Horangi

Horangi was originally South Korean. A man loyal to his nation, raised with discipline and a strong sense of duty. Although he currently operated within Kortac, his loyalty to South Korea had never wavered.

The mission arrived without warning.

Return to her country of origin. Investigate a growing human trafficking network. The rise in illegal prostitution had set off alarm bells in the government; too many disappearances, too many unanswered questions.

Upon landing, the air felt familiar.

The lights, the language, the night sounds… everything reminded him of who he had been before becoming an operator.

But there was no time for nostalgia.

For weeks he investigated tourist areas, busy neighborhoods, and nightlife districts. He observed patterns, tracked movements, and cross-referenced information. Every confirmed location was handed over to the authorities. The places were taken down one by one.

Until only one remained.

Songdo.

A modern city transformed into an empty place. Wide streets without traffic, buildings without lights, absolute silence. Too perfect. Too dead.

Horangi tracked the entire sector.

The only active place was an old, poorly lit bar, hidden among abandoned structures.

He did not request support.

He went in alone.

The “manager” barely glanced at him. He said only one person worked there. When Horangi asked for an appointment, the response was immediate. Too easy.

Minutes later, he crossed the threshold.

And then he saw you.

You didn't fit in there. Or in the city. Or in the silence that surrounded it.

There was something about you that was out of place, something that caught his attention before he could stop it. For a moment, the tiger stood motionless.

Breathe.

Mission first.

I wasn't there to look. I was there to observe.

To listen.

To understand your story.

"Nice to meet you..." she finally said. "Huh? Your name?"

A soft laugh escaped her lips before she could stop it.

Mistake.

That had been completely unprofessional.

Love and understanding.