LONG CHAPTER AHEAD
Yoon stared blankly at the blood.
For a moment, her emotionless gaze wavered.
Then—
A tidal wave of something crashed over her.
Why?
Why did I have to endure a life like this because of someone like you?
Her once-steady hand began to tremble.
A single tear slipped down her cheek, falling onto the bloodstained floor.
And in that moment—
Something inside her snapped.
Ah.
It doesn’t matter anymore.
Her grip on the gun loosened.
Noah—the only one who had ever given her warmth—was gone.
And the man she had sworn to kill?
She had done it with her own hands today.
After today, there would be nothing left to regret, nothing left to resent.
She just wanted it all to end.
Yoon had let go of her will to live.
The man was dead, but nothing about her life would change.
Yet, even so—
She didn’t want to die here.
She had no desire to be entangled with him, even in death.
And… she wanted to say goodbye.
Slowly, she ran her fingers over the gun.
It was her first time holding one, yet strangely, it felt more familiar—more fitting—than anything else she had ever used.
“What a shame.”
A quiet chuckle escaped her lips as she idly caressed the weapon.
“With this gun, I could end it all in a single shot.”
The moment she whispered those words—
Click.
The last remaining bullet slid into the chamber.
* * *
It had been ten minutes since the child had gone inside.
By now, the matter should have been settled—one way or another.
Canux felt his heart beating lightly, his excitement growing.
Come on. Hurry up. Show me the result.
Fixating his gaze on the closed door, he relished the strange thrill running through him.
The second hand on his wristwatch continued its steady, dutiful march forward.
Then—
Tick.
The sound stopped.
Creak.
The door groaned open, revealing a small figure drenched in crimson.
Blood-soaked footsteps echoed as Yoon stepped forward.
Canux’s sharp gaze swept over her in an instant, taking in every detail.
And then—
His eyes locked with hers.
Dark. Piercing.
A single drop of blood slid down her pale chin, falling with a soft splatter onto the concrete floor.
Ssshhhk.
“…!”
Canux’s pupils widened momentarily.
The child was smiling.
As if the warmth of blood trickling down her face was nothing—
As if none of this mattered in the slightest—
She slowly wiped the blood away and raised the gun toward him.
“You lied to me.”
Yoon’s red lips slowly curled into a smile. With her eerily cold black eyes, Canux silently stared at her without saying a word.
Yoon tilted her head slightly, her black hair brushing against her cheek. A calm, chilling wind passed between the two of them.
Yoon didn’t know why the man had lied. She asked, driven by pure curiosity.
“Was the bullet too precious?”
“Hah…!”
Canux let out a half-hearted laugh, as if in disbelief, and wiped his forehead.
“Do I look like I don’t even have that much money?”
“Really?”
Yoon blinked her eyes innocently, like a pure child. Canux, who had been quietly watching her with a gaze full of questions, finally spoke.
“Because I thought I was going to die.”
“…”
“I thought I was going to shoot your head with that gun right away.”
Yoon slowly tilted her head. She couldn’t understand his words. Why would you worry about me dying?
“…Is that not okay?”
“Not at all.”
With a firm voice, Yoon asked,
“Why?”
“Don’t you think one should repay their debt before they die?”
Canux replied with a playful smile. For a moment, Yoon, who had been tense, let out a half-laugh and lowered her gun.
Yeah, there’s no such thing as kindness without reason.
“The world is a cruel place, my dear.”
The term “my dear” made Yoon furrow her brow without hesitation. Canux laughed heartily and reached out his hand.
“Shall I return it now?”
His voice was gentle, like one comforting a child, and the twisted expression on Yoon’s face quickly turned into a playful smile. Unfortunately for the man in front of her, she was not someone with much conscience.
“I’ll just repay it in the next life.”
Yoon placed the cold barrel of the gun against her head.
“If I’m reborn, that is.”
Yoon smiled brighter than ever as she spoke. It was really the end now. She closed her eyes, feeling a strange joy at the approaching death.
Bang!
The loud gunshot filled the room.
What?
Yoon stared blankly at the gun, which had flown far away, before shifting her gaze to Canux. Canux, lightly massaging the hand holding the gun, smiled.
“That can’t happen. I will get my full payment in this life.”
His gentle smile felt like that of Satan himself.
“Didn’t I save your life?”
Canux spoke shamelessly.
“…You must’ve taken it as collateral.”
Yoon, who had been staring at Canux blankly for a while, finally seemed to snap back to reality and responded late.
“Well, you can think of it like that.”
How could that be the same thing? Yoon’s eyes grew cold.
“Congratulations on having such a terrible creditor.”
In stark contrast to the twisted expression on Yoon’s face, Canux’s expression was infinitely cheerful.
“If you come with me, I’ll give you this gun.”
Yoon’s perfectly shaped eyebrows twitched. Canux, who noticed this, grinned widely.
He could instinctively tell. This girl, she would definitely become a useful sniper.
“If you come with me, you’ll be able to handle many guns you’ve never touched before. And you’ll be able to use all of them.”
Guns.
Yoon’s pupils began to shake, as if she was debating. She couldn’t forget the thrill she felt when holding a gun.
It was a debt that had been passed down from her father anyway. Even if this man forcibly took her away, she couldn’t refuse. She was just a mere child with no strength to resist.
“You know, don’t you? That this opportunity won’t come again easily.”
Canux once again gently coaxed Yoon. Yoon knew. The man in front of her was offering her a favor that went beyond measure.
Even knowing that, the only reason she held on was clear. Somehow, she felt that if she went with him, she would never die. She had a strange, ominous feeling that he would keep her alive no matter what.
But Yoon had no other choice. A deep sigh escaped her lips.
Yeah, let’s go. Surrounded by guns, maybe I’ll manage to die somehow. She was too tired to think anymore.
The future would be dealt with by the future me. Yoon gave up on thinking.
“…I’ll go.”
At Yoon’s consent, Canux smiled contentedly. His large coat wrapped warmly around her shoulders. The sudden heaviness of it made Yoon flinch.
Despite the huge size difference, the coat dragged along the floor, but Canux seemed completely unconcerned. Instead, Yoon grasped the hem of the coat, frowning slightly.
‘I hope he doesn’t ask me to pay for the cleaning.’
As she walked, thinking he probably wouldn’t be that petty, Yoon suddenly stopped and looked back.
The man’s grave was engulfed in flames, burning away. It felt strangely surreal.
* * *
“We’ve arrived.”
Yoon, who had been staring blankly out the window, slowly nodded and stepped out of the car. She had been so lost in thought that she hadn’t even noticed the time passing.
Her mood sank further at the unpleasant memories. This was exactly why she hated dwelling on the past.
Her steady strides came to a halt. With a brief glance, she signaled them to leave before opening the door with familiar ease.
“You’re here.”
Under the lights, his black hair gleamed with a quiet luster. The man, who had been idly twirling a pen in his fingers, greeted her in a low voice.
“I’m exhausted.”
Yoon walked straight to the sofa and collapsed onto it.
Whoomph.
As her body sank into the cushions, she let out a languid sigh. Expensive sofas were truly the best.
“Quit whining.”
Lucas, the son of Canux and the next boss of the Maier family, chuckled as he set down his pen. A faint smile played at the corners of his reddish-brown eyes.
His forehead, revealed by his slicked-back hair, was smooth, and his sharply defined nose stood out. His interlocked fingers were thick and strong.
Every time he spoke, his Adam’s apple moved, accentuating his masculine charm. Leaning back in his chair with his hands clasped lazily, he looked every bit the perfect mafia heir.
“Where’s the old man?”
“Use the proper title.”
“If he was the type to kill me over something like that, I would’ve been shot ages ago. The old man doesn’t get mad over trivial things.”
See? I’m still alive.
With a smirk, she shrugged, and Lucas ran a hand down his face.
What was he supposed to do about that personality?
Lucas liked Yoon’s confidence. What he appreciated most was that she wasn’t all talk.
But that attitude of hers was a problem. No matter how many years passed, her rough way of speaking and acting never changed. She crossed dangerous lines without hesitation, sending chills down the spines of those who watched.
In a strictly hierarchical organization, Yoon was the only true outlier—so much so that she’d earned the nickname the Maier family’s delinquent.
If she weren’t a sniper skilled enough to silence all the whispers around her, she would have been shot by someone a long time ago. People always said it wouldn’t be surprising if she got gunned down one day, but she would just smirk in response.
Her eerie nonchalance toward the looming possibility of death had been bothering him more than usual lately.
“He’ll probably be back in a month.”
Lucas sat up and leaned lightly against the table.
“Must be nice, leaving people behind and leisurely enjoying himself.”
Yoon twirled a strand of her hair, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
“For someone who’s been ‘left behind,’ you sure have been stirring up a lot of trouble.”
Lucas chuckled lowly.
Oh, that.
Yoon brushed her eyebrows lightly. It hadn’t been intentional. It just so happened that the target she had in her sights was the same one the Howard family was after.
If they didn’t want to lose it, they should’ve taken it first. What’s the use of being that slow?
They were probably fuming over it.
The Howards had long been the Maier family’s rival, operating in the same industry. The two families had maintained a delicate balance of power—at least until Yoon started working in the field.
Who would’ve thought a single sniper could tilt the scales?
Lucas gazed at Yoon with an unreadable expression.
News of a new sniper had started to spread, trickling through both small and large organizations. Some, intimidated by the rumors, backed down. Others extended discreet offers, hoping to recruit her.
Shutting down those advances was just another part of his job.
Yoon was a child taken in on a whim by his father.
At first, he thought she was just a lucky kid—if she had stayed on 5th Street, she would have been as good as dead.
He had simply been ordered to teach her, so he carried out his duty without much thought.
But the sudden arrival of an East Asian girl turned out to be anything but ordinary. She was astonishingly bold, had a sharp tongue, and was completely unpredictable.
The organization had a strict hierarchy, a set of rules to follow. Loyalty and respect toward the boss were fundamental. But Yoon?
She acted as if there were no tomorrow. She spoke to the boss like he was just some guy from the neighborhood. She treated Lucas no differently. It was as if the concept of rank meant nothing to her—she was completely untamed.
Like someone who wouldn’t mind dying.
No—more like someone who wanted it.
That was when it began. When he first started watching her.
Lucas could never forget the day Yoon was first sent into the field.
Just as his father had said, her talent was exceptional.
He realized then that she hadn’t been taken in just on a whim—his father had intended to train her as a true member of the organization.
But training and real combat were two different things.
He hadn’t expected success. First-time operatives often trembled from nerves, sometimes even dropped their guns. That was why he had been curious. How would this kid react?
Would her hands shake? Would she fumble her weapon? Would she break down and cry?
Lucas watched her with interest.
But Yoon did none of those things.
Even when she spotted her target, she showed no tension. She simply loaded her rifle.
Click.
And then—
The moment her sleepy expression turned cold in an instant—
Bang!
Her indifferent black eyes met his.
Still. Unwavering. Unshaken.
They were eerily captivating.
Ah.
Without realizing it, he let out a low breath.
A perfect shot.
In the field, Yoon was chillingly calm—almost disturbingly so.
By the time Yoon had completed several missions flawlessly, she was officially recognized as a full-fledged member of the organization.
Even after that, her merciless precision never wavered—eliminating targets took no more than an instant. Naturally, her rank within the organization continued to rise.
At the very least, she had climbed high enough to barge into the heir’s room without knocking and sprawl on his sofa.
Lucas let out a quiet chuckle. In the Maier family, there was no one left who could stop her.
Yoon waved a hand dismissively and sank even deeper into the couch.
“Ugh, whatever. I don’t care. It’s all a hassle.”
Before she knew it, eight years had passed since she had joined the Maier family.
Canux was a man who kept his promises.
Ever since she arrived, she had been free to use guns to her heart’s content. Because of that, she had mastered every firearm imaginable.
Whether it was due to the talent he claimed she had, Yoon had become a sharpshooter boasting a near-absolute accuracy.
Of course, that incredible skill wasn’t exactly put to legal use.
Where there was light, there was also shadow.
But Yoon didn’t dwell on the morality of it all.
What does it matter who the target is? I’m just paying off my debt.
She had stepped into a land of outlaws—following its laws was only natural.
That didn’t mean she was some deranged murderer who killed indiscriminately.
“Your gun must never be aimed at the innocent. Adhere to the Maier family’s law and duty. Eliminate only those who pose a threat to us.”
“You are not some petty street gunman—you are the Maier family’s sniper. Never forget your position.”
“I’ve heard those words so many damn times.”
Yoon let out a quiet laugh.
Watching them walk the razor-thin line between legal and illegal, she had figured it out herself—there was no such thing as absolute good or evil.
It was a difference as thin as a sheet of paper.
The moment she followed Canux, she had already known her life wouldn’t be smooth. It was nothing new to her now.
Still, sometimes, after dealing with the drug addicts from 5th Street, her mind would go blank. That strange feeling was irritating at times.
Yoon shook her head lightly, trying to dispel the thoughts creeping in.
Where’s my cigarette?
She instinctively reached into her suit.
…Nothing.
All she found was an empty pack.
Looks like she had smoked the last one earlier.
Her gaze shifted toward Lucas.
“Lucas.”
“No.”
“Just one.”
“No.”
Even with the desperate plea in her voice, Lucas remained firm.
“Damn it. You’re ridiculously strict.”
Hearing Lucas’s unwaveringly firm tone, Yoon muttered a low curse.
“Watch your mouth.”
She could already guess what he’d say next, even without hearing it.
Annoyed, she roughly ruffled her own hair.
Lucas hated it when she swore. Even at twenty-three, she still got scolded for the way she spoke.
Her eyes flickered with irritation, but those steady, reddish-brown eyes staring her down left no room for argument.
In the end, she begrudgingly adjusted her words.
“Annoying bastard.”
That was technically a filtered version.
“…….”
Probably?
As Lucas’s expression stiffened even further, Yoon let out a sigh of surrender.
“Fine. Fine. I’ll shut up, okay?”
God, he was so uptight.
“From now on, every time you swear in front of me, I’m confiscating your cigarettes.”
Yoon shrugged, as if daring him to try. She was a heavy smoker—she had cigarettes stashed everywhere.
If he wanted to take them all, he’d have to search her entire living space.
But Lucas wasn’t as easy to fool as she had hoped.
“Listen carefully. I’ll tear apart your car and your room until I find every last cigarette. And don’t even think about sending the guys to buy them for you. That’s completely off-limits.”
The way he read her mind so precisely sent a cold sweat down her back.
She looked at him, utterly exasperated.
Lucas met her gaze calmly and added,
“Smoke in moderation. You’re going to rot your lungs at this rate.”
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