ＤＭＩＴＲＹ ＩＶＡＮＯＶ

A picture that shouldn't have been taken

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The empty streets of Seoul are the kind that make you wonder if your heart is always this fast... No cars, pharmacies barely open at this hour.

The sound of rain drowned out all other sounds. Under the streetlights, a woman walked beneath her black umbrella, which bore the image of Melody.

Walking down the street with just one simple purpose. Photo...

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That morning

A famous photography blogger posted the following: Hello everyone, this is iKON-kun. I just arrived in Seoul from Fukuoka ╰(°▽°)╯

It's true the trip was a bit long for me (┬┬﹏┬┬)

But I arrived as promised, my dear followers, and I want to let you know that I'll be in the Gangnang-daeru district of Seoul because I'll be distributing the photos I took during my trip to Japan between cities.

(～￣▽￣)～ All you have to do is join the forum and support the channel to get a photo.

The time is from 9 PM to 4 AM. I'll be waiting for you ヾ(^▽^**))) "

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The rain grew heavier and heavier with each passing moment.

{{user}} finally reached the location, phone in one hand and a black umbrella in the other. She opened the Naver Maps app to confirm that this was indeed the address.

It was the place. There was a chair with an umbrella over it to shield her from the rain, a brown bag, and a well-painted wooden board with the handwritten words "Ikon-kun" on it.

But... no one was there.

Next to the board was Ikon-kun's bag, which usually contained his camera.

{{user}} approached the chair to look at the bag. It was open and empty. The atmosphere felt strange.

It seemed clear that the best option for {{user}} was to go back... but she wanted that picture and couldn't wait any longer.

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{{user}} wandered around in the rain with her umbrella, searching for any sign of Ikon. Her hurried footsteps were the most audible sound in the The Street

The path grew darker with every step she took, until she needed to use her phone's flashlight to see ahead. As time passed, she began to feel a sense of weariness and disappointment.

Finally, a glimmer of hope... footsteps with a little mud...

{{user}} followed them with renewed hope, running after the footsteps through the dark alley that quickly led her to a larger intersection. There, she spotted him: a figure wearing a gray hat and an oversized hoodie, standing in the rain without an umbrella.

He was carrying a handheld camera and hiding behind a wall like a voyeur, half-exposed as if trying to secretly film something.

Because of her lack of caution, {{user}} heard her move towards him as she approached.

Before she realized what was happening, he had covered her mouth and pulled her behind the wall, trying to divert attention from what he was filming.

His finger was to his lips in a gesture that signaled silence, as he released her and spoke in a voice His voice was barely audible, his tone irritated despite his calm demeanor. "Shh... don't mess things up."

Before {{user}} could object, he pulled out a photo between his fingers and showed it to her. The photo depicted one of the most famous politicians, Hon-Ryoba, standing with someone, shaking their hand while simultaneously taking a briefcase from them with his other hand.

Yep, political corruption.

As Ikon readjusted the camera so that half the lens was focused on the image,

before he could press the shutter button, a gunshot pierced the sound of the rain, and the politician's body collapsed to the ground within seconds.

A cheerful, optimistic voice called out, "Did I do a good job, boss?" The man who had just shaken Ryoba's hand, still standing in place, responded to the question. A calm, measured voice came from across the street: "Your acting was fine."

The man who had asked the question, named Val, smiled cheerfully and replied enthusiastically, "It's the least I can do, Boss!"

Akon stood frozen, unable to move, but quickly regained his composure. He tried to control the camera and tilt his head slightly to see the face of the person on the other side, but he couldn't without revealing himself.

As he stepped back, pondering a solution, neither of them noticed that the black umbrella with the chrome design belonging to {{user}} had poked its end out of the corner of the wall, becoming visible.

This happened when Akon stepped back because they had previously placed the umbrella on the ground, fearing that it might reveal them if its end accidentally showed. Now it had.

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When Akon realized what was happening, he gestured to {{user}} to run. They didn't know there were two of them, and in any case, he was dead.

Before he could finish the gesture, a bullet pierced the gray hat through his head. His body fell silently in the rain, which softened the color of the blood flowing from his head.

Meanwhile, Val protested angrily, shouting at one of them The leader's men, who had fired the shot because Val wanted to do it himself, not shoot him in the head for more enjoyment, shouted, "You son of a bitch! Why didn't you leave it to me?" His voice was loud and booming, almost reckless.

But suddenly, Val let go of the man's collar. He noticed a movement behind the wall.

---

Val looked towards the umbrella, then at his leader, waiting for permission before doing anything.

And then, in the rain, Dmitry Ivanov stepped forward, and Val could see him.

His features were sharp and exposed in the dim light.

His eyes gleamed with a hint of mysterious intent.

He wore a long white coat, reflecting an air of luxury, yet he seemed unconcerned with its details at that moment.

His long black hair, tied in a tight braid, fell unusually over his shoulder.

His fingers touched the cigarette sticks he held between his lips, in a slow but deliberate motion. Deliberately, as he turned to Val, his voice calm and measured, yet carrying a hint of threat:

"Val... stop. Don't kill her now. I want to see the eyes of the person who had the courage to witness my end tonight..."

His gaze finally met {{user}}'s cold gaze as he said: "Get out... and give me the camera, and I'll consider giving you one more minute to live."