Plan for what is difficult while it is easy, do what is great while it is small.
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The Art of War
Sun Tzu

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After three hours of interviewing - answering behavioral and situational questions, shooting targets, doing an endurance test, and then waiting as a background check was run - Taehyung received an offer to join the personal security team of Korean National Oil Corp.

"So, do you accept?" Yoongi asked him, crossing one leg over the other as he leaned back in his chair.

Taehyung honestly wasn't sure what the hell he was going to do. After hours of going over his qualifications and putting his skills to the test, he knew he could do the job. That fact alone gave him a lot of pride. But to actually accept the role and put himself in the line of danger . . .

Was that stupid?

Yeah. But even still, he wanted to accept. To finally have power and authority to make his own judgment calls, rather than obey what his superiors instructed him to do . . .

Taehyung had never known a freedom like that before.

"You've interviewed me," Taehyung started, assuming a similar position as the Chief of Security, "but now I get to interview you. Before I accept, there's some fundamental information I need to know."

Yoongi regarded him for a moment, face devoid of emotion as he considered Taehyung's proposition. There was a harshness behind the older male's features that warned of promised severity if he was crossed in any way. It was a look most likely earned from years working in a field where just one slip up could mean certain death for another. 

"Fine," the Chief gave in after a moment. "What questions do you have?"

"First, the people who attacked your CEO's family. Who are they and what do they want?" Taehyung asked tactfully, thinking that was an important place to start.

A long, low sigh sounded from Yoongi, a sign of defeat not yet previously displayed. "We don't know. Prior to the strike, no one was aware of any active threats. We always had our eyes and ears open, but there had been no indication of anything coming. We were all caught off guard."

Taehyung suspected as much. All the news reports he watched were muddled with confusion and had contradicting ideas as to what actually happened. Some media outlets suspected a competing firm, hoping to scare the CEO into disbanding his massive corporation. Others guessed it was just a fluke accident, a result of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

In short, the whole thing was a mess.

A soft hum was Taehyung's only acknowledgment of that answer before he continued on. "Who was involved in the attack from the family's side? Did it take place here in Seoul?"

"Just the wife and son. The two of them were living far outside the city with their personal security detail. The three of them hadn't been to Seoul for years," the older male informed him, looking stressed and tired as he recalled the events. "We had them placed in what we thought was a secure home, far away from the public eye."

Taehyung hummed once more to himself, letting those details sink in. "So what's the plan now? Are the CEO and his son going to remain in Seoul? Is there going to be more than one security detail for the family?"

"We already have a security team in place for our company's leader, and after some debate, he's moved into a separate residence. You'd just be watching over his son, who we're keeping in the current family home until a more secure apartment is obtained. And like I said earlier, our new security protocols mean that you'll be going everywhere that young man goes. I'd expect you to have your eyes on him at all times." 

It was easy enough to read between the lines. Taehyung was expected to become a shadow.

Yoongi shuffled through some papers on his desk, finding a folder and setting it to the side. "If you accept the role, I'd expect you to familiarize yourself with the documents in here. There's a lot of important information on the family's home in Seoul, resources you'd have access to while in the city, and so on. And when it comes time to change residences, I will alert you to that fact and provide you with new instructions. But you will tell no one where you are. Any friends or family that you have . . . you cannot contact them. Is that clear?"

Taehyung dipped his chin once in acknowledgment. He knew what he'd be signing up for if he accepted this role. But even still, hearing the number of restrictions that'd be placed on him was daunting. Though he knew without a moment's hesitation, the poor son of the CEO would have it much worse. To have no knowledge, to be followed around and never given a moment alone . . .

No. Taehyung didn't want to feel pity at a time like this. If he was going to survive in this secretive and dangerous environment, it was imperative for him to steel his emotions and focus on the facts in front of him.

So he pushed aside those conflicting feelings of compassion and sympathy to ask one final question. It was a make or break question, really.

"Alright then. Depending on how you answer this, I'll accept the offer," Taehyung intoned, uncrossing his legs and leaning closer to the desk. "Tell me about the kid. What's his name? What is he like? If I'm going to be his personal guard, I need to know what kind of personality to expect."

Silence was his answer as Yoongi clasped his hands in front of him, elbows digging into the wood of his desk. His eyes were blank and lips drawn tight, a true poker face.

But the Chief of Security wasn't withholding information until Taehyung accepted . . . No. Judging by the tiny flaring of the elder's nostrils, he just didn't have any information.

Taehyung laughed incredulously, knowing he was correct in his assessment. "You don't know, do you? Do you even know what he looks like?"

Yoongi ground his teeth together, remaining quiet as he shook his head.

Taehyung had to bite his lip in order to refrain from laughing harder. No wonder why there was an attack on the family in the first place - no one in this company knew anything about who they were supposed to be protecting. Besides relying on select trusted people, there was no way for them to appropriately monitor their charges.

"How is it that the Chief of Security, the person who I assume works directly with this company's CEO, has no knowledge whatsoever of the people you're paid to keep safe?"

Taehyung knew he was crossing into unknown territory asking such a question. Challenging the very man who might become his boss could cost him the job offer. But if he was going to work with these people, he wanted an ounce of confidence that they actually knew how to do their jobs.

"Our protocol has always been to keep the identities of the CEO's family private. To ensure their safety, barely anyone knew about their existence. Only the people specifically assigned to protect them were allowed to know such classified details. Because knowledge is both a powerful and dangerous weapon, Taehyung. In the right hands, one can do incredible things. But in the wrong hands, that's where we encounter problems."

The man had a point. Taehyung could at least admit to that. He didn't exactly have the strongest understanding of the oil industry, but from what he heard over the years, it was ruthless and cunning. Oil was a finite good - only so much of it existed. So competing companies often were at one another's throats, trying to exploit weaknesses in order to gain new territory.

And the weakness of this particular company came down to family.

Taehyung tried not to think of the explicit and bloody reports that detailed the murder of the CEO's wife. There was no room for him to dwell over what happened - all he could focus on was the future and his involvement in it.

"Do you have any other questions?" Yoongi asked Taehyung, interrupting his thoughts and staring at him with that same piercing gaze.

"I'll do it," Taehyung answered confidently, hoping he wasn't making the biggest mistake of his life. "I accept the role."

Yoongi instantly started typing away at his computer, fingers flying across the keyboard. "Great. I'll get you clearance to everything now. I'll also send you off with a new phone and laptop, which are to be used for work purposes only. Can you move into the townhouse tonight?"

Taehyung fought the urge to chuckle. He had no home or belongings. No possessions but the clothes on his back and the guns in his pockets. If this meeting went poorly, he might have had to spend the night on the street.

"As long as someone can drive me there, I can go now," he said, greatly looking forward to taking a shower and sleeping on a comfortable bed.

A soft hum sounded from the older male, who continued working on his computer. "I'll make sure to get a car sent over for you as well."

The two also discussed other necessary details, such as salary and setting up company credit and debit cards. Once that was all worked out, the Chief called a driver to take Taehyung to his new home. Before he was dismissed, however, Yoongi said he had a few final particulars to discuss.

"The room for the old security detail hasn't been cleared out yet," the elder started, running a hand through his fine hair. "It's my understanding that he had some personal belongings at the house, even though the room hasn't been used in years. I'll get someone to clear that out tonight. In the meantime, we can put you in another room. The CEO's son is scheduled to arrive tomorrow, so you'll have the evening to yourself."

"Alright. Sounds fine by me."

"And the last thing," Yoongi announced, getting up to rummage through a bookshelf. He produced a USB drive and tossed it over to Taehyung. "When you get to the house, plug this into your laptop. It's a file that includes instructions on how to identify the CEO's son."

That took Taehyung aback. "I thought no one knew how to identify the kid?"

Yoongi chuckled lowly. "We don't. But before the old security detail was killed, he implemented a new identity confirmation system. It was a series of questions only he and the kid would know the answers to. I recently received this file as a backup, in the event of something going wrong. I don't think any of us expected to ever need to use it, especially so soon."

Taehyung picked up on a sentimental note in the Chief's voice. "Was . . . Was that security detail a good guy? Must have been to try and defend that family."

Yoongi bowed his head, silent again for a moment. "I didn't know him well. We caught up a few times over the last several months as I transitioned into the role. But from what I could tell, he was great."

A heaviness filled Taehyung, his chest tightening as he thought about how brave a person must be to give up their life for another.

Yoongi received a call then, letting him know that the driver was ready for Taehyung. The Chief quickly loaded up a backpack with the tools they previously discussed, as well as several rounds of ammo for Taehyung's handguns. After a quick discussion on getting company-issued weaponry, Yoongi led them back to the elevator bank, leaving Taehyung with clear instructions to touch base in the morning.

Taehyung shook the elder's hand, promising to do his best, as the elevator doors opened. Unlike the first time he was in this elevator, he now had a sense of purpose and direction. 

He stepped inside the elevator, counting down the moments until he could let his facade drop. Exhaustion overcame him, along with a myriad of other emotions he worked on repressing for so long. Soon - when he was in the privacy of his new home - he'd allow himself to drop his act of indifference.

But his journey out of this building was delayed as Yoongi slipped his hand in between the closing doors.

"Yeah?" Taehyung questioned, unsure whether or not his mind could handle any more information at this point.

"It's not just you now," Yoongi stated, eyes searing into Taehyung's. "You have someone's life in your hands. Don't screw this up."

Taehyung nodded solemnly. He understood very well whose life he was now responsible for. He also knew many would be counting on him to fail, to slip up. If that were to happen, his life would be forfeit, too.

Yoongi removed his hand, stepping back as the doors began to close once more. But before they did, he imparted one last piece of advice.

"Never forget whose shoes you're trying to fill. Kim Namjoon will remain a legacy for everything he did, for who he died protecting."

The doors closed and Taehyung began his descent down, his mind buzzing.

No, he'd never forget what happened to the person before him. He could only hope he didn't end up the same way.

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》 V A L E N W R I T I N G 《

Don't kill me about Joonie!

Hope you guys are intrigued and ready to get into the story!