Chapter 213 - Rescue Arc (10): Bait

"Y-you?" Eli asked in confusion. "How did you get in here?" 

"Long story," Dasom replied. "I'll explain later. We'll have to get you out of here." 

He stepped back to observe the cell. Eli noted that he was dressed up as a guard. 

"Did you arrive with that man from earlier?" she asked. Then it hit her. Mirae had mentioned a spy within Ziko's team. It was that man! 

"There really doesn't seem to be any way to open the cell," Dasom said as he examined the door. It was sealed with a passcode and unfortunately, he was not an expert hacker. Using tools would not help either. He took out a small microphone from his neck. 

"We need a passcode," Dasom spoke into it. "To unlock the door." 

"Our team is coming," Hyun Jung's voice came from the other end. 

He looked up to see Eli in despair. She was nearly in tears. 

"It's all my fault!" she sobbed. "If only I wasn't rash!" 

She broke down completely. The man next to her cell was dying due to her impulsive decisions. If anything happened to him, it would be her fault. 

Dasom was unsure of what to say. She was distraught and blamed herself for this mess. He went over to the other cell where the old man was in. The man, Goo Soo Bin, was on the verge of dying. His face was becoming blue as the poison slowly took its effects. 

"He won't hold out for long," Dasom said. If Eli and Abyss are hellbent on saving this man, then he must be an important person. 

"Ahjusshi, please bear with it for a while!" Dasom pleaded. "Help is on its way!" 

But the old man was too weak. He already looked as if he had been tortured for years. The poison was speeding up his death. 

Soo Bin slowly crawled towards the door. It took him all his energy but somehow, he managed to climb up towards the bar. Barely holding himself up, he wheezed, "I…might not…make...it."

"Ahjusshi don't-" Dasom started but the old man motioned him to come closer. He leant in. Soo Bin moved closer and whispered something in his ears. Dasom listened to every word, his eyes widening in shock. 

"Ahjusshi, this-" 

"Kwon Jiwon must know…" Soo Bin insisted weakly. "He…must…"

The old man began to cough violently. Blood came out of his mouth as he bent over and fell unconscious. 

"Detective Goo!" Eli cried out. She desperately tried to shake the cell but in vain. 

"He's still alive!" Dasom exclaimed. He could see the old man was still breathing. "Eli, I have to get him to KJ. Alive." 

This…this man was hiding such a big secret! Dasom was desperate. Goo Soo Bin must make it out of the cell alive. What he told Dasom, if it was true then KJ will be able to crack the mystery of the mastermind behind the Cartel. 

Suddenly, he heard footsteps approaching their way. Dasom quickly put on his mask and stepped back. He motioned Eli to fall back and stay quiet. She obliged and stepped back, pretending to be unconscious. 

The gate to the underground bunker flew open. A lone figure stepped in. His grey hair was tied in a smooth ponytail and his face had wrinkled a little with age. 

But Dasom immediately recognized who it was. He never met him, but it was obvious. He discretely turned on the mic around his neck. 

Ziko walked towards the cells and looked into them. The girl was unconscious while the old man was weak. He frowned. Soo Bin looked as if he was poisoned. 

He turned towards the guard standing there. 

"Who poisoned him?" Ziko demanded quietly. 

"I don't know sir," Dasom replied. "He was like this when we arrived." 

But Ziko knew it was probably the doctor who did this. Goo Soo Bin would not live long. 

He looked at the other cell. The female detective lay there, unmoving. Even though she was not his usual type, she was not bad looking. He could also extract valuable information from her. 

Ziko typed in the code and unlocked the cell. He stepped inside. 

"Such a pretty face," he commented as he touched her with his feet. Eli squirmed but did not move. Dasom silently came up behind him, edging closer. He raised his gun's hilt, ready to hit. Eli, braced herself to hold his feet… 

Suddenly, Ziko held down Eli's face and hands with his feet and swiftly turned around to hold Dasom by the hands. The latter was shocked and tried to break free but Ziko headbutted him. 

Dasom fell back while Eli tried to set herself free. But the man was too strong. 

Ziko pointed his gun at Eli. "Your voice is too recognizable, Song Dasom," Ziko sneered as Dasom glared at him. "Back off towards the wall or she dies." 

"Dasom don't!" Eli cried but Ziko stepped on her harder.

Dasom put his hands behind his neck and backed away. Ziko slowly let go of Eli and cornered them with his gun. 

"Two bargaining ch.i.p.s," he smirked as Eli and Dasom stood side by side. Goo Soo Bin won't be needed anymore. These two will be the perfect bait for Kwon Jiwon and Abyss. 

"Abyss must be on their way," Ziko guessed. "This will be fun. Even if Goo Soo Bin's secret dies with him, I can easily use you two to lure in Kwon Jiwon." 

Dasom and Eli glared at him. They had underestimated him. The man had not a shred of humanity left. 

He backed away and closed the door. They were locked in. 

Eli ran a hand through her hair. "What do we do now?" she asked. 

"Wait," Dasom said. Suddenly, an idea popped up in his head. All he needed was the right moment. 

…. 

Mirae and the others heard everything from the other ends of their mic. Ziko had tricked them! He lied about being far away whereas he was nearby. Her team had barely walked in through the front entrance when Dasom's transmission came in via her earphone. If it was not for that, they would have been unaware of Ziko's trick.

But it was too late to change their plans now. The guards around the facility were on high alert. She was sure Ziko would keep an eye on the underground bunker. Even if Hyun Jung's team infiltrated it, bringing out the victims will be too risky. 

She did some quick thinking and walked close to Songil as they approached the staircase. 

"Gather all security guards in one place," she whispered. 

"How?" Songil whispered back. "Everyone has been given the briefing already! If we change plans now, they'll be suspicious." 

Just then the trapdoor under the staircase opened. They paused in their steps as they watched the grey haired man stepping out of it.