"Dr. Dai, what’s status report on our... little botanical project?" Her voice low and lazy as she sat on the hospital bed smiling happily at Dr. Dai.
Dr. Dai, a tall man with a calm and charming demeanor, nodded quickly. "The water hemlock cultivation is complete, Ye Chen Ling. I’ve extracted and concentrated the toxins as planned."
Chen Ling’s lips curled into a satisfied smirk. "Excellent. Nature’s own weapon, refined by our hands."
Dr. Dai checked his tablet. "The processing lab is set up in the old pharmacy on the second floor. We can finalize the toxin there."
As they climbed the stairs, Ye Chen Ling’s excitement grew palpable. Dr. Dai watched her warily, both impressed and unnerved by Ye Chen Ling’s dedication to her sinister cause.
Reaching the second floor, they entered the former pharmacy. Dr. Dai placed a briefcase on a dusty counter and opened it, revealing vials of clear liquid.
"Pure cicutoxin!!" she said, holding a vial up to the dim light. "More potent than any synthetic poison, and virtually untraceable."
Ye Chen Ling echoed through the empty walls as she stared at the vials.
Dr. Dai hesitated. "Ye Chen Ling, the lethality of water hemlock... Are you certain about this scale of production?"
Ye Chen Ling silenced him with a glare. "Your concerns are noted, Dai. Now, let’s begin the final phase."
They worked methodically, mixing the toxin with stabilizing agents. The room filled with the faint, musty odor of the plants they had cultivated.
"With this," Chen Ling said, filling a series of small, innocuous-looking bottles, "I’ll be able to achieve all my plans in one go...haha.."
As Ye Chen Ling carefully packed the finished product.
**********************
The bustling terminal of the airport was filled with noise and movement. Passengers hurried about, announcements blared over the intercom, and the rhythmic clatter of luggage wheels on tiled floors created constant background noise. Among the crowd of travelers, a woman moved in a way that distinguished her from other passengers in the airport.
She was striking, with sharp features and eyes that seemed to miss nothing.
Dressed in a sleek black coat that fell to her knees and dark sunglasses that hid her gaze, she exuded an air of calm confidence.
Her straight, jet-black hair cascaded down her shoulders, contrasting sharply with her fair skin. In her hand, she carried a single, plain black suitcase.
Moving through the crowds with practiced ease, she made her way to the exit, where the chill of the evening air greeted her. Pausing for a moment, she glanced around, taking in her surroundings.
Her expression remained inscrutable, but her eyes were sharp, assessing every detail.
She reached into her coat pocket and pulled out a sleek, unmarked smartphone. With a few swift taps, she dialed a number and brought the phone to her ear. Her voice, when she spoke, was smooth and steady, betraying no hint of emotion.
"I’m here," she said simply, her tone leaving no room for doubt.
There was a pause as the person on the other end of the line responded. The woman’s gaze remained fixed on the flow of people around her, watching, waiting.
"I’m here for Ken," she continued, her words precise and to the point. "He better have a good reason for pulling me out of country D."
Another pause, and then she nodded as if the person on the other end could see her. Without another word, she ended the call and slipped the phone back into her pocket.
Dressed in a brown checker vest and pants, he wore black spectacles and combed his hair back.
"Woah! Ken you going on a date?!"
Ken raised a brow and shook his head, would he even call it date?
"Just a discussion over tea.."
Ken grabbed the car keys and turned to the black haired man.
"If anything happens, call me instantly"
The black haired nodded and handed him a gun but Ken refused, he was going to a public place he didn’t want to carry a armed weapon.
"I’ll take someone with me, you have nothing to worry about.."
The man nodded and wished Ken goodluck.
Elena took a sip of her coffee, the rich, dark liquid warming her from the inside. It’s had been 10 minutes since Ken asked her to meet him in this cafe and he was nowhere to be scene.
Ding!
The bell chimed signifying that a customer had entered, Elena dropped the cup gently as she watched Ken walk up to her.
"Ken?"
"Elena?"
Ken frowned this was the first time he was meeting her in person she looked older than he had expected.
Elena also sighed she had expected him to be older but he turned out to be 5-6 years younger than her.
"Have a seat.."
Ken sat across from her, ordering a cake and bubble tea, it was not everyday he got to leave the base.
His expression serious as he began to outline the situation.
"I need your help with a job, Elena," he said, his voice steady but urgent. "It’s complicated but I need you to guard my boss’s wife normally this is something I’ll handle with ease but whosever these guys are working for isn’t ordinary."
Elena raised an eyebrow, her fingers tapping lightly on the table. "You made me leave country D for this shit, I’m a 10th rank hit woman Ken. I kill not protect!" she asked, her tone carefully neutral.
Ken nodded. "You get paid don’t you? You go wherever your employer wants you to don’t you?. Well now I’m hiring you to protect my boss’s wife and take care of those assassins. She’s incredibly important to the boss."
Elena leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. "Ken, with all due respect, protecting someone’s wife seems a bit... below my rank. I’m used to more high-stakes assignments. You’re going to have be more convincing.."
She muttered still unfazed, as hit woman she had the right to decline a job if she did not like it.
Ken sighed. "I know it’s not the kind of job you’re used to, so
I’ll make a compromise. I’ll give you whatever you want and in return you take care of those assassins?"
Elena smiled and took a sip of the coffee, give her whatever she wanted huh?
"Sleep with me then?"
Ken’s eyes darkened was he about to sell his body for someone’s safety.
But looking at his relationship with Feng Shihan, selling his body would be worth it.
"Are you really that sex deprived? You poor thing don’t worry I’ll give you a night you’ll never forget.."
Elena bit her lips, he might be young but he was her favorite type of man.