Shin Jia/Counter Case

## Making Friends Promotion

> *It was restructured based on the report from the police officer who was in charge of the case.*
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Shin Jia bumps into Oh Saerom watching an episode of *Masked Counter*. Saerom explains to her about how Mask Counters #1 and #2 became friends and highlights that "a friend in need is a friend indeed." This quote clicks with Jia, whose grandfather taught her that she should help people in trouble, and so she soon decides to go outside to help strangers in hopes of befriending them. Jia clones herself with Augmented Reality and sends them to help random people.

The first clone approaches Lumi, who wants to be number one on the *Best Hot TV Show Right Now!*, but ends up irritating her by usurping her appearance on the program. The second clone approaches Lee Minseo, who needs a partner to play *Street Counter 2* with, but Minseo quickly grows weary of her due to the latter being too difficult to compete against. The third clone approaches Maya Hunt, who wants to create large explosives out of bordeom, and impresses her with the new rockets produced by Alphatrix. However, Lee Dafoe and Nina Anderson soon arrive and angrily berate Jia for letting Maya recklessly use explosives and leave with Maya. Jia sadly realizes she can't make friends just by doing everything they ask.

Later that night, Kang Soyoung gets reports of Jia's clones suddenly disappearing and interrogates Jia about it. Jia explains about her Augmented Reality skill and apologizes to the officer for the confusion, and Soyoung lets her off the hook. Jia then spots the Machine G.A.P. trying to win a prize at a claw machine and helps him attain it. The Machine G.A.P. thanks her and says he'll repay her some other time. Jia asks him if she is her friend now for helping him out, but the Machine G.A.P. assures her that they've been friends from the day they meet.

## [Appendix] Observation Material

> *This report was written based on CCTV footage from Alphatrix Innovation, as well as on the scene reporting.*
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Gabriel Jun and Oh Saerom are sparring in the Alphatrix Innovation office and end up wrecking the entire space. As this has happened on numerous occasions, Lee Jin admonishes the two of them when Shin Jia enters and asks Jin not to be so harsh on the kids. Jin counters her by revealing that Alphatrix Innovation, which receives little money from their parent group, is on the verge of bankruptcy because Gabriel and Saerom keep fighting indoors and repeatedly destroying their office (additionally, Kim Chowon had destroyed the facilities of her school in order to stop an intruder, leading to even more expenses on Alphatix Innovation's end). Jia offers Jin her personal credit card so the repair bill can be paid, but Jin refuses as using private funds for businesses purposes is unethical and would damage their company's reputation. Instead, Jin punishes Gabriel and Saerom by assigning them on a special dispatch mission over the weekend. Jia says she wants to help, but Jin demands she stay out of it by reminding her that her grandfather also said that she "shouldn't cause trouble to others."

Jia is saddened that she can't intervene in the special mission and wishes she could ask her grandfather on what she should do. Kim Chowon gives her advice by suggesting she teach Gabriel and Saerom on how to do their jobs without directly getting involved. Jia thanks Chowon and leaves. She sees Gabriel at a worksite transporting materials and advises him on how to carry them more easily; then she goes off to see Saerom at a Masked Counter booth and shows how she can be more expressive in her acting.

After Gabriel and Saerom finish their tasks, Jia enters the rebuilt office and notes how everyone is in a good mood.

## For a better world

> *You can view the deceased Alphatrix CEO's personal medical records and CCTVs.*
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Jia reminisces about her grandfather's last days before his death.

At a hospital, Mr. Shin, the President of Alphatrix Group, was being pestered by his children and employees while he was bedridden and dying. One of his workers, Jaehyuk, criticized him for being obsessed with money and warned the Shin family will fight to the death over the money he'll leave behind. When Jaehyuk demanded Mr. Shin at least appoint an heir, Mr. Shin merely replied he has thoughts "for a better world" and yelled at everyone to leave his ward.

When Jia entered the room, Mr. Shin told her that, for a "better world" to exist, she has to be nice to her family unlike himself. He revealed that he lost his own parents at a very young age and never learned how to be part of the family as a result; this was why he failed as President of Alphatrix since the company is meant to function like a family. Mr. Shin said he doesn't want anyone to experience the kind of failure he did and made Jia promise to make a better world by using her power for people.

In the present, Saerom and Gabriel are fighting over a strawberry tart while Jia tries to get them to stop. Jia says they need to be nice to each other since they're like a family, but both Gabriel and Saerom don't want to accept each other as such. In order to make them behave, Jia had Chowon buy a large strawberry cake form Cafe Strega for the entire group to enjoy, but Gabriel and Saerom continue to argue much to her disappointment.

## Compensation

> *The highest-ranking officer's personal record.*
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After attending a TASKFORCE conference held by the Administration together, the Machine G.A.P. meets up with Shin Jia and invites her to dinner as payment for helping him the claw machine prize. They first go to a fast-food joint because Jia wants to follow her grandfather's teachings by trying out different foods, but the Machine G.A.P. feels it isn't enough to repay his debt to her. Next, Jia suggests they go see a movie, again basing her decision on her grandfather's advice.

Still feeling indebted, the Machine G.A.P. asks Jia if there's anything else she wants to do but stops her when she tries to make another decision based on her grandfather's teachings. He tells Jia that she needs to form her own opinions and personally make her own decisions. Jia contemplates and simply says she wants to be together with the Machine G.A.P. but is interrupted by Lee Sooyeon, who had been looking for the Machine G.A.P. after the conference ended. Jia runs off as the G.A.P and Sooyeon bicker.

Later, a confused Jia dwells on her personal feelings and realizes she doesn't know what she wants, having strictly followed her grandfather's principles all her life.