Chapter 31
**Arc 2: Chapter 21 – A Risky Proposition**
Jae-min tapped his fingers against the edge of his laptop, the hum of the ceiling fan filling the silence in his room. The USB drive had delivered more than he'd expected—emails detailing internal project plans, suspicious payment records, and even the names of the key executives pulling the strings.
The most damning piece of information, however, was a confidential document outlining a plan to monopolize the local esports market by buying out or sabotaging smaller ventures. His project was simply the first target.
"This is bigger than us," he muttered, staring at the screen.
Elyra appeared on his desk, lounging casually as she flipped through the files. "It's a classic power grab. Lionheart Holdings wants to be the big fish in the pond, and you're just a tasty little snack."
He leaned back in his chair, the tension in his shoulders refusing to ease. "If we go public with this, we risk retaliation. They have money, lawyers, and influence."
"True," Elyra said, smirking. "But you have me. And a system that doesn't play fair."
Jae-min rubbed his temples. The weight of the decision was crushing. This wasn't just about him or his team anymore. Taking on a giant like Lionheart could ruin them if they weren't careful.
His phone buzzed on the desk. It was Yumi.
---
The meeting was set at a private room in a quiet café downtown. Yumi and So-ra were already there when Jae-min arrived, both looking tense.
"You've got that look," So-ra said, crossing her arms as he sat down. "The one that says you're about to drag us into something crazy."
Jae-min pulled out his laptop and set it on the table. "You're not wrong. But hear me out first."
He opened the files, and the two girls leaned in, their expressions growing darker with each passing second. By the time he finished explaining, Yumi's jaw was clenched, and So-ra's fists were balled on the table.
"They're planning to crush every small business in the scene?" Yumi said, her voice low and sharp. "That's disgusting."
"So, what's the plan?" So-ra asked.
Jae-min hesitated. "We could leak this to the media, but it's risky. Lionheart could spin the narrative and bury us in legal trouble. Or… we could use it as leverage."
Yumi's eyes narrowed. "Leverage?"
"We confront them directly," he said. "Let them know we have this and negotiate. If we play it right, we could get them to back off."
So-ra frowned. "That's dangerous. What if they just call our bluff?"
"They won't," Yumi interjected. Her voice was cold, calculating. "This kind of information could destroy their reputation. They'll take it seriously."
"But they're not just going to roll over," So-ra pointed out. "We need a backup plan."
Jae-min nodded. "I'm working on that. But first, we need to find the right person to approach. Someone high enough in the company to make decisions but not untouchable."
---
Later that night, Jae-min sat at his desk, scrolling through the company's organizational chart. Elyra perched on the windowsill, watching him with a mix of amusement and curiosity.
"You're putting a lot of faith in this plan," she said.
"Do I have a choice?" he shot back.
She smirked. "Fair point. So, who's the lucky target?"
He stopped scrolling, his eyes landing on a name: **Eric Hwan**, Director of Regional Operations.
"This guy," Jae-min said, tapping the screen. "He's not at the top, but he's high enough to have influence. And he's the one overseeing the warehouse project."
Elyra tilted her head. "Ambitious. But you're forgetting one thing."
"What's that?"
She leaned in, her voice dropping to a whisper. "You're not just fighting Lionheart Holdings. You're fighting their ambition. If this guy thinks taking you down is worth the risk, he might not care about your leverage."
Jae-min stared at the screen, her words sinking in. "Then I'll make sure he knows the risk isn't worth it."
---
The next morning, Jae-min stood outside a sleek corporate office building, his heart pounding in his chest. He'd managed to secure a meeting with Eric Hwan through some creative use of the system's funds—an anonymous donation to a charity Eric supported had done the trick.
As he walked into the lobby, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was walking into a lion's den.
---
Eric Hwan was younger than Jae-min had expected, probably in his late 30s, with a sharp suit and a sharper smile. He gestured for Jae-min to sit, his demeanor friendly but guarded.
"So," Eric said, leaning back in his chair. "I hear you're the one behind that esports project at the warehouse. Impressive work, but I'm curious why you wanted to meet."
Jae-min slid a folder across the table. "I think you'll find this interesting."
Eric opened the folder, his expression remaining neutral as he skimmed through the documents. When he finally looked up, there was a flicker of something in his eyes—concern, maybe even fear.
"This is… quite the collection," Eric said slowly. "Where did you get this?"
Jae-min ignored the question. "The better question is what you're going to do about it. I'm not here to ruin your company, but if you keep targeting us, I won't have a choice."
Eric's smile returned, but it didn't reach his eyes. "You're playing a dangerous game, Mr. Kang."
"So are you," Jae-min replied. "The difference is, I have the upper hand. This information could destroy your company's reputation. All I'm asking is that you back off and let us do our work."
Eric leaned forward, his tone turning icy. "You think you can threaten me?"
Jae-min met his gaze, unflinching. "I'm not threatening you. I'm offering you a way out. Take it."
The silence that followed was heavy, the tension in the room almost suffocating. Finally, Eric leaned back, his smile fading.
"I'll have to discuss this with my team," he said.
"You have 48 hours," Jae-min said, standing up. "After that, I go public."
As he walked out of the office, his heart was still racing, but he felt a small sense of victory. He'd taken the first step. Now, all he could do was wait.