It's been a while since I've been in such a lively city, thought Hak. It would be nice to look around a bit, but I need to hurry back.

He grinned.

The princess wants me there, by her side.

His joyful thoughts were broken into smithereens by a high-pitched scream.

"P-Please stop!" cried a girl.

"But darling, you should be thanking us!" laughed a blonde man.

"As Awa officers, we could get any girl we want for free," said a dark-haired one, "but we're willing to pay. Shouldn't you be a bit more grateful, baby?"

"Just name your price," the blonde guy told her with a smile, wrapping his arm around her waist. It was probably an everyday thing in Awa, for no one in the bustling street seemed to care about the girl's plight. Passers-by walked away next to her, turning their heads the other way.

"You're bothering me—please, just let me go!" she pleaded, struggling to get awat. "Forgive me!"

Hak cringed. The girl sounded like she was in church. Why was she begging for forgiveness? As though she were in the wrong. I wish I could help her, but I can't cause any trouble, otherwise Yona—

Forget Yona, Yun would kill me.

And this is none of my business.

Right?

"Come on, kitten," the dark-haired guy said, pulling the girl towards him by her wrist. "I'll give you a golden lin if you please me and he'll give you another one, 'kay?"

Right.

Hak gave the the writhing, squirming girl a last glance before turning away. He wished he could drown out her frightened cries.

"Please forgive me! Please, someone help!"

"Shut up, bitch," the blonde one snapped. "I'm sick of hearing the word no!"

"Anyone!" the girl sobbed, losing all hope.

Hak's fist and Jae-ha's foot hit the blonde man at the same time. He fell with a crash.

"Why did I have to do that?" groaned Hak. "I'm dead."

"He deserved it," said Jae-ha with an air of righteousness. "I'm glad I arrived in time."

The two looked at each other in surprise, confused both by the other's willingness to help and by their strange clothes.

"Who are you?" Hak asked, frowning. Jae-ha smiled.

"I could ask the same. Who knew I'd see the day someone other than me stood up to these officers…"

"To think I'd live to see a man covered in moss," Hak said, mimicking Jae-ha's voice. "Wash the seaweed out of your hair, old man."

"Old?" Jae-ha gasped, hurt. "Is there something wrong with your eyes, you—"

"I don't mean to interrupt," the girl they had saved began timidly, "but the other… the other man ran away, and he might come back at any moment with backup."

"This stupid idea of mine!" Hak muttered, cursing his decision. He did not need officers after him, he really didn't. Jae-ha looked at him in distaste.

"Don't listen to him, miss. We were happy to help you out. Now we will escort you..."

"We?" asked Hak, raising a brow.

"...yes, we shall escort you home. Now run!"

"We?" asked Hak again. They might have argued for a bit longer had the girl not cried, "They're here!"

Indeed, a bunch of officers appeared around the corner, lead by the dark/haired man. Taking the girl's hand, Jae-ha turned and ran, Hak following close behind. They ran through narrow, web-like alleyways, hiding in the shadows and behind passing coaches. Only when the girl fell to her knees in exhaustion did they stop. Hak looked back, panting.

"Did we lose them?"

"I-I think so. T-Thank you for helping me!" stuttered the girl. "I-If there's anything I can do to help you, I—"

"It was our pleasure," said Jae-ha. "To save a flower as beautiful as yourself is a reward in itself, a memory to be reminisced wistfully in later years..."

"Actually, I could use your help," Hak said bluntly, ever a man of prose. "I wanted to ask about Yang Kum-ji. Does he even exist?"

Both Jae-ha and the girl froze. The latter, considering he was her saviour, decided to speak first.

"Y-Yes, he does," she said slowly. "Though I wish he wouldn't."

"Why are you interested?" Jae-ha asked. Hak glanced at him suspiciously. Somehow, there seemed to be something wrong with moss-hair's tone.

"I heard of him, and I'm not sure I can trust the source. Is he that bad?"

"Bad? No, sir. He is the worst. But now if you'll excuse me, I have to go," Jae-ha lifted the girl's hand and kissed it gently. "I'm sorry. I wanted to stay with you a little longer, but I must take my leave. Are you sure you can get home from here?"

The girl nodded. After thanking both of them again, she reached down and picked up a handful of dirt and spread it on her face, neck and hands before turning to leave.

"Good-bye, Miss! And you," Jae-ha said, pointing at Hak, "if you're interested in Kum-ji, then come with me."

Hak went. He nodded toward the girl, and hurried after Jae-ha. He came to a stop when he noticed where the green-haired man had led him to.

"Wait," said Hak, "why are we here during the day?"

"Hmmm? It's a nice, quiet place where we can discuss things in peace," answered Jae-ha, walking up the stairs as though there was nothing strange about the place. Hak followed, wondering if the steps led to a secret room of sorts. All his hopes were crushed once he entered the upper chambers. Indeed, it was nicely decorated and hidden from officers patrolling the streets. But somehow, I don't find a room full of prostitutes "quiet", thought Hak. How do I know I can trust their secrecy?

Jae-ha seemed to read his thoughts.

"Oh, don't worry, they also hate this certain person," he said, kissing the hand of one of the women lovingly. "So just tell me: what do you want to know?"

"Everything you can tell me," Hak replied, avoiding the embrace of a particularly bare-chested woman. "I need to know all I can about this place."

"Why do you need this information?"

"A person very important to me wants to come here," he said. Although he did not notice, his furrowed brows smoothed out when he mentioned her. "Awa must be safe for her to visit it."

"Ah, I see," Jae-ha said with a smile. He knew that expression all too well. "Is she a beautiful woman?"

"No," Hak said, sounding a bit colder than intended. Amused, Jae-ha asked, "A lover, perhaps?"

"No."

"A wife?"

"I want to hear about Kum-ji," Hak snapped instead of replying. Deciding to let it go, Jae-ha looked out the window.

"Kum-ji, of course," he said, his fingers drumming on the table before them. "Whoever this lady may be—if you want her safe, keep her away from this town. Especially if she's pretty or has any unique features. Kum-ji goes for those. And once she's included in his horrific business, chances of her ever coming back are low."

"Horrific business?"

Jae-ha's carefree attitude evaporated. His face turned dark and his lips lifted into a sinister smile.

"Human trafficking."

Hak shivered as Jae-ha continued, "It's kept under wraps, so you might not have heard of it before. No one dares do anything about it because it has to do with Kai's economy, a friend of mine tells me—"

Although what he was saying could be considered interesting, Hak was no longer listening. Picturing Yona's gentle, white face and bright red hair, knew this was no place for her.

"Are you serious?"

"Her speculations are usually on point, so—"

"About the human trafficking."

"I wish I wasn't," Jae-ha replied with a sigh. "But I've been fighting against it for the better half of my life."

"The victims are mostly women and children," said one of the women in a low voice. Another one added, "It's the only reason I'm here. Kum-ji owes the store-keeper, so he doesn't dare to do anything to us.".

"Taking away someone's freedom is the worst thing possibly done by man. Most can't even survive a day in slavery. Truly disgusting," Jae-ha went on. "And that is why I fight against him. Would you like to join me?"

"I decline," Hak refused bluntly. Jae-ha looked at him curiously.

"Because of your lover?"

"She's not—"

"Of course. But if you change your mind, I'm always glad to see you."

"I'll consider it," he lied. "Until then."

"See you around!" called Jae-ha.

Oh, no, you won't. I'm leaving this area today, Hak thought. With Yona, Yun, Ao and maybe even Shin-ah. The white snake can stay and die, for all I care.

He rushed through the port, avoiding as many officers as possible. Hurrying to the camp where he left the others, he called out: "Okay, we're leaving this place today. Yona, I'm sorry, but..."

He froze.

"Yona?"

No answer.

"Yun! Ao! Shin-ah!"

As a last effort, he even yelled: "White snake!"

But no one answered. There was no one who could. Hak realised something, reached for his spear and ran back to Awa without a moment's rest.