Chapter 20 – The Silent Rebellion

The city's undercurrent buzzed with whispers. Joon's name was on every tongue—some in admiration, others in fear. He had shattered the balance of power, leaving titans scrambling for control. But power struggles weren't the only thing unfolding. Deep within the heart of Bridge to Hope, something even greater was brewing.

Inside a dimly lit warehouse, Joon stood with Soo-ah, Min-seo, and Kyung-tae. A massive screen displayed reports of collapsing stocks, bankrupt companies, and sudden market shifts.

"The corporations thought they could silence us," Soo-ah said, arms crossed. "But we're still standing."

Joon smirked. "They underestimated us."

Min-seo frowned, scrolling through the reports. "We have spies inside our ranks. Someone's feeding information to the enemy."

Joon's eyes darkened. "Find them."

Kyung-tae stepped forward. "It's not just corporations. The ones truly pulling the strings? They want to erase us."

Silence fell. They all knew it. The enemy was no longer just businessmen. It was something darker, something lurking beyond the surface.

"We don't just fight back," Joon said coldly. "We take everything."

---

Midnight. Joon sat in his study when his phone rang.

It was Eun-jin, the journalist covering the community's rise.

"Joon, listen carefully," she whispered. "Someone within your circle is working for them."

Joon clenched his jaw. "Who?"

"I don't know yet, but—"

The line cut.

Joon's heart pounded. He immediately called her back. No answer.

A text popped up.

"She's with us now. Your turn to decide—fight or fold?"

Joon exhaled slowly. They thought they could threaten him?

A message was sent back.

"You just made your biggest mistake."

He called Tielen.

"Find her."

--

By the next evening, the air in the city felt different. Joon moved through the streets, dressed simply, blending into the crowd. But his mind was a battlefield.

He met with Seok-jin, the mural artist. Seok-jin had been painting messages of hope across the city, but today his work carried something else—a warning.

"What do you see?" Seok-jin asked.

Joon studied the mural. At first, it seemed like a simple image of hands reaching for the sky. But in the shadows—hidden among the colors—were symbols. Ancient ones. Warnings of a war yet to come.

Seok-jin muttered, "This city has secrets even you don't know."

Joon didn't respond. He already knew. And soon, everyone else would, too.

--

That night, Joon gathered his most trusted allies—Soo-ah, Min-soo, Young-hee, Kyung-tae, and Ji-yoon.

"We go to war," Joon announced.

Soo-ah's eyes glowed with determination. "We're ready."

Min-soo placed a map on the table. "We have locations of their hidden accounts, their illegal trades, their secret allies. We can burn everything down."

Joon smirked. "Then let's do it."

The game had changed.

Now, it was no longer about survival.

It was about domination.