CHAPTER TEN

Oner's jaw remained clenched as he stared into the distance, replaying the last moments of Ji Won's capture in his head. His fists were still tight, his frustration mounting by the second. Every instinct in him screamed to act, to do something—but for now, all he could do was think.

Beside him, Khynny watched him carefully, knowing he was teetering on the edge of frustration and impulse. She couldn't blame him. Ji Won was in danger because of a situation none of them could fully control. The mastermind had dragged them into a twisted game—and now they needed to find the next move.

"We can't waste time," Oner muttered, breaking the silence. His voice was low, filled with urgency. He turned to Khynny and Hye Jin, eyes dark with determination. "We need to act before they disappear."

Hye Jin, standing with her arms crossed, raised an eyebrow. "Do we even know where they're taking her?" she asked, her tone laced with worry despite her sarcasm.

Khynny crossed her arms, thinking quickly. Where would he take her? "It's not random," she said, her voice steady but thoughtful. "The mastermind is too smart for that. He'll want to keep her close, but somewhere secure—somewhere important to his plan."

Oner exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair, his mind racing. His instincts told him time wasn't on their side, and every second wasted put Ji Won in more danger.

"I hate this," he muttered, his frustration seeping through. "Sitting around, doing nothing—"

"We're not doing nothing," Khynny interrupted, stepping closer to him, her tone calm but firm. "We're thinking, planning. This isn't a game where we can just rush in."

Hye Jin nodded, glancing between them. "She's right. Rushing in without a plan isn't going to help anyone—especially not Ji Won."

The weight of her words hung in the air, thick with tension. Oner's eyes flickered, still torn between his need to act and the logic he knew Khynny was right about.

Then Khynny's brow furrowed as she replayed Ji Won's words in her mind. An artifact.

"She mentioned an artifact," Khynny said, her voice growing sharper with realization. "Something tied to Korean history—something he's after."

Oner's attention snapped to her, his eyes narrowing. "The artifact... You think that's the key?"

Khynny nodded. "If the mastermind is an international thief, he's not just after Ji Won. He's after something much bigger—something he needs her for. There's only one place he'd take her if he's planning another heist."

Oner leaned in, his focus intense. "Where?"

Khynny's mind raced, sorting through the historical knowledge she had. "There's a museum near here—a private museum that holds rare Korean artifacts, including one of the missing pieces from the first heist. It's not just a random building; it's likely where he's planning his next move."

Hye Jin's eyes widened in realization. "If he's after that artifact, Ji Won is his leverage."

"And we're the only ones who know," Oner said, his voice hardening with resolve.

Without wasting another second, Hye Jin pulled out her phone. "I'll call Lieutenant Han. He needs to get a team over there now."

Oner, his frustration now channeled into focus, turned to Khynny. "If we're right, we can catch him before he escapes with both Ji Won and the artifact."

Khynny gave him a determined nod. "But we need to be fast."

As Hye Jin stepped aside to make the call, Oner and Khynny moved quickly, setting out into the night. The city seemed quieter than before, the sounds of traffic muted by the urgency of their mission. Every step felt heavy, charged with the weight of what was at stake.

They approached the private museum, its elegant facade looming in front of them like a fortress guarding something priceless. Oner's heart pounded, his mind racing through different scenarios. But this wasn't like gaming—there were no restarts, no do-overs.

"We need to be smart," Khynny whispered, her hand brushing against his arm. It was a brief touch, but it grounded him. "We'll get her out, but we have to stay calm."

Oner nodded, his instincts sharpening as they reached the side entrance. The door creaked open, revealing the dimly lit interior. Everything about the museum felt wrong—the silence too thick, the shadows too deep.

"We need to move fast," Khynny whispered again. "If they get to her before we do…"

"They won't," Oner replied, his voice steady but with tension simmering underneath.

They slipped through the wide corridors, moving like shadows themselves. The polished floors echoed faintly with their footsteps, making every movement feel amplified. As they neared the lower levels of the museum, the feeling of dread deepened.

Then, Khynny's sharp eyes caught movement—a figure slipping through the dark.

"Over there," she whispered, pulling Oner back into the shadows.

They watched as one of the mastermind's henchmen moved past, unaware of their presence. Too close. They couldn't afford to be spotted now.

They continued down the corridor, nerves on edge. Their path was clear until two more henchmen appeared ahead, patrolling the area. Khynny grabbed Oner's arm, pulling him into the alcove of a doorway. Her body pressed against his as they ducked out of sight, their breaths shallow as they waited for the men to pass.

For a brief moment, the danger felt distant. The world outside their small hiding space seemed to pause. The closeness between them, the heightened adrenaline—they could feel it in the air.

Their eyes met, and before they could think, Oner leaned in, his lips capturing hers in a kiss filled with the tension of the night.

Khynny responded without hesitation, her hand sliding up to cup his face. It was a fleeting escape from the chaos around them—a shared moment in the middle of a storm. But just as quickly, reality came crashing back.

They pulled apart, their breaths mingling in the dim light.

"Now?" Khynny whispered, amusement flickering in her voice despite the danger.

Oner grinned, a breathless chuckle escaping him. "Seemed like the right moment. Have you forgotten what I promised you on our first date? That I'll steal kisses from you whenever I can?"

Khynny shook her head but couldn't help smiling. "Let's focus on surviving first."

"Right," Oner muttered, his grin fading as the seriousness returned. "Let's go."

They slipped out of the alcove, moving quickly down the corridor. Finally, they reached the lower levels, where the voices of their enemies echoed faintly from behind a heavy door.

"This is it," Khynny whispered, her hand tightening around Oner's arm.

Oner nodded, his muscles coiling with anticipation as he peeked through the crack in the door. Inside, Ji Won was tied to a chair, her face pale and fearful, while the mastermind barked orders to his men.

"This ends now," Oner muttered, his voice firm.

In one smooth motion, they moved. Oner slipped into the room, his target clear—get to Ji Won. Khynny, swift and precise, flanked the henchmen, disarming them with efficient moves.

Within moments, the henchmen were down, groaning but unable to fight back. Oner reached Ji Won, quickly cutting her free from the ropes.

Ji Won gasped in relief, her eyes wide with gratitude. "Thank you…"

Before they could celebrate, the mastermind whirled around, fury blazing in his eyes. He reached for his gun, but Oner was faster, knocking the weapon from his hand with a swift, calculated move.

"It's over," Oner said, his voice hard and steady.

The mastermind sneered, his gaze dark and venomous. "You think this is over? You have no idea what's coming."

But Oner held firm. "I know exactly what's coming. And you won't win."

With the mastermind subdued, the tension in the room began to ease. Ji Won collapsed into Khynny's arms, her body trembling as the weight of the ordeal hit her.

Oner moved to secure the door, ensuring they wouldn't be interrupted again. Then he turned to Khynny, their eyes meeting. She smiled softly, her face tired but relieved.

"Nice work," she said, her voice quiet but full of pride.

He smiled back. "Not bad for a day that started at LoL Park."

She chuckled, shaking her head. "Could've been worse."

But before they could relax, Oner's phone buzzed. His heart skipped a beat as he saw Hye Jin's name flash on the screen.

"Noona," he answered quickly. "What's the update?"

"I'm with Lieutenant Han. We've got the place surrounded, and Marcos is with us. Ji Won's family is safe."

Oner let out a breath of relief. "That's good to hear."

"You guys okay?" Hye Jin's voice softened, the worry clear in her tone.

"We're fine. Ji Won's safe."

"Good. Lieutenant Han and his team are on their way. Stay put."

Oner hung up and looked at Khynny, his face relaxing for the first time all night. "It's over. Ji Won's family is safe, and the authorities are on their way."

Khynny let out a long breath, her shoulders finally relaxing. "We did it."

Oner's eyes softened as he looked at her. "Yeah," he said quietly. "We did."

And as they stood there, surrounded by the aftermath of the night's chaos, they both knew that while this battle was over, the fight wasn't done yet. But for now, they had each other—and that was enough.