— What?..
Ryu Seonyeong's expression froze.
He heard something? Is he from Aurora Labs? Or did Seo Raon send another one besides Yi Hoon?
His nerves were on edge, yet he managed a calm smile.
— I'm afraid I don't follow.
The stranger sighed softly, then said something unexpected.
— …Actually, I lied. I don't need a player.
— What?
— I fell for you, Mr. Ryu Seonyeong. At first sight.
Seonyeong froze. Instinctively, he touched his collar, making sure no sensor was attached.
Fortunately, the man mistook the gesture for embarrassment.
— That composure, that quiet strength… — he continued almost admiringly.
He took a small object from his pocket and placed it in Seonyeong's palm.
— What's this?
— A way to contact me. Will you accept it?
Seonyeong looked down — in his hand lay a pale-lavender flip phone, a model discontinued at least a decade ago. It was turned off.
— Rare piece…
The stranger chuckled.
— I like things with history. My apologies for the intrusion. I'll be glad to see you again.
He bowed slightly and vanished into the flow of people.
Seonyeong stared at the device in his hand for a long time. Tiny crystals along the edge caught the light — real diamonds.
Is he serious? Who gives away something like this in a casino?
He leaned against a column, trying to make sense of it.
A tracker? A beacon? Or just an eccentric admirer? Either way, the gems could be stripped off, and the shell discarded.
After a moment's hesitation, he slipped the flip phone into his inner pocket.
Even if it's a trap — fine. As long as I keep moving.
He took a slow breath and reactivated his earpiece.
— You heard about the fight? — he asked evenly.
Lo Min's voice replied through the static:
— Yeah. That guy who picked a fight with you ended up attacking Yi Hoon. Almost tore his gear apart. He fought back, but they banned him from the hall tomorrow.
— Got it. Any backup options?
— Oh Lei and Raon are already exposed in Eon Core. And me — I'm not a field agent, sorry.
Seonyeong smirked.
— I'll survive without eyes on my back.
— That's what I thought. You're already playing like an Eon program — no errors.
— Hm. Tell Yi Hoon not to start any more fights.
He removed the earpiece and murmured quietly:
— As long as Kael's alive… that's what matters.
***
By four in the morning, Kang Jihan was systematically combing through motels on the outskirts of Lirean.
His phone buzzed — a message from Lo Min:
"Yi Hoon got into a fight. Didn't blow his cover. Alive."
"I'll call later," Jihan replied and approached the front desk clerk.
— Did a tall guy in his mid-twenties check in here? Fighter build.
He showed Kael's photo.
— Nope, — the man mumbled, chewing instant noodles. — No one like that.
The phone buzzed again.
Jihan sighed.
— I said, later…
But the screen flashed Ryu Seonyeong.
He froze, then answered.
— I'm listening.
— Can you talk?
— Yeah… of course.
— You sound tense.
— Just didn't expect your call.
A faint chuckle.
— Ha. I understand.
Silence hung between them.
— I need to tell you something important.
At that moment, Jihan's subordinates signaled — Kael wasn't in the area.
He stepped outside.
— Later. I'm in the middle of something—
— Remember after the tournament, you asked me to work with you?
I've been thinking, and… I'll accept.
— What?
Jihan stopped dead.
Seonyeong went on:
— I can't let Mateo go unpunished. He's stirring chaos among the participants. Tonight he hurt me and Yi Hoon.
— You got hit too?
— Yeah, it's nothing. He thought we were conspiring.
If you've spoken to Lo Min, you know the truth.
— …I'll handle it.
Seonyeong was quiet for a beat, then said softly:
— They're watching me. It might come to knives. If you were here… it'd be easier.
Jihan's voice turned hard, but a tremor slipped through.
— If you need someone, I'll send—
— I miss you.
The world went soundless.
Jihan stood frozen.
— …Don't you?
He couldn't answer at once.
Only after a long pause did he whisper:
— Are you alright?
— Yeah. I just… kept thinking about what you said.
That maybe I still have a chance to live like a human being.
But if I lose the ticket — that chance is gone. Seo Raon said he'll only help if it's in my hands.
Jihan ran a hand down his face.
Yes, it made sense.
And yet something in Seonyeong's voice hit straight to the heart.
He drew a deep breath and said quietly:
— I'm coming.
— Really?..
— Yes. I'll inform Lee Gaon and fly out in the morning.
— Good… I want to see you.
The call ended.
Jihan stood for a long time, staring at the black screen.
For the first time, he'd heard Seonyeong laugh — truly laugh.
***
In the operations room, Lo Min jumped as the communicator rang.
— Yes, boss?
— I'm flying to Lirean.
— Because of Yi Hoon? He's fine!
— Not just that. Seonyeong said he's being hunted. I'm needed there.
— He… asked you himself?
— He did. And—he agreed to stay with us.
— Seriously?!
Even Seo Raon lifted a brow.
— He actually said that?
— He did. We'll meet there.
The line went dead.
Lo Min slowly lowered the device. Seo Raon studied him.
— Jihan's going?
— Yeah. Said Seonyeong called him.
Raon hummed quietly.
He'd suspected all along that the night's chaos was orchestrated by Seonyeong himself.
But Lo Min said firmly:
— If he wanted to harm us, he wouldn't ask Jihan to come. And the fact that he's staying — that's perfect.
Oh Lei, tending to the injured Yi Hoon, turned her head.
— I always said there's something special between them.
Even Kang Jihan's changed — did you see his eyes when he carried Seonyeong into the lab?
Raon sighed, but admitted:
— Yeah… there's something.
And yet one thought pulsed in his mind:
How deep are they already entangled in each other?
While Kang Jihan flew toward Lirean, Ryu Seonyeong sat alone in his suite, the lavender phone in his hand, staring into the dark.
His reflection glimmered in the black screen — tired, calm, and somewhere deep within his pupils, a faint shimmer of guilt.