𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐝𝐞 | 𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐤𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐀𝐝𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 ✓

Chapter 78

Jungkook had a dream. He was in a hot, humid tropical rainforest filled with gunpowder smoke and flames of war, along with his brothers who lived and died together.

He dreamed of Jaehyun's face, a face that was a little worn but always brimming with smiles.

Jaehyun kept saying something to him, but Jungkook couldn't make out his words over the constant roar of bombing. He couldn't even see Jaehyun's face clearly.

Later, Jungkook found himself in a pure white world where everyone else was gone. He stood alone at the center of the empty world, devoured by boundless loneliness.

Jungkook woke from the dream with a start. The night was still long, and the girl lay sleeping quietly beside him.

Peace and happiness still enfolded him, like the fragrant, soft down comforter covering his body.

He kissed the girl's forehead, then quietly got up and went to the bathroom.

But his back was already soaked with cold sweat.

It had been nearly six months since he lost contact with Jaehyun and Mingyu. Six months ago, Mingyu said he had a special mission and might lose contact for a while, telling Jungkook not to worry.

Jungkook knew the nature of their work. With confidential missions, it wasn't unusual to lose touch for even three or five years.

After a hot shower, the phone in the study rang eerily.

The house had a secure landline installed, generally only used for relaying confidential work.

Jungkook looked at the time—it was 3 AM.

Not wanting to wake Lisa, he hurried into the room and closed the door, then quickly answered the call.

"Captain Qin?"

On the phone, heavy breathing could be heard.

Jungkook paused for two seconds as his heart was seized with tension all at once: "Mingyu?"

"Jungkook, Jungkook!" Mingyu cried out his name with a sob.

"What happened?"

The normally composed Jungkook was anxious now too.

"Jungkook, you know Old Jaehyun would never defect. We were roommates. You know what kind of man he is. Others may not, but we do... He would never turn traitor, never!"

"Don't panic. Take a deep breath and explain clearly what happened."

Mingyu breathed slowly to calm himself down. "I just got word from the team announcing Jaehyun defected. Shoot to kill if you see him, no questions asked!"

Jungkook asked, "Did he become a prisoner?"

Mingyu slowly explained everything.

The anti-drug mission six months ago had failed. To cover Mingyu's escape, Jaehyun took multiple gunshots but couldn't get out himself. Later, team members searched the border rainforest many times but never found his body.

Because of the mission's confidential nature, his death was not announced publicly.

It wasn't until recently that a team member on border patrol spotted Jaehyun. He was mingling with the drug dealers and even shot at a team member when discovered.

Later, a special ops member reported back that Jaehyun had been taken by the drug dealers after being shot. They healed his wounds and he joined forces with the drug lord, even getting engaged to marry the drug lord's daughter.