Original subtitles

THIS IS A WORK OF FICTION.

CHILD ACTORS AND ANIMALS WERE FILMED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SAFETY GUIDELINES.

My goodness.

What now?

It looks like it was a hanging.

We're waiting for Forensics to determine the time of death.

And we suspect sexual assault…

The closure of the mine

left people destitute overnight.

Back then, Woongsan

was hell on earth.

The prospect of the city hosting a casino had the people divided.

The two sides clashed almost daily, as if they were sworn enemies.

As soon as dusk fell,

the streets were crawling with drunk ruffians.

In a world void of law and order,

women and children suffered abuse.

We were inundated with reports of crime,

but we sang the same old refrain,

and offered no real progress.

"Please hang in there."

- "We will fix this soon." - Let's go.

That's when

she appeared.

Please maintain order.

A ruthless killer who seemingly mocked the police

by slaughtering the abusers

in the same vein as the torment they inflicted on their victims.

The Mantis.

Sung-gyu, you go that way.

Captain!

Damn it.

Mr. Kim. Kim Tae-seok!

Sung-gyu!

Sung-gyu, call for a doctor.

You can't die.

Kim Tae-seok!

I have to save him.

You can't die.

You can't die.

You can't die.

- Cha Su-yeol. - Please.

You should become a cop.

Since five people have died…

you can save five people.

Please.

Please!

THE ECOSYSTEM OF SHADE

Don't even dream about it.

Everyone in prison has the same dream.

The man who was missing was a father of two kids.

Luckily,

he was able to return home safely.

Thank you

for your help.

I heard a gunshot.

The foremost condition she set for confessing everything

was that you be spared

any consequence of her downfall.

She asked me to change your name

and to personally

watch you grow up.

These are my conditions.

A private space.

Coffee.

Music.

Books.

I compiled this list of essentials after much thought.

The most important thing

is that no one can know

that Jeong-ho is my son.

Please change his name, including his surname.

Were you worried?

Did you miss me?

You agreed to help us

on the condition that I'd be present because you missed me, right?

Is Seo Gu-wan, that district office worker, still alive?

He knows everything.

He knows that you're my son and even knows that you're married.

He probably knows where you live too.

He knows your wife's name, after all.

Lee Jung-yeon.

Does she know about me as well?

Don't tell me you told her.

I was told it was Yirgacheffe.

Your favorite.

I only put money in for one. Wouldn't this be considered theft?

I don't think so.

After all the money it ate from me?

I'm glad it worked out.

You did all that on your own.

Is that a compliment or a dig?

When Seo Gu-wan was transported to the hospital,

I promise you were left out only because things were so hectic.

I hope

you don't misunderstand.

I won't.

But, sir,

what do you think?

Do you believe

Seo Gu-wan is the culprit behind these copycat crimes?

I'm not sure.

What about you?

Take a look at this.

His whole place was a mess,

but this one spot was pristine as if it were some hallowed shrine.

And this "zero" section.

There's just a number with nothing else.

That number can't be meaningless.

This was where all the materials on Jeong I-shin's victims were kept.

That could mean…

There might be another murder committed by Jeong we are unaware of.

A murder before the first.

And you're saying Seo knows about it? How?

Exactly.

And the two murders that precede his crime,

he has no connections to either one.

Sir.

Last time, I made some mistakes because I got too worked up.

Please allow me to meet Seo again.

Sure. It's not like I'm trying to hide him away or anything.

Let's go.

Now?

Yes.

RESTRICTED AREA AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY

Did they say when he'd wake up?

They're not sure.

Considering his head injury and all.

Mr. Seo Gu-wan.

Mr. Seo, can you hear me?

Mr. Seo Gu-wan.

RAYEON CERAMIC STUDIO

Jung-yeon.

You haven't made your escape yet?

Su-yeol, it's been forever.

No, just keep that on.

This is just a quick stop. I need to get going soon.

I thought you caught the culprit.

Well…

We need to keep an eye on him for the time being.

I can't really share the details with you.

Did you eat? Eat something before you go.

I think I'm good on food.

Can you just give me a hug?

No.

You're going to leave as soon as I do.

Hurry up and hug me.

We need to end it.

We need to kill him now.

He knows everything.

Kids.

This is a sacred place of commerce and learning.

What do you think you're doing?

Go upstairs and do all that. Your bedroom is right above us.

No, Ah-ra, that's not it.

I should get going.

I'm off.

- Hang in there. - No need. You don't need to go.

I'll give you two some privacy. See it through.

Finish strong.

No. He just stopped by for a quick visit.

Su-yeol, be sure not to skip any meals.

Okay.

Ah-ra, I'll see you next time. You keep it up too.

- Okay. - Bye.

Bye.

Drive safely.

Being a police officer is no joke.

The work never stops.

But still, after this case closes, he should be able to take some time off.

Should we make some tea?

NAMBU METROPOLITAN POLICE AGENCY

HEINOUS MURDER CUT TONGUE…

And this "zero" section.

There's just a number with nothing else.

That number can't be meaningless.

Hello, sir.

What are you doing? I told you to go home early today.

What about it?

What now?

The "first" murder we do not know about.

Wait. How would Seo Gu-wan know about that?

I'm not sure.

Something feels off.

I think we've missed something.

Are you saying there was a murder I wasn't aware of?

Damn…

I held on to that because the handwriting was different.

HAVE COURAGE

When did this go out?

SECTION CHIEF CHOI JUNG-HO

What are you looking for?

FROM J ANWON, GYEONGGI PROVINCE

This is the letter Jeong I-shin sent, offering me help.

DEAR DETECTIVE CHOI

They're written…

in similar handwriting.

Worlds apart from Seo Gu-wan's handwriting.

But,

this is too short for a forensic handwriting analysis.

Right.

But they are very similar, aren't they?

That's why I wanted to check.

Sir.

If…

Jeong I-shin had indeed written this letter…

If she finally replied to him with words of encouragement,

after never replying to any of his letters before…

That would have served

as great motivation for Seo Gu-wan.

Why would she?

What did she stand to gain…

from Seo Gu-wan killing somebody?

I'm envious.

You get to just show up unannounced, whenever you wish.

While I'm required to welcome you, regardless of my discomfort.

They're warm.

Even after they killed five…

Or is it six?

What's wrong with you?

My thoughts exactly.

What is wrong with you?

Why did you manipulate Seo Gu-wan?

Were you bored?

Was prison life too monotonous?

There's another beyond…

the original five, isn't there?

I already told him everything.

Did Seo Gu-wan know about it?

Jeong I-shin.

Answer me.

Before you cut Cho Geon-ung's tongue out

and abandoned his corpse by the stream,

you killed someone else, didn't you?

You should ask Detective Choi Jung-ho such questions.

I already finished confessing a long time ago.

Jeong I-shin!

Chief Choi thought

you might've requested this arrangement so you could see me.

He thought that you must have missed me

after not seeing me for 23 years.

Sentimental old-timer.

Your life was on a strict schedule in prison,

but that's not the case out here.

You are here to cooperate in a copycat murder case.

I have the right and obligation to interview and interrogate you,

on any day and at any time of day I deem necessary.

If it causes you such discomfort…

please speak up.

I will have you returned.

At the end of the day, Seo Gu-wan is

the only one insane enough to want to see you.

I'm done for today.

Someone else died.

What is going on? Is this related to the other murders?

He's here.

Hello.

Watch where you step in the pond,

and make sure not to displace any evidence.

Heung-su, you measure

and photograph each mirror from the body's position.

The victim is Yoo Si-hyeon, 42.

A professor at Hyoryeong College of Music. No criminal record.

All of his family lives in Vancouver.

He lived alone in this house.

And…

an injection mark was discovered on his neck.

So many damn mirrors. It's like 4DX in here.

It must be a message for us.

"I'm out here alive and well."

"Stop going after the wrong guy and making a fool of yourself."

Kim Hyeon-u.

Kang Su-cheol.

And Yoo Si-hyeon.

A severed tongue,

a decapitation,

and now, a death by drowning.

We weren't able to save anyone.

We couldn't stop any of it.

At this time,

the victim has been identified as a college professor.

The police have been denying

the possible connection to the Nodu Stream and Warehouse Murders,

but the suspicions are impossible to dismiss.

This has been OTC Reporter…

Sir, can you give us a statement?

You're the squad leader, right?

Is this murder case connected

to the Nodu Stream Murder?

Sir.

Sir.

Sir.

Is this murder case connected

to the Nodu Stream Murder?

Sir.

Sir.

SU-YEOL

Su-yeol.

I just saw you on the news.

Tell me you didn't see your mom again.

Answer me.

Mr. Jeong, this is Jung-yeon.

Su-yeol's taking a shower right now.

Gosh. Hey, Jung-yeon.

I see.

I was watching the news and got worried.

It's nothing serious.

Sorry.

I'll call him back later.

Okay.

That smells delicious.

I told you to dry yourself completely before coming out.

It's fine, I'll be dry in no time.

You also have that wound on your hand.

Dry it well before applying ointment or it might get infected.

Let's do it after dinner.

It's been ages since I had dinner at home.

Afterward,

please apply some ointment

on my wound, Dear Wife.

Dear Husband, why do you always come home with a new wound?

It makes your dear wife worry.

Technically, I don't get hurt every day.

I'm known for my superb physique and catlike agility on my team.

Can't you tell?

And this is nothing serious.

Just a scratch.

Fine.

I told you I'm really fine…

Here we go.

I swear I'm fine.

Okay.

I added peas to the rice.

I love them. I love them so much.

Done.

I'll apply some more after you shower tomorrow morning.

Jung-yeon.

I saw the news.

You did?

Forensics wasn't even done with their investigation,

but the reporters swarmed in. I had no choice but to--

You always tell me

that it's okay. That it's no big deal.

But I'm totally not okay with finding out you're having a hard time

or that you're angry about something through the news.

If you're having a hard time, just say so.

Just tell me when you're upset about being stuck in a case.

Loop me in.

Jung-yeon.

It feels like you're secretly

going out of your way to hide it from me.

I'm really sorry.

I just…

didn't want you to worry.

Am I hard to talk to?

Do you find me so untrustworthy,

you feel the need to go out of your way to hide your feelings and always have

a smile on your face in my presence?

Not at all.

I swear it's nothing like that.

I'm sorry. I won't ever do that again.

Why would I not trust you?

You're the one person I trust in this world.

Jung-yeon. Come on.

Look at me. Come on.

No, just look at me.

Look at me.

Look at me.

Okay. Come here.

I told you to dry your hair properly. You're going to stink at this rate.

What are you going to do

when they start teasing you as Captain Stink?

I'd like that.

I'm okay with Captain Stink.

MANTIS COPYCAT CRIME NODU STREAM

SIHONG-DONG POND

VICTIM YOO SI-HYEON

What's that flashing light?

A self-defense flashlight.

Given the numerous types and varied distribution routes,

it's untraceable.

If he was trying to overpower someone,

a taser gun or stun gun would've been more foolproof.

He was confident he could overpower the victim.

He distracted him with the light,

before knocking him out.

Any unusual findings?

The victim's phone is missing.

That's a recurring pattern across all the cases.

He must have his reasons.

Maybe something on them could be used to identify him.

It's Yoo Si-hyeon.

His phone is on.

First snow isn't always just romantic.

Looks like the signal's coming from there.

This is just too easy.

I'm not alone in thinking that, right?

He could've slipped up.

Let's start investigating.

Hyuk, you and I will go to the left of this house.

You two can go to the right.

Let's go.

Hey, Hyuk.

He's never left even a strand of hair at the scene.

How is this not weird?

I dreamed of my late grandma last night.

So?

Last time she appeared, I got stabbed, remember?

Right.

I have a bad feeling about this.

We need to do something.

Give me a receipt, one for over 100,000 won.

Hold on.

Here.

Begone. Away with you.

Hey! Hurry up!

Su-yeol.

Tell me you didn't see your mom again.

YEONPO BRIDGE CAR ACCIDENT

SAFETY INITIATIVES IMPLEMENTED AFTER YEONPO BRIDGE CAR ACCIDENT

Boo!

You scared the crap out of me!

Sorry.

But why are you so…

Anyone home?

Hello?

My son.

There we go.

Guess what this is.

Jeong-ho, you know how you like to draw?

So I made this for you.

Ta-da.

There you go, Jeong-ho.

Draw me an amazing portrait.

- Okay. - Excellent.

How should I pose?

I'm just going to draw what I see.

Jeong-ho, why are you so good at throwing?

With a mighty spin…

You're so strong.

Okay, I'm going to throw this really high in the air. Try catching it.

Heave-ho!

Oh, no. It fell into the well.

Captain.

Hey, Detective Kim. Did you find anything?

He said she passed away in this accident.

But not one article mentions a woman dying.

Then, are you saying his mother is still alive?

Yes. Mr. Jeong's call confirmed it.

But newspapers can be wrong.

You should just ask him directly if you have questions.

But he has never once brought up his family first.

Even when I ask, he just glosses over it with a joke.

Then, maybe you should just let it go.

You guys are so good already.

It'd be a different story if he brought it up.

Lee Jung-yeon.

What's with that solemn face?

Look at that sulk. Stand up.

Get up. Just forget it.

It's over. Move on.

Just help me with my brushwork.

I heard his mother was buried

in the town where Su-yeol lived as a child.

Should we go there?

Let's just go before you stew over it.

That would be better, right?

- That piece of… - What is it?

He's definitely watching us from somewhere.

Really? How do you know?

He's mocking us.

He's probably getting off on watching us bust our asses.

That's his goal here.

Hey! You enjoying yourself?

Having fun?

You rotten bastard!

What's going on?

It's nothing.

What time is it? Aren't you getting hungry?

Let's call it a day here.

Let's take another spin.

It's getting late.

You're still unsatisfied, sir.

I guess you could say that.

We should take another spin if you feel something's off.

You remember how he found Kim Tae-seok last time?

One more spin.

If we don't find anything, then we move on.

Sir.

This is probably nothing,

but inside that kitchen of the house next door…

What about it?

We're not in the yard.

Isn't it weird that this earthenware jar is just sitting in this room?

With a random red ball inside, no less.

I told you it's probably nothing.

By chance,

has anyone seen anything like a well around?

A well?

This house looks like

it was built a long time ago.

This town must predate the water supply system,

and they're bound to have wells.

But I haven't seen any around.

They probably got rid of it when the water supply came in.

They would've sealed it, just in case.

They wouldn't just get rid of it.

Have you seen one?

Maybe that was it?

I did see something as we pulled in.

It's over there.

Help me lift it up.

One, two, three.

WELCOME! YOU FINALLY FOUND IT

NATIONAL FORENSIC SERVICE

It seems a different weapon was used here than in the stab wound

in his back.

Maybe a razor blade?

- Has everyone gathered? - Yes.

His name is Jeong Won-sik.

He went missing suddenly three months ago.

He was a developer at Digi Solution, an IT company.

Back in the early 2000s, when the agency

was digitizing criminal records,

his company was one of the participants.

Then, I assume his company had access to Jeong I-shin's records as well?

Yes, it seems the culprit used this man, Jeong Won-sik,

to get data on Jeong I-shin that the police were only privy to.

- Hello. - Hey. You're fine.

So, Jeong I-shin's copycat killer?

Ma'am, it has been a while.

It has been a while.

Hey, honey.

It's been a while since I've seen you, too, Su-yeol.

You're all working so hard here.

Maybe come home once in a while.

Ma'am, maybe you can save your marital spat for later?

What did you find?

The official cause of death is repeated stab wounds.

Based on the state of the corpse,

the time of death was no less than three months ago.

Three months…

If it was three months ago,

it happened before the Nodu Stream Murder.

But here's the really strange part.

From the restraint marks, it looks like

the victim had already been subdued.

But strangely enough,

the stab wound on his back seems like it was inflicted impulsively.

I don't believe it was a dagger…

More like fabric shears.

But the wounds on his chest and neck

look like they were almost mischievously drawn on,

as if the assailant was toying around with him as he bled to death.

It's odd, isn't it?

Jeong I-shin's copycat killer?

There's no overlap at all to suggest this is a copycat killer.

Kim Hyeon-u with his severed tongue,

Kang Su-cheol in the warehouse,

and Yoo Si-hyeon, who drowned to death.

They're all undeniably copycat crimes imitating Jeong I-shin.

However, Jeong Won-sik is not.

He's totally different.

But what if

this was his first murder?

Could he have impulsively stabbed

the victim from behind first, before embracing Jeong's methods

and emulating her style?

That would mean he got a taste for blood with this,

and followed in Jeong I-shin's footsteps afterward.

But none of Jeong I-shin's murders

ever involved a body in a well.

Sir.

We found this in Seo Gu-wan's place.

You'll see that the "zero" section is empty.

Seo Gu-wan gathered all these materials on Jeong I-shin

to put on display in this sort of shrine.

A SECOND MURDER… ANOTHER MAN MURDERED IN WOONGSAN

FOURTH IN SERIAL KILLING FIFTH KILLING…

YEONPO BRIDGE

Do you just love choosing this exact hour to drop by?

Can we have some privacy?

Was it Dad?

Was it?

Yeah.

I did it.

It was the best thing I have ever done in my life.

I still believe that.

How could you do that to your own husband?

He was my dad!

But you managed to make it out alive as a result.

That was what was most important to me.

It's fine.

Stop speaking nonsense.

You killed my dad so I could live?

It was for my sake?

How could you be so shameless?

How could you make such a despicable excuse now?

It's not an excuse.

You probably don't remember it,

but that man was always drunk.

He was drunk that day too.

You're back.

Yeah. Where's Jeong-ho?

He's sleeping. It's late.

That damn punk should be out here to welcome his father home.

Just let him be. He fell asleep late.

Fine.

What's wrong?

Does the house smell or something?

Come up here.

Stop it.

Sit here now!

Okay.

I heard you. There's no need to scream. You're going to wake him up.

No. Forget it. Get up.

Stand up.

You know, right?

You know how much I cherish you, don't you?

I know.

Thank you.

But it's really late. You should go to bed.

I'll clean up here and be there in no time.

This is so nice.

Gosh.

Was it one of those damn miners?

How could you say such a thing?

I think it rubbed off on me when I was cleaning the kitchen earlier.

Those bastards covered in soot cross that bridge with sinister thoughts.

Their eyes grow wide, and they go into a frenzy at the sight of town women.

Did you think I didn't know?

Strip.

Here?

Nobody comes to our house.

You're mistaken.

Strip if you have nothing to hide.

If I just find one soot smudge on your body…

Hurry up!

Before I rip it all off!

Okay. Let's go to our room.

No. Here.

Let's go to our room. I can strip for you there.

Why are you so desperate to go inside?

Goddamnit.

What the hell did you do out here exactly?

What are you hiding?

You nasty…

There's nothing here. I'm not hiding anything.

Stop it.

Stop it!

Jeong-ho, go back inside. Dad and I are having a conversation.

Stop bothering Mom!

That punk.

Are you sure he's even mine? Are you?

What are you… Honey!

- Come here, you punk. - Honey, please stop!

- Move it. - Honey.

I'll teach you a damn lesson.

Honey, please don't.

No!

Why you…

Stop it!

Come out. Come on, you damn punk!

- How dare you… - I'm sorry, Dad!

- Damn punk. Are you Kim Jeong-ho? - Mom! Dad!

Are you sure you're a Kim? Are you sure you're my son?

Damn punk. You just wag that damn tongue.

Get down there!

You little shit!

You dare talk back to your father? Damn punk.

Take that!

You little shit!

Stop it!

Jeong-ho.

Thankfully, you weren't hurt badly.

You fainted from the shock.

You're lying.

It's hazy,

but I remember everything. My dad…

He made me a desk.

And he played ball with me.

Sure.

He definitely had his moments.

Once in a blue moon, when he wasn't drunk.

Why in the world

did you hide this when you confessed to your crimes?

How can you even call yourself human?

You use your child as an excuse for the crimes you committed.

Why did you keep this hidden until now?

Why the hell did you do that for?

Well, the thing is, nobody asked about it.

What?

You couldn't remember what happened that day.

So, I said he walked out on us for another woman

and everyone just sort of didn't question it…

Is this really on me?

I used to watch cats

hunt birds when I was little.

The birds couldn't fly, but they didn't die, either.

The birds weren't food to them.

When the bird with the broken wing or some other injury

would try to move again, the hunt resumed.

But it will die in the end,

so you have to save it just before it does.

If a little kid is trying to save a bird,

they have to be careful.

If you clutch it too tightly,

it'll die.

A slight squeeze on the breastbone

will make it snap like that.

They're so fragile.

But you know, humans are not much different.

My husband

is dead.

It's really easy

to kill another person.

But the issue lies in

the disposal of the body and the cleanup after it.

That…

is just hard labor.

It's so hard.

That's when I first realized it.

Killing someone isn't hard.

The hard parts are tying up loose ends and cleaning up.

However, that day,

luck was really on my side.

It starts raining right after I kill him?

That's how I found peace.

Jeong-ho and I

found happiness together.

You were at peace?

After that,

you managed to kill

five more people.

They deserved to die? No.

You killed them simply because you wanted to kill.

After your first kill,

after you killed my dad,

you must have developed

a lust for blood. Am I wrong?

I can't really deny that.

You…

are a butcher who relishes the scent of blood.

The Mantis.

Nothing but a monster.

Yeah.

That day,

I shouldn't have done that.

I lucked out. It rained.

There happened to be a well nearby.

I wasn't able to see it through because I was so worried about you.

I should've picked off each of his appendages one by one.

- That's enough. - His head would've been last.

Be quiet.

He needs to be able to watch his body be picked apart.

I was sloppy because it was my first time.

So sloppy, I didn't even want to tell the cops about it.

Please just stop.

Just be quiet. That's enough.

How?

How can you be so cruel?

Yes, I killed your dad.

I cut off a rotten bastard's tongue,

snapped the neck of another,

and pureed the joints of yet another to make a fine mush.

I did that.

Do you hate me?

Do you find me despicable?

Do you want to kill me?

Your life would be so much easier if I just disappeared.

Kill me.

You should just kill me.

You find me revolting, don't you?

How nice would it be if I just disappeared?

Go on. Kill me.

Just kill me here and now.

My dear son, having your mother stay alive is such a crushing burden on you.

Stop it.

By chance, do you remember any of them?

Dad, what are you doing?

Are you Jeong I-shin's daughter-in-law?

Do you know Jeong I-shin?

And even at the hospital.

What is he? The god of investigations?

He does get it right every time.

Jeong-ho.

Park Min-jae's car is in front of my place right now.

She's going to kill.

Why is Jeong I-shin trying to kill you?

This bastard had been spying on Jung-yeon and me this whole time.

You killed them.

You killed them all, didn't you?

Subtitle translation by: Justin S. Kim