The deeper they walked, the darker it became.
Sebastian led the way through crumbling staircases and rusted maintenance tunnels beneath Incheon. The damp air reeked of rust, mildew, and old gasoline. Faint graffiti on the walls marked paths only the Speed Faction could navigate.
Daniel followed silently, hands in his pockets, his sharp eyes absorbing everything—the cracks, the markings, the faint vibrations of voices echoing in distant passages.
"This place looks like a rat's nest," Daniel muttered lightly, his voice tinged with humor. "Not exactly what I pictured for a faction hideout."
Sebastian didn't even glance back.
"It's more than a hideout," he said, his tone clipped. "These tunnels connect to every corner of the city—even beneath Chinatown. The Dark Society can't track us here, and if they try, we vanish before they can blink. That's why we've survived this long."
Daniel smirked, shaking his head.
"Charming. Living underground, eating noodles, hiding in the shadows… Incheon really is a city of war."
They walked for another stretch before Sebastian suddenly stopped. His bulk shifted as he turned to face Daniel.
"…We're here."
---
The Hideout
The tunnel widened into a dimly lit chamber carved out of the city's underbelly. Makeshift lights dangled from the ceiling, buzzing faintly. Stacks of cargo crates lined the walls—most of them filled with instant noodle packets, water bottles, and medical supplies.
A battered table and a few mismatched chairs sat in the center, like the planning room of guerrilla fighters. This was survival, plain and raw.
Sebastian motioned Daniel to follow him toward a reinforced steel door. He pushed it open with a grunt, and they stepped inside.
The room was no better—just concrete walls, another table scattered with rough maps, and a pile of folded blankets in one corner.
"Sebastian," a voice called sharply.
A tall man entered, his expression hard. He paused when he saw the bruise on Sebastian's cheek and the broken sunglasses dangling from his neck.
"What the hell happened to you? And—" His eyes fell on Daniel, narrowing instantly. "Who the hell is this?"
Sebastian straightened. "This is—"
"Don't you dare." The man cut him off, stepping closer, his voice raised. "Did you just bring a stranger into our hideout? What if he's Dark Society?" His glare snapped back to Daniel, venomous. "Answer me! Who are you?"
Daniel tilted his head, smiling faintly.
"…Cheon Ma. That's all you need to know. I came to meet Jaegyeon Na."
The man's face twisted in anger. He spun on Sebastian, barking,
"Are you insane? Bringing some unknown bastard here?! What if he's a spy?!"
Sebastian raised his voice, defensive.
"He's not Dark Society. I tested him myself. If he were, we'd both already be dead."
The man scoffed, unconvinced.
"You call that proof?!"
At that moment, another figure entered the room. Calm, sharp-eyed, he raised a hand slightly.
"Enough," he said. "If Sebastian brought him, then we'll hear him out. He's never once compromised us before."
The angry man snapped back, "That doesn't mean—"
"He said," the second man cut in firmly, "he wants Jaegyeon. If he's lying, Jaegyeon will deal with him himself."
The first man clenched his fists, but fell silent, glaring daggers at Daniel.
A third person entered next, lean and quiet. He said nothing, only leaned against the wall with arms crossed, his eyes locked coldly on Daniel like a hawk sizing up prey.
The tension thickened.
The first man finally turned on Daniel, pointing a finger at him.
"You better know what you're walking into. One wrong move, and you'll regret ever setting foot in these tunnels."
Daniel's faint smile disappeared. His expression hardened, eyes sharp as glass. His voice cut through the room like ice.
"I didn't come here to be barked at by dogs. I came from far away for one purpose. If you won't take me to Jaegyeon Na, then I'll carve my own way to him."
The air froze. The Speed Faction members tensed instantly, hands twitching, bodies ready for a fight.
Then—
CLACK.
The steel door opened.
Everyone turned.
Jaegyeon Na stepped into the room, his presence filling the underground chamber. Beside him walked a girl the same age as Daniel, her sharp gaze flicking from face to face before landing on him.
The moment had arrived.
---