Ahn marches past her bedroom door and swiftly opens Hyunjin's. He is laying on his bed staring at the ceiling.

"Do knock one of these days," he says.

She rolls her eyes. "Gear up, we have to poison people."

She doesn't' wait for him to move and leaves.

Ahn rushes into her office and is stopped by the pile of letters. She stares at the letters with contempt and jumps over them.

She picks up the nearest book from the shelf and pushes the contract in between the pages, she glances at the title and memorises it before putting the book back.

Under the dim light emitting from the lamp, her silver dagger glistens. She left it on her desk in the morning- standing upright. She left it there, after opening letters which had the same contents as the ones lying on the floor.

She pulls the dagger free and slips it in her pocket.

She crosses into her bedroom to retrieve her sword. She changes her shoes with ones with a better grip. She pushes her hair back, but it falls back on her face.

She drops to her knees and pushes her hair away from her eyes. Her fingers grip the loose floorboard and remove it. Under it are four long wooden boxes with flowers carved on top.

She lifts one box and puts it on the floor. She opens the lid and chooses a poison of her liking.

The door opens. "Ready?" Hyunjin asks.

Ahn pockets the vial and stands up. "Yeah."

She steps out of her room and closes the door. Hyunjin is staring at her with his arms crossed. His dyed blonde hair is pulled back in a ponytail. But a few strands escape and frame his face. He is wearing an outfit she has seen him in too many times- black pants, a black sleeveless shirt, and a black jacket over it. "Daesong says he has informed Jiho of our visit."

She bobbles her heard once. Jiho owns Backwaters Inn.

One of the most followed rules of Daisy Harbour is that inns, clubs, and restaurants are neutral territory. The owners have the final say in brawls.

The same is true for the inns and clubs in Bleeding Stones too. However, there are no restaurants in Bleeding Stones. The tradition of neutral grounds emerged in the Bleeding Stones, but it seeped into the Harbour only a few decades back.

"Who are we killing?" he as asks as they walk down the stairs.

"Doyoung and Mark. They are planning a coup."

A small smile stretches his lips. "We should join them "

"I don't want to do the other half of Daesong's paperwork," She complains.

"Come on! That can't be your excuse." He laughs. It isn't. Ahn would have already overthrown Daesong if she was planning to stay in Daisy Harbour. She is only here because of some unfinished businesses.

"You can't do paperwork to save your life."

He slaps her shoulder. "I do paperwork on a regular basis."

She slaps his shoulder in retaliation. "Signing papers isn't paperwork."

"It is a part of it."

"Sure, it is." She rolls her eyes.

Instead of using the main entrance, they use the back door on the second floor. It leads them to the backside of the Crimson Club. Backwaters Inn is a few alleys south.

They pass the crowd and head towards their target.

It takes them twenty minutes to reach Backwaters Inn. During the time, Ahn explains to Hyunjin the plan and hands him the vial. Then they part ways. Ahn enters the inn while Hyunjin goes to the back.

The inn is filled with lively chatter, clinking of glasses and rearing laughter. Ahn steps in after two women, walking hand in hand.

She finds Mark and Doyoung sitting at the back of the inn. But they aren't sitting alone. There is another man. His features are hidden under a mask. And unlike Mark and Doyoung, he doesn't have an empty glass in front of him.

Ahn sits in the unoccupied seal us front of the masked man.

Mark looks at her alarmed. His eyes only sharpen when he recognises her. "Oh, hello," he says. Doyoung and he exchange a glance.

She nods in response. "What are you-" Doyoung starts.

"You are planning a coup against Daesong," she comments. Mark's eyes widen and he sits straight. Ahn smiles. "I want to be a part of it."

Doyoung chuckles, but his face tells a different story. He looks as if he is about to get sick. "You must have mistaken us for someone else."

"I have not," she replies. "Daesong told me about your coup. He sent me there to kill you." Mark has gone as pale as Doyoung. The stranger hangs to her every word.

"Are you?" Mark are this voice is rough.

"Why would I? I want him dead."

"Why?"

"You think I enjoy doing his menial tasks for him?" She doesn't get a response. "Only because I signed a contrast to work for him, he can't send me everywhere to do his bidding"

"Give us a minute," Mark says. He and Doyoung leave.

Ahn leans back in the chair. The stranger is studying her. She can't see his complete face, but he is young. His dark eyes seemed to have consumed all the darkness around him and are emitting bright light, showering the person he is looking at with warmth.

His eyes shift around the inn. There is tension in his shoulders. She recognises these signs too well.

"You are new," she comments.

Cool surprise splashes on his face. "Does my demeanour reflect that?"

"Too well. How do you know Mark and Doyoung?"

"I don't. I met them outside the inn."

"What you doing in the Harbour?"

"I'm hoping to make some quick money," he admits. His ears turn red.

Ahn laughs. She laughs because he is naïve, too naïve to understand that there were people before him. She also laughs because he won't get to find out how naïve he is.

His lip's part, but Mark and Doyoung sit down, forcing him to bite his tongue.

"Firstly, Ahn, we are so grateful; that you-" Mark says, ready to sing her praise.

"Yeah, I'm amazing, and you are eternally grateful for my help. However, I have some demands." Mark swallows dryly. "First, after we overthrow Daesong, I'm taking over his position as the leader. Second, we kill Daesong. If left alive, he will try to get control over his gang again."

Doyoung looks at Mark before answering. "We agree."

"One more thing." She leans forward for dramatic effect. "The two of you need to go into hiding. This coup will only work if Daesong believes you are dead."

He nods again and then holds his hand out towards the stranger. "This is Hajoon. He is helping with a coup, too."

Ahn meets his eyes. She pities the situation he has found himself in. "Hello, Hajoon."

♡

an , the strange boy is certainly interesting isn't he? please show your support by voting and commenting <3

thank you so muc for the 1k views! 

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