Chapter 21 – Shadows and Fire

The city's skyline glowed under the midnight sky, but within its towering buildings, silent wars raged. Joon sat in a high-rise office overlooking the city, his fingers drumming against the armrest of his chair. Across from him, Soo-ah, Kyung-tae, and Min-soo stood, their faces grave.

"We found Eun-jin," Kyung-tae said.

Joon's eyes flickered with dangerous intent. "Where is she?"

Min-soo hesitated. "It's worse than we thought. She was being used as bait."

Soo-ah slammed her fist on the desk. "Damn it! They're playing us."

Joon exhaled, his expression unreadable. "Then it's time to stop playing."

---

By the time they reached the underground facility, the air was thick with tension. Joon moved through the darkness like a ghost, his team following closely behind.

The doors burst open, and there she was—Eun-jin, tied to a chair, her face bruised but defiant.

A voice echoed from the shadows.

"Joon… I've been waiting for you."

A tall man stepped forward—Dae-hyun, one of the powerful figures behind the corporate empire trying to erase Joon's movement.

"You've built something impressive," Dae-hyun said, smirking. "But did you really think we'd let you keep it?"

Joon's gaze turned to ice. "You shouldn't have touched what's mine."

Dae-hyun chuckled. "Then take it back."

The room exploded into chaos.

Gunfire. Blades flashing. Shadows clashing against the dim light.

Joon moved like a phantom, dodging, striking, breaking bones with precise movements. Soo-ah disarmed a guard, flipping him over. Kyung-tae fought with brutal efficiency. Min-soo freed Eun-jin while covering their backs.

Within minutes, the room was silent. Bodies lay motionless.

Dae-hyun, breathing heavily, grinned through bloodied lips. "You… have no idea… what's coming."

Joon crouched beside him. "Then show me."

And with that, Joon walked away, leaving the man broken on the floor.

--

Back at their base, Eun-jin sipped tea, her hands still shaking.

"They were planning something massive," she said. "Something that goes beyond business."

Joon leaned forward. "What do you mean?"

"They weren't just trying to take you down. They were trying to erase your existence—everything you've built, every record of you, your past."

Soo-ah's eyes widened. "That's insane."

Kyung-tae crossed his arms. "Which means we hit them harder."

Joon stood. His voice was calm, but his words burned with purpose.

"We don't just fight back. We rewrite the rules."

The war wasn't ending.

It was just beginning.

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