The same old restaurant stood quietly at the corner of a broken street, its wooden sign worn by years of war. Inside, the old lady owner bustled with her pots, her face lined with exhaustion, yet her eyes carried warmth. She had been one of the quiet pillars who helped the Speed Faction survive, feeding and sheltering them whenever she could.
Jaegyeon Na and his core members entered, Daniel following behind in his disguise. The old lady smiled faintly, bowing toward Jaegyeon.
"You've come again, Na-ya," she said softly, setting down bowls of steaming noodles. "Eat while it's hot. You all need strength to fight those evil bastards."
The Speed Faction members thanked her, their voices gentle despite their hardened lives.
---
The Children of Incheon
As they ate, the door creaked open, and a group of children ran in. Their clothes were worn, faces pale from hunger, but their eyes lit up when they saw Jaegyeon.
"Hyung! Are you okay?" a boy shouted, tugging Jaegyeon's sleeve.
"Did you bring toys this time?" another asked eagerly.
Jaegyeon crouched down, ruffling their hair, smiling in a way he rarely did in front of enemies.
"I'm fine. Toys? I'll see what I can do next time."
Yeowool knelt beside a girl, listening quietly as the child whispered about her sick grandmother. Roy Kwon pulled a candy from his pocket and gave it to another. Even Sung Jegal, always sharp-tongued, softened slightly, handing out bread.
The room filled with laughter, momentarily shielding them from the shadow of war.
Daniel watched silently, his cold eyes softening. Then, a small boy of about five tugged at his pant leg. Daniel looked down.
"Are you a new member of Speed Faction?" the boy asked innocently. "Are you going to help fight against the evil people?"
Daniel's chest tightened. His eyes, usually sharp and calculating, gentled as he knelt to the boy's level.
The boy then grinned brightly and added, "Are you a hero? Did you come to protect us from the evil people?"
Daniel blinked, surprised, and asked softly, "And why do you think I'm a hero?"
The boy's voice was small but firm.
"Because my mom said Speed Faction are heroes. They fight evil people. If you are their friend… then you are a hero too."
Daniel froze. His lips pressed into a thin line. He asked softly, "Where is your mother?"
The boy's head lowered, his small hands tightening on Daniel's sleeve.
"…The evil people took her. She never came back."
The laughter in the restaurant faded. Silence spread.
Jaegyeon's voice broke it, heavy with bitterness.
"Many of these children's parents were taken, killed, or disappeared. Their only crime was resisting… or protecting them from the Dark Crocodile Society."
Daniel closed his eyes briefly, then opened them with steel in his gaze. His words were calm, yet carried weight like iron.
"A great man once said: No cause justifies the deaths of innocent people. There is no flag large enough to cover the shame of killing them. I prefer a prison full of criminals over a graveyard full of innocents. In countries where innocents are dying, the leaders are following blood rather than their brains."
Everyone looked at him. Even Jaegyeon's hardened fighters were stunned.
Jaegyeon's eyes widened slightly, then softened. For the first time since their meeting, a genuine smile tugged at his lips.
"You… came here for an answer. I have some demands. If you or your king accept them, then I will accept the alliance."
Daniel's gaze sharpened. "What are your demands?"
Jaegyeon's tone was steady, resolute.
"First—after we defeat the Dark Crocodile Society, I want to run this city. Incheon belongs to us, and it will be ours again.
Second—you and your king will not try to capture our city after this crisis.
Third—our factions will sign a pact. No one attacks the other's territory without a justified reason. As allies, we will help each other when the time comes.
And fourth—"
Daniel cut in with a small smirk. "Fourth."
But Jaegyeon ignored him, his eyes firm.
"Fourth—I want to meet your king. Face to face."
The room fell silent. Daniel leaned back slightly, exhaling.
"I cannot say my king will accept all of your demands. But I will try. What I can promise is this—while our alliance stands, no one from our faction will touch Incheon."
Jaegyeon studied him for a moment, his expression unreadable this time. Then, he simply nodded, without giving his final answer.
But before Daniel could press further—
BOOM!
The restaurant doors burst open, wood splintering. Shouts filled the street outside. The floor trembled under heavy footsteps.
Dark Crocodile Society soldiers poured in, clad in leather jackets and red armbands, armed with bats, pipes, and knives.
At their front stood Mugak Wang, his massive frame blocking the doorway, his teeth flashing in a cruel grin. Behind him, Jaun Ryu and other captains followed.
"Well, well," Mugak growled in Mandarin before switching to Korean. "So this is where the little rats hide." His gaze fell on Jaegyeon—and then Daniel. "And what do we have here?"
The laughter of the Dark Crocodile Society echoed in the broken restaurant as tension exploded into chaos.