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> **"The quiet ones don't roar. They lay traps, wait, and watch you bleed."**
> — Underground Forum User: *BleedByte*
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### **\[1] — Spite and Preparation**
Jungho stood in his dim apartment, alone, back facing the windows. He stared at his table, where a single torn school photo of Jiwoo lay flat beside a rusted screwdriver and an old map of Gangbuk's subway routes.
Every item told a story.
He didn't move for five minutes. Then, slowly, with surgical control, he folded the photo in half and tucked it into his jacket pocket.
He wasn't doing this for revenge. He wasn't angry.
He was focused.
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### **\[2] — Kim Suhyeon Notices**
In the school library, Suhyeon scrolled through new forum posts. His system pinged—twice. Unusual anomaly nearby.
Jungho?
He glanced out the window. Jungho was sitting beneath a tree, watching birds with detached boredom. Nothing seemed unusual… except for the *stillness*. It was *too* calm. Like watching a predator breathe in silence before the strike.
"...He's planning something," Suhyeon muttered.
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### **\[3] — Daniel and Jay Meet Again**
In the cafeteria, Daniel poked at his food while Jay leaned closer.
"You think he's alright?"
"No," Daniel answered. "But I think that's what makes him dangerous."
Jay hesitated. "Then… should we stop him?"
Daniel sighed. "How do you stop a guy who's already been holding back more than anyone else?"
They fell silent.
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### **\[4] — Bait for a Beast**
Yoo Baekho's men scouted a location: the northern industrial scrapyard, now abandoned. It was perfect—empty, dirty, easy to trap.
Baekho didn't show up himself. He sent five mid-tier gangsters. Their orders?
"Harass anyone who shows. Just make sure to say his name. Loudly."
What he didn't expect was for *Jungho* to arrive early.
And with tools.
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### **\[5] — Ambush Turns Inward**
The five gangsters stood around, mocking the empty space.
Until the lights cut.
Until the doors slammed.
Until the *gasoline mist* hit their lungs.
A single voice whispered from above:
> "You tried to set the stage."
A figure dropped from a scaffold.
> "Let me show you *mine*."
One screamed as Jungho emerged, pipe in hand. Not running. Just *walking* toward them. The sound of metal dragging against concrete echoed like a guillotine.
He didn't kill anyone.
But he made sure none of them would walk straight for weeks.
When they crawled out, choking on blood and tears, a phrase was scrawled on the wall in oil:
> **"FEED THE BEAST AGAIN, I'LL START BITING BACK."**
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### **\[6] — News Spreads**
The forums exploded.
> *BleedByte: He flipped the trap. Again. Someone's gonna die at this rate.*
> *IronTeeth: Who IS this guy? He has no system, no crew, nothing. Just fists and hate.*
> *MystPunch: It's like he WANTS to be left alone but y'all keep poking the damn dragon.*
> *BleedByte: Mark my words. He's building to something.*
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### **\[7] — Suhyeon's Worry**
Suhyeon cornered Jungho after school.
"You set that trap at the scrapyard."
Jungho said nothing.
"You planned it. Mapped it. Timed it. That's not a reaction. That's war."
Jungho finally looked at him.
"You think this is war?" he asked calmly.
"I'm still holding back."
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### **\[8] — Daniel's Warning**
Later that evening, Daniel called Jungho to the rooftop.
"I know what you did. And I get it. But… you're drifting, man."
Jungho lit a cigarette, eyes blank.
"I've always drifted. But now people swim toward me to drown."
Daniel touched his shoulder. "Don't become what they're afraid you are."
Jungho paused. Then replied:
"They *made* what they're afraid of."
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### **\[9] — Final Page**
Baekho stared at his phone, reading the words from a henchman.
> "Scrapyard crew's down. One's in surgery."
He smirked. "He flipped the trap. Clever."
He poured wine. "Let's see how clever he is when I take something *real.*"
On his desk: a file.
**Name: Jiwoo**
**Label: Leverage.**
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