The room grew unbearably heavy after Daniel's last words. No one dared to move.
Jaegyeon Na slowly lifted his head, his golden hair catching the dim light of the underground chamber. His voice came out calm—eerily calm—but behind that calmness was a storm that made everyone's heart pound.
"Do not," he said, his words sharp as a blade, "bring up my former king's name in this discussion."
At that moment, his aura flared—rage cloaked in cold steel. It pressed down on the room like a crushing weight. Sung Jegal swallowed hard, Yeowool's fists clenched beneath the table, even Boknam's chewing gum stopped mid-roll in his mouth. Everyone felt it—like standing in the path of a raging storm.
Even Daniel.
For the first time since entering, Daniel leaned back slightly in his chair, letting the aura wash over him. He exhaled softly and raised his hands in a gesture of calm.
"My apologies," he said evenly. "But remember this—no one is hated more than he who speaks the truth."
Jaegyeon's eyes narrowed, his rage unsoftened by Daniel's words.
"You don't need to say it. We know. We saw. We lived it." His voice deepened, heavy with conviction. "We saw how we were betrayed. How our world crumbled. How the real people of Incheon suffer every single day under those bastards."
His fist tightened slowly, knuckles white against the table.
"But we didn't break. We crumbled, yes—but from those ruins, we stood again. Small, fragile maybe, but standing. And we will continue to stand. We will fight. We will resist. Till the end, no matter the consequences."
The air burned with the weight of his vow.
Then, his sharp gaze cut directly into Daniel's.
"And now I know—you didn't come here just to ask for our help. Not just for an alliance. You want something else. Tell me the real reason."
For a long moment, silence reigned. Then Daniel smiled, faint and calculating.
"My king's reason is exactly as I told you," he said smoothly. "We want your help. An alliance. Nothing more, nothing less. Because the point of this meeting is simple: the Dark Crocodile Society is your enemy. They are our enemy. And a wise man once said—'The enemy of my enemy is my friend.'"
The words echoed in the chamber. Everyone stayed silent, eyes flickering between Jaegyeon and Daniel.
Finally, Jaegyeon leaned back, his aura dimming just enough for everyone to breathe again.
"I will think about it," he said coldly. "You will have my answer tomorrow. Is that acceptable?"
Daniel sighed quietly, then straightened, his face once again a mask of calm.
"It is acceptable. I will wait until tomorrow." His eyes sharpened. "But remember—time is something neither you nor I have much of. Tomorrow, then."
With that, Daniel rose from his seat. The tense meeting ended as he followed Sebastian Kang out of the underground chamber.
---
Outside, night had given way to the pale lights of Incheon's ruined streets. Sebastian drove Daniel back in silence until they stopped in front of the hotel where Daniel was staying.
Before Daniel stepped out, Sebastian finally broke the silence.
"…Is it true?" he asked quietly. "That your king will really help us?"
Daniel paused, his hand on the car door. He turned slightly, his eyes unreadable.
"What do you think?" he countered.
Sebastian gave a faint, humorless smile. "I think your king is genuine about this. But I also think he'll take his benefits from it."
Daniel chuckled softly, nodding once.
"Then my answer is the same as yours."
For the first time that night, both men exchanged a smile—faint, wary, but genuine in its own strange way.
The war drums of Incheon beat silently in the distance.
---