City of Seoul, South Korea — 6:50 A.M.
Arcade Headquarters Building — Programming and Support Department
It was still very early, but the keyboards echoed in the background, though the tension in the air was stronger than any sound.
—"Bastards, you have to make up for it" —snapped Carl, casting an annoyed glance at the team—. "Glenn forced me to take multiple overtime shifts because of what happened last week."
—"I'm sorry, Carl" —said Alison, lowering her eyes, visibly uncomfortable.
—"Someone had to do it" —added Wang, with a shrug.
—"Sunbae, please forgive us, okay?" —asked Han So-mi, her tone soft, sincere.
—"Don't blame yourself... it was these bastards who pushed me" —Carl spat, looking at Elvis and company with resentment.
—"What did you expect us to do?" —interjected Elvis, arms crossed—. "You're the one who gets treated better by Supervisor Glenn. Besides, forget it — it's over."
—"It's over... is that a joke? We've got a Mob running wild with ridiculous stats. You know, back then I could've taken the blame... there was no need to point fingers, idiots."
—"Don't be so harsh" —said Alison, stepping a bit closer—. "Come on, let me buy you a coffee."
Carl looked at her sideways. His tone was cold:
—"No thanks, Alison... If you'd said that earlier, I would've accepted. But now, it doesn't matter anymore."
Elvis changed the subject, trying to lighten the atmosphere.
—"Speaking of something else... have you heard about what's happening at 9 A.M. in the conference room?"
—"You mean that Latino writer… the one the rumors talk about? The one who's going to be introduced by the President and Vice President... alongside our dear So-mi?" —asked Wang.
—"Exactly, the same idiot who turned down the President years ago."
—"You're talking about the guy who rejected the offer five years ago" —added Alison.
—"Yeah, that's him" —confirmed Elvis, with a gesture of indignation.
—"I can't believe the President still insists on someone who's no longer necessary" —Wang pointed out.
—"Well... he must have something special" —said Carl, in a mysterious tone—. "Like they say: only the best work here, at Arcade."
—"It'll be a letdown if he doesn't live up to expectations" —commented Alison, crossing her arms.
—"Hey... talking about someone who hasn't even arrived yet, behind their back…" —intervened Han So-mi, her voice low but firm.
Alison turned toward her with an authoritarian expression, looking at her like someone spotting a potential act of disrespect:
—"Be quiet, rookie."
But the timid — and at the same time brave — Han So-mi didn't lower her head. Her tone was respectful, but carried a subtle edge:
—"Unnie, you're in my country. Don't talk to me like I'm the foreigner..."
So-mi's words echoed. Alison looked at her, surprised. She understood immediately. That feeling... that clash between cultures. She lowered her voice a bit, a hint of shame in her eyes:
—"S-sorry, I didn't mean to sound harsh... It's just that when I was the new one, that's how they treated me."
—"Don't talk to me that way again" —asked So-mi, firmly—. "I know I'm new, but I really want to learn and be useful."
—"You're a great help to the department, no doubt about it" —admitted Alison, sincerely.
—"Thank you, Unnie..."
Carl, who had been silently watching the small exchange, spoke with an acidic tone:
—"Sounds like an excuse to me."
—"Shut up, Carl" —replied Alison, rolling her eyes.
That's when Seop Ming-Jae burst in, walking quickly toward them. His voice carried a deep tone, with a sense of urgency:
—"Hey… my friend, Supervisor Kang, informed me of something important through Kim Hayoon from the Morning Shift."
—"What did they say, Sunbae?" —asked Han So-mi.
—"The whole issue with the packages… it was Erling's fault."
—"What!?" —they all exclaimed in unison.
—"So... as a department, Kang agreed that we have to take responsibility in this matter."
Carl clenched his fists, his gaze turning calculating.
—"Then the only way to block that mob is... nerf or eliminate Erling."
—"But how?" —asked So-mi.
—"Freezing Erling's account. Or deleting him. That's the way" —said Alison, with resolve.
—"But they ordered not to touch Erling… only if it was necessary" —Elvis reminded.
—"It's very necessary now" —said Wang, in a dry voice.
Seop nodded, firmly.
—"Then it's settled. We're going to nerf Erling."
***
Murphy Residence — Houston, Texas.
March 18, 2020 – 5:32 P.M.
The afternoon had begun to fade when Nelson climbed the stairs to the second floor.The house was wrapped in an uncomfortable silence, ever since he'd arrived in that state.
As he reached the main hallway, he saw him—no smile, no energy.Brian was sitting at the top of the stairs, in his wheelchair, eyes fixed on the carpet, face shadowed, as if still processing everything.
Nelson approached without saying a word.He knew his friend needed him now more than ever.
—"Hey, man... want to talk?"His tone was calm, concerned.
Brian didn't look up.
—"I don't need to talk. Not with you. I just need Dr. Lin."
Nelson felt the wall going up between them.He understood. But that cold, distant look on Brian's face—it wasn't normal.
—"Look... I'm just trying to help. Let me do that. We're not strangers."
—"Help what exactly?"
—"Help you stop acting like nothing matters. Like you don't need anyone."
Brian went silent for a beat, then gave a crooked, bitter smile.
—"That's who I am. I can always handle it. If you don't like it, shut up and leave me the hell alone."
Nelson clenched his fists.That cold, dismissive attitude—despite everything—boiled something inside him.
—"You're being a damn asshole, Brian."
The tension spiked like a blade.Brian slowly raised his head, his eyes sharp.
—"Go fuck yourself. I don't want your pity."
—"I'm trying to help, damn it! Why do you have to be so fucking stubborn?"
—"I can deal with my shit. I don't need you to listen to it."
Silence. Edge. Pain.
And then, Nelson exploded.
—"You're a fucking stubborn idiot, a son of a bitch for treating the people who care about you like they don't matter."
It was just a second. An emotional trigger.That insult — "son of a bitch" — echoed in Brian's head before anything else Nelson was trying to say.
Brian turned his body with all the strength he could muster, and with a speed Nelson didn't see coming, punched him straight in the stomach. The impact was dry.
Nelson bent forward slightly — more from surprise than pain.
—"Don't you ever say that again! Ever!" —Brian roared, his voice cracking, blinded by rage—. "I don't care what you think. Don't ever say something like that again. Or I wouldn't forgive you in a thousand lifetimes."
Nelson looked at him, filled with rage and confusion. His reaction was almost instinctive, forgetting for a moment that Brian was in a wheelchair — he pushed him.
Not hard.But just enough to send the wheelchair to the edge of the stairs.
Where it lost balance, rolled backward, and went down the stairs.
The crash echoed through the entire house.
A scream of excruciating pain followed.
—"Argh!"
In that moment, Nelson realized what he had just done — unintentionally.
—"Brian!"
Nelson rushed down immediately, trembling, wanting to hold him, to do something...But as soon as he got close, Brian shouted with a fury that chilled the bones:
—"Get away from me, go to hell! I don't want to see you!"
Nelson stepped back, breathless, eyes wide.Bernard came running seconds later, trying to understand the source of the screams.
When he saw Brian with tears in his eyes, the wheelchair on the floor, and Nelson not far away, he understood...Without thinking, he took out his phone and searched through his contacts.
Nelson's mother, María, entered from the dining room…She was carrying a tray with Brian's favorite dish, so he could try to have lunch.But when she saw the scene and Brian on the ground, the tray fell from her hands.She quickly rushed to him, not even thinking about the broken plates…
She just got closer, knelt next to him, and gently caressed his head.
—"My child, what happened? Are you okay?"
Brian's expression calmed, although he was still furious with Nelson.
—"My back hurts, but... please, help me back into the chair."
Bernard and María helped Brian back into the chair, and that's when they noticed Brian's spinal discomfort had worsened, based on the expressions of pain he showed.
And in less than an hour, everything changed.
Bernard called everyone to the living room, where — through a video call — Zack's image appeared, wearing his elegant suit and silver tie.
Brian was visibly outraged when his father appeared on the screen — who didn't even greet him.He simply coldly stated that his housekeeper, María, and his son, Nelson, were fired — and that they should prepare to rot in jail.
Brian was appalled by the severity of his father's judgment and asked Bernard, María, and Nelson to leave the room.
The father was seated in his imposing office, behind a dark wooden desk, with a view through the building's glass windows.The son, in contrast, in a wheelchair, in a room that didn't feel like home.
—"You can't do this. They're not under your contract — they're under mine."
—"You don't have the age to even tell me what not to do... you can't do anything."
—"Old man, you'll pay if you try to send them to jail. If I don't press charges, it's not possible."
—"I'm your father and I decide what's best."
—"Shut up... I just don't want you to press charges..." pl— his voice broke —"Pl-please."
—"Fine. I won't sue them... but they're fired. Don't worry. I'll make sure they never say a word about my identity, or yours."
There were no more words between the two.Just the sentence of judgment.There was no choice.Only the weight of a last name and an irreversible order.
And Nelson… Nelson heard everything from behind a door, only to later look at Brian one last time… and say goodbye.
That's how the bond of brotherhood between them was buried.The connection they ended up losing without meaning to — with time.
End of Flashback — Back to the Present.
Outside Incheon International Airport — Seoul, South Korea — 6:51 A.M.
The black sedan moved smoothly along the highway.The city was slowly waking up, bathed in soft morning gold.
Silence lingered in the car.No one dared break it at first.
Park Ji-soo finally spoke, cautious.
—"When was the last time you were in Korea?"
Nelson didn't look away from the window.
—"I don't know... Eight years ago, maybe?But things were different back then."
Park nodded, fingers tapping his watch.
—"The official announcement is at 9 A.M.If you want, we can make a quick stop—I know a place with the best meat in the city."
Nelson slowly turned his head.
—"Not sure.Too much on my mind... I'll think about it."
—"My grandfather used to say:'If you've got too much on your mind, eat. Then think.'"
—"Wise man."
Park smiled politely.
—"Mr. Nelson... I just have one question."
—"Go ahead."
—"What's your connection with the President?The way he treats you is... No, forget it. Forget I asked."
Nelson smirked slightly, but there was no warmth.
—"I'm not a better writer than the team that built War of Kingdoms.I just happened to create a few characters the President liked."
Park swallowed hard, adjusted his tie, and changed the subject.
—"The writing team is prepped and ready.You've got your own office at the main tower.The President wants you to feel at home."
—"We'll see if that's possible," Nelson said, eyes fixed on the horizon.
The silence that followed wasn't awkward.It was heavy.Like something important had just been forgotten.