【Ｃ Ｏ Ｎ Ｃ Ｏ Ｒ Ｄ Ａ Ｎ Ｃ Ｅ】

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4th October 2019

Hannah

"I don't even know what to do. Why are you including me in this?", I groaned in frustration but none of them, I repeat none of them gave a fuck about my protest. How do they expect me to participate in their missions? Firstly, they are a mafia and I don't want to aid them in their treacherous activities. Secondly, I am pretty sure of being shot by the opponent. Who knows my fighting skills better than myself? I can't even run properly, forget about holding a gun.

"Are you even listening?", I stomped my foot to gain their attention and V raised his head only to shoot a pissed off glare. Do I annoy him so much? Why can't they just release me even when they knew having me is just like carrying water to the sea?

"Yes, I am. You have been speaking useless shit for the last fifteen minutes and my ears decided not to give a fuck", he simply stated, engrossing himself back to the projection that is displayed in front of us. It's a focus map designed by Beomgyu and I am quite impressed by his skills. The last time I saw one had the same strategy points.

"Hannah, note down", JK mouthed and I pulled out my phone to type down. The only purpose my phone is having at the moment is for taking down notes. I don't know what happened to V and JK but they turned into some high school professors, ordering me to note down every once in a second. Yes, that's the frequency.

"Straight from the backside of the building, it's a deserted street. If you catch him, kill him there. There will be no risk of being caught in the CCTV footage and it will take time to track him. Fifteen meters to the left, it is Namju Alley. It will be slightly crowded, so find a place and change your outfit. Just take two turns and go straight, you will be at a familiar arcade. It will be very crowded since it's a Saturday. Disperse into three groups and come back here without dipping your shoe in any kind of poop", JK slammed on the table after stating his words and I flinched. They could be cast as villains for a thriller movie, they are so natural. 

"Make sure to take the ropes and biners. I don't want this exemplary plan to turn into a terrible fiasco. Soobin, make sure to not be a dipshit and move like a snake", V apprised Soobin and he quickly bobbed his head, his eyes not leaving the screen. Everyone is deeply focused on the plan and I looked down at my notes. Hope I don't get shot or kidnapped by another mafia group. It's funny how I don't even know whom we are dealing with on the other side. 

"Wait! Why do we need ropes and biners? Won't we use the backdoor?", I asked them in confusion and everyone turned their heads towards me. What? Am I looking like a half fried and half seasoned chicken?

"Why do you prove yourself to be a waste of space every time we try to think of making you a minimal nifty? Using a backdoor would only result in aiding the risk of being caught. Are you thinking of a plan to expose us?", V's voice simmered and a grim silence followed, fogging the entire room. 

"You, out of all people know how helpless I am. You know how unskilful I am concerning your grounds and that's the very reason why I couldn't escape and is considered weak. You know everything, right? Then why do you treat me like this? Why do you not let me breathe in peace?", I scoffed at him as my eyes welled up. 

I don't remember the number of days I have been confined in this unknown place but I am tired of their atrocious comments about my weaknesses. Ever since I blacked out that day, holding the gun, JK started pitying me, Soobin started mocking me and V didn't leave a chance to throw spiteful comments at me. I was not born to land here. I was not prepared to get into this preposterous mess. I never aimed to become a part of the mafia. All I want to do here in Seoul is to find who killed my parents and Lawyer Park.

"Go to your room", V commanded and I clenched my fists tight. I am not a fucking goat for him to order however he likes. 

"Just go to your room now, Miss Cooper", he rumbled with an acrimonious tone and I quickly paced my steps to my room. I slammed the door shut and crashed down on my knees, my back stroking the smooth door. 

I hate myself for being a wimp in front of him. I hate myself for letting him order me around. I hate myself for meddling with Soobin's heinous business that day. Had I held in my curiosity that day, I wouldn't have been imprisoned in this shitty building. 

It is a tangle of impediments that I never wished for. Could my life get any ridiculous? I lost my family, landed in a foreign country with a minus to no knowledge about finding the culprit, searching for a lawyer who seemed to have the fucking lowest ground profile, stuck in an underground mafia ring, and above all, had to submit to few people whom I met a few days ago. Why do I have to be so powerless? Why am I not able to talk back? I held my soaked face with my palms as grief gushed through my veins. It's too hard to hold the heaviness in one's self. I am getting exhausted and I am scared at the thought of losing hope. I must remain sanguine to fight for Eomma and Dad and to get back to her.

A knock on the door snapped me out of my thoughts and I wiped my tears. They would mock at my weak state. They are heartless people and I should not give into them. I got up on my feet and my chest heaved in to take a deep breath. 

I opened the door only to be greeted by the stone-faced V. He walked inside without a word and closed the door. He glanced at me and then walked to my bed, sitting on it as if he owns it. The sad truth, he owns it.

He tapped on the empty side of the bed and gestured me to come near him. With conflicting thoughts in my head, I finally made a brave decision of doing what he asked me to. It's brave either way. I don't know what he would do when I sit beside me. He could just slit my throat. And if I don't do what he says, he could do the same. That's the power he holds. The colossal power of controlling me like no one else till today.

I seated myself beside him, fidgeting my fingers nervously. His Rolex Watch shined in the dim-lit room, the only thing that looked bright today. I faced the ground as I could not look into his face. His deep, dark gaze causes chills down my blood. His domineering and cold persona is quite bad to my mental health and submitting to him is the best way to deal with him. 

"Can't swim, can't run, can't hold a gun, doesn't have a basic idea about how a mission goes", he paused and released a breath. I mentally chuckled at how he is here to deteriorate my confidence again. I gasped as his index finger swiftly raised my head to meet his orbs. They looked calm, unlike the usual fierce ones.

"Though I don't have an intention to throw a harsh comment, I have to admit that you are a fly in the ointment", he stated and there he goes. I was about to turn my head but he held my face with his thumb and index finger poking into my cheeks. I got used to this action, his regular way of treating me.

"Why are you running away?", he asked in a stern voice and my heart started pounding at the tension in the air. Our faces aren't inched close but his authoritarian aura has the capability to claim the whole room. Running away? I am not even standing stiff.

"I am not", I replied and he pressed his lips into a thin line.

"Do you know what your weaknesses are?", he raised a not so unfamiliar question and I chuckled.

"Not being able to swim, not being able to run, not being able to hold a gun-", I was cut off as he placed his index fingers on my lips. His contemplating gaze got me shaky and I pressed my nails into the bed sheet to damp down my jitteriness.

"Not able to believe yourself. You don't trust yourself enough to carry out something. Something is bothering you and it is being the spanner to your spirits", he explained, causing my stomach to do a backflip. How keen was he observing me? How does he know something is bothering me?

"I don't suspect you as a danger, at least not at the moment. And I won't break into your personal space. Fine, let's not talk about that. Did you ever think why JK and I ask you to note down things?", he questioned and I bobbed my head in negation. My inner self screamed the answer as they treat me like their goat but I remained silent.

"You have a good memory power. Not many possess the skill. Taking down notes would help you remember things though you still have them on your mobile. As the days pass by, you won't need to note everything down. This brain of yours has some skill", he muttered, tapping my head and I was at a loss of words. Is it V who is talking to me? Or am I mistaking him for someone else? 

"Stop crying over unnecessary things and focus on your strengths. There is still a lot of time and I would definitely explore the best of you but then, a see-saw would be straight only of the two of them balance. Make yourself ready, Miss Cooper", he declared in an affable tone and I nodded in a cue as if drawn into his charisma. I realized I have fallen into a deeper shit than what I expected. Explore me? As days pass by? Did they mark my forever here, already?

"What are the four Cs?", he asked like a teacher, with an interrogative expression.

"Cause, Caution, Concentration and Completion", I answered. That is something which I could never forget. The 4Cs are the motto for any event and he is very much particular about them.

"You need to be cautious in every step and concentrate on every move that your opponent makes. It doesn't matter what steps you take, right or wrong. Finally, all you need to do is complete the mission", he detailed the course of action.

"I should be cautious, concentrate on his moves, and complete the task of killing a person. Right? What if I don't want to? What if I don't want to kill an innocent person?", I asked him, biting my lip in nervousness. I am scared if he would turn into a scary swine again.

"That's the very reason you need to know the cause. I have to agree, it's my fault to not disclose the identity of the person you guys are going to kill", he uttered and I glanced at him as curiosity started kicking my gut. I am sure my verily pesky curiosity would lead me to the demon's cakehole.

"You will be dealing with South Korea's biggest drug dealer", he revealed, making my jaws drop. Drug Dealer? South Korea's biggest?

"Wh...What?", I stuttered my words and he nodded as if it's nothing amusing.

"Yes, you heard it right. So, I guess you can cut that innocent part. He visits the sauna every Saturday to meet one of his dames in the disguise of a businessman. You guys need to mislead him and do the rest of the mission. You don't need to worry about the rest since the dipshits would take care.  You just have to mislead and Soobin will make sure to bring you back safe", he expatiated the details of the mission and my blood turned cold. We will be dealing with the country's largest drug dealer and it turns out to be my first mission. 

"I guess I cleared your head. I will be leaving then", he got and started to walk towards the door.

"Why are you telling me this? Why now?", I asked as I stood on my feet. He walked to the door and held the knob, partially twisting it.

"Just to let you know, we are not that bad of people", he stated without even turning back and walked out of the room.

What are they?

───※ ·❆· ※───

5th October 2019

"Noona, just direct him towards the last but second room and we will take care. Just move out after your task is done", Yeonjun mouthed and I nodded. He speaks nicely and is not an annoying piece of shit like that alpaca.

"Better move out even before we catch him. Who knows? You could just poke your nose into something needless and we will have to pay for it", Soobin flashed his despotic comment and I shrugged away. I am not in a condition to retort his bratty self.

"How is Max doing?", I inquired him since it's been quite a long time that I have seen him. I miss him a lot and I hope he is doing well. I trust Aeri but not this alpaca. 

"Just being himself, barking and whining for no reason. No wonder since he is your pet", Soobin muttered and I huffed, vexed at his deprecatory attitude. It doesn't harm him to be nice at times, will it? I presume him to be having a psychological illness that is holding him from being a human.

"Didn't you say you cuddled with Max the other day?", Kai revealed, leaving me open-mouthed. Did he seriously cuddle with my Max? Oh My God! Poor soul.

"Did you seriously touch my Max? No way", I yawped, glaring at him through the rear-view mirror

"Who said I cuddled with him? He came and littered my room. Above that, he just plopped on my bed while I was sleeping", Soobin snapped back and the four guys just giggled. He gritted his teeth and diverted his concentration on the driving. 

"He is on good terms with your dog. He is just embarrassed to reveal it", Yeonjun whispered, slowly in my ear and I shook my head. What did Max do to get a life like this? I hope he is fine.

The car then halted with a very sudden brake and my head hit the leather seat in front. What the fuck! 

"Fudge! Why are you so careless? Idiot", Yeonjun scoffed at Soobin who just hushed him, gesturing all of us to be quiet.

"What's with you and those childish swear words? You can just say Fuck! None of us here are toddlers", I posed the question that I wanted to ask for a long time. Yeonjun has a peculiar habit of using safe swear words, unlike others. Everyone else always keeps effing and blinding about one or the other but he is an exception.

"That's a short and sweet story, noona. Do you know Battlegrounds, the famous war-action gaming company, and toy manufacturers?", Soobin asked and Beomgyu's expression changed into a serious one. 

"I heard about them, I guess. I am not a fan of war-action games", I replied, my eyes not leaving Beomgyu's stiffened posture. 

"Yeonjun wants to be in the good books of the CEO of that company. So, he just modifies his swearing", Soobin stuck out his tongue at Yeonjun who just let out a scowl in return. Wait! The CEO of a gaming company? How are these people related to the CEO of a famous gaming company?

"How are you related to the CEO of a gaming company?", I asked with a suspicious stare and the whole car turned quiet. Soobin bit his lip and pressed the steering while Yeonjun avoided my gaze. 

"We have many connections, noona. It's not something amusing", Taehyun answered curtly and the rest nodded vigorously. They sure do have many connections. Why not? They are really powerful. But then, do they know Lawyer Park? There could be a possibility of them hearing about him since he has a low profile and is quite dubious.

"Do you know anyone named Mr. Park?", I asked and everyone turned their attention towards me.

"Mr. Park? You can't ask that question in Korea, noona. You find a Park in every street", Kai responded with a smile that didn't look usual but his words were true. I knew it's quite silly to ask them about Mr. Park without stating his profession. 

"What does he do?", Beomgyu furrowed his brows, showing his keenness and I shook my head in negation. I don't want to reveal much. He is the only key to dig about my parents' murder.

"I don't know. He is someone related to my family", I replied, trying to sound honest and he nodded, his expression turning into a relieved one. 

"Noona, I want to make a deal", Soobin offered and I cornered my eyes, displaying a wary expression.

"I will tell you details about Max every day. In return, I want you to do my Maths homework", he professed and I thought for a moment. Solving Maths is not a big deal. Now that I know Soobin is being nice to Max, I don't think this deal would turn out to be bad. 

"Deal", I agreed and he smiled. That marked the concordance between two enemies. 

Everyone smiled and we got down the car. I realized we were waiting for the target to move inside the Sauna till now and held the bag of necessary items. I have to admit, they are good at diverting topics from what I have observed in the car. Soobin is always mean to me and it's funny how he drew the topic away with a not so stupid deal. Beomgyu looks like the most serious one before but right now, I will not think about that. 

"Noona, just direct him to the second room from the last", Soobin whispered as we both entered the sauna together. I am dressed up in a workers' uniform and walked inside, greeting the receptionist while Soobin walked away to get an appointment for himself. He is indeed acting well.

The Sauna is definitely huge and I am pretty sure the number of staff is quite huge, it being the very reason why she couldn't recognize me as an outsider. There could also be a chance of Taehyun hacking into their system data to infix my profile in their database. 

I smiled at the workers who were just coming and glanced at Yeonjun and Kai who just entered the Sauna. I bowed to them and directed them to the reception area. Yeonjun was filling the appointment while Kai blinked his eyes. 

"Ahhhhh", I screamed as I got his signal. The receptionist and the other staff on the floor turned her attention towards me and I continued screaming while Kai started to scan the screen with his advanced spy glasses. 

"It's a cockroach", I explained and she took a sigh, probably in relief.

"I will call the cleaners now. Please don't scream if you find a cockroach again. We got blanched at your sudden shriek", she exclaimed and I apologized, scratching my neck. Kai smiled and Yeonjun continued, detailing the receptionist. My work is done here.

My pocket vibrated and I moved to a corner to open the keypad phone. I was assigned a keypad phone that could only receive messages. 

"Room No A13"

I nodded and walked straight, finding the A series of rooms. I could feel my legs sweating as I was about to reach the destination. Can I do this? Will I be okay and not seem suspicious? My palpitating heart is screaming at the top of its voice not to take a chance but V promised that nothing will happen to me. Can I just believe them for once?

I opened the door and the steamy air hit my face, aiding my apprehension. I trailed my steps inside slowly and the door closed behind me, making me gasp. I know the doors will not be open for more time and it's not amusing but the surprisingly calm and spine-chilling aura of the room is causing me goosebumps.

"Mia", I called the name of his dame that JK mentioned.

The room was foggy and it's hard to see someone since the intensity started to soar. I paced my steps to the corner of the room and realized that the room is empty. Did they see the wrong room number?

I rushed towards the door and twisted the knob only to find it locked. I twisted it again, hoping that it would have been just stuck for a moment but I was wrong, it was locked. I knocked on the door but no one opened the door. I knocked on the door a few more times and my eyes started to get heavy with the heat. 

The fog started to turn dense and the temperature in the room began to escalate. I tried to search for a switch or a remote in haste. This was not how it was planned, I sighed as I started to get weak on my knees. My body is not able to cooperate with the intense steam. My shirt soaked wet with the compounding heat.

Letting out heavy breaths, I tried to compose myself with my skin almost burning away. I fell on the floor as my breathing got irregular and my body was sickening with each passing second. I don't think I can make this. 

Someone, please save me.

I am dying

I can't take it anymore

Before I could lose my consciousness completely, I managed to hear the creaking sound of a door from the other side.

"You dealt with the wrong person"

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Concordance

agreement or consistency

A/N: It's been a long time and I am very sorry for the delay. Hope this long update satisfies. Don't forget to vote and comment