Chapter 104 - The Storm Before the Inferno

🦂 The Meeting of Kings

Inside a dimly lit underground chamber, Paecheon Jo waited. The Crocodile King's sharp eyes glowed in the darkness like a predator guarding its lair.

Heavy footsteps echoed down the hall, and soon Zhao Chen entered, followed by his enforcers—Qin Wei, Liang Zhang, Han Long, Jiang Feng. Their presence filled the room with an oppressive weight.

Paecheon stood and greeted them with a smirk.

"So… the Dragon of Shanghai himself comes to my city."

Zhao Chen exhaled smoke slowly, his gaze never leaving Paecheon.

"Your city is falling apart. Five hundred of your men gone, cut down by one man. That's not weakness. That's incompetence."

The words made Mugak flinch, but Paecheon's smirk only widened.

"Incompetence? No. What you see is opportunity. One man thinks himself a dragon. I brought you here to break his wings."

Qin Wei cracked his knuckles, the sound like breaking stone.

"Then tell us where he is. I'll crush him until his bones turn to powder."

Liang Zhang, voice low and sharp, added:

"I want his throat. No man should leave a shadow bigger than mine."

Zhao Chen raised his hand, silencing his men.

"First, I want to see this Cheon Ma with my own eyes. Men like him… they are either destined to die quick, or to change history. If he is the latter, I'll cut him down myself."

Paecheon leaned forward, eyes burning with rage and pride.

"Good. Because this Cheon Ma… dared to humiliate me. Dared to stand where only kings belong. Together, we will bury him—and the Speed Faction—with the weight of China's shadow and Korea's Crocodile teeth."

The chamber trembled with their laughter and promises of blood.

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🐉 Cheon Ma's Sense

Meanwhile, at his hotel, Daniel—still in his disguise as Cheon Ma—stood by the window, staring out into Incheon's dark skyline.

Something gnawed at his instincts. The air felt heavier, unnatural. The kind of stillness that came before a storm. His eyes narrowed.

"They've moved. Reinforcements have arrived."

He turned, pulling out his encrypted phone. With a cold voice, he dialed.

"Report. Gwangseong—what's the situation?"

A deep, familiar voice answered—it was Min Jae, his right-hand man and the iron shield of Gwangseong.

"My King, all is secure. The city holds firm. Our patrols control every street, and the remnants of the old factions have been erased. No movement from Dark Society agents. But…"

Daniel's tone sharpened.

"But what?"

"They're watching. More eyes in the shadows than before. Spies, informants… some are slipping through our net. I suspect the Dark Society is probing for weakness."

Daniel's gaze hardened, his hand gripping the window frame.

"Let them watch. Let them whisper. A viper can stare all it wants at a dragon—but when it strikes, it will burn."

Min Jae paused, then asked carefully:

"And Incheon, my King? I hear… rumors. They say you massacred five hundred men."

Daniel chuckled darkly, a demon's smile forming on his face.

"Rumors? No, Min Jae. It's the beginning of a legend. Incheon bleeds, and the Crocodile King calls for reinforcements. Let them come. The dragon is waiting."

He hung up the call, eyes glowing with ruthless anticipation.

The storm was no longer coming. It was already here.

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