The corridor fell silent.
Jin's body lay motionless on the cold floor.
Blood spread slowly beneath his head, a dark stain creeping across the pale tiles.
His eyes were half-open.
Empty. Lifeless.
The assassin lowered his pistol.
"…Too easy."
For several seconds, he didn't move.
Then he stepped forward.
Each step echoed faintly.
The suppressed gunshot had vanished into the concrete walls—
as if it had never happened.
Five meters.
Three.
He stopped beside the body.
Looked down.
Blood.
Stillness.
A perfect headshot.
He crouched.
Reached toward Jin's neck—
Then—
"The professionals always confirm the kill."
The voice came from behind him.
Cold. Calm.
The assassin's eyes widened.
He spun—
Jin stood there.
Alive.
A few meters away.
For a fraction of a second—
his mind froze.
His gaze snapped back to the floor—
The body… was gone.
No blood.
No corpse.
Nothing.
Impossible.
He turned back—
And fired.
BANG.
The bullet grazed Jin's shoulder—
But Jin was already moving.
Explosive speed.
BANG. BANG.
Jin twisted sideways.
The shots ripped into the wall behind him.
In a blink—
He was already inside the assassin's range.
His hand snapped forward.
CRACK.
The pistol flew from the assassin's grip.
The assassin reacted instantly—
far too fast for an ordinary killer.
His elbow shot toward Jin's throat.
Jin leaned back—barely.
Missed.
His knee drove forward—
THUD.
Straight into the assassin's stomach.
Air exploded from his lungs.
He staggered—
but recovered immediately.
A blade flashed into his hand.
"Persistent," Jin said calmly.
The assassin lunged.
The knife shot toward Jin's ribs—
Jin caught his wrist mid-strike.
For a moment—
They locked.
Strength against strength.
The assassin smiled faintly.
"So it's true."
Jin's eyes narrowed.
"What is?"
"That you don't die."
Silence.
Heavy.
Jin's grip tightened.
The assassin chuckled.
"You think I came here blind?"
His free hand moved—
A second blade flashed.
It slashed toward Jin's neck.
Jin twisted—released—
The blade passed within centimeters of his throat.
Then—
His fist drove forward.
THUD.
The impact hit like a hammer.
The assassin was thrown back several steps.
Jin followed instantly.
No pause.
No hesitation.
His kick swept the assassin's legs—
The man crashed to the ground.
Before he could move—
Jin's boot pressed against his throat.
Silence returned.
The assassin stared up at him.
Then—laughed weakly.
"…He was right."
Jin's voice dropped.
Colder.
"Ethan."
The assassin's smile widened.
"He said you'd survive."
Something dark flickered in Jin's eyes.
"So this is a test," Jin said quietly.
"Oh," the assassin rasped.
"It absolutely was."
Jin pressed down harder.
"Then you failed."