PTT - 66

Baek Si-heon lay on a stretcher, surrounded by paramedics. Struggling to suppress the overwhelming surge of emotion welling up in her throat, Ra-on approached him. Thankfully, there were no visible injuries, but he had been shot at close range. Even with the bulletproof vest, internal damage was inevitable.

“I’m this person’s colleague. Is he okay?”

“Yes, we’ve been briefed. You can ride along as his guardian.”

Nodding, Ra-on climbed into the ambulance alongside the medic. Wee-oo, wee-oo. The vehicle sped toward the nearby university hospital, its siren blaring. With a heavy heart, Ra-on wiped her face dry and gazed down at the unconscious Baek Si-heon.

After attaching several complex machines to his fingertips, the medic exhaled deeply.

“He’s only lost consciousness. His breathing is stable, and his pulse is strong. It seems some ribs may have fractured during the fall… We’ll know the extent once we get to the hospital.”

“Haah… Yes, I expected as much.”

“Still, if the bullet had hit just a little higher, it could’ve been fatal. Luckily, it struck just below the collarbone.”

“…But I only fired one shot. Why are there two wounds?”

The medic unbuttoned Si-heon’s shirt, revealing the bulletproof vest. He pointed to the holes—one near the left side of his heart, another just above his solar plexus. Two bullets had pierced the vest.

‘The sniper… must have fired.’

As Ra-on’s bullet struck him and he fell backward, Park Seung-woo had desperately pulled the trigger from the Hilton Hotel, intending to ensure Si-heon’s death. However, his aim had shifted due to the recoil, causing the second bullet to land off-target. As the medic had said, if luck hadn’t been on their side, the unprotected neck could have been fatally penetrated.

Haah. Ra-on exhaled a shaky breath, gripping Si-heon’s forearm as she lowered her head. From the planning stages of the operation, Baek Si-heon had accounted for the fall.

Had they not prearranged with the local fire department, he would have crashed onto the ground and died instantly. Rubbing her reddening eyes with the back of her hand, she bit down hard on her lower lip.

“One minute until we reach the ER. Please prepare.”

The driver calmly announced their position from the front seat. She had bitten her lip so hard that the metallic taste of blood lingered on her tongue. Finally, the ambulance came to a stop, and the rear doors swung open.

Watching the interns guide the stretcher into the ER, Ra-on froze in place. As soon as Si-heon disappeared from view, tears streamed down her cheeks.

Sob, sob. The floodgates of relief opened, and she lacked the strength to wipe away the endless tears. The pistol in her jacket pocket still felt unbearably heavy. Yoo Ra-on cried freely, releasing all the pent-up emotions. The cold night air couldn’t soothe her burning eyes.

---

Upon arriving at the ER, Si-heon underwent X-rays, CT scans, and ultrasounds. The results revealed fractures in his spine and ribs, but fortunately, none had punctured his lungs, so surgery wasn’t necessary.

The doctor remarked that his condition was surprisingly good for someone who had fallen from a 30-story building and added that he’d need at least a month of hospital care.

Thankfully, Si-heon regained consciousness not long after. Though large bruises marked where the bullets had struck, no vital organs were damaged, which was a relief. Ra-on visited his room every night.

The fallout from the Bang Won-gyeol and Min Young-nam case sent shockwaves through the NIS. Investigations revealed that several employees had sold internal information to outsiders for hefty sums. Calls for organizational reform and renewal dominated discussions.

Though the achievements of Special Team 4, including Baek Si-heon, weren’t publicly disclosed, leaders from other departments occasionally cast subtle glances their way. Every leader coveted skilled agents like them.

Min Young-nam, arrested for attempted murder solicitation, tried to use her influence to escape, but the severity of her crimes ensured her detention. Following Si-heon’s testimony, police conducted intensive searches of Jin Mountain and Sok Mountain, uncovering six half-skeletonized bodies—all victims of her wrath.

Evidence of her crimes poured in daily. Bodyguards and Park Seung-woo, who had obeyed Bang Won-gyeol and Min Young-nam, confessed shocking details to reduce their sentences.

Deputy Director Hwang Jae-pil also faced public outrage for leaking classified information to politicians. 

Bang Won-gyeol’s crimes extended beyond embezzlement and property theft from Cheonji Village residents. Over half of his female aides reported sexual assault and harassment. His depravity seemed endless.

All this unfolded within two weeks of Baek Si-heon’s fall. Ra-on spent her days shuttling between the NIS and the hospital, overwhelmed by the whirlwind of events.

“Phew… I’m starving.”

Carrying a lunchbox, Ra-on opened Si-heon’s hospital room door as usual. It was already past 9 PM, but her hectic schedule had allowed only one meal. Planning to eat together, she froze at the unexpected sight before her.

“Oh…”

“Agent Yoo Ra-on. This is the first time seeing you outside work. Come in.”

To Ra-on’s surprise, Director Kwon Jung-ah stood beside Si-heon, whom she had assumed would be alone. Dressed in a perfectly tailored suit, loafers, and her signature short hair, she looked no different from her usual self at the office. Leaning against the bed, Si-heon awkwardly smiled at Ra-on.

“Yeon-ah, I meant to call you earlier, but Mother said she was leaving soon.”

“Oh, so now that Agent Yoo Ra-on is here, you’re leaving, Director?”

“What are you saying? Honestly, she’s been here long enough. It’s already been over two hours.”

Si-heon chuckled softly, pointing to the clock on the wall. Shrugging, Director Kwon gestured for Ra-on to come closer. Facing both mother and son like this made her heart race more than her initial NIS interview.

“Director… Hello.”

“We’re outside work, so no need to be so formal. I heard you visit every day.”

“Ah… Yes. I plan to keep coming until Team Leader is discharged.”

“You know how exposed I am to the public, so visiting my son requires extra effort.”

Smiling warmly, Director Kwon gazed at Ra-on with affection. Known for her charisma and composure at work, she now embodied the role of a caring mother.

Jung-ah gently patted Ra-on’s shoulder, deeply grateful for her care of Si-heon in her stead.

“My son talks about you often. So fondly that I wanted to meet you personally.”

“…Team Leader mentioned me?”

“Thank you. Without Agent Yoo Ra-on, he wouldn’t have recovered this quickly.”

Caught off guard by the unexpected praise, Ra-on couldn’t hide her smile. She nodded softly.

“So… what exactly is your relationship? You two seem unusually close.”

“What do you think our relationship looks like, Director?”

“For someone like Baek Si-heon, who shows no interest in women, to become so affectionate… Well, I’d say you’re at least his crush.”

Ra-on suddenly realized how much Si-heon resembled his mother. Their features, charisma, and judgment mirrored each other uncannily.

“Not entirely wrong, but it’s not one-sided either. Right, Yeon-ah?”

“Huh? Ah… Yes.”

Startled by Si-heon’s sudden question, Ra-on reflexively answered before realizing its implications. Heat rose to her nape as Director Kwon crossed her arms, amused.

“So, what exactly is your relationship? You know there should be no secrets between a subordinate and their superior, Agent Baek Si-heon.”