The air in the underground chamber shifted as the two figures entered.
At the front was Na Jaegyeon.
He was tall—handsome in a sharp, almost ethereal way, his presence magnetic, the kind that drew every eye without him needing to speak. His blonde hair with brown roots was styled in a middle part, framing his face with precision. Long, dark lashes gave his eyes an almost delicate edge, though nothing about him felt soft.
Jaegyeon's taste was clear at a glance: light blue jeans held with a luxury belt, a crisp white dress shirt with the collar popped, and layered jewelry around his neck—a chain, a beaded necklace, and a gleaming pendant that caught the dim tunnel light. He looked like a man who refused to let war strip him of refinement.
Beside him walked Yeowool.
Where Jaegyeon radiated flamboyance, Yeowool was the opposite. Of average height, with long dark hair tied into a ponytail, she carried herself with a quiet, unshakable poise. Her expression was flat, emotionless, her gaze cool and detached no matter where it landed. It was as if the chaos of Incheon meant nothing to her—an unreadable mask no one could pierce.
---
Their eyes fell on the newcomer.
Daniel—still cloaked in his disguise.
His black hair was cut in a neat corporate style, nothing flashy. He wore a simple formal shirt, pressed trousers, and polished shoes. On the surface, he looked like any ordinary man wandering into the wrong place.
But appearances deceived.
The moment Jaegyeon's gaze locked on him, a chill ran down his spine.
There was something wrong about this man. Something heavy, suffocating—like standing in front of a chained beast, or worse… a dragon lurking in human skin.
That feeling grew sharper the more Jaegyeon stared. Daniel's eyes… they weren't the eyes of a mere visitor. They were cold, ruthless, and sharp—yet calculating, the kind of gaze carved into old war generals, kings who had bathed in blood and ruled without question.
Jaegyeon swallowed, his voice steady but edged with unease.
"…Who are you?"
Daniel smiled faintly, his tone calm, deliberate.
"My name is Cheon Ma. I came from Gwangseong to meet you."
The words rippled through the room.
Gasps and murmurs followed. Jaegyeon's eyes widened slightly in surprise.
"From… Gwangseong?" He narrowed his gaze, studying Daniel more carefully. "I've heard rumors… A new king rose there. A man who crushed the old powers, seized the city, and now rules it with an iron fist. Ruthless, merciless…"
Yeowool finally spoke, her neutral voice cutting into the tension.
"Then why would a man from Gwangseong come to us?" Her gaze sharpened slightly, resting on Daniel. "What business does your king have with the Speed Faction?"
Daniel leaned back casually in his chair, his expression never breaking. His voice, however, carried weight.
"My king sent me here to discuss a matter with Jaegyeon Na. The Dark Crocodile Society. Their leader, Yujae Seon… and Paecheon Jo."
The moment the names left his mouth, the chamber's atmosphere shifted violently.
Everyone stiffened. Faces turned grim, eyes hard. Even the calm Yeowool's neutral gaze flickered with the faintest ripple. The mention of their enemy's leaders was like a match thrown into gunpowder.
Jaegyeon, however, remained composed. His voice lost its earlier flamboyance, dropping into something steadier, colder.
"…What is it that you and your king want to discuss about them?"
Daniel's lips curved upward, a slow, knowing smile.
"Let's sit," he said softly. "And then… we'll talk."
The dragon had spoken.
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