Jin and Dertal went down to the basement. They knocked on the door down there. Jin knocked on the door. The door opened, and the person who opened it was a stranger. Then, from inside, a familiar voice rang out. Michael: "Come in." Jin and Dertal looked inside and saw Michael sitting on a sofa. The stranger, one of Michael’s underlings, led both of them in. They approached where Michael was sitting. Michael looked at the two of them, gave a slight smirk, then stood up and patted their shoulders.
Michael: Now I’m gonna ask. Why do you two want to join my gang?
Dertal: I want money.
Jin stayed silent, looking away. Then Michael turned to him and asked, "What about you?"
Jin: Same as him. And I want to kill Daniel.
Michael grinned, showing his teeth: Okay. Fine, now I’m gonna lay out the rules and the money for you two, and you better remember them.
Michael walked to a table and sat on it: Alright. For the business of selling goods, after the sale, I’ll give the producer at least 40%, depending on the purity or how good the stuff is. Hard drugs are pricier than liquor. The better the quality, the more money; the better you do, the more I share. Got it?
Dertal nodded.
Michael: Next, about being a hitman or assassin. I’ll provide weapons for the job. When it’s done, you return them. I’ll list you two on the hiring website. Don’t worry about getting caught. The site’s super secure. Whoever hires you, you give them a code, and they use it to hire you on the site. The code changes constantly, so it’s one-time use. When you’re hired, the money gets transferred. Or they have to hand you cash directly, and you bring it back for me to check. Okay?
Jin nodded.
Michael: And you, Jin, right? You’re good with computers. If you can, help me hack into systems or keep the website secure. If you do, I’ll pay you. The higher the level, the more money. You two are at the lowest level, newbie. Above that is pro mafia, then top mafia, then underboss, and then boss. I’m the boss. Got it? Now I’m gonna take you two to your workplaces. After you’re done, you both have to attend assassination training.
Dertal: Huh? I’m only making chemicals, I don’t want to kill anyone.
Michael turned to Dertal and stepped closer: I’m not forcing you to kill. But everyone has to learn. If my men can’t fight, they’ll all die, huh? You don’t have to learn much, just a little.
Michael pointed at Jin but kept looking at Dertal: That guy over there, he’s gotta learn a lot. Okay?
Dertal slowly nodded.
Michael added: Oh, and to clear things up so there’s no confusion. My goods will be smuggled in other shipments, or I’ll use my men to handle deals. So the money’s guaranteed.
After that, Michael signaled for everyone to leave. Two of his men led Jin and Dertal out. Dertal glanced at Michael but hadn’t moved when one of the guys behind him pushed him, nearly making him fall. Dertal went out too. They all went up from the basement. Michael directed Jin and Dertal to two different cars. Michael took a separate car.
Michael: You two just go, someone will guide you when you get there.
Michael got in his own car and drove off. Jin and Dertal were shoved into two separate cars, each with one driver and three guards. Jin and Dertal sat in the back, flanked by two guys on either side in each car. The two cars drove off in different directions.
Dertal was breathing heavily, feeling nervous. Jin, on the other hand, was tense with anticipation. In Jin’s car, he stared straight ahead. The road was slightly sloped since the basement was in a remote area. The surroundings of Michael’s house were eerily quiet, as if the whole area was his territory.
Jin lowered his head, looking at his feet with a bored expression. In Dertal’s car, Dertal stared straight ahead, his face showing fear because the two guards were sitting too close to him.
In Dertal’s direction, the road started to show more houses and people walking around. After driving a bit longer, it became deserted again. After a while, the car stopped in front of a wine production factory near the outskirts of New Pann, called Spring Pann. Dertal got out and was led inside by two of Michael’s men. At the door, one of them pressed a buzzer. A voice came through, demanding facial verification. The underling looked into the camera at the door. The voice said, "Verified, please enter." The door opened, and the three men went in with Dertal.
Stepping inside, Dertal was overwhelmed by the vast interior and the many people working there. A man from inside approached the door. He wore a suit, glasses, and held documents.
The man in the suit shook Dertal’s hand: Hello. I’m Mikel Edison. And you are?
Dertal: I’m Dertal Kael.
Mikel: Alright, please sign this paper.
Dertal glanced at the underling. The guy jerked his chin toward the paper, signaling Dertal to sign. Dertal took the pen and signed. After signing, he handed the pen back to Mikel.
Mikel: Good. Follow me.
Dertal whispered to Mikel: Can I make wine here?
Mikel: Of course, but you’ll also be making other stuff. You won’t work up here with everyone else; you’ll have a separate setup.
Mikel led Dertal behind large iron wine barrels to a door. Mikel entered a password, and they went in, descending a staircase. Down in the basement, he used a key to unlock another door. Stepping inside, Dertal saw a laboratory filled with chemicals. The room was neatly organized and brightly lit.
Mikel then showed Dertal where the chemicals were stored, where the glass bottles were, and where the mixing equipment was located. He explained how to mix them. After the instructions, Mikel asked the three underlings to leave, leaving him and Dertal alone.
Mikel went to a cabinet, opened it, and took out two white hazmat suits. He handed Dertal a gas mask.
Mikel: When making methamphetamine, wear this suit. For wine, just wear a lab coat, safety goggles, and gloves. Besides those two, you can make other substances if they’re sellable, got it?
Both put on the white hazmat suits.
Mikel: Do you know how to make methamphetamine?
Dertal: I don’t know the full process, but I can make it.
Mikel: Alright, I’ll show you the detailed steps, then you’ll try it for me to check the purity. After that, we’ll make wine.
Dertal: Yes, sir.
On Jin’s side, his car stopped at a desolate place on the outskirts of New Pann, called Suburban Pann. Jin got out and looked around; it was completely empty.
Jin: Why’s it so deserted? No houses, just sand like a desert. At least there’s some grass.
One of the underlings: You talk too much, follow me. It’s scorching out here.
Jin followed the three underlings to a dilapidated house, completely trashed. There was a round hatch to a basement. One of the underlings knocked on it four times, a signal used by Michael’s gang. Someone below opened the door, then guided Jin and the three underlings down.
Down below, Jin saw several people typing on computers, as if running the hitman hiring website. Someone stepped forward to guide them. They went deeper inside, entered a password, and stepped into a room, turning on the light.
Inside the room were countless weapons: handguns, rifles, machine guns, bombs, and knives, everything imaginable.
Jin’s eyes widened in shock. The guide introduced himself: "Oh, I’m Timber Bone," the manager of the weapons stash and the website system. The website’s called Lesley Web, got it?
Jin nodded.
Timber: You can manage the system. But your main job is still being a hitman. When you’re hired, the system will notify me, and I’ll call you.
Timber gave Jin his phone number. After that, the three underlings led Jin back up and into the car to head to the final destination.
Back to Dertal. After finishing his production, Mikel tested the purity of Dertal’s product.
Mikel: Wow, excellent. You’re a genius.
Dertal, surprised: Huh, what?!
Mikel: Your purity is 97.55%.
Dertal: Huh?
Mikel: I can only get 97%. You did amazing. You can go even further. Approved, now for the wine.
Mikel took a glass of the wine Dertal had just made.

Mikel: First, the alcohol content is 9%, fine for wine. Next, the flavor. Since we’re only making regular wine now, it’s not too distinctive, but it’s okay. The clarity is crystal clear, like water. Okay, in the future, you can use fermented fruits to get a better fruity taste.
Dertal: Got it.
Mikel: Alright. Mikel opened the door and signaled to the three underlings that it was done. The three led Dertal back up and out of the factory. They got in the car and headed to the final destination.
Both cars drove to a location also in Spring Pann. They stopped in front of a large villa. Jin and Dertal got out and went inside. One of the underlings knocked on the door.
Jin: How can Michael afford a villa like this?
The underling overheard and said: You know why? Because he’s the richest mafia boss.
The door opened, and the person who opened it was Ellen.
Ellen: Oh, Jin and Dertal, hi you two.
Dertal, surprised: Why are you here?
Ellen: I’m teaching assassination, duh. I’m a sniper assassin.
Jin was also surprised. Then Ellen led Jin and Dertal inside, up the stairs, and into a large room. There were a few other people already sitting inside. Ellen: "This is my class. I’ll teach sniping and grappling, now come in."
Jin and Dertal went in and sat on the floor with the other trainees.
Dertal whispered to Jin: Every guy here looks so intense.
Jin nodded. Ellen: "Welcome everyone to the class. First, we warm up, then we stretch."
Jin and Dertal warmed up with Ellen and the others. Ellen: "Alright, warm-up done, now follow me."
As she said that, Ellen did a full side split in one go.
Ellen: See? Easy.
The others tried to follow but couldn’t quite do it. Ellen guided them through stretching slowly. Dertal followed along, but Jin stayed still. Ellen noticed and called Jin over. But Jin didn’t move. Ellen had to walk to him.
Ellen: Can’t do it? I’ll help you.
Ellen started by holding Jin’s arms while her legs pinned his legs. Ellen: "One… two… three," and did a side split. Jin showed clear pain.
Jin: Ow, ow!
Ellen: You gotta endure the pain, or how will you be an assassin?
Jin tried hard.
Ellen kept Jin in the side split position.
Ellen: Hold it a bit longer, okay?
Then Ellen let go. Jin grimaced: "Damn, that hurt."
Ellen turned to Dertal and did the same as with Jin. Dertal went to Jin.
Dertal: It hurts, but it’s kinda fun.
Jin: Why do you and Ellen seem so close?
Dertal: Oh, we met the other day, talked, and clicked, I guess. She’s friendly. And she’s 27 but still single.
Jin: Huh? But we’re not that close, so why does she talk to us like we’re best friends?
Dertal: Because she’s friendly, and we saved her, remember?
Ellen stood up: Next is grappling.
Ellen called someone up randomly. She asked them to pretend to punch. Ellen showed how to grab the fist, twist, and throw the opponent down. Ellen, a 1.77m woman, took down a 1.85m, bulky guy with ease.
Jin and Dertal stood up and practiced with each other. Jin went first, then Dertal. Both did well on their first try. Ellen clapped: "Good job." Then Ellen led the class to another room with guns. She taught how to hold, aim, and shoot. Ellen shot at a moving target from far away, hitting the head perfectly. Jin and Dertal practiced with a stationary target. Jin shot better than Dertal. When the target moved, Jin still hit, though not perfectly.
Ellen: Wow, good, you’ve got potential.
Ellen clapped and shouted: Alright, everyone, stop! Lunch break, it’s late.
Jin and Dertal were given a meal each. They ate in the villa’s dining room, sitting at a table together.
Dertal: This villa must cost tens of millions of pann.
As they ate, Ellen brought her meal and sat with Jin and Dertal.
Jin: Why are you here?
Ellen: No reason, I just want to eat here.
Dertal: Oh, why do you do this job?
Ellen: For money, like you two. Dertal’s in it for money, Jin too, right? Also, I want to earn a lot to repay my dad. I want to find him. We were separated when I was 18. I couldn’t afford college, so my dad borrowed from loan sharks. Now we’re separated, but I hope he’s still alive.
Jin: You do this because you have no choice?
Ellen: Exactly. I hate criminals, but the money’s too good.
Jin: Same. I hate gangsters so much.
Ellen: My dad’s name is Ted Hayes. My real name isn’t Ink, it’s Ellen Hayes. I changed it to avoid those guys finding me.
Dertal: So what’s your dream?
Ellen: To find my dad and go to Milicana. It’s a beautiful beach where my dad took me and my mom when she was alive.
Jin suddenly said: Keep it up.
Ellen: Huh? What did you say?
Jin: Huh, nothing, I didn’t say anything.
After that, Ellen stood up and announced it was time to resume. Everyone, head to the close-combat class.
Dertal and Jin went upstairs to a room as instructed.
Inside, they saw a 1.86m man leaning against the wall. The man: Alright, everyone sit. They all sat on the floor. The man introduced himself as April Leonhard.
April: I’m 28. I’ll teach you close-combat techniques, using knives and fighting.
April took out a dummy. April: "First, a basic kick." He kicked the dummy’s head. Then he had the class try.
April: Looks like you’re not kicking high enough. No worries.
April taught a stomp and elbow strikes.
After that, April gave each person a fake knife and paired them up. Jin and Dertal stayed together. April called Ellen in. He gave her a knife and showed how to slash, block, and even throw knives. After the session, everyone was dismissed.
Dertal: Only Ellen doesn’t stay here?
Ellen: Why would I? I have my own place. Only underbosses can stay here. I’ve only worked for Michael for two and a half years.
Jin: Does April stay here?
April: Yeah, I’m an underboss, so I can.
Jin: How long have you worked for Michael?
April: Three years.
Dertal: Huh, only half a year more than Ellen, but not an underboss?
Ellen: No matter what I do, it’s the same. Michael only lets men be underbosses.
Jin: Wait, what? But that’s how gangs are, I guess.
April: Alright, you three go home, stop standing at the door talking. Oh, Jin, you’re good, you learned well, I’m impressed.
Suddenly, Jin’s phone buzzed. He took it out and saw an unknown number but answered.
On the other end: I’m Timber Bone, you’re Jin J Joe, right? Good, someone hired you for tomorrow. Oh, you need a codename. You don’t have one on the site yet.
Jin: Huh, wait. How can someone hire me if I don’t have a name yet? That’s fast.
Timber: Maybe because your price is the cheapest. The reason for the hire is to kill someone. That guy killed the client’s friend.
Hearing this, Jin remembered Daniel killing Kyoto: Alright, I’ll take it.
Timber: No more questions? Oh, what’s your codename?
Jin: Just call me Triple J. Or J is fine.
Timber: Okay. Timber hung up.
Jin put his phone away and looked at April: Why are you standing here listening to my call?
April: Oh, can’t I?
Jin: No, it’s fine.
April: Alright, go home. Those two are waiting for you.
Jin walked off and saw Ellen waving. He went to her. They all got into a car driven by one of Michael’s men.
Ellen: Whoever’s house is closest, speak up. I’ll drop you off first. My place is the closest, though.
Dertal: Then you go first.
Ellen: Just kidding, I’ll drop you two off first.
Dertal: Then take me to my dorm, near Green Park.
Ellen: A dorm, huh? Soon you’ll have enough money for a new house.
Dertal: How are you so sure?
Ellen: It’ll happen. What about you, Jin?
Jin: My place isn’t far from Green Park either, just drop me at the park.
Ellen: Not at your house?
Jin: Why?
Ellen: Michael’s orders. He needs to know where you two live. I’ll report it.
Jin went quiet and looked out the car window.
Ellen: Alright, let’s go.
The underling started driving. The car moved through the night, with yellow streetlights illuminating the road. Ellen sat in the front with the underling, while Jin and Dertal sat in the back. After a while, they passed Green Park. The car continued into an alley, to Jin’s place.
Ellen got out and walked with Jin into the alley. After a bit, they reached a rundown dorm with a trash bin out front. The house had an old, rusty metal shutter door. Stray cats lingered outside. Jin opened the door, revealing a staircase on the left and a room straight ahead.
Ellen: What’s that room in the middle?
Jin went up the left staircase, stopped, and answered.
Jin: That’s the landlord’s room. My room’s upstairs. This place has three floors, three rooms each. I’m on the third floor.
Ellen: Oh, bye, keep it up, you’ll have money for a new house soon.
Jin stayed silent and went up. Ellen closed the door for him and left the alley. As she got back in the car, it started raining.
Dertal: How’s it going?
Ellen: Huh? It’s fine, but it’s raining out of nowhere.
Dertal: Yeah, true.
The car continued to Dertal’s place, a two-story house with two rooms per floor, quite spacious. Dertal opened the iron gate surrounding the house, waved goodbye to Ellen, and went up to his room.
Ellen, in the car, waved back. Then she closed the window. The car headed to her place. Ellen looked straight ahead.
Ellen: Tomorrow, those two start working. Hope they’re okay.
The underling: They’re working at night?
Ellen: Yeah, they go to school in the morning.
The car drove off into the distance. The next morning, Dertal went to his chemistry classes as usual. This time, he sat reading a new book on biology dissection.
Meanwhile, Jin skipped class and went to Ollie’s Beer. The door’s bell went ring ring.
Ollie: Oh, welcome to Ollie’s Beer. You’re… what’s your name, the kid who was here before, I forgot your name.
Jin: I’m Jin.
Ollie: Oh, Jin, got it, I remember now.
Jin: Give me a light beer. The cheapest.
Ollie poured a beer and placed it on the table: Here, you don’t need to pay for this one. Last time you paid 5 pann, so this is covered by that.
Jin: Nah, I’ll still pay.
Ollie: Oh, alright. You look less down today.
The door opened, ring ring, and Karalitov Nikolai walked in with a bruised face. He rushed to Ollie’s bartender counter.
Nikolai: Ollie, move, let me hide.
Ollie: What?
Nikolai ducked under Ollie’s counter. Immediately, three thugs with weapons burst in. The people in the bar panicked, but Ollie calmed them down.
Ollie: Everyone, stay calm. What do you three need?
One of the thugs: Where’s Nikolai? The guy with the tight cap. He just ran in here.
Jin: That guy ran out the back door.
The thug: Back door? Where?
Jin glanced and pointed to the door at the back. The three thugs rushed toward it.
Ollie: What did you do to make those guys after you?
Nikolai: They scammed me. I was selling dope, but they offered a price too low. My stuff’s higher quality than the price. I got pissed, took their money, grabbed the bag of drugs, and ran. Got a few punches, but I still got some cash and the dope back, so now they’re after me.
Ollie: Ugh, why do you do this?
Nikolai: For money, duh. This place isn’t safe anymore, I’m scared they’ll come back. I’m out.
Nikolai jumped up and bolted out. Jin and Ollie stared, dumbfounded.
Ollie asked: Oh, you’re a student, right? You look young, probably still in school, huh?
Jin: Yeah, true.
Ollie: No school today? I saw lots of students heading to campus.
Jin: I skipped today. Don’t know why, I just don’t feel like going and feel like I’m waiting for something.
Ollie: Waiting for what?
Jin: I don’t know.
Jin picked up the beer, drank it all, and grimaced.
Jin exhaled: Haaah. Phew. Still not used to it, light beer but it feels heavy.
Ollie: You’ll get used to it.
Jin stood up and handed over 1 pann. Ollie waved it off.
Ollie: You’ve got 4 pann left from last time. This counts toward that.
Jin: Ugh, fine. Bye.
Jin left the bar. He wandered around, then went to Green Park. He found a stone bench and sat down gently. Looking around, he saw quite a few people: some walking dogs, others with families, and a couple camping. Jin watched for a bit when a kid, about 4-5 years old, ran past and bumped into him as he stood up. The kid fell. Jin helped the kid up.
Jin: You okay?
Kid: Yes, I’m fine.
Jin: Where are your parents?
Kid pointed to a woman approaching: Over there.
Jin: Oh, where’s your dad?
Kid: He’s at work.
Jin thought: Oh, so the mom’s a housewife or off today.
Jin glanced over and accidentally saw Nikolai doing something sneaky in an alley. Curious, Jin followed, hiding behind a wall. He saw Nikolai handing a bag of dope to a stranger. The stranger hesitated, then gave Nikolai money. Nikolai took the cash, grinned widely, and left the alley.
Nikolai counted the money: One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten. Hmm, 1000 pann. Damn, that’s market price. Dope’s so expensive now.
As he walked and grumbled, Jin tapped him. Nikolai turned.
Nikolai: Oh, hello, buddy.
Jin: What were you doing?
Nikolai: Just a little deal.
Jin: Dealing dope?
Nikolai: Shhh, quiet. You’ll get me killed. Shut up, if you snitch to the cops, watch out.
Jin: Huh, why threaten me? I’m about to work for gangsters, why would I snitch?
Nikolai: Working for who?
Jin: Michael Lesley.
Hearing Michael Lesley’s name, Nikolai froze.
Nikolai patted Jin’s shoulder: Oh… yeah, I’m off, have a nice day.
Jin looked at Nikolai again. Nikolai backed away, still looking at Jin with a nervous smile, then turned and ran. Before he could get far, he slammed into a lamppost.
Nikolai: Ow! Are you kidding me?
He shouted and ran off. Jin just watched, then turned away. He felt anxious about his upcoming mission that night. He didn’t know why he wasn’t scared of Daniel’s gun before but was terrified now.
Jin thought: I keep feeling fearless one moment, then anxious the next. Maybe it’s psychological. Should I see a shrink? Nah, probably just my emotions shifting from that time.
Jin went home, up to his room, and sat at his desk. He felt even more uneasy about the mission.
Jin muttered: Killing someone. Killing, it’s not simple. I don’t want to kill anyone anymore.
Jin opened his laptop, looking for a game to play.
Jin: My storage is so low, gotta delete some games.
He deleted most, keeping only shooting games.
Jin: Don’t know what to play anymore.
Bored, he scrolled through social media. "Nothing interesting." In the suggestions, he saw a profile named Ellen. He clicked on Ellen Ink’s page. She hadn’t posted anything. He also saw Dertal Kael in the suggestions. Clicking it, he saw a photo of a young boy who looked like Dertal.
Jin: Is this Dertal?
As he browsed, his phone rang. Jin picked it up, seeing a familiar number. He answered.
Jin: Hello?
Other end: Oh, Jin, is that you, son?
Jin: This number’s yours?
Other end: Yeah, it’s your dad.
Jin: Oh. You’re Jame, right?
Jame (Jin’s foster dad): Yup. You okay? You went to college at 18, now you’re 19, two years and you haven’t called me.
Jin: I’ve been busy.
Jame: Busy with what?
Jin: Work, school. Planning my future.
Jame: Oh, call me when you’re free. Your birthday’s coming up, April, and it’s almost April now.
Jin: Oh, right.
Jame: Come home then, I’ll throw you a party.
Jin hung up. After the call with Jame, Jin thought of his biological parents, feeling fear and sadness. His real family was supposed to be happy, but his parents’ actions changed everything.
Jin didn’t know what to do. Staying home was boring, but going out was aimless. He checked the time; students were about to leave school. He stood up and went out. He wandered around Green Park and ran into Dertal heading home.
Dertal: Oh, Jin. What’re you up to?
Jin: Just walking.
Dertal: Eaten yet? Let’s grab food. I think someone’s picking us up soon.
Jin: Sure, okay.
Jin and Dertal went to a diner and ordered two rice meals.
Dertal: What do you want?
Jin: Anything’s fine.
Dertal: Then we’ll get the same.
While waiting, Dertal asked: Why’d you become a mercenary?
Jin: For money, and to kill Daniel. Being a mercenary gets me weapons.
Dertal: But you can’t take them home.
Jin: Still, I’ll have them. If I meet that guy on a mission, I’ll take him out.
Dertal went quiet. They waited, and the food arrived. They ate in silence. After eating, they left the diner and went to Green Park to wait. A car pulled up, and Jin and Dertal got in the back. From afar in Green Park, someone, possibly a cop, saw them get in. He was eating a donut but ignored it.
Jin and Dertal arrived at Lesley Underground. Going down, they saw Michael there.
Underling: I brought them.
Michael glared at the underling: Are you nuts?
Underling: Huh?
Michael: Why didn’t you take them to their workplaces? Dertal to the factory, Jin to Timber’s place. Why bring them here?
Underling: I thought you said—
Michael: When did I say that? I said take them to their jobs, not to me.
Underling: Oh, my bad, sorry.
Michael: Hurry up, wasting time. Nonsense.
Jin and Dertal went upstairs. The underling talked to another guy, then split Jin and Dertal into two cars. They got in, and the cars drove in different directions. Dertal seemed less nervous. Dertal: Just making wine and dope, and Michael’s probably got it covered, so no cops will catch me, right? But Jin felt increasingly anxious. Jin: It’s coming, again. If I succeed, I’ll have money. Why do I regret this?
Jin was driven to the basement in Suburban Pann. It was dark, so it was cooler than the sunny morning.
The underling stayed in the car, so Jin had to knock. He knocked, and Timber opened the door. Jin went down alone.
Timber: You’re here. No need to investigate; the client and target info are ready.
Jin: Wait, I just realized, if the site’s secure, how’d they hire me?
Timber: The client knows someone connected to Michael’s men or their friends.
Jin: Oh.
Timber: So they got the code to hire you. Don’t worry about it, your job’s web security and getting hired. Now go do the mission. For web security, do it when you’re not hired. Or skip it and just be a mercenary.

Jin: Okay.
Timber handed Jin documents and target info.
Timber: Read it carefully. Since it’s your first job here and your first time as a hitman, someone will go with you to help.
Jin: Who?
Timber: You’ll see. Now grab weapons. Take something light, heavy guns are tough for you.
Timber led Jin to the weapons room and unlocked it. Jin looked around and took a dagger, a silver handgun with ammo, a handgun with a scope, and two silencers.
Timber: Smart choice. Even picked silencers.
Jin: Normal stuff, I watch movies and play shooting games, so I know. Everyone probably does.
Timber: Alright, grab a bulletproof vest too. Then head up. Oh, and—
Jin: What?
Timber gave Jin an earpiece: Wear this. If I need to contact you or you need info, I’ll call.
Jin: Okay.
Jin climbed out of the basement and got in the car. Once settled, the car drove off. Jin held the target documents and read them. The face looked familiar. Thinking back, he realized this guy, Nick, was there when he and Kyoto were tied up, talking to Daniel.
Jin: No way, is this him? Oh, Nick and another guy, Frank, so two targets. Frank’s new, but Nick’s familiar. Daniel’s underling? Why’s he a target?
Meanwhile, Dertal finished making methamphetamine and wine.
Mikel: This wine’s good. Rice wine. A winery making rice wine, nice. How’d you think of it?
Dertal: Rice wine’s sold out there, so I based it on that.
Mikel: No, no, your rice wine’s different from others. Something amazing about this glass. Alright, tomorrow we’ll produce this. You’ll be credited as its creator.
Dertal: Nah, I don’t need that. What about the methamphetamine?
Mikel: Leave it, we’ll handle and deal it later.
Dertal: So what now?
Mikel: Make more wine, you’re done with the meth.
Back to Jin, the car reached the location, an abandoned house. Jin got out and saw someone leaning against a wall, waiting. He approached. The person saw Jin and waved.
April: Yo, kid.
Jin: You’re my backup?
April: Yup.
Jin: What now?
April: Hand me your info. You read it all?
Jin: Not yet, just the target and the first part.
April read the documents: The reason for targeting these two is they scammed the client. Still unsure how to deal with them, so they hired someone. "Those two always meet me at empty lots and force me to buy their stuff. If I don’t, they threaten to beat me. I can’t report to the cops because I’m an addict and use illegal drugs, so I’d get arrested."
Jin: What the f… How’s this guy got so much money? If he’s forced to buy, there’s gotta be a reason they target him, and if he only buys from them, he shouldn’t have much cash left, yet he hired me for 40,000 pann.
April: 40,000 pann’s peanuts for you. Better assassins cost more. But every assassin’s responsible for their client. This guy’s probably an easy target, weak, and rich. Rich like that, he’s either from a wealthy family, stealing, or selling drugs…
As they talked, someone approached.
Stranger: Oh, you guys are here.
April: You’re Jeff, right?
Jeff: Yup.
April: Cash or transfer?
Jeff handed over 20,000 pann in cash: Here.
April: Why only 20,000? Skimming, huh?
Jeff: The other 20,000 is for the deal with those two. After you take them out, get it back. Oh, can you also recover the money I paid them before?
April: Yeah, okay. But you gotta pay more.
Jeff: How much?
April: At least 10,000 more.
Jeff: That’s a lot.
April: You’re asking for extra, we’re responsible for you.
Jeff: Fine.
Jin and April hid in a dark corner. Jeff waited for the two guys. After a bit, a car pulled up, and Nick and Frank got out.
Nick: Alright, alright, buy the stuff.
Jeff: Oh, yeah, let me try it.
Nick handed it over: Here.
Jeff tried it: Ugh, this is average. Not great.
Frank grabbed Jeff’s collar: You buying or not?
Jeff: Fine, I only have 20,000 pann now.
Nick: Hand it over.
Jeff gave it. Frank let Jeff go.
Nick: Whatever, next time you gotta pay more. Keep paying, and I’ll sell better stuff later, okay? Nick smirked.
The two got in their car. Jin and April got in theirs, with the underling driving, tailing the other car. The road was empty, making it easy to spot.
Nick: Got good money today, and tomorrow big boss Daniel’s paying me, I’ll be filthy rich.
Frank, driving: Damn, take me out if you’re celebrating.
Nick: Okay.
Frank glanced in the rearview mirror and saw a car following: Yo, Nick, there’s a car tailing us.
Nick looked back: Yeah, you’re right.
Frank: What now?
Nick: Any turns up ahead? I heard turning left four times checks if someone’s following.
Frank followed, making four turns. After the first turn, April told their driver to slow down to observe. After the second turn, the underling was about to follow, but Jin stopped him.
Jin: No, no, it’s a trap. If we follow, they’ll know. Hold off.
As expected, Nick’s car slowed after the second turn, watching. Jin’s car stayed put.
Jin: They’re slowing down, probably suspecting us.
Nick’s car made the third turn. Jin told the driver to go straight.
Jin: Drive straight. They’ve done three turns. This one’s definitely the fourth, and they’ll head our way. At the third turn, they had two options, left or right. Right follows us, left takes them back to the deal spot, which is a dead end. They’re heading away from the deal spot, so they’ll likely go straight or turn. New Pann’s layout is clean. Straight from the next intersection usually leads to residential areas, right to eateries, so they’ll probably go straight.
Jin’s car went straight as Nick’s car followed behind. Jin’s car turned right. Nick’s car went straight.
Jin: They went straight, we’ll make a rectangle loop and end up in the residential area they’re heading to.
After Jin’s car looped, they stopped and hid in a corner, observing. Some houses were dark, but one suddenly lit up. In front, a car like Nick and Frank’s was parked.
Jin and April got out, ready to strike.
Jin got out first.
Jin: Oh, why’s your name so feminine if you’re a guy?
April laughed: My mom named me. I was born in April, and she just liked it. Plus, she thought my long eyelashes made me look girly, so she went with April. Why ask about my name now?
Jin: Just curious, it sounds odd.
Jin and April checked the streetlights for cameras. After a while, they saw none. The area near the house had no cameras.
Jin: You got spare shoes? Cops might trace footprints and check recent shoe purchases. I just bought these.
April: Yeah, but no shoes, just slippers.
April gave Jin a pair of slippers: These were a gift. My shoes are old, so they’re probably fine.
Jin took out a house blueprint and gave it to April. They studied it and got the layout.
April: There’s a backyard, let’s go there first. But I bet there’s a camera inside.
They climbed over a wooden fence, tall but manageable. Peering through a window, they saw Nick and Frank watching TV. Jin scanned the backyard; it was dark, hard to see. He noticed a red light at the corner of the back door. He shot it with a silenced gun, and it fell. Hearing the noise, Nick and Frank grabbed weapons and rushed to the back. Jin picked up the camera and tossed it a bit away. The backyard was dark, especially with weak streetlights, making it hard for Nick and Frank to see. Nick shined a flashlight and saw movement.
Nick: Huh, just a stray cat.
Frank pointed at the shot camera: Yo, what’s that?
They approached it and saw the camera. Meanwhile, Jin and April sneaked inside. Nick and Frank looked up at the door corner, seeing no camera. Bad vibes hit them. They went back in. Frank grabbed a knife and moved to the living room.
Nick: No one’s here.
Nick took a handgun and went upstairs to the bedroom.
Nick: Anyone there?
Nick and Frank burst into the bedroom and flipped on the light.
Jin was hiding in the bathroom, near the bedroom. He just needed to exit the bathroom and turn right to reach it.
Jin held his knife, hesitating, recalling what April said earlier.
April: You’ll do the killing.
Jin: Huh?
April: You gotta kill to get used to it, and this is your mission.
Jin stayed silent.
April: Fine, hide in the closet. When they’re about to open it, you take them out. I’ll be the bait. If you don’t kill, I’ll be the one dead.
Back to now. Frank held a knife, opening the closet, with Nick behind him, gun ready. The closet faced the bedroom door. Jin had rushed into the bedroom. As Frank opened the closet, Nick didn’t have time to shoot.
With a murderous look, Jin swung from behind, stabbing Nick’s neck artery. Nick clutched his neck and collapsed. Frank swung his knife at Jin, but Jin ducked, tackled Frank down, and grabbed Frank’s knife hand. Frank held Jin’s knife hand. Frank tried to stab Jin. Jin headbutted Frank once, then twice. Frank flipped Jin over, ready to stab. Jin quickly slashed Frank’s throat. Frank rolled off, clutching his neck in pain. Jin stabbed Frank’s chest. Frank died on the spot.
April looked at Jin, stunned. Jin stood, covered in blood, and dropped the knife. He stared at his bloody hands, then clutched his head.
Jin grimaced, almost crying: What’s this? I killed again.
April: Huh? You killed again? What’s that mean?
End of Chapter 3