The air in Incheon was heavy, thick with the weight of old battles. The streets carried the scars of endless turf wars—broken sidewalks, boarded windows, half-shattered neon signs flickering without light. Daniel moved calmly through it all, disguised so well that even the sharpest eyes couldn't place him. He looked like an ordinary traveler, but inside, every thought sharpened like a blade.
This city is war-torn, yet it breathes power. Incheon—land of kings, land of war.
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The Old Lady's Restaurant
By evening, Daniel returned to the same restaurant where he had eaten the day before. The old lady greeted him with tired eyes, serving him simple dishes at prices far higher than they were worth. Daniel didn't flinch. He ate quietly, every motion precise, his aura calm yet unshakable.
But today, he wasn't the only unusual guest.
At another table sat a man who immediately stood out. He was massive—easily 6'7, a bulky frame covered by a green Adidas tracksuit, a white shirt peeking underneath, and spotless white shoes. A thick gold chain hung from his neck, and his black hair was styled in tight strings. Over his face rested aviator sunglasses, lenses tinted yellow-gold, reflecting the dim lights of the restaurant.
He was eating noisily, but his eyes—hidden behind those shades—were watching Daniel.
Daniel noticed immediately. He didn't react.
When the meal was done, Daniel placed money on the counter and looked at the old woman. His voice was soft, yet firm.
"Do you know where I can find Jaegyeon Na and the Speed Faction?"
The old lady froze. Her hands trembled as she tried to hide her shock.
"I—I don't know anything about them," she said quickly, her voice hushed and fearful. "Don't ask such things here."
Before Daniel could press further, a deep voice cut through the silence.
---
The Mysterious Man
The tall man in the green tracksuit set his chopsticks down, leaning back in his chair. His lips curled into a half-smile beneath the glasses.
"What do you want with Jaegyeon Na and his Speed Faction?" he asked, his voice low and rumbling.
Daniel turned his head, meeting the man's gaze calmly.
"I came here to meet them," he answered.
The man raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
Daniel's reply was as steady as stone.
"I'll give my reason to Jaegyeon himself, not anyone else."
For the first time, the man's expression hardened. The lazy amusement drained, replaced by sharp calculation. He stood, towering over Daniel like a wall of muscle and gold.
"…I know where you can find him," the man said at last.
Daniel's lips curved faintly. "Then take me to him."
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The Alley Confrontation
The two left the restaurant, walking through Incheon's maze of alleys. The streets grew narrower, the shadows darker. Finally, the man stopped, turning to face Daniel directly. His body shifted—stance firm, shoulders squared, every muscle tense.
His voice was no longer casual. It was threatening, deliberate.
"Tell me the truth. Why do you want to meet Jaegyeon Na?"
Daniel's smile lingered, calm as ever.
"I've already told you. My reason is for Jaegyeon alone."
The man scowled, stepping closer, his size casting a long shadow over Daniel.
"Don't play games with me, boy. If you're lying, the consequences will be dangerous. Speak—or I'll break you right here."
For a moment, silence hung between them.
Then Daniel's eyes sharpened, his smirk curling into something colder, more dangerous. His voice was quiet, but it cut like steel.
"You can try."
The air between them shifted. The man's massive frame radiated threat, but Daniel's aura—calm, ruthless, unshaken—pressed back with equal force.
The hunt for the Speed Faction had truly begun.
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