Seoryeong gripped and released the hand strengthener in her hand without thinking, inside the office. Every time the closed door opened slightly, she glanced over, and every team member who entered immediately met her gaze. Each time she realized that the face entering was not the one she was waiting for, despite being familiar, Seoryeong scratched the back of her neck. As soon as she awkwardly lowered her head, everyone, without exception, commented on her disheveled appearance.
“You really look like you didn’t sleep all night.”
That even made Ki Taemin, who was biting into an apple, comment as he passed by. Instantly, the red handprints scattered all over her body felt intensely itchy, almost unbearable. This morning, she had left for work with Lee Wooshin, her hair still not fully dry. He handed her a new towel from the back seat, and Seoryeong turned on the car heater. Everything felt so natural, as if they had done this countless times, making it feel strange to think about it deeply. Wooshin suggested she take sick leave, but Seoryeong felt that lying still wouldn’t cure this muscle soreness. As a team member who relied on physicality, being laid up just because of sex felt like a blow to her pride. Enough was enough; she had been utterly devastated last night. Now, she wanted to move more and think about what was to come. Seoryeong gripped the hand strengthener with trembling hands. Just thinking about Deputy Head Joo Seolheon made her want to do something with all her might.
“Uh, Han Seoryeong…”
Just then, Jin Hoje approached with a serious expression, looking around, and then spoke.
“I heard something a bit strange on my way up earlier…”
“…….”
“The wording was a bit hard to understand.”
Seoryeong stopped her movement and looked at him. Jin Hoje’s face, tilted in confusion, looked somewhat complicated.
“Someone said they saw Han Seoryeong at the Grand Hotel.”
“……!”
“I told him not to spread nonsense about what business our team member would have there. But he insisted, spitting as he spoke, saying he definitely saw her clearly.”
Hearing this, Ki Taemin, who was lying on the sofa, muttered, “That guy’s crazy…”
“Han Seoryeong’s face isn’t one that’s easily mistaken. So I’m curious what the situation actually is. Maybe you know something?”
Seoryeong merely widened her eyes and shook her head as if she knew nothing. Jin Hoje, who was looking closely, suddenly swallowed and was about to speak again, but just then the office door opened and Lee Wooshin entered. The scattered team members immediately gathered, and Seoryeong hurriedly put down her hand strengthener and sat up straight. Wooshin entered with a stiff face, quickly glancing at Seoryeong and Hoje standing close to each other. As if he had just fought, several knuckles on the back of his hand were red and scraped. The atmosphere he brought in made the team members read the situation and ask.
“Team Leader, what’s going on?”
However, Wooshin only looked at his watch and gave an emotionless order.
“I’ll give you one hour. Prepare your gear.”
“……!”
Seoryeong was surprised and looked around, but the team members immediately changed their expressions as if they were used to this kind of situation.
“There’s an urgent request. Details will be explained en route. Yoo Dawit, you’re responsible for preparing all necessary equipment. Ki Taemin, you need to secure weapons at the location, so check the routes and suppliers. Jin Hoje, contact Heo Channa as soon as possible and activate the GPS and communication network at the Sakhalin monastery.”
Help the new member carry her things… No, I’ll take care of that. Gather in one hour.”
While giving orders, Wooshin briefly shot a sharp glance at Seoryeong, who was still sitting silently, then immediately turned his face away. The team members immediately put down everything they were doing and began to move quickly and systematically. As soon as everyone left, her wrist was suddenly pulled, and her body was dragged along. In an instant, her temple struck a broad, hard chest. Wooshin hugged her tightly and buried his face in her neck.
“Instructor… why…”
“Promise me, you won’t go far from me.”
His hot breath swept across her skin. He exhaled deeply, as if he could finally breathe with relief. Seoryeong, not understanding what was happening, just patted his back gently. Hearing that, a small laugh escaped his collarbone.
“For Han Seoryeong, this will be your first real mission.”
“…….”
“You might not even be able to use half of the skills you’ve trained. The risk of making a big mistake is high, and the possibility of getting hurt is also high. But, at least for this mission, I will guide you myself. If there’s anything you can’t accept, say it now.”
“No, I understand. Thank you for looking out for me.”
Seoryeong nodded, patting his arm. It was a signal for him to let go, but Wooshin only buried his face further. His large arms wrapped around her back like tree roots, to the point where her ribs felt like they might break.
“If possible… don’t see anything… I think I understand that feeling.”
“What?”
Seoryeong asked, not hearing the murmur clearly, but Wooshin didn’t answer. He just diligently rubbed his sharp nose against Seoryeong’s shoulder. Does this man… think he can just infiltrate my embrace by squeezing his large body against me? Seoryeong took an empty breath. Her body kept being pushed backward. Wooshin continued to bury his face in her neck, deeply inhaling her scent. Then, with a seemingly contorted face, he held Seoryeong’s head from behind and pulled her.
“Ugh, hmm…”
Suddenly, his hot tongue parted her flesh and crossed her lips. His hurried breath forced its way in. Wooshin supported her head and kissed her deeply, exploring the inside of her mouth with a greedy tongue. His kiss felt like that of someone restless. The heat from the previous night seemed to resurface down below. His hot breath flowed intensely, his lips soaking wet. Haa… Seoryeong couldn’t keep up with his breathing, so instead of pushing him away, she actually pulled him closer. The tips of her fingers touched the man’s shoulder blades. Their tightly embraced bodies moved in unison, as if sharing a single heartbeat. After exchanging a short but intense kiss, Wooshin pulled away and said clearly: “You promised me.”
Seoryeong didn’t know if that promise was personal or professional.
---
“―I called you personally. Just because I wanted to have some fun.”
His accent was a bit awkward, but still understandable. The clergyman who muttered those words merely played with the cross hanging around his neck, then slowly opened and closed his eyes. His gaze avoided the camera lens, showing a face lost in its own thoughts. The Director’s Office of Blast Corporation. This task was different from usual, not just sending female bodyguards to Russia. Even specifically inviting the special security team felt quite sudden for Kang Taegon. However, this military corporation had grown thanks to investments from Russia, so from the beginning, they had no choice but to obey orders from there.
“Is she alright?”
“Yes, still the same.”
His voice sounded listless. That must mean her condition showed no signs of improvement. Unconsciously, Kiya’s chair began to spin. She said she had a husband. She said she had a husband…. She hummed softly. Her face, hidden behind the back of the chair, occasionally reappeared, and each time it did, something wild flashed behind her flat expression. She said she had a husband. Was that a song lyric? Kiya continued to hum, slipping in Russian curses. Hisgaze, as always, never turned this way. I heard he was raised in a monastery since he was little. Maybe because of that, from the beginning, Kiya was different from worldly people. Sometimes he felt empty like a silent temple, but other times he showed an almost explosive energy, making people want to step back. It had been quite a while since receiving this assignment through Kiya, representing the Sakhalin branch, but even now, the young man was still not fully understood. At least, I know one thing—don’t be fooled by that pale and seemingly weak face. And that behind her piety, an extreme fanatical side sometimes emerged.
“Блять!”
He spat out another crude curse. His chair was now spinning faster. Suddenly, Kiya’s eyes, which had been looking far ahead, sharply turned towards the camera lens.
“If they’re married, they must have had sex, right?”
“……!”
His movement was too fast, making Kang Taegon flinch in surprise. The chair that had been spinning wildly stopped, and perhaps due to the distortion effect of the lens, her facial features looked distorted.
“How about it, are the people here just as enthusiastic about sex?”
“…….”
“Are they as enthusiastic as I am?”
Am I drunk? Even though he’s been known as religious since he was young… But this…
“это пиздец!”
Damn…? Really damn…? Kang Taegon cleared his throat and hurriedly got to the main topic.
“Regarding matters here, you don’t need to worry. The inauguration ceremony for the second leader is being prepared as planned. But… is it true that he will come to Korea directly? If so, we should send the black-haired girl before the ceremony begins…”
Kiya remained indifferent even as Kang Taegon continued to speak.
“Ah―!”
Kang Taegon spoke, stroking his chin.
“The female bodyguard we wanted to use before, she’s now a new member of the special team sent to Sakhalin…”
“Han Seoryeong?”
Kiya narrowed his eyes, reacting sharply.
“Yes, that’s right. That girl is indeed a new member named Han Seoryeong. But how did you know―”
“Don’t call her by that name.”
“What?”
“That’s not a suitable name for her.”
Kiya’s expression seemed to frown, making Kang Taegon pause for a moment. But Kiya just smirked slightly, lowering his head. Regardless of whether you are helped or not, in the end, you are destined to meet your father, Sonya. Kiya murmured this while making the sign of the cross with one hand.
Then he chuckled and added, “Let me tell you in advance—just build the special security team from scratch.” “What?”
“Just worried Director Kang will be sad because he can’t make money.”
Kang Taegon stared at the monitor, frowning, but Kiya just kissed his cross piously.
“From God’s perspective, humans are like mist—appearing today, vanishing tomorrow.”
And with the tip of that cross, he shattered the camera lens. The screen crackled and finally went completely dark.