"Now you can give him the treat." Jung-Kook assured Lisa as her excitement settled in as a reaction to Love starting to get the hang of the whole training they have been trying to perform for a while now.

The canine yard of the Military Academy was far from small. If you take a left turn after the so-called nesting part in which the dogs had to sleep, you will be met by an enormous ring, which was where the two students were practicing with Love right now. A sand covered surface limited by wooden gates - the birthplace of many protective and well-behaved working dogs. And soon enough, Love will be a prestigious example.

"Who's a good boy?" Lisa congratulated him, scratching the behind of his ears, to which Love attempted to lick her gratefully. "Aren't you so smart?"

"Stop baby talking to him while he's training. You're going to make him reactive, which will distract him. He needs to be disciplined right now." And with that, Lisa's hand retracted with regret and aligned with her straight posture. The sun's rays began to peek from between the high buildings of Seoul, thus reaching the girl's face. Regardless of how the warmth's embrace relaxed her, it was an understatement that her eyes were bothered by the light. But she dared not move, for Jung-Kook's speech mentioned that the training is not only for the dog, but also for the owner to learn how to communicate. Thus, Lisa concluded she shall also obey the rules. "Good, one more "leave it" command and we're done. But now, use a treat."

The treat Lisa threw landed a good two meters ahead of her, and as she noticed Love's impulse to run after it, she commanded "Leave it!" And with reluctance, the dog stopped right near the treat. His attention oscillates from the treat and Lisa, who was watching him with a stern expression. "Come. Sit." And resignedly rapid, sat down in between Lisa's distanced legs.

"Release him whenever you're ready." The boy instructed.

"Now!" Was what Love's been waiting to hear before chaotically sprinting towards the treat. He remained neutral, abandoned wagging his tail despite the happiness that made him swing his torso left and right.

Lisa displayed an overjoyed expression, to which Jung-Kook's smile could not have been fought back. The girl's bliss was so persistent that her cheeks pushed her eyelids together and prevented her from seeing anymore. She was unaware that her happiness triggered a spark in the boy, because perhaps soon enough, he redressed himself and welcomed back the commanding facade.

"We need two more weeks before we start behavior training."

"What's that?" clueless Lisa asked, carrying Love in her arms lovingly, as he bit on her fingers.

"Crate training, barking and ultimately..." he traced his fingers along his chin, eyes dived into a deep thinking, then he continued, "we will need a canine agitator."

"And that is what exactly?"

"A man who knows how to agitate a dog, so that Love can learn how to bite and, obviously, sense danger. So that he can, as well, protect you."

It was not certain what Jung-Kook meant by adding "as well" to the sentence. Perhaps it was a way of saying that, along with other things Love can do, he will also learn to protect. Or, perhaps, it was a way of saying that along with other people, Love will also learn to protect Lisa. Surely, the other people mentioned earlier would instantly consist of her family, but somewhat, Jung-Kook would also qualify. Undoubtedly, his job is to assure the safety of people, and foremost the safety of those endangered, exactly how he would describe Lisa right now.

"Do you really think Miss Jang-Mi was trafficked?" the brunette asked in a moment of higher contemplation.

Their early visit to the doctor's house, as requested, went fairly well. Pressured by Lisa's huge heart and her enormous gift for her daughter, the woman felt that the least she could do to return the favor was to lend them something as valuable, and what is more valuable than a secret?

"Her case was closed. They will soon reveal to the public that she was simply a victim of organ trafficking." the doctor stated her attention to the two young adults standing on her couch, waiting for their reactions.

Somewhere behind them, the young girl of the doctor was nested in her life-sized car toy, banging and hitting everything in sight, driving over other toys and, from time to time, getting out, pretending to fill it with gas.

Meanwhile, Jung-Kook turned to Lisa for a response, but the brunette's eyes targeted the floor in a confused outburst.

"And do you believe it might be true?" she eventually said.

The doctor brushed off three attempts to answer, unaware of how to interpret her words. Lisa's question was a sugar-coated way of asking "So, the higher ups plan on lying, right?", thus it made Mrs. Min reluctant. But then again, she called because she wanted to do this.

"To be frank, no. In all my years of working, never have I seen something like this." she confessed, holding tight her cup of tea. "In organ trafficking cases, targets are not picked randomly. You have to be sure the victim's organs are eligible for such surgery. Plus, there are plenty of people willing to do this in order to save their families from poverty or debt. So, it's unlikely that this was the case for Miss Song Jang-Mi."

"Why would they return the rest, if hypothetically, she was trafficked?" Jung-Kook agreed with the doctor. It was clear to the eye that what was happening was far from trafficking. "The corpse itself is evidence, wouldn't they want it to be hidden?"

"Exactly. This is not a typical murder case either. Look, personally, I believe her corpse is a statement."

"A statement?" Jung-Kook, somewhat puzzled, repeated.

"In most cases," Lisa, who caught on to what the doctor meant, began to put it altogether, "when the corpse that resulted from a murder is exposed, the culprit wants to instill fear. It's usually placed at the family's doorstep, or some acquaintance's, but we're random students. So the intent is to make a statement. Whoever did it wants to send a message."

"One hundred percent." Mrs. Min further agreed, nodding wisely to Lisa's words. "Someone probably understood the message, and wants for it to remain hid, that's why they're fighting to close the case."

Lisa's teeth encaged her lip, cutting into it with pure unconsciousness. Those doubts and assumptions were long encrypted in her mind, but hearing someone, especially a professional, word them, made her nervousness even more tiring.

"Thank you, Mrs. Min." and as she got up, the brunette bowed respectfully. "We'll get going now, it's late." catching the little girl's eye, Lisa waved frantically and ended her welfare with a smile.

"One more thing!" the doctor exclaimed, grabbing Jung-Kook's arm. "You're from the Academy, aren't you? I'm no investigator, but I've seen cases like this. You guys should give extra attention to whoever found the torso at their door. It's likely that person was meant to receive the message more than anybody, since the heart is missing. I have a slight suspicion that the heart is hidden along with the answer we're looking for."

Lisa gulped. The torso was at her door.

Jung-Kook shared a look with the girl and ultimately nodded understandingly.

Back in the canine yard of the university, Jung-Kook scanned Lisa.

"The doctor already said it's unlikely, Lisa."

"But, just but, the doctor might be lying?"

"She probably risked her life to tell us all that, Lisa."

The brunette contemplated for a while, and as the frozen breeze crushed through her clothes, her consciousness humbly returned, met instantly by Jung-Kook's confused combination of expressive behavior. His head tilted to the felt, and his hair begged to differ, hanging perpendicular to the ground, meanwhile his eyes searched for even an intention of answering from the girl - which failed to appear.

"Let's just go." she instead suggested.

"Where to?"

"Call Tae-Hyung, tell him to bring Jennie."

*

Lisa never imagined having to abandon her dignity this way.

But Jennie was happily in a relationship, thus she understood why she had to be the bait once again. It appeared to her that she functioned only as a bait, or sacrifice, but she signed up for this, leaving no place for complaining.

"Military men are easy. Especially those in these kinds of positions." Tae-Hyung explained, watching Lisa through the rear mirror as one of his hands effortlessly guided the car through occasional circular motions against the wheel. "Me and Jung-Kook will stand close by, so if you feel endangered and want to leave, just move your bangs away from your forehead and we'll understand the signal."

"Take this." Jennie, from the other side of the backseat, offered Lisa a tiny box.

"A ring?"

"If you press it this way," she moved closer and demonstrated, "a sharp knife will pop out. It's pretty solid, and you can easily open it without being suspicious. Just aim for the face, especially the eyes." and as she pushed the hidden knife back inside, her hands remained embracing Lisa's, while her lips formed a reassuring smile.

"You need to get the keychain, me and Tae-Hyung will figure it from there." Jung-Kook added. "He keeps all his access badges attached to it. He's too challenged mentally to be able to not lose them the other way."

"We'll use them to enter his office and find the recording from the night of the murder."

Other than that, the car ride fell under silence. Lisa continuously fidgeted with the ring to make sure it's working properly, then moved to lingering her fingers along the window. Tae-Hyung heated up the vehicle beforehand, understandable due to the rainy weather outside. But that, added to the brunette's anxious and irregular breaths, made it seem as if no air entered her lungs, regardless of how deep she'd breath in. Thus, the cold window cooled her down, and helped her temporarily discharge the hyperventilating.

What truly brought her worry levels down was the gasp-worthy scenery outside, which she revealed after washing the fog off the cold glass of the window. Seoul's night life was brighter than the morning sun, neon lights duplicated in rain puddles, deafening music that overtakes the pitched up sound of rain - the city surely was not bothered by any kind of weather. No amount of rain could have washed away the lively soul of nighttime Seoul.

As they approached the bar - Lisa realized - the streets got more dull, and perhaps frightening. From the whole alley they parked on, only one bar's lights were still on, fighting the darkness of the night - Vinyl "Street Bar". Its wall fought to isolate the banging music born inside. The door was fragile, a wooden frame whose perfectly brownish color faded, with glass windows that moved back and forth as the wind commanded.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Jung-Kook asked her, his eyebrows met in an enclosure that transmitted a feeling Lisa has never seen him portray - worry, uncertainty.

"It's gonna be alright." she assured, more her own self rather than Jung-Kook.

The inside, contrary to her belief, was huge. It began with a narrow hallway that threw you inside a large area.

"It's so messy." Jennie commented, and the others could not agree more.

You could barely walk through the tables, circled by different kinds of chairs - none looked like the others. Jennie, whose shoe choice was composed of heels, needed a hand from Tae-Hyung to walk through the crowded bar. Jung-Kook, at the sight, watched Lisa for any sign of discomfort, but she appeared as composed and in control as ever. Her ponytail moved left and right, allowing the backless dress to highlight her shoulders that melted softly into a narrow waist.

Piled upon an unstable chair stood her target - Commander Jung.

His body, tightened by age, imploded into a short figure with wide measurements. His mustache tickled the glass of alcohol each time he brought it to his lips for a sip. Time to time, he would laugh hysterically at his companion on his left, thus Lisa had to occupy the chair on his right side, which was thankfully empty, an eerily situation, given the crowded state of the rest of the bar.

"Is anyone sitting here?" Lisa's question targeted a young woman behind the counter.

"Silly, it's all yours. Nobody wants to stay there." she shook her head, as if Lisa was expected to be aware of this already.

"Why is that?"

"See those?" the lady pointed at the queue of men, starting from Commander Jung, that ran all the way to the door. To the brunette, those were simple men. "You don't want to sit next to those men."

"Hey! Youngster! Don't scare away the beautiful lady there!" one of them pointed, causing the others to turn like a line of domino pieces.

All the attention fell on her. Their eyes watched her with yarning, like starved dogs waiting to attack a piece of meat. Lisa's flesh made them go mad with hunger, as she was a prey among filthy men.

Her palm fell on her thigh, slyly moving up the rim of the satin dress. Her long legs peeked from under the material like the sun peeks through curtains, a zone of warmth and light.

"Now, what does the young lady wish to drink?" Commander Jung asked, turning his whole body to face Lisa. His hand lingered on his thigh, contemplating whether or not to park it on Lisa's just yet. "Get her anything," he addressed the bar lady, without looking at her, "it's on me." then reassured her with a reluctant smirk.

Lisa read him, he was rather unsure. His shoulders pushed his posture back, and a tensed vein traveled through the side of his forehead. To that, the corners of her lips reached up gratefully, with a hint of seduction in her daring eyes. Then, her glance traveled his body from top to bottom - to him, it was a yarning signal, but in reality she aimed to find the keychain and put an end to this mission.

That's when she saw it, the pocket of his jacket hid it with an obvious bump. A faulty wave affecting the leather of his clothing. There was Lisa's target. But then again, how would she reach his pocket?

"A virgin piña colada, please."

"Come on, no alcohol?" his displeased words escaped through a pout. You're a man, yet so pathetic, Lisa thought, fighting to submerge her disgust in a flirty look.

"Not yet."

"What's your name, beautiful?"

"Lili." Lisa stated, her left leg thrown on her right one. Her heels hung on the tip of her foot, waving it back and forth. "What about yours?"

"I'm Jae-Min."

"Pretty name, but 오빠* fits you better."

"You think?" his eyebrows flew to his hairline. He felt like a fisherman seeing the rod's line move, because he assumed Lisa was a foolish fish mesmerized by his charms. Truth is, he had none. It was nearly impossible to desire a form of life such as his. Lisa did not know him well, but first impressions give away much more than one thinks. "Lili..." he thought, once more, "have I seen you before?"

Lisa's smirk became more evident.

"Is this the start of a cliche pick-up line?" she confidently asked, but he failed to answer her playfulness.

"I think I've seen you before, though."

Could it be that the plan she schemed for so long began to crumble? Should he remember her from that night, all their progress towards the truth is damned. But she can't know, for she fainted the moment Jung-Kook jumped out the window with her in his arms. Given that the two boys haven't told her anything, she assumed it would be fine. They wouldn't miss a detail like this, would they? She stole a peek at their table, challenging to see from her position, but was met by Jung-Kook's body leaned against the chair, preoccupied by foreign conversations happening left and right.

Her chest trembled with worry for her two other colleagues, Tae-Hyung and Jennie, who were nowhere to be seen. But Jung-Kook's impartial state confirmed they were somewhere safe and sound, and she mustn't work herself over nothing. Moreover, primary now was her own well-being and thus she shall find a safe exit out of this situation. However, it appeared to her that the situation might be the one to leave earlier than expected.

Commander Jung's eyelids fully revealed his eyes - his frown drowned in a shocked expression. He realized - he recognized her. Lisa saw the change in his breathing pattern. She could not hear him exhale heavily, given the deafening music, but his chest moved unevenly. He must have tried to breath out the anxiety piled upon his chest. His hand dug in his pocket, a violent grab, followed by an abrupt jump off the chair and a pathetic run.

"I have to leave, boys!" he called, completely ignoring Lisa on his way out.

"Without paying for my drink?" Lisa, whose tone fought against inconsistency, pointed out. "Don't be a bummer!"

She left her seat, retracing the Commander's steps towards the exit of the bar. Upon seeing the scene, Jung-Kook's eyebrows raised in concern and he practically jumped out of his relaxed position. His look dared Lisa not to follow the man, but the brunette brushed it off and signaled for him to sit back. Afterall, he is the Commander's subordinate. The girl did not want him to enter trouble backing her up. Mr. Jung appeared more of an anxious target than a threat to her, so it didn't trouble her.

"I know who you are." he told her when they left the bar.

She approached him comfortably, but his hand brutally circled her wrist. It was time to admit that she underestimated him - he might hold more hormonal fat than necesar but underneath his strange physique once laid tons of muscle. Silly Lisa, how haven't you thought of it? Otherwise, how would he have been in the Special Forces? Isn't it strange how a small man covered in fat and challenged by time can simply overpower a fit woman in her youth? And more than ever she now regretted refusing Jung-Kook's help earlier, for he can't now see her however much she tried.

"Obviously, I've introduced myself earlier." She attempted to play dumb, but he was already ahead.

"No, you're that girl. I didn't recognize you all dressed up, but now I know!"

Meanwhile, inside the bar, Jung-Kook struggled to find the bathroom. Since Lisa denied his help, he figured he should inform the two. Few minutes ago, Jennie stated that she needed to use the restroom, and her loving boyfriend volunteered to accompany. Thus, he was left all alone in a bar from which he couldn't find his way out. His shoulder bumped into more people than he could count.

And before he could reach Lisa, he fell terrified on his knees.