The story getting much better going forward! I hope the manhwa could depict the depth of their characters. ML is not as bad as we can see in the beginning. His job forced him to be void from all attachment but even with that, he often can not hide his true feelings towards FL. FL is once again, truly brilliant character. Her crazy determination is solid.
Another long spoilers, skip it if you don't want to read :
- During the training period FL & ML began spoke to each other more often. From taunting each other, talking back, banters, conversation that felt like interrogation etc. She openly admitted why she needed to fake her personality in front of her "husband", her goals if she find him she want to have a sex with him and hurting him at the same time, her gymnastic life but the most important of all was her true self. They actually a perfect counter-part of each other. FL felt like he has been deceived (be serious you arsehole). ML wanted to investigate FL again. But there's a doctrine ML holds. No need to pry into other's affair and don't let others to pry into his affair. At the beginning of Bird Box operation he as Black Agent were expected to execute orders from above without understanding the full scope. In order to reveal the full picture if one was ever captured. So at this point, he didn't know much about FL except information that NIS gave him. Or why FL was part of the plan.
- ML low key showed his jealousy whenever FL interacting with another men saying something to FL like "Don't look for a husband substitutes here". Or when his comrades tried to approach her, he told them that FL already married. Slowly not only interaction with ML got better, her interation with her comrades also got better. They began to share sympathy and vulnerability. They no longer made a fuss. Or stupid remarks just because she is a woman. Or look down on her. Afterall, she survived tests that physically demanding even for men. She stood her ground firmly. ML still in contact with Wonchang (NIS's hacker). Wonchang will reporting on FL's situation. In that regard, her connection to Chief Kang. Chief Kang scout her to be a female bodyguard during his trip on St. Petersburg, Russia. There was a history of reports about Chief Kang's travels but there is no clear reason why Chief Kang went there and why every time he finished trips to Russia, only Chief Kang returned to South Korea. There was no report about the whereabouts and purpose of the female bodyguard in Russia after they went to Russia with Chief Kang. FL was the only woman in this camp by the way. Uhhmmm about sexual tension between FL & ML during this time, happened only in a brief moments and mostly it was their minds that ran wild. Those fleetings moments were not serious but then the interrogation/torture prisoner training happened. FL had to be interrogated by ML. In this instance ML stubbornly sexually abusing her (with his fingers) so she will give up and return to normal life. It was heart wrenching scene tbh. It was an extreme attempt to make her stop searching on her husband. It was cruel but despite ML kept physically tormeting her, she refuse to give up. Training period still continued after that. FL fainted and ML carried her to infirmary. Then in surpressed anger, ML promised her to find her husband. But FL should whatever his words, she can't say no to his words. That was his condition. The conversation turned sour with them arguing. FL refused his innitiation to find her husband. FL thought ML had issues with his woman and took his anger on her. Elsewhere, Channa finally awake after months in coma. About ML's plan to find FL's husband, he still insisting on it. He asked Wonchang to find dead body with physical traits similar to his, lower body unrecognizable due to an accident. He wanted to make Kim Hyun has died. He also asked Wonchang to investigate FL again. This time a complete investigastion from birth to adulthood, which actually didn't comply with NIS's procedure. He didn't care, he wanted to know. FL's last training program was to catch the instructors. ML was not the only one instructor in the field however ML inserted himself in her business. He gave her a clue that he will put himself as a target for her to catch. Remember that ugly dude who mock her in early chapters? I remember every time that guy made a scene but for our sanity I would not write his name here. Just spineless b@stard. He tried to sexually assault her. She managed to stab his legs with the dagger ML gave her. He gave her permission to defend herself if comrades commit sexual harassment in front of everyone. FL struck his face with a stone too. The disgusting part was his freaking peepee was still standing in the middle of this mess. With ML's lesson in combat, she won over that jerk successfully. But then she fell from cliff, ML tried to save her and fell before her. Both now were trapped. It was the moment when they had to share the warmth. Aaaaaand they made out. For their survival. But it was their first kiss as their true selves. Their lips parted few times only got tangled few times more. They had banters went on during their kissing scenes. ML regretted their kiss, he realized that he made a mistake. He kept getting himself entangled with her.
- Her training period was thrilling to read, don't miss that. Packed with action and survival mode. Although ML try to disregard her determination, he had no choice to guide her at the end. He can't force her to quit, he can't do tricks to make her give up. In other words, ML decided to arm her with surviving skills. He indirectly teach her technique in combat, to shoot, always meddle in her training. ML even saved her life while continuously teach her lessons. FL finally assigned as Special Security Team. FL's training was far from boring. I can't wait to see it in manhwa!
- The training program is told in chapter 37 - 69 in the novel.
To paid FL's kindness that saving her life, Channa began to help her plan. She stole NIS's VIP client money and left an email with Kim Hyun signature to attract NIS attention. Wonchang already knew who was the one behind this but he didn't expect that FL & Channa deliberately pulled something like this.
- After tiring training section, Special Security Forces gathered for a dinner. FL and ML met again. FL got drunk. ML took her to home. In the car there was a conversation about his comrades, the one who was about to hit on FL, Jin Hojae. From the conversation it revealed that Kim Hyun persona was based on Jin Hojae. No wonder FL kept getting sense of familiarity from Jin Hojae. Although it was not Jin Hojae himself but ML.
- Returned to her house, two assailants wait for her inside the house. Was she scared? Nope. Our heroine was in a full exciment LOL. She managed to subdue one but the other one was to hard for her to handle. She was tied to a chair and the assailant made a phone call to a voice belong to woman. She kept getting hit on her face and head but instead of the pain, she felt it was a thrill. The woman on the phone, still speaking to FL wanted to find 5 billion won she & Channa stole from NIS's VIP client. FL wanted to have a word with Kim Hyun. The negotiation began. In the car, after took FL home, ML got a phone call from Wonchang. Wonchang told him that Deputy Director sent agents to interrogate FL at her home. NIS successfully track her work all the way to her house. Channa and FL deliberately left traces on IP address so NIS will track her. Surprisingly Deputy Director and FL made an agreement. FL wanted one phone call from her "husband" and it was an order for ML to follow. But instead made a direct phone call, Wonchang handle it with stored voice data of Kim Hyun. And he informed ML that an agent being prepared to impersonate Kim Hyun. Unfortunately ML can not be involved in all of this. Only through Wonchang that he can get the information. Wonchang suggested ML to meet Deputy Director but he decided to go to her house first, once their newlyweed home.
- Inside the house, FL was in a phone call with Kim Hyun. FL threatens Kim Hyun that if he doesn't come back he will destroy everything Kim Hyun protects. The fake voice asked FL to write down something, an account number. ML rang on the door bell unanswered. After awhile he couldn't wait anymore. He angrily enter the passcode number. FL bewildered, quickly opened the door. Soon ML barged into her house. The phone call was still on by the way but ML snatched the phone and listen to whatever this Kim Hyun said. The real Kim Hyun was arguing with fake Kim Hyun on the phone. Now ML completely derailed her plan. FL gave the Macau's account number to ML. For now, she decided to retreat from the original plan. But she was angry tho'. She even slapped ML for derailing her plan like this. She hated how ML interfere her private life. They argued for a bit and ML made an offer to FL. If FL wanted him to turn a blind eye to whatever she about to do in order to get information on her husband, ML should stay in her house. Living together.
ML met the Deputy Director, Joo Seolheon at her house. Deputy Director actually tailed FL since the training period. She sent one agent to training camp. It was Dong Jiwoo. Dong Jiwoo is a rookie in NIS.
- FL's past life. Her life beyond everything already mentioned in prologue and in previous chapters emerged. Wonchang found a data about her on NIS. The Bird Box operation began 2 and half years ago but NIS had her data ever since she was just 10 years old. Her psychological counselling records to be exact. It means that NIS monitoring her years before the Bird Box began. The reason for that is still unknown until the latest chapter in novel. I think, her psychiatrist since she was just a child involved in this. FL trusted her psychiatrist enough to send out her wedding invitation. Unfortunately no other thing mentioned about her physchiatrist except for sudden disappearance exactly the same time as her husband.
That was all. From chapter 38 - 78 part 1 in the novel.
230 chapters completed main story and side stories are still ongoing. 2 Side stories so far. Unfortunately I can't find raws. Dugged up on Reddit got nothing. Hashtags on Twitter showed something interesting about ML's background. He is the only grandchild of Russian's PM (maybe ex-PM). It mentioned briefly before but only part about grandfather's homeland in Russia. He was born into power and money. Someone said something about the end of main story "only one person can get out from the situation" and it seems like that person talked about FL. No one mentioned ML except for the possibility that FL killed him or something. Once I get definite answer I'll give an update.
But the unknown ending is exciting tbh. I don't mind not knowing about the ending at all. After all, their romance is extraordinary and both are crazy. Happy ending for their romance doesn't make sense although she forgave him at the end. I just want them to stay alive and living normal life.
She is the strongest female lead I've ever read in romance. Not physically but mentally. An ambush on her first mission, her determination during training period and how calm she can be handling people and organization much more bigger & powerful than her. And somehow it doesn't appear unrealistic at all. She has weakness like any other people. Her ups and downs makes her character endearing.
SPOILERS up to chapter 37 in the novel, please kindly skip this if you don't want to be spoiled.
- ML faking everything. They weren't married in the first place. No legal documents to support this. When ML suddenly dissapear, FL came to know that his name, the company he works for, their neighbors even the doctor who treat FL's retinal disfunction also dissapear. In the house they were living together for two years, actually no neighbors live there. All houses except theirs are vacant. ML bought the entire neighborhood and controlling anyone and anything in radius 200m. Days after ML gone, FL's vision slowly returning. Her eye condition is ML's wrongdoing. He did that so FL would never be able to recognise his face although he concealed his face with silicone mask.
- Got no clue about ML dissapearence from police, FL hiring a private investigator which turned out part of a private military company named BLAST. The girl who help her, named Channa is part of the organization. They finally got a report on her neigbors being all fake. Also from Channa's coworker (her brother in law too) in BLAST, his name Pilgyu, reporting about the posibility that ML is NIS agent, Black Agent to be specific, came to the table. Only top officials in NIS has access to Black Agent true identity. With that information Pilgyu try to persuade her to forget ML, stop looking for him and move forward with her own life. Knowing looking for ML is impossible, FL decided to do the most extremes (commiting international crimes) to stir the plot so ML could come to the surface.
- About Black Agent : ML is indeed the Black Agent. Kim Wooshin aka fake husband of FL. Only two people in the organization know his real face, the hacker (Wonchang) and Deputy Director 1. He played his role as FL's fake husband aka Kim Hyun and that supposed to be his last mission. Soon after the mission is done, he handed his resignation letter to the Deputy Director. This role as a husband was made while gathering information about North Korea's internal & external and killing traitors. Black agents are individuals trained by the state as killing machines. This operation is called the Birdbox operation, lasting 2 years and 6 months. 6 Months of dating and 2 years of marriage with FL.
- FL attempted to fake escape/defection to North Korea by a car. She was caught by the military, handed over to the police. During the interogation she was charged with National Security Act and damaging military facilities. Those charges handed by NIS agent itself. After receiving a phone call from Deputy Director of NIS, the agent released her. She only got fined. But she now know that Deputy Director involved in this, directly.
- Channa gave FL an idea to work at BLAST, again as I've mentioned before, BLAST is a private military company offers security, also a subcontractor of NIS. In short, a company of mercenary. With help from Pilgyu, FL got a job as a maid. At the same time, ML got another mission from NIS to infiltrate BLAST as the leader of Special Security Team. He no longer obligated to conceal his face and faking his name. Soon as they start working at Blast, they met. ML recognized FL from the first they met again. FL still had no idea at all. ML asked Wonchang to keep an eye on her. I saw one comment mentioned that ML ignoring her when they met again because he didn't recognize her. That's a false statement. He know but pretend not to know her before. He know about Channa and Pilgyu too. The chemistry between them soon began to change. From normal and peaceful husband and wife to strangers entangled with something unpredictable, dark and twisted. Soon they departed to Thailand. In this mission Channa got hurt very badly, the assasin slashed her neck. In that dire situation ML helped FL to save Channa's life. This was her first time got involved directly in a mission. The fighting scene was epic tbh. Fought the assasin with one hand while another hand try to save Channa. FL put 4 bullets in assasin's groins and 1 bullet in his neck, the same place Channa got hurt. Aaaaaaaand.....at that moment ML start to realize that same as FL don't know a thing about him, he himself don't know FL's true character at all. Her gaze that now strong and vigilant, her bravery, her crazy determination... He had no idea about it at all. ML usually confident that he knows everything about FL to the point using that knowledge to manipulate her. But now everything he used to know about her began to fade away. He feels like he is facing a new person. After she got hurt on their mission in Thailand, ML showed his concern about her safety (not to her, but us readers LOL) and he even forced her to leave Blast. Just few days after ML treated to cut her off from the job, the CEO from Blast visited FL in hospital. He was genuinely wanted to know who saved Channa. Channa is important asset in BLAST after all, recruited in a such young age (16 y.o), she helped the organization as talented hacker. Actually ML didn't care at all about Channa but wanted to save only FL. The CEO, Chief Kang Taegon knew this. In the conversation with FL, FL asked him to kidnap the Deputy Director to lure ML out. Chief Kang refused to help but he gave her another chance to get involved with BLAST. He sent her an inviation to be a member through recruitment training programe. Chief Kang low key reeling her in. His first impression of her still lingers on his mind.
- ML is the training instructor of new recruitment training program. BLAST want to find a new female agent this time. Before going into the training, she went to her highschool. We got to see about FL's highschool days as gymnastic athlete. She was talented but pretty controversial athlete. She met her senior and her ex-coach. She still had two months before the training set off. In the near future if you ever wondering why she can be so agile yeah it was her gymnastic talent. This was mentioned in the prologue too. This was not something she suddenly mastered. On the opening ceremony, FL and ML met again after 2 months. ML can't believe that FL were in as participant. He, once again, forced her to leave. He ridiculed her feelings for her "husband". The hostility between them existed through the training period. He mocked her determination every chance he got. But not only that, ML defended her as her instructor, gave her a dagger so she can defend herself if the men who made a fuss about her being woman try to harm her.
-- I'll continue in the reply -- I'm pulling out notes on this lmao