Paranormal Activity Agency

And all that was going to stop them all was me, the injured Matt and a frail old lady who led us through the dark alleyways to the Shizuo restaurant. Once the property of Shizuo House, it had now become Park's favourite place to eat and meet his partners. According to Sora, he always sat at the same table and thoughtfully enjoyed the beautiful view of the illuminated streets. Apparently, he rarely occupied a different seat and if anyone dared to sit on his table, that person was immediately thrown out of the yakuza and their little finger cut off.

The yakuza's silver and still dirty pistol was safely and firmly in my hands, while Matt followed me with an old submachine gun. Sora led us to the back door of the restaurant building, its purpose serving as a perfect escape. But she stopped one corner before and peered carefully round it. Meanwhile, chaos broke out on the main street with explosions and gunfire. Sora's community had begun their diversionary manoeuvre and Park's people stepped out to meet them.

>> Two guards are at the door. Probably twice as many behind it. << Sora counted up quietly and hid behind the wall again.

>> So all we can do is wait for him. << Matt interjected hastily.

>> Park isn't that cowardly. He'll stay upstairs and wait for those who make it to him. << the old lady disagreed.

I raised an eyebrow >> Then what's the plan? <<

Instead of saying anything, she just nodded round the corner. The shots were still ringing out on the main street, but the guards remained outside the back door. They and their boss knew exactly what was going on and I could safely bet that there were more yakuza behind the door. If the two of us were really going to storm the building, we'd better be quick. Assuming I was able to pull the trigger.

Annoyed, Matt rolled his eyes >> Shit, it's no use. << and jumped out from around the corner, pointing the submachine gun at the guards. Without hesitation, he pulled the trigger and fired ten shots at the two guards. Only a short time later, the bodies fell to the cold floor and the iron of their weapons rang out as they hit the ground.

Slightly panicked, I also made my way to him and held out for the door in front of us in case the rest of the team showed themselves. But nothing moved. Just the noise on the other side. So I exchanged a glance with Matt and my mind raced. I understood why I was running after him without thinking, but not why he had just jumped round the corner. Anger and worry took over my head and I could only act on reflex. Without paying attention to my angry look, Matt was already running towards the back exit. Slowly and as silently as I could, I followed him and we approached the door to our freedom. Just a few metres away, it suddenly opened a large gap and a hand threw a grenade at us. Without giving it much thought, I quickly fired a bullet at the grenade. The impact immediately threw it back into the stairwell as the door was already closed again. Moments later, the yakuza cried out and a loud bang slammed the door open again with a shock wave.

Surprised, I took half a step back and had to catch myself from the noise. When the smoke cleared, we saw the consequences of this action. A black stain on the floor and four dead yakuza, their blood smearing the stairs. The lamps flashed from time to time and one even showed sparks sometimes.

Shocked, I looked at the corpses and wondered what I had actually done. It was a terrible way to die and all it took was one shot. One shot had killed four people. That had been my life and I had only just realised the reality of what I had done. There could have been a better answer.

Matt's hand came to rest on my shoulder and he looked at me with concern >> Are you alright? << Dazed, I looked into his eyes and just nodded.

>> Good reaction just now. Let's keep going. << he said encouragingly and ran ahead.

We climbed the stairs to the restaurant, where another ten or so of Park's guards were already watching to make sure no unwanted guests got in. But before we opened the door and ran in, Matt held his arm out to me >> I'll take care of his people. You take care of Park. << he whispered to me.

I looked at him and his wounds in horror, thinking that he had completely lost his mind >> This is suicide. You all alone and still hurt, that's... <<

He put his hand on my shoulder and looked at me reassuringly >> Have you already forgotten what happened in Bratislava? <<

>> That's not a good balance to get even. Have you lost your marbles? << I protested.

>> Believe me. I'm better off on my own. I've noticed how you've been having trouble killing people lately. Get Park and I'll get rid of his people. <<

I looked at him in amazement and horror >> Where did... <<

>> Even a blind man would have seen that. <<

Without saying anything else, he rammed the door open and ran towards the yakuza with another magazine in his hand. Before they could react, he was already raining bullets down on them. Matt had their full attention. Even though I wasn't too keen on the idea and wanted to stand by him, I knew he was right. I would only have been a hindrance to him and would have been much better utilised looking after Park instead.

While all hell broke loose in the lobby of the restaurant and more and more yakuza rushed to Matt, I ran out of the stairwell, through the bamboo-adorned corridor, which was lit up with red LED strips on the walls. Before we'd set off the first time, we'd even looked at a floor plan of the building, so I knew there was a narrow passageway for the kitchen staff to get to the kitchen and therefore to the tables. But two more of Park's people also used this route at the same moment to surprise Matt from behind. If I hadn't been there, they would definitely have caught him. And I couldn't let that happen. I couldn't let it happen. He had already been in mortal danger once because of me, once more and that would have been the last time. All because of me. So, without batting an eyelid, I shot them in the kneecaps and in their hands. They fell to the ground screaming and tried to pull themselves together, but they were no longer able to fight. That shouldn't have been enough for me, but I had no time to spare for these two. Every metre I got closer to Park, the air around me became quieter and quieter until it wasn't moving at all. I got colder and colder and got unpleasant goose bumps until I started to shiver. Park was no longer far away from me and I was sure he knew that. My gut feeling told me that he knew exactly what was happening. When I entered the hall, the sight of it confirmed my suspicions. The tables were all unoccupied and the only one there was the tall Choi Park. Wearing a black button shirt with a red scorpion stinger and cobra head on the back, he stood in front of one of the picture windows and watched the hell that was going on in the street. His black hair slicked back again, his scar on his face very visible and supporting the cold stare he had as he looked down. His eyes didn't even move when I approached him. He was completely uninterested in the fact that I had a weapon with me and that I was alone with him in the room.

He only let out a disappointed exhale when I was only three metres away from him and pointed the barrel of the gun at his face. My fingers were trembling, if only slightly, and my body felt freezing cold. I stopped immediately, not wanting to provoke any stupid actions.

With his eyes still downcast, he finally spoke in a cold but slightly poetic tone >> This is all she has left. I realised that some would survive. I also prepared for this desperate attack, but I never thought she would be this desperate. <<

>> You left your own mother to die. << I replied to him.

He turned his cold and disappointed gaze to me, still holding his hands behind his back >> And you didn't protect your partner when he needed you. Even now, you let him do the dirty work. <<

My breathing became unsteady >> Is this really a good time to provoke someone with a gun in front of you? <<

He stifled a laugh and smirked a little >> I'm pretty sure we wouldn't be talking if you even dared to kill those two in the kitchen. Did you at least let your mate clear the floor above us before you guys ran in here? <<

I lowered my gun and looked at him, slightly panicked. Acid shot up my stomach and the blood in my body stopped. Sweat formed in my palms and my arms tingled painfully. Then the shooting in the lobby stopped and a tense dead silence set in before footsteps approached the hall. That was it for me. All I could think about was that I'd really lost Matt. At least Park's people would have killed me too, so I didn't have to live with that guilt.

Two yakuza carried Matt's body into the hall. I felt sick at the sight of his feet dragging across the wooden floor and suddenly I couldn't hear the noise from outside. But when they threw him down at Park's feet, Matt let out a pained groan and hunched over, causing me to start breathing again.

My eyes became moist and my breathing didn't seem to calm down. Then Park released his hands and squatted down over Matt. He looked at him with a scrutinising gaze >> Was it worth it to you? Risking your life for her like that? <<

Breathing shallowly, Matt answered him very quietly >> You... don't know her. <<

This psychopath was just torturing me before he wanted to finish. Of all the criminals I had taken out in my life, he was the most merciless. Only a few more moments before he was done with his little game. I couldn't let him intimidate me and kill Matt.

With trembling hands, I held the barrel of the dirty silver gun pointed at him, but before I could pull the trigger, someone hit me in the head with another weapon and I fell to the floor.

The residents were looking for a safe place or helping those who were trapped under fallen beams or debris. The entire block where Madam Choi had built a community to defy her son looked like the image of an apocalypse. Everything she had built was burning down before her eyes. Everyone she trusted was busy saving their own lives, if that was possible.

By late noon, everything was burning down and people were losing everything. Park had Daegu's authorities in the palm of his hand and forbid them to do anything. No firefighters or carers came to the scene to help out. The last resort against the boss of the most powerful clan in Korea hadn't stood a chance and it was all because he was looking for me and Matt.

The survivors sought shelter and accommodation in a large hall in a neighbouring block provided by helpful people. They were provided with blankets and food there, but there wasn't much in the way of medical care. First aid was provided by volunteers, but those who were involved in caring for them risked their lives if they dared to help these people. There was no police help there either, otherwise heads would have rolled or worse.

I sat on a bed with a thin blanket over me and took a closer look at the yakuza's pistol. The silver iron, with engraved rose patterns and black wood on the handle, was stained with dried sewage, which hid the gun's shine. The yakuza's shine could so easily be overshadowed by rubbish and it stood no chance against it. Had the bearer of the weapon not allowed it to fall, it would have continued to gleam and shine. But it had been tarnished by something so humiliating that its beauty could no longer be appreciated. Park had built the most powerful clan in Korea and was willing to kill his own mother to maintain that status. Behind his glorious stature, which was admired with fear and respect, lay a fragile core. He may have crushed the only other entity that stood in his way, but his power could not last forever. If such a beautiful weapon could be so tarnished, then so could he and those traitors in our agency. He had chosen the wrong partners. Whoever it was he was working for, we would have found them after we got Park out of the way. For our team. For poor Sora and her community. And for Megan.

With two bowls in his hands, Matt returned to me and sat next to me on the bed before handing me one of them. Silent and melancholy, he just sighed and looked down at the warm tear. I looked over at him and recognised his defeated look. His hands gripped the bowl tightly until his fingers turned white. He was shaking a little and his fingers were trembling too. His breathing also seemed uncontrolled, although barely noticeable.

I quietly placed my bowl on the floor and put my blanket over him. He looked at me a little surprised, which I answered with a warm smile >> Not that you'll catch a cold. <<

His pupils widened and he looked uncertainly back down into his bowl. The trembling in his fingers did not improve, however, and his breathing seemed even more unsteady. Gradually, his limbs moved closer to his body and he stiffened.

I supported myself with my arms on my knees >> Is everything ok? <<

His eyes closed for a moment and he took a breath, which relaxed his body, but his voice sounded tense >> I don't think we're going to get out of here alive. <<

I scowled at him >> You never used to worry about this. <<

>> Because it was never that serious. <<

Carefully, I put my hand on his shoulder >> I know it looks hopeless, but we have no choice but to get through this together. <<

Frustrated, he put his face in his hand and covered his eyes. Drawing in a breath, he pulled it out again and stared aimlessly ahead. There was a younger couple in his field of vision, but they had their backs to us, so they didn't notice him.

>> If you think I'm suddenly so attached to my life, you're wrong. << he said suddenly.

>> Then what? <<

He took another breath and continued to avoid eye contact with me >> That I will die knowing that I didn't take the opportunities in life that were open to me. <<

I moved closer to him >> What opportunities? << I asked gently.

He finally looked at me and thought about what to say next. His hands were trying to suppress the trembling and not drop the bowl. Suddenly he froze and wasn't sure what he wanted to do. Looking at each other, I suddenly felt warmer too. I realised what the feelings I had for him meant, but I wasn't sure if he would reciprocate. After all, we only had a casual relationship and I didn't want to spoil anything for either of us because I was suddenly worried about him. Maybe he would have rejected me too and actually meant it all because of someone completely different. >> It's just... << he started to stammer, but then Sora appeared out of nowhere.

>> You two. <<

We looked up at her uncertainly. For a brief moment, I feared that she was going to blame us for her son's destruction of her community. But her look was more demanding than angry.

>> We need your help. <<

I looked at her in amazement >> Our help? What for? <<

>> You're supposed to take out Park for us. <<

Matt and I exchanged a surprised look.

>> Won't he be expecting it? << I then asked.

>> I'll ask the people of our community to distract him and his people. Maybe we can find some weapons for you, but that's all we can do. Park still has to pay for his actions today. <<

Matt rose from the bed and looked Sora straight in the eye >> Madam, are you sure this is a good idea? <<

>> Of course not. But Park hasn't had any better ones so far. Besides, you two would have buried him long ago if he hadn't sabotaged your weapon. << she said to me at the end.

I tilted my head a little >> How do you know what happened? <<

>> Everyone knows what happened. Especially with my mole, Dal in his clan. <<

Matt screwed up his face >> So, about Dal... <<

>> When? << I jumped up, unintentionally interrupting Matt.

I stopped for a moment and looked back at her, whereupon she answered her question herself >> Into the sewers. They'll be able to hide better there, so they'll be the first to shoot on sight. <<

We both looked at her wordlessly, to which she replied with a blank stare.

Matt then asked her with a sarcastic smile >> Are you going to run ahead then? <<

I looked at him, stunned, and he saw that >> I'm only joking. Apart from that, you could have told us earlier. <<

The lady gave him an unfriendly look and was about to throw something at him, but I suddenly heard a splash at the end of the corridor. I turned round and watched the crooked curve of the corridor, but nothing was moving except a few shadows and light reflections from the water. This also meant that light had to be coming from somewhere.

I cautiously moved forwards and Matt finally followed me instead of arguing with an old woman. He kept his revolver steady and pointed downwards as he put one foot in front of the other, just like me. We eventually had to stop when there was a grating on the right that closed off an opening between the corridor and the sewer. However, we could still see what was moving on the other side. Our shadows alone would have been enough to announce our presence.

I looked back at Madam Choi, who was looking at me helplessly and holding her frag grenade. An idea came to me that I should perhaps have thought about longer, but I didn't want to waste any time. So I held out my hand for the grenade and asked for it with a glance. Astonished, but without hesitation, she handed me the explosive device.

Matt looked after me questioningly as I just kept walking and announced our presence. We reached the end of the corridor, which bent to the right and led to the sewers, and stopped short of it again. I heard no movement beyond, but shouting from the streets and loud chaos that seemed to be caused by more flames. So I peered cautiously round the corner and spotted no one. My guess was that they were hiding outside the entrance to the corridor, waiting for us.

I put the revolver away and grabbed the ring of the grenade. But somehow my hands refused to pull it out. The thought that I was going to kill them with it gave me a bad feeling. The same feeling I'd had during the chase that had almost got Matt killed.

Then, out of nowhere, Matt's hand appeared and he carefully took the grenade from me. His caring look soothed me and I felt more at ease. My only hope was that my cheeks didn't turn red as my face quickly became warm. Matt seemed to notice, but he didn't react. Instead, he focused on the yakuza in our path. He quietly pulled the ring and took the safety off before throwing the grenade into the water in front of the entrance with a second to spare. Shortly afterwards he jumped back again and a panicked scream could be heard from the sewers before the grenade went off. The water splashed up and into the corridor. We couldn't waste any time and ran into the gathering cloud of dust, into the knee-deep sewage. As we entered the sewer, Matt checked the right side and I checked the left. Shortly afterwards, Matt recognised a yakuza on the grate and fired a bullet. I suddenly flinched and wondered why. I'd never had that reaction before.

Matt quickly checked a bit in front of us and checked on me >> Are you alright? << he then asked.

I glanced to the left, although there was no one there, and lowered my revolver. Then I turned to Matt and nodded, embarrassed. But he wanted to get to the bottom of my strange behaviour. >> What's going on? << he asked carefully.

But I didn't want to answer him. What good was a killer who had forgotten how to kill? In a situation like this, where I had initially sworn to take the life of our evildoer. For five years I had no problems with it, but at that moment I put my closest partner in mortal danger because something in my brain stopped me.

>> Whatever it is, get it over with. << Madam Choi hissed as she walked past us.

Matt just rolled his eyes >> Don't listen to her. << he whispered to me and ran ahead. I was impressed by his careful and attentive handling of me. He had always treated me like this, but right there it opened up something inside me. I have never felt safer with anyone in my life than with him. Maybe also because he was my spotter and had to look after me.

I followed him quickly and ran alongside him. Madam Choi was behind us as we approached two tunnels on the sides with some sewage flowing out of them. Of course, the sewers stank like the last place a person would ever want to go, but it hadn't been the first time for us either. Herat didn't leave me with the fondest memories either.

We got closer and closer to the two tunnels and I took the left one, while Matt took the right one. But before I could react, someone surprised me and kicked me in the face when I was in range. I almost fell on my back, but I managed to catch myself by stumbling. Matt, on the other hand, had managed to intercept the yakuza's punch to his right and pull him out of the tunnel. But the gangster knocked the revolver out of his hand and he was forced to finish him off in a fistfight.

I kept my revolver pointed at the man in front of me, but my finger still wouldn't pull the trigger. The man, however, had expected this and walked confidently towards me. I recognised him then. The yakuza with the mohawk. As far as I had understood correctly, his name was Joon.

>> This is going to be fun. << he chuckled maliciously to himself as he raised his fists and walked towards me.

>> Were you just born yesterday? Shoot! << Madam Choi shouted at me. But she was knocked over by Matt, who was thrown aside by his opponent.

I ducked quickly as Joon's fist flew towards my face from the side and I accidentally dropped the revolver. I reflexively threw my own fist into the pit of his stomach from below and he collapsed. I then took a few steps backwards and assumed a defensive stance. Joon looked up angrily and pulled out a kunai blade on a rope, which he swung around his arm and threw towards me shortly afterwards. I managed to dodge to the side at the last moment, but the blade still hit my left shoulder and left a cut. He jerked it back and caught it before turning and throwing it at me again. I ducked and then caught the rope. As I straightened up, I pulled Joon towards me with all my strength. He reacted in time and put his leg forwards so that he didn't fall forwards or stumble.

He smiled confidently at me and held on tightly to his rope. But I pulled the other end with the blade towards me and threw it at him. The blade had flown a good distance before I stopped it and was able to use it against him. Joon's eyes were filled with surprise, but he barely dodged it, glancing after the blade.

I let go and rushed towards him to ram my knee into his chest. He struggled to breathe and collapsed on his back, sinking into the sewage. The water lapped up behind me and Matt was hard at work with the other yakuza. They wrestled around in the water until the man punched him in the stomach and found his weak spot. Matt's body tension was released for a moment, which was enough for his opponent to put him in a headlock.

Madam Choi found the yakuza's pistol in the water but had difficulty standing up, let alone aiming. So she threw the wet gun to me. I caught it and aimed it at Matt's attacker, who hit him in the stomach again. Matt cried out in pain and didn't know how to defend himself. This broke my restraint for a moment and I was able to pull the trigger. The shot echoed through the sewers and the bullet flew straight into the yakuza's forehead. His blood sprayed out of his head, which snapped backwards and his entire body lost all tension, causing him to fall into the water as well.

Matt stumbled a little, but then stopped bent over. I immediately ran over to him and made sure he was still okay. He coughed a little and held his stomach.

>> Thank you. << he coughed out in a weak voice.

>> No problem. <<

I was so worried about him that I didn't notice Joon getting out of the water. But Matt immediately noticed him in the corner of his eye and snatched the gun out of my hand. Just before Joon was back on his feet, Matt had fired three bullets at him.

He stared at us with a shocked look and held his chest where Matt had hit him. Suddenly he coughed up a large amount of blood and fell down again. My heart was racing uncontrollably and sweat was pouring down my forehead >> Thank you. << I stammered to myself, hanging my head.

Lying in bed, I stared at the ceiling above me and let my thoughts run round and round in my head. The question of whether Bricks was actually the mole and had sold us out for Park kept popping up. His reaction when we killed Park's people in Vladivostok and the fact that we got the information about Park's clan from Bricks only spoke in favour of it. No one else knew about our mission in Daegu and when everything went south, he abandoned us. Still, I didn't want to believe that he had sold our lives. Especially not Megan's life.

All for a copy of a programme that prevents Apollon from finding you. Why did Bricks even need something like that? I couldn't figure out his motivation, which threw my suspicions to the wind. As long as I didn't know why he could make such a fuss, I couldn't even be sure that Bricks had negotiated with Park, let alone prove that assumption.

I kept circling these thoughts around, grinding out every conceivable possibility that could give me an answer, but I came to no conclusion. It just didn't make sense why Bricks would betray us. The only thing it did for me was to unknowingly fall asleep. I was getting tired of pondering and puzzling without coming to a conclusion that my eyelids were getting too heavy. Suddenly, I heard footsteps approaching me and two familiar voices talking to each other. A hand placed itself on my shoulder and gently shook me awake.

>> Diana. Diana, wake up. << Matt's voice spoke to me quietly and worriedly.

I opened my eyes and saw his scratched face. He looked a little flustered, but relieved when I gave him a tired look. When he was sure I was awake, he got off my bed again and rolled up the small brown rug in the centre of the room. I propped myself up on my elbows and immediately felt a dull ache in my bones. Despite his injuries, Matt hurried as fast as he could to roll up the rug, which had a trapdoor hidden underneath. A thick thread was attached to the eyelet, connecting the trapdoor to the carpet.

The old lady appeared at the door frame and hissed to us >> Hurry up. << before closing the door and locking it behind her with a key.

Without delay, I understood the situation and jumped off the bed. Matt had already opened the trapdoor and was waiting for me to run ahead. I carefully descended the old, unused stairs into a dark shaft, whereupon Matt followed me shortly afterwards. He closed the door behind him and I heard the carpet roll up again and hit the floor. Matt wanted to follow the dark shaft, but something stopped me and I stood in his way. The air around me suddenly stopped. I got unpleasant goose bumps and started to shake.

>> What's going on? << Matt asked me in a whisper.

I looked past him to the closed trapdoor and whispered back >> It's Park. He's here. <<

>> And you want to stay here? Diana, we're going to die if we stay here any longer. <<

I looked deep into his eyes, but before I could give him my obvious answer, I recognised great worry in his gaze. It would have been foolhardy to try and take Park down when he was there, and probably not alone. Outnumbered and unarmed, attacking from a manhole was not the way I wanted to die.

But suddenly, from upstairs, we heard the door to the room being unlocked and opened before anyone was walking around the room.

>> And you took care of her. << Park said, sighing >> At least I don't have to stress about them dying. <<

>> I told you they weren't here anymore. << the old lady replied.

>> Of course not. But at least I know you took them off Joon's hands. I thought for a moment that he was just trying to talk his way out of his failure. <<

A cold silence followed, as if Park had been looking at someone.

>> I take it you let her escape through your secret shaft? << Park then asked.

>> Are you going to chase after them? <<

Park laughed in amusement >> No. I've already positioned my people at the other end. <<

He stepped to the door and wanted to leave the room, but the old lady stopped him >> Are you really so stupid as to sell these Brits a copy of the net? The programme was developed by your father to preserve the existence of the Yakuza and this is how you want to deal with it? It's less than pathetic how low you've fallen. <<

Park stopped and sighed deeply >> You really can't let it go, can you? <<

>> Of course not. You bring so much shame to your father's house. <<

>> It's my house too, mother! << he cried out. I exchanged a puzzled look with Matt. Mother? Why hadn't she told us that?

>> And if Father hadn't behaved like that... <<

>> Don't you dare call me that or accuse Haan. Especially not after what you did to him. <<

Now Park growled angrily >> It's always the same with you when I come to you. I didn't kill him. <<

>> Then why do you even come here? To keep telling me your lies? <<

>> When I argued with father, you always helped me. I'm trying to do the same to you by giving you your little paradise. But you... <<

>> I don't need your gifts. If you want, you can take it away from me again. I can manage just fine without you. You always refused my help before. <<

There was another silence in the room above us. Only this time, much more unbearable, accompanied by a lurid tension. Then someone else moved out of the room and past Park.

>> You don't want any more of this? Are you sure? << he asked calmly and coldly.

>> This community you've built up to set yourself against me. A fight that's just unnecessary and wastes everyone's time. For a while I thought you had found a hobby and now you're really just going to throw it away like that? <<

>> If I have to leave the country so I don't have to put up with you anymore, then so be it. << his mother replied.

Park hesitated briefly, but continued in a wounded voice >> I'm afraid you won't have a chance for that. <<

>> Then don't be a coward like you have been for the last few years and finally shoot me. <<

>> No. If you believe that I murdered father, then you should share his fate that Taehyung did to him. <<

The door slammed shut and locked. The uncomfortably cold air began to move again as Park moved away and I escaped a stupor I hadn't realised I had. So I snuggled past Matt and climbed back up the old wooden stairs. I opened the trapdoor and re-entered the room. The old lady just looked at me in amazement.

>> What are you still doing here? << she asked me in a weak voice. Suddenly, heavy objects were leant against the windows so that you couldn't leave the house that way. Before I could understand it, the dark streets were lit up by something in the early morning. And a short time later, a flickering light could be seen behind the windows. Black smoke rose into the house through the small gaps in the windows and gathered on the ceiling.

I held the old lady by the shoulders >> Quick. Come with us. <<

>> If we escape through the shaft, we'll come back out with Park's people. They'll kill you or take you prisoner. << she stopped me.

>> Ma'am. << Matt interjected with his head sticking out of the shaft >> If you stay here, you'll die. <<

>> I'm old enough for this. << she replied coldly, looking at the growing flames.

>> But we're not, ma'am. <<

She closed her eyes for a moment and exhaled deeply. Without another word, she walked over to my bed and knelt down. She then reached under the bed and pulled out two old police revolvers.

>> I didn't really want to use these any more. But if I have to, then so be it. <<

Pedestrians and other drivers stopped and approached the overturned car with concern. They looked into the interior and spoke confusedly. My brain was unable to connect one word with another and the sentences sounded meaningless. I could only watch my surroundings defencelessly until my motor skills kicked in again. But Matt was even worse.

I turned my head towards him and saw how he was hanging down without any body tension. His eyes were closed and his face was scratched by the broken glass. Not a muscle was moving and he didn't react to the people outside the car who tried in vain to speak to him. When someone nudged me on the arm, he pulled me out of my delirium without me paying any attention to him. All I could see was Matt and my heart raced at the sight of him not moving.

Before I could realise it, I frantically grabbed my seatbelt and immediately unbuckled myself. I pulled my back up so that I didn't fall on my head. The passers-by moved away from my side to give me room, but I crawled over to Matt, ignoring the broken glass. They tried to persuade me to crawl out, but I didn't listen.

Suddenly shots rang out from further away. The people flinched for a moment, but they didn't run away and stood still. The yakuza had got out and armed themselves with guns. They walked slowly towards us and fired a few shots into the air. The wind blew their black jackets open and revealed the pistols in their black holsters. The man with the mohawk shouted to the passers-by to get away from the car, but none of them moved. Instead, they stared at him in protest, showing no fear of them.

The man pointed his rifle at the crowd and shouted >> Move aside! Last warning! <<

>> You mustn't show your faces here! << someone shouted back at him.

>> Well, tough luck. Those two are coming with us. So move before you arouse Choi's wrath. <<

Without hesitation, they all pulled out pistols themselves and pointed them resolutely at Park's people. The yakuza stopped and their leader looked at the passers-by in surprise. As much as I wanted to watch the whole thing, I had to get Matt out of his seat. I checked his pulse first and was relieved. His heart was still beating and he was only unconscious.

>> Are you really going to jeopardise our deal? << asked the leader.

>> You just did that for us? << shouted an older woman behind them.

The man turned round with a grim smile >> Sora. You're still alive too. <<

>> Shut your face and get out of here. This is not your hunting ground. << the lady interrupted him.

>> We didn't bring them here. <<

>> I don't care. Get out of here. Now. <<

>> Can we at least take those two over there with us? << he asked with an almost mocking tone.

A shot rang out and the bullet ricocheted off the ground just in front of the yakuza >> Is that answer enough? <<

He mumbled something unintelligible and ordered his men to get into the cars and drive away. As they did so, they drove further along the road and turned the corner. I tried in vain to undo Matt's seatbelt, but it was stuck and wouldn't budge. My body was getting weaker and my vision was slowly fading. The only thing I could think about was that it was my fault. If I had shot the yakuza, it probably wouldn't have happened.

Someone opened my door and gently pulled me out of the car while others took care of Matt. Before I got to the street, I lost all my senses. The world around me went black and all sounds disappeared. I was haunted by snippets of a nightmare. Megan's voice echoed through the emptiness >> I'm sorry, love. <<

Her last words to me before Park had finished. His serene and sardonic chuckle followed >> Did you think I didn't think of that? <<

There was still nothing but black when I heard the voices. Like a spiral of pain, these memories circled in my head and yet they seemed new to me. Then Matt suddenly appeared. He was lying on my lap, bleeding to death, looking at me with a smile twisted in pain. I held his cheek and he held my hand, but he didn't say anything. He just wanted to look me in the eye.

I looked at my surroundings with tears in my eyes. We were in the big and wide hangar outside London, where the AI Apollon was located and monitored. All around us were corpses of the security service. They either had holes in their chests or in their heads. But none of them had a weapon left.

Apollo's mechanical and emotionless voice appeared out of nowhere >> Thank you for your help. The process has already begun. <<

Looking up, a pained sob escaped me and tears fell from my cheek. Then Matt's bloody hand went to my cheek and I looked down at him again. He tried to pull me down to him and tell me something. >> I just have one request. << he whispered to me.

Before I could listen to his request, I woke up in a strange bed, drenched in sweat. My heart was almost beating its way out of my chest and my breathing was irregular. I looked around in panic, trying to make as few noises as possible. I quickly realised that I was in a dark little room, full of shelves filled with medicine bottles and jars of dried herbs.

The moonlight shone gently through the two small windows, fighting its way through the winter clouds and illuminating the room a little. My bed was against the wall without a window and there was another one on the other side. Matt lay flat on this bed and breathed quietly. His hands were on his stomach and his eyes were still closed. The scratches and cuts on his face were treated and there was a small trolley in front of the bed with bloody bandages and cloths. When I took a closer look at Matt, I realised that his shirt was missing and he had a large bandage around his stomach. This dream was probably just me worrying that something had happened to him.

I slowly sat up and fought against the pain in my body. But the bed creaked and I could feel that I had caught someone's attention. Light shone in from under the door in front of me and a shadow moved back and forth. Then footsteps approached the door and a key opened the lock.

An old lady opened the thick wooden door and let in light from the other room. She first checked me out with her eyes and then disappeared back into the other room. I heard a clatter of crockery and cutlery as a few cupboard doors opened and closed. I got up from the bed and walked cautiously into the well-lit room. The furnishings were less modest than Dal's, but still quite traditional. The dark wooden furniture had beautiful and elaborate decorations and was adorned with golden clocks, candlesticks and the like. Whoever this old lady was, she had earned a good living in her time. It occurred to me that if this was the old lady who had shot at the yakuza, then she must have been the master of a rival clan herself. Although, according to Dal, Park had united all the yakuza houses.

>> Sit down. << the lady asked me in broken English and placed a bowl of juk with various vegetables on the beautifully decorated dining table.

I sat down on one of the chairs and bent down to thank her >> Thank you very much. << I then said in Korean.

She looked at me, surprised but impressed >> You understand our language? <<

I nodded >> It's not my first job in Korea. <<

>> What kind of assignments were those? >> she then asked, as if trying to feel her way carefully.

>> Mostly criminals who were trying to hide in Korea. We then brought them in. <<

>> Mmm. << she grumbled and walked out of the open dining room into her living room, where she folded up a blanket. An awkward silence was already spreading, so I decided to say something before she disappeared.

>> Is he going to be okay? <<

She looked over at me >> Your partner has lost a lot of blood. A shard of glass hit him in the stomach, but his organs aren't damaged. As soon as he wakes up, he should eat something. << the lady replied coldly.

>> Thank you for helping us. We are in your debt. <<

>> Then you can pay it off by leaving as quickly as you can. <<

I looked after her in irritation >> I thought I heard how Parks people are not allowed to enter your territory. <<

>> They are not allowed to do their business in our territory. Unfortunately, they are allowed to enter it, even if they rarely do. <<

>> Then your clans are partners, so to speak? <<

>> Take them with us. We'll take them to Master Choi. << he told his men.

One of them looked over at him, slightly irritated >> Didn't the order say we were to kill them? <<

The man just turned his head towards him >> A new order from our master. He wants the two of them alive. Let's go. We don't want to keep him waiting. <<

Two of the men approached us and handcuffed us. After the rest felt safer, they took their weapons from us and left the house. They left their old colleague behind, who was left bleeding to death with his head on the table. Since they had taken care of that problem, he was no longer worth their attention.

They pushed us towards the exit and put us in a car. The doors were slammed shut and the engine was already switched on. But apart from the two with us in the car, the rest of the yakuza had been busy pouring petrol over the hanok. The man with the mohawk stood to the side and calmly smoked a cigarette while the rest did the work. When they had finished, they went to their car and their leader took out a pack of matches. He lit one of them and threw it on a puddle of petrol in front of the Hanok. It wasn't long before it started to burn and he was able to get into his car.

The convoy of four cars drove off towards the city centre, free of any guilt about having killed someone who belonged to them. They probably didn't care as long as they knew he had betrayed them. But now I knew what the other side felt like. At first I'm holding a conversation without realising it and the next moment my counterpart's head explodes. No warning, no bang, no nothing. It just happened.

It made me wonder how often we had targets who were talking to innocent people and suddenly had their lights switched off. Or how many times ordinary passers-by became witnesses as they just walked past and suddenly someone dropped dead and spilled blood. We were sent to wipe out the bad guys, but were we really any better? Did we really make the world a better place? _____________________________________________________ What felt like an eternity passed in the silent car until we were just a few blocks away from Park's location. With handcuffs on our joints and unarmed, we were probably at his mercy. Whatever he was up to, whether he wanted to kill us himself or torture us, I wasn't going to let him.

At lunchtime, there were significantly more vehicles travelling through the city, but there were no traffic jams anywhere because of the automated driving. The driver in front of Matt had also left the driving to the autopilot and didn't even touch the steering wheel. He had his pistol in a holster under his jacket and sat there completely relaxed. He wasn't expecting anything and was watching the houses and passers-by as we drove past.

I looked over at Matt when an idea came to me. I inconspicuously nodded to the two in front of us, but he just looked at me helplessly. So I very quietly undid my belt and held the chain of my handcuffs out to him with tension. He sceptically undid his belt too, but he had understood what I wanted from him. He gave me a look that told me he wasn't sure if this was a good idea. But I paid no attention. We were being followed by one bad idea after another and now I wanted to preserve our lives.

I signalled to Matt with a nod and threw my hands over the back of the head of the man in front of me. Before he could realise what was happening to him, I pulled my hands towards me and choked him. Matt repeated it with a slight delay, surprising the man in front of him as he looked in shock at his colleague. I pushed against the seat with my foot and pressed even harder on the yakuza's windpipe. I looked back and realised that the two in the car behind us had seen the whole thing and contacted the car in front. In our car, what those behind us were saying to the others came through a hands-free system on the screen.

After a while, the bodies in front of us stopped twitching and went limp. I let go of the man in front of me and breathed a little hard. Was it really worth it, I asked myself. What if there was another way to solve this? But Matt didn't give me time to think about it any longer. He grabbed the key for the handcuffs from the yakuza's jacket pocket and then unbuckled a joint. He carefully climbed forwards and opened the driver's door to throw the lifeless body out. But before he threw him out, he quickly grabbed his pistol.

The convoy had stopped and the yakuza got out of their cars. Matt handed me the gun and the keys while he took the wheel and stepped on the accelerator. With the steering wheel turned to the right, he sped towards the opposite lane and joined the flow of traffic. Shots rang out behind us as the men tried to hit our tyres. But we pulled away from them.

I took the key and released my handcuffs. I slowly regained consciousness and my trained instincts kicked in too. I carefully climbed forwards and also took the dead yakuza's pistol and his second magazine from his holster belt under his jacket. Then I opened the door and pushed him out of his seat.

Matt looked over at me briefly, but continued to concentrate on the road >> Would you be so kind? <<

I looked over at him, slightly confused, and took a second >> Huh? Oh yeah, sure. <<

With my mind elsewhere, I unfastened his handcuffs. When they were gone, he was able to hold the steering wheel normally again >> Thank you. <<

I took the pistol and checked the magazine, which was still full. I put the second magazine and the one from the second pistol in the cup holder between me and Matt. My fingers held the gun with complete calm, but somehow I found it difficult to even look at the cold iron.

Matt pulled me out of my thoughts again >> I might have an idea who betrayed us. <<

I looked up at him forlornly >> What? <<

>> It's a long shot, but what if it's Bricks? <<

>> Bricks is supposed to have betrayed us? And let something happen to Megan? << I asked sceptically.

>> What if he did? Why else would he leave us at the station? Maybe he's working with Park and trying to cover his tracks before we ruin everything for him. <<

Before I could answer him, shots rang out behind us again. I turned round and saw the three Yakuza cars directly behind us. However, the shots weren't aimed directly at us, but at the tyres again. Matt tried to avoid them by driving in serpentine lines and hiding behind other cars. But the yakuza didn't let up.

I opened my window and leant out. My eye aimed the sight at the passenger's head, but my finger wouldn't pull the trigger. Suddenly my whole body refused to shoot someone in cold blood. But we were running out of time. I was risking the lives of myself and Matt. And if there is an afterlife, I could never have forgiven myself for letting him die like that because of me.

It took me a lot of effort to take aim at the passenger's hand and pull the trigger. I incapacitated him and climbed back in. My breathing was suddenly uncontrolled and irregular as I sat back in the seat. Matt looked at me for a moment, irritated >> What's wrong? <<

>> I don't know. I couldn't shoot him. << I replied anxiously.

Matt turned the steering wheel to the left and drove into a slightly narrower street with older houses that were much smaller than the tower blocks with the large advertising screens that made up Daegu city centre. There were neon-coloured advertisements on the houses in this street.

Our pursuers also turned into the road and continued to shoot at our car. I wanted to lean out of the window again, but one of the cars drove quickly to the left of us and blocked me. Another then drove up alongside us on the right and the last one snuggled up to us from behind.

>> Fuck! Diana, can you get rid of them? <<

I pointed the gun at the driver next to me, but again my finger wouldn't pull the trigger. Something inside me refused to become like the ones we wanted to free from the world. And the driver recognised this. His suspicions were confirmed when he looked into my eyes and informed his passenger. He leaned backwards and signalled to the car behind us.

The car behind us hit ours and pushed us forwards. Matt just about managed to keep control of the car. But the yakuza weren't finished with us and repeated the action. With the second bump, Matt found it harder to maintain control and that really irritated him.

>> If you ram me like that again, I'll ram your mum! << he shouted back at them.

But Daegu had kept this out-of-town ring because preserving culture was the top priority in Korea. That is why the small, traditional houses were left standing and the city stopped expanding. However, this did not mean that this area was a cheap place to live. Being able to afford such an old house also meant that you earned six times as much as I did with my job in the Special Forces Agency of Britain. That's why this ring was pretty quiet and calm.

The sun hadn't risen yet, but the sky was already getting brighter when we entered the Hanok. It was unbelievable that we had spent the whole night on the run. Being chased for so long was unusual. As our career progressed, we got better and better at avoiding detection and escaping. Most of the time we were safe within two hours. Maybe we should have ignored the message and disappeared like Matt wanted us to.

The old yakuza got out of his car and walked us over to his hanok. It was a small traditional house with white walls and a roof made of dark tiles. The door didn't have a sensor lock that could be opened with a key card. Instead, it could be opened with a conventional key, which was already a thing of the past.

The Hanok's furnishings were modest and kept to a minimum. A small cupboard table in the narrow entrance area, with the walls, floor and ceiling made of a light-coloured wood. A sliding door with a wooden frame and white hanji, which the old man pushed open. In front of us was the main room with a low wooden table and a large sliding door wall to access the terrace and front garden. To the right and left were more sliding doors leading to other rooms.

>> On the left is the shower room. There is also a small pharmacy cupboard. You can rest in the guest room next door. << he told us before walking to the door on the right.

>> May we know what your name is? << Matt asked.

>> Jong-Dal. But you can also call me Dal. Now get a good night's sleep. The night must have been exhausting for both of you. <<

Matt gestured with his finger in Dal's direction >> That's a good idea. I'll go first. <<

_____________________________________________________The shower room hadn't been particularly large. Maybe two to three metres in each direction, so it could fit a shower and a sink next to it with a medicine cabinet on top. The walls were made of light brown tiles that matched the light-coloured wooden ceiling.

I got out of the shower with a towel and stood in front of the mirror by the medicine cabinet. As I wiped away the haze, I recognised my now clean face, but it still had a few scratches. Luckily nothing too big that I had to worry about. However, I still had an open wound on my leg, which was held in place by an improvised bandage.

My fingers began to tremble slightly as I opened the cupboard. I had treated wounds like this on myself countless times and still my fingers trembled every time. Unconsciously, I knew that it would hurt, which caused this unfavourable reaction. Nevertheless, I had to clean and disinfect the wound. Fortunately for me, it had been a clean cut, which made my job easier.

Finally, I got a needle and suture material from the cupboard and started to close the wound. An agonising task that I often had to do on missions but hated miserably. Every stitch became more unpleasant and the skin more and more irritated. I began to wonder if my body wasn't getting tired of it all. When I had finished with the wound, I looked at the other scars I had collected over time.

The burn mark on my left forearm, another stab wound that I had stitched up on my calf and numerous others. Apart from the bruises, which had healed over time and were therefore invisible. All these injuries and my body still hadn't got used to the pain. I found myself wondering whether I wanted to carry on doing all this. But what was I going to do afterwards if we got out of this situation alive? That was probably a topic for another time, until we got back home. Or if we came home again. There had been a similar sentence in bold print in my contract. I actually knew what I had got myself into.

I tidied everything up and got dressed again. When I opened the small guest room, which only had two mattresses on the floor, I had for some reason expected Matt to still be awake. But he was already fast asleep. He deserved to be. His job was to make sure that I didn't croak and he hadn't had a break from that for most of the night. Now that it was getting to be morning, he was finally asleep. Free from worries and responsibilities.

I quietly pushed the Hanji door shut again and walked over to the free mattress. I lay down and tried to fall asleep, but my eyes wouldn't close. My body was still on alert and wouldn't leave me alone. Something made me feel unsafe, but I didn't know what it could be. I scanned the room and listened for any sound, no matter how small. But nothing except Matt at the other end of the room.

I took a closer look at him, how peacefully he was sleeping there. He didn't care how hopeless a situation seemed, he had to catch up on his sleep. He had respected the dangers we were facing. Perhaps he was able to sleep so well because he didn't have a stab wound in his leg.

But I couldn't stand not being able to sleep any longer. So I tried to get Matt awake. >> Shh. Matt. << I whispered.

But he didn't wake up, no matter how long and how loud I whispered to him. At some point, I had enough and got up from the mattress. I pushed it over to him and was now lying right next to him. He didn't notice and continued to lie with his arm on his stomach. I know it was his job to look after my safety, but even on a quiet night, or morning, I felt much safer by his side than I would have if I had continued to lie on the other side of the room. It looked as though I would have been the one to save his life if something had happened, as deeply as he slept.

I gently clutched his arm, which was lying next to him, and snuggled up to him. His warmth calmed me even more and suddenly took away all the worries I had before. That strange dream after we almost sank into rubble, Choi Park's clan, Megan, none of it wanted to torment me anymore. For the first time in a very long time, I was able to switch off. So much so, in fact, that I fell asleep almost immediately and didn't notice anything. Which didn't worry me, though. Matt was by my side and that was enough for me.

The sun shone on my face and woke me from my late sleep. I was suddenly lying alone on my mattress and Matt had disappeared. Through the sliding door, which was ajar, I could hear Matt and Dal's voices talking to each other.

I got up and ran out of the guest room. The two of them were sitting cross-legged at the small table in the main room. There were three teacups and a ceramic teapot on it, from which a gentle haze emanated. Matt seemed to be focussed on Dal, but registered my presence.

>> How did you find out who we are anyway? << Matt then asked Dal. >> Someone from your agency betrayed you. They made a deal with Park. When he found out who he was dealing with, he demanded that they turn you over to him. <<

I walked up to the table and sat down. Dal noticed me and poured me some tea, while Matt asked him more questions >> Does this mean that if we had stopped the deal in Vladivostok and caught Yevgeni, we would have almost ruined his plan? <<

>> You would only have slowed him down. Park can be resourceful. But he still wasn't happy. That's why he insisted on taking out your team, to make this effort pay off for him in the first place. <<

>> What do these traitors hope to gain from him by agreeing to such a deal? << I asked, almost disgusted.

Dal smiled as if he didn't believe it himself >> A stick with a copy of our web. <<

Matt exchanged a confused look with me >> Web? <<

>> The discretionary web, which ensures that Korea can't be monitored by Apollon and the yakuza can go about their business undisturbed. <<

>> That at least explains why this country looks like the cleanest spot in the world. << Matt remarked.

>> Are they trying to build their own criminal empire? << I then asked. >> That's none of our clan's business. It's all about the money. That's what Park rebuilt the honourable Choi House for. <<

I sighed softly. This mission was a lull, and then only in favour of others. If the Agency was infiltrated by people like this, then it wouldn't be long before the S.F.A. became corrupt too.

>> Do you know who made this deal with Park? << Matt asked.

Dal nodded and was ready to give us the answer. He put down his cup and took a soft breath >> The names of the two agents are... <<

This was followed by a shot and the body of the yakuza with the grenade fell to the ground in front of us. Neat black shoes emerged from behind him. When I looked up, I saw another typical yakuza outfit of black suit trousers and a black shirt with a red cobra head and scorpion sting on the right side of the chest.

Instinctively, I pointed the barrel of the gun at him, but the man with grey hair just held his hands up innocently and put his gun away >> I warned you they were after you. <<

Reassured, but still suspicious, I lowered the gun and slowly straightened up. When Matt realised that my leg was hurting again, he came over to me and helped me stand up.

>> I assume you're the one who wants to help us. << I replied.

Instead of giving me a direct answer, he walked towards the exit >> Come on. We don't have much time before more turn up. <<

Matt and I shared a sceptical look. This man had spared us the stress of dealing with his colleague. So I walked after him with a slight limp and Matt followed me. His gaze swivelled around the whole time in case the next surprise was hiding around a corner. But we made it out of the shop unscathed, where the yakuza's estate car was waiting for us.

At the beginning of the street, we could hear the sirens of police cars approaching very quickly. Not even in London would there have been such a quick response, with a swarm of cops on their way within three minutes. Apparently the work of Park.

We both got into the back seat of the car and our helper released the handbrake. It looked like he wanted to save switching off his engine to drive away as quickly as possible.

>> I had hoped that the whole thing would be hidden. << the old man then said.

>> Pff. Then you shouldn't have organised the meeting in the city centre. << Matt hissed.

The patrol cars continued to approach our car, which is why the man stepped on the accelerator. Because of this, or because he wasn't good at dealing with criticism.

>> You westerners have very big mouths. << he replied to Matt.

I pressed my arm against the door as he sped round the corner >> I hate to interrupt you two, but I think we're here for a different reason. <<

The old man looked at me through his rear-view mirror and held the steering wheel steady >> There's a rifle under the seat. As far as I remember, you are the sniper of your group. Would you look after my partners? <<

I pulled out a small folding sniper rifle from under his seat. I'd used these a few times because they fitted quite well into normal bags. But only agencies like ours were allowed to use these models. The police were forbidden to use them, which made them illegal. But why was I surprised that the yakuza had something like that?

>> You want me to shoot at cops? << I asked him.

>> If you look at where those bastards get their money from, they're criminals, not cops. << he replied dryly as he concentrated on not hitting any cars.

Again I exchanged glances with Matt, but he just nodded in understanding. I handed him the gun he'd kicked at me moments before and opened the window. As soon as I held my arms out of the window with the gun, the first bullets whizzed past me. I instinctively jerked back inside and looked over at Matt in amazement. >> Feels like St Petersburg. Only with cops. << he said and opened his window. Unfortunately, he only had one magazine and could only provide limited cover fire, but because of him the corrupt cops were distracted enough for me to lean out of the window unhindered and take aim at the next vehicle to ours. As soon as I looked through the sight, I realised it didn't have the zoom power that came as standard. The rifle was designed for shorter distances, which could mean that the Yakuza had been an enforcer. If that was the case, I wondered why he was helping us at all and putting his life on the line.

But we didn't have time to dwell on this thought, so I put the cross on the driver's head and pulled the trigger immediately. The bullet left the barrel and silencer with a loud mechanical click. Not even a blink of an eye later, it penetrated the windscreen and pierced the driver's forehead. His head slammed against the headrest and the jerking of his arms sent the car off course. He spun sideways and two more of his colleagues' cars rammed into him. The other three dodged the wrecks and kept up the pursuit. I pulled back again and waited for the co-drivers to empty their magazines. Matt did the same and took a quick breath.

>> So, how are you going to help us, old man? Maybe help us escape the country? << Matt asked.

There was a junction ahead of us with a red light, but the yakuza jerked his steering wheel to the right, causing his tyres to screech and rub off on the tarmac until we were on another road. I took the opportunity for our pursuers to lose eye contact for a moment and leaned out of the window again. As soon as the first one rounded the corner, I fired the next bullet into the driver's forehead. The car lost control in the middle of the drift and overturned. The wreckage flew into a house wall and tore it down. As I sat back down, the man in front of me finally started to talk >> I'm afraid I can't help you two get out of the country. And even if I could, you'd be at the mercy of the authorities and Choi's moles out there. <<

>> Then why are you risking your life for us? << I replied.

>> I wanted to see you in real life. While you're still alive. << he said in all seriousness.

Matt giggled hysterically and muttered quietly to himself >> I never thought an old man would tell me that. <<

>> Don't think I didn't hear that. << the yakuza interjected discontentedly. I pulled myself forwards in his seat >> Is that all? That's why we're in a chase now? <<

>> No. The chase is the result of your incompetence in not being discovered. I, on the other hand, wanted to meet you in a quiet and protected place and pass on sensitive information. <<

>> What kind of information? <<

Before he could give me an answer, a few bullets ricocheted off the body of the car. Matt pulled out his magazine and checked how many bullets he had left.

>> Please tell me you have a few bullets left. << he said to the driver. The driver skilfully opened the glove compartment and pulled out two full magazines, which he then held out to Matt. He then quickly replaced the magazines and wrapped the belt next to him around his arm. He then opened the door and hung himself out of the car to immediately shoot at our pursuers. I leaned out of the window again and used the covering fire to take out the driver in front without being disturbed. His head first hit the headrest and then lay on the steering wheel. The car did not spin out of control, but it was still heading slowly towards the pavement. The passenger tried to save himself and grabbed the steering wheel, but I put a bullet in him as well.

Matt pulled himself back in and changed the magazine again >> Where were we? <<

>> Before this pipsqueak became our boss, his father ran the clan. The House of Choi was the most respectable clan in Daegu and cared about the common people. << the yakuza began to say.

>> Seriously? A history lesson? << Matt wondered quietly.

>> But that wasn't enough for his son. He defied his father and his plan to reveal Korea's entire yakuza network to the international authorities. <<

>> Why would he want to do that? << I asked.

>> Crime was getting out of control. And Haan wanted to bring order back to our country. But Park had a different opinion and overthrew his own father. He united all the clans into a new one and built up the greatest influence in the whole world like no other before him. <<

>> And you want to pursue the vision of your old boss? <<

The man slammed on the brakes when he saw a barricade in front of us. The junction was cordoned off with spikes and numerous patrol cars. The cops took cover behind their vehicles and prepared to shoot at our car. As the bullets began to ricochet off the windscreen, our helper put the car into reverse and floored the accelerator.

Our last pursuer sped towards us, intending to ram us, but our helper turned the steering wheel again and we swerved to avoid him. When the car had turned halfway round, we sped off in the same direction we had come from.

>> That's all well and good, but what's all this got to do with us? << Matt asked.

>> Do you really want to take the risk? <<

>> Do you have a better suggestion? << I asked him.

>> We could make sure we leave the country and get back to London. <<

>> We're on the news. You know how long it will take to get home. <<

>> Do you think it won't be worth the effort? << he stopped me.

>> If we run into the Agency, we'll be arrested on the spot. And with Park's people as moles, we might even get killed there. <<

Matt thought about it. That thought worried him as much as it did me. But he still didn't want to walk into the yakuza's nest, so he refused to do anything and preferred to see us make it out of the country somehow.

I sighed and pointed to our surroundings, especially to the cameras that could be near us >> Listen, it doesn't make any difference anymore. They can watch our every move. Maybe this is our last mission. We signed the contract and we should know what we've got ourselves into. <<

He looked at me with a slightly offended look >> If you wanted to give up, you could have said so earlier. Then I wouldn't have had to steal the card from the cop. <<

Now I was offended and my cheeks were probably reddening a little as a result. I grabbed him by his collar and pulled him a little closer to me >> You know as well as I do that I'd rather die trying than throw it all away. <<

His eyes looked deep into mine and after a short pause, he sighed in annoyance and pulled himself out of my grip >> Then go ahead. <<

_____________________________________________________On the way to the city centre, Matt had bought new clothes for us with the stolen money so that we could disguise our faces more easily with the hoodies. There were a lot more CCTV cameras in the city centre, which could have identified us on the spot. But I guess that possibility was guaranteed. We didn't yet know what this clan was capable of.

>> What's your plan if it's a trap or he won't talk? << Matt asked me suddenly as we squeezed through the people on the pavement.

>> There isn't one. I have faith that someone will want to betray Park. <<

We came back together as the people squeezed between the two of us >> What if his people intercept him before we reach the pub? <<

>> Then they'll be waiting for us. We need to check the area and make sure we're not walking into a trap. <<

>> Can we escape from Daegu if that's the case? << Matt asked like an impatient boy.

>> If that's the case, then yes. But I hope he's waiting for us. Park has to pay. <<

We continued on our way through the crowds, although it would have taken us ages to reach the restaurant. So I urged Matt to pick up the pace. But he resisted a little. His reasoning was that he was worried about me because I'd been stabbed in the leg. He wasn't even impressed by the fact that I was faster than him despite my injury. Instead, he advised me to run a little slower before it got worse.

The electric vehicles drove around the streets next to us and all you could hear from them was the rubbing of their tyres against the tarmac. The majority of people were driving with the driving assistant, which more than halved the accident rate. But tyres still started squealing behind us. And then numerous horns sounded, which – like the squealing tyres – approached our position.

Matt and I turned towards the source of the noise and immediately realised that a van was thundering straight towards us. Before I could react, however, Matt grabbed me by the shoulders and threw himself and me very far backwards. Matt sprinted out of the way and I felt as if I had fallen.

I found myself in Matt's arms as they gently held me back from falling to the ground or being knocked over by other pedestrians. As I looked up at him, his gaze lingered on the front of the van, which had managed to knock over several other unfortunate pedestrians. There was blood on the bonnet and dust from the concrete wall that had held up the vehicle. The engine hissed and the bystanders whimpered in panic. Some tried to check on the victims' condition, but it seemed to have been too late for them.

I slowly pulled myself out of Matt's hands and ventured a step closer to the vehicle. There was no doubt that we had both been the target, but Park would never have been desperate enough to murder us in such a manner. He may have been unrepentant, but as the leader of a clan, his people must have meant something to him not to sacrifice them for two troublemakers.

Sure enough, when I was able to look inside the driver's cab, my suspicions were confirmed. There was nobody inside. The doors were still locked and there was no sign that anyone had ever been behind the wheel. The autopilot was on, but even then something like this shouldn't have happened. Unless the car was hacked. Without any warning, a few shots were fired and the people around us ran in panic in all directions. Behind us, the yakuza from Choi Park had appeared and when the civilians had run out of their way, they pointed their guns at us. They were still too far away from us to hit us properly, but when the first bullets hit the van and barely missed us, we didn't wait long and ran off ourselves. As we both ran round the van, Matt asked himself a question >> Don't they care that we're surrounded by civilians? <<

>> They probably want to take us out at all costs. <<

>> But yakuza have a code of honour, don't they? Like protecting the population and stuff. <<

Another bullet flew over our heads >> Not this one, apparently. << I then said.

Matt reacted faster than me and pulled me by the arm into a building. We were in a shop for extravagant and overpriced clothes and accessories. I quickly realised what Matt's goal was and followed him deeper into the shop, where we hid between the rows of clothing racks.

The yakuza rushed in and looked around. The shop's customers froze in fear and stopped moving when they saw the yakuza standing in front of them. They began to run around and search the interior for us.

I peered cautiously around the corner and saw one of them guarding the entrance in case we had any idea of escaping. That would probably have been our idea, but now we apparently had to take the back exit. It had been the better idea anyway. But we still had to sneak past the three yakuza who were searching the shop for us.

We quietly put one foot in front of the other and moved from one row to the next. The air around us was more than just tense and I could feel how the customers and workers were displeased by our presence. That's why they wanted to ruin everything for us when we were not far from the back exit.

We arrived at a line and were immediately spotted by a worker who stared at us with fear-filled eyes. I just shook my head and hoped he didn't do anything, but he immediately called the yakuza over and told them our position. Before the first one could reach us, we jumped up and sprinted for the exit. But to our regret, someone else was already in front of it. Without thinking twice, he pointed his pistol at us and fired.

Thanks to Matt's quick reaction time, who threw us both to the ground, we narrowly escaped the bullet. Instead of our heads, it hit a mannequin and tore it from the rest of its body. The people cried out in shock and ducked. Some of them even ran out of the shop and unintentionally obstructed the remaining three yakuza as they tried to run towards us.

The yakuza in front of us pointed his gun downwards, but we both jumped behind the shelving unit and out of his sight. Matt looked around the shelves and quickly grabbed a belt, wrapping the beginning of it around his hand. He nodded to me to keep running while he took care of the shooter.

As I started to run, the yakuza appeared around the corner and got the metal end of the belt in his face. He dropped his weapon and held his nose. Before he could react, Matt then wrapped the belt around his neck and held it tight. He spotted the gun at his feet and immediately shouted to me.

I turned round, whereupon he kicked the gun towards me. The iron skittered across the varnished wooden floor at my feet. But I could already hear the yakuza's footsteps approaching me. So I didn't pick up the gun, but threw myself to the floor, where I took it in my hands and turned to face the yakuza who had arrived. Two had appeared and each took a bullet in the forehead without realising what was happening to them.

The last yakuza in the group was waiting behind the corner and didn't move. Instead, he shouted to us in Korean that we should surrender. >> You are not in a position to make such demands. << I shouted back to him in his mother tongue.

But suddenly a hand grenade appeared in his hand around the corner and one finger of his other hand held the ring tightly >> Are you sure? <<

Matt had finally punched his opponent's lights out and caught sight of the hand grenade in front of us >> There's no need to take such drastic measures, mate. << Matt tried to talk some sense into him.

With a satisfied grin, Matt went to open the door, but someone from the other side beat him to it. The door opened and two astonished yakuza, dressed in black clothes and leather gloves, looked at us. The one in front looked at a photo on his phone and hastily drew his pistol. Before he could point it in Matt's face, he grabbed the yakuza's arm and pulled him out of the stairwell. His partner also followed him out and swung his fist at me.

I dodged him and grabbed his arm. But as I held on to him, I saw him trying to pull out a pistol as well. He did his best to concentrate in this situation, but the three cops started laughing loudly again and I took the opportunity to kick the gun out of the yakuza's hand. The loud laughter drowned out the noise the gun made as it fell to the floor of the empty corridor. So the yakuza looked at me with a surprised look, which was interrupted by my fist. For a brief moment, I decided to check on Matt. I turned round and saw him pulling his yakuza back into the stairwell. He then disappeared from my sight.

When I turned back to my yakuza, he was already back on his feet and running towards me. I didn't have enough time to react and was knocked over by him. Suddenly he pulled out a large knife and swung it at me from above. At the last moment, I blocked his blow with my crossed arms and held him there. He then started to push down with both arms, bringing the tip of the blade close to my eye.

But before it was too late, I pushed his arms to the side and shoved him away from me, further away from his gun. Just as he was about to get up, I straightened up enough to kick him in the chest. He fell onto his back, breathing heavily, and lost the knife from his hand. But he immediately tried to get up again. So I stumbled towards him and rammed him against a door, which we smashed open and fell into an empty conference room.

As long as I was on top of him, I punched him with both fists, but soon he pulled something out and rammed it into my thigh. I had to concentrate so that I didn't cry out because of the pain and attract the cops. But that gave the yakuza the opportunity to throw me off him. On the ground, I saw a small throwing knife stuck in my thigh.

The yakuza had got up and pulled out more throwing knives. Before they got me, I rolled onto my stomach and pushed myself off the ground. He then threw another knife at me, narrowly missing me. I saw the curtained windows opposite the door and ran towards them as more knives flew past me. Eventually he ran out of knives and jumped over the tables towards me. Without pausing, he grabbed me and threw himself through the windows with me.

The glass of the window shattered into many shards and the noise of the impact banged so loudly in my ears that I had forgotten how far we were supposed to fall. But only a metre further on, we landed on a part of a fire escape. The yakuza was above me and hit me in the face with two punches. He then ran out of energy and had to catch his breath. I myself was still paralysed from the pain and had to collect myself first.

The yakuza breathed heavily and looked past me to where the sharp shards of glass were. But then I remembered that I had a knife in my leg. A much better weapon than a shard that could cut my hand open. So while he bent down, I pulled the knife out of me and stabbed him in the neck with it. As I took deep breaths to ignore the pain, his eyes opened wide and he held the entry wound hopelessly, blood dripping down his neck. Before he could soak me with it, I kicked him aside and lay on the bars for a few moments. >> Bloody hell. << I sighed out.

Suddenly Matt appeared in the conference room and ran to the smashed window in a panic. When he looked out with a worried look and spotted me, a shudder came over him >> Diana? <<

>> I'm still alive. << I answered him bluntly >> But my new mate is no longer. <<

He carefully climbed through the window and knelt down next to me to help me sit down >> Can you still walk? <<

>> Just about. << I replied as I showed him the puncture wound on my leg.

He nodded and carefully helped me to stand up. We slowly descended the stairs and walked away from the police station.

_____________________________________________________ We were on a smaller street, further away from the centre of Daegu, where there were fewer people. In this deep night, you could see the lights of the advertisements from the city centre like very large spotlights pointing upwards.

I sat on a bench and waited for Matt to finish emptying an ATM. Apparently he had learnt in his youth how to rewrite their systems and pull the money out without setting off an alarm. And his method also seemed to work on the machines in Korea.

>> Wait here. I'll be right back. << he said and went to find a pharmacy. In contrast to the city centre, the outskirts of the city were more like a small town. And at that, the city went much further until it started to become more isolated. It took a long time to get out of a mega-city like Daegu. Especially on foot. And Bricks didn't seem to want to help us much. This city - if not much more - belonged to the yakuza boss, who didn't like the fact that we were there. Since my weapon was also sabotaged, his influence extended beyond the borders. He had probably placed his people in high-ranking positions in the agency. The only question I asked myself was how he could have pulled it off.

Even at this late hour, the smaller billboards and other screens were active. But unlike in the city centre, there were far fewer of them, which made it a little easier to see the stars in the sky and not be dazzled by the advertising of a fast food restaurant. However, one of the adverts still caught my eye.

On the other side of the road, a panel began to flicker and switched off for a moment. At first I thought it had simply shorted out. But after a car drove past, it lit up again and text began to appear. > Maybe just a reboot. < I thought to myself. But when the text finished, it stayed and nothing changed. I squinted and tried to read what was written from a distance, and the text got bigger. I looked around in amazement. I was completely alone. Even the windows of the houses around me were empty. Nobody was watching me. Until I realised that there was a camera attached to a traffic light further away from me. Even in the leaky neighbourhoods, the residents were under constant surveillance. That's why my heart began to beat faster with uncertainty, in case the text was a warning that someone was coming.

>> Black orchid. I am alone and want to help you. << was written white on black on the screen.

An invitation from a mole or a trap. The possibilities were endless and we only had each other.

The text changed >> Get out before they catch you. They're already on their way. <<

The text on the board disappeared and suddenly played the news. A breaking news report of two British terrorists on the run, with our pictures next to it. My eyes widened and my fingers gripped the wooden beam of the bench until my knuckles turned white and ached.

Matt came back at that moment with a roll of bandages and sanitiser. When he saw how my gaze remained fixed on the screen, he dared to look in the same direction. Then he gently took my arm.

But instead of standing there with his hands on his hips and talking down to me, he sat down on the chair opposite me, exhaling heavily. I had my head propped up on my hand and looked at him with displeasure.

>> What in the devil's name happened yesterday? <<

I lifted my head up straight and put my hand down, but before I could say anything, he just kept talking >> The news says there was a bombing at a tech centre, the Daegu police are looking for you two because they're accusing you of it and three of my agents are dead! Yevgeni is also dead now, which isn't the worst news - although I would have preferred him alive - and you two convinced the authorities that you were carrying a bomb. With a pillow. Whilst I admire your ingenuity, don't you think it's a bit counter-productive for you two to be blamed for a bomb plot? <<

I looked at him waiting >> May I now? <<

His gaze still remained unchanged, which was the sign that it was my turn >> We were sabotaged. Park knew we were coming and set a trap for us. On Megan's orders, I tried to shoot him before he could kill her, but my rifle malfunctioned. <<

>> A malfunction? << he interrupted me before I could continue my explanation.

Before he could continue, he ran back out of the room and had my rifle handed to him to put on the table. It was obviously unloaded, so he pulled the butt and the trigger. A loud click sounded, as it should. The rifle was intact and in perfect condition. I looked at him in bewilderment and couldn't get another word out of me.

>> And the bullet is missing too. Do you know where it is? <<

>> I haven't been able to fire a bullet. <<

>> Then why is there a bullet in Daniel's head? The same bullet as the one you were supposed to have. From the rifle the Agency gave you. <<

My frustrated eyes looked at him hopelessly, but he didn't seem to sympathise.

>> You should know who we're dealing with. Why do you think we're behind this? <<

He rubbed his eyes with two fingers and put his other hand down on the table >> The evidence leaves no other options. Every detail points to you two. Even the video footage of the two of you targeting Daniel. <<

>> And what about the motive? What would we get out of it? Send it all to Apollon and he'll confirm that the video footage was faked. << I defended myself.

>> I would like that. But they won't give me anything. <<

>> Have you really tried everything? <<

Bricks crossed his arms and looked down at me. That disappointed look he had on his face was new. At least this kind of disappointment. I'd never seen him like that before.

>> I'll do what I can, but Park has all of Daegu in his hands. Probably even more. Let's hope I can at least manage to keep you two out of the news. <<

Continuing with a serious look, he leaned both arms on the edge of the table and leaned forward a bit >> Please don't fuck things up before you make it worse. <<

That wasn't the first time he'd said that to us. We worked together for five years and he didn't trust us one bit. This man was beyond help. We were in deeper shit than he was. But that didn't bother him. Especially not the Agency's bigwigs. The only thing they were interested in was the security of the S.F.A. and the preservation of its secrets. We had signed the contract and agreed to lay down our lives for the sake of the S.F.A., no matter how valuable we were. Could I understand that? Yes. But was I prepared to give up everything after half a decade, as if I hadn't already given up my life completely?

>> I hope to see you again. << Bricks said as a goodbye and pulled me out of my thoughts. He took the things back with him and left the interrogation room.

I closed my eyes in frustration and when I opened them again, I was already in a cell in the police station. The barred door had just been opened and Matt was brought in. They took off his handcuffs and he immediately put them in his trouser pockets. He quickly gave them another unfriendly look before sitting down on the bench next to me. With his hands still in his pockets, he watched the police officers walking around.

I leaned backwards and tried not to think about the fact that it was over. Unfortunately, I wasn't succeeding so easily and Matt wasn't helping me much when he finally started talking >> Terrorist attack, collaboration with a criminal organisation, betrayal and murder of our own people. Sure, it's all just allegations - which they pass off as truth - but I don't think we'll be getting out of jail any time soon. If we survive there at all. The Yakuza will definitely have people inside to get rid of us. <<

I looked at him critically >> That helped a lot now. Thank you. <<

He smiled sardonically at me >> I'm just trying to justify this. <<

He brought his hand out a little and showed me the ID card of one of the policemen who had brought him to the cell. I took my head away from the wall and looked at him in amazement. In previous missions he had often committed pickpocketing, but never with cops. They were far too careful and usually didn't have anything we needed. This situation was an exception, but he would never have dared to do it otherwise.

>> How? << I just asked.

He hid the card in his trouser pocket again and continued to smile at me >> How do you think I always got out of juvenile detention? It's been a while, but it's like riding a bike. <<

I shook my head gently and couldn't stop myself from smiling >> I always forget far too quickly what an underdog you were. <<

>> Were? << he asked me slightly sarcastically.

My look changed to one of disappointment >> Matt. Seriously? You earn too much to keep stealing. I've told you that before. <<

He laughed softly >> I'm not at the Agency for the money. My brother would be, maybe, but he found something better. <<

I leaned towards him a little >> Then why are you working at the Agency? <<

His gaze lingered on mine and he seemed to have forgotten what he was going to say for a moment >> I need the adrenaline. The danger. Running away from street cops wasn't enough at some point. <<

Instinctively, I leaned back a little >> You don't have any bad intentions, do you? <<

>> Do you? <<

>> No. I want to make the world a better place. No matter in what way. <<

>> And what if you're done with that? How long are you going to keep doing this? <<

>> I'll never be done with it. There will always be bad people. <<

>> And you want to do this for the rest of your life? <<

I wanted to answer him, but the words stuck in my throat. There was no answer to this question. Somehow I didn't know myself. After the conversation with Bricks, I wasn't sure whether I wanted to continue blindly trusting the agency. I had seen what happened to the others. What happened to Megan. She certainly didn't want me to end up like that.

>> Let's get Park first. Then we can see where we go from there. << came out of me.

>> Are you going to walk into his office with a grenade? How are you going to imprison him anyway? <<

He raised his arms up >> I don't know. He hasn't answered. I very much want to hope he just went into a stupor when he saw Yevgeni's brain matter in the restaurant. I hope he's as careful as we are when he goes under the water. << he sighed.

I stood up and took him by his shoulders >> And what if he's involved? We can't rule out that possibility until we know how far Park's influence reaches. <<

>> The newcomer? Really? << he looked at me sceptically.

>> How else are you going to explain it? <<

Gently, he pushed my hands away and held my face with his >> I know you're upset about Megan. And I want Park to pay for it too. But don't forget what she taught us. <<

Now I slapped his hands away from me >> You want me to wait for backup to show up while our captain's killer is on the loose? <<

>> No reinforcements. Evacuation. <<

I looked at him, stunned >> We're supposed to forget all this? <<

>> You saw for yourself that he was expecting us. Hell, he even sabotaged your rifle that was given to you. I've contacted Bricks to pick us up. I don't know who else we can trust. <<

>> Matt. He can sabotage our equipment before it can even be given to our agents. Do you think we can trust anyone in the agency? <<

>> Would you rather stay in Park's home turf? If we're lucky, we'll make it to the evacuation without getting caught by his people. <<

I sighed exhaustedly and grabbed my forehead to realise I had a cut there. Through the pain, I immediately took my hand away and looked down at the blood in my hand.

Wordlessly, Matt took a tissue from a first aid kit and came towards me >> Wait. I've got this. << he said very gently.

He held my face up carefully and dabbed the wound very gently. I looked into his concentrated face as he made sure that the wound was being treated properly. Then he took out a plaster with nano robots that were supposed to close the wound with small lasers. A military technology that was not yet available to the public at the time. So I deduced that Matt had somehow managed to keep his head cool enough to get me and his bag out of the rubble.

>> How do you always manage that? << I asked him.

He looked at me in wonder >> What? <<

I pointed with my gaze to his bag, which was lying on the floor >> You've never lost it before. <<

An ironic giggle came out of him >> That's what you get for growing up poor. And had parents like mine. <<

>> Is it a good thing to have parents like that? <<

>> You mean a mum who left two years after your little brother was born and a dad who drank himself unconscious almost every night? <<

I bowed my head >> Sorry. I forgot what you had to go through. <<

>> It's ok. It must have been hard growing up without. I know that's why you want to kill Park. But we need to focus. One little mistake and we'll follow her. <<

I sighed uncertainly and glanced around. Finally, I crossed my arms and looked at Matt again >> Ok, let's wait for our taxi. <<

>> Good. << he nodded >> Try to get some sleep if you can. <<

I nodded in agreement and he turned away from me to disappear round the corner again. But I suddenly didn't feel safe anymore. So I instinctively grabbed his arm and held it tightly >> Can you maybe stay with me? <<

He turned back to me >> What is it? <<

>> I feel safer when my spotter is with me. <<

He looked at me thoughtfully, but somehow he thought about it too long. It seemed to me that his face lit up for a moment, but his thoughtful look immediately returned and filled the silence in the room >> I am with you. The couch is just round the corner. If anyone opens the door, I'll know right away. <<

Hesitantly, I let go of his arm and nodded in agreement. My hands were shaking, but I tried to convince myself that he would be right and that I was worrying too much. But our unit was sabotaged and two of our members were killed, though it was still unclear whether Jay was still alive or had acted against us.

We had never had a failure on this scale before. Sure, we were a bit bumpy at the beginning until we found our common rhythm, but even then, the target was at best running away from us. Sabotage with this level of coordination should have been impossible. The only thing anyone knew about our agency was the name. And yet the yakuza had recognised Megan's face.

These ideas gave me no peace that night. And this dream wouldn't leave my head either. I recognised this machine as the new model of a minesweeper, but I didn't understand why it had attacked me. And what its ravens had been up to. I had too many questions that I couldn't answer for myself.

_____________________________________________________ A hand gently placed itself on my shoulder and began to shake me awake. It must have been something serious, because the gentle shaking turned into panicked shaking. I opened my eyes and saw Matt switching his gaze between me and the window behind me. But when he realised that I was awake, he took his hand away again.

>> We have to go. << he whispered carefully.

Instinctively, I pushed myself down over the edge of the bed and crouched down >> Who? <<

>> Cops. I'm guessing funded by Park. I saw five cars outside the motel. Probably 10 to 15 of them. <<

>> Have they surrounded us yet? <<

He nodded his head slowly >> Three are outside the door and the rest are getting into position. What do you suggest? <<

I looked at him confused for a short while, trying to wake up from my sleepy state. Then I remembered that I was directly below Megan in the pecking order. A situation that rarely happened and required a lot of concentration on my part.

>> How likely do you think it is that they'll shoot us right away? << I then asked him.

>> They may work for Park, but the police also have a reputation to uphold. <<

>> What else have you got with you? <<

He sighed, as he seemed to be following my train of thought >> Nothing. Just my bag and it's empty by now. <<

Discouraged, I looked away from him. We had a minute at most before the cops would have stormed into the room. And our equipment was gone. But then I saw the pillow lying on my bed and I looked over at Matt again.

>> Give me your bag. <<

He looked at me in surprise, but quickly brought it over to me from where he was sleeping and gave it to me >> What are you going to do with it? <<

>> Faking something. << I said as I hastily stuffed the pillow into the bag and then closed it.

>> Come with me. << I said as I grabbed Matt's hand and pulled him along with me.

We stood in front of the door and I called out to the three policemen >> We know you're coming. <<

A radio was switched on and one of the three called the rest to standby >> Leave the room with your hands up and we can end this thing real quick. <<

>> Gonna be difficult if I'm carrying a bomb. <<

The three of them mumbled amongst themselves in confusion and Matt gave me an incredulous look >> Really? << he moved his lips silently.

I held my thumb up and nodded at him in agreement. Then the cop spoke up again >> What are your demands? <<

>> Let us go. Nothing more. <<

He radioed the control centre for further instructions. When he received a reply, he spoke to his colleagues and they slowly walked away from the door >> There's no need to escalate this. <<

>> I'm of the same opinion. << I replied to him.

>> Open the door slowly and come out of the room. <<

Matt looked at me nervously, but I just gave him a reassuring nod. A very risky manoeuvre, but in the end it seemed to work. Now we just had to get past them.

Matt hung his head for a moment and slowly opened the door. It was morning, but the sun still hadn't come out, so the light from the billboard by the driveway illuminated the small entrance to the room.

We cautiously stepped out to keep the illusion going. The cops still bought it and took a few steps back themselves, but didn't lower their weapons. Still slowly, we began to make an arc around them. They stopped and continued to keep an eye on us until I realised that we should somehow shake them off so we could run away. >> Get ready to run. << I whispered to Matt.

Without questioning me further, he just nodded. Then, without any warning, I threw the bag to the three cops and immediately ran for the driveway. Matt followed me and was only a few metres away. The cops immediately panicked and tried to catch the bag before it hit the ground. Their faces turned white, like the moon shining brightly in the sky. One of them even shrieked and crouched down.

But it didn't take long for them to realise that the > bomb < wasn't going off and they opened the bag. Then one of them shouted into his radio and called the rest of the team over so they could follow us. But we had left the site at that moment and were already running along the road.

>> I can't believe that worked. << Matt said to me.

Smiling, she shook her head to answer me first and then spoke to Park >> No. I've travelled from far away. <<

Matt carefully came over to me and knelt down next to me. He watched curiously at what was happening in the restaurant, but he never took his eyes off the door.

My heart was beating uncontrollably and I had to concentrate on my breathing so that it didn't become frantic. My fingers became clammy, but I managed to suppress my trembling and hold the rifle steady. In an emergency, every millisecond would have decided the lives of our superiors. Even the lives of our entire team.

>> May I ask who you were supposed to meet here? <<

I couldn't see it because her face was turned away from me, but I could somehow feel Megan raise an eyebrow >> I'm supposed to meet a business partner. A member of the Muneun Jji Leugi, to be exact. <<

>> What is she doing? << Matt then asked uncomprehendingly. To be honest, not even I understood what our captain was up to.

But I decided not to put our time to the test and immediately spoke to Jay >> Freshman, switch off the lights. From the entire block if you want. Now. <<

But he didn't answer.

>> Jay? << I asked anxiously into the comlink.

Then Daniel spoke up >> Fresh meat, please come in. The mission depends on you right now. <<

But he didn't even reply to that.

>> Has he got scared or what? << Matt wondered, although he wasn't convinced of this possibility himself.

I couldn't take my eyes off Megan and Park. The sign could have come at any moment. A distraction shot or something that would have given her the opportunity to escape. But then she tapped her finger three times on the table. The sign to switch his lights off. That made no sense.

I moved away from the visor, confused, and looked unsuspectingly through the window. Matt looked at me questioningly >> What is it? <<

>> She tapped three times. <<

>> But she did... <<

>> Are you going to wait here all evening? << Megan then asked Park, the question clearly directed at me.

She may have used her own judgement to decide whether we should let Park live or not, having made it clear that no bullet was allowed anywhere near him. After what we saw, she would probably have been right to do so. The world certainly wouldn't have been a worse place without him. That's why we were on this team. Not to make the world a better place, but not a worse one.

I exhaled calmly and focussed only on Park. He was the target and I had been given the green light. So I gently squeezed the trigger and prepared myself for the loud clacking of the rifle's mechanics that remained because of the silencer. But instead there was a much quieter click and the trigger was too easy to pull. As if something was missing from the mechanism or something had broken. Confused and panicked, I looked at my rifle, which unsettled Matt >> What's wrong? <<

>> It's not working. <<

>> What? <<

Suddenly Park's slightly amused laughter had been heard over Megan's microphone. I didn't even have to look through the visor to see his amused face looking in our direction.

>> Looks like your shooter can't save you. << he said maliciously to Megan.

I felt a shiver run down my spine before I suddenly felt hot. Panicked, I tried to pull the trigger again, but the same thing happened. I checked to see if there was a bullet in the barrel, but it wasn't that. Someone had sabotaged the rifle. The rifle that the agency had given me for the mission.

Before Megan could react, Park grabbed her by the arm and pulled her out of her seat. At the same time, he also pulled out his knife and held it to her throat as he held her close to him. Calmly, but no less terrifyingly, he spoke into her ear >> Did you really think I wasn't going to be careful when you were killing my people? <<

Matt looked at me in surprise as I took my eyes off the visor >> Daniel... << he then spoke into the comlink.

>> I'm just waiting for you. << came back.

>> Get out of here. << I quickly took over before Matt could react.

>> Whatever you're doing together, you're just wasting your breath. << Park intervened as he continued to look at us.

But suddenly, as if she was from another world, Megan began to sob quietly and her eyes glazed over >> I'm sorry, love. Please run. <<

Park chuckled calmly and gripped his knife tighter >> Yes. Run before I get you too. <<

In the same breath, the black blade slid across Megan's neck and blood spurted out onto the table and floor. Park let go of her and she tried to grab her throat with both hands. But it was already too late. Just seconds later, she fell to her knees and then to the side. The red blood spread across the floor, forming a pool that stained her grey hair. Only a fixed look remained on her face until all tension had left her body.

My arms and legs were trembling and I was getting cold, but my whole body was sweating. I was no longer aware of my surroundings. Not Matt shaking me or shouting at me. Just Megan's body and Park, who had a handkerchief brought to him to wipe the blood off his blade. When he handed the cloth back, his henchman handed him a detonator. In the span of an unbearable eternity, his gaze lifted back up to me and a small smile formed on his lips as his thumb approached the trigger.

Matt's voice returned and with it came a deafening bang behind my back. A shockwave threw us against the wall with the windows to the restaurant and all I could see was a black light accompanied by a high-pitched beeping sound.

_____________________________________________________ As if I had only closed my eyes for a moment, I opened them again and saw grey asphalt beneath me. A cold wind blew past me as I pushed myself up and knelt down. I was no longer in Daegu. I was in a small empty town, probably in England. And as was so typical of my homeland, the sky was covered in grey clouds, which passed over me very quickly.

The buildings around me all looked intact, but they were all empty. All except one. A flock of black ravens circled around the inside of a café, screams drowned out by the cawing of the flock. I looked down at my hands and recognised small cuts, broken glass and dust. Looking further down, I spotted holsters on my thighs, but they were empty. For some reason I had been lying on the floor unarmed. And I felt a great pain in my back and right side.

I tried to get up and quickly realised that the pain had rather kept me down. My leg immediately collapsed and my aching ribs stopped me from taking a normal breath.

My gaze wandered forwards to a smashed window of the café. Some shards were even lying on the floor halfway to my position. Moments later, a human figure stepped through the smashed window and towards me. Only there was something wrong with the person. The body was made entirely of a shiny metal and its movements looked somewhat mechanical.

The ravens stayed in the café and continued to buzz around as the shiny machine walked towards me. Once again I tried to stand up. The pain was a major obstacle, but my body panicked at the sight of the machine and summoned all the energy I had left, so I finally managed to stand up. But it was already too late.

The shiny titanium machine stood right in front of me and grabbed me by the neck. I could feel my feet slowly leaving the ground and my own weight alone squeezing my windpipe. I wriggled helplessly with my legs and held on to the metal arm. But it was no use. This thing had no face. I could only see the reflection of my own face on the shiny surface. But then suddenly a loud shot rang out, like that of a rifle.

All at once, I was startled out of this nightmare and instinctively jumped up in my bed. My breathing was more frantic than ever and my entire body was bathed in sweat. It didn't help my panic that it was pitch black in the room. I couldn't see anything and didn't know where I was or whether I was alone.

I carefully sat down on the edge of the bed and tried to make out something in the darkness, but my body was pumped full of adrenaline and I could hardly concentrate. Then I heard muffled footsteps approaching me on a carpeted floor. But I didn't need to worry about that anymore, because only a moment later a familiar silhouette appeared, switching on a small table lamp.

The lamp filled the room with enough light to recognise the dark wooden walls and the white carpet. As did Matt's familiar face, which was decorated with scratches from broken glass and soot. His brown hair was tousled and partly in his face as he looked at me with a worried yet relieved expression.

>> How are you feeling? << he asked gently.

I calmed my breathing and looked down, recognising a bandage on my arm.

>> Are we alone? << I asked back.

The receptionists were all androids. In all the other places in the world, the androids didn't look human enough for me to mistake them, but in Korea they acted like real people except for their perfect movements. But they didn't seem to question our presence as they recognised us as technicians and let us walk to the lift.

The human workers also walked around and tried not to look at us. Either I had another critical look without realising it, or it was the racism they were taught from a young age. People even made way for us in the lift and tried to avoid eye contact with us. The lift music played quietly on the side until the doors finally opened and we could get out.

Jay had uploaded the route to an empty room on our mission watches so that we could find our position more quickly. Surprisingly, there were very few people on the floor, so Matt had the peace of mind to pick the lock. A few seconds later we were inside and I was able to start getting my rifle out of the large toolbox and assembling it. Before he closed the door, Matt turned the sign on the door round so that nobody disturbed the > meeting <. I screwed on the silencer and attached the bipod to the barrel. While Matt guarded the door for me, I took a wind speed sensor out of the case and walked over to one of the windows that looked directly into the restaurant. Shortly after placing the sensor on the outside window sill, I began adjusting the wind speed and direction in my visor and set the bipod down as well.

>> In position and ready to go. << I then radioed to Megan.

>> Good timing. Park is approaching the target. <<

I first caught Megan looking at the menu alone in a dark purple dress at a table. Her table was by a picture window, so I had a full view of her and Yevgeni. Her microphone, through which she spoke to us, was in her necklace. A gold necklace with a red jewel to match the earrings, which looked the same. Everything she heard was relayed through the earrings to Jay and the rest of our group. And everything she saw was recorded by the cameras built into the lenses of her glasses. It didn't hurt to have multiple perspectives of a mission.

I swivelled on and took a closer look at the restaurant. There were young to middle-aged men in fine, tailored suits sitting at several tables with young women. We could have guessed that Park wanted to meet with his weapons supplier in a familiar yakuza nest. Normally, our hacker would have arranged for the meeting to take place elsewhere, but that only meant that it ended earlier and we had to act faster. In this case, we should just follow Yevgeni and leave the yakuza alone. But that didn't make me feel any better.

Finally, I noticed a familiar face approaching the table behind Megan with two bodyguards. He recognised her presence, but only unbuttoned his jacket and sat down opposite Yevgeni. An aged, hard man with short, light brown hair and tired blue eyes. He had an unimpressed expression on his face and looked at Park's young face almost mockingly. Apparently he thought nothing of young gangsters who led a very influential clan. According to his file, he respected age and only trusted those with experience.

A subtle smirk formed on Yevgeni's lips as he was about to start talking to his business partner >> I see you're smart enough to keep your bodyguards with you at all times, Mr. Choi. <<

Unimpressed, Park looked at his two companions standing next to the table. With that one look, they understood his request and moved away to go to the exit to wait for their boss.

>> Do you think I'm scared of you? << Park asked, leaning his arm against the back of his bench. He rested his foot on the other leg and tilted his head a little. Some of his black hair fell in the direction his head was leaning.

Yevgeni also leaned back and put one foot on top of the other. His hand remained on the table though and an anchor tattoo on the heel of his hand looked Park in the eye.

>> If you think it was my boys who fucked your bootlickers, you've got the wrong guy. <<

>> Then where were your boys? <<

Yevgeni smirked and raised his hand very briefly >> On the way to the meeting. Where the blood of yours was. <<

A female android brought a cup of coffee to Park and asked his counterpart if he wanted some too. But he simply brushed the waitress away with his hand, whereupon she also left >> Did you call me here personally just because you think I would pull such a cowardly stunt? <<

Park straightened his head and carefully placed his hand in his trouser pocket while the other was still on the backrest. Zooming in on his hand, I saw a ring on his thumb and forefinger. One had a black scorpion and the other a cobra head on a red background. His middle and ring fingers each had a silver ring.

>> You're right. There's no point in just arguing. Let's get down to why we're really here. << Park said with a small smile.

Yevgeni looked more relaxed and cheerful >> There you go. <<

Park's smile quickly faded >> Have the parcels been accepted? <<

>> They were. They're disguised as printer material and even positioned. <<

>> That's good news. << Park said with a smile and picked up his coffee cup.

After he had taken a sip and put the cup down again, his delivery man looked at him in anticipation. But Park returned his gaze with a questioning >> Is there anything else? <<

>> What about my payment? After all, we're talking about 50kg of C4. <<

>> Did you make it yourself? <<

>> Do you think I'm selling rubbish? <<

>> Then you can turn a blind eye this time and I'll put in a good word for you at the market. << Park replied calmly and took another sip.

Yevgeni laughed hysterically >> Am I a charity to you or what? You have enough money to hold almost all of Korea in your hand and you're too stingy to give me my payment? <<

Park set the cup down again >> I've lost six of my people. I don't care if it was you or someone else. Since no one from the underworld would normally dare to take such a bold action, I assume a foreign service got wind of our deal. <<

Yevgeni tapped the table angrily >> That's why I want the money all the more. I'm not risking my neck to give out labour and goods for nothing. Who do you think you are? Did your daddy give you the clan so you could make a big deal about your balls? <<

Annoyed, Park rolled his eyes and took a knife out of his trouser pocket unnoticed.

I radioed Megan >> Park has a knife. Please be careful. <<

In one swift movement, Park stood up and rammed the knife into Yevgeni's hand. The latter cried out in pain and grabbed his forearm with his other hand >> Suka! <<

The other yakuza just looked somewhat curiously in their direction, as if it was another business drama in their line of work. Some of the older ones even mocked the Russian half-heartedly.

Park carefully released his grip on the knife and buttoned up his jacket again. Yevgeni tried to pull out the black blade, but Park had actually rammed it through the table.

>> My father? << Park then spoke, giggling hysterically.

>> I've worked hard for this clan. Sweated and bled to get my people to trust me. And if you have bigger balls than me, I want to see you pull your hand out of the blade. <<

>> Daniel, start the engine. Megan may need a getaway car. << I spoke through the commlink.

>> Megan, status? << Matt then asked.

>> Stay in position. Who knows when our next chance will come. << she whispered to us.

>> That's too big a risk. You have to get out of there. Now. << I threw at her.

>> They'll all know what's going on if I get up and leave now. <<

>> Megan... <<

>> Stay in position, love. <<

I sighed in annoyance and kept my sights on our target.

>> I take it I'm not needed? << Daniel asked.

>> Stay on standby until we're out. << Matt answered him.

>> I could switch off the lights. << Jay suggested.

>> Do you want to switch off the whole block? Because the light from the streets will leave enough light. <<

>> He just doesn't want to see what I see. << I said.

Yevgeni looked at the blade with fear in his eyes and beads of sweat formed on his forehead. While he concentrated on his pain, Park slowly took a pistol out of his waistband and waited. But Yevgeni couldn't bring himself to do it and let go of his hand >> Ok, I get it. If you wanted my respect, then I'll give it to you. Now take out the knife. <<

Park giggled amusedly >> Good luck with that in your next life. <<

>> Wait! <<

As Yevgeni raised his hand, Park was already pulling the trigger and scattering his supplier's brains all over the bench. The other yakuza laughed at the Russian's naivety and continued their own conversations. Park put his gun away and pulled the knife out again. Then he stroked his hair and exhaled before walking towards the exit.

>> What happened? << Matt asked.

I just put my head down >> Our target is dead. <<

Matt exhaled in annoyance >> I guess the monthly salary is thinner this time. <<

My travelling case, in which I carried my rifle that was delivered separately from Vladivostok to Daegu, was open on the bed so that I could take out my visor more easily. It was able to connect to Jay's screen. This allowed him to see what I was seeing and let me know if he noticed anything I didn't see. It also recorded the transmission as a security measure for the agency.

I took out the visor and walked over to the living room so Jay could do the same thing he had done in Russia. All I had to do was activate the inbuilt camera with my fingerprint and place the visor on the table next to Jay's laptop.

He stopped typing and took another, smaller laptop out of a case and switched it on. As his screen showed the images from the visor, his eyelids closed for a brief moment. Apparently he immediately remembered what he had seen in Tokyo Home. I wondered how long it would take him to change teams. After a while, most of the hackers attributed to our team couldn't see the blood I spilled so deceitfully and unfairly.

>> Do you need a bag? << I asked him, amused.

He swallowed, but then stared at the other laptop and not at me >> Fuck you. <<

I grinned and stifled a giggle as Megan appeared and placed a holoprojector on the table, which immediately connected to Jay's laptop. The boys followed as Megan had called them together. Matt stood next to me and Daniel sat on the edge of the table and crossed his arms >> What have we got today, Captain? <<

She nodded to Jay and he searched for the information Apollo had sent him. A holographic image of a Korean man with black hair and a scar running down his left temple to his cheek appeared. >> This is Choi, Park. The leader of the most powerful yakuza clan in all of East Asia. The Muneun Jji Leugi specialise in cyber attacks and everything to do with computers. But that doesn't mean they don't get their hands dirty in the traditional way. Maybe that's why they couldn't be tracked by Apollon. <<

Daniel chuckled softly >> He looks way too young to be a yakuza boss. <<

>> Doesn't mean he's got nothing on him, though. << Jay interjected. Daniel looked over at him with a sceptical look, but Jay just crossed his arms >> His list is long. And he was on the Red Notice. Before he deleted his name. <<

>> Just like his own criminal record. It's a wonder we were able to find out anything about him. << Megan continued >> He's bought off almost the entire police force. His snoops even reach into the Interpol. <<

>> Even into our agency? << Matt asked.

She just sighed >> We don't know that yet. That's why only the five of us and Bricks know that we're here in Daegu. In the middle of his nest. <<

>> So we just want the Russians and leave Mr. Choi alone? << I then asked.

>> We'll keep an eye on him too, but we're focussing on Yevgeni. He is the target we are pursuing. No bullet will even graze Park. We won't even harm Yevgeni as long as he's near Park. <<

Daniel sighed >> So we're just going to track Yevgeni? I'm running out of patience. Can't we finally catch him? <<

Megan tried not to exhale too loudly and leaned against the table >> We will. As soon as we have the evidence we need. I'll sit a few tables away from them and record their conversation. Diana, you're in charge of the visual recording. You'll record everything, Jay. <<

She turned her head to Daniel and waited for his slightly irritated reaction >> I'll wait in the car. As usual. <<

She nodded to Jay again and he changed the image. We were shown two buildings, one of which was the Shizou restaurant and the other a tech service centre.

>> Good. You park the car in the car park of the office complex where Diana and Matt will have a clear view of the restaurant. I'll wait there for Park and Yevgeni. When Yevgeni leaves the building, me and Daniel will follow him and Diana will keep an eye on the Yakuza. As soon as he gets out, we'll grab him. Any more questions? <<

Everyone shook their heads, to which Megan rapped her knuckles against the table >> The meeting has been postponed until 1900. Pack your things, we're leaving in a few minutes. <<

She disappeared into the room, taking her clothes with her so she could change in the bathroom. Daniel also disappeared and looked for his keys. Matt crossed his arms and cleared his throat >> Office complex, then. The old electrician's number? <<

>> Always worked so far. Then I can hide my rifle in a toolbox. <<

>> The only question is whether they'll let you through. << Jay replied. >> Pff. Work clothes are like a free pass to any place you can imagine. << Matt said.

>> Just make sure the fake ID cards work and we'll be in the building faster than... I can't think of a comparison. <<

>> Do you want a ladder perhaps? << Jay asked sarcastically.

Matt mused a little >> Maybe not a bad idea. Oi, Daniel. Do you still have room for a ladder in your boot? <<

>> Are you kidding me? No. << he shouted from his room.

Before we had left the room, Megan got a call from Bricks on a secure line. I looked at her nervously at first, but she sent us on ahead and took the call as we closed the door behind us. Bricks calling in the middle of a job was strange. Normally he only did that when our mission was cancelled. I wouldn't have been surprised if it was the most powerful yakuza boss, but it might have meant that Park had a mole in our agency too.

>> Can I take the burden off your shoulders? << a friendly voice asked me in Korean.

I looked next to me, where there was an android that had been employed at the hotel. The boys had probably already left while I was busy letting my thoughts run free. And without even pulling me out of it.

As these machines - no matter how human they looked in Asian countries - didn't ask any questions, they could see what I was carrying. I smiled at him and handed him the handle of the suitcase >> Yes, of course. I need to get to the exit. <<

The android smiled at me in his red jacket and lemon-yellow tie and turned round >> Please follow me. <<

All over the world, androids were used to do the work of humans, but in most countries they could easily be distinguished from real humans. Only not in countries like China, Japan or Korea. Tourists were therefore very surprised to be served by an unfeeling machine that couldn't look and act more human.

But after five years of watching the crosshairs, I knew every little movement a living person made. I knew exactly how they moved or twitched. The androids had a subtle difference to us humans. The perfect movements of the machines were not lively enough for me to mistake them for a human. And then those lifeless eyes. They only looked like a real person when it was a dead person. Something you spend years behind the trigger learning to recognise. And the android carried this trigger out the door. At the door, I thanked him and he handed me the suitcase. I ran out and to the hire car that Daniel was driving. Matt was loading his backpack and then took my suitcase before we sat down in the back seat. Megan arrived just a moment later and we were able to drive off. Everything still seemed fine, so I asked her confusedly why Bricks had called.

>> Bricks? He just wanted a status report. <<

>> That's not like him. <<

Matt looked forward at her and soon a teasing grin formed on his lips as his musing brought him a result >> Come on, be honest. <<

Megan looked forwards nervously >> About what? <<

>> About Bricks. Are you meeting up? <<

She turned round and looked at him innocently. That was what she did best. Pretending to be something she wasn't, otherwise she would never be travelling undercover.

>> Meeting in the sense of...? <<

Matt just raised an eyebrow and continued to sneer at her. Then Daniel stepped in and clarified the situation for her >> Don't be like that and tell the boy if you're flanking our superior. <<

She gave Daniel the deadliest look I could have seen from her. The yakuza in Vladivostok were actually spared this horror.

>> I beg your pardon? << she asked him calmly.

>> The phone call? And then yesterday, when he lost his cool? You can't tell me he's not worried about you. << Matt then said. It seemed like a gift I could never achieve. To be able to read people, like Matt. When I tried to interpret or read others, I could just as easily have looked at a blank page and come up with the same result.

>> Please tell me that you at least spared the fresher so that he didn't have to endure the crooning. << Daniel then asked.

Megan sat back down normally and crossed her arms >> How about you guys mind your own business? << she said, pissed off.

Megan continued to try and reassure our supervisor as Jay stood next to me and Matt. We sat on the table next to the dead yakuza. Matt had his arms crossed and I was leaning mine on the edge. Daniel was behind the laptop Megan was talking to Bricks about and looked up, annoyed. He didn't think much of our supervisor's perfectionism. That's why he was pissed off every time Bricks got upset about little things. He had once told him that Bricks should do a shadowing job like this himself without messing up a single thing. He almost got fired for it.

But I had to agree with Daniel. When we were dealing with big fish, they were careful accordingly. Then Jay spoke to us >> This clan is not registered in the databases. Not even Apollon could find out anything about it. <<

Matt turned to him and asked quietly >> Did you find out anything else? <<

He pulled his own laptop closer to him >> Unfortunately, I only found two competing clans, but they disbanded a few years ago. This symbol is either new or it is a very well structured organisation. <<

>> Have you reported this to Bricks yet? <<

>> The first thing I did. I think he's upset about that and not that we missed Yevgeni. <<

>> How would Bricks know about a clan that isn't listed in the databases, nor can Apollon locate it? << I asked him.

>> I was wondering the same thing. <<

>> Hey, can I have another look at the ring? << Matt asked.

Jay gave him the ring back >> What exactly do you want to find? <<

>> A buyer. << Matt replied bluntly.

The call between Megan and Bricks ended and Daniel closed the laptop >> He's usually more gentle with us. <<

Megan sighed >> I don't know who's been shitting in his soup either. But we need to get rid of these two now. <<

>> I'll call the clean-up team. <<

She put her hands on her hips and came towards us >> We're on standby for now until the AI has something. <<

>> Do you think we get a bonus for even needing the AI in the quantum computer? << Matt asked.

>> Don't get your hopes up too high. We're the only ones who get to take on missions like this. This is our everyday life. <<

Matt slowly stood up and walked over to his bag >> Alright. Let's get some rest then. My back is killing me. <<

>> Old sod. << I joked after him and he smiled back. He realised that I would take advantage of the fact that I was two years younger than him. But it was a wonder he could still walk at 27 after all the shit he had to go through so I could take out the target without being disturbed.

>> Are you okay, love? << Megan asked me.

>> Sure. Is something the matter? <<

>> No, I just thought you might have had some trouble on the roof. <<

I smiled at her >> Matt took pretty good care of those two already. <<

>> I see. Just do me a favour and take care of yourself, ok? <<

>> Of course. When haven't I done that? << I replied with a questioning look. Maybe she's got so old that she thought I'd become her daughter and that's why she was so worried about me.

She raised her eyebrow >> Shall I remind you of Johannisburg? <<

>> That was my first mission. It's been five years now. <<

>> Ok, I just wanted to make sure you continue to be careful. It seems to be a big deal underground. One we don't know much about. <<

>> Yeah, it's nothing new to us. Do you think you can still keep up? <<

She pretended to be offended >> I'm not that old yet. Pack your things. We're about to leave. <<

_____________________________________________________

The disadvantage of working for a secret service that few people know about is the cheap hotels we used to stay in. At least that was the disadvantage at the beginning. After five years of work, the hotels practically felt like home. It varied from country to country and this was most noticeable in Asian countries, such as Russia. Every time we had a job there, I was always surprised at how the construction of the buildings was allowed to be approved at all. After all, there were no rats there like in America. The mere fact that the country had not yet collapsed was the eighth wonder of the world.

Each of us had been given our own room on a different floor. Our arrival times were therefore also shifted, as were the times at which we checked out. I was getting ready to go to sleep when there was a knock on my door. It only made me wonder who it could be, but my gut told me that it might be Matt.

I slowly opened the door and was filled with joy that I was right >> Hey. <<

He nodded at me >> Can I come in? <<

>> Do you really want to do this now? We're at work right now. <<

He just rolled his eyes >> I just wanted to talk. Am I being inconvenient? <<

My hope was that my cheeks hadn't turned red as I moved away from the door and let Matt in. But he didn't seem to pay any further attention to me as he came in and sat on the edge of the bed. I closed the door and sat with him.

>> What's up? <<

He slowly dropped onto his back and spread his arms >> Do you have any siblings? <<

I looked at him, slightly irritated >> I was an only child. <<

His head rose in surprise >> Really now? <<

>> Didn't I tell you that? <<

>> You didn't tell me anything about your family. <<

I thought about it for a moment and questioned my ability to communicate with other people.

>> Never mind. << he shook his head >> I wanted to talk about my little brother. <<

>> Johnathan? Has he done something wrong? <<

>> No, it's just... << Matt sighed >> He worries about me a little too much. <<

>> That you're not coming back? <<

>> It has something to do with that. He's worried about me dying alone, though. <<

I chuckled a little. The dynamic between the Shadows brothers had been amusing to watch from the outside.

>> I say to him > Don't worry about it, I can handle it. < And then he starts nagging me to find something more serious. <<

>> Are you looking for something serious? We can stop at any time if you want. <<

I didn't get an answer from him, so I looked over at him. At first he looked at me thoughtfully, but then shrugged his shoulders and smiled as I got just as much smarter from this answer as if I hadn't asked.

Now I rolled my eyes and lay down on my back too. Matt took his arm away and made room for me, but I tried to get him out of my bed >> Go on, go on. I'm not your dating counsellor. I'm the last person you should be asking for advice. <<

Unsatisfied, he exhaled and stood up >> Well, good night then. <<

>> Nighty night. <<

He stopped for a moment, but I had already closed my eyes and was trying to fall asleep, so he went on and closed the door behind him.

How long it had been since I had slept so peacefully. The heating not working was now a welcome surprise, as I could sleep better when it was a bit chilly. For me it was a bit chilly, for some others it was freezing. I'll never forget how exhausting Jay's whining was. Even though he preferred his tech to stay chilled, he couldn't stand the cold at all. And he let everyone know it until Megan finally got into the van and we could drive to the airport.

>> What's the plan now, Captain? << Matt asked next to me in the back seat.

>> We're going to Korea. <<

He scowled at her before she continued >> Apollon has identified the clan. The boys and girls are probably specialised in cyber attacks. At least half of them do. <<

>> What about the other half? <<

>> The clan is the union of two old rival clans. No idea why they joined forces, but in any case, the other half is happy to take care of the dirty work, should there be any. <<

>> And what is the task now? << I then asked.

>> The AI has intercepted the clan's radio traffic. They're moving the deal to their home. Where they feel safer. <<

>> Let me guess. You want us to change that? <<

>> First we should observe them. Depending on how the situation develops, we'll get new orders from Bricks. <<