A guy stood up facing the vast scenery outside his window panel. He hasn’t moved from his spot since earlier. He was waiting for something. Something that will change his world. Something that he had been searching for as long as he had remembered.

 

“Mr. Changmo.”

 

The said guy turned around and saw his assistant come in with a file in his hand. He looked rather calm and gestured for him to enter.

 

“Here it is.”

 

He reached for it and walked towards his table. He took a deep breath and flipped it open. The moment his eyes saw the photos inside, he had a smile on his face. An evil one to be said. He closed it and looked up facing his assistant.

 

“You did a great job, Jungwoo.”

 

“Thank you, sir. I already dispatched team a team to retrieve the item as said.”

 

“Brilliant.”

 

“Everything is in order. In less than six hours, it will be yours.”

 

“I’m very pleased to hear it.”

 

Jungwoo bowed towards his boss and left his room. Changmo chuckled the moment he was alone. There’s a hint of satisfaction in his tone. He opened the table’s top drawer and pulled out a photo of him and another person.

 

“I won, Sandara. I won and there’s nothing you can do about it.”

 

He picked up a lighter on his table and lit it on. He placed the photo on top of the burning fire and watched as it engulfed it whole.

 

“You lose.”

 

 

 

 

 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 

 

 

 

 

A brown file was thrown in front of her. Yunjin picked it up as his superior, Jo Jungshik was staring at her. She felt his gaze burn into the back of her skull. He was furious.

 

“How did we lose it?!”

 

“I… I d-don’t know, sir…”

 

“You don’t know? Then who?!”

 

Yunjin didn’t care about answering him. She had never seen Jungshik exploded like this. He was always calm and collected.

 

“I’m speaking to you, Agent Huh!”

 

“S-Someone broke into our KIA vault last night. We hadn’t recovered any footage between 3AM until 4AM. Someone must have shut the system down.”

 

“Shut the system down? You do realize that this is a KIA building, right?! So, you tell me who can easily pass our tight security?!”

 

“I… sir, I t-think… we have a double agent in the building.”

 

Jungshik’s eyes widened. He stopped pacing around and thought for a while. She was right. Anyone who can intercept any securities measure must have known someone from the inside. The question is who.

 

“Do you know who?”

 

Yunjin slowly shook her head.

 

“Unfortunately, we have no evidence of anyone that might be involved. We’re stuck with nothing to start on.”

 

Jungshik’s body slumped down on his chair. He had both his hands on his head thinking hard about who that person might be. Who had betrayed the agency? Yunjin watched as her superior looked totally lost. She’s afraid of telling him about the other bad news. She inhaled and exhaled slowly.

 

“Sir, there’s something… else.”

 

Jungshik looked up and saw fear on her face.

 

“W-We intercepted a direct call from Singapore. He’s on the move on securing the last piece.”

 

“WHAT?!”

 

His angry voice startled her a little. She stumbled backward avoiding his piercing glare.

 

“WHY AM I NOT INFORMED ON THIS EARLIER?!”

 

“I-I…”

 

Jungshik stood up and walked towards his window glass panel and pulled down the curtain before locking his door. Yunjin quivered in fear. Jungshik walked towards his file cabinet and pulled a thick white file.

 

“We need to stop him before it’s too late.”

 

“I’ll dispatch o-our unit.”

 

“No. At this rate, we can’t afford to trust anyone inside KIA. This will be to our knowledge. Do you understand, Yunjin?”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

Jungshik looked down on the file and flipped it open. He took some papers that were clipped together. He gave it Yunjin. Yunjin reached for it with her trembling hands. She read what was written on it. Her eyes widened in surprise. She looked up.

 

“But sir…”

 

“We don’t have a choice. At this rate, he’s the best at the job.”

 

“He’s… not currently available.”

 

Jungshik looked at Yunjin and she saw his determination in it. He wasn’t kidding when he suggested that.

 

“We’ll make him available.”

 

 

 

 

 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 

 

 

 

 

Chaewon didn’t bother about the darkness surrounding him at the moment. He was used to it. It has been a week since he was put in a solitary cell. No outdoor activities whatsoever. Just him, four corners of thick walls and darkness. He had been laying down all day all night just waiting for his freedom. Suddenly, the door that in between him and his type of freedom opened revealing a buff guard smirking at him.

 

“Kim Chaewon, you can go now.”

 

Chaewon smirked and stood up dusting his in the process. He gave a look at the guard before looking outside where sunrays were hitting the concrete floor.

 

“Thank you.”

 

“You should stop getting into fights, Chaewon.”

 

“Fights, no fights. Who cares? What day is today?”

 

“Saturday.”

 

Chaewon’s eyes beamed in happiness. He zipped up his jumper.

 

“They serve tteokbokki today.”

 

“They are.”

 

“Thanks.”

 

He put his hands behind his head and strolled down the path towards the prison’s cafeteria. He hasn’t had decent food since a week ago and today was his lucky day.

 

“I like tteokbokki.”

 

After a while, he reached his destination. Chaewon took a deep breath inhaling the sweetness scent of a good taste of tteokbokki. He had that grin and walked towards the counter getting his food before settling down far from others. Not that he was afraid of them but his reputation in prison made others afraid of him. Chaewon grabbed a fork and picked up a piece of his food. He ate it and smiled in contention.

 

‘Heaven.’

 

But his happiness wasn’t long enough when he felt presence sitting down behind him with the culprit’s back facing his. He sighed.

 

“What do you want, Soobin?”

 

“You’re finally out. I was waiting for you.”

 

“No welcoming ceremony? I’m disappointed.”

 

“Yeonjun is still in the hospital after that fight between you and him. I’m not pleased, Chaewon. He’s my best friend.”

 

Chaewon put down his fork.

 

“I told him that I didn’t want to fight. He forced me. You know the truth, Soobin.”

 

“He’s still in coma for god’s sake and you had the heart to sit here and eat?”

 

“Well, I’m sorry to hear that. He should have stopped.”

 

“He should and maybe you too.”

 

Soobin turned around with a fork in hand aiming it at Chaewon’s neck. Chaewon grabbed his steel tray and turned around while swinging it towards Soobin’s hand that was holding the weapon. He flinched when the metal tray encountered his wrist sending him stumble backwards. Chaewon however didn’t stop at that. But this time, he aimed for his most vulnerable part, his forehead. The moment it made contact, Chaewon swore he heard a breaking sound. His skull must have cracked a little. Soobin fell on the floor not moving at all but still alive. Chaewon threw away his tray and looked down.

 

“Maybe it was you who should stop.”

 

Loud cheers came up from the other inmates when they saw Soobin beat up by Chaewon. Despite their fear of Chaewon, they for sure knew that the guy never starts a fight himself. It was always the other person. Chaewon sighed. He didn’t want to spend more time in a solitary cell again.

 

“Kim Chaewon?”

 

Chaewon turned around but the moment he saw who it was, he felt someone tazed him from behind. It burned on his skin and the electricity travelled in his body until it reached his mind sending immediate pain inside.

 

“J-Jungshik.”

 

He lost consciousness and his world darkened once more.

 

 

 

 

 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 

 

 

 

 

Chaewon slowly regained consciousness. It was hard trying to pry his eyes open, but he forced himself. He knew he was in some place and not in the prison anymore. He felt the burned mark on his waist but ignored it and slowly looked up. There were two silhouettes standing in front of him. With the bright light shining, it made it even harder for him to recognize who it was. Finally, he saw him. He couldn’t believe his luck.

 

“Jungshik.”

 

“Hi, Chaewon.”

 

“.”

 

Yunjin watched as Chaewon cursed but didn’t struggle despite being bound on chair with metal chains. She saw him looking in disgust towards her superior.

 

“How long has it been, Chaewon?”

 

“Long enough. Cut the chit chat, Jungshik. What do you want?”

 

“Is it wrong for me to greet one of the best KIA’s agent?”

 

Chaewon chuckled but Yunjin can felt his hatred towards Jungshik.

 

“Once one of the best until you shut down Project 9 and threw me into prison. So, tell me why I am here.”

 

“We have no choice, Chaewon. Your team got out of control. You dismissed a direct order. You know it yourself.”

 

“I have no time for this. What do you want?”

 

Chaewon’s gaze intimidated Jungshik. He had expected the guy to hate him but having him sitting in front of him like this, he was grateful when Yunjin tied him up earlier.

 

“I need your help.”

 

Chaewon laughed as soon as his words sunk in. How ironic it was having your former Officer in Command begging for your help when he was the one who made you miserable for 5 years. His laughter became crazier, but Jungshik didn’t say anything. He waited for him to stop, and he did. He saw a lone tear from his eyes but knowing him, he knew his habit of crying when he had so much laughter.

 

“Done?”

 

“I haven’t laughed so much for years, Jungshik. You made me laugh.”

 

“Is it?”

 

Jungshik took a piece of paper and showed it to Chaewon.

 

“You remember this?”

 

Chaewon was calm but he knew what that was. He scoffed.

 

“So?”

 

“Changmo had it.”

 

The silence was frightening Yunjin especially when she saw Chaewon’s eyes darken every second past.

 

“How?”

 

“Someone broke into KIA with an inside help. I can’t trust anyone in KIA anymore. That’s why you’re here.”

 

“How would you know I won’t betray you?”

 

“You would have betrayed me but not for this reason. You and I know why, Chaewon.”

 

“I might have a change of heart.”

 

Chaewon and Jungshik looked at each other. He can sense his changed self, but he was still the same Chaewon who he trusted before. One that would never walk away when it came to this.

 

“You’re not and I know that. You said it yourself, Chaewon. You are not a heartless person.”

 

Jungshik stepped back but kept his eyes on Chaewon. Chaewon leaned back on his chair.

 

“What do you want me to do?”

 

“Stop him from succeeding. I can’t let him have it. You will stop him like you used to.”

 

“What if I fail?”

 

Jungshik sighed as he put down the paper.

 

“Then a war will happen. But unlike last time, we might not be able to stop it.”

 

Chaewon gritted his teeth. He didn’t like the sound of it. He had sacrificed so much, and he won’t let Changmo win this time around. But then, he can’t do this alone. He won’t survive. Maybe now is the right time for that.

 

“I can help you but with two conditions.”

 

“Shoot.”

 

“I want a full presidential pardon and a full ranks reinstatement.”

 

Jungshik looked at Yunjin and nodded.

 

“That was easy.”

 

“In papers before my departure.”

 

“I’ll let Agent Huh do the paperwork. Easy.”

 

Chaewon was smiling; one that Jungshik recognized, and he didn’t like it one bit.

 

“And I need a team. MY TEAM. Each one of us will get a full presidential pardon and full ranks reinstatement.”

 

That what was he had hoped he wouldn’t ask. He frowned.

 

“That I can’t do. I can set up a team for you. You can’t request.”

 

Chaewon had that evil grin on his face.

 

“Then you can count me out. I told you; I have a change of heart.”

 

The look that Chaewon was giving Jungshik meant one thing; there’s no way you can persuade him anymore. He got what he wanted. Jungshik balanced his options. World destruction or let another eight cuts loose? He chose the latter.

 

“Fine. I’ll pick them up for you.”

 

“Deal.”

 

Jungshik didn’t even smile and Yunjin watched as he looked a bit depressed over this issue. It was an unusual sight for him. He gestured for Yunjin to follow him, but he stopped when Chaewon cleared his throat gaining both attentions.

 

“What else, Chaewon?”

 

“Be careful with the two girls. You know who anyway. They hated you and might ripped off your throat if you are being careless. I’m just saying. Have fun picking them up.”

 

He groaned. This was getting harder.