Chapter 36 – A Legacy Buried in Blood

Joon stared at the silver key in his palm, his mind racing. His father. A man he barely remembered—a ghost whose name was only spoken in hushed whispers.

Soo-ah's voice broke the silence. "Are you sure this is his?"

Joon's grip tightened around the key. "Yes."

Hyun-soo exhaled. "Then we need to find out what it unlocks."

Joon already had an idea. There was only one place left in this city that still carried his father's scent—The Obsidian Vault.

A place buried beneath the oldest district of the city. A place where secrets were never meant to be unearthed.

--

At midnight, Joon, Soo-ah, and Hyun-soo stood before a forgotten iron door, half-hidden behind layers of time. The key fit perfectly.

With a heavy click, the door groaned open, revealing a narrow corridor leading underground.

The air was thick with dust, but the deeper they went, the colder it became. Then, at the end of the passage, they found it—

A single, untouched black safe.

Soo-ah stepped forward, brushing her fingers over its surface. "This thing looks ancient."

Joon took a deep breath, inserting the key into the lock. It turned smoothly.

Click.

The safe creaked open, revealing…

A single letter and a rusted locket.

Hyun-soo frowned. "That's it?"

Joon ignored him, picking up the letter. The handwriting was unmistakable—his father's.

He unfolded the paper, his pulse hammering as he read.

> "Joon, if you're reading this, it means I didn't survive. But listen carefully—your enemies are not who you think they are. The Black Hand wasn't my only enemy. There was someone else, someone more powerful. Someone who betrayed me from within. Find the one who wears the golden serpent. Only then will you understand the truth."

Joon's eyes darkened. A traitor. Someone from within his father's own empire.

Hyun-soo stepped closer. "What does it mean?"

Joon exhaled slowly, slipping the letter into his pocket. "It means we've been fighting the wrong war."

---

Joon spent the next few days digging through old records, searching for anything related to the golden serpent.

Soo-ah worked alongside him, her frustration growing. "This symbol—there's barely anything on it."

But then, late one night, Hyun-soo slammed a file onto the desk. "Found something."

Joon grabbed the file, his eyes scanning the page.

The Golden Serpent Syndicate. A secret organization that operated in the shadows, controlling everything from behind the scenes. Even the Black Hand answered to them.

Joon clenched his jaw. This wasn't just about revenge anymore.

This was about taking down the real power behind the city.

---

That night, a black car pulled up in front of Joon's penthouse. A messenger stepped out, carrying a single package wrapped in silk.

The moment Joon opened it, his blood ran cold.

Inside was a severed hand. And around its finger—a golden serpent ring.

Soo-ah covered her mouth. "They know we're looking."

Joon's expression didn't change. Instead, he smirked.

"Good."

Because now, they would know he was coming for them.

---