ATHERIO PARK [RELEASED]

The Secret Mission

すべての苦しみはまもなく終わる。

◆◇◆

Lee Hwan entered the living room. He looked relaxed with a short-sleeved white shirt and long black jeans. The man drank his warm morning cereal.

Chris confirmed his tie while going down the stairs. Lee Hwan turned his head, "You want to go to school? Need me to take you?" Chris nodded while rolling his eyes.

The two men came out of the house. "Lock the door" said Lee Hwan. Chris locked the door. Lee Hwan waved his hand as the taxi passed by, "To the school, sir the driver."

Chris frowned at the loss of seeing his brother stop the taxi. Lee Hwan turned his head, "We're taking a cab."

Chris blinked twice as fast.

On the way,

Chris looked out the car window, "I think Big Brother has a car. How can a great cop like you not have a vehicle."

Lee Hwan turned his head to look at his sister, "From Daegu to Seoul I did not bring my own vehicle. My car's coming tomorrow."

"Ah, whatever."

The taxi stopped in front of the school. Chris came down, "Where are you going?"

Lee Hwan pushed Chris in the forehead, "Don't want to know my business." Chris snorted annoyedly at the sight of the taxi driving away.

During the break, So Yeon took her to the cafeteria. Some of the schoolgirls stared dislikefully at So Yeon.

"Look at that idiot. After successfully getting Atherio Park out of this school, he approached Chris."

"Yes, if I were Chris, I'd stay away from him."

So Yeon heard it. The girl's steps stopped. Chris looked.

"Not knowing yourself."

"Not shameless."

Chris pulls So Yeon's hand, "Don't be heard." The girl brushed Chris off, "I hate myself."

Chris ruffled his own hair, "So to the cafeteria no?"

So Yeon walked first. Chris nodded slowly.

In the cafeteria, they both focused on each other's thoughts. There's food on the table. They just ordered it, but it hasn't been touched at all.

"You okay?" Ask Chris. So Yeon smiled bitterly. Atherio usually asks that.

"How can I be in good shape? Everybody hates me. First because I'm friends with Atherio, second because I'm the cause of Atherio's transfer to school, third because I'm friends with you. They idolize you too." So Yeon's gaze cheered after saying that.

"Am I so bad that they hate me?"

Chris shook his head, "Every day I hear you complain, don't you have something that makes you happy?"

"Ather."

Chris tilted his head, "You can't keep obsessing over Atherio."

So Yeon said to Chris, "Why? Because he loves Atherina? Own brother?"

Chris remained silent. So Yeon smiled, "I know, she loves her brother. I don't understand, but this is wrong. Take it easy, I'll find a solution for myself. Thank you for helping me all this time." The girl walked away.

Chris rolled his eyeballs, "That girl really is.."

◆◇◆

At the special headquarters, everyone seemed to be busy with their respective work.

Victor was watching his men who were focused on training. Gun Seok, Min Hyuk, and Carlos also seem to be doing their job well. Joon Ki explains the material to his subordinates on the screen. Esteban trained his subordinates to get to know complete weaponry.

Upstairs, Ji Hoo was watching them. He nodded to see everything was going well.

Ji Hoo was impassive, I don't know how many decades I've been following Mr. Park. He has always told me how strong this group has been over the years. However, I feel that this group will make great progress in the leadership of the current generation, Mr. Atherio and Ms. Atherina.

Ji Hoo's smile expands, having two leaders is pretty good, isn't it? May Mr. Park be quiet there.

Someone patted Ji Hoo's shoulder making the man dumbstruck. He looked at the woman wearing the white coat. "What are you doing here, Ha Yeon?"

The woman confirmed her glasses, "What's the matter? Because I'm Mr Park's personal doctor? So, I can't come here?"

"There shouldn't be any women in the room of the group members" said Ji Hoo, who sounded sarcastic. Ha Yeon scratched her ear as if she was rubbing Ji Hoo's words.

"Then, Miss Atherina and Miss Aleena?" Ask Ha Yeon. "That's different, they're special women, so they can be among men."

Ha Yeon nodded quickly.

"What are you here for?" Ji Hoo asked as she looked at Ha Yeon.

"It doesn't really matter, I've been told by Mr. Atherio to look at your situation."

"Aah?" Ji Hoo astonished.

"Mr Atherio is worried about you. Like Mr. Park, Mr. Atherio thinks your position is very important here."

Ji Hoo felt that was excessive. During his time with Park, he always acted recklessly and often carried out arbitrary tasks. Being the leader of great people like Victor and Gun Seok was something that made him feel heavy. He often thought, why did Park choose him to be the leader? Victor and Gun Seok deserved the position.

"So, how are you?" Ha Yeon asked who managed to make Ji Hoo gasp in shock, "I'm fine. Even I feel better."

"Good, I'll pass it on to Mr. Atherio. Oh yeah, how's Miss Atherina doing in Japan?"

Ji Hoo seemed to be thinking, "I'm sure, he's in trouble."

"Why are you talking like that?"

"The person he was dealing with was not an ordinary person."

Ha Yeon looked at Ji Hoo's face that looked so serious. Ha Yeon was surprised to hear the gunshots. He turned his head towards Esteban's team who were practicing shooting mannequins.

"Do you think Miss Atherina will be okay even if she's in trouble?" Ask Ha Yeon.

"So far, Miss Atherina has been able to handle the situation well."

"I hear, Miss Aleena always used her feelings when she was the leader of the lightning group. Isn't that good for Miss Atherina?"

Ji Hoo turned to Ha Yeon, "No, using feelings here the meaning is to do as he pleases."

Ha Yeon turned her head towards Ji Hoo so they stared at each other.

"Hopefully.."

◆◇◆

Atherina going to Japan is for one thing, one goal, and this is her last mission from Park. He came to meet with Aleena through the help of Han Jin and Han Gun. The secret mission nobody knew about, including Atherio and Ji Hoo. Yang Ji Hoo knew, Atherina would only meet Aleena. Behind the mission, there is another mission. How did Han Jin and Han Gun respond to Atherina's request?

The girl said if she wanted to work for Aleena. He was certain, Aleena would accept him as a member of the lightning group. Atherina also said she would improve the relationship between the lightning group and Park's group. The lightning group under Han Jin in Korea needed cooperation with a strong group like Park's group. That was why Han Jin and Han Gun accepted the offer.

Sounds like we're using each other for each other's sake, right? Yeah, that's the gangster world.

The first day in Japan, Atherina was not reunited with Aleena. Han Jin reasoned that it was too suspicious if Han Jin had just returned from Korea and brought in a new member all of a sudden.

"Atherina, it'll be hard when you get into the lightning group. I'll help you as much as I can. If only you hadn't offered good cooperation, I wouldn't have done this." Atherina looked at Han Jin who was staring blankly. Both of his gray-white manicures were slowly creeping.

"Why do you want to be a member of the lightning group? You're safe in Park's group."

Atherina closed her eyes, "I'll speak honestly to you. I was just wondering if she still had any sense of motherhood towards Atherio or not."

"Why did you go so far?"

Atherina shook her head, "I was born alone. When Mr. Park took me to that house, I had a decent life. All I have right now is Atherio. He needs to meet his mother and Mr. Park chooses me for this mission. This is my last mission. Once this is done, I return to Park's group and will work with the Korean lightning group under your command."

Han Jin grumbled softly. Atherina was not happy with that. He glared at Han Jin in annoyance.

"You don't deserve this kind of treatment from him. You're better suited to living in a warm home and being given genuine affection."

Atherina. He had expected Han Jin to underestimate him. It turned out that Han Jin regretted Atherina's life.

"It seems you're angry with my attitude. I'm sorry," said Han Jin. Atherina was startled and immediately shook her head, "Ah, no. no.."

Han Jin interrupted Atherina saying, "I feel like our lives are the same. We're not lucky."

Atherina.

"Let's go" Han Jin said as he turned around. Atherina frowned confusedly, "Where to go?"

"Headquarters of the lightning group."

Both of the girls eyes were round.

◆◇◆

In the car, in the car,

Han Jin leaned his head quietly. Atherina who was sitting next to him looked relaxed even though in her heart she felt anxious.

What is Atherio doing now? Didn't he make trouble? Has he eaten? Did he study well? Does he sleep well? Suddenly there were a lot of questions in his head.

Atherina's body was slightly jolted when the car carrying them stopped. Han Jin sat up straight, "We've arrived."

The girl looked astonished, how did she know that we had arrived?

The car door is opened by a bodyguard out there. Atherina and Han Jin got out of the car. The large building with the lightning emblem stood firmly. Atherina was amazed by what she saw.

"This is the base?" Ask Atherina hesitated. Han Jin shook his head, "This is his company. The base is underground."

Atherina nodded in understanding.

The two of them entered the elevator followed by two bodyguards. The ground floor was their goal. Atherina is preparing a word series if there will be many questions.

Elevator door opens. There was Han Gun and a bodyguard who greeted them. "Welcome, Brother Han Jin, Atherina."

Atherina's gaze moved on the beautiful woman sitting on the chair with wine in her hands. The woman also looked at him.

Aleena Park, Inner Atherina.

There were a lot of men in suits in that room. It was all men, except for Aleena and herself. Atherina was no stranger to such a sight. Members of Park's group are also all men, except her. The gangster world is considered forbidden for women.

Han Jin bent his left knee in front of Aleena. Atherina felt Han Jin's attitude was excessive. Aleena smiled as she gently rubbed Han Jin's hair.

"Accept," said Han Jin.

"Okarenasai, how's it going there?" Ask Aleena. Han Jin replied, "Everything is fine."

"Good, there's something I want to talk about later. Emm.. Who's this girl you brought?" Aleena's gaze was fixed on Atherina who immediately lowered her head avoiding eye contact with the woman in front of her.

Han Jin stood up and touched the shoulder of Atherina who looked confused and turned to her. It turned out that Han Jin had Atherina bend like what she had done earlier. Atherina complies and bends her right leg.

"My name is Atherina."

Aleena was slightly surprised to hear the reply of the girl in front of her. Almost the same name, inner Aleena.

"Your army?" Ask Aleena. Atherina did not answer. A while later he shook his head softly, "I have no clan."

Silent.

Feeling increasingly awkward, Han Jin let out his voice, "He wants to become a member of the lightning group."

Aleena looked up at Han Jin.

"All right, we need to talk."

◆◇◆

Han Gun escorts Atherina to the apartment Han Jin had prepared for her. After that, they talked while walking down the streets of Tokyo.

"Why did you choose to walk? We can get in my car." Han Gun folded his hands in front of his chest in annoyance. Atherina told Han Gun, "Do you have a driving license?"

Han Gun seemed to think then shook his head, "What's the letter for if I can drive well?"

"Basic stubbornness" Atherina grumbled softly. "Have you prepared yourself to talk to lightning's mother?" Ask Han Gun.

"Why indeed?"

Han Gun patted Atherina on the shoulder, "You need to think smart for her to believe you. He's so good at talking, then you have to be even smarter to get him interested in you."

Atherina patted him on the shoulder like throwing Han Gun's hand from him. "Pullied?" Atherina muttered softly.

"Ah, I don't mean interested like that, but, like she likes you. ah, how do I explain it, yeah." Han Gun spoke all wrong.

Atherina shook her head, "No need to explain, I understand."

Han Gun gave his thumbs up.

They sit in the city park chairs. Han Gun wiped the sweat dripping from his forehead.

"So soon we're going to school, new school." The words of Han Gun successfully made Atherina surprised. He looked at Han Gun, "I haven't prepared anything related to school. I forgot, how is this?"

"I thought, no matter how great you are, you must have been careless. Take it easy, my brother has arranged everything. You just have to do as we plan if you want everything to go smoothly." Han Gun folded his legs like a boss. Atherina slacking.

"You speak Japanese well, where do you learn?" Ask Han Gun.

"You don't need to know" said Atherina Ketus.

"Make sure you don't act rashly. If there's something, you can reach me through the communication device in your ear." Han Gun said with a gaze fixed on the black object in Atherina's ear.

"I can handle it myself, you don't have to think about it."

"Alright, but who knows you've changed your mind."

◆◇◆

August 21st, 2019

Ucu Irna Marhamah's