The Frost

3.

January 13, 2020,
Den Helder, Germany.

The sun was pouring down fire just above the head. There was no way to keep the eyes open due to the reflection of the fiery blaze on the pitch ahead. From a distance of one hundred yards, the perfectly square shooting board looked like a tiny pale stamp on an invisible envelope.

Sweat was dripping from the forehead, wetting the eyelids. Everything looked blurry. It was quiet, pin-drop silence all around. There was not a tiny gust of wind anywhere. The weight of the rifle's butt attached to the shoulder and cheek also seemed tormenting right now.
He focused and put an eye on the telescopic sight of the long-range sniper rifle. the shooting board from a hundred yards away seemed to jump closer within a split second.

He pulled the lever towards himself. He could clearly hear the sound of bullets entering the chamber.

"Fire," a sharp voice broke visible thick silence like cracked glass.

The rifle jumped on his shoulder.
With a carefully maintained skilled body, sharp vision, and perfect calculation he shot one by one. He was able to fire twelve shots before the hammer hit the empty chamber.

Putting down the rifle from his shoulder, he looked at "J" who was looking at the stopwatch now.

"Pretty impressive. Timing is good."

The look on Jin's face was indifferent. But his eyes wanted an answer.

"Nine bull's eye. Two first rings. One second," J repeated like a machine,
"Took you nine seconds."

A slight frown appeared on Jin's brows.

"What? Not satisfied with just a "Good" compliment?" The older one raised his one brow slightly.

Jin shrugged almost invisibly and started to take off his gloves.

"You don't talk much, do you? you are probably thinking I should call this shooting excellent, not just good. right?"

"Your words. Not mine," Jin closed the lid of the rifle box.

The best shooter of long-range chuckled slightly, "You want me to start telling you your negative marks?"

Jin didn't answer.

The corner of the lips of J perked up a little. He fished out a Ruger SR40c from a walnut box.

"Try it."

Jin took the handgun from J's hand. He knew this version of Ruger was the deadliest handgun out there at present.

"SJ 7," J started to describe the handgun, "919mm parabellum, short recoil-operated, locked-breech, detachable double-stacked magazines, 15 rounds of point 40 caliber S&W ammunition, two-toned handguns, stainless steel, and black glass-reinforced polymer frame," He paced around Jin with firm steps.

"Focus," his sharp voice sparked like a lash, "I want a perfect shot. You won't get a second chance."

The weapon was quite light. The butt has taken place effortlessly in his palm. Jin stretched out his arms. He calmly focused on the almost invisible shooting board. J slightly tugged on Jin's shoulder to adjust it a little.
"Clear Your Mind. Just Focus."

Jin took the shot.

"Good," J took back the gun.

Jin raised his brow slightly.

"Fine," shrugged J, "the first ring, to the right," he was focusing on reloading the gun.

"Good?" Jin's voice was still indifferent.

"Not that bad," J snickered a little.
He looked back at Jin and sighed,
"What else you want me to say?"

J was feeling quite amused. Jin was not the kind of person who would wait for a complement after anything. Rather he would be the one who will work his ass off silently until he achieves perfection and is satisfied with his hunger of being the polished gem he is now.

Guess he managed to irritate the hell out of him within the last few weeks so much so that Jin is finally showing the sign of his disapproval towards his plain complements.

"Only not bad?" Jin's voice was calm with a little hint of mockery, "this is gonna be the best shooting you can get from someone!"

"Whoa whoa! You are talking more than two words now? Impressive!" J cackled in amusement.

"How much better do you want now?" Jin's voice was still calm.

J pushed the magazine in and picked up the Ruger. He took the shot just in a few seconds. Three times without break.

"This much," he lowered his hands.

Jin let out a small hum. Probably frustrated though his face didn't reveal anything.

"Enough for today. Always remember, you'll get the chance only once. If you can't take that, you are dead meat. So, keep your head out of the cloud."

Jin nodded almost unnoticeably and looked at his watch. It's one at noon.

They both headed towards the cottage ahead silently.

Jin just came back from a survival training plus expedition from Amazon. And he was sent here immediately after that. The legendary long-range shooter took the position of his trainer this time.

In the meanwhile, in this place which is the equivalent of heaven, hell has been delivered for Jin.

He has to get up at five in the morning, run ten kilometers, then take a rest and go to the gym and carry it on until twelve. In the name of fitness training, J has taken the responsibility of grinding every bone of Jin's body. Then comes the hour-long shooting practice.

Even with his best performance, Jin still couldn't get J's full praise. Nothing seemed to satisfy the older one though Jin might be the best student he ever had.
No matter how frank he was, J still was the iron cold and stern trainer when it came to his job.

After lunch, Jin gets to sleep for a little while until four in the afternoon.
Then again comes exercises in the afternoon, swimming, and unarmed combat courses at night. Only in this case, he has been able to draw J's attention. His Agility, strength, reflexes have increased a lot, he feels.

Again come the meditation and Yoga for building up the control of calming minds half an hour before going to bed at night. Very tedious, tiresome routine.

But he realizes, what a difference he had with what he was a few days ago!
The objective of sending him here for sharpening his fitness and shooting has paid off.

Jin entered the lounge and laid down on a cane chair. J threw a can of ice-cold beer at him.
"Nonalcoholic, don't worry." He didn't forget to add the remark.

Before Jin could sip the beer, J's British Butler came out from inside. Bowing respectfully he said, "Message for you, Sire."

Jin reached for the paper in his hands and looked into it.

"We want pizza during the party. Hope the pizza boy is doing ok. Can we get the delivery in time if we wait for another fortnight?"

"How much time do I have?" J sipped the beer, asking about the duration of Jin's stay.

"Fifteen," Jin folded the paper in his hands. A clear coded message stating "wait, prepare yourself. Come back after fifteen days."

"I always wondered why you had that notorious nickname before you had come here," Suddenly J chuckled.

Jin didn't bother looking back.

"Now I know why. I have to say, it suits you. The bitter frost."