On the way to the agency, Yibo had listened to the radio and heard the news about the corpse found in the forest. So he already suspected why he should come to the agency so urgently. He just didn't know why Zhan didn't need to come with him. After all, Zhan was now one of them. Even though he had the status of a civilian employee. Nevertheless, he had almost the same rights and duties as Yibo and all the other agents in the agency.

When Yibo drove into the parking lot, the newscaster had just informed the audience that a ninth body had been found. And finally, when he had entered the agency and gone to the conference room, Jackson Wang told him that one of the bodies was Agent Lee. Yibo was shocked! "What?" He asked in disbelief.

"One of the bodies is Agent Lee! So he never left the country." Jackson Wang explained again. "That's why we're here. And because it's about Agent Lee, they want to keep Zhan out of it. They don't want his trauma over the kidnapping and murder of the lawyer to be brought up again."

Now Yibo understood why he should leave Zhan at home. But he was still confused. Agent Lee is dead? Who killed him? When was he killed? And how was he killed? Knowing that Jackson Wang would not be able to answer these questions, he kept his thoughts to himself and waited impatiently for the director to finally start the meeting so that he could return to Zhan.

The room gradually filled up and soon Yibo had reached what felt like his upper limit as the agents sat and stood close together. Never before had Yibo experienced that all agents from all departments had to attend a meeting. Yibo felt that there would be something special at this meeting. Something that had never happened before. And when the top bosses entered the room, Yibo's feeling was confirmed.

Seungyoun pushed a chair between Yibo and another agent. "Agent Lee is dead. This is unbelievable." He muttered. Yibo nodded silently. "Hey, what's going on?"

"Nothing. I'm hungry. And I want to get back to Zhan." Yibo replied calmly, and as if proof were needed, his stomach growled.

Jackson Wang pushed an energy bar over to him, which Yibo gratefully accepted and devoured immediately. "Don't worry about Zhan. I'm sure he's fine." Whispered Seungyoun.

"Yes, I know. I'm not worried either. I just want to get back to him."

"Oho, you two must have gotten closer."

"Yes, you could say that. A little closer. But I just realized I was acting like an idiot earlier. I couldn't think straight because I was so hungry when Zhan gave me a list of activities we could do together to get to know each other better. I don't know why, but I just didn't understand what he was trying to achieve."

"Well, it's quite simple. Activities for two means dates."

"Yes, I just realized that too. Shit, I could slap myself for not realizing it at the time and also for saying to Zhan that we can't do more than half of it because I'm an idol and have to be careful who I'm seen with."

Suddenly, Yibo got a slap on the back of the head from Jackson Wang. "You're an idiot. Xiao Zhan must have been sad."

"Stop eavesdropping on us." Scolded Youn.

"Then stop talking about private matters here if you don't want others to hear!" Jackson Wang replied reproachfully. Neither of them said anything back. But that was probably only because the Director finally entered the room and it immediately became so quiet in the room that you could have heard a pin drop.

The director greeted the big bosses with a bow and then turned to everyone else. "Good morning!" He grumbled in a loud gruff voice. "I'm sure you've already heard. But just in case anyone else hasn't, I'll tell you what happened. This morning, a couple out for a walk in the woods found a shallow grave with a hand sticking out of it. They immediately informed the police and forensics began digging up the bodies. Two of the bodies are known to us. Body 1 was our former colleague. The disgraced Agent Lee. Body 2 was Pete Kapajewski, the man we were looking for!"

A loud murmur went through the room and was interrupted by Agent Fang, one of the big bosses. "I know, I know. We were just as surprised as you were. The bodies of the two have just arrived at our own coroner's office and he's starting the autopsy right away. But what is already clear is that both men were killed by targeted shots to the back of the head." Agent Fang explained.

The director took the word again. "As you can imagine, we want to know who killed these two men. So all other missions are on hold for the moment. Every agent will be working exclusively on finding out who killed them! All contracts with civilian employees are paused for the time being."

Agent Fang interrupted the director and explained, "However, the Dark Purple Rose mission remains in place and active! The agents working on it and the civilian staff will continue to work on the mission. Because it seems likely that the killings of Agent Lee and Pete Kapajewski are connected to it."

"Right. I was just getting to that." Said the director and continued. "We received a call from the NSA half an hour ago. The American intelligence service. We were informed that two of their agents will be joining the Dark Purple Rose mission. An Agent Forth and an Agent Danwin. They will arrive here in about 48 hours. A collaboration like this is new for us and I hope we will get along well with the two colleagues from America."

"Why are they joining our mission?" Agent Chan, Yibo's new team leader, wanted to know.

"Because they were looking for Pete Kapajewski and his men and for a person for whom Pete Kapajewski and his men worked. They believe that the person they are looking for is here in our country and commissioned the murder of Pete Kapajewski, or even carried it out himself. So we have common interests and can join forces and hopefully find the perpetrator(s)." Agent Fang explained. And the meeting continued.

Although the director was smiling, Yibo could see in his eyes how little he liked being interrupted again and again. There was a real flash in his eyes as soon as he was interrupted again. Yibo was also sure that the director wasn't very pleased that Agent Fang was the one who kept interrupting him or setting things straight in front of everyone else. Which was a little embarrassing.

And Yibo also knew that the director was probably very angry with Agent Fang. After all, it was Agent Fang who not only made sure that Agent Nax didn't get arrested, but that she was even allowed to keep her job. She now works exclusively for him, which is a real honor. And all this after the director himself had almost gotten her kicked out.

Yibo had seen Agent Nax only once since then. And she had just come from a meeting with Agent Fang and had no time to talk. She greeted Yibo quickly and just told him that she was fine and that he should say hello to Zhan for her. Then she hurried on. Yibo doesn't know what she is currently working on. But it seems to have taken her over completely.

Finally, after more than 3 hours and many interruptions due to questions and comments, the meeting was over. Yibo hurried out of the room to the vending machine, where he bought a sandwich and gobbled it down. He was so hungry by now that his stomach was hurting. And after the two sandwiches, he ate a yoghurt, which he also bought from the vending machine.

As Yibo was getting an iced coffee from the other vending machine, Youn came up to him and asked: "What are you going to do now?"

"What do you mean?" Yibo asked.

"Well, I mean, what do you want to do now? Are you working in the office today? Or do you have time to have lunch together?"

"I've just eaten and now I want to go back to Zhan."

"Oh, I see."

"Why?"

"Well, I mean... we haven't done anything together since I got back. I thought we could at least spend a few hours together, talk, eat. Whatever."

"Mhhh, you're right. I was actually looking forward to doing something with you too."

"But?"

"But it's bad today. As I said, I have to get back to Zhan. He's probably already waiting for me. And I don't want to leave him alone for too long."

"I understand that."

"Well, I can ask Zhan if you can come and visit us in the evening."

"Really?"

"Yeah, sure. Then he'll get to know you too. I should have introduced you to each other already the last time."

"Well, I'd be happy to. I'd even bring something to eat."

"I'll ask Zhan and then call you."

"Good, now I just need to find someone to have lunch with." Seungyoun said and looked at Jackson Wang, who had just passed the two of them.

"Oh no! Don't look at me. I have work to do. I'll have something delivered for lunch." Said Jackson Wang.

"Good, then order a portion for me right away." Youn replied with a laugh, put an arm around Jackson Wang's shoulder and walked with him to the office. Yibo shook his head with a grin and made his way to the exit.

When Yibo entered the parking lot, he was surprised. Because Agent Nax was standing next to his car. "Hello." He greeted her.

"Hello, Agent Wang. I don't have much time. I just wanted to let you know that we might not be looking for a man, but a woman who commissioned the murders." She explained.

"A woman?" Yibo stared at her in horror. A woman again?

"Yes. According to my investigations, Pete Kapajewski entered our country from America with a woman and two men. The woman's name is Kira Bell. I have not yet been able to find out whether the name is real. Her two companions appear to be her bodyguards. They are supposedly brothers. Joe and Terry Brice. Two degenerate giants. Joe Brice has a conspicuous deformation on his forehead. A round spot that looks dented."

"And why wasn't this mentioned at the meeting?"

"Because we haven't been able to verify this information yet. He wants his agents to investigate for themselves. Never mind. Anyway, you should be careful if you and Xiao Zhan run into three suspicious-looking Americans."

"All right. But do you think they want anything from Zhan?"

"Yes."

"And what?"

"The USB stick and his money."

"Great."

"Do you have the USB stick?"

Yibo nodded, barely visible, in case they were overheard by someone. Out loud he said, "No, of course not. We have no idea where the USB stick is."

"Good." Agent Nax replied with satisfaction and took her leave again. Yibo watched after her until she got into her car and drove off. Then he got into his car and made his way to Zhan. And he decided to pick up something for Zhan for lunch on the way there. Thai, perhaps?

When Yibo arrived at Zhan's apartment an hour later with two delicious-smelling meals from the Thai restaurant, he found Zhan sitting on the sofa. On the table in front of him were a katana and a set of knives, which Yibo immediately realized must be very valuable. "What's that?" He asked Zhan after he had placed the food on the table. He took the katana and pulled it out of the scabbard.

"This is my finder's fee from Mr. Yamamoto." Zhan replied with a grin and took the katana from Yibo again.

"Finder's fee?" Yibo asked skeptically. Zhan then told him what he had experienced when he went into the basement to repair his bike. Yibo listened to him in amazement. "And he gave you the sword and the knives just like that?"

"Well, not just like that. It was my finder's fee. He also said that I recognize the true value of these things, so he was happy to give them to me."

"Not bad. Oh, Zhan. About this morning."

"Yes?"

"Do you still have the list?"

"What list?"

"The one with the activities?"

"It's in the paper bin."

Yibo hurried into the kitchen and took the list out of the trash. Then he sat down next to Zhan, put the list on the table in front of them and said: "Let's pick out the things we can definitely do together?"

"Huh? Why all of a sudden?"

"Well, I have to admit that at first I didn't understand why you made the list. But I realized it a little while ago. And I'd like to go on dates with you and get closer to you that way. I'm sorry if I unintentionally hurt you this morning with my negative attitude."

"Are you sure that's what you want?"

"Yes, I'm absolutely sure Zhan."

"Well in that case, let's get started right away!" Zhan cheered and hugged Yibo out of sheer happiness and joy. They went through the list together and quickly found a few things they could do together. Afterwards, Yibo told him what the meeting was like, what was discussed there and what Agent Nax told him.

After Yibo had told him everything, he looked at Zhan and thought that if Zhan was worried, he didn't let it show. Because Zhan looked at him attentively and smiled. "Don't worry Yibo. Because I'm not worried either. We can do this!" Zhan said, astonishing Yibo. Where did Zhan suddenly find the strength and courage?