In a devastated plain, the surrounding buildings were reduced to nothing but piles of debris, and those still standing were half-demolished. Lord Yin and Saif al-Rahaman stood there. In front of them was a Muslim man wearing the same outfit and sporting the same beard as Saif al-Rahaman, but he was gravely wounded. Bullets had mangled both his legs and torn through his stomach.
Lord Yin was about to pull the trigger when the injured man began to criticize Saif al-Rahaman.
"You are teaming up with a non-Muslim… You will never be forgiven."
Saif al-Rahaman glanced at Lord Yin, signaling him to pull the trigger. Just as Lord Yin was about to do so, one of the masked figures approached and whispered something into his ear.
After that, Lord Yin tossed the gun toward Saif al-Rahaman. He barely managed to catch it.
"I have something important to handle. You finish him," Lord Yin said.
———————————
After some time, Lord Yin arrived at a military tent guarded by Saif al-Rahaman's men. Inside, it was mostly empty. There was only a golden throne with a table placed in front of it.
A walkie-talkie rested on the table. Lord Yin picked it up and sat on the throne.
"Lord, what should we do now?" a voice came through the radio.
"Observe—and only observe," Lord Yin replied. "Tomorrow, I will return to America. Right now, I'm in Syria with that boneheaded man…"
He paused.
"I am also bringing some people—for the contribution to Project Perfect… or to sell them."
The voice on the walkie-talkie remained silent for a moment before replying.
"Understood. Have a pleasant flight."
———————————
Noah was being examined by a doctor in a white, serene room. The doctor studied his reports before speaking.
"It's been only a day, and your recovery is quite shocking. You'll be out of this place sooner than expected."
He handed Noah some medicine and a book.
"Take this medicine after your meals. And here's the book you requested—The Porax. I'll see you at your next treatment."
The doctor was about to leave when another nurse entered.
"Emma Watson is here to see you, Noah."
Noah was astonished that Emma had come to visit. He exhaled slowly and nodded.
"Yes."
Noah was escorted to a meeting room that looked more like a police interrogation room.
Emma was already there, sitting patiently.
When she noticed Noah, a small smile appeared on her face. Noah sat across from her as the guards left, giving them privacy.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence was broken by Noah.
"How… is your work going?" he asked apprehensively.
"It's good," Emma replied in the same tone. "How long are you going to stay here?"
Noah looked down at his hands before answering.
"I don't know… but the doctor said it will only be for a short period."
Emma sighed in relief.
"That's good. I just came for an update—and to talk to you. It's pretty weird seeing you in that blue patient uniform."
Noah chuckled nervously.
Emma leaned closer and whispered,
"I know it's not the right time… but the police are speculating that those masked figures were part of a gang. Inside their cloaks, they wore a black badge on their right shoulder—with three stars."
Noah seemed unusually unsurprised.
"I don't care anymore," he said calmly. "I just want to live a normal, peaceful life."
Emma pulled back and stood up.
"I understand. It was good talking to you. I should go now—I have work to do."
Noah stood up as well.
"Thanks… See you next time."
After their conversation, they left the room and waved goodbye. A guard escorted Noah back to his room. His food had already arrived—mac and cheese with salad. He ate without a second thought.
After finishing, he pulled out the pills from his back pocket. As he was about to swallow them, he noticed one pill was black and white. He frowned. He clearly remembered that the pills he'd been given earlier were red and white.
Suddenly, a doctor burst into the room. He looked jittery.
"Did you swallow the pills I gave you?!"
Noah flinched at the sudden intrusion.
"No," he replied.
The doctor hurriedly took away the red-and-white pills and replaced them with black ones.
"I was worried you had taken the wrong medication. Since you're recovering, you need a different type of pill now."
Noah, unease from the sudden pill change but tired to argue, just shrugged as the doctor left the room.
He swallowed the black pills, turned off the light, and fell asleep.
Suddenly, he woke up with a vicious headache. His body felt heavier than before—weak and feeble—and his stomach ached badly.
He didn't know what time it was, but he could tell he had been asleep for a long time.
He looked around the room—and then froze.
A hand was pressed against the circular glass panel of the door.