The cool night air of Maykarta seeped into their skin. Dhoost pulled out his phone, its screen illuminating his tired face.
"Whoa, it's already past ten," he mumbled, his hoarse voice breaking the silence. "Are you guys coming back to my place or heading home?"
After a brief discussion, the unanimous decision to head home was made. Exhaustion after intensive training and a long day was stronger than the desire to hang out. However, Dzoavha suddenly slapped his forehead.
"Oh no, my laptop! I left it in your living room, Dhoost. Can we swing by for a bit? Tomorrow's Monday lab report file is on it," Dzoavha pleaded with a pitiful face.
"Okay, let's go," Dhoost answered with a wide yawn. The two of them walked along the quiet sidewalk toward the parking area.
Unbeknownst to them, from behind the shadows of the dilapidated public toilet, a pair of eyes watched their every move. A man in a low cap and a dark jacket blended perfectly with the darkness. No one knew how long he had been there. His breath was almost inaudible, and a mini communication device hissed softly in his hand.
"Reporting to Hana and Dul," whispered the man, his voice hissing like the night wind. "The young PILAR targets have dispersed. They are alert but not on full alert. Most likely, they are unaware of our plan. My recommendation, proceed with the operation as scheduled."
Inside a black van parked in a local alley, Hana and Dul received the transmission. Hana responded in a low, firm voice.
"Understood, Set. We are moving now. Maintain your position and continue surveillance."
Dul, who was warming up, snorted. "Finally... But, why didn't Yeong tell us about PILAR's preparations? As an insider, he should know everything." His voice was full of curiosity and a hint of suspicion.
Hana shot him a sharp look. "Don't question Yeong's orders. He has his own plan. Our job is to execute the mission from Yeong, not yapping. Now, focus!" she commanded before the van sped off slowly, navigating the quiet streets toward the mine.
---
Meanwhile, Dhoost and Dzoavha had arrived at the house. A quiet atmosphere greeted them. Dzoavha headed straight to the living room and packed up his laptop. While coiling the charger cable, his eyes fixed on Dhoost, who was getting a drink of water.
"Hey, Dhoost," Dzoavha broke the silence. "Earlier you said you had something to tell Nadhyfa. What's the matter? Don't tell me... you finally dared to confess to Minji?" he teased, but his eyes held serious curiosity.
Dhoost took a deep breath, staring at the glass in his hand. "Not that. Earlier... Kazuha and I talked. She said, three years ago Minji almost died in the fire at the Maynginap Hotel."
Dzoavha froze. "Wait... The Maynginap Hotel fire? That was when we were in 9th grade, right? Didn't we also help evacuate some victims? You even dove inside, got your clothes burnt, and got scolded badly by your parents."
"That's it. Kazuha said," Dhoost continued, his voice growing lower, "Minji was saved by someone. But she doesn't remember the person's face..."
Dzoavha stared at him, the puzzle pieces in his head starting to fit together. "Whoa... Could it be... the person you carried back then... was Minji?!"
Dhoost nodded slowly, his face filled with doubt. "Yeah, that's what I'm thinking too. But... I have no proof to say that. I only remember helping a panicked Korean girl who was almost passing out from the smoke. I didn't see her face clearly, and I left in a hurry because I was afraid someone would see."
The two of them fell silent, overshadowed by that immense possibility. Their conversation was interrupted by the ringing of Dzoavha's phone from his worried mother. Dzoavha quickly said goodbye and sped off, leaving Dhoost with his swirling thoughts.
After locking the door, Dhoost leaned against it, deep in thought. "Could it really be her?"
---
At the mining site, the night atmosphere was actually getting more hectic with the night shift's activities. Hana and Dul's black van stopped in a hidden spot, hundreds of meters from the entrance.
"Now, as planned," Hana whispered, her eyes sweeping the area. "Dul, you're the distraction. Create enough commotion to attract the main guards' attention. I'll go inside."
Dul nodded and agilely jumped out of the van, disappearing into the darkness. A few minutes later, the sound of a project vehicle's alarm blared loudly, followed by shouts and commotion from the guard post. All guards and workers rushed toward the noise.
This was her chance. Taking advantage of the chaos, Hana slipped in like a shadow. She moved quickly and silently, avoiding CCTV with a route she had memorized. Inside, she found a young miner alone, engrossed in smoking behind a pile of mining carts.
Without mercy, Hana incapacitated him with a single pressure point strike to the neck. The miner collapsed soundlessly. Quickly, Hana put on his vest and helmet, hiding his unconscious body under a tarp. Her face, hidden by the helmet and dust, blended perfectly with the environment.
With confident steps, she walked deeper into the mine tunnel, her eyes searching for something specific, the blackish-orange glowing mineral familiar from their intelligence reports.
"Neotrixite," she whispered to herself, a faint smile spreading on her lips. "Finally, we meet."
After successfully taking several chunks of the blackish-orange glowing Neotrixite, Hana quickly placed the valuable mineral into a special radiation-resistant bag. Her heart pounded. This was the moment they had been waiting for.
However, as she turned to leave, a shadow emerged from the darkness of the tunnel.
"It seems your bag isn't enough to take home something that doesn't belong to you," Agent Fuad's voice sounded cold and authoritative.
He stood upright in a ready stance,his eyes sharply observing Hana's every move.
Quickly, Hana secured the Neotrixite bag at her waist and drew her signature weapon, a yoyo. "Don't get in my way, PILAR Agent!" she snapped, her voice full of frustration.
The yoyo shot out at high speed, but Agent Fuad deftly dodged. In an instant, he drew a special pair of scissors, breaking them into two sharp daggers. An intense battle was inevitable.
Hana wielded her yoyo with high skill, creating deadly attack combinations. But Agent Fuad was too experienced. In one swift move, he managed to wound Hana's arm and cut off one of her black hair ribbons adorned with Hangeul script.
"Aargh!" Hana cried out in pain.
Suddenly, from behind, Dul appeared and rammed into Agent Fuad with full force, knocking him down.
"Let's go, Hana! Before more Agents arrive!" Dul shouted, having just successfully incapacitated the guards outside.
But before they could escape, Agent Rusdi emerged from hiding and immediately attacked. The fight was brief but intense. Hana and Dul managed to momentarily subdue Agent Rusdi, but their time was running out.
"We have to go now!" Dul ordered, pulling Hana's arm.
As they were about to flee, a precise shot landed right in front of their feet. Agent Revie stood in the distance with her rifle, her face disappointed.
"Damn, why did you stop? My shot almost hit you!"
Realizing they were surrounded, Dul took a drastic step. He pulled a flashbang from his pocket. "Cover your eyes, Hana!"
BOOM! A bright flash and explosion sound filled the area. In the momentary confusion, Hana and Dul managed to escape. However, in the panic, the bag containing the Neotrixite that Hana was carrying fell.
Agent Thomas, who had just arrived, immediately picked it up. "They got away, but we got the Neotrixite back. At least we have something to analyze," he said to Agent Fuad, who had gotten up.
Before leaving, Agent Fuad saw a black hair ribbon with Hangeul script "숫자" (meaning 'number' in Korean) lying on the ground. Carefully, he picked it up and stored it. This could be an important clue, he thought.
---
Sunday Morning...
Dhoost was enjoying his morning walk around Maykarta City. As he passed the historic Maykarta Chinese Temple, a young woman suddenly ran out and greeted him.
"Dhoost! Long time no see! How have you been?"
Dhoost stopped, slightly confused. "Valencia? Wow, haven't seen you in years. I almost didn't recognize you!"
They chatted for a bit about old memories. Mid-conversation, Dhoost saw news on the television at the temple security post,
"Intruders breach Maykarta mine. Neotrixite missing and one worker found unconscious..."
After saying goodbye to Valencia, Dhoost continued his journey home. However, suddenly, his PILAR watch vibrated. An emergency call.
Since he was in a public place, Dhoost immediately ran towards Maykarta City Square. Upon arrival, he was surprised not to see his friends.
"That's strange, the others aren't here yet. Did they already go in ahead of me?"
With slight hesitation, Dhoost finally decided to enter the headquarters alone through the secret door in the public toilet. He didn't know that a dangerous mission was already waiting for him inside.
TO BE CONTINUED...