A strange, tense atmosphere hung over the small corner of the café. The fiery red sunset seemed to swallow the entire space, and in Yu's eyes—when she looked at Mina—there was something unsettlingly sinister, even though she appeared to be trying to push Mina toward some conclusion.
Of course, nothing ever came for free. Mina narrowed her eyes, meeting Yu's sly look with a cold one of her own. She genuinely wanted to know what Yu was after.
"Special privilege for me?" Mina scoffed, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Sooner or later, Kamakiri's commander ring will be mine. I think we've already laid out each other's true motives, haven't we?"
Yu only laughed. The curve of her lips twisted into something unnatural, like someone else was wearing a face that didn't belong to them.
"Truly the Kamakiri Mina," Yu murmured.
"You're not someone who trusts easily. You hide your desires, your dreams… and your little lover, deep in some corner of your heart. And you never admit that's your weakness…"
Mina's brows knitted. She didn't understand why a sudden wave of anger was boiling inside her. Why did Yu speak like she knew Mina that well? That strange familiarity irritated her—no, infuriated her. It reminded her of someone. Someone she hated.
Yu continued, "You want control of Kamakiri as fast as possible… because after that, whatever you do—even if it's wrong—you'll justify it all. I have to admit, it's both cunning and naïve."
"So what?"
Mina's cold voice sliced through Yu's words. "We all have our own motives. And I don't owe anyone an explanation for mine."
Yu chuckled softly and lifted a hand as if calming her.
"No, no, you misunderstood. I'm not threatening you. And honestly, this topic isn't exactly… private enough for a place like this. I just want you to know that right now, I'm your ally—not only in overthrowing Valko… but in something else you care deeply about. Both you and Kim Nayeon are necessary for that."
Mina narrowed her eyes. Yu was only talking in riddles.
"What do you mean? What does Kim Nayeon have to do with anything?"
Yu rested her chin on her hand, tilting her head.
"That's why I had to stop you from killing her. If she dies, both your plans and mine fall apart. We share a common enemy, don't we? The enemy of my enemy is my friend."
She shaped her fingers into the form of a fox. That was when Mina finally understood what Yu was really implying. She smirked, replying with a sly smile of her own.
"I see. Got it. I won't go after Kim Nayeon. Whether she lives or dies is none of my concern anyway. She just knows too much for her own good. So you'd better keep your pet on a leash."
Yu burst out laughing, leaning back in her chair.
"You worry too much. Relax—when you take full control of Kamakiri, will you really care what your family thinks anymore? Besides, when I talked about that 'privilege' earlier, I also had another proposal…"
She turned her palm upward. At first glance, it looked like she was merely offering a handshake or proposing something vague. But when Mina looked closer, a tiny red Sun-shaped tattoo appeared in the center of Yu's palm.
Then Mina looked into Yu's eyes. The woman now felt completely different from the one earlier—like two separate people. What the hell was she?
And if she truly had a way to help Mina destroy Shana, Mina didn't mind cooperating—no matter who or what Yu was.
But Mina's instincts whispered something else entirely.
She gave a faint, polite smile.
"...Sorry. Not interested."
Yu's confident smile immediately faded, replaced by a razor-sharp stare. Still, she withdrew her hand and folded her arms.
"Fine. I didn't expect someone as strong-willed as you to accept anyway. Regardless, I still need to discuss what I mentioned earlier. How about you come to my place later? We can talk more privately."
Mina raised a brow.
"Really? I thought you didn't want anyone knowing where you live. Aren't you worried I'll call the cops and say you kidnapped someone?"
Yu smirked; she knew Mina was joking. Both of them shared too many secrets—lying was pointless.
The sunset faded, and the intense red light in Yu's eyes dimmed, replaced by a dull gray. Her confident expression vanished, swapped out for a lifeless porcelain-doll face with pale skin and stiff features.
Mina blinked—surprised.
Yu, equally startled, blinked twice and stared at her own hands as if confused by her own existence.
"Well… welcome back?" Mina said slowly.
"You from before and you right now… you're completely different. What just happened?"
Yu continued to stare blankly at her palms, her expression empty but bewilderment clear. She lifted her head slightly.
"This…"
But she abruptly stopped and shook her head.
"Forget it."
Mina watched her closely, trying to decipher the odd shift. Whatever it was, Mina knew she'd eventually get her answers.
"Fine," she said.
"Let's go with your plan from earlier. We'll head to your place later and discuss those 'private matters' you mentioned."
Yu's face remained expressionless, though her eyes tightened slightly.
"…Alright. But only if you promise you won't harm Nayeon."
Mina nodded. Even her tone changed when speaking to this version of Yu.
"…Okay. I promise."
Behind them, Dao sat utterly dumbfounded, unsure what kind of conversation she had just overheard. It wasn't about work, but it wasn't normal either—it sounded like something out of some dark conspiracy.
And Kim Nayeon? She vaguely recognized that name from somewhere.
But one thing she knew for certain:
The woman Mina was talking to was extremely dangerous. Whatever Mina was getting herself into… it wasn't small.
The names of both the Jou and Kamakiri families had been mentioned.
Lost in her thoughts, Dao jolted when she heard the two girls suddenly get up from their seats. She hurriedly pulled her scarf over her head and pressed her face down onto the table. Peeking through a tiny slit between her fingers, Dao spotted Mina and Yu slipping out toward the café's emergency exit—again.
Mina was definitely going to that woman's secret place… alone?
Dao carefully stood up and followed them to the exit. The moment she stepped outside, she glanced left and right—and froze. Mina was getting into a strange black SUV, escorted by two intimidating men in black suits who practically shoved her inside. A chill crawled down Dao's spine.
This is bad. What the hell is going on?
As the SUV started rolling forward, Dao panicked and waved frantically at a nearby taxi.
"Taxi! Taxi! Please!"
She yanked the door open before the driver even spoke and pointed straight ahead.
"Go! I need you to follow that car—right now!"
The driver glanced at the SUV, then at her. With her face hidden behind a scarf and oversized sunglasses, she looked suspicious as hell. He clicked his tongue.
"Another jealous girlfriend drama? Sorry, lady, I'm not getting involved in trouble."
Dao groaned, ripped off her scarf and sunglasses, revealing an outrageously pretty face framed by short, trendy platinum-blond hair. The driver was momentarily stunned. Dao wasn't in the mood—at all. She shoved a wad of cash into his hand.
"Yes, I'm going after my cheating lover—whatever! Are you driving or not? If not, I'll get someone else!"
"H-Hey! Wait!"
The driver fumbled, shoved the cash into his pocket, and hit the gas so hard the taxi lurched.
He started rambling while weaving through traffic.
"Don't worry, ma'am. Customer's always right. Tailin' cars? Easy. I can do that in my sleep."
Dao only responded with an icy snort. Because of his hesitation, they were now several minutes behind, buried in a sea of cars. Seeing her scowl, he tried to reassure her.
"Relax, I got their license plate memorized. And anyway, we gotta stay a safe distance so they don't notice us, you know?"
But despite his confidence, Yu's driver had already noticed something off.
"Hey," he muttered to the man beside him. "Isn't that taxi behind us kinda weird?"
The man glanced in the mirror and shook his head.
"Maybe, but you're probably overthinking."
The driver wasn't convinced. He pulled the turn lever.
"…Better change route, just in case."
The SUV suddenly veered into another road. Dao panicked.
"There! They turned! They turned!"
The taxi driver frowned. "This is messed up. They're sharp. Did they figure out we're tailing them?"
Dao almost exploded.
"Then WHY aren't you following them!? Why are you going straight!?"
The driver had to defend himself.
"You didn't see how sudden that was? That means they KNOW we're on their tail! If I follow them now, it's over!"
"Then what do you suggest!?" she barked.
He nodded.
"Relax. I know every street in Starfall City like the back of my hand. From the road they took, I know exactly where they're headed. We'll take another route and get there at the same time."
Dao shot him a deadly glare, her fist curling tight.
"You better be right. If we don't reach the same place they do… you're dead meat."
The driver gulped loudly.
"A-Alright. I'll get us there. Just… breathe."
So the taxi continued straight down the highway while the SUV disappeared in a different direction. Dao's stomach twisted with fear. The driver had said the SUV might've realized they were being followed, and that alone made her uneasy.
But when she thought of Mina, Dao's resolve hardened. She couldn't abandon her.
After a long stretch, the taxi finally reached the outskirts of the city. Dao quickly recognized the location—an isolated residential mega-project still under construction. Yet one mansion was already complete, looking lived-in.
The driver pointed ahead.
"Look! Isn't that the SUV? Told you I was right."
He parked far behind it, hidden behind an unpainted villa. Dao leaned forward—and yes, the SUV was parked in front of a massive mansion.
"Huh… not bad," she muttered. "You actually got us here."
The driver puffed up, grinning proudly. "Of course. I'm the best."
Dao smirked.
"Give me your business card."
"Huh?"
"I SAID GIVE IT!"
He squeaked and hurriedly fished a card from his wallet. Dao skimmed it. Indian guy. Fine. She shoved it in her pocket and stared at the mansion.
Mina and Yu exited the SUV and were escorted inside by two tall, muscular men. And they weren't the only ones—dozens of guys in black suits stood around the property. Towering builds, tattoos, electric batons, tonfas… she even spotted holsters. Inside seemed even more crowded. The whole mansion was crawling with armed men.
Dao shivered. Thank God the taxi was parked far away. If those men noticed her…
Even the taxi driver trembled.
"Why are they all armed? Who ARE these people? Mafia? You're not actually going in there, right? We should leave—this is insane…"
Dao didn't think she could enter either. But Mina had walked right into that mansion. Sure, Mina was a guest, but…
No. This was bad. Very, very bad.
Mina, what the hell are you involved in? Why are you mixed up with people like this?
Wait.
Kim Nayeon?
Something clicked in Dao's mind. Isn't that the name of the missing girl Duyen was searching for? That's why it sounded so familiar.
Don't tell me… she's in that mansion.
Dao slapped a hand over her mouth, horrified.
This is wrong. All of this is wrong. Charging in recklessly would get her killed for sure.
And then—A sudden idea flashed in Dao's mind…
---
That night, while Duyen was sleeping in the penthouse, she kept tossing and turning, trapped in the same nightmares that had been haunting her for days. She found herself running down an endless hallway, one that seemed like it would never stop, with sliding doors on both sides—doors she absolutely did not want to open.
Every time she did, she saw her own corpse, split clean in half from the shoulder down. Sometimes she saw her body with the kimono ripped to shreds, thrown into a river. It was horrifying, and it forced her to keep running and running. There was no end, and she had no idea how long she'd been running like that.
"Help!" she cried, but the words never made it out of her mouth.
Duyen knew she was dreaming, yet she had no idea how to escape it.
Then suddenly, a pale lavender mist appeared out of nowhere, spreading across everything. Startled, she spun around, but the mist only grew thicker, wrapping around her and pulling her somewhere else.
What confused her even more was that the mist… felt comforting. It was soft like a feather brush, and the faint scent easing into her lungs calmed her mind.
"You poor child… your soul is trapped here again."
A voice—gentle, like a young woman's—dripped into her ears like warm honey.
Duyen jerked her head around, searching for the one who had spoken, but saw no one.
"H–hello? Who's there?" she asked cautiously.
No one appeared. The confusion only deepened, though she reminded herself this was still just a dream—clarity didn't exist here.
Then that voice came again.
"Unfortunately, you are not truly inside the dream. You're stuck outside the wall…"
Duyen frowned. "What do you mean?"
The mysterious woman continued,
"When the time is ripe, you must let go of your mortal shell to enter the inside. But that place will corrode you—rot you—and make you one of its own. Yet do not fear, my child. When that moment comes, I will protect you."
The woman smiled from behind the glowing purple fog, her gaze dropping to Duyen's chest—where a soft, crystal-blue light was shimmering from within.
"For now, this will do."
With a single wave of her hand, the mist thickened, clouding Duyen's mind even inside the dream. Her vision blurred, her body weakened, and she collapsed gently into unconsciousness again.
Above her, in the strange dream-sky, the moon peeked out from behind the drifting haze.