A faint groan escaped as consciousness returned. The bulky man in the green Adidas tracksuit blinked, his vision swimming, head pounding from the devastating punch. His body ached where he had hit the ground, but more than the pain was the memory—
That ridiculous, inhuman punch.
One blow, and he was down.
"…Wake up."
The man's eyes snapped open. Standing over him was Daniel, disguised but unmistakable—his calm face lit with a faint, amused smile.
The man scrambled to his feet, every muscle tense, posture coiled like a spring. His sharp gaze locked on Daniel.
"…Are you from the Dark Society?" he asked cautiously, voice low and edged with suspicion.
Daniel chuckled, shaking his head lightly.
"If I were from the Dark Faction," he said with a smirk, "you'd either be dead right now… or chained and dragged back to their Chinatown base."
The man stiffened, jaw clenching. Daniel's words rang with unnerving confidence.
"I don't want to see any member of the Speed Faction captured," Daniel continued. His smile faded, tone sharper. "Especially not a core member. Speed Faction No.5… Sebastian Kang."
The man froze. His eyes widened behind the aviator sunglasses hanging cracked from his face.
"…How do you know that name?" His voice was heavy with disbelief.
Daniel's smile deepened, unreadable.
"That's for me to know…" His gaze sharpened. "…and for you to find out."
---
A Test of Trust
Sebastian Kang narrowed his eyes, every instinct on edge.
"You still haven't said who you are," he muttered. "Or why you want to meet Jaegyeon. You expect me to just lead you there, blind?"
Daniel crossed his arms, exhaling slowly as if mildly annoyed by the question.
"I already told you," Daniel said evenly. "If I was one of those Dark Society bastards, you wouldn't be standing here. I don't need to prove myself beyond that."
Sebastian's eyes flickered with doubt.
Daniel sighed, tone shifting just slightly.
"Fine. I'll say this much—I'm not from Incheon. I came here for one reason. I want Jaegyeon Na's help in a matter that concerns us both."
Sebastian's suspicion lingered, but Daniel's composure was unnerving. His words weren't the desperate plea of a liar—there was weight behind them, conviction that couldn't be faked.
Sebastian sized Daniel up once more, studying the boy's calm posture, the faint predator's smirk that never left his lips. Something about him made it hard to dismiss.
"…Alright," Sebastian finally muttered. "I'll take you. But hear this." His expression hardened, voice low and threatening. "If you try anything funny—if you so much as breathe wrong—you'll face the wrath of the Speed Faction. And trust me, kid, you don't want that."
Daniel grinned, lifting a hand lazily as if making a casual oath.
"Scout's promise," he said with mocking lightness. "I'll behave."
Sebastian narrowed his eyes but turned, motioning for Daniel to follow. The streets of Incheon stretched ahead—broken, scarred, and dangerous. Somewhere in the ruins lay the Speed Faction's hidden king.
And Daniel Park was finally on his way to meet him.
---