chapter 1

8:00 PM, Seoul International Ship Sailing Gala

The ship was a floating palace of elegance, with its sprawling decks adorned with golden lights that reflected off the dark waters of the Han River. The hum of conversation mixed with the distant notes of a string quartet, and the air was thick with the scent of expensive champagne and fresh sea breeze. People in designer dresses and tailored suits moved about, holding glasses of sparkling wine as they laughed and chatted.

From his vantage point on the upper deck, Eun-jae adjusted his glasses, the faint glint of their frame catching the light. Known in the intelligence world as Codename Helix, he wasn't here for the festivities. He stood like a statue, observing the throng below with a practiced eye, his posture exuding calm authority. To any casual observer, he appeared to be another guest, an unassuming man blending seamlessly into the wealthy crowd. But beneath his composed exterior, his mind was a battlefield of strategies and contingencies.

The voice crackled in his earpiece, cutting through the ambient noise of the party.

"Helix, stay vigilant. Kang Joon is on the ship. He has the chip we're looking for," the voice said, low and steady, a stark contrast to the lively chaos around him.

Eun-jae's lips barely moved as he replied, "Got it. I just need to figure out where to find him."

He scanned the crowd, his sharp eyes flitting over every face. If Kang Joon is here, then that means Layla Kim must be nearby. The thought sent a ripple of tension through him. Layla and Kang Joon weren't just small-time players; they were key operatives for the Black Serpents, a ruthless syndicate that specialized in arms dealing and high-level espionage.

Descending the stairs with deliberate calm, Eun-jae moved through the crowd like a predator stalking its prey. His movements were unhurried, each step purposeful. As he passed by a woman in an emerald dress, something about her gave him pause. Her profile, her bearing—it stirred a memory deep within him. He glanced at her again, narrowing his eyes.

She looks so familiar. Could it be—?

"Hmm," he muttered under his breath, shaking off the thought. This wasn't the time for distractions. His mission came first.

He tapped his earpiece. "Nova, are you in position?"

"Yes, sir," Nova's voice came through, calm but focused.

"Prepare the boat. I've found him," Eun-jae said as he reached the lower deck. His hands moved swiftly, tying his shoulder-length hair into a neat ponytail, the motion a small but telling sign that he was preparing for action.

There, standing awkwardly by a soda machine, was Kang Joon. Dressed in a plain black outfit that screamed "trying too hard to blend in." Joon's hand gripped a briefcase tightly, his eyes darting nervously as he shuffled toward the soda stand. He looked as out of place as a wolf in a chicken coop, fumbling awkwardly as he tried to maintain a façade of normalcy.

Eun-jae's lips curled into a small smirk. You're not subtle at all, are you?

Kang Joon leaned over the soda machine, fumbling with the buttons like a man unsure how to interact with normal society. As Eun-jae approached, he couldn't help but notice the faint bulge in Joon's coat—a telltale sign of a concealed weapon. His mind raced. Layla must've stashed the chip somewhere nearby. Joon doesn't even realize he's already a pawn in her game.

Feigning casualness, Eun-jae strolled up to the soda machine. As he neared, he gave the machine a light hit on the side. A can of Coca-Cola clattered loudly into the dispenser slot, startling Kang Joon.

"What the heck!" Joon jolted, his grip tightening on the briefcase.

Eun-jae offered a disarming smile. "Oops, sorry about that. You looked like you were lost in thought, sir. Thought I'd help you out," he said, his tone light, almost friendly. But his sharp eyes had already locked onto the soda can—its surface bore the faint outline of a microchip, expertly embedded by Layla Kim.

Joon's eyes narrowed as he studied Eun-jae's face. A flicker of recognition flashed in his expression, followed by fear. He wasn't a fool—he knew when he was being hunted.

Eun-jae's mind sharpened to a razor's edge. He knows. Damn it, he knows.

In an instant, Joon's hand darted toward his coat, reaching for the gun hidden beneath. But Eun-jae was faster. Reacting on pure instinct, he delivered a swift kick to Joon's wrist, sending the gun skidding across the floor. Patrons gasped, their murmurs escalating into panicked screams as they noticed the weapon. The air grew thick with chaos as people began to scatter, overturning tables and spilling drinks in their rush to escape.

"Uh... sirs, is everything alright?"

The question came from a young ship worker, his voice thin and hesitant as it cut through the suffocating tension. The man was dressed in the cruise staff's pristine white uniform, a golden name tag pinned to his chest that read Min-soo. His wide, doe-like eyes darted nervously between Eun-jae and Kang Joon, clearly oblivious to the storm brewing before him. His polite demeanor clashed sharply with the undercurrent of hostility in the air.

Kang Joon's head snapped toward Min-soo, his eyes narrowing as an idea struck him. In a flash, he lunged, his movements fast and desperate. Before Eun-jae could react, Kang Joon grabbed the worker, yanking him roughly into a chokehold. A gasp escaped Min-soo as Kang Joon pulled a knife from his coat, the cold steel gleaming under the chandelier's light.

"I'm not dying alone," Kang Joon spat through gritted teeth, his grip on Min-soo tightening. The knife pressed against the terrified man's throat, just enough to draw a thin bead of blood.

Eun-jae froze, his mind racing as he took in the scene. Damn it. He's using the worker as a shield. Of course, he'd stoop to this.

The room seemed to shrink, the distant noise of the chaotic ballroom fading into a low hum. Everything in Eun-jae's world narrowed to Kang Joon, the blade, and the trembling figure of Min-soo.

"Drop the chip and the gun!" Kang Joon barked, his voice raw with desperation. "Slide them over to me, or this man dies!"

Min-soo whimpered, his face pale, his eyes filling with tears. "P-please... help me," he stammered, his voice cracking. His chest heaved with panicked breaths as he clung to Kang Joon's arm, his nails digging into the man's sleeve in a futile attempt to pull away.

Eun-jae clenched his jaw, his heart twisting at the worker's plea. This poor guy had no idea what he was walking into. He didn't ask for this.

"Alright, alright," Eun-jae said calmly, his voice steady and even. He raised his hands slowly, palms out, in a gesture of surrender. Every move he made was deliberate, calculated. "I'll do as you say. Just don't hurt him."

Kang Joon's eyes darted wildly, his body twitching with tension. "No funny business," he snarled.

Eun-jae crouched down, placing his gun on the floor first. The cold metal clinked softly against the polished marble. Next, he held up the chip, the tiny device glinting in his hand. He met Kang Joon's frantic gaze, his own expression carefully neutral. Slowly, he placed the chip on the floor beside the gun.

"There," Eun-jae said, his tone measured. "I'm sliding them over."

He pushed both the gun and the chip across the floor with a controlled movement, watching as they came to a stop near Kang Joon's feet.

"Good," Kang Joon muttered, his grip on Min-soo loosening slightly. Then, with a grunt of effort, he shoved the worker forward, sending him stumbling into Eun-jae.

Min-soo let out a startled cry as he fell into Eun-jae's arms. Eun-jae caught him easily, steadying the man. "Are you okay?" he asked quickly, his voice low but firm.

"I'm fine," Min-soo choked out, though his shaking hands betrayed his fear. "Go... get him!"

Eun-jae nodded once, his focus already snapping back to Kang Joon. The man had grabbed the chip and was making a break for it, his shoes pounding against the marble as he bolted for the grand staircase.

Without hesitation, Eun-jae pushed Min-soo gently aside and took off after him, his long strides eating up the distance.

"Shit," Eun-jae muttered under his breath as Kang Joon reached the staircase. The man was quick, his dark coat billowing behind him as he climbed two steps at a time.

Eun-jae's sharp gaze stayed locked on Kang Joon's retreating form. He's desperate. That makes him dangerous, but it also makes him predictable. He's running scared, which means he'll slip up.

The stairs loomed ahead, their ornate design shimmering under the golden glow of the chandeliers. Each step Eun-jae climbed felt like a test of his endurance, the weight of the mission pressing heavily on his shoulders. This isn't just about me catching him. If he escapes with that chip, it's over. All the intel we've worked for, the lives we've risked—it'll all be for nothing.

Joon glanced back as he reached the top of the staircase, his face pale with fear. He stumbled slightly, the chip clutched tightly in his hand.

Eun-jae saw the flicker of panic in Kang Joon's eyes and felt a surge of determination. He knows he's cornered. He's just running on borrowed time now.

The distance between them closed with every pounding step, Eun-jae's breath steady despite the exertion. His sharp mind mapped out possible scenarios, calculating Kang Joon's next move. He's heading for the upper decks. If Nova locks down the exits, he'll have nowhere to go. I just need to keep the pressure on.

Pressing a finger to his earpiece, Eun-jae barked, "Nova, Kang Joon is heading to the upper decks. Cut off all escape routes. Lock down the main exits."

"Understood," Nova's voice crackled in response. "Locking it down now."

Eun-jae burst onto the upper decks, his chest heaving as the cold night air slapped against his face, chilling the sweat on his brow. The distant hum of the ship's engines was drowned out by the sound of his heartbeat pounding in his ears. Above him, the moon hung high in the ink-black sky, its light glinting off the rippling surface of the ocean and casting eerie shadows across the deck. His sharp eyes scanned the open area, taking in every detail, every potential threat, his instincts honed and razor-sharp.

There, at the far end of the deck, Kang Joon stood silhouetted against the moonlight. He clutched the briefcase tightly in one hand, and in the other, the precious chip glinted faintly, catching the light like a beacon. His face was flushed, his hair disheveled from the frantic chase. Yet, even now, Joon's lips curled into a triumphant smirk, a look of defiance that made Eun-jae's blood boil.

Eun-jae slowed his steps, moving with calculated precision, his mind racing. He's cornered. There's nowhere left for him to go. Every muscle in his body tensed, prepared for whatever desperate move Joon might attempt.

"End of the line, Kang Joon," Eun-jae called out, his voice low and steady, carrying across the space between them like a warning shot. "Hand over the briefcase and the chip, and maybe I'll let you walk out of here in one piece."

Joon didn't respond immediately. Instead, his smirk deepened, his eyes glinting with something almost maniacal. "You really think you've got me, don't you, Helix?" he said, his voice dripping with mockery. "You agents are all the same—always thinking you're a step ahead."

Before Eun-jae could respond, Joon took a sudden step backward, climbing onto the edge of the railing. For a split second, Eun-jae's breath caught in his throat. He wouldn't…

But he did. With a final mocking laugh, Kang Joon leapt off the edge, his figure disappearing into the darkness below. Eun-jae ran forward instinctively, gripping the cold metal railing as he looked down. The icy water churned as Joon resurfaced moments later, already swimming with powerful, deliberate strokes away from the ship.

"Did he just jump?" Eun-jae muttered under his breath, his mind struggling to process the audacity of it. Of all the reckless moves… Damn it, I can't let him get away.

His hand moved automatically to his holster, drawing his gun with practiced ease. He raised it, squinting as he aligned his sights on the fleeing figure. One clean shot, and this ends here. His finger tightened on the trigger—

Pow!

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