Chapter 88: The First Strike
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1. No More Waiting
Jinwoo stood on the rooftop of a high-rise, staring down at the glittering city below.
Seoul never slept.
And neither did revenge.
Kang Dae-jung had made his move.
Now, it was time to respond.
Minji stepped up beside him, lighting a cigarette. The glow illuminated her face for a second before she exhaled.
"This is a trap," she muttered.
Jinwoo didn't look at her.
"I know."
"Then why are we walking into it?"
Jinwoo finally turned, his gaze cold.
"Because if we don't, we'll be buried before we even fight."
Minji took another drag.
"…Fair enough."
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2. Hunting the Ghost
The plan was simple.
Dae-jung wasn't hiding.
He wanted them to come for him.
So they would.
Jinwoo, Minji, and Hyun-seok moved in the dead of night, slipping through Seoul's underground—abandoned factories, back-alley bars, hidden gambling dens.
Every whisper led to the same place.
A warehouse on the city's outskirts.
Dae-jung's hideout.
Or maybe—his killing ground.
Jinwoo adjusted his gloves as they approached the entrance.
"If he's really inside, we take him alive," he ordered.
Hyun-seok smirked.
"Didn't know you liked mercy."
Jinwoo's eyes hardened.
"It's not mercy. I want answers."
Minji flicked her cigarette away.
"Let's hope he's in the mood to talk."
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3. The Ambush
They entered in silence.
The warehouse was dark, filled with rusted machinery and crates stacked like tombstones.
Something felt wrong.
Too empty.
Too quiet.
Then Jinwoo saw it.
A chair in the center of the room.
A body tied to it.
The man's head was slumped forward, blood dripping from his mouth.
Jinwoo stepped closer.
Hyun-seok cursed under his breath.
It wasn't Dae-jung.
It was one of their own men.
And carved into his chest—another message.
"TOO SLOW."
Then—
Gunfire erupted.
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4. Fire and Blood
The ambush was brutal.
Shadows moved from every direction.
Bullets ripped through the air.
Jinwoo dove behind a crate, returning fire. He heard Hyun-seok cursing as he ducked, Minji moving fast to find cover.
They had walked straight into hell.
A figure emerged from the darkness.
A scarred face. A wicked grin.
Kang Dae-jung.
Alive. Smiling. Waiting.
Jinwoo barely had time to process before Dae-jung moved.
A blade flashed.
Pain exploded across Jinwoo's arm.
He spun, elbowing Dae-jung in the ribs, but the man barely flinched.
Their eyes met.
And for the first time—Jinwoo saw it.
This wasn't just revenge.
This was a game.
And Dae-jung was enjoying every second of it.
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End of Chapter 88
(Next Chapter: The Devil Smiles.)