I stand beside Sara, who's transfixed by the massive LED screen dominating the wall. The digital display hums softly, showing various feeds from the mission.
"Plan 1.2.1.1.2.2.1.3.1, right?" she asks, her smile widening when I nod.
Sara is unmatched in strategy. Her brilliance isn't just in crafting foolproof plans but in anticipating every variable, no matter how improbable. For every mission, she doesn't just create a plan—she builds a universe of contingencies.
This mission was no different. From the moment she suspected Miss Lee's interest in the Galliluere Auction, King had mapped out every possible outcome. Did Miss Lee want the Diamond Blood? Would she ask Seo Jong So—me, in disguise—to win it for her? If not, would she aim for another item? Would she try to enter the Transaction Room? What if the buyer of the blood also bought the Nuclear Core? What if the buyer held a golden token? And what if—
The web of possibilities was dizzying, but Sara had calculated every thread. And as expected, Plan 1.2.1.1.2.2.1.3.1—one with the highest probability—played out exactly as she predicted.
Yet, her near-flawless track record had one glaring exception: the mission to retrieve me three and a half years ago. I had wondered why it had gone so disastrously off-course. Sara later confessed that night before I embarked on a mission.
The mission had been dubbed The Return of the Lost Lamb. Sara had orchestrated every step, from Jennifer's kidnapping at the airport to the car chase that would lead me straight into her hands. She had even placed the truck that obstructed my escape, ensuring I would be forced to face her. But she hadn't accounted for betrayal—Lily's treachery, which unraveled her carefully laid plans.
"She's a great actress," Sara's voice pulls me from my thoughts.
On the screen, Miss Lee plays her part flawlessly, rushing through the corridor with a mask of worry and panic. She discovers "Seo Jong So" unconscious, shakes him desperately, and then runs for help. Minutes later, she returns with a team of six men.
"She wants this blood so much," Bruno comments, grinning as he twirls the vial of blood between his fingers.
"Careful with that," Sara warns sharply. "We need to give it to her as a reward."
Bruno sighs and places the vial back into its case.
"I want the necklace," I say suddenly.
"For what?" Sara raises an eyebrow.
I shrug. "A gift."
Her sharp eyes linger on me for a moment, assessing. Then she nods. "Fine." She turns to Fred. "Transfer the cost of the necklace from Death's account to Seo's. And don't forget to deduct the price of the blood from Seo's account."
Fred barely looks up from his computer, typing swiftly.
"You two, prepare for the last scene," Sara orders Charlotte and me before striding out of the room.
"Last scene?" I ask, but she's already gone. Bruno and Charlotte exchange mischievous grins, leaving me none the wiser.
----------
The luxurious suite is bathed in soft, golden light. Miss Lee sits at the edge of the king-size bed, her hands twisting nervously in her lap. She stands abruptly, pacing to the glass wall that offers a panoramic view of the glittering city below.
"Good evening, Miss Lee."
She whirls around, startled by my voice. Her scream is stifled as her eyes lock onto my featureless hologram mask.
"Who—"
I press a button, shifting the mask to Seo Jong So's face, then to a series of random visages. Her face pales with each transformation, her back pressing against the glass wall.
"Don't you remember me?" I grin, holding up the vial of blood.
Her reaction is immediate. She rushes toward me, hands outstretched, trying to snatch the vial. I dodge easily, laughing as she grows more frantic.
"Give it back!" she snaps, her voice trembling with anger.
"Let's wrap this up," Charlotte's cold, lazy voice cuts through the tension. She steps into view, and Miss Lee's composure shatters. Her knees buckle, and she collapses onto the floor in a faint.
"You scared her," I chide Charlotte, carrying Miss Lee to the bed. I place the vial of blood on the nightstand before stepping aside.
Charlotte sits beside Miss Lee, placing a hand on her forehead. Her eyes flutter shut in concentration.
"Done," she says moments later.
"And Seo?"
"Of course. His memories are bent too."
"Good."
We both activate our speed, vanishing from the room.
----------
The private jet hums as we soar through the night. Bruno and I sip champagne, while Black nibbles on caviar. Fred, in his bat mode, sleeps in the cabin.
"Do you think Lee will fall for Seo after this?" Charlotte asks Sara, who's pouring another glass of champagne.
Sara shrugs, her curls bouncing. "Love? Maybe not. But if the blood means that much to her, she'll feel indebted. And if Seo proposes, she'll likely say yes." Her eyes light up as she claps her hands. "I love a happy ending drama!"
Bruno and I groan in unison. Sara's obsession with K-dramas knows no bounds. Even missions become elaborate episodes in her imagined series.
"She's hopeless," I mutter, raising my glass.
Sara smirks, unbothered. "Just wait until the next episode."