PTT - 64

At those words, Baek Si-heon narrowed his eyes. Min Young-nam was planning to hire a third party to kill him—exactly as the operation had foreseen. All that remained now was to draw her and the hitman into their trap. With that thought, Si-heon brushed his bangs back.

But just then, Min Young-nam’s sneer echoed in his earpiece. The voice that followed froze him like a log.

- That female agent he’s always with...

Only one face flashed through Si-heon’s mind. Though he prided himself on maintaining composure, his heart raced uncontrollably.

- If the assassination of Baek Si-heon fails, kill her instead. From what I’ve observed, they’re quite close. I look forward to seeing the pain of the one left behind.

How long had Min Young-nam known about Ra-on? Despite deliberately keeping their distance over the past few weeks, she’d seen through him all along. At this rate, Yoo Ra-on was in grave danger.

Si-heon immediately pulled out his phone and called Ra-on. As soon as the familiar voice answered through the speaker, he furrowed his brow and checked his wristwatch.

“We need to change the plan. Stay in the director’s office and don’t take a single step outside, Yeon-ah.”

- …I heard everything too. Changing the plan now will only cause confusion.

Min Young-nam’s conversation was being broadcast to all members of Special Team 4, including Si-heon. Ra-on was already seated in a van, ready to move at any moment. Though her face paled at the mention of targeting a female agent, she couldn’t let Si-heon face the hitman alone.

- I’ll head to the operation site now. Don’t delay—come up right away.

“Yoo Ra-on! Listen to me. You might get hurt if you go.”

- Neither of us will get hurt. This is your plan, isn’t it? I trust you, Senior.

“…”

That single word—trust—steadied the turbulent waves within Si-heon’s heart. A migraine throbbed painfully in his temples. Pressing his fingers firmly against his brow, Si-heon tilted his head back. By now, the night sky had turned pitch-black, like ink spilled across a canvas.

---

A man clad in a black mask and cap assembled a rifle inside a hotel room. Park Seung-woo, the sniper trained in Cheonji Village.

On the nape of his neck, hidden beneath his coat, was a vivid tattoo of inverted V shapes—a mark only the most loyal contributors to Min Young-nam and Bang Won-gyeol could bear.

According to reports from subordinates tailing Baek Si-heon, he was heading to the rooftop of the Retuchia Hotel. Though the reason for his ascent was unclear, it provided optimal conditions for sniping.

Upon receiving the intel, Park booked a room at the Hilton Hotel directly opposite. Its elevation offered a clear view of the Retuchia Hotel’s rooftop. Using a special cutter, he drilled a finger-sized hole into the glass window and chewed gum casually. Hitting the target from this distance would be no challenge.

Just then, his flip phone vibrated on the floor. Caller ID: VIP. Placing an earpiece in his ear, he pressed the receive button.

“Yes, Chief of Staff. I’m on the 43rd floor of the Hilton. The target is within range. Should I fire?”

At that moment, Baek Si-heon emerged onto the rooftop, opening the iron door. Clad in a long coat and carrying a briefcase—likely containing the ledger stolen from Young-nam—he stood exposed. Peering through the high-powered scope, Park confirmed Si-heon’s face and clicked his tongue.

“It seems he’s here for some kind of negotiation. He appears to be waiting for someone. I can fire on your command.”

- There’s still time. Wait and see who shows up before firing. It won’t be too late.

- For heaven’s sake, Chief Min! Let’s just kill him now. What if we miss our chance? I told you from the start that guy gives me the creeps. Look at those eyes…

- Vice Mayor Bang, shut up and stay quiet. You’re nothing but annoying.

The cold voices flowed through Park’s earpiece. Whistling softly, he scanned the rooftop again. Then, the heavy iron door creaked open once more, revealing another figure. Adjusting the scope, Park stroked his chin. This development was entirely unexpected.

“Uh, Chief of Staff? The female agent… she’s here.”

- Yoo Ra-on?

“Yes. Which one should I shoot?”

The order to kill Ra-on if Si-heon couldn’t be assassinated flickered in Park’s mind. What a stroke of luck. Moreover, she was armed. Perhaps Deputy Director Hwang Jae-pil had made his move first. Spitting out his gum onto a tissue, Park awaited Min Young-nam’s instructions.

- For now, observe and wait. Kill Baek Si-heon first. The NIS will try to cover it up anyway. Deputy Director Hwang will handle the rest.

Following Min Young-nam’s directive, Park positioned the rifle barrel through the drilled hole in the window. His index finger hovered above the trigger, ready to fire at any moment. The situation was critical.

---

Driving the van herself to the Retuchia Hotel, Ra-on requested backup from Director Kwon Jung-ah. Through wiretapping, they’d already identified the sniper positioned on the 43rd floor of the Hilton Hotel. Once she gave the signal, a special forces unit and police would storm the location.

Taking the elevator to the top floor, Ra-on steadied her breath. Bang! Slamming the rooftop door shut, she drew her pistol from her jacket.

The dazzling cityscape belied the fact that it was well past midnight. Skyscrapers glittered, neon signs screamed silently for attention, and dry winds pierced to the bone.

“Haa…”

And there he stood.

With the city lights as his backdrop, Baek Si-heon resembled a masterpiece painting—an overused description, perhaps, but fitting nonetheless. His dark, immaculate hair suited him perfectly, and the hem of his long black coat fluttered gently in the breeze.

Even now, the sniper likely had his sights trained on Si-heon. Time was running out. Breathing heavily, Ra-on gripped the pistol tucked inside her jacket. The metallic sensation filling her palm felt unnervingly cold.

He had to die by her hand—that was part of Si-heon’s plan. To survive together, they needed to fake his death and deceive their enemies.

She had to pull the trigger now. Both instinct and reason agreed on this course of action. But the real obstacle was her heart. It felt as though a massive boulder weighed down her chest.

She knew Si-heon wore a bulletproof vest and that an air mattress was set up below the building for his fall. But what if the plan went awry? What if the shot missed its mark and struck elsewhere? The thought that his life rested in her hands dried her mouth completely.

At that moment, Si-heon, gazing down at the city below, spoke.

“I’ve thought about it sometimes, Yeon-ah.”

If he took just a few more steps forward, he’d plummet from a height of over thirty floors. How long would it take to smash into the cement ground below? Ten seconds at most. Life was so fragile.

“Our love is like a bungee jump without a cord.”

“Team Leader.”

“In the moment of freefall, you’re consumed by an extreme thrill. An adrenaline rush unlike anything else explodes within you. But the outcome…”

“Baek Si-heon.”

Her voice, suppressed by emotion, cut off mid-sentence. Turning to face her, Si-heon locked gazes with Ra-on. Their unstable eyes met in the empty air.

“What do you think, Yeon-ah? Do you believe the ending is predetermined?”

“Why are you suddenly saying such unsettling things? We don’t have time for this.”

“It just crossed my mind.”

“…”

“You remember the plan, Agent Yoo Ra-on?”

Biting her lower lip tightly, Ra-on adjusted her grip on the gun. Damn it, she remembered it all too well. Extending her arm straight, she aimed the barrel directly at him. Through the sight, Si-heon’s chest blurred slightly.

Over the past twenty-seven years, Yoo Ra-on had pulled the trigger thousands, maybe tens of thousands, of times. Yet, despite her training, her right hand trembled ever so slightly around the gun.

Gazing at her with tender eyes, Si-heon pointed to his left chest. His deep, unwavering gaze showed complete acceptance of the operation’s finale.

“Right here. One shot to the heart.”