I am Kim Min-Hon, a special agent with South Korea's National Intelligence Service. For the past five years, I've been tangled in high-risk missions, infiltrating criminal organizations, dismantling networks trafficking drugs, weapons, and anything that threatened my country's security. But this mission… this one was different. I knew it the moment my superior called me into his office, and I saw the file on his desk.

Since I started this job, I learned to control my emotions, to keep myself distant and cold. You can't let fear or doubt creep into your mind when you're in a dangerous situation, especially when you're undercover. I've done things I'd rather forget; I've seen the worst side of humanity. But even so, when they told me what I had to do, I felt that familiar knot in my stomach.

The mission was simple—at least on paper: infiltrate Dmitri Volkov's criminal organization, one of Russia's most powerful mob bosses. Volkov ran an empire built on the blood of others. Arms trafficking, drugs, human trafficking… nothing was beyond his reach. He moved with an impunity straight out of a horror movie, and the Russian authorities had been either unable, or perhaps unwilling, to stop him. That's why they called me in. Because the South Korean government had been tracking his movements, and his influence was starting to spread beyond Europe. Our job was to stop him before he reached Asia.

"Are you ready for this?" My superior, Director Han, looked at me intently from across his desk. His expression was as stern as always, but there was something in his gaze that let me know this was more personal than he let on. Volkov wasn't just any criminal—he was the kind of man that even experienced agents like me feared to face.

I nodded slowly. "I'm always ready, sir."

I picked up the file in front of me, studying the black-and-white photos of Volkov. Tall, imposing, with a gaze that seemed to pierce the soul. Dmitri Volkov was dangerous. I knew that before I even opened the file. Not just because of his crimes, but because of the reputation that preceded him. A man as unpredictable as he was lethal.

"You'll need to assume a new identity, of course," Han continued as I skimmed through the documents. "You'll be Lee Jun-ho, a Korean exile involved in information trafficking across Europe. Your criminal background has already been fabricated; your name has appeared in several crime records to make it more credible."

"How do I get close to him?" I asked, interrupting his rundown of details. I was already familiar with the protocols for fake identities. What really mattered was how I'd reach Volkov. Someone so paranoid, someone who would likely execute anyone he suspected.

"That's the hard part." Director Han leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. "We know that Volkov is looking to expand his arms trafficking network. You'll need to make him believe you're a valuable asset. We're still working on the specifics, but it's most likely that you'll approach one of his contacts—someone who can put you on his radar."

I closed the file and left it on the table. I knew this mission wouldn't be like the others. This wasn't just about information or petty smuggling. Volkov was a monster, and I would have to step into his world—to live with him, breathe in his same corruption.

When I left Director Han's office, I already knew my life was about to change. The mission was clear, but what wasn't clear was whether I'd ever be the same again. I didn't know how long I'd have to live under that identity, or to what extent I'd have to cross lines I had always sworn never to cross. But this job wasn't about what I wanted or what was fair. It was about what needed to be done.

That night, I stayed alone in my apartment, sitting in the dark with Volkov's file on the table. I had a bottle of soju in my hand, but I'd barely taken a sip. I kept looking at the photos. Volkov wasn't a mere gangster. He was a strategist, someone who had built an empire based on fear and power. If I wanted to survive this mission, I would have to become someone else—someone capable of moving in his world without flinching.

My life up to this point had been a preparation for this. I knew that. Since I was a teenager, I'd always known that my fate was to face the worst criminals in this world. My father had been an agent too, though I never really had the chance to know him. He died when I was six, in a mission similar to the one I was about to undertake. I grew up with the idea that one day, I would follow in his footsteps, that I would be the man he couldn't be.

But now that I was here, on the edge of that reality, I couldn't help but wonder if I was truly ready. Was I willing to sacrifice myself for this mission, as he had? Or would I lose myself in the process?

The beep of my phone pulled me out of my thoughts. A message from my team leader. My flight was scheduled for the next day. I had less than 24 hours to leave my life behind and become Lee Jun-ho.

The next day, I met with my team at a secret facility, where they handed me my forged documents and the equipment I'd need. My new passport, credit cards, a list of contacts in Russia who would serve as my links, and, most importantly, a Glock pistol with a silencer.

"Remember, this mission is long-term," said my team leader, reviewing the details one last time. "Don't expose yourself too quickly. We need you to approach Volkov slowly, to earn his trust. This might take months, even years."

I nodded. I knew what I was getting into. There would be no turning back once I crossed the border.

Before leaving, I took one last moment to call my mother. I always did before each mission, though this time it was harder than usual. I couldn't tell her where I was going or what I was about to do. She was used to my absences, to the white lies. But even so, I felt the weight of what I was about to face as I listened to her voice.

"Take care, son," she said, her tone filled with contained worry. "You know I'm always here for you, no matter what."

"I know, mom," I replied, trying to stay firm. "Don't worry. I'll be back soon."

I hung up before she could say anything else. I couldn't afford weakness at that moment. I knew the last thing I needed was an emotional goodbye, something that would make me doubt the path ahead. My mother had endured enough farewells in her life, most of them without knowing if she'd ever see me again. Even though she had accepted my profession, the fear was always there, between every unspoken word.

I stayed silent for a while, staring at my phone. Goodbyes were something you never really got used to. No matter how many times you'd done it, the weight of uncertainty was always there. And this time, it was stronger. Something about this mission made me feel like there wouldn't be a "soon" to come back. The darkness that enveloped Volkov seemed endless, and I was about to dive right into it.

I stood up, grabbed the fake documents and assigned weapons, and began packing. I couldn't take much, just the essentials—clothes, some cash, a couple of disposable phones. Everything else would stay behind, along with the life I'd led up until now. Looking at my apartment one last time, I felt a strange sense of emptiness. I knew I wouldn't be coming back to this place—not as Kim Min-Hon, anyway. That identity would be buried the moment I set foot in Russia.

My new name, my new life, was Lee Jun-ho. A man with a stained past, someone who had escaped from South Korea for dark reasons and found refuge in Europe's underworld. My story was well-constructed, each detail meticulously planned to convince anyone who crossed my path. There was no room for mistakes. Every word, every move had to be calculated.

The following day, I took a commercial flight to Moscow. There were no luxuries or comforts, just uncomfortable seats and passengers with empty stares. During the flight, I went over the mission details again and again in my mind. I knew what I had to do, but that didn't erase the feeling that I was walking straight into the lion's den.

Once I landed in Russia, I'd have to make contact with one of Volkov's men. An intermediary, someone who could slowly introduce me into his organization. I knew it wouldn't be easy. Volkov wasn't a man anyone could approach, especially not a foreigner. But that was precisely my advantage. The Russians wouldn't trust a Korean, but an exiled criminal with a dark past and no loyalty to anyone could be useful to someone like him.

The plane began its descent, and my mind cleared. Doubts and fears were left behind as I went into operational mode. I knew what was at stake, and I knew I couldn't afford to fail. The security of my country, of millions of people, depended on what I'd do in the next weeks, months, maybe years. But it wasn't just that. My life was also on the line. Volkov wasn't known for his mercy, and if he ever suspected my intentions, my death would be slow and painful.

As the plane landed in Moscow, I felt the cold concrete beneath my feet as I exited. Russia welcomed me as it