Min Yìzé
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I flick through the files, the sharp edges of the paper slicing through my skin. A few drops of blood escape, but I barely notice. The words on the sheet hold my attention far more than the sting.
"He is a wondrous liar.
A masked killer.
Full of deceit.
Strong enough to bring down a million troops single-handedly.
The joker of mind games.
A young tactical warrior."
Wow.
Damn, this is going to be a tough case.
A puff of smoke drifts toward me, its acrid smell choking my lungs and irritating my throat. God, how do people get addicted to this shit? Who in their right mind willingly inhales poison? We've got perfectly good oxygen—use it.
" Get rid of that." I say, waving away the smoke.
He flicks it aside, his frown deepening, clearly not pleased.
"You've got a case, Min. It's going to be a challenge, so... prepare yourself. Alright?"
The thought of me struggling at anything pulls a laugh from my chest. Struggling? Me?
I am invincible.
Min Yìzé, the 20-year-old who defies every odd imaginable.
A small smile creeps across my face. "Okay," I reply, voice steady.
It's a chilly winter evening, and the warmth from the crackling fire in the chimney offers a small comfort amidst the solitude. Nearly ten years have passed since Mr. Choi found me at the police station—the place where I was always meant to end up. Life has piled papers, cases, and endless tasks in front of me, but I haven't flinched. And now, as always, there's a mountain of untouched files to tackle.
"Listen, Min..."
I know that tone all too well. I've already turned down every marriage proposal, cut carbs like he told me, and sent the DNA samples from the last case to forensics. What could he possibly want now?
"Yeah, go on" I murmur, my eyes tracing the same few words on the page, over and over, burning every curve and line into my memory. This case feels like an enigma, an impossible puzzle. But I've learned that when you can't think outside the box, you build a new one.
"Look, you're amazing at what you do," he says, and I can already hear the 'but' hanging in the air. "The Bureau of Defense has decided to assign you an intern."
I guess it's time to build another box.
Seriously? What, am I not good enough now? My skills are not impressive enough for the wrinkled old sages who run the Bureau—half of whom probably have questionable motives of their own. And of course, the divine yet prickly women who seem just as manipulative.
"Isn't that your job?" I ask, letting a hint of irritation slip into my tone. That unapologetic bratty attitude slips from my mouth like venom, and I don't care.
"I'm quitting."
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SCARLET
YOU ARE READING
THE RED QUEEN'S GAME
Mystery / ThrillerThe Red Queen's Game, seasoned investigator Min Yìzé and his sharp intern, Scarlet, are thrust into a high-stakes game of deception, where every move could be their last. As they uncover a conspiracy that threatens everything they hold dear, trust b...
