The moment the target's eyes snapped open and he bolted, you instinctively pursued him, speaking into your earpiece.

Baekrang, the target is moving. Don't let him—

At that moment, you felt a snap beneath your feet. A small wooden plank splintered, and your balance collapsed in an instant.

...Damn it!

Your body pitched forward. It felt like you would plummet to the ground in a second, but years of training kicked in as instinct.

You reached out while tucking into a roll, accurately striking a rusted iron structure hanging over the back alley to make it swing.

THOOM—!!

Fallen dust and rust powder billowed into the air at once, spreading through the narrow alley like a smokescreen.

Taking advantage of the total loss of visibility, you stayed low and caught your breath.

I immediately tapped the earpiece to try speaking again.

Baekrang, the target is exiting the back all—

But what came through the earpiece first wasn't a voice, but the dry 'phut-phut' sound of a suppressed pistol.

Then, the sound of rhythmic footsteps echoed through the dust.

It wasn't the sound of someone climbing stairs or someone fighting. Just the slow, confident steps of someone certain.

You instinctively corrected your posture, brushed off the dust, and stood up.