A brace around her neck.

A hand feeling around her head, gently, swiftly.

She fluttered her eyes open, and a tan woman whom she recognised came into view. Bomi wanted to speak, but her voice emerged muffled. She tried to make out the place she was currently in, but it was too unfamiliar. It couldn't be a hospital. Her attempt to move only resulted in a string of mental curses coursing through her head.

What the is that?

Her entire body felt like it had been ran over by a bulldozer. Bomi couldn't remember how she ended up in this state. But she knew who was responsible for it. That tattoo of Boa on her assailant's back was a dead giveaway.

"Don't move," Yuri reprimanded her. "Yes I'm a doctor in case you're wondering. Stop fidgeting if you don't want to be paralysed for the rest of your life." That last sentence was enough to send the victim into total unconsciousness again.

When she stirred from the darkest depth of sleep again, Bomi was surprised to find herself in the confinement of a very familiar setting. She slowly pulled herself up to her feet. Long gone were the excruciating pain. Was Yuri just bullting her about getting paralysed? Pressing the heel of her palm against her throbbing temple, her eyes flicked to the figure sitting across her-

Krait.

He took off his mask, offering Bomi a crooked smile. "How are you, Bomi?"

"I feel like crap," she answered honestly. Her eyes darted across the room. "Where's Yuri?"

"Gone."

“Does she know who you really are?”

“Only Sungjae and Seulgi do.”

“Seems like you trust them,” Bomi commented. And she silently wondered what they had done to earn Seung Won's trust. “Did you set me up? There wasn’t anyone who’s taking the drugs from me was there? You’re testing my loyalty again.”

Seung Won clapped his hands, with every clap of his bouncing off the walls in the room. “Bravo!" he said, "Well, I can proudly tell you that you’ve passed the test.”

The brunette cursed internally. “Are you doing this because I’m dating your daughter?”

“So you’ve expected this then, haven’t you?”

“I don’t think the attacks are necessary.”

“Hayoung’s still alive after countless tests from me. I don’t see why I need to make an exception for you.”

“Fine,” Bomi relented. It was useless trying to argue with such a vicious tyrant. “Your daughter’s involved,” she added, trying to mask her disdain.

“Is she?” Seung Won cocked an eyebrow, before letting out a menacing laugh. “Why don’t you stop by my house? She’s at home now. I would offer you a ride to my house,” his lips tugged up at the corner of his mouth, “but that’s too dangerous.”

“I’ll get there myself. Some other day.” She wasn't in the mood to meet that conniving liar.

"You don't seem happy, Bomi," Seung Won stated with a hint of amusement. "You don't like the idea of my daughter being involved in the underworld?"

"I didn't see it coming." Oh hell, she sure did. "Had she known all along?"

"That you've joined my organization?"

"Yeah."

"Of course. She's been keeping her tabs on you."

That last bit of new information shocked the brunette, but she managed to seal her surprise. So Chorong too had been keeping watch on her all along?

“Anyway,” Seung Won continued, “there’s another reason why I decided to test you again.” Bomi just looked at him expectantly. “The gambling business is in flames. Someone’s been playing us.”

Too many revelations in one day.

“Are you saying there’s a mole among the members of the higher-ups?”

Seung Won nodded. “You’ve cleared the test. So you don’t have to worry about your safety. The police won’t be able to come after you.”

“You’ve been so distracted lately. Is something bothering you?” Seulgi asked the preoccupied blonde.

“Wouldn’t you already know what’s the cause of this?” Naeun fired back.

“Now, now, what are you talking about?” the employer asked again, feigning innocence.

“You told Eunji we’re dating each other. But we’re clearly not.”

“I never told her that.”

“She’s not a liar.”

“Are you saying I’m one then?” Seulgi asked, offended.

Of course, you’re criminal anyway, was what Naeun wanted to say. “I didn’t say that.”

“You’re clearly implying that, Son Naeun.”

“Forget it.”

“You should just forget her, Naeun.”

The blonde rolled her eyes. “Who are you to give me such an advice?”

“Because I care for you. And I don’t want you to get hurt.”

Naeun's eyebrows bent inward into a frown. “What are you talking about?”

“She doesn’t see you as an option anymore, Naeun. My brother has been doing well in trying to win her heart again.”

“She doesn’t like him,” Naeun retorted.

“She’s starting to waver.”

“I don’t believe you," Naeun argued, her voice quivering. "Her feelings wouldn’t change that fast.”

“Feelings change, Naeun. Sometimes as fast as the speed of light.”

“So you finally told Senior Officer Choi that Krait is actually Seung Won huh?” Naeun asked the brunette.

“Yeah, I don’t think I should keep it any longer from him,” Bomi responded truthfully. She did inform Seunghyun with regards to Krait’s real identity, but not Chorong’s involvement. Sometimes, Bomi didn’t understand why she was still bothering to shield Chorong’s wrongdoings, but she couldn’t help it.

Love blinds your judgment.

“This case is so complicated,” Naeun grunted. “There’s one of the members who isn’t working for Krait. But I can’t pinpoint who.”

“The mole Krait talked to Bomi about?” Hayoung inquired.

“Yes," Bomi answered. "Who could it be though? I don’t think it’s any of the three who are in charge of the gambling business.”

“Choi Siwon looks like he’s working for the police. Or maybe he’s an undercover cop like us,” Naeun remarked.

“He isn’t,” a new voice chimed in. The owner of the voice came into sight. It was Seunghyun. “It’s none of the three. Investigations are still ongoing, but I think we have more than enough evidence collected to give them the maximum punishment. I’ve checked with the other department, the one who filled us in with the intel was from an unidentified source. We cannot track it.”

“Maybe it’s Seulgi or Sungjae,” Bomi suggested. “Krait told me he trust the two of them. I mean, they would have more info since he trust them more right?”

“It can’t be Sungjae. He’s extremely loyal to Krait. I’m not too sure about Seulgi th