Chapter 2.1

Chapter 2.1

Haewon pulled the trigger again, but the man had already seized Kwon Yeonwoo, dodging the bullet. He pressed the razor-sharp knife to Kwon Yeonwoo’s throat.

“Drop the gun!” the enraged man yelled. The blade immediately began to dig into Kwon Yeonwoo’s soft skin.

“I said, drop the gun!”

Haewon swallowed hard. When she hesitated, the man dug the knife deeper into Kwon Yeonwoo’s throat. A trickle of red blood immediately ran down his pale neck.

She had a way to deal with the man, but at this rate, Echo One’s safety couldn’t be guaranteed.

Awakening her cold rationality, she assessed Kwon Yeonwoo. If this was his first time in such a situation, he should be in extreme terror.

“…?”

Haewon paused when she saw Yeonwoo’s face. She had expected panic, but his expression was far calmer than she anticipated.

Beneath his sweat-soaked hair, his impressive eyes were clearly fixed on Haewon. Though bloodshot, the focused gaze seemed to pierce right through her.

There was no trace of fear. His expression made it hard to believe a knife was at his throat.

What was this…? How could a civilian remain so composed in this situation?

He was in a foreign country, kidnapped by an unknown assailant, and confined for over a day. Considering the people strewn across the floor, their fates unknown, it wasn’t an easy situation to accept, but for Haewon, it was a hopeful sign.

If Kwon Yeonwoo kept his wits about him, she might be able to do something.

Just then, Kwon Yeonwoo uttered something in his native language, his voice low and tight.

“This bastard doesn’t understand Korean.”

As soon as Kwon Yeonwoo spoke, the man roared.

“What are you saying?! Don’t try anything, you two, just drop the gun! Now!”

The man’s Chinese had a strong southern accent. Haewon, fluent in Chinese, raised both hands in a gesture of surrender and carefully spoke to him.

“I’ll drop the gun. Just spare the hostage.”

“Don’t try any tricks, you bitch!”

On closer inspection, it seemed the man hadn’t completely avoided Haewon’s earlier shot. Blood was seeping from his side, soaking his shirt.

At least that’s a relief.

Haewon bent down, slowly feigning to lower her gun, and spoke in Korean.

“When I give the signal, move left. Can you do that?”

“Fuck! What are you saying?! Shut up and drop the gun! You don’t care if this bastard dies?!”

The man menacingly shoved the knife closer to Yeonwoo, snarling. Yeonwoo’s neat brows finally furrowed, as if in pain.

Haewon then spoke in a calm voice.

“I’ll be the hostage instead. After all, a woman is more useful, isn’t she?”

At her words, the man gave a sneering, dismissive laugh.

“You might be worth some money, but this one’s more valuable right now.”

At that, Haewon feigned a troubled expression and obediently lowered her gun to the floor. Then, as instructed, she pushed the gun towards the man.

The moment the man lowered his gaze to pick up or move the gun was the opportune moment.

She watched the man silently, holding her breath, when he briefly lowered his eyes. This was her chance. She was just about to throw the dagger from her holster.

Suddenly, Kwon Yeonwoo elbowed the man squarely in the solar plexus. It was an unexpected move.

“Ugh!”

“…!”

Though surprised, she didn’t miss the opportunity and threw the dagger at the man. The sharp blade flew towards the man’s neck.

“Aaagh!”

Unable to dodge the dagger, the man staggered, hit by the blade. The knife he held clattered to the floor. Haewon dove to the ground, snatched up her gun which lay before the man, and immediately aimed it at him.

Bang!

The bullet pierced the man’s heart.

“Ugh!”

The man let out a dying gasp and crumpled to the spot.

“Ha.”

At least the immediate danger was over. Haewon let out a short, shallow breath and rose. The floor was a mess of fresh blood from the man.

She brushed off her clothes and approached Kwon Yeonwoo to check on his condition.

“My apologies for the late introduction. I am a Black Agent from the National Intelligence Service. Are you alright?”

Instead of answering, Kwon Yeonwoo stared up at Haewon’s face, then abruptly extended his bound hands towards her, as if asking to be freed.

Haewon used the knife from the floor to cut the ropes binding Kwon Yeonwoo’s hands and feet. As she did, she replayed the recent events in her mind.

No matter how many times she thought about it, it was baffling.

How could someone who had a knife at their throat and was cut by it be so unfazed?

When she looked up again, her eyes met Kwon Yeonwoo’s. Though his capillaries were burst, his large eyes with their inner double eyelids were beautiful. The dark mole beneath his left eye was strangely captivating.

He looked different from his photo.