Chapter 1

My childhood dream with Zachary was to become police officers.

But later on.

He became the head of New York's largest criminal organization.

And I became his most formidable lieutenant.

The day we were both arrested and imprisoned.

He rubbed his nose and said:

"We're even now. In our next life, let's be brothers again."

But I lowered my eyes, calmly had the guard open my door, and said to him through the iron bars:

"Sorry, but this is my badge number."

My identity—I'm an undercover cop.

The day Zachary was sentenced, it drizzled.

I sat at the courthouse entrance smoking, but the rain kept extinguishing my cigarette. I couldn't get it lit.

When they were led out, the organization's former second-in-command spat at me.

"Pah! Liam, you ungrateful bastard."

My hand holding the cigarette trembled as I looked at Zachary.

He still showed no expression.

Back then, I thought that would be the last time I'd ever see him.

That this demon who'd taken countless lives would die by firing squad.

And I would finally, completely end my years of undercover work.

The next day.

The precinct informed me.

Zachary had escaped from prison.

When I heard the news, I was writing my debriefing report.

A uniformed colleague burst in and tackled me to the ground.

"Zachary escaped!!"

"The armed forces they had don't match the intel you provided!!"

"Did you hold something back?!"

His fists rained down on me without reason.

He grabbed me by the collar, and I tilted my head to the side.

Colleagues rushed in to pull us apart.

The man coughed violently and threw a photo at me.

In the photo.

Inside the only transport vehicle left at the scene.

Zachary had used my colleagues' blood...

To write my name over and over again.

"The ones who took Zachary are foreign forces we haven't identified yet."

"The officers transporting Zachary have been confirmed. Thirty-one people. Not one survived."

My lighter wouldn't ignite.

My partner gestured with his chin toward the man who'd just burst in and attacked me.

"Young's girlfriend... was among them."

So his girlfriend had just been killed.

No wonder he resented me so much.

"I didn't withhold information."

"I never knew he had foreign backing."

I shoved the lighter into my pocket.

Suddenly let out a dejected laugh.

No matter how I explained it, it sounded hollow.

"It's okay, I believe you."

My partner patted my shoulder.

"If you wanted to side with Zachary, this whole area would've been reduced to rubble by now."

"..."

I didn't know how to respond.

So I stared at the white mist dispersing in the air.

But my mind inexplicably wandered back.

The night before Zachary was arrested, he'd rubbed my shoulder.

"Liam, got a light?"

The man had a sharp nose bridge, and when he looked down, his lashes were long.

He leaned close to me, taking a spark from the cigarette in my mouth.

I asked him if he didn't have his own lighter.

He laughed and said he wanted everything of mine.