chapter 21 mission

After ensuring her patient was safely been driven home by his chauffeur and she knew he wasn't that petty to sneak back to work after she leaves, Mina bid him goodnight with a mixture of professional concern and something warmer. As she drove away, her phone buzzed insistently.

"Mina," she answered crisply.

A distorted voice crackled through the speaker. "Boss, we have a critical mission. High-profile target, Ghost Dragon. We need a flash drive from his house. Our intel suggests he'll be attending a charity gala tonight, but exercise extreme caution."

Mina's demeanor shifted instantly, her gentle bedside manner replaced by cool efficiency. She felt the familiar tug of her dual life, the constant balance between healer and operative. "Understood. I'm on it."

The neon lights of the city's underbelly pulsed with a feverish intensity, casting an eerie glow over the rain-slicked streets. Mina, clad in form-fitting tactical gear, her face obscured by a high-tech mask, moved like a shadow through the quiet residential area. Her codename, "Star," was whispered with reverence and fear in the underworld—a legendary assassin who had vanished without a trace after her retirement.

Tonight, she was back in action, not for a kill, but for a crucial piece of information that could bring down a criminal empire. Ghost Dragon, the ruthless CEO known to the public, had a flash drive containing details of his illicit operations and partners. It was her task to retrieve it.

As she approached Ghost Dragon's mansion, memories of her past life flooded back. The thrill of the mission, the constant danger—it was all so familiar, yet now tinged with a new perspective.

Her years as a medical professional had changed her, given her a new appreciation for life. But some threats, she knew, had to be confronted head-on.

Reaching the mansion, Mina scaled the high walls with practiced ease, landing silently in the manicured garden. She navigated the security systems with precision, her movements fluid and deliberate. The house was dark and silent, just as expected.

Entering through a second-story window, Mina moved through the opulent halls, her eyes scanning for any hidden dangers. The house was a maze of luxury, but she had memorized the layout. Her destination: Ghost Dragon's private office.

As she reached the heavy oak door, Mina felt a prickling sense of unease. Ignoring it, she picked the lock and slipped inside. The room was as grand as the rest of the house, filled with expensive furnishings and an air of power. Her eyes locked onto the desk, where a sleek laptop sat waiting.

Mina quickly connected a device to bypass the security protocols and access the hidden compartment where the flash drive was stored. Just as she retrieved it, the lights flickered on, and she spun around, weapon drawn.

"Impressive," a voice drawled from the doorway. "I didn't expect Star herself to grace my home."

Ghost Dragon stood there, calm and composed, despite the situation. The realization hit her like a physical blow. The intel was flawed—he wasn't at the gala. Her mission had just become infinitely more complicated.

"Ghost Dragon," she replied coolly, hiding her shock. "I suppose this isn't a coincidence."

"Far from it," he said, stepping into the room. His eyes, sharp and calculating, never left hers. "I've been expecting a visit from someone like you. Though I must admit, I didn't anticipate the infamous Star."

Mina's mind raced. She needed to complete her mission and get out, but Ghost Dragon was a formidable opponent. She could see it in the way he carried himself, the subtle shift of his muscles ready for action.

"What's on that drive is more than just my secrets," Ghost Dragon continued, his voice smooth yet tinged with a hint of danger. "It's a key to understanding the real power dynamics in this city. You think taking it will change anything?"

"It's a start," Mina replied, inching towards the window. Her heart raced, torn between the mission and the oath she'd taken to preserve life.

He moved faster than she anticipated, closing the distance between them in a heartbeat. Their confrontation was swift and brutal, a clash of skill and strength. Mina fought with the grace of a dancer, each movement precise and lethal. Ghost Dragon countered with raw power and calculated strikes, pushing her to her limits.

The fight took them across the room, a deadly ballet of strikes and counters. Mina used her environment, vaulting over furniture and using decorative pieces as improvised weapons. Ghost Dragon matched her move for move, his reputation as the underworld's most dangerous player proving well-earned.

Just as she thought she had the upper hand, he managed to disarm her, sending her weapon skittering across the floor. In the same motion, she drove a knee into his stomach, using the momentum to grab the flash drive and make a dash for the window.

Ghost Dragon grabbed her arm, pulling her back. "You can't win this, Star," he growled, his eyes flashing with a mix of anger and grudging respect.

"Watch me," she hissed, twisting out of his grip and landing a sharp elbow to his jaw. The impact sent him staggering back, giving her the opening she needed.

With a final, desperate effort, Mina dove through the window, rolling to absorb the impact as she hit the ground outside. She sprinted across the garden, her heart pounding. The mansion's alarms blared, but she didn't slow down until she reached the extraction point where her team was waiting.

As the car sped away, Mina clutched the flash drive tightly, her mind reeling. Ghost Dragon was more dangerous than she had anticipated, and now he knew she was after him. The game had changed, but she had the upper hand for now.

The city lights blurred past as she leaned back, closing her eyes. She thought of her patient, the gentle soul she'd bid goodnight to earlier, unaware of her other life. The weight of her dual existence pressed down on her.

The mission was only beginning, and the stakes had never been higher. One thought echoed through her mind, a mantra of determination and looming conflict.

What now? And at what cost?