The sound of the gunshot echoed across the courtyard like a crack in reality itself.
For a moment—everything stopped.
The intruders froze. The masked leader didn't move. Even the wind seemed to pause as if the world itself was holding its breath.
Han Seo-yeon's heart skipped violently.
"…Who—?" she whispered.
Then—
A body staggered.
Kang Ji-hoon's eyes widened.
"…No."
The word left his lips before he could stop it.
Seo-yeon followed his gaze—and her breath caught in her throat.
The mysterious man—the one who had been revealing pieces of the truth—stood frozen for a split second, his body rigid. Then slowly… he looked down.
Dark red began to spread across his side.
"…Tch," he exhaled under his breath, almost annoyed.
And then—
He collapsed to one knee.
Seo-yeon gasped. "He's been shot!"
Ji-hoon moved instantly, stepping forward with sharp intent, his eyes scanning the perimeter. "Who fired that?" he demanded, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade.
From the far edge of the courtyard, a new figure stepped out of the shadows.
Calm.
Unhurried.
Holding a gun.
"Well," the newcomer said casually, "that saves us some time."
Seo-yeon's chest tightened. "…Another one…?"
The masked leader tilted their head slightly, as if amused. "You're late," they said.
The newcomer shrugged. "Traffic."
Ji-hoon's eyes narrowed dangerously. "You just shot your own man."
The newcomer smiled faintly. "He was becoming a liability."
The wounded man on the ground let out a low chuckle despite the blood soaking through his clothes. "…Still as ruthless as ever," he muttered.
Seo-yeon's heart pounded. "Why would you—?"
"Because," the newcomer interrupted smoothly, "he talks too much."
The courtyard fell silent again, but this time it was heavier—thicker with tension.
Ji-hoon stepped slightly in front of Seo-yeon again, his posture protective, his eyes locked onto the newcomer. "…You're not here for him," he said.
"No," the man replied calmly. "I'm here for her."
His gaze landed directly on Seo-yeon.
Her pulse spiked.
"…Of course you are," Ji-hoon muttered under his breath.
Seo-yeon's grip tightened around the document, her mind racing. Everything was escalating too fast. Too many players. Too many secrets.
"…Stop," she said suddenly.
The word cut through the tension.
Everyone paused.
Seo-yeon took a shaky breath, forcing herself to stay upright despite the lingering effects of the drug. "No more games," she said, her voice trembling but determined. "If you want me… then stop hurting people."
The newcomer raised an eyebrow slightly. "You're negotiating?"
"I'm deciding," she replied, echoing her earlier words, but this time stronger.
Ji-hoon's gaze snapped to her. "…Seo-yeon—"
"I'm not running anymore," she said, cutting him off.
The masked leader let out a quiet laugh. "Interesting," they murmured. "She learns fast."
The wounded man on the ground looked up at her, a faint smile forming despite the pain. "…You really are different," he said.
Seo-yeon's chest tightened.
"…Stay alive," she said to him quietly.
He chuckled weakly. "I'll try."
Ji-hoon's patience snapped. "Enough," he said sharply. "No one is taking her anywhere."
The newcomer sighed. "You're making this harder than it needs to be."
"And you're not walking out of here," Ji-hoon replied coldly.
The air shifted again.
Danger rising.
The newcomer lifted the gun slightly—not aiming, just… reminding.
Seo-yeon's breath caught.
"Don't," Ji-hoon said immediately, his voice low and threatening.
The newcomer smiled faintly. "Relax," he said. "If I wanted to shoot her… I already would have."
That didn't help.
At all.
Seo-yeon swallowed hard. "…Then what do you want?"
The man tilted his head slightly. "Simple," he said. "Come with me."
Ji-hoon stepped forward instantly. "No."
The answer was immediate. Absolute.
The newcomer sighed again. "You're really attached," he said, glancing between them.
Ji-hoon didn't respond.
He didn't need to.
Seo-yeon felt it—that silent tension between them, unspoken but undeniable.
The newcomer's expression shifted slightly, becoming more serious. "This isn't optional," he said. "You come with me… or things get worse."
Ji-hoon's eyes darkened. "…Try it."
The courtyard tensed again.
Everyone waiting.
Watching.
Seo-yeon's heart pounded.
She looked at Ji-hoon.
Then at the wounded man.
Then at the enemies surrounding them.
And finally—
Back at the document in her hand.
Prototype.
Active.
This wasn't going to stop.
Not unless she did something.
"…Ji-hoon," she said softly.
He didn't look at her.
"…No," he said.
She froze.
"You're not going," he continued, his voice firm. "I'm ending this here."
Her chest tightened. "…You can't."
He finally looked at her.
And for a moment—
Everything else disappeared.
"I can," he said quietly. "And I will."
Her eyes softened slightly.
"…You don't even know what I am," she whispered.
His expression didn't change.
"…I don't care," he replied.
That hit.
Harder than anything else.
But it didn't change the reality.
Seo-yeon took a slow breath.
Then—
She stepped forward.
"Seo-yeon," Ji-hoon warned.
But she didn't stop.
"I'll go," she said.
Silence.
Instant.
Ji-hoon's eyes widened slightly. "…What?"
"I'll go with you," she repeated, looking directly at the newcomer.
"No," Ji-hoon said immediately, his voice sharp.
She didn't look at him.
Because she knew—
If she did—
She might hesitate.
"This ends if I go, right?" she asked the newcomer.
The man smiled faintly. "For now."
That was enough.
Ji-hoon stepped forward, grabbing her arm. "You're not doing this."
She finally looked at him.
And her heart broke a little.
"…I have to," she said softly.
"No, you don't," he replied, his grip tightening slightly. "We'll find another way."
"There is no other way," she said.
"That's not your decision," he snapped.
"It is," she said firmly.
They stared at each other.
Tension.
Emotion.
Unspoken words.
"…You promised," she whispered.
His expression faltered.
"I know," he said.
"And I'm trusting you," she continued. "So trust me too."
That…
He wasn't ready for that.
Ji-hoon's grip loosened slightly.
Just enough.
And that was all she needed.
She pulled away.
Stepping forward.
Toward them.
"Seo-yeon—!" he called.
But she didn't stop.
The newcomer watched with interest. "Good choice," he said.
Ji-hoon's fists clenched.
His entire body tensed.
Every instinct screaming at him to stop her.
To fight.
To take her and run.
But he didn't move.
Because he saw it.
The look in her eyes.
She had already decided.
The masked leader chuckled softly. "How touching," they said.
Seo-yeon reached the newcomer.
Stopped.
"…No one else gets hurt," she said.
The man nodded slightly. "We'll see."
That wasn't reassuring.
At all.
Ji-hoon took a step forward—
But multiple weapons were raised instantly.
Stopping him.
"Don't," the newcomer said calmly.
Ji-hoon froze.
His eyes locked onto hers.
"…I'll come get you," he said.
Not a promise.
A certainty.
Seo-yeon nodded slightly.
"…I know."
And then—
The newcomer grabbed her arm.
Pulled her back.
And just like that—
She was gone.