Chapter 8
Three years ago, a shadow organization was born, brought into existence by a woman known only by her code name: The Queen of Cold. They called it the "Mafia Hunter." The name alone was a declaration of war against the five powerful families ruling the city's underworld. But behind the formation of this group, the Queen had a much deeper, more personal agenda hidden from the world.
Inside the dimly lit strategic room of their secret headquarters, three figures stood in a perfect line, hands locked behind their backs, bodies as stiff as statues. Ranzo, Sanko, and Sukome. They stood like elite soldiers, silent and ready for the command of their boss.
The Queen of Cold sat regally in her high-backed chair. Her voice carried a natural weight, a chilling authority that demanded absolute respect, yet for these three, there was a faint trace of warmth hidden beneath her icy exterior.
"I hope you three have been enjoying your lives," she began, her sharp eyes scanning each of them. "I'll ask one last time. If any of you want to walk away from this life, do it now. In this world, your life is on the line every single second."
Sanko and Sukome stole a quick, nervous glance at each other, feeling the gravity of her words. But Ranzo? He didn't even flinch. His gaze remained fixed forward, cold and unwavering as if he were made of stone.
"Lady Cold," Ranzo spoke up, his voice steady and devoid of fear. "You know I live for the adrenaline. To me, your missions aren't just work—they're levels in a high-stakes game that I'm determined to beat. Besides," he added with a slight shrug, "the pay is good. I'm not going anywhere."
A rare, small smile touched the Queen's lips. "I expected nothing less from you." She turned her gaze to the other two. "And what about you both?"
Sanko grinned, regaining his usual attitude. "If Ranzo's in, I'm in. My answer is the same as his."
Sukome nodded quickly, her eyes bright with excitement. "I'm staying too!"
The Queen smiled with a hint of pride. "Good. From this moment on, you are a formal unit. You will operate as a team, with Ranzo as your leader. Your team name will be: The Ace Group."
The three lowered their heads in a silent, respectful bow. "Understood, Lady Cold."
The Queen stood up, her presence filling the room with an undeniable power. "Any questions? Because today, I'm pulling back the curtain on the entire corrupt system."
"I have something to ask," Ranzo said, stepping forward. "But it can wait until you've finished."
The Queen looked at Ranzo and chuckled softly. "You know, Ranzo, if I were your age, I would have definitely married you."
Ranzo's face instantly flushed a deep, embarrassed crimson. He stuttered, losing his cool for the first time. "W-what? No... what are you saying? That's... that's impossible!"
Sukome piped up, a mischievous glint in her eye. "She's right, Ranzo! But honestly, you should marry someone more like me." She leaned toward him with a wink. "Right, Ranzo?"
Ranzo didn't even look at her. "Keep your mouth shut, Sukome. Not another word."
"Yeah, be quiet, Sukome," Sanko added, trying to hide a smirk.
WHACK! Sukome's fist connected sharply with the top of Sanko's head.
"Ow! What was that for?!" Sanko yelled, rubbing the sore spot.
"Don't you dare give me orders!" Sukome snapped, her face twisted in annoyance.
Ranzo turned his dark, piercing eyes toward them. His voice dropped to a terrifying, low growl. "Are you two starting this again?"
The room went dead silent. Sanko and Sukome snapped back into a perfect salute, visibly shaken by Ranzo's sudden aura.
"Forgive them, Lady Cold," Ranzo said, turning back with a weary sigh. "Please, continue."
"It's fine," she smiled. "Listen closely. Until now, you've been cleaning up street-level thugs. But now, you're facing the real monsters: Ley Hon and his five sons. They have a stranglehold on the Black Market. Half the legal system is in their pockets. If we don't stop them, they'll hollow out this country like termites. They prey on the poor while the wealthy, like your family, Ranzo, manage to survive. But the common people? They're being suffocated."
The three bowed their heads. Ranzo's eyes were burning with a new fire. "How do we stop them?"
"I can see the fire in you, Ranzo," the Queen noted. "We start with the youngest branch of Ley Hon's family: Aroon. And specifically, Aroon's youngest son, Haru. He runs a massive fake medicine racket. He intercepts life-saving imports, replaces them with poisonous fakes, and sells the real stuff on the Black Market for double the profit. People are dying because of his greed."
Ranzo's expression turned predatory. "So, we're going to blow that factory to pieces?"
"You're smart," she replied with a cold smile. "But first, we send a message. We're going to deliver Haru's corpse to Aroon as a 'gift'."
"Taking him down won't be easy. His security will be high-level," Ranzo mused. "I'll need every detail—his habits, his likes, his daily routine. I need to know how he thinks."
The Queen pulled out an elegant, gold-trimmed card. "Haru's birthday party is in two days. Every elite in the city is invited. Here is your invitation."
As she laid out the plan, Sukome started jumping with excitement. "Oh my god, this is going to be my favorite mission ever!"
Sanko, however, looked like he had just been told he was heading to his own execution. He slumped his shoulders. "I can't believe I actually have to do this..."
Ranzo bowed calmly. "I'll get it done, Lady Cold. I have six days. My final exams are right after that, so I need this finished by then."
"I understand," she said softly. "Just remember... we are doing this for those who can't fight for themselves."
"One more thing," Ranzo said, pulling out his phone. He showed her the photo of the mysterious man following Marine and explained the situation.
The Queen stared at the photo for a heartbeat too long. Her mind raced. So, they already know who Marine really is... it's better if I hide this from Ranzo for now. She masked her expression so perfectly that even Ranzo's sharp eyes couldn't catch the flicker of concern. "I don't know him," she lied smoothly. "But if he recognized the card, he's definitely working for the mafia. For now, put it aside and focus on the mission."
Ranzo bowed, though a seed of doubt remained. Then another thought hit him. "Lady Cold... why were you sitting in front of my house disguised as a beggar woman?"
She laughed heartily. "I was bored! I wanted to see the world outside this base. Besides, that sister of yours... she's very cute."
Ranzo's face went blank, his expression unreadable. He simply bowed. "I see. In two days, the mission begins. We'll get into Haru's inner circle."
"Good luck, my Ace Group," she whispered as they turned to leave.
Back outside, using the secret exit of the coffee shop, Ranzo turned to his team. "Two days. Be ready. No mistakes."
Sukome grabbed Ranzo's arm, leaning in with a flirtatious smile. "Don't worry, Master Ace! This mission is made for me. I'll give it my all!"
Ranzo pulled his arm away, his voice as cold as the night air. "Don't ever think I'm doing this for real. I'm only tolerating this role for the sake of the mission."
He walked away into the darkness without looking back. Sukome stood there with a lingering smile, while Sanko stumbled behind like a man in shock, muttering, "This can't be happening... this can't be happening..."
Meanwhile, Ranzo walked through the chilling night toward home. As he reached the brightly lit Marika district, he saw a figure in the distance. A girl, tears streaming down her face, looking frantically for someone.
It was Marine. She had come out into the freezing night, desperate to find him. When her eyes finally met Ranzo's, she froze. The tears kept falling as she slowly started walking toward him, her heart on her sleeve.
Ranzo stood perfectly still, his face a mask of cold, silent intensity, watching her approach.