PTT - 61

After finishing her conversation with Si-heon, Ra-on headed to the private conference room used by Special Team 4. Rock and Ray had been dispatched on an external mission that morning, leaving her with the perfect opportunity for some quality time alone with Mabel.

Click. Ra-on lowered the blinds and locked the conference room door securely. Mabel, who had just returned from a brief stint at the Industrial Security Division, sat down without suspecting anything unusual. Exhausted from lack of sleep the previous night, she rubbed her eyes absentmindedly.

“Honey, let’s go out for lunch later. I’m craving something soupy today. Let’s eat something warm and recharge.”

“Got it. But before that, Mabel…”

Ra-on approached her with a meaningful expression. Mabel tilted her head in response, stretching her arms lazily.

“Ugh… Must be spring fever. Why am I so sluggish and sleepy? I feel like I have no energy left. Do you have something to tell me?”

“Yes. I’ve been waiting for us to be alone.”

“Just the two of us? Don’t tell me you’re about to confess?”

Mabel teased playfully, nodding as if to say, “Go ahead.” Her amber eyes held no trace of suspicion—she trusted and cherished Ra-on deeply, as few others did.

After confirming the door was securely locked, Ra-on moved behind Mabel and gently massaged her shoulders. Her touch was tender, but her voice was cold and deliberate.

“I heard everything from Chief Min. I was curious who the other person might be, and it turns out it was you.”

“Huh? What are you talking about? Who am I supposed to be?”

“You know exactly what I mean. There’s no need to hide anything between us anymore.”

Mabel blinked her large, round eyes in confusion, utterly baffled by the sudden accusation. Even as Ra-on whispered solemnly, Mabel’s innocent reaction remained unchanged.

“Chief Min wants this matter buried completely. Gwak Seong-ki’s case needed to end cleanly without leaving any loose ends.”

“…Yeon, what on earth are you saying?”

The mention of Professor Gwak, who had died after ingesting poison, finally alerted Mabel to the gravity of the situation. Instinctively leaning back, she stared at Ra-on with wide, trembling eyes, her mind racing to make sense of the chaos.

“What do you mean by ‘Chief’ and ‘Gwak Seong-ki’? Can you explain clearly?”

“…Are you pretending not to know? Or do you genuinely not understand? The latter seems unlikely. I received information directly from Chief Min this morning. No wiretaps here, so you can drop your guard, Mabel.”

“What the hell are you talking about…! Are you even the same Yeon I know?”

Mabel bolted upright, glancing nervously at the firmly shut door. Ra-on spread her arms wide, inviting Mabel to search her if she doubted.

As the distance between them closed, Mabel furrowed her brow and clenched her fists. Her reaction seemed too genuine to be mere acting. Still, Ra-on couldn’t afford to jump to conclusions. With an icy expression, she stopped in her tracks.

“Do you really not understand what I’m saying?”

“…Haah, you’re freaking me out. I need to call the team leader.”

“You’re not going anywhere. Stay put.”

Ra-on’s sudden transformation felt alien, almost hostile. Sensing imminent danger, Mabel scanned the room for an escape route. She instinctively knew she had to flee—no matter what.

“…I made a mistake. I should’ve been more cautious.”

“What you’re doing now is an even bigger mistake. Put the gun down.”

Exhaling heavily, Ra-on pulled a pistol from her pocket and attached the silencer she’d kept inside. She aimed the barrel directly at Mabel. Quick judgment was a basic skill for NIS agents, yet Mabel still couldn’t process the situation. Calmly meeting Ra-on’s gaze, she slowly raised both hands.

“Do you even realize where we are right now? Pulling that trigger will ruin your life, Yeon.”

“I don’t care about my life. I’ll take responsibility for my own mistakes. I’ve already told you too much, Mabel.”

Click. After chambering a round, Ra-on gripped the gun with both hands. Tilting her chin slightly, she stared down at Mabel with detached indifference.

“Do you really not understand what I’m saying? This is your last chance.”

“Damn it, seriously! What the hell is wrong with you?! Why are you doing this to me?!”

Sweat dripped down Mabel’s neck. She realized Ra-on was dead serious about firing. Overwhelmed, Mabel squeezed her eyes shut and screamed. Was this really how she was going to die?

She desperately wished Rock were here instead of on his external assignment. Trembling fingers betraying her fear, Mabel glanced at the window to her right. Could smashing the glass with a chair distract Ra-on long enough for her to escape?

‘Better to jump from the eighth floor than get shot.’

With grim determination, Mabel grabbed a chair with her left hand. Just then, Ra-on lowered the gun in her hand and exhaled deeply.

“I’m sorry, Mabel. Stop.”

“…What the hell, Yeon?”

“No bullets. See for yourself.”

Aiming the gun toward the door, Ra-on pulled the trigger. A soft click echoed through the room. Mabel’s face twisted in utter bewilderment at Ra-on’s abrupt change in demeanor.

Placing the gun on the podium, Ra-on raised both hands apologetically, mirroring Mabel’s earlier gesture. At that moment, Baek Si-heon entered the room.

“Mabel, I’m sure you’re shaken… I’m sorry. Put the chair down and let’s talk.”

“Wait, are you two telling me this was all… a test?”

“We’re truly sorry. But it was necessary.”

Closing the door behind her, Ra-on rubbed her temples and sighed deeply. She hadn’t wanted to act this way either. Guilt weighed heavily on her heart—she knew better than anyone how much Mabel trusted her.

“Haah… Never thought I’d live to see this…”

Dropping the chair, Mabel collapsed onto the floor. Realizing it was all a test, her legs gave out beneath her. Though she’d heard rumors of surprise loyalty tests within the organization, experiencing it firsthand left her feeling utterly drained. Slumped against the wall, she covered her face with her hands and groaned.

“…I know you must’ve been terrified. I didn’t want to do this either. Come on, let’s get up. Take my hand.”

“I’ll never forget this day. Feels like my lifespan just halved.”

Taking Ra-on’s hand, Mabel stood up and brushed her disheveled hair back into place. Despite priding herself on unmatched acting skills and a poker face, she’d unwittingly revealed every ounce of her panic.

Still reeling, she plopped back into her chair and alternated glances between Ra-on and Si-heon.

“So… Fine, the test aside. What was all that stuff you said earlier? Don’t I deserve an explanation?”

Mabel’s question prompted an exchange of glances between the two. Ra-on rolled her eyes exaggeratedly and scratched her cheek with her index finger.

“Well… We’ll explain when Ray and Rock return.”

“You’re not planning to pull this stunt on them too, are you?”

Never underestimate the power of “what if.” Narrowing her eyes skeptically, Mabel tilted her head. Did they intend to subject the entire team to this madness? The absurdity of it all forced a bitter laugh from her lips.

Tsk. Si-heon shrugged nonchalantly. It was a necessary step to ensure complete trust among the members of Special Team 4. Patting Mabel lightly on the shoulder, he chuckled softly.

“We’ll count on your unique acting skills later. You know what to do, right?”

“Haah.”

Mabel muttered under her breath, shaking her head in exasperation. She’d always kept a resignation letter tucked away in her desk drawer, ready to submit whenever things became unbearable. Today felt like the day.

“If I survive this mission, I’m definitely quitting…”