'That devil bastard!'

Gooseflesh rose all over Baek Hoseong. Memories that had left their trauma on him came flooding back.

That incident, the one that left him sterile, and the monster of Room 214 who died at his own hands.

That smell driven into his brain — the hard rain could not wash it out, and it came back alive.

It was the same man he had passed on the boardwalk at Sokcho beach.

The rank stink of a soul soaked through with blood!

He is watching Ha Tae-ung with a wildcat's eyes.

Even inside the racket of the downpour, that concentrated killing intent does not scatter.

He had handed the bayonet in his grip to Ha Tae-ung and drawn his backup blade.

A great many years have gone by. The courage to kill the man does not come.

Baek Hoseong's first duty is Kang Ari's safety!

He cannot go rushing in to help Ha Tae-ung.

No — he could not see any need to help him.

'A professional!'

The reflexes and the way Ha Tae-ung answers an attack are not an ordinary man's.

He could see it in several stances and in the look in the eye — things that show up only in men who have been through special training many times over, as Baek Hoseong has.

He is not being pushed back by the attacker.

If anything, it is the Room 214 attacker who has started to take an interest.

"Hup!"

Swiiish.

Room 214, driving out through the rain with a cry!

The gleaming North Korean army bayonet in his hand split the air like a flash of lightning coming down.

"Agh!"

From behind Baek Hoseong, Kang Ari screamed. The distance between the man and Ha Tae-ung is far too short.

One stroke, one kill!

The attacker's aim is to take Ha Tae-ung's throat with a single cut.

Baek Hoseong gripped his blade and set himself, meaning to cut in and lend a hand if it came to that.

And!

Shh-shh-shh-shh-shhk! Klang! Klaklaklang! Klang! Klang!

"……!!" Knife work trained to the limit, with no opening in it!