Ch.150Kiss of Fire 1

The flames died down.

But the abandoned factory was still filled with scorching heat.

Was it because of that heat?

Red Lion unbuttoned her shirt and leisurely approached the remains of No. 12.

The man who had been almost a weapon of war just moments ago.

He was now scattered about in fragments like a shattered glass.

However, Red Lion instinctively knew.

That he wasn’t dead yet.

More precisely, he was on the verge of death.

“Looking good?”

Red Lion approached the facial fragments of No. 12, her heels clicking.

Then she picked up the fragment with lips attached and slowly lifted it.

“How pathetic. To think that I would be defeated by such wenches…”

The lip fragment twitched.

It looked so small and pitiful, hard to believe he was once a top-ranked Hunter.

“Don’t be too disappointed. You lost to three Rankers, after all.”

Red Lion glanced at Jisoo as she spoke.

Newly recognized as a Ranker, Jisoo scratched the side of her head awkwardly.

Her face was covered in ashes.

But her golden eyes still sparkled.

Looking at her, Red Lion thought.

She’s like a puppy rolling in the dirt.

If Siho were tall and physically powerful, would he be just like Jisoo?

Soon Anna approached as well.

Her once fair skin was now flushed red.

Even though she had drunk Siho’s potion, it couldn’t completely protect her from the intense heat that had scorched even carbon.

“I suppose… I’ll consider it an honor.”

No. 12 clicked his tongue in resignation.

“Why would a strong Ranker like you help someone like Park Shinae?”

Red Lion acknowledged her enemy’s strength.

Though they had seemingly subdued him with ease, it was the first time the three of them had faced a single opponent together, and she was secretly surprised.

If Park Shinae had a unit of Rankers like him…

Perhaps her talk of establishing a new government wasn’t so far-fetched after all.

“What choice did I have? She brought me back from the dead.”

Brought the dead back to life?

Is she claiming to be some kind of god now?

Come to think of it, when she approached Siho before, she had sent a sand clone.

Clones, sand, buff drugs, resurrection…

“Just how many abilities have you stolen from Hunters?”

“Even I don’t know, but…”

No. 12’s lips twitched.

As if it was becoming increasingly difficult to speak…

“What’s certain is that she’ll be coming for you all soon.”

“I’m sure she will. That woman is looking for the last piece of Siho’s Angelic Hand.”

“You speak as if she’ll never find it.”

“That’s right. I’ve hidden it very well. Park Shinae will never find Siho.”

Red Lion looked down at No. 12’s fragment with resolute red eyes.

But…

Contrary to her words, the corner of No. 12’s mouth turned upward.

“What? Are you laughing?”

“Yes, seeing that you still don’t know makes Mother seem truly remarkable to me.”

He started cackling unpleasantly.

Irritated by this, Red Lion pressed down hard on the fragment with her finger.

But the carbon-made piece felt no pain from her finger.

Instead, it seemed to mock her.

“Hidden it well? You don’t mean Songpa Penthouse, unit 2401, do you?”

At his words, Red Lion’s face turned pale.

Jisoo, who was listening nearby, covered her mouth in shock, and Anna’s eyebrows twitched.

Because the place No. 12 mentioned was…

Red Lion’s home, where Siho was currently staying.

“How did you…”

Park Shinae might know about the penthouse.

She could have deduced it from the mark of allegiance.

But to know the exact address?

That meant she had already approached Siho’s vicinity.

“Since I’m about to die anyway, shall I give you a warning?”

No. 12, who had been rational until now, began to speak bizarrely.

Red Lion’s nape turned cold at his words.

“Leave Korea. When she returns, you’ll all die.”

Soon, No. 12’s lips hardened completely.

But Red Lion couldn’t easily put down the fragment.

Her clenched hand trembled.

Overcome with anxiety, she immediately threw the fragment away.

“We need to get to Seoul quickly.”

Red Lion immediately stood up and looked at Anna and Jisoo.

Both of them sensed the ominous atmosphere.

“Does anyone have a phone? Someone call Siho quickly!”

Anna and Jisoo searched their pockets for their phones at her words.

But at that moment.

As if on cue, Red Lion’s phone began to ring.

She hurriedly answered.

“Black Lion…? What’s wrong!”

Red Lion asked her urgently, unlike the usual dignified demeanor of her superior.

“Why aren’t you answering!”

But the response from her beloved junior didn’t come easily.

It was only after a while that she heard an answer.

“Team Leader Han… I’m sorry.”

It wasn’t Black Lion’s usual voice.

It sounded hollow, like someone on the verge of death.

“Sorry for what?”

“There’s been an intruder at the penthouse.”

The penthouse that had been like a fortress.

An unexpected intruder there.

Red Lion couldn’t understand.

Even if there was an intruder, she should have received a report during the breach.

To have penetrated inside before a report could arrive?

Having thought this through in just a few seconds, Red Lion instinctively sensed that the intruders were few in number.

“Just one?”

“Yes… a woman with long hair.”

“What about Siho?”

“I don’t know. But that woman… she headed toward Siho’s room…”

Black Lion’s voice suddenly began to crackle.

As if the transmission was being interfered with.

“Black Lion? Are you alright? Answer me!”

“I’m sorry, Team Leader…”

Then the call was cut off.

This left Red Lion with an even greater sense of unease.

Black Lion was one of Ilshim’s greatest assets.

For someone strong enough to defeat her to have infiltrated the penthouse…

“Something must have happened to Siho. We need to hurry!”

At her urgent words, the two Rankers also wore serious expressions.

Then they quickly followed Red Lion out of the abandoned factory.

Especially Jisoo.

She still hadn’t had a sincere conversation with Siho.

Even on the day they reunited, they had only been awkward with each other.

“Dohyun…”

That’s why she became even more anxious.

Dohyun, whom she had buried in guilt.

Jisoo needed to apologize for the words she had said to him before he died.

She was terribly afraid that this last chance might be lost forever.

“—.”

Penthouse 2301.

All the lights were off even in the middle of the night.

Yeji was alone in that vast, spacious area.

She stood with her hands behind her back, admiring the beautiful view outside the glass.

Sparkling buildings.

The light spread across the Han River’s surface.

A special privilege available only to those who succeeded in this era of anarchy.

And that privilege is now…

Occupied by black enterprises established by gangsters and armed groups formed by Hunters.

A situation where powerless people live as slaves to them for life.

Having lived as a prostitute herself, Yeji knew the pain of the weak better than anyone.

She reached into the inside pocket of her jacket.

And from it, she took out an hourglass.

The sand inside had a peculiar color.

Red and fine particles, like those seen in a desert.

Moreover…

It was the same color as the sand from Park Shinae’s clone that had approached Siho at Moment.

Soon she put the clock back into her bosom.

Because someone was knocking at the front door.

Yeji leisurely approached the door.

And carefully opened it.

“You’re still awake?”

A beautiful woman in a black ponytail and suit.

Black Lion.

In her hand was a glass covered with cloth.

“Yes… I couldn’t sleep well.”

Yeji answered with a sweet smile.

A mature and somewhat seductive smile.

Black Lion was relieved to see her looking more at ease than when they first met.

It meant that the civilian witness had achieved some peace of mind.

“This is a night drink sent by Siho. He calls it Golden Dream.”

Yeji took the glass.

A warm golden color.

It had foam on top, perhaps mixed with milk or something else.

“Have you had any difficulties during your stay?”

“No… thanks to you.”

“I’m glad. If you have any problems, please call the direct line immediately.”

Black Lion was about to close the door as if her business was done.

But…

“Just a moment.”

As the door was about to close, Yeji inserted her finger.

She glanced down the corridor to see if anyone else was there besides Black Lion, then spoke again.

“Actually, the lights won’t turn on. Could you take a look just once?”

“The lights won’t turn on?”

“Yes, I was going to just sleep since it’s night, but as you can see, I can’t fall asleep, so I’d like to keep them on.”

Yeji pouted with a troubled expression.

Black Lion nodded obediently and entered the room.

“The living room lights work fine though?”

Black Lion answered calmly while pressing the switch.

Yeji smiled brightly and pointed to the bedroom in the corner.

“It’s the bedroom that won’t light up.”

Black Lion followed her finger toward the room.

And groped in the darkness to find the switch.

“The switch should be around here…”

“No, it’s slightly higher than that.”

She moved according to Yeji’s instructions.

But no matter how much she searched, there was no switch on the wall.

“It doesn’t seem to be on this wall?”

“That can’t be. I definitely saw it there…”

Yeji’s footsteps drew closer.

Soon her dark shadow fell directly below Black Lion.

And then.

“…?”

Black Lion suddenly felt intense pain in her side.

A feeling like being stabbed with a knife.

Her black pupils shook violently at the sensation.

“Y-Yeji?”

Black Lion looked down at Yeji’s shadow with trembling eyes.

And at that moment, she realized.

The person she was facing was not a simple prostitute.

“That’s strange… it was around here…”

Deep green eyes.

Those eyes smiled thinly.

As the room’s light finally came on.

Black Lion saw the dagger Yeji was thrusting into her side.

“It wouldn’t turn on earlier… but now it works?”

A voice much more composed than when they first met.

Movements that were decisive and quick, not awkward like a civilian’s.

“Who… are you really?”

Black Lion asked in a voice bubbling with blood.

Yeji looked at the Ranker and smiled sweetly.

“What do you mean? I’m just a frightened prostitute.”

Yeji took out the hourglass she had been keeping in her inside pocket.

And ostentatiously scattered it toward the air.

Red sand poured onto the floor.

The sand began to wriggle as if alive.

It even sprouted flesh, and soon took on the appearance identical to real people.

A pair of man and woman with white hair and red eyes.

Black Lion couldn’t hide her bewilderment at this magical phenomenon.

But the sand transforming into people wasn’t the only thing that shocked Black Lion.

“Nice place. Building something like this with money extorted from citizens as ‘rent’.”

Yeji’s voice had completely changed from when they first met.

Seemingly enjoying Black Lion’s shocked expression, Yeji spoke to her.

“I love that expression. Like a sinner facing God.”

She bent down and whispered to Black Lion, who had sunk to her knees.

“Nice to meet you. My name is 00 (Zero). I’ve come to reclaim the last piece of God.”