The message was so absurd that for a moment Ryu Seonyeong forgot how to breathe.
He rose slowly, still gripping the phone as if it might come alive and explain itself.
— What…?
Lo Dan's voice came through almost instantly, tense and worried.
— Hyung, what happened?
Seonyeong shut his eyes and rubbed his face.
Good thing the glasses had been smashed—Lo Dan couldn't see the screen.
If he had…
— I'll wash up. Stay off the line.
He switched off the mic, removed the earpiece, and, tearing off his shirt, locked himself in the bathroom.
Cold tile beneath his feet helped him think.
He reread the message—short, uneven, written by someone gasping for air.
"Hyung, it's Kael. Kang Jihan is coming for me."
His fingers went numb.
A joke? No. Kael wouldn't write like that.
Call him? But what if he's hiding—or already caught?
'Coming for me'? What does that even mean? Why Jihan?
He typed quickly: "Are you in danger?"
A second. Two. A minute.
Silence.
Then the phone exploded with an incoming call from an unknown number.
His heart slammed against his ribs.
— Hello?
— Hyung!
— Kael?! Where are you?!
On the other end came ragged breathing—wind, tires screeching.
He was in a car, speeding somewhere.
— I did what you said—I handed the bar to Raon and was leaving… but Jihan came to my house!
— What?! Why?!
— I don't know! He just showed up!
Seonyeong froze, remembering Seo Raon's words:
"Kang Jihan is returning to Korea. Chairman Lee Gaon called him."
But why would Gaon bring up Kael?
He gripped the phone tighter.
— Did you ever tell him about your place?
— Back when we closed Mateo's case… he helped. I guess I slipped.
Seonyeong clenched his jaw.
Thoughts tangled like broken wires.
— Then what?
— He saw me packing and asked where I was going.
He stood by the gate—like a ghost. I panicked and said I was traveling.
He offered to drive me to the airport.
— And you went?
— Yeah. Only weird thing—I fell asleep almost right away.
When I woke up, he was carrying me somewhere. Not near the airport—some abandoned lot.
I pretended to be out, then ran. Stole his car.
Now he's chasing me.
It felt like the floor dropped from under Seonyeong.
— He tried to take you?
— Seems like it.
I'm not sure, but I think he used gas… I blacked out instantly.
His face turned pale.
Yes, Kang Jihan was capable of that.
If he'd decided to capture Kael, he must've seen him as a threat.
— Can you hold out?
— Maybe a day or two. But he's close.
He keeps calling every five minutes.
— Did you answer?
— Once. He said, "Why run? Let's talk.
If you heard something from Ryu Seonyeong—it's a misunderstanding."
Seonyeong exhaled between his teeth.
The words hit like a punch to the gut.
"If you heard something from Ryu Seonyeong—it's a misunderstanding?"
So Kang Jihan already knew Kael had spoken to him.
And he was using him as bait.
While I'm stuck in this casino, he's cleaning my tracks.
— Damn it…
— Hyung?..
The voice trembled, but Seonyeong barely heard it.
"You said you trusted me. This is your trust?"
Even if this was Gaon's order—it was unforgivable.
Kang Jihan knew exactly what he was doing.
— Listen carefully.
Survive at least twenty-four hours.
Motel, warehouse—anything.
I'll bring him back here within twenty.
This is a disposable number?
— Yeah.
— Good. If you can, don't answer his calls.
Think only about staying alive.
— And if he catches me?
— Tell him that while I was in Eon Core, you stole Arena credits and ran.
Say I had nothing to do with it.
— …Understood.
The call ended.
He sat there for a long time, staring into nothing.
His shoulders trembled.
The mirror reflected a pale face, eyes full of exhausted fury.
— …Ryu Seonyeong, you've really lost it.
He laughed—dry, soundless.
Jihan's voice, his "I believe you"—
now it sounded like mockery.
If the glasses hadn't broken, he never would've seen Kael's message—
never realized who was actually watching him.
"I won't track you anymore. I promise."
Just yesterday.
Seonyeong whispered into the empty air:
— Yeah. That's just like you, Kang Jihan. You trust no one.
He could pretend to let go,
but he always left markers, monitored people,
blocked hypnosis, safeguarded every variable.
He doesn't believe in coincidences.
Now it was confirmed.
— "Not blackmail," huh?
Bastard…
He closed his eyes.
Bitterness twisted into a hollow laugh.
— I really did love him.
***
He changed shirts, left his suite, and headed toward the Jade Hall.
The manager—a tall woman in a black suit—met him with a nervous look.
— Are you feeling alright, Mr. Chow?
— Yes, I'm fine. Is the inspection finished?
— Yes, everything's clear.
Mr. Park was mistaken, but if you wish, we can scan again.
He smiled.
— Go ahead.
Not a single detector beeped.
The manager bowed politely.
— All clear.
— And Mr. Park?
— He's being questioned.
— May I see him briefly? I may have been too harsh.
She hesitated, but his gaze softened—almost apologetic.
The faint shift of color in his eyes made her smile suddenly, as if it were natural.
— Of course.
***
Park Byung-taek was shouting at the guards in the interrogation room, demanding his money back.
When Seonyeong entered, he fell silent.
— You! You cheated! Where are my chips?!
Seonyeong approached slowly.
— What kind of signals can you send across a room, Mr. Park?
— You know! You were signaling that waiter!
Seonyeong leaned closer, voice low and dark.
— Yes. You're right. I was signaling.
Just not codes—cash. He stole it.
Park blinked.
— Stole…?
— Check him. He won't admit it, but you know how to get the truth.
Within minutes, Park stormed out into the corridor, screaming that he'd make the waiter pay.
Ten minutes later, chaos erupted in the Jade Hall.
Park Byung-taek lunged at Yi Hoon, shouting about theft and hidden bugs.
Security barely pulled them apart.
Both were escorted out.
Seonyeong exhaled.
No one will be watching now.
Kwak Du-won came over, patting his shoulder.
— What a day. You're on top again.
— Looks like it.
— Come drink with us. Everyone wants to meet you.
He almost declined, but Lo Dan's words echoed in his mind:
"He's not just a player, he's the president of Tae-yeon Shipping."
He smiled faintly.
— If we're being serious, I have a proposal.
They stepped behind a column, away from the noise.
— I need a ship, — Seonyeong said quietly. — Tomorrow, by seven p.m.
Kwak Du-won blinked, then grinned.
— Ha! I happen to have two. Planning to escape by sea?
— Maybe. Course to Hong Kong.
— Hm… can be arranged.
— Give me a contact.
Kwak handed him a business card.
Seonyeong pocketed it and turned toward the exit.
But before he could take a step, a calm voice spoke behind him.
— Unusually noisy in the Jade Hall tonight.
He turned.
A tall man stood there in a dark-blue suit; sapphire cufflinks glimmered under the neon.
Behind his glasses—an icy, precise gaze.
— …Do we know each other? — Seonyeong asked carefully.
— How could I not know the man who's held first place for two days? — the stranger smiled.
On his badge gleamed "01. Oh Rian."
Seonyeong tensed.
— So that's who you are… Pleasure to meet you.
— You're aiming to win, aren't you?
— …Naturally.
Oh Rian nodded; his smile turned almost gentle.
— I haven't seen eyes that cold in a long time.
If you'd like, we can talk business.
I have a few ships in port myself.