~Author's Note :3608
Hey lovely readers! 🌟
This chapter takes us deeper into the cold and calculated world of Eunwoo and his elite crew. From intense missions to playful banter, these characters navigate danger with razor-sharp focus—and just a dash of humor from Minjoon to lighten the mood.
Eunwoo continues to embody the perfect balance of relentless professionalism and subtle intrigue. Andrea's sharp wit and unwavering dedication match Eunwoo's icy demeanor, creating a dynamic partnership that's as thrilling as it is intriguing.
I hope you enjoyed the tension, humor, and camaraderie in this chapter. There's a lot more action, secrets, and twists coming your way. What are your thoughts on Eunwoo's "King move" approach? And did Minjoon's coffee cravings hit a relatable note? ☕
Let me know your favorite part of the chapter!
Keep reading and stay curious! 💚
Until next time,
~ PENOLA.S 🖋️
(●'◡'●)(^///^)💕💕💕
Fog curled like a living thing around the stacks of cargo containers. The metallic scent of the sea mingled with tension thick enough to choke on. Andrea crouched low, her breath steady despite the chaos around her. The Bluetooth device nestled in her ear crackled to life.
"Eunwoo, Andrea,— stay sharp," Dimitri's commanding voice cut through the static. "You're not out of this yet."
"Copy," Eunwoo responded, his tone cool as ever. He reloaded his weapon without breaking stride. "What's the count, Sir Dimitri?"
"Two groups. One's flanking west; the other's digging in near the northeast perimeter. Standard formation — nothing creative. They're predictable but heavily armed."
Andrea glanced toward Eunwoo, who nodded, silently confirming the plan.
"Minjoon, cover the back route," Eunwoo ordered. "Andrea and I will push forward."
Minjoon's voice came in smooth but tinged with tension. "You got it, boss. Don't get yourselves killed."
Andrea rolled her eyes. "Charming as always, Minjoon."
Dimitri chimed in with a teasing edge. "Play nice, lovebirds. We've got business."
Eunwoo muttered under his breath, but Andrea grinned. "Focus, old man," she quipped back.
"Watch it, Agent Hotshot," Dimitri shot back smoothly. "I'm still the reason you kids are breathing right now."
[]~(￣▽￣)~*[]~(￣▽￣)~*[]~(￣▽￣)~*
The duo moved like shadows, swift and silent. Andrea's senses were razor-sharp, her body instinctively aware of every threat. She took the lead, slipping behind containers and dispatching two guards with brutal efficiency. Her movements were fluid, a deadly dance honed over years of training.
Eunwoo wasn't far behind, his shots precise and calculated. He marveled, not for the first time, at Andrea's sheer mastery in combat.
"You always this violent?" he whispered as they regrouped near a steel barricade.
"Only on Tuesdays," Andrea shot back, a smirk tugging at her lips. "You complaining, CEO King?"
"Hardly."
Their Bluetooth crackled again. Dimitri's voice was all business now. "Andrea, you've got three hostiles inbound, southeast. Move fast or get pinned."
"On it," she replied smoothly.
Eunwoo frowned. "We stick together."
Andrea shot him a look. "I'm not your damsel in distress, King. I've got this."
Before he could argue, she was already gone, disappearing into the fog like a ghost.
The Riddle & Revelation
Andrea found herself near an abandoned loading crane. The three men Dimitri had warned about moved with cautious intent, unaware of her presence.
Her Bluetooth crackled again — but this time, it wasn't Dimitri.
"Maya here," came the familiar voice of her intel partner. "Need your genius, Andrea. I've got a riddle I can't crack."
Andrea sighed, crouching behind a container as the hostiles drew closer. "Now? Seriously?"
"You're the best, remember?" Maya's tone was half-joking but desperate. "Here it is: 'What breaks without falling, but falls without breaking?' It's part of the code sequence."
Andrea blinked. "That's easy — 'night.' Night falls, but it doesn't break."
There was a pause, followed by Maya's excited voice. "You're a lifesaver. Got it unlocked! Sending drug powder specs to your system now."
"Thanks," Andrea muttered. "And Maya?"
"Yeah?"
"Don't call during firefights."
"Noted," Maya laughed before
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The three hostiles were closing in fast. Andrea moved with lethal precision, disarming one and knocking him unconscious with a swift elbow strike. The second went down with a perfectly aimed kick to the chest.
The third raised his gun — only for Eunwoo to appear out of nowhere, taking the man down with a single shot.
"Told you to stick together," he said, voice flat but laced with concern.
Andrea wiped blood from her knuckles. "And miss all the fun? Not a chance."
Their Bluetooth buzzed again. Dimitri's voice was low and urgent. "Package secured. Extraction point's hot. You've got two minutes to make it out."
"Copy," Eunwoo said. "Minjoon, status?"
"Clear path on my end," Minjoon replied. "Hurry it up, lovebirds."
Andrea shot Eunwoo a look. "Does he always call people that?"
"Unfortunately."
They moved swiftly, dodging patrols and weaving through the labyrinth of containers. Dimitri's voice guided them every step of the way.
"You two are a hell of a team," Dimitri admitted grudgingly. "Didn't think the CEO would keep up with Agent Hotshot."
Andrea grinned. "He's full of surprises."
"Don't encourage her," Eunwoo muttered.
As they reached the extraction point, the roaring sound of Minjoon's vehicle greeted them.
"Get in!" Minjoon yelled, grinning like a maniac.
Andrea and Eunwoo didn't hesitate, diving into the backseat as Minjoon hit the gas.
Dimitri's voice crackled one last time. "Mission complete. Drinks on me when you're back."
Andrea leaned back, adrenaline still coursing through her veins. She glanced at Eunwoo, who met her gaze steadily.
"Not bad for a CEO," she admitted.
"Not bad for an agent," he countered.
Andrea smirked. "Guess we're stuck with each other, King."
Eunwoo's lips curved into a rare smile. "Guess so."
And for the first time, they both realized — being on the same team might just be the best thing that ever happened to them.
______________
The vehicle screeched to a halt in the private driveway of Eunwoo's sprawling mansion. The modern architectural marvel stood like a fortress on the outskirts of the city, surrounded by high-tech security and towering trees that guarded its secrets.
Andrea hopped out of the car first, stretching her arms as the adrenaline faded from her system. Minjoon leaned casually on the driver's side, wiping imaginary sweat from his forehead.
"Whew," Minjoon quipped, "I deserve an award for not crashing under pressure. You two were intense back there."
"Or just reckless," Andrea shot back, smirking.
Eunwoo stepped out next, unbuttoning the top of his tailored shirt and rolling his sleeves up, revealing forearms tensed from the mission's tension. He glanced at Minjoon with a faint smile.
"You did okay," Eunwoo admitted.
"Wow," Minjoon gasped dramatically. "High praise from the stone-cold CEO. I'm framing that."
Andrea laughed despite herself. "I'll make sure to remind you next time you mess up."
Dimitri's voice crackled over their Bluetooth earpieces again, signaling that he was still monitoring them from his secure location. "Alright, fun squad. Mission success. Now, debrief and rest. But Andrea," Dimitri's voice softened slightly, "you were brilliant tonight."
Andrea grinned. "Coming from you, that's practically poetry."
"You're welcome," Dimitri said dryly. "Eunwoo, you keep her alive. She's our top asset."
"Noted," Eunwoo said, his tone unreadable as always.
________+_________+______+______+_________+________
The mansion's living room was sleek and minimalist, furnished with high-end pieces that reflected Eunwoo's refined but practical taste. Andrea flopped onto one of the couches, pulling out her laptop to continue analyzing the drug powder data Maya had sent.
Eunwoo poured himself a glass of whiskey from the bar, his movements calm and deliberate. "Want one?" he offered without looking up.
Andrea raised an eyebrow. "Whiskey? Tempting, but I've got work to do."
"You always have work to do," Eunwoo pointed out.
"Pot, meet kettle," Andrea retorted, her fingers flying over the keyboard.
Minjoon, who had followed them inside, grabbed a soda from the fridge and plopped onto another couch. "You two are like an old married couple," he teased.
Andrea rolled her eyes. "If you're not going to be useful, Minjoon, feel free to leave."
Eunwoo's lips quirked slightly at that. "She's got a point."
"Fine, fine," Minjoon said, raising his hands in mock surrender. "I'll go bother Dimitri instead." He winked before making his way out, whistling a tune.
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Andrea leaned closer to the screen, frowning at the complex data patterns displayed. "This isn't just some street drug," she muttered. "It's synthetic. Highly advanced. Someone's been playing chemist."
Eunwoo sat down across from her, his gaze sharp. "Any leads?"
"Not yet, but I'll crack it," Andrea promised. She paused, then added with a smirk, "Unlike Maya, I actually solve riddles."
Eunwoo tilted his head. "What was the riddle?"
Andrea grinned. "You'd like this one — 'What breaks without falling but falls without breaking?'"
"Night," Eunwoo said without missing a beat.
Andrea blinked, impressed despite herself. "Okay, CEO King. Didn't think you had riddles in your repertoire."
"There's a lot you don't know about me," Eunwoo replied smoothly, sipping his whiskey.
Andrea leaned back, eyes narrowing playfully. "Mysterious, brooding billionaire with a secret identity? Oh, please. You're a cliché."
"And you're a pain," Eunwoo shot back, though his tone was more amused than annoyed.
They fell into a comfortable silence, the weight of their mission temporarily lifted. Despite their differences — and their tendency to clash — there was a growing respect between them.
(●'◡'●)_________(●'◡'●)_________(●'◡'●)_________(●'◡'●)
Dimitri's voice returned through the comm. "Heads up, team. We've got intel on the next step. The organization's moving fast — too fast. We need to get ahead of this."
Andrea straightened, her eyes gleaming with determination. "What's the target?"
"Shipment docked at Port 37," Dimitri informed them. "Encrypted manifest, high-security clearance. You and Eunwoo are going in undercover."
"Great," Andrea said sarcastically. "Just what I wanted — another date with the CEO."
Eunwoo smirked. "Try not to fall for me, Agent Hotshot."
Andrea snorted. "In your dreams, King."
As Dimitri chuckled in the background, the mission partners exchanged a glance that said everything — enemies, maybe. But they were undeniably one hell of a team.
________*_________*________*_________*_______*________
The clock ticked steadily in the dimly lit living room. Andrea closed her laptop with a satisfying snap, her search yielding partial results about the synthetic drug. Her instincts told her there was more to this than just chemical formulas — someone with deep connections had engineered it.
Eunwoo leaned forward on the couch, swirling the last bit of whiskey in his glass. His gaze never left Andrea. "Did Maya send you the complete analysis?"
"She's still working on it," Andrea replied, standing up and stretching. "But this isn't your regular street stuff. Whoever made this has serious resources. It's precise, powerful, and untraceable in the usual systems."
Eunwoo's jaw tightened. "Sounds like something our 'friends' would create."
Andrea caught the subtle change in his expression. "You know something, don't you?"
"I might," he admitted cryptically. "But Dimitri handles intel better than I do. We'll debrief tomorrow."
Andrea folded her arms, clearly unimpressed. "You're really going to play the silent card? Typical CEO."
Eunwoo stood up, towering over her with that calm, unreadable expression she both hated and respected. "You're not the only one with secrets, Agent Hotshot."
She scoffed. "You wish you had secrets as interesting as mine."
The banter was broken by Dimitri's voice crackling through their earpieces. "Alright, lovebirds, wrap it up. We've got work to do in the morning."
Andrea sighed. "Why is he always listening?"
"Because I'm the brains of this operation," Dimitri retorted smugly.
"More like the pain," Andrea muttered under her breath, earning a chuckle from Eunwoo.
The Next Morning — Port 37
The industrial port buzzed with activity. Massive cargo containers stacked like colorful Lego bricks towered over narrow pathways. Forklifts maneuvered between shipping lanes, and the salty breeze from the sea carried the scent of diesel and fish.
Andrea adjusted her black tactical jacket, her eyes scanning the area with practiced precision. Beside her, Eunwoo looked effortlessly composed in a tailored dark coat, blending business sophistication with street savvy.
"You sure you're ready for this?" Andrea asked, sliding an earpiece into place.
"Shouldn't I be asking you that?" Eunwoo countered smoothly.
Dimitri's voice cut through their comms. "Children, play nice. You're both walking into a hot zone. Minjoon's covering surveillance from the van. Andrea, you lead. Eunwoo, try not to look like you're about to buy the entire port."
Andrea smirked. "No promises."
Minjoon chimed in with a laugh. "Betting five bucks he gets recognized as a billionaire within ten minutes."
Eunwoo's voice was cool. "I'll take that bet."
_______🎵________🎵________🎵________🎵________🎵_
Their target was Dock 37's VIP area — heavily secured and far from prying eyes. Andrea and Eunwoo approached the checkpoint with forged access cards.
The guard, a burly man with a scar running down his cheek, eyed them suspiciously. "Names?"
Andrea flashed a disarming smile, her voice smooth and confident. "Kim Seo-jin and Lee Hwan. We're here to inspect cargo for the Asian Health Organization."
The guard scanned their IDs before nodding reluctantly. "You're clear. Don't touch anything."
"Wouldn't dream of it," Eunwoo said with a polite nod, his tone perfectly professional.
As they walked through, Andrea whispered, "Not bad, King. You almost sounded humble."
"Practice makes perfect," Eunwoo murmured back.
Inside the Warehouse
Rows of containers stretched endlessly under flickering industrial lights. The air was thick with dust and tension.
Dimitri's voice guided them. "Container B-17. Left aisle. Keep it quiet."
Andrea moved with the fluid grace of a seasoned operative, while Eunwoo kept pace, his eyes sharp and alert.
"You're pretty good at this for a CEO," Andrea admitted grudgingly.
"Comes with the territory," he said vaguely.
They reached Container B-17. Andrea crouched by the lock, pulling out a compact hacking device. "Give me sixty seconds."
Eunwoo stood guard, his senses heightened. "Make it thirty."
Andrea grinned. "Bossy much?"
The lock clicked open with a satisfying beep. "Done," she announced.
They swung the container doors open — and froze.
Inside were stacks of sealed packages marked with a strange symbol: a serpent coiled around a crimson flower.
Dimitri's voice was grim. "That's it. The Night Bloom Syndicate."
Andrea's eyes narrowed. "This is bigger than we thought."
Eunwoo's expression hardened. "We need evidence."
Andrea pulled out her phone, snapping photos while Eunwoo carefully inspected the packages. "Synthetic compound," he confirmed. "Same as the powder we found."
Suddenly, Dimitri's voice came urgently through the comm. "Guys, you've got company. Multiple hostiles inbound. Get out — now."
Andrea and Eunwoo exchanged a glance.
"Time to run?" Eunwoo asked.
"Time to fight," Andrea corrected, cracking her knuckles.
Eunwoo's lips curved into a rare smile. "I like the way you think."
As footsteps echoed closer, the mission partners prepared to face whatever came next — enemies on the outside, but one hell of a team on the inside.
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The hostile footsteps echoed louder, signaling the imminent arrival of well-armed mercenaries. Andrea's pulse quickened, not from fear but adrenaline — the kind that sharpened every sense and turned calculated moves into survival instincts.
Eunwoo's stance shifted subtly beside her, his casual demeanor dropping like a veil. His black eyes gleamed with icy focus, revealing the seasoned fighter beneath the polished CEO exterior.
Andrea's voice was low and steady through clenched teeth. "Five incoming from the left, two from the rear. Heavy boots mean assault gear. Got it?"
"Got it," Eunwoo replied calmly, scanning their surroundings.
"Rule number one—" she started.
"Keep the identities clean. Got it," he cut her off with a rare smirk. "Don't get caught being a badass."
Andrea smirked back. "Good boy."
The shadows at the entrance shifted. Andrea and Eunwoo moved in perfect sync without needing further words.
The first merc charged with a baton. Andrea ducked effortlessly, sweeping his legs from under him with a powerful roundhouse kick. The man hit the concrete floor hard, groaning in pain.
Another attacker lunged at Eunwoo, swinging a metal rod. Eunwoo sidestepped gracefully, seizing the man's wrist and twisting it until the weapon clattered to the ground.
A sharp, precise elbow to the side of the head sent the merc collapsing like a rag doll.
Andrea caught movement in her periphery. Without looking, she grabbed Eunwoo by the collar, yanking him out of the path of a flying stun grenade.
"You're welcome," she quipped.
"Nice reflexes," he acknowledged, ducking as another attacker came at him.
This time, Eunwoo dropped low, delivering a brutal palm strike to the mercenary's gut, followed by a perfectly executed knee to the face.
Two more attackers advanced with tasers.
"Left's yours," Andrea said, already moving toward the right.
Eunwoo didn't need confirmation. He spun around his target with swift footwork, blocking a taser jab and countering with a devastating uppercut. The merc fell backward, stunned.
Meanwhile, Andrea danced through her opponent's attacks with ease, twisting his wrist until the taser clattered to the ground. She finished with a bone-crunching back kick that sent him flying into a metal crate.
The fight was over in minutes.
Eunwoo straightened his coat, brushing off imaginary dust. "Messy," he commented.
Andrea shot him a glare. "Messy? I just saved your suit from getting fried."
"I had it handled," he said smoothly.
"Sure you did, Mr. CEO," she teased, smirking.
Their banter was interrupted by Dimitri's voice crackling in their earpieces.
"You two done flirting? Cameras caught the action. Minjoon will cleaned the footage, but you've got about ninety seconds before reinforcements arrive."
Andrea exhaled sharply. "Thanks for the heads-up, LEADER."
Dimitri laughed. "Still got the best moves in the game, Agent Hotshot."
"Always."
They moved quickly through the warehouse, avoiding detection. Andrea's mind raced as she pieced together clues.
"That symbol," she muttered to Eunwoo. "The serpent with the flower. It's their signature, isn't it?"
Eunwoo nodded grimly. "The Night Bloom Syndicate. We need to shut them down."
Andrea's eyes gleamed with determination. "We will. But first, we get out of here alive."
They slipped through a side exit just as another group of mercenaries stormed the warehouse.
The night air was cool against their flushed skin as they disappeared into the shadows — two professionals, bound by secrecy, danger, and a mission that demanded nothing less than perfection.
_______________________
The sleek black SUV roared through the quiet industrial streets, cutting through shadows like a predator in the night. Eunwoo sat in the back seat, his posture rigid and face set in a mask of cold indifference. The playful glint in his eyes from the earlier fight had vanished, replaced by a glacial detachment.
Minjoon drove with practiced ease, his fingers tapping on the wheel in rhythm with the music faintly playing through the speakers. He cast a quick glance at the rearview mirror, noting Eunwoo's expression.
"You're doing that thing again," Minjoon remarked.
"What thing?" Eunwoo's tone was flat, uninterested.
"The ice-cube routine," Minjoon quipped. "You were all 'Mission Impossible' back there with Andrea, and now you're brooding like someone stole your stocks."
Eunwoo ignored the jab, his gaze fixed on the city lights blurring past. "Did you clean the footage?"
"Of course." Minjoon grinned proudly. "Not a single trace left. Dimitri guided me through wiping the warehouse feeds clean. We're ghosts, man."
Eunwoo gave a curt nod. "Good. No loose ends."
Minjoon sighed dramatically. "Man, you're impossible. You just took down a dozen mercs with Agent Hotshot, survived a grenade toss, and all you care about is loose ends?"
Eunwoo's tone was sharp. "Mission comes first, Minjoon."
Minjoon rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. I know. You're basically married to your job."
Andrea, seated beside Eunwoo, smirked without looking up from her tablet. "Don't bother trying to melt the ice, Minjoon. It's permanent."
Minjoon snorted. "I swear you two were made for each other. Cold-blooded professionals with zero chill."
"Focus," Eunwoo commanded, cutting the banter short. "We need a full report on the syndicate's activity in the last 48 hours. Cross-reference it with Dimitri's intel."
Minjoon gave a mock salute. "Aye, Captain Frostbite."
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Back at the mansion, the atmosphere shifted to one of calculated efficiency. The luxurious living room had been converted into a makeshift command center, with screens displaying encrypted files and surveillance feeds.
Andrea typed furiously on her laptop, her brows furrowed in concentration. "I've decrypted part of their communication logs," she announced. "They're moving something big—likely drugs, but there's more to it."
Eunwoo stood behind her, arms crossed. "What did you find?"
Andrea's voice was steady. "There's a shipment scheduled to leave the harbor in 72 hours. If we intercept it, we might get closer to their supplier."
Minjoon leaned back in his chair, munching on a protein bar. "Sounds fun. So what's the plan, Boss?"
Eunwoo's tone was cold and decisive. "We gather intel, hit them hard, and leave no trace."
Andrea glanced up at him. "Simple and brutal. Classic King move."
Eunwoo's jaw tightened, but he didn't respond.
Minjoon chuckled. "You really gotta work on your people skills, Eunwoo. Maybe crack a smile once in a while?"
"Noted," Eunwoo said dryly, his expression unchanging.
Andrea smirked. "Don't hold your breath, Minjoon."
The playful banter faded as they delved deeper into the mission details. Dimitri's voice crackled over the Bluetooth earpiece.
"Nice work tonight, kids," he praised. "But don't get cocky. The Night Bloom Syndicate isn't just gonna roll over. They'll hit back harder."
"We'll be ready," Eunwoo promised, his tone steely.
Andrea met his gaze, a silent understanding passing between them. Despite their differences, they were partners in this dangerous game, bound by a shared purpose.
Minjoon stretched his arms above his head. "Well, if this is gonna be our lives for the next few days, I'm gonna need coffee. Lots of it."
Eunwoo's lips twitched slightly, barely noticeable. "Then get it."
As Minjoon groaned and headed to the kitchen, Andrea shook her head with amusement.
"You're impossible," she told Eunwoo.
He shrugged. "And yet, here we are."