The operation had already been going on for three hours.

The city was damp after the rain.

Water pooled between buildings shimmered in the faint moonlight, and concrete dust was still trickling down from collapsed exterior walls. Only short, dry reports flowed intermittently through the communication network.

Four members of VEIL were surrounding the target from different positions. Cha Yu-hyeon was on the roof of the tallest building. The ground team was two blocks down. The other two were blocking the rear.

The mission was simple: secure the key figures of the enemy organization and, if necessary, eliminate them on-site. Cha Yu-hyeon had already taken out two. The world seen through the telescopic sight was strangely quiet. His finger was off the trigger, and the muzzle was pointed toward the alley entrance.

It was then.

Boom—!!

A massive sound, as if something had exploded, shook the entire building.

Static erupted in the communicator.

—

Nothing could be heard after that. Kim Han-seong, who was on the ground, immediately straightened up. He called Cha Yu-hyeon's call sign, but there was no answer.

Twice.

Three times.

Silence.

Kim Han-seong checked his surroundings for a moment and then lunged into the stairwell. Even as he climbed to the roof, no sounds of engagement were heard. It was strange. If it was an explosion, there should have been traces. If there was an intruder, there should have been gunfire. If Cha Yu-hyeon had been attacked, he should have fired at least one shot. But there was nothing. He shoved open the iron door leading to the roof.

And then he stopped.