No-Gul tossed the rifle aside.
He turned and walked out with Ho-Seok.
Outside, five black cars stood in the snow, engines running.
His henchmen stepped out one by one—bowing deeply in silence.
No-Gul stopped.
He looked back at the villa once.
Then—slowly—he put on his sunglasses.
A cigarette rested between his lips.
The ring lighter flared.
As the car began to move, he flicked the cigarette back through the open window.
It landed inside the villa.
Fire bloomed instantly—devouring the frozen structure.
The cars disappeared into the white night like fast crawling cobra .
And No-Gul moved forward—
toward a new hunt. 🔥
In the Air — Business Class
The Business Class cabin was wrapped in quiet luxury.
Every seat around them was empty.
Entire cabin—reserved.
No-Gul sat by the window, dressed in black. His posture was relaxed.
Across the aisle, Ho-Seok leaned back comfortably, one arm resting on the armrest.
Beside them—
The black cat sat in a secure luxury carrier, placed neatly on the reserved seat between them, seatbelt fastened like a VIP.
Mesh window. Sharp eyes. Zero patience.
The Business Class cabin was silent—private, expensive, untouched.
A cabin crew member approached and placed two espresso cups on the tray table with a polite nod.
"Enjoy your flight."
She left.
The moment the cups touched the table—
THUMP. THUD. TAP.
The carrier shook slightly as the cat began smacking the sides with her paw.
Scratch. Scratch.
A sharp—
"Meow."
No-Gul's jaw tightened.
Another—
"Meow."
He didn't look at her.
But his irritation was loud anyway.
"…Was it really necessary to bring her on the flight?" he muttered coldly.
"We're not on a family trip."
Ho-Seok bit back a smile and leaned forward.
"Easy," he said, crouching beside the carrier.
He carefully unzipped it just a little—just enough for the cat's face to peek out.
Two bright eyes appeared instantly.
"What's wrong with you, huh?" Ho-Seok whispered. "Why are you acting up?"
The cat ignored him completely.
Her gaze locked onto No-Gul.
The espresso cup lifted.
She opened her mouth.
"MEOW."
Loud. Accusing.
No-Gul froze the cup near to lip.
He slowly turned his head.
"…Enough," he snapped.
"Please, stop it—my mother."
"Why are you disturbing everyone?"
The cat tilted her head.
Then—
"Meow."
Even louder.
No-Gul stared at her, unimpressed.
"…What, now you want coffee?"
"Are you paying the bill?"
"The way you act… your tastes—seriously, you look like you're from some aristocratic family."
The cat blinked.
Once.
"Meow."
A pause.
No-Gul sighed deeply, defeated.
"…Fine. Fine. I'll give it to you."
Ho-Seok burst out laughing.
"See?" he said, amused.
"She likes everything that belongs to you."
He carefully poured a tiny amount of Americano into a small lid and slid it toward the carrier.
The cat sniffed.
One sip.
Then another.
Instant peace.
She leaned back inside the carrier, eyes half-closed, tail flicking lazily.
Silence returned to the cabin.
No-Gul stared at her.
"…Unbelievable."
Ho-Seok grinned.
"That's why," he said lightly,
"she's part of the family."
No-Gul lifted his espresso again—slowly this time.
A flight attendant passed by, glanced once—
—and quickly looked away.
Silence.
Ho-Seok broke it with a grin.
"You know," he said casually, "I have some news."
No-Gul didn't move.
"I'm pretty sure," Ho-Seok continued, enjoying this far too much, "you're going to be shocked."
No-Gul said coldly,
"If this is another one of your theories,"
"save it."
Ho-Seok chuckled.
"Oh no," he said. "This one's special."
He reached into his tablet and turned the screen toward him.
A photo appeared.
A bridal dress.
The same one from the dream.
No-Gul's fingers tightened almost imperceptibly.
Ho-Seok watched his reaction carefully.
"This," Ho-Seok said lightly, "belongs to your dream bride."
No-Gul's don't look away from screen.
"She was wearing it just before the accident," Ho-Seok continued.
"But here's the fun part—"
He leaned in slightly.
"Neither the girls… nor the dress… was ever found."
Ho-Seok raised a finger.
"Correction. They didn't find everything."
He swiped again.
A second image appeared.
A veil—delicate, torn at the edges.
"They only found this," Ho-Seok said.
"Floating in the water."
A pause.
"So," he added casually, "I had it retrieved."
No-Gul stared at the screen, unreadable.
Ho-Seok tilted his head, smirking.
"You could frame it. "
"She's already dead. At the very least, if I keep her veil close, maybe her soul will finally stop following me."
No-Gul finally spoke.
"Tell me something, Ho-Seok."
"Yes?"
"Where do these useless ideas come from?" he asked flatly.
"Is there a separate department in your brain for nonsense?"
Ho-Seok gasped, offended.
"Wow," he said. "I bring evidence. Emotional trauma. A bridal dress—"
He gestured dramatically.
"And this is the respect I get?"
No-Gul turned back toward the window.
"If sarcasm could solve crimes," he said coldly,
"you'd be the greatest detective alive."
Ho-Seok clicked his tongue.
"Hyung, "
"I actually love the way of your disrespect. I've been starving for it for a year—finally got my daily dose."
The plane continued its course.
Straight toward Korea. The cabin lights were dim.
No-Gul sat still in his seat, eyes closed.
And then—
The dream returned.
[ ....The same one.
Blood ran down his forehead, warm against his skin.
His vision blurred as the world tilted.
He staggered—
And suddenly, a girl in bridal dress was there.
Running toward him.
Fear etched across her face.
"No-Gul!" she cried.
She caught him before he fell, her arms tightening around him as if she could keep him from slipping away.
"No… don't," she whispered, trembling.
His lips parted.
"Nora…"
He reached for her, fingers brushing her cheek.
"Nora… Nora…" calling her name , afraid that if he stopped, she would be gone .
Their foreheads touched. ......]
His heart pounded wildly.
Too fast.
Too loud.
The rhythm followed him even as the dream began to fracture—
the sensation of breath tightening, chest aching, the weight of something unseen pressing down on him.
He was restless even in sleep.
Then—
He heard it.
Soft.
Clear.
Calling him.
"No-Gul…"
Again.
"No-Gul…"
Her voice.
Not distant.
Close.
Too close.
His breath caught.
A scent reached him—faint, familiar.
Something he recognized without knowing how.
His wrist vibrated.
The watch strapped to his hand lit up, silently recording the sudden spike in his heart rate.
Ho-Seok's phone buzzed.
He stirred, annoyed, blinking awake.
A notification.
From No-Gul watch.
His expression shifted instantly.
He turned toward the window seat.
Empty.
His breath hitched.
"No-Gul…?" he muttered.
He stood up quickly, scanning the cabin.
Seats. Aisles. Curtains.
Nothing.
The black cat sat calmly in her secured carrier —watching.
Ho-Seok's pulse spiked.
He pulled out his phone and activated the GPS tracker.
A map lit up.
The signal blinked once—then locked.
His eyes narrowed.
Sea of Japan.
Closer.
Busan port.
His jaw tightened.
"…What are you doing there now?" he murmured under his breath.
To Be Continued…