Writer’s Thoughts on the Characters

Eun-jae – The Relentless Investigator

Eun-jae is the kind of protagonist who refuses to back down, no matter how dangerous the situation gets. He's not just brave—he's reckless, but in a way that makes sense for someone who's been chasing ghosts for so long. His emotions run deep, even when he tries to act detached.

One of the things I love about him is that he's driven by something personal. This isn't just a mission—it's about uncovering the truth, about finding out why Agent Song was killed, about dismantling the layers of deception around Voron and Seraphim. But what makes him interesting is his growing realization that the truth might be bigger—and darker—than what he ever expected.

Another fun aspect of writing Eun-jae is his internal conflicts. He's skeptical, but he's also forced to trust people he knows he shouldn't. That dynamic with Caesar (a.k.a. Bes Ilay) is something I love playing with. Every interaction between them has this undercurrent of tension—a mix of wariness, frustration, and an almost begrudging fascination. Eun-jae knows he shouldn't trust Caesar, but at the same time, he's drawn into his game anyway.

And when he finally realizes who Bes Ilay really is? Oh, that's going to be fun to explore.

Caesar / Bes Ilay – The Untouchable King of the Underworld

Writing Bes Ilay is a wild experience because he's the kind of character who makes you question whether you love him or hate him at any given moment. He's manipulative, calculated, and always three steps ahead of everyone else. But at the same time, there's something about him that makes him irresistible—not just to the characters around him, but to the story itself.

Caesar has this effortless charm that he uses as both a weapon and a shield. He rarely raises his voice because he doesn't need to—his presence alone is enough to command a room. He's a king in the underworld, and he knows it. The Karpov-Troitsky family might be ruling the underground in name, but Bes Ilay? He's like the nuclear weapon they keep hidden.

What I love about writing him is the way he controls every conversation without making it obvious. When he speaks, it's always in this calculated, luring tone—like he's baiting Eun-jae, giving him just enough information to keep him hooked, but never the full picture. He enjoys watching people squirm, enjoys setting traps and watching them walk right in. But the real fun part?

He's not doing it just for the thrill.

Everything Bes Ilay does has a purpose. A deeper reason. A hidden agenda. And the more Eun-jae tries to figure him out, the more he realizes that he's already playing the game Bes wants him to play.

And that moment—the one where Eun-jae finally understands that Caesar and Bes Ilay are the same person? That's going to be a turning point. Because how do you deal with someone who has been orchestrating everything from the shadows, pulling strings you didn't even realize were there?

The Karpov-Troitsky Family – The Puppeteers of the Underworld

They rule the Russian underground, but they don't have complete control. Not really. They rely on people like Bes Ilay—weapons, monsters, men who are untouchable.

Writing them is fascinating because they aren't just stereotypical villains. They're dangerous in a way that feels real. They operate in the shadows of politics and power, with their hands in government deals, weapons trades, assassinations—things that can't just be solved by taking down one person.

The world they've built isn't just criminal—it's systemic corruption at its highest level. And that's what makes this so difficult for Eun-jae. Because even if he takes down Bes Ilay, will it even matter?

The Karpov-Troitsky family will just replace him with another monster.

Unless… he finds a way to burn everything to the ground.

This isn't just a story about spies and conspiracies. It's about power, control, and the fine line between justice and revenge.

Eun-jae isn't a hero. Bes Ilay isn't just a villain. The deeper the story goes, the more their roles start to blur.

And that's what makes this so much fun to write.

What do you think? Want me to expand more on their backstories, or maybe add some foreshadowing for later twists?