Ana

"How about two million won per drawing? We want to use these to make various kinds of merchandise. In return, we'll give you two percent of the net profits from the merchandise sales."

Im Yu-na couldn't bring herself to make a decision at the sudden proposal. They were just doodles. Drawings she had sketched idly, with no real intention behind them.

Fine art aimed to express the artist's inner world, while visual design aimed to convey a message. These drawings were neither. They fit into neither fine art nor visual design.

Yet this man was offering to buy them. And at a whopping two million won per piece, no less. On top of that, he was offering two percent of the net sales profits.

That was why she hesitated. The terms were simply too good. She couldn't help but wonder if there was some sort of catch. She decided to ask.

"Is there... any other condition?"

"Yes, there is."

Im Yu-na felt a surge of anxiety. What kind of condition would this man impose? What if it was something bizarre? What if he demanded a night with her in exchange for buying the drawings? Should she reject him outright? Or reluctantly comply? Her mind spun into a chaotic tangle, and her cheeks flushed a bright crimson.

"I'd like you to put the finishing touches on these drawings. They're great as they are, but some of them look a bit incomplete. Would you be able to finish them?"

"I suppose I have no choice. Which room number... Ah... Finish them? Yes, of course! I can absolutely do that." Flustered by the man's completely unexpected condition, Im Yu-na blurted out nonsense before catching herself.

"When do you think you can have them ready?"

"Would it be alright if I drew them properly after returning to Korea and sent them to you?"

"I actually like the current style. Just clean them up and finish them. That will be more than enough."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Then I'll finish them tonight and give them to you."

"We should still sign a contract, shouldn't we? It's better for both of us."

"A contract?"

"It's better than having misunderstandings later."

The man gestured, and another man approached, bowing respectfully. After the first man muttered a few words, the subordinate returned a moment later holding a contract.

Im Yu-na read the contract slowly and meticulously before carefully signing her name. It was the very first income of her twenty-four years of life.

I watched the woman sitting across from me sign her name. Then, I called Patrick over and instructed him to find a manufacturer to produce the merchandise.

I planned to manufacture a wide variety of goods: t-shirts, hoodies, hats, tote bags, scarves, keychains, badges, magnets, tumblers, stickers, postcards, phone cases, umbrellas, snow globes, and more. The possibilities were endless.

I told him to have samples made first. I needed to see the samples before taking the next step.

Once things were roughly sorted out, I was about to head up to my room when a white woman in her twenties walked in. She looked out of place.

The clientele at Vicente Palace was overwhelmingly Korean. It was a natural consequence of the hotel being included in our travel packages. There was no way I would let our tour groups stay anywhere else. Because of this, while Koreans were a common sight, foreigners—especially white people—were rare.

It wasn't that they disliked the hotel; there simply weren't any vacant rooms. Even if they wanted to stay, there were no vacancies.

Yet, a white woman marched right in and approached the reception desk. I just watched her as if observing a painting, purely out of curiosity.

The woman told the receptionist she was there to pick up a package and gave the name "John Doe."

John Doe? Where have I heard that name before? Ah, right. It was the alias requested by the buyer of the gun.

This woman was here to retrieve the gun I had left. The buyer who had purchased only a single firearm, completely capturing my curiosity.

My gaze instantly locked onto her. At the same time, I scanned the surroundings. Just like Marian in the past—when I had used Marian to retrieve drugs—someone might have sent this woman to pick up the package on their behalf. If so, they would be watching her from somewhere nearby.

I quietly slipped into a corner and checked if anyone was keeping an eye on her. I scanned the lobby multiple times, but no such person was in sight.

Is their relationship built on absolute trust? Or are they waiting outside the building, or perhaps at a different rendezvous point? I was dying of curiosity.

Meanwhile, she retrieved the package and walked out of the hotel. A single shopping bag dangled from her hand.

I naturally followed her out. Of course, I knew I shouldn't. Curiosity killed the cat—and in my line of work, it hastened death. But my reason was far too weak to triumph over my instincts.

I trailed behind her. I was just curious to see what would unfold. But since I was weak, I would only watch. Just watch.

The woman got into a car and drove off. I got into my own car and quietly tailed her.

She pulled over in front of Cayley International Advisory.

Cayley International Advisory was a fairly well-known firm, not just in Bohol but across the Philippines. They were famous for providing corporate consulting, solutions, and strategies. I had heard they were particularly strong in tax law and investments.

They've been in the news lately. Is there some kind of trouble? But why is she here? Did she lose all her money on an investment? If she invested her own money and it went down the drain... well, that's understandable. Totally worth bringing a gun for. I get it.

Even after parking, she remained inside the car for quite a while. Seeing the dome light on, she was likely inspecting the gun she had just received. Checking the magazine, chambering a round.

Soon, the dome light went out, and she stepped out of the car. I got out as well. Just watching, remember. Just watching.

Unlike the flashy sign reading "Cayley International Advisory," the interior was completely deserted. Security guards were a necessity in the Philippines, yet not a single guard was in sight. Usually, people cleared out the guards when they were up to no good. Something dirty was definitely going down inside. Fine by me.

I quietly trailed her, making sure to stay out of her line of sight. After a moment, she stood in front of an office door, took a deep breath, and pushed it open.

"What the... Ana? How did you find this place?"

"And what's that in your hand? Is that... a gun?"

"Don't do this. This isn't going to solve anything. Put the gun down, and let's talk."

"We can resolve this through dialogue."

"Dialogue? Where was this dialogue when I was begging for it? Now that I'm holding a gun, suddenly you want to talk?"

"I always intended to. We've just been busy. You know time is money for people like us."

Peering through the slightly ajar door, I saw a woman sitting in the seat of honor, with three men in suits seated on a sofa. The woman who had just entered—Ana—stood before them, keeping them at bay with her gun as she spoke.

The woman in the seat of honor spoke. She seemed to be the boss of this place.

"Ana. I understand you're upset. But this isn't the way to solve things. There's no need to react so dramatically. There must be another way. Let's put our heads together and think. It's just a simple internal audit."

She was definitely the boss. Even with a gun pointed right at her, her voice remained remarkably calm. Either she had nerves of steel, or she had been in this situation multiple times before. But an internal audit? So she didn't just lose her investment.

"Exactly, Ana. If we discuss it together, we can figure something out, right?"

"Put the gun down, and let's think this through calmly."

The men in suits chimed in, backing up their boss.

"Kayley, you really underestimated me. Did you honestly think I was completely clueless?"

"What?"

"You embezzled the funds Erika entrusted to us. You used my ID and email to do it. I was just doing my usual work, but before I knew it, I was set up to be the embezzler who stole a client's money. You call it a simple internal audit now, but tomorrow, forged documents will magically appear through that audit, and I'll be sent straight to prison. And then, on my way there, I'll be 'suicided' without even knowing why."

Clap, clap, clap. The woman in the seat of honor applauded.

"Wow... I'm genuinely impressed. You're not the first person to play this role, but you're definitely the first to figure it out this quickly. Truly amazing. But how did you know? I thought I was being quite careful."

"The funds meant for laundering flowed in a bizarre direction. It would be stranger if I didn't notice. So, make your choice."

"Choice? About what?"

"Either undo everything, or die right here."

Ana aimed the gun at her once more.

"That's our Ana. Quick to grasp the situation and jumping straight to the best solution. I always liked you because you were so good at your job, but I never expected your talents to shine in this way. But what should we do? I'm not running this show alone, so I need to consult with our partners. Could you wait a moment? It'll only take a single phone call."

"Fine."

Kayley, sitting in the seat of honor, tapped away on her phone. A moment later, footsteps thundered behind me, and men armed with guns came rushing down the hall. She hadn't been consulting anyone; she had called security. I slipped into the shadows to hide, and once they entered the room, I resumed my peeping.

Ana panicked as armed men suddenly appeared behind her. Kayley spoke to the flustered girl.

"You didn't honestly think you were the only one with a gun, did you? Besides, you didn't even take the safety off."

As Ana instinctively looked down to check the safety, one of the security guards swiftly snatched the weapon from her hand. Disarmed and surrounded by guards, every single advantage Ana held vanished in an instant.

Kayley gave a nod, and the security guards filed out of the room. The gun Ana had brought was now in Kayley's hand.

"Since things turned out this way, why don't you just turn yourself in? In exchange, we'll provide you with a top-tier lawyer, and we'll let you keep working here once you're released. Sounds like a pretty sweet deal, doesn't it?"

"Kayley, do you take me for an absolute fool? Do you really think I'd fall for that? You're lying to me even now."

"Ana. Do you honestly think you have a choice right now? I am showing you mercy. I'm offering you a lifeline. If that's too hard to swallow, dying right here isn't a bad alternative either. 'An intruder broke in to threaten us with a gun and was accidentally shot in the struggle.' The gun is already in my hand, so it works out perfectly, doesn't it?"

Kayley set the gun down on the table as she spoke.

"You're smart, so you must have realized it by now. Did you never wonder why our firm hired an orphan with a mediocre resume in the first place?"

"T-That..."

"Orphans are just so convenient. Even when they're backed into a corner like this, there's no one to help them. No one to step up and fight for them. That's why we always use orphans for dirty work like this. Cleaning up after them is effortless."

Ana trembled violently, consumed by sheer rage. If she still had a gun in her hand, she probably would have pulled the trigger, but all she could do now was clench her empty fists.

"Come on, look on the bright side. It's only a year. Maybe even less. If you just confess and take the fall, we'll take care of you afterward."

Ana hesitated, seemingly lost in confusion and unable to make a decision. From my perspective as a spectator, it was highly entertaining. A classic tale: a woman named Kayley embezzled a client's money, planned to frame Ana for it, and Ana found out and came to threaten her with a gun, only to get disarmed.

My curiosity was satisfied. That was enough. Whatever conclusion they reached was their business, and it was time for me to go home. My only regret was that Ana hadn't fired off a few rounds the moment she walked in. The conversation would have been much simpler and faster. If a few people inside were already bleeding out, she wouldn't have been backed into a corner like this. What a shame.

If it were me, I would have taken out the three guys on the sofa the second I walked in, then pointed the gun at the woman to talk. I shook my head vigorously. What a profane thought. If I just slipped away quietly now, I'd go home with my curiosity satisfied and my life intact.

"Kayley, no matter how much I think about it, I can't do it. I can't trust you."

Ana pulled out another gun hidden behind her back. Wait, that's the Smith & Wesson Shield I sold her. Then what was the first gun? Wow, she actually planned this far ahead? I had to look at Ana in a new light.

Having drawn her second gun, Ana pulled the trigger, aiming at one of the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠men on the sofa.

Bang! Bang!

Though her stance was unstable, the close range made up for it. The man on the sofa collapsed instantly. The others scrambled behind the sofa and the desk. Kayley reached for the gun she had set down, but startled by the gunfire, she dove behind the desk instead.

The gunshots must have echoed far, as I could hear the security guards rushing back. I couldn't let them ruin such a good show. I pulled an automatic rifle from my Inventory to ensure their conversation wouldn't be cut short.

"Don't do this, Ana! What is wrong with you? This is a misunderstanding! A misunderstanding! Let's think about this again!" Kayley's voice had completely changed. The smug composure she had displayed earlier was entirely gone.

"No. The moment you walk out of here, you'll look for a way to kill me as if nothing happened. So it's only right that you die here. Thank you, though. I'll make good use of the countless money laundering techniques you taught me."

Bang! Ana fired at Kayley, but missed. One of the suited men who had been hiding tackled Ana. Although she was armed, her petite frame stood little chance against him. The other man picked up the gun dropped on the floor and aimed it at Ana.

Wait, what did she just say? Money laundering techniques? She's a specialist? Well, that changed things. I always had a soft spot for skilled professionals. Besides, hadn't Manager Nam Yong-woo been complaining about a massive headache regarding money laundering? Bringing her in might actually be quite useful.

Before I could even finish the thought, my body was already pushing the door open. The moment I stepped inside—bang, bang, bang! I shot the man holding the gun and the suited man pinning Ana down.

Ana looked startled by my sudden intrusion, but she seemed grateful for the rescue.

Bang! Bang! Bang! The men were all neutralized, leaving only Kayley cowering under the desk.

"Hey, why don't you just come on out?"

"Would you, if you were in my shoes?"

"It's not like I can't drag you out. I just want to have a little chat."

She still refused to budge. Only after I fired a few warning shots around the desk did she finally crawl out with her hands raised. Even as she emerged, she snarled.

"Who the hell are you? What gives you the right to interfere in our business? Get lost right now, and I might just spare your life."

"My, my, look at that foul mouth. If you end up dead, it'll definitely be because of that tongue of yours. When you meet someone for the first time, you're supposed to greet them, introduce yourself, you know? But you immediately jump to killing and sparing lives. How am I supposed to have a conversation when I'm this terrified?"

"Who are you? What kind of conversation is there to have in this situation?"

"Cut the crap. Are you good at money laundering?"

"Money laundering? That's my specialty. Give me any sum of money, and once I run it through, the paper trail vanishes completely. I'm the absolute best in the Philippines, at least."

Kayley replied with supreme confidence.

"Is that true? Are you sure?" I asked, looking at Ana.

"It would have been true ten years ago, but not anymore. Kayley's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠methods are ancient. Everyone knows how she operates. The only reason we're constantly being investigated now is because the government has already mapped out the source of our funds. Panicked by this, Kayley embezzled a client's money, framed me for it, and planned to flee the Philippines."

Ana argued back, and her explanation sounded highly plausible.

"She says you're wrong."

"I simply use tried-and-true methods. Our clients prefer stable, highly reliable systems built over many years."

"Is that so? Personally, I'm more inclined to vote for creative methods. Ana, if you take over, can you do a better job than Kayley?"

"Of course. I can do a hundred times better than her. I know all of Kayley's methods inside out—though I would never use them myself."

"Perfect. Let's go, then. It's better than dying here, isn't it?"

"How can I trust you?"

"Trust? What is this, a religion? Do you work on faith? You work for money. You get paid for what you do. Why are you looking ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠for trust? Go to church if you want trust."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"No, that's not what I meant..."

"You said you're good at money laundering, right?"

"Yes. I can do that exceptionally well."

"Then that's all that matters. Any objections?"

"No. None."

"Then let's move."

I turned to leave, but she didn't follow. She was staring at Kayley. She was probably worried that leaving Kayley alive would come back to haunt her. Despite that, I didn't lift a finger.

"What about Kayley?"

"What about her?"

"Are we just going to leave her like this?"

"Why not? Should I drop her off at a hospital or something?"

"No, that's not..."

"Not what? Speak clearly."

"If we leave her like this, it will cause trouble later."

"What kind of trouble?"

"She'll interfere with my work. She'll try to kill me."

"I'm starting to feel disappointed in you, Ana."

"Pardon?"

"In this line of work, problems crop up constantly. I need someone who can proactively solve those problems. Someone who whines and begs me to fix things for them holds absolutely no appeal."

"I don't particularly like you, Ana. I simply picked the more capable of the two. If Kayley had been more competent than you, I would have chosen her. I have no personal feelings toward Kayley. The bad blood is between you and her. I am not the kind of person who steps in to fight someone else's emotional battles. Whether you hold a grudge or have a score to settle, that is your business. It's not something to whine to me about."

Ana looked utterly shocked by my words. I had no idea why she found it so shocking; I had only stepped in as a recruiter. It would be a shame if a valuable asset died in a shootout, after all. That was the extent of my involvement. I had absolutely no desire to fight her battles for her.

Was Kayley evil? Was Ana purely innocent? They were both highly talented money launderers, but talent had nothing to do with goodness. I had no intention of judging who was right or wrong, nor did I care to meddle in their feud. Their problems were theirs to solve.

"Ana. If you can remember why you brought a gun here in the first place, you'll find the answer is much simpler than you think. I'll be waiting outside. If you want to work with me, meet me in front of the building."

Leaving those words behind, I walked out of the room. Not long after, a single gunshot echoed.

Bang.

And then, Ana walked out.