand, he noticed the same ring on his ring finger.

“Keep your head down, Mati, I'll put it on for you. You like to take on cases
impulsively, so it's better to wear it like a ring; it doesn't get in the way.” Jade
leaned in and rested his forehead on Kamin's shoulder as he tightened his
hug. With just this person, he didn't need anyone else.

“You've grown another year already, and you should calm down a little, you
know? Every time you take on a risky case, I worry that one day I'll have to
find you in the hospital.” Kamin grumbled as he put the necklace on.

“Take some time to rest, do you understand? I know you love your job, but I
also want you to take some time to relax... I'm done.”

Jade pulled away before lifting his lover and placing him on the table. The tall
figure leaned over the other, removing first his jacket and then his tight black
T-shirt, revealing his muscular chest, his beautiful muscles, and the tattoos on
his arms, as well as the soft hair on his abdomen that connected to the
bottom of his pants.

"I just said this is where I work."

"You're too adorable."

"Is that the reason?"

"Please let Jade do this." Jade rested his face on Kamin's hand flirtatiously,
but his intense eyes shone with desire.
 "Baby, let Jade do this."

Kamin could only shake his head gently, a chuckle in his throat. He's very
good at this flirtatious thing. He didn't give him a verbal response, just began
unbuttoning his shirt, one by one, until his soft skin was exposed.

"Are you going to stand there watching, or are you going to open the
present?"

Jade smiled widely before removing Kamin's satin shirt to clear the way. The
tight pants she wanted to see Kamin wear more often were removed, leaving
only his white underwear.

Jade leaned down and pressed her lips against his lover's full ones, nibbling
and rubbing passionately. Kamin's hands were busy with the belt and buttons
of the boy's pants in front of him, as was Jade, who was using his tongue to
explore Kamin's warm mouth as she removed his underwear. His fingers slid
into the tight opening, as it had been a while since they had engaged in
amorous activity.

"Ah, your fingers are... ah."

"I know you like it."

Jade moved his fingers a little and rubbed them in the canal, pleasing him.
This ignited Kamin's desire, and he began to breathe heavily. Jade nibbled
and licked his neck and chest, as he usually did.

He knew exactly where to touch to make his lover feel good. Kamin lightly
pushed at Jade's chest before turning around on the table, revealing his
rounded, tempting rear end.

“Are you going to leave the gift like that?” Kamin’s trembling voice caught the
bright, hungry gaze of the tiger who was watching his prey.

“Keep your voice down, baby. Even though I like the sound of your moans, I
only want to hear you.” Jade used his firm, erect member to rub against his
canal. He desperately wanted to enter. “Jade... more. Jade, put it in now.”

“Did you know your cute ass is moving toward me now?” The ambiguous
words further increased the intensity of this sexual encounter. Jade parted
Kamin's cheeks and gently rubbed his member.

“You're incredibly sexy, Min.”

 “If you don't put it in... Aah! If you don't put it in, I won't let you do anything.
Aah!” Before he could finish his sentence, Jade thrust his member all the way
in, eliciting a moan that echoed throughout the room.

“You're too loud.” Jade withdrew almost completely before re-entering,

repeating the motion with a slow rhythm, but each time hitting the sensitive
spot inside, making the affected person feel short of breath.

"Aah, Jade! Harder, aah! Harder than that."

"Why is my gift so hot today, baby?" Jade lifted one of Kamin's legs onto the
table before thrusting into the soft canal with a faster rhythm, just as Kamin
desired.

Kamin pushed folders and papers to the floor. He had to hold onto the edge
of the table because the force of Jade's thrusts was beginning to increase.

Knock, knock, knock.

"Inspector? Are you there?" The voice on the other side of the door made
Kamin jump and immediately look up.

"Answer me, Inspector." Jade didn't slow down. Just don't push. Go all the
way in until all you can hear is the sound of flesh hitting flesh. But it didn't
help. The gun is less exciting.

"Yes again."

"Since someone reported that the body of a homeless man was found in a
mill on the outskirts of town, will the inspector go take a look?" Kamin had to
cover his mouth with his hand for fear that his moans would escape.

"Twenty minutes," Jade whispered in his ear. before spreading Kamin's

buttocks so he could penetrate deeper.

"...Ah, twenty minutes."

"Okay, then let me send an evidence collection team and a forensic

technician to the area first?" Kamin almost didn't have the courage to answer
the question. Now Jade couldn't; he simply spread his cheeks. But he was
inserting his finger inside. Even though the core of his body was still being
penetrated in and out.

"Inspector."
"Send it!" Kamin regained his composure and answered. His body was flipped
over. The body rotated before being lifted off the ground.

Kamin whispered to the person holding him against his chest. The large body
was penetrated once more. And with the kind gesture, he made it go deeper
than before.

"Are you that excited? You're so tight I can barely move."

"Ah, Jade, one more time, it's too deep."

"Very hard, Kamin." Jade pushed Kamin against the wall before thrusting his
hips faster because he was so close to climax.

"It's going to be over. Ah, it's going to be over, Jade."

"Thanks for the gift."

"Hmmmm, ah." They both exchanged a kiss that conveyed their feelings to
each other, a sensation they both knew well. Kamin finished, staining Jade's
abdomen, as did the other, who penetrated several more times before
releasing his semen into her soft canal. They both held each other in the
same position for a long time, smiling at each other.

"You need to use the twenty minutes you have to clean me up, including
cleaning the room,"

Kamin said as he tightened his embrace around Jade's neck. He felt the heat
in his abdomen and the canal where Jade still remained inside.

"There's plenty of time for a second round."

"That's enough, I have a case to attend to."

Jade picked Kamin up and walked straight to the couch, before plopping
down next to him, still connected at the bottom.

"I love you," Jade said with a smile.

"You've already told me that several times today."

"Because you make every one of my days special."

"That much?"
 "Should I go thank the person who brought you here?"

"He's the one dating me."

"Then forget it." The two of them joked around for several minutes.

"Can you take it out now?"

“I know,” Jade said, kissing the soft forehead before withdrawing her body.
Kamin felt the surge of love welling up, and he would never get used to it.

“You’re blushing again.”

“Stop talking.”

“Are you embarrassed that so much of this is accumulating here?”

“Shut up, Jade. Clean up quickly so we can get to work.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

After no more, no less, twenty minutes, they both arrived at the scene. The
night air was completely dark, with not a breeze blowing. The crime scene
tape was in operation, preventing civilians from approaching the scene.

“What did we find?”

“A fifty-three-year-old man, a homeless man who has been wandering around

here for several years. There’s a large wound on his head. His internal organs
are almost completely gone, only his intestine remains.”

Kamin and Jade arrived at the area where the victim’s body was found. The
condition of the body indicated that it was neither a suicide nor a robbery.

"Have we received any reports of this type of case recently?"

"Not yet."

"Then stay alert. If there's another report of a similar case, inform me

immediately." Kamin looked at Jade again, thinking the other must be thinking
the same thing.

"Check the hospitals too. We might find some illegal organ stealers."

"Understood, Inspector. Captain."

 "Another difficult case."

"What can we do? It's our duty."

The two of them separated to inspect the scene and interview the villagers
who witnessed the incident. They weren't the ones who decided what kind of
case or event they would encounter. In this world, there are a wide variety of
people, of different races, religions, families, and cultures, and naturally, with
different mindsets.

All human beings have virtues and shadows in their hearts; we just don't
know how or when they will manifest.

But if those shadows are transforming into anger and resentment that could
lead to the death of another, at that moment, let's hope someone notices it
and stops it in time.

Before it becomes a case that must be solved, whether with living people or
with all cases of death.

End of case.
 SPECIAL CHAPTER 1

Here’s the translated and modified text with all instances of "Jess" or "Jes"
changed to "Jade" (male):

---

It was a period that felt both short and long during the four years Jay had to
undergo treatment at the psychiatric hospital. As he dragged his suitcase out
of the room, the feelings from those four years came rushing back to him. He
had to undergo therapy every day, take medication in the morning and at
night, and see the doctor, but the nightmares never went away. His friends
didn’t leave him; they just changed from appearing in scenes of horrible
deaths to silently watching him in his dreams.

Jay reached out to grab the doorknob, which felt cold against his palm. The
image of the door slowly closing overlapped with the image of his seven
friends standing in each corner of the room, bidding Jay farewell.

"I won’t forget them. I truly won’t forget."

At that moment, Jade stood wearing amber sunglasses, leaning against his
luxurious car, watching his younger brother walk out the door with the same
somber expression he had when he first arrived.

"Thank you for taking care of me all this time."

"You’re welcome, Mr. Jay. Return home safely and without worries."

"Thank you." Jay bid farewell to his doctor before walking toward his brother
with a smile at the corner of his mouth.

"Slow."

"Didn’t Min come too?"

 "Min isn’t here."

"Where did he go?"

"He’s working in Bangkok." Jay nodded in understanding.

Both got into the car to head home. Although Jade visited Jay once or twice a
week during his time at the psychiatric hospital, they only saw each other for
a few hours before parting. Now that they were finally together on the way
home, neither knew what to say. The sound of Jade’s phone broke the
silence. Jay glanced slightly at his brother’s phone screen before turning his
gaze back to the outside scenery. He hadn’t been out in four years, but it
seemed like nothing had changed.

"What’s up, Min?"

[Did you pick up Jay yet?]

"I already picked him up."

[How is he?]

"Ask him yourself." Jade handed the phone to the person sitting beside him.

"Hello, Brother Min."

[Sorry for not coming to pick you up, Jay.]

"It’s fine. I heard Jade say you’re working in Bangkok, right?"

[Yes, but I’ll be back this afternoon.]

"Then drive carefully."

[Yes, see you at home.] Jay handed the phone back to his brother before
looking back at the outside scenery.

"When will you be back?"

[Probably by five.]

"What do you want to eat?"

 (I’ll ask Jay. I have to attend a meeting with the special investigation unit.)

"Don’t get too close to Dee; he might bite."

(Leo isn’t a dog. See you at home, Jade.) Jade hung up and looked at his
younger brother, who was staring out the window.

"What do you want to eat?"

"Me?"

"Yes."

"I want to eat steak."

"Then we’ll buy some later."

"Jade."

"What?"

"Do you think I really should have left?" The car fell silent again. Jay looked at
his brother, waiting for an answer, though he didn’t really expect one.

"Why did you want to go there, Jay? To get better or because you wanted to
feel punished for something?" Jade spoke calmly while keeping his eyes on
the road. "That place is a psychiatric hospital. You could live, eat well three
times a day, take walks, read whatever you wanted. It’s not a prison. It’s not a
place for punishment. So even if you chose to stay there, it wouldn’t be a
punishment."

Jay pressed his lips together. His brother was right. When he decided to enter
the psychiatric hospital, it was because guilt was consuming him. He wanted
to feel punished, as if he had to pay for what he had done. But once inside, it
wasn’t what he had imagined. He wasn’t suffering; it felt like they were
medicating him, helping him escape his dark feelings.

The brothers didn’t speak again until they arrived home. Jay looked around
and smiled. Everything was filled with traces of Min, showing how seriously
his brother took this relationship.

"Have you settled in?"

 "More or less. I’ll take my suitcase upstairs first."

"Okay." Jade watched as his brother carried his suitcase up the stairs. He
wasn’t one to talk much, but if Jay needed help, he knew his brother would be
there.

Jay went up to his room. Everything was the same. From the cleanliness and
the scent, he guessed his brother had cleaned before picking him up. He left
the suitcase by the bed and lay down, staring at the ceiling with an empty
gaze. He used to have so many plans: finish university, get a job at a private
company, gain experience, open his own small business, have a relationship,
a house, and hang out with friends once a month. But now he had nothing.

There was nothing left in his mind. He didn’t know which direction to take. He
felt like all paths were wrong. He was wrong. He was wrong. He was wrong.
Those words echoed in his head.

Knock, knock.

"Come in."

"I changed my mind. Let’s go buy groceries and cook together."

"Why the rush?" Jay sat up and looked at his brother, who was leaning
against the doorframe.

"To have something to do." Jade said that before leaving, leaving his younger
brother with a smile at the corner of his mouth, knowing his brother cared
about him. At least, in his future plans, his brother was always present.

The supermarket wasn’t very crowded at noon. Jay took charge of picking out
household items because if he left it to Jade, they would have been back in
ten minutes.

"What are you and Min going to eat?"

"The same as you."

"I haven’t asked since we left. How are you?"

 "Good, but I’ve been overworked lately."

"Overworked?"

"Yeah, having a partner who’s an inspector means I get more work than
anything else." The frustrated expression on his brother’s face made Jay
laugh.

"And with Min?"

"Good, I see her when I wake up and before I sleep. I feel at peace." Though
it was a simple phrase, to Jay it sounded like his brother fell in love with the
same person every day. That’s what a relationship should be like.

"I’m glad you’re happy like that."

"I hope to be happy for you too." Just as Jade finished speaking, his phone
rang, interrupting the moment between brothers. "What’s up, Sergeant?
Assault? File charges. The husband brought a gun to shoot his wife at the
station? Okay, I’m on my way. Keep people away and protect the target."

Jade, who had just received an urgent call, looked around, worried about
leaving Jay without transportation.

"Don’t worry, go. I’ll take a taxi."

"Are you sure?" Jade took out his wallet and handed Jay a credit card.

"Yes, I want to walk around the park too."

"What about the groceries?"

"I’ll take them."

"Then, if you need anything, call me. If I finish quickly, I’ll come pick you up."
Jay smiled at his brother before watching him run off.

Jay spent a good while looking at things. There were products he had never
seen before, some brands had changed their packaging, and others had
launched new products. The world kept moving forward while he stayed in the
past, trapped in his mistakes.
 Suddenly, the supermarket got crowded. Jay decided to check out because
he wasn’t used to being surrounded by so many people. His forehead started
sweating, and his hands trembled. As he waited for a taxi to return home, a
group of students bumped into him.

"You’re in the way."

"Hey, Pete, don’t be rude!"

"Sorry, bro. My friend just got dumped."

"Heartbroken, bro, heartbroken." The laughter of the group of boys in front of

Jay reminded him of the past. Were they like that before?

"Jay, it’s your fault too."

"Why did you survive alone? Why did you leave us?"

Suddenly, behind the group of boys, his dead friends appeared, their faces
filled with disappointment and anger, their faces stained with blood.
Everything Jay was holding fell to the ground. He felt like he had forgotten
how to breathe. His knees buckled, and he fell to the ground, trying to
breathe, even though it was hard.

People started gathering around, whispering, laughing, talking, which made

Jay feel even more pressured. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t
breathe.

"Please, move away. Move away." A hand touched his shoulder. Jay didn’t
know who it was or why they were helping him, but the soft scent mixed with
nicotine was oddly comforting. He felt a gentle breeze and a cold hand on his
face. "Breathe slowly. There’s no one here but you and me."

The deep, calm voice helped Jay calm down. His rapidly beating heart began
to slow. The fear he felt from the people around him started to fade. At least
now he could breathe a little.

When he realized it, he was already in a luxurious car. Jay looked at the man
beside him and then at the road. The car was heading to a familiar place,
which made him frown before he started speaking.

"Where are you taking me?"

"Home."
 "Home? Who are you?" Behind the wheel was a man with an athletic build,
around the same age as his brother. His black hair fell messily, and the silver
glasses fit his high nose and sharp jawline. His tanned skin matched his
unbuttoned black shirt, revealing his chest.

"Your brother sent me." In the calm atmosphere with the air conditioning
cooling his face, Jay’s agitated mind and panic attack subsided. "Drink some
water."

A bottle of room-temperature water appeared in front of him. Jay looked at the

man behind the wheel before drinking and starting to ask questions.

"Thank you. Who are you? Did Jade send you to watch over me?"

"Yes."

"Ah..." Jay nodded, understanding. Whether out of concern or fear that he

might lose his mind again, he couldn’t be angry. Now he was a burden to his
brother.

"I’m a doctor." The deep voice said calmly. "A psychiatrist."

"Jade knows who to send." Jay laughed bitterly, not at others, but at himself.

"He came to consult me about your symptoms and treatment. I offered to

help."

"How long have you known Jade? Why don’t I know you?"

"Three years. Since a murder case."

"So you know my story, but I don’t know you?"

"My name is Chomtup, but you can call me Chom."

"Thank you for helping me."

"The images you see are just lingering feelings in your heart."

"It should be like that, right?" Jay started speaking more forcefully when the
other’s words touched a nerve.

"Why? Because you didn’t die with them?"

"Stop the car. I want to get out."

"Go ahead." Jay looked at the man beside him. "You still think you shouldn’t
have survived, that you should have been one of them. So jump now, while
the car is moving."

Jay reached for the door handle and looked out the window. The scenery of
the bridge over the river passed by quickly. If he jumped, he would be
seriously injured or die. But... his hand remained stiff and numb on the
handle.

He was a coward.

From the streets and cityscape, the car moved to the familiar view of his
home. The ride back was silent. No reproaches, no conversations, no words.

"You don’t want to die. You just don’t know why to keep living."

"What do you know?"

"I’ll pick you up tomorrow morning. Be ready." Chomtup handed him a

business card. "This is my number. If you need anything, call me."

"Where are you taking me?"

"To find the purpose of your life."

Jay got out of the car in shock, and the luxurious vehicle drove away. He
couldn’t understand how that person could comprehend him.

"Jay." The voice from the house made Jay look up.

"Min."

"Come inside." Kamin’s comforting smile brought Jay back to reality.

"Sorry for not picking you up."

"It’s fine, Min. Can I ask you something?"

"Sure." Kamin looked up at the man sitting on the couch beside him.

"Do you know Chomtup?"

"The psychiatrist?"

"Yes."
 "Yeah, I know him. He helped with a serial murder case three years ago
because the criminal had multiple personality disorder, so we needed a
specialist’s help. We had to work together on the case and talked a lot."

"Ah, I see."

"Why do you ask?"

"Nothing, just... I thought he was a strange person."

"He’s not strange. He usually doesn’t talk much."

Jay apologized and went up to his room to organize his things. He looked at
the photo frame on the table and murmured to himself.

"Can I become someone who has a reason to live?"

How could he? He didn’t know. Jay looked at the business card beside him,
picked it up, and dialed the number on his phone. The ringing tone went on
for a while until Jay thought about giving up, but just as he was about to take
the phone away from his ear, a deep, soft voice answered.

"What’s up?"

"It’s Jay."

"I don’t know what Jade has told you about me, but I’m beyond help."

"That’s for me to decide."

"What if I can’t be that person who wants to keep living?"

"You can be, if you want to."

The firm voice, as if believing in him, made Jay’s eyes fill with tears. He
wanted to be that person, someone with a purpose in life, not someone just
waiting for death.

He really wanted to be.

"See you tomorrow."

 SPECIAL CHAPTER 2

Kamin was sitting in a quiet cafe, not far from the special investigation unit's
base of operations. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air as he
brought it to his lips. His eyes scanned the surroundings, but turned toward
the door when he heard the sound of a bell.

"Did you wait long?"

"No, I just got here. Do you want something to drink, Yuki?"

"I already ordered, thank you." Yuki smiled slightly before sitting across from
him. "Jade doesn't suspect anything, does he?"

"No, he was working on a case when I left." Kamin placed his cup on the table
and looked at his interlocutor. "And Leo?"

"He's sleeping; he just finished a case. He'll probably sleep for a while."

"That's good. That way he won't know what we're doing."

"I never thought you had this side to me, Kamin."

"Nor did I think you'd accept, Yuki." The two of them were laughing and
smiling without any stress, unlike those who had just gotten home and
couldn't find their partners, and those who had just woken up and found their
beds empty.

Jade picked up his phone to call his rival, whom she never thought he'd
contact. He had to call three times before he answered with an irritated voice.
Jade guessed that his partner was also missing, as this wasn't the first time.

"Hi," Leo replied angrily.

"Where's Yuki?"

"I don't know. He's not answering."

"I tried calling Kamin. We met at the base."

"Okay."
 Jade hung up and tried calling his partner again. Lately, Kamin had been
going out a lot without saying where he was going or what he was doing.
Yesterday, Jade had accidentally seen a chat between Kamin and Yuki,
which made her think a lot.

"See you at the place, Kamin."

"I ordered the usual, Yuki."

He couldn't help but think about what once was: Yuki had been hers before
she was Leo's. Jess arrived at the research unit's base within half an hour.
She saw Leo, frowning, and sighed. Leo got into the car, slamming the door
shut.

"I hope my partner isn't trying something with yours." Leo frowned.

"I don't believe it."

"I saw Yuki call Kamin last night."

"I saw the message."

"Damn it! Really?" Leo seethed. Even though Yuki was with him now, it didn't
mean he hadn't had feelings before.

"I'm not worried they'll do something. I'm worried they'll get into trouble
without warning."

"That's right. What do we do?"

"Did Yuki mention something earlier?" Jade asked as he drove aimlessly.

"No, but I saw him looking for information about something."

"I found this." Jade tossed a black folder onto the passenger seat.

"Illegal channel?"

"Yeah, it was hidden in the bookshelf in Kamin's office." Both Jade and Leo
sighed before looking at the road and heading to the location indicated on the
folder.

~~~~~~~~~~~~
 Meanwhile, Kamin and Yuki managed to enter a building on the outskirts of
town. From the outside, it looked like an ordinary furniture store, but the
second floor had been transformed into an illegal brothel and human
trafficking center.

It took Kamin almost a month to find this place and get the tickets. If he had
asked Jade for help, he wouldn't have allowed it in the first place. Upon
consulting Yuki, he immediately offered to help, and so they got the tickets
and arrived today.

"Kamin."

"Yes?" Kamin turned at the sound of the voice and saw Yuki standing a few
inches away.

A strong hand circled his waist, pulling them even closer. Yuki leaned in until
Kamin felt his warm breath on his ear.

"Jade won't be mad, will he?"

"I'll make it up to him later." Kamin laughed softly before letting Yuki lead him
toward the red door behind the cooking section. Upon ascending the stairs,
they found two burly guards guarding the entrance. Upon showing their black
cards, the guards opened the door without hesitation. The noise and the
sweet aroma of the hookah indicated that they had entered a place of vice.

The interior was decorated primarily in red and black, creating a mysterious
and passionate atmosphere. The place was spacious and not crowded, with
cool air conditioning. In the center was a stage with silver poles, where
several scantily clad young men danced sensually. Around the stage,
customers watched eagerly.

"Welcome, dear customers. Is this your first time here?" An employee in an

impeccable black suit approached them courteously.

"It's our first time," Yuki replied in a calm voice.

"We're very happy to have you here. Let me introduce you to the place.
There's the bar, where you can order drinks or call a waiter. If you'd like
company, you can choose from the display case over there. Just tell me the
number and we'll bring the person over.

Would you like to participate in today's auction?"

 "What will I get for my money?"

"Ha ha ha. I assure you it'll be worth every penny. You can use one of our
rooms for free, and we have something special prepared for you." The
employee's lewd look made Yuki roll his eyes.

"We'll participate in the auction."

"Good choice. We have new guys today, with faces and bodies you'll love.
What kind of activity are you looking for? That way I can set up the right
room."

"We just want to add some excitement to our relationship," Kamin replied
briefly.

"The auction will start in ten minutes. You can choose your seats." The
employee left, leaving Kamin and Yuki in a secluded corner to discuss their
plan.

"If Jade knew, he'd cry." Yuki joked as he looked around, making sure they
could talk.

"Jade will definitely be mad. What do we do now?"

"When the auction is over and we go upstairs, we'll split up to search. The
informant said the owner comes every time there's an auction. His office is on
the right."

"Understood. It seems everyone is waiting," Kamin added before the noise

increased.

"I think the men on the right are watching us." Yuki raised his glass and
downed it in one gulp before approaching Kamin.

"We're working, but I also have to take care of you."

"Just as a couple?" Kamin smiled and stared at Yuki without looking away.

"Just enough so he doesn't kill me." Yuki shook his head slowly, thinking of
his blonde partner who would hurt anyone who came near. "The auction is
about to begin. Get ready."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 Meanwhile, Jade and Leo arrived at the furniture store that was about to
close. Leo pushed the door open with his foot, not hiding his frustration.

"The store is closing."

"Let's go in," Leo said gruffly, leaving Jade to take charge.

"We're not here to buy furniture." Jade showed a black card that Kamin had
forged. He found it in the folder along with other documents and brought it just
in case.

"Come in." The clerk didn't seem to know much and didn't verify the card's
authenticity. But upstairs wouldn't be so easy. They passed through several
sections until they reached the kitchen.

Passing through a red curtain and up the stairs, they found two guards
guarding a door.

"Can I see your card?" Jade showed the card, but the guards glanced at each
other and approached suspiciously.

"There's no easy way out." Jade sighed.

"Screw it!" Leo started the fight, kicking the approaching guard. Jade punched
the other in the face, knocking him down.

In less than three minutes, the guards were unconscious at the feet of the two
frustrated police officers. Jade opened the door and found a small club. But
what bothered him most was not seeing his partner.

"Where's Yuki?"

"He's not there. Neither is Kamin."

"Damn it!"

"Don't ruin the plan. You both started the case."

"What do we do?"

"Wait." Jade approached an employee who appeared to be the boss.

"Hello, do you need anything special?"

"Are there any free rooms upstairs?"

 "Yes."

"Bring me someone."

"Uh..."

"Quick!"

"Yeah, yeah." The clerk looked at Jade and then at the young blond man next
to him. He looked like he needed to find someone who could handle these
two hot-tempered men.

Shortly after, the clerk returned with an adorable-looking boy, dressed only in
lace underwear and a white robe.

"Here he is, our best boy. He's very attentive and has handled..."

"Shut up and take us to the room."

"Yeah, yeah." The clerk led them upstairs, where rooms were lined up along
the hallway. Jade and Leo exchanged glances before grabbing the clerk by
the collar.

"Two men came earlier, one with black hair and the other with black hair with
blue highlights. Which room are they in?" Jade asked directly.

"No... I don't know."

"Answer me!" This time it was Leo who asked. But before the clerk could
answer, the door at the end of the hallway opened, and Kamin walked out
with a tired expression. As he approached, a red mark could be seen on his
cheek.

"Kamin!"

"Jade!" One shouted angrily, the other in surprise. Kamin looked around until

he saw Leo holding the clerk. "How did you get here?"

"I should be the one asking what you're doing here. Who did this to you?"
Jade gently stroked Kamin's cheek.

"Me."
 "Kamin, everything's ready here." The voice from the room made Jade look
and

see Yuki walking out, naked from the waist up. "Jade... don't tell me..."

"Yuki!" Before Yuki could finish, Jade screamed. "What did you do?!"

"Why are you screaming, Leo?"

"Do I have to ask why you're like this?" Leo looked at Yuki and then at Kamin.
"Don't tell me you're doing it with Kamin too..."

"Stop thinking nonsense. Get that guy out to the station and let's go back to
base." Yuki went back into the room to finish the mission, followed by Leo,
who was still complaining.

Kamin looked away from the couple and looked at Jade, who was silent. He
knew this time it wouldn't be easy.

"Jade."

"If I hadn't investigated, when would you have told me this?" Jade's voice was
calm but full of reproach, causing Kamin to take his hand.

"You've been busy with your case. I didn't want to worry you with this."

"Running away like this? Don't you trust me, Kamin?"

"Jess, wait."

"Sergeant, we've arrested the club leaders and their subordinates. We've also
rescued all the victims." Before he could follow his partner, a subordinate
interrupted Kamin. He was worried about Jade, but couldn't abandon his
work.

"Then let's go back to the station." Kamin looked back at the path where Jade
had disappeared before following his subordinates to finish the job. It took
almost two hours for everything to be resolved. Kamin drove back home and
saw that the outside lights were still on, but the house was in darkness.

He went up to the bedroom, but stopped in front of the door, wondering if

Jade was inside or if he wanted to talk to him. Just as he turned to go back
downstairs, the door opened.
"Are you asleep yet?" Kamin asked softly. Jade's face didn't show the anger it
had before, but he wasn't smiling either. "Jade, can we talk?"

Kamin used the pet name they only used in private. He walked over to Jade
and took his hand, preventing him from walking away.

"I'm sorry for not telling you about the case, but I didn't want to worry you."

"Do you know how worried I was? If I got a call saying something happened
to you without my knowledge, what do you think I'd do?" Jade's voice rose,
not in a shout, but in reproach.

"I know it's work. I've never forbidden you from working, but you could have
told me. Don't keep things like that from me."

Kamin didn't respond. He simply hugged Jade, resting his forehead on his
partner's chest.

They stayed like that for several minutes until Jade gently pulled him away.

Seeing Kamin's sad expression made Jade sigh, not out of anger or
tiredness, but out of relief at seeing he was safe.

"Can we promise to tell each other everything from now on?"

"I promise."

"Are you hungry?" Jade hugged Kamin, stroking his back. "Then let's go to
dinner."

Kamin nodded without looking up. Jade led him into the bedroom as if he
were carrying a monkey attached to him.

"Do you want to take a bath? I can help you."

"Are you still mad at me?"

"Not anymore." Jade gently stroked Kamin's cheek. The red mark had faded a
little, but he still felt like he'd neglected her partner.

"Does it hurt?"
 "Not anymore. His hand accidentally hit me while he was handcuffing me."
Jade kissed Kamin's cheek, holding his lips there for several minutes, as if
wanting to make the pain go away.

"I took a shower at the station because I was afraid you wouldn't let me in."

"Who would dare?"

"I'm sorry again, Jade."

"It doesn't matter, the important thing is that you're safe."

Jade carried Kamin to the bed and began kissing his forehead and face, all
the way to his lips. Their lips met in a sweet and passionate kiss, leaving no
space between them. Jade savored the soft mint flavor before sliding her
tongue into Kamin's mouth, teasing him gently.

"I don't have work tomorrow morning."

"Me neither." Their noses brushed gently.

"Even if I did, it doesn't matter because tonight the inspector will be

punished."

Jade positioned himself on top of Kamin, kissing his neck as Kamin laughed.
Then, he cupped Jade's face to kiss him again.

"I'll let you punish me all night."

"You didn't even last three hours last time." Kamin looked at Jade with a
mixture of apology and gratitude.

He was sorry for excluding him and grateful for the reminder that he wasn't
alone anymore.

"I love you, Jade."

"I won't reduce your punishment."

Kamin laughed softly before kissing Jade on the cheek.

"Go slow tonight, my legs hurt."

"I'll give you a massage."

"I want you to massage me somewhere else." Kamin took Jade's hand and
placed it on his butt. Jade responded by squeezing it gently.

"You're naughty." The room filled with laughter and affectionate kisses, the
warmth of love spreading throughout the room before the temperature rose
due to their amorous activities.

After several hours, Kamin fell asleep on Jess's chest, who had just released
himself inside him. Jade slowly pulled out and kissed his lover's sweaty skin
without reluctance.

"I love you so much, Kamin." It was the last sentence before cleaning them
both up and falling asleep.
 SPECIAL CHAPTER 3

"P'Jade, the food has arrived." The sweet voice called out to the inspector at
the station.

A young woman with an adorable appearance entered carrying a bag full of

lunch boxes, ordered by the station for lunch.

"The inspector is in his office."

"Then, I'll go see P'Jade."

"Hey! Leave the food and go by yourself."

"Who's paying this time?"

"Ask the inspector." The daughter of the owner of a new nearby food shop
had been following Jade for almost two weeks. Ever since the inspector went
to eat there with his subordinates, she knew he was her soulmate.

She went up to the second floor out of habit, as she always collected money
from Jade whenever someone ordered food. The young woman fixed her hair
to look good in the inspector's eyes. Before she could knock on the door, she
heard footsteps behind her.

Turning around, she saw someone she had never seen before at the station.
His appearance, demeanor, and charm were impressive. Although he wasn't
as tall and robust as the person she was interested in.

"Hello, are you here to see someone?"

"Y-Yes, P'Jade."

"P'Jade?" The door opened before they could clarify anything between them.

"Kamin. Ah, Dee, what are you doing here?"

"I came to collect payment for the lunch boxes. The sergeants ordered ten.
This one is for P'Jade." She offered a red drink and a lunch box to Jade with a
wide, shy smile, which made Kamin's face harden. Jess looked at Kamin,
noticing that he was about to get angry.
"Thank you, but I pay for my own food. You don't need to bring me anything."

"How could I not? I'm courting you." Jade's hand, which was about to pay,
stopped.

"Then I'll take my leave, Captain. When you're free, stop by my office for the
documents."

"Kamin, wait."

Kamin left without listening to the calls behind him. He had been busy with
cases and preparing documents for the police, and hadn't spent much time at
the station. He didn't expect his partner to have someone following him.
Moreover, the girl didn't seem to know that Jade already had a partner. Why
didn't he say anything?

Kamin returned to his office and placed the documents on the table. He sat
down and sighed deeply. He had been with Jade for years. He understood
that relationships could become routine, but he never thought about being
with someone else.

Jealousy overwhelmed him as he stared at the ceiling distractedly, until the

phone rang, diverting his attention.

"Yes?"

[You forgot the documents about the budget.]

"Ah, then I'll go get them."

[Don't worry, I'm already downstairs.] Kamin frowned before getting up and
going down to meet the person who had arrived unannounced. He hung up
when he saw the high-ranking police officer greeting him from below.

"There was no need for you to trouble yourself to come."

"I saw that you've been driving back and forth these days and thought you
might be tired. So I decided to bring it to you and also take a look at the
station."

"As you can see."

"It's more orderly than many places I've visited." Khunpol smiled at Kamin
with bright eyes. Lately, they had been seeing each other often due to
 discussions about the budget. He couldn't deny that he felt sympathy for
Kamin.

"Would it be a bother if I asked you to show me around?"

"It's fine, I have nothing else to do."

"Kamin." The voice from the second floor made both of them look up. But
what caught Kamin's attention the most was the young woman coming down,
holding his partner's arm.

"You must be Captain Jade. Hello." Jade barely glanced at the newcomer
before turning his attention back to Kamin.

"Kamin."

"Captain." Kamin's formal tone and serious expression made Jade feel
uncomfortable. But it wasn't the right time to apologize.

"Can we talk?"

"I need to speak with Inspector Khunpol. Is it urgent?"

"Yes." Both of them looked at each other challengingly, surrounded by

subordinates and new visitors.

"We can talk in Kamin's office." Khunpol suggested amidst the tension.

"Go ahead. You can bring your boy too, Inspector." Kamin went up to his
office, followed by Khunpol. Jade clenched his teeth, annoyed by the
lascivious look the police officer was giving Kamin.

In the office, the four of them looked at each other. Khunpol broke the silence.

"When can you show me around, Kamin?"

"Show you around?" Jade repeated with displeasure.

"We can go now."

"Aren't you going to talk to the Captain first?"

"What do you want to talk about, Captain?" Kamin crossed his arms, looking
at Jade and then at the young woman clinging to his arm.
 "Can we talk properly, Kamin?"

"How properly?"

"Uh... P'Jade, my dad called me. I'll be back later."

"Wait, Dee." Kamin pressed his lips together as he saw his partner calling the
young man. "Didn't I tell you I already have a partner?"

"Yes, but I still want to court you. You're handsome." Dee puffed out her
cheeks. She liked following Jade because of his appearance and kindness,
but she had no intention of becoming his partner or breaking up his current
relationship.

"This is Kamin, my partner."

"What? This handsome guy is your partner?"

"Yes." Jade looked at Kamin, who was still sitting with a serious expression.

"He is my partner."

Jade emphasized their relationship, glancing sideways at Khunpol, who was

smiling. He didn't know what Khunpol thought about Kamin, but he had no
right to anything.

"Wow, your partner is so adorable. I can't compete with that. It's not fun." Dee
complained a little before leaving the room, leaving Kamin confused.

"Can we go now?"

"No, not yet. I have an appointment with Kamin to see the place."

"Can't you go alone?"

"I want Inspector Kamin to accompany me." Khunpol joked, smiling at Kamin,
which almost made Jade lose his patience.

"Do you want a fight?"

"Enough, Jade."

"Ha ha ha. Your temper's reputation is true, Jade." Khunpol laughed before
standing up. "I don't want to disturb you further. I'll let you know about the
budget, Kamin."
 "Thank you, Inspector Khunpol."

"You're welcome." When Khunpol left, the room was left with only the couple
who still hadn't resolved their issues. Jade closed the door to avoid
interruptions.

As he turned around, he saw that Kamin's eyes had softened. He walked over
to him and knelt down.

"Can you listen to me, Kamin?"

"I'm listening."

"Dee was just joking. I told her from the first day that I have a partner."

"Joking by touching you like that? Should I see that as normal?" Jade rested
his head on Kamin's legs. It wasn't Kamin's fault for worrying, but Jade's for
not thinking about how his partner would feel seeing others touching him. If
someone did the same to Kamin, Jade would also get angry.

"I'm sorry, really, Kamin."

"It might seem silly, but I care." Jade looked up, gazing at his partner tenderly.

Jade gently cupped Kamin's face, looking at him with love. Even though they
had been together for a long time, he had never stopped loving Kamin. In
fact, his love grew every day.

"I love you so much, Kamin. I've never thought about being unfaithful or being
with someone else. This time I didn't think about your feelings." Jade hugged
his partner tightly. Although he was glad that Kamin showed jealousy, it
wasn't worth it if it meant Kamin felt uncomfortable or sad. "Are we okay?"

"Sorry for being silly." Kamin hugged Jade, resting his face on his shoulder.
The recent distance had made him worry more, even though he knew what
Jade was like.

"It's not silly. I'm always willing to explain everything to you." Jade pulled
Kamin away a little and narrowed his eyes.

"And what about that inspector? Should I be worried?"

"I told him I have a partner. We only talk about work."

 "Okay."

"Jealous?"

"Very."

"Me too."

"You're adorable." Jade gently kissed Kamin's lips over and over until Kamin
started laughing.

The reconciliation was quick. After talking and understanding each other, they
decided to go out to eat together since they hadn't had lunch.

"P'Jade, can you take the order for table four?"

"Sure, Dad. Hi, P'Jade!" Dee greeted with his usual enthusiasm, but upon
seeing Kamin, he changed his attitude.

"Oh, is the inspector here?"

"Yes."

"Sorry about this morning. I was just joking with P'Jade because he's
handsome and my type."

"It's okay. We already talked."

"P'Jade is sneaky. How did he get such an adorable partner?"

"I told you my partner is adorable."

"P'Jade always talks about Kamin. He says he's cute and wonderful. I wish I
had a partner like that."

"Ahem."

"I mean someone else, hehe." Kamin laughed softly, seeing that Dee had no
serious intentions with Jade.

"I told you I love you, Kamin." Jade raised an eyebrow and took Kamin's
hand.

"I know." Kamin gently squeezed Jade's hand to get his attention.
 "Jade."

"Yes?"

"Tomorrow, do you want to go somewhere?"

"Tomorrow, huh?"

"Yes, do you want to go somewhere?"

"Whatever you want, Kamin. Actually, on a day off we can just stay home."

"Did you forget something?"

"Forget?"

"Tomorrow is your birthday." Jade frowned before relaxing as he remembered

that tomorrow was his birthday.

"That's right, I completely forgot." Not only had Kamin's work been busy, but
Jade's as well. Every day he was investigating and chasing criminals, so it
wasn't surprising that he forgot details like his birthday.

"We can stay home, so you can rest."

"Okay."

Although he responded like that, Kamin's lips curled into a smile as he

thought about the surprise he had planned for his partner. At least, Jade's
birthday this year would also be an opportunity for them to reconcile. It
wouldn't be an ordinary celebration.
 SPECIAL CHAPTER 4

The bronzed skin and toned muscles of Jade, a result of his constant
exercise, tensed as he furrowed his brow before opening his eyes. The
familiar warmth beside him had disappeared, and he got up to search for it
this morning. Following the sound of noises in the kitchen, the scene before
him made him smile and chuckle softly.

Kamin, wearing a loose t-shirt and only white underwear, moved around the
kitchen. When he raised his arms, the t-shirt rode up, revealing his firm
buttocks. The red marks on his long legs were Jade's handiwork. Definitely a
good start to his birthday.

Kamin had woken up early to prepare food, both for the morning and for the
road. The firm hand on his waist didn't surprise him, as he had heard the
footsteps earlier.

"Why didn't you wake me?"

"It's your day off. I wanted you to rest." Jade's warm lips kissed his neck and
shoulders, while his hands encircled his waist, enjoying his familiar scent.

"What are we doing today?"

"Going for a ride, relaxing, living without rush."

"And cuddling all day?"

"Ha ha ha. If that's what you want as a gift."

"I always want that." Jade turned Kamin's face to give him the first kiss of the
day. Their lips met without leaving any space between them, their tongues
intertwining. Jade continued until they both realized something else was
starting to awaken.

"No, stop. I'm cooking."

"Just once."

"No." Jade laughed and kissed Kamin's cheek before going to the bathroom
to relieve the tension.
 Later, both got ready to go to a countryside house they had reserved. But
before leaving the neighborhood, Kamin's phone rang.

"Hello."

[Inspector, we have a problem.] Kamin looked at Jade, who was at the wheel.

"What's wrong?"

[They found a man's body in an abandoned well behind the neighborhood.]

"We're on our way." Kamin hung up and looked at Jade.

"Weren't we supposed to rest?"

"It's work." Jade sighed and changed direction. "Give me a kiss."

"Why?"

"It's my birthday gift. I don't know if we'll have time later."

"Ha ha ha. Don't exaggerate." Kamin leaned over and kissed Jade. "Maybe
the case will be resolved quickly."

"I hope so."

When they arrived, they found a chaotic scene with police, neighbors, and
reporters, which slowed down their work.

"Inspector. Captain."

"Yes." Jade responded, bored. "I'll check the place."

"What's the case?" Kamin nodded to Jade and continued talking with his
subordinate.

"The deceased's body has been recovered and identified as Mr. Pitipong, the
owner of a nearby factory."

"And who found the body?"

"That person. She grows vegetables nearby and came to collect water from
here as usual."

"Have you interrogated anyone?"

 "We've interrogated close acquaintances. That person." The young officer
pointed to a man in his sixties giving a statement. "He said there was a party
at the factory last night. Mr. Pitipong was there, drinking alcohol, and left
drunk."

"Did anyone go with him or see him come here? It's quite far for a drunk to
walk."

"The old man is the driver. He was going to check, but the deceased said he
was going to the bathroom, so he didn't follow him."

"Did anyone see him after that?"

"No. It seems like an accident. There are no signs of a struggle or injury, and
the deceased's belongings are intact."

"Alright, thank you, sergeant."

"Yes, sir."

Kamin looked around and approached Jade, who was looking at the well.

"Did you find anything?"

"An accident?" Jade asked, turning to Kamin.

"That's what they think. We need to wait for the forensic results."

"The deceased is the owner of the nearby factory, right?"

"Yes."

"He had problems for using force and scamming employees with their
wages."

"Motive?" Kamin understood Jade's point. If it were an accident due to

drunkenness, it was possible. But with previous conflicts, murder couldn't be
ruled out.

"We should interrogate the factory workers and wait for the forensic results."
Jade and Kamin looked at each other, knowing their vacation plans were
unlikely.
 At the police station, Kamin finished interrogating some factory workers and
called to cancel the reserved countryside house. He sighed in
disappointment. He and Jade had just reconciled, and today was supposed to
be special. Instead of spending time together, they had to work separately.
While Kamin interrogated people, Jade was at the scene and dealing with the
forensics. They had no time together.

Kamin reviewed the workers' statements again. They didn't seem upset by
the owner's death. Some even seemed happy. It seemed the deceased had
problems with the employees. His serious gaze turned to the scene photos,
frowning with suspicion.

Knock, knock.

"Come in."

"The captain has returned."

"Tell him to come see me."

"The captain said he was going to arrest the suspect."

"What?" Kamin frowned upon hearing this. "Where is he now?"

In front of Jade was the factory dormitory, where a tragedy had recently been
reported. He had found irregularities in the deceased's body along with the
forensic doctor and, after reading the statements Kamin had sent him,
decided to come immediately to arrest the culprit.

Bang!

The sound of a kick on the door startled the person packing their belongings.
They tried to flee upon seeing the officers enter.

"Stop! Police. You're under arrest for the murder of Pitipong." Jade informed
the suspect of their rights, who began to cry.

"I'm not the only one who wanted him dead! He treated me like a slave, as if I
weren't human." The personal driver, who had initially claimed he didn’t follow
the deceased into the woods, had actually followed him the entire way. He
took the opportunity to hit him on the head with a stick and then threw his
body into the well to cover up the crime. He thought the fall into the well would
hide the injuries, but he didn’t realize that Pitipong had scratched his legs,
leaving skin remnants under his nails, which allowed the forensics team to
identify the killer. "I worked for him for decades. Last month, my son became
seriously ill and needed hospitalization. I asked him for a loan for the
treatment, but he said it wasn’t his problem. My son died."

The suspect spoke with resentment. He was handcuffed and taken to the
station for processing. Jade saw Kamin arrive and approach.

"So that's the culprit." The inspector greeted with a shaky voice.

"I rushed to arrest him before he could escape, which is why I didn’t call."

"It doesn’t matter. I just wanted to tell you he didn’t act alone."

"What?"

"Do you remember the garden owner who collected water from the well every
morning?"

"Yes, I remember her."

"She was also involved in the murder."

"How?"

"She said she usually carried a bucket to collect water from the well and water
her plants every morning. Today, she found Pitipong’s body while doing her
routine. Normally, she would bring something to collect the water, but there
was nothing at the scene. I asked the officers who arrived first, and they didn’t
see anything either." Kamin explained as they walked toward the car to return
to the station. "Upon investigating, I found out that the land where the factory
was built used to belong to her. Pitipong tricked her into investing and then
stole her land. She lost her property unjustly. I went to her house and saw
that she had fled. I asked the officers to intercept her, and they caught her."

"My partner is amazing." Jade praised, gently stroking Kamin’s cheek.

Carrying out the case file, planning the crime reconstruction, sending the two
suspects to court, and submitting various documents took so much time that
the sky changed color. White smoke rose into the dark sky. The cold nicotine
helped calm Jade. It was now ten at night. In a few hours, his birthday would
be over. He didn’t want gifts, cakes, or faraway trips. He just wanted to spend
time with Kamin.

The sound of the phone made Jade look at it and answer immediately.
 [Am I interrupting something?] Jay asked in a playful tone.

"No."

[Happy birthday, brother. Hope you’re having a great day.]

"Thank you. How are things over there?"

[Good, the atmosphere is peaceful, and the weather is nice. Yesterday, I went
horseback riding.] Jay’s carefree and cheerful voice made Jade smile.

"I’m glad. If you want to come back, tell Chom. Or if you don’t want to come
back, stay there. It’s his home, don’t worry. You can take advantage of him;
he’s rich."

[Ha ha, how could I do that? I’m already bothering him enough.] It had been a
long time since Jade heard his brother laugh like that. [I won’t take up any
more of your time. Happy birthday, Jade. I miss you.]

"Yeah. I’ll see you when I can."

[Alright.] After chatting a bit more, Jay hung up. Since his brother moved to
the psychiatrist’s mountain house, he seemed to be doing better. Jade truly
hoped his brother would find happiness again.

"Jade." The familiar voice made him quickly put out the cigarette.

"Are you done?"

"Yes."

"Let’s go rest, then." Kamin took his hand, leading him to the car without
saying more. Jade understood that his partner had been busy all day and
would be tired. Kamin offered to drive, but the unfamiliar route made Jade
ask.

"Aren’t we going home?"

"We’re not sleeping at home tonight." Kamin replied briefly. His eyes were
focused on the road with a serious expression that worried Jade.

After almost an hour, they arrived at a wide area with parked RVs. Beyond it
was an outdoor cinema where a few people were laughing at a comedy
movie. Kamin got out of the car for a few minutes, then returned and drove to
the farthest part of the place.

"We’re here."

"Where?"

"Get out and bring your bag." Kamin glanced at his watch and hurried to the
RV without further explanation. Jade, confused, obeyed.

The area was surrounded by bushes. The spacious RV had all the amenities:
a six-foot bed, a bathroom, a small kitchen, and a sofa. The only thing it
couldn’t do was move.

The interior had warm tones of white and cream, making it look clean. Jade
left the suitcase on the sofa and walked over to hug Kamin’s waist, who was
looking at the bed.

“Are we sleeping here?”

“Are you smiling?”

“When did you make the reservation?”

"When I sat down to write a case summary. This is the closest place, and the
atmosphere is the best."

"We could have stayed home. I don’t see why you had to tire yourself out
driving.” Jade kissed Kamin’s temple affectionately.

"I wanted to change the atmosphere a bit." Kamin turned around to wrap his
arms around Jade’s neck before leaning in to kiss his lips, slowly deepening
the kiss. "I’m sorry I’ve been so busy lately and haven’t had much time for
you. I’m sorry for the fight earlier, and thank you for letting me be the one to
wish you a happy birthday this year."

Jade looked at the person in front of him with loving eyes. It was true that
their work kept them so busy they didn’t have much time for each other, but
whenever Kamin or he had free time, those moments were never wasted.

“I’m also sorry that Jade sometimes ignores Min’s feelings. And thank you for
everything Min has done. Jade loves Min very much."
 "I love you too. But it’s a shame I didn’t have time to stop by and buy you a
cake. I’m afraid it’s too late now."

“Jade doesn’t want cake. I’d rather have Min."

"There’s only half an hour left. Do you want to eat now?"

"Don’t cry to make it stop.” Jade lifted Kamin and laid him on the bed. Their
clothes were quickly removed from their bodies, leaving only their bare skin.

“Jade, go take a shower first. I already did at the station."

"Right now."

“Are you going to hurry up and shower or not?"

"Alright." Jade rushed to the bathroom to wash away the fatigue of the day. It
took him less than ten minutes. Finally, his clean body was ready to pounce
on his lover.

The lights outside were completely dark. Only the bedside lamp remained on,
but what surprised Jade the most was that the person on the bed was no
longer naked. Instead, Kamin was wearing black lace underwear paired with
thigh-high stockings of the same color. His charming face lit up slightly when
he saw the pervert staring at him without hesitation.

"Just this once," the indirect voice made Jess's heart beat faster.

He used to joke. He wanted to have sex with Kamin in lace underwear, but he
didn't think the other person would actually do it.

"Baby," the change in pronouns made Kamin's face turn redder than before. It
wasn't long before his beautiful eyes widened as his lover threw himself on
top of him. His body was still wet.

"Jade, it's wet!"

"You are so cute, do you still want me to endure it? Don't you see that here?"
How much do you want me to be affectionate?" A strong hand took Kamin's
hand and placed it on the center of his body. He was fully awake. He was hot
and hard until her slender hand couldn't hold it tightly.

"Make it a little bold, good boy."

 "Well... just move and stand." Jade revealed a mischievous smile before
standing up until the center of his body reached his fair cheeks.

When he finished swallowing his saliva, his plump lips slowly opened and
covered the veiny core until they hit the roof of his mouth. Kamin used all his
heart and hands to pamper his lover. A low moan of satisfaction was heard.
Kamin wanted to do better.

"Filling Min's mouth is the best, baby, don't suck it... ah, go deeper or it will
hurt." Jade stroked the soft hair as he raised his head and let out a sigh. He
lets his emotions out as well. The obscene sound echoed throughout the RV
until Jade had to bend down to look, his lips curling into a smirk before
removing the core from Kamin's mouth.

"Let me do it for you." The tall figure leaned in and passionately kissed
Kamin's lips, holding both hands to support his lover and lie down, before
running his lips along the sharp jawline, the fragrant nape of his neck, and
down to either side of his chest. Exercise is good. His tongue ran over the
light-colored backside to caress it, while his fingers began to open her tiny
panties so they could slide inside. He can enter tight channels.

"Ah!" Kamin moaned loudly as his lover inserted three fingers at once.

"Does it hurt?"

"No... no." Jade rested his chin on Kamin's chest before moving his fingers,
scraping back and forth in the hot channel. He knew exactly where to make
his lover feel good, so...

"Ah! Ha... Jade, there it is again."

The finger he pressed against his sensitive spot made Kamin's eyes fly open.
His legs trembled, immediately tightening with excitement in his stomach.
When he lowered his head, he looked up and saw that the person who had
caused this was smiling knowingly.

"Because my beloved likes this."

"Stop saying ah."

"Why?" You usually like I talk dirty to you when they have sex, right?"

"Oh, no."
 "Really? So why is this spot so tight on Jess's finger? After saying that, Jade
stuck out his tongue and licked Kamin's abdomen. Drag it to the center of his
body. Erect in the palm of your lace panties, Jade opened it to the side before
covering it with his lips down to the bottom.

Then he began to expertly caress Kamin's thighs with both hands until the
roundness of his buttocks came into view. He ran his tongue along them one
last time before opening his lips to go down and fight. In their place were soft,
smooth buttocks.

"More, Jade, s... put it in, please put it in."

"Baby, can't you take it anymore?" Jade said, inserting his tongue into
Kamin's rear canal. Kamin squirmed. He tried with his buttocks to dodge the
sensations the other person was giving him, his breath coming in and out
quickly because he was close to coming. To dreamland. He thought he'd be
pampering the birthday person, but it turned out he was the one being
pampered.

"Ah, Jade, it's... ah, it's exciting." Kamin tried to use his hand to push Jade's
head, but it was too late. The lewd sound was loud enough to make Kamin's
face turn red. The tingling, wet sensation in his rear canal brought him closer
to the edge, completely dreamy.

A cloudy white liquid spurted out and splashed Kamin's abdomen and flowed
down to his chest. Jade, seeing his lover reach his orgasm, stuck out his
tongue.

He shifted to contain the core of his own body.

Kamin gave him a lascivious look. Although he was still tired from the throw a
moment ago, he didn't want to waste time. Two long legs rested on Jade's
shoulders before lowering his tall body to lie on the bed. He flipped him over
and straddled Jade's center.

"Would you like to take a break?"

"I don't usually rest," Kamin said, rolling his hips over Jade's core.

"Why are you so cute today?" Jade complimented him with a smile and
sparkling eyes.

He reached up to caress the thigh he liked to leave a mark with his fangs.
He had fallen in love with Kamin again, until he didn't know what he would do
without him. How will you live without him? "If one day Jade isn't here."

He hadn't even finished his sentence. Kamin leaned down and pressed his
lips together. Strong arms embraced the person on top and inserted his
essence into Kamin's love canal.

"Don't talk."

"I'm not going to say anything else."

A passionate love story unfolded inside the RV. Blankets and pillows were
scattered across the corners of the bed and the floor. Sweet moans
alternated with deep rumbles in the background. Mixed with the sound of
flesh slapping flesh, Kamin writhed excitedly on Jade's lap, his face lifted to
gasp for air.

A slender hand scratched the muscle-packed chest to release the tingling

sensations he'd received, as well as the body that wrapped around Kamin's to
make the connection between them closer and deeper.

"Ah, God, I'll finish again."

"Ready for Jade," the skilled captain kissed the tip of her chin before moving
his hand down to spread the cheeks of his soft buttocks.

"Ah, Jade, it's deeper."

"Jump hard." Kamin barely knew anything except the happiness the other
party gives.

Jade leaned back on the bed, their bodies still separated from each other.
Long legs covered in pink love marks were draped over his shoulders. His tall
figure pressed his body against the channel that had previously become slick
with love fluid.

Just the right pace, neither too fast nor too slow. But it was so deep that the
tip hit the sensitive spot, making Kamin's eyes widen and he moan
uncontrollably.

"It's too loud, sweetheart. I am jealous." Jade clenched his jaw at him.
Because Kamin's canal was clenching and contracting until he could barely
stand it.
"Jade, ah, that's strong, baby." Kamin let his emotions take over, and the thrill
of sex reaches the heart between them. Just like Jade who heard the words.
It's so sweet to the ear that you'll want to hear it many more times. The
warmth flickers in the canal. And the final impact that slammed into the
sensitive spot made your whole body shake. Min was so weak that Jade had
to pull his lover to his side and hug him.

"Darling?"

"Now... don't say it."

"Call me again. I want to hear."

“I didn’t call anymore. Take him away.” Kamin was too tired to argue. The
person lying on top of him hugged themselves.

“No, call me again. I’ll take you to take a shower.”

“No.”

“Please consider this a birthday present for Jade.”

“Your birthday’s already passed.” Kamin looked at the clock on the wall. They
had already crossed the new day for an hour.

“Kamin,” a pleading voice made Kamin look at the person resting

on his chest.

“Take me to take a shower... honey.”

A wide, haunting smile appeared on Jade's face. He kissed the center of

Kamin's chest before withdrawing the core from his body and bringing his
lover inside to give him a bath.

"Thank you for this birthday present, Kamin." Jade's last sentence came with
a warm kiss to Kamin before the two fell asleep and waited together for next
year's birthday.
 SPECIAL CHAPTER 5

"Inspector, good morning."

"Where have you been, Inspector?"

"Inspector, the case file is on your desk."

The greetings from the police officers at the station, who had already grown
familiar with their inspector, echoed continuously. After working together for
years, they had discovered that their inspector was the best.

"Thank you. I brought you all some food." Kamin chuckled a little as he saw
the bright looks directed at him. "Has Captain Jade not returned yet?"

"Not yet, Inspector. It seems he went out with several men."

"For a case?"

"Yes, the ones they’re dealing with have influence in the area. It’s going to be
tough work."

"Inspector! Inspector!" A panicked shout from the front caught Kamin’s

attention.

"What’s wrong, Lieutenant?" Kamin’s gaze fixed on the khaki uniform now
stained with blood. "Whose blood is that?"

"It’s the Captain’s. He was shot." Everything around him suddenly went dark.
He even forgot how to swallow.

"What happened, Lieutenant? How did the Captain get shot?" one of the
subordinates asked, shocked.

"During the arrest, the criminals fired back. But suddenly, a child ran into the
area and got caught in the crossfire. The Captain stepped in to protect him."
 "Where’s the Captain now?"

"In the hospital. He just went into surgery."

"And the criminals?"

"All of them are detained. They’re being brought here, but I came to inform
the Inspector first because..."

"Because what?"

"The Captain asked me to give this to you." Jade’s phone still had bloodstains
on the screen. Kamin’s trembling hands took it, his lips pressed tightly
together.

"Keep the criminals detained until I return. No bail or interference from anyone
is allowed. That’s an order."

"Yes, sir!"

Kamin drove to the hospital without worrying about fines. Once parked, he ran
to the operating room.

"Doctor, I’m here for the patient who was shot. His name is Charuwat."

"Are you police?"

"Yes."

"The doctor is extracting the bullet. The bullet hit a critical spot, and the
patient has lost a lot of blood. It will take time. What’s your relationship to the
patient?"

"I’m his partner."

"I’ll inform you if there are any updates."

"Thank you." Kamin watched as the operating room doors slowly closed. The
initial shock faded, replaced by fear and sadness. He sat in a chair across
from the room, feeling a tightness in his chest. His eyes and nose began to
burn, and tears threatened to fall. He wiped them away quickly. In his mind,
he repeated that Jade would be fine, that he shouldn’t cry. But as he looked
at the phone in his hand, the repressed emotions overflowed. He didn’t know
why Jade had asked the Lieutenant to give him the phone, but when he
checked it, he found a recent video in the gallery.

“Yes, I’ll be there in a moment.” Jade shouted to his subordinates before

turning back to the camera. "Is it recording already?"

His clumsiness made Kamin laugh through his tears, trying to wipe away the
bloodstains with a heavy heart.

“Kamin, I really didn’t want to do this, but it’s better to be prepared. If you’re
watching this video, it means something has happened to me, right? Are you
crying? Don’t cry, because I’d definitely want to comfort you.” The person in
the video made a gesture as if he were stroking his head. “You know our
profession is unpredictable. Even though we’ve never talked about it, I know
you’ve thought about it too.”

Kamin tried to hold back his sobs. The tears made it hard to see the video
clearly, so he wiped them away. He wanted to see Jade clearly, whether in
the video or in real life.

“If something ever happens to me, all the documents are in the safe in my
office. The code is your birthday. Make sure to open it, okay?” Jade frowned a
little before smiling again, a smile that had always charmed Kamin, from the
first time they met until now. He really wanted to see that smile again. “I really
wanted to ask Jay to take care of you, but he already has someone looking
after him, and I trust that person. So, if I’m no longer here, call Jay to come
stay with you. I don’t want you to be alone.”

Kamin looked at the video and then at the operating room doors, hoping a
doctor would come out and tell him Jade was okay. Jade wouldn’t leave him
alone, as he had promised.
 “Even if I’m not here, you have to sleep and eat on time. Don’t overwork
yourself, and don’t skip meals. I know it’ll be hard at first, but everything will
get better, Kamin.” Kamin shook his head in denial. In his mind, whether now
or in the future, life without Jade would be difficult. “I love you so much,
Kamin. I’m sorry for leaving you alone.”

“Captain, it’s time to go!”

“Yes, yes.” Suddenly, the camera turned off, and the screen went dark. The
reflection on the screen showed a face full of tears and an expression of pain
he could barely endure.

“Jade, please come back to me.” Kamin hugged the phone as if he were
hugging its owner. Every second passed with difficulty, feeling like years.

He had avoided talking about this with Jade many times, knowing he wasn’t
ready to lose half of his soul. He didn’t want to think about that day, no matter
who it was that left.

Kamin waited, cried, watched Jade’s video over and over, waited, cried, and
scrolled through the photos they had taken together. There were many photos
of them on the phone, some planned, others that Jade had taken
spontaneously. The more he looked at them, the more it felt like someone
was squeezing his chest, making it hard to breathe.

After two hours of waiting, the doctor came out of the operating room.

“H-how is he?”

“We’ve managed to extract the bullet, but due to the significant blood loss,
he’ll need to stay in the ICU. However, he’s out of danger now.” The tightness
and pain in Kamin’s chest disappeared immediately. He slumped to the floor
in relief, and the tears that flowed this time were of joy because he had gotten
his other half back.

Kamin sat by the hospital bed, watching Jade with concern. He took his hand
and pressed it to his cheek, feeling its warmth.

“Jade, please wake up. Talk to me.” Despite all his efforts, Kamin’s voice still
trembled. “I love you too, Jade. I love you so much.”

From noon to midnight, Kamin felt exhausted. His eyelids were heavy, but he
fought to stay awake, afraid that all of this was just a dream.

“Min…” The soft murmur and slight movement of the hand made Kamin’s
drowsiness vanish in an instant.

“Jade! I’ll get the doctor.” Kamin ran out to notify the nurses and quickly
returned. “How do you feel? Does anything hurt? Where does it hurt? Hic,
how are you, Jade?”

Kamin fired off a barrage of questions that Jade, just waking up, could barely
keep up with. But the trembling tone and tears from his partner made him
understand the situation.

"Min." Jade’s hoarse voice sounded as he raised his hand to place it on his
partner’s cheek.

"What’s wrong? Hic."

"I’m here." Those simple words brought calm back to Kamin’s heart. That was
all he needed.
After the doctor checked on Jade and confirmed his condition, they were left
alone in the room. Kamin didn’t take his eyes off Jade for a minute.

"Your eyes are swollen."

"Yes."

"Have you been crying?"

"Yes."

"Did you watch the video on my phone?"

"Yes."

"Come lie down here." Jade moved slightly, feeling the pain from the wound.

"No, rest."

"I want to sleep with you. Come here." Kamin, not wanting to argue with Jade,
carefully lay down beside him. "What I said in the video is true. I know you
don’t want to talk about this, but these things can happen."

"Yes, I understand." Kamin hugged Jade’s arm and snuggled close. "I know
we can’t stop these things from happening, but what I want isn’t material
things or last words. What I want is for you to be safe."

"I’m safe now."

"I know."

"Sleep." Jade gently kissed Kamin’s hair. Today, he had come close to losing
his life, and seeing Kamin’s tears reminded him that if something ever
happened to Kamin, it would be the worst for him too.

After almost two weeks in the hospital, Jade was finally able to continue his
recovery at home.

"We’re home, Jay."

[Take good care of Jade, Min. Tell him not to be reckless.]

"You talk too much, Jay." Jade interrupted.

 "I’m taking Jade inside."

[Let me know if you need anything.]

"Okay." Kamin hung up and helped Jade into the house. Over the past few
days, Kamin had been going back and forth between the station and the
hospital. From sleeping in a comfortable bed, he had moved to sleeping on a
hard sofa. Jade watched his partner’s back, full of exhaustion, as he walked
around the house picking things up and preparing them for him. Then he
sighed.

"Kamin."

"Yes? Do you need something?"

"Come sit with me." Kamin sat beside him without hesitation. "You should
rest. I’m fine now. The doctor said the wound has closed."

"I know, but I want to do it."

"You haven’t slept well for several nights. I know."

"I always sleep."

"Stubborn." Jade gently pinched Kamin’s nose affectionately. "Rest."

"Okay, but let’s rest together."

"Then, let’s sleep upstairs. We’ll be more comfortable."

"Can you go up?"

"Yes, I can go up anything now."

"Pervert."

Jade chuckled softly and climbed the stairs with his partner’s help. Before
reaching the bedroom, they stopped in front of the office.

"Jade."
 "Yes?"

"About the last words you mentioned, I’ve already done it."

"What do you mean?"

"If someday it’s me who’s not here with you, everything I want to say is in the
same safe." Jade looked at Kamin with trembling eyes. "I understand that
they’re not last words, but the best preparation so the person we love suffers
as little as possible. So don’t forget to check it."

"But it still hurts, doesn’t it?"

"Yes."

Their laughter turned the sad atmosphere into one filled with understanding
and warmth. They knew that what they would leave behind weren’t last
words, but a preparation so the person left behind could move forward in the
best way possible.

"Give me a kiss." Jade puffed out his cheeks, waiting for his partner’s kiss.
Kamin didn’t hesitate to kiss his cheek affectionately before heading into the
bedroom to rest together.
 TALKING WITH THE AUTHOR

Hello to all readers, I am MTRD.S, but you can call me Níu if you’d like.

If you have this book in your hands, it means you must be a fan of detective
and investigation novels. You’re on the right track! Because this story is a true
and serious investigative novel.

In addition to case investigations carried out by two young police officers, the
way the murders are committed is also very interesting. The game Truth or
Dare is used as the central theme of the story. There are moments of tension,
stress, and also tenderness throughout the novel.

I hope all readers enjoy the story from the first to the last page. If there are
any errors, I apologize in advance. You can leave your comments and
suggestions under #ไขคดีเป็ นเห็นคดีตาย (Solving Cases, Witnessing Deaths).

I hope this pen name stays in your hearts. If you want to read more
interesting investigative novels or learn more about this writer, you can find
me at the following links:

• X (Twitter): @mird_s

• Facebook: MTRD.S Writer