Chapter 245.1

Chapter 245.1

“…”

It wasn’t polite to pry into the past, so she let it go… But was there really no mission involving women? Seoryeong suddenly felt thirsty and opened a bottle of water.

No, let’s think of good things.

Yesterday was doenjang jjigae, so how about kimchi jjigae today? Or maybe miyeokguk? Miyeokguk would be better. When you’re tired, warm miyeokguk is the best…

Even in the midst of this, Seoryeong took a moment to check her phone. There were no messages from Lee Wooshin. Was he taking a nap?

“Ha, ha, why does your expression look like that?”

“The apron…”

“Phew, what?”

Her comrade, Dong Jiwoo, who was still stuck on the training machine, asked while waving his arms.

Dong Jiwoo…

To properly recall that familiar name, she had to dig back to the Blast training program she had participated in before.

“Ha, ha…”

With a face that looked like it could faint at any moment, Seoryeong looked at Dong Jiwoo, who still had a round face like a chestnut. Even though she wasn’t particularly active, it was surprisingly impressive how long she had survived.

Was it the first day of the National Intelligence Service’s new recruit training?

The shock and absurdity of meeting Dong Jiwoo again in this place… The last time she had seen him was when she was kidnapping Deputy Chief Joo Seolheon.

Wasn’t he the one who swung a baton fiercely to block her way?

He was a new recruit in the National Intelligence Service, pretending to know nothing, acting incompetent, and harmless, infiltrating the Blast training.

“Hey, hey. Wait. Don’t say anything. Don’t say a word!”

Just as she was about to grab him by the collar, Dong Jiwoo suddenly hugged Seoryeong, whispering desperately.

“Don’t say anything here!”

“Are you not going to let go?”

“Then why is your name Joo Seoryeong…? Why did you do such suspicious identity laundering?”

“…!”

“If you don’t want to get into trouble, don’t acknowledge me.”

“…..”

“Let’s talk outside, outside.”

Being hugged by a trembling man felt worse than she had expected. Should she just break his arm? In that moment, as she glared at Dong Jiwoo with such impudent thoughts, he suddenly realized her cold gaze and began shaking his head like a madman.

Well…

Dong Jiwoo was someone who had witnessed all of Seoryeong’s troubled personality during the Blast training.

Not wanting to be caught in a bind, the two of them silently made a pact not to touch each other’s positions at that moment.

It was only after several months had passed that Seoryeong learned the reason why Dong Jiwoo, already an agent in the National Intelligence Service, had infiltrated this place.

“I have poor performance evaluations. My standing in the organization is weak, and since I can’t go on actual missions, the only assignments I get are to observe new recruits, write opinions, and analyze.”

“……”

“But this time, our director said to bring back a partner if there’s a useful recruit. Since I’m not a typical field agent, if I bring someone who can complement my weaknesses, they’ll send me out into the field.”

“What are your weaknesses?”

“Well… according to the director, I’m suited for office work. I tend to hesitate when situations become dangerous. I sometimes falter at critical moments. There have been times when operations were delayed because of me. I’m vulnerable to stress and weak against coercive interrogations. And I lack practical instincts…”

Dong Jiwoo seemed to have been on the receiving end of a lot of scrutiny, his neck retracting like a turtle’s.

“Ugh… Still, how many years of experience do I have? Is there really anyone among the new recruits who can complement me?”

Their eyes inadvertently met.

“Someone who is completely the opposite of my personality… a crazy person… where… where?”

Dong Jiwoo’s words slowed down like a broken radio. He stared at Seoryeong intently, narrowing his eyes as if thinking about something. Then, shivering from a chill, he shook his shoulders and slapped his cheeks a couple of times. His face looked somewhat pale.

What’s wrong with him?

When she stared at him, Dong Jiwoo quickly averted his gaze.

“Well, okay. I’ll look for someone diligently.”

Seoryeong stood up with a face that showed no particular interest. What she wanted to confirm was whether he would suspect her new identity as Joo Seol-ryeong. Fortunately, he seemed to have no such thoughts.

No, rather, it seemed he was sufficiently convinced about the series of events that led to her being scouted by the National Intelligence Service from her previous work at a military contractor. He continued to hover around her with a face that suggested he had something to ask.

“Haah… haah! I’m done now!”

Finally, Dong Jiwoo, sprawled on the floor, exhaled heavily. He looked at her with glazed eyes, as if he were about to roll them back in his head.

“But you…”

His pale, dry lips trembled. His voice was extremely low.

“Stop smiling like a creep while training.”