My Lady

The Target
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The door to the double deluxe suite room opened, revealing the four people who looked less than pleased as they entered. Dong Woo, Hee-Jin, Hana, and Ji Soo looked up from the research they were doing on the laptop, welcoming the rest.   “Why the long face?” Dong Woo asked, pouting along to his sister’s frown.   She answered by slamming her hand on the table, leaving a scroll of invitation as she withdrew her fingers. “We’ve been tricked.”   Hana was the first one to take a curious glimpse at it, reading the words out loud. “You are cordially invited to the Palau de la Música Catalana at 8 PM tonight.”   “Isn’t that the largest concert music hall in Barcelona?” Ji Soo immediately recognized the familiar name.   “This was what Ki Bum was protecting?” Dong Woo scrunched his eyes, and the others who had just returned bobbed their head.   “The events at Sagrada Familia was just a distraction all along. They were keeping us occupied while Mr. Lee was obtaining the actual weapon in preparation for tonight,” Hee-Jin concluded to herself, mumbling as she recalled the scenario. How could they have been so stupid to overlook that fact?   “Hold on,” Maerin then said, taking the paper from Dong Woo’s hand as she reread the sentence several times. “What exactly is this deadly weapon of mass destruction we are searching for? Are they going to use it tonight?”   “Palau de la Música Catalana is the number one tourist spot in Barcelona, so it is guaranteed to have a lot of visitors. Whatever this is, it will affect a large number of visitors,” Ji Soo remarked as he returned to the laptop to do more research, hoping there was a secret message he could decode through this fact.   “We have never been able to obtain information about this SM-Zero.” Dong Woo also returned to his laptop as he began typing, eyes glued to the screen.   “The past records of Comme Des’ transaction history leads to a merchant in Barcelona,” Hana remarked, remembering the evidence she had seen when looking up Comme Des’ real identity.   “Was there any other detail listed?” Dong Woo questioned, staring sternly at the younger girl who tried to recall any important information.   “There were a bunch of numbers,” she was squeezing her eyes shut as if it would help her trace down her memories. The immense intimidation somehow helped her remember to pull out a piece of evidence she had found through her laptop. “This was the only photo there was.”   Ji Soo immediately got up, bending a little beside her as he closely watched the randomly scrambled list of numbers and letters. The move made her flinch, but he was too concentrated to notice their arms were touching.   “There!” He suddenly remarked, tracing one line with his finger. “C11H26NO2PS.”   “What?” Tae Min repeated, suddenly paling. “Are you sure that’s what it said?”   “What is it?” Maerin’s voice was induced with panic.   “That’s the VX virus, an extremely toxic nerve gas considered as one of the deadliest weapons of mass destructions,” Tae Min told them, having encountered it before in the forensics department. One of the victims was murdered using this treatment.   “Hm, but that’s not all. There are other chemicals included,” Ji Soo remarked as he studied the formulas found along the record. “Sounds to me this SM-Zero is a new substance that combines earlier existing poison to create something far more dangerous.”   “Is it like a virus?” Hyun Mi interrupted. She had been leaning against the window aisle with Woo Hyun beside her, listening and absorbing the information given.   “Perhaps. We know what the chemicals do on its own, but we cannot determine its effects as a new collective group. It could act as a virus that allow carriers to contaminate other people, or maybe it is a gas that kills the people inhaling them,” Tae Min told them.   “I am guessing it is a virus,” Woo Hyun said, and everyone looked at him in surprise. “If Mr. Lee claims it is a weapon of mass destruction, he wouldn’t just aim to kill the people coming to the concert hall tonight. He would want the entire world to be affected.”   “That would be very ambitious. But then again, Mr. Lee is ambitious,” Dong Woo remarked, agreeing to his words.   “So what are the plans for now?” Hee-Jin asked.   “I will contact Interpol,” Dong Woo decided, seeing their shock. “The situation has gotten out of hand. We can’t handle this on our own.”   “They will arrest us for rebelling,” Tae Min spoke worriedly.   “Rebelling for a good cause. We need backup, and Interpol is the only one who has the authority to arrest Mr. Lee.”   Dong Woo was right. Their organization was led by Mr. Lee, but it was only one division of the government’s secret defense squad procedures. Interpol was a level higher and had more privileges they were not permitted to.   “So,” he proceeded and eyed them from top to bottom. “If we are going to the music concert tonight, we need to dress up for the event.”   Hyun Mi sighed out loud when others nodded their head in excitement. Finding these disguises were always the hardest part of her job, and she disliked it. Usually Ki Bum would be the one taking care of her styling, but he was gone now and she had no choice but to trust her terrible senses.   “I guess we’ll go shopping,” Woo Hyun whispered in her ear, and her lips unconsciously tucked into a smile.   There was perhaps one thing she could look forward to, and that was to spend some quality time with him.     They all went to one of the most prestigious shopping centers in Barcelona where the biggest brands were located at. The one they visited specialized in party dresses and tuxedos, which was perfect for tonight’s occasion.   “Doesn’t this feel like a date?” Woo Hyun had asked when they were alone in the elevator. The others had gone off their separate ways, and they were pretty sure everyone secretly sought for ways to spend some alone time together.   “This is nothing like a date,” Hyun Mi corrected him, smiling at his mindset. He was such a dreamer at times, much too occupied with the positivity of life and the good could have beens. It was what made him perfect as a politician.   “You must not have been on too many dates, I suppose,” he concluded, and there was a slight mockery in his tone.   “You speak as if you are one willing to change that,” she said and turned to him with sudden interest. “Are you planning to show me the things I don’t know of?”   Woo Hyun’s eyes flickered and he couldn’t stop himself from grinning. “Is this your way of asking me out?”   “Oh dear, no,” Hyun Mi chuckled, sensing the familiarity in the speech. “What kind of lady would I be if I took that privilege away from a fine gentleman such as yourself?”   “You’d be my lady.”   Hyun Mi’s heart nearly lost it, feeling the flutter as he stared at her so lovingly from so up close. Her cheeks were hurting from the smile she tried to hide. She unconsciously wetted her lips, nervous at their solitude inside the elevator.   Luckily, the elevator door opened at that time and a crowd of people moved inside, conveniently occupying all the space so that the two were pressed against each other.   They cleared their throat, looking away from each other with an equally bashful smile. Both had to resist the urge to secretively brush their fingers together, and kept their hands to themselves.   When the elevator stopped at the top floor, Woo Hyun gave in to his desire and grabbed her by the hand, leading her out of the crowd. She did not complain and willingly followed him to the shopping floor, making him regret not holding her hand sooner.   The entire top floor wasn’t as packed as the elevator, and there was plenty of room to move about. Still, he chose to keep his fingers laced within hers, and she saw no reason to pull them away. So they continued browsing through the store, hand in hand, like a normal couple on a date.   First they walked into a store that sold all sorts of textiles and materials to create customized tuxedos for men. They could also select from a handful of pre-made ones. There were numerous designs available in a variety of colors, which made the selection process a lot harder.   “How fancy do I need to dress up?” Woo Hyun asked, looking at Hyun Mi for help. He did not know how much of a fashion terrorist she could be.   “You need something quick and easy to move in,” she stated logically.   Woo Hyun picked up a black blazer from the stack next to him, and held it in front of him chest. “This one?” He asked, having the most adorable lost look on his face.   Hyun Mi found herself in awe just watching him, unable to stop herself from smiling. He was the type of guy who made the clothes look good whenever he wore them, not the other way around. But that was an opinion she was not going to amuse him with in case it would elevate his arrogance.   “Sure,” she replied coolly that in no way represented her actual thought.   “You don’t seem to like it,” he pouted.   “Woo Hyun, I like everything you wear,” she blurted unconsciously, but gasped a little when she realized she had said too much. “I… I mean…”   The frown on his face faded into a satisfied smirk
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Purple-Peng
1301 streak #1
Chapter 24: I finally finished this today.
I should have seen it coming with Ki Bum since I do watch a couple of spy movies/dramas.
I think my favorite part is seeing Hyun Mi threaten Mr. Lee and then her conflicting view on their mission in the plane.
Purple-Peng
1301 streak #2
Chapter 21: I love how there's another reference to HIPS with Hee Jin mentioning she nearly killed someone with a curling iron. It makes me wonder if that's where she got the idea to use it as a weapon.
Purple-Peng
1301 streak #3
Chapter 19: I love how Hyun Mi and Woo Hyun are closer which makes it sadder with what happens to him in HIPS.
Purple-Peng
1301 streak #4
Chapter 17: I like how this is kind of like a foreshadowing of HIPS and love the cameo of Hee Jin and Min Seok.
Purple-Peng
1301 streak #5
Chapter 14: I don't think Woo Hyun is lying to Hyun Mi.
I like how Hyun Mi and those close to her want to change what their company does. I couldn't help but think maybe one of the higher-ups in their company or maybe Ki Bum is using them for their own goals.
rajnbow #6
Chapter 14: Wait whatt that was unexpected... I've been feeling that Ki Bum and Mr. Lee were slightly off though, so I think they're both probably lying. There's no way Woohyun would actually deserve to be killed...

But on a happier note, yay Taemin and Maerin! The hand holding part was really cute XD
Purple-Peng
1301 streak #7
Chapter 12: Love the appearances of the other characters from HIPS, Seollin and Taehyung introducing themselves made me laugh.
I think my favorite part is when Taemin touched the check because one thing I learn from a game called "Women's Murder Club: Death in Scarlet" is that people tend to press a bit hard when writing. So whatever they wrote might be indented into the next sheet of paper.
Purple-Peng
1301 streak #8
Chapter 11: The part where they nearly got caught is so intense. It reminded me of a level I played in "Hitman 2", where Agent 47 has about at least 3 to 5 minutes to kill his target before his identity gets discovered.
Also, the two finally kissed! I laughed at the part where Hyun Mi realized the others might have seen it from the CCTV.
Purple-Peng
1301 streak #9
Chapter 10: Woo Hyun to the rescue! I find it sweet he's there to save Hyun Mi from Sang Gyu since she and the others were stuck on what to do.