The long-awaited first day of work finally arrived.
Han Seoryeong arrived at Blast Agency and, with slightly stiff steps, entered the elevator. It felt like just yesterday people were calling her "madam" and "cleaning lady" as she went back and forth through these same halls.
While straightening her clothes, she pressed the button for the fifteenth floor.
From her observations over the past few days, she felt relieved that Lee Wooshin wasn't as difficult as she had imagined. Unlike at the training camp—where the man was always yawning—he now woke up early every day for jogging or weight training. He didn't leave the house in a mess either.
Although being a team leader turned out to be busier than expected—leaving early and often returning late at night—traces of his presence were still easily found.
A damp towel. A washed and overturned glass. The heater turned on.
And whether it was a coincidence or not, the once-empty refrigerator was now full of her favorite fruits, as well as extra snacks.
As she reached for a bottle of water that morning, Seoryeong had paused.
A funny thought crossed her mind—_this place finally feels like a truly inhabited home._
"—!"
Her reverie was instantly shattered.
_What?_
The elevator—which had initially been moving smoothly upwards—suddenly shook and **stopped**.
Startled by the stronger-than-expected vibration, Seoryeong quickly grabbed the handrail inside. The previously smooth sound of the motor abruptly ceased, and the lights inside the elevator went completely out.
"What—!"
Her breathing became heavy with panic.
She immediately pressed the emergency call button, but there was no response. It felt like all systems were completely dead.
She took out her phone but hesitated.
_Could I really call 911 in a high-security military agency without causing trouble?_
Maybe it was better to wait. Or maybe contact someone.
The only person who came to mind was Instructor Lee Wooshin.
"Hhh!"
With a furrowed brow, she paced back and forth in the cramped space—but lost her balance again.
"—!"
The elevator started moving.
However, instead of stopping at the fifteenth floor, it continued to ascend—16, 17, 18, 19.
There was no sign of stopping.
It kept going **up**.
"What the hell is this?"
Its speed increased drastically, making her face pale. Unconsciously, the elevator had already passed the thirtieth floor and continued to rise toward the top.
Feeling nauseous, she bit her lip and stared at the rapidly changing numbers on the panel.
"Hhh!"
_This elevator couldn't possibly break through the roof, could it?_
Even if it was malfunctioning, this building still had a limited number of floors. It would definitely stop somewhere.
_Right?_
She forced herself to think positively, swallowing her anxiety.
Finally, the elevator stopped.
But it wasn't on the top floor.
It had gone far beyond the floors indicated by the buttons—and then the doors slowly opened.
---
From behind the gap in the door, a middle-aged man with a very neat appearance emerged.
Polished shoes. Sharply pressed suit pants. A jacket draped over his shoulders.
He entered while casually leaning on his cane.
"You look well. How have you been?"
"...!"
It was only then that Seoryeong began to understand.
_This wasn't an ordinary malfunction._
She bowed her head slightly in greeting, and CEO Kang Taegon pressed the door close button.
But the elevator still didn't move.
Seoryeong frowned.
It was clear—she had been deliberately brought up here during the CEO's transit time.
As if confirming her suspicion, the man checked his watch and murmured:
"I only have one minute."
"You really joined the Special Security Team."
"Yes."
"So, does what you said back then still stand?" His eyes gleamed. "You want to bring down a high-ranking official in the National Intelligence Service."
Seoryeong's expressionless face turned towards him.
Whatever he saw in her eyes, the man suddenly laughed.
"Then you have to finish it, don't you?"
Seoryeong was too surprised to speak.
"Of course, you can't act as a member of the Special Security Team, and there can't be any evidence linking Blast Agency to the incident. If something goes wrong, the company will deny involvement."
He paused.
"But I, Kang Taegon, want to help you **personally**."
"Are you sure it's okay?"
"Well, it will certainly be complicated."
Kang Taegon stroked his chin with a smile. The wrinkles around his eyes were clearly visible.
"But it feels like this is something I have to do for you. I believe you will become a very valuable asset in the future."
Seoryeong had no such intentions, but for the moment, she chose to remain silent.
"The National Intelligence Service is holding its annual conference on quantum-resistant cryptography, and Blast Agency is responsible for its security. I don't know which official you're targeting, but the Deputy Director will be giving the keynote speech on stage."
Finally, the elevator began to descend as usual.
"But you only have less than thirty minutes—from entry to exit."
His gaze sharpened.
"Can you do it?"
---
## — The Special Security Team —
"No, no way! How can you send Agent Han Seoryeong there **alone**!"
Jin Hoje, who had been holding dumbbells, slammed them down hard as he yelled.
The Special Security Team's office had one wall completely covered in various pieces of information—photos of locations, buildings, and individuals pinned with tacks; maps; operation boards full of arrows; and even models mimicking the topography of various countries.
The meeting room was cluttered with secret tasks and strategies, making it visually chaotic.
_The journey to reach this point hadn't been easy._
Even the simple elevator earlier had given them trouble!
As Seoryeong looked around in amazement, Lee Wooshin slammed his hand on the table.
His gaze was fixed directly on Seoryeong.
"If you can't be reliable, those training orders won't be issued."
A man standing sideways in front of the meeting table frowned sharply. His face also didn't show a good mood—his usual signature smile had vanished.
Seoryeong felt like she was starting to understand why the atmosphere was so tense.
That morning, temporary mobilization orders had been issued for the new recruits. They were assigned to secure the Rare Earth Metals MOU signing ceremony between Korea and Mongolia.
Due to the already tight schedule, the reassignment of personnel for this event caused quite a bit of resistance.
"Agent Han Seoryeong, what do you think? Our team's next assignment is in Equatorial Guinea. Do you think you can come with me to a country that has been under the rule of a dictator for over forty years?"
Seoryeong was about to answer, but Wooshin cut her off sharply.
"Even if she could, what basis do you have for saying that? Her experience is limited to dealing with people she happened to encounter, and even the company doesn't seem satisfied with such recruits."
He rubbed his furrowed brow as he spoke.
"That's why she needs to start learning to stay alert **from now on**. If she doesn't want to make mistakes in high-value operations, it's better to take the hits early. So, our team plans to send Agent Han Seoryeong for training."
He glanced around the room.
"Does anyone object?"
"The instructor is right."
"This isn't a training camp. Use only one title."
With that sharp correction, Seoryeong was surprised and immediately nodded.
"Her assignment is at the Rare Earth Metals MOU signing ceremony. More specifically, the Mongolian Director of Economic Development requested personal protection, but that will be handled by another team. The recruits will only guard the event venue."
_Perfect!_
Seoryeong cheered inwardly but maintained her flat expression.
This was a chance to see firsthand how event security was done!
Her hands resting on her knees clenched unconsciously.
"You need to experience at least one normal thing before getting dragged into more troublesome cases."
Lee Wooshin rubbed the back of his neck and tilted his head, looking tired.
"They say a senior officer has to accompany her during the guard training."
As soon as he finished speaking, Jin Hoje raised his hand high.
"Team Leader! I'm here!"
"I'm too busy preparing for a business trip, so I can't go."
Lee Wooshin's face immediately turned sour.
Jin's long arm kept waving, but he ignored it without even turning his head.
"In that case, the senior officer who will accompany her—"
"Team Leader, I'll do it!"
Jin Hoje insisted.
"—has to be decided."
"I **will** accompany Agent Han Seoryeong!"
"Alright, Officer Ki Taemin."
Lee Wooshin immediately chose.
"...What?"
Ki Taemin, who had been spacing out, immediately turned around in surprise, while Jin Hoje—who had half-risen from his seat—froze.
"Then it's decided. Officer Ki Taemin will go."
"**Me**?"
Ki Taemin looked confused and glanced at Jin Hoje, who exclaimed:
"No, Team Leader! I raised my hand **first**!"
"Briefing dismissed. Agent Han Seoryeong, listen to the senior officer accompanying you."
He gathered his things.
"I'm going home to cook."
"...!"
In an instant, all the officers' eyes turned to her.
_What did he just say?_
Their questioning gazes shone in unison.
Panicked, Seoryeong turned towards Lee Wooshin—but the man had already left the meeting room.
Thanks to the man who dropped a "bomb" and ran away, Seoryeong had to face the senior officers' interrogation alone for quite some time.
---
## — Silhouettes in the Kitchen —
After moving for the first time in a long while, her body felt completely drained—as if she had just been spun in a washing machine.
Returning from training, Seoryeong followed the unfamiliar sound coming from inside her apartment.
A savory and spicy aroma filled the air—someone was cooking soup.
Her dragging footsteps suddenly stopped.
It was then that she saw a large figure moving nimbly in the kitchen.
_Why are my feet rooted to the spot by something as trivial as this?_
Without saying anything, Seoryeong stared at the man's back.
_My husband must have looked and moved like that too._
The image she had only imagined until now felt so real.
She superimposed the neat and calm silhouette of her husband onto Lee Wooshin's figure.
Hyeon used to love to eat and could even cook the most complicated Western dishes—whose names she could barely pronounce.
Her whole life, she had never imagined she would be able to enjoy a warm, home-cooked meal.
That was something she probably owed to her husband.
_Hyeon._
"Ugh!"
While lost in memories, she suddenly saw bright red blood dripping onto the cutting board.
It looked like Wooshin was cutting something that **wasn't** a cooking ingredient.
He gripped his finger tightly and held it out.
Surprised, Seoryeong hurriedly approached—only to see Lee Wooshin holding out his bleeding finger with a calm smile.
"See? That knife is dangerous."
"..."
It was only then that Seoryeong came back to her senses.
_As if he really struggles to use a knife._
She thought derisively to herself.
Just from his appearance, it felt like if the man lifted his pants or belt, there would **definitely** be a hidden sharp object—a folding knife, maybe.
Even now, instead of putting down the kitchen knife, he was still gripping it tightly with his left hand.
Seoryeong's gaze didn't move from him.
Her expression remained cold and unwavering.