The moment the target's eyes snapped open and he fled, you instinctively pursued him and spoke 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 tilted forward. It felt like you would plummet to the ground in a second, but years of training kicked in instinctively.

Reaching out as you dove, you accurately struck an old iron structure hanging over the back alley, causing it to swing wildly.

THUD—!!

Fallen dust and rust powder billowed into the air at once, instantly laying down a smoke screen in the narrow alley.

Taking advantage of the completely obscured vision, you lowered your body and caught your breath.

I immediately touched the earpiece to speak again.

Baekrang, the target is exiting the back alley—

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

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

It wasn't someone climbing stairs, nor someone fighting. Just the slow, confident footsteps of someone certain.

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