PTT - 15

Siheon rolled up one sleeve of his shirt, revealing a firm, muscular arm devoid of unnecessary bulk. 

After instructing Ray to take a seat, he stood in front of the screen, stroking his chin thoughtfully. His sharp gaze reflected his precise understanding of the situation. The eyes of Special Team 4 were now entirely fixed on Baek Siheon. 

“Ray, confirm within 24 hours whether Natasha Borisova is indeed the daughter of the mafia boss. Mabel, investigate Cheon Sung-won’s Russian acquaintances. As you already know, blending in naturally is crucial. Make sure they don’t even begin to suspect we’re from an intelligence agency.” 

“That’s my specialty. Besides, I’m the only one here who speaks Russian well. Oh, and by the way, brat—what were the names of those two guys again?” 

Mabel, seated with her legs crossed, turned her head toward Ray. With a sigh mixed into his response, Ray replied. 

“Auntie, are you really that scatterbrained? Your memory’s completely shot. Their names are Ilya Yenin and Yakov Vasilyev.” 

“You need to fix your attitude toward your elders. You’re getting too cocky because I’ve been putting up with you.” 

“Oh, yeah? What are you gonna do about it?” 

The two bickered like a cat and dog at odds with each other. Just as the atmosphere began to grow tense, Baek Siheon slammed the document folder in his hand onto the table twice. Thud, thud! The loud noise caused Ray and Mabel to immediately fall silent. 

“Enough. It’s been over two weeks since we became a team, and this constant bickering isn’t going to work. I’ve said it countless times: special teams operate as one body. If you can’t trust each other to watch your backs, you’re as good as dead.” 

“I know, but…” 

“No excuses. Ray, Mabel. If you’re going to keep this up, it’s better for both of you to leave the team. Is that what you want?” 

“…No, not to that extent.” 

Ray, still wearing his hoodie, glanced at Siheon with a slightly deflated expression. Siheon, narrowing his brow and raising an eyebrow, instructed them to continue with the briefing. Mabel, uncrossing her legs, spoke with an awkward smile. 

“Well… I plan to get close to the two people Ray mentioned. They go to a club in Itaewon every Friday, so I’ll infiltrate tonight.” 

Yoo Raon, who had been silently listening to the exchange, looked between Mabel and Siheon. 

“Then I’ll accompany her. Since there are two of them as well, it’s better than Mabel handling it alone, right?” 

“But you don’t speak Russian, do you?” 

“Well… we can communicate in English, can’t we?” 

“What does our team leader think?” 

Ultimately, the final decision rested with Baek Siheon. No plan could be executed without his explicit orders. 

“Fine, but Rock will provide backup just in case. We don’t know what might happen.” 

“Yes.” 

“Rock, you’ll have to escort us properly. Got it?” 

Mabel lightly tapped Rock’s broad shoulder with her fingertip. Rock nodded solemnly, his usual heavy demeanor intact. 

“As long as they don’t notice anything suspicious, everything should go smoothly. The key is to infiltrate and withdraw without leaving a trace. Rock will report in real-time. Operation begins promptly at 22:00 tonight.” 

“It’s been six months since I’ve been out in the field, so I’m a bit excited. Of course, I’ll stay on high alert. Enough with the nagging, Knox.” 

Mabel cut off Siheon preemptively, flashing a bright, confident smile. Despite her exceptional skills, worry was inevitable. 

‘I hope no one gets hurt.’ 

Raon thought to herself as she alternated her gaze between Mabel and Rock. After spending the past two weeks pouring all their energy into gathering information, it was finally time to act in the field. 

Since being assigned to Special Team 4, all team members except Ray had been issued personal handguns. This was due to the higher-risk operations they were tasked with compared to other departments. 

Though marksmanship was Yoo Raon’s forte, she had rarely used a gun since joining the agency. Firing a weapon domestically was too conspicuous, and most cases were resolved without resorting to violence.

The most powerful weapon in the world wasn’t fighter jets or firearms. The most critical element was “information.” A single secret could kill millions—or save them. 

Thus, this operation needed to be resolved quietly, beneath the surface, as much as possible. She gathered her thoughts as she observed her teammates. A quiet sense of trust permeated the air. 

/// 

Freeze, located in Itaewon, was a club known for its high proportion of foreign patrons. Even within the notoriously picky club district, it was infamous for selectively screening its guests. 

“Entered the operational zone.” 

Raon, wearing a wireless communicator in her right ear, reported in a low voice. The flesh-toned in-ear device was small, about the size of a pinky nail, and nearly impossible to notice unless scrutinized closely. 

Her long hair further concealed her ear, making it completely unnoticeable. She entered naturally and slowly surveyed her surroundings. 

Large amplifiers stationed around the venue blasted deafening music. On the stage and at the bar tables, people swayed their bodies to the energetic beats of EDM. 

True to its reputation for managing the number of visitors, the club appeared less crowded compared to other venues. 

“Coming to a club for work isn’t really my thing… but babe, this place is pretty nice. Right?” 

“…We’re on official duty right now, Mabel.” 

“I know, I know. Just trying to lighten the mood.” 

Next to Raon, two figures dressed in club fashion stood ready. Rock, clad in a black shirt and black slacks, had a relatively understated look, though he had unbuttoned the top two or three buttons of his shirt, revealing a tanned neck and chest that exuded sensuality. 

Mabel, with her hand resting on Rock’s shoulder as she scoped out their targets, was dressed just as strikingly. Her mini-dress, barely covering half her thighs, suggested she was quite accustomed to such situations. 

“Ten o’clock direction. Those two tall guys over there, right?” 

“Yes. They match the data Ray provided.” 

“Yeon, once the report’s done, let’s approach immediately.” 

“Understood.” 

Boom, boom, thud. A deep, earth-shaking bass reverberated through the underground space, accompanied by a foreign rapper’s verses. The slower tempo compared to the previous track had people leisurely swaying their bodies while sipping their drinks. 

After exchanging glances, Rock moved to the back, maintaining a distance of about 10 meters while keeping a sharp eye on Mabel and Raon. 

“Babe, remember? You’re supposed to not speak English or Russian.” 

“I’m aware. Are you sure you’ll be alright? You’ll need to take the lead here.” 

“That’s my specialty. Don’t you know me by now? You’re starting to hurt my feelings.” 

Mabel curved her lips into a soft smile and linked arms with Raon. Compliantly offering her right arm, Raon focused on the faint sounds coming through her earpiece. 

Baek Siheon, the team leader, was stationed at headquarters to provide clear instructions. By his side, Ray was likely furiously typing away on his laptop, fingers already sore. 

Raon turned her head to gaze at her reflection in the mirror. Her outfit—a leather H-line skirt and a cropped knit top clinging tightly to her upper body—felt deeply unfamiliar and awkward. 

She had always disliked noisy spaces and had never set foot in a club until today. 

But Raon knew well the truth that staying silent could get her more than halfway there. Maintaining an indifferent expression, she kept her arm linked with Mabel’s. Thanks to her slightly upturned cat-like eyes, she emanated an air of poised elegance. 

At that moment, Mabel whispered in a very low voice. 

“Targets approaching from the front. Pretend we’re having a conversation.” 

“…I feel so out of place here, Unni. Do we really have to drink here? The music’s too loud.” 

“Minseo, how many times do I have to tell you? Everyone feels that way at first. Trust me, you’ll beg me to come back tomorrow.” 

In an instant, they transformed into fictional personas. Minseo, a 24-year-old resident who, despite her pretty face and popularity with men, detested clubs, and Seo Hye-yeon, who adored her dearly. 

Thanks to their prior coordination, their fabricated dialogue flowed smoothly like water. 

Then, a thick, gruff male voice descended from above. 

“Hey, are you two here together?”