Perfect Support
Slurp─── Beef noodle soup from a nearby famous restaurant. Kwon Ji-yul and I were filling our empty stomachs with a bowl each. I would've preferred eating it right there at the place if possible, but we weren't here on vacation—we were on a mission. No time to leisurely wander around outside, so bringing food back like this and scarfing it down was the best option.
"Slurp, ah…… this is good."
"Right? Being a name-brand spot means no weird ingredients—totally edible."
It had been 15 hours since we'd holed up in the lodging, waiting for the hacked security system's alert after finishing the job at dawn. We polished off the soup, broth and all, shared our impressions of the empty bowls, and cleared them away. Then we took turns showering—how much time passed like that? By the time I finished brushing my teeth and stepped out, Kwon Ji-yul, parked in front of her laptop, let out a triumphant shout.
"It's here! Finally!"
"Here? Where'd it go in?"
"That VIP club you first snuck into! He just entered."
"Taxi from here…… 30 minutes tops, right?"
She said Shim Hyuk-jin's card had pinged, and the location was none other than the club where I'd planted the first hacking tool. A 30-minute taxi ride away, so I grabbed my clothes and got dressed on the spot.
"Here, take this too."
"Got it. Gotta provide that perfect support, huh?"
Kwon Ji-yul handed me the two drones she'd prepped, along with the portable relay for controlling them. I stashed the drones in my bag, clipped the relay to my chest, and said,
"Leave it to me. I've been doing this shit for years."
The club's management system was already fully under Kwon Ji-yul's control, so remote support was no issue. She'd handle it flawlessly, no doubt, so I grabbed my weapons without another word and headed out. I hailed a taxi and slipped in my in-ear comm as I went.
"Testing, one-two. Hear me okay?"
I confirmed the in-ear was working fine and showed the taxi driver the destination's photo and name. Mixing body language with the pic got the point across—he nodded and started driving. Leaning back against the seat as the taxi pulled forward, I tuned into Kwon Ji-yul's voice in my ear.
19 hours since landing in Shanghai. Time to start the mission.
Shim Hyuk-jin. He didn't think of himself as some ordinary citizen. Why? Because his life had been far too perfect. From landing a job at the Central Intelligence Management Bureau with less effort than most, to getting scouted by an American firm while working there, successfully fleeing to China without issue, and now living lavishly off overflowing cash. Too many achievements, too much money for a "regular guy." Sure, he couldn't set foot on Korean soil again, but he'd carved out a solid spot here in China. No need to go back, so Shim Hyuk-jin was living in utter peace.
His day-to-day with the American company that scouted him? Occasional tech advisor gigs—just toss out some advice. Otherwise, it was six days a week blowing cash, partying, and boozing.
"That recent failed database access attempt is nagging at me, though……."
Sure, the latest request from his scouting company—to pull fresh intel from Korea's Central database—had flopped, and it bugged him. But Shim Hyuk-jin didn't see it as a real problem. Korea's Central couldn't catch him even after he'd ripped off their tech before, and now it was like they'd given up entirely. Plus, he was fully entrenched in China—no way they'd kill him over one database poke now.
"And above all, I've got that protection from the Americans."
On top of that, the bodyguards sent by the U.S. firm that scouted him for protection. They were out of sight at the moment, but rock-solid reliable. As long as they were around, Shim Hyuk-jin figured he was untouchable. So he shoved down the nagging anxiety and focused on the scene before him.
In the room of his usual club, women waited for him as always.
"God, why're you so late today~? We've been waiting forever~!"
"Haha! Sorry, got held up with some work. Wait long?"
He burst out laughing at their flirty complaints and stepped deeper into the room. Shim Hyuk-jin, entering like that, had no idea. That Central had already dispatched an assassin to kill him.
Honestly, anyone with half a brain could've figured it out. Central might let a first offense slide, but not a traitor hitting their database twice. But over three years of peace and endless pleasure from his fat stacks had dulled even Shim Hyuk-jin's sharp mind. That complacency? It was about to become a blade today. A foolish dagger plunging into his own throat.
After arriving at the club by taxi, I slipped in through the back alley waiting room door, same as when I'd planted the hacking tool. Half-worried they might've beefed up security after the two guys I knocked out, but nope—business as usual, same door.
"Copy, entering."
Kwon Ji-yul confirmed via CCTV, so I pushed the door open without hesitation. Empty waiting room, just like she said. Peak hours meant everyone was working, I guess.
"Don't most waiting rooms have CCTV? Thought these spots usually skipped 'em."
I shrugged off the oddity of CCTV in a changing room—no big deal. Nodding along, I headed into the staff corridor.
"Gotta move fast."
Following Kwon Ji-yul's briefing, I slipped past the approaching staff quietly. Key to this mission: assassinate stealthily, no alerting Chinese authorities. Reach Shim Hyuk-jin's room without a fuss, kill him clean—no witnesses till then was priority one. Dodging staff via her intel, I hit the stairs.
Over eight floors up—elevator would've been nice, but no chance.
Tat-tat-tat───!!
I raced up the stairs and paused at the 8th-floor door. Needed Kwon Ji-yul to scope it first.
About 30 seconds later, with the floor fully mapped, her briefing kicked in.
"Hoo…… that's too many for a quiet breach."
8th floor was an open-plan space tied to Shim Hyuk-jin's usual room—like an auditorium with side rooms. Knocking out one or two quietly? Maybe. But wide-open sightlines meant the rest would spot it instantly. Then some guard calls for backup, guaranteed.
"What kinda club's this? No dancers, no crowds…… tricky."
Unlike regular clubs packed with dancers and drinkers blocking lines of sight, this VIP spot had none of that above the first floor. 8th floor? Just thumping music, no cover from people.
"How to……."
As I pondered sneaking through without noise, Kwon Ji-yul's voice crackled over.
"Drones?"
At her order, I unzipped the bag and activated them without question.
Whirr───
Nearly silent rotors spun up, and the two drones lifted off. Tiny finger-sized robots dropped from underneath.
Tick-tick-tick───
Round-backed bots like honeypot ants hauling payloads. Kwon Ji-yul explained before I could ask.
Those round payloads? Sleep gas canisters, prepped for the op. I grinned. First time teaming up like this, but damn, it felt good. She'd solved my roadblock clean.
I eased the 8th-floor door open a sliver.
Pop-pop-pop───
Ten stealth bots slithered in silently. Bright lights might've given them away, but the deep red carpet, dim lighting, and pounding music? Guards never noticed.
I shut the door after they were in.
Click from her end over the comm. Then a faint hiss beyond the door.
Pssshhhh─────
Guards might've heard and sensed something off, but too late. Thuds as heavy bodies hit the floor.
I stood, opened the door, and stepped in. Damn expensive gas—under a minute, and only the guards were out, air already pristine. I let out an appreciative sigh, breathing in the fresh vibe.
"Whew, alright then. Time to go."
Final target. Time to assassinate Shim Hyuk-jin.