Smuggler's Ship
With the interviews finally wrapped up, I led the final fifty successful candidates toward Baek Ya-seong's annex. On the way, we drew stares from other assassins, but they quickly vanished once they spotted me at the front. Maybe that's why I felt those respectful gazes prickling my back like a heavy burden as I finally guided everyone to the sixth floor of the annex—our floor for the duration.
"This is where you'll be staying from now on. Pick any room you want except the ones with nameplates... and the staff here will give you the full rundown, so listen up good. Got it?"
"""Yes, sir!!!"""
The fifty new assassins under Jin Yeon-ah bellowed their response in booming voices. Watching them, I approached Seo Do-hyun, who had helped with my own training in the past.
"I'll leave the rest to you. I've got to head out."
"Of course, leave it to us."
Seo Do-hyun nodded with a smile. She clapped her hands and began leading the still-dazed group—including Choi Do-ah—along with the other office staff. The staff looked reliable just from a glance at their backs. I turned away and quickened my pace.
Why the rush? Right after the interviews ended, I'd gotten a summons from Jin Yeon-ah. As soon as I handed off the new hires, I was to report to her office. No choice but to hustle.
Thud, thud, thud—
I couldn't exactly run through a building packed with people without looking undignified, so by the time I reached Jin Yeon-ah's office with my fastest walk, I was a bit winded. I straightened my clothes and knocked lightly on the door.
Knock knock—
"Miss, it's Baek Se-rin. May I come in?"
[Yeah, come on in.]
Permission granted immediately. I opened the door and stepped inside to find Jin Yeon-ah at her desk, handling paperwork as usual. But she wasn't alone—Kwon Ji-yul stood off to one side. Our eyes met briefly.
What are you doing here?
No idea. She called me.
You don't know why?
How should I know? You're useless.
Same to you.
A quick silent exchange via eye contact, but all it told me was neither of us knew why we were here. We quietly gathered in the center of the office and turned our attention back to Jin Yeon-ah.
Once she had our full focus, she set down her pen and looked up, glancing between me and Kwon Ji-yul before speaking.
"First off, good work with the interviews today, Se-rin. The assassins you picked all look solid. Especially that one you pointed out... Choi Do-ah? She really stood out."
"Thank you, Miss. And yeah, with the right training, that kid'll make a damn useful assassin."
"A useful assassin... like you?"
"Come on, nobody's on my level."
Pfft—a chuckle escaped Jin Yeon-ah's lips. She nodded, still smiling faintly.
"Anyway, we'll meet the new hires four days after basic training wraps up... That's why I called you two here today."
With that, she slid a single document our way. The tiny print detailed a target who had fled to China—we were to track and eliminate him.
As we started scanning for more details, Jin Yeon-ah began explaining the rest.
"Target's name is Shim Hyuk-jin. Forty-one years old, yellow long hair, black eyes, skinny build. His rap sheet: about three years ago, he stole classified data on Central's enhancement procedures and bolted to China. It was sensitive info, but not enough to start a war with them, so we let it slide... But after three years of us leaving him alone, he got cocky and tried accessing Central's database again."
Kwon Ji-yul let out an impressed whistle.
"Whoa, guy's a psycho. Figured since we didn't touch him, he could pull the same stunt?"
"Exactly. Ballsy move. Central thinks this raises the risk of more incidents like this, so they issued the hit."
She paused to pull out her phone and tap something. Moments later, our phones pinged with a file.
It was a map of the Shanghai area.
"This is Central's latest on Shim Hyuk-jin's activity range. Red zones are buildings he frequents. Key is doing it without alerting the Chinese government—no flashy outfits, no noise. That's why it's just you two."
She elaborated: small team for a quick, clean kill. Me on the front lines, Kwon Ji-yul providing support from behind.
"Just us two? More than enough."
"Killing one guy? No worries at all, Miss."
Jin Yeon-ah nodded and pocketed her phone.
"Yeah, I trust you. You've got a week. Finish it and get back."
"Got it, Miss."
"Leave it to us."
We replied with confident grins. A week? Plenty of time to handle the target and squeeze in a little China trip.
That very night after getting the mission. Past 11 p.m., with full darkness settled in, Kwon Ji-yul and I stood at a makeshift port in Incheon. Why? To smuggle our weapons intact, we needed a smuggler's ship. Commercial flight? No weapons allowed. Private jet? Might as well announce to China that Baek Ya-seong was sending someone.
Dressed in our old Back World gear, weapons packed, we waited at the shoddy temporary dock for the boat.
About an hour later, a mid-sized fishing vessel eased up to our spot.
A bearded man disembarked.
"You the ones who called?"
"Yeah, two of us."
"Cash."
"Right here."
I handed over the bag—ten million won each, twenty million total in crisp bills. Last bonus in cash made it easy.
He checked it and beckoned to the boat.
"Get on. Leaving now."
"Sure thing."
We followed him aboard. The deck was damp from seawater but not slippery. As we boarded, the crew—smuggler types—eyed us. That dark, murky gaze common in the Back World.
Normal folks would've shrunk under it, but we'd thrived there for years.
"Sit here?"
"Why not? No other spots anyway."
I nodded at Kwon Ji-yul's find—a somewhat hard but decent bench. Mid-sized boat, big enough for us to stretch out.
Twenty-six hours to Shanghai. Over a full day, so a spot to lie down was a win.
We settled in and watched the night sea as the boat set off.
Splash—splash—
Three hours out, I scanned the changes from departure.
Rhythmic waves slapping the hull. In one corner, two crew sliced fish with sashimi knives. Through the grimy window, the captain puffed a cigarette in the wheelhouse. The other three crew? Vanished.
"Haa... Half-expected this."
"What, already?"
I sighed. Kwon Ji-yul bolted upright from the bench. The crew flinched at my mutter.
The captain stepped out, cigarette dangling from his lips.
"Dinner time soon. Join us?"
I clicked my tongue.
"Spit it out if you've got something to say. No point dragging it out."
"What're you—"
"We know. You've been sneaking peeks."
"...Hah, tiny things like you are sharp."
No more pretending. His attitude flipped.
The two fish-cutters turned toward us, knives in hand. The last three emerged from a deck hatch.
"Not asking much. Girls smuggling must have shady reasons... Lend your bodies a few times on the way, and we let you off intact. Or chum the waters."
His raw lust made me grimace. Kwon Ji-yul did the same.
I glanced at her as the trio approached.
"Ji-yul, you know how to handle a boat?"
"Yeah... but not smuggling routes. Better keep the captain."
"Roger. Everyone but him, then."
I drew my stiletto—hidden under my baggy hoodie—and stood slowly. Kwon Ji-yul pulled her pistol from concealment. Their faces hardened. Didn't expect weapons.
Too late for regrets.
"Sea really is the best."
Mid-vast ocean, no witnesses. Screams echoed into the endless sea.