"Guys, I got the package"
I spoke over the radio "proceeding to the extraction point, follow immediately" I added
"Roger!" a loud and harmonious response echoed from the radio.
After instructing my team over the radio, I turned my attention back to the briefcase.
I stared at it for a couple seconds, then tried opening it.
But couldn't, it was locked, of course.
Only high ranking military and research personals knew the key code. And I'm not one of them.
'They should have at least given me the key code, so I could confirm it really was the prototype'
'Sigh'
I clipped the briefcase to my waist, and exited the room.
I made my way towards the balcony, planning on going down the fastest way possible.
I dropped my bag, searched and brought out, a grappling rope. I had packed for situations like this.
I hooked it on a nearby pillar, tugged it multiple times, to ensure it was tight enough, wore back my bag, then climbed over the balcony.
My gloved hand was wrapped tightly around the rope, as I stared down at the distant ground below.
'Here we go'
I stepped off the balcony, my hand still held the rope, but was free enough for me to glide down.
It was frightening to most, exhilarating to some, but to me?, it was my usual way of going down a building without an elevator.
But things went wrong.
The rope was no longer hooked, I was now free falling.
Reacting faster than I could think, I quickly held on to another balcony.
Pain shot from my shoulder but I ignored it, my heart was beating slightly faster, certainly adrenaline.
My mind cleared, and I noticed, I wasn't far from the ground, I was hanging on the balcony on the second floor.
'Tsk, I hate when this happens'
After few short breaths, I released my grip.
I landed on my feet with practiced ease, stretched my legs a bit before quickly running towards the extraction point with measured speed.
A small forest stood between the abandoned building and our extraction point.
I brought my radio to my lips, and spoke.
"Captain speaking, I have exited the building and I'm now standing at the entrance of the forest, you guys should move quickly, I'm waiting"
A few seconds passed and the radio cracked to life
"Captain am on the second floor, but I have an issue, Kang Joon has been fatally wounded. His right hand was nearly cut off"
Dea-seong spoke with worry and urgency.
With haste, I sent a signal back to HQ, signalling our success.
Few seconds passed and my team could be seen running towards my location, but they weren't alone.
A motorcycle followed slowly behind.
"Captain!"
Dea-seong called as he came close, his voice heavy with anxiety
"Tsk"
I clicked my tongue after paying a glance at the pathetic state Kang-Joon was left in.
"Pardon my intrusion, I'll be collecting that case"
The biker spoke, removing her helmet and placing it on her bike.
I turned my attention to her, then spoke
"I'm sorry that's not possible"
My voice brimming with confidence.
She nodded, then charged at me with the speed of a bull.
My reaction was instantaneous, with a blur of movements I pulled out my handgun and shot at her.
She dodged!
She was inches away from me when I shot!
"How!!!?"
I spoke, confusion evident on my face, but hidden behind my mask.
Ho-gu took her brief moment of distraction to tackle her.
But she stood solid as a rock, unmoving.
I raised my gun again to shoot.
But she does something completely unexpected again.
She lifts Ho-gu, even with his large build.
"What the fuck!!!"
Ho-gu yelled in complete disbelief.
She then tossed him at me, prompting me to drop my gun and brace myself to catch him, or try to at least.
Dea-seong drops Kang Joon and sprints towards her, at full speed, while drawing out his twin blade.
SWISH!
SWISH!
SWISH!
Dae-seong's blades could be heard cutting through the air, with the skill of a master.
But it didn't matter, she blocked and dodge with ease.
But Dae-seong didn't relent.
Suddenly, a small cut appeared by her neck.
It was an unforeseen attack by Hayoon, who had thrown a small knife.
Her expression shifted for a second, before she swiftly catches dae-seong's hand and flings him at Hayoon.
During this fight kang Joon had managed to back himself to a tree as he shot at her, hitting her on the rib.
she looked at the wound, visibly shocked, then at me.
But something wasn't right.
Her eyes was slowly growing bright red.
Like it does in animes.
Sensing something was wrong, I quickly picked my gun and shot at her.
BANG!, BANG!
She disappeared from where she stood.
My instincts screamed danger, as I saw a terrifying fist coming straight at my face.
I blocked.
The force had me sliding back, and my arm broken.
She charged again, throwing several powerful blows with terrifying speed.
I dodged as many as possible, but got hit several times more.
Mid beat down, a familiar voice came from my radio, signalling the arrival of our extraction chopper.
"Guys!!!, get up!!! we need to move out!!!, now!!!"
I yelled aloud, narrowly evading a punch to my face.
The others pulled themselves up, now desperate to end this strange beat down.
"Don't even think of rejoining the fight!!!, leave!!!"
They looked at each other for a second, Dae-seong then picks Kang Joon and runs away with the others.
"Don't take too long!"
Dae-seong said, as he disappears into the forest with others.
Sigh!
"With them out of the way, I can take things more seriously"
I spoke, my expression becoming more stern, as I brought out my dagger and held it in my right hand.
"You think, the outcome will be different?"
She replied coldly, and in Mandarin of course.
"Yes"
I answered in same, straightening my broken left arm.
I dashed forward with the best speed I could muster, and swung my blade, to cut her lower abdomen.
She didn't bother blocking, as she was about to kill me with her incoming punch.
I tilted my head backwards, narrowly dodging her killing blow, but that wasn't all, with fluid movement I had cut somewhere else.
Her wrist.
She looked at the deep cut on her wrist, blood viciously dripping from it.
Before she could look up, I had tossed a stun grenade at her.
And began running away, certain I had left her surprised.
BANG!!!
Resulting in such petty tactics, felt shameful to me, but it is all for my country.
I ran at full speed through the forest, apart from the breaking of twigs and other forest noises, a ticking sound was continuously heard.
Then it hit me.
I unclipped the briefcase from my waist, and threw it far away from me, and continued my run.
...BOOM!!!
I hadn't gone far when it exploded.
I made it to the chopper and we took off immediately, I felt down, as the weight of my failure felt heavy.
~~
~~
~~
ONE WEEK LATER
The news of our failure had already gone wide around the agency as our first failure in 29 mission successful streak.
I have been in the hospital since we returned, but today I was called on by the board of directors.
The board is filled with highly experienced military veterans that are now in the special agency and I know two of them closely, one is Anna's elder brother Samuel Yeon and general Hyunwook who is Anna's family friend .
IN THE MEETING
"Squad commander of phantoms Jin-hun salutes the board" I greeted.
"Hmm Jin-hun you've had a outstanding record so far so what caused the failure of this mission", the director of information asked, his stern gaze on me.
~~
"So in conclusion you're trying to say that there's a traitor among us" General Hyunwook asked.
"I don't mean it rudely sir, but yes" I replied.
My response sent a shockwave of reactions through the room, before settling on, disappointment.
"Your assumptions are yet to be verified for you to proclaim such accusations", the director of defence spoke, rubbing his nose bridge in disappointment.
"You are not allowed to make unnecessary conclusions just because you failed to get your mission done" Samuel added.
"We've been loyal to this country before you were even born, for you to suspect us, this just shows how delusional you are", the director of operations spoke, looking at me, his voice carrying the weight of his age.
"Alright!", general Hyunwook spoke loudly, causing the room to fall completely silent.
"Your baseless accusation towards us, is an insult!, added to the failure of your mission, and so you be punished according, you are suspended till further notice, and deprived of all military benefits, you may leave"
The general's words came like judgement.
".....Yes sir", I immediately left the room and went straight to pack my stuff.
At this point I was just bottling my feelings so I wouldn't make a scene.
Anyways I packed my bags and was about leaving when Anna ran to me asking
"Why didn't you see me before leaving"
I stared at coldly, a few seconds passing before replying, "I couldn't"
She looked into my eyes and placed her hand on my chick and spoke "don't worry, I'll talk to the general, he will listen to me"
After hearing that my face brightened a bit as I gave her a kiss goodbye before leaving.
After my departure I went straight to my parents house and told my father about the situation I was in, hearing the news, he gave me a look of slight disappointment as he said he will see what he can do.
{ ANNA POV }
I Just can't let uncle Hyunwook treat Jin-hun like that, I have to talk him to reduce his punishment no matter what.
My loud footsteps echoed in the silent hallway leading to the general's office.
I knocked twice then opened the door without an answer.
The general was standing before the large glass, his gaze sweeping across the night cityscape. It was beautiful.
"Anna, what brings you here this beautiful evening" , the general spoke finally paying attention to me.
"Sir or should I say Unc....",
"Oh please, don't call me that, I'm not even fifty yet" the general interrupted.
"Well you are about 44 right now, if I remember correctly, anyways that's not why I came here, sir could you please reduce Jin-hun's punishment, it was too harsh for someone with a good record up till now or at least let it be a favour for me".
"Anna, his situation is much tougher than you think and can not be resolved on a wimp, and to even resolve his issue, there are many processes, and I wouldn't want to stress myself that much for free"
He answered not even looking at me.
"What do you want sir?, money?"
"Don't insult me"
He scoffed.
"Then what sir?"
"Rethink your decisions, cause after I say what I want you can't say no"
He spared me a glance as he spoke.
My thoughts reeled, his unknown condition felt... dangerous, but I would risk it.
"Alright"
"Good choice, here is the condition, you are going to be my wife, as you fit my standard perfectly"
His words took me by surprise, leaving my mouth, agape.
"That's... That's too much sir"
"Anna, No is no longer an option, in fact your future is already written in stone, you are going to be my wife"
My jaw clenched, and my mind went overgear, thinking of a solution
'He's not saying this with smug confidence, he's going to convince my parents that he's the perfect suitor for me, while making jin-hun look like a public disgrace'
'But if I accept, it will break jin-hun's heart but save his future, I'm really sorry my love'
"I... Accept"
Tears almost rolled down my eyes from those words.
{Jin-hun's Pov}
it's been five days since I was suspended and it has been boring as hell, I only spent one night In my parents house before going to mine.
"Uhhhhhhhh, I can't take this boredom anymore"
Ring!!!
"Siri who is calling?"
"General Hyunwook" it replied.
"YES!!! ,YES!!! ,YES!!! I LOVE YOU ANNA!!!" i jumped for joy knowing Anna had successfully convinced general Hyunwook to let me back in.
I hurriedly ran to pick the call, "HELLO SIR, SQUAD COMMANDER JIN-HUN SALUTES!!!".
"Hmm Jin-hun, The board had decided to let you off the hook this time, but!, you still have to prove your worth, and don't disappoint.
Full information will be sent later"
"Yes sir!!!, thank..."
He was no longer on the phone.
~~
Few hours passed before a message came, from a unknown ID.
"Mehh" I shrugged, as I tapped the message.
It contained details of the mission.
A small group of terrorists possibly affiliated with Exodus, were spotted last at a warehouse in Busan
My job is to, eliminate them.
'Not difficult'
I thought, as I packed some equipment for the mission, got into my car and started my three hours drive to Busan.
I arrived at the warehouse in Busan, at night, and immediately got to work.
I brought out my thermal scope, and scouted the building. I counted 54 people, I mean terrorists.
So instead of killing them with guns, I will with bombs.
I planted bombs at key locations around the building without being seen.
After finishing I packed up my equipments and left.
At a reasonable distance, I activated the bomb.
~~
Days passed, but I heard nothing from the general, he never called, nor was he picking mine.
Feeling anxious, I turned on the TV, and there I heard the news.
The place I destroyed wasn't a terrorists hideout, but a kidnapping den, that had kidnapped 15 kids from a school two days before.
And all had been confirmed dead.
My heart sank upon hearing those words.
"How... How is this possible?!, I didn't see any kids!!!"
"I... I wasn't informed!!!, I wasn't told!!!"
I scrabbled to hold my phone, tears were building up in my eyes, i muttered,"this wasn't supposed to happen", like a mantra.
I tried calling the general again, but it was same as before.
"This just came in, the information of the perpetrator has been received from an anonymous source, here is a video of him leaving the scene"
I looked at the television, horrified.
They had a video of me!
"How!?"
But the was no time to think about that, I could ready hear the police sirens.
I hurriedly grab my bag and left.
~~
For almost two months I hid, and the incident only grew.
My parents house had been brutally vandalized.
My father's political career was ruined.
My brother's hospital suffered losses, and his family were under constant threats, so he left the country with his family.
I grew vengeful, my blood boiled with hatred for the general.
'I have to find a way to leave the country'
But I can't leave the country alone.
I can't leave Anna.
I left my hideout for Anna's house, I arrived and she wasn't there.
Maybe she's in her parents house, so I went there.
The security was tighter than usual, but not enough to stop me from making my way to Anna's room.
"Anna"
Her head snapped towards where I stood in the dark.
"Jin!, what are you doing here?"
"To get you"
"..."
"Anna, I was setup, you know that right?"
"Yes"
"So I have to leave for now, but I don't want to leave alone, Anna let's run away"
"...I can't"
"Why?"
"Because... because, because I'm pregnant with the general's child"