š Chapter One ā A Trace in the Shadows
š Scene ā Infiltration
Location: The Port ā 8:34 PM
A heavy stillness blanketed the area, broken only by the soft crashing of waves and the distant roar of truck engines. At Dock No. 9, a group of smugglers were loading wooden crates into a dark shipping container. Their voices were low, but clear enough to reveal tension.
š Scene Shift
Far off in a shadowed corner of the port, a man sat on the edge of a steel container. He was calmly wrapping his right hand with a worn-out boxing cloth. Between his fingers, a half-eaten sandwich rested. He took a silent bite, eyes locked on the group.
He stood slowly, brushing off bread crumbs from his pants, and moved quietly toward the trucks.
Hiding behind one of them, he observed a man standing alone near the back gate.
In a single swift motionāhe tapped the man's shoulder.
The man turnedā
A clean punch landed straight to his face.
He collapsed instantly, crashing to the ground.
Without hesitation, the attacker dragged the unconscious body into a nearby alley and began changing into the man's clothes.
Moments later, he emerged in disguise, now dressed like one of the smugglers, blending in perfectly.
---
š Scene ā Silent Exit
He moved quietly among them, carrying a small crate and pretending to be just another worker.
His eyes never stopped scanningāwatching the cargo, the people, even their expressions.
He overheard a hushed conversation between two men:
> "Heyā¦ they say this shipment is worth millions."
The other man grunted as he carried a box:
> "Damnā¦ who the hell is selling stuff like this?"
They chuckled softly and kept moving.
The atmosphere shifted suddenly.
As the disguised man passed by them, a large man turned toward him, narrowing his eyes and shouting:
> "Huh?! Work faster, you bastard!"
He spat on the ground near him.
The protagonist paused for a second, raising his gaze without emotion.
He said nothingājust kept walking.
At the back of the truck, he set the crate down, removed his black cap, stepped back slowly...
...and disappeared into the shadows.
---
š Scene ā Interrogation
Minutes later, he returned to the alley, where the unconscious man was still lying.
He slapped the man's face repeatedly, shouting:
"Hey! Hey, you bastard... wake up!"
He kicked him hard in the side, then muttered in frustration:
"Oh god..."
He rushed to grab some water, splashing it violently on the man's face.
The man groaned, blinking slowly before mumbling with fear:
"O-oh... aagh... who are you? What do you want? Please, don't hurt me... I'm not one of them! I just work with them!"
The protagonist stepped in closer, staring coldly into his eyes:
"Listen to me, you little ratā¦ If you want to live another day, tell me everything you know. Who sent that cargo? Where was it going?"
The man shook his head, terrified:
"I don't know! I swear, I don't know anything!"
The protagonist sighed deeply, placing his hands over his face, then spoke calmly:
"Tch... I guess you won't talk, huh?"
Before the man could respond, his hand was seizedāsnap!āhis finger bent with a sickening crack.
The man howled in agony:
"Aaaargh! AAAAGH! AAAHHH!!"
He collapsed, trembling, tears mixing with rain and pain.
The protagonist whispered in a cold, sharp tone:
"Talkā¦ before I break the rest."
---
š Scene Shift ā Police Departmentā¦
(To be continued...)