He sat in silence, both hands resting forward on the sofa. Across from him, on the opposite couch, Maera watched him closely.
"So, what do we do now?" she asked.
"We have only five hours," he replied evenly. "And within that time, we must act."
"Then… what's your plan?" Maera pressed.
"A serpent is only beautiful," he said, rising to his feet, fastening the buttons of his suit, "until it bares its fangs. Let's go. We don't have time to waste."
"But where?" Maera's voice stopped him mid-step.
He straightened, his back still turned to her. "Can you fight?" he asked.
"Of course," she answered firmly. "If I couldn't, you wouldn't be alive today."
A faint smile tugged at his lips. "Good. Then soon enough, you'll find out."
_______________________________________________
Sliding into the car, he turned the key in the ignition. The black SUV roared to life, surging forward, slicing through the wind. Within minutes, they were standing before massive iron gates, looming dark and imposing.
He stepped out, and Maera followed right behind him.
"Wow… this is—" Maera's eyes widened in surprise.
"You're right," he cut in calmly. "I told you about this place the other day. Now come—we don't have much time."
He moved ahead swiftly, Maera trailing after him. But as soon as they crossed the threshold, a guard approached.
"Sir, Ms. Sara has been asking about you—"
Before the guard could finish, Li Cheng intervened sharply. "Not now. She mustn't know anything about this."
With that, he turned to Maera, his expression suddenly grave. "I'm sorry, Maera. But beyond this point, you'll have to follow the Citadel's rules."
And before she could react, he struck a precise point at the back of her neck. Maera's vision blurred—then darkness consumed her.
Two guards lifted her unconscious body, carrying her alongside Li Cheng, deeper into a hidden chamber—the secret base of weapons.
Nearly twenty minutes later, Maera stirred awake. She pushed herself upright, only to realize the room was far from ordinary. Sleek weapons, both concealed and exposed, lined the walls—strange devices gleaming with cutting-edge technology.
She glanced around, then let out a dry laugh—a smile laced more with sarcasm than amusement.
Li Cheng, seated before her, slid a small object across the table: a lipstick.
Maera arched a brow. "Seriously? You expect me to put on lipstick before rescuing Sim? You know I despise makeup."
"Don't," Li Cheng replied, his tone matter-of-fact. "This isn't lipstick. It's a bomb. There's a small trigger beneath. Press it, and three seconds later—it detonates."
Her eyes widened. "You're serious?"
Within moments, the guards began their preparations. Weapons were loaded, gear checked. The mission was clear: rescue.
"How will we know where they've taken Sim?" Maera pressed.
Li Cheng's lips curved into a faint smile. "Based on the details you gave me, I know exactly where she'll be."
He unfurled a blueprint of Cobra's complex across the table, pointing out key locations. The team leaned in, listening intently.
"We have only three hours left. If we leave in fifteen minutes, we'll arrive in exactly thirty minutes and twenty-five seconds," Li Cheng said after checking his wristwatch. "That gives us fifteen minutes to extract Sim."
The room fell silent, tension mounting.
"Our objective is not an official assault," he continued, voice steady, "because their objective is capturing both Sim and Maera. Which means…" He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. "We'll use bait. And they won't see it coming."
Li Cheng's gaze settled on Maera."When you stand before them, certain… unexpected things may happen," he warned quietly. "But you must stay vigilant. Once they seize you, we'll divert their attention. That will give you the chance to reach Sim. Take her, get out as fast as you can. Leave the rest to us."
Maera inclined her head in steady understanding.
"Meeting dismissed. Begin preparations."
Folding the blueprint, Li Cheng rose. Outside, four SUVs stood waiting, engines rumbling low. The guards moved swiftly into position. Their destination: Cobra's headquarters.
Li Cheng opened the car door and slipped inside. Maera entered from the other side. He twisted the key in the ignition, and the vehicle surged forward, cutting across the night toward danger.
___________________________________________________>>>>>
From a high window, Sara watched the convoy depart. A faint smirk curved across her lips.
"See that?" she murmured to herself. "The one you tried to seduce cares for you more than you'll ever know."
She drew the curtains shut and crossed back to her bed. On the side table lay a jade flute she had never once touched. But tonight, her fingers closed around it.
"This song," she whispered, "is only for you, Layall."
Lifting the flute, she began to play Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun. The soft notes lingered in the stillness of the room. Sara had always loved the idea of playing the flute; she had even been surprised to find one tucked among her shelves, setting it aside long ago with the thought she might use it one day.
Now, as the music wove through the air, the irony struck her. A laugh slipped out. Who am I really mocking? she thought. Sitting alone in her room, she realized the song was for no one but herself—for the other part of her own being.
She lowered the flute, laughter breaking free in earnest. "So… I'm laughing at myself now," she whispered aloud, collapsing back onto the bed, hairs scatterd all over, and her hand was tremblling onto the fluit, her giggles spilling into the quiet evening.
________________________________________________________________
Sam's café was thriving—perhaps too much. The rush of customers, though a blessing, was quickly becoming overwhelming. He needed more staff. So, the day before, he had posted an ad on social media for new workers. By the very next morning, people had already begun showing up.
But that meant something else for Sam—interviews. A fresh headache. And, as always, Jacob was right there beside him.
The thought made Sam ache with nostalgia. He remembered Zero—how even he knew what a struggle it was for Jacob to balance helping Sam and managing his own noisy club. The guilt tugged at Sam quietly.
Jacob noticed the look on his friend's face instantly. While Sam was busy serving a customer, Jacob stepped forward, resting a hand on his shoulder.
"Hey, Sam," Jacob said.
Sam turned. "Oh, Jacob—what is it?"
"My brother, we're friends. You don't need to worry so much. Everything's running just fine."
A smile broke across Sam's tired face. "Thanks, man." He handed off the coffee and walked away, while Jacob lingered, grinning to himself.
Just then, the café door opened, and a young woman walked in. Jacob's eyes widened. For a long moment, he simply stared.
She had thick black hair, long lashes framing sharp dark eyes, and wore a casual outfit that somehow made her stand out even more. She walked straight toward him.
"Hello," she said politely. "I'm here for the job."
Jacob blinked, snapping out of his daze. "Sorry—what?"
She frowned slightly. "I'm here for the job interview."
"Oh! Right, yes—this way, please." Jacob led her toward the small room in back.
The woman glanced around the space once she stepped in, suspicion flashing across her face. "Excuse me," she asked, "is this… an interrogation room?"
Jacob looked at her, baffled. "What? No… it's an interview room. Nice, right?"
His odd answer left her even more confused. What's wrong with this guy—did he fall on his head or something? she wondered silently.
Still, the interview went on. Jacob's strange, off-beat questions had her doubting whether this was really a café or a madhouse. But eventually, after giving her best answers, she was hired.
Her name was Sato Yakuza.
When she and Jacob returned to the front, Sam was at the counter. His expression alone revealed how frustrating Jacob's "questioning style" must have been.
"Sam," Jacob said quickly, "this is Ms. Sato. She's good."
Sam extended his hand with a warm smile. "Hello, Sato. I'm Sam. You can start right away, if you'd like."
Sato shook his hand, though a single thought ran through her head: This entire staff is insane. Still, she smiled politely. "Sure, Mr. Sam."
And just like that, Sato became part of Silent Love Café.
Within minutes, she was serving customers confidently. From behind the counter, Sam observed. "She's handling it well," he said approvingly.
"Yeah," Jacob muttered, still staring. "Looks good…"
Sam grabbed the nearest spoon and smacked him lightly on the head. "Idiot. I wasn't talking about her figure."
Jacob flinched. "What—hey, I wasn't either—"
"Oh, really? I could hear the way you grilled her entire life story under the name of 'interview,'" Sam shot back, half amused, half scolding.
Jacob burst out laughing, trying to defend himself. "W-what? I just… needed to know who she really was!"
Sam narrowed his eyes, playful anger flashing. "Yeah, well, better know this too—don't you dare look at my worker the wrong way, kid."
Another spoon thwack to Jacob's head.
"Ow! Damn it, Sam, that actually hurts!" Jacob rubbed his skull, then grinned. "Alright, alright—enough. Let's party tonight. Celebrate your new staff."
Sam hesitated, then shrugged. It wasn't like he had anything waiting for him at home. "Fine. Let's hit the club, just the two of us."
They exchanged a firm power-five and broke into laughter, already slipping back into the rhythm of work.
___________________________________________________________>>>>
Beyond the Citadel's walls, tension was thick. Every guard was alert, weapons primed.
Maera's eyes darted around as she noticed the sudden shift. "Why so tense?"
Li Cheng, calm but sharp-eyed, replied without looking at her. "Because we've just stepped into Den's territory. Anything can happen here."
Maera nodded grimly.
Just as she was about to speak again—headlights flashed ahead. More SUVs appeared, blocking the road.
Li Cheng cursed under his breath and slammed the brakes. "Damn it!" The car screeched to a halt, barely avoiding collision.
Maera turned sharply to him. He shot her an apologetic look. "My bad. Sorry."
She ignored the excuse. "What now?"
A faint smirk tugged at his lips. "Now… action."
He unbuckled his seatbelt and stepped out. Behind him, Citadel guards poured out of their vehicles. Opposite them, Ethen and his men emerged from their SUVs, weapons ready. Without warning, gunfire erupted.
The mountains shook with the echo of bullets. The air filled with smoke, sparks, and screams.
"Don't let them escape!" Li Cheng's voice cut through the chaos. "We will bury them here!"
"Yes, sir!" the guards shouted back, unleashing a rain of bullets.
Ethen's men were skilled, but even they faltered. Two of his guards fell wounded.
Li Cheng checked his magazine—nearly empty. A guard rushed over. "Sir! We're low on ammo. We need another plan!"
Li Cheng's eyes narrowed. He knew there was no choice. "Plan B. Now."
The order was given. Their SUVs suddenly began reversing, pulling back fast.
Ethen sneered, watching. "Hah… Citadel dogs. They call themselves dragons, yet can't handle a little fire." he laghed sarscamly.
He raised a hand. "Hold fire. They're retreating. We won't step into their land."
With arrogance dripping from his words, he turned to his car. "Come on, we're done here."
But as he pulled the door open, a guard screamed, "Sir—!"
WHOOSH.
A rocket flew in from the distance.
BOOM!
The explosion tore through Ethen's convoy. Fire lit up the night as twisted metal and shattered bodies rained across the valley.
From the shadows, Li Cheng's SUVs surged back into sight. He stepped out calmly, a lighter flicking between his fingers. Behind him, one of his guards held the spent launcher.
The battlefield was a graveyard. Ethen and his men were scattered in pieces, their blood steaming against the cold rock. Maera covered her nose, gagging at the stench of burning flesh.
Li Cheng strolled forward, crushing fragments of bodies beneath his boots. "A wounded snake should always fear the dragon. Because when either strikes… the punishment is death."
At his signal, gasoline was poured over the remains. "All set, sir," a guard reported.
Li Cheng turned slightly. "What about the traitor? Have you found him?"
"Sir… Martin is missing." the guard who poured the gasoline just now told him, before licheng could say anything..suddenly
Another pair of guards dragged a broken man forward.' Martin.' His body was beaten to pulp, barely standing. They threw him to the ground.
"Sir, we caught him escaping through the forest."
Martin collapsed to his knees, blood dripping from his mouth. "Mr. Li… please. Forgive me. One more chance. I swear—"
Li Cheng removed his glasses, his expression unreadable.he turned and took the gun from a guard's hand.
The guards who bring martin here forced Martin's head up. He sobbed, begging for life. "Please, Mr. Li, don't—"
BANG.
The valley echoed as Martin crumpled lifeless, blood pouring from the hole in his skull.
Li Cheng tossed the pistol back to his guard and gestured. "Burn him with the others."
The body was dragged and thrown onto the heap of corpses. Gasoline trails ran like veins across the ground, leading back to Li Cheng.
"Move out," he ordered, climbing back into his vehicle.
As the engines roared to life, Li Cheng flicked his lighter, tossing the flame behind him.
The fire erupted instantly, devouring the corpses, black smoke clawing into the sky.
Without looking back, Li Cheng's SUV disappeared down a different road, leaving only fire, ash, and silence in the valley.
_________________________
Too much time had already slipped away… only half an hour remained.Li Cheng drove recklessly, his car cutting through the night until they reached the den. But what they had seen earlier was only a demo. Cobra had prepared far more sinister "entertainment" for them.
This time, however, Li Cheng had no intention of showing restraint. It wasn't just about the mission anymore—it was about pride, about ego.
He crashed through the iron gates with brute force, his guards storming in behind him. The enemy was ready, waiting. The moment they entered, gunfire erupted once more. But this time, Li Cheng was prepared. He fired back without mercy.
"Maera! I'll cover you. Go!" he shouted.Maera gave a quick nod and broke away, sprinting through the chaos. Guards followed her inside while Li Cheng and the others held the line at the entrance.
Inside, she found a single chamber. She stepped in cautiously, but the instant her foot pressed down, she realized too late—it wasn't a floor at all but a trapdoor.
There was no time to scream. The ground gave way beneath her. She fell hard, her gun clattering out of reach, her body slamming against the cold floor below. Her face struck something heavy—a boot.
"Well, well… look who's here, welcome to the serpent's den" a voice drawled.
The sound was hauntingly familiar. The dim light made it impossible to see his face, but Maera's fury burned hotter than her confusion."Who are you? Where is Sim?" she demanded.
"Relax, baby," the voice sneered. "Your little bird is safe… safe with her little baby."
He picked up a remote, pressing a button. Suddenly the room blazed with light. Behind a thick glass wall, Maera saw her worst nightmare—Sim, unconscious, bound hand and foot, lying helpless on the floor.
Maera froze. Her lips parted, words caught in her throat."You…" she whispered.The man stepped into the light."Yes," he said with a cruel smile. "It's me. Dan."
"Dan?" Maera's voice cracked with disbelief. "But… you claimed you loved Sim. You—"
"Love?" he spat, his face twisting with rage. "There was never love. Only hate. Do you know what I want? Revenge. For every humiliation, every slight. And I'll take it from both of you."
He grabbed her by the hair, yanking her up. Maera winced but pleaded, "Please… don't hurt her. She's pregnant. Take me instead. Kill me if you must—but let her go."
Dan only laughed, savoring her desperation."Oh, I like this," he sneered. "Beg more. Crawl to me."
He dropped into a chair, leaning back with a sick smile. Extending his boots toward her, he ordered:"Come. Crawl like the bitch you are. Lick my boots. Say it—say you're nothing but a dog. Maybe then, maybe, I'll let her live."
Rage boiled in Maera's veins, but her gun lay too far away. She looked at Sim through the glass wall. Helpless. Broken. Maera had no choice.
Gritting her teeth, she crawled across the floor, dragging herself toward him. She grasped his boots, lowering her head as if to obey. Dan's lips curled in a devilish smirk.
But then—swift as lightning—Maera slipped a hidden knife from her trouser pocket and drove it into his calf.
Dan screamed in pain, leaping up."You bitch!" he roared, kicking her brutally in the face. Maera's body crashed against the floor, blood smearing her lips. He yanked her up by the hair and dragged her toward the glass wall, slamming her head against it.
"Look!" he bellowed. "Look at your little Blue Bird one last time!"
A guard entered, kicking Sim awake. She groaned in pain, gasping as her eyes fluttered open. Through the haze, she saw Maera's tear-streaked face pressed against the glass.
"M…Maera… you came…" Sim whispered weakly, too broken to speak more.
Though her wrists and ankles were bound, Sim still managed a faint smile, her eyes shining only for Maera.
Maera, sobbing, pressed her hand against the glass. Sim, crawling painfully across the floor, rested her forehead against the other side of the glass, as though their touch could reach through. Both of them wept—together, yet divided.
Dan chuckled darkly."Alright, that's enough romance," he sneered, motioning to the guard.
The guard seized Sim by the hair, dragging her away. Sim screamed, crying out, but the man showed no mercy.
"No! Please, don't!" Maera shouted, struggling against Dan's grip. But she refused to let Sim be taken. With a sudden burst of strength, she twisted Dan's arm and threw him off balance. He stumbled, giving her the chance to break free.
She dove for her gun. Just as her hand closed around it, Dan charged. She lashed out with a kick, but he blocked it, driving a heavy punch into her face. She fell, her gun clattering away again.
Dan loomed over her, slamming her skull into the wall over and over. Dazed, blood streaming down her forehead, Maera still fought. With a desperate elbow to his arm, she forced him back just long enough to crawl for the weapon again.
This time, her fingers wrapped around the grip. She spun, raised it, and fired—BANG! BANG! BANG!
Three shots tore into Dan's chest. His body jerked violently, then collapsed, lifeless.
Breathing hard, trembling, Maera staggered to him, ensuring he was dead before spitting on his corpse. Then she sprinted after the guard dragging Sim away.
More guards flooded the corridors, but she had no choice. She fired relentlessly, each bullet cutting a path toward her friend. Finally, she burst into the open air—only to see the guard hauling Sim toward a waiting helicopter.
"HEY! STOP!!!" Maera screamed, firing again.
The guard shouted back, "GO!" and the helicopter's blades roared to life.
Maera ran with everything she had left. She shot the guard down with her last rounds, but by the time she reached the chopper, it was too late. The helicopter lifted off, rising into the night sky.
Her gun slipped from her hands. She dropped to her knees, tears streaming as she looked upward.
Behind her, boots pounded the dirt—Li Cheng and his men, battered and bloodied, had finally fought their way through. He took in the scene instantly, raised his weapon, and fired his final bullet at the retreating aircraft. But it was useless. The helicopter was already beyond reach.
Maera's heart shattered. Every wound, every bruise vanished beneath one overwhelming ache. She raised her face to the dark sky, her voice breaking in agony.
"SIM!!!"
Her scream echoed into the night.