In the solitude of the bathroom, Agent 17 stood before the mirror, tending to his wounds. As he wiped away the stains of the recent encounter, his eyes met his own reflection, and he touched his face with an uncharacteristic gentleness. It was a ritual unfamiliar to a hardened assassin who had never known defeat.
This mission had taken an unexpected turn, leaving Agent 17 in uncharted territory. For the first time, he had retreated, and the unfamiliar taste of failure lingered on his lips. The wounds on his body mirrored the turmoil within.
As he scrutinized his reflection, a subtle realization began to unfurl within him. The thought of ending the life of the woman—Sun Lixia—had planted a seed of doubt. A knot formed in his heart, a feeling alien to a man accustomed to ruthless precision.
