novelraw Chapter 125 : Mission 9: Interlude (1)
Chapter 125 : Mission 9: Interlude (1)
December 10, 2050.
AM 09:00.
Off Geoje Island. Prison Cruise Paradise Lost.
***
Deck 0. Central Area, Training Room.
Jae-hee had barely scarfed down breakfast before Ghost hauled him in for training.
“Whew...!”
“Again. Let’s go… start!”
Ghost barked the order with her usual no-nonsense edge, and Jae-hee sucked in a deep breath, diving back into “stealth mode.”
The assassination sword style Ghost preached wasn’t some grand, mystical art. It boiled down to basics: hide like a pro before the enemy clocks you, strike when they’re least expecting it, and don’t hesitate.
Hesitation? That was a mindset thing which couldn’t be taught in a day. One had to grind it out in real fights until the heart turned to stone.
Striking the unexpected? That was improv, field smarts. Adapt or die.
So, the only part Ghost could hammer into him right now?
Hiding like a ghost.
“Lengthen your breaths. Blend with the surroundings. Slow inhale, slow exhale, drop your heartbeat...”
Kill your presence, melt into shadows, erase your existence so the enemy doesn’t even register you.
Jae-hee was a natural chatterbox, always craving the spotlight, so this “hiding” concept was total alien territory at first. But still, he’d spent years skulking as a thief, and his “Wind” ability was a game-changer.
Tweak the air currents around him just right, and actual distortion kicked in, shaving off his presence noticeably.
The air around the Boy shimmered, blurring him out.
Ghost watched, letting out an impressed “Hoo.”
“Even with your ability suppressed ninety-nine percent, you’re pulling off a bit of camouflage.”
Jae-hee broke his slow breathing rhythm instantly, thrusting a hand up.
“What did camouflage mean again, Master?”
“Blending in with the environment. Think protective coloring on wild animals.”
“Ah-ha! Like a chameleon!”
“Chame-chame!” he yelped, then hunkered down amid the junk piles, killing his presence again.
Ghost stared down at her disciple’s ridiculous squat, fighting tooth and nail to keep a straight face.
“Without the restraints, this could actually be useful outside. Ahem!”
“Glad it’s paying off... But why’s your voice shaking, Master?”
“Ahem. Don’t worry about it.”
Honestly, with Jae-hee folded up like an idiot—not a chameleon, more like a rabbit staring upward with wide eyes—it was a miracle she didn’t bust out laughing.
“Let’s call it here for now.”
Jae-hee sprang up like a jack-in-the-box.
Ghost bit her lip and nodded. “This should at least help keep your ass alive.”
She skipped mentioning the stealth was assassin-grade. He’d figure out how to apply it if he needed to.
Ghost just wanted to arm the kid with one more tool before the storm hit. Anything to boost his odds of surviving.
That’s when it happened.
Beep.
His Null Cuff buzzed and lit up. A summons.
“Huh? It’s a mission call.”
“Why does it always hit right when we’re training...?”
They headed to the commander’s office on Deck 10.
Hae-eun yawned, looking wiped, and waved them in.
“Ghost, Boy, Status Window, Rabid Dog, Cultist.”
The office held a mix of familiar faces and fresh ones.
Hae-eun rattled off the five prisoners’ callsigns, then kept it short.
“You five, gear up for a quick op. Should wrap in a few hours. Simple escort gig.”
Jae-hee’s eyes went wide. “Escort?”
“Yeah. In Geoje City. You’ll see, it’s a piece of cake. Knock it out and hustle back...”
She stretched into another massive yawn, then added, “Oh, right. You all have suits, yeah? Formal ones.”
“Huh? Suits?”
“Yep. The ones from that last mission. Cultist, you’ve got what you were arrested in.”
“I’ve got one, but why the heck...?”
Jae-hee trailed off mid-question, then gasped.
“No way...!”
***
December 10, 2050, AM 11:00. In front of Geoje City Hall.
“Oh my.”
A girl with rolled-bread hair, decked out in a prim black dress, shot the Black Parade agents a subtle smile.
“Agent Boy, and the rest of Black Parade. It’s been a while.”
Under the thinning drizzle, umbrella held by her entourage, she radiated the same old debutante vibe.
But Jae-hee, privy to her secret tastes and future ambitions, just sweated bullets silently.
Dia Kim’s inscrutable gaze locked on him, cranking up the discomfort...
“Greetings, Miss. Black Parade Secret Service Team, at your service...”
Ghost, Jae-hee, Status Window, and Cultist were all suited up.
With the Doctor out, Rabid Dog was on leash duty with Ghost instead.
Dia scanned the prisoners, tilting her head. “The lineup’s a bit different from last time?”
“Doctor’s sidelined with an injury, so... callsign ‘Cultist’ is subbing in.”
Jae-hee made the intro, and Cultist stepped forward with a pale grin behind his glasses, like he’d been waiting.
“Pleasure to meet you, Miss. Callsign’s Cultist, but my skills are the real deal. I’ll do my utmost for your safety today—”
Suddenly, Ghost thrust her sheathed sword forward, blocking Cultist’s advance.
Their eyes met in silence. Ghost’s icy blues were murderous.
She didn’t say it, but the message was crystal: Don’t get cozy with the little miss.
“Hah hah, oops. Hate being disliked.”
Cultist raised his hands and backed off meekly.
Dia ignored the whole thing, zeroing in on Rabid Dog—scratching her jaw and head like crazy.
Rabid Dog, now comfy with her, slobbered her cheek in return.
“Anyway, looking forward to working with you today, Black Parade.”
Dia said it with dog fur plastered all over her black dress.
While her aides freaked out and brushed it off, the convicts got a belated briefing over comms.
«They’re saying the President’s daughter came down personally to soothe Geoje’s nerves ahead of the Awakened Protection Act rollout.»
Hae-eun yawned mid-explanation.
«Geoje’s been a pilot zone for the Act. Every Awakened there got slapped with Null Cuffs a year ago.»
Jae-hee chimed in. “Ah, yeah, I think I heard about that.”
Right. The bus hijackers had mentioned Geoje.
«Yep. And during the trial run, there were a few incidents, big and small. Some casualties too.»
Hae-eun said it flat, like reading weather.
«It’s one of the spots with the worst public sentiment on the bill. They’re sending the miss to calm things down.»
“Hmph.” Ghost clicked her tongue. “Throwing his daughter into a hot zone... I’ve thought it before, but President Kim sure runs his kid ragged.”
«Means he’s playing every card he’s got. He’s not exactly swimming in options.»
The bill had bulldozed through, sparking backlash everywhere. President Kim was on thin ice, and he was desperate enough to lean on his young daughter.
Ghost narrowed her eyes. He’d seen this coming, so why push such a reckless play...?
«The entourage handles overt protection, but after that last mess, the Secret Service is basically disbanding. It’s short on bodies for covert, and that’s why we’re here.»
Hae-eun directed from the ship like a pro.
«Boy, Rabid Dog. Stick to the missy like glue. Close mark.»
“Roger.”
“Woof!”
«Status Window, Cultist, Ghost. Handle the perimeter. Watch for anything shady, paint the big picture on security.»
“Got it desu!”
“As you command.”
«Ghost, you’re team lead. Spot anything off, handle it your way.»
“...I said no team lead gigs.” Ghost blinked, caught off guard.
«It’s a milk run. Over in hours. Look at the crew… who else could lead?»
Jae-hee shot his hand up quick. “Right here! Jae-hee, volunteering!”
Ghost stared at him blankly, then sighed long.
“...Fine. I’ll do it.”
“How come?!”
Jae-hee’s wail echoed as Hae-eun’s voice cut in.
«Stick to the schedule, and it’s three hours tops. Pay’s fifty thousand Credits. Mission name... ‘Interlude.’»
The commander chuckled faintly.
«Think of it as a breather. High odds the next one’s gonna be a real grinder.»
***
Dia’s first stop: volunteer work in the outskirts, a rundown slum.
Jae-hee gripped Rabid Dog’s leash, hugging Dia’s side. The other three convicts hung back from the entourage, scanning for threats.
They could’ve taken cars, but Dia insisted on a rickety old bus that rattled like hell. Her team’s vehicles formed a tight convoy around it.
The bus was ancient, rain making it sway worse, but Dia balanced oddly well, giggling all the while.
“Balancing on a packed, jolting bus? Basic debutante skill.”
“R-right.”
“I used to ride these to school as a kid. Hehe, nostalgic.”
Apparently, the Kim family wasn’t flush until the president dove into politics.
Dia smiled softly, reminiscing. “But... back then, Father was so kind...”
They bumped their way to the slum and kicked off the volunteering.
Charcoal briquette delivery.
Post-Gate War, infrastructure tanked. Gas and electricity were all shot.
Briquettes stepped up: cheap, easy to stock.
Dia stood center in the entourage line, relaying briquettes. The Black Parade convicts flanked her, passing them hand to hand.
“Hya! Hiyah! Haiyah!”
Dia grunted weirdly, but handled them with eerie skill, catch and pass on repeat.
“Briquette relay? Basic debutante skill!”
“What timeline’s debutante are we talking...?”
“I heated with these as a kid. Hehe.”
Dia sweated buckets hauling briquettes, no cares given even as black soot smeared her pale face.
Jae-hee quietly figured the bus ride and briquette haul were pure PR stunts.
But damn if Dia didn’t seem genuine about it.
They finished distributing the prep stack. Dia wiped her brow, beaming with pride.
Click! Click!
Geoje politicians snuck in late for the relay, then posed for commemorative shots.
Then, facing the press swarm, Dia spoke.
“Once back in Seoul, I’ll push Father for more bus routes and extra briquette aid to Geoje. He’s got a keen interest in the city besides.”
But the reporters weren’t biting on buses or briquettes.
“The Awakened Protection Act’s drawing fire from all sides. Especially from veteran Hunter Shin-woo Jo, who’s signaled aggressive pushback.”
One recapped the recent statement, shoving a mic at Dia.
“What’s your take, Miss Dia?”
Question aimed at her, but really probing President Kim’s mind.
Dia swallowed dry, answering measured and calm.
“The two are old comrades from the Gate War thirty years back. Trusted each other with their lives as the commander-in-chief and the frontline leader.”
Stock, predictable. But sincere.
“We’re all on the same side. Methods and views might differ a bit, but at heart, everyone’s fighting for this country, this world.”
Dia flashed a bright smile to wrap.
“I’m sure it’ll resolve peacefully, with mutual understanding...”