Every city probably had it, but Hangzhou had it worse than most.

The shadows behind the glittering lights.

A place darker than the dark itself, full of nothing but raw, primal desire.

The two men in plain clothes who stepped into the alley didn't belong there at all.

"Gu San, if I were the Dark Alliance Lord, I don't think I'd come all the way out here."

The young man called Gu San clicked his tongue.

"Tsk, tsk. You naive kid. Who says the Dark Alliance Lord only plays in those fancy pleasure houses? Sometimes you crave something with a little kick, even if it's bad for you. Then again, Han Seok, what would you know?"

Han Seok frowned.

"Come on. What's got a kick in a place like this? We'll be lucky if a ghost doesn't jump out at us."

"Ugh. Look, you've seen plenty on missions. I'm telling you, slums like this have gambling dens."

"Okay, so how are you going to find this gambling den? Places like that are usually locked up tight. We only raid them after we get a tip. We don't go looking blind like this."

Gu San waved him off, annoyed.

"Enough already! If you're just going to nag, go somewhere else!"

With that, he strode on ahead.

Han Seok sighed and was trudging after him when

Gu San stopped.

Han Seok stopped too and turned.

Slowly, the two of them moved back to back.

"Since when?"

Han Seok shook his head.

"No idea."

"Damn. And we're only noticing now. How many?"

"Ten? No. More than thirty."

If they were amateurs, the two of them could handle even a few hundred.

But getting this close without being noticed proved they weren't.

Shiiing.

Both men drew their weapons and took their opening stances.

As if on cue, men in black appeared from every direction.

"Damn it."

Gu San swore.

"Since we're going to die anyway, let's make a bet. Who kills more."

Han Seok tossed out a joke.

Gu San burst out laughing and swore again.

"Heh heh. Lunatic."

Just as the two of…