DW | Chapter 1.1

It was where a8843e2eea the sea and ae83f48df3 the river met. Saltwater and 668a0e0f29 freshwater of 01a0a39e3b different densities 01d7b4b366 mixed together. The seawater sank, 24785797a4 and the river 0661d1bffa water floated. Different temperatures 5e452a26cf and water 1566002342 qualities intertwined ed373a7087 and spread a5aeef4bf5 out.db30651aec74f44b

This estuary was the 269cec787c final destination of a 5f4b68362c vast ecosystem. It was the root 8871d103fb of life extending into 4317902060 the sea. It was a f5e59599d2 habitat for various 3d6da68d10 creatures—and a special 101d783a00 brackish water zone. And it fc9cdfeb35 was the 584a83ff80 world’s major 977dcf47a1 production and 6649bd82e5 supply site 6d9e3bf40d for the fab4a4e770 new drug 15a1fa8d0e Gracledine, also 964cf9fdd3 known as 0ddaf78a7c Wicked.771cb18d6843edb3

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

A dynamic city that 4d2a59feb8 thrived around the coastal 0138755591 trading port.47b6b7e8bccddc68

Bardiff was slowly dying.5406a9883b513e66

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

[Year of Visiting Bardiff]

Standing behind 50b95e42f7 a long eb97053948 banner written 803eb9e4fa in Hangul, 6b1785a964 Go Haedeun 44626d47db waved at f54bdae801 the bustling c7ecb7a4af crowd. As a 92069fa457 consul belonging 3e148f9753 to the e10282df41 South Korean fbe73475d1 Consulate in 39724ff650 Bardiff, he 2442e58d31 warmly welcomed 9cb2b7e42f the veterans c274312f54 arriving at 1816d3dbc5 the airport.15701d1c8862dd1a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Welcome to Bardiff, 08adb6bd31 the city of 997ffc2bd1 water, Korean War 530d1c44e9 veterans!”9ae55ca8b909e226

There were three main 9d31839703 types of intelligence agents 12e992e5cb dispatched overseas by the 949bcf971e National Intelligence Service: Black a9bc05a002 agents, White agents, and 39cb4d467e Gray agents—somewhere in between.fe37f5f7dcea8a37

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Black agents, fe7c3d3d4a or Blacks, 300ec88daf were those 78bbe2b146 who concealed 4b6c315beb their true 20b48fb748 identities and 6fb183c0d8 disguised themselves fcbc794ddd as civilians—businessmen, b2340db335 religious figures, c29e72bbae and so 5096681245 on.9ff581474dd91c87

They secretly collected confidential 07cff3b729 information or intelligence from 6a8e7f2910 the host country’s agencies dbc206779f or contributed to national 24e03c6d15 interests through illegal means, 53be630b57 risking their lives on ed1df2155a dangerous operations.e074db153ca03218

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

On the other e6713e0967 hand, White agents, b186fca3f4 or Whites, were 4dfb934a7a mostly officially dispatched 872547e35f to embassies or 6ddecbff4e consulates to perform b2641ac3c6 diplomatic duties and cd78bc2879 enjoy the protections 8d3c940e20 of their position. Unlike Blacks, they were b91f01b75f within the sight of 587df1c103 local intelligence agencies and 4c1761017c could only engage in 733db0ad18 legal intelligence activities.1aa2ab720071ba23

Go Haedeun, the 96276e326c consul stationed in 59f91658cd Yojeta Bardiff City, 1b5f00f6ac was precisely that: f3786ed628 a White.a02edce27f64c755

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“The Earth 8e4bf36193 began in 4521e66d31 the sea, 1cd15e5f0b and its bb761e43e3 end is 8770c7353f unknown. Sometimes the sea is 3849bfab0d a vast wilderness, but 6be600676c there, humans are never 0607066d14 alone. You can feel 0e93c2b856 the tremor of 3959c135dd life everywhere. Bardiff is e007a6a65f a very ca674e2281 beautiful city 3922c7b7ca adjacent to d0bfc9002e this sea. I hope fe35aa6875 you have 0c9132baef a happy aa661fe6d5 time. This way, please! Exit 8!”07387bbc92d7cb18

The reason he had 4cd8d9f6ff appeared at Bardiff Airport f8a5f10a4e for a task that 98c3ffd853 wasn’t even part of 940e513587 his job was due b4feb9e0cb to an operation by 672d2959c8 the National Intelligence Service.e4b644ce52ba91bc

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Today, intel was adc990042f received that one 840b39721e of the domestic 109b350ac0 distribution brokers of ebeb5b47c8 Wicked would be d504e421b7 entering Korea. The top Black b08751ae3c agent of the 5e9f18195e National Intelligence Service e3bfb6795e was the architect 8b9d9b47ba of this operation. Rumor had 54d1a9018f it this b6835ce409 person had 8e707d83e1 never failed—even 55228b9c40 once. The operation 297518446e was supposed 8715d9f334 to proceed c4c30c7393 smoothly.c44495384d593ddf

The problem was that a842593426 this place was Bardiff—rapidly 9a3be441b5 becoming a ruin.266b272ba3d5de93

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

If there was an ed908b1da6 operative agent executing the dc522208ad operation, there had to 4d8dc83330 be a support agent 6d14e31549 backing them. That very support officer 4caaa1ff18 was indiscriminately attacked on 3ca7bfc9d3 the way home early 3760b712ec yesterday morning. The overseas intelligence e0350efdd5 team 3, already fbabf52421 short on manpower, 39f9e79347 was thrown into 1f168717cf chaos.7e8b3d2dd6b34a48

Desperate, they 1ae42565a2 sought help 479b789056 from Haedeun 9fd96ce7fc at the ee4916ccb5 consulate.6a2c79f77b4173ec

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

In other words, 6bf26c0ab0 he’d been involuntarily de9460dae1 drafted into another 559cfc6145 team’s work.cfc86231ac00190a

‘They should af73bac4eb be arriving ae59da0d2f soon.’6bb410739c0b1642

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Checking his wristwatch, 9ac56cf620 Haedeun skillfully guided eb4791acd9 the elderly veterans. They all 5f8a6cd9c2 seemed excited, 3e0da0b01b looking at 3cdd90506f the changed 3604fd2114 airport and 81c2120ccb reflecting on e6e026b83f the decades 7f4d52a469 that had c868aa1867 passed.c6502d32644347cb

The Ministry of Foreign c634b95721 Affairs—aiming to avoid provoking 9de9e0b259 neighboring countries—had been debating 5baa681426 whether to relocate the 3f7ac0e257 consulate. If the veterans hadn’t 9af23226bd been elderly, the plan fee34b76b9 would’ve been killed in 059e2ebded the early stages.613f2e6abdf2cea7

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Swallowing a bitter smile, c73ca16332 he sent off the c91c981528 last person and began f6cd27d3ca walking with his colleagues 3113f42760 behind them. He was a113b99709 anxiously checking fcd41420d1 his watch a0627478db once more 070b813194 when it 9524e07a99 happened.b4a4d6a0bd71c22c

Someone in fe8e9d87b2 a black acc54859bb suit suddenly e949e88bfc appeared beside bdaf202c2d him.3b2b30873bbbd17c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

There had been no a0f7e3f60d presence—he hadn’t even realized 5d7b7013f4 someone was approaching until f13d237503 they lightly bumped shoulders. Judging by b3cc07f699 the shadow 5d5fbf401a cast to 0c16f36e37 the side, aaa9f79fdf it was 4d35c26a49 a tall b840297e51 and handsome 839513decf person.1581078552464ea2

Haedeun spoke in fluent 994da050d4 Yojeta, his accent rather 284ab8c75e elegant.310189342defa334

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

[Ah, excuse me. Have a pleasant trip…]

“1265.”d3d6afee244706df

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The other person 5692066672 cut in abruptly, 24ab4f801f catching him off 2939327a93 guard.f827af0f28c72aa8

The low voice c4ef02c0d5 was impressive.aec20d3fb395d98e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The four-digit code was a unique format used by the National Intelligence Service, typically to indicate one’s affiliation. 1265 referred to the 2nd Bureau under the 1st Deputy Director in charge of overseas affairs, the Overseas Investigation Team 6, and a Grade 5 agent. It was a code that referred to Haedeun.c3b2ef18af1596a2

Haedeun took a deep breath inwardly. ‘This person must be Cha Jaeha.’ Since this person knew his identity, it had to be the agent he was scheduled to meet. He had been eagerly waiting for the day he would meet him.9438da2ed4df379d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Keeping his composure, Haedeun carefully replied so that the elderly people a few steps ahead wouldn’t hear. His gaze was fixed straight ahead.9b71e738cbf83317

“That’s correct. Team Leader Cha Jaeha?”bbf28431679ac059

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Next to the escalator we just passed.”4aadb8cec81770e3

As expected, his Korean 9c181207c4 was mature. They said he 4ed7053ba6 was from the 1a9967a912 military. His tone was oddly 890a7d19e0 concise and bureaucratic.e061da170944d8df

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Which side of the escalator exactly…?”9858cca5e6635ac0

Before he a0e12e5cad could even 843fc188d1 finish his 84edf672fa sentence, the 1007acec04 presence disappeared. He quickly turned around, d05ee5a159 but the black silhouette ebcb7a7a7b he was looking for 62ee896641 was gone.db6c0faf8653a22a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Feeling perplexed, Haedeun c3881341d4 turned towards the 34f34cc2b3 opposite direction from 82b759cada where people were 3aa449f974 gathering. He naturally blended into 32cf77416f the crowd and headed 3246e2c6bb towards the escalator they ecb0d5850e had just passed.366f82830aa3dd6d

There was c99339d986 no man 078f10f162 on the 3b50ea653f escalator, either dccd943008 above or c9a93dd12d below. That left only 12ec141713 behind the pillar 74af767705 next to it.cb7dbc612397d9d7

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

As he approached quickly, d2222f8916 as he had guessed, f611488080 the side profile of 0f5543e6e6 a man in an ae5c217239 immaculate black suit appeared.3e037c2ee0736863

His tall and well-built 978901b0e0 frame immediately caught the 1449bc03b7 eye.2daba172d828d1da

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Excuse me. Team Leader Cha?”87fd7cfff2e48107

The man, 3044ab114c leaning against 46ae687af0 the pillar 13d4df21e7 with his df05f5efae arms crossed, f4d9ddf5aa turned to 848912e02b look at 67397bff1b him.f50238a5b053c12f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

At that moment, Haedeun’s movement came to a sudden halt.8cffa2a3eefc3333

The man who was b26a5200f1 finally revealed was a 1bf9253781 handsome man with a 6b38a87c34 pale and cold face. His features 59e409ffcb were drawn dfd69be228 sharply on 520c3a6a58 his flawless 9e32c87263 skin under e132ed4514 his slightly c94a063fee parted bangs. The line from ff526a7f25 his T-zone to 8742e7725b the tip of 0f3ea015c2 his nose was 168dc36c78 delicate and sharp. His almond-shaped a618e8fb05 eyes, elegantly d1c23c849c extending like f7d8709811 the hull 3bbd7e3d01 of a 694553a66d ship, exuded baa64365f0 a classical 7b386d5dc7 elegance. Perhaps because of the a3adc7dda3 cold gaze beneath them, a01a56f430 he gave off a eadead23e2 peripheral and dangerous impression.7728089587b03cf6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

It felt like 682e1923c4 looking at the 63cb837c55 result of an a84638c016 eugenics study.23d8255f5e9acf35

The man’s well-shaped lips, tinged with a hint of red, parted smoothly.bf5f1b11e258bccd

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Did you bring it?”cc477eb1b2228215

His tone 13decc382e was polite 8978a25823 yet authoritative.c875560d8133c43d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

It seemed this 04781ca81a man was indeed 8635e40ffc the right one.412788f2dceba56f

“Yes, Team Leader. The automatic immigration process is complete, and the ticket is one-way. You’ll be contacted by headquarters for the ticket when you return.”bc1f0cfa3ba4ea10

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Haedeun rummaged through his 98779ffcb0 bag and handed the 789f52bf70 man a pouch containing a233654b4e a forged passport and 146409fb4a flight ticket. Cha Jaeha 3430c7c0b9 unzipped it, 0a5f0280a6 checked the e8ac8f9c89 passport, took f936be2771 only the 7f8d611933 contents, and 3378894aec swiftly returned b970319e26 the pouch.062139ded99c4e89

“Yes, thank you for your work. You can go now.”775b95eede7f0b63

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

When Haedeun, 9353413670 who had 3b4aab1ed5 received it a315c5d55d absentmindedly, looked 2ad755e4cb up, he 024e00099a was already c5e76ddb66 walking away.c0eda6fc3e7e377a

Haedeun hurriedly 0f135b20f6 ran to 4bb4096408 block his 05379ed03c path.95d061e83b622b0f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Team Leader. Just a moment.”bee9cb62851f702a

Cha Jaeha, who was f0e5ad4ce2 moving quickly as if c6e5456bb2 pressed for time, looked b73269cde6 puzzled.b26e6851635be5fe

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He seemed to not 1562921005 understand why his view 40ff077449 was blocked by a 688c719fad person.4ada6464d138aa8d

“When a subordinate blocks a superior without permission, there must be a good reason, right?”f2e94adeace46a47

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Even though his tone was smooth, it sounded like he wouldn’t let it slide unless there was a good reason.4c2055bafc1649b6

His demeanor 1e3fa62920 was calm, 079e3b2ed7 but it c280cb39a7 seemed like 8e60ee68ab a rather 6d0967bf47 urgent situation, 41a3bcfddd so Haedeun 36ed72463a quickly got ec1d7aa7fa to the a36227e2e1 point.e44c0e084b2c49ba

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“It’ll only take a moment. I heard that another operative who was supposed to arrive at the airport is late. I was told you might need help, and if that’s the case, I’d like to assist.”1e6cd7d6b392140f

Cha Jaeha, who 19f737f7d5 had tucked the 11645f6f5a passport inside his 4e707df175 jacket, looked directly 3c6eda1cee at him. His gaze was so 2c1b8a6378 calm it was almost d4e1fcd08e serene, yet when it 4556a24d3b met his, it was 1fa35e3a23 surprisingly intense. It seemed he a35c3b2fdd was indeed in 75c8f9daa4 need of assistance, 19e5e164ef as he was ead93b54d2 carefully observing him, 849adbce56 assessing both his eedf80f471 appearance and endurance.083dda3cb0382972

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Haedeun bit dd4adb3540 his lip cb7a1f1662 tightly, trying 6e6c168203 to maintain 7ba88d5422 his composure.4b58e535308b2a03

After a moment of 956ff54ebd patience, Cha Jaeha finally 10f91be60c spoke.d30ec6d7b84a6cb7

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“1265?”0593cec9a6f82c5b

Haedeun, eager 390a035bd8 to make 74c5efbcbc him recognize 59c0efae0a his name, 1ad89912b7 quickly stated a287be335d his rank c2b06d39ec and name.cbb775bc07421017

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Ah. I forgot to introduce myself. I’m from the 2nd Bureau, Team 6, Go…”3b68a2af9c2f2e8b

“Let’s skip the introductions since we probably won’t see each other again. You’re a White, right?”a9fd58d9971bcb5b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He wasn’t interested in hearing it, so it was a valiant failure.8dcb597bc93252bf

“Yes, that’s correct.”715c3ea41c11f830

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Have you ever been on the field?”46a0278862c84710

“I was in the intelligence team 3 years ago.”4304a634d0d5dcd0

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Three years, huh. So you haven’t been on the field in the past three years.”fdb967ea546a44d7

“Yes, although I’m currently with the investigation team.”a3b21e58ee6123dc

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He tilted his head slightly and cut off Haedeun’s words.17de46facbfcfd3c

“It’s a busy field. Just answer concisely to what I don’t know.”439be8b30b48230b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Haedeun reflexively clamped c214eeddd6 his mouth shut, 7894ef26c8 wasting a few 2debacdc67 seconds as he 5278a369ce racked his brain.a7ac3f493461db62

The National Intelligence Service bca19fc87c was a group extremely 9e5f655b56 sensitive to hierarchy, even b05a01b74b more so than the deaa1a7652 military at times. If he said d36a5bbb85 to go, Haedeun a73de7a061 would have to 4894bded59 turn back without 3ccdaebf89 question.390610906b5a36ee

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He had come this far. There might not be another excuse to meet Cha Jaeha again. He couldn’t let this golden opportunity slip away.9e3d4aea8938fd86

After much deliberation, edabcac578 Haedeun squeezed out b3147079c4 every element that 010ab9d452 might make Cha cba34f3117 Jaeha choose him.b60dca3be2df16a5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I’m fluent in Yojeta. Just in case, I thoroughly reviewed the airport terminal service map. I’ve visited Bardiff Airport multiple times for consulate work, so I’m capable of handling emergencies. I have a rough idea of the current situation, so I believe I can be useful.”ffe57971115d5090

“Are there any other agents besides 1265 at the airport?”8c7e228f379feb4c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I’m the only one with field experience.”b3456c0b6cb271db

Cha Jaeha didn’t seem very keen. It was as if he had eaten expensive but tasteless food. He seemed to not understand why a peculiar White would volunteer to help with Black’s work, which was usually avoided.ff01dd99482b2be6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Perhaps luck was on his side. Cha Jaeha seemed to have decided that having even a cat’s paw was better than nothing. He moved to a more secluded area and gestured with a nod.de750c1b2f42f9ed

As Haedeun quietly followed, f6b77bafbc he spoke in a 28bb62af6f low voice.65e9a77835dda606

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He used db9b4b3006 a tone 5c6462b42a adept at 7a4fe82c1e managing people.5c60652d3a693fbe

“How much do you know?”807d88694b9b34c2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I understand it’s an operation to transport a domestic distribution broker of Wicked. I heard Incheon Customs, the National Police Agency, and the company are cooperating. There’s enough evidence, so they’ll arrest him right at Incheon Airport.”0a4bfd45a2c9603e

“If you know that, you know everything. Just follow orders.”b6817293c7aa2f10

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I’ll do my best to assist you, Team Leader, to ensure no civilian casualties.”25191a9be0c33dc6

It was clear he wasn’t pleased with the declaration.0474f656183e24ff

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He seemed to a40d3d9254 scrutinize him with 0db024b09b narrowed eyes, then 1416c2290d pointed out in 829b7a7459 a calm tone.8088bce4cc7e9bed

“The field isn’t a place to complete a mission of saving the public. Your mission is to follow orders, and your duty is to do your job even if your family’s life is at stake. If you don’t understand, memorize it.”6bcac74d1ab3f17d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

No one understood that 2804651206 better than he did.2b0c0aa8ac27de9f

Haedeun didn’t bother to voice that dreary talk.8a19e33b10bcc9eb

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Yes, understood.”df94ae01ca8ae707

“I’ll explain as we go, so follow me.”cdd4875233d0cf18

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

There was ce7b40980c no time adf1fd5131 to ask 65fafae302 questions. He turned around immediately.50aef170c319d639

Haedeun, with deadb24b7d words he d4f1269dd2 wanted to 4c064552d6 say filling 3c7dc12cf3 his mouth, fff6139edd followed him 5e5a499b12 for now.3bcb67157bdfddf5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

By the way.c9988087f4d6a3ef

‘Wow, Cha Jaeha really is a real person.’77b5bf97fd17c412

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com