#paa

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... <<