[Minister Kang's Private Compound – 7:00 AM]
The sun had barely risen, but the compound was already alive with activity. Five black vehicles—identical luxury sedans—were lined up in the center courtyard. Each gleamed under the early morning light, their engines off but ready, as if they were waiting for something—or someone.
Security personnel patrolled the grounds, discreet yet alert. CCTV cameras were placed at every angle, and several technicians were huddled in a control room nearby, checking feeds and adjusting sensors.
Jahm arrived at the compound, walking calmly through the iron gates with Justice's ID papers in hand. He scanned the line of vehicles, his eyes landing on one thing that made him narrow his gaze.
Each car had a large, lifelike doll sitting in the backseat. The dolls were dressed in suits, their heads slightly tilted, their plastic eyes staring blankly forward.
Weird, Jahm thought.
A staff member wearing a headset approached him. "Name?"
"Lance Gonzalez."
"Show me the papers you have."
The man checked the list on his tablet. "but your name is not here on the list, there is no Lance Gonzalez listed here"
"but my friend called an assistant of the minister"
"Wait a moment, I'll just call the minister's assistant"
"Boss, someone came here but their name is not on the list."
"Is there still a spot on the list, and if there is, put him there? Maybe that's the one who called me last night."
"There is still one spot available, boss, I'll just put him there. I'll also send you his ID and papers."
"You're cleared. You'll be assigned to Vehicle #3. Wait near it."
Jahm nodded and walked to the third car. That's when he spotted someone else leaning casually on Vehicle #5, stretching his neck and cracking his knuckles.
"Seo Joon-hyuk," the man introduced himself with a half-smile. "You must be the quiet one."
Jahm gave a slight nod. "I just let the driving do the talking."
Seo grinned. "Let's see if that works today."
Before Jahm could respond, Minister Kang appeared on the balcony above, hands behind his back, flanked by two bodyguards. His voice echoed through the courtyard.
"Gentlemen," the Minister called out, "today is a race and the most important is protection."
The staffer with the headset turned to them. "Listen carefully. Inside each vehicle is a mannequin. That mannequin represents the Minister. Your mission is to protect it at all costs."
"Protect it from what?" asked one of the drivers.
The man smirked. "Ambushes. Gunfire. Accidents. Anything."
Jahm's eyes sharpened. So that's what this is...
"You will each drive through a prepared route. Along the way, there will be attacks. If your mannequin is hit by a single bullet, the car will stop. You fail."
Seo laughed. "What happens if we win?"
"Only one of you will earn the job," the staffer said. "And the Minister himself will be watching from the control center."
The drivers exchanged glances. Jahm climbed into his assigned vehicle, quickly checking mirrors, tire pressure, and gear settings. He glanced back at the mannequin. It was wired with fake blood packs, a sensor on the chest, and a red light on the forehead.
"Unreal…" he whispered. "He's insane."
[Control Center – Moments Later]
Minister Kang sipped tea with a wide grin. A massive wall of screens showed each driver's vehicle from various angles.
His assistant looked nervous. "Sir… these tests are... extreme."
"If they can't protect a doll," Kang said coldly, "how can they protect me?"
[The Showdown – 7:40 AM]
The five drivers were positioned at the starting line, the engines of the vehicles purring softly, waiting for the signal to go.
"Are you ready, bro?" Justice said through the earpiece he gave to Jahm.
"I'm always ready, you take care of it, just let me know about the other things that will happen."
"The drone will take care of my communication with you, bro."
As soon as the signal was given, the cars shot forward, tires squealing as they tore through the course.
At the first obstacle—a sharp curve leading to an intersection—Jahm and Seo Joon-hyuk quickly pulled ahead. While the other drivers hesitated, unsure of the exact course, both Jahm and Seo hit the turn with precision, expertly navigating the sharp bend at high speed.
Jahm felt the familiar rush of adrenaline. This was his element.
In Vehicle #5, Seo grinned as he matched Jahm's pace, his eyes locked on the road, fully aware that the competition was fierce. They darted through the streets, weaving between traffic and dodging obstacles with expert skill.
At the same time, a faint buzz passed through Jahm's earpiece.
"Tsk. I see some planted ambushers at the next corner. Watch out, bro."
Jahm quickly adjusted his concentration. He couldn't be distracted.
But their impressive driving didn't come without consequence. Vehicle #2, attempting to follow them, lost control on the same sharp turn. The driver overcorrected, hitting a lamppost. The mannequin in the backseat jerked violently, and the car came to an abrupt stop.
"Vehicle #2 is eliminated," the staffer announced.
Only four cars remained. The remaining drivers continued to push their limits, each one trying to outmaneuver the other, but it was clear now that the two standout drivers were Jahm and Seo Joon-hyuk.
At the second obstacle—a series of rapid turns and sudden drops—Vehicle #4, following closely behind the two leaders, braked too late. The driver tried to dodge a sudden pothole but instead slammed into the guardrail. The car shuddered, and the mannequin was thrown forward, hitting the dashboard.
"Vehicle #4 is eliminated," the staffer declared.
Now, it was down to the final three: Jahm #3, Seo Joon-hyuk #5, and Vehicle #1.
As they neared the next section of the course, they were ambushed. From the sides of the road, figures in camouflage emerged, aiming their guns directly at the mannequins. Gunfire rang out, and the two remaining vehicles dodged and swerved, narrowly missing the deadly shots.
Jahm and Seo immediately maneuvered, dodging the gunfire.
"There are snipers on the rooftop to your right, dude. Move quickly to the left!"
Jahm immediately swerved, avoiding the hit . But Vehicle #1 was hit—the mannequin inside, directly and the red light on its forehead blinked, signaling the failure.
"Vehicle #1 is eliminated," the staffer said. "Only two remain."
With only Jahm in Vehicle #3 and Seo Joon-hyuk in Vehicle #5 remaining, the two continued on, more determined than ever. The finish line was within sight, but the path ahead was still treacherous.
As they neared the abandoned building at the end of the course, the unexpected happened.
Hidden in the bushes and trees, a new group of ambushers emerged, firing at both vehicles. Shots echoed, but both drivers reacted instantly. Jahm, with quick reflexes, swerved left and right, expertly dodging the incoming gunfire. His eyes darted from the rearview mirror to the windshield, constantly calculating his next move.
Seo Joon-hyuk, on the other hand, seemed to lose his focus for just a moment. As a shot grazed his vehicle, the mannequin in the backseat jerked forward, blood splattering across the doll's chest. The red light on its forehead blinked rapidly, signaling the failure.
"Vehicle #5 is eliminated," the staffer called.
Jahm, however, showed no sign of hesitation. He kept his focus on the road ahead, pushing the car to its limits. As another ambush unfolded ahead, Jahm executed a perfect 180-degree turn, narrowly avoiding a barricade of debris. His precise maneuver had the vehicle sliding into a gap between two walls, just as a few more rounds rang out from the ambushers.
"Number 5 is out, bro. Are you still alive, bro? Answer me, bro."
"You're too worried about me; I'm still alive and I'm close to reaching the route."
He looked through the rearview mirror, his heartbeat quickening. He was close.
[The Final Test – 8:30 AM]
Jahm pulled the vehicle to a stop just outside the abandoned building. His hands were steady on the wheel as he took a moment to catch his breath. It was over. He had made it through.
The assistant wearing the headset walked up to the car, nodding slowly as he observed Jahm's performance.
"Lance Gonzalez," the assistant said, his voice now tinged with respect. "You've passed the test."
Jahm glanced up at the man, the corner of his mouth curling into a subtle smile. "Is that it? No more ambushes?"
The assistant chuckled lightly. "Not today. You've proven yourself. The Minister has seen enough."
Jahm let out a breath, relief flooding him. He had been through worse, but this test had been intense. Yet somehow, he had managed to keep his composure and protect the mannequin. Despite the thrill of the chase, he felt a sense of satisfaction.
"Congratulations," the assistant said. "You've earned the job."
As Jahm climbed out of the car, he glanced up at the Minister, who was watching from the balcony above, his hands clasped behind his back.
Minister Kang didn't speak at first, but when he did, his voice was cold, but appreciative. "You've done well, Gonzalez. You're the kind of driver I need."
Jahm remained silent but nodded in acknowledgment. He had come here to prove his worth, and now it seemed he had done just that.
The assistant handed Jahm a small, black earpiece. "You'll be receiving further instructions. Stay sharp."
Jahm slid the earpiece in and adjusted it, ready for whatever came next. He knew that this job was just beginning, and the real challenges were yet to come.
[Control Center – Moments Later]
Inside the control center, Minister Kang leaned back in his chair, watching the final moments unfold on the screens. His fingers tapped on the armrest of his chair as he observed Jahm's smooth handling of the last few obstacles.
"Vehicle number 3 is accepted," the assistant confirmed, glancing at Kang.
The Minister's eyes narrowed slightly, a smile curling at the edge of his lips. "He's good. I've got a feeling he'll be useful." He took a slow sip of his tea and nodded. "Make sure he's briefed. We begin tomorrow."
The room was silent after the conversation ended, the tension in the air palpable. Jahm, now fully accepted into the mission, felt a quiet satisfaction mixed with the awareness that this was just the beginning. There was more ahead, more challenges to face, and deeper risks to navigate.
After Jahm's trials, a voice whispered in his ear, "Congrats bro you owe me a meat treat later, agent driver. It's also hard to spot the ambushes waiting."
"Okay, I'll treat you to meat, I'll just buy meat later and cook it at your safe house, and I'll relax first. Just wait for your meat tonight."
"Aren't you going to go back to the safe house first, bro?"
"I don't want to do anything for now; I just want to relax and enjoy driving around in the Mustang."
"Alright bro, if that's what you want, I'll go out for a bit in case I find a beautiful woman. You promised me meat tonight, bro, don't forget or you'll be in trouble with me."
"Of course, I won't forget that."
"Alright bro, let's just do it tonight. You relax for now, and I'll take a shower because I smell bad, bro."
in Jahm's mind, he knew he had to stay alert. Every mission is a test, and this is just a small step towards something bigger.
The journey was far from over.